Upgrading Techniques Research Articles

Catalytic Valorization of Organic Solid Waste: A Pilot-Scale Run of Sugarcane Bagasse

Organic solid waste treatment is crucial for enhancing environmental sustainability, promoting economic growth, and improving public health. Following our previous organic solid waste upgrading technique, a further two-step pilot-scale run, using sugarcane bagasse as the feedstock, has been successfully conducted with long-term stability. Firstly, the sugarcane bagasse was treated under mild conditions (400 °C and 1 bar of CH4), and this catalytic Methanolysis treatment resulted in a bio-oil with a yield of 60.5 wt.%. Following that, it was subjected to a catalytic Methano-Refining process (400 °C and 50 bar of CH4) to achieve high-quality renewable fuel with a liquid yield of 95.0 wt.%. Additionally, this renewable fuel can be regarded as an ideal diesel component with a high cetane number, high heating values, a low freezing point, low density and viscosity, and low oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur contents. The successful pilot-scale catalytic upgrading of sugarcane bagasse further verified the effectiveness of this methane-assisted organic solid waste upgrading technique and confirmed the high flexibility of this innovative technology for processing a wide spectrum of agricultural and forestry residues. This study will shed light on the further valorization of organic solid waste and other carbonaceous materials.

External ceramic membrane contactor for in-situ H2 assisted biogas upgrading

Biological H2-assisted biogas upgrading has gained significant attention as an environmentally friendly substitute to common physico-chemical upgrading techniques, but is largely limited by the low solubility of H2. This study evaluated the design of a ceramic membrane contactor module for H2 injection. H2 dissolution was maintained at high efficiency by controlling gas supply and sludge recirculation rate, achieving a biogas quality of average 98.8% CH4 during the stable operation phase with a 108% increase in the CH4 production rate. This also outperforms conventional H2 injection using diffuser sparging which could only achieve a biogas quality of 84% CH4 content. Microbial community analysis found high Methanobacterium spp. abundance within the archaea at 95.2% at the end of the operation, allowing the dominance of the hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis pathway for high upgrading efficiencies. The system is a high-performance external membrane connector module coupled to common anaerobic digestion systems for biogas upgrading.

Upgrading of Precast Roof Beam–Column Connections with Seismic Safety Key Devices

To meet the increasing demands for innovations in precast systems with high seismic resistance, in this study, we introduced a novel seismic upgrading technique for roof beam-column (RBC) connections, termed the targeted seismic upgrading (TSU) method, incorporating the innovative seismic safety key (SSK) devices we developed. These devices significantly enhance seismic resilience, offering a substantial improvement over traditional pin-based RBC connections in precast structures, which are known to have limited effectiveness. Our experimental tests on half-scale models of conventional RBC connections, coupled with comprehensive refined finite element method-based nonlinear analytical studies, conclusively demonstrated the enhanced seismic retrofitting capabilities of RBC connections augmented with SSK devices. The paper delineates a technical procedure for applying the SSK, our proprietary innovation, for the targeted seismic upgrading of RBC connections within modern precast systems. Notably, the SSK-upgraded RBC connections exhibited a marked increase in safety, as evidenced by results from experimentally validated nonlinear three-dimensional micro-analytical models. The incorporated flexible design elements in the TSU method ensure its high effectiveness and general applicability for seismic upgrading of both existing and new precast industrial hall structures, offering a significant advancement in this specific seismic engineering topic. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2024-010-05-06 Full Text: PDF

A first-principles study on the hydrodeoxygenation mechanism of the lignin-derived phenolic compounds over MoS2 catalysts

