Tawatchai Charinpanitkul

Role of Surface Area, Primary Particle Size, and Crystal Phase on Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticle Dispersion Properties

Characterizing nanoparticle dispersions and understanding the effect of parameters that alter dispersion properties are important for both environmental applications and toxicity investigations. The role of particle surface area, primary particle size, and crystal phase on TiO2 nanoparticle dispersion properties is reported. Hydrodynamic size, zeta potential, and isoelectric point (IEP) of ten laboratory synthesized TiO2 samples, and one commercial Degussa TiO2 sample (P25) dispersed in different solutions were characterized. Solution ionic strength and pH affect titania dispersion properties. The effect of monovalent (NaCl) and divalent (MgCl2) inert electrolytes on dispersion properties was quantified through their contribution to ionic strength. Increasing titania particle surface area resulted in a decrease in solution pH. At fixed pH, increasing the particle surface area enhanced the collision frequency between particles and led to a higher degree of agglomeration. In addition to the synthesis method, TiO2 isoelectric point was found to be dependent on particle size. As anatase TiO2 primary particle size increased from 6 nm to 104 nm, its IEP decreased from 6.0 to 3.8 that also results in changes in dispersion zeta potential and hydrodynamic size. In contrast to particle size, TiO2 nanoparticle IEP was found to be insensitive to particle crystal structure.

Bubble size distribution and gas–liquid mass transfer in airlift contactors

Abstract This work investigated the distribution of bubble size in annulus sparged airlift contactors (ALCs). Increasing gas velocity in the ALC considerably reduced the size of the bubble and shifted the distribution of bubble size from the normal to log-normal types. Bubble size was found to decrease along the axial distance in the riser of the ALC. Moreover, an increase in the ratio between the cross-sectional areas of the downcomer and riser was found to result in the decreasing bubble size at high superficial gas velocity. Spargers with a large number of orifices led to a larger bubble size in the system. In contrast, it was found that a comparatively broad bubble size distribution was caused by employing a gas sparger with less number of orifices. This work also examined the gas–liquid mass transfer characteristics of the ALC in forms of mass transfer coefficient and specific interfacial area which were individually evaluated. It was found that the specific interfacial area, rather than the mass transfer coefficient, played a more significant role in controlling the overall rate of mass transfer in the system.

Production of bio-hydrogenated diesel by catalytic hydrotreating of palm oil over NiMoS2/γ-Al2O3 catalyst.

Catalytic hydrotreating of palm oil (refined palm olein type) to produce bio-hydrogenated diesel (BHD) was carried out in a continuous-flow fixed-bed reactor over NiMoS2/γ-Al2O3 catalyst. Effects of dominant hydrotreating parameters: temperature: 270-420°C; H2 pressure: 15-80 bar; LHSV: 0.25-5.0 h(-1); and H2/oil ratio: 250-2000 N(cm(3)/cm(3)) on the conversion, product yield, and a contribution of hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) and decarbonylation/decarboxylation (DCO/DCO2) were investigated to find the optimal hydrotreating conditions. All calculations including product yield and the contribution of HDO and DCO/DCO2 were extremely estimated based on mole balance corresponding to the fatty acid composition in feed to fully understand deoxygenation behaviors at different conditions. These analyses demonstrated that HDO, DCO, and DCO2 reactions competitively occurred at each condition, and had different optimal and limiting conditions. The differences in the hydrotreating reactions, liquid product compositions, and gas product composition were also discussed.

Effects of cosurfactant on ZnS nanoparticle synthesis in microemulsion

Abstract ZnS nanoparticles with different morphology; spherical, ellipsoidal particles’ nanotubes and nanorods, could be successfully synthesized from quaternary W/O microemulsion system. The morphology of the final products could be clearly confirmed by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The effect of cosurfactant on size and morphology of the obtained products have been explored in this work. The key controlling parameters such as the molar ratio of water to surfactant (wo) and the reactant concentration, which affect the product characteristics, have also been investigated.

Prediction of gas-particle dynamics and heat transfer in a two-dimensional spouted bed

Abstract The aerodynamics of particles and heat transfer of gas-to-particles in a two-dimensional spouted bed (2DSB) with draft plates are investigated by the discrete element method (DEM). The physical properties of the particles are similar to those of shelled corn. The calculated minimum spouting velocity and pressure drop agree well with the empirical correlations proposed by Kudra et al. The particle circulation rate increases when the friction coefficient decreases or the separation height increases. The draft plates can reduce the minimum spouting velocity and pressure drop. They also increase the maximum spoutable bed height. The effect of taking out the draft plates on the spouting phenomenon is investigated. The mixing of a 2DSB without draft plates of 10 000 particles is better than that of 26 000 particles. In our simulation, the gas-to-particle heat transfer is investigated. The Ranz–Marshall correlation and the correlation of Sartori et al. are applicable in the spout region and the downcomer region, respectively. The gas-to-particle heat transfer occurs mainly in the central or spout region, as reported by Freitas and Freire.

Controlled synthesis of carbon nanoparticles by arc in water method with forced convective jet

Forced convective jet applied onto carbon arc plasma has significant effects on the formation of carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) containing multiwalled carbon nanotubes mixed with multishelled nanoparticles produced by the “arc in water” method. There is an optimized flow rate of the convective jet that leads to the highest production yield, largest hydrodynamic diameter of the products, and the reduced crystalline defects. With the convective flow rate of 1.36 dm3/min, the highest yield and production rate of CNPs could be obtained at 48.5% and 9.32 g/h, respectively. These effects of the forced convective jet originate from the enhanced quenching of carbon clusters vaporized from graphite anode. Analysis of convective flow field subjected to the arc plasma zone is conducted to indicate that synthesis of CNPs by the arc in water method can be elaborately controlled.

