Iranian Association of Chemical Engineers(IAChE)Iranian Journal of Chemical Engineering(IJChE)1735-539719220220601Screening of important factors affecting the process of ammonia synthesis by Plackett-Burman method and process optimization with RSMScreening the Important Factors Affecting the Process of Ammonia Synthesized by the Plackett-Burman Method and the Process Optimization with RSM32015645910.22034/ijche.2022.342066.1433ENA. H. OudiDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Kashan, Kashan, IranA. IrankhahHydrogen and Fuel Cell Research Lab., Chemical Engineering Dep., Engineering Faculty, University of Kashan0000-0002-3901-4552Journal Article20220512<em>The optimization of the ammonia synthesis plant to increase the production of ammonia is studied in this line of research. </em><em>In this paper, the steady-state ammonia synthesis is simulated using the Aspen HysysV.11 software. By comparing the simulation results with the industrial information, a mean relative error of 7.71 % was obtained, which indicated the high accuracy of the simulation. Then, four effective variables were selected from among 11 independent variables by the Plackett-Burman method</em><em>. The effects of the </em><em>Hydrogen flow in the feed stream</em><em>, </em><em>Recycle stream pressure</em><em>, </em><em>Feed stream temperature,</em><em> and input temperature of the third reactor </em><em>were</em><em> investigated, and the response surface design method of the central composite design was performed to plant optimize. It is obtained that the </em><em>Hydrogen flow in the feed stream</em><em> is equal to 6255 </em> <em>, the </em><em>feed stream pressure</em><em> is equal to 205 bar</em><em>, the temperature of the excess stream inlet in the first reactor</em><em> is equal to 663 K, and</em><em> the temperature of the stream inlet of the second reactor is </em><em>677.5 K </em><em>which increased the ammonia production by 7.5 %</em><em>.</em>https://www.ijche.com/article_156459_5ea915578cbff70e5c7867b66f39043d.pdfIranian Association of Chemical Engineers(IAChE)Iranian Journal of Chemical Engineering(IJChE)1735-539719220220601Fabrication and Characterization of Polysulfone-Graphene Oxide Mixed Matrix Membranes for the Natural Gas Treatment213715749110.22034/ijche.2022.344393.1442ENR. BakhshiDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Borujerd Branch, Islamic Azad University, Borujerd, IranM. MoravejiDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic), Tehran, IranA. ParvarehDepartment of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Razi University, Kermanshah, IranJournal Article20220604<em>The polysulfone mixed matrix membranes (MMM) with different concentrations of graphene oxide (0, 0.25, 0.5 wt % of the polymer) are fabricated by a phase separation method. The cross-sectional structures and their upper surface were assessed by the (SEM) surface roughness of the membranes assessed by (AFM). The mechanical and thermal stability of the fabricated membranes were evaluated as well. The separation of Carbon dioxide, nitrogen and methane from</em><em> </em><em>natural gas was considered. Also, by increasing the concentration of graphene oxide in the polymer matrix, the thickness of the spongy structure increases and the holes of the finger-like membranes are also destroyed. From the cross-sectional images of the outer surface of the MMM, it was concluded that an active selector layer was created on the lower surface of the membrane. The membrane tensile strength and the length of the membrane at fracture point increased slightly with an increase in the concentration of graphene oxide. Transition Glass temperature of the membrane increased by the addition of graphene oxide to the structure. From TGA analysis,</em><em> </em><em>in the presence of graphene oxide, the thermal stability improved. From the gas permeation test, by the addition of 0.25 % of graphene oxide to the polymer, CO<sub>2</sub> permeability was increased from 61.22 GPU to 76.04 GPU, while the addition of 0.5 wt % resulted in a lower permeability (69.55 GPU). The Nitrogen gas permeation flux of membranes decreased from 10.93 GPU to 3.91 GPU by the addition of 0.50 wt % of graphene oxide. The Methane gas permeation flux is reduced from 11.31 GPU to 6.95 GPU and 4.92 GPU by the addition of 0.25 % and 0.50 % of graphene oxide respectively. In conclusion, an increase in the concentration of graphene oxide increased the carbon dioxide selectivity.