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At least 1,225 records · Page 68

Preparation and performance study of MgFe{sub 2}O{sub 4}/metal–organic framework composite for rapid removal of organic dyes from water

In present study, a stable and magnetic metal-organic framework (MOF) material was synthesized by simple solvothermal method as adsorbent to rapid removal of two organic dyes, the Rhodamine B (RB) and Rhodamine 6G (Rh6G), in water samples. The prepared material showed great characteristics of large surface area (519.86 m{sup 2} g{sup −1}), excellent magnetic responsivity (35.00 emu g{sup −1}) and rapid removal (within 5 min). Maximum adsorption capacities of the magnetic material toward RB and Rh6G were up to 219.78 and 306.75 mg g{sup −1}, respectively. Adsorption kinetics suggested the adsorption process met the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The prepared material could be reused at least 10 times by washing with acetonitrile solution, the relative standard deviation (RSD) of these ten cycles removal efficiency was 4.8%. In conclusion, good chemical inertness, a mechanical/water stability and super-hydrophilicity feature made this MOF a promising adsorbent for targets removal from environmental water sample. - Graphical abstract: The magnetic MgFe{sub 2}O{sub 4}/metal–organic framework with ultra-high adsorption capacity towards rhodamine dyes showed rapid removal efficiency (within 5 min) and good reusability (at least 10 times). Display Omitted - Highlights: • A stable and magnetic MgFe{sub 2}O{sub 4}@MOF material was synthesized as adsorbent to rapid removal of organic dyes. • The material in this article could rapidly sequestered rhodamine dyes within 5 min. • The maximum adsorption capacities of the magnetic material were high.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Controlled synthesis of silkworm cocoon-like α-Fe2O3 and its adsorptive properties for organic dyes and Cr(VI)

Highlights: • A hierarchical structured α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} is synthesized by using a simple hydrothermal method. • The as-synthesized α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} shows high adsorption capacities for CR, MO and Cr(VI) ions. The removal efficiency can reach up to 99.2%, 83.9% and 100% under the given conditions. • This kind of material realizes synergistic adsorption of organic and inorganic pollutants. And the adsorption efficiency can reach 94.7% for CR and 97.9% for Cr(VI) ions in a mixed solution. - Abstract: Industrial wastewater containing both organic and inorganic pollutants is being generated all the time. Efficient materials are highly needed to purify the polluted water. Thus, a hierarchical structured α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} with excellent adsorptive property has been synthesized by using a facile hydrothermal method. It can be prepared in macroscopic quantity. The as-synthesized α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} with silkworm cocoon-like morphology shows high efficiency in adsorbing Congo red (CR), Methyl orange (MO) and Cr(VI). The removal efficiency of CR, MO and Cr(VI) can reach 99.2%, 83.9% and 100% under appropriate conditions. Besides, this α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} shows high adsorptive ability for mixed CR and Cr(VI) in aqueous solution and the final removal rates can reach 94.7% and 97.9%, respectively. The adsorption kinetics fits well with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The results indicate that the product may find potential application in purification of wastewater containing both organic and inorganic pollutants.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Microstructure-based prediction of thermal aging strength reduction factors for grade 91 ferritic-martensitic steel

This study aimed to develop a microstructure-based mechanistic approach to address the long-term thermal aging effect on yield stress and ultimate tensile strength and to provide a physical basis for developing thermal aging factors for G91 for a design life of 60 years. Several heats of G91 steel were examined. Controlled aging experiments were conducted on two heats at temperatures of 550, 600, and 650 °C for times up to ~64,000 h. Specimens were also taken from archived creep-tested specimens of G91 and from a tube removed from the Kingston coal-fired power plant to obtain data that cover a wide range of temperatures and for aging times up to 155,000 h. Thermal aging caused significant subgrain recovery, coarsening of M 23 C 6 carbides at subgrain boundaries and MX carbonitrides within subgrains. The intermetallic Laves phase forms during aging and grows rapidly. The growth rate of the subgrain width and MX mean size during thermal aging were described by kinetic models. Thermal aging results in the reductions in the yield stress and the ultimate tensile strength of G91. The effects of thermal aging on the reductions in yield stress and ultimate tensile strength were well described by the microstructure-strength model that considers three superimposed strengthening mechanisms, namely, sub-boundary strengthening, MX precipitation hardening, and Mo solid solution strengthening. Furthermore, the model was independently validated by the ASME Code values and is being used by the ASME to develop the aging-induced strength reduction factors for G91 steel for a design life of 60 years.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Predictive simulation of non-steady-state transport of gases through rubbery polymer membranes

