Axisymmetric and three dimensional flow modeling within thermal vapor compressors

Thermal vapor compressor (TVC) is a device for compressing vapor in water–steam cycles and frequently used in desalination systems. Large amounts of useless vapor can be compressed by this device and the efficiency of a desalination unit is effectively enhanced through this process. Motive steam is injected into the TVC through a convergent–divergent nozzle and accelerated to supersonic velocities. The low pressure steam is entrained at the upstream zone and mixed with this highly compressible motive flow within the TVC. In the current study, the flow field of an experimental TVC is scrutinized in both axisymmetric and three-dimensional approaches and compared with experimental measurements. Since the steam collector at the suction surface of the TVC has a curved shape and may undermine the symmetry of the flow on either side of the central axis, the second objective of this study is to reveal the deviation of the symmetric assumption from the real non-symmetric condition of entering steam flow into the TVC. Results show that the presence of a bending at the inlet side has approximately negligible effects on the mixing phenomenon and the flow remains symmetric around the central axis. Hence, there is no need to consider the collector geometry in further simulations and the performance parameters of the TVC would be sufficiently obtained through an axisymmetric method with a substantial reduction in the computational cost and time.     

Radiative properties of cirrus clouds in the infrared (8–13 μm) spectral region

Atmospheric radiation in the infrared (IR) 8–13 μm spectral region contains a wealth of information that is very useful for the retrieval of ice cloud properties from aircraft or space-borne measurements. To provide the scattering and absorption properties of nonspherical ice crystals that are fundamental to the IR retrieval implementation, we use the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method to solve for the extinction efficiency, single-scattering albedo, and the asymmetry parameter of the phase function for ice crystals smaller than 40 μm. For particles larger than this size, the improved geometric optics method (IGOM) can be employed to calculate the asymmetry parameter with an acceptable accuracy, provided that we properly account for the inhomogeneity of the refracted wave due to strong absorption inside the ice particle. A combination of the results computed from the two methods provides the asymmetry parameter for the entire practical range of particle sizes between 1 and 10,000 μm over the wavelengths ranging from 8 to 13 μm. For the extinction and absorption efficiency calculations, several methods including the IGOM, Mie solution for equivalent spheres (MSFES), and the anomalous diffraction theory (ADT) can lead to a substantial discontinuity in comparison with the FDTD solutions for particle sizes on the order of 40 μm. To overcome this difficulty, we have developed a novel approach called the stretched scattering potential method (SSPM). For the IR 8–13 μm spectral region, we show that SSPM is a more accurate approximation than ADT, MSFES, and IGOM. The SSPM solution can be further refined numerically. Through a combination of the FDTD and SSPM, the extinction and absorption efficiencies are computed for hexagonal ice crystals with sizes ranging from 1 to 10,000 μm at 12 wavelengths between 8 and 13 μm.

Calculations of the cirrus bulk scattering and absorption properties are performed for 30 size distributions obtained from various field campaigns for midlatitude and tropical cirrus cloud systems. Ice crystals are assumed to be hexagonal columns randomly oriented in space. The bulk scattering properties are parameterized through the use of second-order polynomial functions for the extinction efficiency and the single-scattering albedo and a power-law expression for the asymmetry parameter. We note that the volume-normalized extinction coefficient can be separated into two parts: one is inversely proportional to effective size and is independent of wavelength, and the other is the wavelength-dependent effective extinction efficiency. Unlike conventional parameterization efforts, the present parameterization scheme is more accurate because only the latter part of the volume-normalized extinction coefficient is approximated in terms of an analytical expression. After averaging over size distribution, the single-scattering albedo is shown to decrease with an increase in effective size for wavelengths shorter than 10.0 μm whereas the opposite behavior is observed for longer wavelengths. The variation of the asymmetry parameter as a function of effective size is substantial when the effective size is smaller than 50 μm. For effective sizes larger than 100 μm, the asymmetry parameter approaches its asymptotic value. The results derived in this study can be useful to remote sensing studies of ice clouds involving IR window bands.     

Mechanism study of the conversion of esters to high‐octane‐number aromatics over HZSM‐5

A study of the mechanism of the catalytic transformation of mixed ethyl acetate (EA) + methyl acetate (MA) (50:50 v/v) to hydrocarbons over HZSM‐5 (Si/Al ratio of 9) catalyst was conducted. The reaction was carried out in a continuous fixed‐bed reactor under atmospheric pressure and in the temperature range 250–390°C and with weight hourly space velocity of 3.2 and 4.6 h^?1. The distribution of products including monoaromatics, fused ring aromatics and oxygenates was determined using GC‐MS. The product distribution was controlled by temperature. The oxygenate components (kinetically controlled products) were transformed into aromatics (thermodynamically controlled products) with an increase in temperature. The effluents were benzene‐free or with low content of benzene and toluene. Two intermediates were proposed for this conversion to hydrocarbons over HZSM‐5: cyclobutane‐1,3‐dione and/or acetic acid (AA) as ketene source. Furthermore, AA and mesityl oxide (MO) were selected as potential intermediates in the transformation of mixed EA + MA into hydrocarbons over HZSM‐5. It is suggested that ketene dimerization, the phenolic pool and the condensation reaction between ketene and MO are the probable mechanism routes for AA conversion. Aldol condensation, Michael addition, cracking, isomerization and ketene formation are the presumable pathways for MO conversion over HZSM‐5.     

