Chromotropic acid-functionalized polyurethane foam: A new sorbent for on-line preconcentration and determination of cobalt and nickel in lettuce samples

A chromotropic acid-functionalized polyurethane foam has been developed for use in an on-line preconcentration system for cobalt and nickel determination. The packing material was prepared by covalent coupling of chromotropic acid with the polyurethane foam through an azo group. Co and Ni ions were sorbed in the mini-column, from which they could be eluted directly to the nebulizer-burner system of a flame atomic absorption spectrometer. Elution of cobalt and nickel from the mini-column can be accomplished with 0.50 and 0.75 M HCl solutions, respectively. The enrichment factors obtained were 22 (Co) and 27 (Ni), for 60 s preconcentration time, and 57 (Co) and 59 (Ni), if a preconcentration time of 180 s was used. Under the optimum conditions, the proposed procedure allowed the determination of metals with detection limits of 0.43 (cobalt) and 0.52 microg/L (nickel), respectively, on using preconcentration periods of 180 s. The accuracy of the developed procedure was evaluated by analysis of the certified reference materials NIST 1515 Apple Leaves and NIST 1570a Spinach Leaves. The method was applied to the analysis of lettuce samples. The contents of cobalt in the samples analyzed varied from 0.75 to 0.98 microg/g. Nickel was not detected in the lettuce samples.     

Comments on ultra-high-energy photons and D-foam models

We revisit the constraints that the non-observation of ultra-high-energy photons due to the GZK cutoff can impose on models of Lorentz violation in photon propagation, following recent work by Maccione, Liberati and Sigl (2010) [arXiv:1003.5468] that carries further an earlier analysis by the present authors [J. Ellis et al., Phys. Rev. D 63 (2001) 12402, hep-th/0012216]. We argue that the GZK cutoff constraint is naturally evaded in the D-brane model of space–time foam presented recently by the present authors [J. Ellis et al., Phys. Lett. B 665 (2008) 412, arXiv:0804.3566], in which Lorentz-violating effects on photon propagation are independent of possible effects during interactions. We also note a novel absorption mechanism that could provide a GZK-like cutoff for photons in low-scale string models.     

Lattice Boltzmann 3D flow simulations on a metallic foam

In this paper a lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is used to simulate isothermal incompressible flow in a RCM-NCX-1116 metallic foam. The computational technique is a multiple relaxation time (MRT) lattice Boltzmann equation model. Computer aided X-ray micro-tomography is used to obtain 3D images of the metallic foam, providing the geometry and information required for LB simulations of a single phase flow.Pressure drops are computed and successfully compared to experimental measures and correlated with Ergun’s equation. Invariance of Ergun’s parameters A and B with the sampling rate of the images is observed.     

Morphology and Pore Size Distribution of Biocompatible Interconnected Porous Poly(L-lactic acid) Foams with Nanofibrous Structure Prepared by Thermally Induced Liquid–Liquid Phase Separation

Biocompatible, highly interconnected microporous poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) foams with nanofibrous structure, containing pores with average diameter below 1 μm and fibers with diameters of 10² nm scale, were prepared through the thermally induced liquid–liquid phase separation (TIPS) method consisting of quenching of the PLLA solution, freeze extraction with ethanol, and vacuum drying. Diverse foam morphologies were obtained by systematically changing parameters involved in the TIPS process, such as polymer concentration, solvent composition, and quenching temperatures. The morphology of different foams was examined by scanning electron microscopy to characterize the pore size and the pore size distribution. The results showed that most porous foams had a nanofibrous structure with interconnected open pores. In the case of using tetrahydrofuran (THF) as solvent, the higher the PLLA concentration, the smaller the average pore diameter and the narrower the pore size distribution. In the case of using the mixed solvents of THF/DOX (1,4-dioxane) with higher than 6/4 volume ratio, there appeared a maximum value of average pore diameter and a widest pore size distribution at 0.09 g/mL PLLA concentration. The average pore diameter of the foams increased with increasing DOX content in the mixed solvent and ranged from 0.2 to 0.9 μm depending on the process parameters. When the DOX content reached 60% by volume, the morphology of the foams contained some large closed pores with diameter ranging from 1 to 10 μm. By decreasing the quenching temperature, the average pore diameter of foams decreased and the pore size distribution became narrower. All the pore size distribution fit F-distribution equations.     

Influence of Vertical Foam Flow Liquid Drainage on Tube Bundle Heat Transfer Intensity

The results of an experimental investigation of staggered tube bundle heat transfer to upward and downward moving vertical foam flow are presented in this article. It was determined that a dependency exists between tube bundle heat transfer intensity on foam volumetric void fraction, foam flow velocity and direction, and liquid drainage from foam. In addition to this, the influence of tube position of the bundle on heat transfer was investigated. Experimental results were summarized by criterion equations, which can be applied in the design of foam type heat exchangers.     

