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Search results for: waste materials
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Methods of liquid biofuels production - the bioethanol example.
PublicationEthanol is used in chemical and food industry, mainly either in the synthesis or as a solvent. The newest application of ethanol is as a fuel. This alcohol, produced on an industrial scale from crop waste, is widely known under the name bioethanol. It could be used as a fuel by itself or in a mixture with gasoline. Today, there are several technologies for bioethanol production known. The relatively simple method of obtaining bioethanol...
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METHODS OF LIQUID BIOFUEL PRODUCTION – THE BIOETHANOL EXAMPLE
PublicationEthanol is used in chemical and food industry, mainly either in the synthesis or as a solvent. The newest application of ethanol is as a fuel. This alcohol, produced on an industrial scale from crop waste, is widely known under the name bioethanol. It could be used as a fuel by itself or in a mixture with gasoline. Today, there are several technologies for bioethanol production known. The relatively simple method of obtaining bioethanol...
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Hydraulic conductivity of a biopolymer treated sand
PublicationThis paper presents results of laboratory assessment of creating seepage barriers in a sandy soil using biopolymer additives (bio substance), which consist of polysaccharides and water. Polysaccharides strongly interact with water to produce a viscous suspension. The aim of the conducted work was to investigate the influence of a biosubstance employed in a highly permeable sandy soil. The amount of the biopolymer used in a sample...
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Rheological characteristics of oligomeric semiproducts gained via chemical degradation of polyurethane foam using crude glycerin in the presence of different catalysts
PublicationPolyurethane (PU) recycling is a topic of growing interest due to the increasing amount of polyurethane waste. The main purpose of polyurethane chemical recycling is to recover the starting polyol. In this study, a method of polyurethane thermochemical recycling, glycerolysis by means of crude glycerin, is proposed. This work presents a comparative study of commercial catalysts used in order to accelerate the decomposition process,...
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Hydraulic resistance analyses of selected elements of the prototype Stirling engine
PublicationThe paper presents the results of simulation tests of hydraulic resistance and temperature distribution of the prototype Stirling alpha engine supplied with waste heat. The following elements were analyzed: heater, regenerator and cooler. The engine uses compressed air as a working gas. Analyses were carried out for three working pressure values and different engine speeds. The work was carried out in order to optimize the configuration...
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Electrochemical detection of 4,4',5,5'-tetranitro-1H,1'H-2,2'-biimidazole on boron-doped diamond/graphene nanowall electrodes
PublicationWe present a promising approach to the electroanalytical detection of a specific nitroaromatic explosive in landfill leachates (LLs) that originated from a municipal solid waste plant. The paper is focused but not limited to the sensing of 4,4',5,5'-tetranitro-1H,1'H-2,2'-biimidazole (TNBI) using differential pulse voltammetry and cyclic voltammetry. Highly electroactive nanocarbon was applied to determine low concentrations of...
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A Theoretical and Experimental Study of Moderate Temperature Alfa Type Stirling Engines
PublicationThe Stirling engine is a device that allows conversion of thermal energy into mechanical energy with relatively high efficiency. Existing commercial designs are mainly based on the usage of high temperature heat sources, whose availability from renewable or waste heat sources is significantly lower than that of moderate temperature sources. The paper presents the results of experimental research on a prototype alpha type Stirling...
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AGREE—Analytical GREEnness Metric Approach and Software
PublicationGreen analytical chemistry focuses on making analytical procedures more environmentally benign and safer to humans. The amounts and toxicity of reagents, generated waste, energy requirements, the number of procedural steps, miniaturization, and automation are just a few of the multitude of criteria considered when assessing an analytical methodology’s greenness. The use of greenness assessment criteria requires dedicated tools. We...
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Influence of alkaline and oxidative pre-treatment of waste corn cobs on biohydrogen generation efficiency via dark fermentation
PublicationStages of waste corn cobs processing leading to the production of biohydrogen via dark fermentation are presented and discussed in this paper. Firstly, the effects of pretreatment conditions i.e. alkaline, alkaline-oxidizing and Fenton oxidizing pre-treatment of lignocellulosic biomass on the removal of lignin were examined. The solid residue obtained in the first stage was subjected to saccharification by means of enzymatic hydrolysis....
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Some geomechanical properties of a biopolymer treated medium sand
PublicationSome geomechanical properties of a biopolymer treated medium sand. This paper presents a laboratory assessment of geomechanical properties of sandy soil improved by biopolymer application. Additives (biosubstance) consist of polysaccharides and water. Biosubstance used in the project was xanthan gum, which comes from bacteria Xanthomonas campestris. Triaxial shear compression tests and unconfi ned compression tests were carried...
