Precision milled flow-cells for chemiluminescence detection

Novel flow-cells with integrated confluence points and reaction channels designed for efficient mixing of fast chemiluminescence systems were constructed by machining opposing sides of a polymer chip and sealing the channels with transparent epoxy-acetate films. A hole drilled through the chip provided the conduit from the confluence point on one side to the centre of the reaction zone on the other side, allowing rapid presentation of the reacting mixture to the photodetector. The effectiveness of each flow-cell was evaluated by comparing the chemiluminescence intensity using flow injection analysis methodology, and examining the distribution of light emanating from the reaction zone (captured by photography in a dark room) when the reactants were continuously merged. Although previously reported chemiluminescence detectors constructed by machining channels into polymers have almost exclusively been prepared using transparent materials, we obtained far greater emission intensities using an opaque white chip with a thin transparent seal, which minimised the loss of light through surfaces not exposed to the photomultiplier tube. Furthermore, this approach enabled the exploration of reactor designs that could not be incorporated in traditional coiled-tubing flow-cells.

Surface alloying of metals using fluid bed reactor

The use of fluidised bed reactors for surface alloying is reviewed. Research at Deakin has includes the use of chemical vapour deposition to form chromium rich layers on ferrous substrates, including stainless and tool steel grades. These layers can be modified to carbide or nitride if required by the end application. The deposition of aluminium and silicon has also been successfully achieved.

Surface modification for enhanced corrosion resistance using fluid bed reactor chemical vapour deposition (FBR-CVD)

The use of materials with otherwise desirable mechanical properties is often problematic in practice as a result of corrosion. Susceptibility may arise for a number of reasons, including an electrochemically heterogeneous surface or destabilisation of a passive film. These shortcomings have historically been overcome through the use of various coatings or claddings. However, a more robust surface layer with enhanced corrosion resistance could possibly be produced via local surface alloying using a fluidised bed. A fluidised bed treatment allows a surface to be alloyed, producing a distinct surface layer up to tens of microns thick. Surface alloying additions can be selected on the basis of whether they are known or suspected to enhance the corrosion resistance of a particular material, whilst at a minimum, surface alloying likely provides a more electrochemically homogeneous surface. Electrochemical evaluations using potentiodynamic polarisations in NaCl electrolytes have shown chromised plain carbon and stainless steel surfaces have decreased rates of corrosion, decreased passive current densities, and ennobled pitting potentials relative to untreated specimens.

Powdered activated carbon for fouling reduction of membrane in a pilot-scale recirculation aquaculture system

Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) are essential for the reduction in fresh water usage as well as the discharge of nutrients along with aquaculture effluents. A RAS consisting of an anoxic reactor, a membrane bioreactor (MBR) and a UV-disinfection unit was used to process 10,000 L/d of aquaculture effluent providing high-quality treated water for recirculation to a Barramundi fish culture. The system maintained low levels of nitrate (<20 mg/L), nitrite (<3 mg/L) and ammonia (<0.6 mg/L) in the fish tank. Permeate from the membrane that was recirculated to the fish tank contained <21 mg/L of nitrate, <2 mg/L of nitrite and 0 mg/L of ammonia. However, the rate of fouling of the membrane in the MBR was around 1.47 kPa/d, and the membrane in the MBR required cleaning due to fouling after 16 days. Cleaning of the membrane was initiated when the TMP reached around 25 to 30 kPa. In order to reduce the rate of fouling, 500 mg of powdered activated carbon (PAC) per litre of MBR volume was introduced, which decreased the rate of fouling to 0.90 kPa/d. Cleaning of membrane was needed only after 31 days of operation while maintaining the treated effluent quality. Thus the frequency of cleaning could be halved due to the introduction of PAC into the MBR.

