Characterizing bubble behavior in a pseudo-2D fluidized bed of wet particles

By applying digital image analysis on the bubble characteristics in a two dimensional wet-particle fluidized-bed, we report two-stage evolution of bubble characteristics with increasing liquid content. In the first stage, bubble number and uniformity of bubble fraction increase, while bubble average diameter and aspect ratio decrease. In the second stage, these characteristics shift toward an opposite direction. This two-stage evolution of bubble characteristics are analogous to that of reducing particle size in dry-particle fluidization, and the fluidizing properties of particles shifts from Geldart Group B to Group A and then to Group C. Furthermore, liquid addition causes a continuous decrease of bubble fraction and bubble flow rate. This is different from dry-particle fluidization, in which reducing particle size causes an increase trend. An explanation for this difference is that liquid addition increases the equivalent size of agglomerates in wet-particle fluidization, which is opposite to the effect of reducing particle size.     

Advanced Pyrrolidine-Carbamate Self-Immolative Spacer with Tertiary Amine Handle Induces Superfast Cyclative Drug Release

Amine-carbamate self-immolative (SI) spacers represent practical and versatile tools in targeted prodrugs, but their slow degradation mechanism limits drug activation at the site of disease. We engineered a pyrrolidine-carbamate SI spacer with a tertiary amine handle which strongly accelerates the spacer cyclization to give a bicyclic urea and the free hydroxy groups of either cytotoxic (Camptothecin) or immunostimulatory (Resiquimod) drugs. In silico conformational analysis and pK_a calculations suggest a plausible mechanism for the superior efficacy of the advanced SI spacer compared to state-of-art analogues.     

Bio-electrochemical production of hydrogen and electricity from organic waste: preliminary assessment

Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy - This study investigated the performance of a novel integrated bio-electrochemical system for synergistic hydrogen production from a process combining a...