Effects of embedding direct reduction followed by magnetic separation on recovering titanium and iron of beach titanomagnetite concentrate

Embedding direct reduction followed by magnetic separation was conducted to fully recover iron and titanium separately from beach titanomagnetite(TTM).The influences of reduction conditions,such as molar ratio of C to Fe,reduction time,and reduction temperature,were studied.The results showed that the TTM concentrate was reduced to iron and iron-titanium oxides,depending on the reduction time,and the reduction sequence at 1 200°C was suggested as follows:Fe_(2.75)Ti_(0.25)O_4→Fe_2TiO_4→FeTiO_3→FeTi_2O_5.The reduction temperature played a considerable role in the reduction of TTM concentrates.Increasing temperature from 1 100 to 1 200°C was beneficial to recovering titanium and iron,whereas the results deteriorated as temperature increased further.The results of X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy analyses showed that low temperature(≤1 100°C)was unfavorable for the gasification of reductant,resulting in insufficient reducing atmosphere in the reduction process.The molten phase was formed at high temperatures of 1 250-1 300°C,which accelerated the migration rate of metallic particles and suppressed the diffusion of reduction gas,resulting in poor reduction.The optimum conditions for reducing TTM concentrate are as follows:molar ratio of C to Fe of 1.68,reduction time of 150 min,and reduction temperature of 1 200°C.Under these conditions,direct reduction iron powder,assaying 90.28 mass%TFe and 1.73 mass% TiO_2 with iron recovery of 90.85%,and titanium concentrate,assaying 46.24mass% TiO_2 with TiO_2 recovery of 91.15%,were obtained.     

高SiMo道依茨排气管的研制

对可耐受800℃的高SiMo道依茨排气管进行了合金化试验和浇铸试验,总结认为:(1)w(C)、w(Si)、w(Mo)量对铸件力学性能和铸造性能影响较大;(2)铁液的出炉温度应不低于1 520℃,浇注温度应不低于1 410℃;(3)合理选用球化剂,同时应加强瞬时孕育;(4)应注重铁液净化及排气、补缩等工艺的合理设计。     

Polymerization of epoxides catalyzed by a mixed‐valent iron trifluoroacetate [Fe3O(O2CCF3)6(H2O)3]

The readily available mixed‐valent iron trifluoroacetate complex [Fe₂^IIIFe^II(µ₃‐O)(O₂CCF₃)₆(H₂O)₃] is an effective catalyst for the polymerization of epoxides. A very small amount of the catalyst (1.0–0.01 mol%) could initiate the polymerization of cyclohexene oxide, cyclopentene oxide and epichlorohydrin. Based on quantitative end‐group analysis by ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy, a Lewis acid (LA^⊕) catalyzed anionic reaction mechanism is proposed. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Physical and mechanical properties of a reversible adhesive for automotive applications

In this work, a hot-melt adhesive used by automotive industries for bonding plastic components has been modified with three different percentages of nanofiller (iron oxide) in order to make the adhesive electromagnetically sensitive and to perform adhesive joint separations. Fe₃O₄ particles with a weight concentration of 3%, 5% and 10% were embedded in the adhesive matrix. Single Lap Joint (SLJ) tests showed that a slight increase of the maximum load and a more ductile behaviour are obtained. The sensitivity of these modified adhesive performance to the induction heating process was studied with respect to some relevant parameters: the current (or power), the frequency of the electromagnetic induction field and the shape of the coil. Furthermore, the diameter of the hollow copper coil was modified in order to understand whether the coil temperature has an effect on the separation time. The separation time, that is an index of the time needed to reach the melt of the adhesive and the consequent SLJ separation, together with the temperature profile of the adhesives have been used to evaluate the sensitivity of these adhesives to the process parameters. The analysis on the temperature and separation time showed that the most influencing parameter is the frequency of the electromagnetic induction field. As expected, also the shape of the coil influences the separation time, in particular, the adhesive joint separated with the pancake coil showed lower values of the separation time compared to the solenoidal coils. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) showed that iron oxide particles tend to form small agglomerate that resulted well dispersed in the adhesive matrix. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was used to verify that the separation procedure do not degrades these modified adhesives.     

