Industrial applications of electron beam flue gas treatment—From laboratory to the practice

The electron beam technology for flue gas treatment (EBFGT) has been developed in Japan in the early 1980s. Later on, this process was investigated in pilot scale in the USA, Germany, Japan, Poland, Bulgaria and China. The new engineering and process solutions have been developed during the past two decades. Finally industrial plants have been constructed in Poland and China. The high efficiency of SO_x and NO_x removal was achieved (up to 95% for SO_x and up to 70% for NO_x) and by-product is a high quality fertilizer. Since the power of accelerators applied in industrial installation is over 1 MW and requested operational availability of the plant is equal to 8500 h in year, it is a new challenge for radiation processing applications.     

Electron beam accelerators—trends in radiation processing technology for industrial and environmental applications in Latin America and the Caribbean

The radiation processing technology for industrial and environmental applications has been developed and used worldwide. In Latin America and the Caribbean and particularly in Brazil there are 24 and 16 industrial electron beam accelerators (EBA) respectively with energy from 200 keV to 10 MeV, operating in private companies and governmental institutions to enhance the physical and chemical properties of materials. However, there are more than 1500 high-current electron beam accelerators in commercial use throughout the world. The major needs and end-use markets for these electron beam (EB) units are R and D, wire and electric cables, heat shrinkable tubes and films, PE foams, tires, components, semiconductors and multilayer packaging films. Nowadays, the emerging opportunities in Latin America and the Caribbean are paints, adhesives and coatings cure in order to eliminate VOCs and for less energy use than thermal process; disinfestations of seeds; and films and multilayer packaging irradiation. For low-energy EBA (from 150 keV to 300 keV). For mid-energy EBA (from 300 keV to 5 MeV), they are flue gas treatment (SO₂ and NO_X removal); composite and nanocomposite materials; biodegradable composites based on biorenewable resources; human tissue sterilization; carbon and silicon carbide fibers irradiation; irradiated grafting ion-exchange membranes for fuel cells application; electrocatalysts nanoparticles production; and natural polymers irradiation and biodegradable blends production. For high-energy EBA (from 5 MeV to 10 MeV), they are sterilization of medical, pharmaceutical and biological products; gemstone enhancement; treatment of industrial and domestic effluents and sludge; preservation and disinfestations of foods and agricultural products; soil disinfestations; lignocellulosic material irradiation as a pretreatment to produce ethanol biofuel; decontamination of pesticide packing; solid residues remediation; organic compounds removal from wastewater; and treatment of effluent from petroleum production units and liquid irradiation process to treat vessel water ballast. On the other hand, there is a growing need of mobile EB facilities for different applications in South America.     

New (p, ρ, T) data for carbon dioxide – Nitrogen mixtures from (250 to 400) K at pressures up to 20 MPa

Comprehensive (p, ρ, T) measurements on two binary mixtures (0.10 CO₂ + 0.90 N₂ and 0.15 CO₂ + 0.85 N₂) were carried out in the gas phase at seven isotherms between (250 and 400) K and pressures up to 20 MPa using a single sinker densimeter with magnetic suspension coupling. A total of 69 (p, ρ, T) data for the first mixture and 69 (p, ρ, T) data for the second are presented in this article. The uncertainty in density was estimated to be (0.02 to 0.15)%, while the uncertainty in temperature was 3.9 mK and the uncertainty in pressure was less than 0.015% (coverage factor k = 2). Experimental results were compared with densities calculated from the GERG equation of state and with data reported by other authors for similar mixtures. Results yielded that, while deviations between experimental data and values calculated from the GERG equation were lower than 0.05% in density for low pressures, the relative error at high pressures and low temperatures increased to about (0.2 to 0.3)%. The main aim of this work was to contribute to an accurate density data base for CO₂/N₂ mixtures and to check or improve equations of state existing for these binary mixtures.     

