Abstract in English:

Addition of lactose on whey to produce an alcoholic product by fermentation is optimized in order to maximise final ethanol concentrations and lactose consumption. The effect of the supplementation of the broth with yeast extract, ammonium sulphate, oxygen, protein, peptides and the vitamins nicotinic acid, biotin, pantothenic acid and inositol on aerobic cell growth was also studied. The Crabtree-negative yeast Kluyveromyces marxianus is employed in this study, so oxygen should enhance cell growth and reduce ethanol production. Addition of yeast extract, a source of vitamins, shifts metabolism towards fermentation. The same effect is observed when nicotinic acid and biotin are added to the medium. Individual and mixed effects of the four assayed vitamins are studied, showing that combinations of two or more vitamins diminished cell growth and lactose consumption and increased ethanol production.

Abstract in English:

This work presents an experimental and theoretical investigation of anaerobic fluidized bed reactors (AFBRs). The bioreactors are modeled as dynamic three-phase systems. Biochemical transformations are assumed to occur only in the fluidized bed zone. The biofilm process model is coupled to the system hydrodynamic model through the biofilm detachment rate; which is assumed to be a first-order function of the energy dissipation parameter and a second order function of biofilm thickness. Non-active biomass is considered to be particulate material subject to hydrolysis. The model includes the anaerobic conversion for complex substrate degradation and kinetic parameters selected from the literature. The experimental set-up consisted of two mesophilic (36±1ºC) lab-scale AFBRs (R1 and R2) loaded with sand as inert support for biofilm development. The reactor start-up policy was based on gradual increments in the organic loading rate (OLR), over a four month period. Step-type disturbances were applied on the inlet (glucose and acetic acid) substrate concentration (chemical oxygen demand (COD) from 0.85 to 2.66 g L-1) and on the feed flow rate (from 3.2 up to 6.0 L d-1) considering the maximum efficiency as the reactor loading rate switching. The predicted and measured responses of the total and soluble COD, volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations, biogas production rate and pH were investigated. Regarding hydrodynamic and fluidization aspects, variations of the bed expansion due to disturbances in the inlet flow rate and the biofilm growth were measured. As rate coefficients for the biofilm detachment model, empirical values of 3.73⋅10(4) and 0.75⋅10(4) s² kg-1 m-1 for R1 and R2, respectively, were estimated.

Abstract in English:

Most works reported in the literature focus on thermal treatment of waste activated sludge at temperatures in the range of 160 to 180ºC. This research aimed at evaluating the thermal treatment of excess anaerobic sludge at much lower temperatures, using biogas generated in the wastewater treatment process as the energy source for heating a simplified thermal reactor. Direct burning of the biogas allowed an increase in the sludge temperature up to values close to 75ºC, for a 7-hour heating period. Sludge samples taken at different heating times showed that the thermal disintegration of the organic fraction allowed increases in the concentration of protein, carbohydrate, lipid and COD parameters by 30 to 35 times, as well as a 50% increase in the biogas production. Moreover, the simplified thermal treatment system proved to be an effective alternative for recovering energy from biogas and for controlling methane emissions to the atmosphere.

Abstract in English:

Catalytic ozonation has been recognized in the scientific community as an efficient technique, reaching elevated rates of recalcitrant organic material mineralization, even at the presence of scavenger species of hydroxyl free radicals. This study presents the most significant factors involving the leachate treatment stabilized by the municipal landfill of the city of Guaratinguetá, State of São Paulo, Brazil, by using a catalytic ozonation activated by metallic ions Fe3+, Zn2+, Mn2+, Ni2+ and Cr3+. The Taguchi L16 orthogonal array and its associated statistical methods were also used in this study. Among the researched ions, the most notable catalysis was obtained with ferric ion, statistically significant in the reduction of COD with a confidence level of 99.5%.

