Distillate Production Research Articles

Design and implementation of an advanced solar water distillation system for the efficient purification of contaminated water into clean drinking water

Solar energy is abundant in Sri Lanka, but there is currently no efficient method to use solar energy to purify polluted water into fresh water. This study aimed to address this issue by introducing an advanced solar water distillation system. The basin size of the prototype unit was 0.48 m2 and its performance was tested using different setups: a basin only (T1), a basin with a flat-plate solar collector (T2), a basin on a sand layer (T3), a basin with sponge cubes (T4), and a basin with all components together (T5). Data were collected at 30-minute intervals from 6.00 am to 6.00 pm for each treatment. The results showed that T5 performed significantly better than the other treatments (p<0.05). The maximum temperature recorded for the basin water was 59°C when the ambient air was at 64°C in T5. The flat-plate solar collector, sand layer, and sponge cubes contributed to increase the distilled volume by 73.0%, 20.5%, and 48.2% respectively. The new solar water distillation system with all the features (T5) can improve the distillation productivity by 138% compared to the conventional type (T1) by giving 4143 ml/m2/day of average production. The new distillation system is an effective solution for addressing the drinking water issue in agricultural areas, as it consistently demonstrates satisfactory quality in terms of pH, EC, TDS, and concentrations of As and Cd.

КЛАССИФИКАЦИЯ НЕФТЕСОДЕРЖАЩИХ ОТХОДОВ И ПОДБОР МЕТОДОВ ИХ ПЕРЕРАБОТКИКЛАССИФИКАЦИЯ НЕФТЕСОДЕРЖАЩИХ ОТХОДОВ И ПОДБОР МЕТОДОВ ИХ ПЕРЕРАБОТКИ

The systematization of the sources of formation of oil-containing waste at the refinery has been carried out. The physicochemical and chemmotological characteristics of oil sludge of various technological nature have been studied. The variants of processing bottom sediments of oil tanks with the production of fuel compositions and light distillate petroleum products are inves-tigated

ПЕРЕРАБОТКА НЕФТЕСОДЕРЖАЩИХ ОТХОДОВ НА УСТАНОВКЕ ЗАМЕДЛЕННОГО КОКСОВАНИЯ

The variants of oil sludge processing at a delayed coking plant in order to obtain light distillate petroleum products are investigated. A simulation of the process was carried out, a scheme for involving oil sludge in the installation was proposed

Salinity impacts on a unique desalination system embedded with concentrated solar energy for cleaner production

This research comprehensively analyzed a unique solar desalination unit that operates on concentrated solar energy. The analysis primarily focused on evaluating three crucial components: the condenser, flash chamber, and brine heater. Testing was initially performed using seawater sourced from the eastern region of Saudi Arabia. Subsequently, to investigate the influence of salinity on the system performance, the device was tested under variable salinity levels ranging from 15,000 ppm to 35,000 ppm. Key parameters, including condenser temperature, brine heater temperature, and distillate production, were measured throughout the experimentation. The findings unveiled an inverse correlation between salinity and distillate production, as increasing the salinity from 15,000 ppm to 35,000 ppm resulted in a decline in distillate production. The maximum distillate achieved was 2400 ml/h at a salinity level of 15,000 ppm, corresponding to a constant feed rate of 0.2 l/min. The average energy efficiency of the brine heater was determined to be 61.9%. Moreover, the average exergy efficiencies were calculated as 81.3% for the condenser, 4.4% for the brine heater, and 44.3% for the flash chamber. Mathematical models were subsequently developed to establish the relationships between salinity and various system responses. Furthermore, performance metrics such as gain output ratio, energy utilization factor, and specific energy consumption were evaluated. The proposed system has a maximum gain output ratio of 16, a maximum energy utilization factor of 2.2, and a minimum specific energy consumption of 299.3 kWh/m3.

Application of Fatty Acids Distillation Products as a Substitute for Heavy Fuel Oil in Stationary Combustion Chambers

Liquid biofuels are of special interest due to the possibility of their application as a substitute for fossil liquid fuels. The necessary step is to investigate the possibility of bio-fuel application in terms of its properties and similarities to fossil liquid fuels (e.g., crude oil, heavy fuel oil, diesel). The properties and combustion performance of heavy fuel oil (HFO) and products of the fatty acids distillation residues (FADR) were analyzed in this study. The application of animal-fat-delivered fuels is fully suggested in the literature. Nevertheless, the investigations focused on the raw materials or their transformation into diesel. The novelty of this paper is the utilization of FADR as a substitute for HFO. The utilization of FADR allows the use of this material as a feedstock to obtain valuable products (fuel) and avoids generating waste after animal fat processing. The experimental investigations were carried out using a technical-scale 150 kWth combustion chamber. FADR can be recognized as a substitute for HFO due to its beneficial calorific properties and viscosity. Other beneficial effects are the significantly lower emission of SO2 (lower than 1 ppm) and PAHs (i.e., 355 µg/m3n) during the combustion of FADR. Finally, the application of FADR requires less energy demand for fuel heating and pressurization.

Forecasting the productivity of a solar distiller enhanced with an inclined absorber plate using stochastic gradient descent in artificial neural networks

Forecasting the productivity of a solar distiller enhanced with an inclined absorber plate using stochastic gradient descent in artificial neural networks

Thermodynamic analysis of a hybrid novel solar powered humidification-dehumidification coupled with direct contact membrane distillation system

Water scarcity is a well-known global issue, and obtaining potable water in many regions is challenging. Some technologies exist but require high-grade energy for freshwater production, which is not universally accessible. This work emphasizes desalinating saline water using low-grade energy, such as solar energy. The study introduced a novel design of hybrid solar-powered humidification-dehumidification coupled with direct contact membrane distillation (HDH-DCMD), including modeling heat transfer, mass transfer, and fluid flow. The obtained results are further validated against previously published findings. Additionally, a thermodynamic analysis of the hybrid system was conducted to examine the effects of several parameters, including variation in membrane area, top brine temperature (TBT), feed temperature, mass flow rate ratio (MR), and dimensions of the membrane module. The objective was to assess the influence of these factors on the overall distillate production, gain output ratio (GOR), and recovery ratio (RR). The hybrid system offers a significantly improved solution, yielding nearly double the distillate production and GOR compared to standalone HDH and DCMD systems. The performance of HDH and DCMD is interconnected, meaning that if one outperforms the other, the overall output remains constant. The overall distillate production remains unaffected by MR, while GOR is influenced by it, resulting in varying optimal points depending on the specific operating parameters. It has been observed that increasing the TBT results in an increase in distillate production, RR, and GOR. However, when the feed temperature increases, the distillate production and RR remain almost constant while the GOR continues to increase.

Safety evaluation of the food enzyme α-amylase from the non-genetically modified Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain NZYM-WR.

The food enzyme α-amylase (4-α-d-glucan glucanohydrolase; EC 3.2.1.1) is produced with the non-genetically modified Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain NZYM-WR by Novozymes A/S. The production strain met the requirements for the qualified presumption of safety (QPS) approach. The food enzyme is intended to be used in nine food manufacturing processes: processing of cereals and other grains for the production of baked products, cereal-based products other than baked, glucose syrups and other starch hydrolysates, distilled alcohol and brewed products; production of refined and unrefined sugar, production of plant-based analogues of milk and milk products; processing of fruits and vegetables for the production of juices and fruit and vegetable products other than juices. Since residual amounts of total organic solids (TOS) are removed during two processes, a dietary exposure was calculated only for the remaining seven food manufacturing processes. Exposure was estimated to be up to 0.450 mg TOS/kg body weight per day in European populations. As the production strain qualified for the QPS approach and no issues of concern arose from the production process of the food enzyme, the Panel considered that toxicological studies were unnecessary. A search for the similarity of the amino acid sequence of the food enzyme to known allergens was made and one match with a respiratory allergen was found. The Panel considered that the risk of allergic reactions upon dietary exposure to this food enzyme cannot be excluded (except for distilled alcohol production), but the likelihood is low. Based on the data provided, the Panel concluded that this food enzyme does not give rise to safety concerns under the intended conditions of use.

