The control of paracetamol particle size and surface morphology through crystallisation in a spray dryer

The parameters governing the crystallisation of paracetamol using various conventional techniques has been extensively studied, however the factors influencing the drug crystallisation using spray drying is not as well understood. The aim of this work was to investigate the crystallisation of an active pharmaceutical ingredient through evaporative crystallisation using a spray dryer to study the physicochemical properties of the drug and to use semi-empirical equations to gain insight into the morphology and particle size of the dried powder. Paracetamol solutions were spray dried at various inlet temperatures ranging from 60 °C to 120 °C and also from a series of inlet feed solvent compositions ranging from 50/50% v/v ethanol/water to 100% ethanol and solid-state characterisation was done. The size and morphology of the dried materials were altered with a change in spray drying parameters, with an increase in inlet temperature leading to an increase in particle Sauter mean diameter (from 3.0 to 4.4 µm) and a decrease in the particle size with an increase in ethanol concentration in the feed (from 4.6 to 4.4 µm) as a result of changes in particle density and atomised droplet size. The morphology of the dried particles consisted of agglomerates of individual crystallites bound together into larger semi-spherical agglomerates with a higher tendency for particles having crystalline ridges to form at higher ethanol concentrations of the feed.     

Reasons for breaking of chemical bonds of gas molecules during movement of explosion products in cracks formed in rock mass

The purpose of this study was to develop a physico-mathematical model and technique for estimation of chemical bond stability depending on electric field intensity of an external point charge. A hypothesis for a possible physico-chemical mechanism of the formation of additional harmful gases in the rock destruction by blasting was proposed. The theoretical basis of the hypothesis is the method of theretical evaluation of bond energy depending on the distance to a point charge, the third Coulomb centre. The quantum-mechanical model for calculating the electronic terms of molecules makes it possible to solve problems associated with the determination of parameters of molecules under the action of various physical fields on the system under consideration. The model was approved for some diatomic molecules. The discrepancy between the experimental data and calculated data did not exceed 14%, which proves accuracy of the obtained results. The model can be used in the field of research into the causes of gas-dynamic phenomena in underground coal mines, in studies of the degree of stability of nanostructured components of coal under physical influences, and in the theoretical design of new compounds and structures in the field of nanomaterial science and nanotechnology.     

Crystal violet dye sorption and transport in/through biobased PVA cryogel membranes

Cryogels based on poly(vinyl alcohol) [PVA] and three types of bioinsertions such as scleroglucan, cellulose microfibers, and zein, respectively, have been prepared using capacity of PVA to crosslink by repeated freezing–thawing cycles. The effect of the incorporation of biopolymers on the properties of PVA cryogel has been studied by using several techniques such as: scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and Fourier transform infrared studies. The obtained biobased cryogel membranes were subjected to sorption and to diffusion experiments using Crystal Violet (CV), a dye commonly used in the textile industry and in medicine. Image analysis with CIELAB system was used both to monitor the cryogels loading with CV and to gain insight in the dye state into the gel, in correlation with the bioinsertion type and gels morphology. Dye diffusion but also sorption capacity of the cryogels was found to be closely related to the type of biopolymer. In this article the equilibrium (sorption isotherms) and transport properties (diffusion and permeability coefficients) of CV, in/through physical cross‐linked PVA hydrogel membranes with bioinsertions has been reported. The highest efficiency for the CV removal from aqueous solutions was obtained for the PVA/Scl cryogels. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41838.     

发动机尾气余热驱动的吸附式空调系统仿真与测试

针对在高太阳辐射地区，柴油车驾驶室内使用车载空调会增加车辆发动机的耗油量、降低柴油车经济效益的问题，搭建了一套由发动机尾气余热驱动的吸附式车载空调系统。系统由填充有氯化钙/氯化锰/硫化膨胀石墨复合吸附剂的吸附床、蒸发器、冷凝器、储液罐和阀门组成，使用氨作为制冷剂，利用车辆在行驶时接触到的自然风为吸附床冷却，在发动机尾气余热的驱动下，为驾驶室内提供连续的制冷效果。结合仿真和实验测试，对所设计系统的制冷性能进行了分析，仿真结果表明，系统最优循环时间为45 min，系统的理论平均制冷功率可达3.5 kW以上，系统COP处于0.2~0.25之间。实验结果表明，在230℃的尾气温度条件下，系统能产生3 kW的平均制冷量。在40℃环境温度条件下，系统在蒸发器进出口处的平均温差为6.5℃，平均制冷量为3.2 kW。     

