Numerical and Experimental Biomass Separation from Fermentation Process by Minihydrocyclones

Biomass particle separation is challenging in the pharmaceutical industry because of the smallness and lightness of such particles. Centrifugation is applied conventionally for batch separation. However, imposing multiple wash steps in order to eliminate culture residues and the high risk of extrinsic contamination hamper batch techniques. In this research, minihydrocyclones were introduced to provide a better solution for the mentioned limitations in continuous processes. Numerical separation of methylotrophic yeast from fermentation broth was carried out in three hydrocyclones with different lengths, and the most efficient one was examined experimentally. Three various feed flow rates and seven feed concentrations were evaluated. The concentration of biomass suspension in the product was raised to 20 %.     

Time domain constrained H∞‐synthesis

Structured H_∞‐synthesis subject to time domain performance specifications is introduced. Our method allows to control trajectories of the linearized system and the underlying nonlinear dynamics simultaneously. A non‐smooth bundle optimization method for this class of programs is proposed and discussed. Our approach is tested against two benchmark studies: control of a rotational actuator to attenuate vibration noise, and control of a continuous crystallizer. Our algorithm gives a local convergence certificate and is suited for systems with large state dimension. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Activation of Ziegler‐Natta catalysts by organohalide promoters: A combined experimental and density functional theory study

Several organohalide (HC) compounds were tested as promoters for a Ti‐based Ziegler‐Natta (Z‐N) catalyst at different polymerization conditions. Results show that the intensity of the promoting effect depends on the nature and amount of the promoters. A proper amount, especially optimum amount, of aliphatic type organohalides leads to a strong productivity, and aromatic ones leads to a weak productivity improvement; however, 3‐chloro‐1‐propene poison the catalyst even at lower HC/Ti molar ratios. Among studied compounds, chlorocyclohexane has the best activity promotion effect at HC/Ti molar ratio of 128, and with this as a promoter, the activity increases over 85%. To understand more details about this phenomenon, the rate of polymerization during time and the effect of polymerization conditions (the temperature and hydrogen partial pressure) on the performance of chlorocyclohexane as the most effective promoter were studied. Finally, to explore the mechanism of reactivation of catalyst species by organohalides, molecular modeling was employed and a new oxidation‐addition mechanism was proposed, which basically consisting of homolytic breaking of C? Cl bond in organohalides. It was found that reoxidation of the catalyst, restoring active center, by Cl rich organohalides is energetically more favored. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Structure Stability and Oxygen Permeability of Perovskite-type Oxides of Ba_(0.5)Sr_(0.5)Co_(0.8)Fe_(0.1)R_(0.1)O_ (3-δ)(R=Al,Mn,Fe,Ce,Cr,Ni,Co)

Perovskite-type Ba 0.5 Sr 0.5 Co 0.8 Fe 0.1 R 0.1 O 3 δ (R=Al,Mn,Fe,Ce,Cr,Ni,Co) oxide membranes were exploited and synthesized.Oxygen behavior,order-disorder transition and phase stability of these composite oxides were investigated by combined analysis of X-ray diffraction (XRD),temperature programmed desorption (TPD),thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA).Oxygen permeation through these membranes was studied by the gas chromatography (GC) method using a high-temperature permeation cell in a wide temperature range from 700 to 950 C.High permeation fluxes were observed for these materials.The high permeation flux was about 3.19 ml·min 1 ·cm 2 under air/He gradients at 950 C,which was achieved for Ba 0.5 Sr 0.5 Co 0.8 Fe 0.1 Ni 0.1 O 3 δ (BSCFNiO) membrane.The results of analysis showed no phase transition for BSCFNiO oxide with increasing temperature and XRD pattern of this material after O 2-TPD indicated to sustain a pure perovskite structure after oxygen permeation process.     

