Soft solution fluorine-free synthesis of anatase nanoparticles with tailored morphology

TiO₂ nanoparticles with tailored morphology have been synthesized under exceptionally soft conditions. The strategy is based on the use of a non-aqueous alcoholic reaction medium in which water traces, coming either from the air (atmospheric water) or from an ethanol–water azeotropic mixture (ethanol 96%), are incorporated in order to accelerate hydrolysis of the Ti–precursor. Moreover, organic surfactants have been used as capping agents so as to tailor crystal growth in certain preferential directions. Combinations of oleic acid and oleylamine, which lead to the formation of another surfactant, dioleamide, are employed instead of fluorine-based compounds, thus increasing the sustainability of the process. As a result, TiO₂ nanostructured hierarchical microspheres and individual nanoparticles with exposed high-energy facets can be obtained at atmospheric pressure and temperatures as low as 78 °C.     

Thermal and mechanical analysis of the ITER plasma-position reflectometry antennas

The antennas of the ITER plasma-position reflectometer are the components most exposed to the plasma. High thermal loads can cause high temperatures and excessive stress, so the first constrains on the antenna design arise from thermal simulations results. Therefore, the first step of the analysis is to develop a finite element thermal model with ANSYS. Once the temperatures are kept at acceptable levels, structural analysis is performed to know the thermal stress. Simulations performed using different materials and support structure geometries are discussed. Further, it has been checked that the components can withstand the electromagnetic loads expected during disruptions and vertical displacement events. The stress due to these electromagnetic loads is calculated analytically as well as with ANSYS simulations. The proposed antenna arrangement is properly designed against thermal and mechanical loads.     

Effect of cooking and germination on phenolic composition and biological properties of dark beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Legumes are the base´s diet in several countries. They hold a high nutritional value, but other properties related to human health are nowadays being studied. The aim of this work was to study the influence of processes (boiling or germination) on the phenolic composition of dark beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L. c.v. Tolosana) and their effect on their antioxidant, neuroprotective and anticancer ability. Phenolic composition of raw and processed dark beans was analysed by HPLC-PAD and HPLC–ESI/MS. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by ORAC. Astrocytes cultures (U-373) have been used to test their neuroprotective effect. Anticancer activities were evaluated on three different cell lines (renal adenocarcinoma (TK-10), breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) and melanoma (UACC-62)) by sulphorhodamine B method. Qualitative and quantitative differences in phenolic composition have been observed between raw and processed dark beans that influence the antioxidant activity, mainly for germinated samples which show a decrease of antioxidant capacity. Although every assayed extracts decreased reactive oxygen species release and exhibited cytotoxicity activities on cancer cell lines, raw beans proved to be the most active in neuroprotective and antitumoral effects; this sample is especially rich in phenolic compounds, mainly anthocyanins. This study further demonstrated that phenolic composition of dark beans is related with cooking process and so with their neuroprotective and anticancer activity; cooking of dark beans improves their digestion and absorption at intestinal level, while maintaining its protective ability on oxidative process at cellular level.     

ASTM民用核电强化培训项目

公共和私营部门在标准化领域的合作是非常有效且有益的。当此类合作跨越国界时，知识的获得就会更加广泛，得到的回报也就更多样了。ASTM国际标准组织目前举办了民用核电强化培训课程，最值得一提的当属韩国标准协会及其业界的培训。培训资金主要来源于韩国政府，还有一部分支持来自业界。此次培训项目是一个成功的典范，ASTM负责后勤保障和所培训的内容。     

Comparative exergy analysis of direct alcohol fuel cells using fuel mixtures

Within the last years there has been increasing interest in direct liquid fuel cells as power sources for portable devices and, in the future, power plants for electric vehicles and other transport media as ships will join those applications. Methanol is considerably more convenient and easy to use than gaseous hydrogen and a considerable work is devoted to the development of direct methanol fuel cells. But ethanol has much lower toxicity and from an ecological viewpoint ethanol is exceptional among all other types of fuel as is the only chemical fuel in renewable supply. The aim of this study is to investigate the possibility of using direct alcohol fuel cells fed with alcohol mixtures. For this purpose, a comparative exergy analysis of a direct alcohol fuel cell fed with alcohol mixtures against the same fuel cell fed with single alcohols is performed. The exergetic efficiency and the exergy loss and destruction are calculated and compared in each case. When alcohol mixtures are fed to the fuel cell, the contribution of each fuel to the fuel cell performance is weighted attending to their relative proportion in the aqueous solution. The optimum alcohol composition for methanol/ethanol mixtures has been determined.     

Determination of Physical and Chemical Properties of Electric Arc Furnace Dusts for the Purposes of Their Utilization

Electric arc furnace dusts are among the most environment polluting wastes. Numerous utilization technologies have been developed for dusts containing up to 4% of Zn and more than 20% of Zn. However, the remaining part of steelmaking dusts are the most problematic ones, as they are mostly dumped generating costs and posing serious environmental threats. This paper provides an analysis of the potential utilization options for dusts containing ca. 10% of zinc generated in a single electric steelmaking shop. Physical and chemical properties of dusts have been determined and examined, and furthermore, results of the studies on the EAFD utilization in production of cement clinker and industrial glass have been discussed. It has been found that a particularly beneficial feature of the production technology proposed is that the iron content exceeds 30%. The influence of the dusts used on the functional properties of the products obtained has been established as well as the environmental impact of the processes and products in question and the dust mass possible to be utilized in the production technology proposed have been determined.