Spouted and spout-fluid bed combustors 1: Devolatilization and combustion of coal volatiles

The devolatilization and volatile combustion of a single coal particle in spouted and spout-fluid beds have been studied. The results showed that the flame extinction time increases with the particle diameter, and decreases with the bed temperature. When the bed temperature and the air flow rate were fixed, the operation modes (spouted or spout-fluid bed) showed less effect on the mean flame extinction time. A mathematical model of the spouted bed mode for preignition and postignition periods has also been developed assuming the devolatilization rate to be controlled by heat transfer and multireaction pyrolysis kinetics based on volatile products. Ignition, heat transfer back from the volatile flame to the particle surface, variation in flame temperature, and the hydrodynamics of SB are taken into account. The model predictions, with some adjusting parameters, were in good agreement with experimental results.     

Characterization of Thai limestone for desulphurization in a fluidized bed combustor

The objective of this study is to determine the chemical kinetics of desulphurization of Thai limestone in an atmospheric fluidized bed combustor (AFBC). The experiments, which employed the batch technique using the limestone samples from six major sources in Thailand, were performed in a laboratory‐scale AFBC. The results obtained were analysed and correlated in the form of apparent reaction rate and deactivation rate constants as a function of operating conditions of the furnace and their properties, respectively. The formulae derived from these correlations were kept as general as possible in order that they could be used as input parameters for the selected mathematical model of desulphurization in an AFBC that is suitable for practical use. The predicted results were in good agreement with the experimental data reported in the literature. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Characterization of Apo-Form Selective Inhibition of Indoleamine 2,3-Dioxygenase**

Indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) is a heme-containing enzyme that catalyzes the rate-limiting step in the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan (TRP) metabolism. As it is an inflammation-induced immunoregulatory enzyme, pharmacological inhibition of IDO1 activity is currently being pursued as a potential therapeutic tool for the treatment of cancer and other disease states. As such, a detailed understanding of the mechanism of action of IDO1 inhibitors with various mechanisms of inhibition is of great interest. Comparison of an apo-form-binding IDO1 inhibitor (GSK5628) to the heme-coordinating compound, epacadostat (Incyte), allows us to explore the details of the apo-binding inhibition of IDO1. Herein, we demonstrate that GSK5628 inhibits IDO1 by competing with heme for binding to a heme-free conformation of the enzyme (apo-IDO1), whereas epacadostat coordinates its binding with the iron atom of the IDO1 heme cofactor. Comparison of these two compounds in cellular systems reveals a long-lasting inhibitory effect of GSK5628, previously undescribed for other known IDO1 inhibitors. Detailed characterization of this apo-binding mechanism for IDO1 inhibition might help design superior inhibitors or could confer a unique competitive advantage over other IDO1 inhibitors vis-à-vis specificity and pharmacokinetic parameters.     

Fabrication and Optical Properties of Periodic Ag Nano‐Pore and Nano‐Particle Arrays with Controlled Shape and Size over Macroscopic Length Scales

A facile and economical route to preparation of highly ordered sliver pore or particle arrays with controlled pore‐shape and size extended over cm² areas is described. The substrates are prepared at planar and curved surfaces via sphere‐imprinted polymer (PDMS) templating using polystyrene spheres with diameters of 820, 600, or 430 nm. Nano‐pore arrays are created by sputtering 80 nm of Ag directly onto the templates and nano‐particle arrays are prepared by electrode‐less deposition of Ag from Tollen's reagent. The shape of the nano‐pore or particles in the array conformed to that of the imprint of the sphere on the template. Stretching the flexible template enable creation of cuboid shaped nano‐voids and nano‐particles following Ag deposition. Diffuse reflectance from the spherical Ag nano‐cavity arrays showed absorbance maxima at wavelengths comparable similar to the diameter of the templating sphere, whereas reflectance from the cuboid arrays, showed little correlation with the sphere diameter. The cuboid nano‐particle arrays showed the most intense visible absorption which is red‐shifted compared to the spherical arrays. White light diffraction from the arrays, observed by rotating 1 cm² substrates relative to a fixed light source, reflected exactly the symmetry axes of the periodic nano‐features in the arrays demonstrating the remarkable macroscopic order of the periodic structures. Raman spectra of 1‐benzenethiol adsorbed at the arrays indicated SERS enhancements from the substrates are attributed mainly to surface nano‐roughness with only moderate contributions from the periodically corrugated structures. Despite excitation at the major resonance dip in the reflectance spectrum, a weak, localized rim dipole mode is found to elicit a small increase in the SERS enhancement factor for the 430 nm diameter spherical arrays. FDTD studies of nano‐void arrays provided insights into v arious factors affecting the SERS experiment and confirmed the array's plasmonic spectra are dominated by propagating plasmon modes under microscope excitation/collection angles.     

