Torrefied biomass‐polypropylene composites

Torrefied almond shells and wood chips were incorporated into polypropylene as fillers to produce torrefied biomass‐polymer composites. The composites were prepared by extrusion and injection molding. Response surface methodology was used to examine the effects of filler concentration, filler size, and lignin factor (relative lignin to cellulose concentration) on the material properties of the composites. The heat distortion temperatures, thermal properties, and tensile properties of the composites were characterized by thermomechanical analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and tensile tests, respectively. The torrefied biomass composites had heat distortion temperatures of 8–24°C higher than that of neat polypropylene. This was due to the torrefied biomass restricting mobility of polypropylene chains, leading to higher temperatures for deformation. The incorporation of torrefied biomass generally resulted in an increase in glass transition temperature, but did not affect melting temperature. Also, the composites had lower tensile strength and elongation at break values than those of neat polypropylene, indicating weak adhesion between torrefied biomass and polypropylene. However, scanning electron microscopy results did indicate some adhesion between torrefied biomass and polypropylene. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41582.     

ALKYLATION OF BENZENE USING BATCH AND CONTINUOUS FIXED-BED REACTORS

Alkylation reactions of benzene with propylene using heterogeneous catalysts H⁺-β zeolite, MCM-22, and ZSM-5 were studied for their affinity for cumene production. This work focused on the gas-phase reaction using different crystalline catalysts at several temperatures and amounts of reactants using both batch and continuous fixed-bed reactors. The properties of baseline commercial H⁺-β catalysts versus versions modified with Ga, La, and Pt were studied. Quantitative analysis of product mixture was performed by gas chromatography. For the batch reactor, β-zeolite produced the highest cumene yield and selectivity of 72% and 92%, respectively, at 225°C. At this temperature, a benzene:propylene dilution of 7:1 molar ratio was the optimum. For the continuous system, cumene production is favored at lower space velocities, higher benzene-to-propylene ratio, and temperatures close to 225°C. Ga modification of the H⁺-β zeolite significantly enhanced cumene yield in the continuous fixed-bed reactor at 225°C, from 27% of the unmodified β-zeolite to 36% for the Ga-modified one. The life span of modified β-catalysts was studied in the fixed-bed reactor for the first eight hours of reaction.     

Structures of Mn clusters

The geometries of several Mn clusters in the size range Mn₁₃-Mn{on23} are studied via the generalized gradient approximation to density functional theory. For the 13-and 19-atom clusters, the icosahedral structures are found to be most stable, while for the 15-atom cluster, the bcc structure is more favoured. The clusters show ferrimagnetic spin configurations.     

防污染连续冲砂工艺技术

防污染连续冲砂工艺是一种新型冲砂工艺技术。该技术利用封隔器、双层管柱和负压举升装置构成防污染冲砂系统;利用地面液流控制组合阀控制上流和侧流阀的开关,以保证地面不停泵即可连接油管,从而达到防油层污染连续冲砂的目的。经现场13口井（稠油井7口,稀油井6口）验证,该工艺具有施工安全、返速高、携砂能力强、冲砂时间短、不污染地层、连续冲砂的特点,尤其适合井底压力低,漏失严重的各类出砂油井的冲砂作业。     

Determination of rock type and moisture content in flysch using TLS intensity in the Elerji quarry (south-west Slovenia)

Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment - Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) was performed in tectonically undisturbed flysch in the Elerji quarry (south-west Slovenia), which represents...     

Biosynthesis of novel thermoplastic polythioesters by engineered Escherichia coli

The development of non-petrochemical sources for the plastics industry continues to progress as large multinationals focus on renewable resources to replace fossil carbon. Many bacteria are known to accumulate polyoxoesters as water-insoluble granules in the cytoplasm. The thermoplastic and/or elastomeric behaviour of these biodegradable polymers holds promise for the development of various technological applications. Here, we report the synthesis and characterization of microbial polythioesters (PTEs), a novel class of biopolymers of general technological relevance. Biosynthesis of PTE homopolymers was achieved using a recombinant strain of Escherichia coli that expressed a non-natural pathway consisting of a butyrate kinase, a phosphotransbutyrylase, and a PHA synthase. Different homopolymers were produced, consisting of either 3-mercaptopropionate, 3-mercaptobutyrate, or 3-mercaptovalerate repeating units, if the respective mercaptoalkanoic acids were provided as precursor substrates to the fermentative process. The PTEs contributed up to 30% (w/w) of the cellular dry weight and were identified as hydrophobic inclusions in the cytoplasm. The chemical and stereochemical homogeneity of the purified PTEs were identified by different methods, and the estimated physical properties were compared to the oxypolyester equivalents, revealing low crystalline order and, for the poly(3-mercaptopropionate) improved thermal stability. The ability to produce PTEs through a biosynthetic route opens up new avenues in the field of biomaterials.     

Symptom perception in childhood asthma: The role of anxiety and asthma severity.

This study tested the relationship of anxiety and asthma severity to symptom perception. Eighty-six children diagnosed with mild or moderate asthma had symptom perception and pulmonary function measured throughout methacholine challenge (to induce bronchoconstriction). Higher trait anxiety was associated with heightened symptom perception (controlling for pulmonary function) at baseline. Greater asthma severity was associated with blunted symptom perception (controlling for pulmonary function) at the end of methacholine challenge and with a slower rate of increase in symptom perception across methacholine challenge. These results suggest that anxiety plays a role when children's symptoms are mild, whereas medical variables such as severity play a role in perception of changes in asthma symptomatology as bronchoconstriction worsens. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Hierarchical Processing for Evolving Recursive and Modular Programs Using Higher-Order Functions and Lambda Abstraction

We present a novel approach using higher-order functions and abstraction to evolve recursive and modular programs. Moreover, a new term structure abstraction is introduced to describe the property emerged from the higher-order function program structure. We test this technique on the general even-parity problem. The results indicate that this approach is very effective with the general even-parity problem due to the appropriate selection of the foldr higher-order function. Initially, foldr structure abstraction identify the promising area of the search space at generation zero. Once the population is within the promising area, foldr structure abstraction provides hierarchical processing for search. Consequently, solutions to the general even-parity problem are found very efficiently. We identify the limitations of this new approach and conclude that only when the appropriate higher-order function is selected that the benefits of structure abstraction show.