X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy of Cadmium Tin Oxide Ceramics in As-Fired and Electrochemically Reduced Forms

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) has been employed to investigate the chemical nature of samples of dicadmium stannate (Cd₂SnO₄) in the as-fired, electrochemically reduced, and reoxidized states. The reduction of Cd₂SnO₄ was found to be associated with a dramatic color change from bright yellow to dark green, a phenomenon commonly known as the electrochromic effect. Both quantitative XPS results and binding energy measurements proved that, upon exposure of the reduced ceramic bodies to air, the Sn²⁺ to Sn⁴⁺ transition readily took place to produce the intermediate compound, Cd₂SnO₃ with divalent tin. Prolonged exposure to the atmosphere did not result in further progress of reoxidation extending to monovalent cadmium. However, complete reoxidation of the reduced samples was possible by annealing in air at 350°C for a short period of time, e.g., 3 h, by which the original features of the as-fired state such as color and electrical conductivity were restored. The results also showed that reoxidized samples at high temperature assume the same XPS characteristics as those of as-fired ceramics.     

Agitation of Herschel–Bulkley fluids with the Scaba–anchor coaxial mixers

The design of the coaxial mixers depends on many interrelated parameters including the geometry and dimensions of the mixing vessel, the location and type of the impellers, speed ratio, impeller diameter, rotation mode, and fluid rheology. No study has been reported in the literature regarding the mixing performance of the coaxial mixers in the agitation of yield-pseudoplastic fluids. Thus, the main objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of a Scaba–anchor coaxial mixer (a novel configuration) in the mixing of xanthan gum solutions (yield-pseudoplastic fluids). The Herschel–Bulkley model was used to describe the rheological behavior of the xanthan gum solutions. To develop new correlations for the generalized Reynolds and power numbers of the coaxial mixers employed in the agitation of this class of non-Newtonian fluids, we utilized numerous experimental and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) data. The new correlations were tested successfully at different operating conditions (e.g. speed ratio, fluid rheology, and operation mode).     

Characterization of the continuous-flow mixing of non-Newtonian fluids using the ratio of residence time to batch mixing time

Continuous-flow mixing of pseudoplastic fluids possessing yield stress is a complex phenomenon exhibiting non-ideal flows within the stirred vessels. Electrical resistance tomography (ERT), a non-intrusive technique, was employed to measure the mixing time in the batch mode while dynamic tests were performed to study the mixing system in the continuous mode. This study attempts to explore the effects of the operating conditions and design parameters on the ratio of the residence time (τ) to the mixing time (θ) for the continuous-flow mixing of non-Newtonian fluids. To achieve these objectives, the effects of impeller types (four axial-flow impellers: A310, A315, 3AH, and 3AM; and three radial-flow impellers: RSB, RT, and Scaba), impeller speed (290–754 rpm), fluid rheology (0.5–1.5%, w/v), impeller off-bottom clearance (H/2.7–H/2.1, where H is the fluid height in the vessel), locations of inlet and outlet (configurations: top inlet-bottom outlet and bottom inlet-top outlet), pumping directions of an axial-flow impeller (up-pumping and down-pumping), fluid height in the vessel (T/1.06–T/0.83, where T is the tank diameter), residence time (257–328 s), and jet velocity (0.317–1.66 ms⁻¹) on the ratio of τ to θ were investigated. The results showed that the extent of the non-ideal flows (channeling and dead volume) in the continuous-flow mixing approached zero when the value of τ/θ varied from 8.2 to 24.5 depending on the operating conditions and design parameters. Thus, to design an efficient continuous-flow mixing system for non-Newtonian fluids, the ratio of the residence time to the mixing time should be at least 8.2 or higher.     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(ethylene tetrasulfide)/graphene oxide nanocomposites by in situ polymerization method

Poly(ethylene tetrasulfide) (PSP) is synthesized via interfacial polycondensation of 1,2 dichloroethane and sodium tetrasulfide, in the presence of graphene oxide (GO). This process resulted in homogeneously dispersed PSP/GO nanocomposites. Nanocomposites of 0.3 and 0.5?wt% of GO are synthesized and their morphology, chemical characteristics behavior are studied employing field emission scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques. Thermal characterization of composites is performed by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry analysis. Results indicate that the addition of only small amounts (0.5?wt%) of well-dispersed GO can increase the melting point more than 16°C resulting in better thermal properties for the composite. The solubility of nanocomposite is also studied and results show that the solubility depends on solvent concentration in addition to reinforcement (GO) deals.     

