A review of CO2 sorbents for promoting hydrogen production in the sorption-enhanced steam reforming process

Sorption-enhanced-steam-reforming (SESR) is a thermochemical conversion technology that produces a high-purity hydrogen stream by utilizing in-situ removal of CO₂ with a sorbent. In this paper, the advantages and disadvantages of CaO based sorbents, alkali-metal based sorbents (Na₂ZrO₃, Li₂ZrO₃ and Li₄SiO₄), hydrotalcite based sorbents, bifunctional materials and sorbents prepared from wastes are briefly discussed, and the techniques to improve the sorption properties of these CO₂ sorbents are summarized. In the process of hydrogen production by sorption-enhanced-steam-reforming, the selection of suitable high-temperature CO₂ sorbent is the key to produce high purity hydrogen. Furthermore, the hydrogen-production performance of the above-mentioned sorbents in the SESR process is investigated and summarized. Finally, a future perspective and some suggestions regarding these five types of sorbents are put forward.     

A new Schiff’s base polymer for remediation of phenol, 2-chlorophenol and 2,4-dichlorophenol from contaminated aqueous systems

Polymer Bulletin - In the present study, a Schiff’s base polymer (SBP) has been synthesized by the condensation of trifluoroacetylacetone and amino-polystyrene copolymer resin. After the...     

Environmental implications of water efficient microcomponents in residential buildings

The Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) in England sets out various water efficiency targets/levels, which form part of environmental performance criteria against which the sustainability of a building is measured. The code is performance based and requires reduction in per capita water consumption in households. The water efficiency related targets can be met using a range of water efficient microcomponents (WC, showers, kitchen taps, basin taps, dishwashers, washing machines, and baths). However, while the CSH aims at reducing the adverse environmental implications associated with the dwellings by promoting reduction in water consumption, little is known about the energy consumption and the environmental impacts (e. g. carbon emissions) resulting from water efficient end uses. This paper describes a methodology to evaluate the energy consumption and carbon emissions associated with the CSH's water efficiency levels. Key findings are that some 96% and 87% of energy use and carbon emissions, respectively associated with urban water provision are attributable to in-house consumption (principally related to hot water), and that achieving a defined water efficiency target does not automatically save energy or reduce carbon emissions.     

Optimising the production of energy from coblended food waste and biosolids using batch reactor studies

Energy production from a coblended mixture of biosolids and food waste was optimised for hydrogen and methane production. Four different blends were prepared by varying the carbohydrate : protein (carb : pro) ratios. The biosolids contained a low carbohydrate fraction and so was not suitable for hydrogen production when used alone. However coblending this waste with a carbohydrate‐enriched food waste produced a greater hydrogen yield, making this option viable. Batch studies showed that the optimised mix had a biosolids concentration of 25.7% (w/w). The largest hydrogen yield of 198.5 mL/gVS_removed was observed when the carb : pro was 2.78, and this was threefold higher than the other carb : pro ratios evaluated in this study. The digestate recovered after hydrogen recovery had a C : N of 17.5, which is in the ideal range for methane production. The biochemical methane potential test showed a methane yield of 239 mL/gVS_removed, and the total volatile solids destruction following two‐phase hydrogen and methane production was 93%.     

Recent advances and developments in advanced green porous nanomaterial for sustainable energy storage application

Journal of Porous Materials - Compared with traditional battery and super capacitor materials, nanomaterials can significantly improve ion transport and electron conductivity. There are many...     

Design and Analysis of Single-Bit Ternary Matched Filter

Wireless Personal Communications - Matched filtering has found its way in many diverse applications such as communication, signal processing and more. The emphasis of this paper is on the design...     

Project Oriented Problem Based Learning: A Wireless Sensor Network Perspective

Every nation rely on latest engineering technologies to foster in today’s technological era. Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) is one of the latest emerging technologies being the center of interest of today’s researchers. All the researchers work hard to produce quick deliverables through Research and Development (RandD) and by applying different learning pedagogues. Currently, the learning pedagogues in Engineering RandD are Project Based Learning and Problem Based Learning (PBL). Based on these pedagogues, this paper propose and implements a hybrid pedagogy called Project Oriented PBL (PO-PBL) which is time effective and result oriented learning pedagogy. It has resulted in providing impetus to RandD in WSNs. Further the proposed pedagogy is divided into two paradigms namely PO-PBL Macro Model and PO-PBL Micro Model. We observed that PO-PBL Macro Model results in optimal number of deliverables in time restricted manner over large scale. Moreover, we have also implemented PO-PBL Micro Model, compared it with PO-PBL Macro Model and propose PO-PBL Micro Model as basis for designing self-learning algorithm for WSNs devices.     

Controllable Fabrication of Transparent Macroporous Graphene Thin Films and Versatile Applications as a Conducting Platform

Graphene sheets have been demonstrated to be the building blocks for various assembly structures, which eventually determine the macroscopic properties of graphene materials. As a new assembly structure, transparent macroporous graphene thin films (MGTFs) are not readily prepared due to the restacking tendency of graphene sheets during processing. Here, an ice crystal‐induced phase separation process is proposed for preparation of transparent MGTFs. The ice crystal‐induced phase separation process exhibits several unique features, including efficient prevention of graphene oxide restacking, easy control on the transparency of the MGTFs, and wide applicability to substrates. It is shown that the MGTFs can be used as porous scaffold with high conductivity for electrochemical deposition of various semiconductors and rare metal nanoparticles such as CdSe, ZnO, and Pt, as well as successive deposition of different materials. Notably, the macroporous structures bestow the MGTFs and the nanoparticle‐decorated MGTFs (i.e., Pt@MGTF and CdSe@MGTF) enhanced performance as electrode for oxygen reduction reaction and photoelectrochemical H₂ generation.