The control of paracetamol particle size and surface morphology through crystallisation in a spray dryer

The parameters governing the crystallisation of paracetamol using various conventional techniques has been extensively studied, however the factors influencing the drug crystallisation using spray drying is not as well understood. The aim of this work was to investigate the crystallisation of an active pharmaceutical ingredient through evaporative crystallisation using a spray dryer to study the physicochemical properties of the drug and to use semi-empirical equations to gain insight into the morphology and particle size of the dried powder. Paracetamol solutions were spray dried at various inlet temperatures ranging from 60 °C to 120 °C and also from a series of inlet feed solvent compositions ranging from 50/50% v/v ethanol/water to 100% ethanol and solid-state characterisation was done. The size and morphology of the dried materials were altered with a change in spray drying parameters, with an increase in inlet temperature leading to an increase in particle Sauter mean diameter (from 3.0 to 4.4 µm) and a decrease in the particle size with an increase in ethanol concentration in the feed (from 4.6 to 4.4 µm) as a result of changes in particle density and atomised droplet size. The morphology of the dried particles consisted of agglomerates of individual crystallites bound together into larger semi-spherical agglomerates with a higher tendency for particles having crystalline ridges to form at higher ethanol concentrations of the feed.     

三液相酶催化体系水解橄榄油的研究

采用三液相酶催化体系水解橄榄油,考察构成三液相体系的物质对酶的影响;考察了硫酸铵的含量和PEG400的含量对酶的分配分数、回收率及催化效率的影响,研究了中下相与油的体积比对水解橄榄油的影响,并初步探究了三液相体系水解橄榄油的微观液滴结构。结果表明:在酶添加量142.5 U/g、硫酸铵含量15%、PEG400含量28%、中下相与油的体积比3∶1、转速200 r/min条件下,酶的分配系数达到28.28,酶的回收率达99.65%,水解24 h后,脂肪酸含量达98.17%,在对照(油水体系)中,相同条件下产生的脂肪酸含量仅为42.06%。显微镜下液滴观察结果表明,三液相体系中独特的液滴结构可能是该体系优于油水两相体系的原因。     

3D Microstructures of Liquid Crystal Networks with Programmed Voxelated Director Fields

The shape-shifting behavior of liquid crystal networks (LCNs) and elastomers (LCEs) is a result of an interplay between their initial geometrical shape and their molecular alignment. For years, reliance on either one-step in situ or two-step film processing techniques has limited the shape-change transformations from 2D to 3D geometries. The combination of various fabrication techniques, alignment methods, and chemical formulations developed in recent years has introduced new opportunities to achieve 3D-to-3D shape-transformations in large scales, albeit the precise control of local molecular alignment in microscale 3D constructs remains a challenge. Here, the voxel-by-voxel encoding of nematic alignment in 3D microstructures of LCNs produced by two-photon polymerization using high-resolution topographical features is demonstrated. 3D LCN microstructures (suspended films, coils, and rings) with designable 2D and 3D director fields with a resolution of 5 µm are achieved. Different shape transformations of LCN microstructures with the same geometry but dissimilar molecular alignments upon actuation are elicited. This strategy offers higher freedom in the shape-change programming of 3D LCN microstructures and expands their applicability in emerging technologies, such as small-scale soft robots and devices and responsive surfaces.     

融合前沿研究的液体电介质击穿教学研究

针对《高电压与绝缘技术》课程中液体电介质的教学难点，提出了融合前沿研究的液体电介质击穿教学方法。基于前沿的液体放电应用背景与先进的液体放电研究平台，形象地展示液体电介质的动态击穿过程，在教学内容、教学方法、考核方式等方面进行科教融合改进，实施“以学生为中心”理念的课程教学设计。该教学方式取得了较好的教学效果，能够为其它知识点的教学质量提升提供参考。     

A priori risk-informed approach to ensure the compliance with discharge limits for liquid radioactive effluent to be discharged from APR 1400

