Phase Behavior of Bicontinuous and Water/Diesel Fuel Microemulsions Using Nonionic Surfactants Combined with Hydrophilic Alcohol Ethoxylates

Bicontinuous and water-in-diesel microemulsions were formulated using single nonionic alkyl poly glycol ethers combined with hydrophilic alcohol ethoxylates. The phase behavior at temperatures ranging from 0°C to 50°C was investigated. Visual inspection as well as cross-polarizers were used to detect anisotropy. The fish phase diagrams were determined. The presence of the hydrophilic alcohol ethoxylates was necessary to initiate both types of microemulsions. Increasing the hydrophobic chain length of the surfactant led to a wider range of temperature stability at lower surfactant concentration. Meanwhile, increasing the ethylene oxide units in the headgroup by two units led to a phase diagram that is dominated by lyotropic liquid crystal. The formulated water in diesel microemulsions were tested experimentally in a 4-cylinder diesel engine. From this it is observed that the emissions of NO_x, soot, and CO₂ were reduced substantially compared to neat diesel, while for the CO the reduction occurs just at low load.      

Effect of Discrete Macroion Charge Distributions on Electric Double Layer of a Spherical Macroion

The effect of replacing the conventional uniform macroion surface charge density with discrete macroion charge distributions on the structure of electric double layer (EDL) of a spherical macroion has been investigated by Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. Two discrete models have been investigated in addition to the central macroion charge: point charges localized on the macroion surface and finite-sized charges protruding into the solution. Both models have been studied with fixed and mobile macroion charges. The radial functions of local densities and electrostatic potential in EDL, are calculated and compared to the results obtained for the central macroion charge distribution. It is concluded that the model of charge distribution significantly affects the EDL structure close to the macroion, while the effect is much weaker at larger distances. With point charges localized on the macroion surface, counterions become stronger accumulated to the macroion, as a result the absolute values of surface potential ?₀ and zeta ξ potential are decreased. With protruding charges, the excluded volume effect dominates over the increased correlation ability; hence the counterions are less accumulated near the macroions and the absolute values of ?₀ and ξ potentials are increased.     

Supply chain optimization of petroleum organization under uncertainty in market demands and prices

A multi-period stochastic planning model has been developed and implemented for a supply chain network of a petroleum organization operating in an oil producing country under uncertain market conditions. The proposed supply chain network consists of all activities related to crude oil production, processing and distribution. Uncertainties were introduced in market demands and prices. A deterministic optimization model was first developed and tested. The impact of uncertainty on the supply chain was studied by performing a sensitivity analysis in which ±20% deviations were introduced in market demands and prices of different commodities. A stochastic formulation was then proposed, which is based on the two-stage problem with finite number of realizations. The proposed stochastic programming approach proved to be quite effective in developing resilient production plans in light of high degree of uncertainty in market conditions. The anticipated production plans have a considerably lower expected value of perfect information (EVPI). The main conclusion of this study is that for an oil producing country with oil processing capabilities, the impact of economic uncertainties may be tolerated by an appropriate balance between crude exports and processing capacities.     

Status of the SHIPTRAP Project: A Capture and Storage Facility for Heavy Radionuclides fromSHIP

The ion trap facility SHIPTRAP is being set up to deliver very clean and cool beams of singly-charged recoil ions produced at the SHIP velocity filter at GSI Darmstadt. SHIPTRAP consists of a gas cell for stopping and thermalizing high-energy recoil ions from SHIP, an rf ion guide for extraction of the ions from the gas cell, a linear rf trap for accumulation and bunching of the ions, and a Penning trap for isobaric purification. The progress in testing the rf ion guide is reported. A transmission of about 93(5)% was achieved. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Physical properties of suspension ZnO nanoparticles prepared by wet chemical method: Comparison study

In this work a suspension of Nano-crystalline of ZnO particle is prepared by wet chemical at different temperature and concentration. From FTIR spectral exhibit present of Zn–O bond which indicate to formation ZnO particles. While all suspension and nano films exhibit a high transmittance in visible region about 90% which falls sharply in the UV region. The particle size is measured by using effective mass approximation (EMA), which was approximation (1.7–1.96 nm), and the band gap changes from 3.95 to 4.52eV for nanoparticles in suspension, and change from 3.76 to 3.94 eV for nanoparticles in ZnO film, which is change as function of concentration, temperature and aging time. Hall Effect measurements for ZnO films exhibit n-type conductivity for films deposited with activation energy 0.742eV at high temperature and 0.178eV at low temperature which is different as prepared sample conditions. Also the nanoparticle suspension and nanoparticle film could be implemented as a filter with variable cut off (8.9 × 10¹⁴–1.28 × 10¹⁵) H_Z.     

