The main issue objective of this work is to implement an optimization strategy through a two-layer structure where the search for optimal operational variables is made through of the algorithms optimization Successive quadratic programming – SQP. The considered process is based on the hydrogenation of phenol for production of cyclo-hexanol in the presence of a nickel catalyst. The objective fun...

Slurry, due to high microbiological contamination, requires hygienization before spreading. The agricultural usage of treated slurry has to guarantee biosafety. Therefore, constant monitoring of the slurry treatment process should be conducted. The use of Filter-Sandwich carriers seems to be a prospective solution. The aim of the research was to test whether Filter-Sandwich carriers influence t...

A cobalt catalyst (25%Co/γ-Al2O3, prepared by slurry phase impregnation) was used in a fixed bed reactor under a pressure/density tuned supercritical fluid mixture of n-pentane/nhexane. By using an inert gas as a balancing gas to maintain a constant pressure, the density of the supercritical fluid could be tuned near the supercritical point while maintaining constant space velocity within the r...

In the view of H2 as the future energy vector, we presented here the development of a homemade photoreactor working in gas phase and easily interfacing with fuel cell devices, for H2 production by ethanol dehydrogenation. The process generates acetaldehyde as the main co-product, which is more economically advantageous with respect to the low valuable CO2 produced in the alternative pathway of ...

Industrial bubble column reactor for Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis includes complex hydrodynamic, chemical and thermal interaction of three material phases: population of bubbles of different sizes, liquid and catalyst particles suspended in liquid. To simulate FT bubble column, a Computational Fluid Dynamics model is described here. The model is based on Eulerian multifluid formulation and ac...

Land application of cattle slurry can result in incidental and chronic phosphorus (P) loss to waterbodies, leading to eutrophication. Chemical amendment of slurry has been proposed as a management practice, allowing slurry nutrients to remain available to plants whilst mitigating P losses in runoff. The effectiveness of amendments is well understood but their impacts on other loss pathways (so-...

Losses of phosphorus (P) from soil and slurry during episodic rainfall events can contribute to eutrophication of surface water. However, chemical amendments have the potential to decrease P and suspended solids (SS) losses from land application of slurry. Current legislation attempts to avoid losses to a water body by prohibiting slurry spreading when heavy rainfall is forecast within 48 h. Th...

Coal combustion by-products such as fly ash (FA), brine and CO2 from coal fired power plants have the potential to impact negatively on the environment. Reaction of CO2 with FA/ brine slurry can potentially provide a viable route for CO2 sequestration through formation of mineral carbonates. Fractionated FA has varying amounts of CaO which not only increases the brine pH but can also be convert...

Bubble columns (with and without suspended solids) have been used widely as chemical reactors, bioreactors and equipment for waste water treatment. The key design parameters in bubble columns are: • gas holdup; • gas-liquid interfacial area; • volumetric liquid-phase mass transfer coefficient; • gas and liquid axial dispersion coefficients; Despite the large amount of studies devoted to hydrody...