Tantalum-stabilized ruthenium oxide electrocatalysts for industrial water electrolysis.

The iridium oxide (IrO) catalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction used industrially (in proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers) is scarce and costly. Although ruthenium oxide (RuO) is a promising alternative, its poor stability has hindered practical application. We used well-defined extended surface models to identify that RuO undergoes structure-dependent corrosion that causes Ru dissolution.

Modeling and Simulation of Micron Particle Agglomeration in a Turbulent Flow: Impact of Cylindrical Disturbance and Particle Properties.

The fly ash generated by coal combustion is one of the main sources of PM2.5, so the particulate matter removal technology of coal-fired boilers is receiving increasing attention. Turbulent agglomeration has emerged as a powerful tool for improving the efficiency of removing fine particulates from environments, sparking interest in its study.

Forecast of NOx Emissions for a 660MW Coal-Fired Boiler with Multilayered Gradient Boosting Decision Tree Considering Multiple Operating Modes.

Nitrogen oxides (NOx) are among the primary pollutants emitted by coal-fired power plants. Accurate prediction of NOx concentrations at the boiler outlet is crucial for optimizing unit control and reducing emissions. This study introduces a data-driven NOx emissions prediction methodology based on a multilayered Gradient Boosting Decision Tree (mGBDT) framework.

Simultaneous Reconstruction of Gas Concentration and Temperature Using Acoustic Tomography.

Acoustic tomography utilizes sensor arrays to collect sound wave signals, enabling non-contact measurement of physical parameters within an area of interest. Compared to optical technologies, acoustic tomography offers the advantages of low cost, low maintenance, and easy installation. Current research in acoustic tomography mainly focuses on reconstruction algorithms for temperature fields, while monitoring the composition and concentration of gases is significant for ensuring safety and improving efficiency, such as in scenarios like boiler furnaces and aviation engine nozzles.

Combined Effects of Cadmium and Lead on Growth Performance and Kidney Function in Broiler Chicken.

Cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) are heavy metals prevalent in the environment and feed, and they reduce production performance of domestic animals, as well as they result in residue in animal tissues. The kidney is the target tissue for Cd and Pb. And the kidney is crucial for the reabsorption of calcium (Ca), which consequently influences bone strength.

Investigation of Slagging Condition in a Zhundong Coal-Fired Boiler via In Situ Optical Measurement of Gaseous Sodium.

In this study, a portable spectral analysis instrument based on spontaneous emission spectroscopy (SES) was developed for the in situ, non-intrusive, and quantitative measurement of gaseous Na inside ZD coal-fired boilers, which is mainly applied for predicting slagging in furnaces. This technology is needed urgently because the problem of fouling and slagging caused by high alkali metals in ZD coal restricts the rational utilization of this coal. The relative extended uncertainty for the measurement of gaseous Na concentration is = 10%, = 2, which indicates that measurement data are reliable under working conditions.

Use of La-Co@NPC for Sulfite Oxidation and Arsenic Detoxification Removal for High-Quality Sulfur Resources Recovery in Desulfurization Process.

Ammonia desulfurization is a typical resource-recovery-type wet desulfurization process that is widely used in coal-fired industrial boilers. However, the sulfur recovery is limited by the low oxidation rate of byproduct (ammonium sulfite), leading to secondary SO pollution due to its easy decomposability. In addition, the high toxic arsenic trace substances coexisting in desulfurization liquids also reduce the quality of the final sulfate product, facing with high environmental toxicity.

Research on the evaluation method of steam power system operation status based on the theory of deterioration degree and health value.

The evaluation of the steam power system is very important for the operator to understand the operating status of the system, but the lack of consideration of the fuzziness of the complex system and the impact of the indicator parameters on the whole system makes the evaluation difficult. In this paper, an indicator system for evaluating the operation status of the experimental supercharged boiler is established. After discussing several methods of parameter standardization and weight correction, a comprehensive evaluation method based on the deterioration degree and health value is proposed while considering the deviation of the indicator and the fuzziness of the system.

Effect of Al modification on the adsorption of AsO on the CaSiO(001) surface: A DFT study.

