Changes in Gel Structure and Chemical Interactions of Hypophthalmichthys molitrix Surimi Gels: Effect of Setting Process and Different Starch Addition

The modifications of histological properties and chemical forces on heated surimi gels with starch addition (0–12 g/100 g surimi) were investigated. Two types of heating processes (direct heating and two-step heating) were carried out on surimi gels in order to reveal the effect of setting on mixed matrices. The results of transverse relaxation time showed less immobile water and free water converted into bound water in a matrix subjected to the setting process. Scanning electron microscope and light microscopy images revealed inefficient starch-swelling in two-step heated gels. Chemical interactions and forces in direct cooking gels were more vulnerable to starch addition, resulting in significant decreases in hydrophobic interaction and sulfhydryl content (p < 0.05). With the increment of starch, the disulfide stretching vibrations of the gauche–gauche–gauche conformation were reduced in both gel matrices. The structural variations of different components collectively resulted in changes in texture profile analysis and water holding capacity. Overall, the results demonstrated that starch addition had a great and positive effect on the weak gel matrix by direct heating.

Direct C-H:C-H Arylation Polymerization of 3,4-Propylenedioxythiophene Derivatives

In this manuscript, we report, for the first time, a direct C-H:C-H arylation process for the polymerization of 3,4-propylenedioxythiophene derivatives. The requirement of aryl halides monomers can be completely excluded in this process, making the process atom economical and environmentally friendly. We could successfully homopolymerize Prodot-diethylhexyl using palladium acetate as catalyst. The optimized process required the stepwise ramping of the temperature from 70 °C to 140 °C. It was also observed that a direct heating of the polymerization mixture to 140 °C results in the decomposition of the catalyst leading to unsuccessful polymerization. At present, the exact mechanism of the whole process is not clear.

A Project To Estimate The Power Capacity Of Geothermal Power Plants Based On The Enthalpy Of Geothermal Fluid And Plant Design

Nigeria has some surface phenomena that indicate the presence of viable geothermal energy. None of these locations have been explored extensively to determine the feasibility of sustainable geothermal energy development for electricity generation or direct heating. In this context, the present study aims to provide insight into the energy potential of such development based on the enthalpy estimation of geothermal reservoirs. This particular project was conducted to determine the amount of energy that can be gotten from a geothermal reservoir for electricity generation and direct heating based on the estimated enthalpy of the geothermal fluid. The process route chosen for this project is the single-flash geothermal power plant because of the temperature (180℃) and unique property of the geothermal fluid (a mixture of hot water and steam that exists as a liquid under high pressure). The Ikogosi warm spring in Ekiti State, Nigeria was chosen as the site location for this power plant. To support food security efforts in Africa, this project proposes the cascading of a hot water stream from the flash tank to serve direct heat purposes in agriculture for food preservation, before re-injection to the reservoir. The flowrate of the geothermal fluid to the flash separator was chosen as 3125 tonnes/hr. The power output from a single well using a single flash geothermal plant was evaluated to be 11.3 MW*. This result was obtained by applying basic thermodynamic principles, including material balance, energy balance, and enthalpy calculations. This particular project is a prelude to a robust model that will accurately determine the power capacity of geothermal power plants based on the enthalpy of fluid and different plant designs.

Some problems of processing dispersed arsenic-containing raw materials by sublimation in vacuum

Based on the analysis of the operation of vacuum electric furnaces for the processing of dispersed materials by sublimation of volatile components from them, developed by now, and the problems associated with technological processes, a technical solution has been proposed, in which the concentrate is moved due to rheological properties with direct heating by radiation from heater of the surface of the moving and mixing raw materials. Preliminary tests on the sublimation of arsenic sulfide compounds from the gravitational concentrate of the Nezhdaninskoye field with a particle size of 1.0 + 0.63 mm at a temperature of 700°C showed the extraction of arsenic into the vapor phase by more than 99%.

Enhanced Photocatlytic Activity of two Dimensional Graphitic C3N4@Co3O4 Core Shell Nanocomposite for Discriminatory Organic Transformation under Hg-Vapor Reactor

In the present investigation the material Co3O4 nanoparticles were prepared by co-precipitation method, while graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) was prepared by direct heating of melamine. The nanocompositeg-C3N4- Co3O4were prepared by stoichiometric mixing and direct heating in porcelain boat followed by calcination. The prepared nanomaterials were characterized by various techniques. These both materials were characterized by XRD to get structural parameters and to confirm the average particle size of prepared nanomaterial. The scanning electron microscopy(SEM) was carried out to get surface characteristics of prepared materials. The energy dispersive spectroscopy was conducted to get elemental composition prepared material Co3O4and g-C3N4- Co3O4 .The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was conducted to get lattice information of prepared material. While magnetic properties of both the material were investigated by means of vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), since cobalt oxide is a ferromagnetic material. The surface area was confirmed from Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) study. The g-C3N4- Co3O4nanocomposite has found enhanced surface areaof 78.48 m2/g in comparison to the sole Co3O4nanomaterial (55.23 m2/g). Both these prepared materials were utilized in photocatlytic degradation of CarbolFuchsin (CF) dye. The various parameters related to optimization of photocatlytic degradation of dyes were investigated in detail. The carbon nitride mediated cobalt oxide material is found to be very effective for degradation of CF dye and almost 97% of dye was successfully decomposed by the g-C3N4- Co3O4nanocomposite. The reusability test confirms that the prepared g-C3N4- Co3O4nanocomposite is very efficient in degradation of CF dye in multiple cycles with 110 minutes of contact time.

Particle Lagrangian CFD Simulation and Experimental Characterization of the Rounding of Polymer Particles in a Downer Reactor with Direct Heating

Polypropylene (PP) powders are rounded at different conditions in a downer reactor with direct heating. The particles are fed through a single central tube, while the preheated sheath gas is fed coaxially surrounding the central aerosol jet. The influence of the process parameters on the quality of the powder product in terms of particle shape and size is analyzed by correlating the experimental results with the flow pattern, residence time distribution of the particles and temperature distribution predicted by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. An Eulerian–Lagrangian numerical approach is used to capture the effect of the particle size distribution on the particle dynamics and the degree of rounding. The simulation results reveal that inlet effects lead to inhomogeneous particle radial distributions along the total length of the downer. The configuration of particle/gas injection also leads to fast dispersion of the particles in direction of the wall and to particle segregation by size. Broad particle residence time distributions are obtained due to broad particle size distribution of the powders and the particles dispersion towards the wall. Lower mass flow ratios of aerosol to sheath gas are useful to reduce the particle dispersion and produce more homogenous residence time distributions. The particles’ residence time at temperatures above the polymer’s melting onset is determined from the simulations. This time accounts for the effective treatment (rounding) time of the particles. Clear correlations are observed between the numerically determined effective rounding time distributions and the progress of shape modification on the particles determined experimentally.