Accelerating the decarbonization of carbonaceous gold ore by suspension oxidation roasting towards the improvement of gold leaching efficiency

Eliminating the gold preg-robbing effect of carbonaceous matter in carbonaceous gold ores is crucial for gold leaching. In this study, suspension oxidation roasting was proposed to accelerate the decarbonization of carbonaceous gold ore. The characteristics of oxidation reaction process and gas release were analyzed by TG-DTA-FTIR. The phase transformation and microstructure evolution of samples during roasting were analyzed by XRD, SEM and BET. The results show that the gold preg-robbing effect was eliminated after the gasification of carbonaceous matter, and the CaO generated by decomposition of carbonates can effectively capture the SO₂. After roasting for 75 min at 650 °C in a 20% O₂ atmosphere, the total carbon removal rate reached 99.42%, the distribution of exposed gold increased from 28.85% to 77.10% and the gold leaching efficiency increased from 4.55% to 84.83%. In addition, about 70% sulfur was mainly fixed in the roasted products in the form of sulfate. Therefore, the suspension oxidation roasting process is an efficient and clean pretreatment method for carbonaceous gold ores.     

Investigation of fabrication of gas diffusion substrate for proton exchange membrane fuel cells

The gas diffusion substrate (GDS) is essential in the proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Its fabrication techniques affect the performance significantly and are worthy of investigation. In this study, a manufacturing process of the GDS is proposed to understand the formation process of GDS and promote its structure and performance more pertinently. Different states during the preparation process, raw carbon paper, pre-curing, curing, carbonation, and graphitization, are characterized and measured. Experimental and numerical methods are employed to determine the relationships between microstructure, transport, and mechanical performance variation with the fabricating processes. The results show that its porosity, average pore size, and effective diffusivity decrease first and increase after curing. These parameters after graphitization are lower than that of the carbon paper (CP). The electrical resistivity increases dramatically while pre-curing and decreases gradually after curing, carbonation, and graphitization, and it is much reduced after graphitization. Moreover, mechanical measurement results show that both the picks of tensile strength and flexural modulus occur after curing. Its tensile strength shows little change after graphitization compared to the initial paper's. In contrast, the flexural modulus is improved significantly.     

Zeolite-templated sub-nanometer carbon nanotube arrays and membranes for hydrogen storage and separation

Adsorbents and membranes consisting of carbon nanotube (CNT) pores with diameters of molecular dimensions are highly desirable for hydrogen storage and selective, high-flux membrane separation. However, fabrication of such materials with precise pore sizes and monodispersity as well as evaluation of the mechanisms associated to adsorption and molecular transport are challenging. Herein, we grew aluminophsphate zeolites (CoAPO-5, AFI crystal structure) consisting of one-dimensional, monodisperse parallel pores with diameter of ～7 Å, and utilized them as templates to grow singe-walled CNTs (SWNTs) inside the pores. The resulting materials were examined as adsorbents and membranes for hydrogen storage and separation, respectively, using single-gas and real mixture feeds. Detailed mechanistic analysis and fundamental investigation of permeance and adsorption behavior of the resulting CNT-in-zeolite systems via combined adsorption, equilibrium, and kinetic studies were carried out. A superior gravimetric hydrogen uptake of 1.2 wt% at 35 °C and 1 bar was achieved in the case of the SWNTs grown in the cobalt-richer AFI host. Permeability measurements were performed on the respective Co(x)APO@SWNT membranes with the Co-richAPO@SWNT membrane exhibiting the highest permeance for all studied gases as a consequence of larger and more densely packed AFI crystals along with higher number of SWNT-filled pores, assets attributed to the higher Co catalyst content. Notably, the produced composite membranes exhibited gas permeability values that were two orders of magnitude higher than what predicted by the Knudsen mechanism.     