CaSiO is highly resistant to sintering and can trap arsenic at high temperatures in the boiler furnace. However, the trapping capacity of CaSiO for arsenic does not meet the requirements of practical applications, and it is easy to react with acidic gases, which significantly affects the adsorptive property of arsenic. In this paper, the effect of Al modification on the AsO adsorption behaviour on the CaSiO(001) surface was systematically investigated using a density functional theory.

A new selenium source from Se-enriched improves growth performance, anti-oxidative capacity and meat quality in broilers.

Background: (Cv) is a kind of selenium-enriched plant which contains high levels of organic selenium (Se) such as selenocysteine and methylselenocysteine. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of this new source of Se on the growth performance, anti-oxidative capacity and meat quality in broilers compared with other frequently-used Se sources.

Methods: A total of 240 broilers were allotted into 4 treatments: (1) Control group (Se free diets, CON); (2) Sodium selenite group (0.

Understanding the environmental impacts of biogas utilization for energy production through life cycle assessment: An action towards reducing emissions.

Unlike renewable energy sources, burning fossil fuels has severe environmental impacts, such as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate change. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess and compare the environmental impacts of three biogas utilization scenarios for energy production. The life cycle assessment (LCA) method was used to compare (i) biogas combustion in combined heat and power (CHP) unit, (ii) biogas burning in a steam boiler, and (iii) biogas upgrading using pressure swing adsorption (PSA) unit to determine the most sustainable option.

Co-combustion of high alkali coal with municipal sludge: Thermal behaviour, kinetic analysis, and micro characteristic.

Blending sludge rich in protein and aliphatic hydrocarbons into the high alkali coal (HAC) has been demonstrated to reduce the ash melting temperature of the HAC/sludge mixture, thereby increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of liquid slagging. However, whether the incorporation of sludge can affect the combustion stability of the original coal-fired boiler is still debatable. As the combustion stability of the fuel can directly affect the operational safety of the boiler, it is of great practical value for exploring the effect of sludge incorporation on the combustion performance of HAC.

Fine particulate-bound arsenic and selenium from coal-fired power plants: Formation, removal and bioaccessibility.

The arsenic (As) and selenium (Se) in fine particulate matter (PM) have attracted increasing attentions due to their health effects. However, the emission control of fine particulate-bound arsenic and selenium (fine particulate-bound As/Se) from coal-fired power plants still faces various challenges. Understanding the formation and characteristics of fine particulate-bound As/Se is crucial for developing specific control technologies.

Ash formation and the inherent heavy metal partitioning behavior in a 100 t/d hazardous waste incineration plant.

Hazardous waste incineration (HWI) ash is also defined as hazardous waste and its disposal performance depends largely on the ash compositions as well as the potential environmental risk of heavy metals. In this work, HWI ashes of four sampling sites were collected in a 100 t/d hazardous waste incineration plant with rotary kiln over three consecutive days. The formation characteristics of ash samples including heavy metal partitioning were given, with further discussions on the melting disposal of HWI ash mixtures.

Repercussions of clinical waste co-incineration in municipal solid waste incinerator during COVID-19 pandemic.

During coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, the exponential increase in clinical waste (CW) generation has caused immense burden to CW treatment facilities. Co-incineration of CW in municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) is an emergency treatment method. A material flow model was developed to estimate the change in feedstock characteristics and resulting acid gas emission under different CW co-incineration ratios.

Condensation and adsorption characteristics of gaseous selenium on coal-fired fly ash at low temperatures.

Gaseous selenium is of high saturated vapor pressure, making its retention in solid phases quite difficult during coal combustion. The selenium transformation from gaseous form into solid phases at low temperatures can be essential to control selenium emission. To understand the migration of SeO (g) on ash particles in the low-temperature zone, this study investigated the speciation of selenium in fly ash and simulated the physical retention of SeO (g) on fly ash.

Rapidly changing coal-related city-level atmospheric mercury emissions and their driving forces.

