Hydrogen and Oxygen Bubble Attachment to a Bitumen Drop

Air bubble – bitumen attachment is a critical step in the flotation of bitumen from mined oil sand. In this study, single bubble – bitumen drop attachment was observed directly using a novel experimental technique. Induction time is determined and used as an indication of bubble‐bitumen attachment potency for both hydrogen and oxygen bubbles. The attachment tests were conducted in deaerated municipal water (City of Edmonton tap water) at temperatures ranging from 22–50°C. Induction times measured for hydrogen bubble attachment were shorter than those for oxygen bubbles. Coalescence tests were also conducted in the absence of bitumen, and showed that hydrogen bubbles coalesced more rapidly than oxygen bubbles in both deaerated municipal water and clear (solids‐free) process water.     

An optimal usage of NO x in a combined Pt/ceramic foam and a wall-flow monolith filter for an effective NO x -assisted soot oxidation

Topics in Catalysis - An NO2-assisted soot oxidation based filter candidate consists of Pt-coated ceramic foam in combination with a wall-flow monolith is proposed to acquire for an optimal usage...     

Natural rubber composites reinforced with sisal/oil palm hybrid fibers: Tensile and cure characteristics

Natural rubber was reinforced with untreated sisal and oil palm fibers chopped to different fiber lengths. The influence of fiber length on the mechanical properties of the hybrid composites was determined. Increasing the fiber length resulted in a decrease in the properties. The effects of concentration on the rubber composites reinforced with sisal/oil palm hybrid fibers were studied. Increasing the concentration of fibers resulted in a reduction in the tensile strength properties and tear strength but an increase in the modulus of the composites. Fiber breakage analysis was evaluated. The vulcanization parameters, processability characteristics, and stress–strain properties of these composites were analyzed. The extent of fiber alignment and the strength of the fiber–rubber interface adhesion were analyzed from the anisotropic swelling measurements. Scanning electron microscopy studies were performed to analyze the fiber/matrix interactions. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 2305–2312, 2004     

Highly potent germination inhibitors in aqueous eluate of fruits of Bishop's weed (Ammi majus L.) and avoidance of autoinhibition

The aqueous eluate from fruits ofAmmi majus (Bishop's weed, Umbelliferae) remarkably inhibited germination of adjacent seeds ofAnastatica hierochuntica, lettuce, or tomato but had no effect on intact fruits ofAmmi. Similar inhibition was found in dark or in light, except that seeds ofA. hierochuntica were significantly more inhibited in the dark than in the light. Xanthotoxin was isolated, identified, and found to account for about a sixth of the inhibitory activity of the eluate. After fruits ofAmmi were submerged in a large volume of water for 4 days, the fruits still exuded enough inhibitors to prevent germination ofA. hierochuntica, lettuce, or tomato. Data support also the proposal that the phytotoxins are compartmentalized between the inner and the outer fruit envelopes. The inner layer excludes inhibitors from the embryo and autotoxicity is thus avoided, whereas the outer one ensures a gradual liberation of the phytotoxic compounds. This, as well as the high reactivity of the eluate, the high densities ofAmmi fruits in nature, and their relatively limited annual germination, suggest chemical inhibition of neighboring plant species other thanAmmi. Hence, in addition to their chemical protection against predators of either lower or higher organisms, furanocoumarins in fruits ofAmmi majus may contribute to its success as a weed.     

Use of the Nasicon/Na2SO4 couple in a solid state sensor for SO x (x=2,3)

The e.m.f. of a concentration cell for SO _x (x=2,3)-O₂ incorporating Nasicon as the main solid electrolyte has been measured in the temperature range 720 to 1080 K. The cell arrangement can be represented as, $$Pt, O'_2 + SO'_2 + SO'_3 \left| {Na_2 SO_4 \left\| {\left. {Nasicon} \right\|} \right.} \right.\left. {Na_2 SO_4 } \right|SO''_3 + SO''_2 + O''_2 , Pt$$ The Na₂SO₄ acts both as an auxiliary electrode, converting chemical potentials of SO _x and O₂ to equivalent sodium potentials, and as an electrolyte. The presence of Na₂SO₄ provides partial protection of Nasicon from chemical reaction with gas mixtures containing SO _x . The open circuit e.m.f. of the cell is in close agreement with values given by the Nernst equation. For certain fixed inlet gas compositions of SO₂+O₂, the e.m.f. varies non-linearly with temperature. The intrinsic response time of the cell to step changes in gas composition is estimated to vary from ～2.0 ksec at 723K to ～ 0.2 ksec at 1077K. The cell functions well for large differences in partial pressures of SO₃(p″_{SO 3}/p′_{SO 3}≈10⁴) at the electrodes.     

Thermal analysis of styrene–alkyl methacrylate polymers. I. Glass transition temperatures

The glass transition temperatures (T_g's) of several polystyrenes and styrene–alkyl methacrylate copolymers and terpolymers were measured using thermomechanical analysis (TMA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The polymers studied had number-average molecular weights from 3000 to 250,000 g/mole. The results indicate that the composition dependence of the T_g's for the copolymers and terpolymers can be satisfactorily described by a general Fox equation. In general, the measured T_g's of the copolymer and terpolymer samples depend more on the steric effects of the constituent pendent groups than on their molecular weights. The chain flexibility rather than the size of the pendent group is the determining factor in the glass transition properties of the styrene polymers.     

Recycling of ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) waste. III. Processability of EPDM rubber compound containing ground EPDM vulcanizates

The rheological behavior of ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) compounds containing ground EPDM waste (W‐EPDM) of known composition was studied by using a Monsanto processability tester in a temperature range of 90–110°C and a shear rate range of 306.7–1533.24 s^?1. It is found that the shear viscosity decreases slightly with increasing W‐EPDM loading because of wall slip that results from the migration of lubricants from the W‐EPDM. The addition of W‐EPDM to raw EPDM results in a decreased die swell at all temperatures and shear rates. SEM photomicrographs of the EPDM extrudate surface show improved surface smoothness and reduced extrudate distortion when EPDM is blended with W‐EPDM. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 87: 2204–2215, 2003     

Ablation of ice-solids and wax-solids mixtures in turbulent axisymmetric water jets

The ablation rate of frozen mixtures of water or wax with finely divided solids subjected to a turbulent axisymmetric water jet was investigated both experimentally and theoretically. The range of the water jet Reynolds number was 8700–29300 and the jet temperature varied between 22 and 60°C. The solids used were very fine kaolinite clay, titanium oxide and aluminium powder. The type of solids and their concentration were found to affect the ablation rate of ice-solids and wax-solids mixtures. This is mainly due to changes in the physical properties of the melt layer of the water-solids or wax-solids mixtures which forms between the impinging jet and the frozen mixtures.