Sour Acid Research Articles

Trace element content in alluvial soils landscape of the flood plains of the Iput river

The results of research on the content and distribution of trace elements in alluvial soils of various elements of the floodplain landscape, and their relationship with fertility indicators are presented. It has been found that the maximum concentrations of most trace elements (Ni, Zn, Mn, Cr, Co, Mo, As) are characteristic of the alluvial overhanging-marsh heavy-coal pristine subsystem of the floodplain landscape. In the riverine and perish subsystems of the floodplain landscape in individual layers of the corresponding soils, an excess of clark was found: in the alluvial sour acid layered primitive shortened sandy loam Cu by 1.5; Zn in 1.1; Cd 9.2 times, in alluvial chilli-marsh heavy-coal Cu 1.05; Zn in 1.4; Mn in 1.01; Cr in 1,2; Cd 3.2 times. For the riverine and perch subsystems, the excess of Cu, Mn and Cr was observed in the soil layer 0-5 cm, the remaining exceedances are characteristic of deeper layers. Decreasing rows of trace elements in alluvial soils have a similar structure. The microelements in question, in the soils of the floodplain landscape of the Iput River, in terms of clark concentration, belong to the group of dispersing. There is no significant correlation between micronutrient content and fertility of the alluvial soils under consideration.

The Counter-Roll in Science

A controlled experiment, everyone learns early in school, is the hallmark of good science. But what, exactly, is the hallmark of a controlled experiment? For many people, a controlled experiment is, straightforwardly, one “controlled” by the scientist. If you can “control” the variables and produce a predicted result (based on your hypothesis), then you seem to have proved cause and effect. Scientific credibility seems to emerge from the power of demonstration and technology. However, this widespread view of the core meaning of control in science – this month's Sacred Bovine – is mistaken (Boring, 1954, 1969). It thus fosters a misleading impression of what makes scientific claims reliable. Here, I journey through the history of the term control and show how the concept contributes to the distinctive nature of scientific reasoning. The origin of the modern term control may seem surprising. Yet it is also informative. It comes from the French contre-rolle , translated as “counter-roll.” No one uses counter-rolls today. But historically (beginning at least by the 12th century), royal household expenditures were documented on paper rolls. Later, rolls recorded other business, trade, and tax accounts (Figure 1). In some cases, the transactions were recorded on two rolls simultaneously. The duplicate roll – the counter -roll – was kept independently by a trusted officer. The copy could later be consulted when auditing the accounts, allowing one to detect any illicit tampering with the original records. Basically, the counter-roll was a parallel reference copy for comparison, a method to identify and thereby limit errors. The method helped to guarantee reliability in accounting (see Hoskin & Macve, 1994, p. 76). Eventually, the person who managed the counter-roll became known as the comptroller – a term still used today for someone who manages and monitors the finances of a business …

WHAT EXPLAINS SPECIALTY COFFEE QUALITY SCORES AND PRICES: A CASE STUDY FROM THE CUP OF EXCELLENCE PROGRAM

AbstractThis study investigates the effects of material and symbolic quality attributes on the Cup of Excellence specialty coffee quality scores and prices. The estimates from the quality score equations suggest that material attributes are important determinants, but symbolic attributes have a greater explanatory power. The hedonic price estimations show that specialty coffee prices are mainly determined by symbolic attributes and market conditions such as the number of coffees in the auction. Overall, the study reveals that fruity, floral, sweet, spice, and sour acid are cuppers' and buyers' most favorite coffee flavors and aromas.

