Fluidised-Bed Catalytic Reactors

Mahechi-Botero et al. recently reviewed forty fluidised-bed catalytic reactors. Each design uses different assumptions so simulation methods vary. The review allows users to choose a suitable simulation model for their process and reactor.

Microencapsulation of Oils Rich in Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids

Fluidised bed coating is one of the microencapsulation techniques to minimise core material and oxygen diffusivity. Drusch and Mannino reviewed approaches where the core material releases to specific targets.

Powder Flow Dynamics

Krantz, Zhang and Zhu carried out fluidised bed expansion to characterise powder flow under stress at 22-31 μm medium particle size. They also did cohesion tests to find that flow properties depend on stress state.

Polycarbonate Hydrolysis in Earth-Alkali Oxides and Hydroxides

Grause et al. described polycarbonate (PC) 300-500°C hydrolysis to make bisphenol A (BPA), phenol and isopropenyl phenol(IPP). The catalysts compared were MgO, CaO, Mg(OH)₂ or Ca(OH)₂. This option to treat used PC results in less residue.

Anionic Surfactant Photooxidation in three-phase fluidised bed reactor

Nam et al. performed sodium lauryl sulfate photooxidation in three-phase fluidised-bed reactor. The catalysts were immobilised TiO₂ and SiO₂ porous support. The process conditions included air flow rate, catalyst concentration, initial surfactant concentration, light source and pH. The Korean scientists found that superficial air velocity affected reaction rate. The reaction followed the Langmuir adsorption model and did better under acidic condtions.

Hydrogen Production from Starch-Wastewater with Bio-granules

Akutsu et al. fermented starch-wastewater with bio-granules to produce hydrogen in an upflow anaerobic sludge bed. The parameters were hydraulic retention time (HRT), pH and starch concentration. The maximum stable hydrogen yield was 1.7 mol H₂ mol^-1 glucose. The granule had a 0.5-4.0 mm diameter consisting pretreated methanogenic nuclei. Formic or lactic acid presence signified process deterioration.

Reference

Mahecha-Botero, A., Grace, J.R., Elnashaie, S.S.E.H. & Lim, C. J. (2009). Advances in modelling of fluidized-bed catalytic reactors: a comprehensive review. Chemical Engineering Communications. 196(11), 1375-1405. doi:10.1080/00986440902938709

Drusch, S. & Mannino, S. (2009). Patent-based review on industrial approaches for the microencapsulation of oils rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids. Trends in Food Science & Technology. 20(6-7) 237-244. doi: 10.1016/j.tifs.2009.03.007

Krantz, M., Zhang, H. & Zhu, J. (2009). Characterization of poder flow: Static and dynamic testing. Powder Technology. 194(3), 239-245. doi:10.1016/j.powtec.2009.05.001

Grause, G., Sugawara, K., Mizoguchi, T. & Yoshioka, T. (2009). Pyrolytic hydrolysis of polycarbonate in the presence of earth-alkali oxides and hydroxides. Polymer Degradation and Stability. 94(7), 1119-1124. doi:10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2009.03.014

Nam, W., Woo, K. & Han, G. (2009) Photooxidation of anionic surfactant (sodium lauryl sulfate) in a three –phase fluidise bed reactor using TiO2/SiO2 photocatalyst. Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. 15(3), 348-353. doi:10.1016/j.jiec.2008.11.006

Akutsu, Y., Lee, D.Y., Chi, Y.Z., Li, Y.Y., Harada, H. & Yu, H.Q. (2009). Thermophilic fermentative hydrogen production from starch-wastewater with bio-granules. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 34(12), 5061-5071. doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2009.04.024.