Proposal to Build Nylon 6,6 Plant: A Grassroots Economic Analysis

This report analyzes the profitability of building a grass roots Nylon 6,6 plant in Calvert City, Kentucky. A rigorous process simulation was produced, equipment prices were estimated, utility usage was assessed, and a plan for the plant organization was developed. The calculations yielded values for fixed capital investment ($10.5 million), working capital ($101 million) and revenue ($114 million). The discounted cash flow rate of return was calculated to be 8.94%. The conclusion drawn from these calculated values is that the current plan for the plant would not be profitable on a 10 year project life basis. However, recommendations are presented that suggest the plant’s profitability could increase after a more thorough analysis and changes in market conditions

Designing and Evaluating the Quality and Cost-effectiveness of Saturated Sediment Permeameters

Many simulations require accurate measurements of saturated hydraulic conductivity, a sediment property that governs the speed at which water flows through sediments relative to head differences. The goal of our project is to design and build an inexpensive permeameter capable of producing accurate hydraulic conductivity values. We tested four permeameters; a standard research grade constant-head permeameter, a falling-head permeameter modeled off of an in situ stream method, a constant-head permeameter made out of 4” PVC pipe, and a similar constant-head permeameter made out of 2” PVC pipe. Our custom-built constant-head permeameters both utilized a U-shaped design, two tubes which form a manometer, and multiple output overflows. Despite significant differences in design, method, and cost, we found that all four of the permeameters yielded relatively consistent mean hydraulic conductivities with low standard deviations (0.004-0.019). We also compared the attributes: price, weight, and number of parts. Our conclusion is that because the average K-value and standard deviation of each design is within reason, the best choice depends on the practitioner’s situation and intention.Faculty Sponsor: Susa H. Stonedah

Designing and Evaluating the Quality and Cost-effectiveness of Saturated Sediment Permeameters

Many simulations require accurate measurements of saturated hydraulic conductivity, a sediment property that governs the speed at which water flows through sediments relative to head differences. The goal of our project is to design and build an inexpensive permeameter capable of producing accurate hydraulic conductivity values. We tested four permeameters; a standard research grade constant-head permeameter, a falling-head permeameter modeled off of an in situ stream method, a constant-head permeameter made out of 4” PVC pipe, and a similar constant-head permeameter made out of 2” PVC pipe. Our custom-built constant-head permeameters both utilized a U-shaped design, two tubes which form a manometer, and multiple output overflows. Despite significant differences in design, method, and cost, we found that all four of the permeameters yielded relatively consistent mean hydraulic conductivities with low standard deviations (0.004-0.019). We also compared the attributes: price, weight, and number of parts. Our conclusion is that because the average K-value and standard deviation of each design is within reason, the best choice depends on the practitioner’s situation and intention

Effects of Pre- and Post-Exercise Protein vs. Carbohydrate Ingestion on Training Adaptations in Collegiate Female Athletes

The role of nutrient timing both before and after daily training sessions is now a major part of the nutritional recommendations for athletes to maximize training adaptations. However, there still exists some questions on the ideal macronutrient selection for these pre- and post-workout meals. PURPOSE: To investigate the potential effects of protein vs. carbohydrate ingestion in collegiate female basketball players. METHODS: 14 (20.2 ± 1.4 years, 169.4 ± 5.8 cm, 67.5 ± 6.1 kg, 27.1 ± 4.4 %BF) NCAA Division III female basketball players were matched by weight and randomly assigned in a double-blind manner to consume 24 grms whey protein (WP) or 24 grms maltodextrin (MD) pre- and post-exercise for eight weeks. Subjects participated in a supervised 4-day per week undulating periodized resistance and anaerobic training program. At 0 and 8-weeks, subjects underwent DEXA body composition analysis and upper- and lower-body 1RM strength, vertical jump, 5-10-5, and broad jump testing. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA (p≤0.05) and are presented as mean ± SD changes. RESULTS: Significant group x time interaction effects were observed among groups for bench press 1RM (p = 0.043) and DEXA lean mass (p = 0.026) indicating that the WP group resulted in a more substantial training adaptations over the MD group. A significant time effect (p \u3c 0.05) was observed for DEXA %BF (%change: -4.87 ± 4%), DEXA fat mass (%change: -4.33 ± 5%), leg press 1RM (%change: 13.57 ± 7%), vertical jump (%change: 9.95 ± 6%), 5-10-5 (%change: -3.1 ± 2%), and broad jump (%change: 3.9 ± 4%) suggesting that the stimulus of the training protocol was adequate to promote anaerobic physiological adaptations. CONCLUSION: In regards to nutrient timing, our results suggest that whey protein ingestion both pre- and post-training is a greater stimulus for increases in lean mass in female collegiate anaerobic athletes as compared to the ingestion of carbohydrates. This translated into a significant difference in upper body 1RM strength, however, despite significant training adaptations occurring over the 8 week trial, no significant differences occurred in lower body strength, vertical and broad jump, and 5-10-5 time between WP and MD groups

