Numerical simulation of particle breakage in dry impact pulverizer

A novel method to simultaneously simulate particle motion and its breakage in a dry impact pulverizer was developed. The motion of particles in the pulverizer was calculated using a discrete phase model (DPM)‐computational fluid dynamics (CFD) coupling model. When the particle impacts against a vessel wall, impact stress acting on the particle is calculated from Hertz's theory as a function of the impact velocity. At the same time, the particle strength as a function of the particle size is calculated from Griffith's theory. If the impact stress is larger than the particle strength, the particle is broken and replaced with smaller fragments. The size distribution of the fragments is obtained from a breakage function proposed. The motion of the fragments is calculated again by using the DPM‐CFD coupling model. By repeating the above calculations over the whole particles, the grinding phenomenon can be simulated. The calculated results showed good agreement with the experimental one, and validity of the proposed method was confirmed. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 59: 3601–3611, 2013     

Characterization of alternative plasticizers in poly(vinyl chloride) sheets for blood containers

This study aimed to optimize the ratio of dioctyl 4‐cyclohexene‐1,2‐dicarboxylate (DOTH) and di‐isononyl‐cyclohexane‐1,2‐dicarboxylate (DINCH^®) for use as plasticizers in poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) sheets. We also evaluated the biological safety of DOTH for its potential to be part of a safe PVC‐based blood container. The suppression of hemolysis in mannitol‐adenine‐phosphate / red cell concentrates (MAP/RCC) with DOTH/(DINCH^®‐PVC) sheets and the elution of plasticizers from the sheets increased with higher DOTH compositions. The properties of the PVC sheet containing DOTH and DINCH^® in the ratio of 25:33 parts against PVC 100 parts as a weight were almost identical to the PVC sheet made of di(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate. From a subchronic toxicity test, DOTH did not show any adverse effects on all organs, including the testes, epididymis, liver, and kidneys. The no‐observed‐adverse‐effect level was 300 mg/kg body weight/day in a rat. These results suggest that DOTH/DINCH^® (25:33) is a promising candidate for the replacement of di(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate in blood containers. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 22:520–528, 2016. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Direct Observation of the Collection Process for Dust Particles from an Air Stream by a Charged Water Droplet

One of the most effective precipitation methods for submicrometer particles is the charged droplet scrubber. The dust collection in the charged droplet scrubber is considered to consist of some processes with respect to the interaction between charged dust particles and a charged water droplet. That is, the charged dust particles are attracted to, collide with, adhere to, penetrate into, rebound from, accumulate on, and reentrain from a charged water droplet. The direct observation of the collection process for dust particles by a charged water droplet was conducted by using the experimental setup designed by the authors. It was found from the experiments that particles with good wettability were captured inside the water droplet, particles with poor wettability floated at regular intervals on the droplet surface, and particles with medium wettability were trapped on or inside the water droplet. When particles were trapped on the droplet surface the growth of dendritic depositions was found, and their behavior was very distinct from those obtained on the fibrous filter due to the fluidity of the droplet surface. The deposition mechanisms of charged particles on the charged water droplet are discussed qualitatively.     

Simulation of thermophysical flow in axisymmetric nozzle with expansion chamber

Axisymmetric nozzle flows with a free‐jet expansion are simulated considering several substances and several flow conditions, and the thermophysical properties in the nozzle and the free‐jet region are predicted. The present numerical method is based on the preconditioning method developed by Yamamoto and the mathematical models of thermophysical properties of the substances. As numerical examples show, gas flows of carbon dioxide, water, and nitrogen under a subcritical pressure condition are first calculated. Calculated distances to the Mach disk are compared with the experimental results, and also the density distributions are compared among these three substances. Second, carbon dioxide flows while changing the pressure from subcritical to supercritical values are calculated and the effect of pressure on the flow field is investigated. Third, flows of water vapor with and without nonequilibrium condensation are calculated and the effect of condensation on the flow field is investigated. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2011     

Characterization of doped single-wall carbon nanotubes by Raman spectroscopy

Single-wall carbon nanotubes were grown by thermal chemical vapor deposition using either boron- or nitrogen-containing feedstocks or both. Carrier doping was evidenced by hardenings of the G band in Raman spectra, and the estimated carrier concentration reached ∼0.4%. In the G′ and D band spectra, a doping-induced component was observed at the high- or low-energy side of the original one. However, the appearance of the new component did not always coincide with the carrier doping. The doped SWCNTs often show radial breathing mode peaks in the off-resonance region, indicating a defect-induced modification of absorption spectrum.     

