Cellulose ethers influence on water retention and consistency in cement-based mortars

Cellulose ethers (CE) are commonly used as additives to improve the quality of cement-based materials. As admixtures, they improve the properties of mortars such as water retention, workability, and open time. Also, polysaccharides such as starch derivatives are used to improve the consistency of the fresh material.The properties of cement-based mortars at fresh state were investigated. The effect of CE and their physico-chemical parameters (molecular weight, substitution degrees, etc.) on both water retention and rheological properties of mortars were studied. Moreover, some starch derivatives were also examined in order to better understand the water retention mechanisms.Rheological measurements showed that CE have a thickening effect for a content of 0.27 wt.%. Besides, a fundamental effect of CE molecular weight on mortar consistency and its water retention capability was highlighted. Finally, the comparison with starch ethers proved that, for those admixtures, water retention is not directly linked to mortar's viscosity.     

Integrated water resource management through water reuse network design for clean production technology: State of the art

This article considers new and existing technologies for water reuse networks for water and wastewater minimization. For the systematic design of water reuse networks, the theory of the water pinch methodology and the mathematical optimization are described, which are proved to be effective in identifying water reuse opportunities. As alternative solutions, evolutionary solutions and stochastic design approaches to water system design are also illustrated. And the project work flow and an example in a real plant are examined. Finally, as development is in the forefront in process industries, this paper will also explore some research challenges encountered in this field such as simultaneous water and energy minimization, energy-pinch design, and eco-industrial parks (EIP).     

Effect of moisture conditions and transfers on alkali silica reaction damaged structures

The aim of this paper is to point out the water driving effect on the alkali silica reaction (ASR) expansion and particularly when modifications of moisture conditions occur. After being submitted to a unidirectional moisture gradient during 14 months, the upper faces of ASR reactive beams were covered by water for 9 months. This late water supply on the upper face rapidly produced large expansions, which mainly occurred along the transverse and the vertical directions resulting in large longitudinal cracks. Companion nonreactive specimens were kept in the same environmental conditions in order to quantify the basic characteristics of moisture-dependent expansive behaviour of the material. The paper focuses on the effects of late water supply or late drying on already ASR-damaged concrete, which is a significant concern for real-life structures. Both structural effects of late water supply on ASR progress in already damaged structures and interpretation of such phenomena are described.     

超临界水氧化技术中有关设备腐蚀问题的研究进展

超临界水氧化技术是一种新兴的有机废物和废水处理技术。该技术是基于水的温度和压力均超过超临界值(673.3 K和22.12 MPa)时,水的物理性质发生迅速变化而得到的。此时超临界水拥有很强的溶解能力,是氧化分解难溶物质的一种理想均相介质。虽然目前该技术有很大的前景,但是腐蚀问题严重的阻碍了该技术的工业化应用。本文在对超临界水氧化技术的研究基础上着重对水溶液有关参数进行分析,希望通过调节有关参数来减小设备的腐蚀。其次,对超临界水氧化中耐腐蚀性的材料进行分析,以便研发出不同介质中的抗腐蚀性较好的设备。     

Water Sorption and Diffusion in Poly-(3-Hydroxybutyrate) Films

For improved understnding of the transport of low-molecular substances' in moderately hydrophobic polymers, the temperature dependence of water vapor sorption and diffusion in poly-(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) was studied for the first time. Equilibrium sorption and diffusion kinetics were determined by a quartz McBain's vacuum microbalance technique in the temperature range 303-333 K. The water molecule interaction with the polymer matrix was analyzed for wet PHB films by the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy technique. Water sorption isoterms are interpreted as a superposition of free water sorption estimated by the Flory-Huggins equation and water immobilized on car-bony 1 groups of PHB. The immobilization effect was described by a Lmgmuir-type equation. The dependence of diffusivity on water concentration was described in the framework of Fujita's immobilization model in which the growing function D _w versus C _w characterized the filling degree of carbonyl groups as sites of immobilization in the polymer. Enthalpy of free water sorption (12 kJ/mol) and water immobilization (42 kJ/mol) as well as the activation energy of water diffusion coefficients (71 kJ/mol) in noncrystalline areas of PHB were determined.     

