Effect of the variations of clinker composition on the poroelastic properties of hardened class G cement paste

The effect of the variations of clinker composition on the poroelastic properties of class G oil-well cement pastes is studied using a multiscale homogenization model. The model has been calibrated in a previous work based on the results of a laboratory study. Various compositions of class G cements from literature are used in a hydration model to evaluate the volume fractions of the microstructure constituents of hardened cement paste. The poroelastic parameters such as drained bulk modulus, Biot coefficient, and Skempton coefficient are evaluated using the homogenization model. The results show that the variations in chemical composition of class G cements have no important effect on the variations of the poroelastic properties.     

Experimental study of secondary and tertiary modes combined low salinity water and polymer flooding in sandstone porous media

Combined low salinity water (LSW) and polymer (LSP) flooding is the most attractive method of enhanced oil recovery (EOR). Considerable research has investigated effective mechanisms of LSP flooding. In this study, 10 laboratory core flood tests were carried out to evaluate the effects of LSW injection into samples without any clay particles, the timing of LSW injection, and the advantages of adding polymer to the injection water for EOR. Secondary and tertiary LSW injections were performed on sandpack samples with different wettability states and water salinity. Tertiary LSW injection after secondary synthetic seawater (SSW) injection in oil-wet samples resulted in 13% more oil recovery, while the water-wet sample showed no effect on the oil recovery. Secondary LSW injection in oil-wet porous media improved oil recovery by 8% of the original oil in place (OOIP) more than secondary SSW injection. Tertiary LSP flooding after secondary SSW injection in the oil-wet sample provided a recovery of 67.3% of OOIP, while secondary LSW injection followed by tertiary LSP flooding yielded the maximum ultimate oil recovery of about 77% of OOIP. The findings showed that the positive EOR effects of LSW and LSP flooding were the results of wettability alteration, pH increase, improved mobility ratio, better sweep efficiency, and oil redistribution. In addition, results showed that wettability alteration is possible without the presence of clay particles. The findings of this study can help for a better understanding of fluid propagation through the porous media and an investigation of delays in reaching ultimate oil recovery.     

Optimization of injection molding process parameters using sequential simplex algorithm

In this study warpage and shrinkage as defects in injection molding of plastic parts have been undertaken. MoldFlow software package has been used to simulate the molding experiments numerically. Plastic part used is an automotive ventiduct grid. The process optimization to minimize the above defects is carried out by sequential simplex method. Process design parameters are mold temperature, melt temperature, pressure switch-over, pack/holding pressure, packing time, and coolant inlet temperature. The output parameters aside from warpage and shrinkage consist of part weight, residual stresses, cycle time, and maximum bulk temperature. Results are correlated and interpreted with recommendations to be considered in such processes.     

Preparation of polyvinylchloride membranes from solvent mixture by immersion precipitation

In this study, polyvinylchloride (PVC) membranes were prepared through the immersion precipitation method using a mixture of two solvents (tetrahydrofuran (THF) and dimethyl formamide (DMF)), which had different affinities with the nonsolvent (water). Membranes prepared from PVC/THF/water system showed a sponge‐like structure with isolated pores, which were impermeable to water even at a feed pressure of 20 bars, whereas those prepared from PVC/DMF/water exhibited a porous macrovoid containing morphology with a high water flux. The precipitation time and polymer concentration profiles were calculated by using a simple mathematical model and were in good agreement with the experimental findings on PVC/THF/water and PVC/DMF/water systems. By using a mixture of DMF and THF as solvent and changing the mixed solvent composition, membranes with different morphologies from sponge‐like to macrovoid containing were obtained. The membranes showed no water flux below a DMF concentration of 50 wt % and then became increasingly permeable with increasing DMF content in the casting solution. Measurement of the system cloud points showed a linear change of system thermodynamics with variation of the mixed solvent composition. The obtained results showed that although the system thermodynamics could explain the overall behavior of the system, but the local changes such as change of membrane performance from impermeable to permeable at a certain mixed solvent composition could not be explained by the thermodynamics alone. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40206.     

Seasonal bioaccumulation of toxic trace elements in economically important fish species from the Caspian Sea using GFAAS

This study aimed to determine the concentrations of aluminium, cadmium, lead and nickel in edible muscle of three commercially valuable fish species (Rutilus frisii kutum, Liza aurata and Cyprinus carpio) from four fishing sites of Iranian coastal waters of the Caspian Sea during winter and summer. The samples were analyzed using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) after wet-ashing digestion. The results were expressed as μg/g of wet weight. The resulted range of metals in fish species was between 0.89–2.46 μg/g for aluminium, 0.03–0.17 μg/g for cadmium, 0.21–0.38 μg/g for lead and 0.12–0.52 μg/g for nickel. Seasonal variation influenced concentration of the metals in fish samples of some fishing sites. The highest concentrations found were 4.63 μg/g for aluminium in winter and 0.82 μg/g for lead in summer in Cyprinus carpio; while cadmium (0.49 μg/g) and nickel (1.14 μg/g) were the highest in Rutilus frisii kutum in winter. This demonstrates that estimated daily and weekly intakes of aluminium, lead and nickel and estimated monthly intake of cadmium via consumption of fish flesh are below the established PTDI, PTWI and PTMI values.     

Plant Pollen Grains: A Move Towards Green Drug and Vaccine Delivery Systems

Pollen grains and plant spores have emerged as innovative biomaterials for various applications such as drug/vaccine delivery, cata-lyst support, and the remova...     

Effect of engineered water and scale inhibitor concentration on the adsorption performance of gypsum inhibitors on multi-walled carbon nanotubes and crushed sandstone

Engineered waterflooding is an effective process for enhanced oil recovery, but it can lead to mineral scale deposition due to the incompatibility of brines. Previous studies on scale mitigation have mainly focused on high-temperature baryte and anhydrite scales, neglecting gypsum precipitation and inhibitors adsorption at low temperatures. Additionally, earlier research has used simple brines that do not reflect the actual injection and formation water in reservoirs. In this study, the impact of temperature, various brine mixtures, and thermodynamic databases on saturation ratio and scale precipitation is explored using PHREEQC (pH-REdox-EQuilibrium-C program). The study reveals that the copresence of calcium and magnesium ions improves the gypsum inhibition efficiency of scale inhibitors (SIs) at low concentrations to a maximum of 79%. However, this effect is reversed or neutral at higher SI concentrations. The study also shows that the presence of monovalent ions reduces the adsorption of SIs by multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Removing sodium ions from seawater while leaving calcium and magnesium ions intact increases MWCNTs' adsorption capability to 93%. This is because monovalent cations attach to the adsorbent surface and block the active sites, whereas divalent cations act as a bridge between MWCNT and SIs. The study establishes that the behaviour of SIs regarding adsorption on MWCNT and crushed sandstone depends on various factors, including molecule size, calcium toleration of the SIs, point of zero charge, and solution pH. Understanding these factors can improve the effectiveness of SIs, reduce chemical costs, and prolong the life of oil wells.     

Studying the Role of Gelation Agents in Gelcasting Non-porous Si3N4 Bodies by Pressureless Sintering

Silicon - The monomer content in the gelcasting process affects the kinetics of cross-linking reactions which determines the quality of the gel network structure and the final properties of the...