Experimental and theoretical investigation of thermal efficiency and productivity of single slope basin type solar distillation system using honey-comb

The aim of current research was to improve water quality by constructing a single slope basin type solar water distillation system with honeycomb, as well as to increase distilled water pro-ductivity. In this investigation, honeycomb structure of 2.25 cm and a diameter of 6 mm in a square section (100 cm ×100 cm) have been proposed to enhance the efficiency of the solar still. An experimental analysis was done to investigate the performance of the honeycomb structure. Thermal efficiency of the standard solar distillation system was obtained approxi-mately 18.48%, while the thermal efficiency and productivity of the solar distillation system with honeycomb was obtained 25.45% and 749.58 ml/m2 respectively. It was concluded that, the solar distillation system with honeycomb structure was more efficient that a simple con-ventional solar distillation system. The addition of honeycomb structure in simple solar de-salination system increased the productivity and efficiency by 35.36% and 37.71% respectively.

Optimizing solar still performance through glass cover optical properties: A mathematical modeling and theoretical investigation

This research investigates the impact of the glass cover's optical properties on fresh water production in solar still desalination systems. By examining the transmissivity, absorptivity, and reflectivity of the glass cover under different operating conditions, the study aims to optimize the yield and efficiency of the desalination process. A validated mathematical model is developed, integrating energy and mass transfer with the glass cover's optical properties. For Matroh City, the research determines the optimal tilt angle of the glass cover (21.7°) and reveals absorptivity values ranging from 0.086 to 0.112, reflectivity values ranging from 0.076 to 0.89, and increasing transmissivity values from 0 to 0.84. Furthermore, a variable monthly optimal tilt angle outperforms a fixed annual tilt angle, resulting in a 2.5 % increase in annual distillate production. The results indicates that with an increase in glass thickness from 5 mm to 20 mm, the daily yield and efficiency decrease from 6.6 kg/m2 and 31.5 % to 5.2 kg/m2 and 24.9 %.This research provides valuable insights into the influence of glass cover optical properties on solar still desalination performance, contributing to renewable energy-based desalination processes. The implications extend to the development of sustainable water sources, greenhouse gas reduction, and addressing water scarcity challenges.

Performance optimization of a conical solar distillation system with and without stainless-steel balls as low-cost sensible storage: Experimental study and comparative analysis

An experimental study of a conical solar distiller's usage of inexpensive energy storage material to increase distillation yield. Stainless-steel balls are utilized in experiments because they increase the surface area of the water and are excellent energy storage devices. The goal of this research is to determine the optimal distance between the stainless-steel balls (with a fixed diameter of 1.4 cm) as a low-cost energy storage material to improve the productivity of conical solar stills. As a result, three identical conical distillates were produced. Experiments are carried out over the course of two days. On the first day, the first distiller is free of stainless-steel balls, the second distiller has a distance of 3 cm between the stainless-steel balls, and in the third distiller there are stainless-steel balls at a distance of 4 cm. The second day, the first distilled is still witness. The second and third distillers have stainless-steel balls placed at the bottom of the basin at distances of 5 and 6 cm, respectively. The depth of the brine in the basins is 1.4 cm. The distillation productivity with storage of stainless-steel balls (a diameter of 1.4 cm) with a distance of 3 cm between the stainless-steel balls achieves a maximum yield of 9500 g/m2 compared to the distillation yields with storage of stainless-steel balls with a distance of 4, 5, and 6 cm between the stainless-steel balls, which amounted to 8800, 8200, 7400, and 5750 g/m2, respectively. The optimal distance between the stainless-steel balls was found to be 3 cm, with an improvement rate of 65.22 %. Finally, conical solar energy with stainless-steel balls as a low-cost energy storage material with diameters of 1.4 cm, and a distance of 3 cm between the stainless-steel balls is still optimal.

