Nitrate Additives Coordinated with Crown Ether Stabilize Lithium Metal Anodes in Carbonate Electrolyte

Lithium metal anodes (LMAs) are promising for next-generation batteries but have poor compatibility with the widely used carbonate-based electrolytes, which is a major reason for their severe dendrite growth and low Coulombic efficiency (CE). A nitrate additive to the electrolyte is an effective solution, but its low solubility in carbonates is a problem that can be solved using a crown ether, as reported. A rubidium nitrate additive coordinated with 18-crown-6 crown ether stabilizes the LMA in a carbonate electrolyte. The coordination promotes the dissolution of NO₃⁻ ions and helps form a dense solid electrolyte interface that is Li₃N-rich which guides uniform Li deposition. In addition, the Rb (18-crown-6)⁺ complexes are adsorbed on the dendrite tips, shielding them from Li deposition on the dendrite tips. A high CE of 97.1% is achieved with a capacity of 1 mAh cm⁻² in a half cell, much higher than when using the additive-free electrolyte (92.2%). Such an additive is very compatible with a nickel-rich ternary cathode at a high voltage, and the assembled full battery with a cathode material loading up to 10 mg cm⁻² shows an average CE of 99.8% over 200 cycles, indicating a potential for practical use.     

烯丙基聚烷氧基环氧醚的制备及其性能

针对烯丙基聚烷氧基环氧醚中存在催化剂和钾钠离子含量高,导致制备的三元共聚嵌段硅油反应活性差的问题,研究了在无相转移催化剂的条件下制备烯丙基聚烷氧基环氧醚的方法,表征了产物的结构,分析了制备条件对产物pH值与环氧指数的影响;以其为原料制备了三元共聚嵌段硅油,并对棉织物进行柔软整理,分析了整理后织物的亲水性、手感及物理力学性能。结果表明:当原料烯丙基聚氧乙烯醚、环氧氯丙烷和氢氧化钠的量比为1∶2.5∶1.5,冰醋酸的添加量是过量氢氧化钠的1.1倍时,产物烯丙基聚烷氧基环氧醚的环氧指数为1.77 mol/kg,pH值小于7,精制后钾钠离子含量可降低到5 μg/g以下;织物经过硅油整理后具有较好的亲水性,当整理液质量浓度为30 g/L时,毛效达到7.3 cm,手感评级达到4.7级以上,织物整体性能有所提高。     

Investigation on sulphonated zinc oxide nanorod incorporated sulphonated poly (1,4-phenylene ether ether sulfone) nanocomposite membranes for improved performance of microbial fuel cell

Hydrothermally prepared zinc oxide nanorods are sulphonated (S–ZnO NR) and incorporated into 15% Sulphonated Poly (1,4-Phenylene Ether Ether Sulfone) (SPEES) to improve the hydrophilicity, water uptake and ion transfer capacity. Water uptake and ion transfer capacity increased to 34.6 ± 0.6% and 2.0 ± 0.05 meq g^?1 from 29.8 ± 0.3% and 1.4 ± 0.04 meq g^?1 by adding 7.5 wt% S–ZnO NR to SPEES. Morphological studies show the prepared S–ZnO NR is well dispersed in the polymer matrix. SPEES +7.5 wt% S–ZnO NR membrane exhibits optimum performance after three-weeks of continual operation in a fabricated microbial fuel cell (MFC) to produce a maximum power density of 142 ± 1.2 mW m^?2 with a reduced biofilm compared to plain SPEES (59 ± 0.8 mW m^?2), unsulphonated filler incorporated SPEES (SPEES + 7.5 wt% ZnO, 68 ± 1.1 mW m^?2) and Nafion (130 ± 1.5 mW m^?2) thereby suggesting its suitability as a sustainable and improved cation exchange membrane (CEM) for MFCs.     

