Selectivity Enhancement to the Exclusive Formation of Ethyltoluenes and Hydrogen During Dehydroalkylation of Toluene with Ethane

The dehydroalkylation of toluene with ethane to the isomeric ethyltoluenes was studied on 0.4Pt/H-ZSM-5 at varying contact times (1/WHSV). At a high contact time of 1.0 h, toluene disproportionation and hydrogenolysis reactions dominate, resulting in low selectivity to the desired ethyltoluenes via the alkylation reaction. However, at a low contact time of 0.12 h side reactions are eliminated, resulting in maximum selectivities to the kinetically favored ethyltoluenes and hydrogen. Results at high selectivities to ethyltoluenes provide significant insight into reaction pathways.     

Influence of surface roughness on flotation kinetics of quartz

Surface roughness of quartz particles was determined by measuring the specific surface area of particles. The wettability characteristics of particles were determined by measuring the flotation rate using a laboratory flotation cell. Experimental results show that the rod mill product has higher roughness than the ball mill product. For the particles with larger surface roughness, the flotation kinetics constant is also higher. Finally, empirical relationships between surface roughness (r) and the flotation kinetics constant (k) of quartz particles as k=A+Br+Cr ^0.5lnr+D/lnr+E/r and k=A+Br are presented, in which A, B, C, D and E are constants related to experimental conditions and mineralogical properties of mineral.     

Influence of surface treatments on fatigue life of Al 7010 alloy

The objective of the present work is to show the influence of machining and anodizing processes on fatigue life of alloy 7010-T7451. Two different cutting conditions were employed to obtain two different initial surface roughnesses. Degreasing, pickling and anodizing were then carried out. In the as machined condition, surface roughness is clearly effective in reducing fatigue life in this material. As the surface roughness increases fatigue life decreases and this effect is found to be more pronounced in high cycle fatigue where major portion of fatigue life is consumed in nucleating the cracks. Effects of pre-treatments, like degreasing and pickling employed prior to anodizing, on fatigue life of the given alloy were also studied. Fatigue curves showed that pickling had negative impact on fatigue life of specimens while degreasing showed no change in fatigue life. The small decrease in fatigue life of anodized specimens as compare to pickled specimens is attributed to brittle nature and micro-cracking of the coating. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) examination revealed multi-site crack initiation for the pickled and anodized specimens. SEM examination also showed that pickling process attacked the grain boundaries and the inclusions present on the surface resulting in pits formation. These pits are of primary concern with respect to accelerated fatigue crack nucleation and subsequent anodized coating formation.     

The neuropsychology of the prefrontal cortex

Single photon emission computed tomography with the xenon inhalation technique is used to compare activation of regional cerebral blood flow in frontal brain regions during the performance of four widely used neuropsychological tests: the Continuous Performance Test, the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, the Tower of London, and Porteus Mazes. Healthy normal volunteers performing these tasks show significant increases in frontal regions during the Continuous Performance Test, the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, and the Tower of London, but not the Porteus Mazes. Activation produced by the Continuous Performance Test and the Tower of London are mesial and bilateral and may reflect stimulation of midline attentional circuits. The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test produces a left dorsolateral area of prefrontal activation. These findings indicate that regional activation of the frontal lobes occurs in response to cognitive challenges produced through performance of standard neuropsychological tests.     

Chilled storage of golden gray mullet (Liza aurata)

This study determined quality changes of whole ungutted golden gray mullet (Liza aurata) while stored in ice or in a refrigerator (without ice). Changes in microbiological quality (total viable and psychrophilic counts, lactic acid bacteria and Enterobacteriaceae), chemical quality (pH, total volatile basic nitrogen, trimethylamine, peroxide value, thiobarbituric acid, and free fatty acids), and raw fish sensory attributes were evaluated during 16 days of storage. The sensory attributes of golden gray mullet correlated well with the microbiological analyses (r = 0.92). Based on the overall raw acceptability sensory scores and the microbiological tests, the shelf life of the raw golden gray mullet was 10 days in ice and about 14 days in a refrigerator.     

Polymer-grafted cellulose fibers. I. Enhanced water absorbency and tensile strength

To enhance the water absorbency of wood fibers, various acrylic monomers were grafted to these fibers using cerium IV initiation followed by base hydrolysis. The absorbent capacity of hydrolyzed methyl acrylate- or acrylonitrile-grafted wood pulp fibers was an order of magnitude greater than ungrafted pulp fibers. A portion of this enhanced absorbency could be attributed to graft-induced osmotic forces. Enhanced absorbency was relatively independent of wood fiber type. Paper handsheets incorporating 20% grafted fibers had a fivefold increase in absorbent capacity, a twofold increase in dry tensile strength, a threefold or greater increase in wet tensile strength, and were more stretchable. In addition to enhanced absorbent capacity, the rate of absorbency was approximately 50% greater. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 65:1463–1469, 1997     

Polymer-grafted cellulose fibers. II. Polymer localization and induced alterations in fiber morphology

In methyl acrylate- or acrylonitrile-grafted northern softwood Kraft or southern softwood Kraft pulp fibers, polymer grafts are present almost homogeneously throughout the fiber wall, although some surface enhancement is observed. On unhydrolyzed fiber surfaces, acrylonitrile grafts protrude in clumps of tangled polymer tufts whereas methyl acrylate grafts form a more uniform, sometimes knobby surface coating. Grafting followed by hydrolysis causes extensive lengthwise splits in the S1 layer, which pulls away from the S2 layer. In the hydrolyzed solvent-dried fiber, the internal grafted polymer/cellulose domains create a unique filamentous and lamellar periodic substructure in the S2 wall. Coexisting with this substructure are numerous microvoids and occasional large pores. We believe that the enhanced absorbency of these fibers can be attributed to the S1 layer disruption, the presence of osmotically active polymer (sodium polyacrylate) incorporated extensively within the S2 wall, and the presence of a drastically altered, more accessible S2 wall substructure. Analytical electron microscopy is shown to be a useful technique for investigating polymer grafts in cellulose fibers. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 65:1471–1485, 1997     

RTM processing and electrical performance of carbon nanotube modified epoxy/fibre composites

This investigation focuses on nanoparticle filtration in the processing of multiscale carbon and glass fibre composites via resin transfer moulding. Surface modified and unmodified carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were incorporated into a commercial epoxy resin. The dispersion quality was evaluated using electrical measurements of the liquid suspensions. The manufacturing process was adapted to the challenges posed by the modified rheological behaviour of the CNT loaded resin. Nanoparticle filtration was observed; with some of the unmodified systems following so called ‘cake filtration’ behaviour. This resulted in nonlinear flow behaviour that deviated from the ideal response observed in RTM filling in conventional composites. The electrical conductivity of relatively high fibre volume fraction multiscale carbon and glass laminates increased by less than an order of magnitude with the addition of the nanotubes.