Towards sensible toxicity testing for nanomaterials: proposal for the specification of test design

During the last decade, nanomaterials (NM) were extensively tested for potential harmful effects towards humans and environmental organisms. However, a sound hazard assessment was so far hampered by uncertainties and a low comparability of test results. The reason for the low comparability is a high variation in the (1) type of NM tested with regard to raw material, size and shape and (2) procedures before and during the toxicity testing. This calls for tailored, nanomaterial-specific protocols. Here, a structured approach is proposed, intended to lead to test protocols not only tailored to specific types of nanomaterials, but also to respective test system for toxicity testing. There are existing standards on single procedures involving nanomaterials, however, not all relevant procedures are covered by standards. Hence, our approach offers a detailed way of weighting several plausible alternatives for e.g. sample preparation, in order to decide on the procedure most meaningful for a specific nanomaterial and toxicity test. A framework of several decision trees (DT) and flow charts to support testing of NM is proposed as a basis for further refinement and in-depth elaboration. DT and flow charts were drafted for (1) general procedure—physicochemical characterisation, (2) choice of test media, (3) decision on test scenario and application of NM to liquid media, (4) application of NM to the gas phase, (5) application of NM to soil and sediments, (6) dose metrics, (S1) definition of a nanomaterial, and (S2) dissolution. The applicability of the proposed approach was surveyed by using experimental data retrieved from studies on nanoscale CuO. This survey demonstrated the DT and flow charts to be a convenient tool to systematically decide upon test procedures and processes, and hence pose an important step towards harmonisation of NM testing.     

费托蜡催化裂化反应生产清洁汽油的热力学分析

费托蜡主要由链烷烃组成，不含硫、氮等杂原子，是生产清洁汽油的优质原料。由于缺少芳烃和环烷烃，费托蜡催化裂化过程需要强化异构化、芳构化反应以实现降低汽油馏分烯烃含量、保持高辛烷值的目标。对费托蜡为原料的催化裂化反应体系进行热力学分析，重点计算了不同温度下生成汽油馏分主要烃类的反应焓变和反应平衡常数。研究结果表明，以大分子链烷烃为主的费托蜡，其裂化吸热反应焓变约为80 kJ/mol，反应平衡常数随温度的升高而增大，高温有利于一次裂化反应。对于异构化反应，主要是大分子链烷烃裂化为烯烃，再由烯烃分子转化为异构烷烃，因此对于异构化反应，可以通过优化反应器促进汽油烯烃的转化。在考察温度范围内，烯烃环化反应平衡常数随温度升高而减小，环烷烃脱氢芳构化反应平衡常数随温度升高而增大，所以适宜的反应温度是制约进一步增加汽油中芳烃的重要因素。     

典型实验房间空调气流组织监测方案设计研究

有效地通风和合理的气流组织对于改善室内空气品质,控制室内污染物浓度,对实现健康建筑、舒适性空调有着重要的意义。室内空调气流组织方式多种多样,对其效果的研究也很多,但是多集中在理论分析,而对气流组织效果的监测方面的研究较少,且监测方法没有一个完成的体系。首先对空调气流组织现场监测和评价方法进行分析,得知现场检测方法多以工程标准,只是对室内气流组织的应用效果进行评价,并不能完全反映气流组织的轨迹特征。其次,为了更好的反映不同时刻空调气流组织的特征,建立气流组织的监测方法,以5m×3m×2.8m的一个典型实验房间为例,利用计算模拟方法,分析不同气流组织形式下温度、风速等衰减特征,为室内气流组织现场智能监测测点布置提供依据。     

SBA-15固载磷钨酸催化剂的制备及催化合成叔丁基苯酚

以不同硅烷偶联剂改性的介孔分子筛SBA-15为载体、PW_(12)为催化剂,通过对SBA-15表面共价及非共价修饰制备磷钨酸@介孔分子筛/硅烷偶联剂复合催化剂PW_(12)@SBA-15/YSiX_3(YSiX_3=Apts、Atapts、Papts);并利用FT-IR、XRD、TEM、N_2吸附-脱附对其组成、结构及形貌进行表征。以改性SBA-15分子筛固载磷钨酸催化剂催化合成叔丁基苯酚为研究对象,考察不同硅烷偶联剂、反应温度、苯酚与叔丁醇物质的量比对催化合成叔丁基苯酚的影响,并获得合成叔丁基苯酚的最佳工艺条件,即反应温度145℃、n(苯酚)∶n(叔丁醇)=1∶2.5、重时空速2.2 h~(-1),该最佳反应条件下,PW_(12)@SBA-15/Apts催化剂催化合成叔丁基苯酚的催化活性最高,苯酚转化率为98.3%,2,4-二叔丁基苯酚选择性为57.3%.     

Densification mechanisms and microstructural evolution during spark plasma sintering of boron carbide powders

Micron-sized boron carbide (B₄C) powders were subjected to spark plasma sintering (SPS) under temperature ranging from 1700 °C to 2100 °C for a soaking time of 5, 10 and 20 min and their densification kinetics was determined using a creep deformation model. The densification mechanism was interpreted on the basis of the stress exponent n and the apparent activation energy Q_d from Harrenius plots. Results showed that within the temperature range 1700–2000 °C, creep deformation which was controlled by grain-boundary sliding or by interface reaction contributed to the densification mechanism at low effective stress regime (n = 2,Q_d = 459.36 kJ/mol). While at temperature higher than 2000 °C or at high stress regime, the dominant mechanism appears to be the dislocation climb (n = 6.11).     

Porous (SiCw-Si3N4w)/(Si3N4-SiC) composite with enhanced mechanical performance fabricated by 3D printing

SiC whisker and Si₃N₄ whisker-reinforced Si₃N₄-SiC ((SiC_w-Si₃N_4w)/(Si₃N₄-SiC)) composite was synthesized by 3D printing for the first time, by the combination of printed-Si-body nitridation and chemical vapor infiltration-SiC methods. The mechanical properties of the composite could be optimized through the adjustment of SiC_w content and load direction. A SiC_w content of 3?wt% was found to be the optimal scheme, and accordingly, the average bulk density increased by 22.4%, the bending strength increased by 63.6%, the compressive strength parallel to the printing layer increased by 404.8%, and the compressive strength perpendicular to the printing layer increased by 157.1%, compared with the bulks without whiskers. The enhanced mechanical performance was mainly attributed to the process of densification by CVI, and the effect of the homogeneous whiskers bridging, pull-out and deflecting crack to expend energy. The achieved indices meet the requirements for 3D-printed porous ceramic matrix composite targeted for commercial and military field applications.