Study on absorption/desorption characteristics of a metal hydride tank for boil-off gas from liquid hydrogen

We have been performing research on the Totalized Hydrogen Energy Utilization System (THEUS) which has applications to commercial buildings and a planned added function of supplying energy to stations for hydrogen and electric vehicles. In that case we will utilize liquid hydrogen transported from a hydrogen station and all Boil-Off Gas (BOG) will be recovered in THEUS’s metal hydride tanks. It is known that BOG is chiefly composed of para-hydrogen, which has different thermo-physical properties from normal hydrogen. It has been reported that some metal hydride alloys work as a catalyst to accelerate the para-ortho conversion and the conversion proceeds relatively fast in the case of La–Ni₅. The conversion is considered to be an endothermic reaction. A misch metal (Mm)-Ni₅ metal hydride alloy, which contained La and Ni, was used in our THEUS metal hydride tank. To examine the effect of the para-ortho conversion on the THEUS operation, we investigated the absorption/desorption characteristics of the metal hydride tank with BOG. We confirmed that the effect of the heat of conversion was very small and BOG could be treated as normal hydrogen for practical application.     

Effect of Risk Information Exposure on Consumers’ Responses to Foods with Insect Contamination

This study explores the impact that scientific information about insect contamination of food has on consumer perceptions. Participants (n = 320, Japanese consumers) were randomly assigned to 1 of 8 information‐type conditions: (1) information about insect type, (2) information about contamination processes, (3) information about the safety of contaminated food, (4, 5, 6) combinations of 2 of (1), (2), and (3) above, (7) all information, and (8) no‐information, and asked to rate their valuation, behavioral intention, and attitude toward food with insect contamination. Results demonstrated that some combinations of scientific information that include the safety of the contaminated food are effective to reduce consumers’ compulsive rejection of insect contamination in food, whereas the single presentation of information about insect type increases consumers’ explicit rejection of both the contaminated product and the manufacturer. These findings have implications for the coordination of risk communication strategies.     

A histochemical method using a substrate of beta-glucuronidase for detection of genetically modified papaya

A histochemical assay for detecting genetically modified (GM) papaya (derived from Line 55-1) is described. GM papaya, currently undergoing a safety assessment in Japan, was developed using a construct that included a beta-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene linked to a virus coat protein (CP) gene. Histochemical assay was used to visualize the blue GUS reaction product from transgenic seed embryos. Twelve embryos per fruit were extracted from the papaya seeds using a surgical knife. The embryos were incubated with the substrate 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-beta-D-glucuronide (X-Gluc) in a 96-well microtiter plate for 10-15 hours at 37 degrees C. Seventy-five percent of GM papaya embryos should turn blue theoretically. The histochemical assay results were completely consistent with those from a qualitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method developed by this laboratory. Furthermore, the method was validated in a five-laboratory study. The method for detection of GM papaya is rapid and simple, and does not require use of specialized equipment.     

Development of a simple bio-hydrogen production system through dark fermentation by using unique microflora

In order to ensure efficient functioning of hydrogen fermentation systems that use Clostridium as the dominant hydrogen producer, energy-intensive process such as heat pretreatment of inoculum and/or substrate, continuous injection, and control of anaerobic conditions are required. Here, we describe a simple hydrogen fermentation system designed using microflora from leaf-litter cattle-waste compost. Hydrogen and volatile fatty acid production was measured at various hydraulic retention times, and bacterial genera were determined by PCR amplification and sequencing. Although hydrogen fermentation yield was approximately one-third of values reported in previous studies, this system requires no additional treatment and thus may be advantageous in terms of cost and operational control. Interestingly, Clostridium was absent from this system. Instead, Megasphaera elsdenii was the dominant hydrogen-producing bacterium, and lactic acid-producing bacteria (LAB) were prevalent. This study is the first to characterize M. elsdenii as a useful hydrogen producer in hydrogen fermentation systems. These results demonstrate that pretreatment is not necessary for stable hydrogen fermentation using food waste.     

Experimental study on laboratory scale Totalized Hydrogen Energy Utilization System using wind power data

The renewable energy source like wind energy generates electric power with intermittent nature. Hydrogen energy system can help to solve the fluctuation problem of the wind power. Totalized Hydrogen Energy Utilization System (THEUS) consists of a Unitized Reversible Fuel Cell (URFC), a hydrogen storage tank, and other auxiliary components. Wind power is inherently variable; the URFC will be subjected to a dynamic input power profile in water electrolyzer mode operation. This paper describes the THEUS operation and performance at different variations in intermittent wind power. The performance of the THEUS was evaluated in water electrolyzer and fuel cell mode operation. The stack efficiency, system efficiency, and system efficiency including heat output from the URFC were presented at each operation. The total efficiency of the URFC and THEUS were also investigated. The maximum total efficiency of the URFC and THEUS were 53% and 66%, respectively.     

