Mass transfer in aerated fermentation broths in a stirred tank reactor

The volumetric mass transfer coefficients, k_La, measured in a pilot plant (0.1 m³) and an industrial (67.5 m³) fermentor during an actual fermentation process are presented. Problems related to the estimation of the phsyical properties as well as to the correlation of experimental data and to scale up procedures are discussed. Although the scale up factor was rather high, both sets of data could be represented by single correlation. Comparison of the experimental data with several available correlations demonstrated the need for pilot plant experiments and scale up procedures, since it is almost impossible to take into account all relevant system properties.     

Engineering and molding properties of poly(vinyl chloride), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene and polyester blends

Polymer blends with varying amounts of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and polyester have been developed to produce parts with highly flexible, good impact strength, and flame retardant hinge properties. In the present work, the rheological and dynamic mechanical properties are balanced by changing the blend formulations. It is shown that blends morphology and rheology have greater impact on the dimensional stability and delamination at the surface of the molded hinge parts.     

Monitoring the cure of a composite matrix resin with microdielectrometry

This paper presents a study of the cure of glass and graphite fiber epoxy composites using dielectric monitoring techniques. Initial results reported here deal with the neat resin and the relationship between its conductivity and corresponding changes in glass transition temperature during cure.     

Response of Solid-State Detectors to Fission Fragments

Pulse amplitude spectra for fission fragments from the spontaneous fission of Cf252 have been studied for more than 50 silicon surface-barrier detectors. Silicon resistivities ranged from 100 to 2000 Ohm-cm; spectra were obtained for several bias voltages for each detector. A search for correlations among shape parameters associated with Cf252 fragment pulse-amplitude spectra was carried out. Such correlations were, in fact, observed and are shown to be related to the pulse-height response characteristics of surface-barrier detectors for fission fragments. Some guide lines by which the quality of a fission-fragment detector may be determined from the spectrum parameters are given.     

A comprehensive study on co2-interphase mass transfer in vertical cocurrent and countercurrent gas-liquid flow

Cocurrent and countercurrent absorption and desorption of CO₂ in water was investigated in tall bubble columns (length 440 and 720 cm, diameter 15 and 20 cm, respectively). Operating conditions were applied which provided for high interphase mass transfer rates. Under these circumstances the relative gas holdup varies considerably with axial position whereas the mean bubble diameter measured at two points was found to be approximately constant. The measured data permit the calculation of local values of interfacial areas, superficial gas velocities, and frequency factors for bubble coalescence and break up. A dispersion model which takes into account the hydrostatic head and a variable gas velocity was applied to describe the measured concentration profiles in both phases. If increased mass transfer coefficients at the column bottom and measured local values of the hold up were used a striking agreement between experimental and predicted profiles could be obtained. The findings lead to a more sophisticated picture of the complex behaviour of gas-liquid dispersions at high interphase mass transfer rates.     

A model for studying LCAT reaction: In vitro cholesterol esterification in pig ovarian follicular fluid

Phosphatidylcholine acyltransferase (lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase or LCAT; EC 2.3.1.43) activity was found to be present in pig ovarian follicular fluid (POFF), in addition to pig serum (PS). The cholesterol esterification rate in both POFF and PS is linear with incubation time up to 2 hr. The mean absolute rate of POFF-cholesterol esterification was 8.1±0.4 nmoles per ml per hr approximately one-fourth of that in PS. However, the fractional rate (percent of labeled cholesterol esterified per hr) of POFF-cholesterol esterification was similar to that observed in PS. There was little variation of absolute rate of cholesterol esterification in the fluid obtained from different sizes of follicles. Fatty acid or triacylglycerol did not participate in the reaction of cholesterol esterification in POFF. No appreciable change in enzymatic activity was found from storing POFF at 4 C for periods of time up to 24 hr or at −70 C up to 2 months, but activity was lost thereafter. On the other hand, PS showed a much longer period of stability (5 days at 4 C and 9 months at −70 C). A discrepancy between the fatty acid composition of cholesteryl esters formed by the LCAT reaction and the fatty acid composition at the C-2 position of phosphatidylcholine led us to propose a two-step mechanism for the LCAT reaction. It is concluded that the LCAT of POFF, as well as that of plasma, is specific for individual fatty acids rather than for the fatty acid composition of phosphatidylcholine. The fatty acid concentration of lysophosphatidylcholine decreased during prolonged incubation times (6 to 21 hr) suggesting that the increased lysophosphatidylcholine formed as a product of the LCAT reaction may be reused as substrate for the LCAT reaction or for hydrolysis by lysophosphatidylcholine hydrolase. Presented at the AOCS Meeting, New York, May 1977.     

