Optimal design and operation of a steel plant integrated with a polygeneration system

A process integration approach has been applied to integrate a traditional steelmaking plant with a polygeneration system to increase energy efficiency and suppress carbon dioxide emissions from the system. Using short‐cut models and empirical equations for different units and available technologies for gas separation, methane gasification, and methanol synthesis, a mixed integer nonlinear model is applied to find the optimal design of the polygeneration plant and operational conditions of the system. Due to the complexity of the blast furnace (BF) operation, a surrogate model technique is chosen based on an existing BF model. The results show that from an economic perspective, the pressure swing adsorption process with gas‐phase methanol unit is preferred. The results demonstrate that integration of conventional steelmaking with a polygeneration system could decrease the specific emissions by more than 20 percent. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 59: 3659–3670, 2013     

Miscibility study of chitosan/polyethylene glycol fumarate blends in dilute solutions

Solution miscibility of chitosan/polyethylene glycol fumarate blends dissolved in acetate buffer solution was investigated in different blend compositions by viscosity, density, and refractive index measurement techniques at 30, 40, and 50°C. In order to quantify the miscibility of the polymer pair, degree of miscibility was studied by means of two criteria known as interaction parameters i.e., μ and α. On the basis of the sign convention involved in these criteria, these values revealed that the blend solution was miscible when the chitosan content was more than 80% (w/w) of the composition. The results were confirmed by density, and refractive index measurements. Furthermore, the results showed that the miscibility window of chitosan/polyethylene glycol fumarate blends was independent with respect to the changes in solution temperature. Therefore, these results suggested due to intermolecular hydrogen‐bonding interaction between amino and hydroxy groups of chitosan and hydroxy groups of polyethylene glycol fumarate which play an important role in the formation of miscible phase. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Progress in Carbon Fiber and Its Polypropylene- and Polyethylene-Based Composites

Due to their lightweight and excellent toughness, carbon fiber (CF) and its reinforced thermoplastic composites are suitable for high-performance applications such as aerospace, aviation, automotive and sport equipments. In this study, comprehensive detail is provided on the production of carbon fiber, its various forms and geometry and their corresponding effects on the mechanical properties of CF and its reinforced polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) composites. Here we discuss extensively various methods reported in literature on improving the interfacial fiber-matrix adhesion and dispersion in order to achieve better mechanical properties for such composites.     

Weather-Induced Degradation of Plastic Pipes

A number of plastic materials, such as unplasticized poly(viny1 chloride) (uPVC), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), poly-(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), and chlorinated poly(viny1 chloride) (cPVC), are available for numerous applications. uPVC and HDPE pipes are used in pressurized piping systems in Saudi Arabia for industrial, agricultural, domestic, and general-purpose applications. Some studies have been carried out to investigate the causes of failure in plastic pipes, which is very high in the area. In this chapter an overview of the failure of plastic pipes is presented, with emphasis given to failure of pipes due to severe weather conditions in Saudi Arabia.     

Impact of hydrogen concentrations on the impedance spectroscopic behavior of Pd-sensitized ZnO nanorods

ZnO nanorods were synthesized using a low-cost sol-gel spin coating technique. The synthesized nanorods were consisted of hexagonal phase having c-axis orientation. SEM images reflected perpendicular ZnO nanorods forming bridging network in some areas. The impact of different hydrogen concentrations on the Pd-sensitized ZnO nanorods was investigated using an impedance spectroscopy (IS). The grain boundary resistance (R_gb) significantly contributed to the sensing properties of hydrogen gas. The boundary resistance was decreased from 11.95 to 3.765 kΩ when the hydrogen concentration was increased from 40 to 360 ppm. IS gain curve showed a gain of 6.5 for 360 ppm of hydrogen at room temperature. Nyquist plot showed reduction in real part of impedance at low frequencies on exposure to different concentrations of hydrogen. Circuit equivalency was investigated by placing capacitors and resistors to identify the conduction mechanism according to complex impedance Nyquist plot. Variations in nanorod resistance and capacitance in response to the introduction of various concentrations of hydrogen gas were obtained from the alternating current impedance spectra.     

