Chemical Engineering
http://hdl.handle.net/10034/622975
2024-03-28T15:26:48ZAnalysis of the Utilisation of Herbaceous Biomass Streams for Small-Scale Combined Heat and Power Systems: A Comparative Study of UK and Pakistan
http://hdl.handle.net/10034/628517
Analysis of the Utilisation of Herbaceous Biomass Streams for Small-Scale Combined Heat and Power Systems: A Comparative Study of UK and Pakistan
Latif, Mubashra
The project scope combined the author`s interest, those of her industrial research partner Biogen Systems Ltd., and those of Professor John Brammer of the University of Chester, UK. The project`s main aim was to find a cost-effective, yet sustainable strategy to upgrade the quality of low-quality herbaceous biomass streams to feed Biogen`s BCHP units without any ash-related problems such as ash melting and clinker formation. This involved pursuing a theoretical understanding and lab-scale combustion experimental investigation of the ash melting characteristics of herbaceous biomass streams of significant interest (grass cuttings, miscanthus, corn cobs, and mango stones) with different additive streams in two country locations which reflect the affiliations of the author, and which are quite different: namely Pakistan and the UK. SEM-EDS and XRD techniques were used with ternary-phase diagrams for determination of elemental and crystalline phase composition analysis of combusted ash
residues. Investigations revealed that the formation of low-melting eutectic mixtures of phosphates and silicates is the primary underlying reason for ash melting of non-woody biomass streams which can be avoided by the addition of anti-sintering additives. Furthermore, eggshells can successfully replace Ca-based commercially available additives when in raw and calcined form. Another main objective of this work was to develop an Excel-base financial business model to present a framework that would improve the profitability of Biogen`s BCHP units’ deployment in the UK and Pakistan. For this, different scenarios were studied, and the effects of main logistic variables were quantified on the profitability of Biogen`s units. Results of the financial model indicate that for the UK-based operation of Biogen`s BCHP units, wood chips would serve as the most economically beneficial feedstock, followed by miscanthus pellets, while for Pakistan, waste grass pellets would be the most financially suitable feedstock, followed by corn stover pellets. Food processing companies in Pakistan can generate electricity that is cheaper than the grid-sourced power by Biogen`s E3 BCHP units by utilising on-site available free-cost fruit waste (such as corn cobs and mango waste). Accordingly, the potential contribution of this research is the elimination of the technoeconomic
barriers faced by the mass-scale deployment of high-temperature biomass-fuelled thermochemical systems by identification of eggshells as a potential anti-sintering additive and investigation of the effect of cost estimates for different feedstocks for E3 operation. There is a strong need for further research to be done focusing on the gaseous emissions encompassing the utilisation of grass and its mixtures with additives and other biofuels at high-temperature thermochemical systems.
2023-05-01T00:00:00ZCoumarin‐Based Light‐Responsive Composite Nanochannel Membranes for Precise Controlled Release of Pesticides
http://hdl.handle.net/10034/628475
Coumarin‐Based Light‐Responsive Composite Nanochannel Membranes for Precise Controlled Release of Pesticides
Gong, Jue‐Ying; Zhou, Xing‐Long; Faraj, Yousef; Zou, Lin‐Bing; Zhou, Chang‐Hai; Xie, Rui; Wang, Wei; Liu, Zhuang; Pan, Da‐Wei; Ju, Xiao‐Jie; Chu, Liang‐Yin
The precise, controllable, and safe application of pesticides can effectively reduce pesticide consumption and minimize chemical pollution at the source. Here, a light‐responsive controlled‐release system with flexible control, precise release, easy recovery, and suitability for future pesticide application in aquatic environments is proposed. The system precisely controls the release of pesticides through a light‐responsive composite nanochannel membrane (CTC@SNM/PET) with reactive coumarin derivatives (CTC) as gating molecules. The prepared nanochannel membrane has an ultrathin thickness of 67.5 nm and well‐ordered vertical nanochannels with a uniform size of 1.9 nm, providing a prerequisite for precise molecular gating and high permeability for mass transport. CTC monomers can realize cycloaddition/cyclocracking and nanochannel closing/opening to control the release of pesticides by controlling 365/254 nm ultraviolet light irradiation. As a proof of concept, the light‐responsive controlled‐release system based on CTC@MSF/PET against Saprolegnia parasitica achieves an inhibition rate of more than 95% and reduces pesticide residues by 56.5% compared to the control group. The proposed membrane system has great application potential to easily enable remote, quantitative, timed, and positioned pesticide application, thereby reducing pesticide residues and providing a prospective approach to reducing environmental and human risks.
