“The freedom of the city is not negotiable. We cannot negotiate with those who say, "What's mine is mine and what's yours is negotiable."” -- John Fitzgerald Kennedy (American 35th US President (1961-63), 1917-1963)
Access to online databases is essential in any serious enterprise … especially so for scientists and engineers engaged in serious research. One good reason to employ a librarian or some other information professional is to get the best terms possible in negotiating subscription and licensing fees with database providers.
Here, for example, is an interesting looking article that turned up in a search of Elsevier’s ScienceDirect online resource …
///////
Optimization of oxidative desulfurization of dibenzothiophene using acidic ionic liquid as catalytic solvent
Original Research Article
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology, Volume 37, Issue 2, April 2009, Pages 194-198
Di-shun ZHAO, Zhi-min SUN, Fa-tang LI, Hai-dan SHAN
Purchase PDF
Abstract
The oxidative desulfurization of dibenzothiophene (DBT) in n-octane as model oil with Brönsted acidic ionic liquids (ILs) N-methyl-pyrrolidonium phosphate ([Hnmp]H2PO4) as catalytic solvent and H2O2 as oxidant was optimized by orthogonal experiments. 99.8% of DBT in the model oil was removed under the optimal conditions of molar ratio of H2O2 to sulfur of 16:1, reaction temperature of 60°C, reaction time of 5 h, and volume ratio of model oil to ILs of 1:1. The desulfurization efficiency of actual diesel was 64.3% under the optimized conditions. The influences of the desulfurization efficiency of DBT decreased in the following order: oxidation temperature > oxidation time> molar ratio of H2O2/sulfur (O/S) > volume ratio of [Hnmp]H2PO4 to model oil (VIL/Vmodel oil), according to extreme analysis of orthogonal test. The IL [Hnmp]H2PO4 can be recycled six times without a significant decrease in activity.///////
The two easiest ways to get a full copy of the article are to purchase a PDF for download, or, if you’re a subscriber, to download a copy at no (extra) charge.
Librarians use their experience with a broad range of online databases to identify the best mix of database subscriptions for a particular organization … and then to negotiate the best terms.
If your organization does not employ an information professional, you can do it yourself … but it will take time to understand the nuances of a vendor’s “standard” agreement. Here is a useful document to get you started.
///////
Negotiating Contracts with Database Vendors
By Richard W. Boss, Information Systems Consultants Inc.
Posted October 23, 2003
The article, which is available for free download, lists the main points to consider before signing a vendor agreement. Here is a selection from the article …
Coverage
“What is actually included? If the database is an online version of a print product, any difference between the print and online products should be spelled out. If it is a database of journals, the contract should include an itemized schedule of the titles, years of coverage, and format (full-text or image). It is a good idea to ascertain whether the package can be modified to exclude subject areas or specific titles that do not meet the needs of the library.”Coverage Creep
“Most products are not static. It is typical for the coverage to expand each year because the amount of available information increases, but also because many products are packages of several products that are frequently modified. This is particularly true with full-text databases of journals. There should, therefore, be an effort to control "coverage creep." If it is not possible to limit the product to that which was initially negotiated, there should be a cap on the price increases that may be associated with broadened coverage. At a minimum, there should be a formula that limits the price increase to the same percentage as that which the expansion in coverage represents.”
Updating Frequency
“Even more important than the frequency of updates is the time lag between initial production and availability for online access. It should be spelled out. An online product should be available no later than the print product.”
Some other points to consider …
• Archive
• Duration of Contract
• Eligible Users
• Authentication
• Statistics
• Features
• Producer Licenses
• Pricing Formula
• Alternatives to Subscriptions
• Escalator Clause
• Cancellation
source: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/pla/plapublications/platechnotes/negotiating.pdf
///////
Monday, November 29, 2010
Thursday, November 25, 2010
At the Core ... Working With Your Librarian
“Sing then the core of dark and absolute oblivion where the soul at last is lost in utter peace.” -- D.H. Lawrence (British Poet, Novelist and Essayist, 1885-1930)
I have worked with engineers most of my professional life. Most of them thought they were smarter than me. Some of them actually were. But, despite my deficient intelligence, in every case I was able to help them find the information they needed to do their work.
Not that they could not have found the information themselves … but I could find it more quickly, allowing them to spend their valuable time on the work they had been hired to perform.
That said, you can help your librarian or research assistant help you by educating him or her on key words and concepts related to your topic of interest. The small amount of time you spend on the education process will yield huge benefits to you down the line.
Begin the education process by providing one or more Core Documents. Core documents provide in concise and easy to digest terms the key words and concepts that someone new to your topic can use to construct search strategies that will unearth items that can be useful to your research effort.
Obviously your information professional can find such core documents on his or her own … but if you are already aware of significant articles or dissertations, help the information professional help you by suggesting the core documents as a preliminary step.
Dissertations, in many cases, make ideal Core Documents. A typical dissertation begins with a detailed abstract of the work performed by the doctoral candidate. He or she has to display both a knowledge of the topic of the dissertation, and the significance of the candidate’s work. The abstract, therefore, contains just the sort of key words and concepts that can be used by an online researcher to identify and locate other documents of interest to your research team.
Here is an example of what I am talking about …
////////
Desulfurization of Hydrocarbon Fuels at Ambient Conditions Using Supported Silver Oxide-Titania Sorbents
Dissertation by Sachin Appukuttan Nair
A dissertation submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Auburn University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy
Auburn, Alabama December 13, 2010
Bruce J Tatarchuk, Chair, Professor Director of Chemical Engineering
Yoon Y Lee, Alumni Professor of Chemical Engineering
William Ashurst, Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering
Dong-Joo (Daniel) Kim, Associate Professor of Materials Engineering
Abstract
Sulfur in refined fuels is considered a significant cause for atmospheric pollution such as acid rain and smog. Sulfur is also a poison for electrocatalysts in fuel cells and catalysts in hydrocarbon refining and reformation processes. Thus sulfur removal is essential for large scale production of transportation fuels as well as in smaller scales for mobile and stationary fuel cell and reforming applications. Hydro desulfurization (HDS) is the most prevalent desulfurization technology used currently. Several alternative technologies have been reported to be effective in sulfur removal from liquids such as catalytic oxidation, biological sulfur removal and membrane separation. The presented work focuses on the formulation, optimization and mechanistic investigations of adsorptive desulfurization adsorbents for liquid fuels at ambient conditions. Dispersed silver oxides on supports such as TiO 2 , γ-Al 2 O 3 and SiO 2 were observed to be effective desulfurizing agents for refined fuels at ambient conditions. Among the supports, TiO 2 was found to be the most stable. Using titanium oxide of varying surface characteristics, it was determined that sulfur capacity corresponded to the specific surface area. Increasing the Ag loading on the support was observed to decrease dispersion and simultaneously decrease the sulfur capacity. At 4 Wt.% Ag loading, the sulfur capacity of the sorbent was 6.3 mgS/g for JP5 fuel containing 1172 ppmw sulfur. The sorbent composition was thermally regenerated (450:C) to 10 cycles using air as a stripping medium. Variation in desulfurization efficiency between JP5, JP8 and a lighter fraction of JP5 was established and correlated to the variation in sulfur speciation of the fuels. Lower concentration of trimethyl benzothiophenes in the lighter fraction JP5 resulted in the highest sulfur capacity demonstrated by Ag/TiO 2 . These studies on performance, effects of composition, fuel chemistry and regeneration procedures are presented in Chapter III. With the composition and performance of the sorbent established, synthesis procedures were optimized considering impregnation, drying and calcination stages. The effect of synthesis conditions on the sulfur capacity was correlated to the resulting pore structure and dispersion of Ag (Chapter IV). Incipient wetness among the various impregnation techniques resulted in the highest sulfur capacity. Calcination temperatures above 500 :C were observed to degrade the pore structure and thus lower the sulfur capacity of the sorbent. Characterization techniques such as BET surface area measurements, oxygen chemisorption, temperature programmed reduction (TPR), ultraviolet spectroscopy were used to study the adsorbent composition. The variation in the oxidation state of Ag with weight loading was determined using TPR and thermogravimetry. At 4% Ag loading approximately 28% of the deposited Ag was found to exist as the oxide. Lowering the metal loading significantly increased the dispersion. These dispersed Ag oxides were observed to be stable to temperatures of 550:C. UV spectroscopy showed absorption bands representing oxides of Ag while bands representing metallic Ag were absent. It was therefore concluded that a majority of the Ag at the adsorption interface existed in the oxide phase. This indicated an alternative mechanism of sulfur removal compared to other transition metal based sorbents where the active material is considered to be the metal ion. Several aspects to be considered during the scale-up of adsorption units such as bed configuration, liquid face velocity and bed temperature and the effect on sulfur capacity was addressed as well. Having established the composition of the sorbent with respect to the oxidation state of Ag present, the dispersion of Ag and pore structure, several studies were carried out to determine the mechanism of sulfur removal in these materials (Chapter V & VI). Variation in desulfurization efficiency between sulfur aromatics varying in structure aspects such as aromaticity and presence of side chains were linked to the chemistry of the active center. These studies established that the active centers were acidic in nature. Probe molecules were used to poison the active centers and subjected to desulfurization studies. Surface complexes formed from the probe molecules were also identified using IR spectroscopy. These experiments indicated that the surface group responsible for the sulfur capacity was single or geminal hydroxyl groups. Equilibrium isotherms were also established for thiophene, benzothiophene, dibenzothiophene and 46 dimethyl dibenzothiophene at 22, 40 and 60:C and fitted to Langmuir, Freundlich and Fritz-Schlunder models (Chapter VII). The adsorption data followed the Langmuir model indicating that sulfur removal was effected by associative physical adsorption.
