Absorption characteristics of potassium carbonate-based solutions with rate promoters and corrosion inhibitors

In this research, absorbents for CO₂ capture were prepared by blending 30 wt% potassium carbonate, 3 wt% of a rate promoter, and 1 wt% of a corrosion inhibitor. Pipecolic acid, sarcosine, and diethanolamine were chosen as rate promoter candidates. Based on a rate promoter screening test for CO₂ loading capacity and absorption rate, pipecolic acid and sarcosine were selected to be used as rate promoters. 1,2,3-benzotriazole and ammonium thiocyanate were chosen as corrosion inhibitors, and they were mixed with a 30 wt% potassium carbonate-based absorbent mixture containing one of the rate promoters. The absorption rates for four absorbent solutions (30 wt% potassium carbonate?+?3 wt% pipecolic acid?+?1 wt% 1,2,3-benzotriazole, 30 wt% potassium carbonate?+?3 wt% pipecolic acid?+?1 wt% ammonium thiocyanate, 30 wt% potassium carbonate?+?3 wt% sarcosine?+?1 wt% 1,2,3-benzotriazole, and 30 wt% potassium carbonate?+?3 wt% sarcosine?+?1 wt% ammonium thiocyanate) were measured, tabulated, and graphically displayed. These types of absorbents can be used for capturing CO₂ under high temperature and pressure conditions, such as those found in coal-fired power plants.     

Catalytic upgrading pyrolysis of pine sawdust for bio-oil with metal oxides

The catalytic upgrading pyrolysis of pine sawdust was performed at 500 °C with various metal oxides to improve the quality of the bio-oil. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of the metal oxides instead of traditional zeolites for catalytic upgrading pyrolysis with the analysis of Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer. In this study, the used catalysts were Calcium-oxide, Magnesium oxide, Titanium dioxide, and Zeolite (Si/Al?=?80). The influence of catalysts on products yields and compositions were investigated. Most metal oxides can enhance the bio-gas with the bio-oil yields decreased. The metal oxides led to a decrease of Acids, Aldehydes, Ketones and an increase of Furfural, Cresols, Catechols in Furans and Phenolics. Among the catalysts, the MgO catalysts was the most effective to convert the high molecular into lights ones (6.65% Cresols) with yield of 20.48% for Furfural. The deoxygenation reaction in bio-oil was suggested to convert oxygenated compounds into the low molecular weight of the materials (6.39% Guaiacols). Thus, the used metal oxides can improve the quality of bio-oil by decreasing undesirable compounds as well as increasing the desirable compounds with low oxygen contents via deoxygenation reaction.     

Carbon dioxide utilization with carbonation using industrial waste-desulfurization gypsum and waste concrete

In this study, we propose a process making calcium carbonate and calcium sulfate and recovering absorbent using ammonia absorbent, carbon dioxide, and industrial waste. The main objective of this study is to confirm the possibility of carbon capture and utilization based on waste materials. We assumed desulfurization gypsum and construction waste (ready mixed concrete washing water, waste concrete, etc.) are CaSO₄, Ca(OH)₂, respectively. And concentration of simulated carbon dioxide gas was 15 vol% similar to flue gas. Calcium carbonate was produced by combination reaction between ionic CO₂ in absorbent and metal ion in the solid waste. Experiments were conducted at normal temperature and pressure. Furthermore, the generated products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscope.     

Community reactions to tourism development: how does governmental fairness work?

Based on the elements of social exchange and organizational justice theories, a conceptual model and associated hypotheses were formulated to examine the relationship among community residents and their perceptions of governmental fairness (i.e., distributive, procedural, interpersonal, and informational dimensions), social capital (i.e., cognitive and structural dimensions), and support for government and environmental development. Data were collected from 496 residents in four Korean cities: Busan, Gyeongju, Pohang, and Ulsan. Empirical testing resulted in support for multiple hypotheses. More specifically, cognitive social capital was significantly influenced by distributive, interpersonal, and informational fairness. Structural social capital was significantly affected by distributive and informational fairness. Subsequently, two dimensions of social capital positively influenced two types of support. Overall, the results suggest that the interplay of governmental fairness and social capital is important in influencing residents’ support for government and environmental development.     

