Conversion of pyrolytic non-condensable gases from polypropylene co-polymer into bamboo-type carbon nanotubes and high-quality oil using biochar as catalyst.

The conversion of low-value plastic waste into high-value products such as carbon nanomaterial is of recent interest. In the current study, the non-condensable pyrolysis gases, produced from Polypropylene Copolymer (PPC) feedstock, was converted into bamboo-type carbon nanotubes (BCNTs) through catalytic chemical vapour deposition using biochar. Experiments were conducted in a three-zone furnace fixed bed reactor, where PPC was pyrolysed in the second zone and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) growth was eventuated in the third zone. The effects of different growth temperatures (500, 700, 900 °C) and biochar particle sizes (nanoparticle as well as 0-100 and 100-300 µm) were investigated to optimise the production of hydrogen and the yield of carbon nanotubes on the biochar surface. Biochar samples used in the synthesis of CNTs were obtained from the pyrolysis of saw dust at 700 °C in a muffle furnace. Analyses performed by using Scanning electron microscopy, Transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy techniques suggested that the best crystalline structure of CNTs were obtained at 900 °C with nano-sized biochar as a catalyst. The strong gas-solid contact and void fraction of nano-sized particles enhances the diffusion-precipitation mechanism, leading to the growth of CNTs. The nano-sized biochar increased hydrogen production at 900 °C and reduced the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons content in oil to only 1%, which is advantageous for further utilisation. Therefore, the production of high-value CNTs from waste plastic using low-cost biochar catalyst can be a sustainable approach in the management of waste plastic while participating in the circular economy.

Techno-economic analysis of ionic liquid pre-treatment integrated pyrolysis of biomass for co-production of furfural and levoglucosenone.

In the current work, a techno-economic analysis of pyrolysis of choline glycinate pre-treated biomass has been presented for the co-production of furfural and levoglucosenone along with hemicellulose, lignin and biochar as other byproducts. The mass balance suggested that the 1800 kg/h dry sugarcane straw biorefinery plant could produce about 260 kg/h furfural and 65 kg/h levoglucosenone. The minimum selling price of furfural and levoglucosenone were also estimated and the values were 1640 and 3590 AU$/tonne at 11.1 % biomass loading with 99 % ionic liquid recycling for furfural and levoglucosenone as the target products, respectively. The base case analysis suggested around 6.9 MAU$ NPV with a payback period of 15.4 years. The sensitivity analysis suggested that biomass loading, ionic liquid recycling and cost, waste heat recovery, furfural yield, interest rate and capital cost are the major influential factors for both the minimum selling price of furfural and levoglucosenone.

Garments furniture design for Bangladeshi workers considering ergonomic principles.

BACKGROUND: In Bangladesh, workers typically spend at least eight hours a day at garment factories in sitting and/or standing position. Prolonged sitting on ergonomically unfit furniture causes back, neck, and shoulder pain, which reduces the working efficiency and leading to low productivity. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to design ergonomically correct furniture for Bangladeshi garment workers considering multivariate analysis on the anthropometric data. METHODS: Twelve anthropometric measures and five furniture dimensions were measured. The sample comprised of 600 volunteer workers from different garment industry. The furniture dimensions were compared with the relevant anthropometric characteristics and found a high level of mismatch (e.g. seat height (male 18%, female 94.25%), seat depth (male 96%, female 63.50%), seat width (male 9.50%, female 36.25%), sewing table height (male 56.50%, female 50%), and desk height for inspection, cutting and ironing table (male 100%, female 100%). RESULTS: New design specifications were proposed of the worker which improved the match percentage. The multivariate anthropometric analysis generated 8 cases and for each case the ranges of anthropometric measurements have been identified. CONCLUSION: The results will help to design robust ergonomic garments furniture.

Wet organic waste treatment via hydrothermal processing: A critical review.

There are several recent reviews published in the literature on hydrothermal carbonization, liquefaction and supercritical water gasification of lignocellulosic biomass and algae. The potential of hydrochar, bio-oil or synthesis gas production and applications have also been reviewed individually. The comprehensive review on the hydrothermal treatment of wet wastes (such as municipal solid waste, food waste, sewage sludge, algae) covering carbonization, liquefaction and supercritical water gasification, however, is missing in the literature which formed the basis of the current review paper. The current paper critically reviews the literature around the full spectrum of hydrothermal treatment for wet wastes and establishes a good comparison of the different hydrothermal treatment options for managing wet waste streams. Also, the role of catalysts as well as synthesis of catalysts using hydrothermal treatment of biomass has been critically reviewed. For the first time, efforts have also been made to summarize findings on modelling works as well as techno-economic assessments in the area of hydrothermal treatments of wet wastes. The study concludes with key findings, knowledge gaps and future recommendations to improve the productivity of hydrothermal treatment of wet wastes, helping improve the commercial viability and environmental sustainability.

Dissolution reaction kinetics and mass transfer during aqueous choline chloride pre-treatment of oak wood.

Lignocellulosic biomass processing employing ionic liquids is of recent research interest for the biorefinery industry. The data on biomass dissolution kinetics in ionic liquids is important for designing scale-up pre-treatment reactor design. In this study, the reaction mechanism and kinetics of oak wood dissolution in aqueous choline chloride was investigated. In an extended effort, a correlation of dimensionless numbers was developed for the estimation the mass transfer coefficient. The analyses suggested that oak wood dissolution in choline chloride occurred in two stages. The diffusion of ionic liquid through the product layer was the dominating rate-controlling step in the first stage of dissolution followed by the surface chemical reaction in the second stage. The diffusivity of choline chloride into the oak wood matrix was ranging between 2.96E-14 and 2.84E-13 m2/s. The activation energy of the diffusion controlled stage and surface chemical reaction controlled stage was approximately 24.2 and 40.3 kJ mol-1, respectively. The proposed mathematical correlation for mass transfer coefficient fitted well with the experimental mass transfer coefficient values.

Ergonomic considerations for designing truck drivers' seats: The case of Bangladesh.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this work was to investigate the fitness of the existing truck seats for Bangladeshi truck drivers and suggest a guideline for drivers' seats based on their anthropometry. METHODOLOGY: In this study, eight anthropometric measurements of 120 Bangladeshi truck drivers and seven seat dimensions of ninety trucks of three brands namely, TATA, ASHOK LEYLAND, and ISUZU were considered for investigating the considerable mismatch between seat dimensions and drivers' anthropometry. The data were analyzed using two-sample t-tests to identify the relationship between existing seat dimensions and drivers' anthropometry. RESULTS: The results showed a mismatch in seat dimensions and anthropometric measurements for nearly all truck brands and the existing seat dimensions were found to be inappropriate for Bangladeshi drivers. For all the truck brands, the percentage mismatch of seat height, seat depth, seat width, backrest height, and steering wheel clearance varied between 71% and 98%, 23% and 79%, 33% and 84%, 28% and 65%, and 53% and 100% respectively. Subsequently, an attempt was made to provide ergonomically correct seat dimensions for Bangladeshi truck drivers. Further, generalized equations to design the appropriate seat dimensions were developed using the least square regression technique. The recommended seat height, depth and width, backrest height, and steering wheel clearance were found to be appropriate for 82%, 79%, 76%, 98%, and 100% of drivers respectively. CONCLUSION: The analysis and results of this study can be useful in developing guidelines for design and manufacture of truck driver seats in Bangladesh.