ChemECon - 2020

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://192.248.9.226/handle/123/17723

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Now showing 1 - 16 of 16

item: Conference-Extended-Abstract
ChemECon 2020 – Solutions Worth Spreading (Pre Text)
(Department of Chemical & Process Engineering University of Moratuwa, 2020-03) Rathnasiri, PG
item: Conference-Extended-Abstract
Process parameter estimation and temperature control of a reactor with high thermal inertia
(Department of Chemical & Process Engineering University of Moratuwa, 2020-03) Bandara, AMJN; Narayana, M; Rathnasiri, PG
This research was done for temperature control of a reactor with high thermal inertia. The reactor chamber temperature is required to be critically controlled at 3000C. A non-linear thermodynamic model was developed, and process parameters were estimated to comply with experimental data by numerical optimization. In practice, a single sensor control system is the only possible option for this reactor. Therefore, the cascade controller was implemented with a predicted temperature reading.
item: Conference-Extended-Abstract
Life cycle assessment-based process analysis for fuel-grade bioethanol production using rice straw
(Department of Chemical & Process Engineering University of Moratuwa, 2020-03) Jayasundara, PM; Jayasinghe, TK; Rathnayake, M; Rathnasiri, PG
Rice straw is a major biomass residue from rice cultivation, which reaches to a world average of 740 million tonnes/year generation. Open burning of rice straw in paddy fields is the common practice, which could result in an average greenhouse gas emission of 92 kg of CO2 eq/tonne of dry rice straw and other harmful airborne emissions. Existing studies indicate that bioethanol production from rice straw is more environmentally benign, compared to alternative options, such as gasification for combined heat and power generation and dimethyl-ether production. This study analyses the net energy indicators and carbon footprint of fuel-grade bioethanol production processes from rice straw comparing three dehydration techniques: 1. Extractive distillation, 2. Azeotropic distillation, and 3. Pressure swing distillation. Chemical process simulations using the Aspen Plus software were utilized to evaluate the bioethanol production process from rice straw, with a plant output capacity of 222 litres/hr of fuel-grade bioethanol (99.7 vol% ethanol). The results show that the most environmental benign dehydration technique is extractive distillation. The findings from this study can support decision making for future wasteto- biofuel plants using waste rice straw in the world.
item: Conference-Extended-Abstract
Optimization of rice straw pretreatment using hot water for energy generation
(Department of Chemical & Process Engineering University of Moratuwa, 2020-03) Anjana, MMK; Gunathilake, RANN; Gunarathne, RMDS; Rathnasiri, PG
Using rice straw for combustion in boilers has been quite effective and productive despite the drawbacks created by the ash content, which causes a range of severe ash related problems upon combustion such as slag formation, fouling, sintering and agglomeration. Here, hot water pretreatment of rice straw for ash removal has been studied using response surface methodology (RSM) and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) by varying temperature, washing time and water-tobiomass ratio as independent variables. After generating a mathematical model, operating conditions were optimized and the effect of water washing on the calorific value of rice straw was investigated.
item: Conference-Extended-Abstract
Effect of saltwater on cementitious capillary crystalline waterproofing
(Department of Chemical & Process Engineering University of Moratuwa, 2020-03) Gallage, KGCS; Jayanath, JHC; Kasun, NHT; Mallawarachchi, D; Amarasinghe, ADUS; Rathnasiri, PG
The present studies examine the performance of cementitious capillary crystalline waterproofing coating(CCCW) with Saltwater. As Sri Lanka is a developing country, many underground constructions are being built in coastal areas. This paper aims to review the waterproofing ability of coating on concrete with water, saltwater and seawater. As the main component of seawater is NaCl and the average salt concentration of seawater is 35000 ppm, different concentrations from 8750 ppm to 70000 ppm of saltwater samples are examined. Additionally, a seawater sample is examined as well. Existing results show that there is an effect from saltwater.
item: Conference-Extended-Abstract
Life cycle assessment of hydrogen production from waste-derived ammonia decomposition using metal catalysts
(Department of Chemical & Process Engineering University of Moratuwa, 2020-03) Wijayananda, MAL; Dilshani, WGA; Rathnayake, M; Rathnasiri, PG
Hydrogen is as an energy source with clean combustion. Conventional hydrogen production technologies from hydrocarbons could have carbon emissions in the fuel cells. Ammonia decomposition can be considered as a carbon-free method of hydrogen production. The objective of this study is to conduct a comparative life cycle assessment for scaled-up hydrogen production from waste-derived ammonia decomposition on Ru/Al2O3 and Ni/Al2O3 catalysts. The hydrogen production processes were scaled up using the process simulation technique. The simulated process data for both catalyst routes were applied to evaluate the net energy analysis and global warming potentials at the same unit basis. According to the obtained results, Ru/Al2O3 has the highest net energy indicators than the Ni/Al2O3. The conventional air stripping method for waste-derived ammonia production has a negative net energy value compared to the Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) process. Global Warming Potential (GWP) was calculated for both catalysts routes and the results show that both processes have close GWP values.
