Application of the response surface methodology for modeling demulsification of crude oil emulsion using a demulsifier

The main objective of this research is to determine the capability of four surface-active compounds namely poly(ethylene glycol) distearate, N,N-dimethyldodecylamine N–oxide solution, polyoxyethylene (10) tridecyl ether, and polyethylene glycol sorbitan monooleate as demulsifier agents in breaking water-in-crude oil emulsion through the bottle test method. The influence of temperature, concentration, water content, and pH on demulsification efficiency of the studied demulsifiers was investigated via the response surface methodology (RSM) and the central composite design method (CCD) was applied to design the experiments. The optimum values of input variables to obtain the maximum water separation efficiency were determined based on the developed model by analyze of variance (ANOVA). The R-squared values demonstrate that the developed models could appropriately predict the experimental results of all demulsifier agents.     

Second invariant for two-dimensional classical super systems

Construction of superpotentials for two-dimensional classical super systems (forN > 2) is carried out. Some interesting potentials have been studied in their super form and also their integrability.     

Comparison of Certain Complexes of Modules of Generalized Fractions and Čech Complexes

We establish an explicit quasi-isomorphism of complexes, which is homogeneous in graded situation, from a given ?ech complex to a certain complex of modules of generalized fractions. This leads to characterizations of local cohomology and ideal transforms of a module. Also, in this note, we study the behavior of generalized fraction formation along exact sequences and vanishing of modules of generalized fractions in certain cases.     

An Unexpected Synthesis of Novel Oxygen-Bridged 1,5-Benzothiazepine Derivatives and their Reductive Five-Membered-Ring Opening

Summary.  A convenient procedure is reported for the preparation of benzofuro-annelated 2-phenyl-1,5-benzothiazepine derivatives by oxidative cyclocondensation of phenolic β-diketones with o-aminothiophenol in DMSO. The regiochemistry of these compounds is proven by HMBC signals and the existence of a five-bond ¹⁹F,¹³C-2 coupling. Surprisingly, treatment with LiAlH₄ at room temperature led to a double reduction under opening of the five-membered ring. Refluxing such solutions with a higher amount of LiAlH₄ gave rise to a further reduced derivative possessing the trans-configuration. All structures (regio- and stereochemistry) were assigned on the basis of NMR spectroscopic data. Received November 22, 1999. Accepted December 21, 1999     

New piperazine‐based polymerizable monoquaternary cationic surfactants: Synthesis,polymerization, and swelling characteristics of gels

Monoquaternary cationic polymerizable surfactants of type N‐acryloyl‐N′‐methyl‐N′‐alkyl piperazinium bromide based on piperazine heterocycle was synthesized by reacting N‐acryloyl‐N′methyl piperazine with the corresponding n‐alkyl bromide (decyl, dodecyl, tetradecyl, and hexadecyl) in anhydrous acetone at room temperature. The resulting surfactants were deliquescent to display any sharp melting points. The surface activity was studied by surface tension measurements. Due to the complex head group geometry of these surfactants, the critical micelle concentration value was high in comparison to the analogous alkyltrimethyl ammonium bromides of similar alkyl chain length. The surfactants were polymerized by micellar (in water) and isotropic (in benzene) conditions and the resulting polymers were characterized by solubility and viscosity studies. The polymers prepared in water showed higher viscosity than the ones prepared in benzene as a result of micellar aggregation in water. The reduced viscosity of the polymers in polar solvents such as methanol and dimethyl formamide (DMF) showed polyelectrolyte‐like behavior, whereas nonelectrolyte behavior was observed in chloroform. pH‐responsive hydrogels were prepared by polymerizing the surfactants in the bicontinuous phase of a microemulsion. The resulting polymers did not exhibit any definite micro/nanostructure due to cross‐polymerization of the hydrophilic oil in the bicontinuous network structure. The gels were highly responsive to changes in pH of the medium and showed high‐swelling degree in acidic media owing to the protonation of the tertiary nitrogen of the piperazine ring. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 2059–2072, 2009     

Position Dependent Spontaneous Emission Spectra of a Λ-Type Atomic System Embedded in a Defective Photonic Crystal

We investigate the position dependent spontaneous emission spectra of a Λ-type three-level atom with one transition coupled to the free vacuum reservoir and the other one coupled to a double-band photonic band gap reservoir with a defect mode in the band gap.It is shown that,for the atom at the defect location,we have a two-peak spectrum with a wide dark line due to the strong coupling between the atom and the defect mode.While,when the atom is far from the defect location(or in the absence of the defect mode),the spectrum has three peaks with two dark lines due to the coupling between the atom and the photonic band gap reservoir with the largest density of states near the band edges.On the other hand,we have a four-peak spectrum for the atom at the space in between.Moreover,the average spontaneous emission spectra of the atoms uniformly embedded in high dielectric or low dielectric regions are described.It is shown that the atoms embedded in high(low) dielectric regions far from the defect location,effectively couple to the modes of the lower(upper) photonic band.However,the atoms embedded in high dielectric or low dielectric regions at the defect location,are coupled mainly to the defect modes.While,the atoms uniformly embedded in high(low) dielectric regions with a normal distance from the defect location,are coupled to both of defect and lower(upper) photonic band modes.     

