Dynamic Analysis of Thermal Behaviour of a Laboratory Reactor Using a Process Simulator

A process simulator was used to study dynamic results from a laboratory‐scale tubular reactor for the oxidation of carbon monoxide (CO) with oxygen over Pt/alumina catalyst. Passive response experiments were used to obtain lumped values of the heat capacity and the overall heat transfer coefficient. Temperature profile experiments were used to obtain the only adjustable kinetic parameter: k°, the pre‐exponential portion of the rate constant. Integral reactor phenomena were studied: step‐decreases in the feed temperature, step‐changes in feed concentration, and ignition of the reactor by pressure. Simulated results provided good agreement with experiments.     

Amplification of Periodic Temperature Disturbances in a Packed‐Bed Reactor: CO Oxidation over a CuO/Al2O3 Catalyst

Amplification of periodic variations of input temperature in a product‐inhibited reaction — CO oxidation over CuO‐γ‐Al₂O₃ — was investigated experimentally in an insulated packed‐bed reactor. At steady state the temperature profile was elongated compared with that of a reactant‐inhibited CO oxidation over Pt/Al₂O₃, studied elsewhere. Under periodic operation, amplitudes of the resulting travelling temperature waves, monitored downstream from the reaction front, were amplified to a greater extent than those in the reactant‐inhibited CO oxidation over Pt/Al₂O₃. The magnitude of the amplification depended on the perturbation frequency and showed resonance behaviour. The magnitude decreased monotonically with increasing perturbation amplitude.     

Optimization of Fischer‐Tropsch Process in a Fixed‐Bed Reactor Using Non‐uniform Catalysts

Optimization of Fischer‐Tropsch (FT) process in a fixed‐bed reactor is carried out using non‐uniform catalysts. The C₅⁺ yield of the reactions is maximized utilizing a combination of non‐uniform catalysts across the bed. A 1D heterogeneous model is developed to simulate the bed containing uniform and non‐uniform catalysts. It is found that the egg‐shell and surface‐layered catalysts result in higher C₅⁺ yield. Moreover, effects of cooling temperature are studied. Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Successive Quadratic Programming (SQP) methods are applied. Feed and cooling temperature are selected as decision variables together with distribution of non‐uniform catalysts along the bed. The optimization result shows 14.47 % increase in the C₅⁺ yield with respect to the base condition.     

Effect of Temperature on Controlled Air Oxidation of Plastic and Biomass in a Packed‐Bed Reactor

A packed‐bed reactor was established to study the effect of temperature on the controlled air oxidation (CAO) performance of a mixture of polypropylene and sawdust at a fixed feed gas flow rate. The reactor temperature was varied from 400 to 800 °C. Attention was focused on product distribution, compositions of liquid and gas products, and technical parameters. The chemical composition of the liquid products was analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The results indicated an obvious impact of the temperature on the described parameters. The increase in temperature led to the decrease in solid fraction and a convex shape curve for the gas yield as well as to a decrease of alkanes and alkenes, and favored the generation of oxygen‐containing hydrocarbons. According to criteria of CAO conversion, the optimum temperature in the primary chamber was found to be 700 °C.     

Heat Transfer Characteristics of CO2 Desorption from N‐Methyldiethanolamine Solution in a Microchannel Reactor

The heat transfer performance and energy consumption of CO₂ desorption from rich N‐methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) solution were determined experimentally in a straight microchannel reactor. Nucleate boiling was found to be the dominant heat transfer mechanism in this experiment. The heat transfer coefficients were strongly dependent on the heat flux. The solution flow rate was the most influential factor on the heat flux, followed by desorption temperature, MDEA concentration, and CO₂ loading. In addition, an empirical correlation was proposed to predict the experimental heat transfer coefficients.     

Energy Savings through Microwave Selective Heating of Pd/AC Catalyst Particulates in a Fixed‐Bed Reactor

Microwave radiation is a novel energy source to drive chemical reactions. In conventional reactors, however, the heat created either escapes through uninsulated reactor walls, or the microwave radiation is attenuated by insulated walls. Here, microwave selective heating of Pd catalyst particles supported on activated carbon particulates was examined in a fixed‐bed reactor using a novel vacuum‐filled Dewar‐like double‐walled continuous‐flow reactor. This reactor was developed toward energy savings in performing such organic reactions as the transformation of the hydride methyl cyclohexane to toluene.     