阀室引压管放电烧蚀失效分析

近年来,我国油气管道沿线阀室遭受的交、直流电干扰日益严重,由此引发的阀室引压管放电烧蚀问题逐渐凸显,亟需开展相关研究来弄清阀室引压管放电烧蚀的规律和机制。为此,以西气东输天然气管道某阀室引压管的放电烧蚀为例,搭建了实验室放电烧蚀平台,采用实验室模拟实验、微观分析以及现场测试相结合的方法,对该阀室引压管放电烧蚀的规律和机制进行了研究。结果表明:(1)当两根引压管间的交直流电压差大于4 V且存在接触引弧时便可以观察到明显的放电现象;(2)随着引压管间电压差和回路电流的增大,其能量升高,引压管放电烧蚀越严重;(3)直流放电烧蚀情况下阴、阳极呈现出明显不同的烧蚀形貌,阳极区烧蚀更加严重,其烧蚀坑呈现凹坑且烧蚀坑中没有明显的烧蚀产物沉积,阴极区烧蚀深度较浅,表面沉积一层烧蚀产物,而交流放电烧蚀情况下阴阳极烧蚀区域形貌基本一致,无明显差异。结论认为:该阀室的引压管放电现象是一种弧光放电,可以通过固定引压管、增大引压管间距以及阀室的交直流排流等措施来避免该现象的发生。     

Identification of Toxin Inhibitors Using a Magnetic Nanosensor‐Based Assay

A magnetic nanosensor‐based method is described to screen a library of drugs for potential binding to toxins. Screening is performed by measuring changes in the magnetic relaxation signal of the nanosensors (bMR nanosensors) in aqueous suspension upon addition of the toxin. The Anthrax lethal factor (ALF) is selected as a model toxin to test the ability of our bMR nanosensor‐based screening method to identify potential inhibitors of the toxin. Out of 30 molecules screened, sulindac, naproxen and fusaric acid are found to bind LF, with dissociation constants in the low micromolar range. Further biological analysis of the free molecules in solution indicate that sulindac and its metabolic products inhibited LF cytotoxicity to macrophages with IC₅₀ values in the micromolar range. Meanwhile, fusaric acid is found to be less effective at inhibiting LF cytotoxicity, while naproxen does not inhibit LF toxicity. Most importantly, when the sulindac and fusaric acid‐bMR nanosensors themselves are tested as LF inhibitors, as opposed to the corresponding free molecules, they are stronger inhibitors of LF with IC₅₀ values in the nanomolar range. Taken together, these studies show that a bMR nanosensors‐based assay can be used to screen known drugs and other small molecules for inhibitor of toxins. The method can be easily modified to screen for inhibitors of other molecular interactions and not only the selected free molecule can be study as potential inhibitors but also the bMR nanosensors themselves achieving greater inhibitory potential.     

Influence of doctor blade gap on the properties of tape cast NiO/YSZ anode supports for solid oxide fuel cells

In this study, various tape cast NiO/YSZ anode support layers with similar geometric properties are fabricated by varying the doctor blade from 100?µm to 200?µm with an increment of 25?µm. The mechanical properties of the anode support layers are investigated by three point bending tests of 30 samples for each doctor blade gap. The reliability curves of the flexural strength data are also obtained via two-parameter Weibull distribution method. The effects of the doctor blade gap on the microstructure and the electrochemical performance of the anode support layers are determined via SEM investigations and single cell performance-impedance tests, respectively. The apparent porosities of the samples are also measured by Archimedes’ principle. The results indicate that the doctor blade gap or the resultant tape thickness influences the microstructure of tape cast NiO/YSZ anode supports significantly, yielding different mechanical and electrochemical characteristics. At a reliability level of 70%, the highest flexural strength of 110.20?MPa is obtained from the anode support layer with a doctor blade gap of 175?µm and the 16?cm² active area cell with this anode support layer also exhibits the highest peak performance of 0.483?W/cm² at an operating temperature of 800?°C. Thus, a doctor blade gap of 175?µm is found to have such a microstructure that provides not only better mechanical strength but also higher electrochemical performance.     

