Yeast cell microfiltration: Flux enhancement in baffled and pulsatile flow systems

The filtration performance of yeast cell harvesting was greatly improved by using an oscillatory flow mixing technique in both tubular and flat sheet membrane systems; flux increases of several fold were achieved. The effects of various operating parameters such as frequency, amplitude and ratio of net forward flow rate to oscillatory flow rate were investigated. A simple alternative to the dual head pump, which involved the use of solenoid valves for producing flow reversal, was developed. The flux was significantly increased using this new operating mode. As the only increase of power consumption was from inertia loss due to change of flow direction the additional power consumption is minimal.     

New Advances in Catalytic Systems for Conversion of CH_4 and CO_2

One of the main goals for developing the C1 chemical industry is the direct conversion of methane and carbon dioxide to useful products. To realize this goal, researches on new catalytic systems are being globally focused. The exploration has been evolved from traditional heterogeneous catalysis into homogeneous catalysis. Coordinate complexes, biochemical and bionics, and photo- and electrochemical catalysis have been extensively studied in recent years. Tests in laboratories have verified for the direct conversion of CH4 to CH3OH that single-pass converstion of CH4 can reach over 70% in both Hg(II) salt and Pt(II) complex systems. The main problem of these systems is the obstacles involving reaction kinetics, so they must be solved before moving to pilot tests. Other catalytic systems discussed in the present article include explorations in the early stage. Among them, features of photo and enzymatic catalyst systems, such as mild reaction conditions, better selectivity and environmentally friendliness     

Metallocycle synthesis accelerated by high pressure

Reaction of cis-[FeH₂(dmpe)₂](1) with diphenylbutadiyne results in an insertion into both of the iron-hydride bonds to form an iron metallocycle. Spectroscopic and crystallographic data of [Fe(PhHCC₂CHPh)(dmpe)₂] (3) show 1,4-diphenylbutatriene is symmetrically bound to the metal via the central double bond. The reaction to form the metallocyclic complex is greatly accelerated by application of external pressure. A 41% yield of (3) is isolated after two days at atmospheric pressure or after approximately 75 min at 800MPa.