Abstract in English:

In the present work, a synthetic effluent of phenol was treated by means of a total oxidation process-Catalyzed Wet Oxidation (CWO). A mixed oxide of Mn-Ce (7:3), the catalyst, was synthesized by co-precipitation from an aqueous solution of MnCl2 and CeCl3 in a basic medium. The mixed oxide, MnO2/CeO2, was characterized and used in the oxidation of phenol in a slurry reactor in the temperature range of 80-130ºC and pressure of 2.04-4.76 MPa. A phenol solution containing 2.4-dichlorophenol and 2.4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid was also degraded with good results. A lumped kinetic model, with two parallel reaction steps, fits precisely with the integrated equation and the experimental data. The kinetic parameters obtained are in agreement with the Arrhenius equation. The activation energies were determined to be 38.4 for the total oxidation and 53.4 kJ/mol for the organic acids formed.

Abstract in English:

In this study, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) such as the UV/H2O2 and Fenton processes were investigated for the degradation of 2-hydroxybenzoic acid (2-HBA) in lab-scale experiments. Different [H2O2]/[2-HBA] molar ratios and pH values were used in order to establish the most favorable experimental conditions for the Fenton process. For comparison purposes, degradation of 2-HBA was carried out by the UV/H2O2 process under Fenton experimental conditions. The study showed that the Fenton process (a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and Fe2+ ion) was the most effective under acidic conditions, leading to the highest rate of 2-hydroxybenzoic acid degradation in a very short time interval. This same process led to a six-fold acceleration of the oxidation rate compared with the UV/H2O2 process. The degradation of 2-hydroxybenzoic acid was found to follow first-order kinetics and to be influenced by the type of process and the experimental conditions. The experimental results showed that the most favorable conditions for 2-HBA degradation by the Fenton process are pH around 4-5, [Fe2+] = 0.6 mmol.L-1, and [H2O2]/[2-HBA] molar ratio = 7. The hydroxylation route is explained here for the two processes, and the results are discussed in the light of literature information.

Abstract in English:

Results of experiments on the influence of technological parameters (intensity of vibration, granulation of the liquid feed, temperature of fluidization agent) on the change of size distribution, as well as mass mean diameter of the milk powder particles subjected to the wet granulation process (agglomeration) in a vibro-fluidized bed granulator are shown in this paper. Using water as a granulation liquid and air as a fluidization agent, it was found that mass mean diameter increases with increase of water feed, intensity of vibration, and decrease of air temperature. Increasing the intensity of vibration and decreasing the air temperature, primarily induces the increase of the dimensions of the initial nuclei. This can be explained on the basis of different influences that these changes (velocity of particle motion, intensity of particle collision, drying rate) have on the coalescence of particles with smaller and/or bigger dimensions.

Abstract in English:

Mass transfer across a gas-liquid interface was studied theoretically and experimentally, using transfer of oxygen into water as the gas-liquid system. The experimental results support the conclusions of a theoretical description of the concentration field that uses random square waves approximations. The effect of diffusion over the concentration records was quantified. It is shown that the peak of the normalized rms concentration fluctuation profiles must be lower than 0.5, and that the position of the peak of the rms value is an adequate measure of the thickness of the diffusive layer. The position of the peak is the boundary between the regions more subject to molecular diffusion or to turbulent transport of dissolved mass.

Abstract in English:

Industrial applications that involve fluidized bed operations must prevent the undesirable phenomenon of partial or complete bed defluidization. Defluidization can be avoided by increasing the gas velocity and/or, in some cases, changing the solid feed conditions in the system, provided that the changes in the hydrodynamics of the flow are detected early enough. The use of a technique that can perform an early detection of the defluidization condition in industrial applications is important, in order to avoid the loss of efficiency or even an undesirable shutting down of the process. The objective of this work is to show the application of a method for early detection of the condition where the bed is tending to the defluidization, in a gas-solid fluidized bed flow. The method is based on pressure fluctuation measurements. Experimental tests are carried out using two solid particles: microcrystalline cellulose and sand. Results show that the proposed method is efficient in detecting the fluidization condition in a conventional bubbling bed regime. The potential of application of the technique is also shown for the control of the defluidization phenomenon in industry.

