, +234 for propylene desorption and simultaneously increases the activation energy for propylene dehydrogenation, which has a positive effect on the selectivity of propylene production. Lauri and Karolina (2013) also made similar deductions for the use of Pt which results in low coking while weakening the binding of propylene. Timothy (2015) confirmed that PtGa alloy has superior catalytic properties than SnGa alloy, and similar properties to those deduced for Pt-Sn alloy (as reported by Lauri ABSTRACT By converting low-value commodity fuels into high chemical and other intermediates, the dehydrogenation of light paraffin (such as ethane and propane) into olefins, can add significant value to the refining processes that generate propane. In this study, the parameterised method 3 (PM3) approximation of semi theory was employed to study the acidity and reactivity of chromium (III) oxide catalyst the dehydrogenation of propane into propylene. Ammonia and pyridine were used computationally as molecular probes for the evaluation of the Lewis acidity of the catalyst sites. The propane adsorption and dissociation activation energies were also evalua study showed that the chromium sites are highly acidic and reactive compared to the oxygen sites. In particular, the study showed that the chromium site is the main active site in the promotion of propane dehydrogenation into propylene, over chrom

Bioethanol, as a renewable energy, is vital for energy security and pollution control; but its large scale uses need to be studied for different regions. In this study, a bioethanol plant with a processing capacity of 148 million liters/annum was modelled and simulated. This was done with the aid of a process simulator. The study involved process modelling and simulation, material and energy balances, energy efficiency evaluation, and total capital and manufacturing cost estimation. The study shows that the simulated plant will be 63 % energy efficient and that the plant will yield 148 million liters of bioethanol from the processing of 402 metric tonnes of crushed sugarcane with a capital of $ 51 million and manufacturing cost of $ 89 million per annum. Thus, this suggests that the modelled plant would be able to produce 368 thousand liters of bioethanol from a metric tonne of crushed sugarcane with a capital of 0.34 $/liter and manufacturing cost of 0.61 $/liter per annum, based on the conditions adopted for the study.

The catalyst coking and production of undesired products during the transformation of propane into propylene has been in a critical challenge in the on-purpose approach of propylene production. The mechanism contributing to this challenge was theoretically investigated through the investigation of cracking reaction routes to understanding how to promote the coking of this catalyst. The study carried out employed the use of a DFT and cluster approach in the search for the kinetic and thermodynamic data of the reaction mechanism involved in the process over Cr2O3. The RDS and feasible route that easily promote the production of small hydrocarbons like ethylene, methane, and many others were identified. The study suggests, Cr-site substitution or co-feeding of oxygen, as a way that aids in preventing deep dehydrogenation in the conversion of propane to propylene. This information will help in improving the Cr2O3 catalyst performance and further improve the production yield.