Conference Report - 4th European Continuous Casting Conference

Abstract

In this research carbothermic reduction of mechanically activated hematite–graphite–copper mixture was investigated. The effects of Copper and milling time on reduction behaviour of mixtures were studied by differential thermal analysis and thermogravimetry experiments. SEM and XRD techniques were also used to evaluate microstructure and phase constituent of the samples. By mechanical activation of the hematite–graphite–copper mixture the reduction temperature could be decreased >200°C. The presence of copper in mixture has an additional effect on the initiation of the Boudouard reaction at lower temperatures. Thus the gaseous reduction of Hematite with CO was started at a temperature as low as 790°C when Cu was used in the activated mixture.     

Experimental study of coal based direct reduction in iron ore/coal composite pellets in a one layer bed under nonisothermal,asymmetric heating

Abstract

The reduction of hematite iron ore fines by different carbonaceous materials in composite pellets in a one-layer bed under nonisothermal asymmetric heating from above is studied. Temperature measurements at various points in the bed show that there are large gradients both inside and outside the pellets, with the reduction fastest at the top where the temperature is highest. The relative difference between the degree of metallisation between the top and the bottom of the pellet can be even greater during the reduction. The pellets undergo nonuniform swelling/shrinking towards the end of the reduction, and their height is less than their width. Reoxidation can start at the top of the pellet while the bottom has not yet been fully reduced. Those with a higher initial volatile content but with the same amount of fixed carbon as other pellets, gave a significantly higher degree of reduction without the involvement of fixed carbon gasification reactions.     

Raw materials for Corex and their influence on furnace performance

Abstract

The scarcity of good quality coking coal for the blast furnace (BF) has made steel makers look for an alternative iron-making process that requires little or no coke. The Corex process has been developed as an alternative to BF iron-making, which uses non-coking coal and a small amount of coke as fuel, and pellet/lump ore as iron-bearing feed. JSW Steel operates two Corex units each of 0?8 Mtpa, commissioned in 1998 and 2001 respectively. Iron oxides and non-coking coals have to meet certain physical, chemical and high temperature properties for stable operation and to attain high performance levels. Experience of the Corex operation with various coals and iron oxides over the years has helped in understanding the influence and sensitivity of raw materials on its performance and develop new raw material specifications. Statistical analysis of plant data showed that the significant parameters affecting fuel rate and production are moisture, volatile matter, char strength after reaction of coal, reduction disintegration index (RDI; %, –6?3 mm) of pellets and slag rate. This helped achieve the most efficient operating parameters, surpass rated capacity and utilise steel plant waste. The present paper brings out the impact of various raw material properties, and the modified specifications of coal and iron oxides for Corex.     

Effect of electron beam irradiation on quality indicators of peanut butter over a storage period

Electron beam (e-beam) irradiation is an effective non-thermal processing step for the reduction of Salmonella in peanut butter. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of e-beam irradiation on quality indicators of peanut butter. Peanut butter samples were exposed to a range of e-beam doses and examined over a 14-day period at 22 °C. Colour analysis (L^∗, a^∗, b^∗), spreadability, peroxide values (PV) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances test (TBARS) for lipid oxidation were monitored, fatty acid and amino acid profiles were verified and protein degradation was determined by sodium dodecyl sulphate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS–PAGE). Changes in colour, PV, and TBARS were observed as e-beam dose increased. No significant changes in spreadability were observed (P > 0.05). When applied to peanut butter, e-beam irradiation will produce significant changes in quality indicators; future studies should include sensory evaluation and consumer acceptance studies.     

