Biomass Source Influence on Hydrogen Production through Pyrolysis and in Line Oxidative Steam Reforming.

This study evaluates the potential of several biomasses differing in nature and composition for their valorization by pyrolysis and in line oxidative steam reforming. The first task involved the fast pyrolysis of the biomasses in a conical spouted bed reactor (CSBR) at 500 °C, in which product yields were analyzed in detail. Then, the oxidative steam reforming (OSR) of pyrolysis volatiles (gases and bio-oil) was approached in a fluidized bed reactor (FBR).

Global Vision of the Reaction and Deactivation Routes in the Ethanol Steam Reforming on a Catalyst Derived from a Ni-Al Spinel.

Ethanol steam reforming (ESR) over a Ni/AlO catalyst prepared by reduction of a NiAlO spinel is a promising alternative route to produce H from biomass. This work deepens into the effect of reaction conditions (450-650 °C, a steam/ethanol (S/E) ratio of 3-9, and a weight space time up to 1.3 h) and evaluates the time on stream evolution of the yields of H, gaseous byproducts (CO, CO, CH, CH, CHO), and formed carbon/coke.

Kinetic Model for the Direct Conversion of CO/CO into Light Olefins over an InO-ZrO/SAPO-34 Tandem Catalyst.

An original kinetic model is proposed for the direct production of light olefins by hydrogenation of CO/CO (CO) mixtures over an InO-ZrO/SAPO-34 tandem catalyst, quantifying deactivation by coke. The reaction network comprises 12 individual reactions, and deactivation is quantified with expressions dependent on the concentration of methanol (as coke precursor) and HO and H (as agents attenuating coke formation). The experimental results were obtained in a fixed-bed reactor under the following conditions: InO-ZrO/SAPO-34 mass ratio, 0/1-1/0; 350-425 °C; 20-50 bar; H/CO ratio, 1-3; CO/CO ratio, 0-1; space time, 0-10 g h mol, 0-20 g h mol; time, up to 500 h; HO and CHOH in the feed, up to 5% vol.

Appraisal of agroforestry biomass wastes for hydrogen production by an integrated process of fast pyrolysis and in line steam reforming.

The pyrolysis and in line steam reforming of different types of representative agroforestry biomass wastes (pine wood, citrus wastes and rice husk) was performed in a two-reactor system made up of a conical spouted bed and a fluidized bed. The pyrolysis step was carried out at 500 °C, and the steam reforming at 600 °C with a space time of 20 g min g and a steam/biomass ratio (S/B) of 4. A study was conducted on the effect that the pyrolysis volatiles composition obtained with several biomasses has on the reforming conversion, product yields and H production.

Oxidative Fast Pyrolysis of High-Density Polyethylene on a Spent Fluid Catalytic Cracking Catalyst in a Fountain Confined Conical Spouted Bed Reactor.

The oxidative fast pyrolysis of plastics was studied in a conical spouted bed reactor with a fountain confiner and draft tube. An inexpensive fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) spent catalyst was proposed for in situ catalytic cracking in order to narrow the product distribution obtained in thermal pyrolysis. Suitable equivalence ratio (ER) values required to attain autothermal operation were assessed in this study, i.

Conditions for the Joint Conversion of CO and Syngas in the Direct Synthesis of Light Olefins Using InO-ZrO/SAPO-34 Catalyst.

The conditions for promoting the joint conversion of CO and syngas in the direct synthesis of light olefins have been studied. In addition, given the relevance for the viability of the process, the stability of the InO-ZrO/SAPO-34 (InZr/S34) catalyst has also been pursued. The CO+CO (CO ) hydrogenation experimental runs were conducted in a packed bed isothermal reactor under the following conditions: 375-425 °C; 20-40 bar; space time, 1.

Waste Refinery: The Valorization of Waste Plastics and End-of-Life Tires in Refinery Units. A Review.

