Bagasse from the mezcal industry as an alternative renewable energy produced in arid lands

In the mezcal industry, the xerophyte Agave salmiana is used to produce mezcal, and neither the plant nor its residues have been studied before as an alternative source of fuel. Bagasse and wasted fibers samples from alcoholic beverage production were collected in order to find out their properties as fuel. Another sample consists in pyrolyzed bagasse at 450 °C to produce carbon. DSC results revealed differences in the heat of combustion values, where pyrolyzed bagasse (19.36 MJ/kg) had a higher value than bagasse (9.55 MJ/kg) or the fiber (8.4 MJ/kg). SEM images showed the morphological changes in the fibers after their processing. TGA analysis showed the presence of different alcohols impregnated on the bagasse, which allows for an increase in heat of combustion. With these preliminary results it can be seen that it is possible to use the byproducts generated by the alcoholic beverage production as an alternative source of fuel.     

Phase selection and microstructure formation in undercooled Co–61.8 at.% Si melts under various containerless processing conditions

The hypoeutectic composition Co–61.8 at.% Si was undercooled and solidified using electromagnetic levitation, electromagnetic levitation under a static magnetic field, electrostatic levitation and glass-fluxing. The samples generally showed two thermal events, either separated or continuous depending on undercooling. In situ monitoring of the two thermal events with a high-speed camera revealed a sudden decrease of dendritic growth velocities of primary phases at a critical undercooling of 88 K. Scanning electron microscopy studies of the solidified samples showed that the CoSi compound and the CoSi₂ compound nucleate as the primary phase for low and high undercoolings, respectively. The microstructure of the samples depends not only on undercooling, but also on the onset temperature or delay time of the second thermal event. Melt convection has no effect on the primary phase selection in undercooled melts, but it has a significant effect on the delay time and therefore on microstructure formation of the samples for high undercoolings.     

In situ synchrotron tomography estimation of toughening effect by semi-ductile fibre reinforcement in a tungsten-fibre-reinforced tungsten composite system

Tungsten-fibre-reinforced tungsten composites (W_f/W) are supposed to enable enhanced toughness owing to extrinsic energy dissipation mechanisms such as interface debonding and plastic deformation of fibre. In particular, the latter is an effective source of toughening, since ductile tungsten fibres can absorb a considerable amount of plastic work. For a precise evaluation of the toughening capability, the energy dissipation mechanisms need to be analysed in detail. To this end, single-fibre tungsten composite specimens are fabricated and the stress–strain behaviour of the tungsten fibre bridging a matrix crack is measured by means of in situ high-energy synchrotron microtomography during a uniaxial tensile test. Despite the high X-ray attenuation in tungsten, a sufficiently high resolution is achieved and clear images of crack extension and deformation are obtained. The amount of absorbed energy due to plastic deformation of the tungsten fibre is determined and compared with values obtained conventionally from single-fibre tensile tests.     

A review of phosphorescent and fluorescent phosphors for fingerprint detection

Currently, the efficient detection of fingerprints is essential for the crime investigations. Revealing fingerprints is commonly achieved with fluorescent organic compounds but they are not efficient for fingerprint detection on porous or reflective surfaces. In order to solve the problem of collecting fingerprints on porous/reflective surfaces, inorganic phosphors have been employed, since they have characteristics of variable color emission, afterglow, high chemical stability and nano-size, which allow the fingerprint detection on any porous or non-porous surfaces. Due to these last properties, this review presents a summary about the use of phosphorescent and fluorescent phosphors for the detection of latent fingerprints. First, we discussed the main physical and chemical characteristics of the fingerprints which permit their detection and collection from any surface. After this, we presented the main morphological, structural and luminescent properties of the phosphorescent and fluorescent phosphors that allow their use for fingerprint detection. Later, we demonstrated with pictures of fingerprints (with and without light emission from the phosphors deposited on them) that both, phosphorescent and fluorescent phosphors can be used to visualize fingerprints with high resolution and high contrast without interference of the background surface, which is ideal for its collection and registration in the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS). We believe that this review could be useful to understand how to select an appropriate phosphorescent or fluorescent material for fingerprint detection depending on the type of surface (porous or non-porous, reflective or not reflective) where the fingerprint is deposited.     

Characteristics of Staphylococcus hyicus strains isolated from pig carcasses in two different slaughterhouses

In a previous study, we showed that coagulase positive staphylococci, which are often used as indicators for Staphylococcus aureus, are frequently found on pig carcasses. Further characterization of the strains identified only a minor part as S. aureus. Selected non-S. aureus strains were all identified as Staphylococcus hyicus, However, two studies described in this species strains that produce staphylococcal enterotoxins. The aim of the present study was to further characterize such coagulase positive S. hyicus strains isolated from pig carcasses and to assess the results for their food safety relevance. A total of 189 strains from two abattoirs were characterized. Phenotypically, 98.9% showed non-pigmented colonies, 99.5% no haemolysis and 67.7% were egg yolk-positive. DNase activity was found in all but one isolate. Only five of the 189 strains were resistant to the antimicrobials tested. One strain harboured the mecA gene. Exfoliative toxin genes were detected in 31 (16.4%), S. aureus enterotoxin genes in none of the strains.The PFGE genotyping results show only a limited number of clusters. Cluster I included more than 50% of the strains. The fact that similar or closely related PFGE patterns of S. hyicus can be found on carcasses after bleeding in both abattoirs indicates the occurrence of widespread strains in the Swiss pig population. Moreover, the genotyping results revealed a remarkable homogeneity in S. hyicus strains isolated from different process stages in abattoir B, which could indicate a recontamination problem with persisting strains.     