Use of a sulfur waste for biosynthesis of cadmium sulfide quantum dots with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici

After hydrodesulfurization of Mexican oil's sour acid gases, a sulfur toxic waste is recovered, we used it to synthesize cadmium sulfide quantum dots, which have been recently studied due to their optical (high photostability, high quantum yield and fluorescence) and catalytic properties. Increased demand of cadmium sulfide quantum dots has led to research of new synthesis methods that with higher yields, increased control over particle diameter, that produce hydrophilic quantum dots -as most of them are obtained in organic solvents- and that are environmentally friendly because most methods employ toxic materials or involve a high energy consumption. This study attempted to synthesize hydrophilic cadmium sulfide quantum dots using an environmentally friendly method with a fungus capable of transforming a dangerous waste into a high-value-added product. Mycelia of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici were incubated with 1mM cadmium nitrate and 1% (w/v) sulfur waste at 30°C for 24h, then the biomass was separated through paper filtration. The filtrate became yellow indicating presence of extracellular cadmium sulfide quantum dots, as was confirmed by increased UV–vis absorption around 300nm and fluorescence at 510nm. The biomass of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici produced after 24h, extracellular stable, hydrophilic and biocompatible cadmium sulfide quantum dots from a sulfur dangerous waste. Biosynthesized quantum dots were circular with diameter of 6.116±2.111nm and had a wurtzite crystalline structure.

Flare Reduction Options and Simulation for the Qatari Oil and Gas Industry

Flaring and venting are two activities associated with oil and gas production. Qatar is a world leader in the production and exporting of liquid natural gas (LNG). Flaring is a combusting process used to dispose of natural gas (sweet, sour acid gas or otherwise other hydrocarbon vapors) through a vertical stack. Facilities in the oil and gas industry may routinely flare small volumes of natural gas that are technically difficult and uneconomic to conserve. It is estimated that flaring of gas associated with these industries is around 100 billion cubic meters per year worldwide; emitting around 400 million tones of CO2 and wasting 1600 Trillion Btu of energy each year. The reduction of flaring is gaining momentum globally and the Qatari industries are paying increased attention to this international focus on energy conservation and global climate change mitigation measures. The reduction of the volume of gas flared each year is an important issue for the gas industry for health, safety and environmental impacts, as well as conservation of energy resources. Qatar Ministry of Environment (MoE) cap targets flaring rate to 0.3% of inlet feed gas, which is usually met in QG from the existing trains in operation today. However, sustaining the overall flaring rate within the 0.3% governmental target value will pose a new challenge with the commissioning and operation of the new “Mega Trains” which will produce the world largest amount of LNG in a one given facility. This paper will present an initial engineering feasibility study to explore the minimization of routine and non-routine flaring in the Qatari Gas industries by carrying out a flare reduction assessment study and simulation using FlareNet.

Kinetics and Mechanism of the Electrochemical Formation of Iron Oxidation Products on Steel Immersed in Sour Acid Media

From electrochemical techniques (cyclic voltammetry, potential steps, and EIS), XRD, and SEM-EDX, the kinetics and mechanism of anodic film formation applying anodic potential steps on steel immersed in sour acid media was determined. It was found, from a thermodynamic analysis, based on equilibrium phase diagrams of the system considered in this work, that iron oxidation may produce different new solid phases, depending on the applied potential, the first being the iron oxidation associated with formation of FeS((c)) species, which in turn can be reoxidized to FeS(2(c)) or even to Fe(2)O(3(c)) at higher potential values. From analysis of the corresponding experimental potentiostatic current density transients, it was concluded that the electrochemical anodic film formation involves an E(1)CE(2) mechanism, whereby the first of the two simultaneous processes were the Fe electrochemical oxidation (E(1)) followed by FeS precipitation (C) that occurs by 3D nucleation and growth limited by mass transfer reaction and FeS oxidation (E(2)) forming a mix of different stoichiometry iron sulphides and oxides. From EIS measurements, it was revealed that the anodic film's charge transfer resistance diminishes as the potential applied for its formation becomes more anodic, thus behaving poorly against corrosion.

