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Papers by ahmed bhran

Research paper thumbnail of Developing a free-fall reactor for rice straw fast pyrolysis to produce bio-products

Egyptian Journal of Petroleum, Dec 1, 2018

Recently, the world energy demand is increasing due to the growing world population. Accordingly,... more Recently, the world energy demand is increasing due to the growing world population. Accordingly, many research works are directed toward the new resources of renewable energy in order to compensate the shortage in petroleum based products. The use of biomass as a source for renewable energy is of growing importance. One of the most problematic agriculture wastes in Egypt is rice straw which is generated in huge amounts over a limited harvesting period. In this study the main objective is to develop and design a new rice straw fast pyrolysis reactor that improves some inefficiencies in traditional reactors while maintaining high bio-oil yields. To accomplish this target, a laboratory scale plant with a free-fall reactor was designed to avoid lack of moving parts; Compared it with other plants, the designed under investigation plant has the advantage of simple design. Two basic principles were combined in the design of the free-fall reactor; the first principle dealt with the particle heating rate, while the second considered the particle's free-fall velocity. Based on this developed and designed free-fall reactor, the fast pyrolysis process of rice straw was carried out at temperatures ranging from 450°C to 700°C. The obtained bioproducts from this process are liquid bio-oil, bio char and non-condensable gases. The characterization and chemical composition of the bio-oil and non-condensable gases were determined, respectively. It was concluded that the above mentioned free-fall reactor can be used for producing useful bioproducts from rice straw and sharing to solve the most problematic agriculture waste.

Research paper thumbnail of Management of physical and chemical water quality in Kotchener drain (Kafr El Sheikh, Egypt)

Asia-Pacific Journal of Chemical Engineering

Minimization of freshwater consumption is very important in the management of water quality in dr... more Minimization of freshwater consumption is very important in the management of water quality in drainage systems. In this paper, a mathematical technique for mass integration in drain systems was proposed. The main objective of this work is to manage the water quality in Kotchener drain (El‐Gharbia main drain) by chasing the physical and chemical parameters at sources and sinks. Kotchener drain is one of the largest drains in the Nile delta which moves from south of Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea in the north direction. Firstly, the data were collected from the studied area for 2 years along the Kotchener drain area. This was achieved by monthly monitoring five parameters of six sources sites and five sinks' sites. The results reveal that the concentration of the sources parameters in catchment area are within the permissible limits, except major constituents of total dissolved solid (TDS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and biological oxygen demand (BOD). According to the degree ...

Research paper thumbnail of Study of the polyurethane functionalisation : effect of the spiropyran on their optical and mechanical properties

De nos jours, des fibres et films photochromiques sont tournés vers le développement des matériau... more De nos jours, des fibres et films photochromiques sont tournés vers le développement des matériaux intelligent qui sont appliqués pour évaluer, signaliser et réagir à un changement de couleur et de spectre d’absorbance. Dans ce travail, l’activité photochromique de six différents types commerciaux de polyuréthane contenant de petites quantités de spiropyrane [1-hexyle-3,3-diméthyle-6'-nitrospiro (indoline-2',2'-benzopyrane)] a été étudiée. Les effets d'épaisseur du film, du temps d'irradiation, et de la concentration en SP sur la réponse photochromique des films de PU/SP ont été étudiés et également leurs interactions. En outre, le comportement photochromique de ces films sous étirement et leurs cinétiques de décoloration ont été abordés. La cinétique et la caractérisation des systèmes photochromiques de spiropyrane incorporé dans le polyuréthane et irradié avec la lumière monochromatique ont été modélisées. Les modèles obtenus peuvent être correctement appliqués...

