A novel heteropolyacid-doped carbon nanotubes/Nafion nanocomposite membrane for high performance proton-exchange methanol fuel cell applications

A novel proton-exchange polymer composite membrane was synthesized using Nafion^®, tetraethoxysilane-modified carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and phosphotungstic acid-modified carbon nanotubes with the aim of using direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). Physicochemical properties of the modified CNTs and fabricated composite membranes were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, water uptake, thermogravimetric analysis, ion exchange capacity, proton conductivity and methanol permeability tests. It was demonstrated that chemical surface modification of CNTs and introduction of the phosphotungstic acid (PWA) groups effectively improved the performance of DMFC. It was found that the presence of PWA groups on the surface of CNTs led to the formation of strong electrostatic interactions between the PWA groups and clusters of sulfonic acid in Nafion^® macromolecules. Hence, the incorporation of inorganic phosphotungstic super-acid-doped silicon oxide-covered carbon nanotubes (CNT@SiO₂-PWA) into Nafion^® matrices enhanced the proton conductivity of the prepared membranes. Moreover, the methanol permeability was reduced to 2.63 × 10^?7 cm² s^?1 in comparison with the recast Nafion^® membrane (2.25 × 10^?6 cm² s^?1). Enhancing the proton conductivity and reducing the methanol permeability, the selectivity of the prepared nanocomposite membranes was enhanced to a greater value of 330,700 S s cm^?3 as compared to the value of 38,222 S s cm^?3 for recast Nafion^®.     

Improved passivity criterion in haptic rendering: influence of Coulomb and viscous friction

In this paper, a new criterion for passivity of haptic devices is obtained. This criterion creates a relationship between Coulomb friction coefficient, viscous friction coefficient, sampling rate, and the maximum simulated stiffness. The process of derivation of the passivity criterion is described in detail. This criterion is improved compared with other existing criteria and predicts passivity in haptic rendering more accurately. In particular, for speeds of less than 5?cm/s, the new passivity criterion should replace the previous criteria to avoid unwanted vibrations of stiff virtual walls. Analytical and numerical investigations are presented to validate the new criterion. A specific trajectory is designed and the movement of the haptic robot is investigated on this trajectory to validate and compare this passivity criterion with the previous criteria.     

Effectively designed shell‐tube heat exchangers considering cost minimization and energy management

Cost optimization, which is expressed as a set of analytical variables, is a key objective in economic design approaches of shell‐and‐tube heat exchangers. This study has provided new design techniques based on tube bundle effect on the economic optimization design of shell‐and‐tube heat exchangers. Also the objective of this paper is to develop the cost estimating for the new modified shell‐and‐tube heat exchangers by introducing new objective functions. According to the results the best configuration choice will obviously be the one with the least irreversibility, that is, with the lowest exergy destruction rate and lower annual capital cost. Also, the combined reduction of annual capital investment and operating cost by the new design technique led to a decrease in the overall costs of about 10% to 24% in comparison with original design. So the proposed design technique shows potential for improvement and economic optimization of shell‐and‐tube heat exchangers.     

NOx formation in post-flame gases from syngas/air combustion at atmospheric pressure

Species concentration measurements specifically those associated with nitrogen oxides (NO_x) can act as important validation targets for developing kinetic models to predict NO_x emissions under syngas combustion accurately. In the present study, premixed combustion of syngas/air mixtures, with equivalence ratio (Φ) from 0.5 to 1.0 and H₂/CO ratio from 0.25 to 1.0 was conducted in a McKenna burner operating at atmospheric pressure. Temperature and NO_x concentrations were measured in the post-combustion zone. For a given H₂/CO ratio, increasing the equivalence ratio from lean to stoichiometric resulted in an increase in NO and decrease in NO₂ concentration near the flame. Increasing the H₂/CO ratio led to a decrease in the temperature as well as the NO concentration near the flame. Based on the axial profiles above the burner, NO concentration increases right above the flame while NO₂ concentration decreases through NO₂-NO conversion reactions according to the path flux analysis. In addition, the present experiments were operated in the laminar region where multidimensional transport effects play significant roles. In order to account for the radial and axial diffusive and convective coupling to chemical kinetics in laminar flow, a multidimensional model was developed to simulate the post-combustion species and temperature distribution. The measurements were compared against both multidimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations and one-dimensional burner-stabilized flame simulations. The multidimensional model predictions resulted in a better agreement with the measurements, clearly highlighting the effect of multidimensional transport.     

