Strategic situation, design and simulation of a biorefinery in Andalusia

In a lignocellulosic feedstock based biorefinery, biomass can be transformed in several products, with different chemical and/or agro-industrial applications, and energy (biofuels). The use of biomass waste is strongly advocated under European Union (EU) legislation in order to help achieve the climate and energy targets of the EU for 2020 and beyond. In this context, this study was focussed on the design and simulation of a biorefinery to mainly obtain ethanol and DME. These biofuels were obtained from waste forestry and agricultural waste biomass collected near the area where the biorefinery plant was proposed to be installed, to minimize the transportation costs and to promote the valorization of the biomass waste generated in this region. Moreover, the industrial applications of the possible obtained by-products were evaluated to minimize the environmental impacts and to make the biorefinery more sustainable. The central area of Andalusia was selected as the most adequate area to develop the installation of the biorefinery plant. Two commercial simulation software, such as Aspen HYSYS® and UniSim®, were used to design and size the equipments and to simulate both production lines. One of the most important achievements of this biorefinery is the possibility of obtaining 42,700 T y-1 of ethanol with a purity of 96%, which supposes a 16.5% of the Spanish national production in 2016, and 137,850 T y-1 of DME, with a purity of 99.99%. from these biomass waste Both compounds can be used as alternative fuels or energy sources. A techno-economic analysis was performed, obtaining a minimum selling price of 0.58 $/L for bioethanol, 1.15$/kg for DME and 0.65 $/kg for HMF and LA, respectively. These prices are comparable to those found in the literature. Furthermore, the implementation of the biorefinery in this strategic area promotes its economic and social development, improving the use of the natural resources to obtain competitive products to fossil fuels.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. This work was supported by the Spanish MINECO under CTQ2015-68654-R project. MCGM gratefully acknowledges the assistance of Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through a “Juan de la Cierva – Formación” fellowship (FJCI-2015-25788)

On the deactivation of Zr-loading P-containing mesoporous carbon catalyst during methanol dehydration

Dimethyl ether (DME) has received much attention in the last few years due to its potential use as a diesel substitute and it can be obtained from dehydration of biomass-based methanol. γ-Alumina, ZSM-5 and HPAs were tested as catalysts. A carbon-supported zirconium phosphate catalyst was synthesized and tested for methanol dehydration reaction in a high temperature range. Carbon matrix was produced by olive stone waste activated with phosphoric acid (mass acid to olive stone ratio of 2:1) at 800ºC for 2 h. Then, after washing with distilled water and sieving between 100-300μm, the obtained carbon was impregnated with ZrO(NO3)2 and thermal treated at 250ºC for 2 h. Reaction was performed in a fixed-bed reactor at a space time of 75 gcat·s/mmolCH3OH, a partial pressure of 0.04 atm of methanol and temperatures between 450-600ºC. Deactivated samples were exposed to air at 350ºC for 100 min to study the catalyst regeneration. The catalyst showed a high selectivity to DME (≥95%) and an acceptable conversion at Tª lower than 400ºC without noticeable deactivation. At T>400 ºC, deactivation was detected, due to coke deposition, whose rate increases with operating temperature. However, a high selectivity to DME was observed (above 65%) even at very long times on stream (tos). N2 adsorption results pointed out that deposition of coke took place mainly on the surface of the narrow micropores of the catalyst, blocking much of this narrow porosity at long tos. According to XPS analysis, superficial concentration of phosphorus and zirconium were also diminished with coke deposition, although zirconium was decreased to a larger extend. A kinetic model was developed for the catalyst deactivation during methanol dehydration under different reaction conditions, based on coke deposition.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Simulation of a biorefinery process as learning tool in chemical engineering degree