Phase equilibrium measurements for clathrate hydrates of flue gas (CO2 + N2 + O2) in the presence of tetra-n-butyl ammonium bromide or tri-n-butylphosphine oxide

This paper reports the measured hydrate phase equilibria of simulated flue gas (12.6 vol% CO₂, 80.5 vol% N₂, 6.9 vol% O₂) in the presence of tetra-n-butyl ammonium bromide (TBAB) or tri-n-butylphosphine oxide (TBPO), at (0, 5 and 26) wt%, respectively. The measurements of the phase boundary between (hydrate + liquid + vapor) (H + L + V) phases and (liquid + vapor) (L + V) phases were performed within the temperature range (275.97 to 293.99) K and pressure range (1.56 to 18.78) MPa with using the isochoric step-heating pressure search method. It was found that addition of TBAB or TBPO allowed the incipient equilibrium hydrate formation conditions for the flue gas to become milder. Compared to TBAB, TBPO was largely more effective in reducing the phase equilibrium pressure.     

Separation performance of polyimide composite membrane prepared by dip coating process

The effects of the preparation conditions in a dip coating process on polyimide composite membranes have been investigated. Polyimide precursor obtained from pyromellitic dianhidride (PMDA) and 4,4′-oxydianiline (ODA) was mixed with triethylamine and poly(amic acid)tri-ethylamine salt (PAA salt) was made. An asymmetric polyimide membrane (PI-2080) as a supporting membrane was dipped in a PAA salt (concentration 0–5 wt.%) methanol solution. The coating layers of PAA salt were converted to these of polyimide by annealing at 200°C for 3 h in an ordinary vacuum oven.The performance of the polyimide composite membrane was evaluated by gas permeation (N₂, O₂, CO₂, at 1 kg/cm²) and pervaporation (feed: a 95 vol.% ethanol aqueous solution at 30–60°C). The composite membranes prepared using a coating solution of 5 wt.% PAA salt showed the CO₂/N₂ selectivity of over 25 on gas permeation, and separation factor α (H₂O/EtOH) of over 800 with a total flux of 0.21 kg/m² h on pervaporation.     

A new intersecting tunnel structure in the AIMIII[PO3(OH)]2 series for AI = Ag,MIII = In: Analysis of structural relationships

A new indium hydroxyphosphate containing silver, AgIn[PO₃(OH)]₂, has been synthesized using hydrothermal method. It crystallizes in the P2₁/c space group with the cell parameters a = 6.6400(2) Å, b = 14.6269(6) Å, c = 6.6616(4) Å, β = 95.681(5)°, V = 643.82(6) Å³, Z = 4. Its three-dimensional framework, built up of corner-sharing PO₃(OH) tetrahedra and InO₆ octahedra, presents intersecting tunnels running along <111> and [100] directions, in which the Ag⁺ cations are located. The presence of hydroxyl groups has been confirmed from IR spectroscopy studies and hydrogen atoms were located from the single crystal X-ray diffraction study. The structural relationships with the other compounds of general formula A^IM^III[PO₃(OH)]₂ are analyzed.     

Kinetic modeling of benzene and toluene decomposition in air and in flue gas under electron beam irradiation

Computer simulations of benzene and toluene decomposition in air (79% N₂+21% O₂) and in flue gas (87% N₂+10% O₂+3% H₂O+160 ppm SO₂+80 ppm NO) under electron beam (EB) irradiation were carried out using computer code KINETIC and GEAR method. 285 reactions involving 73 species and 294 reactions involving 78 species were considered for simulation of benzene and toluene decomposition, respectively. Calculation results of benzene and toluene decomposition in air under electron beam agree well with the published experimental results. OH radicals play a main role in benzene or toluene decomposition.     

