Modelling and simulation of inhibition-injection systems applied to polymerization reactors

The most critical aspect of polymerization reactors is the agitator's stop and becomes more serious when this occurs exactly at the removal of the heat load, which is generated by the reaction (exothermic). This phenomenon is typical in power-failure situations of the energy supply or because of other related problems at the plant. The objective of this work is to compare the performance of two configurations for the inhibition-injection system for vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) polymerization reactors. To determine the injection time a rigorous mathematical model was developed. From the results of this work one of the configurations was implemented in an industrial plant.     

Development of hybrid processes for the removal of volatile organic compounds,plasticizer, and pharmaceutically active compound using sewage sludge,waste scrap tires,and wood chips as sorbents and microbial immobilization matrices

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This study evaluated the reutilization of waste materials (scrap tires, sewage sludge, and wood chips) to remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs)...     

Residues of legacy organochlorine pesticides and DDT metabolites in highly consumed fish from the polluted Guanabara Bay,Brazil: distribution and assessment of human health risk

Abstract

Organochlorine (OCP) pesticides were determined in samples of sardine (Sardinella brasiliensis), whitemouth croaker (Micropogonias furnieri), and mullet (Mugil liza) from Guanabara Bay (state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). OCP concentrations and fish consumption were linked with acceptable daily intake values in order to assess the human health risk for the Brazilian population. The total concentrations of OCPs (Σ OCP) was 6.6?ng/g f.w., 7.5?ng/g f.w., and 2.8?ng/g f.w. for sardines, corvina, and mullet, respectively. There was a significant difference (P?<?0.05) among the species related to o,p’-DDD and o,p’-DDT concentrations. Both DDT-related compounds were 5 and 76 times more abundant in sardines than in whitemouth croaker and mullet. Newly discovered DDT metabolite, o-Cl-DDMU, was frequently detected in the fish. None of the samples exceeded the maximum limits for acceptable levels of OCP residues. According to the data of average intake of Brazilian population, none of three species exceeded toxicological parameter. The investigated fishes are considered as safe for human consumption in regard to exposure of the studied OCPs. However, fish may be a intake source of OCP metabolites such as o-Cl-DDMU whose toxicity is still unknown.     

Metal mixtures in pregnant women and umbilical cord blood at urban populations—Rio de Janeiro,Brazil

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This study aims to assess interrelationships between serum lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), and mercury (Hg) concentrations in pregnant women in...     

Evaluation of the effectiveness of red mud-supported catalysts in combination with ozone and TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> in the treatment of solution containing benzene,toluene, and xylene

Ozone and a Fe²⁺/TiO₂-based catalyst were examined in the degradation of a synthetic solution of benzene toluene and xylene (BTX) in an advanced oxidation process (AOP). The catalyst beads were made from the slurry waste of aluminum production process, by inserting the TiO₂ content and subsequent calcination. The reduction of the BTX concentration load was monitored by the reduction of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and BTX concentration. Different levels were used on factors: pH, time of treatment, initial concentration of BTX, and percentage of TiO₂. The process was conducted in a bubble column reactor with the insertion of catalyst beads. A response surface methodology technique (CCD) was used to build a model based on COD reduction results. The model was optimized using the normal-boundary intersection (NBI) algorithm to maximize COD reduction and minimize the variance attributed to the process. Optimization led to COD reductions of 80% in 2 h of experiment. Correlation analysis of coefficient models from experimental data R²_adj was 0.9966, showing a good fit of model data. In the optimized conditions, the possible increase of the biodegradability ratio of the BTX solution, through the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and COD, was also analyzed. Under pre-treatment conditions, the BOD/COD ratio was 0.13. After the treatment, it increased to 0.56.

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Funneliformis mosseae and Invasion by Exotic Legumes in a Brazilian Tropical Seasonal Dry Forest

Russian Journal of Ecology - Parkinsonia aculeata and Prosopis juliflora are two of the most problematic invasive plant species in the Brazilian tropical seasonal dry forest, but the mechanisms...     