source: http://etd.auburn.edu/etd/bitstream/handle/10415/2371/Sachin%20Nair_Dissertation_ETD%20Rev2_PD5.pdf?sequence=2
///////
A core resource to consider is the Desulfurization Blog (http://www.desulf.blogspot.com/ … follow it and recommend it to colleagues and friends.
I have worked with engineers most of my professional life. Most of them thought they were smarter than me. Some of them actually were. But, despite my deficient intelligence, in every case I was able to help them find the information they needed to do their work.
Not that they could not have found the information themselves … but I could find it more quickly, allowing them to spend their valuable time on the work they had been hired to perform.
That said, you can help your librarian or research assistant help you by educating him or her on key words and concepts related to your topic of interest. The small amount of time you spend on the education process will yield huge benefits to you down the line.
Begin the education process by providing one or more Core Documents. Core documents provide in concise and easy to digest terms the key words and concepts that someone new to your topic can use to construct search strategies that will unearth items that can be useful to your research effort.
Obviously your information professional can find such core documents on his or her own … but if you are already aware of significant articles or dissertations, help the information professional help you by suggesting the core documents as a preliminary step.
Dissertations, in many cases, make ideal Core Documents. A typical dissertation begins with a detailed abstract of the work performed by the doctoral candidate. He or she has to display both a knowledge of the topic of the dissertation, and the significance of the candidate’s work. The abstract, therefore, contains just the sort of key words and concepts that can be used by an online researcher to identify and locate other documents of interest to your research team.
Here is an example of what I am talking about …
////////
Desulfurization of Hydrocarbon Fuels at Ambient Conditions Using Supported Silver Oxide-Titania Sorbents
Dissertation by Sachin Appukuttan Nair
A dissertation submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Auburn University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy
Auburn, Alabama December 13, 2010
Bruce J Tatarchuk, Chair, Professor Director of Chemical Engineering
Yoon Y Lee, Alumni Professor of Chemical Engineering
William Ashurst, Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering
Dong-Joo (Daniel) Kim, Associate Professor of Materials Engineering
Abstract
Sulfur in refined fuels is considered a significant cause for atmospheric pollution such as acid rain and smog. Sulfur is also a poison for electrocatalysts in fuel cells and catalysts in hydrocarbon refining and reformation processes. Thus sulfur removal is essential for large scale production of transportation fuels as well as in smaller scales for mobile and stationary fuel cell and reforming applications. Hydro desulfurization (HDS) is the most prevalent desulfurization technology used currently. Several alternative technologies have been reported to be effective in sulfur removal from liquids such as catalytic oxidation, biological sulfur removal and membrane separation. The presented work focuses on the formulation, optimization and mechanistic investigations of adsorptive desulfurization adsorbents for liquid fuels at ambient conditions. Dispersed silver oxides on supports such as TiO 2 , γ-Al 2 O 3 and SiO 2 were observed to be effective desulfurizing agents for refined fuels at ambient conditions. Among the supports, TiO 2 was found to be the most stable. Using titanium oxide of varying surface characteristics, it was determined that sulfur capacity corresponded to the specific surface area. Increasing the Ag loading on the support was observed to decrease dispersion and simultaneously decrease the sulfur capacity. At 4 Wt.% Ag loading, the sulfur capacity of the sorbent was 6.3 mgS/g for JP5 fuel containing 1172 ppmw sulfur. The sorbent composition was thermally regenerated (450:C) to 10 cycles using air as a stripping medium. Variation in desulfurization efficiency between JP5, JP8 and a lighter fraction of JP5 was established and correlated to the variation in sulfur speciation of the fuels. Lower concentration of trimethyl benzothiophenes in the lighter fraction JP5 resulted in the highest sulfur capacity demonstrated by Ag/TiO 2 . These studies on performance, effects of composition, fuel chemistry and regeneration procedures are presented in Chapter III. With the composition and performance of the sorbent established, synthesis procedures were optimized considering impregnation, drying and calcination stages. The effect of synthesis conditions on the sulfur capacity was correlated to the resulting pore structure and dispersion of Ag (Chapter IV). Incipient wetness among the various impregnation techniques resulted in the highest sulfur capacity. Calcination temperatures above 500 :C were observed to degrade the pore structure and thus lower the sulfur capacity of the sorbent. Characterization techniques such as BET surface area measurements, oxygen chemisorption, temperature programmed reduction (TPR), ultraviolet spectroscopy were used to study the adsorbent composition. The variation in the oxidation state of Ag with weight loading was determined using TPR and thermogravimetry. At 4% Ag loading approximately 28% of the deposited Ag was found to exist as the oxide. Lowering the metal loading significantly increased the dispersion. These dispersed Ag oxides were observed to be stable to temperatures of 550:C. UV spectroscopy showed absorption bands representing oxides of Ag while bands representing metallic Ag were absent. It was therefore concluded that a majority of the Ag at the adsorption interface existed in the oxide phase. This indicated an alternative mechanism of sulfur removal compared to other transition metal based sorbents where the active material is considered to be the metal ion. Several aspects to be considered during the scale-up of adsorption units such as bed configuration, liquid face velocity and bed temperature and the effect on sulfur capacity was addressed as well. Having established the composition of the sorbent with respect to the oxidation state of Ag present, the dispersion of Ag and pore structure, several studies were carried out to determine the mechanism of sulfur removal in these materials (Chapter V & VI). Variation in desulfurization efficiency between sulfur aromatics varying in structure aspects such as aromaticity and presence of side chains were linked to the chemistry of the active center. These studies established that the active centers were acidic in nature. Probe molecules were used to poison the active centers and subjected to desulfurization studies. Surface complexes formed from the probe molecules were also identified using IR spectroscopy. These experiments indicated that the surface group responsible for the sulfur capacity was single or geminal hydroxyl groups. Equilibrium isotherms were also established for thiophene, benzothiophene, dibenzothiophene and 46 dimethyl dibenzothiophene at 22, 40 and 60:C and fitted to Langmuir, Freundlich and Fritz-Schlunder models (Chapter VII). The adsorption data followed the Langmuir model indicating that sulfur removal was effected by associative physical adsorption.
source: http://etd.auburn.edu/etd/bitstream/handle/10415/2371/Sachin%20Nair_Dissertation_ETD%20Rev2_PD5.pdf?sequence=2
///////
A core resource to consider is the Desulfurization Blog (http://www.desulf.blogspot.com/ … follow it and recommend it to colleagues and friends.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Organization Alert: Nano and Interfacial Catalysis Group
“The well-run group is not a battlefield of egos.” -- Lao Tzu (Chinese taoist Philosopher, 600 BC-531 BC)
The Nano and Interfacial Catalysis Group (http://fruit.dicp.ac.cn/), led by Dr. Xinhe Bao (xhbao@dicp.ac.cn) is a rich source of information. Not the least of its value lies in the fact that many of the peer reviewed articles produced by members of the group are made available in full text on the group’s Web.
This post is not an endorsement of the group … I know nothing about it (yet) beyond what is offered on the group’s Web. But the fact that the group has produced so many peer reviewed articles suggests that it is worth a more detailed look.
