Research on the reverse flotation of kaolinite from fine coal on basis of adsorption behavior

The strong hydrophilic properties of both sub-bituminous coal and kaolinite make it difficult to separate by direct flotation. In this paper, the removal of kaolinite from fine sub-bituminous coal was investigated by reverse flotation tests using N, N-dimethyl dodecyl amine (DRN₁₂) as a kaolinite collector. In addition, the adsorption behavior of DRN₁₂ on coal and kaolinite surfaces was also studied to explore its interaction mechanism The experimental results showed that the beneficiation of kaolinite from the raw coal was effective only in the acid pulp with DRN₁₂ less than 1.5kg/t. Moreover, in acid solutions, DRN₁₂ preferentially adsorbs on kaolinite surface by electrostatic force, and the adsorption capacity of DRN₁₂ on kaolinite surface was much higher than on coal, which caused an increase of kaolinite hydrophobicity and floatability.     

What are the potential strategies to achieve potentially more healthful meat products?

In recent years, much attention has been paid to the consumption of meat and processed meat, and their relationship with a healthy diet. This review provides an overview of the potential strategies, which can be used to provide the implications for producing healthy, wholesome and consistently high-quality meat products. Genetic selection, nutrition and feeding management, and gene manipulation techniques have been used as the main strategies to induce beneficial changes in meat and meat composition. Besides, the incorporation of ingredients that play a technological role and are potentially health-enhancing, such as fibre, fat substitutes, natural antioxidants and the reduction of sodium and nitrites, has a high potential in the development of healthier meat products. In this review, we have observed that many strategies have been successfully used to obtain products with low fat, reduced sodium and nitrite content, low cholesterol and absence of synthetic antioxidants. Another point to be highlighted is that some of these strategies also allow obtaining products with positive health effects that can be potential alternatives to improve consumer acceptance.     

Encapsulation and characterisation of grape seed proanthocyanidin extract using sodium alginate and different cellulose derivatives

Grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) has health benefits. However, these phenolic compounds undergo degradation reactions and have undesirable sensorial characteristics. GSPE was encapsulated using sodium alginate (SA), SA-methyl cellulose (MC) and SA-hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) for promoting controlled release, pH stability, temperature and storage period tolerance of GSPE. The microcapsules were characterised using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) analysis. The SA-MC and SA-HPMC microcapsules appeared to have a more compact surface than SA-alone microcapsules. FTIR analysis indicated successful immobilisation of GSPE into the polymeric microcapsules. Moreover, the SA-MC and SA-HPMC microcapsules showed higher thermal stability. The microcapsules showed a relatively higher amount of released GSPE at a pH above six than at a lower pH. The SA-MC and SA-HPMC microcapsules could be used to retain more GSPE content in the gastric phase and to release it in the intestinal phase for possible absorption. Furthermore, after 28 days of storage at 25 °C, the GSPE retention rate of the microcapsules was still higher than 80%. GSPE encapsulated in SA-MC and SA-HPMC microcapsules results in lesser degradation and can be absorbed more effectively. This method has potential for the delivery of colon-specific materials while exhibiting a sustained-release characteristic.     

Hot corrosion of TBC-coated components upon combustion of low-sulfur fuels

Gas turbine reliability is a crucial requirement for passenger safety in aviation and a secure energy supply. Hence, corrosive degradation of combustor parts, vanes, and blades in gas turbines must be prevented. One of the most severe forms of corrosion is alkali-sulfate-induced hot corrosion, which is associated with internal sulfidation of components and is usually anticipated to fade in importance in the absence of sulfur. However, the literature suggests that hot corrosion might still occur in low-sulfur combustion gases. In this study, established thermodynamic modeling methods are used to analyze the low-sulfur hot corrosion regime. Liquid sodium chromate is found to be stable in these conditions. A comparison of calculation results and engine findings suggests that high alkali levels can negatively impact thermal barrier coating life even if sulfur is absent in the fuel. Laboratory tests are carried out to validate the chromate formation on MCrAlY-coated specimens. It is shown that molten sodium chromate can alter the oxidation behavior of MCrAlY, promoting the formation of voluminous spinel. This represents a new and different form of hot corrosion compared to type I hot corrosion.     