One-step to prepare high-performance gas diffusion layer (GDL) with three different functional layers for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs)

Gas diffusion layer (GDL) is one of the most important components of fuel cells. In order to improve the fuel cell performance, GDL has developed from single layer to dual layers, and then to multiple layers. However, dual or multi layers in GDL are usually prepared by layer-by-layer methods, which cost too much time, energy, and resources. In this work, we successfully developed a facile one-step method to prepare a GDL with three functional layers by utilizing the different sedimentation rates and filtration rates of short carbon fiber (CF) and carbon nanotube (CNT). The treatment temperature for this GDL is much lower than that of traditional method. The thickness of the GDL can be effectively controlled from as thin as 50 μm to more than 200 μm by simply adjusting the content of CF. The GDL with high flexibility is suitable to develop high performance flexible electronics. The fuel cell with the GDL has the maximum power density 1021 mW cm^?2, which shows 19% improvement comparing to the conventional one. Therefore, this work breaks the traditional concept that GDL for fuel cells only can be prepared by very complex and high-cost procedure.     

Investigation of La0.6Sr0.4Co1-xNixO3-δ (x=0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8) catalysts on solid oxide fuel cells anode for biogas dry reforming

The introduction of catalyst on anode of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) has been an effective way to alleviate the carbon deposition when utilizing biogas as the fuel. A series of La_0.6Sr_0.4Co_1-xNi_xO_3-δ (x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8) oxides are synthesized by sol-gel method and used as catalysts precursors for biogas dry reforming. The phase structure of La_0.6Sr_0.4Co_1-xNi_xO_3-δ oxides before and after reduction are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The texture properties, carbon deposition, CH₄ and CO₂ conversion rate of La_0.6Sr_0.4Co_1-xNi_xO_3-δ catalysts are evaluated and compared. The peak power density of 739 mW cm^?2 is obtained by a commercial SOFC with La_0.6Sr_0.4Co_0.4Ni_0.6O_3-δ catalyst at 850 °C when using a mixture of CH₄: CO₂ = 2:1 as fuel. This shows a great improvement from the cell without catalyst for internal dry reforming, which is attributed to the formation of NiCo alloy active species after reduction in H₂ atmosphere. The results indicate the benefits of inhibiting the carbon deposition on Ni-based anode through introducing the La_0.6Sr_0.4Co_0.4Ni_0.6O_3-δ catalyst precursor. Additionally, the dry reforming technology will also help to convert part of the exhaust heat into chemical energy and improve the efficiency of SOFC system with biogas fuel.     

Montmorillonite-perlite-iron ceramic membranes for the adsorption/removal of As(III) and other constituents from surface water

In this study, ceramic membranes made of montmorillonite, perlite and iron were used to remove As(III) from water. Membranes prepared with 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 wt% of iron content were used to filtrate As(III) synthetic water and surface water solutions. As(III) adsorption capacity and removal efficiency, and other parameters such as cations and anions content, turbidity, pH, electrical conductivity were used to evaluate the membranes' performance. Results show that the As(III) adsorption/removal capacity of membranes was improved by the addition of iron. Adsorption capacity of 7.5 μg As(III)/g and removal efficiency of 97% can be achieved in membranes with 1.0 wt% of iron filings content for surface water; however, a greater amount of iron in the membrane structure limits the adsorption capacity of As(III). Besides the capacity of ceramic membranes to adsorb/remove As(III), membranes were also effective to remove other ions, turbidity, and electrical conductivity from the surface water. The addition of iron to the ceramic membranes enhanced their capacity to remove such surface water constituents. These results are important from the practical viewpoint showing the potential of ceramic membranes for the removal of metalloids and other water constituents. Langmuir isotherm model best described the adsorption process in ceramic membranes, suggesting that adsorption of As(III) happened on a monolayered surface of the ceramic membrane.     

具有保护肠上皮细胞HT-29免受大肠杆菌和H2O2损伤潜力的植物乳杆菌的筛选

益生菌可在肠道定植从而发挥抗炎或抗氧化活性，有利于宿主肠道健康。本实验研究了从新疆传统发酵乳制品中分离得到的8?株植物乳杆菌对大肠杆菌侵袭和过氧化氢刺激肠上皮细胞HT-29的保护作用。结果表明：在8?株植物乳杆菌中，植物乳杆菌35具有最高的黏附能力。植物乳杆菌35可通过取代、竞争、排阻的方式抑制大肠杆菌对HT-29细胞的黏附，抑制率分别为42.60%、59.17%、60.19%。植物乳杆菌35及其多糖可抑制大肠杆菌刺激HT-29细胞产生白细胞介素-8；同时保护HT-29细胞免受过氧化氢的损伤，增加超氧化物歧化酶、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶活力水平并降低丙二醛含量。结论：植物乳杆菌35及其粗胞外多糖具有抑制大肠杆菌O157诱导的炎症性肠病的潜力。     

