A parametric study on the factors affecting the froth floatation of Jordanian tar sand utilizing a fluidized bed floatator

Different parameters affecting the behavior of froth flotation of Jordanian tar sand, obtained from the Dead Sea area, were studied. This study was performed in a modified fluidized bed floatator. The effects of the addition of a flotation agent, NaOH, temperature and flotation time on the beneficiation of bitumen in the froth were investigated. It was found that the beneficiation factor in the froth increased with the increase of temperature and flotation time. However, the amount of base (NaOH) and the flotation agent were found to have a negative effect on that factor. A regression model based on a full factorial experimental design results was obtained with a significant correlation coefficient. The optimum beneficiation factor was found to be 7.2 and the bitumen content in the froth was found to be 79% in the froth, which was obtained at 0.2 gNaOH/L, zero agent, 80 °C, and 30 min.     

(Z,Z)-6,9-heneicosadien-11-one,labile sex pheromone of the whitemarked tussock moth,Orgyia leucostigma

The whitemarked tussock moth (WMTM), Orgyia leucostigma (J. E. Smith), is a major pest of coniferous and deciduous trees in eastern Canada. Chemical identification of its sex pheromone depended primarily on GC-EAD and HPLC analysis, with confirmation of behavioral activity by wind tunnel and field tests. We identified (Z,Z)-6,9-heneicosadien-11-one (Z,Z-6,9-ket) at 4–5 ng/female as the only essential sex pheromone component. Also detected in female extracts were (Z)-6-heneicosen-11-one (Z6-ket) at 2.5 ng/female, (Z,E)-6,8-heneicosadien-11-one (Z,E-6,8-ket) at about 0.5 ng/female, and a trace amount of (Z,E)-6,9-heneicosadien-11-one. Traps containing as little as 1 g of Z,Z-6,9-ket attracted males at low population levels, indicating it is a potent sex attractant. Traps baited with Z6-ket attracted few males, and in wind-tunnel bioassays it was at least 100-fold less attractive to males than Z,Z-6,9-ket. No improvement in trap catch occurred with the addition of Z6-ket in various binary mixtures with Z,Z-6,9-ket, including the female ratio, and a ternary mixture of Z,Z-6,9-ket, Z6-ket, and Z,E-6,8-ket in the 9:5:1 ratio detected in females was no better than Z,Z-6,9-ket alone. We attribute the presence of Z,E-6,8-ket and Z,E-6,9-ket in female extracts to the spontaneous and rapid stereospecific isomerization of Z,Z-6,9-ket at room temperature. Male flight began at sunset but peaked during the second half of the night.     

Preparation,characterization and application of gamma irradiated some water soluble polymers/natural rubber latex blends

This work mainly depends on the assumption or hypothesis which exploits the tendency of natural rubber latex (NRL) to cross-link under irradiation in the presence of Alginate and CMC biopolymer and form (ALG/NRL and CMC/NRL) films containing polar/charged functional groups which offer them hydrophilicity, and consequently water absorption capacity. CMC/NRL and ALG/NRL (v/v) blend films prepared first by latex compounding followed by casting technique. The prepared ALG/NRL and CMC/NRL blend films characterized then, by various techniques such as IR, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Equilibrium swelling properties and gel percent GF% of prepared films also studied in details. GF% studies revealed that the GF% increased with increasing both NRL content and irradiation dose for both ALG/NRL and CMC/NRL. Thermal analysis shows the increased thermal stability of the irradiated samples due cross-linking effect of NRL. The improved gel content percentage obtained paved the way for the application of various films in the removal of toxic dyes such as acidic, direct, and basic dyes from waste water where in this study, the films exhibited high affinity toward basic blue dye.     

Axonal neuropathy and predominance of type II myofibers in infantile spinal muscular atrophy

Two affected siblings with infantile spinal muscular atrophy (SMA I) presented with generalized muscular hypotonia, which progressed to early death. Quadriceps muscle biopsy did not show the typical neurogenic pattern of spinal muscular atrophy. The histochemical fiber type determination revealed a predominance of type II fibers without type I hypertrophy, an unprecedented finding in spinal muscular atrophy. Sural nerve biopsy exhibited findings typical for axonal neuropathy. In one patient, electrical stimulation of peripheral nerves showed an inexcitability of motor and sensory nerves. Genetic studies revealed homozygous deletions of the telomeric survival motor neuron (SMN) gene and the neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein (NAIP) gene in the affected children. This is the second case report of molecular genetically proven spinal muscular atrophy associated with axonal neuropathy. We conclude atypical findings on muscle biopsy and evidence of axonal neuropathy are compatible with the diagnosis of infantile spinal muscular atrophy.     