Comparative analysis of formaldehyde and toluene sorption on indoor floorings and consequence on Indoor Air Quality

Indoor surfaces may be adsorptive sinks with the potential to change Indoor Air Quality. To estimate this effect, the sorption parameters of formaldehyde and toluene were assessed on five floorings by an experimental method using solid-phase microextraction in an airtight emission cell. Adsorption rate constants ranged from 0.003 to 0.075 m·h⁻¹, desorption rate constants from 0.019 to 0.51 h⁻¹, and the partition coefficient from 0.005 to 3.9 m, and these parameters vary greatly from one volatile organic compound/material couple to another indicating contrasted sorption behaviors. A rubber was identified as a sink of formaldehyde characterized by a very low desorption constant close to 0. For these sorbent floorings identified, the adsorption rates of formaldehyde are from 2 to 4 times higher than those of toluene. Two models were used to evaluate the sink effects of floorings on indoor pollutant concentrations in one room from different realistic conditions. The scenarios tested came to the conclusion that the formaldehyde sorption on one rubber (identified as a sink) has a maximum contribution from 15% to 21% for the conditions of low air exchange rate. For other floorings, the sorption has a minor contribution less than or equal to 5%, regardless of the air exchange rate.     

Scandium recovery from raffinate copper leach solution as potential new source with ion exchange method

Raffinate copper leach solution of the Iran Sarcheshmeh copper complex has up to 3 mg/L scandium (Sc), which is significantly better than many existing sources, making it a possible source for the recovery of Sc using the ion exchange method. Visual Minteq software was employed to ascertain the ionic species likely to be formed under operational conditions in the mine and for selecting the suitable ion exchange resin. The cationic resin thus chosen was employed statically with ions-bearing synthesized solutions and statically/dynamically for actual copper mining raffinate solution. Room temperature and pH of 1.5 showed the highest Sc adsorption. The dynamic tests established the full saturation of the resin at 450 BV of the raffinate solution flow. Using sodium carbonate for elution, desorption of Sc, Y and Ce from the resin during static elution tests at constant duration was higher than that of Fe, Al and Cu. The results from the dynamic tests followed similar trends for the priority and the extent of the elution process. Desorption results from specimens of dynamic tests show a 60:1 concentration ratio leading to a 186 mg/L Sc-rich solution.     

Hydrogen sorption properties of V85Ni15

An alloy with nominal composition V₈₅Ni₁₅ was prepared in a vacuum induction melting apparatus. The chemical analysis of the sample showed a V (Ni) content of 82.63 (15.68) at% and small contaminations by carbon and aluminum. XRD measurements confirmed that the bcc Ni-V solid solution phase is the main constituent of the sample. However, a minor impurity (approximately 6.5 wt%) due to the precipitation of the sigma NiV_3-x phase is present in the sample.Hydrogen sorption measurements extending from 150 °C up to 400 °C in a wide pressure range (up to 90 bar) were performed. Upon hydrogenation below 250 °C, one observes the subsequent presence of an α phase and of two hydride phases with different values of dehydrogenation enthalpy: ΔH_dehydr = 21 ± 1 kJ/mol for 0.15 ≤ H/M ≤ 0.30 and ΔH_dehydr = 26 ± 2 kJ/mol for 0.53 ≤ H/M ≤ 0.59. Above 300 °C, there is no evidence of the formation of hydrides and only an α phase is present up to the maximum measured composition, with a hydrogenation enthalpy ΔH_hydr = 10.0 ± 0.5 kJ/mol.     

On metal desorption and brucite regeneration

The data on metal desorption from brucite surface under the action of acid and alkaline dissolvents are reported. The desorption process is found to associate with the regeneration of a sorbent along with the substantial improvement of its sorption capacity. __________ Translated from Fiziko-Tekhnicheskie Problemy Razrabotki Poleznykh Iskopaemykh No. 5, pp. 115–119, September–October, 2006.     

Intensification of ore concentration and sorption extraction of metals from technogenic raw material

A review of the research data on energy effect produced on the processing behavior of minerals and ores is presented. It is experimentally found that treatment of ores by accelerated electrons fosters the ore weakening and the selectivity of dissociation. Thermal modification of natural sorbents and ultrasonic effect application allow reaching the tenfold increase in sorption and kinetics of the mass-exchange processes and sorption technologies. __________ Translated from Fiziko-Tekhnicheskie Problemy Razrabotki Poleznykh Iskopaemykh, No. 3, pp. 129–139, May–June, 2007.