Decision analysis of multi-pollutant control strategy for coal-fired power plant in Malaysia

The promulgation of Environmental Quality (Clean Air) Regulations 2014 on emissions from coal-fired power plants in Malaysia has prompted power plant operators to adopt emission control strategy that complies with the new emission limits. Currently, various emission control strategies are available to achieve the desired emission level. Each strategy offers unique advantages and disadvantages, depending on the objective of emissions control, process nature, and constraints on the resources incurred. To address this challenge, a proper decision-making analysis needs to be performed. In this paper, a systematic decision analysis methodology is proposed to select the most effective multi-pollutant control strategy that is compatible for coal-fired power plants in Malaysia. The methodology includes: (1) identification of pollutant emission from the plant under study and comparison with the stipulated emission limits, (2) establishment of emission factors, (3) selection of multi-pollutant control strategy, (4) identification of emission reduction factor for the pollutants and control technologies of interest, (5) determination of emission level from the selected multi-pollutant control strategy, and (6) prediction of ground-level concentration of pollutants. The decision analysis methodology is applied to a real case study of coal-fired power plant in Malaysia, which also currently faces a dilemma to comply with the additional and more stringent emission limits stipulated in the Environmental Quality (Clean Air) Regulations 2014. The proposed method is applicable for both the process concept under the design phase as well as the existing process plant.     

On the absence of global solutions for quantum versions of Schrödinger equations and systems

We, first, consider the quantum version of the nonlinear Schrödinger equation

$i^q{D}_{q|t}u(t,x)+\Delta u(qt,x)=\lambda |u(qt,x){|}^p,t>0,x\in {\mathbb{R}}^N,$

where $0<q<1$, $i^q$ is the principal value of $i^q$, $D_{q|t}$ is the $q$-derivative with respect to $t$, $\Delta$ is the Laplacian operator in ${\mathbb{R}}^N$, $\lambda \in ??\left\{0\right\}$, $p>1$, and $u(t,x)$ is a complex-valued function. Sufficient conditions for the nonexistence of global weak solution to the considered equation are obtained under suitable initial data. Next, we study the system of nonlinear coupled equations

$i^q{D}_{q|t}u(t,x)+\Delta u(qt,x)=\lambda |v(qt,x){|}^p,t>0,x\in {\mathbb{R}}^N,$

$i^q{D}_{q|t}v(t,x)+\Delta v(qt,x)=\lambda |u(qt,x){|}^m,t>0,x\in {\mathbb{R}}^N,$     

Evaluating leakages through GMB/GCL composite liners considering random hole distributions in wrinkle networks

This paper presents a study on the development of a hydraulic connectivity analysis-based approach for evaluating leakage rates through geomembrane (GMB)-geosynthetic clay liner (GCL) composite liners considering random hole distributions in a GMB wrinkle network. An algorithm for hydraulic connectivity analysis was developed to find the hydraulically connected wrinkles from a wrinkle network, and an explicitly expressed criterion is proposed to define the hydraulic connection between wrinkles under the assumption that only one of the two adjacent wrinkles is possible to be damaged. A Monte Carlo simulation was used to evaluate the probability weighted average of the total leakage through multiple randomly distributed holes considering numerous possible combinations of locations of holes. The proposed approach was applied to typical examples reported in the literature and shows that it can objectively quantify the effect of the hydraulic properties of the liner and overburden pressure on the hydraulic connectivity between wrinkles in a wrinkle network. The proposed approach also allowed assessing the effect of different probabilities of various hole distributions on the calculated leakage, which was demonstrated to be non-negligible, especially when the hole frequency is small.     

Quantification des matières en suspension et valorisation des sédiments de dragage à l’échelle d’un bassin semi-aride: Cas du barrage du K’sob (Algérie)

