Cryogenic pressure temperature swing adsorption process for natural gas upgrade

The energy and chemical sectors are suffering remarkable changes. In this way, producing abundant quantity of energy with high quality, economic and environmental viability and sustainability is the main concern of the present times. One of such vital components of the world’s energy supply that fulfills the abovementioned requirements is natural gas [1]. Natural gas consists of 85–95% methane, but it also contains considerable amounts of heavier hydrocarbons as well as other compounds (CO2, N2, Hg, He, H2S) [1]. In order to meet the pipeline quality standard specifications or Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) production, impurities must be removed. Carbon dioxide is one of the major contaminants in natural gas, reducing its energy content and becoming acidic and corrosive in the presence of water, damaging pipelines and equipment. In LNG processing plants CO2 can solidify, blocking the pipeline systems and causing transportation drawbacks [1]. In order to meet the pipeline quality standard specifications an upper limit for nitrogen and carbon dioxide of 4 and 2% is necessary, respectively. While, to inhibit the formation of dry ice in the liquefaction step, CO2 content must be reduced to 50 ppm level [2, 3]. Among the several separation technologies available for natural gas upgrade, such as chemical absorption, physical absorption, cryogenic distillation and membrane processes, adsorption processes are considered a competitive solution. Removal of carbon dioxide from natural gas for LNG production, can be carried out by cryogenic distillation using a multicolumn sequence to obtain a product stream with less than 50 ppm of CO2 [4]. Cryogenic adsorption-based processes, particularly pressure thermal swing adsorption, arise as a reliable and innovative alternative to replace the distillation columns, in particular the last one. Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract

Separation of CO2/N2 onto Shaped MOF MIL-160(Al) Using the Pressure Swing Adsorption Process for Post-combustion Application

Adsorption processes have already been considered as an appealing technology for carbon capture and climate change mitigation. Accordingly, this work investigated the capacity of shaped MIL-160(Al) as a water stable bioderived Al dicarboxylate microporous metal-organic framework for separation of carbon dioxide and nitrogen concerning postcombustion application. First, breakthrough experiments of carbon dioxide and nitrogen were accomplished at 313 K and 4.0 bar. Then, a set of equations/relations were considered to model the dynamic fixed-bed tests, in which the outcomes proved the capacity of the developed model for such a purpose. Next, a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) process with five steps, including pressurization, feed, rinse, blowdown, and purge, was planned and validated using performed experiments in a laboratory-scale PSA setup. In the end, an industrial PSA process was designed to attain a better grasp of the capacity of MIL-160(Al) for postcombustion application. The results indicated an exciting potential of this adsorbent for postcombustion carbon capture, with the purity and recovery of carbon dioxide around 67.3 and 99.1%, respectively.This work was financially supported by LA/P/0045/2020 (ALiCE), UIDB/50020/2020, and UIDP/50020/2020 (LSRE-LCM), funded by national funds through FCT/ MCTES (PIDDAC). It also received financial support by national funds through FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC): CIMO, UIDB/00690/2020 (DOI: 10.54499/UIDB/00690/2020) and UIDP/00690/2020 (DOI: 10.54499/UIDP/00690/2020), and SusTEC, LA/P/0007/2020 (DOI: 10.54499/LA/P/0007/2020). The authors also acknowledge Kyung-Ho Cho and U-Hwang Lee from the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), Republic of Korea, for their contributions in the shaping MIL-160(Al). M.K. acknowledges research grants awarded by the Foundation of Science and Technology of Portugal (FCT) under SFRH/BD/140550/2018 project and the University of Porto under FEUPBioGasUpGMIL160 project.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Optimal energy efficiency of isolated PAT systems by SEIG excitation tuning