四氢姜黄素经PI3K/Akt信号通路对人血小板活化和聚集的调控作用

目的：探讨姜黄素的主要肠道代谢物四氢姜黄素（tetrahydrocurcumin，THC）对血小板活化和聚集的影响及其可能的分子机制。方法：在体外实验中，用不同浓度的THC（0、0.5、1、10 μmol/L）提前与健康人纯化血小板共同孵育40 min，然后加入凝血酶激活血小板2 min，用流式细胞术测定血小板表面CD62P和CD63的表达量，用酶联免疫吸附法测定血小板释放血小板因子-4（platelet factor-4，PF4）和趋化因子配体-5（chemokine ligand 5，CCL5）水平，用血小板聚集仪检测血小板释放ATP水平和血小板最大聚集率，用Western blot蛋白免疫印迹法检测血小板磷酸肌醇-3-激酶（phosphoinositide 3-kinase，PI3K）和Akt蛋白的磷酸化水平。结果：与模型组（血小板悬液中加入0.05%二甲基亚砜）相比，THC能抑制凝血酶诱导的血小板表面CD62P和CD63的表达，抑制PF4、CCL5和ATP的释放，降低血小板最大聚集率，下调PI3K和Akt蛋白的磷酸化水平，且呈浓度依赖效应，其中10 μmol/L的浓度下作用效果显著（P＜0.01、P＜0.001）。PI3K的特异性激动剂740 Y-P可部分逆转THC对PF4和CCL5释放和血小板聚集的抑制作用（P＜0.05、P＜0.01）。结论：THC具有显著抑制血小板活化和聚集的作用，其机制可能是THC可下调PI3K/Akt介导的信号通路。     

β-FeOOH modified carbon monolith anode derived from wax gourd for microbial fuel cells

The preparation of high-performance anode materials is of significance for enhanced power generation in microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Herein, porous carbon monolith was prepared by simple freeze drying of wax gourd and subsequent pyrolysis (WGC). β-FeOOH was coated on WGC to further improve the performance of the anode (β-FeOOH/WGC). The maximum power density of the MFCs with WGC and β-FeOOH/WGC anode was 913.9 and 1355.1 mW/m² respectively, which was much higher than that of the control (558.2 mW/m²). WGC possessed three-dimensional pore structure, nitrogen and oxygen-containing functional groups, which endowed it with satisfactory bacterial loading. Improved MFC performance after β-FeOOH modification could be ascribed to two aspects: β-FeOOH enhanced the electrochemical activity and decrease the transfer resistance; β-FeOOH was conducive to exoelectrogens formation. This study demonstrated that the synthesis of β-FeOOH modified carbon monolith anode offered an efficient route to enhance the power generation of MFCs.     

The impact of the thermal treatment during ink preparation on the ionomer-supported catalyst interactions in the catalyst layers

Catalyst slurries (inks) were prepared with and without thermal treatment to determine the support/ionomer structures and interactions in the catalyst layer (CL) which impact on membrane electrode performance and durability. The thermal treatment of the ink has a nominal effect on the ionomer/support structure in which the carbon support is non-graphitised. The agglomerate/aggregate structures have a high degree of support/ionomer interface and sufficient macroporosity for water movement in the CL. This improves the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) performance, but also accelerates electrochemical carbon degradation. Thermal treatment of graphitised support-containing inks resulted in increased performance facilitated by a larger support/ionomer interface. Without thermal treatment, the more hydrophobic support would form aggregate structures in which water contact was restricted, limiting proton transfer, isolating catalyst, decreasing performance. The water limited access, would however, prolong stability during accelerates carbon degradation. The electrochemical properties were studied using full and half MEA cells.