Mass transfer characteristics of gas-sparged fixed-bed electrodes composed of stacks of vertical screens

Mass transfer rates at a gas-sparged fixed-bed electrode made of stacks of vertical screens were studied by measuring the limiting current for the cathodic reduction of potassium ferricyanide. Variables studied were air flow rate, physical properties of the solution and bed thickness. The mass transfer coefficient was found to increase with increasing air flow rate up to a certain point and then remain almost constant with further increase in air flow rate. Increasing bed thickness was found to decrease the mass transfer coefficient. Mass transfer data were correlated by the equation $$J = 0.2(ReFr)^{ - 0.28} ({L \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {L d}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} d})^{ - 0.28} $$ For a single vertical screen electrode the data were correlated by the equation $$J = 0.187(ReFr)^{ - 0.26} $$      

Identification of the combustion behaviour of lignite char between 350 and 900 °C

The combustion behaviour of four different lignite samples pyrolysed at 800 and 1000 °C has been studied. The reaction order and the activation energy of the char combustion reaction can be easily determined from the time to reach 50% conversion. Under 550 °C the reaction order of lignite samples are 0.7 and the activation energies are 27.4–27.9 kcal gmole^?1. Above 550 °C the measurement of the intrinsic reaction rate is limited by the film diffusion resistance. The pyrolysis temperature affects the reactivity significantly. The reactivity of char pyrolysed at 800 °C is 3.5 times that of char pyrolysed at 1000 °C.     

Low-Temperature Equilibria Among ZrO2, Tho2, and UO2

Studies made on low-hafnium-content ZrO₂, show that the monoclinic-tetragonal inversion temperature is 1170°C., and it is raised to approximately 1190°C. in the "natural" ZrO², which contains approximately 2% HfO₂. No explanation could be found for the knownmarked hysteresis during cooling, when the reverse polymorphic transformation takes dace at 1040°C. In the system ZrO₂-ThO₂ the monoclinic-tetragonal ZrO₂, inversion temperature is lowered to 1000°C., although the maximum solid solution extent of ZrO₂, in Thon and vice versa is approximately only 2% at this temperature. Below about 400°C. under hydrothermal conditions it was possible to prepare a continuous, although metastable series of solid solutions with the fluorite structurewith compositions varying from ThO₂, to nearly pure ZrO₂. Contrary to earlier work only 8 mole ZrO₂, dissolves in UO₂ and less than 4 mole of UO, in ZrO₂ at temperatures up to 13OO0C. A continuous series of solid solutions could be made between Th₂ and UO₂ at 13OO°C., and extensive defect fluorite solid solutions could be prepared between Tho₂ and U₃O₈; there is some evidence for exsolution into uranium-rich and thorium-rich members at low temperatures.     

Modelling water flow,nitrogen transport and root uptake including physical non-equilibrium and optimization of the root water potential

A model is presented for the simulation of water flow, heat flow, and nitrate and ammonium transport. Two approaches are used for modelling plant water uptake as well as for plant nitrogen uptake. Nitrogen transformations are accounted for in a very simple way. This paper focuses mainly on water flow modelling, solute transport, and water uptake. Richards' equation is used to model water flow in layered soil profiles with a great variety of boundary conditions. Solute transport is simulated with either a simple convection dispersion equation or with a two-region physical non-equilibrium model to distinguish between mobile and immobile water and solute exchange between these two regions. A macroscopic sink term is added to Richards' equation to account for plant water uptake. This term can be calculated along two different approaches, one of which is based on the concept of root water potential. The root water potential is then continuously optimized to minimize the difference between the climatic demand and the uptake rate.Simulation results are compared with field data from the Netherlands to illustrate the degree to which the model is able to predict water flow, solute transport and plant water uptake. The root water potential optimization model seems to provide the best prediction of water distribution. In particular the shape of the profile, revealing uptake patterns, is quite well reproduced with this model. Comparison of simulated and observed water content profiles seems also to reveal the presence of preferential pathways. The comparisons show also how predicted solute distributions can be improved by using a two-region approach rather than a simple convection-dispersion model.     