Understanding the hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) mechanism of phenolic compounds is crucial for advancing catalytic upgrading techniques of bio-oil. Herein, a comprehensive theoretical study of the HDO of lignin-derived phenolic compounds (phenol, cresols, and guaiacol) on the MoS2 surface was carried out using periodic density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Adsorption of phenolic compounds on different crystal faces was first compared. The MoS2 (100) crystal face is more favorable for the adsorption of phenolic compounds which show the horizontal adsorption configurations. Three kinds of HDO patterns were explored for the phenolic compounds. Phenol tends to transform into benzene via stepwise deoxygenation and hydrogenation under the induction of active hydrogen. For cresol isomers, their HDO mechanisms differ from each other due to the influence of the methyl group on the dehydroxylation process. Specifically, o-cresol follows a synergistic process of deoxidation and hydrogenation, m-cresol undergoes a two-step reaction involving direct dehydroxylation and hydrogenation, and p-cresol involves the identical HDO pathway as phenol. With regard to guaiacol, the preferred HDO route involves successive dehydroxylation and demethoxylation to benzene with the anisole intermediate. In addition, the adsorption of phenolics over transition metal-doped MoS2 catalysts was further explored to examine the potential of metal doping for the HDO of phenolics. The doping of Ta and W increases the adsorption capacity, which shows the potential to enhance the HDO activity of the catalyst theoretically.

Bio-Oil Upgrading over ZSM-5 Catalyst: A Review of Catalyst Performance and Deactivation

Due to population explosion and industrialization, waste biomass and polymer conversion into biofuel has attracted the interest of researchers. The application of the ZSM-5 catalyst for bio-oil upgrading into renewable biofuels has attracted researchers’ efforts as an excellent catalyst. The need for improved biofuel quality with reduced oxygenates has further necessitated the application of catalyzed upgrading techniques. The catalytic performance of the ZSM-5 catalyst was attributed to its exceptional pore structure and window architecture and when it is incorporated with some selected transition metals to improve aromatic hydrocarbon formation. The review revealed that the development of coke deposit on the microspores of the ZSM-5 catalyst hindered the effective transport of large molecular compounds into the active sites for an easy deoxygenation process. Hence, the introduction of mesoporosity, hybrid catalyst development, and tailored crystal growth on the ZSM-5 catalyst could address several hindrances associated to conventional ZSM-5. Therefore, the need for catalyst modification is paramount for ZSM-5 performance during bio-oil upgrading.

Enhancement Panoramic Image Based on Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and SURF Algorithm

Image upgrade is essential for giving improved data to other image handling methods. Also, the requirement for differentiation improvement to all-encompassing image is a usually performed examination by dental specialists and oral specialists in regular practice and is a critical indicative apparatus. It covers a more extensive zone than a traditional intraoral x-beam and, subsequently, gives important data about the maxillary sinuses, tooth situating and other bone variations from the norm. Thusly, it is anything but difficult to distinguish and perceive valuable data. In this pursuit was utilized the calcu lation of Principle Component Analysis (PCA) to upgrade the subtle elements of images and enhance the quality the image, by its joining with strategy for difference improvement, and highlights extraction that take from the upgrade technique to limit mistakes in images, along these lines enhance the execution of the framework, image upgrade strategies used to deliver more reasonable images for identification and extraction. Three principle computerized image process strategies: Contrast Stretching, Histogram Equalization and, Contrast Limited Adaptive Histogram Equalization , were considered to build the improvement image, and evacuat e clamor, separately however low quality and the image is light angle in hues and less clear . In this exploration we will, pre-prepared images were assessed utilizing current image recognition and highlight extraction techniques Speeded Up Robust Features (SURF) calculations after go in improve ment strategies. After that PCA embed the yield vector from SURF. Gotten results demonstrated that upgrade image expa nded after number of separated highlights and diminished mistakes amid info image in PCA. Therefore, the impacts of var ious pre-process procedures were thought about in the paper and the assessment parameters are figured which demonstrate that proposed work gives better execution from the image broke down under PSNR to enhance the dependability of proposed strategy from the outcomes.

Tackling of hydraulic cavitation in pressurized pipe flow using high- or low-density polyethylene penstock and short-section

Abstract Recent studies have proved that the utilization of polyethylene (PE) short-section or penstock is a promising water hammer control tool. However, the interplay between the magnitude attenuation and the phase offset of pressure-wave oscillations remains challenging. This study aimed at inspecting the capacity of a dual PE penstock/short-section-based control technique, with regard to the aforementioned interplay. In this technique, a PE penstock was lumped to the transient initiating zone of the main pipe and a short-section of the counter extremity of the pipe was replaced with PE. The transient pressure-wave behavior in a gravitational viscoelastic pipe involving cavitation was described by the extended 1D water hammer equations embedding the Vitkovsky and Kelvin–Voigt add-ons. The numerical solution was performed by the fixed grid method of characteristics. The high- (HDPE) and low-density (LDPE) were demonstrated in this study. Analysis revealed that upgrading techniques based on LDPE enabled a desirable tradeoff between the magnitude attenuation and the phase offset of pressure-wave oscillations. Particularly, the dual penstock/short-section specific upgrading technique allowed a more important attenuation magnitude of pressure peak (or crest), and led to a similar expansion of the wave oscillation period. Furthermore, results evidenced that the proposed technique outperformed the renewal of the original piping system.