A Multi-Faceted Approach to Carbon Mineralization Advancement

The levels of carbon emissions in our atmosphere due to a dependence on fossil energy calls for swift action to prevent potentially devastating impacts of climate change. Along with a transition away from fossil energy sources, climate models call for capture of CO2, both at the source of emissions and directly from the ambient air. In both cases, a safe method to permanently store the CO2 is required so that the CO2 is not re-emitted. Carbon mineralization can capture and permanently store CO2 in the form of carbonate minerals by reacting it with alkalinity (i.e., Mg or Ca). The alkalinity can be found in abundant silicate minerals (e.g., olivine, serpentine, plagioclase feldspar), wastes from industrial or mining practices (e.g., steelmaking slags, mine tailings), or geologic formations (e.g., peridotite, basalt). Mine tailings are particularly promising because of their large reactive surface area and because their production is projected to grow by an order of magnitude in the coming century due to increased demand of metals like nickel and platinum for the global energy transition. In this Dissertation, tailings are studied from Sibanye-Stillwater in Nye, Montana, which produces copper, nickel, and platinum group metals (PGM). The tailings were characterized, revealing that they contain alkalinity distributed in several silicate groups, including tecto-, ino-, and phyllo-silicates. Given this heterogeneous nature, it was determined that mineralization would be more effective if the alkalinity is extracted from the tailings prior to reaction with CO2. Three methods were used to extract the alkalinity from the tailings. At ambient conditions, < 3% of Ca and < 1% Mg were extracted, indicating that a process with elevated conditions would be necessary to increase alkalinity extraction. Other processes used were the Alternative ÅA Route and the pH swing process, which extract alkalinity through a thermal reaction with ammonium sulfate and through acidic dissolution, respectively. Using these two processes, top extraction efficiency values ranged 40-81% for Mg and 4-14% for Ca. Extraction of Ca was limited primarily due to the restrictive tectosilicate structure of anorthite, which holds nearly 80% of the Ca in the tailings. Several suggestions for future work are made, which could increase the extraction of Ca while decreasing the consumption of reagents and cost of equipment. A technoeconomic analysis tool was developed to evaluate and compare a variety of carbon mineralization processes. When the tool was used to compare the processes used in this Dissertation, the Alternative ÅA Route was revealed to be more economical than the pH swing at the conditions tested. Despite extracting more Mg, pH swing process economics suffered from high equipment costs, as mineral acids like sulfuric acid require corrosion-resistant equipment, and organic acids like citric acid require longer dissolution times and thus larger equipment volumes. The tool compared the processes optimized in this Dissertation, but removal of simplifying assumptions will be necessary to improve the tool’s usability and robustness. Products of carbon mineralization can be utilized as products in the construction industry. A review of the current state of product utilization reveals that up to three GtCO2 could be avoided if all alkaline feedstock was converted. Further an analysis shows that more than two-thirds of emissions in the U.S. concrete industry could be avoided by decarbonization technologies and techniques, including the use of carbon mineralization products. However, additional research is still needed to demonstrate reliability of the new, relatively unproven products, and government policies are needed to revise outdated regulations that limit innovation in construction materials. It is suggested that public funding should be allocated to researching these areas. To help motivate and enhance understanding of carbon mineralization for policymakers, along with the general public and our youth, a high-level description of the technology has been written

