Field Of Chemical Engineering Research Articles

A simultaneous optimization of the seawater bittern and waste seashell recovery process for CO2 and SOx utilization

This study proposes a novel integration of seawater bittern and waste seashell recovery processes for CO2 and SOx utilization. Furthermore, simultaneous optimization of waste seashells and Ca(OH)2 separated from seawater bittern as an SOx absorbent was conducted to derive the blending ratio using a genetic algorithm (GA). The GA-based optimization process consists of four steps: (1) data generation using process model and data preprocessing, (2) DNN-based surrogate model development to predict the gypsum purity, CaCO3 yield, and CO2 emissions, (3) mathematical model development for TAC calculation, (4) GA-based optimization to derive the cost-optimal blending ratio and TAC. As a result, the derived cost-optimal blending ratios were scallop shells (0.03 %), cockle shells (0.03 %), clam shells (13.66 %), oyster shells (40.31 %), mussel shells (28.80 %), and Ca(OH)2 (17.18 %), reducing the TAC by up to 10.88 % compared to conventional CO2 and SOx capture processes. At the optimal blending ratio, the recycling efficiency of each seashell in the Republic of Korea was achieved from a minimum of 2.72 % to a maximum of 99.15 % annually. Therefore, this work makes a significant contribution to the chemical engineering field, providing an environmentally friendly, economical process and an efficient simultaneous optimization framework applied to the proposed model.

Application and Prospect of Machine Learning in the Field of Materials and Chemical Engineering

With the rapid development of computer science, machine learning has gradually penetrated into various research fields and led to the development of related fields to different degrees. At recent stage, machine learning (ML) algorithms have been able to extensively search for variable relationships from a large amount of observed data, thus helping people to discover more laws that were once unnoticed. As an emerging approach, ML can efficiently utilize and process large-volume data generated from high-throughput experiments in the field of materials and chemicals. In recent years, with the continuous improvement of various algorithmic tools, more and more researchers have applied ML to materials and chemical research, which has greatly broadened the research ideas and methods. This paper briefly introduces the development of machine learning in recent years; summarizes the classification methods of common molecular descriptors and their types; introduces the classification, common algorithms and application scenarios of different types of ML; reviews the relevant research results in the field of materials prediction and inverse synthesis analysis of machine learning; puts forward related suggestions for the application of ML for research; and finally summarizes the prospects for the future development of machine learning applied to the field of materials and chemical engineering.

Advanced synthetic routes of metal organic frameworks and their diverse applications

Abstract Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are crystalline materials characterized by their porous structures, formed through coordination bonding between metal ions/clusters and multidentate organic linkers. MOFs have emerged as a significant class of materials with applications in energy storage, CO2 adsorption, and catalysis. This study serves as a brief introduction to the currently available synthesis methods of MOFs, aimed at acquainting beginners in the field of chemical engineering with the ongoing developments in MOF research. The discussed synthesis methods encompass traditional solvothermal/hydrothermal approaches, microwave synthesis of MOFs, one-pot synthesis, MOF nanocomposites, isothermal synthesis, and fluid-fluid synthesis. Notably, the MOF/NH2/Fe3O4 combination exhibited enhanced adsorption capacity of 618 mg/g and retained an efficiency of over 90 %. This study displays a valuable technique for designing functional MOF hybrid composites. By combining MOFs with specific materials, numerous advantages can be achieved in the newly created compounds (MOF composites), including synergistic effects beneficial in catalytic applications, and overcoming the challenges associated with using bare MOFs.

