No description available.

CO2 capture and conversion appears to be a prominent solution to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and global warming issue. Among different CO2 conversion approaches, CO2 hydrogenation via reverse water gas shift (RWGS) reaction is one of the most promising technology to convert CO2 to CO. Subsequently, CO is transformed to value added chemicals or liquid fuels. To improve the overall CO2 conversion for RWGS reaction, product separation and recycling is being proposed. In this research, adsorption separation technology has been explored to selectively separate CO from CO2 in RWGS using pressure swing adsorption (PSA) process. To investigate the adsorption capacity and selectivity of CO, different porous materials have been identified for CO separation. In this research, activated carbons, ordered mesoporous silica, and metal organic framework materials were studied. Equilibrium isotherms of CO and CO2 were measured in a gravimetric system at a temperature of 25 °C for pressures up to 20 bar. Preliminary adsorption isotherm results had shown an insufficient CO uptake and low selectivity level compared to CO2, thus not justifying their application for CO separation. Herein, to improve the CO adsorption capacity and selectivity, Cu-based adsorbents were developed using copper (II) chloride (CuCl2) as a precursor to synthesize six different adsorbents. The adsorbents were prepared using two different synthesis methods; the modified polyol method for reduction and nanoparticle deposition of Cu (I) ions, and thermal monolayer auto-dispersion method. Furthermore, different copper (II) loadings were investigated to determine the monolayer dispersion capacity of CuCl2 on the support. The modified adsorbents by copper salt exhibited significantly high CO uptake with large CO/CO2 selectivity, reversing the results obtained before adsorbent modification. Thus, Cubased adsorbents are promising materials for CO separation and recovery from a gaseous mixture containing CO2.

<p> The amount of chloride ion incorporated into a copper electrodeposit prepared from an aqueous copper sulphate solution has been determined at low chloride concentrations by the use of radiotracers. It has been found that the electrodeposits have a surface layer which is enriched in chloride ion. Evidence has been obtained that incorporation of chloride is preceded by the formation of cuprous chloride. The incorporation of chloride has been found to be increased by the presence of organic additives in the solution. The polarization during the first 30 seconds of electolysis has been interpreted using the knowledge obtained from the radiotracer work.</p> / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

No description available.

No description available.

Para uma produção eficiente e economicamente viável de ésteres é necessária a utilização de catalisadores durante o processo, uma vez que a transesterificação e a esterificação são reações de equilíbrio, sendo necessário deslocar o equilíbrio de reação na direção desejada. Nesse trabalho, ésteres metílicos e etílicos de ácidos graxos de cadeia longa foram produzidos usando cloretos de cobre como catalisadores. Para definir a melhor condição reacional, foram estudadas três diferentes razões em massa de AGLs de dendê/ metanol (ou etanol) / catalisador. Definida a melhor condição reacional, foram produzidos monoésteres metílicos e etílicos a partir de ácidos graxos livres do destilado da soja assim como das borras do refino correspondente do óleo de soja e de dendê. Os ésteres metílicos e etílicos foram caracterizados através das técnicas de cromatografia gasosa acoplada à espectrometria de massas (CG/MS) e ressonância magnética nuclear de prótons (RMN 1H). Observou-se que as reações empregando cloreto de cobre como catalisador reagem preferencialmente com AGLs em relação aos triésteres. Dentre esses ácidos graxos livres, os de cadeia insaturada, são os que reagem mais facilmente com o catalisador. Em relação ao álcool empregado, observou-se que as reações em etanol são mais rápidas que as realizadas em metanol, devido a facilidade de solubilização do catalisador e matéria prima lipídica no etanol. A reação com metanol, por sua vez ocorre de forma mais lenta, devido a solubilidade parcial entre os reagentes no meio e consequentemente, com separação instantânea de duas fases ao término da agitação, facilitando a extração do produto. A ampliação da estequiometria de reação em 160 e 80 vezes, para o catalisador anidro e hidratado, respectivamente, em relação a massa de AGLs de dendê foi obtida com sucesso em ambos os catalisadores, mostrando a viabilidade do emprego do cloreto de cobre como catalisador em escala industrial e a possibilidade de ser estendido a outras matérias primas. Desse modo, a utilização do cloreto de cobre como catalisador na reação de ácidos graxos livres de cadeia longa ou de óleos vegetais se constitui em uma metodologia simples e prática, sendo uma opção viável para a produção de monoalquil esteres de cadeia longa em condições brandas de reação quando comparada aos métodos já estabelecidos e utilizados inclusive em escala industrial. / For an economically feasible and efficient production of esters is necessary to use catalysts in the esterification and transesterification reactions, which are reversible. It is necessary to shift the reaction equilibrium in the desired direction. In this work we developed a novel reaction to produce methyl and ethyl esters of long chain fatty acids using copper chloride as catalysts. To establish optimal reaction conditions, we studied three different mass ratios of FFAs palm (or soybean) / methanol (or ethanol) / catalyst. Employing the best reaction conditions, methyl and ethyl mono-esters were produced from free fatty acid of the soybean oil deodorization distillate (DDOS) as well as the corresponding refined soybean and palm oil. The methyl and ethyl esters were characterized by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC / MS) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR). It was observed that reactions using copper chloride as catalyst are faster with free fatty acids than with neutrals refined oils. Among these, free fatty acids of unsaturated chain react faster than the saturated ones. Regarding the alcohol employed, it was observed that the reactions in ethanol are faster than those performed in methanol, due to higher of solubility of the catalyst and feedstock lipid in ethanol. The reaction with methanol, in turn occurs more slowly, due to partial solubility of the reactants in the solvent that results in, instantaneous phases separation. The scale up of reaction at 80 and 160 times for both, anhydrous and hydrated catalyst, was successfully performed showing the feasibility of this novel process use in industrial scale. Thus, the use of copper chloride as the catalyst in the reaction of long chain free fatty acids constitutes a simple and practical methodology, being a feasible option for the production of long chain monoalkyl esters under mild conditions compared to methods already established and also used in industrial scale.

