Wax deposition rate model for heat and mass coupling of piped waxy crude oil based on non-equilibrium thermodynamics

In this paper, wax deposition in waxy crude oil transportation process was regarded as an irreversible process. Based on the entropy production rate equations, the linear phenomenological equations for the diffusion of wax molecules were derived by using the theory and method of non-equilibrium thermodynamics and heat-mass transfer. Combined with the mass and energy conservation laws, the differential equations of heat and mass transfer in the process of pipeline transportation were established, and the molecular diffusion rate of dissolved wax was solved. On the basis of this, the mathematical model of actual wax deposition rate was established by considering the attachment process and scouring process of the wax molecules. Taking an oil pipeline in Daqing as an example, the change law and influencing factors of the wax molecular diffusion coefficient, the wax deposition rate, and the net wax deposition rate were studied by numerical simulation. The wax deposition rate test results of the laboratory loop test were compared with the theoretical calculation results in order to analyze the accuracy and the adaptability of heat and mass coupling mechanism and to provide a theoretical basis for further study of wax deposition in the process of waxy oil pipeline transportation.     

Ligand effect in the synthesis of hyperbranched polymers via copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition polymerization (CuAACP)

Copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition polymerization (CuAACP) of AB₂ monomers demonstrated a chain-growth mechanism without any external ligand because of the complexation of in situ formed triazole groups with Cu catalysts. In this study, we explored the use of various ligands that affected the polymerization kinetics to tune the polymers’ molecular weights and the degree of branching (DB). Eight ligands were studied, including polyethylene glycol monomethyl ether (PEG₃₅₀, M_n = 350), tris(benzyltriazolylmethyl)amine (TBTA), 2,6-bis(1-undecyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)pyridine (Py(DBim)₂), 2,2′-bipyridyl (bpy), 4,4′-di-n-nonyl-2,2′-bipyridine (dNbpy), N,N,N′,N″,N″-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDETA), N,N,N′,N″,N″-penta(n-butyl)diethylenetriamine (PBuDETA), and N,N,N′,N″,N″-pentabenzyldiethylenetriamine (PBnDETA). All ligands except PEG₃₅₀ exhibited stronger coordination with Cu(I) than the polytriazole polymer, which freed the Cu catalyst from polymers and resulted in dominant step-growth polymerization with simultaneous chain-growth feature. Meanwhile, the use of PEG₃₅₀ ligand retained the confined Cu in the polymer, demonstrating a chain-growth mechanism, but lower polymer molecular weights as compared with the no-external-ligand polymerization. Results indicated that aliphatic substituent groups on ligands had little effect on the molecular weights and DB of the polymers, but rigid aromatic substituent groups decreased both values. By varying the ligand species and amounts, hyperbranched polymers with DB value ranging from 0.53 ([TBTA]₀/[Cu]₀ = 5) to 0.98 ([PMDETA]₀/[Cu]₀ = 2) have been achieved. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 2238–2244     

Application of flammability limit criteria on non-ASTM standard equipment

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Accurate data of flammability limits for flammable gases and vapors are needed to prevent fires and explosions. The flammability limit, which is the...     

Determination of hydroxysafflor yellow A in biological fluids of patients with traumatic brain injury by UPLC‐ESI‐MS/MS after injection of Xuebijing

A simple, novel, specific, rapid and reproducible ultra‐performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry method has been developed and validated for the determination of hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) in biological fluids (plasma, urine and cerebrospinal fluid) of patients with traumatic brain injury after intravenous injection of Xuebijing (XBJ). Liquid–liquid extraction was performed, and separation was carried out on an Acquity UPLC? BEH C₁₈ column, with gradient elution using a mobile phase composed of methanol and 0.1% formic acid at a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. A triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer with electrospray ionization was used for the detection of HSYA. The mass transition followed was m/z 611.0 → 491. The retention time was less than 3.0 min. The calibration curve was linear in the concentration range from 2 to 6125 ng/mL for cerebrospinal fluid, plasma and urine. The intra‐ and inter‐day precisions were <10%, and the relative standard deviation of recovery was <15% for HSYA in biological matrices. The method was successfully applied for the first time to quantify HSYA in the biological fluids (especially in cerebrospinal fluid) of patients with traumatic brain injury following intravenous administration of XBJ. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cephalotanins A–D,Four Norditerpenoids Represent Three Highly Rigid Carbon Skeletons from Cephalotaxus sinensis

Four polycyclic norditerpenoids, cephalotanins A–D ( 1 – 4 ) representing three unprecedented carbon skeletons with highly rigid ring systems, were isolated from Cephalotaxus sinensis and structurally characterized by a combination of various methods. Compounds 1 and 2 are new skeletal norditerpenoid trilactones, while 3 and 4 are two norditerpenoids featuring different new carbon skeletons. Biosynthetic pathways for 1 – 4 were proposed by involving diverse and very fascinating chemical events with the coexisting cephalotane troponoids as the precursors. Compound 1 exhibited good NF‐κB inhibition with an IC₅₀ value of 4.12±0.61 μΜ.     

Open‐cage fullerenes as tailor‐made container for a single water molecule

Water is the most important liquid on earth. Clusters of water have been investigated extensively in an effort to understand the bulk property of water. But the behavior of single water molecule without H‐bond has been rarely studied. Open‐cage [60]fullerenes have been shown to trap a single water molecule selectively over molecules with comparable size and act as the smallest “water bottle”. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Enhanced cyclability of sulfur cathodes in lithium-sulfur batteries with Na-alginate as a binder

Na-alginate as a binder in an aqueous solvent has been applied in the preparation of sulfur cathodes for lithium-sulfur batteries.Their electrochemical performances have been investigated by a charge-discharge cycle test and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS).The EIS tests indicated that the alginate sulfur cathode had lower resistance and better kinetic characteristics than those of the poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) sulfur cathode using PVDF as a binder in a N-methy-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) solvent.The charge-discharge tests showed that the discharge capacity and the capacity retention rate of Na-alginate sulfur cathode were 508 mAh·g-1and 65.4% at the 50th cycle with a current density of 335 mA·g-1.Compared with PVDF sulfur cathode,the alginate sulfur cathode showed a remarkably better cycle performance.These results show that the alginate binder has promising potential for lithium-sulfur battery applications.