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The Influence of Low-Temperature Disintegration on the Co-Fermentation Process of Distillation Residue and Waste-Activated Sludge
Publication: Innovative low-temperature disintegration (process temperature 55 ◦C and oxygen concentration 0.2 mg/dm3 ) can be an economically rational technology to intensifying energy production from renewable sources. The proposed process can achieve a degree of disintegration—under optimal conditions—of about 50%, which is excellent when compared with other methods of feed pre-treatment. The low-temperature disintegration of distillation...
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Energy and valuable organic products recovery from anaerobic processes
PublicationChapter 8 contains: Introduction, Energy balance in wastewater treatment plants and potential energy recovery, Potential valuable products recovery, Anaerobic processes focused on liquid products recovery; Anaerobic digestion (AD) processes focused on gaseous products recovery, Processes enhancing energy and valuable organic products recovery, Conclusions and perspectives. Anaerobic processes offer different pathways for the recovery...
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Studies on the utilization of post-distillation liquid from Solvay process to carbon dioxide capture and storage
PublicationIn this work, a method of precipitated calcium carbonate production from the post-distillation liquid created in the Solvay process and waste carbon dioxide was proposed and investigated. Precipitation was carried out in a model solution of calcium chloride containing ammonia at various molar ratios in relation to Ca2+ ions, while gaseous carbon dioxide was supplied to the reactor as a pure gas or as a mixture with air. It was...
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Characterization of volatile compounds, structural, thermal and physico-mechanical properties of cross-linked polyethylene foams degraded thermo-mechanically at variable times
PublicationWaste cross-linked polyethylene foam (wXLPE) was thermo-mechanically degraded at variable time using internal batch mixer. The progress of wXLPE degradation has been investigated by using a simultaneous thermogravimetric/differential scanning calorimetry analyzer coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, swelling measurements, tensile tests and scanning electron microscopy. Volatile organic compounds generated during...
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Recycling of photovoltaic modules - legal status, technology, market prospects
PublicationThe increase in the number of manufactured and installed photovoltaic modules and the growing concern about the insufficient supply of pure silicon imply the need to take action to develop infrastructure for recycling PV modules. The article presents a multifaceted analysis of the current state of development of the photovoltaic module recycling sector from a global and national perspective. The essence of the issue was introduced...
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A prototype information system for managing and pricing e-waste
PublicationThere is no doubt that innovation drives development in all areas of human activity, including electrical and electronic equipment. However, the production of new equipment has a significant impact on the natural environment and a relatively high consumption of natural resources. To address these issues, the circular economy has been implemented in recent years by promoting and introducing numerous measures to facilitate the recycling...
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Concentration and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in surface soil near a municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill
PublicationDue to a continuous demand of land for infrastructural and residential development there is a public concern about the condition of surface soil near municipal solid waste landfills. A total of 12 surface (0–20 cm) soil samples from a territory near a landfill were collected and the concentration of 16 PAHs and 7 PCB congeners were investigated in these samples. Limits of detection were in the range of 0.038–1.2 μg/kg for PAHs...
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Studies on applicability of new solid-phase microextraction fibers for the selective extraction and determination of short - chain monocarboksylic acids
PublicationShort-chain monocarobxylic acids, sometimes referred to as volatile fatty acids (VFA), are a group of low molecular weight alkyl monocarboxylic acids that are widely distributed within the environment. These molecules contain any from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and originate from the anaerobic biodegradation of organic matter such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. These compounds are commonly found in the effluents from animal farming,...
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Extraction with environmentally friendly solvents
PublicationThe ever-increasing demand for determining compounds at low concentration levels in complex matrices requires a preliminary step of analytes isolation/enrichment in order to employ a detection technique characterized by high sensitivity at low LOQ. Sample preparation is considered as crucial part of analytical procedures. Previously the parameter of “greenness” is as important as selectivity in order to avoid using harmful organic...
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Structural Assessment of Reinforced Concrete Beams Incorporating Waste Plastic Straws
PublicationThe behavior of reinforced concrete beams containing fibers made of waste plastic straws (WPSs) under the three point bending test is examined. The effect of WPS fiber addition on the compressive and split tensile strength is reported. Four concrete mixes were prepared. The control mix PS-0 had a proportion of 1 cement: 1 sand: 2 coarse aggregate and a water cement ratio of 0.4. In the other three mixes PS-0.5, PS-1.5 and PS-3,...
