The use of CPC collectors for detoxification of contaminated water: Design, construction and preliminary results

Photocatalytic processes in the presence of titanium dioxide provide an interesting way to destroy hazardous organic contaminants. Part of CIEMAT’s efforts to commercialize solar photocatalytic detoxification technology has involved the development of photoreactor designs. Although present treatment costs for the solar water detoxification system are higher than for conventional technologies, potentially greater cost reductions are being investigated through the use of one-sun systems. Aspects of these systems that might realize cost reductions include novel collector materials, the manufacturing process and the economics of scale. These issues are being examined extensively in the one-sun photoreactor research effort. A one-sun compound parabolic concentrator designed by CIEMAT and fabricated by the Instituto de Maquina Herramienta may be constructed at a cost under $160/m² with an annual efficiency of 71.3%. Studies reported in this paper also evaluate the performance of the low cost CPC prototype built at a previous stage using a model compound, and explore the feasibility of this concept as the basis for solar photocatalytic oxidation facilities. Our preliminary findings show that the overall treatment cost can be reduced mainly by reducing the unit catalyst cost instead of the unit reactor cost.     

Traffic sign recognition system with β -correction

Traffic sign classification represents a classical application of multi-object recognition processing in uncontrolled adverse environments. Lack of visibility, illumination changes, and partial occlusions are just a few problems. In this paper, we introduce a novel system for multi-class classification of traffic signs based on error correcting output codes (ECOC). ECOC is based on an ensemble of binary classifiers that are trained on bi-partition of classes. We classify a wide set of traffic signs types using robust error correcting codings. Moreover, we introduce the novel β-correction decoding strategy that outperforms the state-of-the-art decoding techniques, classifying a high number of classes with great success.     

Flax fibers as a raw material: How to bleach efficiently a non-woody plant to obtain high-quality pulp

Fiber crops constitute a good alternative to wood fiber for manufacturing pulp and paper. In fact, fiber plants like flax surpass wood fiber in some technical respects and also in the environmental benignity of their processing. In this work, flax fiber was subjected to environmentally friendly bleaching sequences in order to obtain a high-quality pulp. The totally chlorine-free sequences (TCF) used for this purpose (LE and LRE) included an enzyme treatment with laccase in the presence of HBT as mediator (L stage), an alkaline extraction (E stage) and a reductive treatment with NaBH₄ (R stage). The operating conditions for the L stage (laccase and HBT doses, reaction time and oxygen pressure) were optimised by using a sequential statistical plan to assess their influence on pulp properties after the E stage.Mathematical models accurately predicting brightness and kappa number in terms of the previous four variables were developed based on which the most influential factors were the laccase and HBT rates, and treatment time. By contrast, oxygen pressures of 0.2–0.6 MPa in the reactor had no effect on brightness or kappa number. The flax pulp obtained contained some oxidized cellulose that was partially degraded in the alkaline extraction step and reduced viscosity as a result. The viscosity loss associated with the presence of oxidized cellulose in the control and enzyme-treated pulp samples was efficiently recovered by using a reductive stage with sodium borohydride. Effluent was also analysed in order to assess the environmental impact of the process.     

Ge extraction from gasification fly ash

Water-soluble germanium species (GeS₂, GeS and hexagonal-GeO₂) are generated during coal gasification and retained in fly ash. This fact together with the high market value of this element and the relatively high contents in the fly ashes of the Puertollano Integrated Gasification in Combined Cycle (IGCC) plant directed our research towards the development of an extraction process for this element. Major objectives of this research was to find a low cost and environmentally suitable process. Several water based extraction tests were carried out using different Puertollano IGCC fly ash samples, under different temperatures, water/fly ash ratios, and extraction times. High Ge extraction yields (up to 84%) were obtained at room temperature (25 °C) but also high proportions of other trace elements (impurities) were simultaneously extracted. Increasing the extraction temperature to 50, 90 and 150 °C, Ge extraction yields were kept at similar levels, while reducing the content of impurities, the water/fly ash ratio and extraction time. The experimental data point out the influence of chloride, calcium and sulphide dissolutions on the Ge extraction.     

Stability of the lipid fraction of milk‐based infant formulas during storage

A study is made of the effects of storage (time and temperature) on the lipid fraction of four milk‐based adapted infant formulas with basically the same composition, though differing in the iron salt added (lactate or sulfate) and/or the vitamin E source (α‐tocopherol or α‐tocopherol acetate). Peroxide value, hydroperoxide C₁₈ percentage and thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substance (TBARS) content were used as indicators of lipid peroxidation. Fat contents remained stable throughout storage. Peroxide values increased from the first storage month and were affected by storage time, although they exhibited irregular behavior. Storage time and temperature affected hydroperoxide percentage, which was seen to be the earliest indicator of lipid oxidation, being measurable in newly manufactured formulas. TBARS values were only affected by storage time. No statistically significant differences were found among the four infant formulas for any of the lipid oxidation indicators.     