[EN] The use of pump working as turbine (PAT) was identified by many researchers as a way to improve the energy efficiency in the water systems. However, the majority of the researches consider the hydraulic machine connected to the electrical grid, which may not fit best when these recovery systems are located in rural or remote areas. To improve the efficiency in these recovery systems for rural areas, this research contributes for a further study and optimization of the off-grid PAT systems with induction generators. The current manuscript proposes a methodology to obtain the best efficiency of the PAT-SEIG (Self-Excited Induction Generator) system when operating under different speeds and loads. For these systems, the selection of capacitors for the SEIG is critical to maximizing the energy efficiency. A methodology is proposed to estimate and select the correct SEIG model parameters and, thus, compute the best capacitor values to improve the PAT-SEIG energy efficiency. Special attention is given to the impact the SEIG parameters have in the efficiency of the recovery system. The accuracy of the analytical model improved, reducing the error between analytical and experimental results from 50.8% (for a model with constant parameters) to 13.2% (with parameters changing according to the operating point of the system). These results showed an increase of the overall PAT system efficiency from 26% to 40% for the analyzed case study.This work was supported by FCT, through IDMEC, under LAETA, project UID/EMS/50022/2019 and the project REDAWN (Reducing Energy Dependency in Atlantic Area Water Networks) EAPA_198/2016 from INTERREG ATLANTIC AREA PROGRAMME 2014-2020 and CERIS (CEHIDRO-IST), the Hydraulic Laboratory, for experiments on PATs.Fernandes, JF.; Pérez-Sánchez, M.; Ferreira, F.; López Jiménez, PA.; Ramos, HM.; Costa Branco, P. (2019). Optimal energy efficiency of isolated PAT systems by SEIG excitation tuning. Energy Conversion and Management. 183:391-405. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2019.01.016S39140518

Solar thermo-photocatalytic methanation using a bifunctional RuO2:TiO2/Z13X photocatalyst/adsorbent material for efficient CO2 capture and conversion

A novel bifunctional photocatalyst/adsorbent material based on the RuO2:TiO2/zeolite 13X (Z13X) composite was developed to enhance solar-driven methanation through simultaneous carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and thermo-photoconversion. The activity/stability of the hybrid material towards methane (CH4) production was assessed by varying the (i) photocatalyst composition (Ru load and semiconductor type), (ii) bifunctional material composition (photocatalyst-to-zeolite ratio) and impregnation method, (iii) illumination source and power (simulated sunlight and UVA/Visible LEDs), (iv) temperature, and (v) catalyst reuse. Additionally, adsorption equilibrium isotherms were determined to characterize the adsorption ability of the bifunctional material for both CO2 and CH4 gases. The hybrid RuO2(4.0%):TiO2(26.3%)/Z13X material (30 mg), synthesised by the solid-state impregnation method, showed the best results under simulated sunlight (0.75 W) at 150 ºC, achieving a 88% CO2 thermo-photoreduction after 100 min, corresponding to a specific CH4 production of 29.2 mmol gactive_cat−1 h−1 (309 mmol gRu−1 h−1) and apparent quantum yield of 20.7%. In adsorption equilibrium isotherms, the bifunctional material's adsorption was about 2.6-fold higher than the photocatalyst at 150 ºC, suggesting that enhanced methanation performance can be attributed to the synergistic action of CO2 capture and thermo-photoconversion.This work was supported by sources provided by: (i) national funds through Fundaç˜ao para a Ciˆencia e a Tecnologia (FCT), and Minist´erio da Ciˆencia, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior (MCTES), Portugal, in the framework of Programa de Investimento e Despesas de Desenvolvimento da Administraç˜ao Central (PIDDAC), under Project CO2-to-CH4, 2022.01176.PTDC (DOI: 10.54499/2022.01176.PTDC); and (ii) Norte Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020), in the framework of the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), under the project HyGreen&LowEmissions, NORTE- 01–0145-FEDER-000077. This research was also funded by (iii) FCT/ MCTES (PIDDAC): LSRE-LCM - UIDB/50020/2020 (DOI: 10.54499/ UIDB/50020/2020) and UIDP/50020/2020 (DOI: 10.54499/UIDP/ 50020/2020); and ALiCE - LA/P/0045/2020 (DOI: 10.54499/LA/P/ 0045/2020). Larissa O. Paulista acknowledges the Ph.D. fellowship supported by FCT (reference SFRH/BD/137639/2018 and COVID/BD/152922/2022). Vítor J.P. Vilar and Tˆania F.C.V. Silva acknowledges the FCT Individual Call to Scientific Employment Stimulus 2017 (CEECIND/01317/2017 and CEECIND/0138/2017).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Mesenteric hypoperfusion and inflammation induced by brain death are not affected by inhibition of the autonomic storm in rats

