Kinetic Analysis and Pollutant Evolution During Thermal Degradation of Printed Circuit Boards Considering the Effect of Metals

Paper submitted to the 7th International Symposium on Feedstock Recycling of Polymeric Materials (7th ISFR 2013), New Delhi, India, 23-26 October 2013.

Pollutant Formation During the Thermal Decomposition of Electrical and Electronic Wastes

Paper submitted to the 7th International Symposium on Feedstock Recycling of Polymeric Materials (7th ISFR 2013), New Delhi, India, 23-26 October 2013.

Estudio de la descomposición térmica de tarjetas de circuito impreso de teléfonos móviles

Comunicación presentada en el II Congreso de Estudiantes de Ingeniería Química de la UA, Universidad de Alicante, 10-11 octubre 2012.

Thermogravimetric Study of the Decomposition of Printed Circuit Boards from Mobile Phones

Paper submitted to the 19th International Symposium on Analytical & Applied Pyrolysis, Linz, Austria, 21-25 May 2012.

Thermal Decomposition of Mobile Phones

Paper submitted to the 31st International Symposium on Halogenated Persistent Organic Compounds (Dioxin 2011), Brussels, Belgium, 21-25 August 2011.

Thermal Degradation of Tetrabromobisphenol A: Emission of Polybrominated Dibenzo-P-Dioxins and Dibenzofurans and other Organic Compounds

Paper submitted to the 31st International Symposium on Halogenated Persistent Organic Compounds (Dioxin 2011), Brussels, Belgium, 21-25 August 2011.

Análisis de los contaminantes generados en la descomposición térmica de un retardante de llama bromado: tetrabromobisfenol A

Comunicación presentada en la III Reunión Nacional sobre Dioxinas, Furanos y Compuestos Orgánicos Persistentes Relacionados, Santander, 30 junio-1 julio 2011.

Estudio de la descomposición térmica de tetrabromobisfenol A

Resumen de la comunicación presentada en el XIII Congreso Nacional de Ingeniería Química, Madrid, 18-20 noviembre 2010.

Pirólisis y combustión de residuos electrónicos

Resumen de la comunicación presentada en el I Congreso de Estudiantes de Ingeniería Química de la Universidad de Alicante, 13-14 abril 2010.

Analysis of the Brominated Dioxin and Furan Emission Congener Pattern from Different Sources

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/F) have been studied for several decades and are well-known as unintentionally generated persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which pose serious health and environmental risks on a global scale1. Polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PBDD/F) have similar properties and effects to PCDD/F, as they are structural analogs with all the chlorine atoms substituted by bromine atoms. PBDD/F have been found in various matrices such as air, sediments, marine products, and human adipose samples.

Effect of Temperature, Atmosphere and Metals on the Thermal Degradation of Printed Circuit Boards

The permanent expansion of the market of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) and the shorter innovation cycles, lead to a faster replacement of these appliances, making EEE a fast-growing source of waste (WEEE). As stated in Directive 2012/19/EU1 on waste electrical and electronic equipment, the content of hazardous components in EEE is a major concern during the waste management phase, and recycling of WEEE is not currently undertaken to a sufficient extent, resulting in a loss of valuable resources.

Logic-Based Outer Approximation for the Design of Discrete-Continuous Dynamic Systems with Implicit Discontinuities

We address the optimization of discrete-continuous dynamic optimization problems using a disjunctive multistage modeling framework, with implicit discontinuities, which increases the problem complexity since the number of continuous phases and discrete events is not known a-priori. After setting a fixed alternative sequence of modes, we convert the infinite-dimensional continuous mixed-logic dynamic (MLDO) problem into a finite dimensional discretized GDP problem by orthogonal collocation on finite elements. We use the Logic-based Outer Approximation algorithm to fully exploit the structure of the GDP representation of the problem. This modelling framework is illustrated with an optimization problem with implicit discontinuities (diver problem).

MINLP Optimization Algorithm for the Synthesis of Heat and Work Exchange Networks

This paper introduces a new optimization model for the simultaneous synthesis of heat and work exchange networks. The work integration is performed in the work exchange network (WEN), while the heat integration is carried out in the heat exchanger network (HEN). In the WEN synthesis, streams at high-pressure (HP) and low-pressure (LP) are subjected to pressure manipulation stages, via turbines and compressors running on common shafts and stand-alone equipment. The model allows the use of several units of single-shaft-turbine-compressor (SSTC), as well as helper motors and generators to respond to any shortage and/or excess of energy, respectively, in the SSTC axes. The heat integration of the streams occurs in the HEN between each WEN stage. Thus, as the inlet and outlet streams temperatures in the HEN are dependent of the WEN design, they must be considered as optimization variables. The proposed multi-stage superstructure is formulated in mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP), in order to minimize the total annualized cost composed by capital and operational expenses. A case study is conducted to verify the accuracy of the proposed approach. The results indicate that the heat integration between the WEN stages is essential to enhance the work integration, and to reduce the total cost of process due the need of a smaller amount of hot and cold utilities.

MINLP Model for the Synthesis of Heat Exchanger Networks with Handling Pressure of Process Streams

This paper introduces a new mathematical model for the simultaneous synthesis of heat exchanger networks (HENs), wherein the handling pressure of process streams is used to enhance the heat integration. The proposed approach combines generalized disjunctive programming (GDP) and mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) formulation, in order to minimize the total annualized cost composed by operational and capital expenses. A multi-stage superstructure is developed for the HEN synthesis, assuming constant heat capacity flow rates and isothermal mixing, and allowing for streams splits. In this model, the pressure and temperature of streams must be treated as optimization variables, increasing further the complexity and difficulty to solve the problem. In addition, the model allows for coupling of compressors and turbines to save energy. A case study is performed to verify the accuracy of the proposed model. In this example, the optimal integration between the heat and work decreases the need for thermal utilities in the HEN design. As a result, the total annualized cost is also reduced due to the decrease in the operational expenses related to the heating and cooling of the streams.

Optimal Design of a Hybrid Membrane System Combining Reverse and Forward Osmosis for Seawater Desalination

In this work we study Forward Osmosis (FO) as an emerging desalination technology, and its capability to replace totally or partially Reverse Osmosis (RO) in order to reduce the great amount of energy required in the current desalination plants. For this purpose, we propose a superstructure that includes both membrane based desalination technologies, allowing the selection of only one of the technologies or a combination of both of them seeking for the optimal configuration of the network. The optimization problem is solved for a seawater desalination plant with a given fresh water production. The results obtained show that the optimal solution combines both desalination technologies to reduce not only the energy consumption but also the total cost of the desalination process in comparison with the same plant but operating only with RO.