Asia-Pacific Journal of Chemical Engineering最新文献

This study focuses on optimizing the performance of the Kosti Thermal Power Plant in Sudan using pinch analysis. Pinch technology offers a systematic approach to improving energy efficiency by analyzing heat transfer and energy flows based on the first and second laws of thermodynamics. The Kosti Thermal Power Plant, a 4 × 125-MW crude oil–fired station, was selected for benchmarking to evaluate its energy consumption and potential for optimization. The study identified that the plant operates at a thermal efficiency of 38%, and several heat streams within the system were examined for their contribution to overall energy use. Using pinch technology, the minimum hot utility required was determined to be 53 050.3 kW, and the minimum cold utility required was 185.7 kW. Through the application of pinch analysis, energy savings opportunities were identified, such as optimizing heat recovery and reducing the energy demand for external heating and cooling utilities. The study's findings emphasize the importance of stream matching, pinch point identification, and energy recovery in enhancing thermal power plant efficiency.

Aromatics and hydrogenated aromatics constitute the primary constituents of the recycled solvent utilized in coal liquefaction. However, the presence of hydrogenated aromatics complicates the assessment of the effects of aromatic compounds during the coal liquefaction process. To eliminate the effect of hydrogenated aromatics, solvent-free experiments and experiments with specific polycyclic aromatic compounds (pyrene, fluoranthene, phenanthrene, and naphthalene) were conducted, along with utilizing density functional theory calculations. Results show that the shuttle role of naphthalene is influenced by catalyst activity. In the presence of a low-active catalyst, naphthalene acts as a shuttle agent facilitating indirect hydrogen transfer. However, with a high-active catalyst, direct transfer of hydrogen from H₂ to pyrolysis radicals occurs without involving naphthalene as an intermediary. Polycyclic aromatic compounds exhibit higher hydrogen shuttle ability (pyrene > fluoranthene > phenanthrene > naphthalene). The high hydrogen shuttle ability can be attributed to the higher reactivity in hydrogenation and lower energy barriers for hydrogen transfer. A nonradical hydrogen transfer pathway has been proposed, promoting cleavage of strong covalent bonds and enhancing the yield of asphaltene and preasphaltene. Additionally, π–π inter actions between polycyclic aromatic compounds and pyrolysis radicals have been evaluated. The interactions contribute positively to radical stability. Substances characterized by a greater number of aromatic rings display a more pronounced stabilizing effect on free radicals.

The behavior of organic inhibitors, particularly heterocyclic compounds, is significantly impacted by the replacement. Our aim is to determine the most important effects of (-PhCl) and (-PhCH₃) on the deportment of (PP-PhCl) and (PP-PhCH₃) during the corrosion process abstraction of C-steel surface protection. The findings highlight the excellent performance of both inhibitors, with the highest values for PP-PhCl and PP-PhCH₃ reaching 95.1% and 92.3%, respectively, at the model concentration of 10⁻³ M. A mixed-type inhibitory behavior is demonstrated by the PP-PhCl and PP-PhCH₃ polarization curves from PDP. In the instance of PP-PhCl, an energy effect mechanism with a beneficial anodic reaction blocking procedure is used. However, a geometric blocking mechanism is exerted by the PP-PhCH₃. Due to the (-PhCH₃) effect, the higher concentration showed a greater impact on the inhibitory effectiveness of PP-PhCH₃ than PP-PhCl. After overcoming the temperature effect, the pyran–pyrazole inhibitors continue to protect the C-steel surface, despite a slight drop in inhibition efficiency as the temperature rises. This is explained by the fact that, particularly at low concentrations, the main cathodic region reactions are controlled rather than both reactions. According to the EIS study, the pyran–pyrazole inhibitors use the adsorption process to create a protective layer on the C-steel surface by increasing concentration, which causes a drop in Cdl and a rise in Rp. The PP-PhCl and PP-PhCH₃ interact by physisorption predominance, as determined by the activation parameters and the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. This describes how sensitive the protective layer is to changes in temperature. The MEB surface characterization results approved the PP-PhCl and PP-PhCH₃ layers that were created. EDX analysis confirms their composition. Additionally, the theoretical calculation shows that PP-PhCl is mostly found in the examined solution in its bi-protonated state, whereas PP-PhCH₃ is found in its protonated form. In addition, the DFT demonstrates that bi-protonated PP-PhCl is a stronger surface protector for C-steel than protonated PP-PhCH₃. According to FMO's theory and Fukui indices, the primary active sites that provide this protection are NH₂, N-pyrazole heteroatoms, and O-pyran heteroatoms. In actuality, Monte Carlo simulation (MC) has demonstrated that the molecule's orientation face to the C-steel surface is caused by (-PhCl) and (-PhCH₃).

