Oil-acrylic hybrid latexes as binders for waterborne coatings

The combination of the characteristics of oil, or alkyd, emulsions and acrylic latexes in a waterborne binder has been the object of various studies in the past. Strategies for combining the positive properties of alkyds, e.g. autoxidative curing, gloss and penetration in wood, with the fast drying and gloss and color retention properties of acrylic latexes have mainly been directed towards the modification of the alkyd with an acrylate during alkyd synthesis followed by emulsification. This paper describes the preparation and application of oil-acrylic hybrid latexes as binders for waterborne coatings. The hybrid latexes were prepared using hydroperoxidized triglycerides as initiators for the mini-emulsion polymerization of acrylates in an Fe(II)/EDTA/SFS redox system. The particle morphology of hybrids initiated by fatty-acid hydroperoxides was compared with tert-butyl hydroperoxide-initiated systems. Cryo-TEM analysis indicated that, whereas tert-butyl hydroperoxide initiation resulted in the formation of heterogeneous particles, fatty-acid hydroperoxide-initiated hybrid particles showed no intra-particle heterogeneity. An AFM study of the film formation process of the oil/alkyd-acrylic hybrid latexes showed that phase separation occurred between the oil and the acrylic phases upon drying, resulting in films that consist of deformed acrylic particles embedded in a continuous matrix of oil. This results in a very smooth surface of the film.     

Viscosity reduction of polymeric liquid by dissolved carbon dioxide

The viscosities of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)/CO₂ solutions were measured over the range of pressures of 1–3 MPa and at the ambient temperature. The viscosities were measured by using a specially designed falling ball viscometer (FBV). The Stokes equation was used to determine the viscosities and the Stokes force expressing the viscous drag of the sphere was corrected for the effect of the lateral cylindrical wall. The Kelley-Bueche (KB) free-volume treatment of the viscosities of polymeric solutions was modified to account for the gas solvent and applied to interpret our data on PDMS/CO₂ systems. It was shown that the theoretical equation, based on the assumption of the additivity of free volumes of the components, was capable of predicting with remarkable accuracy the concentration and pressure dependence of the viscosities of the investigated polymeric solutions. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 63: 459–466, 1997     

Experimental Simulation on Chemical-looping Combustion of Cold Model

The pressure profiles, gas velocities, solid circulation rate, solids flux, residence time distribution of gas and particles in chemical-looping combustion reactors and gas leakage were studied in a cold flow model unit. And these parameters in both air and fuel reactors were measured in the experimental stage. The experimental results show that gas fluidization velocity in the air reactor is 1.8 m/s, gas fluidization velocity in the fuel reactor 0.5 m/s, and the bed materials inventory of the two reactors between 1.2 to 3.15 kg. The first cold flow model results show that the solid circulation rates are sufficient. The appropriate operating conditions are optimized and the summary of final changes is made the on cold model. The proposed design solutions are currently being verified in a cold flow model simulating the actual reactor (hot) system. This paper presents an overview of the research performed on a cold flow model and highlights the current status of the technology.     

Impact of frying on key fatty acid ratios of canola oil

The study was carried out to investigate the changes in saturated (SFA), monoene (MUFA), trans (TFA), and polyunsaturated (PUFA) fatty acids and the key fatty acid ratios (SFA/UFA, cis PUFA/SFA, C18:2/C16:0 and C18:3/C16:0) during potato chips frying in canola oil using single bounce attenuated total reflectance FTIR (SB‐ATR‐FTIR) spectroscopy. The data obtained from GC‐FID were used as reference. The calibration of main fat groups and their key fatty acid ratios were developed by partial least square (PLS) regression coefficients using 4000 to 650 cm^?1 spectral range. FTIR PLS regression for the predicted SFA, MUFA, TFA, and PUFA were found 0.999, 0.998, 0.998, and 0.999, respectively, whereas for SFA/UFA, cis PUFA/SFA, C18:2/C16:0 and C18:3/C16:0 the regression coefficients were 0.991, 0.997, 0.996, and 0.994, respectively. We conclude that FTIR‐PLS could be used for rapid and accurate assessment of changes in the main fat groups and their key fatty acid ratios ratio during the frying process. Practical applications: FTIR‐ATR method is very simple, rapid, and environmentally friendly. No sample preparation is required and one drop of oil is enough for FTIR analysis. The proposed method could be applied for quick determination of key fatty acid ratios in the food processing industry.     

The survival of E. coli O157:H7, S. Typhimurium and L. monocytogenes in black carrot (Daucus carota) juice

In this study the survival and growth patterns of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella Typhimurium and Listeria monocytogenes in various concentrations of black carrot juice were investigated during incubation period at 4 °C and 37 °C for 7 days. Several parameters, such as juice concentration (%), pH, incubation temperature (°C) and time (days) were found effective on the survival of pathogens tested. Although L. monocytogenes has been found to be the less resistant microorganism to the variable conditions, there were only ca. 1 and 2 log reductions in the number of the cells in the juice samples incubated at 4 °C for 2 and 7 days, respectively. Incubating at low temperature (4 °C) enhanced the survival of test microorganisms.     

A sandwich-type DNA array platform for detection of GM targets in multiplex assay

Over the last decade, array detection has been developed to qualitatively assess the presence of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). To date, DNA array systems have the highest capabilities as a result of GMOs analysis. We describe the construction of an array platform in the sandwich hybridization format for the detection of transgenic promoter of Cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV; p35S). Sequence-specific signal development has been achieved by a sandwich complex composed of a surface immobilized capture probe and a fluorescein-tagged signal probe, which are partially complementary to the p35S oligonucleotide. We used poly-l-lysine-coated glass slides as support material, on which capture probes were immobilized by a heterobifunctional cross-linker. The comparative results of optimization studies including cross-linker types probe concentrations and hybridization conditions (sequence, temperature and duration) were reported. An optimum hybridization signal was obtained with a 32.5 ? cross-linker, 10???M capture and 20???M signal probe concentrations, respectively. A relatively short hybridization time (2.5?h) provided reproducible array signals. No significant effect of hybridization sequence on the fluorescence intensity was observed. The described platform can specifically detect label-free transgenic sequences with a target of 0.01???M concentration, while the optimized system exhibits great potential for the application of different GMO target sequences (p35S, tNOS, bar and cry) to multiplex array formats.     

Phase Identification of La-Doped Hard Magnetic Barium Ferrite Using Artificial Neural Network

A model based on an artificial neural network (ANN) was designed for the simulation and estimation of 2 theta and intensity values obtained by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) of pure and La-doped barium ferrite powders which have been synthesized in ammonium nitrate melt. Its performance is evaluated by the influences of different La content, sintering temperature, Fe/Ba ratio, and washed in HCl (or not washed in HCl) samples. The XRD patterns of samples estimated by the ANN agree well with the experimental values, indicating that the model is reliable and adequate.