Research paper thumbnail of A process for making photochromic polymers

HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe), Oct 14, 2009

Research paper thumbnail of Challenges and Solutions of Gas Sweetening Unit in Polypropylene Plant Using Process Simulation: A Case Study

Gas sweetening units using amines are an important part of lots of industries. They provide clean... more Gas sweetening units using amines are an important part of lots of industries. They provide clean burning fuels and valuable chemical feedstock. The integration of these units with petrochemical plants has increased their importance and complexity over the years. The advantages of computer simulation models as tools for designing and troubleshooting gas treating plants is increasingly obviously. This paper discusses the major problems faced in operation of the amine gas sweetening unit in polypropylene plant using a process simulation tool, HYSYS version 10. Several highlighted problems in such a plant have been investigated and discussed; then a number of proposed modifications have been suggested to overcome these problems and increase the productivity of the plant as designed. The results showed that the proposed modifications have a high impact on the amine sweetening unit efficiency. The modified procedures were applied, and the lab analysis showed good agreement with the simul...

Research paper thumbnail of Developing a free-fall reactor for rice straw fast pyrolysis to produce bio-products

Egyptian Journal of Petroleum, 2018

Recently, the world energy demand is increasing due to the growing world population. Accordingly,... more Recently, the world energy demand is increasing due to the growing world population. Accordingly, many research works are directed toward the new resources of renewable energy in order to compensate the shortage in petroleum based products. The use of biomass as a source for renewable energy is of growing importance. One of the most problematic agriculture wastes in Egypt is rice straw which is generated in huge amounts over a limited harvesting period. In this study the main objective is to develop and design a new rice straw fast pyrolysis reactor that improves some inefficiencies in traditional reactors while maintaining high bio-oil yields. To accomplish this target, a laboratory scale plant with a free-fall reactor was designed to avoid lack of moving parts; Compared it with other plants, the designed under investigation plant has the advantage of simple design. Two basic principles were combined in the design of the free-fall reactor; the first principle dealt with the particle heating rate, while the second considered the particle's free-fall velocity. Based on this developed and designed free-fall reactor, the fast pyrolysis process of rice straw was carried out at temperatures ranging from 450°C to 700°C. The obtained bioproducts from this process are liquid bio-oil, bio char and non-condensable gases. The characterization and chemical composition of the bio-oil and non-condensable gases were determined, respectively. It was concluded that the above mentioned free-fall reactor can be used for producing useful bioproducts from rice straw and sharing to solve the most problematic agriculture waste.

Research paper thumbnail of Optimization of crude oil hydrotreating process as a function of operating conditions: Application of response surface methodology

Computers & Chemical Engineering, 2016

Abstract In recent years, research has been directed towards upgrading of heavy crude oil as unco... more Abstract In recent years, research has been directed towards upgrading of heavy crude oil as unconventional oil recovery rises. Catalytic hydrotreating of crude oil is an important upgrading option that is rarely discussed in literature. The main aim of crude oil hydrotreating is to reduce adverse environmental effects caused by the concentration of contaminants, increase productivity and improve the quality of middle distillate cuts. In this work, Response surface methodology (RSM) has been adopted to study the influence of various process parameters, such as hydrogen partial pressure, temperature and liquid hourly space velocity on the hydrotreating performance. The significance of these parameters is identified by using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) method. The resulting correlations are capable of predicting sulfur, vanadium, nitrogen and nickel conversions that are in excellent agreement with experimental data. The operating parameters are optimized with LINGO optimization software to achieve maximum conversions of contaminants during hydrotreating processes.

Research paper thumbnail of Studying the rheological properties and the influence of drag reduction on a waxy crude oil in pipeline flow

Egyptian Journal of Petroleum, 2016

Research paper thumbnail of Maximization of natural gas liquids production from an existing gas plant

