Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2019"
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- Development of a sustainable, simple, and robust method for efficient l-DOPA extractionPublication . Polanowska, Katarzyna; Lukasik, Rafal M.; Kuligowski, Maciej; Nowak, JacekABSTRACT: l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (l-DOPA) is a medically relevant compound in Parkinson's disease therapy. Several extraction methods of l-DOPA from beans, including velvet and faba beans, have been described in the literature. However, these methods require the use of strong acids, long extraction times, or complex downstream processing, which makes the extraction of l-DOPA expensive and energy-demanding, limiting its industrial application. In addition, the stability of l-DOPA during the extraction process is critical, further complicating the extraction of adequate amounts of this amino acid. This work is the first report on a simple, rapid, greener, and robust extraction method of l-DOPA. The developed method consists of a quick homogenization step followed by a double extraction with 0.2% v/v acetic acid for 20 min and was applied to faba bean at a ratio of 1:25 with respect to the extracting solvent. This study also investigated the stability of l-DOPA during extraction and thermal treatment. The proposed method demonstrated to be robust and extraordinarily efficient for numerous cultivars of faba bean, velvet bean, and food products containing faba beans.
- Hybrid anaerobic reactor: Brewery wastewater and piggery effluent valorisationPublication . Neves, André; Roseiro, Luisa B.; Ramalho, Luís; Eusebio, Ana; Marques, Isabel PaulaABSTRACT: A hybrid anaerobic reactor (HAR) operated to digest brewery wastewater, complemented with piggery effluent (60% and 40% v/v, respectively), under three hydraulic retention times: HRT: 5.7, 3.0 and 1.0 d. Along the first phase, the biogas of 0.9 LL− 1d− 1 evolved to 1.2 LL− 1d− 1 with a methane content of 77–78%. The HRT reduction to 3 days promoted the production until 2.1 LL− 1d− 1, with methane proportions of 79.5%. The operation with an even lower HRT (1 d) allowed to obtain a higher biogas (2.9 LL− 1d− 1, 79.5% CH4). HAR was successfully applied to the mixture digestion, even with a HRT as low as 1 day. Phenolic compounds with antioxidant capacity in effluent adds value, besides the supply of biogas/methane.
- A review of solar thermochemical CO2 splitting using ceria-based ceramics with designed morphologies and microstructuresPublication . Pullar, Robert C.; Novais, Rui M.; Caetano, Ana P. F.; Barreiros, M. Alexandra; Abanades, Stéphane; Oliveira, Fernando Almeida CostaABSTRACT: This review explores the advances in the synthesis of ceria materials with specific morphologies or porous macro- and microstructures for the solar-driven production of carbon monoxide (CO) from carbon dioxide (CO2). As the demand for renewable energy and fuels continues to grow, there is a great deal of interest in solar thermochemical fuel production (STFP), with the use of concentrated solar light to power the splitting of carbon dioxide. This can be achieved in a two-step cycle, involving the reduction of CeO2 at high temperatures, followed by oxidation at lower temperatures with CO2, splitting it to produce CO, driven by concentrated solar radiation obtained with concentrating solar technologies (CST) to provide the high reaction temperatures of typically up to 1,500 degrees C. Since cerium oxide was first explored as a solar-driven redox material in 2006, and to specifically split CO2 in 2010, there has been an increasing interest in this material. The solar-to-fuel conversion efficiency is influenced by the material composition itself, but also by the material morphology that mostly determines the available surface area for solid/gas reactions (the material oxidation mechanism is mainly governed by surface reaction). The diffusion length and specific surface area affect, respectively, the reduction and oxidation steps. They both depend on the reactive material morphology that also substantially affects the reaction kinetics and heat and mass transport in the material. Accordingly, the main relevant options for materials shaping are summarized. We explore the effects of microstructure and porosity, and the exploitation of designed structures such as fibers, 3-DOM (three-dimensionally ordered macroporous) materials, reticulated and replicated foams, and the new area of biomimetic/biomorphous porous ceria redox materials produced from natural and sustainable templates such as wood or cork, also known as ecoceramics.
- Aluminium en milieu marin : protection par la biocorrosion [Resumo]Publication . Jaume, Julien; Basseguy, Regine; Marques, Maria João; Délia, Marie-LineABSTRACT: Pour être utilisés en milieu marin, les matériaux doivent être particulièrement résistant à la corrosion, du fait de la composition chimique de l’eau de mer (concentration en chlorure élévée, …) mais également de la présence des microorganismes. En effet, les microorganismes sont connus pour catalyser la corrosion ou l’inhiber [1,2]. Ces phénomènes antagonistes sont regroupés sous le terme de « Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion » (MIC) et « MIC Inhibition » (MICI). Les alliages d’aluminium Al-Mg, série 5000 qui présentent une bonne résistance mécanique mais également à la corrosion, sont un matériau de choix pour les structures immergées dans l’eau de mer.
