Open industrial systems, where too many of the natural resources end up waste and are not re-cycl... more Open industrial systems, where too many of the natural resources end up waste and are not re-cycled cannot be sustained indefinitely. The current global situation suggests that we consume too many natural resources to produce the things we need, or want, while generating too many by-products that harm the environment and us. These changes threaten to upset the global envi-
Developing future energy systems will be based on low-carbon and emission-free sustainable energy... more Developing future energy systems will be based on low-carbon and emission-free sustainable energy sources. Hydrogen (H2) and fuel cells (FCs) simultaneously play a significant role in solving problems related to climate change and energy usage. Hydrogen is a clean energy vector and among the main solutions for the decarbonization strategy. The hydrogen economy provides solutions to diminish climate change, to improve urban air quality, and to increase energy resources scarcity. Over the last decade, the H2 economy has received profound attention, but it faces several challenges and has bottlenecks that must be overcome before being fully commercialized and creating true hydrogen societies. This chapter reports various key drivers and barriers in the deployment of hydrogen as an energy vector used in fuel cells. Research and innovation in hydrogen production methods as well as in its storage, distribution, and the end use are also discussed. We summarize briefly the state of the art ...
Chronic exposure to arsenic may be detrimental to health. We investigated the behaviour, remediat... more Chronic exposure to arsenic may be detrimental to health. We investigated the behaviour, remediation and risk management of arsenic in Freiberg, Germany, characterized by past mining activities, and near Verdun in France, where World War I ammunition was destroyed. The main results included: (1) pot experiments using a biologically synthesized adsorbent (sorpP) with spring barley reduced the mobility of arsenic, (2) the Omega-3 Index ecotoxicological tests verified that sorpP reduced the uptake and toxicity of arsenic in plants, (3) reverse osmosis membrane systems provided 99.5% removal efficiency of arsenic from surface water, (4) the sustainability assessment revealed that adsorption and coagulation-filtration processes were the most feasible options for the treatment of surface waters with significant arsenic concentrations, and (5) a model was developed for assessing health risk due to arsenic exposure. Risk management is the main option for extensive areas, while remediation options that directly treat the soil can only be considered in small areas subject to sensitive use. We recommend the risk management procedure developed in Germany for other parts of the world where both geogenic and anthropogenic arsenic is present in agricultural soil and water. Risk management measures have been successful both in Freiberg and in Verdun.
This study suggests the possibility of substituting rare earths containing catalysts in ethanol s... more This study suggests the possibility of substituting rare earths containing catalysts in ethanol steam reforming by means of sustainability assessment. Four Ni-catalysts are assessed; two of the Ni-catalysts are rare earths containing catalysts Ni/Al 2 O 3-CeO 2 and Ni/La 2 O 3 while the other two are non-rare earths containing catalysts Ni/Al 2 O 3 and Ni/ZnO. The sustainability assessment tool used covers environmental, health and safety and economic indicators in conjunction with a linear scale transformation (Max) normalization technique and an analytical hierarchy method to evaluate the sustainability performance of the catalysts. The sustainability assessment results obtained demonstrated that Ni/Al 2 O 3 is the best performing catalysts in terms of the overall sustainability of the ethanol steam reforming reaction. The rare earths containing catalyst supports, i.e. cerium and lanthanum oxides can be successfully substituted with aluminum oxide catalyst support whilst still maintaining the overall sustainability performance of the reaction.