This review collects a wide range of initiatives and results that expose the potential of the refineries to be converted into waste refineries. Thus, they will use their current units for the valorization of consumer society wastes (waste plastics and end-of-life tires in particular) that are manufactured with petroleum derivatives. The capacity, technological development, and versatility of fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) and hydroprocessing units make them appropriate for achieving this goal.

Methodology for Detecting Progressive Damage in Structures Using Ultrasound-Guided Waves.

Damage detection in structural health monitoring of metallic or composite structures depends on several factors, including the sensor technology and the type of defect that is under the spotlight. Commercial devices generally used to obtain these data neither allow for their installation on board nor permit their scalability when several structures or sensors need to be monitored. This paper introduces self-developed equipment designed to create ultrasonic guided waves and a methodology for the detection of progressive damage, such as corrosion damage in aircraft structures, i.

Insights into the Reaction Routes for H Formation in the Ethanol Steam Reforming on a Catalyst Derived from NiAlO Spinel.

This work describes the satisfactory performance of a Ni/AlO catalyst derived from NiAlO spinel in ethanol steam reforming and focuses on studying the prevailing reaction routes for H formation in this system. NiAlO spinel was synthesized using a coprecipitation method and reduced at 850 °C to obtain a Ni/AlO catalyst. The spinel structure and catalyst were characterized using XRD, TPR, N physisorption, NH adsorption and TPD, TPO, SEM, and TEM.

Progress on Catalyst Development for the Steam Reforming of Biomass and Waste Plastics Pyrolysis Volatiles: A Review.

In recent decades, the production of H from biomass, waste plastics, and their mixtures has attracted increasing attention in the literature in order to overcome the environmental problems associated with global warming and CO emissions caused by conventional H production processes. In this regard, the strategy based on pyrolysis and in-line catalytic reforming allows for obtaining high H production from a wide variety of feedstocks. In addition, it provides several advantages compared to other thermochemical routes such as steam gasification, making it suitable for its further industrial implementation.

Conversion of HDPE into Value Products by Fast Pyrolysis Using FCC Spent Catalysts in a Fountain Confined Conical Spouted Bed Reactor.

Continuous catalytic cracking of polyethylene over a spent fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalyst was studied in a conical spouted bed reactor (CSBR) with fountain confiner and draft tube. The effect of temperature (475-600 °C) and space-time (7-45 g  min g ) on product distribution was analyzed. The CSBR allows operating with continuous plastic feed without defluidization problems and is especially suitable for catalytic pyrolysis with high catalyst efficiency.

Study to find out the perception that first year students in engineering have about the Computational Thinking skills, and to identify possible factors related to the ability of Abstraction.

Since the end of the 20th century, the digitalization of society, including the educational systems, has been growing exponentially. At the same time, education systems have been evolving towards competency-based assessment. Likewise, at the beginning of this century, the idea of Computational Thinking was resurrected by J.

Scrap tires pyrolysis oil as a co-feeding stream on the catalytic cracking of vacuum gasoil under fluid catalytic cracking conditions.

The co-feeding of scrap tires pyrolysis oil (STPO) on the catalytic cracking of vacuum gasoil (VGO) has been investigated with the aim of exploring the capacity of the refinery fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit to upgrade discarded tires at large-scale. The runs have been carried out in a CREC (Chemical Reactor Engineering Centre) riser simulator reactor that mimics the behavior of the industrial unit at the following conditions: 500-560 °C; catalyst/oil ratio, 3-7 g g; contact time, 6 s. Obtained results with the blend of 20 wt% STPO in VGO have been compared with those obtained in the cracking of the pure streams, i.

Skills in computational thinking of engineering students of the first school year.

In this world of the digital era, in which we are living, one of the fundamental competences that students must acquire is the competence in Computational Thinking (CT). Although there is no general consensus on a formal definition, there is a general understanding of it as a set of skills and attitudes necessary for the resolution, with or without a computer, of problems that may arise in any area of life. Measuring and evaluating which of the CT skills students have acquired is fundamental, and for this purpose, previously validated measuring instruments must be used.