Currently, the search for alternative biomass to be used as renewable sources for energy production is one of the most important challenges to achieve a sustainable growth based on a bioeconomy strategy (Mendes et al., 2009). In this context, lignocellulosic waste are a renewable, clean, inexpensive and with high availability for the manufacture of biofuels. In this sense, the main objective of this study was the simulation and design of engineering processes that allows the valorization of lignocellulosic waste and the obtaining of biofuels as alternative to fossil fuels. This goal implies the practical application of the theoretical knowledge acquired by the student during the chemical engineering degree. Specifically, the students designed and simulated a biorefinery process that consisted of a Kraft pulping process as starting point of two main lines of production: (1) Process I: production of bioethanol and (2) Process II: direct and indirect production of dimethylether (DME), both from lignocellulosic biomass (Fig.1). Two commercial simulation packages, ASPEN HYSYS® and UNISIM were used to simulate the production of dimethylether and bioethanol, respectively. The first step was determining a strategic situation for the installation of the biorefinery. The central area of Andalusia (between the municipalities of Lucena and Antequera) was considered the most adequate area to develop the installation of the biorefinery plant after evaluating the biomass available inside of 100 kms of distance around this place. Specifically, different biomass mixtures were considered in order to ensure the viability of a constant inlet flow of biomass in the biorefinery. In function of this inlet flow of biomass, the installations were designed and dimensioned in each stage of the process. The student carried out a wide revision of state of the art to decide the most adequate processes among different alternatives to obtain dimethylether and bioethanol. The different stages selected as the most adequate in each line of the process can be observed in Fig.1. Moreover, the students evaluated the different alternatives for the valorisation and optimization of the by-products generated in each stage of the process in order to minimize the consuming of chemical compounds and energy requirements. Therefore, the students learnt to develop a real engineering process more sustainable and friendly with the environment. To sum up, the used of programs to simulate the transformation of lignocellulosic biomass in biofuels, such as, bioethanol or dimethylether, which is a process with several social, environmental and economic advantages, was an interesting learning tool for students of chemical engineering degree. Keywords Bioethanol, design, dimethylether, Kraft pulping process, simulations. References Mendes, C.V.T., Carvalho, M.G.V.S., Baptista, C.M.S.G., Rocha, J.M.S., Soares, B.I.G., Sousa, G.D.A., 2009. Valorisation of hardwood hemicelluloses in the kraft pulping process by using an integrated biorefinery concept. Food Bioproduct Process 87:197–207.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech MINECO: Proyecto CTQ2015-68654-

Lignocellulosic derived activated carbon monoliths for emerging pollutants removal

Activated carbons are materials of great interest due to their versatility. Most of the activated carbons are prepared mainly in the form of powder, however, in certain processes, the powder-like morphology implies, high pressure drops and diffusional problems. A possible way to overcome these drawbacks is to prepare carbon materials directly into monolithic shape. The use of activated carbons as adsorbents in liquid phase adsorption has been widely studied. In the last few years, the elimination of emerging pollutants, as pharmaceutical compounds, personal care products, etc.., has taking special interest, due to their increase in concentration in water and their low elimination in traditional waste water treatments plants. In this work, the use of different lignocellulosic precursors for the preparation of activated carbon monoliths (ACMs) as adsorbents is presented. ACMs from olive stone, Alcell lignin and Kraft lignin have been prepared by chemical activation with H3PO4 using a home-made extruder. Furthermore, an ACM derived from a natural monolith shape precursor, as Hemp cane, and chemically activated with H3PO4, was also tested as ACMs adsorbent. The adsorption of carbamazepine and paracetamol over these ACMs was analyzed at low concentrations (<10 mg/L) and at different temperatures (15, 25 and 35 ºC). Batch adsorption experiments were carried out in order to obtain the adsorption isotherms and the kinetic adsorption profiles. Adsorption capacities of 200 and 120 mg/g were obtained for carbamazepine and paracetamol, respectively, at low equilibrium concentrations. Moreover, the simultaneous adsorption of carbamazepine and paracetamol was also evaluated.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through CTQ2015-68654-R project. Universidad de Málaga, Campus de excelencia internacional Andalucía Tech

La relevancia de los programas educativos y formativos como elementos favorecedores del proceso de reinserción social y laboral de los menores infractores

