Vicente Martínez-Soria

University of Valencia | UV · Department of Chemical Engineering

Superhydrophobic poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membranes were obtained by a surface treatment consisting of oxygen plasma activation followed by functionalisation with a mixture of silica precursor (SiP) (tetraethyl-orthosilicate [TEOS] or 3-(triethoxysilyl)-propylamine [APTES]) and a fluoroalkylsilane (1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane)...

Characterisation of the fouling attached to PVDF membranes treating an anaerobic effluent for dissolved CH4 recovery was carried out. A commercial flat-sheet PVDF membrane and a PVDF functionalised by grafting of organofluorosilanes (mPVDF) that increased its hydrophobicity were subjected to a continuous flux of an anaerobic reactor effluent in lon...

A three-step surface modification consisting of activation with NaOH, functionalisation with a silica precursor and organofluorosilane mixture (FSiT), and curing was applied to a poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membrane for the recovery of dissolved methane (D-CH4) from aqueous streams. Based on the results of a statistical experimental design, th...

A degassing contactor using a flat sheet membrane module (FM) was operated in sweep gas mode to study the performance of several commercial polymer membranes, both dense (polydimethylsiloxane, PDMS) and microporous (polypropylene, PP, and polyvinylidenefluoride, PVDF), for the recovery of dissolved methane from water. Non-steady state experiments w...

Rice straw (RS) is one of the lignocellulosic wastes with the highest global production. The main objective of this study was to maximise the butanol production by Clostridium beijerinckii DSM 6422 from RS pretreated by microwave-assisted hydrothermolysis. Two different fermentation strategies were compared: separate hydrolysis and fermentation (SH...

Vacuum and nitrogen as sweep gas were used simultaneously (combination mode) to generate the driving force in a microporous polypropylene membrane contactor for the recovery of dissolved methane from water. Experiments were carried out under different liquid flow-rates (5.0–28.0 L h⁻¹), N2 flow-rates (0.5–1.5 L h⁻¹) and vacuum pressures (0–480 mbar...

The influence of the addition of granular activated carbon (GAC) to the anaerobic treatment of wastewater with a mixture of ethanol and 1-ethoxy-2-propanol (E2P), which are typical pollutants from flexographic/printing industry, was evaluated. For this purpose, reactor performance and microbial community were assessed in two continuous stirred tank...

The performance and microbial community analysis of an expanded granular sludge bed reactor (EGSB) treating wastewater polluted with mixtures of ethanol and glycol ethers –such as 1-ethoxy-2-propanol (E2P) and 1-methoxy-2-propanol (M2P)– were evaluated. The results showed good EGSB performance during start-up (100% of ethanol) in terms of global re...

The recovery of dissolved methane (D-CH4) from the effluent of anaerobic reactors avoids greenhouse gas diffuse emissions and can enhance energy production in wastewater treatments plants. The objective of this work was to evaluate the feasibility of the combined used of N2 sweep gas and vacuum (combination mode) for the removal of D-CH4 from water...

A full-scale biotrickling filter (BTF) treating acetone air emissions of wood-coating activities showed difficulties to achieve outlet concentrations lower than 125 mg C m⁻³, especially for high inlet concentrations and oscillating emissions. To solve this problem, a laboratory investigation on acetone removal was carried out simulating typical ind...

A polypropylene membrane contactor was used for the recovery of dissolved methane from an anaerobic reactor effluent. Effect of operational parameters, operation mode and fouling on long-term operation was studied using vacuum pressure or N2 as sweep gas. Results were analyzed based on the mass transfer estimations. Lower performance was observed i...

The anaerobic biodegradation of ethanol-glycol ether mixtures as 1-ethoxy-2-propanol (E2P) and 1- methoxy-2-propanol (M2P), widely used in printing facilities, was investigated by means of two laboratory-scale anaerobic bioreactors at 25oC: an expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) reactor and an anaerobic hybrid reactor (AHR), which incorporated a pa...

A three-phase dynamic mathematical model based on mass balances describing the main processes in biotrickling filtration: convection, mass transfer, diffusion, and biodegradation was calibrated and validated for the simulation of an industrial styrene-degrading biotrickling filter. The model considered the key features of the industrial operation o...

The performance, fouling and feasibility of a polydimethylsiloxane hollow fibre membrane module for in situ methane degasification from the effluent of an Expanded Granular Sludge Bed anaerobic reactor has been investigated. Experiments at different operational conditions were carried out (liquid flow, sweep gas flow and vacuum pressure) with maxim...

