scholarly journals Mineral Carbonation as an Educational Investigation of Green Chemical Engineering Design

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (15) ◽  
pp. 4156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hugo Fantucci ◽  
Jaspreet S. Sidhu ◽  
Rafael M. Santos

Engaging students in the experimental design of “green” technology is a challenge in Chemical Engineering undergraduate programs. This concept paper demonstrates an educational methodology to investigate accelerated mineral carbonation, which is a promising technology related to mitigation of climate change by sequestering carbon dioxide (CO2) from industrial sources as stable solid carbonates. An experimental investigation is conceived, whereby students test the effect of two process parameters (CO2 pressure and mixing rate) on the extent of carbonation reaction. The carbonation reaction has been performed using a mineral called wollastonite (CaSiO3). The experimental study and laboratory report cover principles of reaction kinetics and mass transfer, while illustrating the steps to develop and investigate a green process technology. The results from the experimental investigation, which is carried out by multiple teams of students, are then pooled and used to guide a subsequent design project. Students would conceive a flowsheet, size equipment, and estimate the energy demand and net CO2 sequestration efficiency of a full-scale implementation of the mineral carbonation technology. This educational investigation aims to help undergraduate students to acquire deeper experiential learning and greater awareness of future green technologies by applying fundamental engineering principles into an engaging experimental and design exercise.

Mathematics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 495
Author(s):  
Umakanta Mishra ◽  
Abu Hashan Md Mashud ◽  
Ming-Lang Tseng ◽  
Jei-Zheng Wu

This study investigated how greenhouse managers should invest in preservation and green technologies and introduce trade credit to increase their profits. We propose a supply chain inventory model with controllable deterioration and emission rates under payment schemes for shortage and surplus, where demand depends on price and trade credit. Carbon emissions and deterioration are factors affecting global warming, and many greenhouse managers have focused on reducing carbon emissions. Carbon caps and tax-based incentives have been used in many greenhouses to achieve such reduction. Because of the importance of reducing carbon emissions for developing a green supply chain, various studies have investigated how firms deal with carbon emission constraints. In this continuation, we have used green technology to curb the excessive emissions from the environment or make it clean from CO2. In a seller–buyer relationship, the seller can offer a trade credit period to the buyer to manage stock and stimulate demand. Deterioration may become a challenge for most firms as they are under time constraints control, and preservation technology could help. This study proposes three novel inventory strategies for a sustainable supply chain (full backorder, partial backorder, and no backorder), linking all these important issues. The solution optimizes total annual profit for inventory shortage or surplus. We conducted a numerical study with three examples to evaluate the model’s authenticity and effectiveness and demonstrate the solution technique. The deterioration and emission rates can be included in a trade credit policy to increase greenhouse profits. The results suggest that greenhouse managers could apply the proposed model to manage real-world situations.


2021 ◽  
Vol 104 (2) ◽  
pp. 003685042110196
Author(s):  
Brendon Mpofu ◽  
Hembe E Mukaya ◽  
Diakanua B Nkazi

Carbon dioxide has been identified as one of the greenhouse gases responsible for global warming. Several carbon capture and storage technologies have been developed to mitigate the large quantities of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere, but these are quite expensive and not easy to implement. Thus, this research analyses the technical and economic feasibility of using calcium leached from cow bone to capture and store carbon dioxide through the mineral carbonation process. The capturing process of carbon dioxide was successful using the proposed technique of leaching calcium from cow shinbone (the tibia) in the presence of HCl by reacting the calcium solution with gaseous carbon dioxide. AAS and XRF analysis were used to determine the concentration of calcium in leached solutions and the composition of calcium in cow bone respectively. The best leaching conditions were found to be 4 mole/L HCl and leaching time of 6 h. Under these conditions, a leaching efficiency of 91% and a calcium conversion of 83% in the carbonation reaction were obtained. Other factors such as carbonation time, agitation rate, and carbonation reaction temperature had little effect on the yield. A preliminary cost analysis showed that the cost to capture 1 ton of CO2 with the proposed technique is about US$ 268.32, which is in the acceptable range of the capturing process. However, the cost of material used and electricity should be reviewed to reduce the preliminary production cost.


Author(s):  
Xiaowen Wang ◽  
Lihong Yang ◽  
Fujia Sun

Abstract As a kind of fast and efficient mixing equipment, micromixer has been applied to chemical reaction detection. Its application can not only save experimental samples but also reduce the experimental time. In micromixers, Tesla structure is widely used due to its simple structure and special flow mechanism. In this paper, CFD and response surface method are used to analyze and verify the flow field of the configuration of adding diamond obstacles in the Tesla mixer. The results show that the order of layout parameter weight from large to small is obstacle size > vertical offset > horizontal offset. And the Desirability was 0.806, the optimal diamond obstacle size is 46.35 μm and the optimal lateral offset is 18.78 μm. In addition, a constant value OF 20 μm is predicted as the optimal vertical offset of the micromixer. Compared with the Tesla-type micromixer without obstacles, the diamond-shaped barrier Tesla-type micromixer designed in this paper has higher mixing rate and lower pressure drop under the same conditions, which can be applied to chemical reactors, and can also help to improve the accuracy of chemical reaction. It can be demonstrated that the presented optimal design method of obstacles layout in Tesla mixer is a simple and effective technology to improve the liquid mixing in microfluidic devices, and it has a broad application prospect in chemical engineering.


