Showing papers by "Heather D. Willauer published in 2014"

Feasibility of CO2 Extraction from Seawater and Simultaneous Hydrogen Gas Generation Using a Novel and Robust Electrolytic Cation Exchange Module Based on Continuous Electrodeionization Technology

Abstract: A novel, robust, and innovative electrolytic cation exchange process has been used to efficiently extract large quantities of CO2 in the form of bicarbonate and carbonate from natural seawater, and to simultaneously produce H2 gas in quantities and ratios intended for possible future production of hydrocarbons. This indirect approach acidifies seawater by using the protons electrolytically produced by electrolysis at the anode. Electrons concurrently produced with these protons are subsequently consumed at the cathode forming hydrogen gas. The ability to degas and recover 92% [CO2]T from natural seawater was demonstrated. The potential detrimental effects of mineral deposits on the module’s electrode surfaces were successfully mitigated by cyclically changing the module electrode’s polarity. This feasibility study marks the first time that CO2 has been successfully extracted on a continuous basis from natural seawater. In addition, there is no energy or economic penalty to extract CO2 from the seawater ma...

The Removal of Organic Nitrogen Compounds from Unstable Diesel Fuels

Abstract: Fuel storage instability reactions of middle distillate fuel are of interest to the Department of Defense. Unlike civilian fuel, military fuel can remain in storage tanks for one or more years. As fuel is drawn from these tanks, the tanks are subsequently topped off with more recently purchased fuel, and the mixed fuel is not compatible, resulting in sediment and sludge formation. Previous research has shown that certain polar organic nitrogen functional groups involved in instability reactions are difficult and expensive to remove completely during the refining process. Therefore, this study involved the removal of these compounds by four different filtering media. An unstable fuel was treated separately with activated clay, silica gel, amorphous carbon, and iron carbon nanotubes (FeCNT) and the composition of the extracts were analyzed by GC/MS. The results of this study show that some of the media were not only more effective, but selective in removing the organic nitrogen compounds.

Synthesis and Characterization of Microporous Aluminophosphates of AFI Topology

Abstract: Aluminophosphates of the AFI (aluminophosphate-5) topology were synthesized and characterized in order to study the influence of acid strength and distribution for the possibility of both conversion and selectivity for oligomerization reactions. It is well known that weaker acid sites lead to a product shift to hydrocarbons of lower carbon chain length and a lower conversion, and a reduction in acid site concentration has a similar effect. However, when a silylating agent modifies the surface acidity, the overall conversion drops, associated with a reduction in sticking probability of an olefin on the silicoaluminophosphate's (SAPO) crystal surface. This is associated with a reduced ability of the surface acid sites to crack the products upon exiting the internal pore system. This research reports on the synthesis and charactizeration of microporous aluminophates of AFI topology. Catalysts’ properties were characterized by a series of spectroscopic and diffraction techniques, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD...