Eleonora Erdmann

Barrier Properties and Structural Study of Nanocomposite of HDPE/Montmorillonite Modified with Polyvinylalcohol

In this work was studied the permeation of CO2 in films of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and organoclay modified with polyvinylalcohol () obtained from melt blending. Permeation study showed that the incorporation of the modified organoclay generates a significant effect on the barrier properties of HDPE. When a load of 2 wt% of was incorporated in the polymer matrix, the flow of CO2 decreased 43.7% compared to pure polyethylene. The results of TEM showed that clay layers were dispersed in the polymeric matrix, obtaining an exfoliated-structure nanocomposite. The thermal stability of nanocomposite was significantly enhanced with respect to the pristine HDPE. DSC results showed that the crystallinity was maintained as the pure polymeric matrix. Consequently, the decrease of permeability was attributable only to the effect of tortuosity generated by the dispersion of . Notably the mechanical properties remain equal to those of pure polyethylene, but with an increase in barrier properties to CO2. This procedure allows obtaining nanocomposites of HDPE with a good barrier property to CO2 which would make it competitive in the use of packaging.

Effect of the Organoclay Preparation on the Extent of the Intercalation/Exfoliation and the Barrier Properties in Polyamide-6/Montmorillonite Nanocomposites

This paper shows the importance of the clay surface chemistry in the preparation of nanocomposite materials. An Argentinean montmorillonite was used for preparing two modified clays. The filosilicate was intercalated with a quaternary ammonium salt derived from ε- caprolactam to obtain an organofilic material. The other modification was introduced by mixing the clay with hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride. Thus, the polyamide 6 ability in dispersing clays was applied to prepare composites with the intercalated clays. The polyamide 6/clay dry composites with 3 wt % of filler were prepared by melt processing in a mixer chamber. Composites of polyamide 6/organoclay were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission and scanning electron microscopy and thermogravimetry. The barrier properties were determined by cyclohexane pervaporation. The results show that the dispersion and degree of delamination depend on a proper chemical treatment and the clay content influences the polyamide 6 nanocomposites solvent pervaporation resistance.

A New Method for Estimating the EFV Distillation Curve

Abstract This work presents a new method to estimate the equilibrium flash vaporization (EFV) distillation curve from standard laboratory analytical assay procedures. In this method, experimental data are utilized by a chemical process simulator to obtain the EFV curve. Any simulator able to model petroleum can be used for this task. To evaluate the performance of the proposed method, several types of petroleum were analyzed experimentally in this work. The obtained curves were compared with those produced by other methods showing a good match. The main advantage of the proposed method is its non-dependence on experimental data.

Multi-objective optimization of a CO2-EOR process from the sustainability criteria

Abstract Aim of this article is to estimate and discuss the economic and environmental impacts for the obtainment of CO 2 in such conditions to be injected as enhanced oil recovery (EOR) fluid. Particularly, this study focuses on the compression sector design needed to process the CO 2 coming from an already existing absorption plant. Currently, 18.68 kmol/h of a high-purity CO 2 stream may be used for injecting and increasing the production of a pilot crude oil well near the location of the industrial plant. However, it is still necessary to perform an economic evaluation to quantify the investment and the operating costs that the compression involves. An optimization problem for minimizing the energy consumption of the new sector while increasing the pressure of the stream is solved. It has been found that the conditions to obtain the lower energy requirement are a 4-stage compressing layout with a pressure ratio equal to 4 and intercooling units of 41.73 °C. After discussing these results, an economic assessment to estimate investment, operating and utility costs is presented. Although the installation cost for the additional sector is more than 3000 kUSD, the investment might be compensated with the increasing production of the well under study. In addition to this, the development of EOR projects could create a market in a region where the technology is still not considered. In the final part of the article, CO 2 , CH 4 , H 2 O wastes and combustion gases emissions are calculated. As expected, almost the total amount of the vented CO 2 can be captured for this double-purpose technology, increasing the total incomes while geologically confining large-volumes of this pollutant and greenhouse gas.

Corrosion monitoring on different metallurgy by means of sample test in a water circuit. A pilot plant experience

One of the most used methods in the industry for corrosion monitoring is monitoring by means of sample test (coupons) in a sample test station (STS). Through the STS, a flow fraction circulates and the fluid makes permanent contact with the (coupons) in current flow for a certain period of time. The coupons, STS and flow speed are set to a standard. The material of the coupons has to be similar to the equipments metallurgic and conduction lines that are to be measured for corrosion. Monitoring is fulfilled to quantify material loss due to corrosive phenomena or bio-corrosives to identify deposition phenomena. Corrosion is measured in mpy and deposition in mpd.