Carbonaceous adsorbents from sewage sludge and their application in a combined activated sludge-powdered activated carbon (AS-PAC) treatment

In this study, waste biological sludge is converted to an adsorbent by chemical activation with sulphuric acid. The adsorbent obtained is then applied to the aerated vessel of an activated sludge process treating glucose and phenol to improve the quality of the treated effluent. The sludge-based carbonaceous adsorbent was found to be mesoporous in nature, with a good adsorption capacity for large molecular weight compounds and limited removal efficiency for smaller molecules such as phenol. The addition of carbon, either sludge-based or commercial, enhanced phenol removal from 58% to 98.7% and from 87% to 93% the organic matter removal as measured by the chemical oxygen demand (COD) when operated with feed concentrations of 100 mg phenol/l and 2500 mg COD/l. No differences were found between the activated sludge-activated carbon bench scale continuous reactors operating with either commercial or sludge-based adsorbents in spite of the higher adsorption capacity of the former. It is suggested that powdered adsorbent bioregeneration in the combined AS-PAC system may be impaired by the obstruction of pores due to bacterial growth, the effect being more important for the commercial activated carbon with a narrower pore size distribution.     

Effect of Pt Incorporation into Ni/ZrO2–SO 4 = /Al2O3 Catalyst for n-Butane Isomerization

Three Ni/ZrO₂–SO₄⁼/Al₂O₃ catalysts with different concentrations of platinum (0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 wt%) were prepare and tested for n-butane isomerization reaction at 338 K, in absence and in presence of hydrogen. The results shown that, at low temperature, platinum contributes to the olefin or butyl ion formation and the reaction follows a bimolecular pathway. However, when the reaction occurs in the presence of hydrogen, the formation of butyl ions is inhibited. The main feature of platinum addition is the stabilization of the catalytic activity, which is indicated by the slow deactivation constants compared to that of the unpromoted catalyst.     

Coking kinetics of a Cr2O3/Al2O3 catalyst during 1-butene dehydrogenation: Effect of H2 partial pressure

The influence has been studied of the partial pressure of hydrogen (0–30 kPa) upon the coking rate of a Cr₂O₃/Al₂O₃ commercial catalyst during 1-butene dehydrogenation. Coke deposition has been analysed using a monolayer-multilayer reversible coke growth model (MMRC model). This model provides good fits to the experimental data, within the range of partial pressure of H₂ studied, and allows us to estimate the main kinetic parameters involved in the coking-deactivation process. The results obtained reveal a dual effect of hydrogen: competition against 1-butene for the active sites and the removal of coke precursors from the catalyst surface. Bom effects diminish the coking rate as the H₂ partial pressure is increased.     

Electrochemical performance of nanocrystalline Li3V2(PO4)3/carbon composite material synthesized by a novel sol–gel method

A novel sol–gel method based on V₂O₅·nH₂O hydro-gel was developed to synthesize nanocrystalline Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃/carbon composite material. In this route, V₂O₅·nH₂O hydro-gel, NH₄H₂PO₄, Li₂CO₃ and high-surface-area carbon were used as starting materials to prepare precursor, and the Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃/carbon was obtained by sintering precursor at 750 °C for 4 h in flowing argon. The sol–gel synthesis ensures homogeneity of the precursors and improved reactivity. The sample was characterized by XRD, SEM and TEM. X-ray diffraction results show Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃ sample is monoclinic structure with the space group of P2₁/n. The TEM image indicates that the Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃ particles modified by conductive carbon are about 70 nm in diameter. The Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃/carbon system showed that the discharge capacities in the first and 50th cycle are about 155.3 and 143.6 mAh/g, respectively, in the range of 3.0–4.8 V. The sol–gel method is fit for the preparation of Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃/carbon composite material which may offer some favorable properties for commercial application.     

