How green is green? Long-term relationships between green seeds and chlorophyll in canola grading

Chlorophyll is undesirable in canola seeds because it is extracted into the oil resulting in problems during processing and utilization. In the Canadian grain grading system, and in similar systems in use in the United States and Australia, chlorophyll is estimated in canola seeds subjectively by crushing and counting the number of distinctly green seeds in a sample while simultaneously assessing the overall natural color of the crushed seeds. Chlorophyll contents of canola may be determined by extraction with solvent followed by spectrophotometric analysis or by using NIR instrumentation, capable of operating in the visible region and calibrated against samples with known amounts of chlorophyll. The relationship between the green seeds and chlorophyll content in canola export shipments from 1988 to 2001 was found to be linear. The intercept, referred to as the background chlorophyll, ranged from 6 to 16 mg/kg, and the slope ranged from 300 to 1000 mg/kg per green seed. In recent years, both the background chlorophyll and the slope have been increasing, resulting in an increase in the chlorophyll levels in top-grade canola exported from Canada. The increase may be partly a result of the change in proportion of species of canola grown in Canada, and also may result from changes in perception of what constitutes a green seed. The use of an objective measurement of chlorophyll is recommended to improve the consistency of the grading system.     

Photoluminescence and LED application of β-SiAlON:Eu2+ green phosphor

We successfully prepared β-SiAlON:Eu²⁺ phosphors with composition of Eu_xSi_6?zAl_zO_yN_8?y (y = z ? 2x, x = 0.018, z = 0.23) by gas-pressured synthesis for application to LED. The crystal phase, microstructure, PL emission and thermal quenching properties were investigated in detail. The β-SiAlON:Eu²⁺ phosphors absorbed broad UV–vis spectral region, and showed a single intense broadband emission near 538 nm. The Stokes shift and zero-phonon line were calculated mathematically, and also estimated from the spectral data. The β-SiAlON:Eu²⁺ green phosphor showed superior thermal quenching properties compared to commercial silicate (SrBaSiO₄:Eu²⁺) green phosphor. The white light-emitting diode (LED) using the prepared β-SiAlON:Eu²⁺ green phosphor exhibited high color gamut, and good optical stability in high working temperature.     

Plastic forming and microstructural development of α-alumina ceramics from highly compacted green bodies using extrusion

High density (>99% TD) and microstructurally controlled α-alumina ceramics were produced from seeded nano-size boehmite (γ-AlOOH) sols with a very fine crystallite size (2–3 nm). A totally wet processing technique comprising vacuum filtering and pressure filtration (PF) was applied in order to increase the solids-loading of the sol and hence form an extrudable paste suitable for plastic forming using extrusion. High packing densities (>68% TD in the green state) are achieved by PF starting from the slurry state resulting in the formation of a consolidated paste which is further consolidated by extrusion. This combined processing technique was successfully applied, in an attempt to reduce the γ-Al₂O₃ formation temperature, and hence lower the θ- to α-Al₂O₃ transition temperature. The microstructure of dense α-Al₂O₃ bodies derived from seeded boehmite sol contains very fine (250 nm) alumina grains after sintering at 1200 °C for 2 h. Although the DTA evidence points to a θ- to α-Al₂O₃ transition temperature of 1208 °C for a seeded (with 30 nm TiO₂) sample, X-ray analysis indicates that a seeded, pressure filtrated and extruded sample is transformed to α-Al₂O₃ phase after sintering at 1100 °C for 2 h.     

Single-phase γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles synthesized by green ionothermal method and their magnetic characterization

The γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles were prepared by ionothermal method in ionic liquids. A wide range of maghemite particle sizes within the nanometer scale are obtained by this method. The structural and magnetic properties of these γ-Fe₂O₃ particles were studied by using XRD, SEM and IR. Magnetic properties of the prepared nanoparticles were evaluated on a vibrating sample magnometer (VSM). By changing the ionic liquids, particles with an average diameter from 5 to 10 nm were prepared. The size of the final particle decreases with the longer alkyl chain of ionic liquid in this method while the template is bounded to the particle surface. Also magnetic properties of the products change with different ionic liquids. A longer alkyl chain in ionic liquid causes an increase in the magnetic properties in this method.     