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Copper Slag as a Potential Waste Filler for Polyethylene-Based Composites Manufacturing
PublicationThe present study aimed to analyze the application of waste material from copper production– copper slag (ŻŻL) as filler for composites based on the high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Copper slag filler was introduced in the amounts of 1–20 wt%, and its influence on the appearance (color analysis), chemical structure (Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy), microstructure (optical microscopy), as well as static (tensile...
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Mass Spectrometry-Based Direct Analytical Techniques
PublicationDirect analysis of samples is considered as one of the most environmentally sustainable solutions in analytical chemistry. In the ideal case, such solutions do not require sample preparation and analytes separation steps, therefore do not consumpt harmful substances (or consumpt only minimum amounts of them) and do not generate hazardous waste. Technical solutions for direct analysis also offer miniaturized and field-portable analyzers...
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Ammonia amendment promotes high rate lactate production and recovery from semi-continuous food waste fermentation
PublicationIn this study, a reliable approach using ammonia nitrogen was proposed to increase lactate production during semi-continuous food waste (FW) fermentation under mesophilic conditions. Both free ammonia nitrogen (FAN) and ammonium ion (NH4+-N) were present in mesophilic reactors, with a wide FAN/NH4+-N ratio variation due to the intermittent pH control. The investigation of responsible mechanisms revealed that the increased production...
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THE THERMODYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF THE SZEWALSKI HIERARCHIC VAPOUR CYCLE COOPERATED WITH THE SYSTEM OF HEAT RECOVERY
PublicationIn this paper, thermodynamic analysis of the Szewalski hierarchic vapour cycle cooperated with the system of heat recovery from exhaust gases are presented. According to that purpose, the CFM (Computation Flow Mechanics [1,3]) approach has correctly been used. The whole system consists of the first traditional steam cycle, the second organic Rankine cycle (ORC) and system of heat recovery with use of water with temperature 90...
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Hydrogen production from ethanol In nitrogen microwave plasma At atmospheric pressure
PublicationHydrogen seems to be one of the most promising alternative energy sources. It is a renewable fuel as it could be produced from e.g. waste or bio-ethanol. Furthermore hydrogen is compatible with fuel cells and is environmentally clean. In contrast to conventional methods of hydrogen production such as water electrolysis or coal gasification we propose a method based on atmospheric pressure microwave plasma. In this paper we present...
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Cast polyurethanes obtained from reactive recovered polyol intermediates via crude glycerine decomposition process
PublicationIn this work, the possibility of applying intermediates from polyurethane waste recycling in polyurethane synthesis was presented. Polyurethanes were synthesised in a two-step method using a mixture of petrochemical polyol and glycerolysate, used as a reactive component, 4,4-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) and 1,4-buthanediol (BD). Glycerolysates were produced during decomposition of polyurethane elastomer by crude glycerine...
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Elementary analysis and energetic potential of the municipal sewage sludges from the Gdańsk and Kościerzyna WWTPs
PublicationThis paper aims to present municipal sewage sludge (MSS) elementary analysis and energetic potential based on measurement of heat of combustion (higher heating value HHV) and calculation of calorific values (lower heating value LHV). The analysis takes into the consideration water content in sewage sludge, at different utilization stages, in wastewater treatment plants in Gdańsk Wschód and Kościerzyna – Pomeranian Voivodeship....
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Evaluation of Health Hazard Due to Emission of Volatile Organic Compounds from Various Processing Units of Wastewater Treatment Plant
PublicationThe paper describes an attempt at health risk assessment and odour concentration determination in the most important units of a wastewater treatment plant. The cancer risk (CR) and hazard index (HI) parameters in selected measurement locations were calculated based on the results of chromatographic analyses (GCxGC-TOF-MS) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) guidelines. No exceedance of the CR and HI acceptable...
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Application of BDD thin film electrode for electrochemical decomposition of heterogeneous aromatic compounds
PublicationThe aim of the presented study is to investigate the applicability of electrochemical oxidation of aromatic compounds containing heteroatoms, e.g. waste from production of pesticides or pharmaceutics, at a borondoped diamond (BDD) electrode. The BDD electrodes were synthesized by microwave plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (MW PE CVD). Investigation of the electrode surface by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy...
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Stone cutting industry waste-supported zinc oxide nanostructures for ultrasonic assisted decomposition of an anti-inflammatory non-steroidal pharmaceutical compound
PublicationPowdered stone waste (PSW) obtained from a stone cutting industrial unit was applied as support for the immobilization of nano-sized ZnO to be utilized as an effective catalyst for the catalytic conversion of acetaminophen (ACE) under ultrasonication. The incorporation of ZnO nanostructures into PSW structure enhanced the specific surface area and pore volume of the as-prepared nanocompound. The change in the value of zero point...