Effect of H2S and Pressure Depletion on the CO2 MMP of Zama Oils

Abstract Phase behaviour and minimum miscibility pressure measurements were carried out to evaluate the potential of applying miscible CO2/H2S flooding in the Zama reefs of NE Alberta, Canada. Since there is some variability in the properties of oils from different wells or reefs, the measurements were carried out on recombined reservoir fluids from two different wells. The injection solvent will be supplied from a nearby gas plant that is expected to produce CO2/H2S streams with a range of compositions due to a number of operational factors. Accordingly, three solvent injection gases were considered: pure CO2 and CO2 containing 20 and 40 mol% H2S. Minimum miscibility pressure (MMP) measurements were carried out using the rising bubble apparatus (RBA). The MMP decreased almost linearly with the amount of H2S in the injection gas in the range of compositions studied. Some evidence of precipitation of solids was observed. Measurements were also carried out to determine the CO2 MMP of these reservoir fluids as they were depleted of gas through a differential liberation procedure. The results show that the MMP decreased with decreasing liberation pressure. Key properties of the liberated reservoir fluids were also measured and compared with those of the recombined reservoir fluids. The results show that miscible flooding with sour acid gas is feasible in this case, and could provide an excellent means of storing/sequestering these gases while improving oil recovery. Introduction Vertical gasfloods have an excellent track record for producing additional oil. For example, hydrocarbon miscible floods have been carried out in a number of Canadian reefs(1–5). Vertical gravity-stable carbon dioxide floods were reported in three US fields(4–8), also with excellent additional oil recoveries. The Zama Field(9) is located in northeastern Alberta and contains a large number (600 – 800) of relatively small pinnacle reefs with up to 1.5 ? 106 m3 (10 mmbbl) of original oil in place (OOIP). The wells selected for this study produce from the Keg River Formation. Al-Dilwe and Asghari(10) described the reservoir and its production history from the 1960's. The produced oil and gas are sour and contain an appreciable amount of carbon dioxide. The centrally located Zama Gas Plant (operated by Apache Canada Ltd.) removes the H2S and CO2 from the produced gases by amine absorption. These acid gases constitute an excellent miscible flooding agent for the field, thereby achieving the double advantage of increasing the oil recovery and providing storage capacity for these gases. Trivedi et al.(9) simulated different strategies for solvent injection to maximize oil recovery and gas storage as well as delaying breakthrough, and found that pressure maintenance is a key factor in the operation. A significant degree of acid gas breakthrough is expected to occur due to the reservoir heterogeneity represented by these Zama/Keg River pinnacles. Breakthrough will occur at H2S concentrations that are too high to process through the existing amine systems. To accommodate early breakthrough, recycle compression is to be installed in order to bypass the amine systems and re-inject acid gas back into miscible flooded pinnacles.

Recovery of sulfur from sour acid gas: A review of the technology

AbstractThe modified Claus process is the major technology for the recovery of elemental sulfur from H2S and SO2. A number of commercial technologies for the recovery of sulfur from acid gases are also highlighted here. A Claus tail‐gas clean‐up treatment is essential to give high sulfur recovery efficiency from sour acid gases. Generally, the existing tail‐gas clean‐up technologies can be classified into two groups: those that attain 99% overall sulfur recovery efficiency, and those that achieve 99.9% efficiency, including the sulfur recovered in the Claus unit. These processes are the Amoco's Cold Bed Adsorption (CBA), the SNPA/Lurgi Sulfreen, the IFP, the SCOT, the Beavon, and the Wellman‐Lord processes. The SCOT process is generally the most reliable and flexible technology. Process comparisons are also summarized in terms of the sulfur recovery efficiency, hazards and disadvantages, reliability and advantages, plant capacity and ecological impacts. Several changes and new trends are also highlighted here, such as the introduction of non‐permselective catalytic membrane reactors for the Claus reaction, and the in situ adsorption of water inside the Claus catalytic reactor. The successful utilization of H2S by converting it to sulfur and H2 attains the triple objectives of waste minimization, resource utilization, and environmental pollution reduction. Photochemical and plasmochemical methods are still in the development stage. Application of electrochemical technology to H2S requires further development. Research for an optimum porous catalyst structure is ongoing for obtaining a relation of micropores and macropores which would provide effective conversion of H2S and SO2.