The up-to-date city-level mercury emission inventory is essential for effective mitigation policy designs due to rapid changes in energy consumption and industrial structures in Chinese cities. This study updated the atmospheric mercury emission inventory in 2015 based on the most recent information on plant-specific air pollution control devices (APCDs) and coal consumption for 45 sectors in 215 Chinese cities. Total emissions were estimated at 218 t with an uncertainty range of - 54.

Partitioning behaviors of zinc in eight coal-fired power plants with different fueled coals and air pollution control devices.

Emissions from coal-fired power plants (CFPPs) have a negative impact on the environment and metals are one of the categories of substances that have received considerable attention. In the present study, atmospheric zinc (Zn) emissions from eight CFPPs with different kinds of boilers and air pollution control devices (APCDs) in Guizhou Province, Southwest China, were investigated as well as the partitioning of this metal among boilers and APCDs. During the investigation of a CFPP, samples were taken of input and output materials during the same period.

Mercury stable isotope fractionation during gaseous elemental mercury adsorption onto coal fly ash particles: Experimental and field observations.

Mercury (Hg) stable isotopes have a great potential to track coal combustion Hg emissions, but mass-dependent fractionation (MDF) during Hg adsorption onto fly ash particles could significantly alter isotope signatures of emitted Hg species. The detailed processes causing this MDF, however, are not well understood. Here, we simulated how isotopes fractionate during gaseous Hg adsorption onto fly ash at different times and temperatures.

Denitrification devices in urban boilers change mercury isotope fractionation signatures of coal combustion products.

The installation rate of denitrification devices is accelerating in Chinese urban boilers. Previous studies on pulverized coal-fired boilers without denitrification devices showed that combustion products containing mainly oxidized mercury (Hg) preferably enriched lighter Hg isotopes than feed coals. However, the magnitude of this enrichment becomes less pronounced if denitrification devices are installed.

Migration and emission behavior of arsenic and selenium in a circulating fluidized bed power plant burning arsenic/selenium-enriched coal.

Arsenic (As) and selenium (Se) pollution caused by coal combustion is receiving increasing concerns. The environmental impacts of As/Se are determined not only by stack emission but also by leaching process from combustion byproducts. For a better control of As/Se emission from As/Se-enriched coal combustion, this study investigated the migration and emission behavior of As/Se in a circulating fluidized bed (CFB) power plant equipped with fabric filter (FF) and wet flue gas desulfurization (WFGD) system.

Impact of a Coal-Fired Power Plant Shutdown Campaign on Heavy Metal Emissions in China.

Recently, China has committed to decommissioning the heavy metal (HM) intensive coal-fired power plants (CFPPs), small units especially, yet a quantitative assessment for the impact on HM emissions remains poorly understood. This study, for the first time, compiles a plant-specific inventory for six HMs (Hg, As, Se, Pb, Cd, and Cr) avoided by CFPPs decommissioned in China during the 12th Five Year Plan period. The reduced HM amounts to 271.

Unintentional persistent organic pollutants in cement kilns co-processing solid wastes.

Co-processing solid waste in cement kilns has become increasingly widespread in recent years. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) can be unintentionally produced and emitted from cement kilns, especially kilns in which solid waste is co-processed. Unintentionally produced POP formation and emission by cement kilns co-processing solid waste therefore need to be studied in detail to allow the potential risks posed by cement kiln co-processing techniques to be assessed.

Influences of In-Furnace Kaolin Addition on the Formation and Emission Characteristics of PM in a 1000 MW Coal-Fired Power Station.

The impacts of in-furnace kaolin addition on the formation and emission characteristics of PM from a 1000 MW coal-fired utility boiler equipped with electrostatic precipitators (ESPs) are investigated for the first time ever in this contribution. Detailed characterization of the chemical composition, micromorphology, melting characteristics of the fine PM, total fly ash, and/or bottom ash samples were carried out using the X-ray fluorescence probe, the field emission scanning electron microscope coupled with an energy dispersive X-ray detector, the ash fusion analyzer, and the dust specific resistivity analyzer. The results showed that the formation of fine PM was reduced when kaolin was added, and the mass concentrations of the particulate matter with the aerodynamic diameters of ≤0.