Recent Innovations in Chemical Engineering (Formerly Recent Patents on Chemical Engineering) - Volume 17, Issue 2, 2024

Background: The production of thin film TiO2 nanostructured systems for electrocatalytic, photocatalytic, and photoelectrocatalytic applications has been an essential topic in recent years. Due to the light-sensitive effect of TiO2, it can be produced by various methods and used as a photoelectrode to remove dye. Using magnetron sputtering, Ti thin films can be deposited on different substrates and converted into transparent TiO2 structures by electrochemical anodization. Methods: In this study, the thin Ti film was produced using a magnetic spraying technique on the FTO substrate, and then an anodic TiO2 structure was obtained by the anodization technique. TiO2 films produced by the anodizing technique were used as a photoelectrode for the degradation of MB. The reactor contained 400 mL of 20 mg/L MB solution at 20 °C. The produced photoelectrode was characterized by the SEM/EDS, FTIR, XRD, and UV-Vis Spectrophotometer analyses. Results: The EDS analysis confirmed the presence of titanium and oxygen in the FTO/ Anodized TiO2 photoelectrode. The XRD results showed that all the peaks of the produced FTO/ Anodic TiO2 were associated with the anatase phase of TiO2. According to the FTIR spectroscopy, the functional groups of the anodized TiO2 were obtained for the FTO/ Anodized TiO2. The electrocatalytic, photocatalytic, and photoelectrocatalytic degradation experiments were performed with the degradation of the dye solution of MB on the FTO/ Anodic TiO2 photoelectrode, and the rates of dye degradation were determined as 17.12%, 64.67%, and 82.12%, respectively. Conclusion: This study showed that the methylene blue dye of FTO/ Anodic TiO2 is a suitable photoelectrode for electrocatalytic, photocatalytic, and photoelectrocatalytic degradation.

Introduction: Renewable energy sources demand is increasing in the world due to their less environmental effect. Solar and wind energy, which requires largescale electrical energy storage, are major contributors to this growth. The iron flow battery is one of the Redox flow battery technologies, which is encouraging for electrical energy storage because of their long lifetime, flexibility to increase storage, and minimum chemical hazard compared to conventional batteries. Method: In this research, the engineering design and fabrication of a locally made Iron flow battery prototype is described. Then, electrolyte flow simulation was carried out through COMSOL Multiphysics to compare the fluid velocity and pressure profiles in three different flow geometries such as plain, parallel, and serpentine, to select the most compatible flow pattern for the Iron flow battery. Result: The resulting velocity profiles indicated that plain flow had stagnated points, the parallel flow had uneven velocity distribution, and serpentine flow had a uniform and high-velocity profile. The simulation results of pressure profiles showed the serpentine, parallel, and plain flows had inlet pressures of 34.38 Pa, 10.01 Pa, and 0.254 Pa, respectively. Conclusion: Given that pumping power is directly proportional to the pressure gradient, the power requirement of electrolyte pumps from highest to lowest is as serpentine flow, parallel flow, and plain flow.

Background: Organosulfur compounds within petroleum have far-reaching consequences for the refining industry, combustion of petroleum products, and environmental quality. They induce corrosion in refining equipment, hamper the efficient burning of petroleum products, and contribute to environmental degradation. In high-density asphalt crudes, these compounds are predominantly concentrated within asphaltenes. However, crude oils with extremely high sulfur content, may be distributed across the four constituent families defined by the SARA analysis of crude oil composition. These compounds, characterized by differing polarities, can trigger the formation of a dispersed phase, whose destabilization results in tube clogging issues. Methods: The research problem focuses on understanding how sulfur composition affects the formation of a dispersed phase in low-polarity organic dispersion media for sulfur-containing hydrocarbons. It is investigated because the presence of sulfur in crude oil significantly affects the behavior of dispersed phases, which can result in operational and environmental quality issues to comprehensively assess the impact of sulfur composition on the dynamics and stability of this dispersed phase, we introduce a mesoscopic model based on the master equation. This model considers the molecular structure of system components and their molecular properties, established through computational quantum chemistry and statistical thermodynamics tools. Results: While our research focuses on a two-phase system, our theoretical insights suggest that increased sulfur content escalates the likelihood of destabilizing the dispersed phase. This adverse effect can be mitigated by incorporating additives capable of reducing the polarizability of the dispersion medium. The novelty lies in the development of a stochastic model to predict the dynamics of dispersed phase formation in sulfur-containing hydrocarbons. This model considers molecular interactions and stochastic processes, offering insights into the influence of sulfur composition on phase behavior. Conclusion: A stochastic model, based on molecular structure, predicts accelerated formation with increased sulfur concentration, reaching non-equilibrium steady states. Limitations include ad hoc transition probabilities and the exclusion of factors like density and viscosity. Real crudes, with complex compositions, may exhibit different behavior. The presence of sulfur in the dispersion medium enhances the stability of the dispersed system. Our work sheds light on the intricate interplay between sulfur content and the performance of petroleum systems, offering potential solutions to mitigate these issues. Quantitative results include accelerated dispersed phase formation with increased sulfur concentration. Qualitatively, molecular interactions and stochastic processes were explored, highlighting sulfur's impact on phase dynamics.