Contaminant removal from plastic waste pyrolysis oil via depth filtration and the impact on chemical recycling: A simple solution with significant impact

Recycling of mixed plastic waste via pyrolysis and subsequent steam cracking towards light olefins is a promising solution for the ever-growing plastic waste crisis. However, the pyrolytic recycling pathway is still not established on industrial scale due to the large variety of pyrolysis oil contaminants that hamper the application in (petro-)chemical processes. In short, plastic waste pyrolysis oils are unfeasible for steam crackers without upgrading. In this work, depth filtration for the removal of particulate contamination from a post-consumer mixed polyolefin (MPO) pyrolysis oil was performed using three different filter media with different porosity. Comprehensive analyses using SEM-EDX of the retained particles as well as ICP-OES and GC × GC-FID of the filtered oils allowed to understand the efficacy of filtration. Most of the particulate contamination was removed by filtration leading to a reduction from 69 mg/L in the unfiltered sample to < 2 mg/L in the filtered samples. Particle characterization confirmed that the main contamination is composed of iron, calcium and silicon-based contaminants in combination with carbon-based species. It was confirmed by ICP-OES that after filtration, important contaminants such as nickel, vanadium and lead were reduced below contamination thresholds for steam crackers indicating that filtration is an efficient, and potentially cost-effective upgrading technique for pyrolysis oils. When steam cracking the filtered oils, results show that radiant coil coke formation was reduced by 40–60% compared to the unfiltered oil without changes in product selectivity, confirming the strong impact of particulate contamination on coke formation during steam cracking.

Comparison of Seismic Upgrading Techniques Applied to an Existing Prestressed Concrete Bridge

Comparison of Seismic Upgrading Techniques Applied to an Existing Prestressed Concrete Bridge

Workflow of the In Situ Combustion EOR Method in Venezuela: Challenges and Opportunities.

In situ combustion (ISC) is one of the oldest thermal enhanced oil recovery methods to have been applied in Venezuela to increase the production of highly viscous crude oils, with a first field application in 1959 in the Tia Juana Field-Lake Maracaibo Basin. This method, which is characterized by high energy efficiency, consists of injecting air into the reservoir where exothermic oxidation reactions initiate to increase the mobility of the oil. Compared to other thermal enhanced oil recovery methods such as steam injection, ISC has a lower environmental impact in terms of water and fuel consumption, and emission of gases as the produced gases can be reinjected or stored. Several ISC projects have been carried out in Venezuela in Tia Juana, Morichal, Miga, and Melones fields. Although the technical results have been satisfactory in terms of viscosity reduction and improved crude oil properties (such as °API), other important aspects of project evaluations have not been convincing due to the following factors: high temperatures in producing wells, acid gases management, generation of complex emulsions, corrosion, and high CAPEX and OPEX costs. Nevertheless, additional research work has been conducted on process optimization, using catalysts and hydrogen donors, to better address these other factors. Due to the great need to increase hydrocarbon production in Venezuela and to the advantages of ISC as an upgrading technique where low-carbon fuels and hydrogen as byproducts are generated, this paper presents a revisit of ISC projects in Venezuela from R&D technical aspects to field applications. It seeks to identify the main insights regarding the success and failure of the evaluated projects and make substantiated recommendations in the case of future applications of this technology.

