Growing ZIF-8 Seeds on Charged COF Substrates toward Efficient Propylene-Propane Separation Membranes

We report a covalent organic framework (COF) induced seeding strategy to fabricate metal–organic framework (MOF) membranes. Contrary to graphene oxide nuclei-depositing substrate, COF substrate has uniform pore size, high microporosity and abundant functional groups. We designed a series of charged COF nanosheets to induce the formation of ZIF-8@COF nanosheet seeds with high aspect ratio over 150, which were readily processed into a compact and uniform seed layer. The resulting ZIF-8 membranes with thickness down to 100 nm exhibit an ultrahigh C₃H₆/C₃H₈ separation performance and superior long-term stability. Our strategy is also validated by fabricating ultrathin ZIF-67 and UiO-66 membranes.     

碱活化多孔碳用于分离甲苯及活化/吸附机理

采用生物质木质素磺酸钠(SLS)为碳源, 先与硬模板NaCl混合预碳化, 再加入活化剂NaOH在氮气保护下升温至850 ℃碳化, 得到SLS基碱活化的多孔碳吸附剂(SPCN). 将SPCN用于吸附液体石蜡中芳香烃甲苯, 对比研究了不同活化剂加入量对SPCN结构、 性质及吸附效果的影响. 结果表明, SPCN表面具有丰富的官能团和发达的微/介孔结构, 活化剂加入量对比表面积的影响为先增大后减小, 碱/碳质量比为1∶1时比表面积达到最大值(710.4 m ²/g); 吸附量与比表面积呈正相关, 样品SPCN-1的最大吸附量为2875.17 mg/g, 远高于商业吸附剂, 经5次吸附-解吸循环后仍保持92.5%的吸附效率. 探究了活化机理, NaOH、 碳质和气体发生氧化还原反应释放气体留下孔隙, 经充分酸洗、 水洗后得到永久孔道. 最后, 结合扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、 透射电子显微镜(TEM)、 拉曼光谱(Raman)、 X射线衍射(XRD)、 傅里叶变换红外光谱(FTIR)和比表面积分析等结果证明了吸附机理主要是孔隙填充效应、 范德华力、 π-π相互作用及电子供/受体作用的共同作用. 首次报道了SPCN应用的新方向并探究了活化与吸附机理, 制备方法简易、 经济, 产品循环稳定性好、 无污染, 有望用于工业化生产.     

Complex permittivity, complex permeability and microwave absorption properties of ferrite-paraffin polymer composites

We have investigated the electromagnetic (EM) characteristics of Co_xMn_1−xFe₂O₄ spinel ferrite (where x=0.0, 0.5 and 1.0) nanoparticles (NPs)/paraffin nanocomposite material at 8-20 GHz. Co_xMn_1−xFe₂O₄ NPs have been synthesized by cetyltrimethylammonium assisted hydrothermal route using NaOH. A variation in complex dielectric permittivity and magnetic permeability at room temperature with frequency in the range 8-20 GHz has been studied. Particles showed phase purity and crystallinity in powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. At the same time, Co_xMn_1−xFe₂O₄ NPs demonstrated a spinel cubic structure from XRD results. A reflection loss of −46.60 dB was found at 10.5 GHz for an absorber thickness of 2 mm. Co_xMn_1−xFe₂O₄ may be attractive candidates for EM wave absorption materials.     

石蜡/膨胀石墨/石墨烯复合相变储热材料的制备及性能

以石蜡(PA)作为相变储热材料、 膨胀石墨(EG)作为主导热材料和支撑材料, 石墨烯气凝胶(GA)作为导热增强材料和辅支撑材料制备了PA/EG/GA复合相变材料, 研究了GA添加量对复合相变材料相变温度、 相变潜热、 导热性能以及循环稳定性的影响. 结果表明, 所制备的80%PA-17%EG-3%GA复合相变材料导热性能良好, 循环稳定性出色. 与80%PA-20%EG复合材料相比, 该材料的相变温度、 相变潜热以及循环稳定性无明显变化, 但导热系数由4.089 W/(m·K)提升到了5.336 W/(m·K), 显示出良好的应用前景.     

