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Processes
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New Trends in Distillation and Absorption Technology
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New Trends in Distillation and Absorption Technology

A special issue of Processes (ISSN 2227-9717). This special issue belongs to the section "Chemical Processes and Systems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 December 2023) | Viewed by 3407

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Habib Ben Bacha

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering in Al-Kharj, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Engineering School of Sfax, Sfax University, Sfax 3038, Tunisia
Interests: distillation; renewable energy; desalination
Prof. Dr. Abdelkader Saad Abdullah

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering in Al-Kharj, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
2. Mechanical Power Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Egypt
Interests: solar energy systems; water desalination systems; renewable energy; heat transfer and application

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Distillation and absorption can be considered among the main separation techniques in chemical and petroleum derivatives, biofuels, gas, water, environment, biochemistry, biotechnology, food industries, etc. Indeed, they are still the core high-capacity methods for the separation of the mixtures in liquid–vapor and liquid–gas systems. Nevertheless, despite their simplicity and flexibility, both absorption and distillation still remain very energy-intensive processes. Therefore, their design must be carefully improved in order to ensure efficient separation to guarantee the production of pure final products, with better energy efficiency, minimum energy demands, and reduced pollutant emissions. Innovative separation process concepts based on process intensification provide major benefits, reducing energy consumption, increasing efficiency, and improving eco-efficiency. Consequently, research and development studies on laboratory- or industrial-scale must be intensified in several areas, for example:

  • Boosting fluid separation processes such as reactive absorption and reactive distillation, membrane reactors, hybrid separation processes, and innovative separation processes such as rotating packed beds.
  • The use of alternative energy sources.
  • Mathematical modeling and computer simulation to optimize distillation and absorption design.

In this Special Issue on “New Trends in Distillation and absorption Technology“, researchers and authors are invited to submit original research and review articles in this important field. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

  • Advanced fluids for separations.
  • Intensification of biobased separation processes.
  • Enzymes in distillation and absorption.
  • Intensification of absorption and distillation in modular devices or centrifugal fields.
  • Biopolymers and biomaterials.
  • Mathematical modeling, simulation, and IA methods.
  • Energy and sustainability in separation processes (efficiency, renewable energy, new concepts, CO2 capture, etc.).
  • Hybrid and multifunctional separation processes (modularity, flexibility, intensification, etc.).
  • Innovative separation processes (rotating packed beds, etc.).
  • Multiple-effect distillation.
  • Vacuum distillation.
  • Membrane distillation.
  • Control, process operation, and troubleshooting.
  • Equipment design.

Prof. Dr. Habib Ben Bacha
Prof. Dr. Abdelkader Saad Abdullah
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Processes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • process intensification
  • biobased separation processes
  • reactive separation processes
  • hybrid separation processes
  • mathematical modeling
  • simulation
  • energy
  • water
  • environment