An instrumental insight for a periodic solution of a fractal Mathieu–Duffing equation

The primary goal of the present study is to investigate how to obtain a periodic solution for a fractal Mathieu–Duffing oscillator. To achieve this, the fractal oscillator in the fractal space has been transformed into a damping Mathieu–Duffing equation in the continuous space by employing a new modification of He’s definition of the fractal derivative. The required analytical periodic solution has been based on the rank upgrade technique (RUT) presented. The RUT successfully generates a periodic solution without sacrificing the damping coefficient by creating an alternate equation, aside from any challenges in managing the impact of the linear damping component. The homotopy perturbation method (HPM) has been used to find the required periodic solution for the alternate equation. A comparison of the numerical solutions of the original equation and the alternative equation showed good agreement. The stability behavior in the non-resonance case as well as in the sub-harmonic resonance case has also been discussed. Further, another method, “the non-perturbative approach”, that deals with the obtained equation has been introduced.

Real-Time Defect Detection for Metal Components: A Fusion of Enhanced Canny–Devernay and YOLOv6 Algorithms

Due to the presence of numerous surface defects, the inadequate contrast between defective and non-defective regions, and the resemblance between noise and subtle defects, edge detection poses a significant challenge in dimensional error detection, leading to increased dimensional measurement inaccuracies. These issues serve as major bottlenecks in the domain of automatic detection of high-precision metal parts. To address these challenges, this research proposes a combined approach involving the utilization of the YOLOv6 deep learning network in conjunction with metal lock body parts for the rapid and accurate detection of surface flaws in metal workpieces. Additionally, an enhanced Canny–Devernay sub-pixel edge detection algorithm is employed to determine the size of the lock core bead hole. The methodology is as follows: The data set for surface defect detection is acquired using the labeling software lableImg and subsequently utilized for training the YOLOv6 model to obtain the model weights. For size measurement, the region of interest (ROI) corresponding to the lock cylinder bead hole is first extracted. Subsequently, Gaussian filtering is applied to the ROI, followed by a sub-pixel edge detection using the improved Canny–Devernay algorithm. Finally, the edges are fitted using the least squares method to determine the radius of the fitted circle. The measured value is obtained through size conversion. Experimental detection involves employing the YOLOv6 method to identify surface defects in the lock body workpiece, resulting in an achieved mean Average Precision (mAP) value of 0.911. Furthermore, the size of the lock core bead hole is measured using an upgraded technique based on the Canny–Devernay sub-pixel edge detection, yielding an average inaccuracy of less than 0.03 mm. The findings of this research showcase the successful development of a practical method for applying machine vision in the realm of the automatic detection of metal parts. This achievement is accomplished through the exploration of identification methods and size-measuring techniques for common defects found in metal parts. Consequently, the study establishes a valuable framework for effectively utilizing machine vision in the field of metal parts inspection and defect detection.

Review on Biomass Pyrolysis with a Focus on Bio-Oil Upgrading Techniques

This review provides insights into the current research on pyrolytic bio-oil obtained from different feedstock regarding upgrading techniques and applications such as energy, fuels, chemicals, and carbon materials. Raw bio-oil is not appropriate for transportation and ignition due to undesired properties; therefore, several challenges have been reported regarding its suitable market application. For liquid biofuel production, thermochemical pathways, particularly hydrogenation and deoxygenation, must be carried out, and for chemical production, liquid solvents are mostly used via physical separation. The main issues related to downstream processes with environmental and economic assessment are also covered. The analysis indicates that the major bottlenecks for commercial applications of upgraded bio-oil are the initial stage (upgrading techniques), high production costs, and pilot scale production. Finally, future directions are addressed for the improvement of bio-oil upgrading.

Techno-economic and life cycle assessment of renewable diesel production via methane-assisted catalytic waste cooking oil upgrading