The objective of our paper is to compare the CO₂ adsorption and the kinetic studies of ZSM-5 zeolite and activated carbon (AC). Both adsorbents were described with N₂ adsorption–desorption isotherm, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The CO₂ adsorption isotherms were collected at different temperatures over a wide range of pressures and modeled with the Langmuir and Freundlich models. The characterization results showed that AC exhibited larger total pore volume, higher BET surface area, and higher crystallinity in comparison with the ZSM-5 zeolite. The results showed that the quantities of CO₂ adsorbed on the AC were greater than on ZSM-5, since AC exhibits more important textural parameters than zeolite. Furthermore, the Langmuir model provides the perfect adjustment to the experiments, with a correlation coefficient (R²) of 0.99. The CO₂ adsorption kinetics can be depicted by the linear driving force (LDF) model. With rising temperature, the mass transfer constants of CO₂ adsorption on the two adsorbents rise. With increasing pressure, the adsorption activation energy Ea for CO₂ on both adsorbents is reduced. Moreover, the $�\left(\mathrm{Ea}\right)$ of AC was higher than that of zeolite ZSM-5 at low pressure. The findings can be integrated into the adsorption system for removing CO₂ from the gases.

Fossil-based fuels led to the excessive increase in atmospheric CO₂ leading to global warming and climate change. One of the methods to overcome the issue is CO₂ capture and sequestration. In this view, in the present work, an activated rice husk biochar (ARHBC) was synthesized due to its excellent CO₂ capture properties. In addition, a mixture was prepared with bitumen and 6% ARHBC to study the adsorption isotherm and reaction kinetic behaviour for road construction application. The adsorption isotherms and reaction kinetics for ARHBC as well as the mixture were measured at various temperatures like 298–328 K with the supply pressure till 5 bar, using in-house fabricated Sievert's apparatus. The CO₂ storage of 0.33, 0.05 and 0.02 g/g of ARHBC, mixture and bitumen, respectively, was observed at 5-bar supply and ambient temperature. In addition, physical characterizations like BET, SEM, FTIR and TGA were carried out to understand the CO₂ capture behaviour of adsorbents. Thereafter, the adsorption isotherms were modelled using the Langmuir isotherm model, whereas the reaction kinetics were modelled using the pseudo–second-order kinetic model and validated successfully with experimental data. The coefficient of correlation and normalized standard deviation indicate that the predicted isotherm and kinetic data closely correspond with the experimental values. Later, the adsorption isotherms of ARHBC were predicted for higher equilibrium pressure of 100 bar, which is observed to be similar to isotherms reported in literature.

The n-butane isomerization process, which involves its conversion into branched chain hydrocarbons such as isobutane, produces high octane-rating fuel. This fuel is essential for spark ignition engines to generate high power output while ensuring a high fuel economy and long lifespan. This process is typically performed in a distillation column with a packed bed tubular reactor to enhance the conversion. However, most of the control systems proposed in the literature rely heavily on experience and rule-of-thumb, which often results in a suboptimal control system. This situation is particularly evident for a highly integrated plant, such as a plant with a combination of reactors and recycling streams. Hence, in this project, a framework called integrated framework of simulation and heuristics (IFSH) will be demonstrated for the n-butane isomerization process to build a plantwide control system that embeds the simulation into the plantwide control design to support heuristic decision-making. The results showed that the plantwide control system reduced the operating cost by 0.15% to 0.24% during reduced feed flow or isobutane composition. In exchange for a small variation in operating cost, a relatively long process settling time is required due to tight composition control.

