Hydrophobizing polyether sulfone membrane by sol-gel for water desalination using air gap membrane distillation

ABSTRACT

The hydrophobic polyether sulfone membranes were prepared by the sol-gel method to be applied in an air gap membrane distillation setup for desalination. The surface modifications were carried out using Trimethylsilyl chloride (TMSCl) and Methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) solutions. The membranes were characterized using Attenuated Total Reflection Infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Optical Contact Angle (OCA) methods. The effects of membrane preparation as well as operating conditions such as temperature difference, salt concentration, feed rotation speed, and cold-side temperature on membrane performance were investigated using central composite design method. It was found that feed temperature has the largest effect among the parameters on the permeation flux. The flow rate and salt rejection of the membrane in the optimum conditions were 4.47 Kg m^?2 h^?1 and 99.37%, respectively.     

Combining a new baseboard radiator with a fan coil system for improving heating performance and reduce energy consumption

In the present work, the heating performance of a new system combined with a new modified baseboard radiator and fan coil is investigated. Using longitudinal fins with special geometry and also forced airflow at the end of the system causes that at the lower inlet water temperature compared with the conventional models, higher heat output rate be obtained. The heat output rate of the new modified system is obtained by experimental metrology based on the European Standard No. EN-442. Temperature and velocity distribution in the room space is done by simulation of the modified system in the Flovent software. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) results are validated against experimental results and there is a good agreement between them. Also, the energy consumption of the system during the winter season is calculated in TRANSYS software. Experimental results show that the heat output rate of a new modified heating system with inlet water temperature in the range of 45–55°C is on average 4.17 times higher compared with the conventional model. CFD simulation also showed that the combined system provides good thermal comfort conditions. Energy consumption of the new system reduced about 13% compared with conventional models.     

Firs-principles investigation of ZrCo and its hydrides

The electronic structures of Zr₈Co₈ and its hydrides have been systematically investigated using the first-principles calculation based on density functional theory. Additionally, the influence of the Ti and Hf doping on the atomic bonding properties of Zr₈Co₈ and its hydrides (Zr₇HfCo₈, Zr₇HfCo₈H, Zr₁₆Co₁₅HfH₄₈, Zr₇TiCo₈, Zr₇TiCo₈H, and Zr₁₆Co₁₅TiH₄₈ compounds) were also studied to provide new insights into the hydrogenation of Zr₈Co₈. The Ti and Hf atoms were occupied the Zr position in the ZrCo alloy, while they were occupied the Co position in the Zr₁₆Co₁₆H₄₈ system. Ti and Hf doping could achieve the purpose of anti-disproportionation. Ti and Hf could weak the Zr–Co bond for the improvement of the hydrogenation performance of Zr₈Co₈, and the covalence of the Co–H bond was higher than that of the Zr–H bond. The existence of a Co–H covalent bond in the crystal is conducive to the hydrogen absorption of Zr₈Co₈ to form Zr₁₆Co₁₆H₄₈. Inhibition of Co–H interaction during Zr₈Co₈ hydrogenation can accelerate the formation of Zr₈Co₈H for the improvement of its hydrogenation performance.     

江淮丘陵区马槽河流域污染源调查分析及治理建议

随着区域城市人口增加和人民生活水平提高，江淮丘陵区中小河流水环境污染问题日益突出，成为区域社会经济发展的主要制约因素之一。本文以位于江淮丘陵区马槽河流域为研究对象，通过资料收集、问卷调查、实地勘察等手段，查明该地区入河污染物指标 COD、氨氮、TN、TP 主要贡献因素及占比，其中生活污染（51%，40%，54%，28%）、面源污染(6%，38%，9%，42%)、畜禽养殖（39%，15%，17%，25%）三类型贡献占比 90%以上，内源污染和水产养殖较少。针对污染源调查结果特征，提出镇区管网完善、农村分散处理、畜禽粪污处理、养殖废水农田消纳、污染缓冲带设置、径流拦截与再利用、河流生态化改造等治理建议，可为今后中小河流污染源调查与治理提供借鉴。     

Density of solutions of formaldehyde in water and alcohols

Formaldehyde is an important chemical that is mostly handled in aqueous solutions, which generally also contain methanol; furthermore, also solutions of formaldehyde in other alcohols are used. The density of these solutions is an important thermophysical property. The available models of the density of formaldehyde-containing solutions, however, all have shortcomings, such as a poor accuracy or a limited range of applicability. Therefore, in the present work, a new model of the density in systems of the type (formaldehyde + water + alcohol) was developed. The alcohols that are presently included in the new model are methanol, 1-propanol, and isoprenol; an extension to other alcohols is straightforward. The model was developed using literature data and extensive new density data measured in this work covering binary, ternary, and quarternary solutions of formaldehyde in water, methanol, 1-propanol, and isoprenol at temperatures of $283-333$ K and formaldehyde concentrations of 0.06 − 0.30 g g⁻¹.     

