Molecular structure and granule morphology of native and heat‐moisture‐treated pinhão starch

Pinhão seed is an unconventional source of starch and the pines grow up in native forests of southern Latin America. In this study, pinhão starch was adjusted at 15, 20 and 25% moisture content and heated to 100, 110 and 120 °C for 1 h. A decrease in λ max (starch/iodine complex) was observed as a result of increase in temperature and moisture content of HMT. The ratio of crystalline to amorphous phase in pinhão starch was determined via Fourier transform infra red by taking 1045/1022 band ratio. A decrease in crystallinity occurred as a result of HMT. Polarised light microscopy indicated a loss of birefringence of starch granules under 120 °C at 25% moisture content. Granule size distribution was further confirmed via scanning electron microscopy which showed the HMT effects. These results increased the understanding on molecular and structural properties of HMT pinhão starch and broadened its food and nonfood industrial applications.     

Prediction of methane adsorption content in continental coal-bearing shale reservoir using SLD model

Shale gas, as an important unconventional resource, has drawn global attention. It is mainly composed of adsorption gas and free gas. Adsorption gas content could play an important guiding role on both the selection of favorable perspective area and the exploration and exploitation of shale gas resources. In order to accurately measure adsorption gas content, a new approach was established to predict the adsorption isotherm of methane on shale. Based on the simplified local-density (SLD) method, both the adsorption isotherms of illite, illite/smectite mixed-layer, cholorite and type III kerogen and the total shale rock could be well fitted. The fitting results show good coincidences with the true experimental test data, which proves the method is reasonable and dependable and the prediction results are effective and credible. In addition, the good simulation results show that the SLD parameters can reflect the pore structure characteristics and corresponding adsorption characteristics of the shale samples, which can be used for the quantitative characterization of shale pore system.     

Development and monitoring of an integrated bioprocess for production of a potential malaria vaccine with Pichia pastoris

An engineered variant of the yeast Pichia pastoris was used to produce the potential malaria vaccine D1M1. This paper describes the implementation of an expanded bed adsorption chromatography step into a sequential cultivation process of the yeast in order to link protein expression, cell release, and product capture of the secreted protein in a fully automated plant. The process is operated with a semi-continuous strategy for an integrated production. Process improvements have been achieved using design of experiments. Resulting purities of product achieved up to 87% with recoveries of 51% in a single downstream operation. Furthermore, a multivariate analysis of historical batch data was used to develop a golden batch model for process monitoring.     

Physical Stability of Octenyl Succinate–Modified Polysaccharides and Whey Proteins for Potential Use as Bioactive Carriers in Food Systems

The high cost and potential toxicity of biodegradable polymers like poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic)acid (PLGA) has increased the interest in natural and modified biopolymers as bioactive carriers. This study characterized the physical stability (water sorption and state transition behavior) of selected starch and proteins: octenyl succinate–modified depolymerized waxy corn starch (DWxCn), waxy rice starch (DWxRc), phytoglycogen, whey protein concentrate (80%, WPC), whey protein isolate (WPI), and α‐lactalbumin (α‐L) to determine their potential as carriers of bioactive compounds under different environmental conditions. After enzyme modification and particle size characterization, glass transition temperature and moisture isotherms were used to characterize the systems. DWxCn and DWxRc had increased water sorption compared to native starch. The level of octenyl succinate anhydrate (OSA) modification (3% and 7%) did not reduce the water sorption of the DWxCn and phytoglycogen samples. The Guggenheim–Andersen–de Boer model indicated that native waxy corn had significantly (P < 0.05) higher water monolayer capacity followed by 3%‐OSA‐modified DWxCn, WPI, 3%‐OSA‐modified DWxRc, α‐L, and native phytoglycogen. WPC had significantly lower water monolayer capacity. All Tg values matched with the solid‐like appearance of the biopolymers. Native polysaccharides and whey proteins had higher glass transition temperature (Tg) values. On the other hand, depolymerized waxy starches at 7%‐OSA modification had a “melted” appearance when exposed to environments with high relative humidity (above 70%) after 10 days at 23 °C. The use of depolymerized and OSA‐modified polysaccharides blended with proteins created more stable blends of biopolymers. Hence, this biopolymer would be suitable for materials exposed to high humidity environments in food applications.     

