It had been shown that the transport properties of CMS membranes varies as a function of H₂S exposure making the conditioning protocol an important step in identifying the steady state properties of CMS membranes. In this study the conditioning of CMS membranes with H₂S was studied for the determination of the acid gas steady state transport properties. The conditioned steady state has been shown to be the same state for both an extended conditioning protocol using high pressure mixed gas and a rapid conditioning protocol using pure H₂S. The rate of conditioning does vary between the two conditioning protocols as the rapid conditioning protocol takes 48 hours less to reach the conditioned steady state. The results of this study also show that oxygen doping during the formation of the CMS membrane affects the final, conditioned steady state transport properties.

Yes / The adsorption of acid gas, including hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide, by superhigh silica ZSM-5 was investigated. Equilibrium adsorption isotherms of high-purity hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide were measured experimentally using this new sorbent. In addition, methane and nitrogen adsorption isotherms on this MFI-type zeolite were also measured as representative of other natural gas components. To enhance the reliability of the results, the adsorption pressure has been selected up to 20 bar at three different temperatures. Superhigh silica ZSM-5 for the adsorption of hydrogen sulfide shows an impressive result of 3.04 mmol·g–1 at 12 bar and 283 K. This value was 2.69 mmol·g–1 for carbon dioxide at 21 bar and 283 K. The adsorption capacity of H2S on the ZSM-5 is the highest, and N2 is the lowest; the order of the adsorption capacities of components is H2S > CO2 > CH4 > N2. The adsorption heat of different adsorbates is calculated: 13.7 and 29.5 kJ·mol–1 for H2S and CO2, respectively. Physical adsorption has occurred on high-silica ZSM-5, especially for hydrogen sulfide, and this is a great advantage. By increasing the temperature, the adsorption capacity of components on the ZSM-5 decreases, but due to differences in the adsorption heat of the adsorbate, the ideal selectivity for hydrogen sulfide increases. There is a challenge in the choice of the best condition for H2S removal, as, by increasing the temperature, the adsorption capacity of hydrogen sulfide reduces, but the selectivity of the hydrogen sulfide increases as compared to other gases. This phenomenon is not true for the selectivity of other components.

The goal is of this project was to identify principles to guide the development of high performance dense film membranes for natural gas sweetening using hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide gas mixtures as models under aggressive sour gas feed conditions. To achieve this goal, three objectives were developed to guide this research. The first objective was to study the performance of cellulose acetate (CA) and an advanced crosslinkable polyimide (PDMC) dense film membrane for H₂S separation from natural gas. The second objective was to engineer those polymers to produce membrane materials with superior performance as measured by efficiency, productivity, and plasticization resistance, and the third objective was to determine the separation performance of these engineered membrane materials under more aggressive, realistic natural gas feeds, and to perform a detailed transport analysis of the factors that impact their performance. Work on the first objective showed that in neat CA, penetrant transport is controlled by both the solubility and mobility selectivity, with the former being more dominant, leading to a high overall CO₂/CH₄ (33) and H₂S/CH₄ (35) ideal selectivities. However, in uncrosslinked PDMC, H₂S/CH₄ selectivity favored sorption only, whereas CO₂/CH₄ selectivity favored both mobility and sorption selectivity, leading to a high CO₂/CH₄ (37) but low H₂S/CH₄ (12) ideal selectivities. However, the latter polymer showed more plasticization resistance for CO₂. In the second objective, both materials were engineered. A new technique referred to as “GCV-Modification” was introduced in which cellulose acetate was grafted using vinyltrimethoxysilane (VTMS), then hydrolyzed and condensed to form a polymer network. PDMC was also covalently crosslinked to enhance its performance. GCV-Modified CA showed significant performance improvements for H₂S and CO₂ removal; the permeability of CO₂ and H₂S were found to be 139 and 165 Barrer, respectively, which represented a 30X and 34X increase compared to the pristine CA polymer. The H₂S/CH₄ and CO₂/CH₄ ideal selectivities were found to be 39 and 33, respectively. Crosslinked PDMC showed a higher CO₂/CH₄ selectivity of 38 with a better plasticization resistance for CO₂ and H₂S. In the third objective, these materials were tested under aggressive ternary mixtures of H₂S/CO₂/CH₄ with both vacuum and nonvacuum downstream. Even under aggressive feed conditions, GCV-Modified CA showed better performance vs. PDMC, and it remained were fairly stable, making it a potential candidate for aggressive sour gas separations, not only because of its significantly higher productivity, which will help decrease the surface area needed for separation, thereby reducing operating costs, but also because of the lower cost of the raw material GCV-Modified CA compared to PDMC.