ABSTRACT

In order to develop a methodology to guarantee the conformance to operational discharge limits for liquid effluent from a NPP at an early stage of design, a risk-informed approach was proposed and its applicability was verified for APR 1400. Existing methodology to calculate risk-based detection limit for a single radionuclide was improved by incorporating a new model to derive more realistic pathway dose factors. A new simple expression was also proposed to adjust risk-based detection limits for multiple radionuclides mixture if necessary. In addition, a new procedure to warrant the compliance with discharge limits by controlling detection limits of only a few principal radionuclides was established in accordance with risk-informed concept. Through case studies for APR 1400 to be commissioned at a hypothetical site, it was shown that calculated pathway dose factors are more realistic for majority of radionuclides. It also turns out that neither present detection limits nor unadjusted risk-based detection limits can be justified when the radionuclide composition is unknown, however further adjustment of detection limits or increasing additional dilution factor resolves the problem. Finally, ten principal radionuclides were identified and shown to be enough for liquid effluent control at APR 1400 from a risk-informed point of view.     

高效液相色谱-质谱联用法测定薏苡仁药材中黄曲霉毒素

目的建立高效液相色谱-质谱联用法(high performance liquid chromatography-masss pectrometer,HPLC-MS)测定薏苡仁中药饮片中黄曲霉毒素B_1、B_2、G_1、G_2的方法,并对比不同产地薏苡仁中黄曲霉毒素含量。方法样品经过免疫亲合柱处理后,采用HPLC-MS进行测定。分析柱为C18柱(50 mm×2.1 mm, 1.8μm),流动相为10 mmol/L醋酸铵溶液-甲醇溶液,梯度洗脱,流速为0.3 mL/min,柱温为25℃。结果黄曲霉毒素B_1在0.26～10.4ng/mL浓度范围内与峰面积值均呈现良好的线性关系(r~2=0.9995),平均加样回收率为75.4%～123.9%,黄曲霉毒素B2在0.0875～3.5 ng/mL浓度范围内与峰面积值均呈现良好的线性关系(r~2=0.9996),平均加样回收率为71.1%～124.2%,黄曲霉毒素G_1在0.295～11.89 ng/mL浓度范围内与峰面积值均呈现良好的线性关系(r~2=0.9995),平均加样回收率为78.9%～112.2%,黄曲霉毒素G2在0.1475～5.9 ng/mL浓度范围内与峰面积值均呈现良好的线性关系(r~2=0.9992),平均加样回收率为73.8%～123.9%。结论该方法准确、可靠、专属性强,通过精确化合物离子监测,可准确的测定薏苡仁中黄曲霉毒素含量。     

Modeling of Slug Velocity and Pressure Drop in Gas‐Liquid‐Liquid Slug Flow

Gas‐liquid‐liquid slug flow in a capillary reactor is a promising new concept that allows one to incorporate gas‐liquid reaction, liquid‐liquid extraction, and facile catalyst separation in a single unit. In order to assess the performance of a gas‐liquid‐liquid slug flow reactor, it is necessary to predict the slug velocity and pressure drop to ascertain residence times and reaction rates. New empirical models for velocity and pressure drop were developed based on existing models for two‐phase gas‐liquid and liquid‐liquid slug flows, and these were validated experimentally.     

Microstructured Fischer‐Tropsch Reactor Scale‐up and Opportunities for Decentralized Application

Current projects focusing on the energy transition in traffic will rely on a high‐level technology mix for their commissioning. One of those technologies is the Fischer‐Tropsch synthesis (FTS) that converts synthesis gas into hydrocarbons of different chain lengths. A microstructured packed‐bed reactor for low‐temperature FTS is tested towards its versatility for biomass‐based syngas with a high inert gas dilution. Investigations include overall productivity, conversion, and product selectivity. A 60‐times larger pilot‐scale reactor is further tested. Evaporation cooling is introduced which allows to increase the available energy extraction from the system. From that scale on, an autothermal operation at elevated conversion levels is applicable.