Synthesis of Dimethyl Carbonate from Methyl Carbamate and Methanol Using a Fixed‐Bed Reactor

Several mixed oxide catalysts were prepared by coprecipitation for dimethyl carbonate (DMC) synthesis from methyl carbamate and methanol. During the batch process, the DMC yield was below 35 %. In order to minimize the unfavorable thermodynamic equilibrium and side reactions for the DMC synthesis, a fixed‐bed reactor was designed. A maximum DMC yield of ～ 73 % could be realized over a ZnO‐Al₂O₃ catalyst. The effects of reaction conditions for this type of reactor were investigated in detail.     

SO42−/ZrO2 supported on γ‐Al2O3 as a catalyst for CO2 desorption from CO2‐loaded monoethanolamine solutions

In this work, the composite catalysts, SO₄²/ZrO₂/γ‐Al₂O₃ (SZA), with different ZrO₂ and γ‐Al₂O₃ mass ratios were prepared and used for the first time for the carbon dioxide (CO₂)‐loaded monoethanolamine (MEA) solvent regeneration process to reduce the heat duty. The regeneration characteristics with five catalysts (three SZA catalysts and two parent catalysts) of a 5 M MEA solution with an initial CO₂ loading of 0.5 mol CO₂/mol amine at 98°C were investigated in terms of CO₂ desorption performance and compared with those of a blank test. All the catalysts were characterized using X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, N₂ adsorption–desorption experiment, ammonia temperature programmed desorption, and pyridine‐adsorption infrared spectroscopy. The results indicate that the SZA catalysts exhibited superior catalytic activity to the parent catalysts. A possible catalytic mechanism for the CO₂ desorption process over SZA catalyst was proposed. The results reveal that SZA1/1, which possesses the highest joint value of Brφnsted acid sites (BASs) and mesopore surface area (MSA), presented the highest catalytic performance, decreasing the heat duty by 36.9% as compared to the catalyst‐free run. The SZA1/1 catalyst shows the best catalytic performance as compared with the reported catalyst for this purpose. Moreover, the SZA catalyst has advantages of low cost, good cyclic stability, easy regeneration and has no effect on the CO₂ absorption performance of MEA. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 64: 3988–4001, 2018     

Advanced Oxidative Removal of Nitric Oxide from Flue Gas by Homogeneous Photo‐Fenton in a Photochemical Reactor

In this work, advanced oxidation removal of nitric oxide (NO) from flue gas by homogeneous Photo‐Fenton was investigated in a photochemical reactor and the effects of several influencing factors on NO removal were evaluated. The gas‐liquid reaction products were determined. The reaction pathways of NO removal are also preliminarily discussed. It was found that with the increase of Fe²⁺ concentration, NO removal efficiency first increased and then decreased. Increasing H₂O₂ concentration and UV radiation intensity greatly increased NO removal efficiency, but the growth rates gradually became smaller. NO removal efficiency greatly reduced with the increase of gas flow and NO concentration, and only slightly decreased with the increase of solution temperature, but significantly increased with the increase of initial solution pH value. The main anion product in the liquid phase was NO₃^–. With respect to removal of NO using homogeneous Photo‐Fenton, ·OH oxidation was the main reaction pathway, and H₂O₂ oxidation was the secondary reaction pathway.     

Effect of Solvent on Nanoparticle Production of β‐Carotene by a Supercritical Antisolvent Process

Production of micro‐ to nano‐sized particles of β‐carotene was investigated by means of solution‐enhanced dispersion by supercritical fluids (SEDS). β‐Carotene was dissolved in dichloromethane (DCM), N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF), n‐hexane, or ethyl acetate, and supercritical CO₂ served as an antisolvent. The effects of the organic solvents, operating pressure, and temperature were examined. The morphologies of the particles produced by the SEDS were observed by field emission‐scanning electron microscopy and particle sizes were determined by image analysis. Irregularly shaped microparticles were produced in the system with DCM and DMF solution. Plate‐like microparticles were generated by using n‐hexane solution and irregular nanoparticles by ethyl acetate solution. The optimum operating conditions were found to be ethyl acetate as solvent in a defined pressure and temperature range.     

Preparation and Characterization of Hybrid Nanocomposite Coatings by Cationic UV‐Curing and the Sol‐Gel Process of a Vinyl Ether Based System

Organic/inorganic hybrid nanocomposite coatings were prepared through a dual‐cure process involving the cationic photopolymerization of a vinyl ether based system and the condensation of an alkoxysilane inorganic precursor. All formulations produced transparent cured films characterized by high gel contents. An increase in glass transition temperature and an increase in storage modulus above T_g in the rubbery plateau were observed with increasing TEOS content in the photocurable formulation. TEM micrographs showed that the organic and inorganic phases were strictly interconnected with no macroscopic phase separation; the sizes of the silica domains in the polymeric matrix were 3–5 nm.

