Bench-scale gasification of cedar wood – Part I: Effect of operational conditions on product gas characteristics

The present study was conducted within the framework of R&D activities on the development of gasification and reforming technologies for energy and chemical recovery from biomass resources. Gasification of the Japanese cedar wood has been investigated under various operating conditions in a bench-scale externally heated updraft gasifier; this was followed by thermal reforming. Parametric tests by varying the residence times, gasification temperatures, equivalence ratios (ERs) and steam-to-carbon (S/C) ratios were performed to determine their effects on the product gas characteristics. Thermodynamic equilibrium calculations were preformed to predict the equilibrium gas composition and compared with the experimental value.We found that the product gas characteristics in terms of the H₂/CO ratio, CO₂/CO ratio, and CH₄ and lighter hydrocarbons concentrations are significantly affected by the operating conditions used. Increasing the residence time decreased the CO₂/CO ratio; however, a nominal effect was noticed on H₂ concentration as a function of the residence time. At sufficient residence time, increasing the temperature led to higher H₂ yields, CO efficiency and higher heating value (HHV) of the product gas. The presence of steam during gasification effectively enhanced the proportion of H₂ in the product gas. However, higher S/C ratio reduced the HHV of the product gas. Increasing the ER from 0 to 0.3 increased the H₂ yields and CO efficiency and decreased the HHV of the product gas.The evolution of CH₄ and lighter hydrocarbons at low gasification temperatures was relatively higher than that at high temperature gasification. The evolution of CH₄ and lighter hydrocarbons at high gasification temperatures hardly varied over the investigated operating conditions.     

Nonthermal Plasma Chemical Processing of Bromomethane

ABSTRACT

Nonthermal plasma chemical decomposition of bromomethane (CH₃Br) was investigated with a coaxial type packed-bed plasma reactor. It has been demonstrated that plasma chemical processing is an effective approach to decompose CH₃Br in a wide concentration range. It has been shown that CH₃Br decomposition reactivity depends on reactor operating factors such as background gas, O₂ concentration, and humidification. Higher decomposition efficiencies can be obtained in dry N₂. However, organic byproducts such as BrCN are concurrently produced under deaerated conditions. Water suppresses CH₃Br decomposition and also affects the yields of CO_x (CO and CO₂) and organic byproducts due to the involvement of some active species generated from water. The presence of O₂ retards CH₃Br decomposition by quenching high-energy electrons, while it suppresses organic byproducts and improves CO_x yield. The reacted carbons in CH₃Br are recovered as CO_x almost quantitatively in air. Higher CO₂ selectivities cannot be achieved by increasing O₂ concentration. NO_x formation, which is accompanied by CH₃Br decomposition, can be effectively suppressed by decreasing O₂ concentration down to 2%. Furthermore, reaction mechanisms are discussed by comparing the reactivities of CH₃Br and its congeners.     

活性炭吸附和脱附-等离子体氧化净化有机废气的研究

根据滑动弧放电等离子体适于降解高浓度有机物废气的特性,结合活性炭吸附法,提出了吸附器的吸附浓缩和热脱附-等离子体氧化净化有机废气的方法。在活性炭吸附过程中,最初2 h内甲苯净化率达到100%,随着时间的增加净化率下降;在热脱附滑动弧放电等离子体净化过程中,甲苯降解效率最高为97.3%。将滑动弧放电等离子体反应器出口气相产物收集进行FT-IR检测,发现放电后有CO2、CO、H2O和NO2产生,并分析了甲苯的降解机理。     

填料塔中Na_2CO_3吸收高浓度H_2S的传质特性

在填料吸收塔中考察了Na2CO3溶液吸收高浓度H2S气体的气液传质特性。通过测量填料塔进出口气体中H2S浓度计算了Na2CO3溶液吸收高浓度H2S气体的总体积传质系数(KGa),并研究了进气流速、吸收液流量、吸收温度和吸收液浓度对KGa的影响。结果表明,KGa随Na2CO3浓度、吸收液流量的增加而增加,随吸收温度、进气流速的升高而降低;在高浓度H2S吸收过程中液相传质阻力不能忽略。     

Enhancing mixed toluene and formaldehyde pollutant removal by Zamioculcas zamiifolia combined with Sansevieria trifasciata and its CO2 emission