Highlights An overview of light rare earth elements is given Recycling of light rare earth el... more Highlights An overview of light rare earth elements is given Recycling of light rare earth elements from selected end-of-life application is given Criticality and environmental concerns of light rare earth elements are stated Substitution of light rare earth elements in magnets, batteries, phosphors and catalysts is analyzed Sustainability benefits of light rare earth elements recycling and substitution strategies are
Developing and testing a tool for sustainability assessment in an early process design phase-Case... more Developing and testing a tool for sustainability assessment in an early process design phase-Case study of formic acid production by conventional and carbon dioxide-based routes,
The calculation of vapour pressure of CO2 as well as phase envelopes and critical points with fou... more The calculation of vapour pressure of CO2 as well as phase envelopes and critical points with four different mixtures of CO2 and CH4 has been carried out with two process simulation software, Aspen Plus and Flowbat, using Soave-Redlich-Kwong (SRK) equation of state. A comparison has been made between calculated and measured values, collected from the literature. Calculated vapour pressures and
In this article, we describe the design, development and implementation of research methodology e... more In this article, we describe the design, development and implementation of research methodology education carried out in the Department of Process and Environmental Engineering at the University of Oulu. This qualitative case study aims, using questionnaires, to clarify how to foster students' awareness of ethical issues in research. A total of 25 students participated in the research methodology education in spring 2004, 4 students in the group of distance learning and 21 students of contact education. The first research question concerns the meaning of ethical education when helping students to construct knowledge of ethical issues in research and science. The second question is whether students learn as well through distance learning environment, as when participating in contact lessons? Statistically, there were no significant differences between the answers of the distance learning and contact education groups. Both groups expressed that ethical education is useful because ...
The study described in the article is a part of the development work focused on a course called R... more The study described in the article is a part of the development work focused on a course called Research methodology education for undergraduate students. The course was carried out in the Department of Process and Environmental Engineering at the University of Oulu in spring 2004. The research belongs to qualitative case studies. The scientific approach is phenomenography. The study aims to interpret the development of the conceptions of four engineering students, who participated in the distance education, about Ethics, research and acting as a researcher. The data results from the digital portfolios and study diaries. It was analysed by using inductive and deductive content analysis. The results show that the conceptions of the students were broaden from ethical rules to the conceptions where ethics seemed to form a basis of thinking and acting both in research work and in every day life. Conceptions were deepened both on the general and especially on the detailed, cognitive, aff...
The aim of this qualitative case study is to clarify research attitudes and ethics conceptions of... more The aim of this qualitative case study is to clarify research attitudes and ethics conceptions of engineering students. A practical aim is to fulfill the goals set by the Bologna process for the researcher education in the Master's level. A total of 64 students participated in the research methodology course in 2002-2005. According to the mixed methods approach, the resultant data is based on questionnaires, digital portfolios and study diaries and it was analysed qualitatively and quantitatively by using inductive and deductive content analysis methods. The interpretation is focused on the most typical and the most exceptional conceptions of the students. The students' conceptions about research work and acting as a researcher were deepened both on the general and especially on the detailed, cognitive, affective and social levels during the course. The conceptions were broaden from ethical rules to the conceptions where ethics seemed to form a basis of thinking and acting b...
ABSTRACT Critical point calculations for binary systems, CO2-hydrocarbon and CO2-methanol, were c... more ABSTRACT Critical point calculations for binary systems, CO2-hydrocarbon and CO2-methanol, were carried out by an indirect method, the phase envelope calculation method, using Flowbat process simulation software. The Soave-Redlich-Kwong equation of state was used. The calculated critical points of CO2-hydrocarbon mixtures were compared to the measured values collected from the literature. Most of the calculated values met rather well the measured ones. The phase envelope calculation for a binary system with an azeotrope, CO2-ethane, appeared to be a demanding task. The influence of supercritical conditions to mass transfer and reactor selection was also discussed.
This paper suggested multicriteria based evaluation tool to assess the sustainability of three di... more This paper suggested multicriteria based evaluation tool to assess the sustainability of three different reaction routes to dimethyl carbonate: direct synthesis from carbon dioxide and methanol, transesterification of methanol and propylene carbonate, and oxidative carbonylation of methanol. The first two routes are CO2-based and in a research and development phase, whereas the last one is a commercial process. The set of environmental, social, and economic indicators selected were renewability of feedstock, energy intensity, waste generation, CO2balance, yield, feedstock price, process costs, health and safety issues of feedstock, process conditions, and innovation potential. The performance in these indicators was evaluated with the normalized scores from 0 to +1; 0 for detrimental and 1 for favorable impacts. The assessment showed that the transesterification route had the best potential toward sustainability, although there is still much development needed to improve yield. Furt...
