Nicolas Abatzoglou is a full Professor and Ex-Head of the Department of Chemical & Biotechnological Engineering of the Université de Sherbrooke, Canada. He is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Saskatchewan and Laval University. He is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering. He is a Specialist in Process Engineering involving particulate systems. He is the Director of the GRTP-C&P (Group of Research on Technologies and Processes in the Chemical &

Pharmaceutical Industry). Since May 2008, he is the holder of the Pfi zer Industrial Research Chair in Process Analytical Technologies (PAT) in Pharmaceutical Engineering. He is one of the leaders in Canada’s NCE Network BioFuelNet on Biorefi ning. He is also a Co-Founder of the company Enerkem Technologies Inc., precursor of Enerkem Inc., a spin-off commercializing technologies in the fi eld of energy from renewable resources. His scientifi c production includes more than 100 publications, reviews, conferences, keynotes, plenaries and invited lectures, patents and three book chapters.

Statement of the Problem: A new nickel catalyst was prepared from an ilmenite metallurgical residue consisting of an upgraded slag oxide (UGSO). Dry reforming of biogas, a mixture of equimolar amounts of CH4and CO2, does not necessitate other special reactants if the catalyst is effi cient and suffi ciently robust at the reaction conditions (T, P and gas spatial velocity). In recent scientifi c publications and a PCT patent pending, it has been shown that such a catalyst can be produced at low cost with a low-materials and energy intensity production protocol. Purpose: Present the preliminary engineering of an integrated industrialunit combining the in-house production of this novel catalytic formulations and its use to produce H2, using a typical landfi ll biogas or a combination of biogas and natural gas.

Methods:

                             

Results: The study presents results on the following points:

• Description of the catalyst and its chemistry.

• Mechanistic aspects relying on fresh and used catalyst analyses.

• Development of a phenomenological kinetic model, including the apparent activation energy of the controlling step and its use to simulate the reforming reactor operation.

• Proofs of the catalysts effi ciency, robustness, regenerability and an estimation of its life cycle.

• Description of this catalysts production unit aimed at both providing the necessary in-house quantities and tackle the external market.

• Preliminary engineering of a hydrogen production unit utilizing the new catalyst.

• Estimation of the production cost as function of the unit size in targeting to evaluate its break-even point.

Conclusion: The conclusion will focus on the techno-economic feasibility of such an industrial project within the actual

market globalization context as function of parameters such as, size, reactants and products market price, market outreach and socioeconomic and environmental incentives.

 

 

 

Ignacio Gracia is Associate Professor in the Chemical Engineering Department of the University of Castilla_La Mancha (Spain). PhD. in Chemical Engineering in the UCLM (1999), Marie Curie postdoctoral Fellowship in the University of Salerno (Italy) in 2002. Has devoted his scientifi c career to the fi eld of supercritical fluids, focused on natural extracts, waste oil regeneration and polymer synthesis. He is currently working in the synthesis of biocompatible biodegradable polymers with medical applications. Vice president of the Spanish association for the Advancement of High Pressure Technologies (FLUCOMP). Co-author of more than 50 scientifi c sci publications, two patents (one in application) and ten books and chaptiers. Supervisor of four PhD’s. He worked in more than 50 research projects and 12 projects with private companies, in 22 like Head. Master in MBA (2010). Entrepreneurship price in 2010. Founder of GARLICINSA, private spin-off with a registered product:

Industrial development of laboratory research in Chemical Engineering is diffi cult due to the lack of knowledge for researchers about business behavior and marketing strategies. Th is inability to communicate makes unable to understand the real potential of new products for fi nancial or management managers. This work presents some information for researchers to be able to understand basic concepts of economy related to the industrial implementation new processes, including examples applied to Supercritical Technology (ST). ST is ready to be widely used for the development of new products especially in the food, nutraceutical and pharmacy industry.

                                                             

In spite of the advantages about production, safety, quality, normative, proven therapeutic characteristics and marketing, the industrial implementation of ST products is scant, because their products are generally considered like simple substitutes for low market niche goods. Based on a Business Plan procedure, several tools and strategies were used to determine and quantify the industrial potential of some ST-based products. The SWOT test and Business Plan strategy were used to identify real possibilities for market application in a proper segment. New emerging opportunities about FDA or EFSA regulations, labelling, market demands and opportunities have to be exploited. New products obtained by ST were demonstrated like economically profi table, according to cost estimation, price curve and some fi nancial ratios.

 

Dr. Davis L. Ford is an Adjunct Professor in the College of Engineering, the University of Texas at Austin, and a Visiting Professor of Petroleum Engineering at Texas Tech University, Lubbock. He is practicing environmental engineer with over forty-fi ve years of experience in the fi eld. In addition, he serves on the faculty at The University of Texas at Austin as an adjunct professor, has published more than one hundred technical papers, has co-authored or contributed to ten textbooks, and written two biographies and co-authored one children’s book. He has lectured extensively throughout the United States and in countries of Europe, South America, and Asia. Ford received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering at Texas A&M University and his master and doctorate degrees in environmental engineering at The University of Texas at Austin. He is a Distinguished Engineering Graduate of both Texas A&M University and The University of Texas at Austin as well as a Distinguished Alumnus of Texas A&M. Ford was elected into the prestigious National Academy of Engineering (NAE). He has served as president of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and chairman of the Academy Ethics Committee. His honorary affi liations include Tau Beta Pi, Sigma Xi, and Chi Epsilon. Ford serves on the Board of a publicly-owned oil and exploration company (CWEI, NASDAQ) and the Board of the Texas A&M University Press

The world is going through a major energy dynamic, with fossil fuel being a major source. Tight oil and gas is now be extracted at a record pace in the Delaware basin in Texas and New Mexico. Both small energy companies now as well as the majors are in the early phases of drilling, completing, and transport oil and gas both for domestic use and export, primarily to Europe. Th ere is a dramatic increase of the United States gap attributable to this export of energy. Pipelines are being expanded and infrastructures of support are rapidly becoming in place. Th is presentation will include but not be limited to horizontal drilling, staging, water conservation and used water disposal, economics, payback, debt, and investing. Regulatory constraints at the state and federal levels will be a part of the presentation.To put this into current perspective, the major producers of fossil fuel, in order, are (1) the United States (2) Russia and (3) Saudi Arabia. Th ere will be a brief discussion of proven oil and gas reserves, both worldwide and in the United States. Th e growth of this commodity in the United States, both in the past few years as well as the anticipated production in the near future will be included in this presentation.