THE COLLOIDAL STRUCTURE OF CRUDE OILS AND SUSPENSIONS OF ASPHALTENES AND RESINS

ABSTRACT

A better understanding of colloidal macrostructure of the heavy petroleum products and their complex fractions is of great importance in the context of industrial problems that arise during the crude oil production, refining and transport. Much effort has been devoted to the chemical structure studies, but there is a need for more precise data regarding parameters that characterize those complex systems. For instance, the molecular weight of heavy molecules, the composition and size of aggregates formed during the industrial processing and their evolution upon the variation of temperature, pressure and with the addition of solvent have not been well known. In this paper we present new results obtained using several powerful techniques. Scattering methods (using X-rays and neutrons) are applied to study both the fractionated products (asphaltene and resin solutions in more or less good solvents) and the real systems (Safaniya vacuum residue). The lamellar structural model for asphaltenes and resins is confirmed and the molecular weight of these species determined using a polydisperse size distribution. Discussion is presented concerning the specificity of X-ray and neutron scattering : X-ray experiments are more sensitive to the aromatic-rich regions, whereas the neutron scattering data provide information about all the particle volume. Viscosimetry measurements provide information on the molecular shape of asphaltene and confirm the disk-like model. Critical micellar concentration has been obtained using Vapour Pressure Osmometry (VPO) for asphaltene suspensions in toluene and in pyridine. The resin molecules are smaller than asphaltenes, and appear to be a good solvent for asphaltenes. One of the major conclusions of this work is the wide-spread presence of density heterogeneities in diluted solutions of asphaltenes and resins as well as in the pure product (Safaniya vacuum residue). This was deduced from the scattering experiments and cryo-scanning electron microscopy data. The heating effects. were studied: a temperature increase leads to the decrease of molecular weight, but heterogeneities remain present. The structure of vacuum residue exhibits large density fluctuations which are thermally stable. These dense regions remain connected into a network up to 393°K and determine the yield value of the rheological behaviour.     

Polarity determination of III-V compound semiconductors by large-angle convergent beam electron diffraction

The large-angle convergent beam electron diffraction (LACBED) technique is used for determining the crystal polarity of GaP and GaAs single crystals from < 1 1 0 > cross-sectional samples. The method which is based on an earlier approach using convergent beam electron diffraction (CBED) evaluates the polarity-sensitive contrast of high odd-index Bragg-lines in [0 0 2] dark-field patterns. The polarity is determined by application of a simple contrast rule as well as by direct comparison with dynamical simulations. For the two materials the ranges of applicability are determined by a detailed analysis of the Bragg-line contrast as a function of the sample thickness. The coexistence of the Bragg-line pattern and the of shadow image of the defect in correct rotational relationship to each other makes the analysis straightforward and free from possible sources of errors. As an example, the crystal polarity of GaP is related to the morphology of facetted voids. The LACBED method is shown to be suitable for relating the analysis of extended crystal defects. The advantages and the disadvantages of the LACBED method are discussed in comparison with the corresponding CBED method and with a recent method based on the analysis of bend contours.     

On size and technological effects in fatigue analysis and prediction of engineering materials and components

Analytical approaches concerning size, stress gradient and technological effects such as surface roughness and residual stresses induced during manufacturing processes are presented and discussed in this paper. Their implementation into the Short-Crack-Model for fatigue-life (lifetime to initiation of cracks of a size of 0.5–1 mm) prediction of engineering components subjected to cyclic loading is explained in detail. The procedures to consider the aforementioned effects are demonstrated by using an example of a forged and tempered steering shaft made of low-alloyed steel subjected to variable amplitude bend loading. The corresponding experimental results are used to check the accuracy of the analytical fatigue-life prediction. The comparison between analytically calculated and experimentally determined fatigue-life values emphasises the significance of technological effects (surface roughness, residual stresses) on fatigue-life estimation and the usefulness of the Short-Crack-Model for fatigue-resistant design of engineering components.     

A mechanical analysis of the plane strain channel-die compression test: friction effects in hot metal testing

An analytical model is first proposed for the determination of a friction-corrected flow stress in channel-die compression. A variational approach is then used for estimating the strain and strain-rate heterogeneities as well as the shape changes during deformation for two specimen geometries. The results are compared with finite element calculations. Results obtained from the two methods are in good agreement, except for the outer profiles of the deformed specimens. Finally, the various components of the powers involved in the deformation process are compared.     

An NMR study of sorption-diffusion properties of MF-4SK-carbon composite membranes in aqueous methanol solutions

The distribution of water and methanol and their self-diffusion coefficients (SDCs) in carbon-doped MF-4SK perfluorinated membranes have been studied by NMR. It has been shown that at a concentration of 12–35 wt % in the external solution, the methanol concentration inside the membrane is higher by a factor of 1.4–2 than that in the external solution and increases with increasing the carbon phase content. It has been found that SDC values for water and methanol in the membrane decrease with an increase in the C phase content. In a membrane with 23 wt % C, the SDC of methanol is reduced by a factor of 1.6. It has been shown that the SDC of methanol in these membranes is below that of water by a factor of 1.5. The activation energies of self-diffusion of water and methanol have been determined. It has been found that they remain almost unaffected by the C content and have close values of 19–20 kJ/mol, which are 2–4 kJ/mol above the activation energy of self-diffusion of pure water in these membranes.