Effect of discrete macroion charge distributions in solutions of like-charged macroions

The effect of replacing the conventional uniform macroion surface charge density with discrete macroion charge distributions on structural properties of aqueous solutions of like-charged macroions has been investigated by Monte Carlo simulations. Two discrete charge distributions have been considered: point charges localized on the macroion surface and finite-sized charges protruding into the solution. Both discrete charge distributions have been examined with fixed and mobile macroion charges. Different boundary conditions have been applied to examine various properties. With point charges localized on the macroion surface, counterions become stronger accumulated to the macroion and the effect increases with counterion valence. As a consequence, with mono- and divalent counterions the potential of mean force between two macroions becomes less repulsive and with trivalent counterions more attractive. With protruding charges, the excluded volume effect dominates over the increased correlation ability; hence the counterions are less accumulated near the macroions and the potential of mean force between two macroions becomes more repulsive/less attractive.     

Formulating Middle Phase Microemulsions Using Extended Anionic Surfactant Combined with Cationic Hydrotrope

The phase behavior of systems containing sodium alkyl polypropylene oxide sulfate with equimolar ratio of polypropylene oxide ammonium chloride was determined as a function of salt concentration and alkane carbon number at ambient temperature. Visual inspection as well as cross polarizers were used to detect anisotropy. Solubilization ratios for oil and brine in the middle phases were measured and used to calculate the interfacial tension (IFT) between the microemulsion and oil or brine. The fish diagram is presented showing a minimum amount of 0.20 wt% surfactant needed to form the middle phase. Swelling increases with decreasing the alkane carbon number of the oil. Ultra low IFT values were predicted for the systems investigated.     

Water-Diesel Microemulsions Stabilized by an Anionic Extended Surfactant and a Cationic Hydrotrope

Alcohol-free microemulsions were formulated using mixtures of extended surfactant (C_12-14-PO₁₄-EO₂SO₄Na), sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid and cationic hydrotropes with equal amounts of water and diesel. The cationic hydrotropes had short hydrocarbon or propylene oxide chain. The formulation included sodium carbonate to convert naphthenic acids in diesel to soaps. The phase behavior at ambient temperature of oil-free mixtures as a function of NaCl concentration was investigated. Visual inspection as well as cross polarizers were used to detect anisotropy. The microemulsion fish phase diagram and solubilization ratios for diesel and brine in the middle phases were determined. The minimum surfactant concentration needed to initiate middle phase formation was 0.10 wt%.

Salinity scans revealed that optimal salinity can be adjusted according to the hydrophilic/lipophilic nature of the hydrotrope used. Interfacial tension measurements using a spinning drop tensiometer showed a minimum value of 0.0015 mN/m between middle phase microemulsion and excess brine and a value of 0.032 mN/m between diesel and brine.     

Effect of Type of Fragrance Compounds on Their Location in Hexagonal Liquid Crystal

Three fragrances, limonene, benzaldehyde, and phenethylalcohol (that differ in their polarities), were solubilized in hexagonal liquid crystal using the polyethylene oxide‐polypropylene oxide‐polyethylene oxide, (EO₂₇ PO₆₁ EO₂₇), P₁₀₄ triblock copolymer, and water. The interlayer spacing of the hexagonal liquid crystals were established using small‐angle x‐ray scattering (SAXS). The SAXS data are used to calculate the interfacial area per polyethylene oxide (PEO) block and the radius of the apolar domain in order to determine the location of each fragrance in the association structure. The results show the presence of limonene inside the core of the apolar domain while benzaldehyde is only partially located inside the core with the other part contributing to the interface. The third fragrance, phenethylalcohol, is present between the polar heads, thus, contributing entirely to the interface.