Carbon Mineralization with North American PGM Mine Tailings—Characterization and Reactivity Analysis

Global efforts to combat climate change call for methods to capture and store CO₂. Meanwhile, the global transition away from fossil energy will result in increased production of tailings (i.e., wastes) from the mining of nickel and platinum group metals (PGMs). Through carbon mineralization, CO₂ can be permanently stored in calcium- and magnesium-bearing mine tailings. The Stillwater mine in Nye, Montana produces copper, nickel, and PGMs, along with 1 Mt of tailings each year. Stillwater tailings samples have been characterized, revealing that they contain a variety of mineral phases, most notably Ca-bearing plagioclase feldspar. Increases in inorganic carbon in the tailings and ion concentration in the tailings storage facilities suggest carbonation has taken place at ambient conditions over time within the tailings storage facilities. Two experiments were performed to simulate carbon mineralization at ambient temperature and pressure with elevated CO₂ concentration (10% with N₂), revealing that less than 1% of the silicate-bound calcium within the tailings is labile, or easily released from silicate structures at low-cost ambient conditions. The Stillwater tailings could be useful for developing strategies of waste management as production of nickel and PGM minerals increases during the global transition away from fossil energy, but further work is needed to develop a process that can realize their full carbon storage potential.Science, Faculty ofNon UBCEarth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Department ofReviewedFacult

Performance of Pd-Based Membranes and Effects of Various Gas Mixtures on H₂ Permeation

H2 permeation and separation properties of two Pd-based composite membranes were evaluated and compared at 400 &#176;C and at a pressure range of 150 kPa to 600 kPa. One membrane was characterized by an approximately 8 &#956;m-thick palladium (Pd)-gold (Au) layer deposited on an asymmetric microporous Al2O3 substrate; the other membrane consisted of an approximately 11 &#956;m-thick pure palladium layer deposited on a yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) support. At 400 &#176;C and with a trans-membrane pressure of 50 kPa, the membranes showed a H2 permeance of 8.42 &#215; 10&#8722;4 mol/m2&#183;s&#183;Pa0.5 and 2.54 &#215; 10&#8722;5 mol/m2&#183;s&#183;Pa0.7 for Pd-Au and Pd membranes, respectively. Pd-Au membrane showed infinite ideal selectivity to H2 with respect to He and Ar at 400 &#176;C and a trans-membrane pressure of 50 kPa, while the ideal selectivities for the Pd membrane under the same operating conditions were much lower. Furthermore, the permeation tests for ternary and quaternary mixtures of H2, CO, CO2, CH4, and H2O were conducted on the Pd/YSZ membrane. The H2 permeating flux decreased at the conclusion of the permeation tests for all mixtures. This decline however, was not permanent, i.e., H2 permeation was restored to its initial value after treating the membrane with H2 for a maximum of 7 h. The effects of gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) and the steam-to-carbon (S/C) ratio on H2 permeation were also investigated using simulated steam methane reforming mixtures. It was found that H2 permeation is highest at the greatest GHSV, due to a decline in the concentration polarization effect. Variations in S/C ratio however, showed no significant effect on the H2 permeation. The permeation characteristics for the Pd/YSZ membrane were also investigated at temperatures ranging from 350 to 400 &#176;C. The pre-exponential factor and apparent activation energy were found to be 5.66 &#215; 10&#8722;4 mol/m2&#183;s&#183;Pa0.7 and 12.8 kJ/mol, respectively. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses were performed on both pristine and used membranes, and no strong evidence of the formation of Pd-O or any other undesirable phases was observed