Clay-rich high-phosphorus oolitic iron ore (HPOIO) represents a refractory low-grade iron resource that has rarely been documented in the literature. On the basis of detailed mineralogical characterization, this study developed a process for iron enrichment and phosphorus removal. Mineralogical analysis revealed a predominant particle size distribution of 0–5 μm, with hematite intimately intergrown with gangue minerals forming complex concentric ooids. Notably, the ores presented significantly higher contents of SiO₂ (25.46%), Al₂O₃ (10.56%), and FeO (19.44%) than conventional HPOIO. Crucially, extensive Fe–Al isomorphic substitution occurred, resulting in more than 35% of the iron existing as iron silicate phases. These unique characteristics render the ore exceptionally resistant to liberation, reduction, and separation compared with typical HPOIO. Process optimization demonstrated that neither standalone physical separation nor chemical leaching could yield a suitable iron concentrate. Through an innovative integrated process combining magnetizing roasting, magnetic separation, and sequential alkali/acid leaching, a final concentrate was obtained with 58.11% TFe and 0.052% P, with an iron recovery of 63.53%. Magnetizing roasting converted hematite to magnetite, enabling rough concentrate recovery, whereas combined alkali–acid leaching effectively removed phosphorus and silicon impurities. This novel approach overcomes the processing challenges of HPOIO, achieving simultaneous iron upgrading and impurity control.

Conventional polymer-based binders have been extensively utilized in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs); however, their high cost and disposal challenges have raised environmental and economic concerns in recent years. Consequently, there is increasing interest in identifying alternative binder materials that can retain or enhance battery performance. In this study, electrode slurries were fabricated using various ratios of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and petroleum pitch (SM260) to develop a composite binder. To optimize physical and electrochemical performance, LIBs incorporating the PVDF/SM260 composite binder were systematically evaluated through charge–discharge testing, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and adhesion strength measurements using a universal testing machine (UTM). The optimized LIBs demonstrated a discharge capacity of 432 mAh g⁻¹, an initial coulombic efficiency (ICE) of 94%, and an adhesion strength of 35.4 g_f mm⁻¹ at a slurry composition ratio of 90 wt% (active material, AM): 1 wt% (conductive material, CM): 9 wt% (binder material, BM). These findings indicate that the PVDF/SM260 composite binder offers significant potential as a viable replacement for conventional PVDF binders in LIB applications.

In gasification processes, the accumulation of slag on the water tubes of radiant syngas coolers (RSCs) significantly impacts heat transfer efficiency and operational reliability. Understanding the mechanical properties of slag is crucial for optimizing slag removal strategies and enhancing system performance. This study aims to develop a comprehensive mechanical model of slag using the cohesive zone model (CZM) to simulate its brittle behavior under compressive loading conditions. By employing quasi-static analysis in ABAQUS, we investigated the mechanical failure behavior of slag samples, focusing on crack initiation and propagation. Zero-thickness cohesive elements were inserted into the model, and failure was assessed using the maximum nominal stress criterion. Experimental validation confirmed a relative error of 2.8% in compressive strength prediction and 4.3% in deformation. The simulation results revealed that initial damage accumulates within the slag sample before progressing to complete failure, characterized by significant aggregate detachment. To quantitatively assess the damage extent, a novel slag unit damage ratio (η_t) was introduced. It shows that 90% of elements are affected by pressure, but only 57% experience complete fracture (η_t at SDEG > 0.9). This indicates the coexistence of fragmented and intact regions during failure. The CZM-based approach demonstrated good agreement with experimental data, validating its effectiveness in predicting the mechanical behavior of slag under compressive loading. Our findings not only elucidate the entire process of mechanical fracture of slag but also provide a theoretical foundation for developing more effective slag removal strategies in RSCs.

This work presents the results of studies on obtaining biodegradable materials based on PLA/OLA-g-cellulose/bentonite/kaolin. It was shown that bioplastic materials can be obtained by adding up to 15% by weight bentonite, kaolin, and their mixtures in equal amounts to PLA/OLA-g-cellulose 80:20 samples. The physicochemical properties of the samples were studied by FTIR, XRD, SEM, TGA, and DSC methods. Their hydrophilic properties were checked by optical determination of contact angles. The results of FTIR analysis revealed that strong interactions between polymer macromolecules and the mineral component occurred in PLA/OLA-g-cell composite materials. The results of thermal analysis showed that the addition of kaolin mineral facilitated the decomposition of the samples, and the components in the kaolin mineral played a catalytic role in this process. The DSC method revealed that the materials obtained by adding 10% kaolin to the samples, as well as 5% bentonite + 5% kaolin, have a higher proportion of free space, and the glass transition temperature is 25°С lower than that of other samples. When examining the textural and other physicochemical properties of the materials, it was found that the introduction of minerals in their composition in an amount of 10% or more leads to a deterioration in the textural properties, that is, to a deterioration in the mutual adhesion of the components. It was shown that the introduction of minerals into the composition of the materials increases their hydrophilicity. These bioplastic materials can be used as secondary packaging materials for medicines, primary packaging materials for agricultural products, as they are biocompatible.