Article
Thermodynamics
Zhichao Wang, Qing Wang, Chunxia Jia, Jingru Bai
Summary: This study investigates the mechanism of oil sands bitumen (OSB) pyrolysis reaction through experimental analysis and model fitting. A simplified mechanistic model of chemical structure evolution during OSB pyrolysis is proposed.
Article
Agricultural Engineering
A. Dimitriadis, D. Liakos, U. Pfisterer, M. Moustaka-Gouni, D. Karonis, S. Bezergianni
Summary: This study found that hydrotreated pyrolysis oil can be miscible with different petroleum streams, and in some cases can even improve fuel characteristics, potentially allowing for its integration in oil refineries.
BIOMASS & BIOENERGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hejie Yu, Junshen Qu, Yang Liu, Huimin Yun, Xiangtong Li, Chunbao Zhou, Yajie Jin, Changfa Zhang, Jianjun Dai, Xiaotao Bi
Summary: Co-pyrolysis of sophora wood and PVC effectively reduces chlorine emissions and promotes chlorine retention in char. Lignin has the most significant effects on reducing gas phase chlorine emission and achieving chlorine immobilization, with chlorine mainly existing in the form of sodium chloride in the char of lignin-PVC co-pyrolysis. Co-pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass and PVC provides a practical pathway for utilization of PVC waste in an environmentally friendly manner, realizing efficient chlorine retention and significantly reducing chlorine-related emissions.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
M. N. A. M. Yusoff, N. W. M. Zulkifli, N. L. Sukiman, M. A. Kalam, H. H. Masjuki, A. Z. Syahir, M. S. N. Awang, M. A. Mujtaba, J. Milano, A. H. Shamsuddin
Summary: This study aimed to develop biodiesel using a ternary oil mixture consisting of waste cooking oil, Jatropha curcas oil, and palm oil. The parameters affecting biodiesel yield were optimized through response surface methodology. The results showed that the synergistic mixture of ternary oil exhibited improved cold flow properties, oxidation stability, and cetane number.
ALEXANDRIA ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Odunayo T. Ore, Festus M. Adebiyi
Summary: The pyrolysis behavior of Nigerian oil sands was investigated using thermogravimetric analysis in order to develop relevant kinetic models for the natural resource. The study found that oil sand pyrolysis consisted of three regions: low-temperature oxidation, devolatilization, and high-temperature oxidation, at all heating rates examined. Thermal hysteresis was observed, with peak temperatures increasing as heating rates increased. Mineralogical analysis revealed the presence of various minerals but the absence of expandable clay minerals that can cause issues in tailing management and bitumen extraction processes. The kinetic analysis showed an increase in activation energy with degree of conversion, with a maximum activation energy of 14.682 kJ mol-1. The Coats-Redfern kinetic model provided the best fit for oil sand pyrolysis.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Mark Tsodikov, Olga Bukhtenko, Alexander Naumkin, Sergey A. Nikolaev, Andrey Chistyakov, Grigory Konstantinov
Summary: In this study, lignin and fuel oil were converted into hydrogen, synthesis gas, and liquid hydrocarbons using nano-sized cobalt-containing systems in a microwave-assisted plasma catalytic process. The cobalt plays a crucial role in activating the carbon bonds of lignin and enhancing the microwave absorption capacity, leading to efficient fuel oil pyrolysis.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Yunlei Cui, Yaning Zhang, Longfei Cui, Yifan Liu, Bingxi Li, Wei Liu
Summary: The objective of this study was to enhance the yield and quality of liquid oil derived from polypropylene plastics through microwave-assisted pyrolysis. The effects of pyrolysis temperature, microwave power, and PP loading on oil products were experimentally analyzed. An optimal oil yield was 0.793 g/g when the microwave power, pyrolysis temperature, and PP loading were 500 W, 450 degrees C, and 30 g respectively, and the oil was rich in cyclanes, alkenes, and alkanes.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Bingchao Zhao, Han Wang, Zikun Yao, Saleh Alfarraj, Sulaiman Ali Alharbi, Ramakrishnan Krishnan, Nguyen Thuy Lan Chi, Kathirvel Brindhadevi
Summary: The production of biodiesel from plastic waste is an effective solution to the fossil fuel crisis and reduces carbon monoxide emissions. However, the combustion process of plastic fuel blends is affected by viscosity and the absence of oxygen molecules, leading to lower thermal efficiency.
