Cesium-adsorption capacity and hydraulic conductivity of sealing geomaterial made with marine clay,bentonite, and zeolite

Great amounts of soil and waste contaminated with radioactive cesium have been generated due to the decontamination work after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. The aim of this study is to develop a sealing geomaterial for use at the disposal facilities of the soil and waste constructed in the maritime environment. The geomaterial consists of marine clay, bentonite, and zeolite. The hydraulic conductivity and cesium-adsorption performance of the geomaterial were examined through laboratory tests with different proportions of bentonite and zeolite added to marine clay. It was concluded that the hydraulic conductivity could be reduced to the required level by increasing the amount of bentonite and that the cesium-adsorption capacity could be enhanced by increasing the amount of zeolite.     

A neck‐in model in extrusion lamination process

In this study, the experiment of the extrusion lamination process using high‐pressure process low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) was performed. The nonisothermal viscoelastic simulation of the extrusion lamination experiment was also carried out. The simulation results were in good agreement with the experimental data within wide range of take up velocity and air gap length. We developed the theoretical model based on force balance and deformation type of a film to predict the neck‐in behavior in the extrusion lamination or cast film process. It was suggested from the neck‐in model that the neck‐in correlates with the ratio of planar to uniaxial elongational viscosity. It was confirmed that the neck‐in model could predict the film edge shape and neck‐in properly for conventional LDPE. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2010. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Molded micro- and mesoporous carbon/silica composite from rice husk and beet sugar

A molded carbon/silica composite with high micro- and mesoporosity, as well as a high bulk density, was fabricated by activating a disk-molded precursor made from carbonized rice husk (RH) and beet sugar (BS) at 875 °C in CO₂. The pore structure of the RH- and BS-based carbon/silica composite (RBC) was analysed in relation to the bulk density. An activation time of 2.0 h provided the largest BET specific surface area (1027 m²/g) and total pore volume (0.68 cm³/g) and a low bulk density (0.54 g/cm³). An RBC that was first activated for 1 h was immersed again in BS syrup and then activated in CO₂ for 1 h. This two-step activation process provided both a high bulk density (0.69 g/cm³) and a highly textured structure (BET specific surface area, 943 m²/g; total pore volume, 0.56 cm³/g). The immersion in BS syrup was useful for improving the texture without reducing the bulk density, in comparison to one-step activation for 1.0 h. The suspension of the RBCs was basic because of the residual inorganic compounds of potassium and calcium. However, the basicity of the suspension was alleviated by washing the RBCs with water.     

Microporous activated carbons from used coffee grounds for application to electric double‐layer capacitors

Electrochemical double‐layer capacitors (EDLCs) are devices that store enormous amounts of charge electrostatically when a potential is applied between electrodes of very high surface area (typically made of porous carbon) and an electrolyte. Wider commercialization of this technology has been held back by the lack of ultralow‐cost electrode materials. We demonstrate that used coffee grounds can be processed to form low‐cost electrodes. The surface and electrochemical characteristics of microporous activated carbons from used coffee grounds (CGCs) were measured. First, optimal times and temperatures for carbonization and activation were identified on the basis of Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area, pore volume, and pore size distribution. Second, CGCs were used as polarized electrodes in EDLCs, whose capacitances were evaluated using cyclic voltammetry. The results show that carbonization for 1 h at 600 °C with a heating rate of 300 °C/h, followed by CO₂ activation for 2 h at 1000 °C, affords the highest BET surface area (1867 m²/g) compared to other works. The produced CGCs have many micropores of less than 2 nm across, which contribute to the formation of an electric double layer. Capacitors made using these CGCs show the highest capacitance (103 F/g) in 0.8 M (C₂H₅)₄NBF₄/PC as an organic electrolyte, which is much higher than the ∼80 F/g typically used in organic‐electrolyte‐based commercial EDLCs, suggesting that coffee grounds are a useful electrode material. © 2014 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Estimation of daily intake of phenols in hospital meal samples

Daily intakes of 12 phenols which are possible endocrine disruptors were estimated in hospital meals from 2000 to 2001. 4-Nonylphenol (4-NP (mix)) and bisphenol A (BPA) were detected at levels of 5.0 to 19.4 ng/g and 0.2 to 1.1 ng/g, respectively. 4-tert-Butylphenol, 4-n-pentylphenol, 4 -tert-pentylphenol, 4-n-hexylphenol, 4-n-heptylphenol and 4-tert-octylphenol were detected at levels of 0.1 to 2.4 microg/g. The daily intakes of 4-NP (mix) and BPA were 5.8 microg/day and 0.42 microg/day, respectively. The daily intakes of other phenols were less than 1 microg/day.     

Microstructure and Softening of Laser-Welded 960 MPa Grade High Strength Steel Joints

The microstructural evolution of laser-welded 960 MPa grade high strength steel joints and its effect on softening behavior of heat affected zone (HAZ) were investigated in this paper. The results show that microstructure of HAZ and fusion zone (FZ) is composed of lath martensite and bainitic ferrite. The microstructure of mixed grained zone presents strip-like characteristics and small block martensite distributes along the grain boundary. The grain size near the fusion line is about 25 μm, and the grain size in the fine grain zone is less than 5 μm. Microhardness of HAZ and FZ is lower than base metal. The soft zone locates in transitional region between tempering zone and mixed grained zone due to the interaction of the martensite tempering and the recovery and recrystallization of the rolled microstructure. Microhardness of soft zone is 310 HV and drops 18% compared to base material. Welding heat input has a remarkable effect on the width of soft zone and microhardness. The tensile properties of weld joints are closely related to the softening behavior of HAZ.     

Preliminary study of the tight lattice pressured heavy water reactor loaded with Pu／U and Th／U mixed fuels

To improve nuclear fuel utilization efficiency and prolong fuel cycle burn-up,a tight ptich lattice pressured heavy water reactor was investigated as an alternative of next generation of power reactors.It is shown that the high conversion ratio and negative coolant void reactivity coefficient are challenges in the reactor core physics designs.Various techniques were proposed to solve these problems.In this work.a tight pitch lattice and mixed fuel assemblies pressured heavy water reactor concept was investigated.BY utilizing numerical simulation technique,it is demonstrated that reactor core mixed with Pu/U and Th/U assemblies can achieve high conversion ratio(0.98) ,long burn-up(60GWD/t)and negative void reactivity coefficients.     

Morphologies of carbon micro-coils grown by chemical vapor deposition

The carbon micro-coils were obtained by the Ni-catalyzed pyrolysis of acetylene. The carbon micro-coils with various coiling morphology: regular double coils, coils built up by circular or flat fibers, super helix coils, single coils, etc. can be observed. The carbon coils with various coil diameters and coil pitches were obtained by controlling reaction conditions, such as reaction temperature, source gas flow rate of sulfur-impurity, acetylene or hydrogen.     

Decreasing the initial irreversible capacity loss of graphite negative electrode by alkali-addition

The effect of alkali function group contained in electrode binder was investigated. Carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC) improved the initial irreversible capacity loss in graphite negative electrode. Lithium acetate also improved the initial cycle efficiency. On the other hand, ethyl cellulose (EC) and hydroxyl propyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), which do not have a carboxylic group, did not decrease the reductive electrolyte decomposition. After charge and discharge cycle, the surface film composition on the electrode with CMC was less than on the electrode without CMC. This suggests that a carboxylic group in the binder acted as a catalyst and promoted the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation which prevents the excess electrolyte decomposition on the graphite electrode.