Nanoporous NiO@SiO2 photo-catalyst prepared by ion-exchange method for fast elimination of reactive dyes from wastewater

Photo-catalytic elimination of organic contaminants plays a significant role in wastewater treatment. Developing a highly efficient photo-catalyst is one of the leading research topic. Herein, we reported the fabrication of a novel nanoporous NiO@SiO₂ photo-catalyst by a simple ion-exchange method to eliminate the reactive dyes. The synthesized NiO@SiO₂ catalyst exhibited fast photo-degradation and excellent adsorption capability and could efficiently remove Red FN-3GL dye from wastewater, due to a high loading of NiO and a large specific surface area, abundant electron-withdrawing groups, as well as narrow bandgap energy. In addition, the NiO@SiO₂ photo-catalyst also displayed a high capability to remove reactive dyes over a wide range of pH values (pH 3–9). The prominent adsorption and photo-degradation of dyes were strongly dependent on the surface charge of the catalyst and the generation of hydroxyl radicals (OH^?) by the catalyst, respectively. Furthermore, the NiO@SiO₂ photo-catalyst also exhibited excellent recyclability, thus demonstrating the feasibility of practical applications in industries. The strategy of covering the metal oxide to nanoporous silica is a promising method for developing active photo-catalysts and applying them in the wastewater treatments.     

Systematic Modulation of Thiol Functionalities in Inexpensive Porous Polymers for Effective Mercury Removal

Through accumulation, mercury contamination in aquatic systems still poses serious health risks despite the strict regulations on drinking water and industrial discharge. One effective strategy against this is adsorptive removal, in which a suitably functionalized porous material is added to water treatment protocols. Thiol (SH) group-grafted structures perform commendably; however, insufficient attention is paid to the cost, scalability, and reusability or how the arrangement of sulfur atoms could affect the Hg^II binding strength. We used an inexpensive and scalable porous covalent organic polymer (COP-130) to systematically introduce thiol functional groups with precise chain lengths and sulfur content. Thiol-functionalized COP-130 demonstrates enhanced wettability and excellent Hg^II uptake of up to 936 mg g⁻¹, with fast kinetics and exceptionally high selectivity. These Hg adsorbents are easily regenerated with HCl and can be used at least six times without loss of capacity even after treatment with strong acid, a rare performance in the domain of Hg-removal research.     

大尺寸电阻加热式碳化硅晶体生长热场设计与优化

大尺寸低缺陷碳化硅(SiC)单晶体是功率器件和射频(RF)器件的重要基础材料,物理气相传输(physical vapor transport, PVT)法是目前生长大尺寸SiC单晶体的主要方法。获得大尺寸高品质晶体的核心是通过调节组分、温度、压力实现气相组分在晶体生长界面均匀定向结晶,同时尽可能减小晶体的热应力。本文对电阻加热式8英寸(1英寸=2.54 cm)碳化硅大尺寸晶体生长系统展开热场设计研究。首先建立描述碳化硅原料受热分解热质输运及其多孔结构演变、系统热输运的物理和数学模型,进而使用数值模拟方法研究加热器位置、加热器功率和辐射孔径对温度分布的影响及其规律,并优化热场结构。数值模拟结果显示,通过优化散热孔形状、保温棉的结构等设计参数,电阻加热式大尺寸晶体生长系统在晶锭厚度变化、多孔介质原料消耗的情况下均能达到较低的晶体横向温度梯度和较高的纵向温度梯度。     

Optimisation of the ultrasound-assisted extraction of betalains and polyphenols from Amaranthus hypochondriacus var. Nutrisol

The present study optimised the ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of bioactive compounds from Amaranthus hypochondriacus var. Nutrisol. Influence of temperature (25.86–54.14 °C) and ultrasonic power densities (UPD) (76.01–273.99 mW/mL) on total betalains (BT), betacyanins (BC), betaxanthins (BX), total polyphenols (TP), antioxidant activity (AA), colour parameters (L*, a*, and b*), amaranthine (A), and isoamaranthine (IA) were evaluated using response surface methodology. Moreover, betalain extraction kinetics and mass transfer coefficients (K_La) were determined for each experimental condition. BT, BC, BX, TP, AA, b*, K_La, and A were significantly affected (p < 0.05) by temperature extraction and UPD, whereas L*, a*, and IA were only affected (p < 0.05) by temperature. All response models were significantly validated with regression coefficients (R²) ranging from 87.46 to 99.29%. BT, A, IA, and K_La in UAE were 1.38, 1.65, 1.50, and 29.93 times higher than determined using conventional extraction, respectively. Optimal UAE conditions were obtained at 41.80 °C and 188.84 mW/mL using the desired function methodology. Under these conditions, the experimental values for BC, BX, BT, TP, AA, L*, a*, b*, K_La, A, and IA were closely related to the predicted values, indicating the suitability of the developed quadratic models. This study proposes a simple and efficient UAE method to obtain betalains and polyphenols with high antioxidant activity, which can be used in several applications within the food industry.     

