Adsorption fixed beds modeling revisited: Generalized solutions for S-shaped isotherms

Adsorption fixed bed models are of paramount importance in chemical and environmental engineering research. Although the related literature is rich, the vast majority of models employed are either phenomenological, based on chemical reaction kinetics, or limited to systems that obey simple equilibrium isotherms (favorable, unfavorable, linear, and rectangular) combined to linear driving force (LDF) for the solid-phase mass transfer kinetics and ideal plug flow. This paper complements the existing studies by presenting and analyzing a versatile nondimensional fixed bed model equipped with diffusion-based mass transfer kinetics and nonideal flow terms and adapted to deal with S-shaped (sigmoidal) isotherms. A discussion is conducted on the rather unusual fixed bed dynamics produced by systems that follow S-shaped isotherms, a subject which has been rarely and nonsystematically discussed in the related literature. Thus, this study aims at providing better understanding of the interactions of S-shaped isotherms, mass transfer, and axial dispersion on the shape of adsorption fixed bed breakthrough curves and comes to clarify and complement previously published results, especially on the unexplored effects of the isotherms’ inflection point on the breakthrough curves.     

Metal Ion‐Catalyzed Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Calcium Lignosulfonate in Subcritical Water

Three metal ion catalysts, namely, Na⁺, K⁺, and Ca²⁺, were tested to improve liquefaction of calcium lignosulfonate, and their effects on product distribution were specifically investigated. Results showed that metal ion catalysts favored the production of hydrogen as well as of phenolic compounds. The total contents of phenolic compounds catalyzed by metal ions were generally higher than 75 %. The catalysis abilities of Na⁺ and K⁺ were better than that of Ca²⁺. The neutral‐alkaline condition was much more beneficial to calcium lignosulfonate liquefaction. Compared to the hydrochars with Na⁺ and K⁺ catalysts, the hydrochars with Ca²⁺ catalyst had higher carbon content and a higher heating value.     

The sorption of monovalent cations onto norway spruce: Model studies using wood flour and LiCl solution

The transport of chemicals in a porous material such as wood is very complex and involves several processes: the diffusion of chemicals in the cell pores (lumen and pit pores), through the cell walls at certain conditions, and sorption of wood tissue. In the present study, batch sorption experiments were performed to examine the sorption of Li⁺ ions from an aqueous LiCl solution onto Norway spruce wood flour samples. The experimental methodology employed is suitable for differentiating the amount of ions sorbed onto the wood tissue and dissolved in the solution in wood pores. The apparent equilibrium sorption data were analyzed using two widely applied isotherm models: Langmuir and Freundlich. The results suggest that the sorption was spontaneous, and for the experimental conditions studied, probably involved several interaction types between the different functional groups of the wood and the Li⁺/Cl^? ions.     

Ion Exchange Resin Applied to Obtain Clarified Cashew Juice

The condensed tannins present in cashew apple juice provide high astringency, which is undesirable for this product. This study aimed to remove the cashew apple juice tannins by ion exchange for obtaining the clarified cashew apple juice (cajuína). Two strong base resins were used (macroporous and gel type). The effect of the process variables: temperature, resin:juice ratio, and stirring speed were determined. The macroporous resin presented better results with condensed tannins removal up to 80% in optimal conditions (30°C, ratio 1:6, 122 rpm). The cajuína obtained was clear and translucent, with low astringency, acidity, and °Brix according to Brazilian legislation.     

Formation of Zn- and O- vacancy clusters in ZnO through deuterium annealing

Open volume defects, clearly distinguishable from the isolated Zn-vacancy are observed in hydrothermally grown ZnO after exposure to deuterium gas at elevated temperatures. From a combination of secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations it is found that as a result of this treatment vacancy clusters consisting of minimum one Zn- and one O-vacancy are formed, in contrast to introduction of isolated O-vacancies. A scenario for the cluster formation is proposed, where Zn- and O-vacancies originate from the bulk of the sample and the sample surface, respectively. A fraction of the vacancy clusters are decorated by Li and/or H and may therefore be indirectly observed by SIMS. The peak in Li-concentration at about 100 nm below the sample surface, as observed by SIMS is in good correspondence with the PAS-results.     