Potential bile acid metabolites. 24. An efficient synthesis of carboxyl-linked glucosides and their chemical properties

A facile and efficient synthesis of the carboxyl-linked glucosides of bile acids is described. Direct esterification of unprotected bile acids with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-d-glucopyranose in pyridine in the presence of 2-chloro-1,3,5-trinitrobenzene as a coupling agent afforded a mixture of the α- and β-anomers (ca. 1∶3) of the 1-O-acyl-d-glucoside benzyl ethers of bile acids, which was separated effectively on a C₁₈ reversedphase chromatography column (isolated yields of α- and β-anomers are 4–9% and 12–19%, respectively). Subsequent hydrogenolysis of the α- and β-acyl glucoside benzyl ethers on a 10% Pd−C catalyst in acetic acid/methanol/EtOAc (1∶2∶2, by vol) at 35°C under atmospheric pressure gave the corresponding free esters in good yields (79–89%). Chemical specificities such as facile hydrolysis and transesterification of the acyl glucosides in various solvents were also discussed.     

Effects of ultrasonic irradiation on crystallization behavior of tripalmitoylglycerol and cocoa butter

Effects of application of ultrasonic power (20 kHz, 100 W) on the crystallization behavior of tripalmitoylglycerol (PPP) and cocoa butter have been examined in terms of rate of nucleation and polymorphic control. High-purity PPP (>99%) and low-purity PPP (>80%) samples were employed to mimic real fat systems, which usually have higher concentrations of minor components in addition to the main component. For both the high-purity and low-purity PPP, the application of ultrasonic power accelerated the rate of nucleation as measured by induction time for the occurrence of crystals and by the number of crystals nucleated. As for the polymorphic influences, the nucleation of both the β′ and β forms was accelerated by the ultrasound, yet the β′ form nucleation was more accelerated when the low-purity PPP samples were employed. As for cocoa butter, sonication for a short period accelerated the crystallization of Form V. The present results indicate that ultrasound irradiation is an efficient tool for controlling polymorphic crystallization of fats.     

Preparation and properties of biocomposites composed of sorbitol‐based epoxy resin,pyrogallol–vanillin calixarene,and wood flour

The reaction of pyrogallol (PG) and vanillin (VN), both of which are derived from plant resources, in the presence of p‐toluenesulfonic acid gave PG–VN calixarene (PGVNC) mainly composed of guaiacyl pyrogallol[4]arene. After sorbitol polyglycidyl ether (SPE) was mixed with PGVNC in tetrahydrofuran at an optimized epoxy/hydroxy ratio 1/2.65, the obtained SPE/PGVNC solution was mixed with wood flour (WF), prepolymerized at 150°C, and subsequently compressed at 190°C for 3 h to give SPE–PGVNC/WF biocomposites with WF content 0–20 wt%. The tan δ peak temperature of SPE–PGVNC was 148.1°C, which was much higher than that of the SPE cured with petroleum‐based phenol novolac (SPE–PN) at an optimized epoxy/hydroxy ratio 1/1. Although tan δ peak temperature slightly decreased with increasing WF content, the storage moduli of the SPE–PGVNC/WF biocomposites in the rubbery state at more than 150°C were much higher than those of SPE–PGVNC and SPE–PN. Also, the tensile modulus and strength for SPE–PGVNC/WF increased with increasing WF content. Field emission‐scanning electron microscopy analysis of the biocomposites revealed that WF is tightly incorporated into the crosslinked epoxy resins. POLYM. COMPOS., 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Pregnancy by Assisted Reproductive Technology Is Associated with Shorter Telomere Length in Neonates

Telomere length (TL) influences the development of lifestyle-related diseases, and neonatal TL may influence their prevalence. Various factors have been reported to affect neonatal TL. Although the fetus is exposed to multiple conditions in utero, the main factors affecting the shortening of neonatal TL are still not known. In this study, we sought to identify factors that influence fetal TL. A total of 578 mother-newborn pairs were included for TL analysis. TL was measured in genomic DNA extracted from cord blood samples using quantitative PCR. The clinical factors examined at enrollment included the following intrauterine environmental factors: maternal age, assisted reproductive technology (ART) used, body mass index (BMI), gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), maternal stress, smoking, alcohol consumption, preterm delivery, small-for-gestational-age, neonatal sex, and placental weight. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were used to verify the relationship between neonatal TL and these clinical factors. The median neonatal TL to single-copy gene ratio was 1.0. Pregnancy with ART was among the 11 factors associated with shorter neonatal TL. From multiple regression analysis, we determined that neonatal TL was significantly shorter for pregnancies in the ART group than in the other groups. We conclude that pregnancy with ART is associated with shorter neonatal TL.