The first step in the detailed look is to download and read the articles made available on the site. Here are a few of the articles listed on the site …
///////
Yang Gang, Guan Jing, Zhou Lijun,Liu Xianchun,Han Xiuwen,Bao Xinhe
First-principle studies on the exceptionally active triplet oxygen species in microporous zeolite materials: Reservation and catalysis
JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY A-CHEMISTRY, 202(2009)(2-3)122-127
XU Shutao, ZHANG Weiping, HAN Xiuwen, BAO Xinhe
Hyperpolarized 129Xe NMR Spectroscopy Investigation of Metal Cation-Exchanged FAU Zeolites
Chin. J. Catal., 30(2009)(9)945-950
Lijun Gu, Ding Ma, Songdong Yao, Xiumei Liu, Xiuwen Han, Wenjie Shen, and Xinhe Bao
Template-Synthesized Porous Silicon Carbide as an Effective Host for Zeolite Catalysts
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL, 15(2009)13449-13455
Xinhe Bao
Catalytic characters of the nano-confined systems
Sci. China Ser. B-Chem., 39(2009)(10)1125-1133
Jing Guan, Xiulian Pan, Xin Liu, Xinhe Bao
Syngas Segregation Induced by Confinement in Carbon Nanotubes: A Combined First-Principles and Monte-Carlo Study
J. Phys. Chem. C, 113(2009)(52)21687-21692
Yafang Fan, Zengjian An, Xiulian Pan, Xiumei Liu and Xinhe Bao
Quinone tailored selective oxidation of methane over palladium catalyst with molecular oxygen as an oxidant
Chem. Commun., (2009)7488-7490
Source: http://fruit.dicp.ac.cn/publication/public2006.php
///////
Learn more about Jean Steinhardt, producer of the Desulfurization Blog (http://www.desulf.blogspot.com/), by visiting his LinkedIn profile (www.linkedin.com/in/jeansteinhardtresearch)
The Nano and Interfacial Catalysis Group (http://fruit.dicp.ac.cn/), led by Dr. Xinhe Bao (xhbao@dicp.ac.cn) is a rich source of information. Not the least of its value lies in the fact that many of the peer reviewed articles produced by members of the group are made available in full text on the group’s Web.
This post is not an endorsement of the group … I know nothing about it (yet) beyond what is offered on the group’s Web. But the fact that the group has produced so many peer reviewed articles suggests that it is worth a more detailed look.
The first step in the detailed look is to download and read the articles made available on the site. Here are a few of the articles listed on the site …
///////
Yang Gang, Guan Jing, Zhou Lijun,Liu Xianchun,Han Xiuwen,Bao Xinhe
First-principle studies on the exceptionally active triplet oxygen species in microporous zeolite materials: Reservation and catalysis
JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY A-CHEMISTRY, 202(2009)(2-3)122-127
XU Shutao, ZHANG Weiping, HAN Xiuwen, BAO Xinhe
Hyperpolarized 129Xe NMR Spectroscopy Investigation of Metal Cation-Exchanged FAU Zeolites
Chin. J. Catal., 30(2009)(9)945-950
Lijun Gu, Ding Ma, Songdong Yao, Xiumei Liu, Xiuwen Han, Wenjie Shen, and Xinhe Bao
Template-Synthesized Porous Silicon Carbide as an Effective Host for Zeolite Catalysts
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL, 15(2009)13449-13455
Xinhe Bao
Catalytic characters of the nano-confined systems
Sci. China Ser. B-Chem., 39(2009)(10)1125-1133
Jing Guan, Xiulian Pan, Xin Liu, Xinhe Bao
Syngas Segregation Induced by Confinement in Carbon Nanotubes: A Combined First-Principles and Monte-Carlo Study
J. Phys. Chem. C, 113(2009)(52)21687-21692
Yafang Fan, Zengjian An, Xiulian Pan, Xiumei Liu and Xinhe Bao
Quinone tailored selective oxidation of methane over palladium catalyst with molecular oxygen as an oxidant
Chem. Commun., (2009)7488-7490
Source: http://fruit.dicp.ac.cn/publication/public2006.php
///////
Learn more about Jean Steinhardt, producer of the Desulfurization Blog (http://www.desulf.blogspot.com/), by visiting his LinkedIn profile (www.linkedin.com/in/jeansteinhardtresearch)
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Thanks, I’m Just Browsing
“The high-ceilinged rooms, the little balconies, alcoves, nooks and angles all suggest sanctuary, escape, creature comfort. The reader, the scholar, the browser, the borrower is king.” -- David McCord (American Poet and Writer, 1897-1997)
Not for nothing are apps like Internet Explorer called “browsers”. Here are a few items I found during a recent browsing expedition. I wasn’t looking for them specifically, but they interested me enough to post them for your consideration.
///////
Catalysis Today
[PDF]
Catalysts for ultra deep hydrodesulfurization and/or aromatics ...
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - Quick View
by Y YOSHIMURA - Related articles
In developing the ultra deep hydrodesulfurization (HDS) catalysts, lots of efforts ... development in the catalyst preparation technology to produce and ...
Source: www.kfupm.edu.sa/catsymp/Symp%2017th/08YOSHIMURA.pdf
///////
[PDF]
Spectroscopic and Kinetic Studies of Hydrodenitrogenation and Hydrodesulfurization over Supported Nickel Phosphide (Ni2P)
Travis Matthew Gott (2008)
Dissertation submitted to the faculty of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State
necessitates catalysts that are ~ 7 times more active than existing catalysts [1]. For these
reasons a new generation of hydrotreating catalysts are needed. Several studies have
shown that a new class of materials, transition metal phosphides, are highly active under
conditions of deep HDS in the presence of nitrogen compounds and have the potential of
being the next generation of hydrotreating catalysts [6].
The review by Song [1] comprehensively covers various process options for
removal of sulfur including standard hydroprocessing, but also alternative and emerging
processes such as catalytic distillation, reactive adsorption, polar molecule adsorption,
selective adsorption, selective extraction, selective alkylation, membrane separation, and
caustic extraction. In addition to these there is also biodesulfurization, oxidative
desulfurization and ultrasound-assisted oxidative desulfurization [40]. These methods
will be covered briefly.
Source: http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-11112008-42534/unrestricted/TGottDissertation_Revised.pdf
///////
Article in Press, Corrected Proof
Catalyst development for ultra-deep hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of dibenzothiophenes. I: Effects of Ni promotion in molybdenum-based catalysts
Qiang Gao(a), Thomas N.K. Ofosu(a), Shu-Guo Ma(a), Vasileios G. Komvokis(a), Christopher T. Williams(a) and Koichi Segaw(a) (kohichi@cec.sc.edu)
(a) Department of Chemical Engineering, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208-4101, United States
Available online 5 November 2010.
Abstract
A strong synergistic effect of nickel and molybdenum was observed for hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of dibenzothiophene (DBT), 4-methyldibenzothiophene (4-MDBT) and 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene (4,6-DMDBT) over highly active Ni-MoS2/γ-Al2O3 catalysts. The surface of the most active catalyst in this study was composed by Ni:Mo = 1:3, which was determined by XPS results. In addition, catalytic behavior indicates the presence of two different adsorption models accounting for the DDS (direct desulfurization) and the HYD (hydrogenation) pathways. The structure of the NiMoS active phase appears to be identical regardless of Ni/(Ni + Mo) ratio. The reaction sequence of the DDS pathways is DBT > 4-MDBT > 4,6-DMDBT due to the steric hindrance of methyl groups located adjacent to the sulfur atom of DBT, which prevents σ-bonding of the sulfur to the active site within the NiMoS phase. The reaction rates of HYD pathways are independent of the number of methyl groups, suggesting that the alkyl groups do not interfere the π-adsorption of DBTs on the active sites.
Keywords: Hydrodesulfurization (HDS); Ni promoter; MoS2 catalyst; Dibenzothiophene (DBT); X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)
Source: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6TFG-51D5RN1-3&_user=10&_coverDate=11%2F05%2F2010&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_origin=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=1546433393&_rerunOrigin=google&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=066bc3d0e28e4e4a96931758afac87dc&searchtype=a
///////
Remember to browse the Desulfurization Blog (http://www.desulf.blogspot.com/) for tips and tricks on maximizing online research effectiveness in your area of expertise
Not for nothing are apps like Internet Explorer called “browsers”. Here are a few items I found during a recent browsing expedition. I wasn’t looking for them specifically, but they interested me enough to post them for your consideration.