Structure-Controlled Reactions in Kaolinite-Diaspore-Boehmite Clays

Clays containing kaolinite, diaspore, and boehmite are analyzed chemically and mineralogically and their high-temperature reactions in the range 1000° to 1500°C are followed quantitatively by X-ray diffraction measurements. It is shown that the development of mullite progresses toward the equilibrium value as the temperature approaches 1500°C. When considered in detail, the reactions reflect the source of the alumina. Diaspore and boehmite first form corundum at widely different temperatures which results in the reactivity of the corundum from boehmite being greater than that from diaspore, and, in consequence, mullite develops more readily from the boehmite-containing clays. Relative expansions of clays rich in diaspore or boehmite when fired in the range 1200° to 1400°C are correlated with the manner in which mullite forms in this temperature range.     

Phase behavior for blends of styrene containing triblock copolymers with poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide)

The extent to which the styrene end-blocks of three commercially available triblock copolymers can mix with a particular poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (M_n = 22,600 and M_w = 34,000) or PPO has been examined by investigation of the glass transition behavior of the PPO and polystyrene (PS) portions of the blends using differential scanning calorimetry. Each block copolymer has a butadiene-based mid-block which was hydrogenated for two of these materials, but not the third. The three copolymers differ substantially in overall molecular weight and in molecula weight of the blocks. However, in analogy with the literature on blends of homopolymer polystyrene with styrene-based block copolymers, the molecular weight of the PS block should be the principal factor affecting the phase behavior in the present blends. Mixtures of the PPO with the block copolymers having PS blocks with M = 14,500 (nonhydrogenated midblock) and with M = 29,000 (hydrogenated mid-block) exhibited single composition-dependent T_gs for the hard phase, indicating complete mixing of PS segments with the PPO, for all proportions. On the other hand, the block copolymer having a PS block with M = 7,500 and a hydrogenated mid-block exhibited two separate hard phase T_gs corresponding to an essentially pure PPO phase and a PS-rich phase. For blends of homopolymer PS with styrene-based block copolymers, the similar two-phase behavior of the glassy portion can be readily explained by entropic considerations. For the present case, the favorable enthalpic contribution for mixing PPO and PS is an additional factor which seems to influence the restrictions on molecular weight for complete mixing; however, additional work is needed to develop a more quantitative assessment of this new issue.     

The course of biodegradation of anionic detergents by analyses for carbon,methylene blue active substance and sulfate ion

Tallow alcohol sulfates, ether alcohol sulfates and esters of α-sulfo tallow fatty acids were degraded aerobically by sewage microorganisms in a system in which detergent was the sole source of C. Biodegradation was followed by loss of C and methylene blue active substance (MBAS) and formation of SO ₄ ⁻⁻ . Tallow alcohol sulfates were rapidly and completely degraded; ether alcohol sulfates not quite as readily. Reduction in MBAS was rapid for the α-sulfo esters but loss of C and SO ₄ ⁻⁻ formation was incomplete, possibly because of the intermediate formation of a resistant sulfosuccinate. Sodiump-(1-methylundecyl) benzenesulfonate (LAS) was the reference standard. Presented at the AOCS Meeting, San Francisco, April 1969.     

Some aspects of the behaviour of potassium sulphate in aqueous solutions

The solubility of potassium sulphate in sulphuric acid at 293°K has been determined. The effects of traces of Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺ and Cr³⁺ ions on the recrystallisation of potassium sulphate from both neutral and acidic solutions have been studied. While Fe²⁺ ions had no significant effect, concentrations of 0.07 g Fe³⁺ or 0.02 g Cr²⁺ per 100 g H₂O inhibited crystallisation of potassium sulphate from 100% supersaturated solutions. A method for purifying potassium sulphate contaminated with Fe³⁺ and Cr³⁺ ions, by means of fractional crystallisation, is outlined.