Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering

Process computers routinely collect hundreds to thousands of pieces of data from a multitude of plant sensors every few seconds. This has caused a “data overload” and due to the lack of appropriate analyses very little is currently being done to utilize this wealth of information. Operating personnel typically use only a few variables to monitor the plant's performance. However, multivariate statistical methods such as PLS (Partial Least Squares or Projection to Latent Structures) and PCA (Principal Component Analysis) are capable of compressing the information down into low dimensional spaces which retain most of the information. Using this method of statistical data compression a multivariate monitoring procedure analogous to the univariate Shewart Chart has been developed to efficiently monitor the performance of large processes, and to rapidly detect and identify important process changes. This procedure is demonstrated using simulations of two processes, a fluidized bed reactor and an extractive distillation column.

For processes described by linear transfer functions with additive disturbances, the best possible control in the mean square sense is realized when a minimum variance controller is implemented. It is shown that an estimate of the best possible control can be obtained by fitting a univariate time series to process data collected under routine control. No ‘identifiabüity’ constraints need be imposed. The use of this technique is demonstrated with pilot plant and production data.

The kinetics of sorption of three basic dyes, namely, Chrysoidine (BO2), Astrazon Blue (BB3) and Astrazone Blue (BB69) onto sphagnum moss peat have been investigated. The study focuses on the application of three sorption kinetic models for predicting the uptake of basic dyes. The sorption behaviour is found to be second order, based on the assumption of a pseudo‐second order mechanism. The rate constant of sorption, the equilibrium capacity and initial sorption rate with the effect of various peat doses and initial dye concentrations have also been predicted.

Gas physisorption is an experimental technique based on equilibrium Van der Waals interactions between gas molecules and solid particles, that quantifies the specific surface area (SSA), pore size distribution (PSD), and pore volume of solids and powders. The performance of catalysts, absorbents, chromatography column materials, and polymer resins depends on these morphological properties. Here we introduce the basic principles and procedures of physical adsorption, especially nitrogen physisorption, as a guide to students and researchers unfamiliar with the field. The Brunauer‐Emmett‐Teller theory (BET) is a common approach to estimate SSA that extends the Langmuir monolayer molecular adsorption model to multilayer layers. It relies on an equilibrium adsorption isotherm, measured at the normal boiling point of the adsorbate, eg, 77 K or 87 K for N₂ and Ar, respectively. Web of Science indexed 45 400 articles in 2016 and 2017 that mentioned N₂ adsorption porosimetry—BET and BJH (Barrett‐Joyner‐Halenda) keywords. The VOSViewer bibliometric tool grouped these articles into four research clusters: adsorption, activated carbon in aqueous solutions for removal of heavy metal ions; synthesis of nanoparticles and composites; catalysts performance in oxidation and reduction processes; and photocatalytic degradation with TiO₂. According to the literature, the accuracy of the density function theory (DFT) method is higher than with the BJH theory and it is more reliable.

Problems involving fluid flow past permeable surfaces have customarily been solved by matching Darcy's Law with the Navier‐Stokes equation via an empirical slip‐flow boundary condition at these surfaces. The present analysis serves to place the semi‐empirical theory proposed by Beavers and Joseph (1967) on a more rigorous physical and mathematical basis. It is demonstrated that the predictions of these workers may be derived independently, without having to formulate empirical boundary conditions, by employing Brinkman's extension of Darcy's Law within the porous medium. These predictions are in satisfactory agreement with experimental data, thereby providing a quantitative verification of Brink‐man's equation to complement its theoretical verification presented recently by several authors.

The kinetics of the pyrolysis of lignocellulosic materials was studied with a view of providing simple kinetic models for engineering purposes. Experimental data obtained by means of thermal analysis techniques suggest that the pyrolysis of fine particles (below 1 mm) can be considered to be controlled by pyrolysis kinetics. The rate of pyrolysis of one biomass type can be represented by the sum of the corresponding rates of the main biomass components (cellulose, lignin, hemicellulose). The kinetics of each of these components was simulated by a kinetic scheme capable of predicting the pyrolysis rate and the final weight‐loss for a wide range of pyrolysis parameters including various heating conditions.

In order to improve the extraction of nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) from sulfuric acid hydrolysis of chemical pulps, we have studied the effect of hydrolysis conditions on the degree of polymerization (DP), the extent of sulfation, morphological, and solid‐state characteristics of the extracted materials vis‐à‐vis yield.

Our results demonstrate that sulfation plays a significant role in (i) determining the yield of, and (ii) imparting the unique solid‐state characteristics to, the extracted, H₂O‐insoluble cellulose nanomaterial from sulfuric acid hydrolysis. The hydrolysis process is itself proven to be highly reproducible, and NCC with high crystallinity (>80%) and a yield between 21% and 38% could be extracted from a fully bleached, commercial softwood kraft pulp using 64 wt.% sulfuric acid at 45–65°C after freeze drying. The NCC aggregates, with iridescent patterns typical of chiral nematic materials, are parallelepiped rod‐like structures which possess cross‐sections in the nanometer range and lengths orders of magnitude larger, resulting in high aspect ratios.

The Ruland–Rietveld analysis was employed to precisely resolve X‐ray diffraction patterns and obtain information on crystallite size, crystalline and amorphous areas, and crystallinity of the extracted materials.

A theoretical treatment is presented which attempts to quantify the benefits obtained by using smaller bubbles or larger particles in dispersed air flotation. The limited experimental data obtained so far suggest that the theory is sound, particularly in its prediction of the effect of bubble size.