A Rapid Quantification of β-Carotene in Fruits and Vegetables by Dispersive Liquid–Liquid Microextraction Coupled with UV–Vis Spectrophotometry: Optimized by Response Surface Methodology

A simple, fast, and efficient method consisted of optimized dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) followed by UV–vis spectrophotometry was developed for determination of β-carotene in fruits and vegetables. Chloroform and methanol were chosen as extraction and disperser solvents, respectively. The extraction process was optimized using a central composite design (CCD) with the optimum points of 115 μL for volume of extraction solvent and 6.5 % (w/v) for salt concentration. Under the optimal conditions, the relative standard deviation (RSD, C?=?500 μg L^?1, n?=?5), limit of detection (LOD), linear dynamic range (LDR), and coefficient of determination (R²) were 1.08 %, 2 μg L^?1, 50–1,500 μg L^?1, and 0.991, respectively. The present method consisted of a simple and fast sample preparation procedure without any antioxidant addition, saponification, and purification was used.     

Effect of OMMTs on flame retardancy and thermal stability of poly(ethylene‐co‐vinyl acetate)/LDPE/magnesium hydroxide composites

The aim of this study was to prepare poly (ethylene‐co‐vinyl acetate) (EVA)/ low density polyethylene (LDPE)/magnesium hydroxide (MH) composites applicable in cable industry with required flame retardancy. For this reason, two types of organo‐modified montmorillonites (OMMT) with different surface polarites (Cloisite 15A and Cloisite 30B) at various concentrations, and also combination of these two OMMTs with overall loadings of 2 wt % and 5 wt % were used. The samples were compounded using a twin screw extruder with total (MH + OMMT) feeding of 55 wt % and 60 wt %. Limiting oxygen index (LOI) of the samples containing 2 wt % of OMMTs increased about 16% and dripping was suppressed according to vertical burning test (UL‐94V). Thermogravimetric results of EVA/LDPE/MH samples containing OMMT showed that the beginning of second step degradation was shifted about 50°C to higher temperatures. The composite tensile strength results showed enhancement by incorporating some amount of nanoclays with EVA/LDPE/MH composites. Scanning electron microscopy images confirmed that MH particles had better wetting by EVA matrix in presence of nanoclays. Oxidative induction time of the EVA/LDPE/MH/OMMT nanocomposites was 140 min, which was more than that of the samples without OMMT (20 min). Employing the equal weight ratios of the two OMMTs demonstrated a synergistic effect on flame retardancy of the samples according to the both tests results (LOI, UL‐94V). X‐ray diffraction analysis of the samples confirmed the intercalation/semiexfoliation structure of nanosilicate layers in the bulk of EVA/LDPE matrix. This led to longer elongation at break and thermal stability of Cloisite 15A based nanocomposites. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40452.     

UVA-LED assisted persulfate/nZVI and hydrogen peroxide/nZVI for degrading 4-chlorophenol in aqueous solutions

