The partitioning of protease from Calotropis procera latex by aqueous two-phase systems and its hydrolytic pattern on muscle proteins

The protease from the latex of Calotropis procera was isolated by an aqueous two-phase system (ATPS). Polyethylene glycol (PEG 1000, 2000 and 3000) at a concentration of 12, 15, and 18% (w/w) with salts ((NH₄)₂SO₄, K₂HPO₄ and MgSO₄) at a concentration of 14, 17, and 20% (w/w) were investigated. The highest protease recovery (74.6%) was found in the PEG-rich phase of the system (p < 0.05), comprising of 18% PEG 1000 and 14% MgSO₄. Protein patterns and activity staining showed that the isolated protease had a molecular weight of ∼31 kDa without the oligosaccharide attached to the molecule. Degradation of muscle proteins in beef, farmed giant catfish, and squid was observed by the electrophoresis of sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel (SDS-PAGE). The degradation of myofibrillar proteins (myosin heavy chain: MHC and actin: AC) of farmed giant catfish was higher than that of beef and squid muscles as indicated by the degradation proteins with lower molecular weight.     

吸热燃料催化裂解研究进展

高超声速飞行是航空航天领域的最新前沿技术,是国家科技发展水平的重要标志。吸热燃料是实现高马赫（>5）超声速飞行器实际应用的核心技术之一,因而具有特殊的意义。本文介绍了吸热燃料的研究历程,重点从吸热燃料及其热沉、吸热燃料催化剂、催化剂的结焦以及催化裂解机理等方面对吸热燃料催化裂解进行介绍和评述。分子筛催化剂是吸热燃料催化裂解最具应用前景的一类催化剂,但同时也面临了吸热燃料原料的选择、分子筛骨架结构的改进和表面性质调变、催化剂结焦等基础研究以及催化剂负载、催化剂真实工况模拟等一系列工程应用研究双重挑战。吸热燃料催化裂解机理和动力学研究目前还很薄弱,未能真正深入到分子尺度把催化剂的微观作用与物质形态的变化有机结合,针对这方面的研究还应该大力加强,以更好地为催化剂的设计提供指导意义。     

Kinetics of asphaltene thermal cracking and catalytic hydrocracking

A pentane-insoluble asphaltene was processed by thermal cracking and catalytic hydrocracking over NiMo/γ-Al₂O₃ in a microbatch reactor at 430 °C. Kinetic analysis shows that the first-order kinetics fits the data of conversion in reaction times ≤ 30 min approximately, but deviates from the data of times over 30 min significantly; whereas the second-order kinetics fits the data of the reaction times up to 60 min adequately, to give the apparent rate constants of 1.704 × 10⁻² and 9.360 × 10⁻² wt frac⁻¹min⁻¹ for the two cracking processes. Furthermore, a three-lump kinetic model is proposed to include parallel reactions of asphaltenes to produce liquid oil (k₁) and gas + coke (k₃), and consecutive reaction from liquid to gas + coke (k₂). The evaluated value of k₁ is 1.697 × 10⁻² and 9.355 × 10⁻² wt frac⁻¹min⁻¹, k₂ is 3.605 × 10⁻² and 6.347 × 10⁻³ min⁻¹ , and k₃ is 6.934 × 10⁻⁵ and 4.803 × 10⁻⁵ wt frac⁻¹min⁻¹ for asphaltenes thermal cracking and catalytic hydrocracking, respectively. Selectivity analysis shows that the catalytic hydrocracking process promotes liquid production and inhibits coke formation effectively.     

Thermal catalytic cracking of buriti oil (Mauritia flexuosa L.) over LaSBA-15 mesoporous materials

In order to obtain a fuel with properties similar to diesel, the thermal catalytic cracking (TCC) of buriti oil was accomplished over LaSBA-15 mesoporous materials. In function of the Lewis acid sites and the unidirectional pore system of the LaSBA-15, this material presented good deoxygenating activity for TCC of the oil, resulting in a reduction of the oxygenate content in the organic liquid (OL) collected above 190 °C, obtaining as main product, a mixture of hydrocarbons similar to mineral diesel, called green diesel.     