Design and Synthesis of Some Novel Oxiconazole‐Like Carboacyclic Nucleoside Analogues,as Potential Chemotherapeutic Agents

The syntheses of some novel carboacyclic nucleosides, 17a – 17o , containing oxiconazole‐like scaffolds, are described (Schemes 1–3). In this series of carboacyclic nucleosides, pyrimidine as well as purine and other imidazole derivatives were employed as an imidazole successor in oxiconazole. These compounds could be prepared in good yields by using two different strategies (Schemes 1 and 2). Due to Scheme 1, the N‐coupling of nucleobases with 2‐bromoacetophenones was attained for 18a – 18e , and their subsequent oximation affording 19a – 19e and finally O‐alkylation with diverse alkylating sources resulted in the products 17a – 17g, 17n , and 17o . In Scheme 2, use of 2‐bromoacetophenone oximes 20 , followed by N‐coupling of nucleobases, provided 19f – 19j whose final O‐alkylation produced 17h – 17m (Scheme 2). For the rational interpretation of the dominant formation of (E)‐oxime ethers rather than (Z)‐oxime isomers, PM3 semiempirical quantum‐mechanic calculations were discussed and the calculations indicated a lower heat of formation for (E)‐isomers.     

Ammonium Acetate-Basic Alumina Catalyzed Knoevenagel Condensation Under Microwave Irradiation Under Solvent-Free Condition

Ammonium acetate and basic alumina catalyzed efficiently the Knoevenagel condensation of aldehydes and ketones with active methylene compounds under solvent-free condition where olefinic products were obtained in high yields.     

Determination of Total Iron in Environmental Samples by Solid Phase Extraction with Dimethyl(E)‐2‐(2‐Methoxyphenoxy)‐2‐Butenedioate

A novel solid phase extraction technique for determination of total iron in environmental water samples was developed. The method is based on sorption of Fe(III) ions on octadecyl silica membrane disk modified with a new synthetic ligand dimethyl(E)‐2‐(2‐methoxyphenoxy)‐2‐butenedioate (I). Iron(III) is quantitatively retained on the disk in the pH range of 3–7 at a flow rate of 1–7 mL min⁻¹. The Fe(III) eluted with 10 mL of 0.01 M EDTA and than was measured by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) at 248.3 nm. The maximum capacity disk modified by 7 mg of ligand was found to be 197 ± 2 μg of iron(III). The breakthrough volume was greater than 2000 mL. The iron(III) was completely recovered (> 99%) from water with a preconcentration factor of more than 200. The limit of detection of the proposed method was 1.00 ng mL⁻¹. The various cationic and anionic interferences had no effect on the recovery of iron(III) from the binary mixtures. The proposed method was successfully applied to determination of total iron from three different water samples.     

A convenient protocol for the synthesis of axially chiral Brønsted acids

Partially hydrogenated binaphthol monophosphoric acids were prepared via an improved four-step sequence. It is demonstrated that typical protection and deprotection of the phenolic groups are dispensable. The vinyl-substituted derivative has been polymerized to give a novel polymerized organocatalyst.     

Effect of Gold Nanosphere Surface Chemistry on Protein Adsorption and Cell Uptake In Vitro

Gold nanoparticles exhibit unique spectral properties that make them ideal for biosensing, imaging, drug delivery, and other therapeutic applications. Interaction of gold nanoparticles within biological environments is dependent on surface characteristics, which may rely on particular capping agents. In this study, gold nanospheres (GNS) synthesized with different capping agents??specifically citric acid (CA) and tannic acid (TA)??were compared for serum protein adsorption and cellular uptake into a lung epithelial cell line (A549). Both GNS samples exhibited noticeable protein adsorption based on surface charge data after exposure to serum proteins. Light scattering measurements revealed that GNS-CA-protein composites were smaller and less dense compared to GNS-TA-protein composites. The cell uptake characteristics of these nanoparticles were also different. GNS-CA formed large clusters and elicited high uptake, while GNS-TA were taken up as discrete particles, possibly through nonendosomal mechanisms. These results indicate that the capping agents used for GNS synthesis result in unique biological interactions.