Organosilicon compounds, which are heavily utilized in personal care products, are typically present, sometimes in high concentrations in the influent of wastewater treatment facilities. During anaerobic sludge digestion, these compounds volatilize and enter the methane gas recovery stream. As the methane is combusted for energy cogeneration, these compounds become oxidized to microcrystalline silicon dioxide and cause damage and potential failure of expensive infrastructure. Adsorption and other catchment methods are typically utilized for removal of these volatilized compounds in order to mitigate their entrance into methane combustion systems. This research investigated the effect of phased anaerobic digestion, specifically acid-gas digestion, on the behavior of the volatilization of these organosilicon compounds, particularly octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) and decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5) as these are the most abundant volatile silicone compounds present in sludge. A bench scale acid reactor anaerobic digester was operated at varying solids retention times and temperatures in order to quantify biogas effects generated in the downstream gas reactor, which was operated at a constant mesophilic conditions. Results of the research indicated that the addition of an acid reactor did not cause a change in behavior of the D4 and D5 siloxane volatilization in the downstream gas reactor. However, it was observed that hydrogen sulfide gas was decreased in the gas reactor when an acid reactor was utilized, which could permit decreased corrosivity of biogas recovery. Cumulative volatile solids reduction and gas reactor methane yield data did not indicate an enhancement due to utilization of acid-gas digestion. / Master of Science

This dissertation describes the design and optimization of a CO2-capture unit using aqueous amines to remove of carbon dioxide from the flue gas of a coal-fired power plant. In particular we construct a monolithic model of a carbon capture unit and conduct a rigorous optimization to find the lowest solvent regeneration energy yet reported. Carbon capture is primarily motivated by environmental concerns. The goal of our work is to help make carbon capture and storage (CCS) a more efficient for the sort of universal deployment called for by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to stabilize anthropomorphic contributions to climate change, though there are commercial applications such as enhanced oil recovery (EOR). We employ the latest simulation tools from Aspen Tech to rigorously model, design, and optimize acid gas systems. We extend this modeling approach to leverage Aspen Plus in the .NET framework through Microsoft's Component Object Model (COM). Our work successfully increases the efficiency of acid gas capture. We report a result optimally implementing multiple energy-saving schemes to reach a thermal regeneration energy of 1.67 GJ/tonne. By contrast, the IPCC had reported that leading technologies range from 2.7 to 3.3 GJ/tonne in 2005. Our work has received significant endorsement for industrial implementation by the senior management from the world's second largest chemical corporation, Sinopec, as being the most efficient technology known today. / Ph. D.

Ce travail s'inscrit dans le cadre du développement de nouveaux procédés de désacidification de gaz naturel à travers l'étude thermodynamique des équilibres entre les gaz acides (CO2 et H2S) et un solvant mixte. Ce solvant résulte de la combinaison d'un solvant chimique (solution aqueuse de diéthanolamine) et d'un solvant physique (méthanol). Couplant équilibres chimique et physique, la modélisation de ces systèmes nécessite l'élaboration de modèles complexes et une large gamme de données d'équilibre liquide-vapeur. La première partie de ce travail est consacrée à l'acquisition de données expérimentales de solubilité des gaz acides dans le solvant mixte. En étendant le champ d'application d'un appareillage fonctionnant en méthode synthétique, nous avons acquis des données originales de solubilité des mélanges CO2 + H2S dans des solvants eau-diéthanolamine-méthanol. Dans la seconde partie, la modélisation simultanée des équilibres chimiques et physiques est réalisée. L'approche hétérogène développée combine le modèle NRTL-Electrolyte pour représenter la phase liquide avec l'équation d'état de Peng-Robinson pour décrire le comportement de la phase vapeur. La procédure d'ajustement des paramètres est graduelle si bien que le système complet eau-diéthanolamine-méthanol-CO2-H2S est décrit de manière prédictive, les paramètres du modèle NRTL-Electrolyte ayant été déterminés sur des systèmes inférieurs. L'effet de solvatation du méthanol est aussi mis en valeur. Nous nous sommes également intéressés au calcul des chaleurs d'absorption et à l'extension de notre modèle à d'autres alcanolamines / This work is related to the development of new processes about gas sweetening with hybrid solvents coupling a chemical one (aqueous solution of diethanolamine) with a physical one (methanol). In the liquid phase, CO2 and H2S react with diethanolamine so that the VLE description of these systems is quite complex and requires experimental data. The first part of this work is dedicated to the experimental determination of acid gases + hybrid solvent solubility data. The experimental apparatus was improved to study H2S solubility and CO2 + H2S mixtures solubility in water-diethanolamine-methanol solvents. In the second part, the simultaneous representation of chemical and phase equilibria was realised. The heterogeneous approach developed here combines the Peng-Robinson equation of state for the vapour phase with the Electrolyte-NRTL model for the liquid phase. Parameters are fitted gradually so that the entire system water-diethanolamine-methanol-CO2-H2S system is extrapolated using Electrolyte-NRTL parameters determined by fitting experimental acid gas partial pressures of lower systems. Methanol effect is also described. An original calculation of heat of absorption was also developed. We extended the use of our approach to study others alkanolamines