玉米毛油酸价及碱炼脱酸对其甘油酯组成及3-氯丙醇酯和缩水甘油酯的影响

对不同酸价的玉米毛油进行碱炼脱酸,并对碱炼前后玉米油中甘一酯、甘二酯、3-氯丙醇酯、缩水甘油酯、维生素E、植物甾醇含量进行检测,分析研究毛油酸价及碱炼脱酸对玉米油中甘油酯组成及3-氯丙醇酯、缩水甘油酯及其他成分的影响。结果表明:随玉米毛油酸价升高,甘一酯、甘二酯含量明显升高,甘三酯含量明显降低,毛油酸价(KOH)为3. 06～8. 70 mg/g时,毛油中甘一酯、甘二酯总量为6. 39%～17. 40%,甘三酯含量为82. 60%～93. 61%,3-氯丙醇酯含量为2. 09～3. 23 mg/kg,缩水甘油酯含量为0. 40～0. 51 mg/kg。分别对酸价(KOH) 4. 10、8. 70 mg/g的2个玉米毛油样品进行碱炼脱酸后,甘一酯和甘二酯总量分别降低了3. 34、4. 47个百分点,3-氯丙醇酯含量明显下降,但缩水甘油酯含量变化不大,说明碱炼脱酸过程对降低甘一酯、甘二酯含量的作用有限,对3-氯丙醇酯有一定的脱除作用,但对缩水甘油酯影响很小。此外,碱炼脱酸过程造成维生素E损失率21. 68%～24. 53%,植物甾醇损失率32. 67%～39. 99%。     

Improved compatibility of PET/HDPE blend by using GMA grafted thermoplastic elastomer

ABSTRACT

Herein, graft-modified ethylene-1-octene copolymer (POE-g-GMA) and styrene-butadiene-styrene triblock copolymer (SBS-g-GMA) were found to be excellent reactive compatibilizers for immiscible poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET)/high-density polyethylene (HDPE) blends via in-situ reaction compatibilization. With increase in compatibilizer amount, uniform phase morphology was observed in all the blends. Thus, exhibiting enhanced mechanical properties, especially, the notched Izod impact strength. In comparison with SBS-g-GMA, compatibilizer POE-g-GMA demonstrated greater impact on the compatibility. The addition of 15% POE-g-GMA produced blends with best mechanical properties. Besides, both POE-g-GMA and SBS-g-GMA enhanced the melt viscosity of PET/HDPE blends.     

The emission characteristics of a petrol–ethanol–diethyl-ether blend as a carbon monoxide reduction additive in spark ignition engine

The emission characteristics of a petrol–ethanol–diethyl-ether blend as a carbon monoxide reduction additive in a spark ignition (SI) engine is presented. The experimental set-up is consisting of a Villiers G200, 6.5?hp, 4-stroke; single cylinder SI engine. The blend used was synthesised using petrol, ethanol and diethyl ether in the following percentage proportion by volume as 75:15:10, 60:25:15, 80:15:5, 85:10:5, respectively. These blends were tested at full engine load and at an operational speed of 2500?rpm. Exhaust emission probe was inserted at the exhaust pipe in order to determine the emission characteristics of these blends under different operating conditions. The results obtained during the emission test carried out show that CO emission level of petrol is higher than that of any of the blends with the 60:25:15 blends having the least emission level. The lowest CO emission of the blend is due to the high oxygen content of fuel blend. The above result shows a great promise in the fight against carbon oxide emission.     

Contamination of some foodstuffs marketed in Italy by fatty acid esters of monochloropropanediols and glycidol

ABSTRACT

Fatty acid esters of 3-monochloropropanediol (3-MCPD), 2-MCPD and glycidol (Gly) are food-processing contaminants that cause concerns about possible adverse health effects. The present study evaluates the contamination levels of the three ester classes in 130 samples of foodstuffs marketed in Italy covering 10 food categories, namely margarines, oils, roasted coffee, breakfast cereals, salted crackers, cookies, infant biscuits, rusks, breads and potato crisps. The analytical method employed is a so-called indirect method that entails MCPD/glycidol cleavage from their esterified forms, cleanup, derivatisation and GC-MS analysis. The MCPDs and glycidol concentrations (from esters) were found to be equal or a little higher than the levels reported in previous studies conducted in other European countries and described in the literature. 3-MCPD was the predominant compound in all foodstuffs analysed with the exception for rusks where Gly levels were slightly higher. Considering the sum of MCPD and Gly esters, the most contaminated foodstuffs were seed oils, followed by margarines and cookies, whereas roasted coffee, bread, rusks, cornflakes and infant biscuits were less contaminated with MCPDs and Gly concentrations often below LOQ or LOD values. Refined olive oil, potato chips and salted crackers showed contamination levels intermediate between the two above groups. The results of this study also confirm that the use of palm oil as an ingredient or frying medium is an important cause of increase of the levels of MCPD and Gly esters, especially in salted crackers, rusks and potato crisps. Finally, the Italian intake of 3-MCPD due to the various foods analysed has been calculated and related to TDI. The MoE for Gly was also estimated.     