Monitoring batch treatment inhibitor performance continuously using electrochemical noise analysis

Electrochemical noise analysis (ENA) was used to monitor continuously the formation and deterioration processes of a commercial batch treatment inhibitor film of the type used for protecting against CO₂ corrosion in oilfields; ENA was shown to be able to follow effectively the formation and deterioration processes of batch treatment inhibitor films. As an inhibitor film formed, the current noise amplitude decreased rapidly and the noise resistance R_n, which is deducible from the voltage and current noise records, was found to increase sharply. Conversely, as the inhibitor film deteriorated, the current noise amplitude increased rapidly and R_n decreased rapidly. In the corrosion inhibition system studied, the noise resistance was confirmed to be similar to the linear polarisation resistance. Based on the calculation of R_n on a continuous basis, a technique is proposed to study fast corrosion processes.

Investigation of process dynamics and control of polystyrene batch reactor using hybrid model

The effects of operating conditions such as initiator and monomer concentration as well as reactor temperature of polymerization reactors are studied in this work. A recently developed hybrid model for polystyrene batch reactor is utilized in simulation study. The simulation results reveal the sensitivity of polymer properties and monomer conversion to variation of process operating conditions. In the second phase of this study, the optimization problem involving minimum time optimal temperature policy is considered for control study. An advanced neural network-based model predictive controller (NN-MPC) is designed and tested online. The experimental studies reveal that the developed controller is able to track the optimal setpoint with a minor oscillation and overshoot.

Performance analysis of two advanced controllers for polystyrene polymerization in batch reactor

The performance of two advanced model based non-linear controllers is analyzed for the optimal setpoint tracking of free radical polymerization of styrene in batch reactors. Artificial neural network-based model predictive controller (NN-MPC) and generic model controller (GMC) are both applied for controlling the system. The recently developed hybrid model [1] as well as available literature models are utilized in the control study. The optimal minimum temperature profiles are determined based on Hamiltonian maximum principle. Different types of disturbances are artificially generated to examine the stability and robustness of the controllers. The experimental studies reveal that the performance of NN-MPC is superior over that of GMC.

Performance of reverse osmosis (RO) for water recovery from permeates of membrane bio-reactor (MBR)

In this study, permeate from a hollow fiber polyethylene (PE) membrane bio-reactor (MBR) system treating synthetic agricultural wastewater was fed into a cellulose acetate brackish water reverse osmosis (BWRO30 2540) membrane system; three different trans-membranes pressures (TMPs) of 1000, 2500, and 4000 kPa were selected to evaluate the system performance in terms of general operating parameters as well as the removal of chosen important potential fouling water quality parameters. The results showed that highest corrected permeate flux rate was at a TMP of 2500 kPa, whereas lowest recorded at a TMP of 4000 kPa. Similar situation prevailed in water recovery rate. But temperature corrected specific fluxes decreased as the applied TMPs increased. In all selected TMPs, more than 96% of salinity was removed. Permeate from MBR as feed to reverse osmosis required frequent chemical cleaning than the microfiltration/ultrafiltration (MF/UF) permeates and granular media filter (GMF) filtered in order to maintain the required rate of product water. One of the reasons for this frequent chemical cleaning is due to higher total organic carbon as well as total nitrogen (TN) in the MBR permeate. This result needs to be further evaluated through field trials.

Control of polystyrene batch reactor using fuzzy logic controller

Control of polymerization reactors is a challenging issue for researchers due to the complex reaction mechanisms. A lot of reactions occur simultaneously during polymerization. This leads to a polymerization system that is highly nonlinear in nature. In this work, a nonlinear advanced controller, named fuzzy logic controller (FLC), is developed for monitoring the batch free radical polymerization of polystyrene (PS) reactor. Temperature is used as an intermediate control variable to control polymer quality, because the products quality and quantity of polymer are directly depends on temperature. Different FLCs are developed through changing the number of fuzzy membership functions (MFs) for inputs and output. The final tuned FLC results are compared with the results of another advanced controller, named neural network based model predictive controller (NN-MPC). The simulation results reveal that the FLC performance is better than NN-MPC in terms of quantitative and qualitative performance criterion.