Towards modelling production of clean fuels: sour gas formation in catalytic cracking

Although one important by‐product of fluidised‐bed catalytic cracking of hydrocarbons is the sour gas (mainly hydrogen sulfide), there are no kinetic models to predict its generation. Moreover, if feedstock sulfur is not directed to sour gas, it will be present in gasoline, cycle oils and coke. These products are used as fuels, which could emit sulfur oxides during their combustion. In order to be able to model production of clean fuels, a kinetic scheme that considers sour gas as unmatched product was developed; meanwhile, the sulfur distribution in cracking products is predicted. Model parameters are validated using industrial operating data. This kinetic scheme is employed to model steady state operation of an industrial catalytic cracking riser and to find operating conditions that diminish the sulfur content in fuels. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

A novel conceptional process for residue catalytic cracking and gasoline reformation dual-reactions mutual control

Based on the subsidiary riser FCC (SRFCC) process for gasoline reformation [Y.H. Bai, J.S. Gao, S.C. Li, C.M. Xu, Petrol. Process. Petrochem. (China) 35 (2004) 17–21, J.S. Gao, C.M. Xu, Y. Mao, et al., Petrol. Refin. Eng. (China) 35 (2005) 7–9], a novel conceptional process for residue catalytic cracking and gasoline reformation dual-reactions mutual control (DMC) was proposed and relevant experimental researches were carried out in a Technical Pilot Scale Riser (TPSR) FCC apparatus. The goals of DMC were to improve product quality and increase desirable product yield in residue catalytic cracking as well as in FCC gasoline upgrading. The experiments showed that the decrease of temperature difference between feedstock and regenerated catalysts in DMC by directly leading the cooled regenerated catalysts into riser reactor or feeding gasoline into riser reactor in vapor phase could decrease the amount of dry gas and coke and obtain a better quality of upgraded gasoline. Moreover, the spent catalysts still retaining high level of activity could be recycled to the base of the main riser reactor treating heavy oil and mixed with regenerated catalysts in DMC, it allows residue catalytic cracking to operate at high catalyst-to-oil ratio and the relatively low inlet catalysts temperature. The experimental results also showed that the mixed catalysts could improve the product selectivity in residue catalytic cracking, especially for light oil (gasoline and diesel). In addition, compared with the routine RFCC, the product distribution from the residue catalytic cracking in DMC contains more liquid products, less dry gas, and a better gasoline quality.     

Data analysis, modeling and control performance enhancement of an industrial fluid catalytic cracking unit

Considerable fluctuations were observed in the riser temperature of one of the fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit of a Southeast Asian refinery. This undesired occurrence has an adverse effect on the performance of the process unit. In the present study, several statistical tools are developed and then used, for the first time, for analyzing routine operating data in order to characterize the dynamics of the riser temperature and other critical variables that may be affecting the riser temperature. Subsequently, a first-principles-based dynamic model of the FCC unit is implemented to closely simulate the FCC unit under investigation. The model is validated by predicting the measured operating data of the FCC unit. This facilitated an in-depth study of the FCC unit, leading to the identification of several strategies for improving the control loop performance of the riser temperature.     

Effect of primary amine hydrocarbon chain length for the selective catalytic reduction of NOx from diesel engine exhaust

The effect of increasing primary amine hydrocarbon chain length on the SCR of NO_x from diesel engine exhaust was investigated and compared to ammonia. Methylamine (CH₃NH₂), ethylamine (CH₃CH₂NH₂), propylamine (CH₃CH₂CH₂NH₂) and butylamine (CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₂NH₂) were tested using a 12 cell mini core NH₃ - SCR catalyst cut from a 400 cpsi block. There is a steady decrease in NO_x conversion as the length of the hydrocarbon chain increases (from 50% for methylamine to 26% for butylamine). For the same number of carbons in the amine, primary amines are more active reductants than methyl substituted secondary or tertiary amines. For example, ethylamine (NO_x conversion of 45%) is more active than dimethylamine (NO_x conversion of 34%).Since the amines are reactive in the gas phase in the temperature range of diesel engine exhaust, gas phase conversions were estimated by replacing the mini core SCR catalyst with an equivalent length of quartz beads. There was no smooth transition in gas phase NO and NO_x conversions with increasing hydrocarbon chain length. The results suggest a different mechanism for gas phase reactions depending on the nature of the amine.     

烯烃催化裂解制丙烯分离技术进展

分析了烯烃催化裂解反应产物分布特点,提出了分离流程设计原则,列举了国内外各大化工企业研究单位在分离技术开发及应用方面所取得的进展。     

Surrogate-model-based,particle swarm optimization,and genetic algorithm techniques applied to the multiobjective operational problem of the fluid catalytic cracking process

Abstract

This article provides a concise multiobjective optimization methodology for an industrial fluid catalytic cracking unit (FCCU) considering stochastic optimization techniques, genetic algorithms (GA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO), based on surrogates or meta-models in order to approximate the objective function. A FCCU was considered and simulated in an AspenONE process simulator. In addition the article examines the claim that PSO has the same effectiveness (finding the optimal global solution) as GA, but with significantly better computational efficiency (fewer function evaluations). The optimization results obtained with the PSO technique, based on the evaluation of less functions and adjustment of less parameters, showed a 3% increase in yield of naphtha as compared to results obtained with the GA technique. Finally, the results of the optimization obtained with the stochastic optimization techniques were compared and analyzed with a deterministic one. The performance targets of the multiobjective operational optimization supported the FCCU design and production planning to ensure refinery profitability and a regulatory environment.     