///////
Catalysis Today
[PDF]
Catalysts for ultra deep hydrodesulfurization and/or aromatics ...
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - Quick View
by Y YOSHIMURA - Related articles
In developing the ultra deep hydrodesulfurization (HDS) catalysts, lots of efforts ... development in the catalyst preparation technology to produce and ...
Source: www.kfupm.edu.sa/catsymp/Symp%2017th/08YOSHIMURA.pdf
///////
[PDF]
Spectroscopic and Kinetic Studies of Hydrodenitrogenation and Hydrodesulfurization over Supported Nickel Phosphide (Ni2P)
Travis Matthew Gott (2008)
Dissertation submitted to the faculty of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State
necessitates catalysts that are ~ 7 times more active than existing catalysts [1]. For these
reasons a new generation of hydrotreating catalysts are needed. Several studies have
shown that a new class of materials, transition metal phosphides, are highly active under
conditions of deep HDS in the presence of nitrogen compounds and have the potential of
being the next generation of hydrotreating catalysts [6].
The review by Song [1] comprehensively covers various process options for
removal of sulfur including standard hydroprocessing, but also alternative and emerging
processes such as catalytic distillation, reactive adsorption, polar molecule adsorption,
selective adsorption, selective extraction, selective alkylation, membrane separation, and
caustic extraction. In addition to these there is also biodesulfurization, oxidative
desulfurization and ultrasound-assisted oxidative desulfurization [40]. These methods
will be covered briefly.
Source: http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-11112008-42534/unrestricted/TGottDissertation_Revised.pdf
///////
Article in Press, Corrected Proof
Catalyst development for ultra-deep hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of dibenzothiophenes. I: Effects of Ni promotion in molybdenum-based catalysts
Qiang Gao(a), Thomas N.K. Ofosu(a), Shu-Guo Ma(a), Vasileios G. Komvokis(a), Christopher T. Williams(a) and Koichi Segaw(a) (kohichi@cec.sc.edu)
(a) Department of Chemical Engineering, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208-4101, United States
Available online 5 November 2010.
Abstract
A strong synergistic effect of nickel and molybdenum was observed for hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of dibenzothiophene (DBT), 4-methyldibenzothiophene (4-MDBT) and 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene (4,6-DMDBT) over highly active Ni-MoS2/γ-Al2O3 catalysts. The surface of the most active catalyst in this study was composed by Ni:Mo = 1:3, which was determined by XPS results. In addition, catalytic behavior indicates the presence of two different adsorption models accounting for the DDS (direct desulfurization) and the HYD (hydrogenation) pathways. The structure of the NiMoS active phase appears to be identical regardless of Ni/(Ni + Mo) ratio. The reaction sequence of the DDS pathways is DBT > 4-MDBT > 4,6-DMDBT due to the steric hindrance of methyl groups located adjacent to the sulfur atom of DBT, which prevents σ-bonding of the sulfur to the active site within the NiMoS phase. The reaction rates of HYD pathways are independent of the number of methyl groups, suggesting that the alkyl groups do not interfere the π-adsorption of DBTs on the active sites.
Keywords: Hydrodesulfurization (HDS); Ni promoter; MoS2 catalyst; Dibenzothiophene (DBT); X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)
Source: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6TFG-51D5RN1-3&_user=10&_coverDate=11%2F05%2F2010&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_origin=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=1546433393&_rerunOrigin=google&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=066bc3d0e28e4e4a96931758afac87dc&searchtype=a
///////
Remember to browse the Desulfurization Blog (http://www.desulf.blogspot.com/) for tips and tricks on maximizing online research effectiveness in your area of expertise
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Houston Public Library … Reference and ILL
“Never lend books, for no one ever returns them; the only books I have in my library are books that other people have lent me.” - Anatole France (16 April 1844—12 October 1924), born François-Anatole Thibault, French poet, journalist, and novelist
Rightly or wrongly (wrongly, in my opinion … no surprise there) libraries are underfunded. Despite this deplorable fact, librarians manage to deliver valuable services to their clients.
If your management has the intelligence to fund a library, take advantage of it. Talk to the librarian to find out what services are provided, and whether any online databases are subscribed.
Lacking such a resource, your local public library may be able to help.
HPL-Houston Public Library (http://www.houstonlibrary.org/home) for example, offers the following to registered users …
1) Reference -for help in locating information
2) ILL – Interlibrary Loan – for assistance in obtaining the full text of articles
3) Online databases of various kinds, which can be accessed onsite or from your own computer
In re: Reference Service, here is a description you will find on the HPL Web …
///////
Live Reference Help Online 24/7
“InfoLive! is a chat reference service with real-time online assistance by Houston Public Library staff as well as librarians nationwide. You can communicate live with a librarian from home, school, or work. We can provide brief answers to factual questions or suggest sources to answer your query through chat and e-mail services. Our reference librarians use a wide range of resources including the Internet and online databases to deliver answers efficiently and effectively. We can also offer assistance with search strategies. At the conclusion of your chat session, you will receive a transcript by e-mail for your future use.”
///////
As an example to illustrate the third item, I logged into my HPL account and searched EbscoHost Academic SearchComplete using this search string …
Zeolitic Desulfurization
[NOTE: this is not the best source for such a technical topic, but it is one of several that should be searched ... and HPL offers it to its patrons at no charge to them; and in a few cases, it provides access to the full text of the article]
Results ...
A Theoretical Study of Hydrodesulfurization and Hydrogenation of Dibenzothiophene Catalyzed by Small Zeolitic Cluster. By: Rozanska, Xavier; Saintigny, Xavier; van Santen, Rutger A.; Clémendot, Sylvain; Hutschka, François. Journal of Catalysis, May2002, Vol. 208 Issue 1, p89, 11p; DOI: 10.1006/jcat.2002.3530
Subjects: DESULFURIZATION; ORGANOSULFUR compounds; CATALYTIC cracking
Database: Academic Search Complete
A titanium containing micro/mesoporous composite and its catalytic performance in oxidative desulfurization. By: Jin, Changzi; Li, Gang; Wang, Xiangsheng; Wang, Yun; Zhao, Lixia; Sun, Dewei. Microporous & Mesoporous Materials, Apr2008, Vol. 111 Issue 1-3, p236-242, 7p; DOI: 10.1016/j.micromeso.2007.07.037
Subjects: ELECTRON microscopy; MICROSCOPY; DIAGNOSIS, Electron microscopic; ELECTRON microscopic immunocytochemistry
Database: Academic Search Complete
A Ti-containing Molecular Sieve Assembled from Titanosilicate Precursors with Long-chain Alkylamines. Full Text Available By: Changzi Jin; Gang Li; Xiangsheng Wang; Lixia Zhao; Yun Wang; Dewei Sun. Topics in Catalysis, Jun2008, Vol. 49 Issue 1/2, p118-124, 7p, 1 Black and White Photograph, 1 Chart, 9 Graphs; DOI: 10.1007/s11244-008-9065-4
Subjects: OXIDATION; SILICA; SILICON compounds; ZEOLITES; SILICATE minerals
Database: Academic Search Complete
Synthesis, Characterization and Catalytic Performance of Ti-Containing Mesoporous Molecular Sieves Assembled from Titanosilicate Precursors. By: Changzi Jin; Gang Li; Xiangsheng Wang; Lixia Zhao; Liping Liu; Haiou Liu; Yong Liu; Weiping Zhang; Xiuwen Han; Xinhe Bao. Chemistry of Materials, Apr2007, Vol. 19 Issue 7, p1664-1670, 7p
Subjects: SPECTRUM analysis; DRYING agents; CHEMICAL engineering; OXIDATION
Database: Academic Search Complete
///////
Jean welcomes new followers of the Desulfurization Blog (http://www.desulf.blogspot.com/)… pass the URL on to friends and colleagues.
Rightly or wrongly (wrongly, in my opinion … no surprise there) libraries are underfunded. Despite this deplorable fact, librarians manage to deliver valuable services to their clients.
If your management has the intelligence to fund a library, take advantage of it. Talk to the librarian to find out what services are provided, and whether any online databases are subscribed.
Lacking such a resource, your local public library may be able to help.
