Development of Activity-based Cost Functions for Cellulase, Invertase, and Other Enzymes

As enzyme chemistry plays an increasingly important role in the chemical industry, cost analysis of these enzymes becomes a necessity. In this paper, we examine the aspects that affect the cost of enzymes based upon enzyme activity. The basis for this study stems from a previously developed objective function that quantifies the tradeoffs in enzyme purification via the foam fractionation process (Cherry et al., Braz J Chem Eng 17:233–238, 2000). A generalized cost function is developed from our results that could be used to aid in both industrial and lab scale chemical processing. The generalized cost function shows several nonobvious results that could lead to significant savings. Additionally, the parameters involved in the operation and scaling up of enzyme processing could be optimized to minimize costs. We show that there are typically three regimes in the enzyme cost analysis function: the low activity prelinear region, the moderate activity linear region, and high activity power-law region. The overall form of the cost analysis function appears to robustly fit the power law form.     

Research of Foam Performance of 3-Dodecyloxy-2-hydroxypropyl Trimethylammonium Bromide and Its Complex Systems

Foam performance of 3-dodecyloxy-2-hydroxypropyl trimethylammonium bromide (DOHTAB) has been determined in the presence of different relative amounts of polymer and sodium bromide. The experimental results show that the foaming ability of the mixed systems of DOHTAB/polymer and DOHTAB/sodium bromide is stronger than that of the surfactant solutions in the absence of polymer and sodium bromide. Both foaming efficiency and foam stability of the surfactant solutions are evidently enhanced with increasing relative amounts of polymer and sodium bromide. The foamability of the mixture of DOHTAB/NaBr is stronger than that of the mixed system of DOHTAB/PEG or DOHTAB/PVP when the percentage composition is the same, whereas the foam stability of the former is weaker than that of the latter. The foamability and foam stability of the DOHTAB/PEG system were both better than those of the mixed system of DOHTAB/PVP at the same concentration.     

Constructing a bio-based flame retardant coating through co-depositing polydopamine and guanosine 5′-monophosphate disodium salt (GMP) for flexible polyurethane foam

The fire hazard posed by the inherent flammability and smoke toxicity of flexible polyurethane foam (FPUF) often necessitates the incorporation of flame retardants to meet stringent regulations. The development of environmentally friendly strategies to enhance the fire resistance of FPUF is of increasing importance and a significant amount of research has been devoted to this end. In this work, a bio-based coating was constructed by co-depositing polydopamine and guanosine 5′-monophosphate disodium salt (GMP) to increase the fire safety of FPUF. The coating significantly improved the flame retardancy of FPUF. The FPUF@PDA-GMP samples showed an LOI value of 24.5% with a self-extinguishing effect and exhibited reduced release of heat, smoke, CO, CO₂, and HCN due to their compact and strong char. The compressive strength at 70% strain of FPUF@PDA-GMP was 8 times higher than that of the control FPUF sample. The coating had a little negative effect on the resilience and improved its elongation at break. This investigation has provided a useful method for designing and producing high-performance foams.     

起泡剂/稳泡剂/SiO2复合泡沫缓速酸液体系协同增效性能

为了有效控制液相中H⁺向岩石表面的扩散,降低酸-岩反应速率,进而达到深度酸化刻蚀的目的,通过对纳米颗粒、稳泡剂与表面活性剂协同增效作用的研究,制备了一种泡沫稳定、耐温性能及缓速性能优异的泡沫缓速酸。室内通过对比不同纳米材料在酸液中的分散性能及纳米颗粒粒径对泡沫缓速酸性能的影响,优选出d=25 nm的亲水型Si O₂纳米材料。采用自制的两性表面活性剂(MAC)作为起泡剂,并加入自制的酸液稠化剂(SY-1)作为稳泡剂以达到稳泡作用。当w(Si O₂)=1.5%、w(MAC)=1.0%、w(SY-1)=0.08%时,所形成的泡沫也更加致密,液膜厚度增强,泡沫稳定性提高,半衰期延长,从7 min增长到69 min;并且SY-1的加入提高了泡沫的耐高温性能,使体系在90℃时半衰期仍然能达到29 min。通过测定不同条件下酸岩反应速率并进行比较,结果表明,20%HCl基液的平均酸岩反应速率为1.148×10^-3 mg/(cm²·s),而实验室自制泡沫缓速酸液体系的平均酸-岩反应速率降至7....     