Indoor air pollutants comprise both polar and non-polar volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Indoor potted plants are well known for their innate ability to improve indoor air quality (IAQ) by detoxification of indoor air pollutants. In this study, a combination of two different plant species comprising a C3 plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) and a crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) plant (Sansevieria trifasciata) was used to remove polar and non-polar VOCs and minimize CO₂ emission from the chamber. Z. zamiifolia and S. trifasciata, when combined, were able to remove more than 95% of pollutants within 48 h and could do so for six consecutive pollutant’s exposure cycles. The CO₂ concentration was reduced from 410 down to 160 ppm inside the chamber. Our results showed that using plant growth medium rather than soil had a positive effect on decreasing CO₂. We also re-affirmed the role of formaldehyde dehydrogenase in the detoxification and metabolism of formaldehyde and that exposure of plants to pollutants enhances the activity of this enzyme in the shoots of both Z. zamiifolia and S. trifasciata. Overall, a mixed plant of Z. zamiifolia and S. trifasciata was more efficient at removing mixed pollutants and reducing CO₂ than individual plants.

     

脉冲电晕低温等离子体提高一氧化氮氧化效率的实验研究

提高一氧化氮（NO）的氧化效率对于提高生物法处理该类废气的净化效率具有重要意义。实验研究了低温等离子体在脉冲电晕条件下氧化废气中NO的过程,考察了不同峰值电压、氧气含量、气体停留时间和添加有机物等因素对提高NO氧化效率的影响。结果表明：低温等离子法可有效地提高NO的氧化效率,主要产物为NO₂;室温条件下,当进气NO浓度590 mg/m³、脉冲频率50 Hz时,增大峰值电压、气体停留时间和进气中的氧气含量可提高NO的氧化效率;在最适峰值电压15 kV,气体停留时间5 s时,NO氧化效率为20%;在进气NO中添加甲苯、乙醇后,NO氧化效率可增加至30%以上,甲苯的效果要好于乙醇。     

Comparison of the effect of biodiesel-diesel and ethanol-diesel on the gaseous emission of a direct-injection diesel engine

Experiments were conducted on a 4-cylinder direct-injection diesel engine using ultralow sulfur diesel blended with biodiesel and ethanol to investigate the gaseous emissions of the engine under five engine loads at the maximum torque engine speed of 1800 rev min^?1. Four biodiesel blended fuels and four ethanol blended fuels with oxygen concentrations of 2%, 4%, 6% and 8% were used. With the increase of oxygen content in the blended fuels, the brake thermal efficiency improves slightly.For the diesel-biodiesel fuels, the brake specific HC and CO emissions decrease while the brake specific NO_x and NO₂ emissions increase. The emissions of formaldehyde, 1,3-butadiene, toluene, xylene and overall BTX (benzene, toluene, xylene) in general decrease, however, acetaldehyde and benzene emissions increase. For the diesel-ethanol fuels, the brake specific HC and CO emissions increase significantly at low engine load, NO_x emission decreases at low engine load but increases at high engine load. The emissions of benzene and BTX vary with engine load and ethanol content. Similar to the biodiesel-diesel fuels, the formaldehyde, 1,3-butadiene, toluene and xylene emissions decrease while the acetaldehyde and NO₂ emissions increase. Despite having the same oxygen contents in the blended fuels, there are significant differences in the gaseous emissions between the biodiesel-diesel blends and the ethanol-diesel blends.     

纳米TiO2/活性炭复合光催化剂的制备及其对甲醛气体降解

研究了纳米TiO2/活性炭复合光催化剂对空气中典型污染气体甲醛的光催化降解特性。采用扫描电镜(SEM)表征复合催化剂的表面特征。结果显示,经改性后的纳米TiO2在复合催化剂表面分布均匀,呈球状。对甲醛气体的降解实验显示TiO2负载量为1%时对甲醛的去除效果最好,6 h去除率为61.7%。结果显示复合催化剂把甲醛气体分解成CO2,可以直接排空,无二次污染。     

采用双氰胺甲醛缩聚物混凝去除水中酸性红B染料的研究

以双氰胺和甲醛为原料制备了聚合双氰胺甲醛,并对其进行红外光谱表征.采用聚合双氰胺甲醛与硫代硫酸钠共同作用对酸性红B染料溶液进行混凝脱色实验.对比了单独使用聚合双氰胺甲醛,以及聚合双氰胺甲醛与硫代硫酸钠共同作用的脱色效果.探讨了硫代硫酸钠和聚合双氰胺甲醛的用量以及pH值对脱色率的影响.结果表明,投加硫代硫酸钠可以明显地提高聚合双氰胺甲醛的脱色率,增大絮凝范围,使絮凝剂对pH值的变化有很强的适应性,pH值为7～12的范围内,脱色率均能维持在96%以上.此外,还对混凝脱色的机理进行了研究.     

