Nano porous systems for storing hydrogen-based clean fuel

Rapid growth in population, Concerns about the industrial revolution, environmental and energy issues are growing, and are urging the use of clean, renewable energy sources to ameliorate the dire situation. Hydrogen is an ideal synthetic fuel because it is light, very broad, and is an oxidation product (water), i.e. environmentally friendly, but storage problems remain [1-3].

Identifying Appropriate Locations for the Accelerated Weathering of Limestone to Reduce CO2 Emissions

The reduction in CO2 emissions is a major task for the coming decades. Accelerated weathering of limestone (AWL) can be used to capture CO2 from effluent gas streams and store it as bicarbonate in marine environments. We give an overview of the fundamental aspects of AWL, including associated CO2 emissions during the operation of AWL, characteristics of the accumulating bicarbonate-rich product water, and factors influencing the outgassing of CO2 from the ocean back into the atmosphere. Based on these aspects, we identify locations where AWL could be carried out favorably. The energy demand for AWL reduces the theoretical CO2 sequestration potential, for example, by only 5% in the case of a 100 km transport of limestone on roads. AWL-derived product water is characterized by high alkalinity but low pH values and, once in contact with the atmosphere, passive outgassing of CO2 from AWL-derived water occurs. This process is mainly driven by the difference between the fCO2 in the atmosphere and the oceanic surface layer, as well as the sea surface temperature at the discharge site. Promising sites for AWL may be in Florida or around the Mediterranean Sea, where outgassing could be prevented by injections into deep water layers.

Control of desalination plants using sliding mode scheme with state observer

This paper deals with real-time control with observer to manipulate desalination plants as well as to monitor system states for smart operations. The controller plays an important role in achieving stabilization of reverse osmosis (RO) systems to guarantee the desired water product and concentration. The super-twisting (STW) sliding mode control (SMC) algorithm guarantees performance while reducing chattering. Supposing that all the state variables are not available by sensors, the observer is implemented to provide state estimation. Since smart operations depend on control algorithm and sensor availability, the proposed strategy provides robustness to ensure the water productivity even under uncertainties or under failure of sensors. The robustness is guaranteed by active controller where 80% of disturbance is eliminated in product water flow and that of product water quality is approximately 95%. As well, the state observer can produce precise predictions of the unmeasured states. Sliding mode control with observer provides the system with stability, while assuring better performances against uncertainties. Finally, the active controller with state estimator can guarantee a robust control strategy and monitoring system to extend the life of the filters and membranes, while ensuring sustainability. This control strategy is highly recommended for smart operations of desalination plants.

Modular synthesis of chiral 1,2-dihydropyridines via Mannich/Wittig/cycloisomerization sequence that internally reuses waste

Abstract1,2-Dihydropyridines are valuable and reactive synthons, and particularly useful precursors to synthesize piperidines and pyridines that are among the most common structural components of pharmaceuticals. However, the catalytic enantioselective synthesis of structurally diverse 1,2-dihydropyridines is limited to enantioselective addition of nucleophiles to activated pyridines. Here, we report a modular organocatalytic Mannich/Wittig/cycloisomerization sequence as a flexible strategy to access chiral 1,2-dihydropyridines from N-Boc aldimines, aldehydes, and phosphoranes, using a chiral amine catalyst. The key step in this protocol, cycloisomerization of chiral N-Boc δ-amino α,β-unsaturated ketones recycles the waste to improve the yield. Specifically, recycling by-product water from imine formation to gradually release the true catalyst HCl via hydrolysis of SiCl4, whilst maintaining a low concentration of HCl to suppress side reactions, and reusing waste Ph3PO from the Wittig step to modulate the acidity of HCl. This approach allows facile access to enantioenriched 2-substituted, 2,3- or 2,6-cis-disubstituted, and 2,3,6-cis-trisubstituted piperidines.

Effect of ambient parameters change on mint leaves solar drying

This study investigates the effect of ambient conditions change on mint leaves solar drying performance and product water activity. Two drying methods, active indirect solar drying (AISD) and open sun drying (OSD) were compared while the experiments were carried out at specific dry climate conditions. During the experimental days, temperature varied from 20 to 30 °C, air relative humidity from 14 to 28.8 % and ambient pressure was around 82 kPa. The effect of air relative humidity change during the day on the rehydration of the product during the drying process was observed. After 7 h of drying, moisture content of mint leaves decreased from 85.29 % to 5.38 % in the AISD and 7.42 % in the OSD system. The 0.97 initial water activity decreased to 0.195 in AISD and 0.79 in OSD. Rehydration during the evening hours caused an increase in product water activity from 0.2 to 0.51. Changes of ambient conditions such as temperature and air relative humidity during the day can significantly affect water activity of dried product due to its rehydration and thus increase the risk of product spoilage.