The Successful Prevention of Lead Poisoning in the Glazing of Earthenware in the North Staffordshire Potteries

In 1572 an extensive epidemic of disease characterized by severe abdominal colic, later identified as lead poisoning, occurred in France in the province of Poitou. Citois named the disease colica Pictonum, that is the colic of the Pictones, the ancient Celtic tribe who inhabited the area. There-after the term was used generically for lead poisoning, otherwise plumbism or saturnism. The origin of the poisoning was traced to the practice of vintners who sophisticated sour acid wines with lead oxide. This adulteration restored the sweetness of the wine by the formation of sugar of lead, lead acetate. Similar outbreaks of poisoning were traced to the same fraudulent practice in the wine-growing districts of Germany and Spain. The preparation and storage of food and drink in containers of pewter and lead glazed earthenware resulted in accidental contamination of the substances, the consumption of which caused acute and chronic plumbism. Among the most frequently lead-contaminated liquors was Devonshire cyder, hence Devonshire colic. Occupational lead poisoning was described among lead miners and smelters in the mid-sixteenth century. Thereafter the disease was observed in a wide variety of trades and processes. The subject was comprehensively reviewed by Tanquerel des Planches in 1839. Among the workmen frequently affected were dippers in the pottery industry where lead oxide and lead carbonate were constituents of the glaze. The disease appeared as a serious problem among dippers and their assistants in North Staffordshire, the centre of the manufacture of earthenware and china in Great Britain. The manifestations of the disease included colic, convulsions, paralysis of limbs, blindness, and general emaciation. Female lead workers suffered excessively from abortions and miscarriages and many of their infants died of fits. The situation became so serious that the Government were compelled to enquire into the problem through a succession of Commissions. Meantime the manufacturers experimented to discover methods of glazing their products without lead or with lead in the relatively harmless fritted state of low solubility lead glazes. The progress of the investigations and remedial measures are followed in detail leading to the final conquest of lead poisoning among dippers and their assistants.

THE SUCCESSFUL PREVENTION OF LEAD POISONING IN THE GLAZING OF EARTHENWARE IN THE NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE POTTERIES.

In 1572 an extensive epidemic of disease characterized by severe abdominal colic, later identified as lead poisoning, occurred in France in the province of Poitou. Citois named the disease colica Pictonum, that is the colic of the Pictones, the ancient Celtic tribe who inhabited the area. There-after the term was used generically for lead poisoning, otherwise plumbism or saturnism. The origin of the poisoning was traced to the practice of vintners who sophisticated sour acid wines with lead oxide. This adulteration restored the sweetness of the wine by the formation of sugar of lead, lead acetate. Similar outbreaks of poisoning were traced to the same fraudulent practice in the wine-growing districts of Germany and Spain. The preparation and storage of food and drink in containers of pewter and lead glazed earthenware resulted in accidental contamination of the substances, the consumption of which caused acute and chronic plumbism. Among the most frequently lead-contaminated liquors was Devonshire cyder, hence Devonshire colic. Occupational lead poisoning was described among lead miners and smelters in the mid-sixteenth century. Thereafter the disease was observed in a wide variety of trades and processes. The subject was comprehensively reviewed by Tanquerel des Planches in 1839. Among the workmen frequently affected were dippers in the pottery industry where lead oxide and lead carbonate were constituents of the glaze. The disease appeared as a serious problem among dippers and their assistants in North Staffordshire, the centre of the manufacture of earthenware and china in Great Britain. The manifestations of the disease included colic, convulsions, paralysis of limbs, blindness, and general emaciation. Female lead workers suffered excessively from abortions and miscarriages and many of their infants died of fits. The situation became so serious that the Government were compelled to enquire into the problem through a succession of Commissions. Meantime the manufacturers experimented to discover methods of glazing their products without lead or with lead in the relatively harmless fritted state of low solubility lead glazes. The progress of the investigations and remedial measures are followed in detail leading to the final conquest of lead poisoning among dippers and their assistants.