In-situ methane enrichment of biogas from anaerobic digestion of palm oil mill effluent by addition of zero valent iron (ZVI)

Palm oil mill effluent (POME) is a wastewater effluent that is generated from palm oil milling. Treatment of POME, especially using biological treatment methods, is a challenge as it contains high amounts of organic and sulfur compounds, and it is highly acidic. In this research, the effects of zero-valent iron (ZVI) on the enhancement of methane production from POME via anaerobic digestion were investigated. Furthermore, to identify the reactor operation modes that were suitable for the addition of ZVI, anaerobic digestion of POME was tested in three reaction configurations: batch reactor, fed-batch reactor, and continuous stirred-tank reactor (CSTR). In the batch mode, where acidic POME was fed with 16 g/L of ZVI dose just once, methane production increased by 74%. However, as the oxidation of ZVI under anaerobic conditions led to the production of hydroxyl ions, the pH of the medium continuously increased from approximately 7 to 9, which is not suitable for methanogenesis. In the fed-batch mode that involved intermittent feeding of acidic POME, the pH of the culture media was maintained at 6.8. This is because the extra hydroxyl ions generated from the oxidation reaction of ZVI tended to neutralize the acids in the feeding substrate. In addition, ZVI promoted the production of methane from POME and increased the average methane content in biogas from 62% to 76%. In the CSTR mode, which involved continuous feeding of acidic POME, ZVI increased methane production by 86% (from 1.79 to 3.32 L/day), methane content in biogas from 60 to 75%, and total chemical oxygen demand (tCOD) removal efficiency from 78 to 89 to 88–95%. Thus, the addition of ZVI can be a potential strategy for in-situ methane enrichment of biogas by anaerobic digestion of POME. This is because ZVI acts as a buffer for acid generation and provides extra electrons, ferrous ions, and ferric ions, which promote key microbial activities in the anaerobic digestion process.     

Impact of precursor preparation on density of gadolinium iron garnets synthesized via reactive sintering

Gadolinium iron garnet was obtained from two different precursors, homogenized in isopropyl alcohol and in an aqueous environment with a fixed pH. In the first case, it was a mixture of goethite (FeO(OH)) and gadolinium oxide (Gd₂O₃); in the second, a mixture of GdIP (GdFeO₃) and α-Fe₂O₃. Conditions of homogenization in the aqueous environment were selected based on the zeta (ξ) potential measurements as the function of pH. DSC measurements of the output powder mixtures allowed the identification of the effects observed during the temperature rise. In the case of the material obtained from a mixture of goethite (FeO(OH)) and gadolinium oxide, with the increasing temperature, we observe three effects, the first of which corresponds to the phase transformation of goethite into α-Fe₂O₃, the second corresponds to the reaction of gadolinium iron perovskite (GdIP) formation, and the third to the reaction in which a gadolinium iron garnet (GdIG) is formed. However, in the case of heat treatment of the mixture of GdIP and α-Fe₂O₃, we only observe the effect responsible for a solid state reaction leading to the formation of gadolinium iron garnet. Dilatometric measurements allowed to determine the changes in linear dimensions at various stages of reaction sintering. The resulting materials were sintered at temperatures of 1200, 1300, and 1400 °C. In the case of the material obtained from a mixture of perovskite and iron (III) oxide, already at the temperature of 1300 °C, a density has been obtained at around 95% of the theoretical density, and the temperature of 1400 °C allowed achieving a density of 97% of the theoretical density. Whereas, for the material obtained from a mixture of goethite (FeO(OH)) and gadolinium oxide, a density above 95% of theoretical density was achieved only at 1400 °C.