高吸水性树脂的性能研究

高吸水性树脂作为一种功能高分子,其应用越来越广,是一种很有发展前途的新材料。本 文介绍了高吸水性树脂的特点、性能、结构、吸水机理及性能测试方法。     

Antifungal activity of edible coating made from chitosan and lactoperoxidase system against Phomopsis sp. RP257 and Pestalotiopsis sp. isolated from mango

Lactoperoxidase system (LPOS) was incorporated into chitosan solutions (0.5, 1, and 1.5%) to protect mangoes against two strains of fungi. Coating solutions effectiveness in vitro (in Petri dish) and in vivo (on mango) were studied on fungal (Phomopsis sp. RP257 and Pestalotiopsis sp.) growth isolated from mango cv Amelie. In vitro, chitosan concentration at least 1% containing or not LPOS effectively inhibited Pestalotiopsis sp. growth at 100%. Presence of LPOS or Lactoperoxydase system with iodine (LPOSI) in chitosan at 0.5% increased the percentage of inhibition from 26 to 93%. Edible films with LPOS inhibited Phomopsis sp. RP257 particularly when LPOS was incorporated in chitosan concentrations of 1 and 1.5%. Iodine did not influenced antifungal activity of LPOS against Pestalotiopsis sp. but decreased activity antifungal toward Phomopsis sp. RP257. The properties (water vapor permeability and mechanical properties) of chitosan films were not significantly changed by the incorporation of the enzyme system. in vivo condition, chitosan coating at 1 and 1.5% with or without enzyme system was sufficient to inhibit totally (100%) Pestalotiopsis sp. and was 60% efficient against Phomopsis sp. with chitosan only at 1 and 1.5%. However, when coating solution mainly at 1 and 1.5% was enhanced by LPOS with or without iodine, it inhibited totally (100%) Phomopsis sp. RP257. The presence of iodine slightly reduced antifungal activity against Phomopsis sp. RP257.     

The role of preconditioning on morphology development in layered silicate thermoset nanocomposites

The impact of preconditioning constituent materials on the morphology development of organically modified montmorillonite–epoxy nanocomposites is examined to determine the sensitivity of exfoliation to material conditions. In situ synchrotron small‐angle X‐ray scattering studies were performed to relate the initiation and levels of exfoliated morphologies with various silicate preconditioning processes. Significantly, exfoliation could be achieved in systems initially considered intercalated by preconditioning through epoxy–silicate mixture aging. The resulting morphologies lead to slightly improved toughness. Implications for nanocomposite morphology development models include the necessity of further investigation of the complexities of both local and global morphologies. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 89–100, 2004     

An experimental study on the water-purification properties of porous concrete

The results of an experiment on the compressive strength and water purification properties of porous concrete are reported in this paper. Two sizes of coarse aggregate were used, namely 5 to 10 mm, and 10 to 20 mm. Three absolute volume ratios of paste-aggregate were used, namely 30%, 40% and 50% for a given size of aggregate. The compressive strength is found to be higher when the size of the aggregate is smaller, and when the paste-aggregate ratio (P/G, vol.%) is smaller. In the water purification experiment, the amount of organisms attached on the porous concrete surface is indirectly examined by the consumption of the dissolved oxygen (DO, mg/l). Water purification of the porous concrete is evaluated by the removal amount of the total phosphorus (T-P, mg/l) and total nitrogen (T-N, mg/l). A porous concrete with a smaller size of aggregate and a higher void content was found to have superior ability of the removal of the T-N and T-P in the test water. This is due to the large specific surface area of the porous concrete. Results from this study show that porous concrete using industrial by-products is able to purify water efficiently.     

Effect of pre-steaming on production of partially-parboiled rice using hot-air fluidization technique

Fluidization technique was widely used to dry agriculture products because of its effectiveness in drying. To produce partial-parboiled rice using hot-air fluidization technique has been received increasing attention due to simplicity of operation. Thus, the purpose of this work was to investigate the effects of pre-steaming time and drying temperatures on qualities of partial-parboiled rice. The results revealed that head rice yield, pasting temperature and degree of gelatinization increased with an increase in pre-steaming time whereas white belly decreased. The percentage of water uptake of pre-steamed rice decreased with an increase in drying temperature while the percentage of solid loss and stickiness were not affected. The hardness of pre-steamed rice was higher than that of reference rice and it increased with an increase in drying temperature. To obtain the suitable conditions for producing partially-parboiled rice using hot-air fluidization technique, paddy was soaked at temperature of 80 °C for 5 h and then it was blown with saturated steam temperature of 102 °C for 70 s (pre-steaming). After that it was dried using fluidization technique at hot-air temperature of 140 °C for 2 min and then it was tempered for 30 min; furthermore, it was ventilated at ambient air temperature until the final moisture content was approximately 14–16% d.b.