The objectives of this study were to investigate the long-term effects of feeding increasing supplemental levels (20, 120, or 220 mg/kg) of dietary copper (Cu) as tribasic copper chloride (TBCC) or copper sulfate (CuSO4) on performance, antioxidant status, nutrient digestibility, and trace mineral deposition of sows and piglets; as well as to assess nursery dietary Cu levels on growth performance and response to immunological challenge in nursery pigs from sows fed either high or low Cu diets. In the long-term sow experiment, sows fed TBCC diets had greater adjusted weaning weight for litter and piglet (P < 0.10), as well as adjusted litter and piglet weight gain (P < 0.10) when compared to sows that received CuSO4 diets. Increasing dietary Cu level linearly increased live born piglet weight (P = 0.06). Sows fed TBCC diets had lower apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of ether extract (P = 0.01) during late gestation, but greater ATTD of dry matter, nitrogen, and phosphorous during lactation (P < 0.05). Increasing Cu levels linearly increased dry matter digestibility in lactating sows (P = 0.02). Milk from sows fed TBCC diets had a greater concentration of protein (P = 0.02) than that from sows fed CuSO4 diets. Increasing Cu levels increased levels of milk fat and Cu (linear, P < 0.05); but linearly decreased lactose and Zn levels (P < 0.05). Lactating sows fed TBCC diets had a greater activity of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ceruloplasmin in serum than those fed CuSO4 diets (P < 0.05). Increasing dietary Cu levels increased total and Cu/Zn SOD activity for lactating sows (linear, P < 0.05). Sows fed TBCC diets had lower concentrations of Cu (P = 0.04), but higher concentrations of iron and manganese (P < 0.05) in the liver, when compared to those fed with CuSO4 diets. In addition, liver Cu concentrations increased with increasing dietary Cu levels (linear and quadratic, P < 0.05). Increasing dietary Cu levels resulted in the elevation of concentrations and contents of Cu in the liver of weanling piglets (linear, P < 0.0001). In the nursery pig experiment, pigs from sows fed 120 mg/kg Cu diets had greater ADG from d 0 to 14 (P < 0.05), and tended to have greater ADG in the overall period (P < 0.08), when compared to pigs from sows fed 20 mg/kg Cu diets. During the lipopolysaccharide challenge period, the challenged pigs from sows fed 120 mg/kg Cu had a greater overall rectal temperature than those from sows fed 20 mg/kg Cu (P = 0.01). Also, the challenged pigs fed with 220 mg/kg Cu diets had greater serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha concentration over time as compared to those fed 20 mg/kg Cu diets (P = 0.03). In summary, the TBCC may be a superior Cu source compared to CuSO4 regarding reproductive performance, and higher dietary Cu levels result in greater birth weight of piglets; furthermore, high Cu levels in sow and nursery diets promote growth performance of nursery pigs and affects their responses to immunological challenge.