In a clear attempt to organize, manage and facilitate the process of social and labor reintegration of juvenile offenders, the societies of the moment tend to use a wide range of programs and strategies with which they try to prevent the emergence of Criminal and illicit behaviors or, in the event that they are developed, intervene to redirect them to other types of social and labor behavior that end up being widely accepted and valued by the main social and labor networks. Among these programs and strategies of prevention and intervention that have been developed and implemented, in recent years the scientific community begins to accept and recognize the enormous benefits derived from working with these smaller programs of an educational and formative nature, the most significant being the acquisition (Empathy, solidarity, tolerance, cooperation, sacrifice, self-esteem, self-control, etc.) that end up facilitating their full and effective integration into social, community and labor structures. In order to carry out good research in this field, therefore, it is essential to determine all those variables and factors that are present in this type of educational and training programs. Therefore, the present study analyzes the main works developed on the subject of study, with the intention of analyzing and describing the different factors and variables that are present in the educational and training programs, as well as the most outstanding benefits and Parabienes that can report to juvenile offenders who end up becoming habitual users of them. In this way, it is possible to delimit the point from which the successive empirical investigations and programs that try to manage the process of social reintegration and labor of the juvenile offenders will have to start.Las sociedades del momento suelen recurrir, en un claro intento de organizar, gestionar y facilitar el desarrollo del proceso de reinserción social y laboral de los menores infractores, al empleo de un amplio elenco de programas y estrategias con las que intentan prevenir la aparición de las conductas delictivas e ilícitas o, en el caso de que éstas se acaben desarrollando, intervenir para reconducirlas hacia otro tipo de conductas sociales y laborales que acaben siendo ampliamente aceptadas y valoradas por los principales entramados sociales y laborales. Entre estos programas y estrategias de prevención e intervención que se vienen desarrollando e implementando, en los últimos años la comunidad científica comienza a aceptar y a reconocer los enormes beneficios derivados de trabajar con estos menores programas de naturaleza educativa y formativa, siendo los más significativos la adquisición de un amplio abanico de valores y actitudes personales, sociales y laborales (empatía, solidaridad, tolerancia, cooperación, sacrificio, autoestima, autocontrol, etc.) que acaban facilitando su plena y efectiva integración en las estructuras sociales, comunitarias y laborales. Para realizar buenas investigaciones dentro de este ámbito, por tanto, resulta imprescindible determinar todas aquellas variables y factores que se encuentran presentes en este tipo de programas educativos y formativos. Por lo tanto, en el presente estudio se analizan los principales trabajos desarrollados sobre la temática objeto de estudio, con la intención de analizar y describir los distintos factores y variables que están presentes en los programas educativos y formativos, así como los más destacados beneficios y parabienes que pueden reportar a los menores infractores que se acaben convirtiendo en usuarios habituales de los mismos. De esta manera, es posible delimitar el punto desde el que habrán de partir las sucesivas investigaciones empíricas y programas que traten de gestionar el proceso de reinserción social y laboral de los menores infractores

Role of age and comorbidities in mortality of patients with infective endocarditis

[Purpose]: The aim of this study was to analyse the characteristics of patients with IE in three groups of age and to assess the ability of age and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) to predict mortality. [Methods]: Prospective cohort study of all patients with IE included in the GAMES Spanish database between 2008 and 2015.Patients were stratified into three age groups:<65 years,65 to 80 years,and ≥ 80 years.The area under the receiver-operating characteristic (AUROC) curve was calculated to quantify the diagnostic accuracy of the CCI to predict mortality risk. [Results]: A total of 3120 patients with IE (1327 < 65 years;1291 65-80 years;502 ≥ 80 years) were enrolled.Fever and heart failure were the most common presentations of IE, with no differences among age groups.Patients ≥80 years who underwent surgery were significantly lower compared with other age groups (14.3%,65 years; 20.5%,65-79 years; 31.3%,≥80 years). In-hospital mortality was lower in the <65-year group (20.3%,<65 years;30.1%,65-79 years;34.7%,≥80 years;p < 0.001) as well as 1-year mortality (3.2%, <65 years; 5.5%, 65-80 years;7.6%,≥80 years; p = 0.003).Independent predictors of mortality were age ≥ 80 years (hazard ratio [HR]:2.78;95% confidence interval [CI]:2.32–3.34), CCI ≥ 3 (HR:1.62; 95% CI:1.39–1.88),and non-performed surgery (HR:1.64;95% CI:11.16–1.58).When the three age groups were compared,the AUROC curve for CCI was significantly larger for patients aged <65 years(p < 0.001) for both in-hospital and 1-year mortality. [Conclusion]: There were no differences in the clinical presentation of IE between the groups. Age ≥ 80 years, high comorbidity (measured by CCI),and non-performance of surgery were independent predictors of mortality in patients with IE.CCI could help to identify those patients with IE and surgical indication who present a lower risk of in-hospital and 1-year mortality after surgery, especially in the <65-year group

