The use of Pd catalysts on carbon-based structured materials for the catalytic hydrogenation of bromates in different types of water

[EN] The aim of this work is to study the activity of new Pd catalysts, supported on two different nano structured carbon materials, for bromate catalytic hydrogenation. The influence of the support has been studied, obtaining the best results with a palladium catalyst supported on carbon nanofibers (CNF) grown in sintered metal fibers (SMF). The results have shown the importance of the catalyst support in order to minimize the mass-transfer limitations ensuring an efficient catalyst use. In this way the most active catalysts are those with a mesoporous structure containing high dispersed Pd nanoparticles. The activity of this catalyst for bromate reduction has been tested in different types of water, namely, distilled water, natural water and industrial wastewater. It has been shown that the catalyst activity depends on the water matrix and bromate reduction rate depends on the hydrogen partial pressure. The potential use of the catalyst has been studied in a continuous reactor. It has been observed that the catalyst is active without any important deactivation at least during 100 h of reaction, but is necessary to avoid salt precipitation and plugging problems.The authors thank the European Union (European Community's Seventh Framework Programme FP7/2007-2013 under grant agreement no. 226347 Project) for financial support. A.E. Palomares also acknowledges the support from the Spanish Government through the project MAT2012-38567-C02-01.Palomares Gimeno, AE.; Franch Martí, C.; Yuranova, T.; Kiwi-Minsker, L.; Garcia Bordeje, JE.; Derrouiche, S. (2014). The use of Pd catalysts on carbon-based structured materials for the catalytic hydrogenation of bromates in different types of water. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental. 146:186-191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2013.02.056S18619114

Description and applications of a 3D mathematical model for horizontal anode baking furnaces

In aluminum industry, carbon anodes are consumed continuously during alumina reduction in the electrolysis cells. Anodes are made of calcined coke, butt, and recycled anode particles and pitch as the binder. Green anodes are baked in large furnaces where they attain specific properties in terms of density, mechanical strength, and electrical conductivity. Baking is an important and costly step in carbon anode production. The proper operation of the furnace provides the required anode quality. Mathematical modeling allows the prediction of the heating profile of anodes during baking. Taking into account all the relevant phenomena, a 3D transient mathematical model was developed to simulate the different stages of the baking process in the furnace. The predictions give a detailed view of the furnace operation and performance. In this article, the 3D model is described, and the results on the impact of various parameters on furnace behavior are presented

Application of Ligninolytic Enzymes in the Production of Biofuels from Cotton Wastes

The application of ligninolytic fungi and enzymes is an option to overcome the issues related with the production of biofuels using cotton wastes. In this dissertation, the ligninolytic fungus and enzymes were evaluated as pretreatment for the biochemical conversion of Cotton Gin Trash (CGT) in ethanol and as a treatment for the transformation of cotton wastes biochar in other substances. In biochemical conversion, seven combinations of three pretreatments (ultrasonication, liquid hot water and ligninolytic enzymes) were evaluated on CGT. The best results were achieved by the sequential combination of ultrasonication, hot water, and ligninolytic enzymes with an improvement of 10% in ethanol yield. To improve these results, alkaline-ultrasonication was evaluated. Additionally, Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) and principal component analysis (PCA) were employed as fast methodology to identify structural differences in the biomass. The combination of ultrasonication-alkali hydrolysis, hot liquid water, and ligninolytic enzymes using 15% of NaOH improved 35% ethanol yield compared with the original treatment. Additionally, FT-IR and PCA identified modifications in the biomass structure after different types of pretreatments and conditions. In thermal conversion, this study evaluated the biodepolymerization of cotton wastes biochar using chemical and biological treatments. The chemical depolymerization evaluated three chemical agents (KMnO4, H2SO4, and NaOH), with three concentrations and two environmental conditions. The sulfuric acid treatments performed the largest transformations of the biochar solid phase; whereas, the KMnO4 treatments achieved the largest depolymerizations. The compounds released into the liquid phase were correlated with fulvic and humic acids and silicon compounds. The biological depolymerization utilized four ligninolytic fungi Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Ceriporiopsis subvermispora, Postia placenta, and Bjerkandera adusta. The greatest depolymerization was obtained by C. subvermispora. The depolymerization kinetics of C. subvermispora evidenced the production of laccase and manganese peroxidase and a correlation between depolymerization and production of ligninolytic enzymes. The modifications obtained in the liquid and solid phases showed the production of humic and fulvic acids from the cultures with C. subvermispora. The results of this research are the initial steps for the development of new processes using the ligninolytic fungus and their enzymes for the production of biofuels from cotton wastes