Introduction: Waste from the palm oil industry, such as empty fruit bunch ash (EFBA) and palm oil mill effluents (POME), is a type of biomass created during the production of palm oil and produced in vast quantities. Due to the massive amounts of empty fruit bunch ash produced because of the exponential rise in worldwide palm oil production, major plantations are having trouble disposing of them. Aim: The purpose of this research is to study the effectiveness of the ZnO-EFBA catalyst under visible light irradiation for the photoesterification reaction and its physicochemical properties of the photocatalyst that will be determined using TGA, SEMEDX, XRD and BET. Method: The biodiesel will be produced by using two steps which are photoesterification to reduce the FFA value in WCO and followed by transesterification to produce FAMEs. The photoesterification reactions were conducted using WCO under visible light irradiation. Various parameters were examined, including different reaction times of 1 to 4 hours, different methanol to oil molar ratios of 12:1, 14:1, 16:1, and 18:1, and different ZnO-EFBA catalyst loadings ranging from 0 wt.% to 8 wt.%. The obtained results demonstrated that each WCO sample has a different optimum condition in the photoesterification reaction. Moreover, it was observed that lower FFA values correlated with higher biodiesel conversion rates in the transesterification reaction with 79.06%, 77.72% and 73.33% for samples 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Result: By using EFBA as a heterogeneous catalyst doped with ZnO in the manufacturing of biodiesel, it helps to reduce the waste that the palm oil industry creates, limiting the adverse effects on human health and environmental harm. Furthermore, biodiesel is a renewable, clean-burning alternative to petroleum fuel, which is domestically manufactured. Conclusion: The use of biodiesel as a vehicle fuel boosts energy security, enhances the environment and air quality, and offers safety advantages.

Background: With the continuous application of API 5L X100 high-strength grade steel pipeline and the development trend of increasing pipeline diameter and design pressure in China's long natural gas and petroleum pipeline, API 5L X100 high-strength grade steel pipeline steel is bound to become the aorta in long-distance pipeline construction in the future. Studying the failure pressure of API 5L X100 high-strength grade steel pipeline has high economic and social benefits. Objective: Exploring the corrosion mechanism of the two single corroded pipeline models with outer defect and inner defect. Methods: Using ANSYS Workbench 15.0 software to explore the two single corroded pipeline models with outer defect and inner defect and the influence of geometric parameters such as defect depth, defect length, defect width, etc., on the maximum equivalent stress and failure pressure investigated. Based on the finite element analysis database, the failure pressures of two single corroded pipeline models were fitted using Matlab software and the fitting formulas. Results: In the corrosion defect area of the pipeline, stress concentration occurs; Far away from the corrosion defect area, the stress distribution is uniform. For the pipeline model with outer defect and inner defect, as the defect depth and length increases, failure pressure shows a decreasing trend and is almost unaffected by defect width; As the ratio of diameter to thickness increases, failure pressure shows a decreasing trend; By fitting failure pressure formula of the pipeline models with outer defect and inner defect, a multivariate fitting function formula of failure pressure is obtained, with high fitting exactitude. Conclusion: The conclusion obtained have certain guiding values for the normal and stable operation of natural gas and petroleum transportation pipelines.

Introduction: The demand for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is rapidly increasing due to the growth of the electronics and electric vehicle industries. Even though the batteries are rechargeable, their storage capacity decreases, and they eventually end up being wasted. Recycling the spent LIBs is necessary to reduce the environmental impact and utilize the precious metals contained in the waste. Method: The present work focuses on the selective recovery of lithium from the cathodes of spent NMC batteries through the hydrometallurgical process using a sodium hydroxide solution. The leaching process was carried out in 2 M and 4 M NaOH concentrations for 120 minutes at high pressure and at temperatures of 398.15 K, 423.15 K, 448.15 K, and 473.15 K. Experimental results showed that 56.53% of lithium could be recovered with nearly 100% selectivity under the optimum leaching conditions of 473.15 K and 4 M NaOH. The release of lithium ions was due to a combination of sodium adsorption, ion exchange, and impregnation mechanisms. Result: Calculation results showed that the activation energy of the lithium leaching process was 2.1990×10⁴ J/mol, the reaction was endothermic with enthalpy and entropy at standard conditions (298.15 K) of 4.8936×10⁵ J/mol and 1.4421×10³ J/mol/K, respectively. Conclusion: The present work also suggested that total lithium recovery can be increased through a series of leaching processes.