Surface treatment of titanium dioxide nanopowder using rotary electrode dielectric barrier discharge reactor

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanopowder (P-25;Degussa AG) was treated using dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) in a rotary electrode DBD (RE-DBD) reactor.Its electrical and optical characteristics were investigated during RE-DBD generation.The treated TiO2 nanopowder properties and structures were analyzed using x-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).After RE-DBD treatment,XRD measurements indicated that the anatase peak theta positions shifted from 25.3° to 25.1°,which can be attributed to the substitution of new functional groups in the TiO2 lattice.The FTIR results show that hydroxyl groups (OH) at 3400 cm-1 increased considerably.The mechanism used to modify the TiO2 nanopowder surface by air DBD treatment was confirmed from optical emission spectrum measurements.Reactive species,such as OH radical,ozone and atomic oxygen can play key roles in hydroxyl formation on the TiO2 nanopowder surface.     

Boosting discharge capability of α-Ni(OH)2 by cobalt doping based on robust spherical structure

α-Ni(OH)₂ is a promising candidate of the currently commercialized β-Ni(OH)₂ due to its higher theoretical discharge capacity in alkaline solution; however, its instability and poor conductivity plague the practical application. Herein, we propose α-Ni(OH)₂ with Co doping and spherical structure to strengthen the stability and enhance the conductivity and use it as the cathode for nickel-metal hydride batteries. Studies show that proper Co doping promotes the electrochemical reaction between the active materials and the electrolyte due to the spherical α-Ni(OH)₂ with enlarged interlayer distance and abundant hole channels, as well as high conductivity of Co, therefore, the obtained spherical α-Ni(OH)₂ with 7 mol% Co doping delivers significantly improved discharge capability, which is 384.6 mAh g^?1 at 70 mA g^?1 (0.2 C), increased by 54.3 mAh g^?1 compared with pure α-Ni(OH)₂, and at a high current of 5 C, it still gives 269.4 mAh g^?1, in contrast 218.5 mA g^?1 for the pure α-Ni(OH)₂. Besides, the cycling stability of the α-Ni(OH)₂ with 7 mol% Co doping maintains 340 cycles at a capacity retention of 80% (1C), which is extended 110 cycles in contrast to the pure α-Ni(OH)₂. These results provide the underpinning platform of α-Ni(OH)₂ for battery applications with high discharge ability and cycle life.     

Reproductive tract disease in Irish grazing dairy cows: Retrospective observational study examining its association with reproductive performance and accuracy of 2 diagnostic tests

The detection of reproductive tract disease (RTD) 3 wk postpartum is important because of its effect on subsequent reproductive outcomes. Numerous methods for the diagnosis of RTD are described, some of which are more practical and instantaneous in terms of diagnosis. Two of these methods involve identification of purulent vaginal discharge (PVD) and evidence of ultrasonographic uterine changes indicative of endometritis (UE). The objectives of our retrospective observational study were (1) to assess the association of PVD or UE score at the prebreeding examination (PBE) with the hazard of pregnancy within the subsequent breeding season; (2) to determine the test sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) at the point of sampling of both tests using a Bayesian latent class model; and (3) to determine the effect of varying positivity thresholds on test accuracy. To achieve these objectives, we analyzed an initial data set of 5,049 PBE from 2,460 spring-calved cows in 8 herds between 2014 and 2018. Each PBE was conducted once between 25 and 86 d in milk. At each PBE, vaginal discharge was obtained with a Metricheck device (Simcro) whereas uterine contents were assessed using transrectal ultrasonography. Purulent vaginal discharge was scored on a scale of 0 to 3 depending on discharge character, and UE was scored on a scale of 0 to 4 depending on the presence and consistency of intraluminal fluid. Cows with scores of ≥2 in either test had received treatment. Fertility data were available from 4,756 PBE after data exclusion. The association between PVD or UE score at the PBE and subsequent hazard of pregnancy was analyzed using a Cox proportional hazards model. Cows with a PVD score of 2 or 3 were less likely to conceive than cows with a PVD score 0 [score 2 hazard ratio (HR) = 0.74; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.59–0.94; score 3 HR = 0.65; 95% CI: 0.51–0.84]. Cows with a UE score of 1, 2, 3, or 4 were less likely to conceive than cows with a UE score of 0 (score 1 HR = 0.82; 95% CI: 0.73–0.93; score 2 HR = 0.79; 95% CI: 0.62–1.00; score 3 HR = 0.43; 95% CI: 0.43–0.90; score 4 HR = 0.39; 95% CI: 0.26–0.58). To determine the Se and Sp of PVD or UE score for diagnosis of RTD at the time of PBE, a Bayesian latent class model was fitted on 2,460 individual cow PBE. Flat priors were used for the Se and Sp of UE, whereas informative priors were used for PVD Se (mode = 65%, 5th percentile = 45%) and Sp (mode = 90%, 5th percentile = 80%) and RTD prevalence (mode = 20%, 5th percentile = 10%). Posterior estimates (median and 95% Bayesian probability intervals; BPI) were obtained using ‘rjags' (R Studio). The optimal test thresholds (PVD and UE score ≥1) were selected by assessing the effect of different thresholds on test estimates and using a misclassification cost analysis. Based on these, median (95% BPI) Se for PVD and UE score ≥1 were 44% (29–60%) and 67% (33–100%), respectively. Median Sp for PVD and UE score ≥1 were 90% (86–93%) and 91% (86–93%), respectively. Higher scores in both tests were associated with impaired fertility, and UE scoring with a threshold of ≥1 had the highest test Se and Sp estimates although test Se was conditional on days in milk when the PBE occurred.     

