Fusion power plant concept

The controlled nuclear fusion refers to reaction of synthesis of atomic nuclei, which proceed in temperature of millions K and energy released in the process could support further reactions and also might be used as a source of electric energy. The paper comprises concept of future thermonuclear power plant DEMO based on model AB PPCS. The system of power conversion of thermal energy into electric energy was accomplished and simulated in program CHEMCAD 6.2. A comparison of different type of power plant was made by calculation of amount of fuel needed for 1500 MW plant, during one year

Spent bentonite sorbent cleaning in combustion process

Thermal regeneration of bentonite sorbent with application of the reburning, as a method of reduction of NOx emission, has been presented. It has been proved that in the freebooard above fluidised bed, it can be achieved significant decrease of NOx concentration in the flue gases, related to contractual conditions. In the freeboard of the reactor besides reburning it has been conduced separation of the raw material from regenerated material and pneumatic transport of solid material achieved from regeneration. It has been revealed that transport processes have no negative influence on NOx reduction conditions. Heat evolved above the fluidised bed is partly transferred to the fluidised bed and that facilitates obtaining the thermal equilibrium in the bed

High-Temperature Fluidized Bed Processing of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) as a Way to Recover Raw Materials

This paper explores the effectiveness of metal recovery and values of gaseous emissions during thermal e-waste processing followed by magnetic separation. The thermal process of conversion of this kind of waste is difficult due to the uncertainty of the operation when compared to the processing of homogeneous materials. This is due to their complex and heterogeneous structure. The adoption of the fluidized bed reactor makes the process feasible, stabilizing it significantly and limiting emissions of harmful gases. Mobile cellphones were used as the raw input material of 450 g total mass. During the thermal transformation, the exhaust gases such as: CO, CO2, NOx, SO2, HCI, HBr, HCN, NH3, phenol, hydrocarbons, HF and COCI2 were analysed. The thermal treatment resulted in 333.6 g of solids in the fluidized bed. They were fragmented into grains smaller than 1 mm and 0.5 mm. The process of magnetic enrichment was used next on grains greater than 1 mm and smaller than 0.5 mm. The process was carried out using a neodymium magnet for particles >1 mm and a plate electromagnetic separator (powered by a three-phase current) together with a 1-disc tape-type separator, which was used for particles <1 mm. Such an approach resulted in the recovery of 81.9% of cobalt, 96.6% of iron and 99.2% of neodymium. The most efficient method of magnetic enriching (MS) proved to be the use of the electromagnetic plate separator

Adsorption of Cadmium, Manganese and Lead Ions from Aqueous Solutions Using Spent Coffee Grounds and Biochar Produced by Its Pyrolysis in the Fluidized Bed Reactor

The adsorption process of cadmium ions (Cd), manganese ions (Mn) and lead ions (Pb) onto the spent coffee grounds (SCG) and activated spent coffee grounds (biochar, A-SCG) was investigated. The SCG activation was carried out in the pyrolysis process in a fluidized bed reactor. scanning electron microscope (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) measurements and CHN analysis were used in order to define the differences between biomaterials. In the study the different mass of materials (0.2–0.5 g) and constant heavy metal volume and concentration (20 cm3/100 ppm) were investigated on the adsorption process. In order to describe the sorption parameters the Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin isotherms were used. The maximum adsorption for biochar reached 22.3 mg/g for Pb ions, 19.6 mg/g for Mn ions and 19.4 mg/g for Cd ions which were noticeably higher than the results obtained for spent coffee grounds which reached 13.6 mg/g for Pb ions, 13.0 mg/g for Mn ions and 11.0 mg/g for Cd ions. Metal ion adsorption on both SCG and A-SCG was best described by the Langmuir model, thus chemisorption was a dominant type of adsorption. Studying the kinetics of the sorption process, one can see that the process is of a chemical nature according to the best fit of the pseudo-second rate order model. The obtained results show that the chosen sorbents can be used for the removal of cadmium, manganese and lead compounds from aqueous solutions with high efficiency