In this work, a techno-economic and life cycle assessment of a novel catalytic methane-assisted process for the production of renewable diesel has been performed. A systematic method for calculating catalyst production cost is engaged via CatCost utilization. The results are compared with commercial processes (hydrotreatment and alkali-catalyzed process) and other recently published research. The total capital investment in hydrotreating of WCO (hydrocracking of long chain fatty acids by hydrogen under high pressure and temperature) and alkali-catalyzed process (transesterification of fatty acids by NaOH to produce fatty acid methyl ester) are 39% and 97% more than that of the novel methane-assisted catalytic process, respectively. The consumed energy per unit mass of produced renewable diesel calculated from this innovative upgrading technique is 0.93 kW/kg of renewable diesel, which is remarkably lower than that for the aforementioned commercial processes. The production costs have also been investigated and it was found that using natural gas is noticeably cheaper than hydrogen employed for the hydrotreating process and NaOH and methanol used in alkali catalyzed process. The production costs for the methane-assisted catalytic process are 0.365 $/kg renewable diesel and for hydrotreating and alkali-catalyzed process, the production costs are 0.574 $/kg renewable diesel and 0.513 $/kg biodiesel, respectively. The economic results have also been compared with other research and it was found the total production cost of the new process is minimum, however total capital investment is a bit high. The results of the life cycle assessment (LCA) have also proved the advantages of the newly developed process because using NaOH and methanol in the alkali-catalyzed process and hydrogen in the hydrotreating process would have higher environmental impacts. The impact assessment showed that the proposed process contributes significantly to reducing global warming since CO2eq results indicate that the proposed process emits remarkably less CO2 as one of the major greenhouse gases compared to other processes. For examining the risk of investment, the Monte Carlo simulation with 1000 iterations has also been conducted and the results manifest the high profitability of this process.

A heuristic approach to the prediction of a periodic solution for a damping nonlinear oscillator with the non-perturbative technique

The present work attracts attention to obtaining a new result of the periodic solution of a damped nonlinear Duffing oscillator and a damped Klein–Gordon equation. It is known that the frequency response equation in the Duffing equation can be derived from the homotopy analysis method only in the absence of the damping force. We suggest a suitable new scheme successfully to produce a periodic solution without losing the damping coefficient. The novel strategy is centered on establishing an alternate equation apart from any difficulty in handling the influence of the linear damped term. This alternative equation was obtained with the rank upgrading technique. The periodic solution of the problem is presented using the non-perturbative method and validated by the modified homotopy perturbation technique. This technique is successful in obtaining new results toward a periodic solution, frequency equation, and the corresponding stability conditions. This methodology yields a more effective outcome of the damped nonlinear oscillators. With the help of this procedure, one can analyze many problems in the domain of physical engineering that involve oscillators and a linear damping influence. Moreover, this method can help all interested plasma authors for modeling different nonlinear acoustic oscillations in plasma.

Current and Future Trends for Crude Glycerol Upgrading to High Value-Added Products

Crude glycerol is the main byproduct of biodiesel manufacturing from oleaginous crops and other biomass-derived oils. Approximately 10% crude glycerol is produced with every batch of biodiesel. Worldwide, there is a glut of glycerol and the price of it has decreased considerably. There are real opportunities for valorizing crude glycerol into higher value-added chemicals which can improve the economic viability of biodiesel production as an alternative fuel. Exploring new potential applications of glycerol in various sectors is needed such as in pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, cosmetics, and as a transportation fuel. However, crude glycerol produced directly from biodiesel often contains impurities that hinder its direct industrial usage and thus, a refining process is needed which is typically expensive. Hence, this review reports on current upgrading crude glycerol technologies—thermo-, bio-, physico-, and electrochemical approaches—that valorize it into higher value-added chemicals. Through comparison between those viable upgrading techniques, future research directions, challenges, and advantages/disadvantage of the technologies are described. Electrochemical technology, which is still underdeveloped in this field, is highlighted, due to its simplicity, low maintenance cost, and it working in ambient condition, as it shows promising potential to be applied as a major glycerol upgrading technique.

A Comprehensive Review on Feasibility of Different Agro Residues for Production of Bio-Oil, Bio-Char and Pyro-Gas

Burning of post-harvest non-edible agro residues (biomass) are the major source of environmental and soil pollution, affecting the lives of millions of people, especially in certain demography of developing countries like India. Non edible agro residues contain toxic structural constituents, making it unsuitable for cattle feed. However, due to its cellulosic and lignocellulosic constituents, it has the potential to be used as a promising feedstock to develop value added energy products. Authors in this review paper have comprehensively reviewed the technological aspects related to conversion of agro residues into value added energy products like bio-oil, bio-char, and pyro gas. Various non-edible agro residues like Cotton stalk, castor stalk, Maize stalk, Rice straw, Rice husk, Corn cob, Sugarcane bagasse, and wheat straw etc., have been reviewed for its potential as feedstock material for thermo chemical conversion to obtain energy products like bio-oil, bio-char, and pyro-gas. Different physio-chemical properties, its chemical characterization methods, different bio-oil upgradation techniques, Techno-economic analysis (TEA), and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) have been reviewed for different thermo-chemical conversion processes. The reviewed works reveal that byproducts derived from pyrolysis of non-edible agro residues have potential to be used as biofuels. Bio-oils after upgradation may be used as fuel, bio-char with appropriate pulversing may be used as soil nutrient, and pyro-gas may be used as energy gas or carrier gas for process industries. LCA of different processes for different agro residue-based biofuels indicate that conversion of biomass into energy fuels is an sustainable, and economical solution for the environment point of view and economic point of view through pyrolysis process as compare to the other conversion processes because pyrolysis process can accommodate agro waste and produce bio-char and pyro-gas along with bio-oil having capacity to generate good revenue.