Microstructural refinement and mechanical response of Al2O3–ZrO2 eutectics fabricated by a novel pulse discharge plasma assisted melting method

In the present work, microstructural refinement and mechanical response of Al₂O₃–ZrO₂ eutectics fabricated by a pulse discharge plasma assisted melting (PDPAM) method were investigated. The solidified microstructure evolves from polygonal eutectic colonies into irregular cellular colonies with increasing the superheating temperature of the melt from 1820 °C to 1900 °C. The average eutectic spacing inside the colonies decreases from 1.80 ± 0.10 μm to 0.25 ± 0.06 μm, and the coarse inter-colonial structure is refined, which is attributed to the increase in undercooling temperature. High-temperature microstructural stability of Al₂O₃–ZrO₂ eutectics is improved significantly as contrasted with the as-sintered ceramics. Besides, the load dependence of Vickers hardness for Al₂O₃–ZrO₂ eutectics is investigated.     

Simultaneous fractionation of multiple classes of polyphenols from honeybush tea using solid-phase extraction

The structural diversity of polyphenols and the inherent limitations of current extraction techniques pose a challenge to extract polyphenols using a simple and green method. Hence, in this study, a method was developed to simultaneously fractionate multiple classes of polyphenols by only varying ethanol-water solutions. Honeybush tea, which is rich in polyphenols, was selected as a model for this study. Solvent extraction followed by solid-phase extraction (SPE) was developed to obtain a polyphenol-rich fraction from six honeybush samples. Based on a gradient elution programme (10%, 30%, 50%, 70% and 90% (v/v) ethanol-water solution) of SPE, the Strata X cartridge showed a better recovery of most targeted polyphenols under 0.9 mL of the drying volume and 1 mL min⁻¹ of the dispensing speed. The elution programme for fractionating most polyphenols was as follows: single elution with 50% ethanol, followed by twice elution with 70% ethanol. The antioxidant capacity was used to analyse the differences among the polyphenol-rich fractions from six honeybush samples. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that unfermented C. genistoides (GG) has the greatest antioxidant capacity among the honeybush species studied. Additionally, mangiferin, isomangiferin and vicenin-2 were the main contributors to the antioxidant capacity in six honeybush fractions according to the correlation study.     

两种混合单元混合机理的数值模拟

为了研究SV型和SX型混合单元在全静态乳化器的混合机理,使用群体平衡模型对乳化器内部流场进行模拟分析。结果表明,SV型与SX型混合单元的混合机理是油相与水相材料通过混合单元时其空间流动方向改变,在流场内形成大量的漩涡,从而达到乳化的目的;通过比较流体在经过SV型和SX型混合单元后的水相索特平均直径(d_(32)),得出SV型混合单元的乳化效果更强,但同时消耗更多的能量,压降更大。     

Double emulsion (W/O/W) gel stabilised by polyglycerol polyricinoleate and calcium caseinate as mangiferin carrier: insights on formulation and stability properties

