Mathematical modelling of soybean oil solubility in supercritical carbon dioxide

The solubility of soybean oil in supercritical carbon dioxide has been determined in the pressure range of 100–300 bar and in the temperature range of 313–323 K. The obtained values (from 0.0005 to 0.02055 g L^?1) have been correlated using four different empirical equations proposed correspondingly by Chrastil, del Valle and Aquilera, Adachi and Lu and Sparks et al. Since the Sparks et al. equation provided the lowest average absolute relative deviation (AARD) (10.25%) than other models in the examined experimental range, a modified equation of Sparks et al. model was developed for predicting the solubility of soybean oil in supercritical carbon dioxide as a function of temperature and density. An improved equation showed the lowest deviation (2.15%) between experimental data than the other empirical equations considered in this study. The proposed equation was also applied for correlating the solubility of linoleic acid (AARD was 2.40%).     

STRATIGRAPHY AND PETROLEUM GEOLOGY OF THE CROATIAN PART OF THE ADRIATIC BASIN

Coastal parts of Croatia are dominated by the SW‐verging Dinaric foldbelt, to the west and SW of which is the Adriatic Basin (the stable foreland). In both areas, the stratigraphic column is dominated by a thick carbonate succession ranging from Carboniferous to Miocene. Four megasequences have been identified: (i) a pre‐platform succession ranging in age from Late Carboniferous (Middle Pennsylvanian: Moscovian) to Early Jurassic (Early Toarcian; Bru?ane and Ba?ke Ostarije Formations); (ii) an Early Jurassic to Late Cretaceous platform megasequence (Mali Alan Formation); (iii) a Paleogene to Neogene post‐platform megasequence (Ra?a Formation); and (iv) a Neogene to Quaternary (Pliocene to Holocene) megasequence (Istra and Ivana Formations). A number of organic‐rich intervals with source rock potential have been identified on‐ and offshore Croatia: Middle and Upper Carboniferous, Upper Permian, Lower and Middle Triassic, Lower and Upper Jurassic, Lower and Upper Cretaceous, Eocene, and Pliocene – Pleistocene. Traps and potential plays have been identified from seismic data in the Dinaric belt and adjacent foreland. Evaporites of Permian, Triassic and Neogene (Messinian) ages form potential regional seals, and carbonates with secondary porosity form potential reservoirs. Oil and gas shows in wells in the Croatian part of the Adriatic Basin have been recorded but no oil accumulations of commercial value have yet been discovered. In the northern Adriatic offshore Croatia, Pliocene hemi‐pelagic marlstones and shales include source rocks which produce commercial volumes of biogenic gas. The gas is reservoired in unconsolidated sands of the Pleistocene Ivana Formation.     

Periodical Literature in Urban Studies and Planning

Geographic information systems have the potential to aid planning functions in both data processing and decision making. Because the incorporation of GIS technology into local government is at an early stage, knowledge about GIS implementation and its impact on planning activities is scarce. Using a survey of local governments in four southeastern states, this paper explores how the new technology affects planning and whether it meets the expectations of the planning agencies using it. Most of the agencies surveyed report improvements in communication of information, data accessibility, and data accuracy. They report that more current data are available, and they have confidence in analyses performed with GIS technology. Political support, staffing, length of experience with GIS technology, system sharing, data-base contents, and number and type of GIS applications all exert some influence on either planning operations or decision making. While experience with GIS emerged as the most significant factor in achieving operational benefits, using GIS technology for analytical tasks positively affected improvements in decision making.     