Fuel production by cracking of polyolefins pyrolysis waxes under fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) operating conditions.

The catalytic cracking of high-density polyethylene pyrolysis waxes under fluidized catalytic cracking conditions has been investigated with the aim of producing fuels at large-scale from waxes obtained in pyrolysis plants located nearby collection and segregation points. Additionally, preliminary information about the capacity of these units to valorize waste polyolefins has been obtained. The catalytic cracking runs have been performed in a riser simulator reactor under industrial conditions: 500-560 °C; catalyst to oil mass ratio, 3, 5 and 7 g g; and, contact time, 6 s.

Improving bio-oil properties through the fast co-pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass and waste tyres.

Pinewood sawdust and the waste rubber from truck tyres have been co-pyrolysed in order to improve the properties of bio-oil for its integration in oil refineries. In addition, an analysis has been conducted of the effect the interactions between these two materials' pyrolysis reactions have on product yields and properties. Biomass/tyre mixing ratios of 100/0, 75/25, 50/50, 25/75 and 0/100 by weight percentage have been pyrolysed in continuous mode at 500 °C in a conical spouted bed reactor, obtaining oil yields in the 55.

Fast pyrolysis of eucalyptus waste in a conical spouted bed reactor.

The fast pyrolysis of a forestry sector waste composed of Eucalyptus globulus wood, bark and leaves has been studied in a continuous bench-scale conical spouted bed reactor plant at 500°C. A high bio-oil yield of 75.4 wt.

Styrene recovery from polystyrene by flash pyrolysis in a conical spouted bed reactor.

Continuous pyrolysis of polystyrene has been studied in a conical spouted bed reactor with the main aim of enhancing styrene monomer recovery. Thermal degradation in a thermogravimetric analyser was conducted as a preliminary study in order to apply this information in the pyrolysis in the conical spouted bed reactor. The effects of temperature and gas flow rate in the conical spouted bed reactor on product yield and composition have been determined in the 450-600°C range by using a spouting velocity from 1.

Upgrading the rice husk char obtained by flash pyrolysis for the production of amorphous silica and high quality activated carbon.

The overall valorization of rice husk char obtained by flash pyrolysis in a conical spouted bed reactor (CSBR) has been studied in a two-step process. Thus, silica has been recovered in a first step and the remaining carbon material has been subjected to steam activation. The char samples used in this study have been obtained by continuous flash pyrolysis in a conical spouted bed reactor at 500°C.

Compositional insights and valorization pathways for carbonaceous material deposited during bio-oil thermal treatment.

This work analyses the composition, morphology, and thermal behavior of the carbonaceous materials deposited during the thermal treatment of bio-oil (thermal pyrolytic lignin-TPL). The bio-oil was obtained by flash pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass (pine sawdust), and the TPLs were obtained in the 400-700 °C range. The TPLs were characterized by performing elemental analysis; (13)C NMR, Raman, FTIR, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy; SEM; and temperature-programmed oxidation analyzed by differential thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry.

Flash pyrolysis of forestry residues from the Portuguese Central Inland Region within the framework of the BioREFINA-Ter project.

The feasibility of the valorization by flash pyrolysis of forest shrub wastes, namely bushes (Cytisus multiflorus, Spartium junceum, Acacia dealbata and Pterospartum tridentatum) has been studied in a conical spouted bed reactor operating at 500 °C, with a continuous biomass feed and char removal. High bio-oil yields in the 75-80 wt.% range have been obtained for all of the materials, with char yields between 16 and 23 wt.

Kinetics of scrap tyre pyrolysis under vacuum conditions.

Scrap tyre pyrolysis under vacuum is attractive because it allows easier product condensation and control of composition (gas, liquid and solid). With the aim of determining the effect of vacuum on the pyrolysis kinetics, a study has been carried out in thermobalance. Two data analysis methods have been used in the kinetic study: (i) the treatment of experimental data of weight loss and (ii) the deconvolution of DTG (differential thermogravimetry) curve.