Egyptian Journal of Petroleum, 2016

It is known that the price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is higher than that of natural gas fr... more It is known that the price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is higher than that of natural gas from which it is derived. So the modification of a natural gas plant to produce LPG instead of lighter hydrocarbon gases is very important in the view point of economics. The aim of the present work is directed to the modification of Salam gas plant (Khalda Petroleum Company-Egypt) to produce LPG from the NGL instead of producing hydrocarbon gases during the NGL stabilization. This can be achieved after adding de-ethanizer and de-butanizer towers. The simulation tool used in this study is HYSYS version 8.4. The produced LPG of 100 ton/day can participate to solve the LPG shortage problem in Egypt and provide a national service to the people of Matruh Governorate. The economic study based on the economic analyzer of HYSIS showed that the payback period of the added two towers and their additional equipment has a high investment strength which means that all modification costs will be recovered within a short time. Furthermore, there are other benefits from this modification. The simulation results showed that there is a capacity saving of 56 tons/day in the export pipeline which transfers the gases to western desert gas complex (WDGC) at Alexandria. In the same manner, the modified plant provides a capacity saving of 88 tons/day in the dehydration unit and reduces horse power consumption in recycle and first stage export compressors. This modification can be taken as guidelines for both new and plants in operation to increase their profits.

Research paper thumbnail of Elaboration of Impregnated Composite for Sorption of Europium and Neodymium Ions from Aqueous Solutions

Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, 2015

Highlights   A composite material was prepared and impregnated with organophosphorus extractant... more Highlights   A composite material was prepared and impregnated with organophosphorus extractant.   It was characterized using different analytical techniques.   Sorption of europium and neodymium ions onto the impregnated composite was investigated.   Kinetics and thermodynamics of the sorption process were studied.

Research paper thumbnail of A New Hierarchical Approach for Maximizing Biodiesel Mixing Ratio Based on the Final Product Specifications

In recent days, fossil fuel resources are decreasing day by day while the population number is co... more In recent days, fossil fuel resources are decreasing day by day while the population number is continually increasing. This is why many researchers make their efforts to find new sources of energy, especially the renewable ones to compensate the deficiency of fossil energy. Biodiesel fuels are making its place as a key future renewable source and are attracting increasing attention worldwide as blending components or direct replacements for diesel fuel in vehicle engines. The principle objective of the present work is to maximize the biodiesel fraction in the diesel/biodiesel mixtures, while taking into consideration all product quality specifications as they are defined by Greek Legislation. The properties examined were density, viscosity, cloud point, pour point, volatility at temperatures 250, 350 and 360 o C, cetane index, cetane number, sulfur, water, higher heating value, flash point and cold filter plugging point. The results concerned the maximum biodiesel ratios of the pres...

Research paper thumbnail of Process simulation and performance improving of a gas plant in operation

Journal of Petroleum and Mining Engineering

In the first part of this study, the natural gas liquids (NGLs) recovery enhancements techniques ... more In the first part of this study, the natural gas liquids (NGLs) recovery enhancements techniques particularly by capacity increasing was studied to maximize the plant (El-Wastani Petroleum Company located in Egypt) productivity and profitability. The present work studies new NGL recover enhancements routes based on the recovery maximization of butane, propane, or ethane as a final product for sales. The selection of the best improvement route is based on an economical and technical study of these various routes of improvements. This selection is done using fuzzy logic as an intelligent system for the process of decision making. According to the results of fuzzy logic system, it is noted that in spite of the capacity increasing mode have the highest return on investment (ROI), it is found that the maximization of propane recovery is the optimum route for the plant improvements. This is because the choice of propane recovery mode does not rely only on ROI but takes in consideration various objectives such as feed stability, marketing availability and recovered NGL quantity. The results of this research wok is beneficial for improving the NGL recovery plants in operation as well as the newly ones which should take in consideration these improvements modes before the plant design.

Research paper thumbnail of Photochromic Behavior of Spiropyran in Polyurethane Thin Films

The International Conference on Chemical and Environmental Engineering

The aim of this work is to characterize the photochromic properties of a commercial grade of poly... more The aim of this work is to characterize the photochromic properties of a commercial grade of polyurethane (PU) that contains small quantities of spiropyran (SP) [1-hexyle-3,3-dimethyl-6'-nitrospiro (indoline-2',2'-benzopyran)]. PU photochromic films were illuminated with ultraviolet irradiation (365 nm) at room temperature and the absorbance spectra are recorded after scanning from 400 to 800 nm (visible zone). The effects of film thickness, irradiation time, and SP concentration on the polymer photochromic response have been studied. Furthermore, the photochromic behavior of polymer films under stretching and the kinetics of thermal decoloration of these films will be discussed.