Effect of halocarbon promoters on polyethylene properties using MgCl2 (ethoxide type)/TiCl4/AlEt3/H2 catalyst system

In our previous study we found that addition of proper amount of halocarbons (HC) including chlorocyclohexane (CHC), chlorocyclopentane (CHP), butylchloride (BC), 1,4‐dichlorobutane (DCB), and chloroform (C) to the MgCl₂ (Ethoxide type)/TiCl₄/AlEt₃ catalytic system leads to a strong productivity improvement. In this study, the effect of these halocarbons on the properties of resulting polymers was investigated using H₂ as chain transfer agent at optimum HC/Ti molar ratio. The nature of halocarbon compound had a strong effect on polymer properties as well as on development of polymerization activity. Effect of halocarbon promoters on the polymer melt flow index (MFI), melt flow ratio (MFR), particle size distribution (PSD), bulk density, wax amount, crystallinity, and thermal properties of the polymers were studied. Results showed that, in the presence of halocarbons, polyethylenes with higher MFI and bulk density, broader MFR and lower wax amount have been obtained. Also, sieve analysis showed that, in the presence of halocarbons as promoter, polymers had better particle size distribution (PSD). DSC analysis showed that the T_m of PEs prepared with the different promoters were in the region commonly reported for HDPE and was not affected substantially by halocarbons, but, the crystallinity of the polymers has been improved using halocarbon promoters. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Detour: informed Internet routing and transport

Despite its obvious success, the Internet suffers from end-to-end performance and availability problems. We believe that intelligent routers at key access and interchange points could improve Internet behavior by actively managing traffic. We describe the inefficiencies in routing and transport protocols in the modern Internet. We are constructing a prototype, called Detour, a virtual Internet, in which routers tunnel packets over the commodity Internet instead of using dedicated links     

Nanoparticle-functionalized nucleic acids: A strategy for amplified electrochemical detection of some single-base mismatches

In this study, nanoparticle-functionalized nucleic acids were employed to improve the sensitivity of electrochemical DNA biosensors that make capable them to detect different types of single-base mismatches (SBMs), including thermodynamically stable ones. The present biosensor was constructed by the immobilization of platinum nanoparticles (Pt-NPs) on the surface of a carbon paste electrode (CPE) via SH-functionalized DNA. A redox probe of 2-mercapto-1-methyl imidazole (MMI), which has different electrochemical behavior on Pt-NP and CPE, was used. This behavior helps to overcome the pinhole effect in DNA hybridization biosensors. Additionally, in the present biosensor, the positioning of the redox probe under the SBM in DNA, which decreases the sensitivity of most DNA biosensors, did not contribute to the observed electrochemical signal.     

Manipulating drug release from tridimensional porous substrates coated by initiated chemical vapor deposition

In the recent years, modern wound dressings have attracted much interest to accelerate wound healing processes with the topical delivery of drugs directly on wounds having a significant effect on wound rehabilitation. The objective of this study was to develop a model dressing that would not only provide wound protection from the environment but might also provide the possibility to keep it moist and deliver a drug for potential speeding the healing process. Poly(ethylene terephthalate), cotton fabrics, and polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers were used as different tridimensional porous substrates, loaded with a model drug, clotrimazole. The results show that the chemical structure and surface area to volume ratio of the pristine substrates affect the drug release profile. Coating of such substrates by hydrogels poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (p-HEMA) and poly(methacrylic acid) (p-MAA) was successfully achieved by initiated chemical vapor deposition. This method was chosen because it is gentle and solventless and most important it can coat free areas within the three-dimensional structures. Scanning electron microscopy results revealed that p-HEMA and p-MAA conformally coated the fibers of the substrates. Moreover, drug release experiments showed that p-HEMA and p-MAA coatings provide barriers preventing sudden drug release. In conclusion, our results indicated the possibility of fabricating dressings containing a drug with tunable drug release profile depending on several parameters even though a strong porous structure exists. © 2019 The Authors. Journal of Applied Polymer Science published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47858.     

Effect of Si and Ge Surface Doping on the Be<Subscript>2</Subscript>C Monolayer: Case Study on Electrical and Optical Properties

The electronic and optical properties of X (Si, Ge) doped Be₂C monolayer has been investigated using the all-electron full potential linear augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW + lo) method in a scalar relativistic version as embodied in the Wien2k code based on the density functional theory. Using cohesive energy calculation, it has been shown that the Si and Ge doped to Be₂C monolayer have stable structures and the doping processes modified the direct band gaps. The calculated electronic band structure confirm the direct band gap nature since the conduction band minimum and the valence band maximum are located at the center of the Brillouin zone. The total and partial density of states help to gain further information regarding the hybridizations and the orbitals which control the energy band gap. The calculated optical properties help to gain deep insight into the electronic structure. Our calculated results indicate that the X (Si, Ge) doped Be₂C monolayer can be have potential application in optoelectronics devices.