The Szegö kernel on a class of non-compact CR manifolds of high codimension

We generalize Nagel’s formula for the Szegö kernel and use it to compute the Szegö kernel on a class of non-compact CR manifolds whose tangent space decomposes into one complex direction and several totally real directions. We also discuss the control metric on these manifolds and relate it to the size of the Szegö kernel.     

Salen–Mg-doped NH2–MIL-101(Cr) for effective CO2 adsorption under ambient conditions

A novel metal-doped metal–organic framework (MOF) was developed by incorporating salen–Mg into NH₂–MIL-101(Cr) structure under ambient conditions. The Schiff base complex was successfully prepared by condensing salicylaldehyde with a free amino group and then coordinating metal ions. Such a structure can endow the sample with higher CO₂ adsorption performance. At 0°C and 1 bar, the salen–Mg-modified sample achieves the maximum adsorption capacity of 2.18 mmol g⁻¹ for CO₂, which was 5.8% higher than the pristine salen–MOF under the same conditions. Notably, the Freundlich model indicates that the CO₂ adsorption process of all samples conforms to reversible adsorption. However, the correlation coefficients (R²) of the Mg-doped sample are lower than that of the pristine sample. Besides, the CO₂/N₂ adsorption selectivity and isosteric heat also show a similar trend. These results indicate that the salen–Mg can enhance the interaction between the material and CO₂ molecules.     

Dissolution optimization and kinetics of nickel and cobalt from iron-rich laterite ore,using sulfuric acid at atmospheric pressure

More than 70% of the world's nickel reserves are found in laterite ores. In this research, a laterite ore sample, containing Ni, Co, and Fe, was employed to study the recovery of nickel and cobalt. Thus, the effect of calcination, acid concentration, percent solids, and stirring rate on nickel and cobalt recoveries from an iron-rich laterite sample was investigated. Optimization with response surface methodology and kinetic studies were performed. The calcination of the sample prior to leaching at 500°C for 2 h provided condition for better nickel and cobalt dissolutions. At optimal conditions, the concentration of sulfuric acid, solid-to-liquid ratio, stirring speed, temperature, and time test were equal to 5 M, 0.1, 370 rpm, 90°C, and 2 h, respectively. The highest recoveries of nickel and cobalt were 65.9% and 63.1%, respectively. Solids content had a negative effect on Ni and Co recovery, whereas acid concentration was positively affected. Addition of 10% (w/v) NaCl in the presence of 5 M acid concentration, 60°C, 370 rpm, and leaching time of 2 h increased the nickel and cobalt recoveries, 15.3% and 21.4%, respectively. The high dependence of process on temperature indicates chemical control; the activation energies E_a = 59.54 and E_a = 45.74 kJ/mol, respectively, for nickel and cobalt, were also consistent with this conclusion.     

A detailed chemical kinetic model for the supercritical water oxidation of methylamine: The importance of imine formation

A detailed chemical kinetic model has been developed for supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) of methylamine, CH₃NH₂, providing insight into the intermediates and final products formed in this process as well as the dominant reaction pathways. The model was adapted from previous mechanisms, with a revision of the peroxyl radical chemistry to include imine formation, which has recently been identified as the dominant gas-phase pathway in amine oxidation. The developed model can reproduce previous experimental data on methylamine consumption and major product formation to reasonable accuracy, although with deficiencies in describing the induction time. Our simulations indicate that oxidation of the ^•CH₂NH₂ radical to methanimine, CH₂NH, is the major channel in methylamine SCWO, with subsequent hydrolysis of CH₂NH providing the experimentally observed reaction products ammonia and formaldehyde. Integral-averaged reaction rates were used to identify major reaction pathways, and a first-order sensitivity analysis indicated that the concentration of CH₃NH₂ is most sensitive to OH radical kinetics. Overall, this work clarifies the importance of imine chemistry in the oxidation of nitrogen-containing compounds and indicates that they are necessary to model these compounds in SCWO processes.     

