Potassium Stability in Soot Combustion Perovskite Catalysts

The activity for soot combustion in NO _x /O₂ and stability, under reaction conditions, of two potassium-perovskite catalysts (K/SrTiO₃ and Sr_0.8K_0.2TiO₃) and a potassium-copper perovskite catalyst (K–Cu/SrTiO₃) has been studied. In fresh catalysts, potassium is more active than copper. However copper is stable under reaction conditions while potassium-catalysts are progressively deactivated due to the loss of this metal during consecutive TPR cycles.     

Concentration effect of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-isopropylacrylamide on viscoelastic properties of hydrosoluble thermo-thickening copolymers

In this work, we described the preparation of hydrosolubles thermosensitive copolymers obtained via free radical polymerization in aqueous media. The reactions were carried out under different molar ratio of acrylamide and N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) and are considered [80]/[20], [60]/[40], [50]/[50], [40]/[60] and [20]/[80], respectively. The initial concentration of monomer mixture was kept at 3% (weight) based on the water volume. The polymerizations were performed at 70 °C under mechanical agitation during 7 h and the molar ratio between monomer and initiator (4,4′-azobis cyano pentanoic acid) was kept at 0.07%. The copolymers were characterized and results demonstrated that the monomer concentrations were closed to previously feed to the reaction. The turbidity point rises according to the quantity of poly(acrylamide), PAM, incorporated into the copolymers (composition value). Also, it was observed that the molecular weight of each copolymer decreases when the amount of NIPAM increases. On the other hand, the viscosity of all copolymers growth compared to the increase in the temperature from 25 to 70 °C is observed. Notwithstanding, in the case of copolymer with highest NIPAM concentration (CP5), the viscosity decreases in the temperature range from 60 to 70 °C.     

An Overview on Numerical Analyses of Nematic Liquid Crystal Flows

The purpose of this work is to provide an overview of the most recent numerical developments in the field of nematic liquid crystals. The Ericksen-Leslie equations govern the motion of a nematic liquid crystal. This system, in its simplest form, consists of the Navier-Stokes equations coupled with an extra anisotropic stress tensor, which represents the effect of the nematic liquid crystal on the fluid, and a convective harmonic map equation. The sphere constraint must be enforced almost everywhere in order to obtain an energy estimate. Since an almost everywhere satisfaction of this restriction is not appropriate at a numerical level, two alternative approaches have been introduced: a penalty method and a saddle-point method. These approaches are suitable for their numerical approximation by finite elements, since a discrete version of the restriction is enough to prove the desired energy estimate.     

Heterogeneous Photocatalytic Degradation of Ibuprofen Over TiO2–Ag Supported on Activated Carbon from Waste Tire Rubber

In recent years it has been discovered that some common use medicines, such as ibuprofen and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, are found in water sources in concentrations that have the potential to affect aquatic organisms. On the other hand, waste used tires are a massive problem for the environment due to the leaching of toxic compounds to soils and water. Also, the exposition to environmental conditions can make them sources of vectors like mosquitoes. In this work, three activated carbon (AC) catalysts derived from waste tire rubber, titanium dioxide and silver were synthesized using the sol–gel method. Morphological characterizations such as SEM and TEM were performed in which, the agglomeration of titanium particles and silver crystals on the surface of the AC is evident. In the XRD analysis, the presence of elemental silver nanoparticles was detected. In the diffuse reflectance spectroscopy analysis, the decrease in the titanium band gap, as well as activity in the visible spectrum, was observed. The photocatalytic tests were performed at pH 3 and 7 in the presence of UV/Vis radiation. These tests show that there are differences between the catalyst in both, UV and visible regions. Adsorption is a major phenomenon for the removal of ibuprofen, followed by photolytic decomposition. In visible spectra, the catalysts show a good performance for the removal of ibuprofen.

     

Bifunctional Materials for the Catalytic Conversion of Cellulose into Soluble Renewable Biorefinery Feedstocks

The combination of Br?nsted acidity with metallic functionality in a mesoporous catalyst offers a potential pathway for the conversion of cellulose into sugar alcohols that may be used as a sustainable source of renewable biorefinery feedstock. Supported Ru catalysts were prepared by evaporative deposition on various ordered mesoporous silicas (SBA-15) with different functionalities and characterized using multiple experimental techniques. The catalytic performance of the supported Ru catalysts was compared to that of the corresponding supports and of Ru/C. We studied the effects of functional group loading, reaction time and temperature on the activity and products yield of the bifunctional catalysts by monitoring the cellulose conversion and the production of sugars and sugar alcohols in a high-pressure batch reactor. Sorbitol is the main product obtained by the hydrolysis of cellulose to glucose followed by the corresponding reduction. Secondary products include sugars, ethylene glycol and glycerol. The activity of mesoporous silica catalysts increases with an increase in acid loading and the addition of Ru allows control of the selectivity towards sugar alcohols. Ruthenium supported on arenesulfonic acid-functionalized mesoporous silica (Ru/SBA-15S) displays the best catalytic performance. Ru/SBA-15S is more hydrothermally stable than SBA-15, but loses a significant fraction of its surface area, crystallinity, acidity and activity after prolonged exposure to water at 483?K.     

