Deconvolution of infrared spectra using various milk proteins as an example

The theory of deconvolution of infra-red spectra is presented and illustrated using milk protein spectra. The advantage of this method is impressively demonstrated and its relevance for dairy farming shown using a simple example, the cooling of milk.     

Synthesis and activation of Pt nanoparticles with controlled size for fuel cell electrocatalysts

Well-dispersed Pt nanoparticles with controlled size and narrow size distribution were prepared by polyalcohol reduction of platinum acetylacetonate, using oleylamine as a capping agent. The particle size was varied from 3.5 nm to 11.5 nm by decreasing the amount of oleylamine added in the synthesis. Size selection of the as-prepared particles by solvent fractionation yielded nearly monodispersed Pt particles. The as-prepared particles were loaded on a carbon support by physical deposition, but showed no electrocatalytic activity due to the oleylamine bound to the particle surface. The particles were activated for electrocatalysis after heating the particles in air at 185 °C for 5 h, conditions that gave no particle-sintering and no oxidation. Cyclic voltammetry showed that the particles after the heat treatment in air were electrocatalytically active for methanol oxidation. The smaller 3.5 nm and 4.0 nm Pt particles had a higher intrinsic activity for methanol oxidation, but a lower tolerance to CO poisoning, compared with 6.0 nm, 9.5 nm and 11.5 nm particles. CO-stripping results suggest that CO is more easily oxidized on larger Pt particles.     

Electrocoagulation technique in enhancing COD and suspended solids removal to improve wastewater quality.

This paper presents a preliminary study for the removal of COD and suspended solids in wastewater treatment by combining magnetic field and electrocoagulation (EC) technology. The experiments were carried out using batch apparatus and setup in the static method. Batch experiments with two monopolar iron (Fe) plate anodes and cathodes were employed as electrodes. Wastewater samples were prepared from milk powder with an initial COD of 1,140 mgL(-1) and suspended solids of 1,400 mgL(-1) and acidic conditions were employed (pH approximately 3). DC current was varied from 0.5-0.8 A and operating times were between 30 and 50 min. The results show that the effluent wastewater was very clear (turbidity approximately 9 NTU) and its quality exceeded the direct discharge standard. The suspended solids and COD removal efficiencies were as high as 30.6 and 75.5%, respectively. In addition, the experimental results also show that the electrocoagulation could neutralise the pH of wastewater.     

Type A behavior, aerobic power, and cardiovascular recovery from a psychosocial stressor.

Investigated the relationship between Type A (coronary prone) behavior, aerobic fitness, and cardiovascular recovery from stress in 56 male undergraduates. Ss were tested for actual aerobic power and Type A behavior on the Jenkins Activity Survey—Form T before performing the Stroop Color–Word Interference Test. Type A behavior was related to speed of recovery following the test, with Type As being slower to return to baseline heart rate levels than Type B (noncoronary prone) Ss. Physiological and cognitive variables affecting speed of recovery from stress are examined, and the lack of effect of fitness on recovery is discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Butyltin Species and Inorganic Tin in Water and Sediment of the Detroit and St. Clair Rivers

Water and sediment samples from 29 locations in the Detroit and St. Clair rivers were analyzed for the highly toxic tri-n-butyltin (Bu₃Sn⁺) species and for the less toxic di-n-butyltin (Bu₂Sn²⁺) and n-butyltin (BuSn³⁺) species and inorganic tin. In general, locations sampled in the St. Clair River were less contaminated with butyltin species than those in the Detroit River. Inorganic tin and BuSn³⁺ were detected in over 90% of all subsurface water samples, while Bu₂Sn²⁺ and Bu₃Sn⁺ were detected in 45 and 28% of the same samples, respectively. The highest concentration ofBu₃Sn⁺ in subsurface water, 5.9 × 10^?10 mol Sn/L, was at the mouth of the Ecorse River, a tributary of the Detroit River. The three butyltin species and inorganic tin were also detected in 23–46% of all sediment samples. The highest concentrations of Bu₃Sn⁺ in sediment were found close to the mouths of the River Rouge, another tributary of the Detroit River, and the Ecorse River, and were 6.2 × I0^–7 and 1.7 × I0^–7 mol Sn/kg dry weight, respectively, for the top 2 cm of sediment.     

On the loading criteria in the theory of plasticity

The conventional loading criterion in the theory of plasticity becomes ambiguous when it is applied to materials that exhibit straining softening. For instance, it can not differentiate the softening behavior from the unloading process. On the other hand, the loading criterion proposed recently by Qu and Yin is free from such problems, and is more suitable for a general elasto-plastic analysis by finite element method. In the first part of this paper the proposed loading criterion is first reviewed and discussed to highlight the difficulties associated with the inequality conditions used in the conventional as well as the proposed loading criteria. This paper then proceeds to discuss the proposed criterion and reveals its implications. Although the proposed inequality conditions are not generally known in the field, it is found that they are essential and significant in the theory of plasticity.     

Design criteria for the crystallization of an organic salt from an aqueous solutionAuslegungsunterlagen zur kristallisation eines organischen salzes aus wässriger Lösung

Results from laboratory experiments and a 500 tonnes per month pilot plant have been used to draw up criteria for designing the crystallization of an organic salt from its aqueous solution. The crystallization kinetics were determined in a continuous forced circulation crystallizer. The experiments in the forced circulation evaporative crystallizer were carried out and evaluated in accordance with the MSMPR (mixed suspension mixed product removal) concept.The residence time was varied between 0.8 and 10 hours, and the density of the suspension between 180 and 870 kg m^?3. It was found that, within the residence time and suspension density ranges studied, growth and nucleation rates have the same dependence on the supersaturation. On the other hand, the nucleation rate decreases with increasing suspension density. If the crystallization kinetics and other design criteria, such as vapour velocity, i.e. supersaturation ratio in the vicinity of the evaporative surface, or height of liquid above the heat exchangers, are taken into account, it is possible to obtain a space—time yield which is five times higher than in the pilot plant, so that the plant to be built can be designed to be correspondingly smaller.