Ni and Rh C 2 H 5 OH + CO 2 CH 4 + CO 2 2H 2 + 2CO 3H 2 + 3CO Catalysts : Rh/M x O y-Al 2 O 3 , (... more Ni and Rh C 2 H 5 OH + CO 2 CH 4 + CO 2 2H 2 + 2CO 3H 2 + 3CO Catalysts : Rh/M x O y-Al 2 O 3 , (M = Mg, Ni, La, Ce or Zr) 800°C 700°C Rh/NiO-Al 2 O 3 is the best catalyst. Deactivation due to the formation of carbon. A c c e p t e d M a n u s c r i p t Study of the dry reforming of methane and ethanol using Rh catalysts supported on doped alumina.
Proceedings of the ICE - Waste and Resource Management, 2009
This paper reports on research aiming at developing sustainable processes for the production of m... more This paper reports on research aiming at developing sustainable processes for the production of methanol (CH3OH) and dimethyl carbonate (DMC, (CH3)2CO3) using carbon dioxide (CO2) as a raw material. Using carbon dioxide as a raw material has several advantages; it is non-toxic, in abundant supply, and promises innovative routes to the production of commodity chemicals. Methanol and dimethyl carbonate are important products and feedstocks of the chemical industry. Methanol is produced commercially from synthesis gas, but it is also possible to use carbon dioxide as a feedstock. Conventional production of dimethyl carbonate involves the use of toxic phosgene or carbon monoxide, while the methanol-based route using carbon dioxide offers better atom economy and safer production. The alternative production processes using carbon dioxide thus transform a secondary resource from an anthropogenic source to high-volume and high-value intermediates while reducing environmental impacts. Howeve...
Open industrial systems, where too many of the natural resources end up waste and are not re-cycl... more Open industrial systems, where too many of the natural resources end up waste and are not re-cycled cannot be sustained indefinitely. The current global situation suggests that we consume too many natural resources to produce the things we need, or want, while generating too many by-products that harm the environment and us. These changes threaten to upset the global envi-
Developing future energy systems will be based on low-carbon and emission-free sustainable energy... more Developing future energy systems will be based on low-carbon and emission-free sustainable energy sources. Hydrogen (H2) and fuel cells (FCs) simultaneously play a significant role in solving problems related to climate change and energy usage. Hydrogen is a clean energy vector and among the main solutions for the decarbonization strategy. The hydrogen economy provides solutions to diminish climate change, to improve urban air quality, and to increase energy resources scarcity. Over the last decade, the H2 economy has received profound attention, but it faces several challenges and has bottlenecks that must be overcome before being fully commercialized and creating true hydrogen societies. This chapter reports various key drivers and barriers in the deployment of hydrogen as an energy vector used in fuel cells. Research and innovation in hydrogen production methods as well as in its storage, distribution, and the end use are also discussed. We summarize briefly the state of the art ...
Chronic exposure to arsenic may be detrimental to health. We investigated the behaviour, remediat... more Chronic exposure to arsenic may be detrimental to health. We investigated the behaviour, remediation and risk management of arsenic in Freiberg, Germany, characterized by past mining activities, and near Verdun in France, where World War I ammunition was destroyed. The main results included: (1) pot experiments using a biologically synthesized adsorbent (sorpP) with spring barley reduced the mobility of arsenic, (2) the Omega-3 Index ecotoxicological tests verified that sorpP reduced the uptake and toxicity of arsenic in plants, (3) reverse osmosis membrane systems provided 99.5% removal efficiency of arsenic from surface water, (4) the sustainability assessment revealed that adsorption and coagulation-filtration processes were the most feasible options for the treatment of surface waters with significant arsenic concentrations, and (5) a model was developed for assessing health risk due to arsenic exposure. Risk management is the main option for extensive areas, while remediation options that directly treat the soil can only be considered in small areas subject to sensitive use. We recommend the risk management procedure developed in Germany for other parts of the world where both geogenic and anthropogenic arsenic is present in agricultural soil and water. Risk management measures have been successful both in Freiberg and in Verdun.