Abstract in English:

This work is aimed at modeling the heat transfer mechanism in a fluidized bed of grass seeds (Brachiaria brizantha) for supporting further works on simulating the drying of these seeds in such a bed. The three-phase heat transfer model, developed by Vitor et al. (2004), is the one used for this proposal. This model is modified to uncouple one of the four adjusted model parameters from the gas temperature. Using the first set of experiments, carried out in a laboratory scale batch fluidized bed, the four adjusted model parameters are determined, generating the heat transfer coefficient between particles and gas phase, as well as the heat transfer coefficient between the column wall and ambient air. The second set of experiments, performed in the same unit at different conditions, validates the modified model.

Abstract in English:

Metastable-to-stable transformation in oxides is always associated with drastic reduction in surface area and/or porosity. Therefore, all earlier efforts to stabilize the pore structure of oxides undergoing a metastable-to-stable phase transformation are interesting for both scientific and technological concerns. This work presents a new experimental technique for catalytic oxide production through sonication in acid solution for attainment of the anatase-rutile transformation. Mesoporous structure of titania and surface area were stabilized in the rutile phase after calcinations at 430 and 730ºC. Analysis by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and nitrogen isotherms showed that the mesoporous structure was preserved after calcinations. After the sonication of titania for 32 hours, rutile phase was obtained at 730ºC and still kept a surface area of 28m²/g. When sonicated for 64 h, rutile was obtained at 430ºC, still preserving an area of 52m²/g.

Abstract in English:

Perovskite-type mixed conducting oxides of SrCo1-ySc yO3-δ (y=0.02-0.7) were synthesized by a combined EDTA-citrate complexing method. Different scandium doping concentrations in SrCo1-ySc yO3-δ have significant effects on the phase structure, electrical conductivity, surface properties and oxygen permeation behaviour of the resultant membranes. SrCoO3-δ without scandium incorporation displayed a 2H BaNiO3-type structure with almost zero oxygen flux at high temperatures. Small amounts of Sc2O3 doping (y<0.1) efficiently stabilized the oxide in a cubic perovskite structure, leading to a sharp increase in the permeation flux, with a maximum value of 3.1ml.cm-2.min-1 achieved at 900ºC for SrCo0.95Sc0.05O3-δ and SrCo0.9Sc0.1O3-δ membranes. The permeation process could be rate-limited by either the oxygen bulk diffusion, oxygen surface exchange, or a combination of both depending on the scandium doping level. Further increases of the Sc3+ doping concentration (y>0.1) were found to lower the membrane oxygen fluxes, with y³≥0.4 doped SrCo1-ySc yO3-δ ceramics no longer showing any oxygen permeation.

Abstract in English:

Filtering hydrocyclone is a device that was developed and patented by the Particulate System Research Group at the Federal University of Uberlandia. This equipment consists of a hydrocyclone whose conical section is replaced by a conical filtering wall. Thus, during the operation of these devices, besides the underflow and overflow streams, there is another stream of liquid, resulting from the filtrate produced in the porous cone. In the present work, the influence of some geometric variables of a filtering hydrocyclone was analyzed by an experimental and CFD study. The geometric variables analyzed were underflow orifice diameter (D U) and vortex finder length (ℓ). Data from a conventional hydrocyclone of the same configuration were also obtained. The results indicated that the performance of hydrocyclones is significantly influenced by the conical filtering wall. The incorporation of the filtering medium decreased the Euler numbers and increased the total efficiency of the hydrocyclones. Depending on the specific functions of the separator (as a classifier or concentrator) the best values of D U and ℓ were also found for the filtering hydrocyclone.

Abstract in English:

Under certain conditions, a fully developed turbulent flow in a straight pipe may show a secondary flow; for instance, when non-circular cross-section or non-uniform wall roughness around the perimeter of the duct are considered. In horizontal pipe particle-laden gas flow, the non-uniform forcing of the flow by the solids entrained in the gas core may also drive a secondary flow, even with uniform wall roughness along the circumferential direction. In this paper, the effects of wall roughness, particle size and particle mass loading ratio on the secondary flow developing in a horizontal pipe of circular cross-section under turbulent conditions are analysed. The computations are based on the Euler-Lagrange approach accounting for wall roughness and inter-particle collisions (i.e., four-way coupling). In the case of inertial particles, if inter-particle collisions are disregarded, the secondary flow consists of two recirculation cells with an upward flow near the vertical (symmetry) axis and a downward flow close to the walls. On the other hand, when inter-particle collisions are accounted for, the pattern depends on the particle concentration profile: with relatively smooth walls (low roughness), two recirculation cells are found, but with rough walls four recirculation cells are generated. For smaller particles, a transition between two and four recirculation cells in the secondary flow is observed by increasing the mass loading ratio.

