Synthesis and performance characterization of PS-PPEES nanoporous membranes with nonwoven porous support

The present work describes about the synthesis and characterization of Polysulfone blend nanoporous membrane with nonwoven support. This Nonwoven support provides mechanical strength to membrane while filtration process and minimizes membrane fouling. Hence it helps in better membrane performance in terms of salt rejection, improved flux, thermal stability and fairly increases in proton conductivity. In this work we have used K.C.270 nonwoven material consisting of fine polyester fibers and has a thickness of below 110 μm.     

Development of a manual method for the determination of mineral oil in foods and paperboard

So far the majority of the measurements of mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH) and mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH) were obtained from on-line high performance liquid chromatography–gas chromatography–flame ionization detection (on-line HPLC–GC–FID). Since this technique is not available in many laboratories, an alternative method with more easily available tools has been developed. Preseparation on a small conventional liquid chromatographic column was optimized to achieve robust separation between the MOSH and the MOAH, but also to keep out the wax esters from the MOAH fraction. This was achieved by mixing a small portion of silica gel with silver nitrate into highly activated silica gel and by adding toluene into the eluent for the MOAH. Toluene was also added to the MOSH fraction to facilitate reconcentration and to serve as a keeper preventing loss of volatiles during solvent evaporation. A 50 μl volume was injected on-column into GC–FID to achieve a detection limit for MOSH and MOAH below 1 mg/kg in most foods.     

Synthesis of Methyl N‐Aryl Oxamate Using Soluble Polymer Support

A variety of methyl N‐aryl oxamates were synthesized using poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) as a soluble polymer support and a monoproctection group with excellent yields.     

MK-10 Clay–Catalyzed Synthesis of 2-(2′,5′-Disubstituted-1′H-indol-3′-yl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazoles under Conventional and Microwave Irradiation

The synthesis of benzimidazoles has been achieved in a one-pot reaction in excellent yield using a newly developed methodology. 2,5-Disubstituted-3-cyanoacetyl indoles were directly condensed with substituted orthophenylenediamine via microwave irradiation under neat, solid support, and conventional conditions in a short time to afford the corresponding products in good yields. Structures of the products thus obtained were confirmed by their melting points, infrared, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and mass spectral data.

Measure of segments which intersect a convex body from rotational formulae

Classical problems in integral geometry and geometric probability involve the kinematic measure of congruent segments of fixed length within a convex body in R³. We give this measure from rotational formulae; that is, from isotropic plane sections through a fixed point. From this result we also obtain a new rotational formula for the volume of a convex body; which is proved to be equivalent to the wedge formula for the volume.     

New low-cost tubular ceramic microfiltration membrane based on natural sand for tangential urban wastewater treatment

In wastewater treatment, the development of low-cost separation methods is of significant importance. Low-cost membranes based on natural materials have become a highly active research topic in recent years. Herein, using low-cost natural Moroccan sand, new ceramic supports have been developed and characterized using different techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential thermal analysis (DTA), along with scanning electron microscope (SEM). Plastic paste (average particle size ≤125 µm) was blended with organic additives and water, then the obtained paste was extruded into porous tubular supports. The support had a porosity of 43%, water permeability of 1928 L/h m² bar, excellent chemical and mechanical properties and an average pore diameter in the range of 8–15 µm after firing at 950 °C/2 h. As per SEM analysis, the tubular supports had a smooth and crack-free surface. The slip casting process was used to create a microfiltration layer from the same natural sand powder (average particle size ≤63 µm) using a mixture of powder sand, water, and polyvinyl alcohol solution. The water permeability of the microfiltration membrane sintered at 950 °C/2 h was 1052 L/h m² bar, the average pore size diameter was about 0.90 µm and 82% of pores had a diameter ≤1.00 µm. The obtained microfiltration membrane was tested for the treatment of urban wastewater. The membrane showed excellent separation performance in turbidity removal and chemical oxygen demand.     