Suppression of slag foaming by a sound wave

The aim of this work was to study the effects of sound frequency, sound intensity and viscosity of slag on the slag foaming rate and the steady-state foam height. Experiments were carried out using two slags (BaO–B₂O₃) melted at a temperature of 1223 or 1273 K, as well as water–glycerin solutions at room temperature. Low frequency sound waves (<1.3 kHz) are found to be more effective in the slag foaming suppression than high frequency waves (1.3–12 kHz). The steady-state foam height decreases abruptly when the sound pressure reaches a threshold value that depends on sound frequency and liquid viscosity. The results can be explained in terms of enhancing the rates of liquid drainage and film rupture induced by sound.     

Dc-bias-field-induced dielectric relaxation and ac conduction in CaCu3Ti4O12 ceramics

The dielectric relaxation and ac conduction of CaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂ (CCTO) ceramics were investigated at different temperatures under a dc bias. The dc bias gives rise to space charge accumulation, i.e. an electrode response, resulting in the significant increase of dielectric permittivity and dielectric loss tangent. Two Debye-like relaxations, arising from electrode and grain boundary responses, are present at low frequency with an increase of the dc bias. The electrode and grain boundary relaxations are distinguished according to the impedance spectroscopy and the frequency-dependent ac conductivity. The relaxation times of electrode and grain boundary relaxation are 0.955 ms and 0.026 ms, respectively, with a dc bias of 10 V at 328 K.     

氮掺杂高比表面多孔碳的一步化学活化法制备及其超电容性能

以聚氨酯发泡剂为碳源和氮源,以氢氧化钾为活化剂,采用一步化学活化法制备了具有高比表面积的氮掺杂活性炭。采用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)、N_2吸附-脱附、X射线粉末衍射(XRD)、拉曼光谱(Raman)、光电子能谱(XPS)对碳材料的微观形貌、组成、比表面积和孔道结构进行了表征。结果表明,在700℃活化的碳材料FC700具有最高的比表面积(2 740 m~2·g~(-1))和最大的孔容(1.27 cm~3·g~(-1)),这归因于KOH与泡沫的充分相互作用。在以6.0 mol·L~(-1)KOH为电解液的三电极体系中,当电流密度为0.5 A·g~(-1)时,其比电容达到了452 F·g~(-1)。在组装的对称超级电容器中,其比电容达到了344 F·g~(-1),功率密度为247 W·kg~(-1)时对应的能量密度为11.9 Wh·kg~(-1)。在10 000次循环后电容保持率为98.03%,表现出优异的稳定性。FC700的优异电化学性能可能归因于高的比表面积,大的孔体积和氮原子的掺杂。     

A novel foam based separation strategy for extracting minute target impurities

The purpose of this study was to extract impurities from compounds using a simple separatory bottle to purify target compounds with a foam column and allow for the further characterization of impurities. Charged dyes were used as target compounds due to the ease of detection of dyes and isolated impurities. Foaming agents were used in a glass bottle with a modified cap to separate a target impurity using an appropriately charged ligand. By passing N₂ gas through the solution, the surfactants sodium dodecyl sulfate and cetylpyridinium chloride generated foams that separated the dyes, Methylene blue and Orange G, respectively, from a solution containing both dyes. Sodium dodecyl sulfate condensed Methylene blue from the solution with high purity while cetylpyridinium chloride condensed Orange G with less purity. A range of concentrations (0.01–0.5 mmol/L) of dyes were used for separation. The condensability (volume and/or concentration) of the target compound increased as its concentration decreased. This novel separation method is a simple, rapid, inexpensive, and effective way to prepare samples and allows for the characterization of these impurities using sensitive analytical detection techniques.     

Modifying the physicochemical properties,solubility and foaming capacity of milk proteins by ultrasound-assisted alkaline pH-shifting treatment

This study investigated the effects of different treatment of alkaline pH-shifting on milk protein concentrate (MPC), micellar casein concentrate (MCC) and whey protein isolate (WPI) assisted by the same ultrasound conditions, including changes in the physicochemical properties, solubility and foaming capacity. The solubility of milk proteins had a significant increase with gradual enhancement of ultrasound-assisted alkaline pH-shifting (p < 0.05), especially for MCC up to 99.50 %. Also, treatment made a significant decline in the particle size of MPC and MCC, as well as the turbidity of the proteins (p < 0.05). The foaming capacity of MPC, MCC, and WPI was all improved, especially at pH 11, and at this pH, the milk protein also showed the highest surface hydrophobicity. The best foaming capacity at pH 11 was the result of the combined effect of particle size, potential, protein conformation, solubility, and surface hydrophobicity. In conclusion, ultrasound-assisted pH-shifting treatment was found to be effective in improving the physicochemical properties and solubility and foaming capacity of milk proteins, especially MCC, with promising application prospect in food industry.