Investigation of the morphological changes promoted by heating of Si–C–O ceramics derived from a phenyl-rich hybrid polymer. Effect of Ni in the polymeric precursor

This study focuses on the structural and morphological changes promoted by heating of silicon oxycarbide ceramics obtained from hybrid polymeric precursors based on poly(methylsiloxane) and divinylbenzene, with or without nickel acetate, by pyrolysis under Ar at different temperatures. The increase of the temperature from 950 to 1500 °C promoted the densification and crystallization of SiC and graphite nanodomains in the ceramic bulk with or without Ni, as identified by HRTEM. Moreover, the Ni-containing precursor led to the formation of ultra-long amorphous nanowires on the surface and voids in the ceramic body obtained at 1500 °C. These nanowires presented different sizes and morphologies, but similar compositions, basically composed by silicon and oxygen, with the presence of carbon at their external layers. The growth mechanism and the nature of the nanowires are also proposed. The addition of nickel acetate in the polymeric precursor induced the formation of nanowires with different morphologies in the Si–O–C system.     

Lipase-catalyzed synthesis of poly-l-lactide using supercritical carbon dioxide

The present work shows that the enzyme mediated ring-opening polymerization of l-lactide at 65 °C can be achieved using supercritical carbon dioxide. It is reported a biphasic media system where the supercritical phase coexists with a liquid organic phase, which is mainly composed of melted monomer, wherein the growing poly-l-lactide chains are soluble. The immobilized lipase B from Candida antartica was used as the biocatalyst. The results indicated that semi-crystalline polymers with a molecular weight (M_w) up to 12,900 g mol⁻¹ can be attained and that the monomer conversion is related to the biocatalyst concentration and its initial water activity (a_wi). Experiments carried out with denatured enzyme gave no monomer conversion which confirms that the enzymatic mechanism is only involved in our system.     

The influence of mineralogical,chemical and physical properties on grindability of commercial clinkers with high MgO level

This research investigates various methods able to identify possible mineralogical, physical and chemical influences on the grindability of commercial clinkers with high MgO level. The aim of the study is to evaluate the hardness and elastic modulus of the clinker mineral phases and their fracture strength during the comminution processes, comparing samples from clinkers with low MgO level (0.5%) and clinkers with elevated MgO levels (> 5.0%). The study of the influence of mineralogical, chemical and physical properties was carried out using several analytical techniques, such as: optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction with Rietveld refinement (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF). These techniques were useful in qualifying the different clinker samples. The drop weight test (DWT) and the Bond ball mill grindability test were performed to characterize the mechanical properties of clinkers. Nanoindentation tests were also carried out. Results from the Bond ball mill grindability test were found to be related to the hardness of the mineral phase and to mineralogical characteristics, such as type and amount of inclusions in silicates, belite and alite crystals shape, or microcracked alites. In contrast, the results obtained by the DWT were associated to the macro characteristics of clinkers, such as porosity, as well as to the hardness and mineralogical characteristics of belite crystals in clusters. Hardness instrumented tests helped to determine the Vickers hardness and elastic modulus from the mineral phases in commercial clinkers and produced different values for the pure phases compared to previous publications.     

Identification of phases and precipitates by AFM in duplex stainless steel unions

ABSTRACT

Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), a characterization technique that generates topographic images of surfaces at very high resolutions, works by recording the surface relief details of the material with a cantilever which moves over the sample, while a piezoelectric sensor monitors changes in height. This technique is useful for identifying phases, particles and precipitates on a nanoscale and is therefore proposed for identifying them in the fusion zone of welded components and for early identification of faults due to cracking. This is a technique that does not require conductive samples, or special metallographic preparation of specimens as is the case with electron microscopy. The material studied is a duplex 2205 stainless steel, welded by means of gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW). The welded material was subjected to stress tests. The test specimens were characterized using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and nanoindentation tests. The results focus on the identification of the specific magnetic, topographic and hardness characteristics of each of the phases, particles and areas present in the base metal, the fusion zone and the zone deformed by the fracture.     

Recovering of forest biomass from Spanish hybrid poplar plantations

Residues recovering from traditional poplar plantations for timber production are a potential relevant biomass source in Spain and other temperate countries. Three different residual biomass harvesting systems have been work-studied in order to characterize the work methods and analyze their productivity and cost. Two were oriented to branches, top and/or energy wood collection, chipping and transport using different work methods, while the other one consisted of after-logging stumps removal and shredding. Different sized and powered chippers worked in the two first cases, besides different farm tractors with trailers for off-road chips transport. Also the trucks and the loading machines were different. In the third site, a backhoe excavator removed the stumps, and a bucket loader collected them to be grinded by a shredding machine. Productivity and cost have been analyzed using IUFRO standards, providing average figures and, when possible, predictive productivity equations. Most capital-intensive equipment option has shown to be most productive, but less investment requiring system is cheaper and may be most interesting for some enterprise and plantation sizes. In addition, logistics of biomass and timber supply has been analyzed, and some indications about equipment sizing, machine annual production and relocation costs related to supply area and average plantation size are provided.     

