Nonstationary Simulation Model of Absorber with Falling Film of Suspension

A nonstationary model of SO₂ absorption from a gas phase to a countercurrent falling film of absorbing slurry was developed. Laminar, wavy and turbulent film structures were considered based on published information. Resistances to the mass transfer on the gas and the liquid sides of the interphase were considered, together with chemical reactions in the liquid phase. Relevant chemical equilibria in the liquid phase were modeled. Original experimental data on the neutralization reagent dissolution rate presented as a polydispersed two‐phase system of solids and on the rate of dissolved sulfite oxidation were used. The model was verified with experimental data from a laboratory‐scale falling‐film absorber using a single vertical tube under various geometrical and operating conditions, and a very good agreement was found with the experiment. Parametric sensitivity analysis showed the critical parts of the model.     

Anthocyanin composition of the red wine Babić affected by maceration treatment

Identification of anthocyanins in the wine made of the Croatian autochthonous grape variety of Babić (Vitis vinifera L.) was carried out and their profile was determined by means of high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array and mass spectrometric detection. Dependence of anthocyanins content and profile on maceration treatment conditions was investigated. Statistically significant differences of anthocyanins concentration in wines Babić produced by various maceration treatments were confirmed by the use of multivariate analysis of variances. The investigation results indicated that the maceration temperature exerts higher influence on anthocyanins concentration than the duration of maceration. In addition, on the basis of anthocyanin composition and using different multivariate statistical analyses, differentiation of wines Babić according to maceration treatments was procured.     

Continuous precipitation of calcium sulfate dihydrate from waste sulfuric acid and lime

Precipitation of calcium sulfate dihydrate, gypsum, from (i) a pure sulfuric acid/lime suspension and (ii) a waste sulfuric acid/lime suspension in a continuous pilot plant in the temperature range from 40 °C to 80 °C was studied. It was observed that in the case of waste sulfuric acid with a high content of Mg²⁺ and Fe²⁺ ions, several hours after the beginning of the precipitation, partial dissolution of the product and modification of the crystals from needle‐ and plate‐like to agglomerated structures occurred. It is suggested that the secondary changes occur due to the increased concentration of Mg²⁺ and Fe²⁺ ions in the reactor. Below 60 °C, and above 70 °C plate‐like and needle‐like single crystals respectively were formed. The mean size (d₅₀) of the crystals was found to increase with increasing temperature and decrease with the initial concentration of lime. Gypsum produced between 70 °C and 80 °C is suitable for further processing for construction plaster. In a precipitation process with pure sulfuric acid only single perfect needle‐like crystals occurred. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Nonuniformity of phase structure in immiscible polymer blends

This article is focused on the phase structure development in immiscible polymer blends during melt mixing. Nonuniformity of the phase structure, i.e., the coexistence of areas containing particles with markedly different size distribution, was detected in quenched and compression molded samples of a number of various blends prepared by long and intensive mixing in the chamber of a Plasticorder. The same effect was found also for polystyrene/polyamide blends prepared in a twin‐screw extruder. It was shown that neglecting nonuniformity of the phase structure can lead to considerable error in evaluation of the effect of system parameters on the blend morphology. The reasons for the effect were discussed and it was found that inhomogeneous flow field in mixers is a plausible explanation of the nonuniform phase structure. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Influence of To?pa Peat Preparation on the phagocytic activity and bactericidal properties of granulocytes in healthy volunteers

It was found, that To?pa Peat Preparation (TPP) administered to healthy volunteers in doses of 100-300 mg/day during 14 days evoked the stimulation of the phagocytic and bactericidal activity of the granulocytes. The dose of 600 mg/day causes only a transient and insignificant increase of phagocytic and bactericidal properties of the granulocytes.     

Low temperature and strain rate dependence of fracture stress and fracture toughness on thin Fe40Ni40B20 amorphous ribbon

The fracture stress and the critical stress intensity factor of the Fe₄₀Ni₄₀B₂₀ amorphous metallic ribbons 20 μm thick were measured in the temperature range 4.2–300 K and at deformation rates from 3.3×10⁻⁶ to 1.25×10⁻³ m⁻¹ with the aim to obtain more information on the condition for the onset and development of the inhomogeneous plastic deformation and fracture.     

Flux Jumps and H-T Diagram of Instability for MgB2

We present a study of magneto-thermal instabilities in polycrystalline MgB₂ superconductor, by magnetic hysteresis loop measurements and by investigations of magnetic flux dynamics with a miniature Hall probe. Temperature and magnetic field ranges where the flux jumps may be observed have been determined. On the basis of measurements of the magnetic flux dynamics, an average magnetic diffusivity describing the process of the flux jump is estimated. This parameter is compared with the thermal and magnetic diffusivities calculated on the basis of available data for thermal conductivity, heat capacity and resistivity. It is shown that the estimated value of the field of the first flux jump is influenced significantly by the field dependence of specific heat. In order to explain the observed phenomenon, the temperature reached by the sample during the flux jump at different magnetic fields is calculated.     

Transcutaneous balloon angioplasty in the treatment of subclavian steal syndrome. Characteristics of vertebral basal flow with transcranial Doppler technique

Subclavian steal syndrome (SSS) appears when the origin of the subclavian artery (SA) is occluded or stenosed. Introduction of transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD) provided an opportunity to evaluate parameters of the blood flow in the vertebral (VA) and basilar artery (BA). Measurements of blood flow velocities performed at rest and after the brachial hyperemia test allow one to classify hemodynamic types of SSS. The aim of the study was to categorize types of steal and to compare the differences of flow patterns before and after percutaneous transluminal SA balloon angioplasty (SA-PTA). Fourty-eight patients with angiographically confirmed SSS (aged from 27 to 68 years, mean 53; 2/1 f/m ratio) were examined with 2 MHz range-gated, pulsed transcranial Doppler device (TC 2-64B EME). Both VA and BA were evaluated by the transoccipital approach at rest and during the brachial hyperemia. In 5 cases (10.4%) permanent reversal blood flow in the BA was observed (complete basilar steal). In flow in the BA blood flow was in the normal direction at rest and altered (reversed or decreased) when induced with brachial hyperemia test (transient basilar steal). In the next 14 patients (29.2%) permanently reversed VA blood flow was observed with only a slight or no alterations of the BA flow after the hyperemia test (complete vertebral steal). In the last 19 cases (39.6%) alterations of the VA blood flow without changes in BA flow were observed (latent vertebral steal). Between 1991 and 1994 twenty seven symptomatic patients with different hemodynamic types of SSS were treated with SA-PTA. TCD evaluation of VA's and BA using the hyperemia test was performed before, 3 to 7 days and 3 months after morphologically and hemodynamically successful subclavian artery balloon PTA. Normal results of vertebrobasilar examinations were obtained in 26 cases after this procedure. In one case the latent vertebral steal was detected. The 28 months mean follow-up revealed no significant changes in TCD flow patterns recorded from VA's and BA. After collecting data of about 60 patients with SSS we examined with TCD we conclude that: in patients with a hemodynamically significant SA stenosis the presence of reversed ipsilateral VA blood flow (a radiologic steal) its not a good determinant of either the presence or type of presenting symptoms and after successful PTA or recanalisation and PTA of SA in almost all cases we examined close to normal TCD recordings in BA and VA.