Abstract in English:

Partial Feed simulating moving bed (SMB) has proved to be more efficient in binary separation performance (purity, recovery, productivity) because of its two additional degrees of freedom, namely feed length and feed time, as compared to classical SMB process. The binary separation of dextran T6 and fructose with linear isotherm is modeled with Aspen Chromatography simulator in a four zone SMB with one column per zone for both normal-feed and Partial Feed. Increase in number of feed length and feed time in the cycle plays a very important role in the separation performance with Partial Feed. In addition, the effect of mode of operation (early or late introduction of increase in number of feed length in the cycle) on product purity and recovery is also investigated. Furthermore, the binary separation system is designed with the safety margin method and the optimum operating parameters for simulation are calculated with triangle theory. Finally, a new strategy with Partial Feed is developed, showing improved separation performance relative to the basic four-zone SMB with regard to extract stream purity and recovery. The results of the proposed study can served as a useful summary of Partial Feed operation.

Abstract in English:

An experimental and theoretical study is presented for the fractionation of L-Tryptophan (Trp) from L-phenylalanine (Phe) and L-tyrosine (Tyr). A Simulated-Moving Bed (SMB) with four-column system was tested, and the results are presented as effluent histories of the raffinate and extract ports. L-phenylalanine and L-tyrosine were recovered as major products in the raffinate, while L-Tryptophan was recovered at the extract. To simulate the L-Tryptophan separation, a general rate model was used to represent the mass transfer phenomena that occur in each individual column of the SMB, for each solute present in the multicomponent system. A hybrid method was used to solve the model. An analytic solution was used for the intra-particle concentration, and was correlated to the liquid bed concentration by Duhamel's theorem. The results from simulation are compared with the experimental data presented in this work.

Abstract in English:

Several tests with a hydrocarbon mixture of known composition (C8-C14), obtained from DETEN Chemistry S.A., have been performed in a laboratory distillation column, having 40mm of nominal diameter and 2.2m high, with internals of Sulzer DX gauze stainless steel structured packing. The main purpose of this work was to evaluate HETP of a structured packing laboratory scale distillation column, operating continuously. Six HETP correlations available in the literature were compared in order to find out which is the most appropriate for structured packing columns working with medium distillates. Prior to the experimental tests, simulation studies using commercial software PRO/II® were performed in order to establish the optimum operational conditions for the distillation, especially concerning operating pressure, top and bottom temperatures, feed location and reflux ratio. The results of PRO/II® were very similar to the analysis of the products obtained during continuous operation, therefore permitting the use of the properties calculated by that software on the theoretical models investigated. The theoretical models chosen for HETP evaluation were: Bravo, Rocha and Fair (1985); Rocha, Bravo and Fair (1993, 1996); Brunazzi and Pagliant (1997); Carlo, Olujić and Pagliant (2006); Olujić et al., (2004). Modifications concerning calculation of specific areas were performed on the correlations in order to fit them for gauze packing HETP evaluation. As the laboratory distillation column was operated continuously, different HETP values were found by the models investigated for each section of the column. The low liquid flow rates in the top section of the column are a source of error for HETP evaluation by the models; therefore, more reliable HETP values were found in the bottom section, in which liquid flow rates were much greater. Among the theoretical models, Olujić et al. (2004) has shown good results relative to the experimental tests. In addition, the former model by Bravo, Rocha and Fair (1985) underestimates HETP values; however, with the modifications proposed in this work, it has achieved more realistic performance prediction, remaining a good choice for gauze packing HETP evaluation. Having the advantage of avoiding the calculation of effective area and mass transfer coefficients, an empirical model proposed by Carrillo and coworkers (2000) was also investigated, showing low deviations compared to the theoretical models tested.