A response surface methodology was used to optimise the solubilisation and precipitation of proteins from the cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis. Two separate experiments were designed and conducted in a sequential manner. Protein solubilisation was affected by pH, extraction time, and biomass to solvent ratio (p < 0.001). Although spray-drying and the osmotic shock suffered when resuspending the dried biomass into distilled water led to a certain degree of cell wall disruption, the amount of protein that could be solubilised without an additional disruption step was in the range 30−60%. Sequential extractions improved protein solubilisation by less than 5%. For this reason, a pre-treatment based on sonication (400 W, 24 kHz, 2 min) had to be used, allowing the solubilisation of 96.2% of total proteins. Protein precipitation was affected by both pH and extraction time (p < 0.001). The optimised precipitation conditions, which were pH 3.89 over 45 min, led to a protein recovery... [more]

While pipeline transport traditionally has been regarded as the best option for CO2 transport due to its low cost over short distances and important economies of scale, interest in vessel-based transport of CO2 is growing. While virtually all recent literature has focused on low pressure transport (at 7 barg and -46°C), the issue of optimal transport conditions, in terms of pressure, temperature and gas composition, is becoming more relevant as carbon capture and storage chains based on ship transport move closer towards implementation.
This study focuses on an in-depth comparison of the two primary and relevant transport pressures, 7 and 15 barg, for annual volumes up to 20 MtCO2/y and transport distances up to 2000 km. We also address the impact of a number of key factors on optimal transport conditions, including (a) transport between harbours versus transport to an offshore site, (b) CO2 pressure prior to conditioning, (c) the presence of impurities and of purity constraints, and... [more]

Several Aspen Plus simulation files are presented which were used in the research paper by Chinedu Okoli and Thomas A. Adams II: "Design and Assessment of Advanced Thermochemical Plants for Second Generation Biobutanol Production Considering Mixed Alcohols Synthesis Kinetics" published in Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, vol 56, pp 1543-1558 (2017). Four Aspen Plus V8.4 workbook files are provided AS IS, with no guarantee of accuracy or functionality. They are the original files used in the underlying work and have not been groomed or sanitized.

The four base cases considered in this study are:

1. A "biomass only" process in which the entire plant's energy supply comes from biomass.
2. A "biomass only" process that uses a divided wall column as a part of the distillation sequence
3. A "NG and power import" process in which natural gas and grid electricity are used to provide supplementary power.
4. A "NG import" case in which natural gas (but not grid... [more]

Three Aspen Plus simulation files are presented which were used in the research paper by Chinedu Okoli, Thomas A. Adams II, Boris Brigljevic, and J.J. Liu: "Design and economic analysis of a macroalgae-to-butanol process via a thermochemical route" published in Energy Conversion and Management, vol 123, pp 410-122 (2016). Three Aspen Plus V8 workbook files are provided AS IS, with no guarantee of accuracy or functionality. They are the original files used in the underlying work and have not been groomed or sanitized.

The three files correspond to the three case studies in the paper:

1. A "biomass only" process in which the entire plant's energy supply comes from seaweed.
2. A "NG and power import" process in which natural gas and grid electricity are used to provide supplementary power.
3. A "NG import" case in which natural gas (but not grid electricity) is used to provide supplementary power.

It may be difficult to open the files in later versions of the software.... [more]