Pomegranate seed oil extraction by cold pressing, microwave and ultrasound treatments

AbstractIn this study, pomegranate seed oil was extracted by microwave-assisted extraction, ultrasound-assisted extraction, and cold pressing techniques. Dimethyl succinate was the solvent of microwave and ultrasound-assisted extraction methods. The optimum conditions were determined by using response surface methodology (RSM, Design Expert software version 7.0 and Box-Behnken design). The ultrasound-assisted extraction technique was found to be superior to the microwave-assisted extraction technique in terms of extraction efficiency. The maximum extraction efficiency of microwave-assisted extraction was 22.01% under the optimized conditions (liquid/solid ratio, 5/1; time, 3 min; and microwave power, 300 W). The maximum extraction efficiency obtained by ultrasound-assisted extraction was 26.31% under the optimized conditions (liquid/solid ratio, 10/1; pulse duration/pulse interval ratio, 1; temperature 60 °C; and time, 20 min). The extraction efficiencies were compared at the optimum conditions with hexane, which is the most used solvent for pomegranate seed oil extraction, and the difference was insignificant. The results of this study are very important, especially in the field of green chemistry and chemical engineering.

Preface

The 6th International Conference on Chemical Engineering, Food and Biotechnology (ICCFB2023) The 6th ICCFB - International Conference on Chemical Engineering, Food and Biotechnology was successfully held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam during September 29th-30th, 2023. The scientific conference was organized by the Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT), VNU-HCM, and co-organized by PetroVietnam University.During the 6th ICCFB, the emerging technologies and scientific advancements in the fields of Chemical Engineering, Food and Biotechnology were disseminated. It served as a platform for strengthening partnership between academia and industry. The scientific papers submitted to the conference were categorized into three sections (Sustainability, Green Technology and Process Safety Engineering; Material Sciences, Environmental Engineering; Agriculture, Biotechnology and Food Technology) and carefully reviewed with a double-blind process. All the accepted papers were presented in the conference.The plenary speeches were given to make the conference more productive and precious.• Prof. Nobuyuki Kijima, Institute of Food Research, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Japan - What is the major impact of antibiotic-application to agricultural field? • Prof. Won-Chun Oh, Hanseo University, Korea - Recent advances in CO2 reduction applications: progress, challenges and perspectives.• Prof. Suresh Sagadevan, University of Malaya, Malaysia - Nanocomposite photocatalysts for wastewater treatment.• Prof. Sanggono Adisasmito, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia - Energy Transition and Carbon Capture Process for Coal-Fired Power Plants in Indonesia.We thank all distinguished guests, authors, participants for their contributions to make a successful conference and look forward to the 7th ICCFB in 2025.List of Steering Committee and Editors are available in this pdf.

Numerical Study of the Strength Radial Turbomachines Based on the Use of Stainless Steel 316L

By studying various properties of materials came to the conclusion that stainless steel 316L has good properties. This material is suitable for making radial wheel turbines compared to other materials. The object of the study is a radial wheel with 10 blades manufactured by “Schiele” (Germany), which specializes in the production of units for the chemical industry and ventilation equipment. The finite element method was chosen as the basic research method for solving problems of natural and forced vibrations, static stress and studying the degree of reactivity blades radial wheels of turbomachines. It can be argued that the numerical analysis of the strength characteristics of heavily loaded turbine elements with the help of electronic computers provides a greater depth of research, the breadth of the issues covered, significantly reduces the amount of expensive experimental research, reduces the time for designing new turbines in terms of efficiency, reliability, technology and resource saving of highly loaded units. In this paper, calculations were made of the characteristics of natural frequencies, equivalent stresses, deformation and the degree of reactivity blades when using material stainless steel 316L. It is noted that this material provides the criterion of stress concentration in the wheel as low as possible and the natural frequencies of the wheel are reduced, but it does not lead to a change in the oscillation modes of this wheel. So 316L stainless steel is recommended for evaluating options in the manufacture of this radial wheel of turbomachines in the field of power, chemical and transport engineering.

Effect of vibration conditions on packing structures of trilobed particles

Packing behaviors of non-spherical particles are generally far more complex than those of spherical particles. Trilobes are widely adopted as supports for catalyst in the field of chemical engineering, and thus their packing behaviors subjected to continuous vertical vibration are numerically investigated by discrete element method in this article. Geometrically exact contact detection algorithm between sphero-cylinders and multi-sphere method are coupled to describe the shape and motion of trilobed particles. It is found that there exist two preferential orientations, which are quite different from the phenomenon of sphero-cylinders. Ordered clusters of different orientations co-exist in the heterogeneous granular bed with obvious phase junctures. The initial stage of crystallization process can be explained by the nucleation growth mechanism. With the growth of the nuclei, distances between small ordered clusters decrease gradually and those ones with identical orientation can eventually get coalesced to form a larger cluster. Moreover, novel sunflower-shaped clusters composed of trilobes of different orientations are observed under vibrations of low amplitudes and high frequencies. In the meanwhile, no consistent relationship between packing densities and packing structures can be found for the dense packing of trilobes. Therefore, other packing parameters more sensitive to the local structures should be analyzed together with the overall packing densities to comprehensively understand the packing behaviors of non-spherical particles.