     

Statistical Optimization of the Biodiesel Production Process Using a Magnetic Core‐Mesoporous Shell KOH/Fe3O4@γ‐Al2O3 Nanocatalyst

A magnetic core‐mesoporous shell KOH/Fe₃O₄@γ‐Al₂O₃ nanocatalyst was synthesized using the Fe₃O₄@γ‐Al₂O₃ core‐shell structure as support and KOH as active component. The prepared samples were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), field‐emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM), energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), Brunauer‐Emmett‐Teller (BET), and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) techniques. Transesterification of canola oil to methyl esters (biodiesel) in the presence of the magnetic core‐mesoporous shell KOH/Fe₃O₄@γ‐Al₂O₃ nanocatalyst was investigated. Response surface methodology (RSM) based on the Box‐Behnken design (BBD) was employed to optimize the influence of important operating variables on the yield of biodiesel. A biodiesel yield of 97.4 % was achieved under optimum reaction conditions. There was an excellent agreement between experimental and predicted results.     

Removal of NO from flue gas using UV/S2 process in a novel photochemical impinging stream reactor

A novel photochemical impinging stream reactor was developed for the first time. Removal process of NO from flue gas using sulfate radical ( ·) and hydroxyl radical (·OH) from UV‐light activation of persulfate (UV/S₂ advanced oxidation process) was investigated in the novel reactor. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of S₂ concentration, solution pH, UV power, solution temperature, liquid‐gas ratio, flue gas flow, NO, SO₂,and O₂ concentrations on removal of NO. Mechanism and kinetics of NO removal were also studied. The results show that increasing UV power, solution temperature, S₂ concentration, or solution circulation rate promotes NO removal. Increasing solution pH (1.2–11.9), NO concentration or flue gas flow weakens NO removal. O₂ concentration has no significant effect on NO removal. · and ·OH were the major active species for NO removal. Absorption rate equation and kinetic parameters of NO removal were obtained. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 63: 2968–2980, 2017     

Kinetics,degradation pathway and reaction mechanism of advanced oxidation of 4‐nitrophenol in water by a UV/H2O2 process

Photooxidation of 4‐nitrophenol (4‐NP) in water by the UV/H₂O₂ advanced oxidation process was carried out in order to investigate the kinetics and pathway of 4‐NP degradation. The experimental results showed that the photodegradation of 4‐NP accorded well with pseudo‐first order kinetics. The effects of different parameters, such as H₂O₂ dosage, pH value and various anion scavengers on the degradation of 4‐NP have been investigated in detail. It was found that acidic conditions are more favorable to the degradation of 4‐NP but many anions, such as HCO₃^?, NO₃^? and Cl^?, slow down the photooxidation rate of 4‐NP. Hydroquinone, 1,2,4‐trihdroxybenzene, 4‐nitropyrogallol, and 4‐nitrocatechol were tentatively identified as the intermediates of 4‐NP degradation by GC/MS after samples were derivatized by N,O‐bis(trimethylsilyl)‐trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA). A degradation pathway was proposed to account for the observed intermediates produced during 4‐NP degradation by the UV/H₂O₂ process. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

Removal of Hg0 from containing‐SO2/NO flue gas by ultraviolet/H2O2 process in a novel photochemical reactor

A novel photochemical spray reactor is first developed and is used to remove Hg⁰ and simultaneously remove Hg⁰/SO₂/NO from flue gas by ultraviolet (UV)/H₂O₂ process. The effects of several parameters (UV wavelength, UV power, H₂O₂ concentration, Hg⁰ inlet concentration, solution temperature, liquid–gas ratio, solution pH, SO₂ concentration, NO concentration, and O₂ concentration) on removal of Hg⁰ by UV/H₂O₂ process were investigated. Removal mechanism of Hg⁰ is proposed and simultaneous removal of Hg⁰, NO, and SO₂ is also studied. The results show that the parameters, UV wavelength, UV power, H₂O₂ concentration, liquid–gas ratio, solution pH, and O₂ concentration, have significant impact on removal of Hg⁰. However, the parameters, Hg⁰ inlet concentration, solution temperature, SO₂ concentration, and NO concentration, only have small effect on removal of Hg⁰. Hg²⁺ is the final product of Hg⁰ removal, and Hg⁰ is mainly removed by oxidations of H₂O₂, ·OH, · O, O₃, and photoexcitation of UV. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 60: 2275–2285, 2014     

