Catalytic aminolysis of epoxide by alumina prepared from amine-protected Al precursor

The catalytic activities of alumina prepared from an Al alkoxide-amine adduct monomer for the reaction of cyclopentene oxide with piperidine was determined after various pretreatments, including calcination and exposure to moisture. They were compared with the activity of alumina prepared by the conventional hydrolysis method. It was found that the as-prepared sample from the alkoxide-amine monomer preparation was five times more active than a conventional preparation, suggesting that it has a higher density of surface Lewis acid sites. However, its activity was much more severely suppressed by exposure to moisture.     

Mass Transfer in a Flat Gas/Liquid Interface using non‐Newtonian Media

Gas/liquid mass transfer has been investigated using a stirred vessel gas/liquid contactor using non‐Newtonian media and carbon dioxide as absorbent and gas phase, respectively. The volumetric mass transfer coefficients at different operational variables have been determined. Non‐Newtonian media (liquid phase) were prepared as aqueous solutions of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose salt. The influence of the rheological properties, polymer concentration, stirring rate, and gas flow rate on mass transfer was studied for these liquid phases. Kinematic viscosity and density experimental data were used to calculate the average molecular weight corresponding to the polymer employed. The Ostwald model has been used to fit the rheological behavior of aqueous solutions of the polymer employed as absorbent phase. Reasonably good agreement was found between the predictions of the proposed models and the experimental data of mass transfer coefficients.     

A new mobile robot control approach via fusion of control signals.

This paper proposes an alternative approach to address the problem of coordinating behaviors in mobile robot navigation: fusion of control signals. Such approach is based on a set of two decentralized information filters, which accomplish the data fusion involved. Besides these two fusion engines, control architectures designed according to this approach also embed a set of different controllers that generate reference signals for the robot linear and angular speeds. Such signals are delivered to the two decentralized information filters, which estimate suitable overall reference signals for the robot linear and angular speeds, respectively. Thus, the background for designing such control architectures is provided by the nonlinear systems theory, which makes this approach different from any other yet proposed. This background also allows checking control architectures designed according to the proposed approach for stability. Such analysis is carried out in the paper, and shows that the robot always reaches its final destination, in spite of either obstacles along its path or the environment layout. As an example, a control architecture is designed to guide a mobile robot in an experiment, whose results allows checking the good performance of the control architecture and validating the design approach proposed as well.     

Kinetic Characteristics of Amino Acid Salt Crystallization in Methanol‐Water System

Nucleation and growth mechanisms and kinetics of crystals of an amino acid salt were investigated in a methanol‐water system by measuring and evaluating the induction time as a function of the supersaturation ratio and temperature in batch salting out crystallization experiments. Discrimination between the possible crystallization mechanisms, and estimation of the kinetic parameters were carried out using nonlinear parameter identification. The results concerning the growth mechanism obtained were checked additionally by measuring the induction time as a function of number density of seed crystals.     

Small–Capacity Modular Units. Experience in Startup and Management

A series of small–capacity units has recently been constructed in regions of oil field development and crude oil and gas condensate production to satisfy the requirements for such petroleum products as naphtha, diesel fuel, kerosene, and boiler fuel and to reduce costs for delivery of these products. There are almost no data in the technical literature, particularly in periodicals, on the construction and operation of small–capacity units. We attempt to generalize the experience of Orgeneftekhimzavody Trust in this area. We hope that this experience will be useful to specialists in the development and management of small–capacity plants.     

伊朗卡尔黑水利枢纽

伊朗卡尔黑多目标水利枢纽，首台机组于2002年9月投运。介绍了工程历史，并从导流系统遂洪道、渗漏控制和惟幕灌浆等方面介绍了工程的技术要求。     

Special Effect Pigments Based on Silica Flakes

A new class of special effect pigments based on synthetically manufactured silica flakes coated with metal oxides was developed and introduced into the market. Silica flake pigments show extraordinary color effects such as improved interference and strong angle-dependent behavior. They can be used in automotive paints, industrial paints, plastics, and printing inks.