The heat capacities and thermodynamic functions of some derivatives of ferrocene

The heat capacities of benzoylferrocene (BOF), C₅H₅FeC₅H₄COC₆H₅, and benzylferrocene (BF), C₅H₅FeC₅H₄CH₂C₆H₅, have been measured by the low-temperature adiabatic calorimetry in the temperature range from 6 K to 372 K. The purity benzylferrocene and thermodynamic properties – the triple point temperature and the enthalpy of fusion have been obtained. The ideal gas thermodynamic functions (changes of the entropy, enthalpy, and Gibbs free energy) of BOF and BF were derived at T = 298.15 K using the heat capacities and previously determined data on the saturation vapours pressures and the enthalpies of sublimation. The ideal gas enthalpy of formation and absolute entropy of BOF at T = 298.15 K have been obtained from quantum chemical calculations, where as the thermodynamic properties of BF have been estimated by empirical method of group equations. A good agreement between experimental and theoretical values provides an additional check of the reliability of the experimental data.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of the first chain-type nitridosilicates RE5Si3N9 (RE = La,Ce)

The novel branched chain-type nitridosilicates Ce₅Si₃N₉ and La₅Si₃N₉ have been synthesized in a radio-frequency furnace starting from the respective metals and silicon diimide Si(NH)₂ at 1625 °C for La₅Si₃N₉ and 1650 °C for Ce₅Si₃N₉, respectively. The structure of Ce₅Si₃N₉ has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (Ce₅Si₃N₉, Cmca (no. 64), a = 10.567(2) Å, b = 11.329(2) Å, c = 15.865(3) Å, V = 1899.3 Å³, Z = 8, R₁ = 0.0391, 1480 independent reflections, 90 refined parameters). The structure of isotypic La₅Si₃N₉ has been refined by the Rietveld method, starting from single-crystal data of Ce₅Si₃N₉ (La₅Si₃N₉, Cmca (no. 64), a = 10.647(4) Å, b = 11.414(4) Å, c = 16.030(5) Å, V = 1948.1 Å³, Z = 8, R_P = 0.0348, R_F² = 0.0533). Both compounds are built up of alternating Q²- and Q³-type corner sharing SiN₄ tetrahedra with additional corner sharing Q¹-units attached to the Q³-tetrahedra pointing alternately in opposing directions. These zipper-like chains are intertwined in both directions perpendicular to the chain itself to form a three-dimensionally interlocked structure with the rare-earth ions situated between the chains. Magnetic measurements resulted in a ferromagnetic ground state with a magnetic moment in agreement with Ce³⁺.     

Synthesis,characterization, X-ray diffraction,antimicrobial and in vitro cytotoxicity studies of 7a-Aza-B-homostigmast-5-eno [7a,7-d] tetrazole

The synthesis, spectral characterization, crystal structure and antimicrobial activity of the novel synthetic molecule 7a-Aza-B-homostigmast-5-eno [7a,7-d] tetrazole, C₂₉H₄₈N₄ has been reported. The structure has also been determined by X-ray diffraction technique using direct method and was refined on F² by the full-matrix least-squares. Crystals are orthorhombic and their space group is P212121, with a = 7.230(3), b = 31.451(13), c = 11.974(5) (Å), α = β = γ = 90°. It can be conveniently obtained by the reaction of 7-Oxostigmast-5-ene with hydrazoic acid. The molecule has also been screened for its possible in vitro antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus cereus, Corynebacterium xerosis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus vulgaris and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MTCC 424). Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the synthesized compound has also been evaluated. The highest activity is observed against C. xerosi and P. vulgaris. Moreover, the compound has also been screened for its in vitro cytotoxicity against human colon carcinoma cell line, HCT116 and human liver hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, HepG2, using doxorubicin as standard. On the basis of its IC₅₀ values, 7a-Aza-B-homostigmast-5-eno [7a,7-d] tetrazole was found to inhibit the cancer cells effectively.     