Research paper thumbnail of A quantitative assessment tool for process safety performance by implementing a proposed capability maturity framework

International Journal of Safety Science

This paper stresses the need for a process safety capability maturity model (PSCMM) to prioritize... more This paper stresses the need for a process safety capability maturity model (PSCMM) to prioritize improvement actions. It describes the process safety key performance indicators (KPIs) and structural components associated with them. Additionally, this study discusses an approach to evaluate the efficiency of process safety KPIs implementation method. The most appropriate measurable dimensions for each implementation stage are recognized such as time, quality, scope, and staff. Similarly, all the dimensions of the most related aspects like detail and completeness were also identified. The study built quantitative performance assessment tool for the efficiency of the process safety KPIs implementation process using a set of categories for dimensions and aspects of each stage. The introduced model is planned for application on a wide range sample of developed process safety normally seen in oil and gas industries. The model was tested on data collected from the database of an oil and gas joint venture company that operates two offshore Egyptian fields located in the Suez gulf. The practical application of the proposed PSCMM worked very well. The results uncovered the hidden hazards and gave deep insights into the effectiveness of the implementation of the safety process KPIs.

Research paper thumbnail of Developing of a monitoring system for evaluating and investigating the fired heater performance

Asia-Pacific Journal of Chemical Engineering

Research paper thumbnail of Optimum operating conditions for improving natural gas dew point and condensate throughput

Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering

Research paper thumbnail of Liquefied petroleum gas recovery enhancement via retrofitting the refrigeration system of an existing natural gas liquid plant

Asia-Pacific Journal of Chemical Engineering

Nowadays, gas processing for natural gas liquids (NGLs) recovery is becoming of great interest. H... more Nowadays, gas processing for natural gas liquids (NGLs) recovery is becoming of great interest. However, many of the present NGLs recovery units in operation do not give the desired revenue. This study focuses on the retrofitting of an existing NGLs plant constructed in Egypt for maximizing LPG product recovery due to its high economic value. Various alternatives have been suggested to maximize LPG recovery, while achieving the same cooling target and ethane recovery in terms of power consumption and additional capital cost. The economic study shows that replacing the existing pure propane refrigerant used to recover C 5 + (pentane and heavier) in the existing plant by a mixed refrigerant type is the best retrofitting technique. Furthermore , the exergy of the whole NGL unit was studied to evaluate the exergetic performance of all suggested upgrading methods. Regarding the upgraded plant, the butanes and propane recoveries were increased by 13% and 7%, respectively, with 15.95% increase in LPG overall recovery. In addition, the solutions of operational problems that may appear in the glycol injection system, propane refrigeration facilities, and de-ethanizer unit facilities when switching from single refrigerant to mixed refrigerant have been taken into consideration.

Research paper thumbnail of {"__content__"=>"Optimization of cultural conditions for lipid accumulation by Ras101 and its transesterification to biodiesel: application of response surface methodology.", "i"=>{"__content__"=>"Aspergillus wentii"}}

3 Biotech, 2018

The present study is aimed to maximize biodiesel production by using the fungal strain Ras101 as ... more The present study is aimed to maximize biodiesel production by using the fungal strain Ras101 as a feedstock. Response surface methodology was used to relate the interaction between some nutritional and environmental factors affecting the lipid productivity by Ras101. By applying LINGO optimization program, the maximum lipid production of 40% dry biomass of this fungal isolate has been attained in a fermentation medium composed of 50 g/l glucose, 1 g/l nitrates, 1.5 g/l phosphorous, and 0.5 g/l NaCl. This medium was adjusted at pH of 6, and incubated at 28 °C for 7 days. The values of correlation errors between the experimental and estimated values are less than 1%; this proves that the proposed correlation could be used effectively for estimating the fungal lipid production. Consequently, the effects of time and temperature on the amount of biodiesel produced in the extraction and transesterification one-step process have been investigated. The maximum biodiesel production of 28% d...