Scrolls and nested tubes in multiwall carbon nanotubes

Recent high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HREM) studies of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) reveal a class of defects analogous to edge dislocations in a crystal. These defects are believed to mark the transition from scrolls on one side to nested tubes on the other. On the tube side, layer spacing becomes irregular. Analysis of the helicity of the tubes shows a strong correlation between diameter and helicity. This suggests that the organizing principle for the tubes is not Van der Waals forces, as in the case of graphite or turbostratic carbon, but preservation of helicity. Based on these observations and total energy calculations, the authors speculate that graphene monolayers initially form scrolls and subsequently transform into multiwall nanotubes through the progression of defects. Scrolls and nested tubes thus coexist within a single MWNT.     

Aqueous electrochemical intercalation of bromine into graphite fibers

For the first time, graphite fibers have been electrochemically intercalated with Br⁻ that have the same structure and properties as those intercalated from vapor phase Br₂. This was accomplished by intercalating pitch-based Thornel^® K-1100 graphite fibers at low temperature (near 0 °C) and high currents (2 A) for long times (6 h). The mechanism appears to be that Br⁻ is oxidized to aqueous Br₂ which, when sufficient local concentration builds up, intercalates the fiber. This was confirmed by intercalating K-1100 fiber in a saturated aqueous Br₂ solution without passing an electrical current. The applied voltage does apparently lower the activation energy of the reaction as evidenced by the observation that P-120 and P-100 fibers will not intercalate in aqueous Br₂ unless a voltage is applied.     

Enzymatic esterification of glycerol II. Lipase-catalyzed synthesis of regioisomerically pure 1(3)-rac-monoacylglycerols

Regioisomerically pure 1(3)-rac-monoacylglycerols are conveniently prepared in high yields (>75%) and in multigram quantities by enzymatic esterification of glycerol in the presence of various lipases(Chromobacterium viscosum, Rhizopus delemar, Rhizomucor miehei) with a variety of different acyl donors, such as free fatty acids, fatty acid alkyl esters, vinyl esters and triacylglycerols, as well as natural fats and oils. All reactions are carried out in aprotic organic solvents with low water content, namelyn-hexane, diethyl ether, tBuOMe or mixtures of these solvents. Essential for the success of these transformations were the following two factors. First, the creation of an artificial interphase between the solvent-immiscible hydrophilic glycerol and the hydrophobic reaction medium by its adsorption onto a solid support. Second, a facile system for the separation of the desired monoacylglycerol from the reaction mixture, coupled with the continuous recycling of acyl donor and undesirable by-products.     

Evolution of chemistry and morphology during the carbonization and combustion of rice husk

Both fine carbon/silica and pure silica powders can be obtained by carbonization and combustion of rice husk under non-isothermal conditions, and the products can be used for preparation of high-quality ceramic materials. Studies on the morphology, chemical and physical characteristics of products were carried out by N₂-adsorptionmeter, SEM, XRD, FTIR, ICP-MS and EA. Results indicate that decreasing the heating rate increased the specific surface area, pore volume and pore diameter. At a heating rate of 5 °C/min, the specific surface areas of both the carbon/silica and pure silica powders were 261 and 235 m²/g, and the average pore diameters were 2.2 and 5.4 nm, respectively. The products obtained from various heating rates were all amorphous. Thermogravimetric analysis was employed to study the reaction characteristics during carbonization or combustion, indicating that decomposition process of rice husk could be divided into three temperature zones. This results of the study can also provide the important information on the recovery of biomass material from rice husk.     

A new class of corrosion inhibitors for waterborne coatings: 4-methyl-γ-oxo-benzene-butanoic acid complexes

Amine and transition metal based complexes with 4-methyl-γ-oxo-benzene-butanoic acid represent a new class of corrosion inhibitors specifically designed for long-term corrosion protection in waterborne coatings. Today, corrosion protection in waterborne technology is typically achieved using traditional anticorrosive pigments initially developed for use in solventborne coatings. Regulations concerning heavy metals and limitations regarding the compatibility and performance of such materials in waterborne coatings have created a need for novel approaches. Mechanistic aspects are discussed for the 4-methyl-γ-oxo-benzene-butanoic complexes based on electrochemical solution experiments (electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), linear sweep voltammetry (LSV)) and investigations performed on coated substrates. Exposure results underline the high efficiency of such complexes for both long-term corrosion protection and weld seam rust control in waterborne coatings.