item: Conference-Extended-Abstract
Optimization of the torrefaction process for rubberwood
(Department of Chemical & Process Engineering University of Moratuwa, 2020-03) Supunsala, SDS; Abeysiriwardana, AMSW; Gunarathne, RMDS; Rathnasiri, PG
Biomass torrefaction is a thermochemical pretreatment process at a temperature range of 200-3000C in an inert environment. Moisture and hemicellulose are released during the process resulting in an energy densified solid fuel. In this research, rubberwood is used to make torrefied wood inside a batch reactor. Temperature and the residence time are the two operating variables optimized. 250, 275 and 300 are considered as the experimentation temperatures kept at residence times of 30, 45 and 60min. A mass loss of 12% for rubberwood was observed. It can be observed that the higher heating value (HHV) increases with the increase of torrefaction conditions. From the experimentation results it can be concluded that the torrefaction conditions of 3000C, 60min gives the optimum results.
item: Conference-Extended-Abstract
Techno economic and energy analysis of 2,5 dimethylfuran (dmf) production process from rice straw
(Department of Chemical & Process Engineering University of Moratuwa, 2020-03) Samarasekara, SMSP; Liyanage, KLCY; Hewage, NH; Subasinghe, SADT; Rathnasiri, PG
The objective of this research was to perform a process simulation for the production of DMF from rice straw and to analyze the process engineering aspects such as equipment type and catalysts to be used for the production of DMF from HMF. Furthermore, an economic analysis and an energy analysis were carried out for the plant. Eventually, energy indicators were calculated to showcase the economic feasibility of the plant.
item: Conference-Extended-Abstract
Performance of packed bed reactive distillation column
(Department of Chemical & Process Engineering University of Moratuwa, 2020-03) Kankanamge, ASSK; Malinda, JLC; Silva, EARM; Gunasekara, MY; Rathnasiri, PG
Lab-scale packed bed reactive distillation column was utilized to evaluate the performance of reactive distillation for the reaction between isopropyl alcohol and acetic acid. Two different packing materials and different bed heights were compared to obtain the optimum bed height and packing material for the chosen reaction. Glass Raschig rings and spherical shaped rubber were chosen as the packing materials. Experiments were conducted for the same batch time and desirable packing material and bed height was chosen according to the experiment results. It was indicated that the glass Raschig rings gave isopropyl acetate rich products.
item: Conference-Extended-Abstract
Effect of micro aeration on anaerobic treatment of sulphate and ammonia rich wastewater
(Department of Chemical & Process Engineering University of Moratuwa, 2020-03) Priyadarshika, SKMRP; Wittahachchi, RM; Costa, KPCL; Rathnasiri, PG; Rathnasiri, PG
Microaeration is a stratergy applied during anaerobic conversion to improve treatment efficicency. The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of microaeration on a combined effect of sulphate and ammonia present in latex wastewater. Wastewater obtained from skim latex processing plant contains high ammonia content apart from high sulphate oncentration. the latex wastewater was treated anaerobically in two sequential anaerobic reactors with two treatment steps and the reactors were semi continuously fed with hydraulic retention time(hrt) of 14 days. After 7 weeks of operation first reactor was microaerated using an oxygen permeable polymeric membrane. during micro aeration of latex wastewater sulphate and ammonia removed by sulphur reducing ammonium oxidation(srao) mechanism. Micraeration result in cod recduction enhancement by 24% in during first treatment step.
item: Conference-Extended-Abstract
Purification of automobile wastewater using fly ash-clay composite
(Department of Chemical & Process Engineering University of Moratuwa, 2020-03) Anushan, RGS; Dasanayake, PMK; Karunarathna, CNW; Amarasinghe, BMWPK; Rathnasiri, PG
The adsorbent fly ash-clay composite was tested for the treatment of automobile service station wastewater. Batch experiments were conducted to establish the adsorption column parameters which were optimum fly ash to clay ratio, kinetic data and adsorption isotherms. 2:1 fly ash to clay ratio was obtained with the highest adsorption capacity. Adsorption kinetics were best fitted into Pseudo second-order kinetic model giving a theoretical adsorption capacity of 156.25mg/g. Equilibrium kinetics data were fitted into Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and Dubinin-Radushkevich adsorption isotherms. Experimental data were best fitted to Langmuir adsorption isotherm showing a favorable adsorption.