浅谈钛材换热器的管板焊接

在氧化性、中性及含氯离子的介质中,钛的耐腐蚀性能均优于普通不锈钢和铝等。但钛材的焊接性能不好,焊接时极易产生氧化、氮化和脆化等缺陷。根据钛材的焊接特性,在焊接过程中有针对性地采取合理的保护措施,制定合适的焊接工艺,严格把好各个施工环节质量关,就能保证钛材的焊接质量。     

Fabrication of CuInS2/CNTs absorber layers by sol–gel method

In this work, CuInS₂/multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) layers are fabricated by the sol–gel spin-coating method. We introduce two forms of MWCNTs into a CIS₂ solution, washed functional multiwalled carbon nanotubes (W-FMWCNTs) and unwashed-functional multiwalled carbon nanotubes (UW-FMWCNTs), in order to investigate the effects of MWCNTs and an acidic environment on the physical properties of the CIS₂ absorber layers. The structure and morphology of the samples are investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), respectively. The XRD study shows that all samples crystallize in a tetragonal structure. The results obtained from the optical, thermo-electric, and electrical measurements indicate that the two groups of CIS₂ layers prepared using W- and UW-FMWCNTs show the opposite behaviors. The Seebeck coefficient (SC) measurements indicate possible formation of a p–n junction.     

Experimental liquidus study of the binary PbO-ZnO and ternary PbO-ZnO-SiO2 systems

Phase equilibria of the binary PbO-ZnO and ternary PbO-ZnO-SiO₂ systems have been experimentally investigated at 1033–1898?K (760–1625?°C) for oxide liquid in equilibrium with air and solid oxide phases: tridymite or cristobalite (SiO₂), willemite (Zn₂SiO₄), zincite (ZnO), larsenite (PbZnSiO₄) and lead-zinc melilite (Pb₂ZnSi₂O₇) covering the ranges of concentrations not studied before. High-temperature equilibration on primary phase or inert metal (platinum) substrates, followed by quenching and direct measurement of the Pb, Zn and Si concentrations in the phases with the electron probe X-ray microanalysis (EPMA) has been used. Liquidus phase equilibrium data is essential for the development of the thermodynamic model.     

Effect of laver powder on textual,rheological properties and water distribution of squid (Dosidicus gigas) surimi gel

In order to ameliorate the gel quality of Dosidicus gigas surimi, the effects of laver powder on gel properties, rheological properties, and water-holding capacity (WHC) were investigated. Results indicated that the addition of laver powder could significantly increase the hardness, chewiness, and breaking force of surimi gels. However, the texture indexes and gel strength began to decline when additional amount exceeded 0.6%. Rheological results demonstrated that the addition of laver powder increased the storage modulus (G′) and viscosity of surimi, prolonged protein denaturation temperature in surimi gels. Moreover, the WHC of surimi gel was improved with the increase of laver powder. Further analyses in low-field nuclear magnetic resonance revealed that laver powder could shorten the transverse relaxation time, enhanced the combination with water, and altered the distribution of different water categories. The proportion of bound water and immobilized water reached its maximum and minimum at 0.6% of laver powder, respectively. Correlation analyses showed that WHC of surimi gel was negatively correlated well with the proportion of loose-bound water, but positively correlated with the strong-bound water and free water. In conclusion, the results supported that 0.6% was the optimal additional amount of laver powder for the squid-based surimi production based on the current ingredients of surimi products.     

氧化破胶-絮凝过滤工艺降黏处理压裂返排液的研究

针对压裂返排液黏度较大、有机污染物含量高和处理难度大的特点,采用以Fenton试剂为氧化剂,聚合氯化铝为絮凝剂的氧化破胶-絮凝过滤工艺对其进行降黏处理和回收利用,并以黏度为指标,考察了Fenton试剂中H_2O_2(30%)、FeSO_4(0.5 mol·L~(-1))添加量及溶液pH、氧化破胶反应时间、絮凝剂种类和用量对降黏效果的影响。结果表明,对于100 mL黏度为16 m Pa·s的油田压裂返排液,当溶液pH为3.0,Fenton试剂中H_2O_2和FeSO_4添加量分别为0.48 mL和0.3 mL,反应时间为50 min时,氧化破胶效果最佳;氧化破胶后的溶液再经0.5 g聚合氯化铝絮凝过滤处理后,黏度可以降至1.1 m Pa·s,溶液中的大部分污染物也被除去,可以实现循环回收利用。