Oxidative steam reforming is employed to examine the thermodynamic feasibility of the production of hydrogen using propanol as a biomass substrate. For process simulation, the R-Gibbs reactor tool in Aspen Plus is used to check the effects of process variables such as pressure (1-10 atm), temperature (300-1000 K) and molar feed ratio (f1 = steam to propanol = 1-10 and f2 = oxygen to propanol = 0.25-1) on hydrogen production. After sensitivity analysis, the maximum hydrogen is found at 1 atm, 573 K, f1 = 10 & f2 = 0.25. Under the same conditions, the generation of other products such as methane, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and carbon (solid) is also analysed. The same optimal operating conditions of process variables are also used to obtain the thermal efficiency of this reforming.

This research article investigates the development of a composite material by the inclusion of halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) into an epoxy/flyash matrix using a solution blending technique. The HNTs were added at different loadings and were effectively dispersed throughout the epoxy/flyash matrix. The thermal properties and degradation kinetics of the epoxy/flyash composites were studied with a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) at different heating speeds (10, 15, 20, and 25 degrees C/min). TGA measurements showed a considerable improvement in the thermal stability of the composites. Incorporating 3 phr of HNTs into epoxy/flyash composites increased thermal stability by 13 degrees C, 16 degrees C, and 18 degrees C, with weight losses of 5 %, 10 %, and 50 %, respectively, as compared to composites without HNTs. The thermal degradation activation energy (E) was calculated using the model-free Kissinger Akahir-Sunose (KAS) and Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO), and it was revealed that epoxy/flyash composites containing 3 phr HNTs have the highest E, 77.52 and 79.89 kJ/mol, respectively. The SEM micrographs of 3 phr HNTs show uniform dispersion of HNTs onto epoxy/flyash composites, resulting in a tensile strength increase from 37.2 MPa to 43.6 MPa and modulus increase from 1238.4 MPa to 1463.6 MPa. The obtained results show that the addition of flyash and nanofiller (HNTs) to the epoxy matrix greatly increases the mechanical and thermal properties.

Photocatalysis is a photon-induced reaction based on the absorption of light and active involvement of a photocatalyst. A photocatalytic reactor is commonly used to carry out such reactions, which minimize the concentration of harmful contaminants in the air and wastewater streams. These photocatalytic reactors are also used for research purposes and different commercial applications. The present chapter highlights the concerted information of photocatalytic reactors along with a brief prologue, characteristics, modeling formulation, and the effect of various parameters, i.e., pH, catalyst loading, temperature, light intensity and wavelength. Modeling plays an important role in designing a reactor in an effective manner followed by fundamental laws of momentum, mass, and energy. Therefore, the main focus in the present chapter is drawn upon a step-by-step approach for modeling formulation of a photocatalytic reactor to meet the requirement of different applications in the numerous fields of science and technology, i.e., chemical fluid dynamics. Photocatalysis is a sustainable and environmental friendly technology in which a photocatalytic reactor is used for a variety of applications, such as purification of air and water.

Radioactive waste has to be managed properly to preserve the planet for the coming generations. The main focus of this chapter is on radioactive nuclear wastes accompanying with their different technologies developed for management. Nuclear applications have been rapidly developed recently, and several nuclear power plants have been started to work throughout the world. The potential impact of released radioactive contaminants into the environment has received growing attention due to nuclear accidents, which pose serious problems to biological systems. Nuclear and radioactive waste was generated from the mining, nuclear power plants and from the chemical laboratories. Various methodologies have been adopted within the framework of rules and regulation of government agencies for the disposal and management of radioactive nuclear waste. Management of radioactive nuclear waste is different from the management of other types of hazardous waste. Radioactive waste is defined as the material that contains or is contaminated with radionuclides at concentrations or activities greater than clearance levels as established by regulatory authorities. The higher the concentration of radionuclides above the established levels, the greater the hazard the waste possesses. The hazard of radioactive waste also depends on the nature of the radionuclides, and, at the same concentration, different radionuclides have different levels of hazard. The management of extremely increasing volumes of these wastes became a very important accordingly. Inadequate management of waste led to contamination of environment: water, soil, and atmosphere and to a serious impact on public health. Direct health impacts of mismanagement of waste are well known and can be observed obviously in developing countries. Saving of the environment and human health from the detrimental effects of hazardous and radioactive wastes is achieved by the effective improvement of waste management programs. In the scope of this study, the development in waste management planning and implementation of hazardous and radioactive wastes was presented.

This chapter will describe the recent developments in the efficient utilization of various carbon-based materials as catalysts for the valorization of glycerol waste from the biodiesel industry. Carbon-based materials are generally prepared from biomass, a renewable feedstock and produced in a large amount from numerous sources such as agricultural wastes, forest residues, and food wastes. Biomass materials consist of cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin biopolymer, which act as a carbon source for carbon materials. Since a glycerol glut exists in the global market due to rapid growth in biodiesel production, the utilization of value-added products from glycerol is very important for the competitive market of biodiesel with conventional diesel. This chapter thus discusses the basic principles, mechanisms, and advancement in prominent techniques for glycerol valorization along with synthesis, characterization, and function of different carbon-based catalysts. The future prospects of these carbon materials as catalysts for industrial waste utilization are very promising.