Neriifolin S, a dimeric serine protease from Euphorbia neriifolia Linn.: Purification and biochemical characterisation

A dimeric serine protease Neriifolin S of molecular mass 94 kDa with milk clotting activity has been purified from the latex of Euphorbia neriifolia by anion exchange and size-exclusion chromatography. It hydrolyses peptidyl substrates l-Ala-pNA with highest affinity (K_m of 0.195 mM) and physiological efficiency (K_cat/K_m of 144.5 mM s). Enzyme belongs to the class of neutral proteases with pI value of 6.8, optimal proteolytic activity displayed at pH 9.5 and temperature 45 °C. Its proteolytic activity is strongly stimulated in the presence of Ca⁺² ions and exclusively inhibited by serine protease inhibitors. Enzyme is fairly stable toward chemical denaturants, pH and temperature. The apparent T_m, was found to be 65 °C. Thermal inactivation follow first order kinetics with activation energy (Ea), activation enthalpy (ΔH∗), free energy change (ΔG∗) and entropy (ΔS∗) of 27.54 kJ mol⁻¹, 24.89 kJ mol⁻¹, −82.34 kJ mol⁻¹ and 337.20 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹.     

Fractionation and characterization of tartary buckwheat flour proteins

Protein fractions (albumin, globulin, prolamin and glutelin) were extracted from defatted tartary buckwheat flour. Albumin was the predominant protein fraction (43.8%) followed by glutelin (14.6%), prolamin (10.5%), and globulin (7.82%). Albumin was relatively rich in histidine, threonine, valine, phenylalanine, isoleucine, leucine and lysine. Globulin had high levels of methionine and lysine. Prolamin was high in histidine, threonine, valine, isoleucine, and leucine. Glutelin was rich in histidine, threonine, valine, isoleucine, and leucine. SDS–PAGE analysis, under non-reductive and reductive conditions, showed that disulfide bonds existed in the four fractions. Non-reduced albumin showed major bands at 64, 57, 41, and 38 kDa, and globulin at 57, 28, 23, 19 and 15 kDa. Reduced albumin and globulin shared two common bands at 41 and 38 kDa. Reduced prolamin showed major bands at 29, 26, 17 and 15 kDa. In vitro pepsin digestibility of the four fractions (from high to low) was: albumin > globulin > prolamin and glutelin.     

菊粉酶分离纯化方法的研究

探究了Sephadex凝胶层析法和DEAE-纤维素离子交换层析法分离纯化菊粉酶的条件。结果显示,用SephadexG-75凝胶层析分离菊粉酶,经pH4.7 0.01 mol/L的NaAC-HAC缓冲液洗脱,得到2个洗脱峰,仅SⅠ峰有酶活力,聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(PAGE)电泳检测SⅠ峰有4条蛋白带,SⅡ峰有1条带,较粗酶液提纯4.7倍,酶活回收率60.8%;用DEAE-纤维素离子交换层析分离,pH6.0,0.01 mol/L的柠檬酸-磷酸氢二钠缓冲液平衡,用含0~0.5 mol/L NaCl的洗脱液线性梯度洗脱,得7个洗脱峰,仅DⅡ峰有酶活力,用PAGE检测该活力峰只有1条蛋白带,达到电泳纯,较粗酶液提纯11.2倍,酶活回收率55.1%。     

SDS—PAGE法分析含乳饮料和乳清粉的蛋白组成和含量

利用SDS-PAGE电泳结合凝胶成像分析测定了乳清粉及含乳饮料中的酷蛋白、α-乳白蛋白（α-LA）和β-乳球蛋白（β-LG）的含量,探讨了两种乳蛋白提取方法对测定结果的影响。     

Region-based Statistical Analysis of 2D PAGE Images

A new comprehensive procedure for statistical analysis of two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D PAGE) images is proposed, including protein region quantification, normalization and statistical analysis. Protein regions are defined by the master watershed map that is obtained from the mean gel. By working with these protein regions, the approach bypasses the current bottleneck in the analysis of 2D PAGE images: it does not require spot matching. Background correction is implemented in each protein region by local segmentation. Two-dimensional locally weighted smoothing (LOESS) is proposed to remove any systematic bias after quantification of protein regions. Proteins are separated into mutually independent sets based on detected correlations, and a multivariate analysis is used on each set to detect the group effect. A strategy for multiple hypothesis testing based on this multivariate approach combined with the usual Benjamini-Hochberg FDR procedure is formulated and applied to the differential analysis of 2D PAGE images. Each step in the analytical protocol is demonstrated by using an actual dataset. The effectiveness of the proposed methodology is shown using simulated gels in comparison with the commercial software packages PDQuest and Dymension. We also introduce a new procedure for simulating gel images.