In this paper, a multiscale, physically-based, reaction-diffusion kinetics model is developed for non-steady-state transport of simple gases through a rubbery polymer. Experimental data from the literature, new measurements of non-steady-state permeation and a molecular dynamics simulation of a gas-polymer sticking probability for a typical system are used to construct and validate the model framework. Using no adjustable parameters, the model successfully reproduces time-dependent experimental data for two distinct systems: (1) O 2 quenching of a phosphorescent dye embedded in poly(n-butyl(amino) thionylphosphazene), and (2) O 2 , N 2 , CH 4 and CO 2 transport through poly(dimethyl siloxane). The calculations show that in the pre-steady-state regime, permeation is only correctly described if the sorbed gas concentration in the polymer is dynamically determined by the rise in pressure. Finally, the framework is used to predict selectivity targets for two applications involving rubbery membranes: CO 2 capture from air and blocking of methane cross-over in an aged solar fuels device.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Automatic, simultaneous control of polymer composition and molecular weight during free radical copolymer synthesis

Fully automatic, simultaneous control of polymer composition and molecular weight trajectories during free radical copolymer synthesis was achieved by coupling the continuous ACOMP data stream into a feedback controller which operated pumps for reactor feed of comonomers. The controller operates without recourse to a detailed kinetic model or reactivity ratios. Rather, it uses the fact that instantaneous copolymer chain composition is related to the instantaneous rate of consumption of comonomers, and the rate for each of these is described by rates α 1 and α 2 for comonomers 1 and 2, respectively. The instantaneous weight average molecular weight M w,inst is proportional to total comonomer concentration via a constant p. Hence, target trajectories for composition and M w can be independently prescribed and followed. Finally, since α 1 , α 2 and p are directly measurable from the ACOMP data stream, their values can be constantly updated by the automatic controller during the reaction process to insure the target trajectories are followed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Heat release analysis for rapid compression machines: Challenges and opportunities

Heat release analysis (HRA) is commonly used in combustion studies to derive understandings of chemical and physical processes in situations where direct measurement is not practical. In internal combustion engines, it is typically based on crank-angle resolved pressure diagnostics. However, it has not been applied extensively to rapid compression machine datasets. There are various challenges associated with rigorous application of HRA, including a reasonable accounting of physical processes that occur during the test period, such as heat loss. Limitations associated with transducer robustness and data acquisition system fidelity also exist. On the other hand, there is potential to extract a wealth of information from pressure-time histories via HRA, such as quantifying the evolution and trends of preliminary exothermicity, e.g., low- and intermediate-temperature heat release, across a range of thermodynamic conditions; detecting the existence of non-uniform ignition phenomena during a test; and providing additional targets for the evaluation and improvement of chemical kinetic models. Finally, this work discusses such opportunities, and some approaches towards resolving various challenges.

42 ENGINEERING↗

High-Pressure Oxidation of Propane

The oxidation properties of propane have been investigated by conducting experiments in a laminar flow reactor at a pressure of 100 bar and temperatures of 500-900 K. The onset temperature for reaction increased from 625 K under oxidizing conditions to 725 K under reducing conditions. A chemical kinetic model for high pressure propane oxidation was established, with particular emphasis on the peroxide chemistry. The rate constant for the important abstraction reaction C3H8 + HO2 was calculated theoretically. Modeling predictions were in satisfactory agreement with the present data as well as shock tube data (6-61 bar) and flame speeds (1-5 bar) from literature. (C) 2018 The Combustion Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Hashemi, Hamid↗