Formation of strontium-doped lanthanum manganite (La0.8Sr0.2MnO3) by mechanical milling without media balls

This paper reports a study of the phase evolution induced by mechanical milling of a mixture of industrial grade La2O3, SrCO3 and Mn3O4 powders under a humid atmosphere. In this milling, no media balls were employed and the mechanical activation was applied through friction among particles in the powder mixture. Under humid atmosphere (relative humidity 70% at 25°C), X-ray diffraction peak intensities of La2O3, SrCO3 and Mn3O4 decreased, and the specific surface area of the powder mixture increased at the early stage of the milling (less than 10 min). In further milling, the perovskite strontium-doped lanthanum manganite (LSM) started to appear. Differential thermal analysis suggests that the present mechanical activation brought about the decomposition of SrCO3. Single-phase LSM was obtained by annealing of the milled powder mixture at a relatively lower temperature of 900°C and its particle size was about 100 nm. The present mechanical milling resulted in considerably lower contamination release from milling media.

High-temperature simultaneous removal of acetaldehyde and ammonia gases using corona discharge

Abstract The electrostatic precipitator (ESP) is the most prevalent application for corona as ion source. ESP is widely used in industrial dust collection and home ventilation systems for cleaning gas streams. However, ESP has not been used to remove gas pollutants from a gas stream. Electron attachment is one of the promising techniques for gas purification. Electron attachment reactions occur when low-energy electrons generated in a corona-discharge reactor are captured by electronegative impurities such as acetaldehyde and fine particles to produce negative ions and charged particles. The negative ions and charged particles drift in the electric field to the anode (reactor wall) and are removed by deposition there. Moreover, O¯, O radical, ozone, and OH¯ are also generated when the carrier gas is humid air. These anions and radicals also contribute to the removal efficiency. Though acetaldehyde (CH3CHO) and ammonia (NH3) are emitted at high temperature from a crematory furnace, there is insufficient report on the effect of high temperature and simultaneous removal. The present research experimentally investigates the technical feasibility of using corona discharge reactions to treat high-temperature exhaust gas containing acetaldehyde and ammonia. The simultaneous removal efficiency of these gases from nitrogen and air is obtained experimentally. The experimental results reveal that the presence of oxygen does significantly enhance the overall removal efficiency. Similarly, it is found that the presence of water vapor also enhances the removal efficiency of the target gases from the nitrogen–oxygen mixture. The generation of undesirable byproducts such as NOx is also investigated. The present technique should be applicable to the simultaneous removal of different nanoparticles at high efficiency.

A model of reaction field in gas-injected arc-in-water method to synthesize single-walled carbon nanohorns: Influence of water temperature

The method to synthesize single-walled carbon nanohorns (SWCNHs) using gas-injected arc in water (GI-AIW) has been experimentally studied. GI-AIW is known as one of the cost-effective methods to obtain SWCNHs. It was revealed that the yield of SWCNHs significantly decreases with the increase in water temperature although the purity of SWCNHs is not dependent on the temperature change. Then the model of relevant reactions in the GI-AIW system was proposed by accounting the emission of carbon vapor, formation of SWCNHs, and diffusion of water vapor in three zones inside the cathode hole (arc plasma zone, quenching zone, and downstream zone). The side reaction between H2O and C produces H2 gas and consumes a certain amount of carbon vapor, resulting in the hindered SWCNH formation. Moreover the observation of the optical spectra emitting from the arc plasma zone strongly supported that the H2 generating reaction does not occur at arc plasma zone since N2 flow can purge H2O out. The model proposed in this stu...

Effect of Fe/Fe2O3 loading on the catalytic activity of sulfonated single-walled carbon nanohorns for the esterification of palmitic acid

The effect of dispersion of Fe/Fe2O3 nanoparticles in sulfonated single-walled carbon nanohorns (SO3H/SWCNHs) on their catalytic activity for the esterification of palmitic acid was investigated. A gas-injected arc-in-water (GI-AIW) method was employed to initially synthesize SWCNHs dispersed with iron nanoparticles (Fe-SWCNHs). The Fe-loading amount in the Fe-SWCNHs was varied by changing the number of Fe wires inserted in an anode. The results showed that Fe-loading amount proportionally increased from 6 to 13 wt% with an increase in the number of Fe wires. The surfaces of the Fe-SWCNHs were functionalized with acid functional groups by two sequential steps: impregnation of sulphuric acid and calcination in air. From the characterization results, their acid site concentrations were estimated to be 5.6–8.5 mmol g−1, suggesting that the catalyst was a solid superacid catalyst. XRD analyses indicated that most of the Fe was transformed to α-Fe2O3. The catalytic activity of the SO3H/Fe-SWCNHs for the esterification of palmitic acid was evaluated to investigate the influence of the Fe-loading on their catalytic activity. The results showed that the yield of methyl palmitate was significantly enhanced by an increase in the Fe-loading amount. It was discovered that the catalytic activity and the magnetic susceptibility of SO3H/Fe-SWCNHs can be preserved during repeated use, if the Fe-loading amount is large enough.