Mangiferin (MGF) is a phenolic compound isolated from mango, but its poor solubility significantly limits its use. In this study, MGF was embedded into the inner aqueous phase of W₁/O/W₂ emulsions. Firstly, the dissolution method of MGF was determined. MGF remained stable in solution with pH 13 at 30 min, and its solubility reached 10 mg mL⁻¹. When the pH of MGF solutions was adjusted from pH 13 to pH 6, MGF did not immediately crystallise, providing sufficient time to construct the MGF-loaded W₁/O/W₂ emulsions. Subsequently, the MGF-loaded W₁/O/W₂ emulsions were constructed using polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR) and calcium caseinate (CAS). The formation and stability of the W₁/O/W₂ emulsions were investigated. The MGF-loaded W₁/O/W₂ emulsions stabilised with 1% PGPR and 1% – 3% CAS exhibited a low viscosity, limited loading capacity, and poor stability. Conversely, the MGF-loaded W₁/O/W₂ emulsions stabilised by 3%PGPR–3%CAS exhibited optimal loading capacity (encapsulation efficiency = 95.31% and loading efficiency = 0.91%) and stability, which was attributed to the fact that high viscosity and gel state retarded the migration of inner aqueous phase. These results indicated that the W₁/O/W₂ emulsions stabilised by PGPR and CAS may be a potential alternative for encapsulating mangiferin.     

Ni-based catalysts with coke resistance enhance by radio frequency discharge plasma for CH4/CO2 reforming

Coke deposition has been considered to be one of the most important reasons hindering the stability of the catalyst during CH₄/CO₂ reforming. In this study, after the addition of P123 (PEG-PPG-PEG triblock copolymer), Ni²⁺ can be well-dispersed on the mesoporous molecular sieve MCM-41. And then, the catalysts were prepared by using N₂ radio frequency (RF) discharge plasma for different treatment times to reduce the size of Ni particles, improve the anti-coking performance, and thereby improve the stability of the catalyst. The results showed that the catalyst NM-P123-PN2h exhibits superior catalytic properties in the CH₄/CO₂ reforming. The initial conversions of CH₄ and CO₂ were 90.80% and 89.60% at 750 °C, respectively. The catalyst NM-P123-PN2h showed highly coke resistance with less carbon deposition (1.12%) at 750 °C after 10 h of continuous reaction, while the carbon deposition of the catalyst NM-C was 37.32%. Compared with the traditional calcination method, the catalyst prepared by plasma treatment has a smaller particle size and better dispersibility of nickel. In particular, the nickel particle size of the catalyst NM-C was 8.37 nm, however, that of the catalyst NM-P123-PN2h was only 1.70 nm, and the nickel particle size was reduced by 5 times. Therefore, it can be concluded that the catalyst prepared under the combined action of P123 and RF plasma-treated can effectively improve the coke resistance of the catalyst and the stability of the CH₄/CO₂ reforming.     

Plasma-assisted CO2 reforming of methane over Ni-based catalysts: Promoting role of Ag and Sn secondary metals

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄) are the primary greenhouse gases (GHGs) that drive global climate change. CO₂ reforming of CH₄ or dry reforming of CH₄ (DRM) is used for the simultaneous conversion of CO₂ and CH₄ into syngas and higher hydrocarbons. In this study, DRM was investigated using Ag–Ni/Al₂O₃ packing and Sn–Ni/Al₂O₃ packing in a parallel plate dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactor. The performance of the DBD reactor was significantly enhanced when applying Ag–Ni/Al₂O₃ and Sn–Ni/Al₂O₃ due to the relatively high electrical conductivity of Ag and Sn as well as their anti-coke performances. Using Ag–Ni/Al₂O₃ consisting of 1.5 wt% Ag and 5 wt% Ni/Al₂O₃ as the catalyst in the DBD reactor, 19% CH₄ conversion, 21% CO₂ conversion, 60% H₂ selectivity, 81% CO selectivity, energy efficiency of 7.9% and 0.74% (by mole) coke formation were achieved. In addition, using Sn–Ni/Al₂O₃, consisting of 0.5 wt% Sn and 5 wt% Ni/Al₂O₃, 15% CH₄ conversion, 19% CO₂ conversion, 64% H₂ selectivity, 70% CO selectivity, energy efficiency of 6.0%, and 2.1% (by mole) coke formation were achieved. Sn enhanced the reactant conversions and energy efficiency, and resulted in a reduction in coke formation; these results are comparable to that achieved when using the noble metal Ag. The decrease in the formation of coke could be correlated to the increase in the CO selectivity of the catalyst. Good dispersion of the secondary metals on Ni was found to be an important factor for the observed increases in the catalyst surface area and catalytic activities. Furthermore, the stability of the catalytic reactions was investigated for 1800 min over the 0.5 wt% Ag-5 wt% Ni/Al₂O₃ and 0.5 wt% Sn-5 wt% Ni/Al₂O₃ catalysts. The results showed an increase in the reactant conversions with an increase in the reaction time.