Thermal characteristics of bagasse

Bagasse is a solid waste that remains after crushing sugarcane. Since bagasse is used as a fuel in sugar mills, characterization of its thermal degradation is rather important in order to use it efficiently. Thermal analysis of bagasse was carried out using differential thermal analysis (DTA) and thermogravimetry (TG) under oxidizing and inert atmospheres. Kinetic studies were based on weight loss obtained from TG analysis. Thermal degradation of bagasse takes place in two stages: volatilization and carbonization. The reaction rate, activation energy, entropy change, enthalpy change, and Gibbs free energy for the two thermal stages were calculated. The results indicated that activation energy for the volatilization stage is higher than that of decarbonization stage, and that both the rate constant and activation energy for combustion are higher than those of pyrolysis. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Optimisation on the stability of CaO-doped partially stabilised zirconia by microwave heating

Partially stabilised zirconia has advantages for the applications in the metallurgical processes which have special requirements in corrosion resistance and high-temperature performance. In the present work, controllable microwave heating was used for the uniform thermal field and consequent microstructure improvement to further improve the stability of partially stabilised zirconia, which was 88.14% prepared by electric arc melting. Analyses including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy (Raman) were used to study the effect of temperature change on the phase composition and structure of the samples. After heating at temperatures of 900 °C, 1000 °C, 1100 °C, 1200 °C and 1300 °C for 1h, the stabilities of the heated product were 88.51%, 95.02%, 95.17%, 96.31% and 97.64%, respectively. From the phase transformations based on the experimental results, the discussion indicates that the martensitic transformation temperature of zirconia from m-ZrO₂ to t-ZrO₂ during the heating stage was reduced under the radiation of microwave energy.     

Parameters Affecting Energy Consumption for Producing High Carbon Ferromanganese in a Closed Submerged Arc Furnace

The power consumption is considered to be the most important factor affecting the production cost of fer romanganese alloy. Different parameters affecting the energy consumption for industrial production of high carbon ferromanganese HCFeMn were investigated in a closed submerged arc furnace. The analysis of industrial data revealed that the most energy consumed factors were the direct reduction by solid carbon, Boudouard reaction, metal and slag formation, and decomposition of fluxing materials （limestone and dolomite）. To reduce the energy con- sumption and minimize the energy losses in the production process of HCFeMn, it was recommended to use Mn blend with minimum Mn to Fe ratio of 6 and lower SiO2 content or higher basicity. The added coke must be adjusted according to the material balance to prevent the over-coke and to minimize the highly endothermic ＂Boudouard reac tion＂. In addition, it was recommended to work at basic slags with the ratio of （CaO＋MgO） to Si（）2 equal to 1.0- 1.2 instead of much higher slag basicity. Furthermore, the mass losses had to be minimized through adjusting the handling and charging process and to take care of all metal produced.     

Influence of hydrolysed lecithin addition on protein adsorption and heat stability of a sterilised coffee cream simulant

Within an overall goal to enhance the stability of coffee cream, the influence of hydrolysed soybean lecithin addition was investigated. To avoid the seasonal variations in milk composition a model system was used containing 5% (w/w) soybean oil and 12% (w/w) skimmed milk powder with and without lecithin addition before a two-step high-pressure homogenisation. Addition of 20% (w/v) caesium chloride enabled a nearly complete recovery of the fat in the cream layer upon centrifugation of casein-stabilised emulsions. From the fat and protein content of this cream layer, it was concluded that lecithin addition did not significantly affect the protein content of the cream layer after emulsion preparation, but significantly reduced the additional milk protein adsorption at the oil/water interface upon sterilisation. The experimental data suggest that the enhanced heat stability of the lecithin-supplemented coffee cream simulant may be explained by the fact that hydrolysed lecithin largely reduces attractive protein–protein interactions during sterilisation.