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 4796 KiB  
Article
Exergy and Environmental Analysis for Optimal Condition Finding of a New Combined Cycle
by Ibrahim B. Mansir
Processes 2024, 12(2), 312; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12020312 - 1 Feb 2024
Viewed by 503
Abstract
In this paper, various thermal energy systems are studied to recover waste heat from gas turbines with different configurations. The exergy analysis and environmental examination are applied to achieve better insight into the suggested systems. Also, multi-objective optimization is employed to find the [...] Read more.
In this paper, various thermal energy systems are studied to recover waste heat from gas turbines with different configurations. The exergy analysis and environmental examination are applied to achieve better insight into the suggested systems. Also, multi-objective optimization is employed to find the optimal condition of the introduced plants. In this work, various systems such as gas turbine (GT), organic Rankine cycle (ORC), and Kalina cycle (KC) with Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyzer are combined to achieve a new system design. In this study, Engineering Equation Solver (V11.755) and Matlab (R2023a) software are used to simulate and optimize the proposed system. The comparison of systems shows that the combustion chamber with 3622 kW has the most considerable exergy destruction in the IGT/ORC-KC plant. The comparative investigation shows that IGT/ORC-KC has the highest output at 5659 kW, while the smallest exergy destruction is associated with the IGT system with 1779 kW. The multi-objective optimization considering three objective functions, namely, exergy efficiency, product cost, and environmental effects of exergy destruction, is conducted. Three-objective optimization on the IGT/ORC-KC unit shows that in the optimum point selected by the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) approach, the exergy efficiency, cost of product, and environmental effect of exergy destruction rate are 29.5%, 0.31 USD/kWh, and 13.22 mPt/s. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends in Distillation and Absorption Technology)
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13 pages, 2871 KiB  
Article
Biochemical and Functional Characterization by Site-Directed Mutagenesis of a Phospholipase A2 from Scorpio maurus Venom
by Najeh Krayem, Mona Alonazi, Bassem Khemakhem, Habib Horchani, Slim Cherif, Aida Karray and Abir Ben Bacha
Processes 2023, 11(12), 3364; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11123364 - 4 Dec 2023
Viewed by 681
Abstract
The study of amino acid interactions in the active site of scorpion venom phospholipases A2 could help to gain insights into the structure–function relationship and the biological activities of the enzyme. In the secreted phospholipase A2 of Scorpio maurus venom glands, [...] Read more.
The study of amino acid interactions in the active site of scorpion venom phospholipases A2 could help to gain insights into the structure–function relationship and the biological activities of the enzyme. In the secreted phospholipase A2 of Scorpio maurus venom glands, Glutamate 63 and Tyrosine 122 amino acids play critical roles in the catalytic mechanism through interactions with residues around the calcium-binding loop. We constructed mutants at these positions by overexpression in Escherichia coli cells. After refolding and purification of recombinant enzymes, we studied their kinetic properties using pH-stat and monolayer techniques. The mutant Glutamate 63–Aspartate (E63D) exhibited a reduced activity, while the second mutant Tyrosine 122–Arginine (Y122R) retained some activity with a 14-fold reduction in catalytic efficiency. However, both mutants remained stable in pH values ranging from 2 to 12 whereas the double mutant D63–R122 was catalytically inactive. Comparative analysis of wild-type and mutant 3-D models showed various modifications of the hydrogen-binding network linking residues Glutamate 63 and Tyrosine 122. These modifications of interactions could explain the reduction in enzymatic activity. The kinetic behavior on phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine monolayers of three mutants was evaluated using a baro-stat system to assess the potential association between the hydrolysis of erythrocyte membrane phospholipids and the enzyme’s capability to penetrate phospholipid monolayers at high surface pressure. Mutants’ kinetic behaviors were similar to the wild-type form with slightly modified specific activities at high surface pressure. All mutants were more active on phosphatidylethanolamine than phosphatidylcholine films at high surface pressure. This study provided new information to further elucidate structure–function relationships of scorpion venom-secreted phospholipases A2 and the design of novel potent drug molecules. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends in Distillation and Absorption Technology)
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17 pages, 3554 KiB  
Article
Energy, Exergy, Economic, and Environmental Prospects of Solar Distiller with Three-Vertical Stages and Thermo-Storing Material
by Habib Ben Bacha, AbdelKader S. Abdullah, Fadl A. Essa and Zakaria M. Omara
