On mass transfer effect due to electrolytically evolved gas

Based on the Ibl penetration model mass transfer equations for gas-evolving electrodes were derived and compared to the effect of forced convection. Experimental studies were conducted in a rectangular flow channel with the working electrode facing downward. The variables were linear bubble velocity, linear electrolyte velocity, nature of the gas and electrode position. Up to bubble velocities (U_x) of 2 and 6 cm s⁻¹ for O₂ and H₂ gases respectively, the thickness of the Nernst diffusion layer (δ_av) was described well by the equation δ_av = [Dd_eL/(U_x)_av]^1/3. Intermediate slopes between − 1/3 and − 1 were observed for O₂ bubble velocities between 2 and 6 cm s⁻¹. A theoretical derivation suggests that in the absence of bubble coalescence, the mass transfer effect due to laminar flow induced by electrolytically evolved gas exceeds that due to forced external laminar flow for all practical channel designs.     

A test for the statistical significance of DNA sequence similarities for application in databank searches

A method is developed, based on word-searching, which provides a rapid test for the statistical significance of DNA sequence similarities for use in databank searching. The method makes allowance for the lengths and dinucleotide compositions of the sequences being compared. A way is also described to calculate the power of the test, i.e. the probability of detecting a given similarity as being statistically significant. The effects on the power of the test of the scoring method, word length, sequence length, and sequence composition are examined. A novel scoring method is shown to be superior to the method currently used in most word-searching algorithms.     

Performance of combined cobalt—nickel—zirconia and HZSM-5 catalyst systems for carbon monoxide hydrogenation

The synthesis of hydrocarbons via hydrogenation of carbon monoxide was investigated over cobalt—nickel—zirconia catalysts of various compositions in combination with zeolite HZSM-5 in “mixed bed” and “follow bed” arrangements. These combinations resulted in the formation of aromatics in amounts as high as 30-35 wt% under relatively mild operating conditions (1 atm, 250–280°C). Although the olefinicity of C₂ and C₃ fractions in the product stream was higher in the mixed bed compared to the follow bed arrangement, the selectivities to aromatics were comparable in the two bed arrangements. The aromatic selectivity was found to be sensitive to operating conditions. The formation of aromatics was favored at high HZSM-5/metal catalyst ratios, low space velocities and high reaction temperatures. The product distributions obtained using various metal/zeolite bifunctional catalysts have been discussed.