HPL-Houston Public Library (http://www.houstonlibrary.org/home) for example, offers the following to registered users …
1) Reference -for help in locating information
2) ILL – Interlibrary Loan – for assistance in obtaining the full text of articles
3) Online databases of various kinds, which can be accessed onsite or from your own computer
In re: Reference Service, here is a description you will find on the HPL Web …
///////
Live Reference Help Online 24/7
“InfoLive! is a chat reference service with real-time online assistance by Houston Public Library staff as well as librarians nationwide. You can communicate live with a librarian from home, school, or work. We can provide brief answers to factual questions or suggest sources to answer your query through chat and e-mail services. Our reference librarians use a wide range of resources including the Internet and online databases to deliver answers efficiently and effectively. We can also offer assistance with search strategies. At the conclusion of your chat session, you will receive a transcript by e-mail for your future use.”
///////
As an example to illustrate the third item, I logged into my HPL account and searched EbscoHost Academic SearchComplete using this search string …
Zeolitic Desulfurization
[NOTE: this is not the best source for such a technical topic, but it is one of several that should be searched ... and HPL offers it to its patrons at no charge to them; and in a few cases, it provides access to the full text of the article]
Results ...
A Theoretical Study of Hydrodesulfurization and Hydrogenation of Dibenzothiophene Catalyzed by Small Zeolitic Cluster. By: Rozanska, Xavier; Saintigny, Xavier; van Santen, Rutger A.; Clémendot, Sylvain; Hutschka, François. Journal of Catalysis, May2002, Vol. 208 Issue 1, p89, 11p; DOI: 10.1006/jcat.2002.3530
Subjects: DESULFURIZATION; ORGANOSULFUR compounds; CATALYTIC cracking
Database: Academic Search Complete
A titanium containing micro/mesoporous composite and its catalytic performance in oxidative desulfurization. By: Jin, Changzi; Li, Gang; Wang, Xiangsheng; Wang, Yun; Zhao, Lixia; Sun, Dewei. Microporous & Mesoporous Materials, Apr2008, Vol. 111 Issue 1-3, p236-242, 7p; DOI: 10.1016/j.micromeso.2007.07.037
Subjects: ELECTRON microscopy; MICROSCOPY; DIAGNOSIS, Electron microscopic; ELECTRON microscopic immunocytochemistry
Database: Academic Search Complete
A Ti-containing Molecular Sieve Assembled from Titanosilicate Precursors with Long-chain Alkylamines. Full Text Available By: Changzi Jin; Gang Li; Xiangsheng Wang; Lixia Zhao; Yun Wang; Dewei Sun. Topics in Catalysis, Jun2008, Vol. 49 Issue 1/2, p118-124, 7p, 1 Black and White Photograph, 1 Chart, 9 Graphs; DOI: 10.1007/s11244-008-9065-4
Subjects: OXIDATION; SILICA; SILICON compounds; ZEOLITES; SILICATE minerals
Database: Academic Search Complete
Synthesis, Characterization and Catalytic Performance of Ti-Containing Mesoporous Molecular Sieves Assembled from Titanosilicate Precursors. By: Changzi Jin; Gang Li; Xiangsheng Wang; Lixia Zhao; Liping Liu; Haiou Liu; Yong Liu; Weiping Zhang; Xiuwen Han; Xinhe Bao. Chemistry of Materials, Apr2007, Vol. 19 Issue 7, p1664-1670, 7p
Subjects: SPECTRUM analysis; DRYING agents; CHEMICAL engineering; OXIDATION
Database: Academic Search Complete
///////
Jean welcomes new followers of the Desulfurization Blog (http://www.desulf.blogspot.com/)… pass the URL on to friends and colleagues.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
What is π complexation
“If equations are trains threading the landscape of numbers, then no train stops at pi.” - Richard Preston, IN: "The Mountains of Pi," New Yorker (1992)
HOW TO GET AN OVERVIEW OF A TECHNICAL TOPIC
If you’re like me, you don’t know everything. Sometimes you run across a term that you are not quite sure of. But because it is in a field related to your area of expertise, you want to learn something about it. Where do you start?
Begin with an overview of the topic. Let’s take, as an example, the topic of “π complexation.” Now, you may already know everything you need to know about π complexation, but bear with me … the general principal is the same, no matter what topic you are investigating.
1) Look for reference "books" like Encyclopedia of Chemical Processing (Many libraries carry this whether in hard copy or via online subscription; check with your librarian)
2) Look for review articles (see below)
3) Google and browse (this can be very tedious, but can yield unexpected results)
Here are examples illustrating points (1) and (2)
///////
Sorbent Technology (Shuguang Deng) 2006
Chemical Engineering Department, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, U.S.A.
IN: Encyclopedia of Chemical Processing DOI: 10.1081/E-ECHP-120007963 Copyright # 2006 by Taylor & Francis. All rights reserved.
Π-complexation Sorbents and Composite Sorbents
A very good review article based on a panel study of status, future research needs, and opportunities for porous sorbent materials was published several years a go. It was pointed out that very significant advances have been made in tailoring the porosity of porous sorbent materials in terms of size and shape selectivity. Relatively little progress has been achieved in terms of chemoselectivity of sorbents based on specific interactions between adsorbate molecules and functional groups in the sorbents. Incorporation of active sites into sorbents is of high priority in the development of sorbents.
The π-complexation bond is a weak chemical bond that is slightly stronger than van der Waals interaction , which governs physical sorption processes. Sorbents with π-complexation capability tend to have higher selectivity than other physical sorbents for certain adsorbate molecules. Several different types of π-complexation sorbents with Cuþ or Agþ ions supported on different supports (SiO, g -Al2O2,TiO, variety of zeolites , polymer resin, and activated carbon) were synthesized using different methods including thermal dispersion, wet-impregnation, sol–gel, microwave heating, ion exchange zeolite, and ion-exchange resin. It was found that the CO adsorption capacity increases with Cuþ loading in an activated alumina supported sorbent.
To achieve the highest sorption capacity, the active species should be dispersed as a monolayer form. The potential applications of these π-complexation sorbents include:
• Desulfurization of gasoline and diesel fuels;
• Separation of olefins and paraffins;
• CO separation from synthesis gases;
• CO removal from hydrogen;
• Removal of aromatics ; and
• Removal of volatile organic compounds (VOC s).
A π-complexation sorbent can also be viewed as a composite sorbent especially when the sorbent support contributes significantly to the adsorption. Composite sorbents are typically made by physically mixing the powders of constituent sorbents with different sorption properties; they tend to have multiple sorption sites for different adsorbate molecules. One example of a composite sorbent is a mixture of activated alumina and zeolites for removing moisture, carbon dioxide, and other trace components from air in an air-purification process prior to cryogenic air separation.
Conventionally, moisture is removed by activated alumina, carbon dioxide by zeolite 13X, and hydrocarbons by zeolite 5A. Traditional air-purification processes employ multiple layers consisting of activated alumina, zeolite 13X, and optional zeolite 5A sorbents in a single vessel to achieve significant removal of moisture, carbon dioxide, and hydrocarbons from air. The major disadvantages of layered bed are nonuniform sorbent packing for a short sorbent layer, very significant temperature variation ( > 30C, sometimes called cold spots) between the zeolite and the activated alumina sorbent layers. The large temperature difference could upset the sorption process operation if it is designed to be operated isothermally. It is beneficial to have a single sorbent with multiple sorption features for different impurities and eliminate sorbent layering and temperature variations .
source: http://lib.nmsu.edu/accreditation/resources/FSA/DengArticle8.pdf
///////
Example of a review article:
///////
Desulfurization of Transportation Fuels by Adsorption
Authors: Arturo J. Hernndez-Maldonado(a); Ralph T. Yang(Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
*To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: yang@umich.edu
Abstract
This paper is a review on sorbents for desulfurization of transportation fuels (gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel). Since the π-complexation sorbents are the most promising, they are the focus of the discussion. During π-complexation, the thiophenic compounds can bind selectively to the sorbents, especially the substituted ones. The later remain highly unreacted in hydrodesulfurization (HDS) (i.e., “refractory” sulfur). Molecular orbital (MO) calculations and experiments have shown that these refractory compounds [(e.g., 4-methyldibenzothiophene and 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene (DMDBT)] bind strongly with the π-complexation sorbents because of a better electron donation/back-donation ability. The sorbents reviewed include Ag-Y, Cu(I)-Y, Ni(II)-Y, and Ni(II)-X zeolites prepared using various ion-exchange techniques. The techniques included vapor and solid-state ion exchanges, which are suitable for obtaining high loadings of transition metals. The best sorbent, Cu(I)-Y [vapor-phase ion-exchanged (VPIE)], is capable of producing almost 38 cm3 of desulfurized fuel per g of sorbent with a sulfur concentration of less than 0.2 ppmw. Using these π-complexation sorbents in layered bed matrices further increases the desulfurization capacity.
