Interfacial tension,wettability, foam and emulsification properties of mono- and di-tetrapropylene diphenyl ether disulfonates

The interfacial tension, wettability, foam and emulsification properties of di-tetrapropylene diphenyl ether disulfonates (C₁₂-DADS) gemini-type surfactant have been studied and compared to mono-tetrapropylene diphenyl ether disulfonates (C₁₂-MADS) and tetrapropylene benzene sulfonates (C₁₂-BAS). The results show that the C₁₂-DADS have a lower interfacial activity compared to that of C₁₂-MADS and C₁₂-BAS. The wettability of the three surfactants decreases in the order C₁₂-BAS?>?C₁₂-DADS?>?C₁₂-MADS. For foam properties, the foamability and foam stability of C₁₂-MADS and C₁₂-DADS is lower than that of C₁₂-BAS. In addition, the emulsification ability increase in the order C₁₂-DADS?12-MADS?12-BAS.     

Cell morphology analysis of high density polymer foams

Polyolefin foams were produced by extrusion and injection molding in order to analyze their cellular morphology. This study proposes methods to calculate surface cell count as well as approaches for converting them into volumetric ones. Two methods of calculating surface cell count were examined. The first one considers an exact surface containing an undetermined number of cells, while the second considers an exact number of cells dispersed on a surface of undetermined area. Three approaches to calculate volumetric cell density were examined which are based on cell geometry: spherical, ellipsoids of revolution or true ellipsoids. It is found that both cell count methods are hampered by a 20% uncertainty but give similar results. All three methods of estimating cell density produce similar results when analyzing injected foams (spherical cells) but diverge significantly in the case of extruded foams (ellipsoidal cells).     

Pre-incubated with BSA-complexed free fatty acids alters ER stress/autophagic gene expression by carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotube exposure in THP-1 macrophages

Pre-incubation with BSA-complexed free fatty acids influenced the colloidal aspects of carboxylated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (c-MWCNTs), and altered macrophage foam cell formation through the modulation of ER stress/autophagic gene expression.     

创新型化学科普设计与实践——以流行歌曲的化学密码为例

Chemistry is the force to transform nature. To let people have a proper understanding of chemistry, this popular science teaching team, based on the previously Finding Chemistry in Detective Conan, select creatively words from the lyrics of influential pop songs, such as "blue and white porcelain" and "bubble", as the hot problems for chemistry popular science teaching; based on the chemistry topic of each part, seven interactive episodes of popular science are designed, which are rich in content and popular with readers.     

表面活性剂疏水链长对高温下泡沫稳定性的影响

选用不同疏水链长的α-烯烃磺酸盐(AOS)形成泡沫, 分别用泡沫衰减法和泡沫岩芯封堵法测定不同温度下的泡沫稳定性, 并采用动态表面张力、界面流变、分子模拟等方法研究了表面活性剂在气/液界面的吸附行为和界面吸附层的性质, 分析了高温下泡沫的稳定机制. 实验结果表明, 在高温下, 极性头的“锚定作用”减弱, 表面活性剂疏水链难以在气液界面保持以直立状态吸附, 疏水链碳数大于20的表面活性剂分子难以分立吸附, 其疏水链相互交叉缠绕, 增强了泡沫膜的强度, 减缓了气体通过液膜的扩散, 形成的泡沫在高温下具有较好的稳定性.     

Surfactant in the gaseous phase I. Formation of foams and thin liquid films

A new possibility of obtaining foams and single thin liquid films by supplying a surfactant through the gaseous phase is presented. Argon saturated with vapors ofn-amyl orn-decyl alcohol was passed through the water phase and formation of the foam was measured as a function of time, gas flow rate, and volume of the water phase. Formation and properties of microscopic thin liquid films were measured as a function of the time of their contact with the surfactant vapors. Two possible mechanisms of foam formation by supplying surfactant via the gaseous phase are discussed. A theoretical model of surfactant dissolution is presented and its predictions are compared with the experimental results. It is shown that foam formation resulted mainly from dissolution of the surfactant vapors in the water phase.     