微型舱模拟室内环境中活性炭净化甲醛的能力

利用微型实验舱(0.04 m3)模拟室内甲醛环境进行活性炭吸附实验,研究吸附后甲醛浓度随时间的变化趋势,计算活性炭对甲醛的净化效率、吸附速率和饱和吸附量,探索活性炭对室内甲醛的吸附规律.研究发现,当甲醛含量为0 ～0.40 mg,活性炭用量为0.5g时,舱内甲醛浓度随时间延长呈指数递减变化趋势,吸附后0～0.5 h甲醛浓度递减得最快,0.5～2h递减速度变缓,2～4h甲醛浓度基本上保持不变;研究E0A1、E1A4曲线斜率K及活性炭甲醛净化效率发现,每次吸附过程活性炭吸附2h可达到吸附平衡,活性炭进行3次吸附平衡即可达到吸附饱和,每次实验第一次吸附过程、每次吸附过程前半小时活性炭对甲醛的吸附能力最强;活性炭的吸附速率在吸附初期迅速降低,最后趋近于0;等量椰壳活性炭在一定浓度的污染物环境中饱和吸附量是个定值.说明使用活性炭净化室内甲醛有一定的规律可循.     

Technical Session Preliminary Schedule Announced for 1988 APCA Annual Meeting

ABSTRACT

Stable heterogeneous catalysts for the oxidative removal of CO from air at ambient temperatures have been developed. An alumina support impregnated with PdCl₂, CuCl₂, and CuSO₄ is described. Optimal activity was obtained with Pd 0.020 mol/kg, Cu 0.50 mol/kg, CuCl₂ 20-30% of total Cu, a 2- to 24-hr soak, filtration of surplus raffinate, and a 2- to 4-hr firing in air at 200-350 °C. The catalysts are effective at 20-26 °C and relative humidities in the 15-90% range. They are reversibly deactivated by completely dry or water-saturated air streams. These catalysts have been tested at space velocities up to 30,000 hr^-1. In contact with <100 ppm CO, they are highly efficient, removing ~99% of the CO with contact times of ~120 msec (pseudo-first order k' > 25 sec^-1). At much higher CO concentrations, the maximum CO loading rate—limited by the Cu(I) reoxidation rate—is approximately 17 m mol CO per Limol Pd per hour.     

Nutrient release from fish silage using microwave-enhanced advanced oxidation process

The microwave-enhanced advanced oxidation process was used to treat fish silage for nutrient release and solids reduction prior to its use as a fertilizer for greenhouse operations. Fifteen sets of experiments with varying hydrogen peroxide dosages and treatment temperatures were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the process on the solubilization of fertilizer constituents. It was found that up to 26% of total Kjeldahl nitrogen could be released as ammonia with 6% hydrogen peroxide dosage at 170°C. An increase of nitrate/nitrite concentration was observed with higher hydrogen peroxide dosage and higher microwave temperature; the highest concentration of 10.2 mg L^{? 1} nitrates/nitrites was achieved at at 170°C and 6% H₂O₂ dosage. Up to 20 ± 9.5% of total chemical oxygen demand was reduced at temperatures between 120 and 170°C. Large quantities of volatile fatty acids were generated at lower temperatures, corresponding to an increase in soluble chemical oxygen demand, but not at higher temperatures. The treatment of fish silage using the microwave-enhanced advanced oxidation process appears to be promising.     

Humidity effects on photochemical aerosol formation in the SO2-NO-C3H6-air system

In order to investigate the effects of humidity on the gas-phase oxidation of SO₂ in polluted air and on the subsequent aerosol formation process, photoirradiation experiments were carried out by means of a 4-m³ chamber, in which mixtures containing SO₂, NO and C₃H₆ with concentrations in the ppm range were exposed to simulated solar radiation in different relative humidity (r.h.) conditions. The total amount of oxidized SO₂ was quantified from the SO₄²⁻ yield determined by the chemical analysis of the aerosol product, and a part due to the oxidation by the OH radical was evaluated by estimating the OH concentration from the decay rate of C₃H₆. The remaining part was assigned to the oxidation by the Criegee intermediate, as it had a good correlation with the progress of the O₃ + C₃H₆ reaction. The contributions of the two oxidizing species to the total conversion and the oxidation rate of SO₂ were measured as functions of r.h. As a result, experimental evidence was obtained for the prediction of Calvert and Stockwell's (1983, Envir. Sci. Technol. 17, 428A–443A) simulation that the oxidation due to the Criegee intermediate was retarded by the increase in humidity. The OH contribution, on the other hand, was almost independent of r.h. It was observed consequently that the total oxidized amount of SO₂ considerably decreased as r.h. was higher.The humidity effect on the aerosol formation process was found to be more complicated than the effect on the gas-phase chemistry. The maximum rate of increase in the particle number concentration rose linearly with increasing r.h., but the number concentration itself measured at its maximum or at the end of the irradiation reached a ceiling value around r.h. = 30% and went down for higher r.h. The average panicle size in the final stage of the reaction showed a minimum around the same r.h. at which the number concentration was maximum. The H₂SO₄ concentration in the mist particles, however, decreased monotonically as r.h. got higher. It was suggested that these different responses against the increase in humidity resulted from the cooperation of several processes such as the H₂SO₄ monomer formation, the H₂O condensation, the particle coagulation, etc., which had different dependences on r.h.     