A sub-assembly based technique for calibration of numerical models of infilled r.c. frames according to experimental tests

Most existing buildings in the Mediterranean area suffer from structural deficiencies and need to be retrofitted. However, a proper selection of the seismic upgrading technique stems from a reliable assessment of seismic response based on accurate numerical models. Furthermore, it is widely accepted that the effect of infill panels should be considered to properly reproduce the seismic response of buildings with r.c. framed structure. Indeed, several studies have demonstrated that infill panels significantly increase the lateral stiffness of the frame and influence its dissipative capacity and collapse mechanism. Unfortunately, despite all buildings are endowed with infill panels, the contribution of these non-structural elements to the structural response has been often “conservatively” neglected, in favour of computational simplicity. In this framework, this paper presents a technique for calibration of the finite element numerical model of r.c. frames with infill panels based on the results of a quasi-static cyclic experimental test of a prototype infilled frame. The proposed technique is based on a sub-assembly approach and relies of the fact that (1) the response of the system is mainly governed by the infill panel for small amplitude displacements, while (2) it becomes coincident with that of the bare r.c. frame for large amplitude displacements. Hence, the mechanical properties of the bare frame and those of the infill panel could be separately extracted from the same cyclic response of the infilled frame. This technique has been here applied for the calibration of the numerical model of a one-bay one-storey r.c. frame with infill panel. A full-scale cyclic test of the infilled frame is also executed and the obtained structural response is assumed as target to be fitted.

Recent Development in Physical, Chemical, Biological and Hybrid Biogas Upgradation Techniques

Energy driven technologies and enhanced per-capita waste production have led to the establishment of novel technologies to simultaneously produce fuels as well as treat the wastes. Anaerobic digestion is cost-effective and sustainable process to produce biogas. Biogas is a mixture of CO2, CH4, H2S, is an eco-friendly and inexpensive renewable biofuel. This mixture of gases restricts biogas utilization in vehicular fuel, CHPs, therefore, biogas upgradation becomes a necessary step. Conventional upgradation technologies for example water scrubbing, physical adsorption, chemical adsorption, amine scrubbing, etc. are cost intensive and require high maintenance. Novel technologies like biological methods of biogas upgradation are being investigated and new improvements are made in the conventional methods. This review aims to give a close insight about various technologies of upgradation including, pressure swing, amine scrubbing, membrane separation, cryogenic separation, biological methods, etc., along with the major challenges and limitations. The study also intends to provide an overview about the future perspective and scope of these technologies.

Spatially resolved micron-scale wrinkle structures at asphaltene films induced by mild thermal treatment and its impact on emulsion stability

Mild thermal treatment is an important partial upgrading technique to enable bitumen pipeline transportation, but no attention has been paid to the impact of mild thermal treatment on the emulsification behavior of emerging partially upgraded bitumen. Asphaltene compounds are active emulsion stabilizers in bitumen oil. The emulsion stabilizing capacity of bitumen asphaltenes was investigated, before and after a mild thermal treatment at 400 °C. The structural morphology and mechanical property of the asphaltene interfacial films were analyzed by using a combination of cryo-SEM, Langmuir trough, and Brewster angle microscopy. The thermal treatment significantly enhanced the emulsion stabilizing capacity of bitumen asphaltenes; the interfacial films formed by the thermally treated asphaltene samples appeared to be rougher and thicker with more abundant micron-scale wrinkle structures. The interfacial corrugation may intensify the mechanical stability/flexibility of the asphaltene films and consequently strengthen the stability of emulsion droplet.