Potential tissue implants from the networks based on 1,5-dioxepan-2-one and ε-caprolactone

The synthesis and characterization of degradable polymeric networks for biomedical applications was performed. Cross-linked films of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and poly(1,5-dioxepan-2-one) (PDXO) having various mole fractions of monomers and different cross-link densities were successfully prepared using 2,2′-bis-(ε-caprolactone-4-yl) propane (BCP) as cross-linking agent. Reaction parameters were carefully examined to optimise the film-forming conditions. Networks obtained were elastomeric materials, easy to cast and remove from the mould. Effect of CL content and cross-link density on the final properties of the polymer network was evaluated. High CL content or degree of cross-linking led to increase in Young's modulus and decrease in elongation at break. An increase in crystalline domains in films having a higher CL content was observed by optical microscopy. A greater thermal stability was observed in films having a high CL content. The hydrophilicity of the materials could be tailored by changing the CL content. The surface of the films became rougher with higher CL content.     

A simple mathematical analysis on the effect of sand in Cr(VI) reduction using zero valent iron

A simple mathematical model was proposed to analyze the enhancement of Cr(VI) reduction when sand materials are added to the zero valent iron (ZVI). Natural decay of Cr(VI) in a control experiment was analyzed by using a zero-order decay reaction. Adsorption kinetics of Cr(VI) to sand was modeled as a first-order reversible process, and the reduction rate by ZVI was treated as a first-order reaction. Natural decay of Cr(VI) was also included in other experiments, i.e., the adsorption to sand, the reduction by ZVI, and both adsorption and reduction when sand and ZVI are present together. The model parameters were estimated by fitting the solution of each model to the corresponding experimental data. To observe the effect of sand addition to ZVI, both adsorption and reduction rate models were considered simultaneously including the natural decay. The solution of the combined model was fitted to the experimental data to determine the first-order adsorption and reduction rate constants when sand as well as ZVI is present. The first-order reduction rate constant in the presence of sand was about 35 times higher than that with ZVI only.     

Bi12TiO20 synthesized directly from bismuth (III) nitrate pentahydrate and titanium glycolate and its activity

Pure phase of sillenite structure, Bi₁₂TiO₂₀, was directly synthesized using stoichiometric bismuth (III) nitrate pentahydrate and titanium glycolate by co-precipitation. The influence of pH on the structure of Bi₁₂TiO₂₀ was studied in the pH range of 3–10. The sillenite structure was characterized using XRD and FTIR. The photo-degradation reaction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) was used to study photocatalytic activity of Bi₁₂TiO₂₀ as a function of the preparation pH. The rate of decomposition was followed by UV-vis and TOC. The beginning concentration of 4-NP, 44 ppm, decreased to less than 1 ppm within 30 min for all prepared catalysts. It was found that the decomposition rate constant of Bi₁₂TiO₂₀ is six times higher than those of either TiO₂ or Bi₂O₃ under the same conditions.     

Generalized difference control of parallel streams temperatures

A furnace with multiple parallel passes and multiple burners is commonly seen in petroleum refineries. In order to maintain the furnace running in a safe, stable, and high-efficiency state it is necessary to control the outlet temperatures of the multiple passes to be the same. Due to the fact that the process of the oil heating in such furnace is nonlinear, multivariable, time varying, has serious coupling among passes, has frequent dynamic changes and a large time delay, traditional control methods have trouble in controlling these temperatures, and some advanced control methods, including predictive control, adaptive control, and robust control, are usually too complex for convenient use. In this paper, a control technique, called differences control technique (DsCT), is proposed to distribute the stream flowrates such that the stream temperatures are as identical as possible. The principle of the proposed technique is explained and demonstrated, and the results of its application to a real-life petroleum refinery furnace are also reported. The DsCT technique has the following advantages: it does not need complicated design procedures, the controller structure is simple, it is easy to apply, and it can be canonically applied to furnaces with different number of passes.     