Abstract Acetone–butanol–ethanol–water mixture is obtained by fermentation of biomass namely, corncob, wheat straw, sugarbeets, sugarcane, etc. For using the individual components, one alternative is to separate the mixture by distillation, which is costly and energy intensive operation. This paper proposes its other use in available conditions to produce hydrogen fuel by oxidative steam reforming process. For the proposed process, thermodynamic equilibrium modeling has been performed by using non-stoichiometric approach of Gibbs free energy minimization. The compositions of acetone, butanol and ethanol in mixture are 0.33:0.52:0.15 on molar basis. The influence of pressure (1–10 atm), temperature (573–1473 K), steam to ABE mixture molar feed ratio (FABE = 5.5–8.5), and oxygen to ABE mixture molar feed ratio (FOABE = 0.25–1) have been tested by simulations on the yield of products (at equilibrium) namely, H2, CH4, CO2, CO, and carbon as solid. The optimum conditions for maximum production of desired H2, minimization of undesired CH4, and elimination of carbon (solid) formation are T = 973 K, P = 1 atm, FABE = 8.5, and FOABE = 0.25. Under same operating conditions, the maximum generation of H2 is 7.51 on molar basis with negligible carbon formation. The total energy requirement for the process (295.73 kJ/mol), the energy required/mol of hydrogen (39.37 kJ), and thermal efficiency (68.09%) of the reformer have been obtained at same operating conditions. The exergy analysis has also been investigated to measure the work potential of the energy implied in the reforming process.

In the present research article, physicochemical parameters of raw and distilled water of the Gomti River are estimated and compared with standards of drinking water quality by using a modified double slope solar distillation unit. The raw water as five different samples collected from different locations of Gomti River (Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India) was treated. Total number of 16 physiological and biochemical characteristics and parameters of raw and distilled water are estimated such as electrical conductivity (3.62 ± 0.176 to 3.21 ± 0.52), TDS (837 ± 49.65 to 682 ± 15.73), pH (8.7 ± 0.18 to 8.9 ± 0.50), alkalinity (223 ± 9.23 to 215 ± 3.36), total hardness (347 ± 19.82 to 313 ± 11.2), DO (5.79 ± 0.36 to 3.29 ± 0.67), chloride (104 ± 3.4 to 108 ± 4.9), nitrate (7.21 ± 0.29 to 7.93 ± 0.83), BOD (3.27 ± 0.79 to 2.24 ± 0.27), TSS (403.27 ± 0.19 to 214.07 ± 0.32), COD (39.56 ± 0.76 to 33.2 9± 0.17), sulphate (452 ± 0.63 to 321 ± 1.67) and Ecoliform (3100 ± 3.93 to 2750 ± 2.45) which were within the range of World Health Organization & Bureau of Indian Standers approved standards. It is observed that this fabricated modified double slope solar still is producing drinkable water as per the requirement for solving the water scarcity problems in especially coastal & arid areas due to shortage of electricity. Experimental results show that solar still is producing 8-9 liters in the summer & 4-5 liters in the winter seasons.

The aim of this study is to improve the production of potable water through ultra modified double slope solar still (UMDSSS) by harvesting of direct solar energy as well as diffused radiation through transparent side walls. The setup was fabricated in combination with FRP and transparent acrylic sheets with a total basin area of 2 m(2). Reflectors angles (30 degrees, 45 degrees, 60 degrees, and 75 degrees) were optimized for climatic conditions of Lucknow (26 degrees 30' N, 80 degrees 13' E), U.P., India. On the basis of productivity, optimized reflector angle has been found as 60 degrees. The experimental and theoretical studies were carried out in the different seasons of year 2018. The basin water depth and glass cover tilt angle have been taken as 1.0 cm and 15 degrees respectively. Our experimental investigation shows that the cumulative distillate productivity was obtained as 9157 ml/day and 6630 ml/day during summer and winter season, respectively at 60 degrees reflector angle. The performance evaluation has been carried out in terms of physicochemical environmental parameters, productivity, and economic analysis. On the basis of economic analysis, the payback period was found 111 days and thermal efficiency of ultramodified solar still is higher 10.4% in summer and 10.0% in winter than that modified solar still.