Soil aggregation and carbon and nitrogen stabilization in relation to residue and manure application in rice–wheat systems in northwest India

Soil organic matter (SOM), besides influencing carbon (C) transfer between soils and atmosphere, impacts soil functional ability and its response to environmental and anthropogenic influences. We studied the impact of continuous application of rice straw and farmyard manure (FYM) either alone or in conjunction with inorganic fertilizers on aggregate stability and distribution of C and nitrogen (N) in different aggregate fractions after 7 years of rice–wheat cropping on a sandy loam soil. Macroaggregates (>0.25 mm) constituted 32.5–54.5% of total water stable aggregates (WSA) and were linearly related (R ² = 0.69) to soil organic carbon content. The addition of rice straw and FYM significantly (P < 0.05) improved the formation of macroaggregates with a concomitant decrease in the proportion of microaggregates at all the three sampling depths (0–5, 5–10 and 10–15 cm). Macroaggregates had higher C and N density as compared to microaggregates. Application of rice straw and FYM improved C and N density in different aggregate sizes and the improvement was greatest in plots that received both rice straw and FYM each year. Application of FYM along with inorganic fertilizer resulted in a net C sequestration of 0.44 t ha⁻¹ in the plough layer after 7 years of rice–wheat cropping. Carbon sequestration was greater (1.53 t ha⁻¹) when both rice straw and FYM along with inorganic fertilizers were applied annually. It is concluded that addition of rice straw and FYM in rice–wheat system improves soil aggregation and enhances C and N sequestration in macroaggregates. This will help in sustainable rice–wheat productivity in the region.     

Sharkskin and oscillating melt fracture: Why in slit and capillary dies and not in annular dies?

The sharkskin and stick‐slip polymer extrusion instabilities are studied primarily as functions of the type of die geometry. Experimental observations concerning the flow curves, the critical wall shear stress for the onset of the instabilities, the pressure and flow rate oscillations, and the effects of geometry and operating conditions are presented for linear low‐density polyethylenes. It is found that sharkskin and stick‐slip instabilities are present in the capillary and slit extrusion. However, annular extrusion stick‐slip and sharkskin are absent at high ratios of the inside‐to‐outside diameter of the annular die. This observation also explains the absence of these phenomena in other polymer processing operations such as film blowing. These phenomena are explained in terms of the surface‐to‐volume ratio of the extrudates, that is, if this ratio is high, sharkskin and stick‐slip are absent. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2008. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Thermogelling polysaccharides for aqueous gelcasting—part III: mechanical and microstructural characterization of green alumina bodies

The use of gelling additives, such as polysaccharides, in colloidal processing provides adequate mechanical properties to the green bodies to be handled. In this work, the green density and the mechanical behaviour (stress–strain relationships, elastic modulus, bend strength and fracture mechanism) at room temperature of gelcast alumina bodies are studied, in order to establish the influence of the type and the concentration of additive. Furthermore, the previous concentration of polysaccharide solutions is also taken into account as an important variable. Agar, agarose and carrageenan were used as gelling additives. Values of the bend strength up to 4 MPa are obtained, significantly higher than those corresponding to slip cast alumina without gelling additives, and they increase with the final concentration of polysaccharide, while Young's modulus values are mainly influenced by the concentration of additive in the precursor solution. For bodies with a large final concentration of additive, extensive plastic deformation during fracture is observed.     

