Synthesis of Nanoporous Type A and X Zeolite Mixtures from Biomass Combustion Fly Ash for Post-Combustion Carbon Capture

In this study, improved nanoporous zeolites for use in post-combustion carbon capture have been synthesised from industrial-grade biomass combustion fly ash generated in one of the largest biomass combustion power plants in the UK. The method of nanoporous zeolite synthesis follows an alkaline fusion-assisted hydrothermal procedure. The nanoporous zeolites have been characterised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The presence of two crystalline structures, Faujasite and Linde Type A has been confirmed by the characterisation results. The CO 2 adsorption investigations were conducted via thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) to estimate the uptake capacity of the prepared adsorbents. TGA studies suggest that the improved nanoporous adsorbent, evaluated under 100 mol % CO 2 at atmospheric pressure, has an equilibrium capacity of over 1.6 mmolCO 2 /g at 50°C, a two-fold increase from our previous study with a crystalline structure confirmed by XRD.10.13039/501100000266-Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), UK; 10.13039/100008475-Brunel University London, UK

A heterotic sigma model with novel target geometry

We construct a (1,2) heterotic sigma model whose target space geometry consists of a transitive Lie algebroid with complex structure on a Kaehler manifold. We show that, under certain geometrical and topological conditions, there are two distinguished topological half--twists of the heterotic sigma model leading to A and B type half--topological models. Each of these models is characterized by the usual topological BRST operator, stemming from the heterotic (0,2) supersymmetry, and a second BRST operator anticommuting with the former, originating from the (1,0) supersymmetry. These BRST operators combined in a certain way provide each half--topological model with two inequivalent BRST structures and, correspondingly, two distinct perturbative chiral algebras and chiral rings. The latter are studied in detail and characterized geometrically in terms of Lie algebroid cohomology in the quasiclassical limit.Comment: 83 pages, no figures, 2 references adde

Biomass Combustion Fly Ash-Derived Nanoporous Zeolites for Post-Combustion Carbon Capture

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), UK (EP/P026214/1) UK Carbon Capture and Storage Research Centre 2017 (UKCCSRC 2017) - UKRI Energy Programme “Biomass Combustion Ash in Carbon Capture”; Brunel Research Initiative and Enterprise Fund (BRIEF)

Latest advances and challenges in carbon capture using bio-based sorbents: A state-of-the-art review

Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Effective decarbonisation is key to ensuring the temperature rise does not exceed the 2 °C set by the Paris accords. Adsorption is identified as a key technology for post-combustion carbon capture. This rise in prominence of such processes is owed to the fact that application of solid sorbents does not lead to the generation of secondary waste streams. In fact, sorbents can be produced from waste material (e.g. bio-based sorbents). Bio-based sorbents have become an increasingly attractive option; food waste, agricultural and municipal sources can be employed as precursors. These sorbents can be physically and chemically activated and then further modified to produce sorbents that can capture CO2 effectively. The employment of these types of sorbents, however, often entails geological and operational challenges. Understanding how these sorbents can be deployed at scale and the geological challenges associated with bio-based sorbents are key research areas that must be further investigated. Process modelling and machine learning can provide insights into these challenges especially within optimization of adsorption processes and sorbent development. This paper aims to provide a state-of-the-art review of the synthesis of bio-based sorbents and their application within post-combustion carbon capture processes as well as the recent trends of utilizing machine learning for the development of these sorbents, and the design of the corresponding adsorption processes alike.UK's Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) under the project titled “Multiphysics and Multiscale Modelling for Safe and Feasible CO2 Capture and Storage - EP/T033940/1″; UK Carbon Capture and Storage Research Centre (EP/W002841/1) through the flexible funded research programme “Investigation of Environmental and Operational Challenges of Adsorbents Synthesised from Industrial Grade Biomass Combustion Residues”

To DoE or not to DoE? A Technical Review on & Roadmap for Optimisation of Carbonaceous Adsorbents and Adsorption Processes

Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Design of experiment (DoE) techniques are invaluable tools which readily allow for efficient optimisation of processes via simultaneous evaluation of a combination of input parameters. Such approaches can yield positive outcomes whilst minimising the number of resources and amount of time utilised, hence, achieving a more robust approach. Additionally, when designing the experiment intelligently information about the interaction between the variables could be gathered, therefore, allowing for a more in-depth understanding of the process and identification of the “key players”. This method of conducting an experimental campaign is, unfortunately, underused (or often misused) in academia. This review aims to technically scrutinise the employment of design of experiment techniques in the context of synthesis and deployment of carbonaceous sorbents and the optimisation of the adsorption processes in both gaseous and aqueous media for environmental applications. We have also discussed how the implementation of DoE techniques in interpreting the results and the underlying trends and/or adsorption mechanisms could help with a better understanding of such observations. Additionally, a brief description of the most popular experimental design techniques with an explanation and a simple visualisation is provided. This review aims to facilitate a greater understanding and appreciation of these powerful optimisation tools, and to depict the best practices upon their employment in academic research in the field of chemical and environmental engineering.UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) under the project titled “Multiphysics and multiscale modelling for safe and feasible CO2 capture and storage - EP/T033940/1”, and via the UK Carbon Capture and Storage Research Centre (EP/P026214/1) through the flexible funded research programme “Techno-economics of Biomass Combustion Products in the Synthesis of Effective Low-cost Adsorbents for Carbon Capture”. The UKCCSRC is supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), UK, as part of the UKRI Energy Programme