item: Conference-Extended-Abstract
Life cycle assessment of single-use biodegradable bags produced from cornderived biopolymer
(Department of Chemical & Process Engineering University of Moratuwa, 2020-03) Jayasekara, JHAT; Surendra, YW; Rathnayake, M; Rathnasiri, PG
Single-use biodegradable bags have been recently introduced as an environmental-benign alternative to conventional plastics while addressing a prevailing global issue. Natural corn starch is often used as the key raw material due to the availability in large scale worldwide. Despite the view of the general public over biodegradable alternatives, existing studies regarding the life cycle emissions provide a result opposed to it as polythene is possible to recycle once or more. This study follows the cradle-to-gate life cycle approach focusing on the evaluation of environment emissions/eight impact potentials using the ReCiPe world (H) V1.12 impact assessment method in the SimaPro Life Cycle Assessment software while analysing the degradation pattern of each type with the aid of Scanning Electron Microscope. Key findings from this study quantify the current levels of environmental impacts that support future decision making for environmentally-benign innovative product from a possible alternative source.
item: Conference-Extended-Abstract
Tea waste impregnated with iron oxide nano-particles for dye removal from aqueous solutions
(Department of Chemical & Process Engineering University of Moratuwa, 2020-03) Madhubashani, AMP; Sewwandi, KMNS; Amarasinghe, BMWPK; Rathnasiri, PG
Textile dyes in wastewater can be removed by several methods including adsorption. In this study, batch experiments were conducted to determine the possibility of the removal of Basic Red 18 (BR18) textile dye from aqueous solutions using Magnetic Nanoparticles loaded Tea Waste (MNLTW). The effects of various parameters such as adsorbent dosage, solution pH, initial dye concentration and contact time were studied under room temperature and kinetic data were fitted to a pseudo second-order model. Experimental results indicated MNLTW is a potential substance that can be used for the removal of BR18 dye from wastewater.
item: Conference-Extended-Abstract
Investigation of the effect of solar irradiation and temperature on biomass production of h. pluvialis in photobioreactors under outdoor cultivation in Sri Lanka
(Department of Chemical & Process Engineering University of Moratuwa, 2020-03) Perera, ULMSM; Muthunayake, MKC; Madushanka, KWD; Ariyadasa, TU; Rathnasiri, PG
Complicated and changeable weather conditions and contamination from fungi, protozoa and bacteria increase difficulties in outdoor microalgae cultivation. In this paper, outdoor microalgae cultivation was investigated in Moratuwa city, Western province Sri Lanka. During December, when both the solar irradiation and temperature is high, the water spray system combined two agro shading nets, each with a shading rate of 40-50% can effectively reduce the temperature to 27±2 0C and control solar irradiation below 13500 lux in the 3 L vertical tubular photobioreactor. Under an initial biomass density of 0.2 g/l and an atmospheric air flowrate of 1 vvm, H. pluvialis had a maximum biomass accumulation of 0.45 g/l and the maximum specific growth rate of 0.020 g/l.day. In addition, reactor system and its design exhibited good performance, implying a potential scale- up opportunity.
item: Conference-Extended-Abstract
Process simulation-based performance analysis for large-scale co2 sequestration via indirect carbonation of coal fly ash
(Department of Chemical & Process Engineering University of Moratuwa, 2020-03) Senadeera, KR; Adikari, AMPD; Rathnayake, M; Rathnasiri, PG
Mineral carbonation of CO2 using coal fly ash (CFA) is identified as a promising way of mitigating carbon emissions safely and permanently with a low material cost. However, the available literature has been limited to laboratory scale studies. Thus, a process simulation-based analysis was conducted using the Aspen plus process simulation software for a large-scale CO2 sequestration process from CFA. Carbonation performance was analyzed against variation of several process conditions while validating the developed simulations with published experimental results. Regarding multiple column arrangements for the scaledup process, the simulation results showed that a parallel arrangement would be more effective in both CO2 sequestration performance and economic aspects.
item: Conference-Extended-Abstract
Effect of co-digestion on the lipid inhibition in anaerobic digestion of desiccated coconut wastewater
(Department of Chemical & Process Engineering University of Moratuwa, 2020) Anjana, WTC; Jayathunga, P; Rathnasiri, PG; Rathnasiri, PG
Seven anaerobic batch reactors were run varying the Desiccated Coconut wastewater (DC) to Food Waste (FW) ratio at room temperature and the daily gas production and CH4 content was determined. Mono digestion of DC wastewater with a lipid concentration of 1600 mg/L showed significant lipid inhibition. All the co-digestion experiments resulted in enhanced biogas production. The highest methane percentage of 78.19% was obtained in the reactor with the DC:FW ratio of 3:2. The results suggest that the application of co-digestion effectively overcome the lipid inhibition in the anaerobic digestion of desiccated coconut wastewater with an enhanced methane production.

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