OPTIMAL DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE OF SPIRAL WOUND MODULES I: NUMERICAL METHOD

A numerical method has been developed for the performance prediction of spiral wound modules with constant and tapered permeate spacers, It takes into account the pressure drop in the brine and permeate channels and makes use of a three parameter model for the mass transfer through the membrane. For a given application and operating conditions, optimum geometrical characteristics of modules can be found. Tapering the permeate spacer the specific permeation rate can be increased by 10-30%, the wider the membrane the higher the value.     

In Situ EXAFS Study on the Chemical State of Arsenic Deposited on a NiMoP/Al2O3 Hydrotreating Catalyst

The chemical state of arsenic deposited on a NiMoP/Al₂O₃ hydrotreating catalyst exposed to ppb levels of arsenic over several years in a refinery reactor has been studied by in situ EXAFS. In the as-received As-NiMoP catalyst, arsenic is exclusively coordinated to oxygen atoms. Upon sulfiding the sample in 2%H₂S/2%H₂/96%He, the As atoms become surrounded by approximately two sulfur atoms. No evidence was found for Ni–As bond formation. A possible model for the As local environment is suggested on the basis of combined EXAFS results, STM data and FEFF8.0 simulations (program for ab initio calculations on multiple scattering XAFS and XANES). The FEFF8.0 simulations of the proposed model are in accord with the experimental data measured at the As K edge. In this model, an As atom is located at the edge of a hexagonally truncated Ni-MoS₂ slab and is blocking the active NiMoS site.     

Anaerobic fermentation of xylose by pichia stipitis: The effect of forced cycling of ph

Xylose fermentation by Pichia stipitis was examined using a two-stage batch process. The cells were first grown aerobically on D-xylose (5 g/L), whereafter additional xylose (10 g/L) was added and fermented during anaerobic conditions (T=30°C). The optimum pH value for a fermentation with constant pH was found to be 4.5 (maximum specific ethanol production rate 0.21 g/(g h). Forced square wave cycling of the pH between 4 and 5, and 3.5 and 5.5 (cycle time 30 min) during the fermentation stage resulted in a fermentation rate lower than the maximum rate, but with unchanged ethanol yields.     

Plasma desorption mass spectrometry, an analytical tool in protein engineering: characterization of modified insulins

Californium-252 plasma desorption mass spectrometry (PDMS) hasbeen employed for the characterization of a series of humaninsulin derivatives in order to evaluate the performance ofthis technique as an analytical tool in protein engineering.Several of the characterized modifications result in a 1 a.m.u.mass change. The precision in mass determination obtainableby PDMS analysis is not sufficient for unambiguous verificationof such modifications based on the molecular weight alone. Itis, however, possible to carry out in situ enzymatic digestionof the sample. Subsequent PDMS analysis will in most cases revealif the modification has been introduced as intended.     

Structuration bridging diffusion of innovations and gender relations theories: a case of paradigmatic pluralism in IS research

This paper discusses the adoption of a pluralist theoretical framework – one that is also multiparadigmatic – for conducting and publishing information system (IS) research. The discussion is illustrated by a single case study involving the Australian cotton industry. The theoretical framework is informed by three sociological theories, each with its particular paradigmatic assumptions: structuration theory as a meta‐theory, and diffusion of innovations and gender relations as lower‐level theories from notionally opposing paradigms. Theoretical pluralism helped to produce rich findings, illuminating both the social nature of women farmers' roles, the materiality of the cotton farming context, the characteristics of the decision support systems in use and the recursive way in which human agency and institutional pressures shape each other. Because users of so‐called divergent paradigms often face criticism based on the incommensurability issue, one of the main contributions of this paper is to discuss the value of a pluralist and multiparadigmatic theoretical framework in dealing with complex IS social phenomena.     

A simple chromatographic method for purification of egg lecithin

Egg lecithin was purified from the CdCl₂-lecithin complex by column chromatography on Alumina. The yield from 5 eggs was 2.8 g. The purified lecithin had correct chemical values for pure lecithin and a fatty acid composition similar to lecithin prepared by other methods. The method probably can be adapted for purification of other lipids containing the phosphocholine moiety and for purification of synthetic lecithin.     

Acyl exchange between oleoyl-CoA and phosphatidylcholine in microsomes of developing soya bean cotyledons and its role in fatty acid desaturation

Microsomes of developing soya bean cotyledons transfer oleate from oleoyl-CoA to phosphatidylcholine (PC) by two different mechanisms: one in which oleate transfer is accompanied by the release of free CoA and another which results in the exchange of oleate from oleoyl-CoA for unsaturated 18-carbon fatty acids of PC. The acyl exchange can be demonstrated only when bovine serum albumin is present in the incubation medium. ATP-dependent acyl-CoA synthetase is not involved in the exchange process, which apparently does not require any cofactors. In light of this exchange process, the oleate desaturase system was reinvestigated in order to determine what the actual substrate for this system is. Upon incubation of microsomes with high concentrations of [¹⁴C] oleoyl-CoA, bovine serum albumin and NADH, it could be conclusively demonstrated that most oleic acid is desaturated while part of the PC molecule. The amounts of [¹⁴C] linoleoyl-CoA formed could be explained entirely by the acyl exchange. The physiological significance of the acyl exchange system is discussed. A new method for separation of acyl-CoA from other lipids and free CoA using reversed phase column chromatography also is described.     

A process model for robotic disc grinding

Automation of deburring and cleaning of castings is desirable for many reasons. The major reasons are dangerous working conditions, difficulties in finding workers for cleaning sections, and improved profitability. A suitable robot cell capable of using different tools, such as cup grinders, disc grinders and rotary files, is the solution. This robot should be completed with sensors in order to keep the quality of the cleaned surface at an acceptable level. Although using sensors simplifies both the programming and quality control there are still other problems that need to be solved. These involve selection of machining data, e.g. feeding rate and grinding force in a force controlled operation based on parameters such as tool type, disc grinder and geometry. In order to decrease the programming time, a process model for disc grinders has been developed. This article investigates this process model and pays attention to problems such as wavy or burned surfaces and the effect of a robot's repetition accuracy in the results obtained. Many aspects treated in this article are quite general, and can be applied in other types of grinding operations.     

Evolution-in-materio: solving computational problems using carbon nanotube–polymer composites

Evolution-in-materio uses evolutionary algorithms to exploit properties of materials to solve computational problems without requiring a detailed understanding of such properties. We show that using a purpose-built hardware platform called Mecobo, it is possible to solve computational problems by evolving voltages and signals applied to an electrode array covered with a carbon nanotube–polymer composite. We demonstrate for the first time that this methodology can be applied to function optimization and also to the tone discriminator problem (TDP). For function optimization, we evaluate the approach on a suite of optimization benchmarks and obtain results that in some cases come very close to the global optimum or are comparable with those obtained using well-known software-based evolutionary approach. We also obtain good results in comparison with prior work on the tone discriminator problem. In the case of the TDP we also investigated the relative merits of different mixtures of materials and organizations of electrode array.