1. Disinfection of wastewater using porous Fe2O3 thin film : master's thesisRanin M. D. Ismail, 2024, magistrsko delo Opis: The contamination of water bodies by microorganisms is seen as a highly significant issue that poses a threat to human and animal well-being. The primary objective of this master thesis is to develop and evaluate an environmentally friendly photoelectrochemical (PEC) method using porous Fe₂O₃ thin films for the disinfection of wastewater. This thesis presents the novel application of porous Fe₂O₃ thin films, which were produced using a cost-effective spin-coating technique, to improve the process of PEC disinfection. The PEC approach has been demonstrated to be highly effective in disinfection of wastewaters deliberately contaminated with E. coli bacteria. The crystallinity of the Fe₂O₃ porous thin films was confirmed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), while the film morphology was studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The PEC disinfection procedures were conducted in the presence of two separate electrolytes, sodium sulfite (Na₂SO₃) and sodium chloride (NaCl), which were chosen for their specific roles in improving the effectiveness of disinfection. The PEC method shown efficacy in inactivating E. coli, with 45% of the bacteria being inactivated in the presence of 2 mM Na₂SO₃ and complete inactivation achieved with 20 mM NaCl. The findings suggest that the PEC disinfection process is a highly efficient and eco-friendly technology that can be used as a practical substitute for traditional disinfection methods. As a result, it has potential applications in ensuring public safety and safeguarding the environment, particularly in relation to wastewater treatment. Ključne besede: Treated wastewater, Disinfection, Escherichia coli, Photoelectrochemical oxidation, Fe2O3 thin films, Sodium sulfite and Sodium chloride. Objavljeno v RUNG: 09.09.2024; Ogledov: 445; Prenosov: 8 Celotno besedilo (2,23 MB) |
2. Submicron aerosol pollution in Greater Cairo (Egypt) : a new type of urban haze?Aliki Christodoulou, Spiros Bezantakos, Efstratios Bourtsoukidis, Iasonas Stavroulas, Michael Pikridas, Konstantina Oikonomou, Minas Iakovides, Salwa K. Hassan, Mohamed Boraiy, Mostafa El-Nazer, 2024, izvirni znanstveni članek Ključne besede: megacity, submicron aerosols, urban haze, Greater Cairo, hygroscopic aerosols, ammonium chloride Objavljeno v RUNG: 10.05.2024; Ogledov: 844; Prenosov: 5 Celotno besedilo (7,34 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
3. Efficiency of the grid energy storage technology based on iron-chloride material cycleUroš Luin, doktorska disertacija Opis: Future high-capacity energy storage technologies are crucial for a highly renewable energy mix, and their mass deployment must rely on cheap and abundant materials, such as iron chloride. The iron chloride electrochemical cycle (ICEC), suitable for long-term grid energy storage using a redox potential change of Fe2+/Fe, involves the electrolysis of a highly concentrated aqueous FeCl2 solution yielding solid iron deposits. For the high overall energy efficiency of the cycle, it is crucial maximizing the energy efficiency of the electrolysis process. The thesis presents a study of the influence of electrolysis parameters on energy efficiency, performed in an industrial-type electrolyzer system. We studied the conductivity of the FeCl2 solution as a function of concentration and temperature and correlated it with the electrolysis energy efficiency as a function of current density. The contribution of the resistance polarization increases with the current density, causing a decrease in overall energy efficiency. The highest energy efficiency of 89 ±3 % was achieved using
2.5 mol dm-3 FeCl2 solution at 70 °C and a current density of 0.1 kA m-2.