Facile Preparation of Cellulose Beads with Tunable Graded Pores and High Mechanical Strength.

Cellulose-based hierarchical porous beads exhibit significant application potential in adsorption and separation systems due to their degradation and biocompatibility. However, the current fabrications of cellulose beads show poor mechanical properties and a difficult-to-regulate hierarchical porous structure, reducing their lifespan of use and limiting their application in fine separation. Here, we reported the facile creep-drop method to prepare cellulose beads that enabled systemic regulation of the macro-size, micropore structures, and mechanical properties by optimizing injection nozzle diameter, the composition of the coagulation bath, the temperature of the coagulation bath, and cellulose concentration. Notably, during the molding process, the H2SO4-Na2SO4 composite solidification bath endowed cellulose beads with a dense shell layer and a loose core layer, which achieved the integration of mechanical properties and high porosity. The cellulose beads exhibited high porosity (93.38-96.18%) and high sphericity (86.78-94.44%) by modulating the shell thickness of the cellulose beads. In particular, the cellulose beads exhibited excellent mechanical properties with a high compressive strength of 544.24 kPa at a 5% cellulose concentration. It is expected that these cellulose beads with tunable microstructures can realize their potential for applications in the fields of wastewater treatment, chemical engineering, bioengineering, medicine, and pharmaceuticals.

Solid-state fermentation: a review of its opportunities and challenges in the framework of circular bioeconomy

Solid-state fermentation (SSF) is on the way to become an attractive alternative for the valorisation of a wide range of organic waste. In biological terms, SSF can be defined as the cultivation process in which microorganisms grow on solid materials without the presence of free water. When these solid materials are organic waste and the objective is to produce one or several bioproducts of added value, SSF is a clear opportunity for circular bioeconomy, with a new paradigm “from waste to resource”. The development of SSF started a couple of decades ago, with biomolecules that only could be produced through biological systems, such as enzymes or antibiotics. However, a new generation of SSF bioproducts, which have a “twin” produced by chemical pathways, has emerged in the last years, with the advantages of having lower environmental impacts (for instance, no need of water and less energy requirements) and using waste as substrate. Some of these compounds are highly relevant in the field of chemical engineering: biosurfactants, biopesticides, aromas, bioplastics, pigments and bioflocculants, among others. This review explores the new advances in SSF: from the organic waste used as substrate to the main challenges SSF is facing, that is, mass and heat transfer limitations, bioproducts downstream and scale-up.

Fabrication of rod-like boronate affinity imprinted covalent organic frameworks (COFs) interconnected with polyHIPEs for selective high-flux separation of flavoniods

Functioned covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have attracted tremendous attentions in the separation fields. Nonetheless, the application of COFs sorbents under complex flavoniod separation conditions still confronts many difficulties. Herein, for the fist time, the rod-shaped COFs molecular imprinted polymers (RCOFs-SH@BA-MIPs) with abundant hydrophilic boronate affinity imprinted recognition sites were synthesized. The obtained rod-shaped COFs-MIPs were firstly used to stabilized Pickering HIPEs, which greatly enhanced flavoniod molecules transport in hierarchically porous polymers. Meanwhile, the HPs@RCOFs-SH@BA-MIPs sorbents exhibited the promising contact angle (112.52°) owing to the introduction of hydrophilic boronic acid imprinted recognizing site. The resulting HPs@RCOFs-SH@BA-MIPs sorbents showed excellent adsorption capacity (49.0 µmol g−1) in phosphate acetic acid/water solution (T = 303 K, pH = 8.0, v/v, 9/1) and selectivity (superior to 1.19). At the same time, HPs@RCOFs-SH@BA-MIPs exhibited a fast adsorption kinetics for NRG (180 min). In addition, the HPs@RCOFs-SH@BA-MIPs sorbents showed excellent stability (94.9 %) after six cycles. The effective extraction rate of commercial NRG treatment with HPs@RCOFs-SH@BA-MIPs were as high as 91.0 %. Abundant boronate affinity imprinted recognition sites played an important role in the adsorption of NRG, and emulsion interfacial polymerization strategy avoided the leakage of nanosize-imprinted adsorbents (HPs@RCOFs-SH@BA-MIPs). Finally, the promising experimental results and the convenient synthesis process indicate that HPs@RCOFs-SH@BA-MIPs have great potential for application in specific separation, agricultural environment, chemical engineering and other field.