Research paper thumbnail of Preparation of PVC/PVP composite polymer membranes via phase inversion process for water treatment purposes

Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering

Research paper thumbnail of Modification of a deethanization plant for enhancing propane and propylene recovery and solving some operational problems

Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 2016

Research paper thumbnail of Developing a free-fall reactor for rice straw fast pyrolysis to produce bio-products

Egyptian Journal of Petroleum, Dec 1, 2018

Recently, the world energy demand is increasing due to the growing world population. Accordingly,... more Recently, the world energy demand is increasing due to the growing world population. Accordingly, many research works are directed toward the new resources of renewable energy in order to compensate the shortage in petroleum based products. The use of biomass as a source for renewable energy is of growing importance. One of the most problematic agriculture wastes in Egypt is rice straw which is generated in huge amounts over a limited harvesting period. In this study the main objective is to develop and design a new rice straw fast pyrolysis reactor that improves some inefficiencies in traditional reactors while maintaining high bio-oil yields. To accomplish this target, a laboratory scale plant with a free-fall reactor was designed to avoid lack of moving parts; Compared it with other plants, the designed under investigation plant has the advantage of simple design. Two basic principles were combined in the design of the free-fall reactor; the first principle dealt with the particle heating rate, while the second considered the particle's free-fall velocity. Based on this developed and designed free-fall reactor, the fast pyrolysis process of rice straw was carried out at temperatures ranging from 450°C to 700°C. The obtained bioproducts from this process are liquid bio-oil, bio char and non-condensable gases. The characterization and chemical composition of the bio-oil and non-condensable gases were determined, respectively. It was concluded that the above mentioned free-fall reactor can be used for producing useful bioproducts from rice straw and sharing to solve the most problematic agriculture waste.

Research paper thumbnail of Management of physical and chemical water quality in Kotchener drain (Kafr El Sheikh, Egypt)

Asia-Pacific Journal of Chemical Engineering

Minimization of freshwater consumption is very important in the management of water quality in dr... more Minimization of freshwater consumption is very important in the management of water quality in drainage systems. In this paper, a mathematical technique for mass integration in drain systems was proposed. The main objective of this work is to manage the water quality in Kotchener drain (El‐Gharbia main drain) by chasing the physical and chemical parameters at sources and sinks. Kotchener drain is one of the largest drains in the Nile delta which moves from south of Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea in the north direction. Firstly, the data were collected from the studied area for 2 years along the Kotchener drain area. This was achieved by monthly monitoring five parameters of six sources sites and five sinks' sites. The results reveal that the concentration of the sources parameters in catchment area are within the permissible limits, except major constituents of total dissolved solid (TDS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and biological oxygen demand (BOD). According to the degree ...

Research paper thumbnail of Study of the polyurethane functionalisation : effect of the spiropyran on their optical and mechanical properties

De nos jours, des fibres et films photochromiques sont tournés vers le développement des matériau... more De nos jours, des fibres et films photochromiques sont tournés vers le développement des matériaux intelligent qui sont appliqués pour évaluer, signaliser et réagir à un changement de couleur et de spectre d’absorbance. Dans ce travail, l’activité photochromique de six différents types commerciaux de polyuréthane contenant de petites quantités de spiropyrane [1-hexyle-3,3-diméthyle-6'-nitrospiro (indoline-2',2'-benzopyrane)] a été étudiée. Les effets d'épaisseur du film, du temps d'irradiation, et de la concentration en SP sur la réponse photochromique des films de PU/SP ont été étudiés et également leurs interactions. En outre, le comportement photochromique de ces films sous étirement et leurs cinétiques de décoloration ont été abordés. La cinétique et la caractérisation des systèmes photochromiques de spiropyrane incorporé dans le polyuréthane et irradié avec la lumière monochromatique ont été modélisées. Les modèles obtenus peuvent être correctement appliqués...