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Thermal-Hydraulic Studies on the Shell-and-Tube Heat Exchanger with Minijets
PublicationIn this paper a patented design of a heat exchanger with minijets, with a cylindrical construction is presented. It is followed by the results of its systematic experimental investigations in the single-phase convection heat transfer mode. Based on these results, validation of selected correlations (coming from the literature) describing the Nusselt number was carried out. An assessment of the heat exchange intensification level...
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Reactive Sintering of Ground Tire Rubber (GTR) Modified by a Trans-Polyoctenamer Rubber and Curing Additives
PublicationThe proposed method of ground tire rubber (GTR) utilization involves the application of trans-polyoctenamer rubber (TOR), a commercially available waste rubber modifier. The idea was to investigate the influence of various curing additives (sulfur, N-cyclohexyl-2-benzothiazole sulfenamide (CBS), dibenzothiazole disulfide (MBTS) and di-(2-ethyl)hexylphosphorylpolysulfide (SDT)) on curing characteristics, physico-mechanical, thermal,...
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Energy Losses Due to Imperfect Payment Infrastructure and Payment Instruments
PublicationOne of the strategic objectives of the European Union is a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and improvement of energy efficiency by at least 32.5% in different areas of the economy by 2030. However, little is known about the impact of payment in retail on energy consumption. The purpose of this paper is to assess the chain of losses of time and energy, and therefore financial losses, that occur due to the imperfection of payment...
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DIGITAL HYDRAULICS CIRCUIT BASED ON PWM FUNCTION FOR CONTROLLING HYDRAULIC ACTUATOR POSITION
PublicationHydraulic systems are used in many different industries, such as multi-source hydrostatic drive systems. In traditional hydraulic systems, a proportional servo valve is used to control the position of hydraulic actuators. The low energy efficiency and high cost of these control valves are two major problems with these systems. Digital hydraulics is one of the most unique ideas on how to solve these problems. Researchers like digital...
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Synthesis of eosin modified TiO2 film with co-exposed {001} and {101} facets for photocatalytic degradation of para-aminobenzoic acid and solar H2 production
PublicationOwing to the increasing photosensitivity and DNA damage properties of para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), concerns have been raised over the exposure of humans to PABA. Solar light-driven photocatalysis (SPC) provides a promising solution for the effective removal of organic pollutants especially when directed towards sulfate radical (SO4−) production. Herein, we have developed a sulfite-enhanced SPC using Eosin-Y sensitized TiO2/Ti...
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Mesophilic and thermophilic dark fermentation course analysis using sensor matrices and chromatographic techniques
PublicationProduction of biofuels from biomass is expected to benefit the society and the environment. At present, bio waste residues processing includes hydrolysis, dark fermentation, photofermentation, pyrolysis, gasification, and chemical synthesis. As the composition and the chemical structure of organic substances affect the efficiency of mentioned processes, it is believed that the glucose concentration is a crucial parameter for the...
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Removal of cyclohexane vapors from air in biotrickling filters: Effects of gas mixture composition and circular economy approach
PublicationThis work presents results of investigations on biotrickling filtration of air polluted with cyclohexane co-treated in binary, ternary and quaternary volatile organic compounds (VOCs) mixtures, including vapors of hexane, toluene and ethanol. The removal of cyclohexane from a gas mixture depends on the physicochemical properties of the co-treated VOCs and the lower the hydrophobicity of the VOC, the higher the removal efficiency...
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Evaluation of structural change during fast transformation process of cross-linked NR into liquid NR by light pyrolysis
PublicationThe presence of cross-linked networks in rubber creates a tremendous problem for recycling and reusing of waste rubber. Fast transformation of cross-linked natural rubber (NR) into liquid natural rubber was carried out by light pyrolysis in temperature range from 240 to 300 °C in variable time (in range: 1–30 min). The transformation efficiency was evaluated by measuring the sol fraction and the cross-link density of the gel fraction....
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Heterotrophic Anodic Denitrification in Microbial Fuel Cells
PublicationNowadays, pollution caused by energy production systems is a major environmental concern. Therefore, the development of sustainable energy sources is required. Amongst others, the microbial fuel cell (MFC) seems to be a possible solution because it can produce clean energy at the same time that waste is stabilized. Unfortunately, mainly due to industrial discharges, the wastes could contain nitrates, or nitrates precursors such...
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Reinforcing and plasticizing effects of reclaimed rubber on the vulcanization and properties of natural rubber
PublicationThe production of high-added value reclaimed rubber (RR) is of great signifi-cance for the sustainability of rubber industries. To green recycle waste rub-bers and broaden the application of RR, a RR material with potentialreinforcing and plasticizing effects on nature rubber (NR) composites are pre-pared by a thermo-oxidative reclamation process. The reclamation degree ofRR is controlled by adjusting the content of soybean oil....