Optimization of supercritical CO2 extraction of dried Helichrysum italicum flowers by response surface methodology: GC-MS profiles of the extracts and essential oil

Supercritical (SC) CO₂ extraction of dried Immortelle flowers was performed at different process parameters. The optimal extraction conditions related to the yield were determined by response surface methodology (yield 4.09% at 20 MPa and 52°C). The extracts were analyzed by GC-MS and tremetone derivatives dominated: bitalin A, 12-acetoxytremetone, gnaphaliol, 1-[2-(2-methyl-2,3-dihydroxypropyl)-2,3-dihydro-1-benzofuran-5-yl]ethanone, isobutyl bitalin A, and 1-[2-(acetylprop-1-en-2-yl)-3-hydroxy-2,3-dihydro-1-benzofuran-5-yl]ethanone. Striking differences were found among the essential oil and SC-CO₂ extracts composition. The major oil compounds were γ-curcumene, α-pinene, β-selinene, α-selinene, and limonene. Mono- and sesquiterpene were found among minor constituents of the extracts. Neryl acetate was present in the extracts and essential oil.     

Polyethylene/Polycaprolactone Nanocomposite Films for Food Packaging Modified with Magnetite and Casein: Oxygen Barrier,Mechanical, and Thermal Properties

Polyethylene (PE) was modified and prepared as double-layer polyethylene/polycaprolactone (PE/PCL) film. Magnetite and casein were added to the PCL-coating film to improve barrier properties and prevent destruction of basic structure of primary polymer PE. Significant improvements were observed with regards to mechanical (tensile strength, elongation at break) and thermal properties, while barrier (O₂ permeability) properties were slightly improved. Overall migration values into acetic acid were lower (from 1 to 4.6 mg/dm²) than the upper limit set by the legislation. Specific migration of iron in PE/PCL-Fe samples is also below (µg/L) specific migration limit value set by the legislation (mg/kg).     

Electrochemical routes for environmentally friendly recycling of rare-earth-based (Sm–Co) permanent magnets

Journal of Applied Electrochemistry - The consumption of critical raw materials, especially those in permanent magnets of Nd–Fe–B and Sm–Co-type, has significantly grown in the...     

Borcalein: a Carborane-Based Analogue of Baicalein with 12-Lipoxygenase-Independent Toxicity

12-Lipoxygenase is crucial for tumour angiogenesis. 5,6,7-Trihydroxy-2-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one (baicalein) is a suitable inhibitor for this enzyme but is rapidly metabolised in vivo. Thus, an improvement of the metabolic stability is necessary to enhance the therapeutic efficiency. An emerging approach to enhance metabolic stability of carbon-based pharmaceuticals is the use of metabolically stable, non-toxic boron clusters, such as dicarba-closo-dodecaborane(12)s (carboranes) as phenyl mimetics. Therefore, the unsubstituted phenyl ring of baicalein was replaced by meta-carborane, resulting in borcalein, the carborane analogue of baicalein. This substitution resulted in a decreased inhibitory activity toward 12-lipoxygenase, but led to increased toxicity in melanoma (A375, B16, B16F10) and colon cancer cell lines (SW480, HCT116, CT26CL25) with decreased tumour selectivity in comparison to baicalein. Surprisingly, borcalein displays a different mechanism of cytotoxicity with increased intracellular production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), reactive nitrogen species (RNS) and nitric oxide (NO).     

An initial study on feasible treatment of Serbian lignite through utilization of low-rank coal upgrading technologies

Despite benefiting from vast fuel reserves, combustion of low-rank coals is commonly characterized by low thermal efficiency and high pollutant emissions, partly due to high moisture content of the coals in question. Thus, removal of moisture from low-rank coals is deemed an important quality upgrading method. The paper provides an overview of the current status of low-rank coal upgrading technologies, particularly with respect to utilization of drying and dewatering procedures. In order to examine the influence of relevant parameters on the moisture removal process, a model of convective coal drying in a packed, as well as in a fluid bed combustion arrangement, is developed and presented. Product-specific data (intraparticle mass transfer, gas–solid moisture equilibrium) related to the coal variety addressed herein (lignite) are obtained through preliminary investigations. Effective thermal conductivity of the packed bed as defined by Zehner/Bauer/Schlünder is used to define heat transfer mechanisms occurring in the packed bed. Similar two-phase fluidization model has been validated for different types of biomaterials.