Review
Engineering, Chemical
Mauro Giorcelli, Oisik Das, Gabriel Sas, Michael Forsth, Mattia Bartoli
Summary: Microwave-induced pyrolysis is a promising method for producing high-value bio-oils, with significant potential in sustainable development.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Zhijun Luo, Lingjun Meng, Zuo Tong How, Pamela Chelme-Ayala, Lingling Yang, Chelsea Benally, Mohamed Gamal El-Din
Summary: The environmentally-friendly treatment method based on photochemical reactions of ferricarboxylate complexes effectively degrades classical naphthenic acids (NAs) in oil sands process water (OSPW) under visible light irradiation, with degradation ratios depending on the initial pH of the OSPW. Ferric citrate has excellent visible light absorption ability and can produce both Fe2+ and H2O2 in situ, acting as a Fenton reagent to non-selectively degrade NAs.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Xin Yi Lim, Peter Nai Yuh Yek, Rock Keey Liew, Meng Choung Chiong, Wan Adibah Wan Mahari, Wanxi Peng, Cheng Tung Chong, Chin Yik Lin, Mortaza Aghbashlo, Meisam Tabatabaei, Su Shiung Lam
Summary: This study demonstrates that adding biochar to biodiesel can improve combustion efficiency, reduce emissions of carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide, and enhance environmental sustainability. The use of oxygenated biochar as an additive offers potential for valorizing biomass and mitigating harmful emissions.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Oraleou Sangue Djandja, Zhicong Wang, Peigao Duan, Feng Wang, Yuping Xu
Summary: The study aimed to improve properties of waste tire pyrolysis oil by reducing nitrogen and sulfur contents using a combination of tetralin and hydrogen source. Various factors such as catalyst type, temperature, catalyst loading, time, and hydrogen pressure were examined to optimize the upgraded oil with Pt/C showing the highest performance. The upgraded oil had higher heating values and mainly consisted of aromatic compounds, with monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons accounting for about 40% of the total content.
Article
Energy & Fuels
T. Sathish, K. Muthukumar, AbdulKareem Abdulwahab, M. Rajasimman, R. Saravanan, K. Balasankar
Summary: This study aims to develop a low-cost alternative fuel from waste cooking oil and enhance its fuel properties using nanoparticles. Experimental comparisons showed that one of the nanoparticle fuels had higher brake thermal efficiency and lower emissions. Therefore, this research suggests it as a cheap and best alternative fuel for diesel engines.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Salomie van der Westhuizen, Francois-Xavier Collard, Johann Gorgens
Summary: This study investigated the pyrolysis of polystyrene (PS) packaging waste and found that contamination affects the oil yield. The study also explored the scale-up of the process. The results showed that the oil product obtained from the pyrolysis of the waste material can be used as fuel, but it needs to be blended with conventional fuel.
JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL AND APPLIED PYROLYSIS
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Nabeel Ahmad, Nauman Ahmad, Usama Ahmed, Abdul Gani Abdul Jameel, Um-e-Salma Amjad, Murid Hussain, Muhammad Maaz Arif
Summary: The amount of rubber waste is increasing globally, and it remains in the environment for a long period of time. The polymer recycling industry can address this issue by converting rubber waste into fuel. By using thermal liquefaction with methanol as a solvent, fuel oil was synthesized from natural rubber, yielding a higher percentage of fuel oil compared to tire rubber pyrolysis.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Xinrui Wang, Wei Guo, Shanshan Xu, Huanhao Chen, Xiaolei Fan
Summary: Flow arrangement in a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma reactor plays a crucial role in multi-component gas reactions. A stainless-steel membrane distributor-type DBD reactor was utilized to study the effect of gas flow arrangements on plasma-assisted CH4/CO2 co-conversion to syngas. The DBD reactor with CO2 fed in the quartz wool-packed discharge zone and CH4 distributed via the membrane exhibited excellent stability and performance, achieving steady CO2/CH4 conversions of approximately 25%/20%, H2/CO selectivities of around 50%/32%, H2/CO molar ratio of 0.9-1.1, and energy efficiency of about 0.20 mmol.kJ(-1) based on the conversion of feed gases.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Peng Yan, Qiuyan Ding, Jing Zou, Jian Na, Xueli Geng, Hong Li, Xin Gao
Summary: Chaotic flow inside porous media is important for various natural and artificial processes. Current macroscopic models have limitations in predicting chemical processes. In this article, we use micro-computed tomography to reconstruct foam structures and propose a conceptual model based on microscopic mean square displacement theory to characterize effective dispersion in open-cell foam. This model explains the flow characteristics of confined fluid and provides a means of predicting reaction kinetics in structured foam catalyst.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Jingjing Li, Sarayute Chansai, Christopher Hardacre, Xiaolei Fan
Summary: The water gas shift (WGS) reaction is crucial for various industrial processes, but achieving both thermodynamic equilibrium conversion and fast kinetics under conventional conditions is challenging. Non-thermal plasma (NTP) processes have been proposed to improve the kinetics at low temperatures and achieve favorable thermodynamic conversion. This review critically examines the progress in NTP-assisted WGS reactions, including catalytic and non-catalytic systems, and evaluates the concept of reaction-separation integration using novel membrane reactors to enhance hydrogen production.
Review
Energy & Fuels
Zongliang Kou, Zhenyu Zhao, Hong Li, Xin Gao
Summary: Compared with traditional heating modes, microwave technology has the potential to enhance adsorption processes by accelerating the production rate of adsorbents and achieving adsorption equilibrium faster. This review paper discusses the state-of-the-art field of microwave technology used for adsorption separation, with a specific focus on microwave-assisted preparation of different types of adsorbents. The mechanisms of microwave-intensified adsorbents preparation, processes of adsorption separation, practical applications, and open questions regarding industrial-scale microwave-assisted techniques are explained and discussed.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING AND PROCESSING-PROCESS INTENSIFICATION
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Xueli Geng, Peng Yan, Hao Zhou, Hong Li, Xin Gao
Summary: In this study, hybrid reactive distillation combined with pressure-swing distillation (PSD) and extractive distillation (ED) processes were proposed to achieve high-purity recovery of ethanol (EtOH) and tert-butanol (TBA) from industrial waste with low carbon emission. The results showed that the reactive-extractive-/pressure-swing hybrid distillation had significant economic and environmental advantages. The REPDC-REPC process saved 56.47% total annual cost (TAC), reduced 69.23% CO2 emissions, and had 67.51% thermodynamic efficiency, minor exergy destruction, and the highest total exergy efficiency.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yao Zhang, Boji Wang, Zhaoqi Ji, Yilai Jiao, Yan Shao, Huanhao Chen, Xiaolei Fan
Summary: Plasma-assisted catalytic CO2 methanation is a promising method for utilizing CO2 under mild conditions, and it requires rational design of catalysts and processes. In this study, bimetallic NiFe_n/(Mg, Al)Ox catalysts were developed and the effects of Ni and Fe atomic ratio and reduction temperature were systematically investigated. The results showed that higher reduction temperature promoted the formation of Ni3Fe alloy and surface oxygen vacancies, leading to increased CO2 adsorption ability. The NiFe0.1/(Mg, Al)Ox-800 catalyst exhibited excellent catalytic performance with 84.7% CO2 conversion and 100% CH4 selectivity in plasma-assisted catalysis. Additionally, response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize the plasma-catalytic CO2 methanation process for the first time.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhenyuan Yang, Yanan Guan, Lei Xu, Yangtao Zhou, Xiaolei Fan, Yilai Jiao
Summary: This work presents a method to prepare hierarchical titanium silicalite-1 (TS-1) zeolites with high tetra-coordinated framework Ti species content. The synthesis involves the preparation of aged dry gel and the treatment of the aged dry gel with tetrapropylammonium hydroxide (TPAOH) solution under hydrothermal conditions. The systematic studies show that specific synthesis conditions enable the synthesis of hierarchical TS-1 with desirable physiochemical properties.