Mass spectra of acetylenic fatty acid methyl esters and derivatives

A series of isomeric methyl octadecynoates was analyzed by mass spectrometry; each isomer gave a unique spectrum. The characteristic ions were those resulting from a McLafferty rearrangement of the allenic sites or of the already-rearranged allenic sites. The acetylenic esters were also subjected to oxymercuration whereupon a carbonyl group was formed at either of the original actylenic carbon atoms providing two oxostearates. Further reaction with NaBH₄ formed hydroxy esters which, after silylation, gave diagnostic mass spectra indicative of the triple bond location. Applied to esters with both double and triple bonds, this procedure permitted differentiation between the two types of unsaturation. Methoxyl groups marked the original double bond locations and hydroxyls did so for triple bonds. Presented at the 48th Fall Meeting of the American Oil Chemists’ Society, Philadelphia, PA, September 29–October 2, 1974.     

Preliminary investigation for the production of wet-process phosphoric acid from Saudi phosphate ores

This paper represents the first published report of a preliminary investigation of the possibility of using Saudi phosphate ores for the production of wet-process phosphoric acid.     

Photostabilization of cationic UV-cured coatings in the presence of nanoTiO2

The effect of TiO₂ nanoparticles for sun-weathering protection of UV-cured coatings is investigated. TiO₂ is either introduced in the form of nanoparticles in the photocurable formulations or generated in situ via sol–gel process. Cured films containing comparable amounts of TiO₂ were weathered for 800 h under UV irradiation and compared with free-TiO₂ coating. The TiO₂ presence induces a clear lower mass loss decrease during weathering as well as a lower gel content decrease. The TiO₂ screen effect is also confirmed by a lower alkyl-band reduction monitored by FT-IR during weathering. The TiO₂ generated in situ via sol–gel gives rise to transparent coatings without interfering with photopolymerization process and therefore without compromising UV-cured film properties.     

Photocrosslinking of stilbene-modified polymers

The reactions of trans-2,5-dimethoxy-4′-aminostilbene with poly(maleic anhydride-co-methylvinyl ether) and trans-2,5-dimethoxy-4′-isocyanatostilbene with poly(oxy-1,4-phenyleneisopropylidene:1,4-phenyleneoxy-2-hydroxytrimethylene) yield polymeric systems which undergo rapid crosslinking upon short exposure to ultraviolet light. The extent of photocrosslinking as a function of exposure time was determined by the decrease of the trans-stilbene ultraviolet absorption at 350 nm.     

Miscibility of poly(methoxymethyl methacrylate) and poly(methylthiomethyl methacrylate) with poly(vinylidene fluoride)

Summary The miscibility behaviour of poly(methoxymethyl methacrylate) (PMOMA) and poly(methylthiomethyl methacrylate) (PMTMA) with poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) was examined by differential scanning calorimetry. PMOMA/PVDF blend system was judged to be miscible on the bases of the presence of a single, composition-dependent glass transition for the blend and a pronounced melting point depression of the PVDF component. Furthermore, lower critical solution temperature (LCST) behaviour was observed for all PMOMA/PVDF blends. PMTMA/PVDF blends were found to be immiscible. Based on the melting point depression of PVDF in PMOMA/PVDF blends, the interaction parameter B was found to be -14.5 J/cm³.     

The stress cracking of polyamides by metal salts. Part III. Metal thiocyanates

The stress cracking of polyamide (nylon 6) by a number of metal thiocyanates in aqueous and nonaqueous solutions has been investigated. Lithium, zinc and cobalt_II thiocyanates were the most active and their activity was compared with that of the corresponding metal halides. Stress cracking parameters were determined and the mechanism of cracking studied by infrared techniques. The action of metal thiocyanates on nylon 6 is similar to that of the corresponding metal halides. Some metal cobaltothiocyanates were also found to be active stress cracking agents.