OBJECTIVES: Brain death is typically followed by autonomic changes that lead to hemodynamic instability, which is likely associated with microcirculatory dysfunction and inflammation. We evaluated the role of the microcirculation in the hemodynamic and inflammatory events that occur after brain death and the effects of autonomic storm inhibition via thoracic epidural blockade on mesenteric microcirculatory changes and inflammatory responses. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were anesthetized and mechanically ventilated. Brain death was induced via intracranial balloon inflation. Bupivacaine (brain death-thoracic epidural blockade group) or saline (brain death group) infusion via an epidural catheter was initiated immediately before brain death induction. Sham-operated animals were used as controls (SH group). The mesenteric microcirculation was analyzed via intravital microscopy, and the expression of adhesion molecules was evaluated via immunohistochemistry 180 min after brain death induction. RESULTS: A significant difference in mean arterial pressure behavior was observed between the brain death-thoracic epidural blockade group and the other groups, indicating that the former group experienced autonomic storm inhibition. However, the proportion of perfused small vessels in the brain death-thoracic epidural blockade group was similar to or lower than that in the brain death and SH groups, respectively. The expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 was similar between the brain death-thoracic epidural blockade and brain death groups but was significantly lower in the SH group than in the other two groups. The number of migrating leukocytes in the perivascular tissue followed the same trend for all groups. CONCLUSIONS: Although thoracic epidural blockade effectively inhibited the autonomic storm, it did not affect mesenteric hypoperfusion or inflammation induced by brain death

Frequência De Anticorpos Anti-toxoplasma Gondii Em Cães Com Sinais Clínicos Compatíveis Com Toxoplasmose

The aim of this study was to detect antibodies against T. gondii in dogs with clinical signs compatible with toxoplasmosis attended in a veterinary hospital. A serological survey was performed in 598 dogs from 1993 to 2013. The IgG antibodies survey against T. gondii was carried out by means of Indirect Fluorescence Antibodies Test (IFAT); samples with titers >16 were considered positive. Among the dogs with clinical signs, 259 (43,31%) were positive for T. gondii with titers varying between 16 to 4096; among the healthy animals, 79 (22.25%) were reagents. The most frequent signals were: neurological (30.43%) and uveitis (8.03%). Among variables race, gender, and age, only the last one affected the observed results with greater frequency f seropositive in elderly dogs. © 2016, Cienc. anim. bras., Goiânia. All rights reserved.17464064

Cryptosporidium Spp. And Giardia Spp. In Feces And Water And The Associated Exposure Factors On Dairy Farms