Methanol oxidation up to 100 atm in a supercritical pressure jet-stirred reactor

Methanol (CH 3 OH) has attracted considerable attention as a renewable fuel or fuel additive with low greenhouse gas emissions. Methanol oxidation was studied using a recently developed supercritical pressure jet-stirred reactor (SP-JSR) at pressures of 10 and 100 atm, at temperatures from 550 to 950 K, and at equivalence ratios of 0.1, 1.0, and 9.0 in experiments and simulations. Here, the experimental results show that the onset temperature of CH 3 OH oxidation at 100 atm is around 700 K, which is more than 100 K lower than the onset at 10 atm and this trend cannot be predicted by the existing kinetics models. Furthermore, a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) behavior was clearly observed at 100 atm at fuel rich conditions for methanol for the first time. To understand the observed temperature shift in the reactivity and the NTC effect, we updated some key elementary reaction rates of relevance to high pressure CH 3 OH oxidation from the literature and added some new low-temperature reaction pathways such as CH 2 O + HO 2 = HOCH 2 O 2 (RO 2 ), RO 2 + RO 2 = HOCH 2 O (RO) + HOCH 2 O (RO) + O 2 , and CH 3 OH + RO 2 = CH 2 OH + HOCH 2 O 2 H (ROOH). Although the model with these updates improves the prediction somewhat for the experimental data at 100 atm and reproduces well high-temperature ignition delay times and laminar flame speed data in the literature, discrepancies still exist for some aspects of the 100 atm low-temperature oxidation data. In addition, it was found that the pressure-dependent HO 2 chemistry shifts to lower temperature as the pressure increases such that the NTC effect at fuel-lean conditions is suppressed. Therefore, as shown in the experiments, the NTC phenomenon was only observed at the fuel-rich condition where fuel radicals are abundant and the HO 2 chemistry at high pressure is weakened by the lack of oxygen resulting in comparatively little HO 2 formation.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

Shock tube/laser absorption measurement of the rate constant of the reaction: H 2 O 2 + CO 2 2OH + CO 2

We address the role of the linear mixing rule in the kinetics of the H 2 O 2 decomposition system by reporting the rate constant for H 2 O 2 + M = 2OH + M (M = Ar and CO 2 ) in the temperature range of 1087-1234 K at low pressures in a mixture of 20% CO 2 in Argon. The reaction rate constant was inferred from H 2 O concentrations monitored by using a laser-absorption spectroscopy-based water diagnostic. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first measurement of the rate constant of this reaction in a mixture to be reported in literature. A significant discrepancy was found between the rate constants derived using the traditional linear mixing rule and the reduced pressure linear mixing rule. Furthermore, this discrepancy can have serious implications on the predictive accuracy of these kinetic models, especially under conditions relevant to the operation of supercritical CO 2 (sCO 2 ) power cycles that rely on oxy-fuel combustion in a working fluid comprised almost entirely of CO 2 .

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗

Enhancing $\phi$-sensitivity of ignition delay times through dilution of fuel-air mixture

The high $\phi$-sensitivity (η) of ignition delay time (τ IDT ) is one of the desirable fuel properties for the high-load extension of advanced compression ignition engine. Recent studies revealed the effectiveness of a high dilution rate (x D ) for enhancing η at the engine-relevant conditions. This study aims to quantify the effect of dilution on the η of isooctane using a combined experiment-simulation approach. The ignition delay of the isooctane/air mixture was measured with an Advanced Fuel Ignition Delay Analyzer (AFIDA) over the temperature range of 623 - 923 K at 10 bar pressure with global $\phi$ = 0.3 - 0.6, with and without 28.6% of additional N 2 dilution. For precise evaluation of experimental η, the facility effect of the AFIDA experiment was characterized with three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (3-D CFD) simulation. The temperature in the combustion chamber from 3-D CFD indicated a substantial temporal dependency, varying up to ~52 K by charge-cooling of fuel injection and heat transfer from the wall. We introduced the dimensionless number θ(t) for characterizing the temporal profile of chamber temperature. Consideration of the facility effect using θ(t) resulted in better agreement between the experimental ..eta.. and zero-dimensional (0-D) kinetics simulation. The refined η were then further utilized to quantify the effectiveness of dilution to η The extent of η enhancement with dilution strategy was maximized at the low-temperature chemistry regime, increasing η by 77% with a 28.6% dilution rate. Further analysis on the dilution effect was carried out using 0-D kinetics simulation, revealing the critical dimensionless numbers relevant to the effectiveness of dilution to η enhancement. Here, this study is the first experiment-simulation combined research to quantify the effect of dilution on η, facilitating the kinetics model refinement for better reproduction of $\phi$-sensitivity.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

Radon kinetics in a natural indoor radon chamber

An unusual 180 m 3 storage room in the basement of a two-story laboratory building is unventilated, and separated from occupiable rooms by double steel doors. The space completely borders on soil through the concrete floor and two of its concrete walls. The room also contains a separate inner chamber with 1 m thick concrete walls designed to damp vibrations in the room above it. The space boasts a relatively high radon level, 1083 Bq m –3 , which varies with local outdoor environmental conditions. Measurements were made of radon concentrations at various locations and heights within the facility. More than a year of continuous radon concentration data corresponding to a single location are also available, along with measurements of indoor and outdoor pressure, temperature, and humidity. Data were also collected with as many as five fans placed in different locations and cycled on for variable time periods. First order linear kinetic models were created to explain the observed approaches to steady state due to changing conditions and wash-out resulting from intentional ventilation. Results demonstrate a good fit between changes in the radon concentration level and the developed compartmental models. Furthermore, no significant differences were observed between radon concentration at different locations or heights in the chamber.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Influence of Polymer Type and Carbon Nanotube Properties on Carbon Nanotube/Polymer Nanocomposite Biodegradation