Processing of Al2O3/SiC nanocomposites—part 2: green body formation and sintering

Pressure filtration was used to form green compacts from aqueous slurries of alumina with 5 vol.% silicon carbide. Green densities of 64%TD were achieved for slurries containing a 50 vol.% solids loading. Lower green densities were obtained for a very fine alumina due to the practical limits on maximum slurry solids loading when using finer powders. The samples were dried in a purposely built humidity cabinet to limit sample cracking. It was found that a higher consolidated layer permeability gave a higher initial drying rate. Near fully dense (99% TD) nanocomposites were produced, via pressureless sintering at 1900 °C. Poor sintered densities were obtained in the case of the fine alumina because of localised sintering of these low green density compacts. The required intra/inter-granular nanocomposite microstructures have been obtained for several different systems, with an average grain size of approximately 5 μm. Abnormal grain growth was noted for samples containing the larger particle size silicon carbide. This shows that a maximum particle size limit exists when selecting the powders for a 5 vol.% nanocomposite.     

Output of Petroleum and Chemical Products in China in March 2005

ProdUCt MarChoutPUt Growth over000 tons Mar.,2004%January to MarchOutPut Growth over same000 tons Period of 2004,%5000256060605080﹁匆4040沙382,21. 44731__“_ _12 23,每--一-卜万550.515乐}O2030卯6010704800成27 八乙啥J.”21一7.308070…的O斗﹁2峨1朽‘娜器叩50﹁加一印性石怡拒 4129.71870访砧7.只钟生碑归事瞬_j使6 910 5*OQ~牛李_40 2.80一52031_6021.50一氏牛O_490一7.901李40夕汤6尸etr01eo爪bit自巾碑的OO一勺﹃二︺LPGCOke冷以furi杏aci诊(c峥nta)丽牙浮p归多日{笋口动53318.伯由认〕黔燕薰井鞘3621070…     

Liquid backmixing and circulation in rectangular downcomer

1 INTRODUCTIONDowncomers,employed in tray columns,are widely used nowadays in industrialseparation processes.They function as channels for the liquid phase to fall fluentlyfrom one tray onto its neighbouring places for the held-up bubble to separate fromthe liquid phase.It is well known that liquid flow patterns and mixing characteristicsin downcomers are closely related to the initial liquid distribution on the tray,andhence to tray efficiency.For a long period of time,little attention has been paid to     

Output of Petroleum and Chemical Products in China in February 2005

ProdUCtFebruary outPut000 tonSGrOWth OVefFeb.,2004% January to February outPut Growth over same000 tons Period of 2004,%Crude Coa!CrUde 011Natural gas(billion m3)Pyrite(eontaining 35%sulfur)phosPhorus ore(Containing 30%P205)CrUde SaltPaPer PulP0 11 Proeessed GaS0line Ke「osone 0 iese! Lubrjcatingoils Fuel 0115Petroleumb计umeoLPGCO油Su!furie aeid(containing 100%H2s04)12202 .7015.30一1 .10 7 .10 5 .00 0 .80 930 2 .10 7,50一158010.9033一8018.5070 00 30 20 20 90 50806 1 4 9 2 6 00…     

Output of Petroleum and Chemical Products in China in May 2005

25ST凡TIST!C忿峰OutPut滋翁熬越赔秘能达叹水鉴之蜜索毛轰ProdUCt MayOutPut Growth over000 tons May,2004%告二二言吕奋苦公昌盆盆盆二盆二二言石‘January to May OutPut Growth over same000 tons Period of 2004,% 一26 CHINA CHEMICAL REPORT〔R June 26,2005Output of Petroleum and Chemical Products in China in May 2005~~…     

BBCA Biochemical-Joys and Worries in Diversification Expedition

1. Start of new sectorsThe economic performance in the pro-duction units of leading products inBBCA Biochemical Co.,Ltd.such as cit-ric acid,edible oil,lysine and starch sugaris not very optimistic today.The capacity of citric acid in the com-pany is around 210000t/a,holding thefirst place in China.Nevertheless,the     

Static Generation and Control in Fiber Processing

静电是纤维生产及后加工过程中常见的问题。介绍了美国高尔斯顿公司在抗静电方面的研究与开发。     

Study on Adsorption and Diffusion in Zeolite

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Incorporation of α-tocopherol in marine lipid-based liposomes: in vitro and in vivo studies