The thermal cracking of soybean/canola oils and their methyl esters

Triacyl glycerides (TGs) are naturally occurring oils produced by a significant variety of crops, microorganisms (bacteria and algae), and animals (certain fats). The diversity and prevalence of the sources of these compounds suggest that they may serve as an attractive alternative to crude oil as the feedstock for the production of transportation fuels and certain industrial chemicals — organic compounds with carbon chain lengths in the range of C₇ to C₁₅. In the present study a series of batch thermal cracking reactions was performed using soybean oil and canola oil under reaction conditions leading towards attractive yields of potentially valuable (as fuels and/or chemicals) shorter chain products. An attractive yield of alkanes and fatty acids (from oil cracking) or esters (from biodiesel) was obtained. From a parametric study reaction temperature, followed by residence time, was found to have the most significant effect. Significantly, cracking under increased pressures in a hydrogen atmosphere did not improve the yields of desirable species.     

Application of the thermal DeNOx process to diesel engine DeNOx: an experimental and kinetic modelling study

Diesel DeNO_x experiments have been conducted using the selective noncatalytic ‘thermal DeNO_x’ process in a diesel fuelled combustion-driven flow reactor which simulated a single cylinder (966 cm³) and head equipped with a water-cooling jacket and an exhaust pipe. NH₃ was directly injected into the cylinder to reduce NO_x emissions. A wide range of air/fuel ratios (A/F=20-40) was selected for NO_x reduction where an initial NO_x of 530 ppm was usually maintained with a molar ratio (β=NH₃/NO_x) of 1.5.The results indicate that a 34% NO_x reduction can be achieved from the cylinder injection in the temperature range, 1100-1350 K. Most of the NO_x reduction occurs within the cylinder and head section (residence time<40 ms), since temperatures in the exhaust are too low for additional NO_x reduction. Under large gas quenching rates, increasing β values (e.g. 4.0) substantially increase the NO_x reduction up to 60%, which is comparable with those achieved under isothermal conditions. Experimental findings are analysed by chemical kinetics using the Miller and Bowman mechanism including both N/H/O species and CO/hydrocarbon reactions to account for CO/UHC oxidation effects, based on practical nonisothermal conditions. Comparisons of the kinetic calculations with the experimental data are given as regards temperature characteristics, residence time and molar ratio. In addition, the effects of CO/UHC and branching ratio (α=k₁/(k₁+k₂)) for the reaction NH₂+NO=products are discussed in terms of NO reduction features, together with practical implications.     

重油催化裂化吸收稳定系统降低液态烃C_2含量的分析

举例分析了重油催化裂化装置吸收稳定系统降低液态烃C2含量的可行性,对装置实际生产数据进行分析并提出优化方案,为装置生产创造经济效益。     

Growth of Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi inhibited by fractal silver nanoparticles supported on zeolites

Silver nanoparticles were dispersed on clinoptilolite zeolite. These materials were evaluated as biocides for Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi. Ag-zeolites were shown to be efficient in eliminating both E. coli and S. typhi present in nutritive media. Particularly, E. coli was eliminated at very short times. In the presence of a zeolite free of silver, bacteria use the zeolite to reproduce rapidly.     

催化裂化废剂的处置和再利用

本文介绍了国内外催化裂化废剂的处理和利用技术,为其处置和再利用提供参考。     

Solubility of Jatropha and Aquilaria oils in supercritical carbon dioxide at elevated pressures

This study investigated experimental equilibrium solubilities of Jatropha curcas and Aquiliaria crassna oils dissolved in supercritical carbon dioxide at temperatures of 318-338 K and pressures of 20, 25, 30, 35 MPa. The highest solubility of J. curcas and A. crassna oil were 29.8 and 28.4 mg L⁻¹, respectively, at 338 K and 35 MPa. The oil solubilities and the concentration of triglycerides both increased with increasing temperature and pressure. Triglyceride molecules surrounded by carbon dioxide molecules may be proposed since solubilities increased with the flux of supercritical carbon dioxide. The solubility of these two oils linearly increased with the density of supercritical carbon dioxide. Experimental data of the oil solubility were successfully correlated by the Chrastil equation.     