Activated carbon monoliths from lignocellulosic biomass waste for electrochemical

The valorization of lignocellulosic biomass waste into bio-based materials is proposed in this work in order to obtain low-cost materials and to reduce environmental impacts. Cylindrical activated carbon monoliths (ACMs) were prepared from Alcell®, Kraft lignin and olive stone by chemical activation with H3PO4. To our best knowledge, there is no previous information about the preparation of ACMs from any type of lignin. The extrusion of the adequate mixing, without any kind of binder, was carried out in an extruder designed by ourselves with different dies. Carbon monoliths without and with holes (25 or 120 channels/cm2) were obtained. In case of lignin precursors, a stabilization step was optimized to minimize the problems of plasticity and swelling of lignin. N2 adsorption-desorption at -196 ºC and Hg porosimetry results show that activated carbon monoliths presented pore size distributions in the micro and mesopore range, with high surfaces areas (c.a. 1500 m2/g) and relatively high mesopore volume (0.35 cm3/g). The bulk density of the monoliths is also very high (~1.1 g/cm3 for ACM from Alcell lignin), with compressive strength of 7.6 MPa. Electrochemical characterization of binderless activated carbon monolith electrodes was carried out by cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge-discharge techniques. The ACM from olive stones presents the highest specific capacitance, with approximately 217 F/g and 205 F/cm3.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Role of age and comorbidities in mortality of patients with infective endocarditis.

The aim of this study was to analyse the characteristics of patients with IE in three groups of age and to assess the ability of age and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) to predict mortality. Prospective cohort study of all patients with IE included in the GAMES Spanish database between 2008 and 2015.Patients were stratified into three age groups: A total of 3120 patients with IE (1327  There were no differences in the clinical presentation of IE between the groups. Age ≥ 80 years, high comorbidity (measured by CCI),and non-performance of surgery were independent predictors of mortality in patients with IE.CCI could help to identify those patients with IE and surgical indication who present a lower risk of in-hospital and 1-year mortality after surgery, especially in th

Contemporary use of cefazolin for MSSA infective endocarditis: analysis of a national prospective cohort

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the real use of cefazolin for methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) infective endocarditis (IE) in the Spanish National Endocarditis Database (GAMES) and to compare it with antistaphylococcal penicillin (ASP). Methods: Prospective cohort study with retrospective analysis of a cohort of MSSA IE treated with cloxacillin and/or cefazolin. Outcomes assessed were relapse; intra-hospital, overall, and endocarditis-related mortality; and adverse events. Risk of renal toxicity with each treatment was evaluated separately. Results: We included 631 IE episodes caused by MSSA treated with cloxacillin and/or cefazolin. Antibiotic treatment was cloxacillin, cefazolin, or both in 537 (85%), 57 (9%), and 37 (6%) episodes, respectively. Patients treated with cefazolin had significantly higher rates of comorbidities (median Charlson Index 7, P <0.01) and previous renal failure (57.9%, P <0.01). Patients treated with cloxacillin presented higher rates of septic shock (25%, P = 0.033) and new-onset or worsening renal failure (47.3%, P = 0.024) with significantly higher rates of in-hospital mortality (38.5%, P = 0.017). One-year IE-related mortality and rate of relapses were similar between treatment groups. None of the treatments were identified as risk or protective factors. Conclusion: Our results suggest that cefazolin is a valuable option for the treatment of MSSA IE, without differences in 1-year mortality or relapses compared with cloxacillin, and might be considered equally effective