Phase equilibrium for ozone-containing hydrates formed from an (ozone + oxygen) gas mixture coexisting with gaseous carbon dioxide and liquid water

The paper reports the three-phase (gas + aqueous liquid + hydrate) equilibrium pressure (p) versus temperature (T) data for a (O₃ + O₂ + CO₂ + H₂O) system and, for comparison, corresponding data for a (O₂ + CO₂ + H₂O) system for the first time. These data cover the temperature range from (272 to 279) K, corresponding to pressures up to 4 MPa, for each of the three different (O₃ + O₂)-to-CO₂ or O₂-to-CO₂ mole ratios in the gas phase, which are approximately 1:9, 2:8, and 3:7, respectively. The mole fraction of ozone in the gas phase of the (O₃ + O₂ + CO₂ + H₂O) system was from ∼0.004 to ∼0.02. The modified pressure-search method, developed in our previous study [S. Muromachi, T. Nakajima, R. Ohmura, Y.H. Mori, Fluid Phase Equilib. 305 (2011) 145–151] for p–T measurements in the presence of chemically unstable ozone, was applied, having been further modified for dealing with highly water-soluble CO₂, for the (O₃ + O₂ + CO₂ + H₂O) system, while the conventional temperature-search method was used for the (O₂ + CO₂ + H₂O) system. The measurement uncertainties (with 95% coverage) were ±0.11 K for T, ±6.0 kPa for p, and ±0.0015 for the mole fraction of each species in the gas phase. It was confirmed that, at a given CO₂ fraction in the gas phase, p for the (O₃ + O₂ + CO₂ + H₂O) system was consistently lower than that for the (O₂ + CO₂ + H₂O) system over the entire T range of the present measurements, indicating a preference of O₃ to O₂ in the uptake of guest-gas molecules into the cages of a structure I hydrate.     

Thermodynamic properties of (tetradecane + benzene, + toluene, + chlorobenzene, + bromobenzene, + anisole) binary mixtures at T = (298.15, 303.15, and 308.15) K

Density ρ, viscosity η, and refractive index n_D, values for (tetradecane + benzene, + toluene, + chlorobenzene, + bromobenzene, + anisole) binary mixtures over the entire range of mole fraction have been measured at temperatures (298.15, 303.15, and 308.15) K at atmospheric pressure. The speed of sound u has been measured at T = 298.15 K only. Using these data, excess molar volume V^E, deviations in viscosity Δη, Lorentz–Lorenz molar refraction ΔR, speed of sound Δu, and isentropic compressibility Δk_s have been calculated. These results have been fitted to the Redlich and Kister polynomial equation to estimate the binary interaction parameters and standard deviations. Excess molar volumes have exhibited both positive and negative trends in many mixtures, depending upon the nature of the second component of the mixture. For the (tetradecane + chlorobenzene) binary mixture, an incipient inversion has been observed. Calculated thermodynamic quantities have been discussed in terms of intermolecular interactions between mixing components.     

Studies on atmospheric plasma abatement of PFCs

Microwave plasma at 2.45 GHz frequency operating at atmospheric pressure in synthetic gas mixtures containing N₂, CF₄, C₂F₆, CHF₃, and SF₆ were investigated experimentally for various gas mixture constituents and operating conditions, with respect to their ability to destroy perfluorocompounds. It was found that the destruction and removal efficiency (DRE) of the process is highly dependent on the total gas flow. DREs of up to 99.9% have been achieved using 1.8 kW of microwave power at 20 l/min total flow rate.     

Controlling the dimensionality of oxalate-based bimetallic complexes: The ferromagnetic chain {[K(18-crown-6)][Mn(bpy)Cr(ox)3]}∞(18-crown-6 = C12H24O6, ox=C2O42-, bpy = C10H8N2)

The bimetallic ferromagnetic chain {[K(18-crown-6)][Mn(bpy)Cr(ox)₃]}_∞ (1) has been synthesized and characterized. It crystallizes in the orthorhombic chiral space group P2₁2₁2₁ [a = 9.0510(2) Å, b = 14.4710(3) Å, c = 26.8660(8) Å, V = 3510.97(1) Å³, Z = 2]. Compound 1 is made up by anionic [Mn(bpy)Cr(ox)₃]⁻ 1D chains and cationic [K(18-crown-6)]⁺ complexes. The magnetic exchange within the chain is ferromagnetic [J = +7.8(7) cm⁻¹]. In the solid state, the ferromagnetic chains are well isolated magnetically and no long range magnetic ordering has been observed above 2 K.     