含金刚烷侧基聚芳醚酮微孔-超微孔泡沫材料的制备与表征

微孔塑料是指泡孔尺寸为1～10μm、密度为109～1012 cell/cm3的发泡塑料,独特的结构使其具有质量轻、高冲击强度、低传导率、隔音和隔热效果好等优越性能,具有广泛的应用前景,被誉为"21世纪的新型材料".聚芳醚酮具有很高的热稳定性,优良的电性能及机械性能,广泛应用于航空、航天、电子和核能     

气相二氧化硅/季铵Gemini表面活性剂稳定的泡沫体系

以zeta电位法研究了季铵Gemini表面活性剂亚甲基-α, ω-双(十二烷基二甲基溴化铵) (12-s-12, s=2, 6)在水溶液中修饰气相二氧化硅(F-SiO₂)粒子。这些粒子随表面活性剂浓度C增加经历了表面从原先的亲水到疏水再重新亲水的改变,其中疏水粒子可以自发吸附在气泡液膜中,从而很好地稳定泡沫。重新亲水的粒子脱附出液膜,仅留下表面活性剂稳定气泡。强的液膜弹性对应于稳定的泡沫。联接链长度影响了Gemini在F-SiO₂粒子表面的吸附,因而也影响了液膜的弹性和对泡沫的稳定。超短s=2联接链的12-2-12由于反离子解离不完全而带有较少的正电荷,在粒子表面的初始吸附弱于12-6-12,但因此减少了吸附分子头基间的静电排斥,可以形成更致密的吸附层。由于12-2-12本身比12-6-12具有更强的界面吸附能力,F-SiO₂粒子和12-2-12的协同作用可以更好地稳定泡沫体系。     

The effect of surfactants on air–water annular and churn flow in vertical pipes. Part 1: Morphology of the air–water interface

In this work, the influence of surfactants on air–water flow was studied by performing experiments in a 12 metre long, 50 mm inner diameter, vertical pipe at ambient conditions. High-speed visualisation of the flow shows that the morphology of the air–water interface determines the formation of foam. The foam subsequently alters the flow morphology significantly. In annular flow, the foam suppresses the roll waves, and a foamy crest is formed on the ripple waves. In the churn flow regime, the flooding waves and the downwards motion of the liquid film are suppressed by the foam. The foam is transported in foam waves moving upwards superposed on an almost stagnant foam substrate at the pipe wall. Foam thus effectively reduces the superficial gas velocity at which the transition from annular to churn flow occurs. These experiments make more clear how surfactants can postpone liquid loading in vertical pipes, such as in gas wells.     

三维结构泡沫Co3O4的制备及电化学性能

通过电化学沉积方法在三维结构泡沫镍基体上沉积金属钴层, 利用固相氧化方法制备了三维结构泡沫Co3O4负极. XRD和SEM结果显示, 电化学沉积制备得到具有纳米结构的金属钴层, 经固相氧化处理, 在泡沫镍基体表面形成了Co3O4微米级的致密活性氧化层. 通过充放电和循环伏安以及电化学阻抗等方法研究了电极的电化学性能, 结果表明, 当放电电位区间为0.05~3.2 V时, 三维泡沫Co3O4于0.2 C倍率下充放电, 初始容量损失为29%, 经50次循环后, 质量比容量为824 mA·h/g, 三维泡沫结构提高了Co3O4电极的循环容量保持性能和倍率性能.     

Analytical modeling and finite element simulation of the plastic collapse of sandwich beams with pin-reinforced foam cores

Analytical predictions are presented for the plastic collapse strength of lightweight sandwich beams having pin-reinforced foam cores that are loaded in 3-point bending. Both polymer and aluminum foam cores are considered, whilst the facesheet and the pins are made of either composite or metal. Four different failure modes are account for: metal facesheet yield or composite facesheet microbuckling, facesheet wrinkling, plastic shear of the core, and facesheet indentation beneath the loading rollers. A micromechanics-based model is developed and combined with the homogenization approach to calculate the effective properties of pin-reinforced foam cores. To calculate the elastic buckling strength of pin reinforcements, the pin-reinforced foam core is treated as assemblies of simply supported columns resting upon an elastic foundation. Minimum mass design of the sandwich is then obtained as a function of the prescribed structural load index, subjected to the constraint that none of the above failure modes occurs. Collapse mechanism maps are constructed and compared with the failure maps of foam-cored sandwich beams without pin reinforcements. Finite element simulations are carried out to verify the analytical model and to study the performance and failure mechanisms of the sandwich subject to loading types other than 3-point bending. The results demonstrate that the weaker the foam is, the more optimal the pin-reinforced foam core becomes, and that sandwich beams with pin-reinforced polymer foam cores are structurally more efficient than foam- or truss-cored sandwich beams.     

Foam flow through porous media

There are two parts to the interaction of foam with porous media. How the foam interacts with the surface and the flow within the substrate, which is the focus of this review. Flow-through porous media has been investigated experimentally with the main focus in literature being on enhanced oil recovery and remediation. Recently, investigation of the flow of foam through a deformable substrate for dishwashing application has led to the development of mathematical models. It has been proposed that foam flow through pore channels is similar to the behaviour observed within microchannels. Meaning that to investigate the effects these properties have on foam flow it is best to observe them within a model channel then build up to a 3D structure of interlinking channels to resemble porous media. In this review, it is highlighted that a large amount of work is needed in understanding the interaction of foam and/or liquid within porous networks. Methods that can be applied to better represent foam and liquid flow in porous media are discussed within this review, including both using microchannels to simulate individual pores and using these systems to build up to a 3D structure of interlinking pores. In addition, more advanced imaging techniques to observe the flow through porous materials are discussed, including computed tomography scanning nuclear magnetic resentence and confocal microscopy. There is still more work required to fully understand the flow within porous media, including observing the affect of dead-end pores, closed loops and rough channel walls have on the flow.