The interaction of anaerobic microorganisms with carbon nanotube/polymer nanocomposites (CNT/PNC) will play a major role in determining their persistence and environmental fate at the end of consumer use when these nano-enabled materials enter landfills and encounter wastewater. Motivated by the need to understand how different parameters (i.e., polymer type, microbial phenotype, CNT characteristics) influence CNT/PNC biodegradation rates, we have used volumetric biogas measurements and kinetic modeling to study biodegradation as a function of polymer type and CNT properties. In one set of experiments, oxidized multiwall carbon nanotubes (O-MWCNTs) with a range of CNT loadings 0 – 5% w/w were incorporated into poly-e-caprolactone (PCL) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) matrices and subjected to biodegradation by an anaerobic microbial community. For each CNT/PNC, complete polymer biodegradation was ultimately observed, although the rate of biodegradation was inhibited above certain critical CNT loadings dependent upon the polymer type. Higher loadings of pristine MWCNTs were needed to decrease the rate of polymer biodegradation compared to O-MWCNTs, an effect ascribed principally to differences in CNT dispersion within the polymer matrices. Above ertain CNT loadings, a CNT mat of similar shape to the initial PNC was formed after polymer biodegradation, while below this threshold, CNT aggregates fragmented in the media. In situations where biodegradation was rapid, methanogen growth was disproportionately inhibited compared to the overall microbial community. Analysis of the results obtained from this study indicates that the inhibitory effect of CNTs on polymer biodegradation rate is greatest under conditions (i.e., polymer type, microbial phenotype, CNT dispersion) where biodegradation of the neat polymer is slowest. This new insight provides a means to predict the environmental fate, persistence and transformations of CNT-enabled polymer materials.

Frank, Benjamin↗

Mechanisms of Lipid Scrambling by the G Protein-Coupled Receptor Opsin

Several class-A G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) proteins act as constitutive phospholipid scramblases catalyzing the transbilayer translocation of >10,000 phospholipids per second when reconstituted into synthetic vesicles. To address the molecular mechanism by which these proteins facilitate rapid lipid scrambling, we carried out large-scale ensemble atomistic molecular dynamics simulations of the opsin GPCR. We report here that, in the process of scrambling, lipid head groups traverse a dynamically revealed hydrophilic pathway in the region between transmembrane helices 6 and 7 of the protein while their hydrophobic tails remain in the bilayer environment. We present quantitative kinetic models of the translocation process based on Markov State Model analysis. As key residues on the lipid translocation pathway are conserved within the class-A GPCR family, our results illuminate unique aspects of GPCR structure and dynamics while providing a rigorous basis for the design of variants of these proteins with defined scramblase activity.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Ethylene oxidation on unpromoted silver catalysts: Reaction pathway and selectivity analysis using DFT calculations

Chemical conversions in catalytic partial oxidation processes of light hydrocarbons are responsible for the production of numerous industrial chemicals, plastics, and intermediates. These processes are relatively expensive to perform, and are typically operated at high thermodynamic inefficiency, so the development of novel, highly efficient catalysts would prove to be very cost effective. Herein, our study focused on surface catalytic mechanisms of the ethylene oxide (EO) formation process. Periodic plane-wave Density Functional Theory (DFT) methods were used to analyze related reaction mechanisms on the Ag(111) surface facet with low coverage. Energetic changes of related species and pathways were calculated. Key surface species are identified to suggest the factors for the observed selectivity during EO formation. Our results are consistent with previous kinetic modeling efforts in the literature which did not employ DFT analysis. Lastly, our study demonstrates how fundamental theoretical investigations and multi-scale modeling techniques are currently impacting the advancement of rational catalyst design and microkinetic modeling techniques in the light hydrocarbon processing industry.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Hillock formation in co-deposited thin films of immiscible metal alloy systems