Influence of hydrophilicity in micro-porous layer for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

Water management is one of the most important factors for improving the performance in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). The micro-porous layers (MPLs) in the membrane-electrode assembly provide proper pores and paths for mass transport, thereby allowing for the control of the water balance. In this study, a copolymer containing hydrophilic functional groups is introduced into the binder materials of the MPL instead of a highly hydrophobic binder. When 10 wt.% of the binder is incorporated in the MPL on the cathode side, the best performance is exhibited and the ohmic resistance is decreased. Although the charge transfer resistance at low potential is higher than that of the hydrophobic treated MPL, due to the flooding effects, the charge transfer resistance at high potential becomes smaller. This indicates that excess liquid absorption from the catalyst layer to the hydrophilic MPL occurs more strongly than in the case of the hydrophobic MPL. This may bring about an increase in the accessibility of oxygen to the active sites, because the excess liquid near the catalyst agglomerates is expelled as fast as possible. Consequently, the hydrophilicity control in the MPL has a positive effect on the water management in PEMFCs.     

The development road of ammonium phosphate fertilizer in China

Ammonium phosphate fertilizer is the compounds containing nitrogen and phosphorus that are usually produced through the neutralization reaction of phosphoric acid and ammonia.At present,there are a variety of products,such as slurry monoammonium phosphate (MAP),diammonium phosphate (DAP),industrial grade MAP,water soluble MAP,water soluble ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and so on.After more than 60 years of development,China's ammonium phosphate fertilizer industry has experi-enced the road of from scratch and from weak to strong.The successful development of the slurry MAP technology ended the history that the high concentration phosphate fertilizer cannot be produced by using the medium and low grade phosphate ore.The continuous,stable and large-scale production of DAP plant provides sufficient guarantee for DAP products in China.The development of new ammonium phosphate fertilizer products,such as industrial grade MAP,water soluble MAP,water soluble APP,pro-vides technical support for the transformation and upgrading of phosphorus chemical enterprises.In this paper,the production methods,the development history and the latest research progress of ammonium phosphate fertilizers were reviewed.     

Hydraulic lime mortars with siloxane for waterproofing historic masonry

Mortars with different content of hydraulic lime and aggregates of a siliceous and carbonaceous nature differing in grain size, were designed for waterproofing historic masonry. The repair mortars design was taken into consideration the physico-chemical properties of the original ones. The water repellency of the designed mortars was enhanced through impregnation with an oligomeric organo-siloxane provided optimum water vapour permeability; this is due to the siloxane coating the capillaries without blocking the pores, as indicated from the slightly modified pore size distribution. The grain size of aggregates and the binder content influence the performance of mortars. Mortars with coarse aggregates develop high mechanical strength; nevertheless, micropores interconnected with macropores are responsible for the low salt-decay resistance. Increase of the binding content enhances the mechanical resistance but decreases the resistance to sulphate solutions, as a consequence of the small capillaries not allowing for salt crystallization. The mortar with the best performance consists of medium aggregates and a binder to aggregate ratio equal to 0.33; pores around 0.2 μm of radius enable salts to crystallize without provoking damage from crystallization pressure. The selected mortar, after fourteen months of application to the masonry, shows neither microcracks nor efflorescence formation.     

The anomalous melting behavior of water in aqueous PVME solutions

The Wertheim lattice thermodynamic perturbation theory is used to predict the liquid-liquid and solid-liquid coexistence data for a model polymer solution. The theory predicts bimodal LCST phase behavior and an unusual step with composition in the solid-liquid equilibrium of the solvent.The theoretical solid-liquid equilibrium calculations are used to interpret experimental data obtained for aqueous solutions of poly(vinyl methyl ether) (PVME), which is known to show bimodal LCST phase behavior. An experimental method is proposed, employing Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to determine the equilibrium melting line of water in the presence of PVME. In addition, the complete melting line of water is obtained by partial integration of the melting endotherm observed using modulated temperature differential scanning calorimetry (MTDSC). Both, the FTIR and MTDSC methods are in good agreement, experimentally confirming the predicted step with composition in the solid-liquid equilibrium. This peculiar concentration dependence of the melting curve of ice provides a new explanation for the inhibited crystallization of water in aqueous PVME solutions, since the actual supercooling (at high polymer concentration) is smaller than it could be anticipated for a conventional course of the melting curve. Hence, the vicinity of the glass transition region in these highly concentrated polymer mixtures leads to a dramatic slowing down of the nucleation rate and thus the subsequent crystallization. Moreover, the atypical shape of the equilibrium melting line also provides a new explanation for the double melting endotherm observed in (MT)DSC experiments, which is conventionally attributed to the melting at different temperatures of bound and free water.     