- Enhanced proton conductivity of Nafion-azolebisphosphonate membranes for PEM fuel cellsPublication . Teixeira, Fatima; de Sá, A.I.; Teixeira, António P. S.; Rangel, C. M.ABSTRACT: Fuel cells are among the cleaner alternatives of sustainable energy technologies, where their proton exchange membranes continue to be a key component with many challenges and opportunities ahead. In this study, different indazole- and benzotriazolebisphosphonic acids were prepared and incorporated into new Nafion-doped membranes up to a 5 wt% loading. The new membranes were characterised, and their proton conductivities were evaluated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Membranes with a 1 wt% loading showed better proton conductivities than Nafion N-115 at all temperature and under relative humidity conditions studied. In these conditions, the best value was observed for the membrane doped with [hydroxy(1H-indazol-3-yl)methanediyl]bis(phosphonic acid) (BP2), with a proton conductivity of 98 mS cm(-1). Activation energy (E-a) values suggests that both Grotthuss and vehicular mechanisms are involved in the proton conduction across the membrane.
- Previsão de curto prazo do consumo de energiaPublication . Duarte, Sérgio M. da Conceição; Estanqueiro, Ana; Couto, A.RESUMO: O combate às alterações climáticas, bem como a redução da dependência energética externa passam pela instalação e exploração em larga escala de novas fontes energética renováveis, endógenas e não poluentes. Contudo, a introdução destas fontes no sistema electroprodutor (SE), com caráter estocástico, confere um nível de incerteza adicional no equilíbrio do mesmo. Neste equilíbrio, é fulcral atuar não só no lado da geração, mas igualmente no lado da procura, em oposição à perspetiva tradicional da gestão dos SEs, em que predomina o paradigma que a oferta deve estar sempre preparada para seguir o consumo, i.e., satisfazer totalmente, a procura, cujo comportamento é, tipicamente, considerado incontrolável e inelástico. Uma das formas mais consensuais para permitir esta mudança, assenta no conceito de gestão do consumo (Demand Side Management), que tem por objetivo flexibilizar o consumo, de modo a que este se adapte a uma produção variável no tempo ou em situações de constrangimento ou de estímulos tarifários. No entanto é necessário ter uma boa previsão do mesmo, de forma a solicitar atempadamente esta resposta do lado do consumo. Com a necessidade de previsões fidedignas como pano de fundo, na presente dissertação é proposta a implementação e comparação de vários modelos, de previsão a curto prazo (24h), utilizando três métodos diferentes, sendo estes posteriormente comparados com um método de referência (baseline). A baseline utilizada consiste numa regressão linear simples, utilizando o consumo de energia elétrica verificado no instante t-24horas como variável independente. Os três métodos utilizados foram a Regressão Linear Multivariada (MLR), k-vizinhos mais próximos (KNN) e uma Rede Neuronal Artificial (ANN). Recorrendo a uma técnica estatística de agrupamento de dados (k-medoids), é ainda feita uma identificação dos perfis diários de consumo presentes na série temporal em análise, a identificar padrões diários, semanais e sazonais. Estes métodos foram aplicados à série de consumo habitacional para Portugal, BTN C, disponibilizada publicamente pela REN, utilizando os valores registados de 2014 a 2018 (inclusive). No problema em estudo a Rede Neuronal Artificial foi identificada como o melhor método. Foram obtidos MAPE de 5,6%, 4,3% e 4,2% e RMSE de 13,4MW, 11,7MW e 10,7MW para a MLR, KNN e ANN, respetivamente. Comparativamente, a baseline conseguiu um MAPE de 7,8% e um RMSE de 19,3 MW. Num nível mais granular, foram analisados em detalhe os desvios na previsão e identificadas as horas de maior consumo como as mais problemáticas de prever. O mesmo também se verificou ao nível dos meses do ano, onde os meses mais frios demonstraram ser os mais problemáticos, não só pelo o nível de intensidade do valor mas devido à variabilidade que existe nestes meses. Ao nível diário, os dias de transição de regime (sábado e segunda-feira) e o domingo apresentaram erros consideravelmente mais elevados relativamente aos restantes dias da semana. Com este trabalho, as conclusões retiradas permitem demonstrar a importância e a vantagem da aplicação das metodologias de i) agregação para compreender e caracterizar os diferentes perfis de consumo de energia elétrica e ii) previsão a curto prazo do consumo de energia elétrica com recurso ao método de aprendizagem automática, nomeadamente, Redes Neuronais Artificiais.