Keywords: Desulfurization; Transportation fuels; Dibenzothiophenes; Pi-complexation; Zeolite
source: http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a713625088~db=all~jumptype=rss
///////
Follow the Desulfurization Blog (http://www.desulf.blogspot.com/) for an ongoing review of tips and tricks to help maximize your online research effectiveness.
HOW TO GET AN OVERVIEW OF A TECHNICAL TOPIC
If you’re like me, you don’t know everything. Sometimes you run across a term that you are not quite sure of. But because it is in a field related to your area of expertise, you want to learn something about it. Where do you start?
Begin with an overview of the topic. Let’s take, as an example, the topic of “π complexation.” Now, you may already know everything you need to know about π complexation, but bear with me … the general principal is the same, no matter what topic you are investigating.
1) Look for reference "books" like Encyclopedia of Chemical Processing (Many libraries carry this whether in hard copy or via online subscription; check with your librarian)
2) Look for review articles (see below)
3) Google and browse (this can be very tedious, but can yield unexpected results)
Here are examples illustrating points (1) and (2)
///////
Sorbent Technology (Shuguang Deng) 2006
Chemical Engineering Department, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, U.S.A.
IN: Encyclopedia of Chemical Processing DOI: 10.1081/E-ECHP-120007963 Copyright # 2006 by Taylor & Francis. All rights reserved.
Π-complexation Sorbents and Composite Sorbents
A very good review article based on a panel study of status, future research needs, and opportunities for porous sorbent materials was published several years a go. It was pointed out that very significant advances have been made in tailoring the porosity of porous sorbent materials in terms of size and shape selectivity. Relatively little progress has been achieved in terms of chemoselectivity of sorbents based on specific interactions between adsorbate molecules and functional groups in the sorbents. Incorporation of active sites into sorbents is of high priority in the development of sorbents.
The π-complexation bond is a weak chemical bond that is slightly stronger than van der Waals interaction , which governs physical sorption processes. Sorbents with π-complexation capability tend to have higher selectivity than other physical sorbents for certain adsorbate molecules. Several different types of π-complexation sorbents with Cuþ or Agþ ions supported on different supports (SiO, g -Al2O2,TiO, variety of zeolites , polymer resin, and activated carbon) were synthesized using different methods including thermal dispersion, wet-impregnation, sol–gel, microwave heating, ion exchange zeolite, and ion-exchange resin. It was found that the CO adsorption capacity increases with Cuþ loading in an activated alumina supported sorbent.
To achieve the highest sorption capacity, the active species should be dispersed as a monolayer form. The potential applications of these π-complexation sorbents include:
• Desulfurization of gasoline and diesel fuels;
• Separation of olefins and paraffins;
• CO separation from synthesis gases;
• CO removal from hydrogen;
• Removal of aromatics ; and
• Removal of volatile organic compounds (VOC s).
A π-complexation sorbent can also be viewed as a composite sorbent especially when the sorbent support contributes significantly to the adsorption. Composite sorbents are typically made by physically mixing the powders of constituent sorbents with different sorption properties; they tend to have multiple sorption sites for different adsorbate molecules. One example of a composite sorbent is a mixture of activated alumina and zeolites for removing moisture, carbon dioxide, and other trace components from air in an air-purification process prior to cryogenic air separation.
Conventionally, moisture is removed by activated alumina, carbon dioxide by zeolite 13X, and hydrocarbons by zeolite 5A. Traditional air-purification processes employ multiple layers consisting of activated alumina, zeolite 13X, and optional zeolite 5A sorbents in a single vessel to achieve significant removal of moisture, carbon dioxide, and hydrocarbons from air. The major disadvantages of layered bed are nonuniform sorbent packing for a short sorbent layer, very significant temperature variation ( > 30C, sometimes called cold spots) between the zeolite and the activated alumina sorbent layers. The large temperature difference could upset the sorption process operation if it is designed to be operated isothermally. It is beneficial to have a single sorbent with multiple sorption features for different impurities and eliminate sorbent layering and temperature variations .
source: http://lib.nmsu.edu/accreditation/resources/FSA/DengArticle8.pdf
///////
Example of a review article:
///////
Desulfurization of Transportation Fuels by Adsorption
Authors: Arturo J. Hernndez-Maldonado(a); Ralph T. Yang(Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
*To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: yang@umich.edu
Abstract
This paper is a review on sorbents for desulfurization of transportation fuels (gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel). Since the π-complexation sorbents are the most promising, they are the focus of the discussion. During π-complexation, the thiophenic compounds can bind selectively to the sorbents, especially the substituted ones. The later remain highly unreacted in hydrodesulfurization (HDS) (i.e., “refractory” sulfur). Molecular orbital (MO) calculations and experiments have shown that these refractory compounds [(e.g., 4-methyldibenzothiophene and 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene (DMDBT)] bind strongly with the π-complexation sorbents because of a better electron donation/back-donation ability. The sorbents reviewed include Ag-Y, Cu(I)-Y, Ni(II)-Y, and Ni(II)-X zeolites prepared using various ion-exchange techniques. The techniques included vapor and solid-state ion exchanges, which are suitable for obtaining high loadings of transition metals. The best sorbent, Cu(I)-Y [vapor-phase ion-exchanged (VPIE)], is capable of producing almost 38 cm3 of desulfurized fuel per g of sorbent with a sulfur concentration of less than 0.2 ppmw. Using these π-complexation sorbents in layered bed matrices further increases the desulfurization capacity.
Keywords: Desulfurization; Transportation fuels; Dibenzothiophenes; Pi-complexation; Zeolite
source: http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a713625088~db=all~jumptype=rss
///////
Follow the Desulfurization Blog (http://www.desulf.blogspot.com/) for an ongoing review of tips and tricks to help maximize your online research effectiveness.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
A Fool for Full Text
“It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.” -- Mark Twain (American Humorist, Writer and Lecturer. 1835-1910)
“The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt” -- Bertrand Russell (English Logician and Philosopher 1872-1970)
I’m a fool for full text. Abstracts can be more or less helpful, depending on how well written they are. But for maximum information value, nothing beats full text.
Not only for the content … but for these other elements as well …
1) Introduction … often the author(s) will explain not only WHAT they did, but WHY they did it. In other words, what is the significance of the research?
2) References … Sometimes, the list of referenced articles is the most valuable part of the article in hand. The list provides multiple starting points for further online research. It also provides a list of authors, i.e., potentially useful contacts.
So how, in the increasingly commercial world of scientific inquiry, do you obtain the full text of relevant articles?
Two suggestions …
1) Search your subscribed online databases, like EbscoHost or ScienceDirect. Depending in the terms of your subscription, you may have access to “free” (i.e., prepaid by your organization) full text of the aticle(s) of interest. If you do not know what your organization subscribes to, ask your librarian
2) Consider ILL-Interlibrary Loan … This is a service provided by cooperating libraries all over the U.S. Subject to terms and conditions, many of the articles you want to view in full text can be obtained through your librarian’s connections with cooperating libraries.
Failing either of the above options, fall back on the pay-per-view option offered by most publishers … requires a valid credit card.
CASE STUDY
Dr. Amarjit Bakshi (abakshi@rhtgulfcoast.com) has over 32 years experience in Engineering Management at senior level in Process Engineering, Technology, Operations and Project Management, Licensing, Acquisitions, Alliances and Business Development. He has produced a number of patents and written several articles for professional journals.
As such, he may be worth further investigation for possible collaboration. One step to take before contacting him would be to obtain and read the articles he has written. Three of his most recent are listed below.
///////
“Reducing ether and biodiesel productions costs” (PTQ 2008 Q1)
“Selective hydrogenation of hydrocarbons” (PTQ 2007 Q3)
“Sulfuric Acid Alkylation” (PTQ 2007)
///////
Obtaining full text of articles from PTQ-Petroleum Technology Quarterly is particularly challenging. As far as I know, the only way other than ILL (mentioned above) is to use your credit card to download the full text from the publisher’s site. Or, if you or your organization subscribes to ePTQ (www.eptq.com), you should be able to download articles at no charge (to your unit, that is).
