Organoclays for soil remediation: Adsorption of 2,4-dichlorophenol on organoclay/aquifer material mixtures studied under static and flow conditions

A column material containing organophilic clay particles was developed for soil remediation. 2,4-dichlorophenol adsorption on aquifer material with an effective particle diameter d < 1 mm and various partially modified dioctadecyldimethylammonium–montmorillonite/aquifer material mixtures were studied under static and flow conditions. The 2,4-dichlorophenol adsorption on the aquifer material was negligible. On organoclay/aquifer material mixtures the adsorption capacity increased with increasing organoclay content and the adsorption isotherms could be fitted by the Freundlich equation. In columns filled with organoclay/aquifer material mixtures, the 2,4-dichlorophenol retardation increased with increasing organoclay content up to 1% (w / w). Above 1.5–2.0% (w / w) the permeability of the column material decreased. The HYDRUS_1D model, which solves the convection–dispersion equation for solute transport, was used in a forward and inverse mode to simulate 2,4-dichlorophenol breakthrough in the columns. The simulations revealed that 2,4-dichlorophenol transport exhibited an additional kinetic effect not observed in the batch experiments.     

Adherence rates to ferric citrate as compared to active control in patients with end stage kidney disease on dialysis

Introduction: Oral phosphate binders are the main stay of treatment of hyperphosphatemia. Adherence rates to ferric citrate, a recently approved phosphate binder, are unknown. Methods: We conducted a post‐hoc analysis to evaluate whether adherence rates were different for ferric citrate vs. active control in 412 subjects with end stage kidney disease (ESKD) who were randomized to ferric citrate vs. active control (sevelamer carbonate and/or calcium acetate). Adherence was defined as percent of actual number of pills taken to total number of pills prescribed. Findings: There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics including gender, race/ethnicity, and age between the ferric citrate and active control groups. Baseline phosphorus, calcium, and parathyroid hormone levels were similar. Mean (SD) adherence was 81.4% (17.4) and 81.7% (15.9) in the ferric citrate and active control groups, respectively (P = 0.88). Adherence remained similar between both groups after adjusting for gender, race/ethnicity, age, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and diabetic nephropathy (mean [95% CI]: 81.4% [78.2, 84.6] and 81.5% [77.7, 85.2] for ferric citrate and active control, respectively). Gender, race/ethnicity, age, and diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy did not influence adherence to the prescribed phosphate binder. Subjects with CVD had lower adherence rates to phosphate binder; this was significant only in the active control group. Discussion: Adherence rates to the phosphate binder, ferric citrate, were similar to adherence rates to active control. Similar adherence rates to ferric citrate are notable since tolerance to active control was an entry criteria and the study was open label. Gender, race/ethnicity, nor age influenced adherence.     

Investigation of fusion welded butt joints in structural steels

In the present paper research work is presented combining material related research, weld fabrication related research and research in the field of numerical analysis of welded joint performance. Elements belonging to this extensive combination are mechanical testing, fracture mechanics testing of small scale and full thickness specimens, component testing including engineering defect assessment and numerical modelling using finite element method. Examples are given for each of the above mentioned elements.     

A new method of measuring and presenting the membrane fouling potential

The silt density index (SDI) and modified fouling index (MFI) characterisation methods are well known for the evaluation of membrane fouling potential of dispersed particulate matter (suspended solids, colloids) in a feed. The SDI and MFI methods, however, reduce the overall and very complex fouling phenomena into a one number value, on which the interpretation of the fouling potential of the feed is based. Considering such a one number characteristic, a significant amount of information from the fouling measurement (data) is lost. In this paper a concept is introduced in order to preserve such information and supplement the existing indexes. The proposed method measures, processes and presents data in a specific format. To illustrate the concept, some results are shown from measurements on three types of feed. Future systematic research will also include the measurement on some model feeds with, for example, well characterised dispersions for comparison purposes. However, based on the contents of this paper, a discussion on the method could be initiated.     

Motionless mixers for the design of multitubular polymerization reactors

Experimental investigations of thermal bulk polymerization of styrene in pilot plants of different sizes have been performed. Each pilot plant is composed of a tubular recycle reactor, connected in series with a tubular reactor, both completely filled with Sulzer motionless mixers. Kinetic, reactor and viscosity models have been verified in a wide range of styrene conversions (up to 96%) temperatures (up to 210 °C) and polystyrene molar masses (up to 360 000). Scale-up studies were carried out which confirmed that multitubular reactors of special design can be applied for industrial polymerization process.     

Reprocessing of thermally oxidized aluminum arsenide (AlAs) in epitaxial multilayers without delamination

Annealing or processing of AlAs that has been subjected to a wet thermal oxidation process can result in severe delamination of material at the oxidation front. This paper reports a procedure for preventing this delamination and presents a possible cause for the delamination.