Energy consumption in the recovery of argon from purge gas in ammonia synthesis plant

Characteristics of two types of argon separation process from the purge gas are described, one with two single columns and the other with one double column. Typical flow sheets of these of processes are presented. A comparison is also made for energy consumption in these processes.     

Decomposition of nitrogen monoxide over NiTa2O6-supported palladium catalysts prepared from amorphous alloy precursors

Active catalysts for the direct decomposition of nitrogen monoxide were prepared from amorphous Ni40TaPd alloys by HF-treatment and subsequent pre-oxidation. The pre-oxidized catalyst consists of NiO, Ta₂O₅ and PdO, and PdO is decomposed to fcc Pd by heating at temperatures higher than 600°C. At further higher temperatures NiO and Ta₂O₅ are transformed to a very fine grained double oxide NiTa₂O₆. The catalysts thus formed consist of three layers and show high catalytic activity for the decomposition of nitrogen monoxide in a wide temperature range from 550 to 850°C. The catalytic behavior is affected by the structural change in the catalyst. With the transformation from NiO and Ta₂O₅ to NiTa₂O₆, the catalytic activity and the nitrogen formation selectivity increase significantly. TEM observation of ultramicrotomed cross-sections revealed that finely dispersed palladium supported on very fine-grained NiTa₂O₆ is formed in the interface between the outer and intermediate layers. High catalytic activities and high nitrogen formation selectivities of the Ni40TaPd alloys are attributable to the formation of the NiTa₂O₆-supported palladium catalyst.     

Mutational analysis of the N-ras gene in acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a study of 125 Japanese pediatric cases

Many antibiotic resistance mutations arise in pathogenic bacteria that harbor plasmids (R-plasmids). Resistance to third generation cephalosporins, for instance, largely occurs by one or more point mutations in plasmid bla genes that expand the resistance spectrum of beta-lactamases. Here I review relevant evidence underlying the worldwide emergence of extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs). The conclusion reached is that the origin of these resistance-conferring mutations cannot be explained by a series of single point mutation and selection events. Instead, highly advantageous stochastic processes might exist that generate alterations in the sequence or the conformation of particular regions in chromosomal or plasmid genomes such as bla, i.e., recombination or mutation. Several explanations for the origin of ESBLs are reviewed but direct experimental evidence to support or to invalidate them is still lacking. The cellular conditions under which ESBLs arise are unknown; however, involvement of nutritional stresses inside natural animal hosts and of plasmid conjugal functions appear likely.     

Ion beam analyses of surface films formed on amorphous Fe12Mo18C alloy in 1 N HCl

The Rutherford backscattering with 2 MeV He⁺ and the ¹⁶O(d,p)¹⁷O¹ nuclear reaction with 1.8 MeV D₂⁺ were utilized to determine the concentration profiles of iron, molybdenum and oxygen in the surfaces of an amorphous Fe12Mo18C alloy polarized in 1 N HCl at potentials from ? 0.17 to 1.6 V(SCE). The thickness of the surface film was estimated as 20–200 nm. In the primary active region, selective dissolution of iron and carbon causes enrichment of molybdenum ions in the corrosion product film and of metallic molybdenum in the topmost part of the underlying alloy. A further potential increase led to a decrease in the molybdenum content in the film by transpassive dissolution. Molybdenum ions were not concentrated in the film formed in the stable passive region of 0.5–1.5 V(SCE). The high passivating ability of the amorphous alloy even in the aggressive HCl was ascribed to the homogeneity of the alloy structure as well as to the effect of molybdenum.     

Effect of mixing conditions on the rheological and optical properties of chemically modified poly(ethylene terephthalate‐co‐ethylene isophthalate)

The optical properties and rheological properties were studied for binary reactive blends composed of poly(ethylene terephthalate‐co‐ethylene isophthalate) [P(ET–EI)] and a styrene–acrylate based copolymer with glycidyl functionality. The blade rotation speed in the internal mixer greatly affected the structure and properties for the blend system. Intensive mixing at a high rotation speed enhanced the optical transparency because of the reduced particle size of the dispersed phase. The graft copolymer generated by the reaction between P(ET–EI) and the modifier was responsible for the fine morphology. Furthermore, the copolymer also enhanced the elastic nature in the molten state because it acted as a long‐chain branched polymer. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2008     

Calcium phosphate formation on titanium by low-voltage electrolytic treatments

Electrochemical treatments are expected to be effective for the coating of calcium phosphate ceramics to a titanium substrate. In the present study, two types of chronoamperometry with a step potential and a cyclic wave potential at low voltage (up to 2.0 V) and low current density were performed in Hanks’ solution to modify the surface characteristics of titanium. Titanium oxide film formed by self-passivation, that formed as reconstructed film during electrochemical treatments, and a calcium phosphate layer precipitated through treatments were characterised by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The thickness and compositions of the surface films and layers were quantified from the XPS results. Calcium phosphate formation during immersion in Hanks’ solution for 1.0 Ms was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry. The results confirmed that the electrolytic treatments in this study were effective to accelerate calcium phosphate formation on titanium in Hanks’ solution in spite of their lower voltage than conventional methods. The results also suggested that the hydroxyl group in the surface oxide film might contribute to the formation of calcium phosphate. This technique is a promising process for the treatment of thin titanium materials.     

