Micro and Nano Structuring as Method to Enhance the Functional Properties of Starch-Based Polymeric Materials

The use of starch, the second most abundant natural resource in the word, as polymer is unprofitable and limited by certain functional properties. The structuring of multiphase polymeric materials represents the process of diminishing the dispersed phases till micro-and/or nano-dimensions and the positioning of the resulted fields in an order through which the properties of interest are achieved as far as possible. The structuring is reached by controlling the interface properties for achieving physical, chemical, biological or rheological compatibilization, mainly by melt compounding procedure. The chapter proves that the structuring of starch-based multiphases polymeric systems by reactive compatibilization is a good possibility to guarantee the functional properties, required by sustainable applications, of interest even in 2050 perspective. The chapter underlines also that the structuring by reactive compatibilization is connected with the formulation designing and choosing of the melt-compounding conditions in such a manner for the chemical bonding of the minority phases with the main polymeric matrix and therefore increasing the component miscibility and the functional properties of the resulted materials till the requirements of the sustainable applications

Application of waste oil purification technology on a heating installation of an industrial hall

The paper proposes the development of an experimental model of boiler using waste oil revitalized with bentonite, for heating an industrial hall. The main objective is to present a new perspective on the use of waste oils, a framework in which it no longer presents a danger to the environment and to human health, as well as their energy use from an economic and ecological point of view. Experiments were performed to determine the adsorption of the impurities from the waste oil. One of the experiments is to compare the combustion of the revitalized waste oil with the combustion of raw waste oil. The results show improvements in the combustion process and decreases of the pollutant emissions for revitalized waste oil. The CO concentration decreased on average by 52% when and the NOx concentration increased by 57% due to the increase of temperature in the furnace in the case of burning purified oil. The experimental installation is adapted on an industrial hall

Experiments in use of bentonite for energy recovery of used oils

The paper proposes the development of advanced, integrated technologies for materials with properties of adsorbents (e.g. bentonite), and the use of these material in processes of used oil recovery with remediation effect and energy recovery. The main objective is to replace diesel fuel, which is an expensive fuel, with revitalized oils for energy production. For these, laboratory experiments are required in two important directions. The first tests are related to the determination the optimum concentration of bentonite for removal of metals from used oil. The revitalization of the used oil leads to the protection of the combustion plant, to the increase of its lifetime and polluting emissions reduction. The second set of experiments relates to the determination of energy characteristics of used oil and revitalized used oil for energy production. Elemental analysis, lower heating value, viscosity, density and ash analysis were determined. Experimental test of combustion process on a small scale boiler has been done and the results shows an improved combustion process of revitalized oil compares with used oil and the decrease of the pollutant emissions

Combustion Experiments On A Solid Fuel With Low Sulphur Content

Research was carried out at the experimental installation defined by the 2 MW furnace pilot from the Politehnica University of Bucharest and ICEMENRG institute who was involved for measurements. The purpose of the experimental study is to confirm that the use of a coal with low sulphur content S<0.08% is possible without the use of sulphurpurification installations for industrial purposes. But, the high moisture content of the coal has imposed the problem of its compatibility with a certain milling technology. The pilot plant is equipped with fan mill and pre-drying tower. Under these conditions, this installation allows the grinding of fuels with high moisture content. The experiments focused on the process of ignition, combustion and pollutant emissions, with the exemplification, in particular, of the emission of sulfur dioxide. Also, the outbreak temperatures and the slugging temperature were monitored. For this purpose, the outbreak of the pilot boiler was equipped with all the equipment necessary to follow these parameters. The experiments have shown positive aspects to the burning of this fuel, thus laying the foundations of future tests at industrial installations (first of all, the power plant from Deva is considered)