Due to the semi-arid climate, scarcity of vegetation, the presence of a sometimes steep slope, Algeria is vulnerable to soil erosion that threatens its socio-economic development. In the watershed of K’sob, transport of suspended sediment by rivers is a disturbing phenomenon due to siltation to 80 % of the dam at the outlet. Data of suspended sediment concentrations are closely related to liquid discharge (Q). Models of solid discharge (Q_s) according to the equation Q_s = aQ^b were used to perform qualitative and quantitative analysis of suspended sediment. Different scales of analysis helped identify and explain conclusively seasonal models. Sediment production is very high in the fall. In the spring, despite the increase in discharge, it is less significant. In summer, during a period of disappearance of vegetation cover, highly loaded floods are sometimes observed. Currently, millions of cubic meters of sediments are dredged each year. This large volume is an economic, environmental and ecological problem. To remedy this, an experimental study of manufacturing brick has been proposed with 65 % of sediment, 25 % of dune sand used as an additive and 10 % water. The shrinkage is minimal for a solid brick fabricated to 800 °C during 6 h of cooking. The mechanical tests carried out on the brick exhibit acceptable values of compression strength, mass density and water absorption. The study of the evolution of these parameters for different pressing intensities (13.2–20–30 and 40 kN) at different ages (4, 14, 21, and 28 days) shows that the solid brick acquires its resistance only after 21 days.     

Alginate@Layered Silicate Composite Beads: Dye Elimination,Box–Behnken Design Optimization and Antibacterial Property

Journal of Inorganic and Organometallic Polymers and Materials - The discharge of industrial waste comprising organic pollutants into aquatic environment induces numerous health risks. Crosslinked...     

Feldspar/titanium dioxide/chitosan as a biophotocatalyst hybrid for the removal of organic dyes from aquatic phases

Feldspar/titanium dioxide/chitosan hybrid, a photoactive biocompatible adsorbent for anionic dyes, was synthesized, characterized, and successfully tested. The adsorbent characterization, pH role, adsorbent dose effect, equilibrium data, kinetic plats, and thermodynamic parameters are reported. The point of zero charge for the hybrid was measured to be 8.3, and the most favorable pH range for the adsorption process was found to be below this pH value. The adsorption equilibrium study demonstrated that the Freundlich model was best fitted to the experimental data. Without UV light exposure, the prepared adsorbent adsorbed 72 mg of Acid Black 1 (AB1)/g of sorbent (86% removal) from a 100‐mL solution with an initial dye concentration of 50 mg/L, whereas UV irradiation resulted in an increase in the elimination of AB1 dye (97% removal). The kinetic data was depicted well by the pseudo‐second‐order model. The thermodynamic parameters indicated that the reaction between the hybrid and the dye was exothermic and also spontaneous at lower temperatures. In the batch desorption process, several aqueous solutions adjusted to different pH values were tested, and the best desorption performance (90% desorption) was achieved at pH 11. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40247.     

Iron oxide supported sulfated TiO2 nanotube catalysts for NO reduction with propane

Sulfated TiO₂ nanotubes and a series of iron oxide loaded sulfated TiO₂ nanotubes catalysts with different iron oxide loadings (1 wt%, 3 wt%, 5 wt% and 7 wt%) were prepared and calcined at 400 °C. The physico-chemical properties of the catalysts were studied by using XRD, N₂-physisorption, Raman spectroscopy, SEM-EDX, TEM, XPS, and pyridine adsorption using FTIR and H₂-TPR techniques. It was observed that iron oxide was highly dispersed on the sulfated TiO₂ nanotube support due to its strong interaction. The activity of these catalysts in the catalytic removal of NO with propane was also studied in the temperature range of 300–500 °C. Highest activity (90% NO conversion) was observed with 5 wt% iron oxide supported on sulfated TiO₂ catalyst at 450 °C. Selective catalytic reduction of NO activity of the catalysts was correlated with iron oxide loading, reducibility, and the Brönsted and Lewis acid sites of the catalysts. The catalyst also showed good stability under studied reaction conditions that no deactivation was observed during the 50 h of reaction.     

An approach to the study of plasto-elastohydrodynamic lubrication in the wire drawing process part 1: Experimental

This paper describes an experimental study of hydrodynamic lubrication in wire drawing in which different types of lubricants (straight oils, emulsions and grease) are used. The experiments were conducted on a specially designed laboratory wiredrawing test rig, to assess the frictional force and film thickness, while drawing an aluminium wire at different speeds. Hydro-dynamic performance, including frictional force and film thickness, were measured and plotted graphically, showing lubricant and drawing speed as the main influences. Results indicate that the frictional force decreased and the oil film thickness increased using straight oils with high viscosity at high drawing speed.