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Co3O4 catalysts were prepared via carbonate precipitation and subsequent calcination under specific conditions. The different catalysts were characterized as received using several techniques and tested in the total oxidation of toluene or propane. Calcination at low temperature or under dynamic conditions resulted in Co3O4 catalysts with small crystallite sizes and large surface areas. The performances of the Co3O4 catalysts appeared to be closely related to the low-temperature reducibility. The best catalyst, Co-350D, showed a toluene oxidation rate of 44.5 nmol g−1 s−1 at 200 °C and a propane oxidation rate of 54.0 nmol g−1 s−1 at 150 °C. Meanwhile, Co-350D exhibited excellent cycling stability and decent long-term durability in both reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aspen HYSYS is a typical tool used in some Master in Chemical Engineering courses at the University of Castilla‐La Mancha like "Analysis and Optimization of Chemical Processes" and "Dynamic of Process: Regulation of Chemical Plants." Automation is the process of linking commercial software to third‐parties applications built in EXCEL‐Visual Basic for Applications. The capability of automation as a powerful tool for simulating unprecedented complex processes suggests that it could be a relevant background complement to the classical one offered by a university. In this sense, a seminar about automation based on the study of two cases: a refrigeration process and a production one taken from literature, has been proposed at the University of Castilla‐La Mancha. The analysis of the survey performed for the subject evaluation resulted to be very positive. Students consider the methodology of the course and the potentiality of automation for developing their research and professional skills appropriately. However, more examples are required to better understand the automation concept and its potential application to other situations. Finally, they declare that the concept of automation requires a lot of expertise and deep knowledge of programming and the correct application of numerical methods for solving complex problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air polluted with methanol vapours was treated in a biofilter and a biotrickling filter, both packed with inert materials. The effects of the nitrogen concentration present in the nutrient solution, the empty bed residence time, and the methanol inlet load, on the biofilter and biotrickling filter performance were all examined and compared. The elimination capacity, the biomass and the carbon dioxide production rates all increased with the increase of the parameters tested. The maximum elimination capacity for the biotrickling filter was 240 g x [m.sup.-3] x [h.sup.-1] with corresponding removal efficiency of 75% and carbon dioxide production rate of 10 g x [m.sup.-3] x [h.sup.-1], whereas the maximum elimination capacity for the biofilter was 80 g x [m.sup.-3] x [h.sup.-1] with corresponding removal efficiency of 35% and carbon dioxide production rate of 70 g x [m.sup.-3] x [h.sup.-1]. The biomass production rate was similar for both the biofilter and the biotrickling filter. The carbon dioxide production rate was higher by a factor of 2 to 9 for the biofilter compared to the biotrickling filter. Key words: biotrickling filter, biofilter, methanol, empty bed residence time, nitrogen concentration, biomass, carbon dioxide De l'air pollue par des vapeurs de methanol a ete traite dans un biofiltre et un biofiltre percolateur garnis avec deux materiaux inertes. Les effets de la concentration d'azote presente dans la solution nutritive, du temps de residence en fut vide et de la charge de methanol a l'entree sur la performance du biofiltre et du biofiltre percolateur ont ete analyses et compares. La capacite d'elimination et les taux de production de biomasse et dioxyde de carbone ont augmente avec l'augmentation des niveaux des parameters testes. La capacite d'elimination maximale du biofiltre percolateur etait de 240 g x [m.sup.-3] x [h.sup.-1] correspondant a une conversion a 75 % et un taux de production de dioxyde de carbone de 10 g x [m.sup.-3] x [h.sup.-1] . La capacite d'elimination maximale du biofiltre etait de 80 g x [m.sup.-3] x [h.sup.-1] correspondant a une conversion de 35 %, et un taux de production de dioxyde de carbone de 70 g x [m.sup.-3] x [h.sup.-1]. Le taux de production de biomasse etait similaire pour les deux biofiltres. Le taux de production de dioxyde de carbone etait de 2 a 9 fois plus eleve pour le biofiltre par rapport a celui du biofiltre percolateur. Mots-cles : filtre biologique a lit filtrant, biofiltre, methanol, temps de residence en fat vide, concentration en azote, biomasse, dioxyde de carbone [Traduit par la Redaction], Introduction Biofiltration with or without percolation is an efficient air treatment biotechnology when the inlet loads of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to be treated are high, specifically at VOCs concentrations [...]

Whey is generated during cheese manufacturing, and permeate whey is obtained after whey deproteinization. Both effluents contain lactose, which can cause environmental issues if they are released into the environment. The aim of the present study was the valorization of lactose contained in whey and permeate whey via fermentation into 2,3‐butanediol (2,3‐BD) with genetically modified strain of Escherichia coli K12 MG1655. Both effluents were first fermented at various dilution ratios with the culture medium M9 (50:50, 75:25, and 100:0, v/v). The fermentation of undiluted effluents produced the highest 2,3‐BD yield (0.43 g/g lactose) at 72 h. Afterwards, the effects of initial pH, inoculum size and agitation rate on 2,3‐BD yield in flask fermentation of undiluted effluents were studied. The agitation rates of 50 and 200 rpm resulted in lower 2,3‐BD yields compared with 100 rpm (67% lower). The effect of aeration (2.5 vvm) on 2,3‐BD yield was tested in a 2 L bioreactor, where a 2,3‐BD yield of 0.40 g/g lactose was obtained after 24 h. In the present study, it was demonstrated that both whey and permeate whey can be used to produce 2,3‐BD, reaching near 80% of the theoretical yield after 24 h of fermentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]