The performance and feasibility of a pilot unit of biotrickling filter (BTF) for the treatment of industrial emissions polluted by styrene was investigated for one year at a fiber reinforced plastic industrial site. The pilot unit was packed with a structured material with a volume of 0.6 m³. Monitoring results have shown successful treatment of th...

The feasibility of an emergent technology for in situ removal/recovery of methane from the effluent of an Expanded Granular Sludge Bed (EGSB) anaerobic reactor has been studied. For this purpose, the performances of two commercial hollow fibre degassing contactors with different membrane materials – microporous (polypropylene, PP) and non-porous (p...

The capacity of activated carbon as a buffer pretreatment combined with biotrickling filtration for volatile organic compound (VOC) removal has been studied. The adsorption capacity of commercial activated carbons for m-xylene, acetone and n-butyl acetate (typical paint solvents) was evaluated, including the response to the interchanging of adsorbe...

The abatement of isovaleraldehyde present in air was carried out in UV photocatalytic and dielectric barrier discharge reactors (and their combinations) for concentrations up to 150 mg C m−3 and air flow rates ranging from 4 to 10 m3 h−1. A kinetic study was performed following a Langmuir–Hinshelwood model. Photocatalytic treatment of an isovaleral...

This paper deals with the 3-methylbutanal ((CH3)2CHCH2COH) removal with the help of a nonthermal surface plasma discharge coupled with photocatalysis. The capability of this process for gas treatment was studied. A planar reactor system was developed in order to perform the effect of adding photocatalytic material in plasma surface discharge barrie...

EU environmental policy makes controlling the emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) in waste gases necessary. Biotrickling filtration, an emergent biotreament, could be a viable technology for the coating sector. In this study, field-scale applications in two different industrial sectors are presented. A full-scale biotrickling system, incl...

The performance of a full-scale biotrickling system for the treatment of exhaust gases from two different paint sources at a furniture facility, was investigated applying Fluorescense in situ hybridization (FISH). This technique allowed the detection of major bacteria groups and, therefore, helped in understanding complex microbial communities. The...

BACKGROUND: Biotrickling filtration could be considered as a suitable and viable technology for controlling the industrial emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in waste gases. In this study, the performance of a full-scale biotrickling system, including a passively activated carbon-smoothing prefilter was investigated for the treatment of...

The abatement of typical paint solvent compounds as individuals and in mixtures was carried out in an annular TiO2 supported reactor, for concentrations up to 900 mg C m–3. Two different fiberglass supports were compared, and the catalyst supported over a fiber mat showed better performance, with a lower pressure drop (>35% of reduction) and a slig...

BACKGROUND: The integration of UV photocatalysis and biofiltration seems to be a promising combination of technologies for the removal of hydrophobic and poorly biodegradable air pollutants. The influence of pre-treatments based on UV254 nm photocatalysis and photo-oxidation on the biofiltration of toluene as a target compound was evaluated in a co...

The performance and feasibility of a biotrickling filter (BTF) pilot unit for the treatment of exhaust gases from two robotic spray paint booths at a plastic coating facility were investigated. The volatile organic compound (VOC) concentrations in the emissions of the exhaust gases from the paint booths were relatively stable, although the VOC comp...

The study of an industrial unit of biotrickling filter for the treatment of the exhaust gases of a flexographic facility was investigated over a 2-year period with the objective to meet the volatile organic compound (VOC) regulatory emission limits. Increasing the water flow rate from 2 to 40 m(3) h(-1) improved the performance of the process, meet...

The effect of using ground tire rubber (GTR) as an adsorptive material in the removal of a 2:1:1 weight mixture of n-butyl acetate, toluene and m-xylene by using a peat biofilter under different intermittent conditions was investigated. The performance of two identical size biofilters, one packed with fibrous peat alone and the other with a 3:1 (vo...

Control of VOC emissions from a flexographic printing facility using and industrial biotrickling filter

The removal of styrene-polluted air emissions by biotrickling filtration was performed to evaluate the influence of using nitrate and urea as a nitrogen source in the nutrient solution supplied to two bioreactors run in parallel under the same operational conditions for 3 months. The use of urea resulted in less biomass content along the packed bed...

BACKGROUND: One of the most important industrial sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is related to coating and painting applications. In this sense, photocatalytic oxidation can become an innovative and promising alternative for the remediation of air polluted by VOCs. In this study the UV photodegradation of m-xylene, toluene and n-butyl...