Application of TiO2 nanofluid-based coolant for jet impingement quenching of a hot steel plate

Cooling rate in Run Out Table (ROT) in steel industries tailors microstructure which lead to improved mechanical properties. The current work aims to increase cooling performance of steel using TiO₂ nanofluid as coolant in jet impingement. Different concentrations of TiO₂ nanofluid have been used to study effect on jet cooling of a steel plate from 900°C. Thermal conductivity of nanofluid is found to significantly enhance at optimum concentration and this plays major role in increasing cooling rate of the steel plate. 19% enhancement in cooling rate is observed by using 40 ppm of TiO₂ nanofluid compared to water.     

Investigating Electrochemical Stability and Reliability of Gold Electrode‐electrolyte Systems to Develop Bioelectronic Nose Using Insect Olfactory Receptor

This article aims to demonstrate an electrochemically stable and reliable gold electrode‐electrolyte system to develop an insect odorant receptor (Drosophila melanogaster Or35a) based bioelectronic nose. Cyclic voltammograms (CVs) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) of bare gold electrodes, after modification with the self‐assembled monolayer (SAM) of 6‐mercaptohexanoic acid (MHA) and after immobilization with Or35a integrated into the lipid bilayers of liposomes were conducted in the presence of four different redox probes. Potassium ferri/ferrocyanide [Fe(CN)₆]^3?/[Fe (CN)₆]^4? and hydroquinone (H₂Q) redox probes revealed variable and irreversible signals at the time scale of our measurements, with atomic force microscopy (AFM) images and x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results suggesting gold surface etching due to the presence of CN^? ions in case of [Fe(CN)₆]^3?/[Fe (CN)₆]^4?. Although the hexaammineruthenium complex showed stable electrochemical behaviour at all stages of biosensor development, changes in CV and EIS readings after each surface modifications were insignificant. PBS buffer as a non‐Faradaic medium, was found to provide reliable systems for electrochemical probing of modified gold electrodes with Or35a/liposomes in aqueous media. Using this system, we have shown that this novel biosensor can detect its known odorant E2‐hexenal selectively compared to methyl salicylate down to femtomolar concentration.     

Novel Copolymers as Dispersants/Intercalants/Exfoliants for Polypropylene-Clay Nanocomposites

The use of various copolymers as dispersants/intercalants/exfoliants in polypropylene (PP)-clay nanocomposites based on unmodified montmorillonite clays (NaMMT) has been explored. The primary objective of this research has been to find dispersants that allow PP nanocomposites to be formed by direct melt mixing, that are effective with unmodified clays and that comprise only a minor component of the overall composition both with respect to both clay and PP. Two classes of dispersants were investigated: PEO-based nonionic surfactants and amphiphilic copolymers based on a long chain (meth)acrylate (e.g. octadecyl acrylate) and a more polar comonomer (e.g. maleic anhydride, N-vinylpyrrolidone, methyl methacrylate). The state of dispersion achieved and the properties of the derived nanocomposites were found to depend strongly on both on the level of dispersant and its overall composition but interestingly properties are not particularly dependent on the dispersant architecture (i.e. whether statistical, gradient or block copolymer). The nanocomposites possess a tensile modulus up to 40% greater that the precursor PP while elongation at break and impact strength are significantly improved over “clay alone” composites and reference organoclay-based nanocomposites. Also notable are significantly better thermal and thermo-oxidative stability as compared to both PP and “clay alone” composites. For optimal properties, it is both necessary and desirable that the surfactant should only be a minor constituent (20–50 wt-%) of the composition with respect to clay.     

Tyrosyl rotamer interconversion rates and the fluorescence decays of N-acetyltyrosinamide and short tyrosyl peptides

It has long been recognized that the fluorescence lifetimes of amino acid residues such as tyrosine and tryptophan depend on the rotameric configuration of the aromatic side chain, but estimates of the rate of interchange of rotameric states have varied widely. We report measurements of the rotameric populations and interchange rates for tyrosine in N-acetyltyrosinamide (NATyrA), the tripeptide Tyr-Gly-Gly (YGG), and the pentapeptide Leu-enkephalin (YGGFL). The fluorescence lifetimes were analyzed to determine the rotameric interchange rates in the context of a model incorporating exchange among three rotameric states. Maximum entropy method analysis verified the presence of three fluorescence decay components for YGGFL and two for YGG and NATyrA. Rotameric exchange between the gauche(-) and trans states occurred on the nanosecond time scale, whereas exchange with the gauche(+) state occurred on a longer time scale. Good agreement was obtained with rotameric populations and exchange rates from molecular dynamics simulations. Quenching by iodide was used to vary the intrinsic fluorescence lifetimes, providing additional constraints on the determined interchange rates. The temperature dependence was measured to determine barriers to exchange of the two most populated rotamers of 3, 5, and 7 kcal/mol for NATyrA, YGG, and YGGFL, respectively.