CRYSTAL GROWTH & DESIGN
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jian Na, Hong Li, Xia Liu, Xiaoxia Ou, Xiaolei Fan, Xin Gao
Summary: Based on published experimental data, empirical correlations were developed in this study to predict the hydrodynamic performance and mass transfer efficiency of SiC ceramic foam monolithic trays. These new correlations take into account the tray structure parameters (such as open cell diameter and tray thickness) and the operation conditions (such as liquid and vapor flow rates), and the predicted results agree well with the experimental results. The availability of such empirical correlations can be beneficial for the chemical engineering design of practical distillation processes based on SiC foam monolithic trays.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Qiuyan Ding, Zhengkun Hou, Xueli Geng, Guiyu Gao, Wenwei Dong, Hong Li, Yaohong Wang, Xibo Chen, Xin Gao
Summary: The objective of this study is to find a potential reactive distillation (RD) process to solve the problem of low conversion and high energy consumption in the hydrolytic system. Four different RD processes were proposed and their advantages were verified through experiments in terms of economy and environment.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Applied
Shanshan Xu, Huanhao Chen, Xiaolei Fan
Summary: Non-thermal plasma catalysis (NTP-catalysis) has the unique ability to enable challenging chemical conversions under mild conditions. However, catalyst design considering the features of NTP activation has not been achieved. This review critically evaluates previous research on catalyst design for selected NTP-catalytic systems and provides suggestions for rational design of bespoke catalysts for NTP-catalysis.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Zhipeng Qie, Zhaoqi Ji, Huan Xiang, Xinhan Zhang, Abdullah Alhelali, Lan Lan, Hassan Alhassawi, Guangbo Zhao, Xiaoxia Ou, Xiaolei Fan
Summary: Hydrophobic Beta zeolites were developed using a microwave-assisted post-synthetic treatment method. The most hydrophobic Beta zeolite showed the highest benzene adsorption capacity per surface area. The modified Beta zeolites could be easily regenerated and maintained their physiochemical properties and adsorption capacity.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Zhengkun Hou, Qiuyan Ding, Xueli Geng, Hong Li, Chang Shu, Xin Gao
Summary: In order to improve the efficiency of the reactive distillation (RD) process, a structured HY@SiC catalytic packing was developed for simultaneous gas-liquid mass transfer separation and catalytic reaction. The performance of the catalytic packing was verified through a pilot-scale column experiment for the production of cyclohexyl acetate (CA) by RD. A RD model based on the reaction kinetics of HY zeolite catalyst was established. Lastly, a novel RD process with double recycle stream for CA production was proposed for optimization with TAC minimization as the objective.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Zhipeng Li, Hong Li, Jianping Wang, Xin Gao
Summary: This study proposes a novel sustainable etherification process for producing di-isopropyl ether (DIPE) by combining reactive distillation (RD) and extractive distillation, which overcomes the limitations of chemical equilibrium and azeotropic formation in traditional production processes. The results show that the conversion of isopropanol (IPA) can be increased from 18.2% to 77.9% in the RD column compared to the conventional autoclave reaction, and the overall yield of DIPE can reach 99.9%.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Qijie Jin, Shaowei Chen, Xuelu Meng, Ranran Zhou, Mutao Xu, Mengfei Yang, Haitao Xu, Xiaolei Fan, Huanhao Chen
Summary: In this study, a Ni/ZrO2 catalyst was developed for methanol steam reforming and H2 production. It was found that non-thermal plasma could initiate methanol conversion, while the addition of the composite catalyst did not significantly improve the reaction. The thermal catalytic system was inactive at 90°C, but the Ni/ZrO2 catalyst showed satisfactory activity at 400°C.