Remember … if you need full text and are unsure of the best way to get it, contact your librarian or other information professional for advice.
///////
Jean Steinhardt is an independent information professional specializing in training people to maximize their online research effectiveness. View his LinkedIn Profile at: www.linkedin.com/in/jeansteinhardtresearch ... invitations to join your LinkedIn network are welcome.
“The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt” -- Bertrand Russell (English Logician and Philosopher 1872-1970)
I’m a fool for full text. Abstracts can be more or less helpful, depending on how well written they are. But for maximum information value, nothing beats full text.
Not only for the content … but for these other elements as well …
1) Introduction … often the author(s) will explain not only WHAT they did, but WHY they did it. In other words, what is the significance of the research?
2) References … Sometimes, the list of referenced articles is the most valuable part of the article in hand. The list provides multiple starting points for further online research. It also provides a list of authors, i.e., potentially useful contacts.
So how, in the increasingly commercial world of scientific inquiry, do you obtain the full text of relevant articles?
Two suggestions …
1) Search your subscribed online databases, like EbscoHost or ScienceDirect. Depending in the terms of your subscription, you may have access to “free” (i.e., prepaid by your organization) full text of the aticle(s) of interest. If you do not know what your organization subscribes to, ask your librarian
2) Consider ILL-Interlibrary Loan … This is a service provided by cooperating libraries all over the U.S. Subject to terms and conditions, many of the articles you want to view in full text can be obtained through your librarian’s connections with cooperating libraries.
Failing either of the above options, fall back on the pay-per-view option offered by most publishers … requires a valid credit card.
CASE STUDY
Dr. Amarjit Bakshi (abakshi@rhtgulfcoast.com) has over 32 years experience in Engineering Management at senior level in Process Engineering, Technology, Operations and Project Management, Licensing, Acquisitions, Alliances and Business Development. He has produced a number of patents and written several articles for professional journals.
As such, he may be worth further investigation for possible collaboration. One step to take before contacting him would be to obtain and read the articles he has written. Three of his most recent are listed below.
///////
“Reducing ether and biodiesel productions costs” (PTQ 2008 Q1)
“Selective hydrogenation of hydrocarbons” (PTQ 2007 Q3)
“Sulfuric Acid Alkylation” (PTQ 2007)
///////
Obtaining full text of articles from PTQ-Petroleum Technology Quarterly is particularly challenging. As far as I know, the only way other than ILL (mentioned above) is to use your credit card to download the full text from the publisher’s site. Or, if you or your organization subscribes to ePTQ (www.eptq.com), you should be able to download articles at no charge (to your unit, that is).
Remember … if you need full text and are unsure of the best way to get it, contact your librarian or other information professional for advice.
///////
Jean Steinhardt is an independent information professional specializing in training people to maximize their online research effectiveness. View his LinkedIn Profile at: www.linkedin.com/in/jeansteinhardtresearch ... invitations to join your LinkedIn network are welcome.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Contact
“Personally, I experience the greatest degree of pleasure in having contact with works of art. They furnish me with happy feelings of an intensity such as I cannot derive from other realms.” -- Albert Einstein (German born American Physicist, 1879-1955)
“You can judge your age by the amount of pain you feel when you come in contact with a new idea.” -- Pearl S. Buck (American author, 1938 Nobel Prize for Literature, 1892-1973)
I recommend downloading and reading “Smart Refinery Guide: An Emerson Produced Supplement to Fuel Magazine” (September 2010). I recommend it for two reasons …
1) For content. While it is obviously intended to promote Emerson (http://www2.emersonprocess.com/en-US/Pages/Home.aspx) products and services, it provides a good look at the variety of ways in which refiners can use “smart” technology to cope with problems like heavier feedstocks and an aging workforce.
2) For contacts … Modern refining requires a broad range of expertise. Finding the right ex”pertise for a particular problem can be time consuming and frustrating. By noting the names and contact information of people mentioned in a document like “Smart Refinery,”
And one more tip … subscribe to Hart Energy’s FUEL magazine email. (hartonline@hartenergy.com). That’s how I found out about “Smart Refinery.”
Here is the text of that email …
///////
Dear Colleague:
Hart Energy Publishing and Emerson have joined forces to publish a Smart Refinery Guide. This guide is a must-read for site managers, process specialists, production supervisors and engineering managers in refineries worldwide. This brief guide aims to provide insight into how you can harness new "smart" technologies, from automation upgrades to advanced controls, to create the smart refinery of tomorrow.
A complimentary copy is available to download on this link (http://www.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT0xMDk1NjU3JnA9MSZ1PTMxMTYzMTEzNiZsaT00NjIwNDc5/index.html), once you fill in your details and follow the instructions.
If this is not working for you, simply drop a short email to Marisa (mkreitz@hartenergy.com), our friendly Customer Service Representative and she will get you a copy in no time!
Best regards,
Hart Energy Customer Service
1616 S. Voss, Ste 1000 • Houston, Texas 77057 • USA
+1.713.993.0032 • Fax: +1.713.840.8585 •]
///////
And here are some excerpts from the document …
///////
Still, the complexity in refinery operations continues to increase with refiners adding units to provide flexibility in processing heavier and higher sulfur feedstocks. Product specifications have simultaneously become more geographically complicated and restrictive.
Advances in automation are enabling the smart refiners to achieve these efficiencies and improve the overall performance of their plants. These technologies enable more efficient operations, decreasing costs and increasing profit levels. The cost and size of computing elements, the continuing increase in communication bandwidths, advances in software and mathematical analyses and better modeling capabilities have provided new optimizing tools for increasingly reliable refining operations.
///////
While refinery objectives are mostly unchanged, the performance against these objectives can be dramatically improved while reducing costs. For example, a U.S. Gulf Coast refiner showed sustained 50% reduction in reliability risk–increased availability–by incorporating a smart refinery process to use the additional information from smart technology. Similarly, a West Coast refiner implemented wireless vibration sensors on essential pumps to monitor asset health where a wired solution was not cost effective.
The new smart refinery will complement the board operator, control engineer and maintenance tech, improving their efficiency. “With any new technology, ease of use and ease of integration with existing operations are key factors,” said Dr. Douglas White, director of refining industry solutions with Emerson Process Management in Houston. “We carefully consider the possible effects of our smart refinery technologies, not only on present staff, but also on successfully transferring critical knowledge to younger operators as a significant number of older operators reach retirement age.
///////
For example, more than US$4.5 billion was invested at the Fujian refining and petrochemical (FREP) facility in China, a joint venture with ExxonMobil, Saudi Aramco and Sinopec, tripling the capacity of the existing refinery to 240,000 b/d to produce transportation fuels and other refined products. FREP digitally automated the existing refinery with eight distributed control automation systems, predictive maintenance software, safety instrumented systems (SIS), fire and gas systems, pressure and temperature transmitters and digital valve controllers–all using FOUNDATION™ fieldbus, HART, OPC and Modbus communication technologies and delivering information to a real-time database, as part of the largest integrated refining and petrochemicals project ever undertaken in China.
///////
“While there are certainly a number of large, complex process units like FCCs [fluid catalytic crackers], reformers and cokers that warrant a large-scale, multivariable approach, there is also a whole class of problems where small, high-speed and redundant embedded APC tools are an ideal fit, ” Sharpe said. “There are the very fast dynamic problems like fired heaters and compressors, where one-second execution-frequency for an MPC loop is required for safe operations. And you have the long time frame, highly-constrained single variable controllers, such as setting the feed rate to the hydrogen plant to balance the hydrogen system in the face of disturbances from the users. Each of these is a small application in terms of matrix size and implementation effort, but a large application in terms of economic impact.
///////
Because U.S. operators are now mandated to report GHG emissions, control systems are increasingly more important for obtaining accurate information. “On the safety side, control systems now act as a watchdog–if the H 2 S [hydrogensulfide] sensor goes off, or if a calculated quantity or prediction holds true, pagers and cell phones start ringing the alarms,” said Steve Elwart of Ergon Refining. “I predict we’ll see the same thing soon for greenhouse gas emissions.”