Anaerobic co-digestion of coffee waste and sewage sludge

The feasibility of the anaerobic co-digestion of coffee solid waste and sewage sludge was assessed. Five different solid wastes with different chemical properties were studied in mesophilic batch assays, providing basic data on the methane production, reduction of total and volatile solids and hydrolysis rate constant. Most of the wastes had a methane yield of 0.24-0.28 m3 CH4(STP)/kg VS(initial) and 76-89% of the theoretical methane yield was achieved. Reduction of 50-73% in total solids and 75-80% in volatile solids were obtained and the hydrolysis rate constants were in the range of 0.035-0.063 d(-1). One of the solid wastes, composed of 100% barley, achieved a methane yield of 0.02 m3 CH4(STP)/kg VS(initial), reductions of 31% in total solids, 40% in volatile solids and achieved only 11% of the theoretical methane yield. However, this waste presented the highest hydrolysis rate constant. Considering all the wastes, an inverse linear correlation was obtained between methane yield and the hydrolysis rate constant, suggesting that hydrolysis was not the limiting factor in the anaerobic biodegradability of this type of waste.     

Biocomplementation of SVE to achieve clean-up goals in soils contaminated with toluene and xylene

Soil vapor extraction (SVE) and bioremediation (BR) are two of the most common soil remediation technologies. Their application is widespread; however, both present limitations, namely related to the efficiencies of SVE on organic soils and to the remediation times of some BR processes. This work aimed to study the combination of these two technologies in order to verify the achievement of the legal clean-up goals in soil remediation projects involving seven different simulated soils separately contaminated with toluene and xylene. The remediations consisted of the application of SVE followed by biostimulation. The results show that the combination of these two technologies is effective and manages to achieve the clean-up goals imposed by the Spanish Legislation. Under the experimental conditions used in this work, SVE is sufficient for the remediation of soils, contaminated separately with toluene and xylene, with organic matter contents (OMC) below 4 %. In soils with higher OMC, the use of BR, as a complementary technology, and when the concentration of contaminant in the gas phase of the soil reaches values near 1 mg/L, allows the achievement of the clean-up goals. The OMC was a key parameter because it hindered SVE due to adsorption phenomena but enhanced the BR process because it acted as a microorganism and nutrient source.     

Thermoplasticization of High Amylose Starch by Chemical Modification Using Reactive Extrusion

Modified thermoplastic high amylose starch (MTPS) was synthesized by reactive extrusion in the presence of maleic anhydride (MA) as an esterification agent in a twin-screw extruder. The objective of this work was the preparation of reactive thermoplastic starch in the presence of glycerol and with different amounts of maleic anhydride (MA) and free-radical initiator, in order to improve processability and reactivity. The concentration of MA added varied from 2 to 6 wt% (of starch + glycerol), and the free-radical initiator, 2,5-bis(tert-butylperoxy)-2,5-dimethylhexane, also called Luperox 101, varied from 0.1 to 0.5 wt% (of starch + glycerol). Characterization of maleated thermoplastic starch was performed using dynamic light scattering and thermal analysis. Further, proof of chemically modified extrudate was determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and by soxhlet extraction with acetone. The modified high amylose corn starch (20 or 30% glycerol) could be pelletized and gave pellets that were more transparent than thermoplastic starches not modified with maleic anhydride. There was negligible change in hydrodynamic radius as the percentage of maleic anhydride increased. However, as the percentage of Luperox 101 increased, the hydrodynamic radius decreased. It could be inferred that the molecular weight decreased as the percentage of free-radical initiator increased. Using the maximum temperature in the extrusion process of 165 °C instead of 135 °C caused a decrease in the hydrodynamic radius, due to the high influence of the temperature profile on the molecular weight of the thermoplastic starch. The MTPS samples presented higher melting temperatures compared to TPS samples. The soxhlet studies indicated that the plasticizer, glycerol, was chemically linked to the starch. Using the maximum temperature of 165 °C versus 135 °C in the extrusion temperature profile resulted in more interaction between glycerol and starch.     

Using the residue of spirit production and bio-ethanol for protein production by yeasts

The residue (vinasse) formed during the distillation of bio-ethanol and cachaça, a traditional rum-type spirit produced from sugar-cane in Brazil, is highly harmful if discharged into the environment due to high values of COD and BOD. One possibility for minimizing the impact of vinasse in soils and waters is to use the residue in the production of microbial biomass for use as an animal feed supplement that will provide high levels on nitrogen (>9% d.m.) and low content of nucleic (?10% d.m.) This paper reports the production and quality of biomass produced from fermentation of Saccharomycescerevisiae and Candidaparapsilosis in culture media under 12 different culture conditions and the respective effects of each variable (glucose, yeast extract, peptone, potassium phosphate, vinasse, pH and temperature). Of the S. cerevisiae isolates tested, two (VR1 and PE2) originating from fuel alcohol-producing plants were identified as offering the best potential for the industrial production of single cell protein from vinasse due to highest biomass productivity. Our results showed a potential viable and economic use of vinasse.