An imprinted organic--inorganic hybrid sorbent for selective separation of cadmium from aqueous solution

A hierarchical double-imprinting concept was applied to the preparation of a new organic-inorganic hybrid sorbent for selective separation of Cd(II) from aqueous solution. In the prepared hierarchically imprinted sorbent, both Cd(II) and surfactant micelles (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide) were used as templates. The sorbent was prepared through self-hydrolysis, self-condensation, and co-condensation of the cross-linking agent (tetraethoxysilicate) and the functional precursor (3-(2-aminoethylamino)-propyltrimethoxysilane) in an alkaline media followed by gelation. The selectivity of the sorbent was investigated by a batch competitive ion-binding experiment using an aqueous Cd(II) and Zn(II) mixture. The largest selectivity coefficient for Cd(II) in the presence of Zn(II) was found to be over 100; the largest relative selectivity coefficient between Cd(II) and Zn(II), over 200. The uptake capacity of the prepared hierarchically imprinted sol-gel sorbent and the selectivity coefficient are much higher than those of the sorbent prepared in the absence of CTAB-template. The sorbent possesses a fast kinetics for the removal of Cd(II) from aqueous solution.     

Dimensionless parameters for the design of optical traps and laser guidance systems

Optical traps are routinely used for the manipulation of neutral particles. However, optical trap design is limited by the lack of an accurate theory. The generalized Lorenz-Mie theory (GLMT) solves the scattering problem for arbitrary particle size and predicts radial forces accurately. Here we show that the GLMT predicts the observed radial and axial forces in a variety of optical manipulators. We also present a dimensionless parameter beta for the prediction of axial forces. Coupled with our correlation for radial escape forces, we now have a set of two simple correlations for the practical design of radiation-force-based systems.     

齿形链条导板裂纹分析

导板是一种小节距外导式齿形链条的一个主要零件,如图1所示.由于这种链条系多片结构,与链轮啮合时具有冲击小,噪音低,工作可靠性高等特点,被广泛应用于机械传动和汽车、摩托车发动机内的时规链传动[1].     

Suppressing harmonic vibrations of a miniature cryogenic cooler using an adaptive tunable vibration absorber based on magneto-rheological elastomers

This paper presents dynamic performances of an adaptive tunable vibration absorber (TVA) designed to suppress the main harmonic disturbance of a miniature linear cryogenic cooler, which is being used in space applications such as an observation satellite. The adaptive TVA employs a magneto-rheological elastomer (MRE) for a variable stiffness element. This study first investigates the shear modulus change of MRE samples with respect to the magnetic flux density, which varies through the alignment of particle chains. The MRE with the maximal shear modulus change is mounted for the TVA on a prototype cooler, which emulates the characteristics of a miniature cryogenic cooler. Using the test setup, a series of vibration tests are performed to evaluate the performance and efficacy of the MRE TVA and its re-tuning ability. The experimental results show that the MRE TVA is able to robustly suppress the vibration of the cooler even when the frequency of resonant vibration is changed up to 87% from its initial frequency.     

Compressive mechanical properties of bovine cortical bone under varied loading rates

Bone tissue functions in varied mechanical systems of the body under static and dynamic conditions. Therefore, it is essential to understand the mechanical responses of bone at varied loading rates, especially those at fast loading rates. This study has investigated the effect of loading rate on the compressive mechanical properties of bovine cortical bone. Bone specimens of 3.85 mm in diameter and 7.7 mm in length were compressed longitudinally with the loading rates of 2 to 2000 mm/s (corresponding strain rates of 0.26 to 260 s(-1)). As a result, bovine cortical bone showed high linear elasticity when the loading rate was slow, and exhibited three definite regions of linear elasticity, plastic deformation, and densification at faster loading rates. The elastic modulus showed no dependency on the loading rate. Compressive strength, strain at fracture, and toughness increased as the loading rate increased under the condition that the loading rates were slower than each critical loading rate of 1000, 100, and 1500 mm/s, respectively. However, all showed no significant changes when the loading rates were faster than the corresponding critical loading rates. In conclusion, as the loading rate increased, changes in the compressive mechanical parameters were different depending on the parameter and the loading rate range. Compressive mechanical behaviour of bovine cortical bone showed a brittle nature under high strain rates (strain rates > 13 s(-1)). These findings should be reflected in the biomimetic simulation of biomaterials for bone tissue repair and engineering.     