Imprinted polymer-based extraction for speciation analysis of inorganic tin in food and water samples

In this study, an ion imprinted polymer (IIP), tin (IV)–4-(2-pyridylazo) resorcinol (PAR) complex (Sn(IV)–PAR–IIP) has been synthesized for speciation and selective solid-phase extraction (SPE) of tin species from food and water samples. For this purpose, copolymerization of Sn(IV)–4-(2-pyridylazo) resorcinol (PAR) complex was performed using methacrylic acid (MAA), ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA), and 2,2′-Azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as functional monomer, cross-linking agent, and initiator, respectively. The polymer particles were characterized by FT-IR, and thermogravimetric (TG) analyses. The effects of different variables such as solution pH, mass of the polymer, extraction and elution time, and type and volume of the eluent for elution of tin were evaluated by Box–Behnken design and response surface methodology. The significance of independent variables and their interactions were tested by the analysis of variance (ANOVA) with 95% confidence limits. The optimal conditions at extraction step were 8, 70 mg, and 25 min for solution pH, amount of polymer, and extraction time, respectively. Also, the optimal values for the elution step were 6.5 mL of HCl (4 M) as the eluent volume and type and elution time of 120 min. The detection limit of the proposed method was found to be 1.3 μg L^?1 and a linear dynamic range (LDR) in the range of 5–200 μg L^?1 was obtained. The influence of various cationic interferences on recovery percentage of Sn(IV) was studied. The method was applied to recovery and determination of tin species in different real samples.     

Various nano-particles influences on structure,viscoelastic, Vulcanization and mechanical behaviour of EPDM nano-composite rubber foam

ABSTRACT

In this study, the effect of various nano-particle type and concentration on the structure, curing, viscosity variation during vulcanisation, and mechanical characteristics of ethylene–propylene–diene monomer (EPDM) rubber foam is reported. Three types of nanoparticle with various dimensional aspects (1D carbon nanotubes, 2D nano clay, and 3D nano silica) are employed to investigate their effect on the fabrication of EPDM rubber foam. It is observed that the properties of the foams were efficiently influenced by the nano-particle shapes and content in the matrix. Nanoparticles may increase cell density and change cell structures. In addition, they can change the curing behaviour of foam rubber by affecting curing rate and scorch time of rubber. In the end, mechanical properties of EPDM foam rubbers investigated by experimental tests and implementing few empirical and constitutional mechanical models. It is very helpful to use suitable nanoparticle to achieve desired properties out of fabricated foams.     

Study of the High‐Pressure Vapour‐Liquid Equilibria for Strongly Non‐ideal Binary and Ternary Mixtures

High‐pressure vapour‐liquid equilibria for binary and ternary high polar and asymmetric systems are calculated using the Peng‐Robinson‐Stryjek‐Vera equation of state coupled with the Twu‐Coon (TWMR), the Orbey‐Sandler (OSMR) and the Wong‐Sandler (WSMR) mixing rules. Modified UNIFAC model is used for determining the activity coefficient and excess Gibbs free energy. The calculated results are compared with the experimental data and good agreement is observed. The average absolute deviation percents (AAD%)s indicated that the WSMR has less AAD% than other mixing rules in most of cases.     

Electrochemistry of chlorogenic acid: experimental and theoretical studies

Cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry and rotating disk electrode voltammetry as well as quantum chemical methods, are used for electrochemical study of chlorogenic acid, as an important biological molecule. The standard formal potential, diffusion coefficient, and heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant of chlorogenic acid in aqueous solution are investigated. Acidic dissociation constant of chlorogenic acid is also obtained. Quantum mechanical calculations on oxidation of chlorogenic acid in aqueous solution, using density functional theory are presented. The change of Gibbs free energy and entropy of oxidation of chlorogenic acid are calculated using thermochemistry calculations. The calculations in aqueous solution are carried out with the use of polarizable continuum solvation method. Theoretical standard electrode potential of chlorogenic acid is achieved to be 0.580 V versus standard calomel electrode (SCE) which is in agreement with the experimental value of 0.617 V obtained experimentally in this work. The difference is consistent with the values we previously reported for other quinone derivatives.     

Microwave-assisted extraction kinetics of terpenes from caraway seeds

The process conditions during the extraction of carvone and limonene from caraway seed (Carum carvi L.) with microwave-assisted extraction have been studied with respect to microwave power, radiation dose and extraction time in order to obtain the secondary metabolites selectively. Using classical solid–liquid extraction, limonene, carvone and fatty oils in both the raw material and the residual matrix material were extracted. Yields of limonene, carvone and total oil (C₁₆, C₁₈) were determined by GC and GC/MS analysis for both extracts. The effects of microwaves on cell walls and cells destruction could be seen on SEM micrographs.