An experimental investigation of micro-channels on transparent material using Nd: YAG laser transmission technique

Among the fastest growing basic materials, polymers have good strength-to-weight ratios, easy to shape, relatively economical, and recyclable which enabled it to become substitutes for metals and alloys in the fields of medical, automobile, aerospace, electronics, thermal and chemical engineering. But a thick transparent PMMA plate creates deep sub-surface cracks due to the burning and charring of polymeric chains, making the operation with Nd: YAG laser radiation extremely difficult. In the current research, a 75 W nanosecond pulsed Nd: YAG laser system is applied to make micro-channel with adequate depth on a thick transparent PMMA plate by using transmission cutting technique. The input process factors considered are pulse width, laser power, cutting speed, and pulse frequency in order to examine the quality characteristics, the depth of cut and heat affected zone (HAZ) in and around the formed micro-channel. To design the experiment of laser transmission channelling of thick PMMA plate of 11 mm, a central composite design (CCD) methodology is used. Due to open-air laser processing, undesirable laser processing effects have been minimised, resulting in a finer and cleaner micro-channel structure with adequate depth of cut, kerf width and minimal Heat Affected Zone (HAZ) width with laser power of around 9 W, pulse frequency of around 33 kHz and cutting speed of 2 mm/sec.

Overview of the V International Conference on Applied Physics, Information Technologies and Engineering - APITECH-V 2023

The overview describes the main directions and results of the V International Conference APITECH-V 2023 held in Bukhara, Uzbekistan on 26-28 October 2023. It gives the details about the participants and the proceedings. The purpose of the Conference is to share the experience of leading experts in the application of modern methods of applied physics and information technology in high-tech production, in the fields of aerospace, energy, chemical and oil and gas engineering.List of International Programme Committee is available in the Pdf.

Retention of Virus Versus Surrogate, by Ultrafiltration in Seawater: Case Study of Norovirus Versus Tulane.

In the field of chemical engineering and water treatment, the study of viruses, included surrogates, is well documented. Often, surrogates are used to study viruses and their behavior because they can be produced in larger quantities in safer conditions and are easier to handle. In fact, surrogates allow studying microorganisms which are non-infectious to humans but share some properties similar to pathogenic viruses: structure, composition, morphology, and size. Human noroviruses, recognized as the leading cause of epidemics and sporadic cases of gastroenteritis across all age groups, may be mimicked by the Tulane virus. The objectives of this work were to study (i)the ultrafiltration of Tulane virus and norovirus to validate that Tulane virus can be used as a surrogate for norovirus in water treatment process and (ii) the retention of norovirus and the surrogate as a function of water quality to better understand the use of the latter pathogenic viruses. Ultrafiltration tests showed significant logarithmic reduction values(LRV) in viral RNA: around 2.5 for global LRV (i.e., based on the initial and permeate average concentrations) and between 2 and 6 for average LRV(i.e., retention rate considering the increase of viral concentration in the retentate), bothfor norovirus and the surrogate Tulane virus. Higher reduction rates (from 2 to 6 log genome copies) are obtained for higher initial concentrations (from 101 to 107 genome copies per mL) due to virus aggregation in membrane lumen. Tulane virus appears to be a good surrogate for norovirus retention by membrane processes.