The aims of this study were to verify the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp. in animal feces and drinking water on dairy farms and to identify a possible relation between the exposure factors and the presence of these parasites. Fecal samples from cattle and humans and water samples were collected on dairy farms in Paraná, Brazil. Analysis of (oo)cysts in the feces was performed by the modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining and centrifugal flotation in zinc sulfate. Test-positive samples were subjected to nested PCR amplification of the 18SSU ribosomal RNA gene for identification of Cryptosporidium and Giardia and of the gp60 gene for subtyping of Cryptosporidium. Microbiological analysis of water was carried out by the multiple-tube method and by means of a chromogenic substrate, and parasitological analysis was performed on 31 samples by direct immunofluorescence and nested PCR of the genes mentioned above. Identification of the species of Cryptosporidium was performed by sequencing and PCR with analysis of restriction fragment length polymorphisms. The prevalence of Giardia and Cryptosporidium was higher in calves than in adults. Among the samples of cattle feces, Cryptosporidium parvum was identified in 41 (64%), C. ryanae in eight (12.5%), C. bovis in four (6.3%), C. andersoni in five (7.8%), and a mixed infection in 20 samples (31.3%). These parasites were not identified in the samples of human feces. Thermotolerant coliform bacteria were identified in 25 samples of water (45.5%). Giardia duodenalis and C. parvum were identified in three water samples. The gp60 gene analysis of C. parvum isolates revealed the presence of two strains (IIaA20G1R1 and IIaA17G2R2) in the fecal samples and one (IIaA17G2R1) in the water samples. The presence of coliforms was associated with the water source, structure and degradation of springs, rain, and turbidity. The prevalence of protozoa was higher in calves up to six months of age. C. parvum and G. duodenalis were identified in the water of dairy farms, as were thermotolerant coliforms; these findings point to the need for guidance on handling of animals, preservation of water sources, and water treatment. © 2017 Toledo et al.This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.12

Energy Resolution studies for NEXT

This work aims to present the current state of simulations of electroluminescence (EL) produced in gas-based detectors with special interest for NEXT --- Neutrino Experiment with a Xenon TPC. NEXT is a neutrinoless double beta decay experiment, thus needs outstanding energy resolution which can be achieved by using electroluminescence. The process of light production is reviewed and properties such as EL yield and associated fluctuations, excitation and electroluminescence efficiencies, and energy resolution, are calculated. An EL production region with a 5 mm width gap between two infinite parallel planes is considered, where a uniform electric field is produced. The pressure and temperature considered are 10 bar and 293 K, respectively. The results show that, even for low values of VUV photon detection efficiency, good energy resolution can be achieved: below 0.4 % (FWHM) at $Q_{\beta\beta}=$2.458 MeV

Epidemiological situation of bovine brucellosis in the State of São Paulo, Brazil

Realizou-se um estudo para caracterizar a situação epidemiológica da brucelose bovina no Estado de São Paulo. O Estado foi estratificado em sete circuitos produtores de bovinos, e 150 rebanhos com atividade reprodutiva foram aleatoriamente selecionados em cada um deles. No total, foram amostrados 1.073 rebanhos. Foram aletoriamente coletadas amostras de soro de 10 ou 15 fêmeas bovinas com idade ³24 meses, totalizando 8.761 animais. Os soros foram submetidos a um protocolo de testes em série, tendo o teste do antígeno acidificado tamponado como método de triagem e o da fixação de complemento como confirmatório. A prevalência estimada de rebanhos com pelo menos um animal soropositivo foi de 9,7% [7,8-11,6%], enquanto a prevalência estimada de animais soropositivos foi de 3,8% [0,7-6,9%], no Estado. Em cada rebanho foi aplicado um questionário epidemiológico para avaliar o grau de associação de possíveis fatores de risco (odds ratio, OR) com a doença. Propriedades com 87 ou mais bovinos (OR= 2,25) e compra de reprodutores (OR= 1,56) foram as variáveis mais associadas à condição de foco de brucelose. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ARQUIVOA study to characterize the epidemiological situation of bovine brucellosis in the State of São Paulo was carried out. The state was stratified in seven cattle production regions and 150 herds with reproductive activity were randomly selected within each one. A total of 1,073 herds were sampled. In a second stage, 10 or 15 cows older than 24 month age (in herds with <100 cows and herds ≥100 cows, respectively) were bled at random. A total of 8,761 animals were bled. Sera were tested using a serial testing procedure with the Rose Bengal test as the screening method and the Complement Fixation as the confirmatory method. The estimated prevalence of herds with at least one positive animal was 9.7% [7.8-11.6%], whereas the estimated prevalence of positive cattle was 3.8% [0.7-6.9%] in São Paulo State. An epidemiological questionnaire was applied in each farm, allowing the evaluation of the association of selected risk factors with the disease. The characteristics associated with the brucellosis infected herds were farms with more than 87 bovines (OR= 2.25) and introduction of breeding cattle (OR= 1.56)