The present research work has been carried out to analyze and compare the enhancement in productivity of modified double slope solar still (MDSSS) using harvesting solar energy along with Al2O3 nanofluid in the base fluid (Gomti river water). In terms of high demand for clean water, solar distillation is known as one of the most cost-effective and prominent technique as compared to other water purification processes, especially in coastal and arid areas. This method provided comparatively low yield; therefore, its performance was improved using Al2O3 nanoparticle with a surfactant sodium dodecylbenzene sulphonate (SDBS). Experimental runs were carried out for the base fluid (without nanoparticles) and for nanofluid with 0.01 concentration. The effect of concentration of Al2O3 nanoparticle on fluid temperature and thermal conductivity of the base fluid had been considered which greatly enhanced the rate of evaporation as well as total efficiency of the system. The efficiency of nanofluid was found to be 25% higher than that of the base fluid. Moreover, the payback period was also evaluated to check the feasibility of modified solar still using Al2O3 nanofluid which was found more effective in terms of economic point of view.

Thermodynamic equilibrium analysis has been adopted for oxidative steam reforming of butanol-ethanol mixture (B-E) as renewable source obtained from Acetone:Butanol:Ethanol (ABE) fermentation to produce H-2 by using Gibbs free energy minimization method. The effects of pressure (1-10 atm), temperature (573-1473 K), steam/fuel molar feed ratio f(O1) = 9 and 12), O-2/fuel molar feed ratio (f(O2)= 0-3), and B-E mixture compositions (50-90% B) on equilibrium compositions of H-2, CO, CO2, CH4, and carbon are performed. The maximum H-2 yield (65.456% for f(O2) = 0 and 58% for f(O2) = 0.75) has been achieved at f(O1) = 9, 90% B mixture, 1 atm, and 973 K. The yields of CO, CO2, and CH4 with respect to maximum H-2 are 53.390%, 44.384%, and 2.225% for f(O2) = 0, and 45.677%, 53.269%, and 1.053% for f(O2) = 0.75, respectively. Energy required per mol of H-2, thermal and exergy efficiencies for the process are also evaluated to utilize the potential of B-E mixture for H-2 production. (C) 2018 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A thermodynamic equilibrium analysis on steam reforming process to utilize acetone-butanol-ethanol-water mixture obtained from biomass fermentation as biorenewable fuel has been performed to produce clean energy carrier H2 via non-stoichiometric approach namely Gibbs free energy minimization method. The effect of process variables such as temperature (573-1473 K), pressure (1-10 atm), and steam/fuel molar feed ratio (FABE = 5.5-12) have been investigated on equilibrium compositions of products, H2, CO, CO2, CH4 and solid carbon. The best suitable conditions for maximization of desired product H2, suppression of CH4, and inhibition of solid carbon are 973 K, 1 atm, steam/fuel molar feed ratio = 12. Under these conditions, the maximum molar production of hydrogen is 8.35 with negligible formation of carbon and methane. Furthermore, the energy requirement per mol of H2 (48.96 kJ), thermal efficiency (69.13%), exergy efficiency (55.09%), exergy destruction (85.36 kJ/mol), and generated entropy (0.29 kJ/mol.K) have been achieved at same operating conditions.

Abstract Recently, hydrogen is utilized by numerous chemical industries as an alternate over non-renewable fuels, and surely it will be considered as an important fuel in the near future. This paper reports a review of various reforming technologies for hydrogen production from butanol produced by fermentation of feedstocks like wheat, sugar beets, sugar cane, etc. with a number of aspects involving selection of an appropriate catalyst to suppress undesirable products as many reforming reactions are dependent on the catalyst properties to enhance the formation of significant fuels which may fulfill the future energy needs. An overview of butanol reforming processes with experimental and theoretical studies in order to grasp possibilities and restrictions of these processes is not comprehensively presented yet. In this paper, an assessment of published articles in brief related to essential parameters to carry out a pertinent research in the future is presented for the advancement of fuel processing technologies.

The butanol-ethanol (B-E) mixture with water, obtained from ABE (Acetone-Butanol-ethanol) fermentation, is utilized as a renewable biofuel for the production of clean energy carrier hydrogen by steam reforming process (SRB-E). The thermodynamic analysis of steam reforming process for B-E mixture is carried out by Gibbs free energy minimization method. The thermal and exergy efficiencies for the process are investigated to exploit the potential of B-E mixture for hydrogen production. For performance evaluation, the variational trends of moles of products (H-2, CO, CO2, CH4, and carbon) are studied at equilibrium as a function of temperature (573-1473 K), pressure (1-10 atm), steam/fuel molar feed ratio (0-12) for composition of B-E mixture (50 to 90% B). For mixture (90% B), the maximum production of H-2 (9.555 mol per mol of fuel) is achieved at 973 K temperature, 1 atm pressure, molar feed ratio of 12. Methane and carbon formation are negligible at high temperature (> 873 K) and molar feed ratio (> 5) for all B-E compositions. Energy required per mol of H-2 is 50.77 kJ/mol for mixture (90% B) and is lower than that for steam reforming of butanol. The thermal efficiency is 70.071%, close to maximum for mixture (90% B), which is higher than butanol (69.885%), and ethanol (68.491%). For 90% B mixture, exergy efficiency (48.582%) is also comparable with that of butanol (48.693%) and ethanol (46.145%). This study proposes an economic process for hydrogen production via steam reforming of B-E mixture directly.