Liposomes made from a natural marine lipid extract and containing a high polyunsaturated n−3 fatty lipid ratio were envisaged as oral route vectors and a potential α-tocopherol supplement. The behavior of vesicles obtained by simple filtration and of giant vesicles prepared by electroformation was investigated in gastrointestinal-like conditions. The influence of α-tocopherol incorporation into liposomes was studied on both physical and chemical membrane stability. Propanal, as an oxidation product of n−3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, was quantified by static headspace gas chromatography when α-tocopherol incorporation into liposome ratios ranged from 0.01 to 12 mol%. Best oxidative stability was obtained for liposomes that contained 5 mol% α-tocopherol. Compared to the other formulas, propanal formation was reduced, and time of the oxidation induction phase was longer. Moreover, α-tocopherol induced both liposome structural modifications, evidenced by turbidity, and phospholipid chemical hydrolysis, quantified as the amount of lysophospholipids. This physicochemical liposome instability was even more pronounced in acid storage conditions, i.e., α-tocopherol incorporation into liposome membranes accelerated the structural rearrangements and increased the rate of phospholipid hydrolysis. In particular, giant vesicles incubated at pH 1.5 underwent complex irreversible shape transformations including invaginations. In parallel, the absorption rate of α-tocopherol was measured in lymph-cannulated rats when α-tocopherol was administrated, as liposome suspension or added to sardine oil, through a gastrostomy tube. α-Tocopherol recovery in lymph was increased by almost threefold, following liposome administration. This may be related to phospholipids that should favor α-tocopherol solubilization and to liposome instability in the case of a high amount of α-tocopherol in the membranes. A need to correlate results obtained from in vitro liposome behavior with in vivo lipid absorption was demonstrated by this study.     

A novel green inhibitor for C-steel corrosion in 2.0 mol·L~(-1) hydrochloric acid solution

The corrosion inhibition characteristics of aqueous extract of seeds of Melia azedarach L.(MA) have been studied as eco-friendly green inhibitor for corrosion control of C-steel in 2 mol·L~(-1) HCl solution by gravimetric and electrochemical methods. The results depict that, the extract inhibits efficiently the corrosion of carbon steel in hydrochloric acid. The efficiency of extract is increased with increasing the extract concentration but independent on the studied temperature. The adsorption of the extract components onto the steel surface was found to be spontaneous, and follows Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The surface morphology of C-steel, in the absence and presence of MA extract in 2.0 mol·L~(-1) hydrochloric acid solution, was studied using scanning electron microscopy(SEM).     

Different kinetic in incorporation and depletion of n−3 fatty acids in erythrocytes and leukocytes of mice

n−3 PUFA are well known for their anti-inflammatory effects. However, there has been only limited study on the kinetics of incorporation and depletion of n−3 PUFA in immune cells. In the present study we investigated the incorporation and depletion of n−3 PUFA in erythrocytes and leukocytes in mice during a 6-wk feeding period. Over the first 3-wk period (the incorporation period) the mice were fed a special diet with a high n−3/n−6 PUFA ratio. In the following 3-wk period (the depletion period) the mice were fed a standard chow diet. A linear incease of the concentration of EPA and DHA in erythrocyte membranes was observed during the incorporation period, whereas a stagnation was observed after the second week for leukocytes. The level of EPA did not fall to the background level after the depletion period, and the level of DHA was kept almost constant during the depletion period in the erythrocyte membranes. In leukocytes the concentration of both EPA and DHA decreased during the depletion period, but did not reach the background level after the 3-wk depletion. In conclusion, the kinetics of EPA and DHA in the different cells are different. The rate of incorporation is faster than that of depletion for n−3 PUFA. More n−3 PUFA can be incorporated into leukocytes in comparison with erythrocytes. The ratio of n−3/n−6 PUFA is more important than the amount of n−3 FA in changing the FA compositions of membrane lipids.