Innovative design of a dome-shaped solar distiller enhanced with a multi-tray conical absorber basin and fountain feeding supply: Experimental study with energy, exergy, and enviro-economic analyses

Augmentation of the condensation cover area of the distiller by using a newly dome-shaped solar distiller could be a low-cost and effective approach for maximization of the distillate product of conventional solar stills. This work aims to evolve an innovative design of a solar distiller that can achieve the highest performance improvement. A novel dome-shaped solar distiller with a multi-tray conical absorber basin and fountain feeding supply is introduced in this study to augment the vaporization rates within the distillation basin and thus augment the freshwater product. Two dome-shaped solar distillers are designed and examined: a modified dome-shaped solar distiller (MDSSD) and a traditional dome-shaped solar distiller (TDSSD), which act as a reference. The energetic, exergetic, and economical analyses of the two stills are conducted regarding freshwater production rate, daily energic and exergic efficiencies, and distillation product cost. The daily freshwater production reached 9.27 kg/m2/d for the MDSSD and 5.57 kg/m2/d for the TDSSD, achieving a 41.0 % enhancement relative to the TDSSD. More so, the daily energic efficiency of MDSSD and TDSSD is evaluated as 69.35 % and 49.30 %, achieving an increase rate of 40.65 % over TDSSD. The daily exergic efficiency of MDSSD and TDSSD reached 6.62 % and 3.40 %, representing an improvement rate of 94.70 %, respectively. Additionally, the findings of cost analysis show that the distilled water cost is appreciated as 0.05073 $/kg and 0.05418 $/kg for MDSSD and TDSSD, respectively. Hence, the MDSSD had a lower distilled product cost than TDSSD by 6.40 %.

Investigation of structural parameters for inclined weir-type solar stills

The solar still, in which saline or brackish water is converted into freshwater using renewable solar energy, can be an effective solution to water scarcity. Inclined solar stills are well-known due to their high production yields compared to other types of solar stills. In this study, an inclined weir-type solar still was developed as a modified inclined solar still with an emphasis on the effect of structural parameters, such as weir height, distance between weirs, and distance between the absorber plate and the condenser cover, on distilled water production. The optimal values of structural parameters for the maximum freshwater production were specified by the response surface methodology and a quadratic model derived from a Box-Behnken design model. The results showed that the operational variables of the inclined weir-type solar still system significantly impacted the water production volume. Using a weir height of 2 cm, a distance of 3.5 cm between weirs, and a distance of 15 cm between the absorber plate and the condenser cover, the maximum water production volume was achieved at 6.474 kg m−2.day−1. The selected model had R2, Radj2 and Rpred2 values of 0.9978, 0.9939, and 0.9756, respectively. The maximum and minimum volumes of the produced water were obtained as 6.64125 and 1.79792 kg m−2. day1, based on the multiple response prediction of the variables. According to the validation tests, the model’s accuracy in prediction of the maximum amount of freshwater production was notable (97.49%).

A comparative experimental study on hemispheric distillation system integrated with metamorphic fabric materials for efficient and low-cost solar desalination

This work presents a comparative experimental investigation of the potential of low-cost metamorphic fabric materials for augmenting the distilled yield of hemispheric solar distillation systems. The impacts of two various metamorphic layers; namely, a 20 mm thick cement layer and a 20 mm thick slate layer on the distiller thermo-economic performance are studied and compared with a conventional hemispheric solar distiller (CHSD). Three hemispheric solar stills are manufactured and tested under the same climate characteristics. Moreover, a thermo-economic analysis of the three involved hemispherical solar stills is carried out; including cumulative distilled product, daily thermal efficiency, and cost per unit kg of the distilled product. According to the findings, the incorporation of a 20 mm thick slate layer with a saltwater depth of 10 mm into the hemispheric absorber basin with the optimal modification yields the maximal distilled product and minimal production cost of the hemispheric distillers. The daily distilled product augmented and reached 8.35 and 7.60 kg/day⋅m2 for the hemispheric distiller respectively with a layer of slate and cement, in comparison with that of the CHSD (5.65 kg/day⋅m2). The increase in the distilled product with the use of slate and cement metamorphic layers reached 47.80 % and 34.51 %, over the CHSD, respectively. Furthermore, the thermoeconomic findings revealed that the amelioration in the daily energetic efficiency for using the slate and cement metamorphic layers is evaluated as 46.90 % and 34.04 %, respectively, compared to CHSD. Additionally, the reduction in the freshwater cost is estimated as 31.73 %, and 25.24 % over the CHSD, respectively.