Enzyme-linked immuno-strip biosensor to detect Escherichia coli O157:H7

A strip-based biosensor using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique was fabricated to detect Escherichia coli O157:H7. Two types of antibody specified to E. coli O157:H7 were used to form sandwich-binding complexes. To fabricate an immuno-strip, capture antibody (monoclonal antibody) was immobilized onto signal generation pad and polyclonal antibody conjugated with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was utilized as detection antibody. Four different functional membranes have been used to fabricate immuno-chromatographic assay strip. A sample application pad was a glass fiber membrane pre-treated with polyvinyl alcohol. A conjugate release pad was fabricated using a glass membrane. A signal generation pad was made on nitrocellulose membrane. Finally, a cellulose membrane was used as an absorption pad. Under optimal conditions of analysis, a color signal in proportion to the E. coli O157:H7 concentration was measured using a detector. The measurement range was 1.8x10(3)-1.8x10(8)CFU/mL.     

Modeling resonator frequency fluctuations induced by adsorbing and desorbing surface molecules

Resonator frequency fluctuations due to adsorption and desorption of molecules on plate electrodes are studied using the principle of mass-loading effects of adsorbed molecules. The study is based on a 525 MHz, AT-cut quartz resonator enclosed in a small crystal holder. Equations relating the surface adsorption rates of the crystal holder to pressure were derived and found to be quadratic polynomial functions of the adsorption rates. Calculations based on these equations show that a contaminant gas with a higher desorption energy creates larger changes in pressure when the temperature is varied. The function describing the frequency fluctuations due to any one contaminant site is a continuous-time Markov chain. Kolmogorov equations and an autocorrelation function for the Markov chain are derived. The autocorrelation and spectral density function of resonator frequency fluctuations are derived. The spectral density of frequency fluctuations at 1 Hz is studied as a function of pressure, temperature, and desorption energy of molecules. The noise levels for a contaminant gas with one type of molecules are found to be lower for lower desorption energies, and higher at lower pressures.     

Carrier transport mechanisms of phosphorescent organic light-emitting devices fabricated utilizing a N,N'-dicarbazolyl-3,5-benzene: 1,3,5-tri(phenyl-2-benzimidazole)-benzene mixed host emitting layer

The electrical and the optical properties of phosphorescent organic light-emitting devices (PHOLEDs) fabricated utilizing a mixed host emitting layer (EML) consisting of N,N'-dicarbazolyl-3,5-benzene (mCP) and 1,3,5-tri(phenyl-2-benzimidazole)-benzene (TPBi) were investigated to clarify the carrier transport mechanisms of PHOLEDs. While the operating voltage of the PHOLEDs with a mixed host EML significantly decreased due to the insertion of TPBi with a high electron mobility, the quantum efficiency of the PHOLEDs decreased due to the hindrance of the exciton energy transfer by TPBi molecules. The electroluminescence spectra for the PHOLEDs with an tris(2-phenylpyridine)iridium-doped mixed host EML showed that the TPBi molecules in the mixed host EML increased the electron injection into the mixed host EML, resulting in a decrease of the shift length of the recombination zone in comparison with a single host EML.     

Catalytic oxidation of benzene with ozone over nanoporous Mn/MCM-48 catalyst

The catalytic oxidation of a representative volatile organic compound, benzene, with ozone at a low temperature was investigated. A nanoporous MCM-48 material with a high specific surface area was used as the support for the catalytic oxidation for the first time. Mn, which has high activity at a low temperature, was used as the metal catalyst. To examine the effect of the Mn precursor, MCM-48 was impregnated with two different Mn precursors: Mn acetate and Mn nitrate. The characteristics of the synthesized catalysts were analyzed by Brunauer Emmett Teller surface area, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and temperature-programmed reduction. MCM-48 impregnated with Mn acetate showed higher catalytic activity than MCM-48 impregnated with Mn nitrate. This result was attributed to the better dispersion within nanoporous MCM-48 and higher oxygen mobility of Mn oxides produced by Mn acetate. The catalytic activity was also shown to depend closely on the ozone concentration.     

Preparation of highly dispersed tungsten oxide on MCM-41 via atomic layer deposition and its application to butanol dehydration

Highly dispersed tungsten oxide on MCM-41 was synthesized using a novel atomic layer deposition (ALD) method. BET, XRD, XPS, NH3-TPD, and pyridine-IR were used to study the physicochemical properties of the supported tungsten oxides. In this study, the maximum loading of tungsten oxide on MCM-41 that could be prepared using the modified ALD method was 27.0 wt%. It was confirmed that the textural properties of the mesoporous silica were maintained after tungsten oxide loading. The NH3-TPD and Py-IR results indicated that weak acid sites, mainly Lewis acid sites, were produced over the WO3/MCM-41 samples. Moreover, 2-butanol dehydration was performed to demonstrate the potential advantages of the WO3/MCM-41 catalysts. The WO3/MCM-41 catalyst with 27.0 wt% tungsten oxide loading showed the highest activity in the dehydration of 2-butanol, which was attributed to the highest overall number of acid sites among the WO3/MCM-41 catalysts. The highly dispersed tungsten oxide on MCM-41 prepared via ALD can be an effective catalyst for producing butenes through 2-butanol dehydration.