Synthesis of Light Hydrocarbons from Biogas and Hydrogen: Investigation of a Fe-Mn-K/MgO Catalyst

Fischer-Tropsch synthesis of the CO₂ in biogas aims at producing light hydrocarbons and increasing its calorific value for feeding into the grid. Fe catalysts with Mn and K as promoters are supposed to yield high amounts of light hydrocarbons. Using a Fe-Mn-K/MgO catalyst, a parameter screening and long-term experiments were carried out. The catalyst shows, within the examined range, the highest selectivity to C₂–C₄ hydrocarbons at 450 °C, 8 bar(a), and a gas hourly space velocity of 350 h⁻¹. Calcination of the catalyst resulted in a significant drop of activity and an almost complete loss of selectivity to hydrocarbons. Admixture of steam to the reactant gas lowers the tendency to carbon deposition but also promotes the water-gas shift reaction and results in lower yields of hydrocarbons.     

Development of low-alcohol isotonic beer by interrupted fermentation

Alcohol-free beer with isotonic properties is getting more popular and its production can be carried out by different production strategies; however, interrupted fermentation is still a challenge. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop a low-alcohol isotonic beer (<0.5% v/v) by interrupted fermentation. Moreover, the major objective is to compare the developed product to commercial beverages (sports drinks, ‘Pilsen' regular beer, alcohol-free beers and low-alcohol isotonic beer). The beverages were evaluated based on pH, alcohol content (% v/v), total titratable acidity (mEq L⁻¹), osmolality (mOsmol kg⁻¹), bitterness International Bitterness Units, colour European Brewery Convention, total phenolic compounds (mg L⁻¹ gallic acid), reducing and total sugars (%) and Na and K contents (mg L⁻¹). The developed low-alcohol isotonic beer presented characteristics similar to sports drinks, with the advantage of being richer in phenolic compounds and suitable osmolality. Despite salts were added in its formulation, the grades attributed to all beers employed in the sensory evaluation, as well as the purchase intention did not present significant differences.     

New exact solutions of the Tzitzéica-type equations in non-linear optics using the expa function method

One specific class of non-linear evolution equations, known as the Tzitzéica-type equations, has received great attention from a group of researchers involved in non-linear science. In this article, new exact solutions of the Tzitzéica-type equations arising in non-linear optics, including the Tzitzéica, Dodd–Bullough–Mikhailov and Tzitzéica–Dodd–Bullough equations, are obtained using the exp_a function method. The integration technique actually suggests a useful and reliable method to extract new exact solutions of a wide range of non-linear evolution equations.     

Development of a new ion-imprinted polymer (IIP) with Cd2+ ions based on divinylbenzene copolymers containing amidoxime groups

Polymer Bulletin - In this study, we synthesized a new ion-imprinted polymer (IIP) based on introduction of amidoxime groups in acrylonitrile, complexation with Cd2+ ions and polymerization with...     

Relationship Between the Thermodynamic Parameters,Structure, and Anticorrosion Properties of Al-Zr-Ni-Fe-Y Alloys

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A - The influence of the chemical composition on the crystallization process, amorphous phase formation, and the anticorrosion properties of Al-Zr-Ni-Fe-Y...     

Robust predictive extended state observer for a class of nonlinear systems with time-varying input delay

ABSTRACT

This paper deals with asymptotic stabilisation of a class of nonlinear input-delayed systems via dynamic output feedback in the presence of disturbances. The proposed strategy has the structure of an observer-based control law, in which the observer estimates and predicts both the plant state and the external disturbance. A nominal delay value is assumed to be known and stability conditions in terms of linear matrix inequalities are derived for fast-varying delay uncertainties. Asymptotic stability is achieved if the disturbance or the time delay is constant. The controller design problem is also addressed and a numerical example with an unstable system is provided to illustrate the usefulness of the proposed strategy.