Elution-extrusion countercurrent chromatography: theory and concepts in metabolic analysis

Elution-extrusion countercurrent chromatography (EECCC) takes full advantage of the liquid nature of the stationary phase in CCC by combining regular chromatographic elution with stationary-phase extrusion. EECCC is shown to be a three-stage process consisting of classical elution (I), sweeping elution (II), and extrusion (III). After only two column volumes of solvent, it rapidly yields a high-resolution chromatogram that covers an extended polarity range of solutes. As hydrophilicity/lipophilicity balance is a crucial discriminatory property of analytes in highly complex mixtures such as metabolomic samples, the precise determination of CCC distribution constants (KD) is vital to the analysis of metabolomes and other complex biological matrixes. This work builds the EECCC concept by performing a full theoretical treatment and providing equations for retention volumes, peak widths, resolution factors, and distribution constants. Experimental validation utilizes natural products standards that resemble the zero to infinity range of the polarity continuum. EECCC extends the "sweet spot" of high resolution in CCC and provides access to the otherwise practically unapproachable high-KD portion of the high-resolution chromatograms in CCC. Its improved capabilities of KD targeting make EECCC a promising tool for the specific analysis of "small" molecules in complex samples such as in metabolomic fingerprinting and footprinting.     

The anodic behavior of amorphous Ni-19P alloys in different amorphous states

An amorphous Ni-19P alloy prepared by rapid quenching of white heat melt showed a higher anodic dissolution current density in 1 N HCl in comparison with the same amorphous alloy prepared by rapid quenching of red heat melt. After structural relaxation these two specimens showed the same anodic polarization curve which is located between the polarization curves of as-quenched two specimens. The thermograms of these two as-quenched specimens were different from each other, showing that the difference in the amorphous states is due to the difference in structural relaxation during preparation. The difference in anodic behavior between these two as-quenched specimens seems due to the difference in the amounts of quenched-in defects. The higher current density of the relaxed specimen in comparison with the as-quenched specimen prepared by rapid quenching of the red heat melt has been interpreted in terms of introduction of chemical heterogeneity as a result of rearrangement and regroupings of atoms in the alloy during structural relaxation. The steady state current density was fairly low in the low potential region without showing a difference between two as-quenched specimens and then increased with increasing polarization potential. The difference in the quality of as-quenched alloy specimens seemed to be masked by the formation of phosphorus-covered alloy surfaces during anodic polarization at potentials lower than about 200 mV(SCE), because of a negligibly small dissolution rate constant of phosphorus in comparison with that of nickel.     

One-year weekly survey of noroviruses and enteric adenoviruses in the Tone River water in Tokyo metropolitan area, Japan

To investigate the actual fluctuations in the concentrations of noroviruses (NoVs) GI and GII, and enteric adenoviruses (EAdVs) in river water and its relationship with the number of acute infectious gastroenteritis patients, one-year weekly quantitative monitoring of NoVs GI and GII and EAdVs was performed in the Tone River in Japan where the surface water is utilized for the main production of drinking water for the Tokyo Metropolitan Area from October 2009 to September 2010. Noroviruses GI and GII and EAdVs were detected in 28 (54%), 33 (63%), and 23 (44%) of the 52 samples (1 L each), respectively. The concentrations of NoVs GI and GII and EAdVs fluctuated strongly and were more abundant in winter and early spring. The concentration of NoVs GI was transiently greater than 10,000 copies/L. The number of acute infectious gastroenteritis patients in the upper river basin was highly correlated with all the viral concentrations, while general microbial indicator data such as turbidity and heterotrophic plate count were independent of viral concentration as suggested in previous studies. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that clearly shows the strong correlation of the number of gastroenteritis with virus contamination in lower river basin.     

Preparation and Characterization of a Large-Scale YBa2Cu3O7−x Superconductor Prepared by Plastic Forming without a High-Pressure Molding: Effect of Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) Addition on the Superconducting Properties

The preparation of large-scale YBa₂Cu₃O_{7− x} superconductor samples was investigated. This method is based on plastic forming using a slurry consisting of YBa₂Cu₃O_{7− x} particles and a sol solution made up of multimetallic hydroxide particles (YBa₂Cu₃(OH) _x colloidal particles) and poly(vinyl) alcohol (PVA). The effects of adding PVA on the product, the crystallinity, and the superconducting properties of the sample were investigated. It was found that PVA acted as a protective colloid in the sol solution and stabilized YBa₂Cu₃(OH) _x colloidal particles, and that the role of PVA changed from a thickener to a flocculant during drying so that the formability/workability of the green sheet sample was improved and large samples (about 80 mm × 80 mm × 3 mm) without large cracks were obtained after firing. The samples became superconducting at 91.5±0.5 K ( T _con) and the full transition temperature ( T _coff) was 88.5±1.5 K. The critical current density ( J _c) of the sample prepared from the slurry containing 1 wt% PVA was 713±150 A/cm² at 77 K. This J _c value was improved to 2300 A/cm² by heat treatment at 773 K under an oxygen atmosphere.