Gas solubility of CO2 in aqueous solutions of N-methyldiethanolamine and diethanolamine with 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol

Gas solubility of carbon dioxide in an aqueous solution of 32.5 wt.% N-methyldiethanolamine and 12.5 wt.% diethanolamine with 4, 6, and 10 wt.% 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol has been measured, at 313.15, 343.15, and 393.15 K, over a range of pressure from 3 to 2000 kPa, using a chromatographic method for analysis of the liquid phase. The results of the gas solubility are given as the partial pressure of CO₂ against its mole ratio α (mol CO₂/mol alkanolamine) and its mole fraction at each temperature studied. The solubility of CO₂ in all the systems studied decreases with an increase in temperature and increases with an increase in the partial pressure of CO₂ at a given temperature and it is a function of the concentration of the mixture of alkanolamines in solution. The enthalpy of solution of CO₂ has been calculated from the experimental solubility data.     

High pressure measurement and CPA equation of state for solubility of carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate

Removal of acid gases such as CO₂ and H₂S from natural gas is essential for commercial, safety and environmental protection that demonstrate the importance of gas sweetening process. Ionic liquids (IL) have been highly demanded as a green solvent to remove acid gases from sour natural gas and capturing of CO₂ from flue gases. In this work, the solubility of CO₂ in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([bmim][Ac]) is measured at temperatures (303.15, 328.15, 343.15) K and pressure range of (0.1 to 3.9) MPa. Moreover, the experiments are carried out for simultaneous measurements of (CO₂ + H₂S) (70% + 30% on a mole basis) solubility in the same ionic liquid at T = (303.15, 323.15, 343.15) K and a pressure range of (0.1 to 2.2) MPa. To model the solubility of acid gases in IL, both physical and chemical equilibria are applied so that the (vapour + liquid) equilibrium calculation is carried out through Cubic-Plus-Association (CPA) EoS. The reaction equilibrium thermodynamic model is used in liquid phase so that the chemical reaction is taking place between IL and acid gasses. The Henry’s and reaction equilibrium constants are obtained though optimization of the solubility data. Using CPA EOS, the pure parameters of [bmim][acetate] are optimised and consequently using these parameters, gas partial pressure calculation is performed for the (CO₂ + IL) and (CO₂ + H₂S + IL) systems. For the (CO₂ + IL) system, the percent average absolute deviation (AAD%) of 4.83 is resulted and for the (H₂S + CO₂ + IL) system the values of 18.8 and 13.7 are obtained for H₂S and CO₂, respectively.     

Real structure of SrSi2O2N2

SrSi₂O₂N₂ is an important host lattice for Eu²⁺ doped phosphors. Its crystal structure (space group P1, a = 7.0802(2) Å, b = 7.2306(2) Å, c = 7.2554(2) Å, α = 88.767(3)°, β = 84.733(2)°, γ = 75.905(2)° and V = 358.73(2) Å³, Z = 4) is isotypic with EuSi₂O₂N₂: highly condensed silicate layers are separated by Sr²⁺. The samples are characterized by pronounced real structure effects owing to pseudosymmetry of partial structures. Polysynthetic twinning with domains of various sizes is ubiquitous and oriented intergrowth of domains with different orientations has also been observed and analysed in detail by means of electron diffraction and high-resolution electron microscopy. These effects also affect the X-ray powder pattern and were taken into account in a Rietveld refinement.     