///////
The Energy Intensity Index (EII) as benchmarked by Solomon Associates generally measures energy efficiency in the North American refining market. The EII is an aggregate value that essentially indicates how much energy is expended to process each barrel of crude oil–the lower the number, the more efficient the operation. A Solomon EII value of 100 is standard; a Solomon EII plant-specific value below 100 indicates a more efficient plant, while a value above 100 indicates a less efficient plant.
“Many different factors can affect energy use in a plant, and in nearly every plant, there is the potential for energy efficiency improvement. Automated process controls can really have long term benefits not only for helping to control and monitor CO 2 emissions, but also when it comes to complying with CO 2 regulations,” Lemke said. “Automated process controls are quick to install and maintain, easy for the operators to understand and use, and many tools built into the system help operators do a better job of managing the regulatory layers.”
///////
Delaying investment in energy conservation programs can wreak havoc down the road. A low-cost interim solution such as repairing steam traps and other steam leaks will inevitably bring low return. Conversely, higher-cost options such as installation of integrated gas turbines, fluid catalytic cracking power-recovery turbines (vapor) and hydrocracking charge pump power recovery turbines (liquid) can bring higher returns, but are not automation-based solutions. Smart refineries should invest in automation technology, which involves low to medium initial cost, but enables substantial returns in the long run–including better flow and analytical monitoring.
///////
“The logistics for operating a refinery can be quite complex and dynamic,” Sharpe said. “For instance, decisions on which crude to run and how much to buy must be made months in advance. If you get it wrong, it could cost the company millions of dollars per incident.”
///////
Another useful contact … Jean Steinhardt (LinkedIn Profile: www.linkedin.com/in/jeansteinhardtresearch ), specializing in training the people in your organization to maximize their online research effectiveness. Invite Jean to join your LinkedIn network
“You can judge your age by the amount of pain you feel when you come in contact with a new idea.” -- Pearl S. Buck (American author, 1938 Nobel Prize for Literature, 1892-1973)
I recommend downloading and reading “Smart Refinery Guide: An Emerson Produced Supplement to Fuel Magazine” (September 2010). I recommend it for two reasons …
1) For content. While it is obviously intended to promote Emerson (http://www2.emersonprocess.com/en-US/Pages/Home.aspx) products and services, it provides a good look at the variety of ways in which refiners can use “smart” technology to cope with problems like heavier feedstocks and an aging workforce.
2) For contacts … Modern refining requires a broad range of expertise. Finding the right ex”pertise for a particular problem can be time consuming and frustrating. By noting the names and contact information of people mentioned in a document like “Smart Refinery,”
And one more tip … subscribe to Hart Energy’s FUEL magazine email. (hartonline@hartenergy.com). That’s how I found out about “Smart Refinery.”
Here is the text of that email …
///////
Dear Colleague:
Hart Energy Publishing and Emerson have joined forces to publish a Smart Refinery Guide. This guide is a must-read for site managers, process specialists, production supervisors and engineering managers in refineries worldwide. This brief guide aims to provide insight into how you can harness new "smart" technologies, from automation upgrades to advanced controls, to create the smart refinery of tomorrow.
A complimentary copy is available to download on this link (http://www.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT0xMDk1NjU3JnA9MSZ1PTMxMTYzMTEzNiZsaT00NjIwNDc5/index.html), once you fill in your details and follow the instructions.
If this is not working for you, simply drop a short email to Marisa (mkreitz@hartenergy.com), our friendly Customer Service Representative and she will get you a copy in no time!
Best regards,
Hart Energy Customer Service
1616 S. Voss, Ste 1000 • Houston, Texas 77057 • USA
+1.713.993.0032 • Fax: +1.713.840.8585 •]
///////
And here are some excerpts from the document …
///////
Still, the complexity in refinery operations continues to increase with refiners adding units to provide flexibility in processing heavier and higher sulfur feedstocks. Product specifications have simultaneously become more geographically complicated and restrictive.
Advances in automation are enabling the smart refiners to achieve these efficiencies and improve the overall performance of their plants. These technologies enable more efficient operations, decreasing costs and increasing profit levels. The cost and size of computing elements, the continuing increase in communication bandwidths, advances in software and mathematical analyses and better modeling capabilities have provided new optimizing tools for increasingly reliable refining operations.
///////
While refinery objectives are mostly unchanged, the performance against these objectives can be dramatically improved while reducing costs. For example, a U.S. Gulf Coast refiner showed sustained 50% reduction in reliability risk–increased availability–by incorporating a smart refinery process to use the additional information from smart technology. Similarly, a West Coast refiner implemented wireless vibration sensors on essential pumps to monitor asset health where a wired solution was not cost effective.
The new smart refinery will complement the board operator, control engineer and maintenance tech, improving their efficiency. “With any new technology, ease of use and ease of integration with existing operations are key factors,” said Dr. Douglas White, director of refining industry solutions with Emerson Process Management in Houston. “We carefully consider the possible effects of our smart refinery technologies, not only on present staff, but also on successfully transferring critical knowledge to younger operators as a significant number of older operators reach retirement age.
///////
For example, more than US$4.5 billion was invested at the Fujian refining and petrochemical (FREP) facility in China, a joint venture with ExxonMobil, Saudi Aramco and Sinopec, tripling the capacity of the existing refinery to 240,000 b/d to produce transportation fuels and other refined products. FREP digitally automated the existing refinery with eight distributed control automation systems, predictive maintenance software, safety instrumented systems (SIS), fire and gas systems, pressure and temperature transmitters and digital valve controllers–all using FOUNDATION™ fieldbus, HART, OPC and Modbus communication technologies and delivering information to a real-time database, as part of the largest integrated refining and petrochemicals project ever undertaken in China.
///////
“While there are certainly a number of large, complex process units like FCCs [fluid catalytic crackers], reformers and cokers that warrant a large-scale, multivariable approach, there is also a whole class of problems where small, high-speed and redundant embedded APC tools are an ideal fit, ” Sharpe said. “There are the very fast dynamic problems like fired heaters and compressors, where one-second execution-frequency for an MPC loop is required for safe operations. And you have the long time frame, highly-constrained single variable controllers, such as setting the feed rate to the hydrogen plant to balance the hydrogen system in the face of disturbances from the users. Each of these is a small application in terms of matrix size and implementation effort, but a large application in terms of economic impact.
///////
Because U.S. operators are now mandated to report GHG emissions, control systems are increasingly more important for obtaining accurate information. “On the safety side, control systems now act as a watchdog–if the H 2 S [hydrogensulfide] sensor goes off, or if a calculated quantity or prediction holds true, pagers and cell phones start ringing the alarms,” said Steve Elwart of Ergon Refining. “I predict we’ll see the same thing soon for greenhouse gas emissions.”
///////
The Energy Intensity Index (EII) as benchmarked by Solomon Associates generally measures energy efficiency in the North American refining market. The EII is an aggregate value that essentially indicates how much energy is expended to process each barrel of crude oil–the lower the number, the more efficient the operation. A Solomon EII value of 100 is standard; a Solomon EII plant-specific value below 100 indicates a more efficient plant, while a value above 100 indicates a less efficient plant.
“Many different factors can affect energy use in a plant, and in nearly every plant, there is the potential for energy efficiency improvement. Automated process controls can really have long term benefits not only for helping to control and monitor CO 2 emissions, but also when it comes to complying with CO 2 regulations,” Lemke said. “Automated process controls are quick to install and maintain, easy for the operators to understand and use, and many tools built into the system help operators do a better job of managing the regulatory layers.”
///////
Delaying investment in energy conservation programs can wreak havoc down the road. A low-cost interim solution such as repairing steam traps and other steam leaks will inevitably bring low return. Conversely, higher-cost options such as installation of integrated gas turbines, fluid catalytic cracking power-recovery turbines (vapor) and hydrocracking charge pump power recovery turbines (liquid) can bring higher returns, but are not automation-based solutions. Smart refineries should invest in automation technology, which involves low to medium initial cost, but enables substantial returns in the long run–including better flow and analytical monitoring.
///////
“The logistics for operating a refinery can be quite complex and dynamic,” Sharpe said. “For instance, decisions on which crude to run and how much to buy must be made months in advance. If you get it wrong, it could cost the company millions of dollars per incident.”
///////
Another useful contact … Jean Steinhardt (LinkedIn Profile: www.linkedin.com/in/jeansteinhardtresearch ), specializing in training the people in your organization to maximize their online research effectiveness. Invite Jean to join your LinkedIn network
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)