This study suggests the possibility of substituting rare earths containing catalysts in ethanol s... more This study suggests the possibility of substituting rare earths containing catalysts in ethanol steam reforming by means of sustainability assessment. Four Ni-catalysts are assessed; two of the Ni-catalysts are rare earths containing catalysts Ni/Al 2 O 3-CeO 2 and Ni/La 2 O 3 while the other two are non-rare earths containing catalysts Ni/Al 2 O 3 and Ni/ZnO. The sustainability assessment tool used covers environmental, health and safety and economic indicators in conjunction with a linear scale transformation (Max) normalization technique and an analytical hierarchy method to evaluate the sustainability performance of the catalysts. The sustainability assessment results obtained demonstrated that Ni/Al 2 O 3 is the best performing catalysts in terms of the overall sustainability of the ethanol steam reforming reaction. The rare earths containing catalyst supports, i.e. cerium and lanthanum oxides can be successfully substituted with aluminum oxide catalyst support whilst still maintaining the overall sustainability performance of the reaction.
Highlights An overview of light rare earth elements is given Recycling of light rare earth el... more Highlights An overview of light rare earth elements is given Recycling of light rare earth elements from selected end-of-life application is given Criticality and environmental concerns of light rare earth elements are stated Substitution of light rare earth elements in magnets, batteries, phosphors and catalysts is analyzed Sustainability benefits of light rare earth elements recycling and substitution strategies are
Developing and testing a tool for sustainability assessment in an early process design phase-Case... more Developing and testing a tool for sustainability assessment in an early process design phase-Case study of formic acid production by conventional and carbon dioxide-based routes,
The calculation of vapour pressure of CO2 as well as phase envelopes and critical points with fou... more The calculation of vapour pressure of CO2 as well as phase envelopes and critical points with four different mixtures of CO2 and CH4 has been carried out with two process simulation software, Aspen Plus and Flowbat, using Soave-Redlich-Kwong (SRK) equation of state. A comparison has been made between calculated and measured values, collected from the literature. Calculated vapour pressures and
In this article, we describe the design, development and implementation of research methodology e... more In this article, we describe the design, development and implementation of research methodology education carried out in the Department of Process and Environmental Engineering at the University of Oulu. This qualitative case study aims, using questionnaires, to clarify how to foster students' awareness of ethical issues in research. A total of 25 students participated in the research methodology education in spring 2004, 4 students in the group of distance learning and 21 students of contact education. The first research question concerns the meaning of ethical education when helping students to construct knowledge of ethical issues in research and science. The second question is whether students learn as well through distance learning environment, as when participating in contact lessons? Statistically, there were no significant differences between the answers of the distance learning and contact education groups. Both groups expressed that ethical education is useful because ...
The study described in the article is a part of the development work focused on a course called R... more The study described in the article is a part of the development work focused on a course called Research methodology education for undergraduate students. The course was carried out in the Department of Process and Environmental Engineering at the University of Oulu in spring 2004. The research belongs to qualitative case studies. The scientific approach is phenomenography. The study aims to interpret the development of the conceptions of four engineering students, who participated in the distance education, about Ethics, research and acting as a researcher. The data results from the digital portfolios and study diaries. It was analysed by using inductive and deductive content analysis. The results show that the conceptions of the students were broaden from ethical rules to the conceptions where ethics seemed to form a basis of thinking and acting both in research work and in every day life. Conceptions were deepened both on the general and especially on the detailed, cognitive, aff...