Removal of a mixture of oxygenated and aromatic VOCs by using a biofilter packed with peat or peat/ground tire rubber under transient loading.

BACKGROUND: Painting and wood finishing is one industrial sector affected by the European Union environmental regulations on volatile organic compound (VOC) air emissions. The painting process typically results in high flow rates with low VOC concentrations, so biotrickling filtration could be an economical alternative for controlling air emissions...

Photocatalytic Removal of m-Xylene, Toluene and n-Butyl Acetate in Air Using a Continous Lab-Scale Reactor

Comparison between laboratory and pilot biotrickling filtration of air emissions from painting and wood finishing

A 0.75-m3 pilot-scale biotrickling filter was run for over 1 yr in a Spanish furniture company to evaluate its performance in the removal of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) contained in the emission of two different paint spray booths. The first one was an open front booth used to manually paint furniture, and the second focus was an automaticall...

The removal of a 1:1 by weight mixture of ethanol and ethyl acetate was studied in a gas phase biotrickling filter running under conditions that simulated industrial emissions from the flexographic sector, i.e. discontinuous loading (twelve hours per day and five days per week) and oscillating concentration of the inlet stream. Three sets of experi...

A dynamic model for ethyl acetate and toluene removal by biofiltration is presented. Haldane-type kinetic expressions that include the oxygen limitation, the inhibition effect due to high concentration of substrate, and the cross-inhibition between substrates have been considered. A decrease in the biomass density with the bed height was proposed t...

Laboratory scale-studies on the biodegradation of a 1:1:1 weight mixture of three oxygenated volatile organic compounds (VOCs), ethanol, ethyl acetate, and methyl-ethyl ketone (MEK) in a biotrickling filter (BTF) were carried out using two identically sized columns, filled with different polypropylene rings. The performance of the BTFs was examined...

Performance of a biotrickling pilot unit for volatile organic compounds removal in a Spanish furniture facility

Biotrickling pilot plant application for control of VOC emissions from a spray paint booth

BACKGROUND: Two peat biofilters were used for the removal of toluene from air for one year. One biofilter was fed with pure toluene and the other received 1:1 (by weight) ethyl acetate:toluene mixture. RESULTS: The biofilters were operated under continuous loading: the toluene inlet load (IL) at which 80% removal occurred was 116 g m−3 h−1 at 57 s...

In order to investigate suitable packing materials, a soil amendment composed of granular high mineralized peat (35% organic content) locally available has been evaluated as carrier material for biofiltration of volatile organic compounds in air by comparison with a fibrous peat (95% organic content). Both supports were tested to eliminate ethylben...

A microkinetic model was developed based in gas transfer, diffusion, and biodegradation, including a general axial gradient equation of the biomass density. The model was successfully applied for the prediction of the performance of two peat biofilters treating pure ethyl acetate and pure toluene in a wide range of operational conditions under stea...

A laboratory-scale peat biofilter was used for ethyl acetate removal from an air stream over a period lasting 1 yr. In a first stage, the biofilter was operated under continuous mode: a maximum elimination capacity of 400 g m−3 h−1 was obtained, and ethyl acetate was efficiently degraded with empty bed residence time (EBRT) as short as 22 s. The es...

Laboratory scale-studies on the biodegradation of a 1:1:1 wt mixture of three oxygenated volatile organic compounds (VOCs), ethanol, ethyl acetate and methyl-ethyl ketone (MEK) in a biotrickling filter were carried out using two identically sized columns, filled with different polypropylene rings. The reactors were seeded with a two-month precondit...

An upflow packed bed reactor at laboratory scale has been operated for a continuous period of 5 months to investigate the technical feasibility of biological nitrate removal applied to the effluent of the coagulation-sedimentation wastewater of a metal-finishing industry. The reactor was fed with industrial wastewater in a five-fold dilution to rep...

Three laboratory-scale peat biofilters were operated at 90 s empty bed residence time (EBRT) for over a year. Biodegradation of ethyl acetate, toluene, or a 1:1 mixture were investigated. In first stage, inlet concentration was progressively increased from 0.4 to 4.5 g/m(3). The maximum elimination capacity (EC) found for ethyl acetate was 190 gC/m...

Consistent vapor-liquid equilibria (VLE) data have been determined at ( 5 and 15) kPa for the binary systems styrene + ethylbenzene, + o-xylene, + m-xylene, and + p-xylene in the temperature range ( 324 to 359) K. The binary systems exhibit very slight deviations from ideal behavior, and no azeotrope is present. The VLE data were well-correlated by...

