Cyclic Tests of Stress-corrosion Cracks in Steel Gas Pipelines with No Corrosive Fluid

Stress-corrosion defects in the output pipeline of a compressor station are subjected to metallographic analysis and mechanical tests. The pipeline consists of pipe imported in the 1980s. Diagnostic data obtained in nondestructive monitoring of such pipelines are analyzed, and the effectiveness of various diagnostic methods in detecting stress-corrosion defects in large-diameter pipe is assessed. The grade of steel in the pipeline is identified. The cracks are identified by type and morphology, and their development is determined. Nonmetallic sulfide inclusions have no influence on pipeline failure in the stress-corrosion conditions considered. The sulfur content in the corrosion products is no more than the sulfur content in the metallic sample. In some samples, the sulfur content may be decreased except for local sections with nonmetallic sulfide inclusions. Electron-microscope images show that such nonmetallic inclusions do not promote failure. The results of cyclic tests of cracked samples cut from the pipeline are presented. The test conditions are selected in accordance with recent operating conditions of the compressor station. According to the results, pipe with defects at the initial stage of development exhibits considerable durability in the tests. In fact, the cracked samples withstand (1.6–7.5) × 10⁶ cycles under transverse cyclic flexure in a single plane, in the absence of corrosive fluid. In practice, the number of such cycles is no more than 120–200 per year, in normal pipeline operation. Hence, a pipeline with stress-corrosion defects in their initial stage of development will last a long time if its metal wall is protected from the action of corrosive fluid.     

Deep‐fat frying under moderate vacuum of potato cylinders

This study evaluates parameters relating to the mass transfer during the frying of potato cylinders at different temperatures (100, 120 and 140 °C) and moderate vacuum (around 25 kPa). In all cases, there is a linear relation between water loss and fat uptake. The parameters relating to the textural and structural modifications show less marked changes in vacuum fried products compared to those fried under atmospheric pressure. The maximum penetration force reaches 30%–40% of the initial hardness in vacuum frying and 10% for atmospheric pressure frying; starch gelatinization and pectin methylesterase enzyme activity reduce more quickly under atmospheric pressure, although after 240 s both values are negligible. The scanning electron microscopy images verify that the surface of potato cylinders fried under vacuum or atmospheric pressure are completely different as a result of the steam being released at different temperatures.     

Effect of different treatments on the microstructure and functional and pasting properties of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L.), dolichos bean (Dolichos lablab L.) and jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis) flours from the north‐east Argentina

The effect of germination (G; 5 days), soaking‐cooking (SC; 6 h–20 min, 6 h–40 min, 6 h–60 min) and microwave (M; 50%, 70%, 100%) treatments on pigeon pea (PP), dolichos bean (DB) and jack bean (JB) seeds was studied. Microstructure of seeds and functional (protein solubility, water‐holding capacity, oil‐holding capacity, emulsion stability) and pasting properties of flours were determined. Germination and microwave treatments modified the protein matrix of cotyledon cells preserving the shape of the starch granule, whereas the SC treatment (6 h–60 min) affected both. The soaking‐cooking is the most influential treatment on the functional properties of PP, DB and JB flours, as increased water absorption capacity (73–96%), decreased protein solubility (>80%) and the tendency to retrogradation of amylose (69–85%) also improved emulsion stability.     

Energy release behind the Jouguet point during detonation of plasticized PETN from the results of experiments by the T-20 method

The trajectory of motion of a copper shell, the velocity of its flight, and the pressure of the explosion products on the inside of the copper shell were simulated. It was found that there is a significant difference in pressure behavior between experiments and calculations performed using the standard equations of state of explosives and explosion products. Most likely, there is a significant contribution of kinetic processes to the energy release behind the Jouguet point. In this case, the conversion of explosives to explosion products apparently include not only exothermic reactions but also endothermic processes.     