二次侧非能动余热排出系统流动不稳定性研究

二次侧非能动余热排出（ASP）系统是压水堆核电厂应对全厂断电事故的重要措施之一。为研究ASP系统的运行特性，设计建造了ASP系统试验装置（ASPTF）。在ASPTF上开展了ASP系统运行稳定性影响试验，并对试验结果进行了理论分析。试验研究与理论分析结果表明：低压低功率下ASP系统中出现流动不稳定性；增加蒸汽管线或回水管线阻力系数可抑制ASP系统出现流动不稳定性；降低加热功率时ASP系统更易出现流动不稳定性；主泵运行状态影响ASP系统的输入功率进而影响系统的流动不稳定性。     

An unsafe behaviour formation mechanism based on risk perception

It is commonly acknowledged that human behaviour is implicated in most safety problems. However, research on the formation mechanism of unsafe behaviour remains incomplete. Risk perception is one of the fundamental issues in risk research, and individual risk perception can be identified as a critical antecedent of human behaviour. This study attempts to construct and test a theoretical model to reveal the formation mechanism of unsafe behaviour based on risk perception. First, to lay a solid foundation for the developed new mechanism, several key concepts about risk perception and unsafe behaviour were explained. Second, the formation mechanism of biases in individual risk perception was developed based on psychological distance theory, and the biases in risk perception were subsequently classified. Lastly, an unsafe behaviour formation mechanism was put forward based on risk perception as an explanatory variable. This study is novel in that it uses psychological distance to explore the formation of biases in individual risk perception. Further, the presented work provides a new approach to understanding and explaining the formation mechanism of human unsafe behaviour.     

Numerical investigation of gelled crude oil particle melting in water for hydrogen production

This paper describes a numerical analysis of the melting process of gelled crude oil in water for hydrogen production. The melting characteristics of crude oil particles are analyzed, and the influence of flow velocity, particle radius, and hot water temperature on the melting process is discussed. The results indicate that the melting rate on the surface of the crude oil is different, the oil particles do not melt concentrically, and the monitoring points and rate of increase in temperature are not substantially affected by the phase change interval. The flow rate and particle radius are found to have a significant influence on the phase distribution of the oil droplets, but changes in water temperature have little effect. After validating a model of the melting process, we investigate the influence of oil particle size, water temperature, flow rate, and oil temperature. It is found that increases in water temperature and flow rate, or a decrease in oil particle size, tend to reduce the melting time.     

氯碱企业快速熔断器运行状况调查报告

以2018年58家氯碱企业供电、整流技术与设备现状调查数据为依据,阐述了国内氯碱企业中快速熔断器的运行状况。调查数据中包括50家氯碱企业的快速熔断器的基本运行数据、投运时间及设备来源等。汇总了各企业在氯碱生产中使用快速熔断器时遇到的问题、发生的故障甚至酿成的生产事故及对氯碱生产造成的影响。并分析了事故发生的原因,提出了预防及解决措施,总结了事故处理经验,旨为氯碱生产提供参考依据。     

Kinetic,thermodynamic parameters and in vitro digestion of tannase from Aspergillus tamarii URM 7115

Tannase is an enzyme used in various industries and produced by a large number of microorganisms. The aim of this study was to evaluate tannase production to determine the biochemical, kinetic, and thermodynamic properties and to simulate tannase in vitro digestion. The tannase-producing fungal strain was isolated from “jamun” leaves and identified as Aspergillus tamarii. Temperature at 26°C for 67?h was the best combination for maximum tannase activity (6.35-fold; initial activity in Plackett–Burman design—15.53?U/mL and average final activity in Doehlert design—98.68?U/mL). The crude extract of tannase was optimally active at 40°C, pH 5.5 and 6.5. Moreover, tannase was stimulated by Na⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, and Mn²⁺. The half-life at 40°C lasted 247.55?min. The free energy of Gibbs, enthalpy, and entropy, at 40°C, was 81.47, 16.85, and ?0.21?kJ/mol?·?K, respectively. After total digestion, 123.95% of the original activity was retained. Results suggested that tannase from A. tamarii URM 7115 is an enzyme of interest for industrial applications, such as gallic acid production, additive for feed industry, and for beverage manufacturing, due to its catalytic and thermodynamic properties.