In terms of the energy input per Fe mass, this means 1.88 Wh g-1. The limiting energy input per mass of the Fe-deposit, calculated by extrapolating experimental results toward Eocell potential, was found to be 1.76 Wh g-1. For optimal long-duration electrolysis efficiency and performance, the optimal catholyte concentration range is
1-2 mol dm-3 FeCl2. We performed in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy experimental studies to validate theoretical conclusions from literature related to the population and structure of Fe-species in the FeCl2 (aq) solution at different concentrations (1 - 4 mol dm-3) and temperatures (25 - 80 °C). This revealed that at low temperature and low FeCl2 concentration, the octahedral first coordination sphere around Fe is occupied by one Cl ion at a distance of 2.33 (±0.02) Å and five H2O at a distance of 2.095 (±0.005) Å. The structure of the ionic complex gradually changes with an increase in temperature and/or concentration. The apical H2O is substituted by a Cl ion to yield a neutral Fe[Cl2(H2O)4]0. The transition from the charged Fe[Cl(H2O)5]+ to the neutral Fe[Cl2(H2O)4]0 causes a significant drop in the solution conductivity, which well correlates with the existing state-of-the-art conductivity models. An additional steric impediment of the electrolytic cell is caused by the predominant neutral species present in the catholyte solution at high concentration. This correlates with poor electrolysis performance at a very high catholyte concentration (4 mol dm-3 FeCl2), especially at high current densities (> 1 kA m-2). The neutral Fe[Cl2(H2O)4]0 complex negatively affects the anion exchange membrane ion (Cl-) transfer and lowers the concentration of electroactive species (Fe[Cl(H2O)5]+) at the cathode surface. The kinetics of hydrogen evolution from the reaction between Fe powder and HCl acid was studied under the first-order reaction condition. The activation energy was determined to be 55.3 kJ mol-1. Ključne besede: ICEC, Power-to-Solid, energy storage, hydrogen, ferrous chloride, electrolysis, Fe deposition, efficiency, XAS, structure and population, ionic species, ion association, conductivity Objavljeno v RUNG: 18.04.2023; Ogledov: 2196; Prenosov: 33 (1 glas) Celotno besedilo (4,34 MB) |
4. Correlation between FeCl2 electrolyte conductivity and electrolysis efficiencyUroš Luin, Matjaž Valant, Iztok Arčon, 2022, objavljeni povzetek znanstvenega prispevka na konferenci Opis: The electrolysis efficiency is an important aspect of the Power-to-Solid energy storage technology (EST) based
on the iron chloride electrochemical cycle [1]. This cycle employs an aqueous FeCl2 catholyte solution for the
electro-reduction of iron. The metal iron deposits on the cathode. The energy is stored as a difference in the
redox potential of iron species. Hydrogen, as an energy carrier, is released on demand over a fully controlled
hydrogen evolution reaction between metallic Fe0 and HCl (aq) [1]. Due to these characteristics, the cycle is
suitable for long-term high-capacity and high-power energy storage. In a previous work [2] we revealed that
the electrolyte conductivity linearly increases with temperature. Contrary, the correlation between the
electrolyte concentration and efficiency is not so straightforward. Unexpectedly small efficiency variations were
found between 1 and 2.5 mol dm-3 FeCl2 (aq) followed by an abrupt efficiency drop at higher concentrations.
To explain the behavior of the observed trends and elucidate the role of FeCl2 (aq) complex ionic species we
performed in situ X-ray absorption studies. We made a dedicated experimental setup, consisting of a tubular
oven and PMMA liquid absorption cell, and performed the measurements at the DESY synchrotron P65
beamline. The XAS investigation covered XANES and EXAFS analyses of FeCl2 (aq) at different
concentrations (1 - 4 molL-1) and temperatures (25 - 80 °C). We found that at low temperature and low FeCl2
concentration the octahedral first coordination sphere around Fe is occupied by one Cl ion at a distance of 2.33
(±0.02) Å and five water molecules at a distance of 2.095 (±0.005) Å [3]. The structure of the ionic complex
gradually changes with an increase in temperature and/or concentration. The apical water molecule is
substituted by a chlorine ion to yield a neutral Fe[Cl2(H2O)4]0. The transition from the single charged
Fe[Cl(H2O)5]+ to the neutral Fe[Cl2(H2O)4]0 causes a significant drop in the solution conductivity, which well
correlates with the existing conductivity models [3].
[1] M. Valant, “Procedure for electric energy storage in solid matter. United States Patent and
Trademark Office. Patent No. US20200308715,” Patent No. US20200308715, 2021.
[2] U. Luin and M. Valant, “Electrolysis energy efficiency of highly concentrated FeCl2 solutions
for power-to-solid energy storage technology,” J. Solid State Electrochem., vol. 26, no. 4, pp.
929–938, Apr. 2022, doi: 10.1007/S10008-022-05132-Y.