Sustainable Antioxidant Production for Hygienic Disinfection Using Bioextractants from Lavender and Oregano Distillation Process

In the current study, the production of novel antioxidants for hygienic disinfection against common pathogenic bacteria, based on the incorporation of bioextractant oils/waters from either lavender or oregano distillates is proposed in the framework of circular economy. For the first time, the main compounds found in distillation products (oils/waters), specifically of lavender Lavandula angustifolia (lynalyl acetate and linalool) and of oregano Oreganum vulgare (carvacrol, thymol, and p-cymene) are presented. The analyses of both the lavender and oregano essential oils/waters indicate excellent physicochemical properties and microbial absence. Moreover, the antioxidant activity of all distillates as DPPH radical scavengers is assessed. The results confirm that the essential oils of both oregano and lavender possess superior antioxidant activity to their corresponding waters, while the oregano oil exhibited far better antioxidant activity than the lavender oil, as 1 mL of oregano oil was able to consume 45 μmoles of DPPH radicals. Overall, our research findings suggest that the particular lavender and oregano bioextractants produced possess important potential to address the resistance of bacteria from the perspective of their wider exploitation in therapeutic or preventive medicine, thus contributing to enhancing public health.

An effective solar assisted semi-cylindrical saline water desalination system with direct atomizer and energy storage materials for domestic use: an experimental investigation.

Solar still is the easiest method to purifying the saline water for domestic usage, but this method needs much improvement for better performance since it has lower productivity. In this paper, an experimental investigation is completed to analyse the semi cylindrical solar productivity still. The semi-cylindrical still is incorporated with direct atomizer and scrap used as an energy storage medium. Experiments are carried out during March 2020 in Kovilpatti, the southern part of India, with a depth of 2 and 4 cm saline water. Comparative performance analysis is made for conventional semi-cylindrical still, semi-cylindrical still with an atomizer, and semi-cylindrical still with atomizer and storage materials. The experimental study shows that the productivity of still increases while decreasing the water depth. Compared with 2-cm and 4-cm depth, solar still with 2-cm depth gives promising distillate productivity. The solar productivity still having 4-cm depth of water without atomizer gives only 2670 ml; on the other side, 2-cm water depth without atomizer gives 3100-ml productivity. The maximum productivity of solar still is found on a semi-cylindrical solar still combined with atomizer and energy storage medium having 2-cm water depth. Results revealed a higher freshwater production rate of 3610 ml found while incorporating atomizer and energy storage with the solar still. The system efficiency improved up to 35.20% compared to conventional semi-cylindrical still with 4 cm of saline water depth.

Safety evaluation of the food enzyme α-amylase from the genetically modified Bacillus licheniformis strain NZYM-AC.

The food enzyme α-amylase (1,4-α-d-glucan glucanohydrolase; EC 3.2.1.1) is produced with the genetically modified Bacillus licheniformis strain NZYM-AC by Novozymes A/S. The genetic modifications do not give rise to safety concerns and the production strain meets the requirements for the qualified presumption of safety (QPS) approach. The food enzyme was considered free from viable cells of the production organism and its DNA. It is intended to be used in seven food manufacturing processes: processing of cereals and other grains for the production of glucose syrups and other starch hydrolysates, cereal-based products other than baked, brewed products and distilled alcohol; processing of fruits and vegetables for the production of juices and products other than juices; production of refined and unrefined sugars. Since the residual amounts of total organic solids (TOS) are removed during two processes, dietary exposure was calculated only for the remaining five food manufacturing processes. It was estimated to be up to 0.167 mg TOS/kg body weight (bw) per day in European populations. Given the QPS status of the production strain and the lack of concerns resulting from the food enzyme manufacturing process, toxicological studies were not considered necessary. A search for similarity of the amino acid sequence of the food enzyme to known allergens was made and one match was found with a respiratory allergen. The Panel considered that the risk of allergic reactions by dietary exposure cannot be excluded (except for distilled alcohol production), but the likelihood is low. Based on the data provided, the Panel concluded that this food enzyme does not give rise to safety concerns, under the intended conditions of use.

Safety evaluation of the food enzyme bacillolysin from the non-genetically modified Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain AGS 430.

