Optimization of a novel cryogenic CO2 capture process by response surface methodology (RSM)

Aqueous 2-Ethyl-4-methylimidazole Solution for Efficient CO2 Separation and Purification

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology is considered as one of the most effective short-term solutions in reducing atmospheric CO2 concentrations. A key of CCS technology is to seek the absorbent with low cost, fast absorption rate, and high stability. In this study, we show that 2-ethyl-4-methylimidazole is particularly suitable for efficient CO2 capture. The aqueous solution of 2-ethyl-4-methylimidazole displays a maximum CO2 molar absorption capacity of 1.0 mol∙mol−1 and the absorbed CO2 can be completely released through heating the solution at a relatively low temperature (<100 °C). Stability tests show that the aqueous system is quite stable, with less than 10% loss of the molar absorption capacity after eight absorption–desorption cycles. Time-related in-situ attenuated total reflection infrared absorption spectroscopy and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies reveal that the intermediates are HCO3− and H2CO3 in the process of CO2 absorption–desorption. These intermediates are easily decomposed, which are responsible for the low CO2 desorption temperature and high desorption efficiency of the system. Moreover, the aqueous solution of 2-ethyl-4-methylimidazole is able to separate and purify CO2 from flue gas and even ambient air. Consequently, 2-ethyl-4-methylimidazole is a promising low-cost CO2 absorbent for industrial implementation.

Optimization of the adsorption and removal of Sb(iii) by MIL-53(Fe)/GO using response surface methodology

In this study, a graphene oxide metal–organic framework (MIL-53(Fe)/GO) composite adsorbent was successfully synthesized using a simple method at room temperature.

Comprehensive Optimization of the Dispersion of Mixing Particles in an Inert-Particle Spouted-Bed Reactor (IPSBR) System

Effective gas dispersion and liquid mixing are significant parameters in the design of an inert-particle spouted-bed reactor (IPSBR) system. Solid particles can be used to ensure good mixing and an efficient rate of mass and heat transfer between the gas and liquid. In this study, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) coupled with the discrete phase model (DPM) were developed to investigate the effect of the feed gas velocity (0.5–1.5 m/s), orifice diameter (0.001–0.005 m), gas head (0.15–0.35 m), particle diameter (0.009–0.0225 m), and mixing-particle-to-reactor-volume fraction (2.0–10.0 vol.%) on the solid mass concentration, average solid velocity, and average solid volume fraction in the upper, middle, and conical regions of the reactor. Statistical analysis was performed using a second-order response surface methodology (RSM) with central composite design (CCD) to obtain the optimal operating conditions. Selected parameters were optimized to maximize the responses in the middle and upper regions, and minimize them in the conical region. Such conditions produced a high interfacial area and fewer dead zones owing to good particle dispersion. The optimal process variables were feed gas velocity of 1.5 m/s, orifice diameter of 0.001 m, gas head of 0.2025 m, a particle diameter of 0.01 m, and a particle load of 0.02 kg. The minimum average air velocity and maximum air volume fraction were observed under the same operating conditions. This confirmed the novelty of the reactor, which could work at a high feed gas velocity while maintaining a high residence time and gas volume fraction.

Experimental Modeling and Optimization of CO2 Absorption into Piperazine Solutions Using RSM-CCD Methodology

The present work evaluates and optimizes CO₂ absorption in a bubble column for the Pz-H₂O-CO₂ system. We analyzed the impact of the different operating conditions on the hydrodynamic and mass-transfer performance. For the optimization of the process, variable conditions were used in the multivariate statistical method of response surface methodology. The central composite design is used to characterize the operating condition to fit the models by the least-squares method. The experimental data were fitted to quadratic equations using multiple regressions and analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). An approved experiment was carried out to analyze the correctness of the optimization method, and a maximum CO₂ removal efficiency of 97.9%, an absorption rate of 3.12 g/min, an N _CO2 of 0.0164 mol/m²·s, and a CO₂ loading of 0.258 mol/mol were obtained under the optimized conditions. Our results suggest that Pz concentration, solution flow rate, CO₂ flow rate, and speed of stirrer were obtained to be 0.162 M, 0.502 l/h, 2.199 l/min, and 68.89 rpm, respectively, based on the optimal conditions. The p-value for all dependent variables was less than 0.05, and that points that all three models were remarkable. In addition, the experiment values acquired for the CO₂ capture were found to agree satisfactorily with the model values (R ² = 0.944-0.999).

Optimizing chemical oxygen demand removal from synthesized wastewater containing lignin by catalytic wet-air oxidation over CuO/Al2O3 catalysts

In this study, 10% CuO/Al2O3 catalyst was used in a catalytic wet-air oxidation process to remove chemical oxygen demand (COD) and color from experimentally designed wastewater containing lignin. The catalyst was prepared using an impregnation method and was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method (BET) for surface area before use. A series of Box-Behnken design (BBD) experiments were used to identify the conditions (temperature, pressure, reaction time, and catalysts) necessary for the COD removal process. The predicted model had R2 and R2adj correlation coefficients of 0.98 and 0.97, respectively. Pressure only and the interaction effect between temperature and pressure were found to have a significant effect on COD removal (both confidence interval [CI] 95%). Finally, response surface methodology (RSM)-optimized results suggested that 92% of COD could be removed in 1 L of experimental wastewater with a lignin concentration 350 g/L in 120 min under the following conditions: a reaction temperature of 185 °C, a pressure of 10 bars, and catalyst loading of 1 mg/L. The experiment, performed in triplicate, yielded a COD removal of 90±2%. The results are believed to be of importance to pulp and paper industrial wastewater treatment and other similar applications.

IMPLICATIONS

Catalytic wet-air oxidation (CWAO) has been used as an alternative to overcome problems related to the high temperatures and pressures required by the traditional wet-air oxidation. CWAO has been widely applied to treat various industrial wastewaters. To reduce the overall operational cost, it is necessary to identify the optimal condition required when designing wastewater treatment plant processes. In this work, the authors had successfully demonstrated the application of response surface methodology (RSM) with the Box-Behnken design (BBD) as a means of elucidating the complicated interaction effects between parameters.

Optimization of operating parameters for efficient photocatalytic inactivation of Escherichia coli based on a statistical design of experiments

In this work, the individual and interaction effects of three key operating parameters of the photocatalytic disinfection process were evaluated and optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) for the first time. The chosen operating parameters were: reaction temperature, initial pH of the reaction mixture and TiO2 P-25 photocatalyst loading. Escherichia coli concentration, after 90 minutes irradiation of UV-A light, was selected as the response. Twenty sets of photocatalytic disinfection experiments were conducted by adjusting operating parameters at five levels using the central composite design. Based on the experimental data, a semi-empirical expression was established and applied to predict the response. Analysis of variance revealed a strong correlation between predicted and experimental values of the response. The optimum values of the reaction temperature, initial pH of the reaction mixture and photocatalyst loading were found to be 40.3 °C, 5.9 g/L, and 1.0 g/L, respectively. Under the optimized conditions, E. coli concentration was observed to reduce from 10(7) to about 11 CFU/mL during the photocatalytic process. Moreover, all these results showed the great significance of the RSM in developing high performance processes for photocatalytic water disinfection.