Optimization of G1 Micromixer Structure in Two-Fluid Mixing Based on CFD and Response Surface Methodology

Optimizing the structure of micromixers to improve the mixing efficiency is of great significance for chemical engineering and biology fields. In this study, an optimization of the microchannel in two liquids mixing is carried out based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and response surface methodology. Firstly, CFD simulations were performed to investigate the mixing flow field and mixing efficiency in the microchannel by considering different process and structure parameters (e.g., feed pressure p, microchannel width w). The response surface methodology was adopted to construct a fitting surface by CFD discrete working conditions. Then, an optimized microchannel width w was searched using the parallel particle swarm optimization (PPSO) algorithm from the response surface. Lastly, the searched optimum was validated by CFD simulation again, and the final result showed that the predicted mixing efficiency from the response surface model is well confirmed by CFD simulation. On average, the new optimized microchannel width of 1.634 mm performs higher flow flux and mixing efficiency than the original width of 1.5 mm, increasing 13.51% and 2.45%, respectively.

Explainable AI models for predicting drop coalescence in microfluidics device

In the field of chemical engineering, understanding the dynamics and probability of drop coalescence is not just an academic pursuit, but a critical requirement for advancing process design by applying energy only where it is needed to build necessary interfacial structures, increasing efficiency towards Net Zero manufacture. This research applies machine learning predictive models to unravel the sophisticated relationships embedded in the experimental data on drop coalescence in a microfluidics device. Through the deployment of SHapley Additive exPlanations values, critical features relevant to coalescence processes are consistently identified. Comprehensive feature ablation tests further delineate the robustness and susceptibility of each model. Furthermore, the incorporation of Local Interpretable Model-agnostic Explanations for local interpretability offers an elucidative perspective, clarifying the intricate decision-making mechanisms inherent to each model’s predictions. As a result, this research provides the relative importance of the features for the outcome of drop interactions. It also underscores the pivotal role of model interpretability in reinforcing confidence in machine learning predictions of complex physical phenomena that are central to chemical engineering applications.

Chemical engineering in technical and technological culture

Modern technologies continuously change humans and their relationship with the environment. They can achieve a lot in the field of chemical engineering, thereby improving and enhancing the quality of human life, but on the other hand, technologies can be used to destroy human lives. Technical and Technological Culture (hereinafter referred to as TTC) is the entirety of social achievements in the field of technical and technological sciences and their application, as well as all the knowledge and skills needed to understand achievements, use them correctly, transfer them to the younger generation, and create new values in this field. This paper will present a pilot study conducted to examine the attitudes and beliefs of engineers, Technological (chemical engineering) and Technical faculties, regarding the development of TTC and to determine socio-demographic factors that may influence its development. The research was conducted in Serbia and Croatia. The results indicate that the most important aspects of TTC are: the development of awareness of sustainable development, the impact on environmental protection, etc. The respondents recognized the ethical challenges we face today, the need for the education of young engineers and the promotion of TTC in the media and professional public.

High-performance biosensors based on angular plasmonic of a multilayer design: new materials for enhancing sensitivity of one-dimensional designs.

In this study, a theoretical examination is conducted to investigate the biosensing capabilities of different surface plasmon resonance (SPR) based hybrid multilayer structures, which are composed of two-dimensional (2D) materials. The transfer matrix formulation is implemented to calibrate the results of this study. A He-Ne laser of wavelength = 632.8 nm is used to simulate the results. Many permutations and combinations of layers of silver (Ag), aluminum oxynitride (AlON), and 2D materials were utilized to obtain the optimized structure. Ten dielectrics and twelve 2D materials were tested for a highly sensitive multilayer hybrid sensing design, which is composed of the prism (Ohara S-FPL53)/Ag/AlON/WS2/AlON/sensing medium. The optimized biosensing design is capable of sensing and detecting analytes whose refractive variation is limited between 1.33 and 1.34. The maximum sensitivity, which is achieved by using the proposed design is 488.2° per RIU. Additionally, the quality factor, figure of merit, detection limit, and qualification limit values of the optimized design were also calculated to obtain a true picture of the sensing capabilities. The designing approach based on the multilayer hybrid SPR biosensors has the potential to develop various plasmonic biosensors that are related to food, chemical, and biomedical engineering fields.