Conformational and stereoelectronic investigation of chloromethyl methyl sulfide and its sulfinyl and sulfonyl analogs

Three compounds based on polyoxometalate building blocks, [Cu(en)₂]{[Cu(en)₂]₂[Mo^VI₅Mo^V₃V^IV₈O₄₀(PO₄)]} · 4H₂O (1), [Co(en)₂]{[Co(en)₂]₂[HMo^VI₄Mo^V₄V^IV₈O₄₀(PO₄)]} · 5H₂O (2) and [Ni(en)₂]{[Ni(en)₂]₂[Mo^VI₅Mo^V₃V^IV₈O₄₀(VO₄)]} · 2H₂O (3) (en = ethylenediamine), have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, XPS, XRD, TGA and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The result of structure determination shows that isomorphic compounds 1, 2 and 3 feature a one-dimensional chain built from the reduced tetra-capped pseudo-Keggin polyoxoanion, which is further interconnected by [M(en)₂]²⁺ (M = Cu, Co and Ni) groups via the terminal oxygen atoms of polyoxoanions. The crystal data for these compounds are the following: 1, monoclinic, space group C2/c, a = 26.702(3) Å, b = 13.4539(14) Å, c = 19.5987(19) Å, β = 108.650(2)°, V = 6671.0(12) Å³, Z = 4; 2, monoclinic, space group C2/c, a = 26.244(3) Å, b = 13.5070(17) Å, c = 19.581(3) Å, β = 106.881(2)°, V = 6641.8(15) Å³, Z = 4; 3, monoclinic, space group C2/c, a = 26.2789(15) Å, b = 13.5408(6) Å, c = 19.6312(9) Å, β = 106.2590(10)°, V = 6706.1(6) Å³, Z = 4. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements of compounds 1 and 3 reveal the feature of antiferromagnetic exchange in these compounds.     

About the OH yield in the radiolysis of an aqueous/H2O2 system. Its optimisation for water treatment

Unless the radiolytic reducing species are neutralised or converted into oxidising species, an EB remediation system cannot be considered a true Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOP). A water/H₂O₂ system irradiated by UVC mercury lamps constitutes a widely used OH production method. Employing H₂O₂ in radiolysis as well, an enhancement of the oxidative efficiency of an EB treatment can be obtained. Pulse radiolysis measurements of an aerated aqueous/H₂O₂/KSCN system have been systematically undertaken to assess the optimal H₂O₂ concentration. By linearly fitting a competition kinetics relationship, it is found that the scavengeable extra-yield of OH is ΔG(OH)=0.24 μmol J^?1 (R=0,9958), while the maximum experimental yield is measured G(OH)_max=(0.52±0.02) μmol J^?1 when [H₂O₂]=5–10 mM. Exceeding these concentrations the OH yield drops off.     

Measurement of the (pressure,density, temperature) relation of two (methane + nitrogen) gas mixtures at temperatures between 240 and 400 K and pressures up to 20 MPa using an accurate single-sinker densimeter

Comprehensive (p, ρ, T) measurements on two gas mixtures of (0.9CH₄ + 0.1N₂) and (0.8CH₄ + 0.2N₂) have been carried out at six temperatures between 240 and 400 K and at pressures up to 20 MPa. A total of 108 (p, ρ, T) data for the first mixture and 134 for the second one are given. These measurements were performed using a compact single-sinker densimeter based on Archimedes’ buoyancy principle. The overall uncertainty in density ρ is estimated to be (1.5 · 10⁻⁴ · ρ + 2 · 10⁻³ kg · m⁻³) (coverage factor k = 2), the uncertainty in temperature T is estimated to be 0.006 K (coverage factor k = 2), and the uncertainty in pressure p is estimated to be 1 · 10⁻⁴·p (coverage factor k = 2). The equipment has been previously checked with pure nitrogen over the whole temperature and pressure working ranges and experimental results (35 values) are given and a comparison with the reference equation of state for nitrogen is presented.