渣油胶质和沥青质在分散型催化剂作用下的临氢热反应行为

采用四组分法从辽河减压渣油中分离出胶质、沥青质，分别考察了它们在分散型催化剂作用下的临氢热反应行为。结果表明，胶质、沥青质一方面要裂化生成较轻的产物；另一方面也要发生缩合反应生成较重的反应产物以及甲苯不溶物。渣油在临氢热反应过程中，沥青质是生焦的主要来源，其次才是胶质。比较了热反应生成的沥青质与原生沥青质之间以及热反应生成的胶质与原生胶质之间化学组成的区别，结果表明，反应生成的沥青质和胶质较原生的沥青质和胶质分子结构缩合程度高，并且反应苛刻度越高，缩合程度也越高。     

噻吩在镍基非晶态合金上的吸附和脱附

应用静态吸附、动态吸附、程序升温脱附和程序升温还原等实验方法，考察了噻吩在Ni基非晶态合金上的吸附和脱附行为。常温下，噻吩分子首先吸附在清洁的Ni表面，并立刻被活化，发生氢解反应，C-S键断裂，释放出烃类部分，S留在Ni原子上。噻吩可以在Ni基非晶态合金表面发生强度不同的化学吸附。弱化学吸附的噻吩可以脱附；强化学吸附的噻吩不会脱附，而在高温下发生氢解反应。     

Operational aspects of adsorption air‐conditioner used in diesel locomotive

A locomotive cabin adsorption air‐conditioner has been equipped in #DF4B‐2369 locomotive; and has been successfully run for 2 years. It is powered by waste heat from the exhaust of the diesel engine. The influence on heat transfer is described by the equivalent heat transfer coefficient or thermal resistance of components inside the adsorber. The variation of adsorption capacity is expressed by a non‐equilibrium adsorption function. The dynamic heat transfer process of adsorption air‐conditioning system is treated with the lumped parameter method. Some typical running experimental results are present. The diesel engine rotating speed and locomotive speed influenced on the refrigeration system are discussed. The maximum mean refrigeration power is regarded as an objective function. Based on experiments and theoretical analysis, the running characteristics of the air‐conditioning system are optimized. Some techniques of performance improvement are suggested as well. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

热管传热性能对小型热管换热器散热效能影响

在零重力辅助下,小热管热阻是小型热管换热器散热效能的重要影响因素之一。基于集总参数法对于换热器系统数值计算的高效性思想,建立了热管、热管换热器的集总参数模型。对同一热管换热器选用不同传热性能的热管,在不同传热温差和流体质量流速下,就其散热效能进行了数值计算。计算结果表明,在零重力辅助下,热管换热器管内热阻存在一临界值Rcri。当热阻RHP≤Rcri时,管外热阻起主导作用,热管换热器的散热效能εh几乎不随热管管内热阻的值而变化。     

Volumetric Change and Surface Properties of Temperature-Sensitive Polyvinylalcohol (PVA) Hydrogel

Polyvinylalcohol (PVA) polymer gel is a temperature sensitive polymeric gel, with a critical transition temperature (with H₂O) of 310 K. At higher than 310 K, this temperature sensitive polymer gel shrinks because of discharging water, whereas at lower temperatures, the gel swelled because of absorbing water. The reversibility of the gel's volume change was confirmed by temperature swing. The adsorption behavior of an organic compound onto the PVA polymer gel in water was tested at various temperatures. The amount of adsorbed organic compound increased remarkably at temperatures higher than about 310 K. Then, it was confirmed that the organic compound in PVA polymer gel could be reversibly adsorbed and desorbed by a temperature change between 293 and 323 K. The mechanism of adsorption of the organic compound onto the PVA polymer gel could be explained by hydration and dehydration of polymer gel.     

天然气吸附储存脱附过程的动态模拟

通过热动力学计算,认识了脱附过程当中储罐内温度剖面分布的典型特征:储罐轴心处的温度下降幅度最大。分析了脱附过程当中储罐壁的热交换、吸附剂的导热系数以及储罐内的初始压力对储罐内的温度剖面的影响。结论是加强储罐外壁的热交换、增大吸附剂的导热系数皆能改善吸附储罐内的温度剖面。