Specific detection and quantification of Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus in wheat flour by SYBR® Green quantitative PCR

Aflatoxins are important mycotoxins that represent a serious risk for human and animal health. These mycotoxins are mainly produced by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, two closely related species with different array of aflatoxins. In this work, two specific quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays were developed to detect and quantify both species in wheat flour using primers based on the multicopy ITS2 rDNA target sequence. The species specificity of the assays was tested in a wide range of strains of these species and others colonizing the same commodities. The sensitivity of the assay was estimated in 2.5 pg/reaction in both species. Discrimination capacity for detection and relative quantification of A. flavus and A. parasiticus DNA were analyzed using samples with DNA mixtures containing also other fungal species at different ratios. Both qPCR assays could detect spore concentrations equal or higher than 10⁶ spores/g in flour samples without prior incubation. These assays are valuable tools to improve diagnosis at an early stage and in all critical control points of food chain integrated in HACCP strategies.     

Polyphenolic contents in Citrus fruit juices: authenticity assessment

The contents of 49 polyphenols in sweet orange, tangerine, lemon and grapefruit juices from 18 cultivars grown in Spain were determined by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection. Citrus polyphenolic profiles consist of 81–97 % of flavanones, 0.3–13.6 % of flavones, 0.1–6.0 % of flavonols, 0.6–9.6 % of hydroxycinnamic acids and 0.2–0.4 % of coumarins (only found in grapefruit juices). Several markers that allow to distinguish with practical certainty grapefruit and lemon juices between them and from the other Citrus species are reported. Each of these markers is a reliable and useful tool to detect juice adulteration. Grapefruit juice markers were naringenin-7-O-neohesperidoside, naringenin-7-O-neohesperidoside-4′-O-glucose, naringenin-O-hexosylhexoside, hesperetin-7-O-neohesperidoside, naringenin-O-rhamnosylmalonylhexoside, isosakuranetin-7-O-neohesperidoside, hesperetin-7-O-rutinoside, apigenin-6-C-hexoside-O-hexoside, apigenin-7-O-neohesperidoside and scopoletin-O-hexoside. Lemon juice markers were eriodictyol-7-O-rutinoside-4′-O-glucoside, eriodictyol-7-O-rutinoside, diosmetin-6,8-di-C-glucoside, diosmetin-8-C-glucoside, luteolin-7-O-rutinoside, diosmetin-6-C-glucoside and diosmetin-6,8-di-C-hexosideacylhexoside. The markers naringenin-O-hexosylhexoside, apigenin-6-C-hexoside-O-hexoside, scopoletin-O-hexoside, diosmetin-8-C-glucoside and diosmetin-6,8-di-C-hexosideacylhexoside were detected, characterized and quantitatively determined in grapefruit and lemon juices for the first time by our research group, as far as the authors know. Classification models provided by LDA and PLS-DA correctly identify all sweet orange and tangerine juices. Moreover, PLS regression model determines the percentage (10–70 %) of tangerine juice used to adulterate sweet orange juice with a suitable confidence interval (RMSEP = 7 %).     

Biosorption of Zn(II) by orange waste in batch and packed‐bed systems

BACKGROUND: This research provides new insights into the biosorption of zinc on a waste product from the orange juice industry. Optimal operating conditions maximizing percentage zinc removal were determined in batch and fixed‐bed systems. Biomass was characterized by FTIR spectroscopy and by major cation content in order to better understand the biosorpion mechanism. Zn‐loaded orange waste was proposed to be used as an alternative fuel in cement kilns. RESULTS: Sorption capacity was strongly affected by biosorbent dose and solution pH, and was not strongly sensitive to particle size under the experimental conditions studied. Equilibrium data were successfully described by a Langmuir model and sorption kinetic data were adequately modelled with the pseudo‐second‐order and Elovich rate equation. The biomass was found to possess high sorption capacity (q_max = 0.664 mmol g^?1) and biosorption equilibrium was established in less than 3 h. Experimental breakthrough curves were adequately fitted to the Thomas model and the dose–response model, obtaining sorption capacities in continuous assays higher than those found in batch mode. Characterization of the biomass suggested the possible contribution of carboxyl and hydroxyl groups of biomass in Zn²⁺ biosorption and it also highlighted the important role of light metal ions in a possible ion‐exchange mechanism. CONCLUSIONS: Orange waste could be used as an effective and low‐cost alternative biosorbent material for zinc removal from aqueous solution. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry