Effect of process variables on product yield distribution in thermal catalytic cracking of naphtha to light olefins over Fe/HZSM-5

The effect of temperature, WHSV and Fe loading over HZSM-5 catalyst in thermal-catalytic cracking (TCC) of naphtha for the production of light olefins has been studied. The response surface defined by three most significant parameters is obtained from Box-Behnken design method and the optimal parameter set is found. The results show that ethylene increases with temperature, while propylene shows an optimum at 650 °C. Moderate WHSV is favorable for maximum production of light olefins. Addition of Fe to HZSM-5 has a favorable effect on the production of light olefins up to 6% of loading. Excess amount of loading decreases the conversion of naphtha, which leads to a drop in light olefin yields. The yield of light olefins (ethylene and propylene) at 670 °C, 44 hr⁻¹ and 6 wt% Fe has been increased to 5.43 wt% compared to the unmodified HZSM-5 and reaches to 42.47 wt%.     

Substituent effects of iron porphyrins: Structural, kinetic, and theoretical studies

Substituent effects of iron porphyrin complexes on the structures and kinetic processes have been examined for the first time. Basing on the premise that iron porphyrin is functional analogous to heme, a series of iron porphyrin derivatives bearing different substituents at the meso positions of the corrole ring are investigated as to their electrochemistry, the relationships among the electron transfer (ET) processes, their structures, and orbital energies. The good coherence between the experiment and theory indicates that the ET rate can be accelerated when electron-donating substituents are introduced to the iron porphyrin ring. Finally, the implications of the results are discussed in the influence of stability of iron porphyrin complexes on the ability to carry molecular oxygen, which may suggest it possible to dominate the biological activity of heme by selecting the appropriate substituents to iron porphyrin ring.     

Fabrication and modification of polyvinylchloride based heterogeneous cation exchange membranes by simultaneously using Fe-Ni oxide nanoparticles and Ag nanolayer: Physico-chemical and antibacterial characteristics

Polyvinylchloride-blend-styrene butadiene rubber based nanocomposite cation exchange membranes were prepared by solution casting technique. Iron-oxide nanoparticles and Ag-nanolayer were simultaneously utilized as filler and surface modifier in membrane fabrication. The effects of Ag-nanolayer film thickness on membrane physicochemical and antibacterial characteristics of nanocomposite PVC-blend-SBR/Iron-oxide nanoparticles were studied. SEM images showed membrane roughness decreasing by Ag nanolayer thickness increasing. Membrane charge density and selectivity declined by Ag nanolayer coating up to 5 nm in membranes and then showed increasing trend by more nanolayer thickness. Ionic flux also showed increasing trend. Membranes showed good ability in E-Coli removal. 20 nm Ag-nanolayer coated membrane showed better performance compared to others.     

Preparation of micrometer‐sized,multifunctional capsule particles for cosmetic by microsuspension polymerization utilizing the self‐assembling of phase separated polymer method

Micrometer‐sized polymer particles with encapsulated ultraviolet (UV) absorbent, fluorescent agent, and blue pigment were successfully prepared by microsuspension polymerization utilizing the Self‐assembling of Phase Separated Polymer method. The particles were characterized by optical microscope and particle size distribution analysis, and they were evaluated on their usefulness for cosmetic using UV spectrometry, colorimetry, VISIA? Evolution, and bioassay. The capsule particles had multifunctional properties, which are very attractive in the cosmetic field, especially in whitening, brightening, the improvement of face‐texture, and less noticeable pores in face, as well as the protection from UV. Moreover, bioactivities of the particles under the UV irradiation, which were examined with the films prepared from capsule components, revealed not only makeup effect but also the activation of human epidermal keratinocytes. The results suggest the importance of blue light in the field of cosmetics. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Biosynthesis,characterization and cytotoxic activity of CeO2 nanoparticles

Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO₂-NPs) have been biosynthesized using the aqueous extract of aerial parts of Prosopis farcta. This plant contains phenolic compounds that function as reducing and capping agents. Biosynthesized particles have been characterized through the use of UV–vis, PXRD, TEM, FESEM, EDX, Raman and FTIR analysis. The UV–vis spectrum clearly showed absorption peak at 317?nm, which indicated the formation of spherical CeO₂-NPs. It displayed in the FESEM and TEM images that the biosynthesized particles are uniformly and spherically shaped with a size of about 30?nm, while the EDX has clearly shown that only the elements Ce and O are present in the biosynthesized sample. Moreover, the Raman spectrum of synthesized nanoparticles has displayed a Ce-O stretching band at a measurement of 459?cm^?1. The cytotoxic activity of biosynthesized nanoparticles against the HT-29 cancer cell line was studied using the MTT assay. All the concentrations of CeO₂-NPs (0–800?µg/ml) showed non-toxic effects and thus, it can be suggested that these nanoparticles have the potential of being utilized in various fields of medicine, such as drug delivery.     

Studies of Micromechanical Deformation Processes in Particle-Filled Glassy Polymer

The deformation behavior of rubber-toughened polymer, which was prepared by incorporating soft, core-shell rubbery particles into a glassy polymer such as poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), has been investigated by means of mechanical tests, optical monitoring (OM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). By mechanical testing, the neat PMMA reveals a 2% strain with high yield stress. After inclusion of 17.5 and 35 vol%rubber particles, the softened-PMMA samples exhibit corresponding strain of 20% and 38%, showing an increase of strain along with the relative decrease of yield stress, resulting in a toughening behavior of PMMA. Clear shear bands and stress whitening develop in the rubber-toughened PMMA after deformation, as observed by OM. Investigation by SEM shows crazes/cracks in the stretched, rubber-softened PMMA samples in which the core-shell particles are found to be cavitated. The mechanism of this deformation has been explained based on the void formation in the rubbery shell as well as the initiation and propagation of crazing.     

油基钻井液用纳米材料CQ-NZC的封堵性能评价

封堵性是油基钻井液的一个重要评价指标,提高油基钻井液的封堵性有助于井壁稳定,促进快速安全钻井.本文通过使用砂芯漏斗来模拟页岩的微裂缝,建立了一种新的评价油基钻井液封堵性能的方法,利用该方法对自制的纳米材料CQ-NZC在钻井液封堵性及其与氧化沥青封堵剂的复合作用开展了实验研究.结果表明,CQ-NZC在与沥青类封堵剂复配使用时,能够更好地降低滤失量、提高封堵性能.通过微观形态分析发现,CQ-NZC与沥青类封堵剂可以在一定程度上聚结,形成堵孔粒子,提升了钻井液体系的封堵性能.     

Sabbatical leave: Who gains and how much?

A rigorous quasi-experiment tested the ameliorative effects of a sabbatical leave, a special case of respite from routine work. We hypothesized that (a) respite increases resource level and well-being and (b) individual differences and respite features moderate respite effects. A sample of 129 faculty members on sabbatical and 129 matched controls completed measures of resource gain, resource loss, and well-being before, during, and after the sabbatical. Among the sabbatees, resource loss declined and resource gain and well-being rose during the sabbatical. The comparison group showed no change. Moderation analysis revealed that those who reported higher respite self-efficacy and greater control, were more detached, had a more positive sabbatical experience, and spent their sabbatical outside their home country enjoyed more enhanced well-being than others. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Maternal High‐Fat‐Diet Programs Rat Offspring Liver Fatty Acid Metabolism

In offspring exposed in utero to a maternal diet high in fat (HF), we have previously demonstrated that despite similar birth weights, HF adult offspring at 6 months of age had significantly higher body weights, greater adiposity, and increased triacylglycerol (TAG) levels as compared to controls. We hypothesized that a maternal HF diet predisposes to offspring adiposity via a programmed increase in the synthesis of monounsaturated fatty acids in the liver and hence increased substrate availability for liver TAG synthesis. We further hypothesized that programmed changes in offspring liver fatty acid metabolism are associated with increased liver expression of the lipogenic enzyme stearoyl‐CoA desaturase‐1 (SCD‐1). Female rats were maintained on a HF diet rich in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) prior to and throughout pregnancy and lactation. After birth, newborns were nursed by the same dam, and all offspring were weaned to control diet. Plasma and liver fatty acid compositions were determined using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Fatty acid C16 desaturation indices of palmitoleic/palmitic and (vaccenic + palmitoleic)/palmitic and the C18 desaturation index of oleic/stearic were calculated. Liver protein abundance of SCD‐1 was analyzed in newborns and adult offspring. Plasma and liver C16 desaturation indices were decreased in HF newborns, but increased in the adult offspring. Liver SCD‐1 expression was increased in the HF adult offspring. These data show that the maternal HF diet during pregnancy and lactation increases offspring liver SCD‐1 protein abundance and alters the liver C16 desaturase pathway.