Small-scale hydrogen production from propane

Partial oxidation and oxidative steam reforming of propane were investigated over 0.01 wt.% Rh/Al₂O₃ foam catalysts. High selectivity to hydrogen was obtained for both reactions, but addition of steam to the reactant mixture gave higher selectivity to hydrogen. Stability tests over 7 h revealed that the catalytic activity of Rh was quite stable under partial oxidation conditions. Higher loss in Rh activity was observed when steam was present in the reactant mixture. FE-SEM images showed that Rh particle size and distribution are modified under partial oxidation and oxidative steam reforming conditions. However, these changes were more distinct on the catalyst used for oxidative steam reforming.     

A fast method to study the secretory activity of neuroendocrine cells at the ultrastructural level

Cryo field emission scanning electron microscopy (cryo-FE-SEM) is a versatile technique that allows the investigation of the three-dimensional organization of cells at the ultrastructural level over a wide range of magnifications. Unfortunately, cryopreparation of the specimens for this technique remains cumbersome, in particular because ice crystal formation must be prevented during freezing. Here we report that a light prefixation with glutaraldehyde and incubation in glycerol as cryoprotectant or a high-pressure freezing approach are both excellent procedures for cryopreparation of animal cells to be used in combination with cryo-FE-SEM. Using the proopiomelanocortin-producing intermediate pituitary melanotrope cells of Xenopus laevis as a physiologically inducible neuroendocrine system, we compared the ultrastructural characteristics of inactive and hyperactive neuroendocrine cells. The overall quality of the ultrastructural images was comparable for the two cryopreparation procedures, although some fine structures were better conserved using high-pressure freezing. Melanotrope cells in a secretory inactive state contained numerous storage granules and a poorly developed endoplasmic reticulum (ER), while large amounts of rough ER were present in hyperactive cells. Thus, the cryo-FE-SEM approach described here allows a fast ultrastructural study on the secretory activity of neuroendocrine cells.     

An introduction to the new degradation of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) shower hose

Recently, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) shower hoses have hardened throughout the eastern Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. According to the elemental analysis results, the carbon and oxygen concentrations were much lower in the damaged hoses. These findings reveal that oxygen-containing, carbon-based plasticisers may leach from the damaged hose. As a result, the hoses lost flexibility after one year of use. The highest number of heterotrophic bacteria was detected by PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis in the shower water, and the bacterial DNA concentration was higher when hot water contacted the hose surface. I conclude that the plasticiser was leached from the stiffened hose through a bioaccumulation process.     

衬底温度对纳米晶SnO_2薄膜结晶特性的影响

阐述了金属氧化物SnO2纳米薄膜研究的发展情况及其应用前景,介绍了采用磁控溅射技术,使用混合气体Ar和O2,在衬底温度为150～400℃的耐热玻璃基片上制备了纳米晶SnO2∶Sb透明导电薄膜。通过测定x射线衍射谱,表明薄膜择优取向为[110]和[211]方向,SnO2∶Sb薄膜的结晶特性随衬底温度变化。     

Investigation of aluminosilicate as a solid oxide fuel cell refractory

Aluminosilicate represents a potential low cost alternative to alumina for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) refractory applications. The objectives of this investigation are to study: (1) changes of aluminosilicate chemistry and morphology under SOFC conditions, (2) deposition of aluminosilicate vapors on yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and nickel, and (3) effects of aluminosilicate vapors on SOFC electrochemical performance. Thermal treatment of aluminosilicate under high temperature SOFC conditions is shown to result in increased mullite concentrations at the surface due to diffusion of silicon from the bulk. Water vapor accelerates the rate of surface diffusion resulting in a more uniform distribution of silicon. The high temperature condensation of volatile gases released from aluminosilicate preferentially deposit on YSZ rather than nickel. Silicon vapor deposited on YSZ consists primarily of aluminum rich clusters enclosed in an amorphous siliceous layer. Increased concentrations of silicon are observed in enlarged grain boundaries indicating separation of YSZ grains by insulating glassy phase. The presence of aluminosilicate powder in the hot zone of a fuel line supplying humidified hydrogen to an SOFC anode impeded peak performance and accelerated degradation. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy detected concentrations of silicon at the interface between the electrolyte and anode interlayer above impurity levels.     

原板夹杂引起的镀锡板表面缺陷分析

应用场发射扫描电镜(FE—SEM)和光学显微镜观察研究了各种典型的镀锡板表面缺陷的宏观和微观形貌特征，并通过能谱仪对缺陷成分进行了定性分析，结果表明原板夹杂引起了镀锡板表面缺陷，同时定义了镀锡板表面缺陷类型及其表现形式。     

Revisiting the microstructure of hydrated tricalcium silicate––a comparison to Portland cement

The microstructures of 0.40 w/s-ratio pastes of tricalcium silicate (C₃S), alite and Portland cement have been studied at the hydration times 24 h and 1 month. A field-emission SEM (FE-SEM) was used to obtain high-resolution backscattered electron images. Comparison revealed no microstructural differences between C₃S and alite, but there were considerable differences in microstructure between C₃S and Portland cement pastes. The microstructure of the C₃S paste was simpler than that of the Portland cement, and could be described by a few characteristic features. Distribution of the reaction products differed substantially in the two systems. While hollow shells (Hadley grains) were a prominent feature of the Portland cement paste, their occurrence was more limited in the C₃S and alite pastes. Hollow shells were restricted to grains smaller than about 5 μm in the C₃S and alite pastes, and gapped hollow shells were not a common feature.     

Migration of copper from nanocopper/LDPE composite films

Three nanocopper/low-density polyethylene (LDPE) composite films were tested in food simulants (3% acetic acid and 10% ethanol) and real food matrices (rice vinegar, bottled water and Chinese liquor) to explore the behaviours of copper migration using ICP-OES and GFAAS. The effects of exposure time, temperature, nanocopper concentration and contact media on the release of copper from nanocopper/LDPE composite films were studied. It was shown that the migration of copper into 10% ethanol was much less than that into 3% acetic acid at the same conditions. With the increase of nanocopper concentration, exposure time and temperature, the release of copper increased. Copper migration does not appear to be significant in the case of bottled water and Chinese liquor compared with rice vinegar with a maximum value of 0.54 μg mL^?1 for the CF-0.25# bags at 70°C for 2 h. The presence and morphology of copper nanoparticles in the films and the topographical changes of the films were confirmed by field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM). In this manner, copper nanoparticles of different morphologies, sizes and distribution were found, and samples with higher nanocopper concentration had a more irregular topography. In the case of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), no chemical bonds formed between copper nanoparticles and LDPE. Copper nanoparticles were just as physically dispersed in LDPE.