Access for all? Beach access and equity in the Detroit metropolitan area

Beaches are a unique type of recreation setting, offering a variety of water- and land-based opportunities that can meet residents’ diverse and complex recreation needs. Providing and improving equitable access to recreation amenities such as beaches have been recognized as essential responsibilities of public leisure agencies. This study assessed the degree of equity inherent in the distribution of public beaches in the Detroit metropolitan area; to account for spatial effects, phenomena rarely considered in prior equity analyses, geographically weighted regression was employed. Considerable local variations in the relationships between level of access to public beaches and population density, proportion of elderly population and educational attainment were identified. Such findings can help parks and recreation agencies better understand local patterns of equity, an important first step in facilitating the formulation of more efficient and effective planning and policy approaches.     

Stressor identification and health assessment of fish exposed to wastewater effluents in Miho Stream, South Korea

This study evaluated the effects of an industrial wastewater treatment plant (IWTP) and a municipal wastewater treatment plant (MWTP) effluents on a variety of bioindicators ranging from biochemical, organism, and population-level responses in pale chub (Zacco platypus) and fish community structure. The Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) indicated that the site upstream of these wastewater treatment plant discharges is in fair–good condition and downstream of the plant is in poor condition. The EROD (ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase) activity, condition factor, and liver somatic index were significantly increased at the downstream site compared to those of the upstream site. The most significant change observed in pale chub population in the downstream site of the Miho Stream, relative to the upstream population, was the total absence of an younger age group. Stressors impacting the downstream site were identified as mostly organic or nutrient enrichment and habitat degradation associated with wastewater treatment plants. The results of causal analysis suggest that the primary causes affecting fish population in the downstream site are through both size-selective mortality caused by ammonia toxicity and recruitment failure caused by habitat degradation and reproduction problem due to an IWTP and MWTP effluents.     

Bio-oil production from pyrolysis of waste sawdust with catalyst ZSM-5

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - Slow pyrolysis is characterized by a low heating rate and high reaction time. The products are bio-char, bio-oil and bio-gas. In bio-oil, there are...     

The estimation of N2O emissions from municipal solid waste incineration facilities: The Korea case

The greenhouse gases (GHGs) generated in municipal solid waste (MSW) incineration are carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N₂O). In South Korea case, the total of GHGs from the waste incineration facilities has been increasing at an annual rate 10%. In these view, waste incineration facilities should consider to reduce GHG emissions.This study is designed to estimate the N₂O emission factors from MSW incineration plants, and calculate the N₂O emissions based on these factors. The three MSW incinerators examined in this study were either stoker or both stoker and rotary kiln facilities. The N₂O concentrations from the MSW incinerators were measured using gas chromatography-electron capture detection (GC-ECD) equipment.The average of the N₂O emission factors for the M01 plant, M02 plant, and M03 plant are 71, 75, and 153 g-N₂O/ton-waste, respectively. These results showed a significant difference from the default values of the intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC), while approaching those values derived in Japan and Germany. Furthermore, comparing the results of this study to the Korea Energy Economics Institute (KEEI) (2007) data on waste incineration, N₂O emissions from MSW incineration comprised 19% of the total N₂O emissions.     

DOWNSCALED CLIMATE AND STREAMFLOW STUDY OF THE SOUTHWESTERN UNITED STATES1

ABSTRACT: Downscaling coarse resolution climate data to scales that are useful for impact assessment studies is receiving increased attention. Basin-scale hydrologic processes and other local climate impacts related to water resources such as reservoir management, crop and forest productivity, and ecosystem response require climate information at scales that are much finer than current and future GCM resolutions. The Regional Climate System Model (RCSM) is a dynamic downscaling system that has been used since 1994 for short-term precipitation and streamflow predictions and seasonal hindcast analysis with good skill. During the 1997–1998 winter, experimental seasonal forecasts were made in collaboration with the NOAA Climate Prediction Center and UCLA with promising results. Preliminary studies of a control and 2°CO₂ perturbation for the southwestern U.S. have been performed.