Fenton氧化法深度处理甲醛废水

采用Fenton氧化法深度处理经生化降解后的甲醛废水,结果表明,Fenton氧化法深度处理甲醛废水是可行的,在合适的反应条件下,降解初始COD为150 mg/L左右的甲醛废水,COD去除率达30%以上;Fe2+与H2O2的投加比例、投加量及投加方式、反应温度、pH、反应时间对处理效果都有不同程度的影响。     

The influence of air–fuel ratio on engine performance and pollutant emission of an SI engine using ethanol–gasoline-blended fuels

Ethanol–gasoline-blended fuel was tested in a conventional engine under various air–fuel equivalence ratios (λ) for its performance and emissions. The amount of fuel injection was adjusted manually by an open-loop control system using a CONSULT controller. It was found that without changing throttle opening and injection strategy, λ could be extended to a leaner condition as ethanol content increased. The results of engine performance tests showed that torque output would increase slightly at small throttle valve opening when ethanol–gasoline-blended fuel was used. It was also shown that CO and HC emissions were reduced with the increase of ethanol content in the blended fuel, which resulted from oxygen enrichment. At an air–fuel equivalence ratio slightly larger than one, the smallest amounts of CO and HC and the largest amounts of CO₂ resulted. It was noted that under the lean combustion condition, CO₂ emission was controlled by air–fuel equivalence ratio; while under the rich combustion condition, CO₂ emission is offset by CO emission. It was also found that CO₂ emission per unit horse power output for blended fuel was similar or less than that for gasoline fuel. From the experimental data, the optimal ethanol content in the gasoline and air–fuel equivalence ratio in terms of engine performance and air pollution was found.     

Formaldehyde and carbon dioxide air concentrations and their relationship with indoor environmental factors in daycare centers

The aim of this study was to measure the air concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and formaldehyde (HCHO) in daycare centers to determine relevant influencing factors, including temperature, relative humidity (RH), type of facility, number of children, type of ventilation system, ventilation time, and air cleaning system. The authors measured HCHO, CO₂, temperature, and RH in the center of classrooms in 289 daycare centers. Spearman’s correlation and Mann–Whitney analyses were used to examine the relationships and differences in HCHO and CO₂ for varying temperatures, RH values, and categorical indoor environmental factors. There were no significant differences in the HCHO and CO₂ air concentrations with varying numbers of children, ventilation times, or ventilation and air cleaning system types. However, both the HCHO and CO₂ air concentrations were significantly different for varying RH values, which were divided into five categories (p < 0.001). Only the HCHO air concentrations were significantly different for varying temperatures, which were divided into five categories (p < 0.001). Significant correlations were found between HCHO air concentrations and the temperature (r = 0.35, p < 0.0001), RH (r = 0.51, p < 0.0001), and CO₂ (r = 0.36, p < 0.0001). The study results support maintaining an appropriate temperature and RH range for reducing airborne HCHO in daycare centers. Further research is needed to elucidate the precise mechanisms responsible for the relationships observed in this study.

Implications: Data from 289 daycare centers in Seoul, South Korea, indicate that HCHO concentrations show a positive correlation with indoor temperature and relative humidity. This indicates that keeping temperatures low will help keep HCHO concentrations low, by both a direct and an indirect effect, since low temperatures also cause low relative humidity.     