Composite Polybenzimidazole Membrane with High Capacity Retention for Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries

Currently, energy storage technologies are becoming essential in the transition of replacing fossil fuels with more renewable electricity production means. Among storage technologies, redox flow batteries (RFBs) can represent a valid option due to their unique characteristic of decoupling energy storage from power output. To push RFBs further into the market, it is essential to include low-cost materials such as new generation membranes with low ohmic resistance, high transport selectivity, and long durability. This work proposes a composite membrane for vanadium RFBs and a method of preparation. The membrane was prepared starting from two polymers, meta-polybenzimidazole (6 μm) and porous polypropylene (30 μm), through a gluing approach by hot-pressing. In a vanadium RFB, the composite membrane exhibited a high energy efficiency (~84%) and discharge capacity (~90%) with a 99% capacity retention over 90 cycles at 120 mA·cm⁻², exceeding commercial Nafion^® NR212 (~82% efficiency, capacity drop from 90% to 40%) and Fumasep^® FAP-450 (~76% efficiency, capacity drop from 80 to 65%).     

Ultrasonically induced ZnO–biosilica nanocomposite for degradation of a textile dye in aqueous phase

In the present study, a porous clay-like support with unique characteristics was used for the synthesis and immobilization of ZnO nanostructures to be used as sonocatalyst for the sonocatalytic decolorization of methylene blue (MB) dye in the aqueous phase. As a result, the sonocatalytic activity of ZnO–biosilica nanocomposite (77.8%) was higher than that of pure ZnO nanostructures (53.6%). Increasing the initial pH from 3 to 10 led to increasing the color removal from 41.8% to 88.2%, respectively. Increasing the sonocatalyst dosage from 0.5 to 2.5 g/L resulted in increasing the color removal, while further increase up to 3 g/L caused an obvious drop in the color removal. The sonocatalysis of MB dye over ZnO–biosilica nanocomposite was temperature-dependent. The presence of methanol produced the most adverse effect on the sonocatalysis of MB dye. The addition of chloride and carbonate ions had a negligible effect on the sonocatalysis, while the addition of persulfate ion led to increasing the color removal from 77.8% to 99.4% during 90 min. The reusability test exhibited a 15% drop in the color removal (%) within three consecutive experimental runs. A mineralization efficiency of 63.2% was obtained within 4 h.     

Water Formation in Non-Hydrolytic Sol–Gel Routes: Selective Synthesis of Tetragonal and Monoclinic Mesoporous Zirconia as a Case Study

Several non-hydrolytic sol–gel syntheses involving different precursors, oxygen donors, and conditions have been screened aiming to selectively produce mesoporous t-ZrO₂ or m-ZrO₂ with significant specific surface areas. The in situ water formation was systematically investigated by Karl Fisher titration of the syneresis liquids. XRD and nitrogen physisorption were employed to characterize the structure and texture of the ZrO₂ samples. Significant amounts of water were found in several cases, notably in the reactions of Zr(OnPr)₄ with ketones (acetone, 2-pentanone, acetophenone), and of ZrCl₄ with alcohols (benzyl alcohol, ethanol) or acetone. Conversely, the reactions of Zr(OnPr)₄ with acetic anhydride or benzyl alcohol at moderate temperature (200 °C) and of ZrCl₄ with diisopropyl ether appear strictly non-hydrolytic. Although reaction time and reaction temperature were also important parameters, the presence of water played a crucial role on the structure of the final zirconia: t-ZrO₂ is favored in strictly non-hydrolytic routes, while m-ZrO₂ is favored in the presence of significant amounts of water. ¹H and ¹³C NMR analysis of the syneresis liquids allowed us to identify the main reactions responsible for the formation of water and of the oxide network. The morphology of the most interesting ZrO₂ samples was further investigated by electron microscopy (SEM, TEM).     

纯电动汽车磷酸铁锂电池组的建模及优化

鉴于传统神经网络和支持向量机机理复杂、计算量大的缺陷,很难实时跟踪磷酸铁锂电池组复杂快速的内部反应,影响电池荷电状态的估算精度,提出应用一种简单、有效的极限学习机对一额定容量为100Ah、额定电压为72V的纯电动汽车磷酸铁锂电池组建模,并分别与BP神经网络、RBF神经网络、支持向量机进行对比。随后,以学习时间和泛化性能为优化目标,应用粒子群方法寻找最佳隐层节点个数。结果表明,基于极限学习机的磷酸铁锂电池组模型的学习时间、泛化性能优于BP神经网络、RBF神经网络、支持向量机;隐层节点优化后,模型的学习时间和泛化性能达到最优。