The future of coproducts from corn processing

Increased demand for ethanol as a fuel additive has resulted in dramatic growth in ethanol production. Ethanol is produced from corn by either wet milling or dry-grind processing. In wet milling, the corn kernel is fractionated into different components, resulting in several coproducts. Wet-milling plants are capital intensive because of equipment requirements; they produce large volumes of ethanol and are corporate owned. In dry-grind processing, the corn kernel is not fractionated and only one coproduct, distillers’ dried grains with solubles (DDGS), is generated. Dry-grind plants require less equipment and capital than wet mills. They generate smaller volumes of ethanol, are producer owned, and add direct benefits to rural economies. Most of the increase in ethanol production during the past decade is attributed to growth in the dry-grind industry. The marketing of coproducts provides income to offset processing costs. For dry-grind plants, this is especially important, because only one coproduct is available. Several issues could affect DDGS marketing. The increasing volume of DDGS accompanying ethanol production could reduce market value; high phosphorous content could limit the use of DDGS, because of animal waste disposal issues. Water removal is a costly processing step and affects the economics of ethanol processing. Technologies to remove germ and fiber from DDGS could produce a new coproduct suitable for feeding to nonruminants; this would expand the markets for DDGS. Reducing phosphorus in DDGS would sustain markets for conventional DDGS. The development of more efficient methods of water removal would increase the efficiency of ethanol processing and reduce the costs of processing. New technologies could contribute to greater stability of dry-grind plants.     

Synthesis of Magnetite Nanoparticles by Precipitation with Forced Mixing

Synthesis of magnetite nanoparticles by precipitation with forced mixing is presented. Using this method it is easy to obtain a high product saturation degree and the constant pH value of the reaction system. The TEM and XRD measurments show that the average size of the product magnetite particles is less than 6.0-nm in the condition of [Fe²⁺]/[Fe³⁺]=0.5. The magnetic properties of the samples are discussed.     

Reverse Schreinemakers Method for Experimental Analysis of Mixed-Solvent Electrolyte Systems

A method based on Schreinemakers’s tie-line theory of 1893 is derived for determining the composition and phase amounts in solubility experiments for multi-solvent electrolyte systems. The method uses the lever rule in reverse compared to Schreinemakers’s wet residue method, and is therefore called the reverse Schreinemakers (RS) method. The method is based on simple mass balance principles similar to the wet residues method. It allows for accurate determination of the mixed-solvent phase composition even though part of the solvent may precipitate as complexes between solvent and salt. Discrepancies from determining the composition of salt mixtures by pH titration are discussed, and the derived method significantly improves the obtained result from titration. Furthermore, the method reduces the required experimental work needed for analysis of phase composition. The method is applicable to multi-solvent systems and may be used for the determination of solid-phase compositions, similar to Schreinemakers’s original “rest” method. An example calculation is presented for the Na₂CO₃-NaHCO₃-MEG-H₂O system.     

AgNi合金作为直接硼氢化物燃料电池的阳极催化剂

采用机械球磨法制备银镍合金, 并将其用作直接硼氢化物燃料电池(DBFC)的阳极催化剂. XRD 和SEM实验表明, 这种催化剂为纳米粒子集聚的微米颗粒, 具有二元合金的典型结构特征. 电化学实验表明, AgNi合金不仅能够催化硼氢化物的直接电化学氧化, 而且可以抑制硼氢化物的化学水解. 当采用AgNi/C作为DBFC电池的阳极催化剂时,硼氢化钾的放电容量在3500 mAh·g-1以上, 对硼氢化物燃料的利用率可达90%以上.     

Preparation of Lithiated Co- and Ni-Oxide Powders and Thin Films by Wet Chemistry Processing

Layered lithiated Co- and Ni-oxide powders and thin films with rhombohedral (R m) structure were prepared by a peroxo wet chemistry route from Li(I), Co(II) and Ni(II) acetate precursors and the addition of H2O2. XRD analysis revealed that xerogel films and powders possessed a typical layered structure. Layered (R m) Li_0.99Co_1.01O₂ powder and Li_0.97Co_1.03O₂ films were formed around 500°C, while Li_0.93Ni_1.07O₂ powder and Li_0.94Ni_1.06O₂ oxide films were prepared around 550°C. The stoichiometry of the oxide films and powders was dependent on the heat-treatment temperature. The structure of sols, gels, xerogels and thin films was established from XRD spectra and from the FT-IR spectra, confirming their layered structure.     

Catalytic Systems for the H<Subscript>2</Subscript>S Wet Oxidation at room Temperature

The catalytic wet oxidation process is the most attractive process for small-scale hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) removal from natural gas. The catalytic wet oxidation process is anticipated to be cost effective and simple so that it can be used for treating sour gases containing small amounts of H₂S and can be easily operated even in isolated sites. The development of effective catalyst is the key technology in the wet catalytic oxidation of H₂S. The scale of operation for the process has to be flexible so its use will not be limited by the flow rates of the gas to be treated. The heterogeneous catalytic wet oxidation of H₂S has been attempted on activated carbons, but the H₂S removal capacity still shows the low removal efficiency. The catalytic wet oxidation of H₂S was studied over Fe/MgO for an effective removal of H₂S. In order to develop a sulfur removal technology, one has to know what surface species of catalyst are the most active. This article discusses the following systematic studies: (i) the catalytic preparation to disperse Fe metal well on MgO support for enhancing H₂S removal capacity, (ii) the effect of the catalytic morphology on the activity of Fe/MgO for the H₂S wet oxidation, (iii) the influence of precursor and support on the activity of Fe/MgO for catalytic wet oxidation of H₂S to sulfur.     

Magnesium oxide as an effective catalyst in catalytic wet oxidation of H2S to sulfur

Four different magnesium oxides were studied in the wet oxidation of H₂S to sulfur. The H₂S removal capacity of MgO in the catalytic wet oxidation strongly depends on the pore size distribution. The MgO with relatively large pores (>100 ?) showed a high removal capacity of H₂S. It is suggested that the large pore size favors H₂S removal in the catalytic wet oxidation due to the limitation of diffusion. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

快离子导体的机械化学合成

快离子导体是二次高能电池及其他全固体电化学器件研制与开发的重要材料，常规方法由于存在原材料选择受限以及原料对容器侵蚀等技术问题，致使一些高性能快离子导体的制备受到很大限制。为此，人们将目标转移到不需加热、在室温条件下即可实现这一材料制备的机械化学合成法。本文总结了近年来利用这种方法在制备快离子导体方面取得的一些最新研究成果。     

New design of Co-60 source for wet gamma irradiators

Co-60 sources represent one of the key factors in industrial radiation processing and applications such as sterilization of disposable products and food preservation. Design of the sources being currently used in wet gamma irradiators can be improved with the purpose of increasing the source corrosion stability and mechanical integrity during use. This paper describes the proposed new design of Co-60 source for wet gamma irradiators. As a result of changes in capsule material and some dimensions, product quality and reliability can be improved with no additional cost for end user.