The Mechanism for the Selective Oxidation of CO Enhanced by H2O on a Novel PROC Catalyst

Preferential oxidation (PROX) reaction of CO in H₂ catalyzed by a new catalyst of FeO _x /Pt/TiO₂ (Fe: Pt: TiO₂ = 100: 1: 100) was studied by dynamic in-situ DRIFT-IR spectroscopy. The oxidation of CO is markedly enhanced by H₂ and H₂O, and the enhancement by H₂/D₂ and H₂O/D₂O takes a common hydrogen isotope. Dynamics of DRIFT-IR spectroscopy suggests that the oxidation of CO with O₂ in the absence of H₂ proceeds via bicarbonate intermediate. In contrast, rapid oxidation of CO in the presence of H₂ proceeds via HCOO intermediate and the subsequent oxidation of HCOO by the reaction with OH, that is, CO + OH→ HCOO and HCOO + OH → CO₂ + H₂O. The latter reaction is a rate determining step being responsible for a common hydrogen isotope effect by H₂/D₂ and H₂O/D₂O.     

Significant enhancement of the oxidation of CO by H2 and/or H2O on a FeO x /Pt/TiO2 catalyst

Oxidation of CO on the FeO _x /Pt/TiO₂ catalyst is markedly enhanced by H₂ and/or H₂O at 60 °C, but no such enhancement is observed on the Pt/TiO₂ catalyst, but shift reaction (CO + H₂O → H₂ + CO₂) does not occur on the FeO _x /Pt/TiO₂ catalyst at 60 °C. DRIFT-IR spectroscopy reveals that the fraction of bridge bonded CO increases while that of linearly bonded CO decreases on the FeO _x loaded Pt/TiO₂ catalyst. The in-situ DRIFT IR spectra proved that the bridged CO is more reactive than the linearly bonded CO with respect to O₂, and the reaction of the bridge-bonded CO with O₂ as well as of the linearly bonded CO is markedly enhanced by adding H₂ to a flow of CO + O₂. From these results, we deduced that the promoting effect of H₂ and/or H₂O is responsible for the preferential oxidation (PROX) reaction of CO on the FeO _x /Pt/TiO₂ catalyst, and a following new mechanism via the hydroxyl carbonyl or bicarbonate intermediate is proposed for the oxidation of CO in the presence of H₂O.      

Alumina supported Pt(1%)/Ce0.6Zr0.4O2 monolith: Remarkable stabilization of ceria–zirconia solution towards CeAlO3 formation operated by Pt under redox conditions

A structured Pt(1 wt%)/ceria–zirconia/alumina catalyst and the metal-free ceria–zirconia/alumina were prepared, by dip-coating, over a cordierite monolithic support. XRD analyses and Rietveld refinements of the structural data demonstrate that in the Pt supported catalysts ceria–zirconia is present as a Ce_0.6Zr_0.4O₂ homogeneous solid solution and that the deposition over the cordierite doesn’t produce any structural modification. Moreover no Pt sintering occurs.By comparing the XRD patterns recorded on Pt/ceria–zirconia/alumina and ceria–zirconia/alumina after three redox cycles, it results that Pt, favouring the structural reorganization of the ceria–zirconia into one cubic solid solution, prevents any CeAlO₃ formation. On the contrary, such phase due to the interaction between Ce³⁺ and the alumina present in the washcoat is detected when redox cycles are carried out on the ceria–zirconia metal free.Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) investigations of the redox cycled Pt/ceria–zirconia/alumina catalyst detected ceria–zirconia grains with diameter between 10 and 35 nm along with highly dispersed Pt particles (2–3 nm) strongly interacting with ceria.Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and EDX analyses, recorded on the redox cycled Pt/ceria–zirconia/alumina washcoated monolith evidence a homogeneous distribution of the active components through the channels even after redox aging.Reduction behaviour and CO oxidation activity are in good agreement with the structural modification of the solid solution induced by the redox cycles and reflect the positive effect of Pt/ceria interaction on the catalytic performances.The effect of redox aging on the NO reduction by C₃H₆, in lean conditions, was investigated over the Pt/ceria–zirconia/alumina monolith. The catalyst shows at low temperature (290 °C) good NO removal activity and appreciable selectivity to N₂.