基于MAPINFO和VB的自来水管网信息系统的建立

介绍基于MapInfo平台，利用VB语言进行二次开发，建立自来水管网地理信息系统的关键技术及其注意的问题。     

Photo-Fenton removal of water-soluble polymers

This paper presents the results of experiments carried out in a laboratory-scale photochemical reactor on the photodegradation of different polymers in aqueous solutions by the photo-Fenton process. Solutions of three polymers, polyethyleneglicol (PEG), polyacrylamide (PAM), and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), were tested under different conditions. The reaction progress was evaluated by sampling and analyzing the total organic carbon concentration in solution (TOC) along the reaction time. The behavior of the different polymers is discussed, based on the evolution of the TOC–time curves. Under specific reaction conditions, the formation and coalescence of solid particles was visually observed. Solids formation occurred simultaneously to a sharp decrease in the TOC of the liquid phase. This may be favorable for the treatment of industrial wastewater containing polymers, since the photodegradation process can be coupled with solid separation systems, which may reduce the treatment cost.     

Electrochemical mass transfer between an impinging jet and a rotating disk in a confined system

This paper presents the mass transfer results from an impinging liquid jet to a rotating disk. The mass transfer coefficients were measured using the electrochemical limiting diffusion current technique (ELDCT). Rotational Reynolds number (Re_r) in the range of 3.4 × 10⁴–1.2 × 10⁵, jet Reynolds number (Re_j) 1.7 × 10⁴–5.3 × 10⁴ and non-dimensional jet-to-disk spacing (H/d) 2–8 were taken into consideration as parameters. It was found that the jet impingement resulted in a substantial enhancement in the mass transfer compared to the case of the rotating disk without jet.     

基于显微视觉的宏/微双重驱动微动台的自动标定

提出了基于压电技术的微操作系统的自动标定方法,采用混合式步进电机直接驱动的宏动平台,实现系统大行程宏动定位,安装在宏动平台上的压电陶瓷驱动的微动平台和精密光栅,实现亚微米级的分辨率和定位精度,通过以上两部分实现定位机构的全闭环反馈控制,采用显微视觉反馈获取微动台操作器在图像中的位置信息进行标定。实验结果表明:系统的动态和稳定性能良好,自动标定运算速度快,运行速度达到11 frame/s,实现了对系统的精确标定,标定精度达到0.1μm。     

Life cycle of hydroprocessing catalysts and total catalyst management

Hydroprocessing catalysts based on Ni, Co, Mo and W are used in various refinery processing applications where several deactivation mechanisms become of importance (coke formation, active phase sintering, metals deposition, poisoning) in the catalyst's life cycle. The life cycle of commercial hydroprocessing catalysts is very complex and includes the catalyst production, sulfidation, use, oxidative regeneration followed by re-sulfidation and reuse or, if reuse is not possible, recycling or disposal. To understand the changes in catalyst properties taking place during a life cycle, the catalyst quality in the different stages can be best monitored by using advanced analytical techniques. The catalyst's life cycle is further complicated by numerous technical, environmental and organizational issues involved. In principle, different companies can be involved in each of the life cycle steps. Leading catalyst manufacturers, together with specialized firms, offer refineries a total catalyst management concept, starting with the purchase of the fresh catalyst and ending with its final recycling or disposal. Total catalyst management includes a broad range of services, ensuring optimal timing during the change-out process, reliable, smooth and safe operations, minimal downtime and maximum catalyst and unit performance.     

Synthesis and characterization of functional gradient copolymers of glycidyl methacrylate and butyl acrylate

Epoxy-functional spontaneous gradient copolymers of glycidyl methacrylate (G) and n-butyl acrylate (B) were synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The copolymerization reactions were carried out in toluene solution at 70 °C, using methyl 2-bromopropionate (MBrP) as initiator and copper chloride with N,N,N′,N′′,N′′-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDETA) as the catalyst system. The kinetic behaviour of the statistical copolymerizations was studied in a wide composition interval with molar fractions of G ranging from 0.10 to 0.75. The synthesized copolymers were characterized by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. ¹H NMR was employed to determine the copolymer composition, demonstrating the gradient character of the copolymers along the main chain in the whole monomer conversion interval. Apart from this, the sequence distribution and stereoregularity were analyzed. These microstructural experimental data agreed well with those calculated from Mayo-Lewis terminal model (MLTM) and a Bernoullian statistic with an isotacticity parameter of σ_G = 0.28 and a coisotacticity parameter of σ = 0.30.