Research paper thumbnail of A process for making photochromic polymers

HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe), Oct 14, 2009

Research paper thumbnail of Challenges and Solutions of Gas Sweetening Unit in Polypropylene Plant Using Process Simulation: A Case Study

Gas sweetening units using amines are an important part of lots of industries. They provide clean... more Gas sweetening units using amines are an important part of lots of industries. They provide clean burning fuels and valuable chemical feedstock. The integration of these units with petrochemical plants has increased their importance and complexity over the years. The advantages of computer simulation models as tools for designing and troubleshooting gas treating plants is increasingly obviously. This paper discusses the major problems faced in operation of the amine gas sweetening unit in polypropylene plant using a process simulation tool, HYSYS version 10. Several highlighted problems in such a plant have been investigated and discussed; then a number of proposed modifications have been suggested to overcome these problems and increase the productivity of the plant as designed. The results showed that the proposed modifications have a high impact on the amine sweetening unit efficiency. The modified procedures were applied, and the lab analysis showed good agreement with the simul...

Research paper thumbnail of Developing a free-fall reactor for rice straw fast pyrolysis to produce bio-products

Egyptian Journal of Petroleum, 2018

Recently, the world energy demand is increasing due to the growing world population. Accordingly,... more Recently, the world energy demand is increasing due to the growing world population. Accordingly, many research works are directed toward the new resources of renewable energy in order to compensate the shortage in petroleum based products. The use of biomass as a source for renewable energy is of growing importance. One of the most problematic agriculture wastes in Egypt is rice straw which is generated in huge amounts over a limited harvesting period. In this study the main objective is to develop and design a new rice straw fast pyrolysis reactor that improves some inefficiencies in traditional reactors while maintaining high bio-oil yields. To accomplish this target, a laboratory scale plant with a free-fall reactor was designed to avoid lack of moving parts; Compared it with other plants, the designed under investigation plant has the advantage of simple design. Two basic principles were combined in the design of the free-fall reactor; the first principle dealt with the particle heating rate, while the second considered the particle's free-fall velocity. Based on this developed and designed free-fall reactor, the fast pyrolysis process of rice straw was carried out at temperatures ranging from 450°C to 700°C. The obtained bioproducts from this process are liquid bio-oil, bio char and non-condensable gases. The characterization and chemical composition of the bio-oil and non-condensable gases were determined, respectively. It was concluded that the above mentioned free-fall reactor can be used for producing useful bioproducts from rice straw and sharing to solve the most problematic agriculture waste.

Research paper thumbnail of Optimization of crude oil hydrotreating process as a function of operating conditions: Application of response surface methodology

Computers & Chemical Engineering, 2016

Abstract In recent years, research has been directed towards upgrading of heavy crude oil as unco... more Abstract In recent years, research has been directed towards upgrading of heavy crude oil as unconventional oil recovery rises. Catalytic hydrotreating of crude oil is an important upgrading option that is rarely discussed in literature. The main aim of crude oil hydrotreating is to reduce adverse environmental effects caused by the concentration of contaminants, increase productivity and improve the quality of middle distillate cuts. In this work, Response surface methodology (RSM) has been adopted to study the influence of various process parameters, such as hydrogen partial pressure, temperature and liquid hourly space velocity on the hydrotreating performance. The significance of these parameters is identified by using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) method. The resulting correlations are capable of predicting sulfur, vanadium, nitrogen and nickel conversions that are in excellent agreement with experimental data. The operating parameters are optimized with LINGO optimization software to achieve maximum conversions of contaminants during hydrotreating processes.

Research paper thumbnail of Studying the rheological properties and the influence of drag reduction on a waxy crude oil in pipeline flow

Egyptian Journal of Petroleum, 2016

Research paper thumbnail of Maximization of natural gas liquids production from an existing gas plant