从废水到新能源:光催化燃料电池的优化与应用

随着经济的飞速发展,社会对能源的需求日益扩大,对工业废水的无害化处理也提出了更高的要求。光催化燃料电池 (photocatalytic fuel cell, PFC) 在燃料电池中引入半导体光催化材料作为电极,实现了有机污染物高效降解和同步对外产电的双重功能,在废水无害化与资源化利用方面具有潜在的应用价值。半导体光催化电极是PFC系统高效运行的核心组件,增强其可见光响应和光生载流子分离是提高PFC性能的关键策略。反应器结构设计和运行参数优化也有利于改善PFC性能。本文从PFC基本原理和应用入手,综述了PFC在环境污染物资源化处理中的研究进展,并详细阐述了提高PFC的污染控制性能和产电效率的优化手段,为进一步设计高效稳定的PFC系统并实现其在水污染控制和清洁能源生产中的应用提供理论指导。     

Experimental and numerical analysis of cylindrical turbulators in a double pipe heat exchanger under turbulent flow conditions

In the present work, the use of cylindrical turbulators in a double pipe heat exchanger has been investigated. Cylindrical fin type of turbulators has been placed circumferentially separated by 90° on the outer side of an inner pipe at a regular pitch. Experimental studies were undertaken for different air flow rates in a turbulent regime whose Reynolds number range between 2500 and 10000. Heat transfer characteristics like Nu and friction factor have been experimentally determined. Parametric studies were conducted by changing the pitch and also the orientation of the turbulators. Nu and friction factor were found to increase as the pitch is reduced. A model with alternatively changed orientation outperformed others by exhibiting highest Nu and reduced friction factor.     

Thermoelastic solutions for thermal distributions moving over thin slim rod under memory-dependent three-phase lag magneto-thermoelasticity

Abstract

Enlightened by the Caputo fractional derivative, the present study deals with a novel mathematical model of generalized thermoelasticity to investigate the transient phenomena due to the influence of magnetic field and moving heat source in a rod in the context of three-phase lag (TPL) theory of thermoelasticity. Both ends of the rod are fixed and heat insulated. Employing Laplace transform as a tool, the problem has been transformed into the space-domain and solved analytically. Finally, solutions in the real-time domain are obtained by applying the inverse Laplace transform. Numerical calculation for stress, displacement, and temperature within the rod is carried out and displayed graphically. The effect of moving heat source speed on temperature, stress, and temperature is studied. It is found from the distributions that the temperature, thermally induced displacement and stress of the rod are found to decrease at large source speed. For the better understanding of the effect of moving heat source on all the distributions, three animations are added.     

“多才多艺”的铁元素*

铁在自然界中含量丰富,化学性质活泼,能够形成多种应用广泛的物质及材料,富有发展潜力。简述了铁元素的发现与性质,并重点介绍了铁的功能与应用。其中铁的应用主要围绕铁及其化合物在医学治疗、能源材料和环境保护领域所发挥的重要作用进行了阐述。     

水流损失和热补偿共同作用对增强型地热系统(EGS)产能影响的研究

基于青海共和盆地-3705m地热田实测数据,结合流固耦合传热理论并运用Comsol软件,建立了离散型裂隙岩体流体传热模型。考虑水流损失和热补偿共同作用,模拟得到了开采过程中上、下岩层(盖层和垫层)为绝热不渗透、传热不渗透、渗透传热时,储层(上、下岩层和压裂层)温度场的变化特征,分析了产出流量、水流损失、产出温度、产热速率的变化规律。研究结果表明:采热过程中产出流量始终小于注入流量;产出流量增幅速率先增大后减小,最后趋于稳定,前3a产出流量增幅超过总增幅量的3/4;忽略水流损失,将高估产热速率,采热初期甚至达到考虑水流损失时产热速率的3倍以上;考虑水流损失,产热速率呈先快速上升再趋于稳定后逐渐下降的趋势,最优开采时间为3a^11a;研究上、下岩层对产出温度的影响,仅考虑传热,采热寿命延长5.43%,同时考虑渗流传热时,采热寿命延长2.71%;采热前9a,水流损失占主导作用,即流入上、下岩层水流损失对产热速率的影响高于热补偿效应,开采10a后,热补偿效应占主导作用;同时考虑水流损失和热补偿效应得到的产热速率变化规律与实际工程更为符合,建议选择低渗透能力的上、下岩层延长增强型地热系统(EGS)运行时间。