粗碲粉加压氧化浸出工艺研究

针对上游工序发生改变，研究了采用加压氧化浸出工艺处理粗碲粉。采用单因素试验考察了液固比、游离碱度、反应压力、反应温度、反应时间对浸出效果的影响，确定最佳工艺条件为：液固比10，游离碱浓度40g/L，反应压力0.8MPa，反应温度75℃，氧化时间2h。试验结果表明碲的浸出率可达95.45％，金银富集在20倍以上。     

铋掺杂对铌酸钾钠无铅压电陶瓷结构和性能的影响

用常压烧结法制备铋掺杂铌酸钾钠无铅压电陶瓷(K0.5Na0.5)1-3xBixNbO3(KNBN)。研究不同铋掺杂量对KNN陶瓷结构、形貌、致密度及电学性能的影响。结果表明:在1 120℃烧结的含铋量为1%(摩尔分数)的陶瓷表现出最好的铁电和压电性能及较好的介电性能,即压电常数最大121pC/N,P-E回线形状达到饱和,且剩余极化为12.67μC/cm2,矫顽场Ec为13.58kV/cm,介电常数为575,损耗为5.82%(频率为1kHz)。陶瓷样品在131℃从正交结构转变到四方结构,Curie温度为400℃。     

Role of activated carbon on micropollutans degradation by ionizing radiation

The objective of this study was to analyze the influence of the presence of activated carbon on the degradation of the triiodinated contrast medium diatrizoate (DTZ) by the simultaneous use of gamma radiation and activated carbon. Four commercial activated carbons (Ceca, Witco, Sorbo, and Merck) with different textural and chemical characteristics were used for this purpose. The percentage DTZ removal obtained was considerably higher with the gamma radiation/activated carbon (GM/AC) system than with radiolysis in the absence of activated carbon, and it depended on the specific activated carbon employed. First, we optimized the amount of activated carbon required to maximize the amount of DTZ removed by the GM/AC system (0.06 g). The degradation constants were higher with the GM/AC system than with radiolysis alone, evidencing a synergic effect that favors pollutant removal. This synergic effect is independent of the textural but not the chemical characteristics of the activated carbon, observing a higher synergic activity for carbons with a higher surface content of oxygen, specifically quinone groups. We also highlight that the synergic effect of the activated carbon requires adsorbent–adsorbate electrostatic interaction and is absent when this interaction is hindered.     

Carbon nanotube–polyaniline composites

The last decade has seen a growing interest in hybrid electrically conducting nanocomposites. This article aims to provide a detailed overview of the present status of research in carbon nanotube–polyaniline (CNT/PANI) composites, from processing to structural and property evaluations. CNT/PANI are synthesized by electrochemical and chemical processing. When chemical methods are used, the main challenge is to obtain processable CNT/PANI in the emeraldine salt (ES) form composites. Stable dispersions of ES–CNT in organic media are prepared using the post doping method, inverse emulsion polymerization, or ex situ polymerizations. On the contrary, stable water dispersions of CNT/ES are prepared using hydrophilization of a preformed CNT/ES composite, direct synthesis of micelle–CNT hybrid templates, interfacial polymerization, covalent functionalization of CNT with a water soluble polymer, or using electrostatic interactions between two oppositely charged ES and CNT aqueous colloids. Moreover, the strategies for the synthesis of ternary CNT/PANI composites incorporating noble metal nanoparticles, metal oxide, or graphene sheets are also presented and analyzed in depth. Finally, we give a review of potential applications, including chemical sensors, capacitors, fuel cells and electronic devices.     

Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP): A versatile and forceful tool for functional membranes

The progress in atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) provides an effective means for the design and preparation of functional membranes. Polymeric membranes with different macromolecular architectures applied in fuel cells, including block and graft copolymers are conveniently prepared via ATRP. Moreover, ATRP has also been widely used to introduce functionality onto the membrane surface to enhance its use in specific applications, such as antifouling, stimuli-responsive, adsorption function and pervaporation. In this review, the recent design and synthesis of advanced functional membranes via the ATRP technique are discussed in detail and their especial advantages are highlighted by selected examples extract the principles for preparation or modification of membranes using the ATRP methodology.     

Efficient loading and entrapment of tamoxifen in human serum albumin based nanoparticulate delivery system by a modified desolvation technique

Herein, the poorly water-soluble drug, Tamoxifen (Tmx), was loaded in the amphipathic matrix of human serum albumin (HSA) nanoparticles by a modified desolvation method. In order to enhance the drug loading (DL) and drug entrapment efficiency (DEE) (<2% and 10%, respectively), ultrasonication of Tmx-HSA mixture was performed prior to desolvation process. Tmx loading and entrapment efficiency were optimized by employment of the response surface methodology (RSM)-central composite design (CCD) of experiments. Under the optimum conditions of 1.59 mg Tmx/ml concentration, 7.76 pH and 5 h incubation of HSA-Tmx, the DL of 6.7% and DEE of 74% are achievable. Particles with the average size of 195 nm, zeta potential of −21 mV and polydispersity index of 0.09 were produced under these conditions. A more sustained Tmx release behavior was observed from polyethylene glycol (PEG) conjugated nanoparticles in comparison to the non-PEGylated ones. The short-term stability investigation showed no alteration in physicochemical properties of nanoparticles at 4 and 37 °C, but small increase in nanoparticles size was observed after three months of storage at room temperature. This is the first report for efficient production of a Tmx delivery system based on HSA nanoparticles.