Photocatalytic degradation of 4-chlrophenol (4-CP) using UVA-LED assisted persulfate and hydrogen peroxide activated by the nZVI (Nano Zero Valent Iron) in a batch photocatalytic reactor was investigated. The reaction involved a lab-scale photoreactor irradiated with UVA-LED light emitted at 390 nm. The efficiency of the reaction was evaluted in terms of 4-CP degradation and mineralization degree at different pH of solution, initial concentrations of nZVI, persulfate, hydrogen peroxide and 4-CP. In UVA-LED/H₂O₂/nZVI process, complete degradation of 4-CP (>99%) and 75% mineralization was achieved at pH of 3, hydrogen peroxide concentration of 0.75 mM, nZVI dosage of 1mM and initial 4-CP concentration of 25mg/L at the reaction time of 30 min. The optimum conditions obtained for the best 4-CP degradation rate were at an initial concentration of 25mg/l, persulfate concentration of 1.5mM, nZVI dosage of 1mM, pH of 3 and reaction time of 120min for UVA-LED/persulfate/nZVI process. It was also observed that the 4-CP degradation rate is dependent on initial 4-CP concentrations for both processes. The pseudo-first-order kinetic constant at 25mg/L initial concentration of 4-CP was found to be 1.4×10^?1 and 3.8×10^?2 in UVA-LED/H₂O₂/nZVI and UVA-LED/persulfate/nZVI processes, respectively. Briefly, the UVA-LED/H₂O₂/nZVI process enhanced the degradation rate of 4-CP by 3.67-times in comparison to UVA-LED/persulfate/nZVI process at 30min contact time, which serves as a new and feasible approach for the degradation of 4-CP as well as other organic contaminants containing wastewater.     

Cerebrovascular transit characteristics of DyDTPA-BMA and GdDTPA-BMA on normal and ischemic cat brain

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy of two nonionic T2*-shortening contrast agents, DyDTPA-BMA dysprodiamide injection and GdDTPA-BMA gadodiamide injection, as perfusion-sensitive MR imaging agents in normal and acutely ischemic brain. METHODS: The magnetic susceptibility effects of intravenous injections of 0.10-0.50 mmol/kg of each contrast agent were quantified on T2-weighted spin-echo images of cat brain before and after unilateral occlusion of the middle cerebral artery by measuring signal intensity changes in the same regions-of-interest in parietal cortex. RESULTS: In normal brain, DyDTPA-BMA produced a significantly greater loss of signal intensity than equimolar doses of GdDTPA-BMA. The magnitude of the signal intensity attenuation was dosage-dependent and proportional to the square of the magnetic moments of the two contrast agents. Restoration of baseline image signal intensity was observed within 30 min after each injection. However, injection of GdDTPA-BMA also produced a delayed, persistent hyperintensity on T2-weighted images, presumably due to its underlying T1-shortening effect. Following unilateral occlusion of the middle cerebral artery, unenhanced T2-weighted images failed to show evidence of cerebral injury for 1.5-3 hours. Administration of 0.10-1.0 mmol/kg DyDTPA-BMA shortened the time for detection of perfusion deficits (residual hyperintensity) in 22 of 36 (61%) treated cats, often to within 30 min after arterial occlusion. DyDTPA-BMA enhancement also improved lesion conspicuity in 26 of 36 (72%) cases, and disclosed very small infarcts that were not visible on T2-weighted precontrast images. Perfusion deficits in areas of partial ischemia were seen more clearly on DyDTPA-BMA-enhanced images than after equimolar injections of GdDTPA-BMA. CONCLUSIONS: Magnetic susceptibility contrast-enhanced MR imaging enables detection of perfusion deficits associated with acute cerebral ischemia well in advance of conventional T2-weighted spin-echo MR imaging without contrast. DyDTPA-BMA appears to delineate regions of ischemic damage better than GdDTPA-BMA.     

An operational matrix based on Chelyshkov polynomials for solving multi-order fractional differential equations

Recent advancement in learning and teaching methodology experimented with virtual reality (VR)-based presentation form to create immersive learning and training environment. The quality of such educational VR applications not only relies on the virtual model, but the 2D presentation materials such as text, diagrams and figures. However, manual designing or seeking these educational resources is both labor intensive and time-consuming. In this paper, we introduce a new automatic algorithm to detect and extract presentation slides in educational videos, which will provide abundant resources for creating slide-based immersive presentation environment. The proposed approach mainly involves five core components: shot boundary detection, training instances collection, shot classification, slide region detection and slide transition detection. We conducted comparison experiment to evaluate the performance of the proposed method. The results indicate that, in comparison with peer method, the proposed method improves the precision of slide detection from 81.6 to 92.6% and recall from 74.7 to 86.3% on average. With the detected slides, content analyzer can be employed to further extract reusable elements, which can be used for developing VR-based educational applications.