盖子环替换及定点突变提高菜豆环氧化物水解酶对邻甲基苯基缩水甘油醚的催化性能

菜豆环氧化物水解酶1和2（PvEH1、PvEH2）能够动力学拆分外消旋邻甲基苯基缩水甘油醚（rac-oMGE），从而保留(R)-oMGE。基于对PvEH1和PvEH2结构的同源模拟和分析，发现二者分子中的盖子环差异较大，故本文选择盖子环作为研究目标。经融合聚合酶链式反应（FPCR），获得了PvEH2的盖子环区域被PvEH1对应区域替换的杂合酶Pv2Pv1。用全细胞酶E. coli/pv2pv1催化rac-oMGE，当(S)-oMGE刚好水解完全时，产物(S)-3-邻甲苯基-1,2-丙二醇（(S)-oTPD）的ee_p由PvEH2的58.3%提高至75.5%。为进一步提高酶的性质，在Pv2Pv1中选取11个氨基酸位点进行丙氨酸(A)突变，获得最优突变子E. coli/pv2pv1^K176A，活性为E. coli/pv2pv1（4.2U/g）的2.1倍，且当S构型的底物刚好完全水解时，(S)-oTPD的ee_p进一步提高为80.3%。分子对接分析发现，盖子环替换和K176位点突变为A，均使(R)-oMGE环氧环中的C_α更易受到酶中D101位点的攻击。利用E. coli/pv2pv1^K176A催化150mmol/L rac-oMGE水解制备(R)-oMGE（ee_s＞99%）和(S)-oTPD（ee_p=80.4%），二者的产率Y_S和Y_P分别为32.7%和60.1%，时空产率STY_S和STY_P为1.6g/(L·h)和3.3g/(L·h)。本实验为改善EH的催化性质提供了一种有效策略。     

水煤浆管道输送摩阻损失研究

以十二醇醚为分散剂,进行了水煤浆管道输送实验研究,分析了分散剂浓度和煤浆浓度变化对煤浆摩阻损失的影响。煤浆管道输送数据分析及理论计算结果表明: 分散剂浓度越大,煤浆摩阻损失值越小; 水煤浆浓度越大,摩阻损失值越大。实验数据拟合结果表明有效黏度与平均切变率成线性关系,从理论上给出了煤浆摩阻损失的计算公式,计算值与实测值偏差不大于18%。     

Robust proton exchange membrane for vanadium redox flow batteries reinforced by silica-encapsulated nanocellulose

High ion selectivity and mechanical strength are critical properties for proton exchange membranes in vanadium redox flow batteries. In this work, a novel sulfonated poly(ether sulfone) hybrid membrane reinforced by core-shell structured nanocellulose (CNC-SPES) is prepared to obtain a robust and high-performance proton exchange membrane for vanadium redox flow batteries. Membrane morphology, proton conductivity, vanadium permeability and tensile strength are investigated. Single cell tests at a range of 40–140 mA cm⁻² are carried out. The performance of the sulfonated poly(ether sulfone) membrane reinforced by pristine nanocellulose (NC-SPES) and Nafion® 212 membranes are also studied for comparison. The results show that, with the incorporation of silica-encapsulated nanocellulose, the membrane exhibits outstanding mechanical strength of 54.5 MPa and high energy efficiency above 82% at 100 mA cm⁻², which is stable during 200 charge-discharge cycles.