Cette thèse porte sur l'étude de la caractérisation et le traitement de saumures alcalines. La carbonatation directe de saumures résiduaires (SR), par introduction d'une partie du CO2 issu de fumées industrielles, est réalisée dans un souhait de réduction des émissions de CO2 et en vue d'une valorisation potentielle des produits obtenus. Cette recherche se concentre sur l'étude des composés carbonatés, l'objectif général est d'établir le lien entre la réactivité des carbonates et leur valorisation (ici, désulfuration de fumées acides). Les SR sont complexes, l'étude de leur composition chimique et minéralogique a été réalisée en partie par spectroscopie Raman afin de mettre en évidence les interactions OH-Cl dans les échantillons humides. Les différents hydroxydes sont consommés au cours de la carbonatation pour précipiter des carbonates de calcium (calcite, aragonite). La composition chimique détermine les réactions de carbonatation alors que les paramètres physiques influencent la vitesse des réactions ainsi que la morphologie et la pureté des carbonates. L'évolution des phases au cours de la carbonatation des SR a été suivie par spectroscopie et un premier modèle statistique de prédiction des concentrations en carbonates a été développé. La deuxième partie de ce travail porte sur la caractérisation des carbonates obtenus et des paramètres, tel que l'hydratation, pouvant influencer leur valorisation. L'importance de l'hydratation dans la réactivité des produits DECALCO a été observée de l'échelle microscopique au pilote semi-industriel. Les essais de désulfuration de fumées acides ont été menés avec des taux de conversion du SO2 atteignant 65 à 70 % / This study is a contribution to the characterization and the treatment of alkaline industrial wastes. The direct carbonation of residual brines (RB) by CO2 bubbling results in a gas emission reduction and a potentially valorization of resulting products. This research was focused on carbonate products. The main objective is to link reactivity and valorization (here, desulfurization of industrial fumes). The RB are complex, their chemical and mineralogical composition was studied in particular by Raman spectroscopy to monitor OH-Cl interaction in humid samples. The different hydroxides phases are consumed during carbonation to precipitate calcium carbonates (calcite and aragonite). The chemical composition of RB determines the main part of the reaction of carbonation whereas physical parameters influence the reaction kinetics, the by-products morphology and purity. The feasibility of on-line monitoring of the phases evolution during carbonation using spectroscopy has been validated and a first statistical model for the prediction of carbonate concentration has been developed. The second part of this works concerns the characterization of precipitated carbonates and some parameters as hydration which can influence their valorization. The importance of hydration on the carbonates reactivity was observed in microscopy and at pilot scale. Desulfurization tests of industrial fumes in semi-humid way provided a conversion rate of SO2 ranging between 65 and 70%