Increased density of I2-imidazoline receptors in human glioblastomas

A glial location has been proposed for the non-adrenoceptor [3H]idazoxan binding site termed the I2-imidazoline receptor. The specific binding of [3H]idazoxan in the presence of (-)adrenaline was measured in membranes from excised human glioblastomas (n = 6), meningiomas (n = 6) and normal brains (n = 6). The pharmacological profile of the [3H]idazoxan binding in astrocytic tumours was similar to that in normal brain, compatible with the presence of I2-imidazoline receptors. There was a higher density of I2-imidazoline receptors in astrocytic tumours (Bmax = 266 +/- 18 fmol mg-1 protein; p < 0.001) than in normal brain (Bmax = 54 +/- 4 fmol mg-1 protein), with no differences in affinity values. Almost no [3H]idazoxan-specific binding was shown in meningiomas. The results suggest that I2-imidazoline receptors may be a selective marker for glial tumours in the evaluation of intracranial neoplasms.     

Characterization of cookies made with deseeded grape pomace

Characterization of cookies made with deseeded grape pomace. The objective of this study was to evaluate deseeded grape pomace as a potential ingredient to elaborate some food products. Cookies were made with flour containing four levels of deseeded grape pomace (0, 5, 7.5 and 10%). Moisture, protein, ashes, fat, tannins and dietary fiber contents were determined in both the deseeded of grape pomace and the cookies. Besides, color, sensorial acceptability and biological evaluations of Net Protein Ratio (NPR), Apparent Digestibility (AD) and True Digestibility (TD) of Protein were determined to the cookies. Substantial amounts of dietary fiber and ashes were found in both the deseeded grape pomace and the cookies. Total dietary fiber increased while adding more deseeded grape pomace. Cookies were well accepted as observed in the sensory evaluation, showing no significative differences among the four levels of deseeded grape pomace addition. The addition of deseeded grape pomace imparted a darker color to the cookies. The dark color was greater in the samples containing more fiber which was indicated by the lower L color value. Regarding nutritional analysis, the higher the deseeded grape pomace addition, the lower the NPR, AD, and TD values. The NPR was affected in greater degree, although these differences were not significant. It is possible to use deseeded grape pomace as an ingredient to make high fiber cookies with acceptable sensorial attributes.     

An instrumentation based algorithm for stack overflow detection

Despite all the efforts made by the scientific community in terms of computer security, buffer overflow vulnerabilities continue being the biggest security flaw in applications, since they compromise the security of the system through memory corruption. To tackle this problem, there are different techniques based on the binary analysis of the application in question. With this objective in mind, the present paper proposes an algorithm based on the dynamic instrumentation of binaries, that is, dynamic local variables belonging to the functions of the program are detected, and a check is performed to see whether there is an overflow of memory between them. The results obtained show how the proposed algorithm is able to detect buffer overflow errors in the stack frames of a function.

     

Performance of potassium-promoted catalysts for NO x and soot removal from simulated diesel exhaust

In order to elucidate the effect of support in the catalytic performance, two selected potassium-promoted catalysts (K1Cu/beta and KCu2/Al₂O₃) were tested for the simultaneous NO _x /soot removal from a simulated diesel exhaust. For comparative purpose, the behaviour of a platinum catalyst (Pt/beta) was also studied. Isothermal experiments revealed that the potassium-promoted catalysts show a high activity for NO _x /soot removal in the 350–450 °C temperature range. In addition, the catalysts present the advantage that the main reaction products are N₂ and CO₂. Among the catalysts tested, KCu2/Al₂O₃ presents the best global performance at 450 °C: the highest soot consumption rate, even higher than the platinum catalysts, and a high NO _x reduction.     

Copper catalysts for soot oxidation: alumina versus perovskite supports

Copper catalysts prepared using four supports (Mg- and Sr-modified Al2O3 and MgTiO3 and SrTiO3 perovskites) have been tested for soot oxidation by 02 and NOx/O2. Among the catalysts studied, Cu/SrTiO3 is the most active for soot oxidation by NOx/O2 and the support affects positively copper activity. With this catalyst, and under the experimental conditions used, the soot combustion by NOx/O2 presents a considerable rate from 500 degrees C (100 degrees C below the uncatalysed reaction). The Cu/ SrTiO3 catalyst is also the most effective for NOx chemisorption around 425 degrees C. The best activity of Cu/SrTiO3 can be attributed to the improved redox properties of copper originated by Cu-support interactions. This seems to be related to the presence of weakly bound oxygen on this sample. The copper species present in the catalyst Cu/SrTiO3 can be reduced more easily than those in other supports, and for this reason, this catalyst seems to be the most effective to convert NO into NO2, which explains its highest activity for soot oxidation.