This report is intended to provide the reader with an extensive background information on hydrode oxygenation (HDO) of Tall Oil Pitch (TOP), combined with results from chemical property analyses of the same. Firstly, the importance of hydrogenation and oxygen removal for a biomass-based feed material is highlighted. The chemical nature of TOP in general is described and the target for the research work is identified. It is decided to evaluate the possibility of TOP as a prospective material for achieving partial oxygen removal. The effect of catalysis on HDO behavior is assessed, and subsequently, conventional commercial catalysts are selected. Chemical analyses of the feed mixture provided data on various properties, which can then be correlated to the products from hydrogenation. Kinematic viscosity of TOP is determined, followed by acid number and saponification number tests to evaluate the free acid and total acid contents respectively. Reasoning for any deviations are highlighted and suggestions are provided to control deviation in process parameters. GC/MS analysisof the tall oil sample is also conducted to understand the presence of oxygen-containing species. Carbon residue and ash tests revealed the coking and ash forming tendency of the samples. In addition, XRF spectroscopy results indicated the metal presence in the TOP sample. Experimental trials are carried out to sulphide the catalysts prior to use in hydrogenation experiments. Catalyst sulphidation procedure is also outlined. Furthermore, the lab-scale reactor is tested for hydrogenation to determine challenges that normally arise during high-pressure working conditions. In addition to discussion of challenges regarding batch hydrogenations and sulfidations, proposals on future work in this domain is outlined, along with suggestions on an experimental pathway forward.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:01:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PedroHSO_DISSERT.pdf: 2680953 bytes, checksum: 2a5742ac4e3d4679d06b09232988727f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-07-24 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior / In wastewater treatment, activated sludge systems have been a technology widely applied as secondary treatment. During this step, which has a strong biological aspect, it is necessary to introduce oxygen supply for the maintenance of metabolic activity of the bacteria through the aerators. Aeration devices are responsible for most of the energy consumption in this stage. In this background, the influence of three aeration intensities (atmospheric air flow 3.5, 7.0 and 10.5 L.min-1) and the concentration of dissolved oxygen (DO) on the dimension of activated sludge flocs as well as on the efficiency of organic matter removal were assessed using a traditional activated sludge system which was fed with synthetic domestic wastewater. Samples were taken weekly from the three units that make up the system feed, aeration and storage tank in order to verify the Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD). It was established the process efficiency through a comparison between the initial and final COD. Besides the parameters already mentioned, this monitoring work on activated sludge batch system was also observed by Mixed Liquor Suspend Solids (MLSS), Volatile Suspend Solids (VSS), pH and temperature measures. The results have showed a maximum removal efficiency around 75% in the first aeration sequence and approximately 85% for the second and third one. For the first aeration, the DO concentration remained higher than 3.0 mg.L-1 and a diameter range from 10 to 60 μm was observed. In the second e third sequence, the DO concentration remained higher than 4.0 mg.L-1 with a diameter range of 10 until 200 μm. Although the sequence 1 and 2 have presented similar performances for organic matter removal, the sequence 2 promoted a regular floc size distribution and with lower values of Sludge Volumetric Index (SVI) meaning a better flocculating ability. In addition, the results reaffirmed what the literature has reported: higher DO concentrations produce flocs with greater dimensions / No tratamento de ?guas residu?rias, os sistemas de lodos ativados t?m sido uma tecnologia largamente aplicada como tratamento secund?rio. Durante essa etapa, a qual possui uma caracter?stica fortemente biol?gica, ? necess?rio o fornecimento de oxig?nio para a manuten??o da atividade metab?lica das bact?rias atrav?s de aeradores. Os dispositivos de aera??o s?o respons?veis pela maior parte do consumo de energia ao longo dessa fase. Nesse contexto, a influ?ncia de tr?s intensidades de aera??o (vaz?o de ar atmosf?rico de 3,5, 7,0 e 10, 5 L.min-1) e a concentra??o de oxig?nio dissolvido (OD) sobre a dimens?o de flocos de lodo ativado, e bem como sobre a efici?ncia de remo??o foram avaliadas utilizando um sistema tradicional de lodos ativados alimentado com efluente dom?stico sint?tico. Amostras foram retiradas semanalmente das tr?s unidades que compunham o sistema tanque de alimenta??o, de aera??o e de armazenamento para verificar a Demanda Qu?mica de Oxig?nio (DQO). A efici?ncia do processo foi estabelecida atrav?s da compara??o entre a DQO inicial e final. Al?m dos par?metros j? mencionados, este trabalho de monitoramento do sistema de lodos ativados de bancada foi observado tamb?m por meio de medi??es de S?lidos em Suspens?o Totais (SST) e Vol?teis (SSV), pH e temperatura. Os resultados mostraram uma efici?ncia m?xima de remo??o de quase 75% na primeira sequ?ncia de aera??o e aproximadamente 85% para a segunda e terceira sequ?ncias. Para a primeira aera??o, a concentra??o de OD manteve-se maior que 3,0 mg.L-1 e uma faixa de di?metro de 10 a 60 μm foi observada, enquanto que na segunda e terceira sequ?ncia, a concentra??o de OD permaneceu superior a 4,0 mg.L-1 com uma faixa de di?metro de 10 a 200 μm. Embora a sequ?ncia 2 e 3 tenham apresentado, ambas, desempenhos similares para remo??o de mat?ria org?nica, a sequ?ncia 3 promoveu uma distribui??o de tamanho de flocos mais regular e com baixos valores de ?ndices Volum?tricos do Lodo (IVL), configurando em uma melhor habilidade de sedimenta??o. Em adi??o, os resultados reafirmam o que literatura tem relatado, maiores concentra??es de OD produzem flocos com maiores dimens?es