Recent progress in low‐swellable polymer‐based smart photonic crystal sensors

AbstractLow‐swelling polymers (LSPs) generally refer to materials with a low solvent absorption ratio or volume expansion rate at swelling equilibrium. LSPs with exceptional responsiveness could be upgraded to smart sensors with structural color self‐reporting by bridging photonic crystals (PCs). Based on the regulation of swelling to effective refractive index, lattice spacing, the order‐disorder arrangement of nanostructures, and incident/detection angle, the structural color feedback of smart photonic crystal sensors (SPCSs) can quantitatively and visually reveal the stimulus, which greatly promotes the interdisciplinary development of nanophotonic technology in the fields of chemical engineering, materials science, engineering mechanics, biomedicine, environmental engineering, etc. Herein, to clarify the role of the photonic structures and polymer molecules in high‐performance SPCSs, LSP‐based SPCSs are summarized and discussed, including general swelling mechanisms, color change strategies, structural design, and typical functional applications. It aims to figure out the combination rule between PC structures and LSPs, optimize the design of PC structures, and expound the corresponding structural color sensing mechanisms, inspiring the fabrication of next‐generation SPCSs. Finally, perspectives on future structural design and sensing applications are also presented. It is believed that SPCSs are multifunctional nanophotonic tools for the interdisciplinary development of numerous engineering fields in the future.

SPIONs Magnetophoresis and Separation via Permanent Magnets: Biomedical and Environmental Applications

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) have emerged as cutting-edge materials, garnering increasing attention in recent years within the fields of chemical and biomedical engineering. This increasing interest is primarily attributed to the distinctive chemical and physical properties of SPIONs. Progress in nanotechnology and particle synthesis methodologies has facilitated the fabrication of SPIONs with precise control over parameters such as composition, size, shape, stability, and magnetic response. Notably, these functionalized materials exhibit a remarkable surface-area-to-volume ratio, biocompatibility, and, most importantly, they can be effectively manipulated using external magnetic fields. Due to these exceptional properties, SPIONs have found widespread utility in the medical field for targeted drug delivery and cell separation, as well as in the chemical engineering field, particularly in wastewater treatment. Magnetic separation techniques driven by magnetophoresis have proven to be highly efficient, encompassing both high-gradient magnetic separation (HGMS) and low-gradient magnetic separation (LGMS). This review aims to provide an in-depth exploration of magnetic field gradient separation techniques, alongside a comprehensive discussion of the applications of SPIONs in the context of drug delivery, cell separation, and environmental remediation.

Preparation of superhydrophilic sodium alginate/chitosan-Ag composite membranes with antibacterial activity for effective oil–water emulsion separation

Oily wastewater as one of water pollutions has always been a hot issue in the field of chemical engineering and environment protection, and it is still challenge to separate oil water mixture effectively with low energy consumption. Polymer membranes with superhydrophilic and underwater superoleophobic properties are perfect substances for oil–water separation owning to their high separation efficiency, oil anti-adhesion and energy saving. However, these membranes are easily contaminated by microorganisms, leading to biofilms on the surfaces, and reducing their separation flux and efficiency. In order to solve the problems, sodium alginate/chitosan-Ag composite were successfully coated on commercial nylon membranes by self-assembly method, and the effects of the Ag on separation performance and biological activity of the membranes were investigated in detail. Under the optimized condition, the membrane can effectively separate oil-in-water emulsions containing anionic, cationic or non-ionic surfactants, with a maximum separation efficiency of 99.73%. More importantly, the inhibition ratios of the membrane could reach 95.42% and 98.05% against E. coli and S. aureus, respectively, and thus inhibits the formation of S. aureus biofilm, and maintain a high relative flux after being contaminated by S. aureus. The simple preparation process and incredible emulsion separation performance with antibacterial activity of composite membranes will provide great prospects for potential industrial applications.