Detailed experimental and kinetic modeling study of 3-carene pyrolysis

3-Carene is an important potential biofuel with properties similar to the jet-propellant JP-10. Its thermal decomposition and combustion behavior is to date unknown, which is essential to assess its quality as a fuel. A combined experimental and kinetic modeling study has been conducted to understand the initial decomposition of 3-carene. The pyrolysis of 3-carene was investigated in a jet-stirred quartz reactor at atmospheric pressure, at temperatures varying from 650 to 1050 K, covering the complete conversion range. The decomposition of 3-carene was observed to start around 800 K, and it is almost complete at 970 K. Online gas chromatography shows that primarily aromatics are generated which suggests that 3-carene is not a good fuel candidate. The potential energy surface for the initial decomposition pathways determined by KinBot shows that a hydrogen elimination reaction dominates, giving primarily cara-2,4-diene. Next to this molecular pathway, radical pathways lead to aromatics via ring opening. The kinetic model was automatically generated with Genesys and consists of 2565 species and 9331 reactions. New quantum chemical calculations at the CBS-QB3 level of theory were needed to calculate rate coefficients and thermodynamic properties relevant for the primary decomposition of 3-carene. Both the conversion of 3-carene and the yields of the primary products (ie, benzene and hydrogen gas) are well predicted with this kinetic model. Rate of production analyses shows that the dominant pathways to convert 3-carene are hydrogen elimination reaction and radical chemistry.     

Kinetic modeling of liquid-phase esterification of acetic acid with n-butanol using heterogeneous poly(o-methylene p-toluene sulfonic acid) as catalyst

Liquid-phase esterification of acetic acid with n-butanol to n-butyl acetate is studied in the presence of a polymeric catalyst, that is, poly(o-methylene p-toluene sulfonic acid). The performance of the proposed catalyst is compared with the other commercially available homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts in terms of its activity. Experiments are conducted in an isothermal stirred batch reactor to study the effects of speed of agitation, temperature, and catalyst loading on the rate of reaction. A concentration-based pseudo-homogeneous (PH) kinetic model and activity-based kinetic models such as PH, Eley-Rideal (ER), and Langmuir-Hinselwood-Hougen-Watson (LHHW) models are developed. All the models considered in this study resulted in similar percentage deviation close to 4%. Further, kinetic models are validated through additional experiments, and it is observed that the simple concentration-based PH model is able to predict experimental data with least deviation compared to activity-based PH, ER, and LHHW models. The developed kinetic models are also tested using the Fisher-Snedecor test (F-test) and are found to be acceptable. By incorporating both modeling data and validation data, the overall absolute average deviations of different models are found to be concentration-based PH model 4.354%, activity-based PH model 5.006%, ER I model 5.189%, ER II model 5.403%, ER III model 5.437%, and LHHW model 6.104%, illustrating the superiority of the simple concentration-based PH model.     

Facile synthesis of temperature-sensitive ABA triblock copolymers by dispersion RAFT polymerization

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Experimental and numerical investigations of bi-injection moulding of PA66/LSR peel test specimens

Bi-injection moulding is a widely used process to manufacture engineering products and consumer goods. Typically, a thermoplastic is combined with rubber or another thermoplastic to create colour differences or hard and soft areas, respectively. The aim of this study was to optimise the injection parameters and processing conditions for the moulding of two-component standard peel test specimens with suitable functional properties. In this work, all parameters of thermo-rheo-kinetic behaviour were identified to predict the entire filling stage and the effect of a liquid silicone rubber cross-linking reaction during the injection moulding process. The models of Carreau-Yasuda and Isayev-Deng regarding the thermal dependence assumed by Arrhenius’ law were used. In our study, over-injection moulding is simulated and examined using finite element software (Cadmould 3D) to investigate the thermo-rheo-kinetic behaviour and the adhesion of liquid silicone rubber during the filling mould process in over-moulding. Numerical simulation results were then compared with the experimental results, and good agreement was obtained.     

Development and validation of a mechanistic model for the release of embelin from a polycaprolactone matrix

Embelin is a natural agent with antimicrobial, antifungal and analgesic activities. This work presents a mechanistic model for the release of embelin from a polycaprolactone matrix. Based on the results of embelin release experiments and Raman microscopy measurements, the model assumes a dual dispersion of the embelin: agglomerated and dispersed. Embelin release mechanism combines the effects of the liquid migration into the matrix, the drug diffusion, and the drug dissolution within the wetted matrix. The model is formulated in terms of four partial differential equations that account for the mass balances of dispersed, agglomerated, and dissolved embelin, and aqueous solution. Model predictions show that the release mechanism involves three stages: a burst stage, in which dispersed embelin is rapidly released; a transition stage, in which dispersed and agglomerated embelin are simultaneously released; and, once the dispersed embelin depletion, a stable release stage until the agglomerated embelin exhausts.