[3] U. Luin, I. Arčon, and M. Valant, “Structure and Population of Complex Ionic Species in
FeCl2 Aqueous Solution by X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy,” Molecules, vol. 27, no. 3, 2022,
doi: 10.3390/molecules27030642. Ključne besede: Iron chloride electrochemical cycle, Power-to-Solid energy storage, XANES, EXAFS, electrical
conductivity, electrolyte complex ionic species structure and population Objavljeno v RUNG: 26.09.2022; Ogledov: 2490; Prenosov: 0 (1 glas) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
5. Study of Drug Diffusion rate by beam deflection techniqueMohanachandran Nair Sindhu Swapna, 2017, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: Drug administration is an unavoidable part of treatment. When a drug is administered orally or intravenously, it gets absorbed into the blood stream. The rate and efficiency of absorption depend on the route of
administration. When a drug is administered through the oral route, it penetrates the epithelial cells of the intestinal mucosa. The diffusion of the drug into the blood stream depends on various parameters, such as concentration, temperature, and the nature of the mucous membrane. The passive diffusion of drugs is found to obey
Fick’s law. Water soluble drugs penetrate the cell membrane through aqueous channel or pores. Hence, the
study of diffusion of drugs into the water and finally into the blood stream is important. An attempt has been made
to study the diffusion of the drug in water as 60% to 80% of human body is water. For the study of drug diffusion in
water, a commonly used cough syrup of specific gravity 1.263 is used. It is found that the diffusion rate increases
with the concentration of the drug. Ključne besede: laser beam deflection, diffusion coefficient, Fick’s law, sodium chloride, syrup Objavljeno v RUNG: 30.06.2022; Ogledov: 1651; Prenosov: 0 Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
6. Electrolysis energy efficiency of highly concentrated FeCl[sub]2 solutions for power-to-solid energy storage technologyUroš Luin, Matjaž Valant, 2022, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: An electrochemical cycle for the grid energy storage in the redox potential of Fe involves the electrolysis of a highly concentrated aqueous FeCl2 solution yielding solid iron deposits. For the high overall energy efficiency of the cycle, it is crucial to maximize the energy efficiency of the electrolysis process. Here we present a study of the influence of electrolysis parameters on the energy efficiency of such electrolysis, performed in an industrial-type electrolyzer. We studied the conductivity of the FeCl2 solution as a function of concentration and temperature and correlated it with the electrolysis energy efficiency. The deviation from the correlation indicated an important contribution from the conductivity of the ion-exchange membrane. Another important studied parameter was the applied current density. We quantitatively showed how the contribution of the resistance polarization increases with the current density, causing a decrease in overall energy efficiency. The highest energy efficiency of 89 ± 3% was achieved using 2.5 mol L−1 FeCl2 solution at 70 °C and a current density of 0.1 kA m−2. In terms of the energy input per Fe mass, this means 1.88 Wh g−1. The limiting energy input per mass of the Fe deposit was found to be 1.76 Wh g−1. Ključne besede: electrolysis, ferrous chloride, iron deposition, energy efficiency Objavljeno v RUNG: 16.02.2022; Ogledov: 2672; Prenosov: 79 (1 glas) Celotno besedilo (1,99 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
7. Structure and population of complex ionic species in FeCl[sub]2 aqueous solution by X-ray absorption spectroscopyUroš Luin, Iztok Arčon, Matjaž Valant, 2022, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: Technologies for mass production require cheap and abundant materials such as ferrous chloride (FeCl2). The literature survey shows the lack of experimental studies to validate theoretical conclusions related to the population of ionic Fe-species in the aqueous FeCl2 solution. Here, we present an in situ X-ray absorption study of the structure of the ionic species in the FeCl2 aqueous solution at different concentrations (1–4 molL−1) and temperatures (25–80 ◦C). We found that at low temperature and low FeCl2 concentration, the octahedral first coordination sphere around Fe is occupied by one Cl ion at a distance of 2.33 (±0.02) Å and five water molecules at a distance of 2.095 (±0.005) Å. The structure of the ionic complex gradually changes with an increase in temperature and/or concentration. The apical water molecule is substituted by a chlorine ion to yield a neutral Fe[Cl2(H2O)4]0. The observed substitutional mechanism is facilitated by the presence of the intramolecular hydrogen bonds as well as entropic reasons. The transition from the single charged Fe[Cl(H2O)5]+ to the neutral Fe[Cl2(H2O)4]0 causes a significant drop in the solution conductivity, which well correlates with the existing conductivity models. Ključne besede: structure, population, ionic species, aqueous ferrous chloride, in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy Objavljeno v RUNG: 24.01.2022; Ogledov: 2508; Prenosov: 43 (1 glas) Povezava na celotno besedilo Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
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