Processes 2023, 11(12), 3337; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11123337 - 30 Nov 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 787
Abstract
Solar distillation emerges as a viable remedy for addressing water scarcity in both remote and urban locales. However, its operational efficiency remains a limiting factor. Consequently, this study undertakes a comprehensive approach by introducing design modifications to enhance a distiller’s overall productivity. The [...] Read more.
Solar distillation emerges as a viable remedy for addressing water scarcity in both remote and urban locales. However, its operational efficiency remains a limiting factor. Consequently, this study undertakes a comprehensive approach by introducing design modifications to enhance a distiller’s overall productivity. The pivotal adjustment involves configuring the distiller into a three-tiered structure, thus designating it as a multi-stage solar still (MSSS). Notably, the solar stills are crafted entirely from glass to optimize consistent solar tracking, eschewing the conventional sun-tracking rotation mechanism. Furthermore, the three-stage distiller undergoes refinement through the incorporation of a thermo-storing material (PCM) comprising paraffin infused with graphene nanocomposites at the base of the solar still (SS). Subsequent to these design enhancements, a comprehensive evaluation encompassing exergy, economic viability, environmental impact, and thermal considerations is conducted for both the conventional solar still (CSS) and MSSS. The outcomes elucidate that the upper stage of the MSSS outperforms its counterparts, producing superior results. Comparative analysis indicates a remarkable 160% enhancement in productivity for the MSSS over the CSS. Cumulative water productivities for the CSS and MSSS with PCM are recorded at 2840 and 7980 mL/m2 during the daytime, reflecting an improvement of 181%. The energy efficiency metrics reveal values of 31%, 49.8%, and 53% for the CSS, MSSS, and MSSS with PCM, respectively. Moreover, the MSSS with PCM demonstrates an exergy efficiency of 5.8%. The environmental implications are quantified at 12 tons of CO2 emissions per year for the MSSS with PCM. Finally, the cost considerations illustrate a reduction in the cost of freshwater for the MSSS with PCM (0.10 $/L) and the MSSS (0.13 $/L), as compared to the conventional SS (0.24 $/L). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends in Distillation and Absorption Technology)
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20 pages, 2609 KiB  
Article
Novel Phospholipase C with High Catalytic Activity from a Bacillus stearothermophilus Strain: An Ideal Choice for the Oil Degumming Process
by Mona Alonazi, Najeh Krayem, Areej A. Alzahrani, Habib Horchani and Abir Ben Bacha
Processes 2023, 11(12), 3310; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11123310 - 28 Nov 2023
Viewed by 867
Abstract
A novel thermoactive phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLCBs) was identified from Bacillus stearothermophilus isolated from a soil sample from an olive oil mill. Enhanced PLCBs production was observed after 10 h of incubation at 55 °C in a culture medium containing [...] Read more.
A novel thermoactive phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLCBs) was identified from Bacillus stearothermophilus isolated from a soil sample from an olive oil mill. Enhanced PLCBs production was observed after 10 h of incubation at 55 °C in a culture medium containing 1 mM of Zn2+ with an 8% inoculum size and 6 g/L glucose and 4/L yeast extract as the preferred carbon energy and nitrogen sources, respectively. PLCBs was purified to homogeneity by heat treatment, ammonium sulfate fractionation, and anion exchange chromatography, resulting in a purification factor of 17.6 with 39% recovery. Interestingly, this enzyme showed a high specific activity of 8450 U/mg at pH 8–9 and 60 °C, using phosphatidylcholine PC as the substrate, in the presence of 9 mM sodium deoxycholate and 0.4 mM Zn2+. Remarkable stability at acidic and alkali pH and up to 65 °C was also observed. PLCBs displayed a substrate specificity order of phosphatidylcholine > phosphatidylethanolamine > phosphatidylserine > sphingomyelin > phosphatidylinositol > cardiolipin and was classified as a PC-PLC. In contrast to phospholipases C previously isolated from Bacillus strains, this PLCBs substrate specificity was correlated to its hemolytic and anti-bacterial potential against erythrocytes and Gram-positive bacterial membranes, which are rich in glycerophospholipids and cardiolipin. An evaluation of PLCBs soybean degumming process efficiency showed that the purified enzyme reduced the phosphorus content to 35 mg/kg and increased the amount of diacylglycerols released, indicating its ability to hydrolyze phospholipids in the crude soybean oil. Collectively, PLCBs could be considered as a potential catalyst for efficient industrial oil degumming, advancing the edible oil industry by reducing the oil gum volume through transforming non-hydratable phospholipids into their hydratable forms, as well as through generating diacylglycerols, which are miscible with triacylglycerols, thereby reducing losses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends in Distillation and Absorption Technology)
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