Study and optimization of the ultrasound-enhanced cleaning of an ultrafiltration ceramic membrane through a combined experimental–statistical approach

Membrane fouling is one of the main drawbacks of ultrafiltration technology during the treatment of dye-containing effluents. Therefore, the optimization of the membrane cleaning procedure is essential to improve the overall efficiency. In this work, a study of the factors affecting the ultrasound-assisted cleaning of an ultrafiltration ceramic membrane fouled by dye particles was carried out. The effect of transmembrane pressure (0.5, 1.5, 2.5 bar), cross-flow velocity (1, 2, 3 m s⁻¹), ultrasound power level (40%, 70%, 100%) and ultrasound frequency mode (37, 80 kHz and mixed wave) on the cleaning efficiency was evaluated. The lowest frequency showed better results, although the best cleaning performance was obtained using the mixed wave mode.A Box–Behnken Design was used to find the optimal conditions for the cleaning procedure through a response surface study. The optimal operating conditions leading to the maximum cleaning efficiency predicted (32.19%) were found to be 1.1 bar, 3 m s⁻¹ and 100% of power level.Finally, the optimized response was compared to the efficiency of a chemical cleaning with NaOH solution, with and without the use of ultrasound. By using NaOH, cleaning efficiency nearly triples, and it improves up to 25% by adding ultrasound.     

An activated fluid stream – New techniques for cold water cleaning

Electrochemical, acoustic and imaging techniques are used to characterise surface cleaning with particular emphasis on the understanding of the key phenomena relevant to surface cleaning. A range of novel techniques designed to enhance and monitor the effective cleaning of a solid/liquid interface is presented. Among the techniques presented, mass transfer of material to a sensor embedded in a surface is demonstrated to be useful in the further exploration of ultrasonic cleaning of high aspect ratio micropores. In addition the effect of micropore size on the cleaning efficacy is demonstrated. The design and performance of a new cleaning system reliant on the activation of bubbles within a free flowing stream is presented. This device utilised acoustic activation of bubbles within the stream and at a variety of substrates. Finally, a controlled bubble swarm is generated in the stream using electrolysis, and its effect on both acoustic output and cleaning performance are compared to the case when no bubbles are added. This will demonstrate the active role that the electrochemically generated bubble swarm can have in extending the spatial zone over which cleaning is achieved.     

Light emission from nanocrystalline silicon clusters embedded in silicon dioxide: Role of the suboxide states

Silicon clusters embedded in a silicon dioxide matrix were prepared by ultrasound-assisted implantation resulting in a modified concentration of suboxide states as revealed by high-resolution photoelectron spectroscopy. It is suggested that ultrasound treatment results in formation of different interface structure between silicon cluster and silicon dioxide matrix which is characterized by a distinctly reduced concentration of the suboxide states. It is observed that photoluminescence properties are strongly correlated with the concentration of the suboxide states thereby providing an evidence that besides a quantum confinement effect a closer look at the chemical composition of the nc-Si/SiO₂ system is important.     

Facile fabrication of pomponlike microarchitectures of lanthanum molybdate via an ultrasound route

Pomponlike La₂(MoO₄)₃ microstructures assembled with single-crystalline nanoflakes have been facilely fabricated via a surfactant-assisted ultrasound route for the first time. Various synthesis conditions were examined, such as the surfactant concentration, the molecular structure of surfactants, and the pH value. The obtained pomponlike microstructures were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), (field-emission) scanning electron microscopy [(FE)SEM], transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms. It has been revealed that a minimum concentration of sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) was required for the formation of pomponlike La₂(MoO₄)₃ microstructures. When the SDS concentration is above 0.02 mol L⁻¹, the pomponlike microstructures become more perfect, and the size is also increased with the increasing SDS concentration. Under the same sonication, similar pomponlike microstructures were obtained when a cationic surfactant, cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), was used instead of the anionic surfactant SDS, indicating that the hydrophobic alkyl chains are an important factor for the formation of the pomponlike La₂(MoO₄)₃ microstructures. It is also found that the pomponlike La₂(MoO₄)₃ microstructures can only be obtained within an optimal pH range of 8.0–9.0 under sonication. Based on TEM, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and solubilization experiment, a formation mechanism of pomponlike La₂(MoO₄)₃ microstructures was proposed, in which the collaborative action of surfactants and sonication plays a key role. Furthermore, the porosity of the pomponlike La₂(MoO₄)₃ microstructures were discussed.     

Acid-induced gelation behavior of sonicated casein solutions

Casein gels were made from solutions sonicated by 24 and 130 kHz ultrasounds for 0, 60 and 120 min, followed by acidification with glucono-δ-lactone at 30 °C. The dynamics of gel formation were studied using rheological methods and microstructure of gels was monitored using scanning electron microscopy. Sonication postponed the gelation point to a lower pH value and increased the elasticity of freshly formed gels. It also resulted in gels with a more interconnected structure and smaller non-distinguishable particulates. This structure was especially dominant for the gel made from the solution already sonicated for 120 min.     