A novel systemic approach to water resources optimisation in areas with limited water resources

Water is a constrained natural resource and in many areas of the planet water shortage is considered to be one of the most important issues to be resolved. This is certainly true for many Greek islands, where there is serious water shortage especially during the summer, thus hindering the development of the islands. The aim of the present work is to propose a method for the optimisation of water systems, i.e. the optimal water supply and distribution under conditions of water shortage, as they appear in the Aegean islands. In the water systems under consideration, the total demand as expressed by the users may exceed water availability. In this case, priorities between conflicting demands need to be taken into account. More specifically, the work describes the mathematical model that has been developed for the optimal allocation of water to various users from different sources with varying supply costs and water use values. Technical and environmental parameters are taken into account in the optimisation problem. Special emphasis is given to the implementation of the method in specific Aegean islands with water shortage. The novel feature of the work lies in the fact that it proposes an integrated framework for the solution of water resources optimisation, taking into account various problem parameters and thus resulting in important conclusions concerning supply sources, required infrastructure projects, water cost and value creating from the exploitation of water resources.     

过程工业水分配网络的研究进展

回顾了水分配网络的发展历程,介绍了水分配网络的用水网络和废水处理网络2个子系统的研究进展,阐述了图解方法、数学优化法等用水网络综合方法的发展状况,并对水分配网络设计中多杂质和热集成等方面的问题进行了展望。     

EHD-Enhanced Water Evaporation

The enhancement of water evaporation by electrostatic field (corona wind) has been experimentally evaluated in this study. Two sets of experiments were conducted, with and without cross-flow, at an increment of 1 kV from the corona threshold voltage until the occurrence of sparkover. Two types of electrodes (wire and needle) were used. In addition, both positive and negative corona discharges were applied. The weight loss of water due to evaporation as well as the ambient temperature and humidity were measured. For each case a companion experiment was carried out simultaneously under the same ambient conditions but without the application of electric field. The result of which is used as a basis in the evaluation of the evaporation enhancement using electric field. Each experiment lasted for at least 5 h. With the application of electric field alone, the enhancement in the water evaporation rate increases with the applied voltage. With the introduction of cross-flow, the enhancement in the evaporation rate becomes nearly independent of the applied voltage and is close to the result obtained with cross-flow alone.     

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy evidence of dimethyl-silicon-oil enhancing O2 transport in a porous electrode

Faster oxygen transport is critical to guarantee reliable power output of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). In order to enhance oxygen transfer in a porous electrode especially in the case of water flooding, water-proof oil (dimethyl-silicon-oil (DMS)) was introduced into the conventional Pt/C electrode. Owing to the capability of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in discriminating individual contribution of ohmic, kinetic, and mass transport from all PEMFC processes, EIS was carried out to evaluate the effect of the DMS on the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The equivalent circuits corresponding to the EIS spectra were employed. The parameters in the equivalent circuits were obtained by curve fitting to the EIS spectra with the aid of the frequency response analysis software (FRA) attached in the electrochemical station Autolab PGSYAT302. The EIS analysis has shown that the introduction of DMS reduces the oxygen diffusion resistance as well as the charge transfer resistance in the flooded state. The single cell tests show that even in the case of normal operating condition the accumulated water with PEMFC operation also worsens the oxygen transfer in the conventional Pt/C gas diffusion electrode (GDE) with more and more water produced at the cathode. GDE containing DMS, which is defined as a flooding tolerant electrode (FTE), is fortunately quite good at alleviating water flooding. Success of the FTE in alleviating water flooding is ascribed to (1) its high oxygen transfer flux due to the higher solubility of oxygen in DMS than in water as long as parts of pores are occupied beforehand by DMS rather than by water, and (2) enhanced hydrophobic property of the FTE with DMS adsorption on the walls of the pores, which makes more hydrophobic pores be open to oxygen transport.     