Multiple Abiotic Stresses Applied Simultaneously Elicit Distinct Responses in Two Contrasting Rice Cultivars

Rice crops are often subject to multiple abiotic stresses simultaneously in both natural and cultivated environments, resulting in yield reductions beyond those expected from single stress. We report physiological changes after a 4 day exposure to combined drought, salt and extreme temperature treatments, following a 2 day salinity pre-treatment in two rice genotypes—Nipponbare (a paddy rice) and IAC1131 (an upland landrace). Stomata closed after two days of combined stresses, causing intercellular CO2 concentrations and assimilation rates to diminish rapidly. Abscisic acid (ABA) levels increased at least five-fold but did not differ significantly between the genotypes. Tandem Mass Tag isotopic labelling quantitative proteomics revealed 6215 reproducibly identified proteins in mature leaves across the two genotypes and three time points (0, 2 and 4 days of stress). Of these, 987 were differentially expressed due to stress (cf. control plants), including 41 proteins that changed significantly in abundance in all stressed plants. Heat shock proteins, late embryogenesis abundant proteins and photosynthesis-related proteins were consistently responsive to stress in both Nipponbare and IAC1131. Remarkably, even after 2 days of stress there were almost six times fewer proteins differentially expressed in IAC1131 than Nipponbare. This contrast in the translational response to multiple stresses is consistent with the known tolerance of IAC1131 to dryland conditions.     

Mathematical Modeling of Coke Formation and Deposition due to Thermal Cracking of Petroleum Fluids

A two‐dimensional mathematical dynamics model is presented to predict coke formation due to thermal cracking inside the tubes of fired heaters on two types of petroleum fluid. The laminar and turbulent flows are analyzed for both petroleum fluids. The second‐order k‐? standard model is adopted to make this mathematical model more accurate than previous models of coke formation. The radial and axial variations for temperature, velocity, and concentration due to the high temperature gradients inside the tubes are considered in the model equations. The finite volume method is the numerical model used to discretize the conservation equations. The proposed model is suitable to predict coke formation inside heater tubes since it indicates operational conditions where coke formation is minimized.     

Fe3O4@MCM-41@NH-SO3H: an Efficient Magnetically Reusable Nano-Catalyst for the Formylation of Amines and Alcohols

Silicon - In this article the preparation of Fe3O4@MCM-41@NH-SO3H, a new sulfonated magnetic mesoporous nanocomposite, is reported. The introduced catalyst is structurally based on MCM-41 as the...     

Microstructural evolution of a commercial ultrafine alumina powder densified by different methods

The densification and grain growth of bodies made from a commercial ultrafine alumina powder was investigated. The primary powder was initially subjected to dry (uniaxial cold pressing) and wet shaping (slip casting), followed by conventional (CS)-, two step (TSS)-, and microwave (MS) sintering to explore the effect of each series of treatments on the densification and microstructural evolution of the specimens. It was demonstrated that a uniform microstructure with higher density would be obtained using the wet shaping method. In addition, microwave sintering was found to be more effective into the densification of the specimens and in yielding a finer grain structure. It is believed that the high heating rate and effective particle packing are responsible for the improvements in these properties. On this basis, it was also demonstrated that the fracture toughness of the samples increased significantly through the application of microwave sintering.     

Synthesis of silicon-substituted hydroxyapatite by a hydrothermal method with two different phosphorous sources

Silicon-substituted hydroxyapatite (Si-HA) with up to 1.8 wt% Si content was prepared successfully by a hydrothermal method, using Ca(NO₃)₂, (NH₄)₃PO₄ or (NH₄)₂HPO₄ and Si(OCH₂CH₃)₄ (TEOS) as starting materials. Silicon has been incorporated in hydroxyapatite (HA) lattice by partially replacing phosphate (PO₄³⁻) groups with silicate (SiO₄⁴⁻) groups resulting in Si-HA described as Ca₁₀(PO₄)_6−x(SiO₄)_x(OH)_2−x. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform IR spectroscopy (FTIR), inductively coupled plasma AES (ICP-AES) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques reveal that the substitution of phosphate groups by silicate groups causes some OH⁻ loss to maintain the charge balance and changes the lattice parameters of HA. The crystal shape of Si-HA has not altered compared to silicon-free reference hydroxyapatite but Si-incorporation reduces the size of Si-HA crystallites. Based on in vitro tests, soaking the specimens in simulated body fluid (SBF), and MTT assays by human osteoblast-like cells, Si-substituted hydroxyapatite is more bioactive than pure hydroxyapatite.