Simulation and exploration of cavitation process during microalgae oil extracting with ultrasonic-assisted for hydrogen production

Microalgae is promising to be used as feedstock resources for hydrogen production due to its high oil and grease contents. This promotes the development of extraction technology of microalgae oil. In this study, based on the Rayleigh-Plesset equation, the effects of temperature, pressure, ultrasonic power and frequency on the bubble motion of ethanol ultrasound cavitation are investigated. Subsequently, the effects of different process parameters on the extraction rate are studied using Schizochytrium sp. as raw material by stirring or ultrasonic-assisted extraction. And the composition of algae extraction oil is analyzed. The results show that the amplitude of cavitation bubbles increases with the increase of ultrasonic power and decrease of ultrasonic frequency. The extraction rate of algae oil reaches 93.76 ± 0.48% when the ultrasonic power is 150 W, the reaction time is 30 min, the temperature is 50 °C and the liquid-solid ratio is 10:1.     

Contributions of oxygen vacancies to the hydrogen evolution catalytic activity of tungsten oxides

The tungsten trioxide attracts less attention due to the low electron transfer kinetics that hinders the interaction of electrons and ions during the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). But the oxygen vacancy strategy can inspire its electrocatalytic activity for HER because it has a positive effect on improving the charge transfer and compensating for the weak hydrogen adsorption of the tungsten trioxide. By synthesizing a series of substoichiometric tungsten oxides, we reveal the linear relationship between the catalytic activity and the content of oxygen vacancies, which indicates that the oxygen vacancy strategy is an achievable route to enhance the HER for metal oxides.     

Promoted electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance by constructing Ni12P5–Ni2P heterointerfaces

Transition metal phosphides (TMPs) have been considered as cheap alternatives of precious metal platinum for electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). In the past decades, many reports have indicated that the engineering of heterointerfaces between different components could efficiently enhance the activity of HER catalysts. Here, we report a facile method to construct Ni₁₂P₅–Ni₂P heterostructure by using a low temperature phosphorization strategy. The obtained Ni₁₂P₅–Ni₂P heterostructure shows high activity toward HER with an overpotential value of 166 mV at 10 mA cm^?2 and a Tafel slope of 60 mV dec^?1 in 0.5 M H₂SO₄. Compared with pure Ni₂P and Ni₁₂P₅, the Ni₁₂P₅–Ni₂P heterostructure has more active sites and faster HER kinetics due to the presence of the interfaces between Ni₁₂P₅ and Ni₂P. Furthermore, we used the obtained Ni₁₂P₅–Ni₂P as cathodic catalyst and IrO₂/Ti as anodic material to set up a proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer which shows good stability after 120 h continuous constant current electrolysis at 200 mA cm^?2. This work demonstrates the positive effect of heterostructure for HER catalysts and provides a feasible strategy for constructing earth-abundant electrocatalysts.     

Hydrogen storage properties of Zr2Co crystalline and amorphous alloys

To further explore the application feasibility of Zr₂Co alloy in tritium-related fields, hydrogenation/dehydrogenation properties of this material of crystalline or amorphous structure, prepared by arc melting or melt spinning, were studied by pressure-composition temperature measurement, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimeter, thermal desorption spectroscopy. It was found that the two kinds of Zr₂Co alloys can absorb hydrogen in a close full concentration of ~9 mmol/g, and may have similar equilibrium hydrogen pressure in the order of 10^?6 Pa at room temperature. In their hydrogenated samples various hydrides were observed to form, including ZrH₂, Zr₂CoH₅, ZrCoH₃ and an amorphous one with gradually decreasing general thermostability. The amorphous alloy exhibited easier hydrogen induced disproportionation caused by highly stable ZrH₂ and much slower hydrogen absorption kinetics. This disproportionation behavior of the crystalline alloy was found to be entirely suppressed by changing heating process. The results firmly indicate that crystalline Zr₂Co alloy could be more favorable for tritium treatment due to very low equilibrium pressure and the feasibility of eliminating the disproportionation.     