Experiences with Ozone Treatment Of Drinking Water in Yugoslavia

Ozone currently is being used in several drinking water treatment plants in Yugoslavia. The new Belgrade water treatment plant “Makis” is the largest one with 42 kg/h of installed ozone generating capacity and has been in operation since 1987. This paper describes the main features of ozone application in drinking water treatment. The experimental results of “Makis” pilot-plant investigations and a few examples of ozone application in Yugoslavia are presented.     

The Effects of Ozonation,Biological Filtration and Distribution on the Concentration of Easily Assimilable Organic Carbon (AOC) in Drinking Water

The concentration of easily assimilable organic carbon (AOC) as determined with growth measurements using wo bacterial cultures, increased linearly with ozone dosage at values below 1 mg O₃/mg of C. Moreover, a linear relationship was found between AOC increase and the decrease of UV absorbance of water after ozonation with various dosages. Biological filtration in water treatment reduced AOC concentrations, but the remaining values were above the AOC concentration before ozonation. This AOC removal was attended with an increased colony count in the filtrate. The AOC concentration of drinking water produced by the application of ozone in water treatment decreased during distribution. The greatest decrease was observed with the highest AOC concentration. Also in this situation, the highest colony counts were found. To date, ozonation is applied in seven water treatment plants in the Netherlands.     

前钢集团节水减排新模式研究概述

文章对前进钢铁水资源使用中存在的问题进行了分析,介绍了该企业节水减排采取的新举措,主要包括：中水回用、分级供水、串级使用、雨水回收。以上措施优化了公司用水结构、构建了取水、用水、排水三位一体的节水体系,开创了钢铁行业节约用水、减少废水排放的创新模式。该模式值得在钢铁企业推广应用。并提出节水减排是一项持续性工作,不断挖掘企业节水减排潜力对于企业生存发展具有重要意义,后期还可通过耗水设备72．x．艺方面进行节水规划。     

ON A SYSTEMATIC DESIGN PROCEDURE FOR SINGLE COMPONENT WATER UTILIZATION SYSTEMS IN PROCESS PLANTS

This paper presents a robust methodology to obtain an optimal design of the single component water/wastewater allocation problem in process plants. The method uses a concentration grid water allocation procedure to obtain preliminary optimal structures. A merging procedure provides the final structures. The use of different water allocation strategies shows that the problem has several alternative solutions.     

A pulsed field gradient and NMR imaging investigations of the water retention mechanism by cellulose ethers in mortars

The study presented in this paper is devoted to improve the knowledge on the influence of cellulose ethers (CE) on the freshly-mixed mortars water retention. Indeed, this crucial property is the most important imparted by these polysaccharides. One of the assumptions proposed to explain this phenomenon is that CE acts as diffusion barrier to the water. To test this hypothesis, the CE effect on the self-diffusion coefficient of water in solution and on the water mobility between two fresh cement pastes was studied by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. CE does not significantly modify the water self-diffusion coefficient in CE solution or in admixed cement pastes. Moreover the interdiffusion imaging experiments demonstrated that the water diffusion at the paste/paste interface is not affected by the presence of cellulosic admixture.     

Role of hydrophobic anode MPL in controlling water crossover in DMFC

The importance of reducing water crossover from anode to cathode in a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) has been well documented, especially if highly concentrated methanol fuel is to be used. A low-α membrane electrode assembly (MEA) with thin membrane is key to achieving this goal. The low water crossover from anode to cathode for these types of MEAs has traditionally been attributed to the use of a hydrophobic cathode micro-porous layer (MPL). However, it has recently been discovered that a hydrophobic anode MPL also reduces the water crossover, possibly even more significantly than a hydrophobic cathode MPL. In this work, we develop and use a 1D, two-phase transport model that accounts for capillary-induced liquid flow in porous media to explain how a hydrophobic anode MPL controls the water crossover from anode to cathode. We further show that a lower water crossover can lead to a lower methanol crossover via dilution of methanol in the anode catalyst layer. Finally, we perform a parametric study and show that a thicker anode MPL with greater hydrophobicity and lower permeability is more effective in reducing the water crossover.     

高层建筑中给排水节水技术研究

当前,建筑给排水与人们的生活息息相关,优质的安装施工质量和科学的管理是保障管网系统高效安全运行的必要条件.本文在分析探讨了生活给水系统,排水系统和节水系统后,提出在完善使用功能、外型美观的前提下,还必须重视节水问题.