The aim of this qualitative case study is to clarify research attitudes and ethics conceptions of... more The aim of this qualitative case study is to clarify research attitudes and ethics conceptions of engineering students. A practical aim is to fulfill the goals set by the Bologna process for the researcher education in the Master's level. A total of 64 students participated in the research methodology course in 2002-2005. According to the mixed methods approach, the resultant data is based on questionnaires, digital portfolios and study diaries and it was analysed qualitatively and quantitatively by using inductive and deductive content analysis methods. The interpretation is focused on the most typical and the most exceptional conceptions of the students. The students' conceptions about research work and acting as a researcher were deepened both on the general and especially on the detailed, cognitive, affective and social levels during the course. The conceptions were broaden from ethical rules to the conceptions where ethics seemed to form a basis of thinking and acting b...
ABSTRACT Critical point calculations for binary systems, CO2-hydrocarbon and CO2-methanol, were c... more ABSTRACT Critical point calculations for binary systems, CO2-hydrocarbon and CO2-methanol, were carried out by an indirect method, the phase envelope calculation method, using Flowbat process simulation software. The Soave-Redlich-Kwong equation of state was used. The calculated critical points of CO2-hydrocarbon mixtures were compared to the measured values collected from the literature. Most of the calculated values met rather well the measured ones. The phase envelope calculation for a binary system with an azeotrope, CO2-ethane, appeared to be a demanding task. The influence of supercritical conditions to mass transfer and reactor selection was also discussed.
This paper suggested multicriteria based evaluation tool to assess the sustainability of three di... more This paper suggested multicriteria based evaluation tool to assess the sustainability of three different reaction routes to dimethyl carbonate: direct synthesis from carbon dioxide and methanol, transesterification of methanol and propylene carbonate, and oxidative carbonylation of methanol. The first two routes are CO2-based and in a research and development phase, whereas the last one is a commercial process. The set of environmental, social, and economic indicators selected were renewability of feedstock, energy intensity, waste generation, CO2balance, yield, feedstock price, process costs, health and safety issues of feedstock, process conditions, and innovation potential. The performance in these indicators was evaluated with the normalized scores from 0 to +1; 0 for detrimental and 1 for favorable impacts. The assessment showed that the transesterification route had the best potential toward sustainability, although there is still much development needed to improve yield. Furt...
Ni and Rh C 2 H 5 OH + CO 2 CH 4 + CO 2 2H 2 + 2CO 3H 2 + 3CO Catalysts : Rh/M x O y-Al 2 O 3 , (... more Ni and Rh C 2 H 5 OH + CO 2 CH 4 + CO 2 2H 2 + 2CO 3H 2 + 3CO Catalysts : Rh/M x O y-Al 2 O 3 , (M = Mg, Ni, La, Ce or Zr) 800°C 700°C Rh/NiO-Al 2 O 3 is the best catalyst. Deactivation due to the formation of carbon. A c c e p t e d M a n u s c r i p t Study of the dry reforming of methane and ethanol using Rh catalysts supported on doped alumina.
Proceedings of the ICE - Waste and Resource Management, 2009
This paper reports on research aiming at developing sustainable processes for the production of m... more This paper reports on research aiming at developing sustainable processes for the production of methanol (CH3OH) and dimethyl carbonate (DMC, (CH3)2CO3) using carbon dioxide (CO2) as a raw material. Using carbon dioxide as a raw material has several advantages; it is non-toxic, in abundant supply, and promises innovative routes to the production of commodity chemicals. Methanol and dimethyl carbonate are important products and feedstocks of the chemical industry. Methanol is produced commercially from synthesis gas, but it is also possible to use carbon dioxide as a feedstock. Conventional production of dimethyl carbonate involves the use of toxic phosgene or carbon monoxide, while the methanol-based route using carbon dioxide offers better atom economy and safer production. The alternative production processes using carbon dioxide thus transform a secondary resource from an anthropogenic source to high-volume and high-value intermediates while reducing environmental impacts. Howeve...
Uploads
Papers by Esa Turpeinen