A technique for evaluating the oil/heavy-oil viscosity changes under ultrasound in a simulated porous medium

Theoretically, Ultrasound method is an economical and environmentally friendly or “green” technology, which has been of interest for more than six decades for the purpose of enhancement of oil/heavy-oil production. However, in spite of many studies, questions about the effective mechanisms causing increase in oil recovery still existed. In addition, the majority of the mechanisms mentioned in the previous studies are theoretical or speculative. One of the changes that could be recognized in the fluid properties is viscosity reduction due to radiation of ultrasound waves. In this study, a technique was developed to investigate directly the effect of ultrasonic waves (different frequencies of 25, 40, 68 kHz and powers of 100, 250, 500 W) on viscosity changes of three types of oil (Paraffin oil, Synthetic oil, and Kerosene) and a Brine sample. The viscosity calculations in the smooth capillary tube were based on the mathematical models developed from the Poiseuille’s equation. The experiments were carried out for uncontrolled and controlled temperature conditions. It was observed that the viscosity of all the liquids was decreased under ultrasound in all the experiments. This reduction was more significant for uncontrolled temperature condition cases. However, the reduction in viscosity under ultrasound was higher for lighter liquids compare to heavier ones. Pressure difference was diminished by decreasing in the fluid viscosity in all the cases which increases fluid flow ability, which in turn aids to higher oil recovery in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) operations. Higher ultrasound power showed higher liquid viscosity reduction in all the cases. Higher ultrasound frequency revealed higher and lower viscosity reduction for uncontrolled and controlled temperature condition experiments, respectively. In other words, the reduction in viscosity was inversely proportional to increasing the frequency in temperature controlled experiments. It was concluded that cavitation, heat generation, and viscosity reduction are three of the promising mechanisms causing increase in oil recovery under ultrasound.     

Olefin/paraffin gas separations with 6FDA-based polyimide membranes

Pure gas permeation and sorption experiments were carried out for the gases ethylene, ethane, propylene and propane using polyimides based on 4,4′-(hexafluoroisopropylidene) diphthalic anhydride (6FDA). Composite membranes and free films were used. Experiments were performed at 308 K and feed pressures up to 17 atm for ethylene and ethane and 9 atm for propylene and propane. Mixed gas permeation experiments were carried out with 50 : 50 olefin/paraffin feed mixtures. For all investigated polyimides, the ideal ethylene/ethane separation factor ranged between 3.3 and 4.4 and the ideal propylene/propane separation factor ranged between 10 and 16 at a feed pressure of 3.8 atm and 308 K. In mixed gas permeation experiments, up to 20% lower selectivity was found for the ethylene/ethane separation and up to 50% reduced selectivity for the propylene/propane separation compared to the ideal selectivity. The influence of feed temperature on separation and permeation properties will be discussed based on pure gas permeability data at 298 and 308 K.     

CRYSTALLIZATION OF A LOW MOLECULAR WEIGHT POLYETHYLENE AND PARAFFINS UNDER A TEMPERATURE GRADIENT

A low molecular weight polyethylene (PE) and even-number paraffins were crystallized under a temperature gradient. Highly oriented crystalline textures were developed by the temperature slope crystallization. The in situ crystallizing surface was observed by an optical microscope and X-ray diffraction. Polyethylene has a b-axis orientation in which the lamellar normal and crystalline c-axis are perpendicular to the temperature gradient. On the contrary, in the even-number paraffins, both axes are parallel to the temperature gradient. The results of the in situ measurements and the crystalline orientation are compared and discussed for both cases.     