Assessment of Air Quality in the South-Western Part of the Świętokrzyskie Mountains Based on Selected Indicators

This article presents the results of research on the air quality which was under the anthropogenic impact of the cement and lime industry in the Świętokrzyskie Mountains for many years. Research using geo- and bio-indicators was carried out at fixed measuring points in the years 2016–2018. Hypogymnia physodes (L.) Nyl. and two-year old Scots pine needles Pinus sylvestris L. were used for bioindication research. Physico-chemical properties of precipitation were developed on the basis of research conducted at the Jan Kochanowski University’s field research station located on the Malik Mt. Increased pH and specific electrolytic conductivity (EC) of precipitation, as well as variable concentrations of heavy metals throughout a year were found. Analysis of the chemical properties of transplanted lichens and pine needles confirmed the presence of elements from the cement and lime industry sector located in the Białe Zagłębie. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) image of the needles’ surface revealed morphologic changes resulting from pollution of stoma opening and closing by small solid particles of anthropogenic origins, disturbing gas exchange

Effect of titanium source and sol-gel TiO2 thin film formation parameters on its morphology and photocatalytic activity

TiO2 thin films with different surface structure have been prepared from alkoxide solutions by the sol-gel method using different cationic precursors and heat treatment techniques. The effect of using titanium isopropoxide as well as titanium butoxide as a titanium source on the surface structure and photocatalytic activity of the resultant thin films was studied. Significant differences in the rate of hydrolysis and condensation reactions during the sol-gel synthesis were observed for these titanium precursors. This had a direct influence on the morphology of the as-prepared TiO2 films. Higher quality oxide coatings were obtained from titanium isopropoxide. They were characterized by a smaller grain size, improved surface roughness and uniform coverage of the glass substrate. A beneficial effect of calcination process after each sol application cycle in contrast to single step calcination after all dip-coating cycles was observed. Photocatalytic degradation tests showed that methyl orange was decolorized in the presence of all prepared TiO2 films by exposing their aqueous solutions to UV light (λ = 254 nm). The highest photocatalytic activity had the TiO2 layer produced using titanium isopropoxide

Effect of POSS Particles and Synergism Action of POSS and Poly-(Melamine Phosphate) on the Thermal Properties and Flame Retardance of Silicone Rubber Composites

This article presents flame retardant compounds for silicone rubber (SR) in the form of polyhedral oligomeric silsequioxanes (POSS), containing both isobutyl groups and amino-propyl (AM-POSS) or chloro-propyl group (HA-POSS) or vinyl groups (OL-POSS). Silsequioxanes were incorporated into the silicone rubber matrix in a quantity of 3 and 6 parts by wt by the method of reactive stirring with the use of a laboratory mixing mill. Based on the analyses performed by TG (Thermogravimetry) FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy), conical calorimeter, and SEM-EDX (Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy) methods, the thermal degradation mechanism of non-cross-linked and cross-linked silicone rubber has been elucidated. The effects of POSS, and POSS in a synergic system with melamine polyphosphate (MPP), on the thermal properties and flammability of silicone rubber composites were presented. Based on the test results obtained, a mechanism of flame retardant action POSS and POSS-MPP has been proposed. It has been shown that POSS, especially with MPP, considerably increases the thermal stability and decreases the flammability of the SR rubber composites under investigation

High-Energy Transformations of Fossil Fuels in the Cement Industry

The energy stored in fossil fuels is released through combustion and is a fundamental process in the production of cement. The negative aspect of this combustion is the emission of greenhouse gases and dust. This paper presents the results of a study conducted within a cement plant in Ożarów (south-eastern Poland). The chemical properties (selected elements) in the needles of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) were determined. The needle surface was scanned using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and was characterised in terms of chemical composition through energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The concentrations of selected analytes in the biennial needles formed the following descending sequence: Fe > Al > Mn > Zn > Cu > Pb > Cr > Ni. SEM/EDS microphotographs showed the presence of particles of varying shape, size and chemical composition indicative of anthropogenic origin