This study compares three conventional methods of natural gas (Associated Natural Gas) dehydration to carry out the dehydration process and suitability of use on the basis of energy requirement. These methods are Triethylene Glycol (TEG) absorption, solid desiccant adsorption and condensation. Analyses performed were based on dehydration of Natural Gas saturated with 103Nm3/h water content at a temperature range of -10O C to 30oC, and gas pressure variation between 7MPa and 20MPa. This analysis and study showed that energy required for all three processes decreases with increase in pressure, but condensation dehydration requires the least energy at high pressures. Results obtained shows that, both at high pressures and low pressures, TEG dehydration is most suitable and in cases where very low Tdew is required, solid desiccant adsorption is preferable. In conclusion, the findings in this paper will aid natural gas process design engineers to decide on what method to use base on energy consumption and on the physical and chemical properties of the final products.Keywords: Dehydration, Absorption, Desiccant, Condensation, Triethylene Glycol (TEG)
Insolubility challenges have reduced the efficiency and rate of environmental bioremediation of hydrophobic pollutants occurring in hydrocarbons, soil and water environments. As biosurfactants, sophorolipids possess the unique capacity of activity at the interface of immiscible liquids or solid-liquid phases, thus reducing surface and interfacial tensions through emulsification, dispersion, foaming and wetting, with advantages of stability, ecological acceptability and ability to be produced from renewable and cheaper substrates. In light of the above, this study was aimed at assessing the hydrocarbons emulsification and heavy metals detoxification efficiencies of sophorolipid biosurfactants produced from harvested mushrooms and yeasts isolated from a hydrocarbon contaminated site in Obohia, Abia State, Nigeria. Isolates were cultured on an optimized media fortified with agro-industrial waste substrates of rice bran and food industry waste oil as hydrophilic and hydrophobic sources of carbon, respectively. However sophorolipids production from the yeast, Candida bombicola, was confirmed by the emulsification index after 24 h, surface tension (ST), FT-IR spectroscopy and GC-MS analyses. Solubilization of selected hydrocarbons (used engine oil, kerosene, unused engine oil, diesel and crude oil) was observed with percentage emulsification activities at 60.7, 56.7, 46.9, 44.8 and 40.0 %, respectively. Furthermore, various concentrations of chromium, lead, zinc, copper and cadmium salt solutions incubated with culture supernatants of sophorolipids for 24 h were observed to remove 43.41% chromium from a 10mg/l salt solution and 23.11(Cr), 9.93 (Pb), 7.29 (Zn), 4.96 (Cu) and 15.71 (Cd) from the highly toxic 70 mg/L salt solutions upon analysis via atomic absorption spectrometry. Our results indicate that sophorolipid biosurfactants could enhance the rate of bioremediation efficiency by emulsifying, solubilizing and detoxifying environmental contaminations of hydrocarbons and heavy metals respectively. Sophorolipids of agro-industrial waste origin possess good surface-active properties that can facilitate the solubilization, dispersion and desorption of hydrophobic environmental contaminants for microbial uptake and bioremediation.
The need to convert waste-to-wealth motivated this research. Huge amount of by-products generated in the processing stage of cashew nut is treated as waste and dumped in the environment. The waste contains a dark liquid rich in natural and renewable phenolic material known as cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL). Owing to the phenolic composition and structural features of CNSL, different types of naturally occurring as well as modified natural cellulose based polymers have been synthesized and used to substitute synthetic and petroleum based polymers for various applications. In this study, naturally occurring liquid from cashew nut shell was extracted, modified and characterized as additive for drilling fluid formulations. The study adopted solvent extraction technique using soxhlet apparatus, acetone and cashew nut shell. The liquid Dike et al.; JERR, 8(4): 1-8, 2019; Article no.JERR.52884 2 extract was further modified using amines respectively. In the condensation reaction, 100 mls of the cashew nut shell was used to react with 7.3 ml ethanol-amines, 27.58 ml diethanol-amine (DEA) and 38.2 ml triethanol-amine (TEA) respectively. The mixtures were sulphonated with sulphamic acid as catalyst at a temperature ranging from 100ºC to 140ºC. The reaction mixtures were stirred continually for an hour (1hr.) and water of esterification was collected as by-product of the reaction which was an indication of complete reaction. Biodegradable, cheap and renewable esters were obtained. To elucidate on the chemical structure, the esters were subjected to elemental analysis using the FTIR instrument. The results of the FTIR analysis revealed that N-H and C-H stretching vibrations which were absent in CNSL, were present in the modified compounds, attesting that in deed new compounds have been formed. The physico-chemical properties of the extract was analysand the result showed an agreement with existing literature. These products, in combination with the right additives, and conditions could be potential multipurpose additives in drilling operation. This will help to reduce the cost of importing synthetic oilfield additives, creating job opportunities and boosting the local content goal. Original Research Article
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