</em>https://www.ijche.com/article_157491_61587bc6d46e615f4f668d09eacfa2c6.pdfIranian Association of Chemical Engineers(IAChE)Iranian Journal of Chemical Engineering(IJChE)1735-539719220220601Investigating the Impact of Air Injection on the Thermal Performance of Helical Tube with Varying Helix Diameters: Downward Flow385015509510.22034/ijche.2022.347150.1444ENM. MoafDepartment of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Rasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Rasht,O. AlizadehThe Caspian Sea Basin Research Center, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iranorcid.org/0000-0002-6428-1919A. R. PendashtehThe Caspian Sea Basin Research Center, University of Guilan, Rasht, IranJournal Article20220614<em>In this experimental investigation, the heat transfer and pressure drop of helical tubes with various helical diameters have been studied considering air injections. The tube was rested in vertical form and was put under the constant heat flux. The flow had a downward form and the air was injected into the water stream outside the helical tube. According to the findings, air injection has a notable impact on the heat transfer coefficient of each helical tube. The results showed that employing air bubbles could increase the Nusselt Number by up to 14 %. To make an acceptable comparison among all states, the Cost Benefit Ratio (C.B.R.) factor was evaluated. The results showed that the pipes with bigger diameters had the best C.B.R. factor values. It means that the air injection in the tubes with larger diameters was more beneficial than in the tubes with smaller helix diameters. The best value was attained for the helix diameter of 18 cm and the VF of 0.33 with a C.B.R. factor of 0.84. Also, the worst value was 1.18 for a helix diameter of 10 cm.</em>https://www.ijche.com/article_155095_f64fca491ec03390e9ba6eae10ccfa66.pdfIranian Association of Chemical Engineers(IAChE)Iranian Journal of Chemical Engineering(IJChE)1735-539719220220601Effect of Isopropanol on the Fluidization of Hydrophilic Titanium Nano-Powder516715509610.22034/ijche.2022.348082.1446ENH. HoorijaniMultiphase Systems Research Lab, School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, IranR. ZarghamiMultiphase Systems Research Lab, School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, IranN. MostoufiMultiphase Systems Research Lab, School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, IranJournal Article20220620<em>The effect of adding isopropanol (ISP) to nitrogen as the fluidizing gas on the hydrodynamics of the fluidization of hydrophilic titanium nanoparticles was studied. It was shown by the pressure drop method that adding ISP reduces the minimum fluidization velocity. Wavelet transform of the pressure fluctuations of the bed was employed to identify the hydrodynamic structures. The energy of hydrodynamic structures was evaluated in each fluidization mode. It was shown that ISP reduces the inter-particle attractive forces by replacing the hydroxyl group of the hydrophilic nanoparticles with an alkyl group. Energy and recurrence analyses were used to define the characteristics of fluidization when adding ISP to nitrogen gas. The energy of macro structures increased when using ISP, having indicated a decrease in the number of bubbles and an increase in the bubble size due to the reduction of inter-particle attractive forces. The increase of the white local areas in the recurrence plots also showed the increase of the bubble size. The recurrence quantification analysis showed the increase of the larger-scale phenomena (i.e. bubbles) in the bed</em><em>.