- Production of liquid compounds by co-pyrolysis of different pre-treated biomasses mixed with plastic wastesPublication . Pinto, Filomena; Duarte, Luís C.; Carvalheiro, Florbela; Paradela, Filipe; Costa, Paula; Marques, Joana; Andre, Rui N.; Marques, Paula; Costa, Diogo; Sampaio, BrunoABSTRACT: As an innovation to conventional biomass pyrolysis to produce liquid biofuels, different types of biomass wastes were pre-treated by autohydrolysis, prior to pyrolysis. Eucalyptus forestry waste, corn cobs agricultural residue, and miscanthus (an energy crop) were autohydrolysed. Autohydrolysis led to valuable sugar-rich stream that may be used in fermentation and to solids rich in lignin that were pyrolysed. Pyrolysis of autohydrolysed eucalyptus led to an increase in liquids yields of 24 % in relation to untreated eucalyptus, as autohydrolysis weakened initial macromolecular structure and thus helped chemical bonds breakdown during pyrolysis. However, similar pyrolysis liquid yields were obtained by autohydrolysed or untreated corn cobs and miscanthus, thus feedstock composition is an important issue. Nevertheless, the production of added value products by autohydrolysis may still justify this pre-treatment. Otherwise, more severe pre-treatments of these biomasses might improve co-pyrolysis as it happened with eucalyptus. As polyethylene (PE) is easier to pyrolyse than biomass and greatly favours the production of liquid hydrocarbons, autohydrolysed and untreated biomass was mixed with PE wastes to be used in co-pyrolysis. The rise of PE content in the blend clearly favoured the production of liquid products of pre-treated and untreated biomass. 75 %wt. of PE in the blend led to liquid yields of 72 %wt. for untreated eucalyptus and of 82 %wt. for autohydrolysed eucalyptus.
- Towards a high-resolution offshore wind Atlas : the Portuguese casePublication . Couto, António; Silva, João M. Henriques da; Costa, Paula Silva; Santos, D.; Simões, Teresa; Estanqueiro, AnaABSTRACT: An accurate offshore wind resource assessment is a key tool for planning marine wind renewable exploitation. To achieve this goal, without resort to an extensive and costly network of anemometric stations or buoys, it becomes necessary to use the so-called atmospheric mesoscale models. This work presents a high spatial resolution (1x1 km) offshore wind resource Atlas for Portugal and the model calibration steps. During the calibration steps, the most adequate: i) atmospheric parameterizations - physics options, ii) initial and boundary conditions (IBC) meteorological datasets, and iii) data assimilation scheme were achieved through sensitivity tests using the common statistical metrics and hourly simulated/observational data. Results show that the most significant improvements are associated with the IBC dataset and the data assimilation scheme used. Thus, the results show that the assimilation procedures coupled with the new ERA-5 reanalysis dataset reduce significantly the errors of the wind speed and direction, especially the normalized mean square error. This reduction, depending on the different calibration setup, can be above 50%. The new Atlas confirms the previous indicators, Portugal presents a high wind power potential, especially for deep offshore regions.
- Efficient extraction of vicine from faba beans using reactive system of high-pressure CO2/waterPublication . Polanowska, Katarzyna; Nowak, Jacek; Lukasik, Rafal M.ABSTRACT: Vicine from faba bean is a causative agent of favism, a genetic disease, which manifests as hemolytic anemia. Despite that low vicine varieties of faba bean exist, they are not widely cultivated. Several extraction methods of vicine from faba beans have been presented in the literature, however, their low efficiency associated to time-consuming and costly process limit the practical use. This work for the first time addresses the employment of high-pressure CO2-assisted extraction of the pyrimidine glycosides from the faba bean. For this purpose, the effect of temperature, CO2 pressure and time on vicine extraction was scrutinized using Box-Behnken design of experiments. Response surface methodology was used to determine the optimal extraction conditions. At 40.7 °C, 8.1 bar of CO2 pressure and 5.1 min of extraction, 81% of total vicine should be extracted from faba bean.
- Electrochemical production of syngas from CO2 at pressures up to 30 bar in electrolytes containing ionic liquidPublication . Messias, Sofia; Sousa, Miguel M.; Ponte, Manuel Nunes; Rangel, C. M.; Pardal, T.; Machado, AnaABSTRACT: Electrochemical CO2 reduction in a reactor that can operate up to 100 bar and 80 degrees C, with a configuration similar to that of an alkaline electrolyser, for hydrogen production suitable to be used industrially is reported for the first time. The effect of pressure on the co-electrolysis of CO2 and water was studied. The successful scale-up from a previously reported batch process to electrodes of ca. 30 cm(2) geometrical area (30-fold factor) that combines the use of pressure and an ionic liquid-based electrolyte is presented. Also for the first time, the potential of the system under study to achieve high conversions of CO2 to avoid a purification step of syngas from unreacted CO2 is shown. An inexpensive commercial foil of the common metal zinc was employed. A semi-continuous operation yielded syngas productivities in the range of 0.02-0.04 mmol cm(-2) h(-1) at ca. -1.2 V vs. QRE Ag/Ag+. When an electrolyte consisting of 90 wt% H2O and 10 wt% 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate was used, selectivities for CO in the range of 62% to 72% were obtained at 10 bar pressure, whereas selectivities of 82% were obtained at 30 bar pressure. H-2/CO ratios in the range of 1/1 to 4/1 at 10 bar pressure suitable for the synthesis of a variety of fuels, such as hydrocarbons, methanol, methane and chemical building blocks, were observed. An energy efficiency of 44.6% was calculated for a H-2/CO ratio of 2.2 suitable for the synthesis of methanol.