Egyptian Journal of Petroleum, 2016

It is known that the price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is higher than that of natural gas fr... more It is known that the price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is higher than that of natural gas from which it is derived. So the modification of a natural gas plant to produce LPG instead of lighter hydrocarbon gases is very important in the view point of economics. The aim of the present work is directed to the modification of Salam gas plant (Khalda Petroleum Company-Egypt) to produce LPG from the NGL instead of producing hydrocarbon gases during the NGL stabilization. This can be achieved after adding de-ethanizer and de-butanizer towers. The simulation tool used in this study is HYSYS version 8.4. The produced LPG of 100 ton/day can participate to solve the LPG shortage problem in Egypt and provide a national service to the people of Matruh Governorate. The economic study based on the economic analyzer of HYSIS showed that the payback period of the added two towers and their additional equipment has a high investment strength which means that all modification costs will be recovered within a short time. Furthermore, there are other benefits from this modification. The simulation results showed that there is a capacity saving of 56 tons/day in the export pipeline which transfers the gases to western desert gas complex (WDGC) at Alexandria. In the same manner, the modified plant provides a capacity saving of 88 tons/day in the dehydration unit and reduces horse power consumption in recycle and first stage export compressors. This modification can be taken as guidelines for both new and plants in operation to increase their profits.

Research paper thumbnail of Elaboration of Impregnated Composite for Sorption of Europium and Neodymium Ions from Aqueous Solutions

Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, 2015

Highlights   A composite material was prepared and impregnated with organophosphorus extractant... more Highlights   A composite material was prepared and impregnated with organophosphorus extractant.   It was characterized using different analytical techniques.   Sorption of europium and neodymium ions onto the impregnated composite was investigated.   Kinetics and thermodynamics of the sorption process were studied.

Research paper thumbnail of A New Hierarchical Approach for Maximizing Biodiesel Mixing Ratio Based on the Final Product Specifications

In recent days, fossil fuel resources are decreasing day by day while the population number is co... more In recent days, fossil fuel resources are decreasing day by day while the population number is continually increasing. This is why many researchers make their efforts to find new sources of energy, especially the renewable ones to compensate the deficiency of fossil energy. Biodiesel fuels are making its place as a key future renewable source and are attracting increasing attention worldwide as blending components or direct replacements for diesel fuel in vehicle engines. The principle objective of the present work is to maximize the biodiesel fraction in the diesel/biodiesel mixtures, while taking into consideration all product quality specifications as they are defined by Greek Legislation. The properties examined were density, viscosity, cloud point, pour point, volatility at temperatures 250, 350 and 360 o C, cetane index, cetane number, sulfur, water, higher heating value, flash point and cold filter plugging point. The results concerned the maximum biodiesel ratios of the pres...

Research paper thumbnail of Process simulation and performance improving of a gas plant in operation

Journal of Petroleum and Mining Engineering

In the first part of this study, the natural gas liquids (NGLs) recovery enhancements techniques ... more In the first part of this study, the natural gas liquids (NGLs) recovery enhancements techniques particularly by capacity increasing was studied to maximize the plant (El-Wastani Petroleum Company located in Egypt) productivity and profitability. The present work studies new NGL recover enhancements routes based on the recovery maximization of butane, propane, or ethane as a final product for sales. The selection of the best improvement route is based on an economical and technical study of these various routes of improvements. This selection is done using fuzzy logic as an intelligent system for the process of decision making. According to the results of fuzzy logic system, it is noted that in spite of the capacity increasing mode have the highest return on investment (ROI), it is found that the maximization of propane recovery is the optimum route for the plant improvements. This is because the choice of propane recovery mode does not rely only on ROI but takes in consideration various objectives such as feed stability, marketing availability and recovered NGL quantity. The results of this research wok is beneficial for improving the NGL recovery plants in operation as well as the newly ones which should take in consideration these improvements modes before the plant design.

Research paper thumbnail of Photochromic Behavior of Spiropyran in Polyurethane Thin Films

The International Conference on Chemical and Environmental Engineering

The aim of this work is to characterize the photochromic properties of a commercial grade of poly... more The aim of this work is to characterize the photochromic properties of a commercial grade of polyurethane (PU) that contains small quantities of spiropyran (SP) [1-hexyle-3,3-dimethyl-6'-nitrospiro (indoline-2',2'-benzopyran)]. PU photochromic films were illuminated with ultraviolet irradiation (365 nm) at room temperature and the absorbance spectra are recorded after scanning from 400 to 800 nm (visible zone). The effects of film thickness, irradiation time, and SP concentration on the polymer photochromic response have been studied. Furthermore, the photochromic behavior of polymer films under stretching and the kinetics of thermal decoloration of these films will be discussed.