This thesis develops analytical and numerical solutions that predict behavior of Cupric-Chloride droplets undergoing spraying and drying processes. Cupric-Chloride (CuCl2) is present as molten salt and slurry within the Copper-Chlorine thermo-chemical cycle for generation of hydrogen. Utilizing low-grade heat from nuclear or industrial sources to assist drying of Cupric-Chloride can increase efficiency of the overall process. Analytical correlations for heat and mass transfer are developed and applied to the analysis of a solution of Cupric-Chloride, subject to various drying conditions. The study provides new information on effects of different concentrations of water in CuCl2 slurry drying at low air temperatures. / UOIT

The global energy sector is facing a crisis caused by the increasing demand for energy. Non-renewable energy sources, such as fossil fuels produce greenhouse gases that are largely blamed for climate change. The Kyoto protocol requires industrialised nations to reduce their collective greenhouse gas emissions. Hydrogen as an alternative fuel can serve as a substitute. Hydrogen production is expensive and the gas is largely derived from fossil fuels by a process that releases large quantities of greenhouse gases. In South Africa work on hydrogen production was first done on the Hybrid Sulphur cycle. The high operating temperature and highly corrosive environment involved in the process makes this cycle difficult to work with. The copper-chloride cycle has a lower operating temperature and uses less corrosive materials, making the cycle potentially more economical. Evaluation of the cycle started with the development of four models: the Base model, the Canadian model (developed in Canada) the Kemp model and the Excess model. The Kemp model has the best overall efficiency of 40.89 %, producing hydrogen at a cost of US$4.48/kg. The model does not however provide the excess steam required for the cycle. The Excess model which is based on the Kemp model does provide the excess steam and produces an overall efficiency of 39 % and hydrogen at a cost of US$4.60/kg. The copper-chloride cycle has an improved efficiency and produces hydrogen at a lower cost when compared to the hybrid sulphur cycle. The final conclusion of this thesis is that the copper-chloride cycle should be investigated further and an expected capital and operational costs estimate should be developed to obtain more accurate figures. / Thesis (M.Ing. (Nuclear Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

The global energy sector is facing a crisis caused by the increasing demand for energy. Non-renewable energy sources, such as fossil fuels produce greenhouse gases that are largely blamed for climate change. The Kyoto protocol requires industrialised nations to reduce their collective greenhouse gas emissions. Hydrogen as an alternative fuel can serve as a substitute. Hydrogen production is expensive and the gas is largely derived from fossil fuels by a process that releases large quantities of greenhouse gases. In South Africa work on hydrogen production was first done on the Hybrid Sulphur cycle. The high operating temperature and highly corrosive environment involved in the process makes this cycle difficult to work with. The copper-chloride cycle has a lower operating temperature and uses less corrosive materials, making the cycle potentially more economical. Evaluation of the cycle started with the development of four models: the Base model, the Canadian model (developed in Canada) the Kemp model and the Excess model. The Kemp model has the best overall efficiency of 40.89 %, producing hydrogen at a cost of US$4.48/kg. The model does not however provide the excess steam required for the cycle. The Excess model which is based on the Kemp model does provide the excess steam and produces an overall efficiency of 39 % and hydrogen at a cost of US$4.60/kg. The copper-chloride cycle has an improved efficiency and produces hydrogen at a lower cost when compared to the hybrid sulphur cycle. The final conclusion of this thesis is that the copper-chloride cycle should be investigated further and an expected capital and operational costs estimate should be developed to obtain more accurate figures. / Thesis (M.Ing. (Nuclear Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.