This paper presents the results of the study of the removal of toluene, ethylbenzene, and o-xylene (TEX) by biofiltration using a commercial peat as filter-bed material. Runs with a single organic compound in air, and with the mixture of TEX in air, were carried out for at least 55 days in laboratory-scale reactors inoculated with a conditioned cul...

Air biofiltration has been shown as a clean, low-cost competitive alternative to the physico-chemical treatment technologies to remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from industrial air emissions. In order to investigate the performance of this growing technology, two identical biofiltration units at laboratory scale were operated for continuous...

Catalysts based on NiMo and Pt supported on the new delaminated ITQ-2 zeolite have been prepared and their catalytic properties evaluated for the mild hydrocracking (MHC) of vacuum gasoil and aromatic hydrogenation. The results were compared with those obtained using other conventional supports, e.g., silica, γ-alumina, amorphous silica–alumina (25...

Isobaric vapor−liquid equilibria data were measured for the 3-methylpentane + ethanol binary system and 2-methyl-2-propanol + ethanol + 3-methylpentane ternary system at 101.3 kPa in a temperature range from 329 to 356 K. The data were found to be thermodynamically consistent according to the Van Ness−Byer−Gibbs method for the binary system and acc...

This paper reports mesurements of the densities and refractive indices of the binary systems toluene + isooctane and methylcyclohexane + isooctane and the ternary systems tert-butyl alcohol (TBA) + toluene + isooctane and tert-butyl alcohol (TBA) + methylcyclohexane + isooctane over the entire range of composition at 298.15 K. Excess molar volumes...

Cumene and ethylbenzene are important compounds in the petrochemical industry for the production of phenol and styrene, respectively. Cumene and ethylbenzene are produced by benzene alkylation with propylene and ethylene. Benzene alkylation with ethylene and propylene was performed under liquid-phase reaction conditions over zeolites MCM-22, Beta,...

This paper reports experimental densities and refractive indices of the binary systems tert-butyl alcohol (TBA)+methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), TBA+2-methylpentane, and MTBE+2-methylpentane, and the ternary system TBA+MTBE+2-methylpentane, over the entire range of composition at 303.15 K. Excess molar volumes and changes of refractive indices were...

The vapor−liquid equilibrium at 101.3 kPa and at temperatures from 364 K to 384 K has been determined for binary systems of isobutyl alcohol with toluene, isooctane, and methylcyclohexane, using a recirculating still. All the systems show a minimum boiling temperature azeotrope. The results are thermodynamically consistent according to the point-to...

Vapor−liquid equilibria were measured for binary systems of tert-butyl alcohol with toluene, isooctane, and methylcyclohexane at 101.3 kPa using a recirculating still. Experimental values of the vapor pressure of non-oxygenated pure components have been obtained. The accuracy of experimental measurements was ±0.01 K in temperature, ±0.01 kPa in pre...

Mild hydrocracking composite catalysts based on NiMo/γ-Al2O3-Beta zeolite have been prepared and the influence of the location of the NiMo phases has been studied. A good hydrocracking activity and the highest HDS conversion was found during the hydrocracking of a vacuum gasoil with the composite catalyst where the NiMo is located on the alumina co...

The hydrogenation activity of Pt supported on two mesoporous MCM-41 samples differing in their chemical composition has been studied by following the kinetics of the hydrogenation of naphthalene at 225–275°C reaction temperature and 5.0 MPa total pressure and by comparing the kinetic parameters obtained with Pt supported on a mesoporous amorphous s...

The performance of NiMo (12 wt% MoO3, 3 wt% NiO) supported on the mesoporous crystalline MCM-41 aluminosilicate for mild hydrotreating of a vacuum gasoil has been compared with that of an amorphous silica-alumina and a USY zeolite with the same Ni and Mo loadings. The MCM-41-based catalyst was seen to give superior HDS, HDN, and HC activities to th...

Traducción de Patente Europea E00967735 (fecha de solicitud, 20/09/2000).-- Prioridad: EP1999092099307421.-- Titulares: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Politécnica de Valencia (UPV). La presente invención concierne a la alquilación aromática usando material relacionado con la zeolita. Se proporciona un procedimie...

Referencia OEPM: P200000038.-- Fecha de solicitud: 29/12/1999.-- Titulares: Universidad Politécnica de Valencia (UPV), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC). La presente patente de invención se refiere a un catalizador zeolítico y su aplicación para la alquilación de aromáticos con olefinas o alcoholes. Se contempla que el cataliza...