</em>https://www.ijche.com/article_155096_93c037794afad8dafb3905562a11a17e.pdfIranian Association of Chemical Engineers(IAChE)Iranian Journal of Chemical Engineering(IJChE)1735-539719220220601Theoretical Prediction of the Size and Lifetime of Evaporating Sneeze Droplets in a Confined Space: A Guideline to Control of COVID-19 Virus Transmission688816598010.22034/ijche.2023.348705.1447ENA. L. BahramianChemical Engineering Department, Hamedan University of Technology, P. O. Box: 65155, Hamedan, Iranhttps://orcid.org/00Journal Article20220623<em>The size and lifetime of evaporating sneeze droplets in the indoor environment were studied experimentally and theoretically. The effects of indoor temperature T<sub>∞ </sub>and<sub> </sub>indoor humidity RH<sub>∞ </sub>on evaporating droplets with the initial diameters</em><em> of 4.9, 8.1, 17.2, and 29.7 </em><em>μm</em><em> were investigated</em><em>. </em><em>T</em><em>he size distribution and mean size of droplets were obtained by a laser particle sizer. The experimental </em><em>data showed that the</em><em> possibility of aerosolized droplets increased </em><em>from 25.5 to 36.1 % </em><em>by increasing T<sub>∞ </sub></em><em>from 18 to 30 </em><em>°C</em><em> </em><em>and decreased </em><em>from 36.1 to 13.6 % by increasing </em><em>RH<sub>∞</sub> from 30 to 60 %. </em><em>A one-dimensional droplet</em><em> </em><em>evaporation </em><em>model was used to estimate the lifetime of the droplet. A </em><em>critical RH<sub>∞</sub> of 40 % was found; above it, the lifetime of the droplet exponentially increases. The effect of the initial diameter of droplets was</em><em> </em><em>higher than that of RH</em><em><sub>∞</sub></em><em> and also the impact of </em><em>RH</em><em><sub>∞</sub></em><em> was higher than that of</em><em> </em><em>T<sub>∞ </sub>on</em><em> the lifetime of the aerosolized droplet nuclei. </em><em>A significant effect of environmental conditions on the lifetime of the droplet was found over the range of 26 </em><em>°C</em><em> ≤ T<sub>∞</sub> ≤ 30 </em><em>°C</em><em> and RH<sub>∞</sub> ≤ 40 %, while the effect decreased in the range of 18 </em><em>°C</em><em> ≤ T<sub>∞</sub> ≤ 22 </em><em>°C</em><em> and RH<sub>∞</sub> > 40 %, where a minimal shrinkage of droplets took place because of the </em><em>hygroscopic growth of </em><em>droplets</em><em>. </em><em>The results of this study do not imply that the COVID-19 virus will be deactivated at the end of the lifetime of the droplet, but it represents that controlling the indoor environment is important for droplets to carry the virus.</em>https://www.ijche.com/article_165980_42a51c97fc72fee04c040b14d771c8d2.pdfIranian Association of Chemical Engineers(IAChE)Iranian Journal of Chemical Engineering(IJChE)1735-539719220220601The Effect of the Methyl Functional Group on the Physicochemical and Structural Properties of a Synthesized Semi-Aromatic Polyimides899916598110.22034/ijche.2023.352518.1451ENR. AhmadiDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Arak University, IranH. SanaeepurDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Arak University, IranA. Ebadi AmooghinDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Arak University, IranJournal Article20220720<em>It is crucial to design and develop new polymers with desirable characteristics. Aromatic polyimides have been attracted more attention in comparison with other polymeric materials, because of their excellent properties, such as the high thermal stability, mechanical strength, and chemical resistance. In this work, two semi-aromatic polyimides (BCDA-mPDA and BCDA-Durene) were successfully synthesized from bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-7-ene-2,3,5,6-tetracarbocylic dianhydride (BCDA), 1,3-phenylenediamine (mPDA), and 2,3,5,6-tetramethyl-1,4-phenylenediamine (Durene) to investigate the effect of methyl functional groups on the physicochemical and structural properties of the synthesized polyimides. The synthesized polyimides were characterized by the proton nuclear magnetic resonance (<sup>1</sup>H-NMR) </em><em>spectroscopy</em><em>, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy, inherent viscosity measurement, and solubility test. FTIR and <sup>1</sup>H-NMR results confirmed the chemical structure of the synthesized polyimides. XRD results showed that the presence of bulky methyl groups has led to increasing amorphous regions in the polymer structure. In addition, these new polymers were soluble in various organic solvents such as dimethylformamide (DMF), dimethylsulfoxide</em><em> </em><em>(DMSO), and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP). The inherent viscosity of the synthesized polyimides was 0.65 dl/g for BCDA-Durene and 0.96 dl/g for BCDA-mPDA, which indicates the moderate molecular weight of the polymers.</em>https://www.ijche.com/article_165981_3e60825e5c0735800786ac41607103e5.pdf