Hillocks are protruding sections of a surface that can influence the electronic and mechanical properties of a thin film. In monolithic films, these hillocks are formed due to thermally induced stress gradients during deposition. In this study, the surface morphology of co-sputtered immiscible Cu-X (X is a body centered cubic (BCC) group V or VI metal) thin films is characterized to elucidate the conditions that lead to hillock formation. Cu-Ta and Cu-Mo-Ag films were co-deposited with physical vapor deposition (PVD) magnetron sputtering at 25, 400, 600, and 800°C. A significant number of homogeneously distributed surface hillocks were observed only in the 600 and 800°C films. High-angle annular dark field (HAADF) cross-sectional imaging revealed significant Cu agglomerations underneath the protruding features. For the Cu-Ta films, the Cu was enveloped in a Cu-Ta nanocrystalline matrix. For Cu-Mo-Ag, the Cu was surrounded by Mo-Ag concentration modulations. While thermal stress gradients arise during deposition of immiscible metal films, biaxial stress calculations and literature cases reveal that they are not solely responsible for hillock formation. The observed morphologies align with a surface diffusion kinetic model that evaluates diffusion length of adatoms during deposition as a function of deposition temperature. Finally, this indicates a phase separation driving force paired with the constituent elements’ dissimilar mobilities at elevated deposition temperatures contribute to the presence of hillocks.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

A novel sub-pilot-scale direct-contact ultrasonic dehydration technology for sustainable production of distillers dried grains (DDG)

DDG is a major source of protein, calcium, phosphorus, and sulfur is arguably the most important byproduct of the bioethanol industry with increasing demand over the past few years. Reducing energy consumption in the DDG production process and energy recovery from DDG is vital for sustainable bioethanol productions. In this paper, a novel direct-contact multi-frequency, multimode, and modulated (MMM) ultrasonic dryer (US) was developed for the first time and has been applied in dehydration of wet distillers' grain (WDG). Ultrasonic drying (US) was combined with a convective airflow (HA) at different temperatures of 25 (room temperature), 50 and 70 °C to evaluate the impact of US, HA, and US + HA on drying kinetics, activation energy, chemical compositions, microstructure, and color of DDG. Semi-empirical kinetic models were developed and evaluating drying performances showed that the application of ultrasound significantly enhanced the drying rate and decreased the drying time (by 46%), especially at low drying temperatures. The activation energy for moisture removal in the presence of ultrasound was about 50% of that without ultrasound. The final dried distillers' grains product processed by ultrasonic drying had a brighter color, a higher available protein, a higher digestible protein (the lowest acid detergent insoluble crude protein), and a better surface profile with no compromise on minerals and fiber contents.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Anhydrous volatile fatty acid extraction through omniphobic membranes by hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents: Mechanistic understanding and future perspective

Volatile fatty acids (VFAs) derived from arrested anaerobic digestion (AD) can be recovered as a valuable commodity for value-added synthesis. However, separating VFAs from digestate with complex constituents and a high-water content is an energy-prohibitive process. This study developed an innovative technology to overcome this barrier by integrating deep eutectic solvents (DESs) with an omniphobic membrane into a membrane contactor for efficient extraction of anhydrous VFAs with low energy consumption. Here, a kinetic model was developed to elucidate the mechanistic differences between this novel omniphobic membrane-enabled DES extraction and the previous hydrophobic membrane-enabled NaOH extraction. Experimental results and mechanistic modeling suggested that VFA extraction by the DES is a reversible adsorption process facilitating subsequent VFA separation via anhydrous distillation. High vapor pressure of shorter-chain VFAs and low Nernst distribution coefficients of longer-chain VFAs contributed to DES-driven extraction, which could enable continuous and in-situ recovery and conversion of VFAs from AD streams.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Reconfigurable structural color by reversible switching of colloidal discoid liquid crystal alignment

Combining the effects of alternating-current (AC) electric fields and sedimentation reconfigures colloidal discoids between planar and homeotropic orientational alignments, thereby controlling the material’s structural color. Here, we self-assemble micrometer-size polystyrene discoids in an isopropanol-water mixture. After sedimentation, the discoids adopt a homeotropic alignment, with the minor axis perpendicular to the substrate. Adding an AC electric field (1 kHz) of ≥0.50 V switches the discoids to planar alignment—with the minor axis parallel to the substrate—within ∼100 s. Removing the field switches them back to homeotropic alignment within ∼300 s. Kinetic modeling of the field-induced torques yields good agreement with these measurements. The peak wavelength and intensity of the crystal’s diffraction response shift significantly upon reconfiguration; scattering simulation predicts these shifts. The reconfiguration is maintained for at least 10 cycles. This method is a simple, scalable avenue to reconfigure the optical properties of colloidal crystals produced from simple dielectric spheroids.

colloidal crystals↗