Fully Integrated Glass Microfluidic Device for Performing High-Efficiency Capillary Electrophoresis and Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry

A microfabricated device has been developed in which electrospray ionization is performed directly from the corner of a rectangular glass microchip. The device allows highly efficient electrokinetically driven separations to be coupled directly to a mass spectrometer (MS) without the use of external pressure sources or the insertion of capillary spray tips. An electrokinetic-based hydraulic pump is integrated on the chip that directs eluting materials to the monolithically integrated spray tip. A positively charged surface coating, PolyE-323, is used to prevent surface interactions with peptides and proteins and to reverse the electroosmotic flow in the separation channel. The device has been used to perform microchip CE-MS analysis of peptides and proteins with efficiencies over 200 000 theoretical plates (1 000 000 plates/m). The sensitivity and stability of the microfabricated ESI source were found to be comparable to that of commercial pulled fused-silica capillary nanospray sources

Activated Carbon Derived from Biomass Combustion Bottom Ash as Solid Sorbent for CO2 Adsorption

Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Climate change and global warming, caused mainly by the anthropogenic CO2 emissions, has been recognised to be the biggest threat to global ecosystems. Replacing fossil fuels with sustainable biomass for heat and power generation is a key tool in our fight against climate change. Such combustion, however, generates large quantities of ash which, unlike the coal counterparts, are yet to find major applications in industry. This leads to challenging waste management and thus, necessitating urgent measures to valorise this increasing waste stream. However, producing activated carbon from biomass combustion ash allows for not only effective waste valorisation into value-added products, but also to prepare a sorbent for post-combustion carbon capture from an abundant and cheap source that is readily available for in-situ application (hence, minimising overall costs). This work has focused on preparation and activation of industrial-grade biomass ash-derived porous carbon via an economical direct method, followed by an extensive characterisation of its textural properties as well as an evaluation of the CO2 uptake of both the virgin and the activated carbonaceous sorbents. The final sample was selected based on an extensive optimisation campaign aiming towards maximisation of yield and CO2 uptake. The optimum activated sample adsorbed 0.69 mmol/g, thus, nearly doubling the adsorption capacity of the virgin biomass combustion bottom ash-derived carbon.This work has been funded by the UK Carbon Capture and Storage Research Centre (EP/W002841/1) through the flexible funded research programme “Investigation of Environmental and Operational Challenges of Adsorbents Synthesised from Industrial Grade Biomass Combustion Residues”. The UKCCSRC is supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), UK, as part of the UKRI Energy Programme; EPSRC Impact Accelerator Award (2022); Experimental Techniques Centre (ETC) at Brunel University London; Drax Group UK

Sorption-enhanced Steam Methane Reforming for Combined CO2 Capture and Hydrogen Production: A State-of-the-Art Review

© 2021 The Author(s). The European Commission have just stated that hydrogen would play a major role in the economic recovery of post-COVID-19 EU countries. Hydrogen is recognised as one of the key players in a fossil fuel-free world in decades to come. However, commercially practiced pathways to hydrogen production todays, are associated with a considerable amount of carbon emissions. The Paris Climate Change Agreement has set out plans for an international commitment to reduce carbon emissions within the forthcoming decades. A sustainable hydrogen future would only be achievable if hydrogen production is “designed” to capture such emissions. Today, nearly 98% of global hydrogen production relies on the utilisation of fossil fuels. Among these, steam methane reforming (SMR) boasts the biggest share of nearly 50% of the global generation. SMR processes correspond to a significant amount of carbon emissions at various points throughout the process. Despite the dark side of the SMR processes, they are projected to play a major role in hydrogen production by the first half of this century. This that a sustainable, yet clean short/medium-term hydrogen production is only possible by devising a plan to efficiently capture this co-produced carbon as stated in the latest International Energy Agency (IEA) reports. Here, we have carried out an in-depth technical review of the processes employed in sorption-enhanced steam methane reforming (SE-SMR), an emerging technology in low-carbon SMR, for combined carbon capture and hydrogen production. This paper aims to provide an in-depth review on two key challenging elements of SE-SMR i.e. the advancements in catalysts/adsorbents preparation, and current approaches in process synthesis and optimisation including the employment of artificial intelligence in SE-SMR processes. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, there is a clear gap in the literature where the above areas have been scrutinised in a systematic and coherent fashion. The gap is even more pronounced in the application of AI in SE-SMR technologies. As a result, this work aims to fill this gap within the scientific literature.Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) (project “Multiphysics and multiscale modelling for safe and feasible CO2 capture and storage - EP/T033940/1”); UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

Open and Hidden Charm Production in 920 GeV Proton-Nucleus Collisions

The HERA-B collaboration has studied the production of charmonium and open charm states in collisions of 920 GeV protons with wire targets of different materials. The acceptance of the HERA-B spectrometer covers negative values of xF up to xF=-0.3 and a broad range in transverse momentum from 0.0 to 4.8 GeV/c. The studies presented in this paper include J/psi differential distributions and the suppression of J/psi production in nuclear media. Furthermore, production cross sections and cross section ratios for open charm mesons are discussed.Comment: 5 pages, 9 figures, to be published in the proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Hyperons, Charm & Beauty Hadrons (BEACH04), Chicago, IL, June 27 - July 3, 200