Optimization of structured cellular foam-based catalysts for low-temperature carbon dioxide methanation in a platelet milli-reactor

Here, we present a preliminary study to choose a catalyst with enough catalytic activity at temperatures below 250 °C, in order to study heat transfer in a platelet milli-reactor (PMR) with an infrared camera and a commercial window inserted on the top of our reactor that only withstands a maximal temperature of 250 °C. The higher methane productivity of foam catalysts compared to powder catalysts was revealed. Foam catalysts, all impregnated with the same amount of active phase (Ni + Ru) and with different coatings, were compared to SiC only impregnated with Ni + Ru. The different coatings studied were: carbon nanofibers (CNF), ceria–zirconia (CZ) and the combination of both. Both CNF and CZ washcoats were able to increase the low specific surface area of the SiC foam. Moreover, the presence of ceria–zirconia was proven to be essential for ensuring high methane productivities. The catalyst combining both CNF and CZ showed the best results.     

Improvement of the surface of polyethylene foamed sheet by irradiation

The manufacturing methods of cross-linked polyethylene foams are classified into two categories based on a type of cross-linking. One is chemical cross-linking by using peroxide as a cross-linking agent. The other method is cross-linking by irradiation. As for chemical cross-linking, a fairly thick foam sheet can be produced, and a comparatively high degree of cross-linking can be achieved. This means chemical cross-linking excels in thermo-forming but, due to a rough surface, the product is lacking in adhesive property and printability. We studied how to improve the surface condition of foam sheet without damaging the features proceeding from chemical cross-linking. As a result, it has been revealed that at the pre-stage of foaming, and by irradiating the surface at low voltage, the resultant foamed sheet with smooth surfaces and excelling in mechanical properties can be produced.     

Surface forces in foam films from DPPC and lung surfactant phospholipid fraction

Surface properties of foam films formed from aqueous dispersions of dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and from solutions of a phospholipid fraction of lung surfactant (TPL) are studied employing the foam film method. Experiments are carried out within a wide range of NaCl concentrations (C_el) and the ranges of C_el determining formation of common films (CF), common black films (CBF) and bilayer Newton black films (NBF) are found. The thickness (h) of the CF and CBF decreases with the increase of C_el until the critical electrolyte concentrations (C_{el, cr}) is reached. The determined C_{el, cr} that characterize the transition to NBF show that C_{el, cr} of the TPL films is an order of magnitude higher than that of the DPPC films. The measured h of the TPL films is higher than that of the DPPC films in the whole C_el range. Besides, only the h(C_el) curve of the DPPC films outlines a metastable C_el range where both CF and NBF are obtained. Both the h(C_el) curves and the direct measurements of the disjoining pressure isotherms of the DPPC films (Π(h) isotherms) demonstrate the role of electrostatic repulsive forces for the stability of the phospholipid films The obtained results are compared with the DLVO theory equations and the evaluated potentials of the diffuse electric layer φ₀  20 mV for the DPPC films and φ₀  100 mV for TPL films show the strong effect of the charged phospholipids in the TPL mixture on the electric properties at the film interfaces.     

Incorporation of clay nano-particles in aqueous foams

During the process of crude oil/gasoline loading and storage, significant amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can be emitted to the environment. Stable aqueous foams can be spread as a flexible blanket on the top of the oil to control the VOC emission by providing a mass transfer barrier during the loading process. In this work, novel aqueous foams have been formulated by incorporating clay nano-particles in an aqueous solution of surfactants and polymers. The stability and mass transfer resistance of these foams were investigated at temperatures up to 125 F. In the presence of VOC, clay decreases the rate at which the liquid is drained out of the foam lamellae and increases the foam drainage half-life. These foams were found to be very stable in the presence of gasoline and crude oil and can last much longer than one day at the room temperature. The use of clay in the foam formulation reduces vapor diffusion through the lamellae and vapor emission through the foam column significantly for the first 10 h. Increase in temperature increases the rate of foam breakage due to higher water evaporation and lower liquid viscosity. In spite of this increase, the 0.5% polymer and 0.5% clay foam suppresses vapor emission from a gasoline longer than 3600, 1500 and 1100 min at 75 F, 105 F and 125 F, respectively. This foam also suppresses vapor emission from a crude oil longer than 4200, 2000 and 700 min at 75 F, 105 F and 125 F, respectively.