Influence of Particle Size on the Drying Kinetics of Single Droplets Containing Mixtures of Nanoparticles and Microparticles: Modeling and Pilot-Scale Validation

The particle size of the primary particles is an important parameter influencing the drying behavior of droplets. In this work, the influence of particle size on the drying kinetics and grain properties was analyzed for droplets containing silica nanoparticles, microparticles, and mixtures of the two. The presence of microparticles was found to increase the drying rate and shrinkage of the droplet. The drying curves were modeled using a reaction engineering approach (REA) model. Finally, different suspensions were dried in a pilot-scale spray dryer in order to prove the influence of the particle size obtained in the levitator tests.     

The impact of drying and steaming processes on surface color changes of tension and normal beech wood

Abstract

Beech wood has a high frequency of defects such as red heartwood, reaction wood (tension wood). For the experimental measurements four logs without visible defects like red heartwood, which can noticeably affects the measurements' results were qualified. The drying medium temperature in the first phase of the process before the moisture content of the specimens fell below the FSP was maintained at 45?°C. Then, the temperature was gradually increased to the maximum value 65?°C. The results showed that different initial wood moisture content does not affect to final value of tension and normal wood. The colorimetric parameter L* was much higher for tension wood. After steaming, there were greater differences in the colorimetric parameters, respectively, a* and b*. After drying the difference of all colorimetric parameters between tension and normal wood was significantly less. The color changes were only noticed in the surface layers of specimens. Differences were small, and thus, the impact of the tension wood on the color changes was not confirmed. However, since the lightness of tension wood plays a key role for its visual detection, it may be adequate to only measure the lightness parameter (L*).     

Study,Mechanical Characterization and Mathematical Modeling of Compatible SEBS Blends for Industrial Applications in Orthopedics and Childcare

In this work, a system of compatible blends based on two commercial grades of a thermoplastic elastomer, styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS), with extreme Shore A hardness values (5 and 90), was studied in order to obtain a range of different performance blends for orthopedic and childcare applications, where usually liquid silicone rubber is used. Mechanical properties of different blends were obtained, and Equivalent Box Model (EBM) was used for the prediction of the mechanical behavior. The results show good agreement between the theoretical model and experimental data of new blends of SEBS.     

THE SEPARATION OF Au(III) AND Pd(II) IN HYDROCHLORIC ACID SOLUTIONS BY STRONG ANION TYPE II EXCHANGE RESINS: THE EFFECT OF COUNTER ION CONCENTRATION AND TEMPERATURE

ABSTRACT

The separation of gold and palladium ions in hydrochloric acid solutions by strong anion Type II exchange resins is studied in batch and column operations. Increases in the hydrochloric acid concentration and the temperature of the adsorption process have the effect of decreasing the adsorption capacity and the separation factor of both metals. A faster kinetics of the adsorption process of both ions results from temperature increase and this effect is higher for gold ions as a result of greater changes in its diffusivity. Although the adsorption capacity of palladium ions is lower at equilibrium conditions, the adsorption isotherms obtained suggest that they are more strongly retained by the polymers.

The high capacities of these resins for both metals permits their use in the preconcentration of gold and palladium but their application in quantitative separation is restricted by the co-elution of up to% of the interfering ion during the desorption process. The best method for ion desorption is sequential elution with% ammonia for palladium recovery followed by 0·5M thiourea in HCI 1M for the recovery of gold.     