Investigation of alkaline complexant on ethanol synthesis from syngas over slurry CuZnAlOOH catalyst

A series of alkaline complexants promoted slurry CuZnAlOOH catalysts were prepared by a complete liquid-phase method. These catalysts were applied in a slurry bed reactor to selectively convert syngas into ethanol and higher alcohols (HAs). Herein, we showed that the addition of alkaline complexant remarkably enhanced both CO conversion and selectivity toward to ethanol and HAs in terms of ternary CuZnAlOOH catalyst. Besides, the formation of dimethyl ether (DME) was significantly suppressed. Interestingly, different from the traditional alkalis modified copper-based catalysts, these catalysts promoted by alkaline complexants mainly increased selectivity for ethanol, while not isobutanol. It also reduced the deactivation rate of the catalysts. These catalysts were comprehensively characterized by XRD, H₂-TPR, NH₃-TPD-MS, N₂ adsorption, FT-IR, XPS and TEM techniques. It was found that the increase of ethanol selectivity was related to the decrease of catalyst surface acidity, while the decrease of surface Cu⁺/(Cu⁰+Cu⁺) was regarded to the main reason for the catalysts deactivation. This paper showed that the introduction of alkaline complexants into Cu-based catalysts exhibited the potentiality to improve the stability and the yield of ethanol in a slurry bed reactor.     

Effects of salt-induced changes in protein network structure on the properties of surimi gels: computer simulation and digestion study

Surimi is considered a new base ingredient in special dietary foods because of its excellent gel formation properties and nutritional value. Cross-linked network structures are the basis for the formation of protein hydrogels. In this work, protein network structure induced by NaCl was investigated to evaluate its effects on texture property and digestibility of surimi gels. Micro-protein frameworks were investigated by scanning electron microscope combined with computer simulation, which indicated that the network structure became fine and smooth as a result of salt treatment. The digestibility of surimi with NaCl was higher than that of blank samples in simulated gastric juice in first 30 min, whereas the digestibility showed no significant difference (P = 0.257) in intestinal juice after 180 min. This work aids in understanding of the contribution of salt to the mechanism of surimi gels formation, and its effects on digestion, thus supporting potential applications in special dietary food.     

CO2 sequestration in depleted methane hydrate deposits with excess water

The recent increase in atmospheric CO₂ concentration makes it necessary to investigate new ways to reduce CO₂ emissions. Simultaneously, natural gas hydrate mining technology is developing rapidly. The use of depleted methane hydrate (MH) deposits as potential sites for CO₂ storage is relatively safe and economical. This method can alleviate the shortage of hydrate displacement gas with CO₂. The purpose of this study was to investigate CO₂ hydrate formation characteristics during the seepage process—in reservoirs with excess water—and their effect on CO₂ storage. The experimental process can be divided into 5 parts: MH formation, water injection, MH dissociation, CO₂ hydrate formation, and CO₂ hydrate dissociation. Magnetic resonance imaging was employed to monitor the distribution of liquid water, and the effects of different parameters on the formation and dissociation of CO₂ hydrates were analyzed. It was found that a state of initial water saturation can effectively control hydrate saturation in artificial MH reservoirs for hydrate reservoirs with excess gas. In the process of CO₂ flow, initial water saturation was not the main controlling factor for CO₂ hydrate formation. Increasing the flow pressure and reducing the flow rate were beneficial for CO₂ hydrate formation. This study is of great significance for advancing the science of CO₂ geological storage in the form of deep‐sea hydrates.     

耐事故UO2基复合燃料芯块的研发进展

对先进耐事故燃料（ATF）芯块的研发背景进行了概述，重点讨论了耐事故UO₂基复合燃料芯块的国内外研究现状，认为UN、U₃Si₂和ThO₂等燃料相是耐事故UO₂基复合燃料芯块中最具发展潜力的掺杂相，然而其最佳添加量及分布状态尚需结合多尺度数值模拟和实验研究的方法开展深入探索。