An investigation of the kinetics of CO 2 uptake by a synthetic calcium based sorbent

This study examines the kinetics of carbonation by CO 2 at temperatures of ca. 750°C of a synthetic sorbent composed of 15wt% mayenite (Ca 12Al 14O 33) and CaO, designated HA-85-850, and draws comparisons with the carbonation of a calcined limestone. In-situ XRD has verified the inertness of mayenite, which neither interacts with the active CaO nor does it significantly alter the CaO carbonation-calcination equilibrium. An overlapping grain model was developed to predict the rate and extent of carbonation of HA-85-850 and limestone. In the model, the initial microstructure of the sorbent was defined by a discretised grain size distribution, assuming spherical grains. The initial input to the model - the size distribution of grains - was a fitted parameter, which was in good agreement with measurements made with mercury porosimetry and by the analysis of SEM images of sectioned particles. It was found that the randomly overlapping spherical grain assumption offered great simplicity to the model, despite its approximation to the actual porous structure within a particle. The model was able to predict the performance of the materials well and, particularly, was able to account for changes in rate and extent of reaction as the structure evolved after various numbers of cycles of calcination and carbonation. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.

Graphite intercalation compounds under pressure

Motivated by recent experimental work, we use first-principles density functional theory methods to conduct an extensive search for low enthalpy structures of C$_6$Ca under pressure. As well as a range of buckled structures, which are energetically competitive over an intermediate range of pressures, we show that the high pressure system ($\gtrsim 18$ GPa) is unstable towards the formation of a novel class of layered structures, with the most stable compound involving carbon sheets containing five- and eight-membered rings. As well as discussing the energetics of the different classes of low enthalpy structures, we comment on the electronic structure of the high pressure compound and its implications for superconductivity.

A condensation particle counter insensitive to volatile particles

A High Temperature Condensation Particle Counter (HT-CPC) is described that operates at an elevated temperature of up to ca. 300. °C such that volatile particles from typical combustion sources are not counted. The HT-CPC is functionally identical to a conventional CPC, the main challenge being to find suitable non-hazardous working fluids, with good stability, and an appropriate vapour pressure. Some key design features are described, and results of modelling which predict the HT-CPC counting efficiency. Experimental results are presented for several candidate fluids when the HT-CPC was challenged with ambient, NaCl and diesel soot particles, and the results show good agreement with modelled predictions, and confirm that counting of particles of diameters down to at least 10. nm was achievable. Possible applications are presented, including measurement of particles from a diesel car engine and comparison with a near PMP system. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.