Quantitative determination of paraffin oil in blood by capillary gas chromatography

A capillary gas chromatographic method is described for the quantitative determination of liquid paraffin in blood. Paraffin is extracted from blood into n-heptane. After solvent evaporation and dissolution of the residue in 100–200 μl n-heptane one μl is injected into a gas chromatograph fitted with a fused silica capillary column (Permabond® OV-1-CB-0.1, 10 m × 0.32 mm i.d.) and flame ionization detector. Analysis is performed by using an oven program [50°C (3 min)?285°C (5 min), rise 10%min]. The sensitivity (1.5 ng hexadecane) and the reproducibility prove the applicability of the method for the determination of liquid paraffin in blood and for the study of the stability of the liquid paraffin hollow fiber membranes used in an extracorporeal liver support system.     

Antigen retrieval on formaldehyde-fixed paraffin sections: its potential drawbacks and optimization for double immunostaining

It is well known that the major artifact induced by formaldehyde fixation is the masking of tissue antigens due to cross-linking of protein amino acid residues. Recently many antigen retrieval techniques have been devised to unmask the hidden antigen epitopes and recover immunoreactivity. In this study, some practical problems of two common unmasking techniques, i.e. heat-induced epitope retrieval and enzyme digestion have been reviewed in immunostaining of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) on formaldehyde-fixed paraffin-embedded sections. As the heating conditions became more severe, false-positive staining and/or nonspecific background staining occurred. Based on the principle of protein inactivation/denaturation and the possible mechanisms of antigen retrieval, it has been suggested that the antigen retrieval itself can also denature proteins in tissues, just as many other protein inactivation processes. Thus, the total magnitude of protein conformational change caused by the overall unmasking procedure is in practice crucial. To prove this hypothesis and to overcome such undesirable drawbacks after antigen retrieval, a new combination technique of a mild heating condition (microwaved at 80°C for 15–20 min) and pepsin digestion was devised. This technique led to a strong specific immunoreactivity of PCNA, without any undesirable false positive or background staining. The procedure was also adapted for double immunostaining of PCNA together with -actin, bromodeoxyuridine, keratin, type IV collagen and vimentin.     

The Measurement of the Gibbs Energy of Transfer Between Oil and Water Using a Nano‐Carbon Paste Electrode

The use of nano‐carbon paste electrodes for the measurement of Gibbs energies of transfer between oil and aqueous phases is reported. In this method the oil of interest is used as the binder for the nano‐carbon paste electrodes and the molecule of interest is dissolved in the organic or aqueous phase. Voltammetry is performed over a period of time and used to monitor the transfer of the molecule between the two phases. The method is illustrated for the transfer of ferrocenemethanol between water and oil using the ferrocenemethanol / ferroceniummethanol (FcCH₂OH/FcCH₂OH⁺) redox couple. Three pairs of voltammetric peaks were observed in a 0.1 M KCl solution when the nano‐carbon paste electrode was modified by dissolution of FcCH₂OH in the binder oil: P1 [E=0.23 V, 0.17 V vs. Ag/AgCl (1 M KCl)], P2 [E=0.36 V, 0.32 V vs. Ag/AgCl (1 M KCl)] and P3 [E=0.55 V, 0.46 V vs. Ag/AgCl (1 M KCl)]. These are assigned to the FcCH₂OH species existing in the aqueous solution [FcCH₂OH(aq)/FcCH₂OH⁺(aq)], originating in the oil (o) [FcCH₂OH(o)/FcCH₂OH⁺(aq)] and to oxidation of adsorbed (ads) material on the nano‐carbon [FcCH₂OH(ads)] respectively. When supporting electrolyte containing the anions Cl^?, NO₃^? or SCN^? was used, an expulsion of the oxidised ferrocene occurred and the difference in midpoint potentials (E_mid) between the peaks P1 and P2 observed in these experiments allowed the calculation of the Gibbs energy (ΔG°) of transfer of ferrocenemethanol from water to oil. The average ΔG° value thus obtained was (?12.7±0.2) kJ mol^?1. For more hydrophobic anions (X^?=PF₆^?, AsF₆^?), the electron transfer is coupled to the transfer of the anion into the oil and the ΔG° for the transfer of the ion pair of FcCH₂OH⁺ and X^? ions from water to oil was found to be ?1.3 and ?3.9 kJ mol^?1 for PF₆^? and AsF₆^? respectively.