Research paper thumbnail of A quantitative assessment tool for process safety performance by implementing a proposed capability maturity framework

International Journal of Safety Science

This paper stresses the need for a process safety capability maturity model (PSCMM) to prioritize... more This paper stresses the need for a process safety capability maturity model (PSCMM) to prioritize improvement actions. It describes the process safety key performance indicators (KPIs) and structural components associated with them. Additionally, this study discusses an approach to evaluate the efficiency of process safety KPIs implementation method. The most appropriate measurable dimensions for each implementation stage are recognized such as time, quality, scope, and staff. Similarly, all the dimensions of the most related aspects like detail and completeness were also identified. The study built quantitative performance assessment tool for the efficiency of the process safety KPIs implementation process using a set of categories for dimensions and aspects of each stage. The introduced model is planned for application on a wide range sample of developed process safety normally seen in oil and gas industries. The model was tested on data collected from the database of an oil and gas joint venture company that operates two offshore Egyptian fields located in the Suez gulf. The practical application of the proposed PSCMM worked very well. The results uncovered the hidden hazards and gave deep insights into the effectiveness of the implementation of the safety process KPIs.

Research paper thumbnail of Developing of a monitoring system for evaluating and investigating the fired heater performance

Asia-Pacific Journal of Chemical Engineering

Research paper thumbnail of Optimum operating conditions for improving natural gas dew point and condensate throughput

Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering

Research paper thumbnail of Liquefied petroleum gas recovery enhancement via retrofitting the refrigeration system of an existing natural gas liquid plant

Asia-Pacific Journal of Chemical Engineering

Nowadays, gas processing for natural gas liquids (NGLs) recovery is becoming of great interest. H... more Nowadays, gas processing for natural gas liquids (NGLs) recovery is becoming of great interest. However, many of the present NGLs recovery units in operation do not give the desired revenue. This study focuses on the retrofitting of an existing NGLs plant constructed in Egypt for maximizing LPG product recovery due to its high economic value. Various alternatives have been suggested to maximize LPG recovery, while achieving the same cooling target and ethane recovery in terms of power consumption and additional capital cost. The economic study shows that replacing the existing pure propane refrigerant used to recover C 5 + (pentane and heavier) in the existing plant by a mixed refrigerant type is the best retrofitting technique. Furthermore , the exergy of the whole NGL unit was studied to evaluate the exergetic performance of all suggested upgrading methods. Regarding the upgraded plant, the butanes and propane recoveries were increased by 13% and 7%, respectively, with 15.95% increase in LPG overall recovery. In addition, the solutions of operational problems that may appear in the glycol injection system, propane refrigeration facilities, and de-ethanizer unit facilities when switching from single refrigerant to mixed refrigerant have been taken into consideration.

Research paper thumbnail of {"__content__"=>"Optimization of cultural conditions for lipid accumulation by Ras101 and its transesterification to biodiesel: application of response surface methodology.", "i"=>{"__content__"=>"Aspergillus wentii"}}

3 Biotech, 2018

The present study is aimed to maximize biodiesel production by using the fungal strain Ras101 as ... more The present study is aimed to maximize biodiesel production by using the fungal strain Ras101 as a feedstock. Response surface methodology was used to relate the interaction between some nutritional and environmental factors affecting the lipid productivity by Ras101. By applying LINGO optimization program, the maximum lipid production of 40% dry biomass of this fungal isolate has been attained in a fermentation medium composed of 50 g/l glucose, 1 g/l nitrates, 1.5 g/l phosphorous, and 0.5 g/l NaCl. This medium was adjusted at pH of 6, and incubated at 28 °C for 7 days. The values of correlation errors between the experimental and estimated values are less than 1%; this proves that the proposed correlation could be used effectively for estimating the fungal lipid production. Consequently, the effects of time and temperature on the amount of biodiesel produced in the extraction and transesterification one-step process have been investigated. The maximum biodiesel production of 28% d...

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