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The Use of Cellulose Nanocrystals to Support Ca(OH)2 Nanoparticles with Diatomite Incorporation in Sulphur Capture at Low Temperatures: Optimisation and Modelling

  • Research Article-chemical Engineering
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Abstract

Cellulose is a renewable resource that can be used to develop sorbents for dry flue gas desulphurisation processes. In this study, nanoparticles of hydrated lime (Ca(OH)2) were impregnated onto cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) using a co-precipitation technique. The Ca(OH)2/CNCs composite was then mixed with diatomite and hydrated. Fourier transform infrared and X-ray diffraction confirmed the presence of CNCs in the synthesised sorbent. BET (Brunauer–Emmett–Teller) surface area demonstrated an increase in the reaction area (58.564 m2/g) compared to the commercial hydrated lime (18.019 m2/g). Response surface methodology was used for optimisation tests and to statistically model the experimental variables, including hydration time, hydration temperature, diatomite to Ca(OH)2 ratio, sulphation temperature, and inlet sulphur concentration. A quadratic model from the analysis of variance (ANOVA) evaluation found diatomite to Ca(OH)2 ratio as the model term with the most considerable influence towards both sulphation and conversion, with the highest outcome achieving 54% sulphation and 42% conversion.

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Data Availability

The data supporting the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not available due to privacy or ethical restrictions.

Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

BET:

Brunauer–Emmett–Teller

Ca(OH)2 :

Calcium hydroxide

Ca(NO3)2 :

Calcium nitrate

CCD:

Central composite design

CHNPS:

Calcium hydroxide nanoparticles

CNC:

Cellulose nanocrystals

FTIR:

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

NaOH:

Sodium hydroxide

RSM:

Response surface methodology

SO2 :

Sulphur dioxide

SEM:

Scanning electron microscopy

SiO2 :

Silicon dioxide species

XRF:

X-ray fluorescence

XRD:

X-ray diffraction

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Funding

This study was funded by the Eskom Power Plant Engineering Institute (ESKOM).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clean Technology and Applied Materials Research Group, Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Vaal University of Technology, Private Bag X021, Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng, 1900, South Africa

    R. S. Makomere, H. L. Rutto & L. Koech

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  3. L. Koech
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Contributions

Conceptualisation was done by RS Makomere; Methodology was done by RS Makomere, H.L Rutto, and L Koech; Formal analysis and investigation were done by RS Makomere; Writing—original draft preparation were done by RS Makomere; Writing—review and editing were done by RS Makomere, H.L Rutto, and L Koech; Funding acquisition was done by H.L Rutto; Resources were done by H.L Rutto and L Koech; and Supervision was done by H.L Rutto and L Koech.

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Correspondence to R. S. Makomere.

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Makomere, R.S., Rutto, H.L. & Koech, L. The Use of Cellulose Nanocrystals to Support Ca(OH)2 Nanoparticles with Diatomite Incorporation in Sulphur Capture at Low Temperatures: Optimisation and Modelling. Arab J Sci Eng 48, 8871–8885 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-022-07491-0

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