Thermodynamic analysis of in situ gasification-chemical looping combustion (<Emphasis Type="Italic">i</Emphasis>G-CLC) of Indian coal

Chemical looping combustion (CLC) is an inherent CO₂ capture technology. It is gaining much interest in recent years mainly because of its potential in addressing climate change problems associated with CO₂ emissions from power plants. A typical chemical looping combustion unit consists of two reactors—fuel reactor, where oxidation of fuel occurs with the help of oxygen available in the form of metal oxides and, air reactor, where the reduced metal oxides are regenerated by the inflow of air. These oxides are then sent back to the fuel reactor and the cycle continues. The product gas from the fuel reactor contains a concentrated stream of CO₂ which can be readily stored in various forms or used for any other applications. This unique feature of inherent CO₂ capture makes the technology more promising to combat the global climate changes. Various types of CLC units have been discussed in literature depending on the type of fuel burnt. For solid fuel combustion three main varieties of CLC units exist namely: syngas CLC, in situ gasification-CLC (iG-CLC) and chemical looping with oxygen uncoupling (CLOU). In this paper, theoretical studies on the iG-CLC unit burning Indian coal are presented. Gibbs free energy minimization technique is employed to determine the composition of flue gas and oxygen carrier of an iG-CLC unit using Fe₂O₃, CuO, and mixed carrier—Fe₂O₃ and CuO as oxygen carriers. The effect of temperature, suitability of oxygen carriers, and oxygen carrier circulation rate on the performance of a CLC unit for Indian coal are studied and presented. These results are analyzed in order to foresee the operating conditions at which economic and smooth operation of the unit is expected.     

Nitrogen Dioxide Absorption and Sulfide Oxidation in Aqueous Sulfide

ABSTRACT

Rates of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) absorption and sulfide oxidation were measured in a highly characterized stirred cell contactor at 55 °C, with O₂ present in the gas phase. The rate constant of the reaction between NO₂ and sul-fide at 55 °C was determined to be 26.4 x10⁵ M^-1sec^-1. A reaction mechanism was proposed that is consistent with the kinetic data. NO₂ absorption initiates sulfide oxidation in the presence of oxygen. The rate of sulfide oxidation increased with sulfide and oxygen concentration and with the rate of NO₂ absorption. Furthermore, thiosulfate was an effective inhibitor of sulfide oxidation.     

Empirical Validation of Turbine Engine Exhaust Measurements

The reliability and validity of gas turbine engine exhaust measurements are of concern to all who measure these effluents. In the past, one measure of reliability has been a carbon balance between the fuel used and the C, CO, hydrocarbons, and CO₂ emitted which requires that a F/A ratio be known accurately and that the analyzed sample be representative. In addition to this carbon balance, we have considered the relationships between the concentrations of the several component species. For example, the plot of volume percent of CO₂ versus the volume percent of O₂, both properly corrected to complete combustion, is a straight line. The intercept on the Y-axis (zero oxygen) is a function of the H to C mole ratio in the fuel. This relation has been theoretically established and also established by empirical calculations. For all valid measurements, all points corresponding to CO₂ and O₂ analyses fall on the straight line. In addition, smooth functional relationships exist between other exhaust gas constituents as well, although the form is not a simply derivable linear relationship like that for O₂-CO₂. We have found it useful to employ the following correlations: CO₂ vs. log NO_x, log CO vs. log THC, log CO vs. CO₂, and log THC vs. CO₂- These relationships serve to indicate the probability of reliable data and point out sampling problems and instrument problems such as drift. Subtle changes in engine operation such as opening of the accessory bleed ports in the compressor discharge of the engine can be detected.

The use of a combination of these curves can serve to indicate which measurement is in error. If the O₂-CO₂ relation is linear and the CO-CO₂ relation is smooth, then problems with the total hydrocarbon analyses are indicated when the CO-THC relation is erratic. This would be confirmed by a similar CO₂-THC plot. No useful smooth relationship between smoke density measurements and the other constituents has been found to date. This may indicate poor data, lack of sufficient data, or possibly no correlation.     

Photocatalytic hydrogen generation in the presence of chloroacetic acids over Pt/TiO2

In the presence of chloroacetic acids, the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution and decomposition of the pollutants over Pt/TiO2 have been investigated. The Pt/TiO2 was prepared by photodeposition. Monochloroacetic acid and dichloroacetic acid enhance photocatalytic hydrogen generation, whereas trichloroacetic acid does not. The photocatalytic oxidation of monochloroacetic acid and dichloroacetic acid mainly produces CO2, HCl and formaldehyde, whereas the photocatalytic oxidation of trichloroacetic acid mainly produces CO2 and HCl. The effect of the concentration of monochloroacetic acid and dichloroacetic acid on the hydrogen generation rate is consistent with a Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetic model. A possible reaction mechanism was discussed.