Intensification of Freeze-Drying Rate of Bacillus subtilis MTCC 2396 Using Tungsten Halogen Radiation: Optimization of Moisture Content and α-Amylase Activity

A novel freeze-drying protocol has been explored to render fast and cost-effective freeze drying of hyperamylase producing Bacillus subtilis MTCC2396 employing a tungsten halogen lamp radiator (THLR) as a heat source. Response surface methodology assessed the maximum reduction in moisture content (96.07%) and minimum reduction in α-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1) activity (1.02%) in 4 h drying time at 42.5°C radiation temperature. α-amylase activity (0.046 U) and final moisture content (3.93%) of the optimally freeze-dried bacterial strain appeared satisfactory. The freeze-drying time using THLR (4 h) is remarkably lower compared to that under a conventional conductive plate heater (CPH) (10 h) at otherwise identical conditions. The higher effective moisture diffusivity of 0.0052 to 0.0078 m ²/s under THLR compared to 0.00084 to 0.0015 m ²/s under CPH (corresponding to 20–50°C) advocated the superiority of the THLR heating protocol. The higher efficacy of THLR was also evidenced through lower activation energy (8.42 kJ/mol) of moisture diffusion compared to that (12.051 kJ/mol) of CPH. The optimally freeze-dried bacteria demonstrated the same growth rate in addition to exhibiting excellent retention of bioremedial (Hg²⁺ removal) activity to that of the control.     

Core-shell structure of polypyrrole grown on W18O49 nanorods for high performance gas sensor operating at room temperature

In this work, uniform core-shell structure of polypyrrole wrapped on tungsten oxide nanorods (PPy@W₁₈O₄₉ core-shell nanorods) were synthesized via a two-step process for gas-sensing applications. The core-nanorods of W₁₈O₄₉ were first grown by solvothermal method with tungsten hexachloride (WCl₆) as precursor. The PPy-shell layer was then formed uniformly on the solvothermally synthesized W₁₈O₄₉ nanorods by in-situ chemical polymerization of pyrrole monomer (Py), with sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid (DBSA) as dopant and ammonium persulfate (APS) as oxidant. High dispersion of Py achieving in ethanol is proved to be crucial to form the uniform PPy-shell layer, and the layer thickness of PPy-shell is highly controlled by adjusting the Py concentration in polymeric solution. The morphology and structure of the nanocomposite were characterized systematically; it shows that the composite exhibits perfect core-shell structure of one-dimensional (1D) nanorods with average diameter of around 70–90 nm. The NH₃-sensing properties of the sensors based on the PPy@W₁₈O₄₉ core-shell nanorods were investigated at operating temperature of 15–130 °C over NH₃ concentration ranging from 1 to 200 ppm. The response magnitude of the PPy@W₁₈O₄₉ sensor can be affected seriously by temperature fluctuation, even in room temperature range (15–30 °C), and meanwhile, a temperature-dependent p-n response characteristic reversal is observed for the heteronanorods sensor. At much low room temperature of 15 °C, the present PPy@W₁₈O₄₉ nanorods show quick and sensitive response to NH₃ gas mainly due to the ultrathin, uniform PPy shell and the special heterojunction effect between p-type PPy and n-type W₁₈O₄₉. The underlying gas-sensing mechanism is analyzed.     

Improvement of fermentative biohydrogen production by Clostridium butyricum CWBI1009 in sequenced-batch,horizontal fixed bed and biodisc-like anaerobic reactors with biomass retention

A horizontal tubular fixed bed bioreactor (HFBR) and an anaerobic biodisc-like reactor (AnBDR) were designed to both fix Clostridium biomass and enable rapid transfer of the hydrogen produced to gas phase in order to decrease the strong effect of H₂ partial pressure and H₂ supersaturation on the performances of Clostridium strains. The highest H₂ production rate (703 mL H₂/L h) and yield (302 mL/g glucose consumed i.e. 2.4 mol/mol) with the pure culture were recorded in the AnBDR with 300 mL culture medium (total volume 2.3 L) at pH 5.2 and a glucose loading rate of 2.87 g/L h. These results are about 2.3 and 1.3-fold higher than those achieved in the same bioreactor with 500 mL liquid medium and with the same glucose consumption rate. Therefore, our experimentations and a short review of the literature reported in this paper emphasize the relevance of performing bioreactors with high L/G transfer.     

Study on removing Mo from tungstate solution using coprecipitation adsorption method based on novel Mo sulphidation process

Abstract

A coprecipitation–adsorption method based on a novel Mo sulphidation process is proposed for deep removal of molybdenum from tungstate solutions. First, a new sulphur source, P₂S₅, is used to provide HS^? for the Mo sulphidation process. The MoO₄^2? can be thoroughly converted into MoS₄^2? while tungsten still exists as WO₄^2?. Next, in the sodium tungstate solution, 99·4% of MoS₄^2? is removed with precipitated ‘nascent’ CuS under 6 h reaction at 30°C when the molar ratio Cu/Mo is 3. Similarly, in a commercial (NH₄)₂WO₄ solution, by controlling the molar ratio Cu/Mo at 6, 98·4% of MoS₄^2? is removed after 1 h at 30°C. Subsequently, phosphorus introduced during Mo sulphidation is removed using the magnesium ammonium phosphate method allowing the ammonium paratungstate to reach the GB 10116-88 APT-0 standard.