2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (1 & 2) ◽  
pp. 8
Author(s):  
Reza Barzin ◽  
Syamsul Rizal Abd Shukor ◽  
Abdul Latif Ahmad

Process intensification (PI) is currently one of the most significant trends in chemical engineering and process technology. PI is a strategy of making dramatic reductions in the size of unit operations within chemical plants, in order to achieve production objectives. PI technology is able to change dramatically the whole chemical engineering industry pathway to a faster, cleaner and safer industry. Nonetheless, PI technology will be handicapped if such system is not properly controlled. There are some foreseeable problems in order to control such processes for instance, dynamic interaction between components that make up a control loop, response time of the instrumentations, availability of proper sensor and etc. This paper offers an overview and discussion on identifying potential problems of controlling intensified systems.


Recycling ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krishna Rajan ◽  
Aravinthan Gopanna ◽  
Selvin Thomas

The recycling of waste plastics is considered as one of the strategies to tackle the issue of environmental pollution caused by commodity plastics all over the world. Recently, many universities have incorporated topics related to recycling and plastics waste management into their curricula at different levels to increase awareness as well as to develop new recycling technologies. In this study, one of the most important waste recycling problems is given as the project for the undergraduate students of chemical engineering to analyze the effectiveness of the project-based learning (PBL) approach in the school curriculum. A team of students was assigned with the task of recycling post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles through an experimental and design approach. From the experimental data, students designed a recycling plant with a proposed capacity to produce 1 ton of recycled granules per day through the project-based learning approach. Evaluation of the project was carried out at various stages and it was found that the students acquired the required skills and applied them effectively. The outcomes of the present study clearly establish that the problems which have societal impacts, such as waste management, environmental pollution, etc., can be effectively communicated to the student community through the PBL approach, which can lead to increased motivation and enhanced critical thinking abilities.


2019 ◽  
Vol 158 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leila Niamir ◽  
Gregor Kiesewetter ◽  
Fabian Wagner ◽  
Wolfgang Schöpp ◽  
Tatiana Filatova ◽  
...  

Abstract In the last decade, instigated by the Paris agreement and United Nations Climate Change Conferences (COP22 and COP23), the efforts to limit temperature increase to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels are expanding. The required reductions in greenhouse gas emissions imply a massive decarbonization worldwide with much involvement of regions, cities, businesses, and individuals in addition to the commitments at the national levels. Improving end-use efficiency is emphasized in previous IPCC reports (IPCC 2014). Serving as the primary ‘agents of change’ in the transformative process towards green economies, households have a key role in global emission reduction. Individual actions, especially when amplified through social dynamics, shape green energy demand and affect investments in new energy technologies that collectively can curb regional and national emissions. However, most energy-economics models—usually based on equilibrium and optimization assumptions—have a very limited representation of household heterogeneity and treat households as purely rational economic actors. This paper illustrates how computational social science models can complement traditional models by addressing this limitation. We demonstrate the usefulness of behaviorally rich agent-based computational models by simulating various behavioral and climate scenarios for residential electricity demand and compare them with the business as usual (SSP2) scenario. Our results show that residential energy demand is strongly linked to personal and social norms. Empirical evidence from surveys reveals that social norms have an essential role in shaping personal norms. When assessing the cumulative impacts of these behavioral processes, we quantify individual and combined effects of social dynamics and of carbon pricing on individual energy efficiency and on the aggregated regional energy demand and emissions. The intensity of social interactions and learning plays an equally important role for the uptake of green technologies as economic considerations, and therefore in addition to carbon-price policies (top-down approach), implementing policies on education, social and cultural practices can significantly reduce residential carbon emissions.


Author(s):  
Michael G. Mauk ◽  
Richard Y. Chiou ◽  
Carlos Ruiz ◽  
Dharma Varapula ◽  
Changchun Liu ◽  
...  

Point-of-care (POC) medical diagnostics tests based on instrumented microfluidic chips are instructive and highly-multidisciplinary projects for undergraduate research and Senior Design. Students can apply their knowledge of fluid mechanics, heat transfer, optics, electronics and microcontrollers, materials, prototyping and systems engineering in translating and adapting a laboratory-based test for use in non-traditional venues. We discuss the design, prototyping, and testing of POC lab-on-a-chip (LOC) systems in an educational setting, where undergraduate students develop and demonstrate novel and practical POC tests. This application area serves as an effective gateway to the medical diagnostics field for engineering students, with opportunities for providing sustainable, appropriate, and ‘green’ technology to the developing world where healthcare infrastructure is lacking.


2018 ◽  
Vol 162 ◽  
pp. 05029 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suaad Laffta ◽  
Areaj Al-rawi

The world is facing many environmental and economic problems resulting from rapid urbanization and over-exploitation of available resources as well as due to the dramatic increase of the population and corresponding increases in the number of cities. Technological and industrial development plays a big role in these problems. As a result, the term green technology became as a tool to solve these problems with an orientation towards sustainable development at all levels. , It seems to be very effective tool in modern urban planning which incorporates of all aspects of planning such as infrastructure and industry, energy, telecommunications, transportation and other vital areas in cities. These technologies are environment friendly inventions that often involve - energy efficiency, recycling, safety and health concerns, renewable resources, and more. Green technologies include several forms of technology that help to minimize negative effects on the environment and create new ways to achieve sustainable development. This paper is about green technology and its role in sustainable urban planning, it aims to clarify the most important areas for the application of this technology and the benefits provided by these technologies in improving the lives of the population in cities and a development orientation towards sustainability.


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