Syngas production in hybrid filtration combustion

Rich and ultrarich combustion of butane inside porous media composed of aleatory wood pellets and alumina spheres is studied experimentally to evaluate the suitability of the concept for syngas production. Temperature, velocity, and chemical products of the combustion waves were recorded experimentally at a range of equivalence ratios from stoichiometry (φ = 1.0) to φ = 2.6. It is observed that hydrogen and carbon monoxide are dominant partial oxidation products for ultrarich hybrid combustion waves of butane and wood pellets. Syngas yield in hybrid filtration combustion is found to be essentially higher than for butane filtration combustion in an inert porous medium.     

Effect of inoculum size, relative humidity, storage temperature, and ripening stage on the attachment of Salmonella Montevideo to tomatoes and tomatillos

The influence of inoculum populations and environmental factors on attachment of Salmonella Montevideo to the surface of tomatoes and tomatillos was evaluated. To study the effect of inoculum size, red, ripe tomatoes were spot-inoculated with bacterial suspensions (10(5) and 10(8) CFU/fruit) and stored at 22 degrees C under 100% relative humidity. The effects of temperature (12, 22, and 30 degrees C) and relative humidity (75, 85, and 97%) on attachment of the pathogen (10(7) CFU/fruit) to tomatoes (red and green) and ripe tomatillos were also evaluated. Inoculated fruits were stored for 90 min at all combinations of temperature and relative humidity, and after rinsing with water, the number of cells attached to the surface was determined. Salmonella Montevideo attached to the surface of tomatoes within 90 min. A direct correlation between the number of attached cells and the population in the inoculum was observed. The percentage of cells that attached immediately after inoculation was approximately 0.3% for the three test products. After storage for 90 min at various temperature and relative humidity conditions, the number of adhering cells ranged from 4.0 to 5.4 log CFU/fruit (1.2% of inoculum). Both the type of product and the temperature/relative humidity combination had a significant (P < 0.05) effect on attachment of Salmonella Montevideo to the surfaces of tomatoes and tomatillos. Scanning electron micrographs of the cuticles of inoculated washed tomatoes and tomatillos revealed typical skin cell patterns, and only a few randomly dispersed Salmonella Montevideo were observed. Deposition of Salmonella Montevideo on the surface of tomatoes and tomatillos could result in attachment and subsequent colonization under suitable conditions.     

Modeling of sporicidal effect of hydrogen peroxide in the sterilization of low density polyethylene film inoculated with Bacillus subtilis spores

The sporicidal effect of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in the sterilization of low density polyethylene film (LDPE) was evaluated using a Central Composite Design (CCD). The effects of contact time (5-19s), bath temperature (23–70 °C) and concentration of H₂O₂ (0–35%) in an immersion bath were investigated. A 16 cm² film surface was evenly inoculated with 100 μL of the test microorganism Bacillus subtilis var. globigii ATCC9372 spores. The effective H₂O₂ sporicidal activity was demonstrated at concentrations from 18 to 35% and in a temperature range from 46 to 70 °C, resulting in 2–7 decimal reductions of B. subtilis spores. A quadratic mathematical model representative of the action of H₂O₂ on the B. subtilis spores was developed as a function of concentration, time and temperature. Test specimens sanitized with 28% H₂O₂ at 60 °C for 8 s showed 4 decimal reductions. In the same sterilization procedure, but extending the time to 16 s, this value increased to 7 decimal reductions, demonstrating the efficiency of H₂O₂ as a function of contact time. The sterilization system tested showed satisfactory performance in the sterilization of LDPE films, being capable of reaching up to 7 decimal reductions of the bacterial spore population.     

Low- to medium-temperature geothermal reserves in Mexico: a first assessment

In this work we make a first, partial, assessment of the low- to medium-temperature geothermal reserves of Mexico. The assessment covers about 30% of the identified geothermal surface manifestations. For reserve assessment we use the volume method, supplemented by Montecarlo simulations and statistics, in order to quantify the inherent uncertainties. We estimate these reserves as lying between 7.7 × 10¹⁶ and 8.6 × 10¹⁶ kJ, with 90% confidence. The distribution of most likely reservoir temperatures is in the 60–180 °C range, with a mean of 111 °C. These massive amounts of recoverable energy and the associated temperatures are potentially important for the economic development of the associated geothermal localities.     

Neural Networks as Inference and Learning Engines

Abstract: This paper presents an abridgment of a neural network constructive methodology and applications with real data. The neural network can be considered as the learning core and inference engine of an expert system that produces either different network designs or simulations as output, its input being data sequences. Basically, it consists of additive structural learning, limiting it by a cross-validation technique.
Considerations about uncertainty treatment in neural networks are also presented, including uncertainty in data, in neuron activation, in outputs, and combination of several uncertainty sources.
Applications include three different sets of data, all of them related to the energy field. First, river streamflow estimation is discussed. Then CO₂ concentration prediction from gas injection rate is studied. Finally, the program learns to imitate a feedwater control system in a nuclear reactor. All tests show good results, as can be seen when compared with other standard methods.