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Adsorption Kinetics Of C9-C12 Hydrocarbons On Carbonaceous Materials, Erfan Pazoki Toroudi

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Fluid CokingTM reactors are used to convert heavy hydrocarbons to lighter products via thermal cracking. Fouling can occur within the Fluid Coker cyclones, leading to shut down for maintenance and recovery. Hydrocarbon adsorption on carbonaceous materials was thus investigated to identify mitigation strategies for cyclone fouling. A vertically oscillating gas-solid contacting system capable of providing well-mixed conditions has been designed to measure adsorption kinetics on carbonaceous materials under relevant temperatures and pressures. Adsorption kinetics and equilibrium measurements are reported for isothermal conditions. Fluid coke, flexicoke, and coconut shell activated carbon were used as adsorbents. N-decane, n-dodecane, and mesitylene were used …

Plant Stimuli-Responsive Biodegradable Polymers For The Use In Timed Release Fertilizer Coatings, Spencer Heuchan

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The use of nitrogen-based fertilizers continues to accelerate with human population growth and increases in global food requirements. Enhanced efficiency fertilizers (EEFs) have been developed to improve the synchronization between nutrient supply and crop nutrient demand. However, many of the current controlled release fertilizers are coated with non-degradable polymers that contribute to accumulation of microplastics within ecosystems. This thesis describes research towards the development of a new class of fertilizer coatings using a self-immolative polymer known as poly (ethyl glyoxylate) (PEtG). PEtG itself does not have suitable properties to produce a viable coating but once blended with another degradable polyester …

Anaerobic Digestion Of Aqueous Pyrolysis Condensate, Connie Wen

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Lignocellulosic material can be subjected to pyrolysis to yield pyrolysis liquid, biochar, and gas. The pyrolysis liquid resulting from the condensation of vapours can be separated into a rich organic condensate and an acidic “aqueous pyrolysis condensate” (APC) which may be considered a waste. The target of this research is subjecting APC to anaerobic digestion to produce biogas that can be energy purposed, and to reduce the organic load of APC to acceptable levels for possible disposal. From this study, it was found that without any treatment, the inoculum requires 50 to 60 days of adaptation period to reduce the …

Wastewater Refining And Reuse And City-Level Water Decision Making, Ahmed Abuhussein

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Direct discharge of treated and untreated wastewater to natural surface water bodies, including rivers and lakes, is generally known to produce adverse environmental impacts that have been of concern for the past 10–15 years, particularly in the Great Lakes basin. Examples of these impacts include eutrophication and the emergence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs). Advancement in wastewater treatment plant operations alone may not be feasible to meet the 2016–2019 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS), especially on phosphorus reduction targets. Diverting treated wastewater to land could present a multibarrier approach for integrated PPCPs management, and could also shift current …

Co2 Biomass Fluidized Gasification. Thermodynamic And Reactivity Studies., Amanda Kuhn Bastos

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This study reports biomass gasification in a CREC Riser Simulator under thermal and catalytic conditions. Steam-CO₂ and steam-inert were used as gasifier agents. Biomass feedstocks and a model compound were employed to evaluate gasification performance. It was proven that catalytic steam-CO₂ gasification significantly reduces tar formation while improving carbon conversion to syngas.

Experimental results were compared with thermodynamic equilibrium model predictions. This model accounts for biomass composition, bed temperature and gasifying agents. The model predictions are close to experimental results for steam-CO₂ gasification, leading to a zero CO₂ gain.

2-methoxy-4-methylphenol and 20%Ni-5%CeO₂/γ-Al₂O …

Pyrolysis As An Economical And Ecological Treatment Option For Solid Anaerobic Digestate And Municipal Sewage Sludge, Devon J. Barry

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The aim of this thesis was to investigate the potential for pyrolysis of solid anaerobic digestate and municipal sewage sludge. Slow, fast, and autothermal pyrolysis experiments were conducted for the anaerobic digestate while slow and fast pyrolysis experiments were carried out for the sewage sludge. Pyrolysis temperatures ranged from 250 to 550 ᵒC. The effect of pyrolysis conditions on the pyrolysis products was examined.

Fast pyrolysis at higher temperatures was favourable for energy recovery in the bio-oil products. Slow pyrolysis was favourable for the biochar products. Lower pyrolysis temperatures favoured energy recovery in the biochar; while higher temperatures increased biochar …

The Production Of Pyrolytic Biochar For Addition In Value-Added Composite Material, Douglas Matthew Cuthbertson

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Pyrolytic biochar has recently gained attention for its potential value as a carbon sequestering by-product that can be used in industrial applications. While biochar is typically targeted for soil amendment applications, higher value applications such as addition in consumer products and building materials needs to be investigated.

In this study, biochar is produced from three different Canadian feedstocks using three different pyrolysis methods. The biochar is characterized to determine the effects that feedstock selection and pyrolysis conditions has on biochar properties. The biochar is also incorporated into concrete at varying concentrations to create a lightweight and sustainable material. The effect …