Epidemiological situation of bovine brucellosis in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Realizou-se um estudo para caracterizar a situação epidemiológica da brucelose bovina. O Estado foi dividido em sete regiões. Em cada região foram amostradas aleatoriamente cerca de 300 propriedades, e dentro dessas foi escolhido de forma aleatória um número pré-estabelecido de animais, dos quais foi obtida uma amostra de sangue. No total foram amostrados 16.072 animais, provenientes de 1.957 propriedades. Em cada propriedade amostrada foi aplicado um questionário epidemiológico para verificar o tipo de exploração e as práticas zootécnicas e sanitárias que poderiam estar associadas ao risco de infecção pela doença. O protocolo de testes utilizado foi o da triagem com o teste do antígeno acidificado tamponado e o reteste dos positivos com o teste do 2-mercaptoetanol. O rebanho foi considerado positivo se pelo menos um animal foi reagente às duas provas sorológicas. Para o Estado, as prevalências de focos e de animais infectados foram, respectivamente, 2,1% [1,5-2,6%] e 1,0% [0,60-1,4%]. Para os circuitos, a prevalência de focos e a de animais foram, respectivamente: circuito 1, 3,1% [1,4-5,7%] e 0,95% [0,0-2,0%]; circuito 2, 7,7% [4,9-11,3%] e 1,0% [0,40-1,7%]; circuito 3, 5,7% [3,4-8,8%] e 2,1% [0,41-3,8%]; circuito 4, 0,66% [0,08-2,4%] e 0,66% [0,0-1,8%]; circuito 5, 0,66% [0,08-2,4%] e 0,05% [0,0-0,13%]; circuito 6, 0,0% [0,0-1,3%] e 0,0% [0,0-0,25%]; circuito 7, 5,4% [2,5-10,1%] e 2,9% [0,49-5,3%]. Os fatores de risco (odds ratio, OR) associados à condição de foco foram: exploração de corte (OR= 4,27 [1,82-10,01]) e histórico de aborto (OR=3,27,1,71-6,25]). ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTA study to characterize the epidemiological status of bovine brucellosis was carried out in the State of Rio Grande do Sul. The State was divided in seven regions. Three hundred herds were randomly sampled in each region and a pre-established number of animals were sampled in each of these herds. A total of 16,072 serum samples from 1,957 herds, were collected. In each herd, it was applied an epidemiological questionnaire focused on herd traits as well as husbandry and sanitary practices that could be associated with the risk of infection. The serum samples were screened for antibodies against Brucella spp. by the Rose-Bengal Test and all positive sera were re-tested by the 2-mercaptoethanol test. The herd was considered positive if at least one animal was positive on both tests. The prevalences of infected herds and animals in the State were, respectively 2.1% [1.5-2.6%] and 1.0% [0.60-1.4%]. In the regions, the prevalences of infected herds and animals were, respectively: region 1, 3.1% [1.4-5.7%] and 0.95% [0.0-2.0%]; region 2, 7.7% [4.9-11.3%] and 1.0% [0.40-1.7%]; region 3, 5.7% [3.4-8.8%] and 2.1% [0.41-3.8%]; region 4, 0.66% [0.08-2.4%] and 0.66% [0.0-1.8%]; region 5, 0.66% [0.08-2.4%] and 0.05% [0.0-0.13%]; region 6, 0.0% [0.0-1.3%] and 0.0% [0.0-0.25%]; and region 7, 5.4% [2.5-10.1%] and 2.9% [0.49-5.3%]. The risk factors (odds ratio, OR) associated with the presence of infection were: beef herd (OR= 4.27 [1.82-10.01]) and recent history of abortion (OR= 3.27-1.71-6.25])