On propose une méthode de co-précipitation et adsorption basée sur un nouveau procédé de sulfuration du Mo pour l’enlèvement en profondeur du molybdène de solutions de tungstate. Premièrement, on utilise une nouvelle source de soufre, P₂S₅, pour obtenir le HS^? pour le procédé de sulfuration du Mo. Le MoO₄^2? est entièrement converti en MoS₄^2? alors que le tungstène existe encore sous la forme de WO₄^2?. Ensuite, 99·4% du MoS₄^2? est enlevé de la solution de tungstate de sodium avec le CuS ‘naissant’ précipité, en moins de 6 heures de réaction à 30°C lorsque le rapport molaire de Cu/Mo est de 3. De façon similaire, 98·4% du MoS₄^2? est enlevé d’une solution commerciale de (NH₄)₂WO₄, après une heure à 30°C, en contrôlant à une valeur de 6 le rapport molaire de Cu/Mo. Subséquemment, le phosphore introduit lors de la sulfuration du Mo est enlevé en utilisant la méthode du phosphate ammoniaco-magnésien, permettant ainsi au paratungstate d’ammonium d’atteindre la norme GB de 10116-88 APT-0.     

Effect of annealing atmosphere on the structure and dielectric properties of unfilled tungsten bronze ceramics Ba4PrFe0.5Nb9.5O30

Unfilled tungsten bronze ceramics with the nominal formula Ba₄PrFe_0.5Nb_9.5O₃₀ were synthesized via the standard solid-state sintering route, and the effects of oxygen vacancies on the dielectric and electrical properties were investigated in addition to the structure. Room-temperature X-ray diffraction showed that the N₂-annealed sample had the largest cell volume. Low-temperature spectrum showed that N₂ annealing rendered the dielectric constant and dielectric loss more frequency dispersive, whereas O₂ annealing inhibited the frequency dispersion. The dc conductivity of all the samples originated from the electrons produced in the second ionization of oxygen vacancies and was most likely controlled by a mixed conduction mechanism of the electron and oxygen-vacancy ions. The N₂-annealed sample has the highest dc conductivity owing to its high concentration of oxygen vacancies. The broadening of the Raman lines and the decrease of Raman intensity for the N₂-annealed sample originated from a significant structural disorder. X-ray photoelectron spectra demonstrated that the increased oxygen vacancies caused by the change of valences of Fe and Pr ions contributed to the structural disorder.     

纯工质水平管内凝结换热研究进展

相对于混合工质,纯工质(单一成分制冷剂)不存在温度滑移、系统泄漏时的成分变化等问题,在制冷设备中得到了广泛应用.研究纯工质水平管内凝结换热特性对其及其混合物在制冷、空调、热泵方面的应用具有重要意义.文章从理论和实验两个方面,综述了国外对纯工质在水平管内流动凝结换热的研究,分析了凝结换热关联式的适用性和局限性,并提出了进一步研究的建议.     

半连续轧制纯镍线棒材的宽展分析

本文主要通过介绍金属轧制宽展构成及影响宽展的因素,利用典型宽展计算基本方法和参数,对纯镍盘圆半连续孔型轧制过程中椭圆一圆孔型系的宽展实际生产情况进行分析,并对轧制孔型设计优化。     

广东棉土窝钨矿深部探矿方向探讨

棉土窝钨矿是一个开采了50多年的老矿山,保有储量仅5年左右,属资源危机矿山。笔者从成矿规律、以往探矿经验等方面分析,认为该矿西南部的深部有寻找隐伏矿脉的潜力。     

江西大吉山钨矿容矿裂隙演化及与成矿关系探讨

大吉山钨矿是我国规模最大的石英脉型黑钨矿床之一。矿区发育东西、北东、北北东、北西西四组断裂,北东向断裂为矿区主要控岩控矿构造,北东向主干断裂与北西西容矿裂隙构成矿区楼梯状构造格架。北西西向容矿裂隙是区域构造应力场演化与燕山期岩浆上侵顶托耦合的结果。     

小独山西钨金矿矿石矿物特征及其成矿阶段的划分

本文在研究小独山西钨金矿矿石矿物特征的基础上对该区成矿阶段进行了较为详细的划分,该矿床共分为两个成矿期,五个成矿阶段,并指出热液成矿期的第Ⅱ成矿阶段-白云母石英阶段是该区的主要成矿阶段。在今后的工作中加强对该阶段特征的研究,以指导本矿床的找矿工作。