Effects of administration of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis GCL2505 on defecation frequency and bifidobacterial microbiota composition in humans

The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in endogenous bifidobacteria and administered Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis (B. lactis) GCL2505 (GCL2505) in the intestine after administration of GCL2505 by means of a randomized, placebo-controlled double-blind, cross-over study. An increase in the number of total bifidobacteria (the sum of B. bifidum, B. breve, B. longum subsp. longum, B. adolescentis, B. anglatum, B. catenulatum, B. pseudocatenulatum, B. dentium, B. longum subsp. infantis and B. lactis) in the feces were observed after administration of GCL2505 using species- and subspecies-specific real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis. However, the number of endogenous bifidobacteria species (excluding B. lactis) remained unchanged. B. lactis also became the predominant bifidobacterial species. Taking into account the number of GCL2505 administered, the findings further suggested that GCL2505 proliferated in the intestine. In addition, the defecation frequency increased during GCL2505 administration compared with the placebo. Moreover, a single administration study (n=17) clearly demonstrated that GCL2505 successfully reached the intestine before proliferating at least 10-fold. This is the first report to show an increase in intestinal bifidobacteria, with no changes to the endogenous species, and improvements in constipation following proliferation of administered bifidobacteria.     

High/low temperature operation of electric double layer capacitor utilizing acidic cellulose-chitin hybrid gel electrolyte

An acidic cellulose-chitin hybrid gel electrolyte consisting of cellulose, chitin, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium, 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide, and an aqueous H₂SO₄ solution is investigated for electric double layer capacitors (EDLCs) with activated carbon fiber cloth electrodes. The acidic cellulose-chitin hybrid gel electrolyte shows a high ionic conductivity comparable to that for an aqueous 2 mol dm⁻³ H₂SO₄ solution at 0-80 °C. This system's temperature dependence in EDLC performance is investigated by galvanostatic charge-discharge measurement. An EDLC cell with the acidic hybrid gel electrolyte has higher capacitance than that with the aqueous H₂SO₄ solution in the range of operation temperatures (−10 to 60 °C). Moreover, the capacitance retention of the EDLC cell with the acidic hybrid gel electrolyte is better than that of a cell with the H₂SO₄ solution at 60 °C over 10,000 cycles. This suggests that the proposed acidic gel electrolyte has excellent stability in the presence of a strong acid, even at a high temperature of 60 °C.     

A rechargeable lithium metal battery operating at intermediate temperatures using molten alkali bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide mixture as an electrolyte

The physicochemical properties of molten alkali bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide, MTFSI (M = Li, K, Cs), mixture (x_LiTFSI = 0.20, x_KTFSI = 0.10, x_CsTFSI = 0.70) were studied to develop a new rechargeable lithium battery operating at intermediate temperature (100–180 °C). The viscosity and ionic conductivity of this melt at 150 °C are 87.2 cP and 14.2 mS cm⁻¹, respectively. The cyclic voltammetry revealed that the electrochemical window at 150 °C is as wide as 5.0 V, and that the electrochemical deposition/dissolution of lithium metal occurs at the cathode limit. A Li/MTFSI (M = Li, K, Cs)/LiFePO₄ cell showed an excellent cycle performance at a constant current rate of C/10 at 150 °C; 95% of the initial discharge capacity was maintained after 50 cycles. Except for the initial few cycles, the coulombic efficiencies were approximately 100% for all the cycles, indicating the stabilities of the molten MTFSI mixture and all the electrode materials.     

Corrosion characteristics of reduced activation ferritic steel, JLF-1 (8.92Cr–2W) in molten salts Flibe and Flinak

Static corrosion tests were performed in molten salts, LiF–BeF₂ (Flibe) and LiF–NaF–KF (Flinak), at 500 °C and 600 °C for 1000 h. The purpose is to investigate the corrosion characteristics of reduced activation ferritic steels, JLF-1 (8.92Cr–2W) in the fluids. The concentration of hydrogen fluoride (HF) in the fluids was measured by slurry pH titration method before and after the exposure. The HF concentration determined the fluoridation potential. The corrosion was mainly caused by dissolution of Fe and Cr into the fluids due to fluoridation and/or electrochemical corrosion. Carbon on the surface might be dissolved into the fluids due to the corrosion, and this resulted to the decrease of carbide on the surface. The corrosion depth of the JLF-1 specimen, which was obtained from the weight losses, was 0.637 μm in Flibe at 600 °C and 6.73 μm in Flinak at 600 °C.