This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: [Gong, J‐Y., Zhou, X‐L., Faraj, Y., Zou, L‐B., Zhou, C‐H., Xie, R., Wang, W., Liu, Z., Pan, D‐W., Ju, X‐J., & Chu, L‐Y. (2024). Coumarin‐Based Light‐Responsive Composite Nanochannel Membranes for Precise Controlled Release of Pesticides. Advanced Functional Materials, vol(issue), pages], which has been published in final form at [https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202314642]. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited.
2024-01-28T00:00:00ZDissolving microneedle system containing Ag nanoparticle-decorated silk fibroin microspheres and antibiotics for synergistic therapy of bacterial biofilm infection
http://hdl.handle.net/10034/628468
Dissolving microneedle system containing Ag nanoparticle-decorated silk fibroin microspheres and antibiotics for synergistic therapy of bacterial biofilm infection
Li, Yao; Gong, Jue-Ying; Wang, Po; Fu, Han; Faraj, Yousef; Xie, Rui; Wang, Wei; Liu, Zhuang; Pan, Da-Wei; Ju, Xiao-Jie; Chu, Liang-Yin
Most cases of delayed wound healing are associated with bacterial biofilm infections due to high antibiotic resistance. To improve patient compliance and recovery rates, it is critical to develop minimally invasive and efficient methods to eliminate bacterial biofilms as an alternative to clinical debridement techniques. Herein, we develop a dissolving microneedle system containing Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs)-decorated silk fibroin microspheres (SFM-AgNPs) and antibiotics for synergistic treatment of bacterial biofilm infection. Silk fibroin microspheres (SFM) are controllably prepared in an incompatible system formed by a mixture of protein and carbohydrate solutions by using a mild all-aqueous phase method and serve as biological templates for the synthesis of AgNPs. The SFM-AgNPs exert dose- and time-dependent broad-spectrum antibacterial effects by inducing bacterial adhesion. The combination of SFM-AgNPs with antibiotics breaks the limitation of the antibacterial spectrum and achieves better efficacy with reduced antibiotic dosage. Using hyaluronic acid (HA) as the soluble matrix, the microneedle system containing SFM-AgNPs and anti-Gram-positive coccus drug (Mupirocin) inserts into the bacterial biofilms with sufficient strength, thereby effectively delivering the antibacterial agents and realizing good antibiofilm effect on Staphylococcus aureus-infected wounds. This work demonstrates the great potential for the development of novel therapeutic systems for eradicating bacterial biofilm infections.
2024-01-26T00:00:00ZDesigning defect enriched Bi2Ti2O7/C3N4 micro-photo-electrolysis reactor for photo-Fenton like catalytic reaction
http://hdl.handle.net/10034/628467
Designing defect enriched Bi2Ti2O7/C3N4 micro-photo-electrolysis reactor for photo-Fenton like catalytic reaction
Yan, Yuan; Hu, Wenyuan; Xie, Xinyu; Faraj, Yousef; Yang, Wulin; Xie, Ruzhen
Among various advanced oxidation processes, photo-Fenton like catalysis, which couples solar energy with Fenton-like catalysis to generate highly reactive species for wastewater decontamination, has attracted broad interests. However, photo-Fenton catalysts usually suffer from poor pH adaptability, metal leaching and photogenerated charge recombination. Herein, a novel defect-enriched Bi2Ti2O7/C3N4 (BTO/CN) heterojunction is prepared via ball milling-thermal treatment method and used as a durable photo-Fenton like catalyst to degrade phenol in water. The BTO/CN heterojunction shows an excellent optical absorption capacity, and a superior e--h+ separation efficiency. With the addition of PMS, a micro-photo-electrolysis reactor can be formed in the BTO/CN, rendering it high photocatalytic activity, excellent tolerance to environmental condition and exceptional stability. The BTO/CN micro-photo-electrolysis reactor exhibits superior performance in phenol removal and excellent tolerance towards salt ions. Non-radical pathway and radical dotOH oxidation are demonstrated to contribute to phenol degradation in the BTO/CN heterojunction photo-Fenton-like system. The PMS can simultaneously boost the interfacial charge transmission from BTO to CN forming internal BTO photoanode and CN photocathode, leading to sustainable photocatalytic performance without secondary pollution. This work successfully demonstrates a feasible strategy to develop solar energy assisted Fenton-like catalyst for efficient water decontamination, which holds a great promise towards practical photo-Fenton water decontamination.
2023-10-28T00:00:00Z