A Simple Method to Solve Some Simple Allocation Problems

The paper discusses a classical resource allocation problem. Using elementary arguments on Lagrangian duality it is shown that this problem can be reduced to a single one-dimensional maximization of a differentiable concave function. Moreover, a simple graphical method is developed and applied to a family of well-known problems from the literature.     

Effect of treatment with α‐galactosidase,tannase or a cell‐wall‐degrading enzyme complex on the nutritive utilisation of protein and carbohydrates from pea (Pisum sativum L.) flour

The effect of treatment with α‐galactosidase, tannase or a cell‐wall‐degrading enzyme complex under optimal conditions of pH, temperature and length of incubation time on the chemical composition and nutritive utilisation of protein and carbohydrates from pea (Pisum sativum L.) flour was studied. Soaking of pea flours in combination with enzyme treatment led to reductions of 77–90% in the levels of α‐galactosides, and of 60–80% in the levels of trypsin inhibitor activity, increasing the content of total available sugars, which was highest in the pea flour treated with the cell‐wall‐degrading enzyme complex. All the treatments assayed caused a significant improvement in daily food intake, whereas the nutritive utilisation of protein was not increased in any of the pea products tested when compared to the raw pea flour. However, all the soaking and enzymatic treatments led to a significant improvement in daily weight gain associated with a higher dietary intake of food and total available sugars. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Evaluation of Using LaNi0.6Fe0.4O3–δ Contact Layer Between La0.6Sr0.4FeO3 Cathode and Crofer22APU Interconnect for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Interconnect‐cathode interfacial adhesion is important for the durability of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). Thus, the use of a conductive contact layer between interconnect and cathode could reduce the cell area specific resistance (ASR). The use of La_0.6Sr_0.4FeO₃ (LSF) cathode, LaNi_0.6Fe_0.4O_3–δ (LNF) contact layer and Crofer22APU interconnect was proposed as an alternative cathode side. LNF‐LSF powder mixtures were heated at 800 °C for 1,000 h and at 1,050 °C for 2 h and analyzed by X‐Ray power diffraction (XRD). The results indicated a low reactivity between the materials. The degradation occurring between the components of the half‐cell (LSF/LNF/Crofer22APU) was studied. XRD results indicated the formation of secondary phases, mainly: SrCrO₄, A(B, Cr)O₃ (A = La, Sr; B = Ni, Fe) and SrFe₁₂O₁₉. Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X‐Ray spectroscopy (SEM‐EDX) and the X‐Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyzes confirmed the interaction between LSF/LNF and the metallic interconnect due to the Cr vaporization/migration. An increment of the resistance of ∼0.007 Ω cm² in 1,000 h is observed for (LSF/LNF/Crofer22APU) sample. However, the ASR values of the cell without contact coating, (LSF/Crofer22APU), were higher (0.31(1) Ω cm²) than those of the system with LNF coated interconnect (0.054(7) Ω cm²), which makes the proposed materials combination interesting for SOFC.     

Devolatilization of wood and wastes in fluidized bed

Experiments were carried out in a laboratory fluidized bed (FB) to characterize the devolatilization behavior of wood and various wastes at temperatures applicable to FB gasification and combustion, i.e. 750-900 °C. The fuels tested were pellets made of wood, meat and bone meal, and compost (from municipal solid wastes), as well as dried granulates of sewage sludge (DSS). Determination of yields of char, condensate and light gas, as well as the composition of the gas and the time of devolatilization during the pyrolysis of single fuel batches was made. A simple model was developed to analyze the mode of conversion of a single wood pellet and DSS granulate, giving insight on the controlling mechanisms during devolatilization. The devolatilization kinetics of DSS was determined by tests using fine granulates. The model was successfully applied to simulate the conversion of large DSS granulates and wood pellets under the whole range of temperatures analyzed.     

Synthesis,structure and catalytic activities for hydrogen transfer reaction of the carbonyl ruthenium(II) complex containing polypyridine and phosphine ligands

The synthesis and characterization of new ruthenium(II) carbonyl complexes containing polypyridine and triphenylphosphine ligands is reported. Crystallographic information obtained for the trans-PPh₃-[Ru(biq)(PPh₃)₂(CO)]Cl₂ complex (biq = 2,2’-biquinoline) reveals five-coordination on the metal. The complexes were studied as catalysts in hydrogen transfer reactions in basic solution. Turnover frequencies in the 2250-817 h^-1 range were determined in 1 hour of reaction with a substrate/catalysts ratio of 830.