La prédiction de valeurs de tension interfaciale des fluides est capitale dans de nombreuses applications industrielles. Les techniques de simulation moléculaire et l’évolution rapide des moyens de calcul intensif permettent depuis quelques années de prédire des valeurs de tension interfaciale pour des systèmes complexes. Des travaux concernant des équilibres liquide / vapeur des corps purs SO2, O2, N2 et Ar montrent que les modèles choisi pour chaque molécule peuvent influencer la qualité des prédictions de tension interfaciale. Des simulations d’équilibres gaz acide / alcane de type CO2 / n-butane, CO2 / n-décane et H2S / n-pentane ont ensuite été réalisées. Elles ont mis en évidence l’efficacité des méthodes de simulation de type Monte Carlo pour la prédiction des tensions interfaciales pour de tels systèmes. L’étude de systèmes ternaires H2O / N2+CH4 et H2O / CO2+H2S a par ailleurs montré que le recourt à la dynamique moléculaire pouvait faciliter l’équilibration des systèmes simulés, rendant plus efficace la prédiction des tensions interfaciales. L’étude d’équilibres liquide / vapeur de saumures de chlorure de sodium a permis de mettre en évidence l’efficacité de certains potentiels non-polarisables pour la prédiction de l’évolution de la tension interfaciale avec la molarité de sel. Les modèles polarisables de type core-shell choisis ne permettent de prédire ni les masses volumiques, ni les tensions interfaciales. Enfin, l’étude d’équilibres eau / alcane en présence de sel ou de méthanol a montré que les méthodes de dynamique moléculaire permettaient de prédire quantitativement des valeurs de tension interfaciale pour ce type d’interface. L’effet de l’alcool abaissant la tension interfaciale a bien été observé, tout comme son placement préférentiel à l’interface. / The prediction of interfacial tension of fluids is critical for many industrial applications. Advances in molecular simulation, and the recent evolution of supercomputing calculations allow for some years to predict the values of interfacial tension for complex systems. A work involving liquid / vapor equilibrium of pure compounds SO2, O2, N2 and Ar show that the models used can impact the quality of the prediction. Simulations of acid gas / alkane equilibrium such CO2 / n-butane, CO2 / n-decane or H2S / n-pentane were then performed. They have demonstrated the performance of methods of Monte Carlo simulations for the reproduction of interfacial tensions for such system. The study of ternary systems H2O / N2+CH4 and H2O / CO2+H2S has also shown that using molecular dynamics could help the equilibration of the simulated systems. The study of liquid / vapor equilibrias of sodium chloride brines show that certain non-polarizable models perform very well to predict the changes in the interfacial tension with the molarity of salt. The core-shell polarizable models based on the Drude oscillator model chosen did not allow to predict brines densities and the interfacial tensions. Finally, the study of water / alkane equilibria in the presence of salt or methanol showed that the molecular dynamics methods allow to predict quantitatively interfacial tension values for this kinds of interfaces. The effect of alcohol lowering the interfacial tension has been observed : this small surfactant populate the interfacial region at weak concentration.

The objective of this thesis is to provide an extensive description of the correlations in some of the most crucial sub-processes for hard coal fired IGCC with carbon capture (CC-IGCC). For this purpose, process simulation models are developed for four industrial gasification processes, the CO-shift cycle, the acid gas removal unit, the sulfur recovery process, the gas turbine, the water-/steam cycle and the air separation unit (ASU). Process simulations clarify the influence of certain boundary conditions on plant operation, performance and economics. Based on that, a comparative benchmark of CC-IGCC concepts is conducted. Furthermore, the influence of integration between the gas turbine and the ASU is analyzed in detail. The generated findings are used to develop an advanced plant configuration with improved economics. Nevertheless, IGCC power plants with carbon capture are not found to be an economically efficient power generation technology at present day boundary conditions.

The objective of this thesis is to provide an extensive description of the correlations in some of the most crucial sub-processes for hard coal fired IGCC with carbon capture (CC-IGCC). For this purpose, process simulation models are developed for four industrial gasification processes, the CO-shift cycle, the acid gas removal unit, the sulfur recovery process, the gas turbine, the water-/steam cycle and the air separation unit (ASU). Process simulations clarify the influence of certain boundary conditions on plant operation, performance and economics. Based on that, a comparative benchmark of CC-IGCC concepts is conducted. Furthermore, the influence of integration between the gas turbine and the ASU is analyzed in detail. The generated findings are used to develop an advanced plant configuration with improved economics. Nevertheless, IGCC power plants with carbon capture are not found to be an economically efficient power generation technology at present day boundary conditions.