Thin-film composite forward osmosis membranes with substrate layer composed of polysulfone blended with PEG or polysulfone grafted PEG methyl ether methacrylate

To advance commercial application of forward osmosis (FO), we investigated the effects of two additives on the performance of polysulfone (PSf) based FO membranes: one is poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), and another is PSf grafted with PEG methyl ether methacrylate (PSf-g-PEGMA). PSf blended with PEG or PSf-g-PEGMA was used to form a substrate layer, and then polyamide was formed on a support layer by interfacial polymerization. In this study, NaCl (1 mol?L^–1) and deionized water were used as the draw solution and the feed solution, respectively. With the increase of PEG content from 0 to 15 wt-%, FO water flux declined by 23.4% to 59.3% compared to a PSf TFC FO membrane. With the increase of PSf-g-PEGMA from 0 to 15 wt-%, the membrane flux showed almost no change at first and then declined by about 52.0% and 50.4%. The PSf with 5 wt-% PSf-g-PEGMA FO membrane showed a higher pure water flux of 8.74 L?m^–2?h^–1 than the commercial HTI membranes (6–8 L?m^–2?h^–1) under the FO mode. Our study suggests that hydrophobic interface is very important for the formation of polyamide, and a small amount of PSfg-PEGMA can maintain a good condition for the formation of polyamide and reduce internal concentration polarization.

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Experiencing visual impairment in a lifetime home: an interpretative phenomenological inquiry

Lifetime home standards (LTHS) are a set of standards aimed at making homes more accessible. Previous research, however, indicates that LTHS do not adequately meet the needs of those with sensory impairments. Now, with visual impairment set to increase globally and acknowledging the recognised link between quality of dwelling and wellbeing, this article aims to examine the experiences of visually impaired people living in lifetime homes. The objectives are to investigate existing lifetime homes and to identify whether LTHS meet occupants’ needs. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were carried out with six visually impaired people living in homes designed to LTHS in Northern Ireland. Collected data was analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis identifying three super-ordinate themes: (1) living with visual impairment; (2) design considerations and (3) coping strategies. A core theme of balance between psychological and physical needs emerged through interconnection of super-ordinate themes. Although there are benefits to living in lifetime homes, negative aspects are also apparent with occupants employing several coping strategies to overcome difficulties. Whilst residents experience negative emotions following visual impairment diagnoses, results suggest that occupants still regard their homes as key places of security and comfort in addition to then highlighting the need for greater consideration of specific individual needs within general guidelines.     

The Impact of Uncertainty Factors on Optimal Sizing and Costs of Low-Impact Development: a Case Study from Beijing,China

The facility allocation optimization of Low-impact development (LID) optimization has been used widely to prevent and tackle urban storm water pollution. However, uncertainties existing in nature and human society would influence the size and total cost of LID. To study the influence of the uncertainties on LID optimization allocation, the research develops the model of LID optimization allocation under uncertainty. The principle of the model is establishing primarily the LID optimization model based on certain numbers and identifying the uncertainties. Hence, the model integrates the uncertainty programming, including interval programming, fuzzy programming, stochastic programming, chance constraint programming (CCP) and scenario programming. The model of LID optimization allocation under uncertainty is established with the conditions. The developed uncertainty model tackles multiple types of uncertainties, and the results of the model are in the interval form in multiple scenarios. The model analyses the effects of uncertainties on the size and total cost of LID in this way. The study shows that the uncertainties in rainfall, infiltration rate, release coefficient, funds and unit price all have a significant influence on the size and total cost of LID when these uncertainty factors overlay. A higher violation probability of CCP corresponding to LID sizing results to a wider interval number of the corresponding uncertainty. The developed method of the study is universal, and the method could be extended to other cases of LID optimization allocation to speculate the influence of uncertainties.     

Spectrophotometric determination of trace nitrite with a novel self-coupling diazotizing reagent: J-Acid

A simple and sensitive method for the spectrophotometric determination of nitrite was described and optimum reaction conditions along with other important analytical parameters were established. In the presence of potassium bromide at 25°C, nitrite reacted with J-acid in hydrochloric acid producing diazonium salt and then coupled with excess J-acid in the sodium carbonate solution yielding red colored azo compounds. At wavelength of 500 nm, Beer’s law was obeyed over the concentration range of 0.02–0.60 mg·L^–1. The molar absorptivity was 3.92 × 10⁴ L·mol^–1·cm^–1. This method was easily applied to the determination of trace nitrite in environmental water with recoveries of 98.7–101.2%.     

Removal of vanadium from wastewater by multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Nitric acid heating reflux modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes (HMWCNTs) were used for the removal of vanadium(V) in aqueous solution. The removal rate of vanadium(V) decreased with the increase of the initial vanadium(V) concentration and the solution pH, and increased with the increase of reaction time, HMWCNTs amount and solution temperature. The adsorption equilibrium and dynamic kinetics fitted the Langmuir adsorption isotherm and pseudo-second order models. The results obtained by scanning electron micrography and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis revealed that the hydroxyl and carboxyl functional groups are mainly responsible for the vanadium adsorption. This study showed that the HMWCNTs proved to be a considerable adsorbent for the removal of vanadium from wastewater.     

Development of a process for producing ethyl caproate‐ and ethyl lactate‐rich rice shochu

To increase the popularity of rice shochu, a process was developed to produce ethyl caproate‐ and ethyl lactate‐rich rice shochu. On a laboratory‐scale, there was a shochu production trial with Saccharomyces cerevisiae Y‐E. Caproic acid added in the second‐stage fermentation was esterified to ethyl caproate. Both ethyl caproate and ethyl lactate were produced by adding a caproic acid‐producing bacterial (CAPB) consortium and lactic acid bacterium (LAB) to the shochu production process. Yellow koji was more appropriate for producing a flavour‐rich shochu with the addition of a CAPB consortium and LAB than white koji. Optimal addition time for the CAPB consortium and LAB was on the first day of the second‐stage fermentation, judging from concentrations of ethyl caproate and ethyl lactate produced. Additional dosages of CAPB consortium and LAB positively affected the formation of ethyl caproate and ethyl lactate, respectively. Shochu production with the addition of 2% and 4% CAPB consortium led to ethyl caproate concentrations of 27.3 mg/L and 47.9 mg/L in genshu, respectively, and the shochu achieved the best sensory test score from the Japanese shochu brewery panellists. Copyright © 2015 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling     

桩土接触数值模拟试验

用数值分析方法模拟桩土共同作用时自重荷载步的施加将使土体产生变形,而实际工程中,土体自重作用产生的变形早已完成,故两者之问存在一定差异.通过设置接触单元来模拟桩土之间的共同作用,并利用ANSYS中的荷载步来实现扣除土体自重应力引起的变形,对桩土进行3D有限元模拟.数值分析结果与现场实测值的比较表明,在桩土接触模拟中通过荷载步的方法考虑土体自重应力是可行的.还通过分析不同荷载步作用下桩土之间的相互挤压力分布和桩侧摩阻力分布,指出了桩端附近桩侧土体存在的"拱效应"显著减小了该处作用于桩侧的水平土压力和桩侧摩阻力.