Plasticizers are used to increase the flexibility and workability of relatively rigid polymers such as poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC). For decades, di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP and sometimes termed as dioctyl phthalate (DOP)) was the most common plasticizer used in PVC formulations. However, DEHP has been shown to have negative health effects, such as being an endocrine disruptor. Recently, DEHP has been banned for use in children’s toys and phthalate alternatives are rapidly being offered.
Under Ontarios regulations, facilities generating thousands of tonnes of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per year must report their emissions, and industries are motivated to reduce GHGs through Cap-and-Trade regulations. Based on the Power-to-gas concept, this research will develop a techno-economic-environmental model for hydrogen-based energy systems that include electricity from the utility grid and distributed renewable energy such as wind and solar. Toyotas industrial facilities are used for a case study.
Canadian bitumen has high viscosity compared to conventional crude oils which unable its transportation to upgraders and refineries by pipeline. In order to improve its fluidity, bitumen is submitted to high temperatures that will allow the break of chemical bonds. This process is called visbreaking. Nevertheless, the product is unstable due to the presence of asphaltenes which can precipitate and cause clogging of equipment and olefins that can further polymerize and form gums upon storage.
In-situ recovery methods for oils sands are applied to reservoirs containing bitumen that are too deep for mining. To date there has been only one commercially viable in-situ recovery method, Steam-Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD), involving high pressure steam injection and bitumen production using horizontal well pairs located near the base of oil sands formations. While SAGD has enabled conversion of significant resources to reserves (about 170 billion barrels), SAGD has many economic and environmental limitations.
The key objective of this research is to test the Refuse-Derived Fuel supplied by ICC and investigate parameters Involved In making durable pellets from these residues. This will include conducting a series of pelletization tests with different mixture recipe, pre-conditioning of material as well as adding binders. The produced pellets will then be tested for their calorific value, chemical composition, chlorine content and ash content ICC plans to convert RDF to heat, and electricity through gasification.
Recently, lithium-ion zinc (LIZ) batteries, which operate using much safer aqueous electrolytes rather than organic counterparts as in LIB, have gained tremendous attention due to their cost effectiveness and significantly higher energy density compared to typical LIB. This novel LIZ battery system is very well suited for electrical energy storage (EES) application. For operating and install necessary infrastructure such as flanges and fittings in remote project locations, the industrial partner Pro-Flange Ltd., demands uninterrupted supply of electricity for power tools and equipment.
Heat sealing is the most widely used sealing method in film packaging applications specifically in food industry. In this technique, two layers of film are melted and bonded together with the application of heat and pressure. In this project a rheological study (rheology and peeling) of a series of ethylene polymers will be performed to derive correlations between rheological properties and sealability for identification of optimum product properties.
Global population growth, urbanization and changing climate patterns have increased the demand for potable water, wastewater reuse and value recovery from wastewater, and treatment of industrial process water. Population growth also results in increased demand for the shipping of goods by ocean freight, with the associated risk of the transport of unwanted marine life from one location to another by the discharge of ballast water.
Production of bitumen in Canada has increased considerably in the last decade. Due to its heavy nature, bitumen needs upgrading in order to make it marketable. Partial upgrading, where bitumen is upgraded into transportable oil that meets pipeline specifications, has the potential to maximize the benefits of bitumen commercialization. However, there is not any economical commercial-ready partial upgrading technology in Canada.
Hydrogen fuel cells are a promising alternative to meeting todays transportation demands. Longer lasting and more robust fuel cells are essential for commercial applications. A common issue with the longevity of a fuel cell stack is the tolerance to repeated start-up shutdown cycles. During these cycles, the fuel cell can become starved of fuel due to blockages in the channels. Without fuel to react, the fuel cell will begin to break down the carbon supports causing catastrophic cell failure.