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Assessing ecotoxicity, synergic and antagonistic actions of commonly used components of polymerization mixture in molecularly imprinted polymers preparation process
PublicationIncreasingly, the challenge is the optimal process of developing a suitable MIP-type sorptive material (taking into account its final form and application area), which is mainly related to the efficiency/effectiveness of the polymerization process. The lack of reaction or its low efficiency generates additional waste and puts it into the environmental cycle. The main aim of the performed research was the estimation of ecotoxicity,...
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Evaluation of Terpene Decomposition in Kaffir Lime Juice during Storage Using Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry and Proton Transfer Reaction–Mass Spectrometry
PublicationKaffir lime juice, often treated as production waste, can be a good source of terpenes. These compounds undergo various decomposition processes under the influence of external factors, especially during transportation and storage. In this paper, it was possible to monitor changes in the terpene profile of kaffir lime juice under different storage conditions, namely, 4 ◦C, 20 ◦C, and 35 ◦C. The identification of key decomposition...
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Design analysis of combined gas-vapour micro power plant with 30 kW air turbine
PublicationThe article presents basic results of the design analysis of a combined gas-vapour micro power plant with a waste-heat boiler without exhaust reheat, working in the vapour section in the Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) system. The analysis concerned working media most frequently used in those types of power plants and planned to be used in future. The object of the analysis was a micro power plant with a 30 kW gas (air) turbine for...
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Design analysis of combined gas-vapour micro power plant with 30 kW air turbine
PublicationThe article presents basic results of the design analysis of a combined gas-vapour micro power plant with a waste-heat boiler without exhaust reheat, working in the vapour section in the Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) system. The analysis concerned working media most frequently used in those types of power plants and planned to be used in future. The object of the analysis was a micro power plant with a 30 kW gas (air) turbine for...
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Possibility to use engine compression ignition engines in floating power plants marine
PublicationCompression-ignition engines used in ship technology as main propulsion engines are large units reaching even to 50-60 MW. The engines can be used in power industry for electricity generation in a simple or combined steam turbine system in combined heat and power plants. The leading engine in such an arrangement is an internal-combustion piston engine. The main propulsion engines are used in large piston internal-combustion engines...
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Feasibility of combined diesel engine - steam turbine in power station operating in the maritime
PublicationCompression-ignition engines used in ship technology as main propulsion engines are large units reaching even to 50-60 MW. Currently, the efficiency of such engines amounts to 45-50%. With such a large power unit, exhaust gases leaving the engine contain very large quantities of heat available for further treatment. Exhaust gases from the piston engine contain about 25% of the heat supplied to the engine in the fuel. Using the...
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The influence of different glycerine purities on chemical recycling process of polyurethane waste and resulting semi‐products
PublicationChemical recycling is the most favourable recycling method due to the possibility of polyol recovery. This work is dedicatedto the utilisation of crude glycerine and polyurethane waste. It aims at determining the impact of the use of glycerine fromthe production of biodiesel with various degrees of purity as a cleavage agent on the decomposition process of polyurethanefoam. The influence of glycerine purit y on the chemical structure...
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Application of multivariate statistics in assessment of green analytical chemistry parameters of analytical methodologies
PublicationThe study offers a multivariate statistical analysis of a dataset, including the major metrological, “greenness” and methodological parameters of 43 analytical methodologies applied for aldrin determination (a frequently analyzed organic compound) in water samples. The variables (parameters) chosen were as follows: metrological (LOD, recovery, RSD), describing the “greenness” (amount of the solvent used, amount of waste generated)...
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Landfill leachates and wastewater of maritime origin as possible sources of endocrine disruptors in municipal wastewater
PublicationIn this study, wastewater from municipal services, such as a port wastewater reception facility (PRF-WW) and a municipal solid waste plant (MSWP), was tested for the presence of the suspected endocrine-disrupting compounds phthalates (PAEs) and bisphenol A (BPA). PAEs and BPA were found in this study in high concentrations in raw wastewater obtained from passenger ships (RMT-WWs) (up to 738 μg/L and 957 μg/L, respectively) collected...
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Nanostructure of the laser-modified transition metal nanocomposites for water splitting
PublicationAlthough hydrogen is considered by many to be the green fuel of the future, nowadays it is primarily produced through steam reforming, which is a process far from ecological. Therefore, emphasis is being put on the development of electrodes capable of the efficient production of hydrogen and oxygen from water. To make the green alternative possible, the solution should be cost-efficient and well processable, generating less waste...