Removal of Arsenic(III), Chromium(III) and Iron(III) Traces from Hydrofluoric Acid Solutions by Specialty Anion Exchangers

The removal of As(III), Fe(III), and Cr(III) at trace levels from HF solutions by means of specialty ion exchange resins has been investigated. These impurities are usually found in technical‐grade HF, and they need to be removed to prepare metal‐free HF for the semiconductor industry. It was assumed that Fe(III) and As(III) species in dilute HF were present in anionic form, while Cr(III) was probably in neutral form, CrF₃. First, a selection of specialty ion exchangers was performed. Then, fixed‐bed experiments were carried out to check the ability of selected resins to reach the impurity levels required in SEMI C29 for 5 wt.% HF (5 ppb of As, and 10 ppb of Cr and Fe). The effect of the flow rate and the HF concentration on the metal removal was studied with Purolite D‐3777 and Fuji PEI‐CS‐07 resins respectively. Fuji PEI‐CS‐07 showed the best performance for Fe(III) removal, even at high HF concentration (25 wt.%). A strong decrease in the Cr(III) and As(III) removal capacity with increasing concentration of HF was observed.     

Manufacturing Drug Loaded Chitosan Microspheres by Spray Drying: Development,Characterization, and Potential Use in Dentistry

The aim of this work was to determine specifications for spray-drying manufacturing of sustained-release drug-loaded microparticles with potential application in dentistry. Chitosan was used as the microencapsulation polymer and ketoprofen as the model drug. A 1:1 chitosan/ketoprofen suspension was spray-dried under different operating conditions. The size distribution, morphology, total drug load, and release profile of the powders were characterized. In vitro release studies were performed with the powder samples entrapped in cellulose dialysis tubes. The microparticles produced had a narrow size distribution (mean diameter ranging from 2.11 to 3.27 µm), good sphericity, and a smooth surface. In vitro release studies showed a linear drug dissolution behavior.     

Mathematical Modeling of Drying Processes Using Methods of the Nonequilibrium Thermodynamics and Percolation Theory

A twofold refinement of the basic mathematical model for describing a coupled heat and mass transfer taking place in porous media is presented. The common application of irreversible thermodynamics and fluctuation theory of phase transitions is proposed for calculating the moisture level and temperature. Instead of parabolic partial differential equations, hyperbolic type partial differential equations are used. The relaxation time constants, whose percolation state-dependence is also taken into account, are incorporated into this formalism. Some possible new research domains in mathematical and statistical physics are also indicated.     

Experimental Design in the Optimization of a Microwave Acid Digestion Procedure of Biomorphic Ceramic Based on ZrO2

Abstract

The present work deals with the manufacturing of biomorphous ZrO₂-ceramics from oak wood as biological template structure. Oak wood was vacuum infiltrated with zirconia-sol. Subsequent pyrolysis in inert atmosphere at 800°C and annealing in air up to 1550°C resulted in the formation of porous, microcellular ZrO₂-ceramics. After the material characterization, we optimized the sample dissolution by acid attack in an oven under microwave irradiation. Experimental designs were used as a multivariate strategy for the effects evaluation of varying several variables. The optimization was performed using full factorial design 2⁴. Four variables (time, power, volume of HNO₃, and volume of HF) were considered as factors and as response the concentration of different metal ions in the optimization process.     

Principal Component Analysis of the Hydroxymethylation of Sugarcane Lignin: A Time-Depending Study by FTIR

Abstract

The hydroxymethylation of Acetosolv lignin from sugarcane bagasse was studied at 40°C between 0.25 and 8 h by Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of the spectra has determined that addition of formaldehyde to the lignin fragments was completed within 4 h. After that time, only condensation of the fragments occurs, leading to a resol-type crosslinked resin. PCA performed in selected regions of the FTIR spectra showed that the same results are also obtained for the stretching region of O-H and C-H within the range from 2800 to 3800 cm^?1, which is not usually considered in the spectroscopic evaluations of modified lignins.     

Spreading Pressure-Water Activity and Moisture Relationships in Starchy Materials

ABSTRACT

The spreading pressure values have been calculated by integration of the Gibbs equation using G.A.B. isotherm for different cereal grains and starchy materials. This procedure gives an useful analytic solution the ibtegral avoiding inherent mathematicai instability at very low water activity. It was found a non linear relationship between spreading pressure and water activity being this function weakly dependent on products and temperature. On the other hand a nearly linear relationship was observed between spreading pressure and moisture in the moisture range 0.0–0.15 ( dry basis).