Removal of SO2 at low temperature using dead Bacillus licheniformis

In this paper we studied the adsorption and desorption behavior of SO₂ by the dead Bacillus licheniformis R08 biomass. The effects of water vapor, temperature and O₂ on the removal of SO₂ by the biomass were studied. FTIR and XPS were used to characterize the mechanism of the SO₂ adsorption on the biomass. The experimental results showed that water vapor and temperature deeply influenced the adsorption of SO₂ by the biomass. However, O₂ cannot oxidize SO₂ to SO₃ on the biomass. FTIR and XPS results showed that oxygenous and nitrogenous functional groups on the cell walls of biomass may be related to the SO₂ adsorption and three sulfur species were formed on the biomass in adsorption process. In the desorption process, weakly adsorbed SO₂ could be desorbed by increasing temperature and the biomass can be reused for 10 cycles.     

Simulation of thermal shock cracking in ceramics using bond-based peridynamics and FEM

The effects of moderate intensity ‘hot’ or ‘cold’ shock in brittle solids have been extensively studied, while much less is known about thermal shock response during large temperature variations. In this study, a combined finite element – peridynamics numerical procedure is proposed for the simulation of cracking in ceramic materials, undergoing severe thermal shock. Initially, Finite Element nonlinear heat transfer analysis is conducted. The effects of surface convection and radiation heat exchange are also included. Subsequently, the interpolated temperature field is used to formulate a varying temperature induced action for a bond-based peridynamics model. The present model, which is weakly coupled, is found to reproduce accurately previous numerical and experimental results regarding the case of a ‘cold’ shock. Through several numerical experiments it is established that ‘cold’ and ‘hot’ shock conditions give rise to different failure modes and that large temperature variations lead to intensified damage evolution.     

Imidazolium-substituted ionic (co)polythiophenes: Compositional influence on solution behavior and thermal properties

A series of ionic polythiophenes, in homopolymer and random copolymer configurations, is prepared via the Grignard metathesis (GRIM) polymerization protocol and subsequent substitution on the bromohexyl side chains with N-methylimidazole. The introduced structural variations – comonomer ratio, side chain composition, counter ions – allow tuning of the thermal properties and solution behavior of the resulting conjugated polymers. As expected, the solubility depends majorly on the number of ionic groups and the counter ions. The most peculiar behavior is observed for the P3HT-P3(MIM)HT-Br 50/50 random copolymer, which shows organization of the polymer chains in solution and thin film dependent on the preparation conditions. Dynamic light scattering studies confirm that the ordered solid-state structure is somewhat maintained when the copolymer is dissolved in a bad solvent mixture. The ionic (co)polythiophenes are generally more resistant to thermal degradation than their precursors. The precursor polymers all show a clear semi-crystalline behavior, with a decrease in crystallinity upon decreasing the number of regular 3-hexylthiophene units. On the other hand, the studied ionic (co)polythiophenes are fully amorphous. Changes in the counter ions have dramatic effects on the thermal properties. Bromine counter ions render the polymers strongly hygroscopic. The novel materials are of particular appeal in the field of organic photovoltaics, in which the imidazolium-substituted (co)polythiophenes can be beneficially applied as constituents of either active layers or electron transport layers. Their processability from green solvents is also of major importance for the field.     

New approach to the formulation of hydrogel beads by emulsification/thermal gelation using a static mixer

A new approach in the formulation of hydrogel beads by emulsification/in situ thermal gelation using static mixer technology is described. κ-Carrageenan was selected as the model hydrogel. The emulsion generated by a Sulzer SMX6 static mixer consisted of warm κ-carrageenan sol (1.5% w/w in water or ) as the dispersed phase, and ambient temperature sunflower seed oil as the continuous phase. Dispersion followed by in situ gelation of κ-carrageenan droplets was possible within a short residence time (1-) in the static mixer, under defined operational conditions, known as the feasibility region. This region was defined as the zone of operation conditions necessary to obtain discrete gel beads, within a defined range of κ-carrageenan solution injection temperature, volume fraction and total flowrate. The temperature boundaries of the feasibility region were determined by the κ-carrageenan gelation temperature and solution viscosity. The resulting beads had a Sauter mean diameter ranging from 350 to , which decreased with the increase of κ-carrageenan injection temperature, total flowrate and/or the number of static mixer elements. Theoretical values of maximal bead diameter and Sauter mean diameter were calculated on the base of critical Weber number, which was demonstrated through good agreement with the experimental values. It was demonstrated that an existing model for the prediction of gel bead diameter in a SMX static mixer is applicable for the new procedure described in this study.