The food enzyme bacillolysin (EC 3.4.24.28) is produced with the non-genetically modified Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain AGS 430 by Kerry Ingredients & Flavours Ltd. The production strain qualifies for the qualified presumption of safety (QPS) approach to safety assessment. The food enzyme is intended to be used in 11 food manufacturing processes: processing of cereals and other grains for the production of baked products; cereal-based products other than baked; brewed products; starch and gluten fractions; distilled alcohol; processing of dairy products for the production of flavouring preparations and modified milk proteins; processing of meat and fish products for the production of protein hydrolysates; processing of plant- and fungal-derived products for the production of protein hydrolysates and plant-based analogues of milk and milk products; processing of yeast and yeast products. Since residual amounts of the total organic solids (TOS) are removed during two processes, dietary exposure was estimated only for the remaining nine food manufacturing processes. Exposure was estimated up to 3.482 mg TOS/kg body weight (bw) per day in European populations. As the production strain qualifies for the QPS approach and no issue of concern arose from the production process of the food enzyme, the Panel considered that no toxicological studies other than the assessment of allergenicity were necessary. A search for the similarity of the amino acid sequence of the food enzyme to known allergens was made and no match was found. The Panel considered that the risk of allergic reactions upon dietary exposure cannot be excluded (except for distilled alcohol production), but the likelihood is low. Based on the data provided, the Panel concluded that this food enzyme does not give rise to safety concerns under the intended conditions of use.

Safety evaluation of the food enzyme bacillolysin from the non-genetically modified Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain HPN 131.

The food enzyme bacillolysin (EC 3.4.24.28) is produced with the non-genetically modified Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain HPN 131 by ENMEX SA de CV. The production strain qualifies for the qualified presumption of safety (QPS) approach to safety assessment. The food enzyme under assessment is intended to be used in seven food manufacturing processes: processing of cereals and other grains for the production of baked products, brewed products and distilled alcohol; processing of dairy products for the production of modified milk proteins; processing of meat and fish products for the production of protein hydrolysates; processing of plant- and fungal-derived products for the production of protein hydrolysates; processing of yeasts and yeast products. Since residual amounts of total organic solids (TOS) are not carried over to distilled alcohol, a dietary exposure was estimated only for the remaining six food manufacturing processes. Exposure was estimated to be up to 8.302 mg TOS/kg body weight (bw) per day in European populations. As the production strain qualifies for the QPS status and no issue of concern arose from the production process of the food enzyme, the Panel considered that no toxicological studies other than the assessment of allergenicity were necessary. A search for the similarity of the amino acid sequence of the food enzyme to known allergens was made and no matches were found. The Panel considered that the risk of allergic reactions by dietary exposure cannot be excluded (except for distilled alcohol production), but the likelihood is low. Based on the data provided, the Panel concluded that this food enzyme does not give rise to safety concerns under the intended conditions of use.

Safety evaluation of the food enzyme endo-1,4-β-xylanase from the non-genetically modified Trichoderma citrinoviride strain 278.

The food enzyme endo-1,4-β-xylanase (4-β-d-xylan xylanohydrolase; EC 3.2.1.8) is produced with the non-genetically modified Trichoderma citrinoviride strain 278 by Kerry Ingredients & Flavours Ltd. The food enzyme was considered free from viable cells of the production organism. It is intended to be used in eight food manufacturing processes: processing of cereals and other grains for the production of baked products; production of cereal-based products other than baked, brewed products, starch and gluten fractions, distilled alcohol; processing of fruits and vegetables for the production of juices, wine and wine vinegar and processing of yeast and yeast products. Since residual amounts of total organic solids (TOS) are removed during two processes, dietary exposure was only calculated for the remaining six food manufacturing processes. Exposure was estimated to be up to 4.808 mg TOS/kg body weight (bw) per day in European populations. The Panel was unable to reach a conclusion on genotoxicity and systemic toxicity. A search for the similarity of the amino acid sequence of the food enzyme to known allergens was made and no match was found. The Panel considered that a risk of allergic reactions upon dietary exposure cannot be excluded (except for distilled alcohol production), but the likelihood is low. In the absence of an acceptable full set of toxicological data, the Panel was unable to complete the safety assessment of the food enzyme.