Ultrasound irradiation promoted catalyst-free construction of formamidine framework using isocyanide as building blocks

Reactions of isocyanides with 2-mercaptobenzothiazole and 2-mercaptobenzoxazole afforded a series of compounds containing formamidine framework in moderate to high yields. These organic transformations were performed under mild and catalyst-free conditions. In addition to promoting the reactions, the use of ultrasound irradiation also allowed the process to be carried out under air atmosphere. A possible reaction mechanism was proposed based on the experimental results.     

超临界二氧化碳偶合超声预处理强化玉米秸秆酶水解(英)

提出了一个木质纤维素生物质预处理的全绿色加工过程.以玉米秸秆和玉米芯为原料,以超临界CO₂和超声偶合法对木质纤维素进行预处理.超临界CO₂预处理条件为:压力15-25 MPa,温度120₁70℃,含水量50%,反应时间0.5₄ h.超声场功率600W,温度80℃,作用时间2-8 h.用纤维素酶水解反应获得的还原糖总量来评价预处理效果.结果表明,单纯超临界CO₂和超临界CO₂偶合超声预处理都能够提高生物质水解反应还原糖产量.对于玉米芯,超临界CO₂预处理（170℃,20 MPa,3 0min）后,还原糖产率为62%（未预处理的为12%）.对于玉米秸秆（170℃,20 MPa,2.5 h）,还原糖产率为46.4%.对于玉米芯,超临界CO₂偶合超声预处理（600 W,80℃下超声处理6 h,然后用170℃,20 MPa超临界CO₂预处理30 min）后,还原糖产率为87%.对于玉米秸秆,超临界CO₂偶合超声预处理（600 W,80℃下超声处理8 h,然后用170℃,20 MPa超临界CO₂预处理1 h）后,还原糖产率为25.5%.与未处理生物质相比,X射线衍射结果表明玉米秸秆和玉米芯在超临界CO₂和超声预处理后其结晶度没有明显变化.扫描电镜分析则发现木质纤维素的表面积显著增加.     

Diphenyl cyclopropenone-centered polymers for site-specific CO-releasing and chain dissociation

The synthesis and stimuli-responsiveness of a diphenyl cyclopropenone(DPCP)-centered poly(methyl acrylate)(PMA)are presented.DPCP-centered PMA could release carbon monoxide(CO)upon UV light in a switched on-and-off manner.The CO-releasing process can be reported by the variations in photoluminescence spectra.In addition,DPCP moiety covalently embedded in the crosslinked polyurethane could also release CO under UV light.Of special,DPCP-centered PMA in solution was selectively dissociated at the phenol ester bond under the ultrasound,and a force-induced hydrolyzation reaction was revealed by D20 exchanging^1 H NMR spectra.The kinetic study reveals that small quantity of water could enhance the chain scission rate.This work provides a DPCP-centered polymer for sitespecific CO-releasing and chain dissociation.     

Effects of a novel ultrasound contrast agent with long persistence on right ventricular pressure: Comparison with SonoVue

This work investigated the effect of infusion of a self-made ultrasound contrast agent with long persistence (named ZHIFUXIAN) on rat right ventricular pressure and made a preliminary evaluation on the relative safety of the novel microbubbles. Normal saline, SonoVue and ZHIFUXIAN were injected through caudal vein at the total volume of 0.5 ml for each injection. The right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) and end-diastolic pressure (RVEDP) were monitored and the changes of the pressure were compared with baseline readings. RVSP increased when saline, SonoVue or ZHIFUXIAN were injected, the greatest change being after SonoVue (about 2 mm Hg), but there was no statistical significance compared with baseline (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in RVSP between saline, SonoVue and ZHIFUXIAN at any time point. Also, there was no significant difference in RVEDP between groups at each time point and between different time points in each group. The results indicate that the self-made microbubbles effect on right ventricular hemodynamics is equivalent to that of normal saline at the same volume needed for effective enhanced imaging, demonstrating that it does not produce changes in right ventricular blood pressure under the study conditions. Pathological examination also showed it had no obvious influence on lung, liver and kidney.     

Ultrasonic study of wheat flour properties

In this work, the wheat flour properties are investigated using ultrasound techniques. Moreover, the flour samples were also characterized by means of well established techniques such as protein content, Alveograph and Mixolab®. A set of 35 dough samples, made of wheat flours with diverse physical and quality properties, were studied. The obtained results shown that ultrasound measurements can detect changes in the dough consistency induced by proteins and also by gelatinization of the starch. Furthermore, ultrasound measurements can be related to parameters indicative of the proteolytic degradation or softening of the dough due to protease activity. Thus, ultrasound can be considered a low cost and rapid tool, complementary to conventional test, for wheat flour characterization.