Increased oxygen transfer in a yeast fermentation using a microbubble dispersion

A microbubble dispersion (MBD) was used to supply oxygen for aerobic fermentations in a standard 2 L stirred tank fermenter. The microbubble dispersion was formed using only surfactants produced naturally. Growth rates ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae cultures were found to be equal or greater with MBD sparging than with gas sparging. The oxygen transfer coefficent with MBD sparging was found to be 190/h and independent of impeller speed from 100–580 rpm. The oxygen transfer coefficient with air sparging rose from 55 to 132/h over the same range of impeller speeds. Power requirements for the fermenter systems were estimated.     

NixB/沸石催化剂的分散性和反应性

用晶内形成法制备了Ni_xB/沸石催化剂,用饱和氢化学吸附法结合TEM方法考察了负载金属的分散性,并研究了其己环烷脱氢反应性。结果表明,Ni_xB/沸石样品上负载金属的分散性高,金属粒径分布也相对集中;金属负载量、载体结构和性质以及Ni_xB的制备条件对负载金属的分散性有明显影响。Ni_xB/沸石样品呈现较好的环己烷脱氢反应性。     

Highly crosslinked micron-range polymer microspheres by dispersion polymerization of divinylbenzene

Narrow disperse microparticles are formed by dispersion polymerization of commercial divinylbenzene in acetonitrile or ethanol solution in the presence of 2,2′-azobis(2-methylpropionitrile) initiator and polyvinylpyrrolidone stabilizer. The particles have average diameters between 1 and 9 μm depending on monomer concentration, solvent, and temperature. While the smaller particles are relatively smooth, surface texture increases with diameter to give popcorn shapes at 9 μm diameter. High crosslinker concentration is shown to be essential for particle formation. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

STABILITY OF POLY（N,N＇-METHYLENEBISACRYLAMIDE-co-4-VINYLPYRIDINE） MICROGEL DISPERSION AND ADJUSTMENT OF THE HYDROPHOBICITY IN THE MICROGELS

In the UV-Vis spectra of pure light-scattering systems, there is an exponential relationship between absorbance and wavelength （A = Kλ^-n）. Here, the exponent n is named as flocculation-coagulation parameter. In the present paper, the effects of different additives on the stability of poly（N,N＇-methylenebisacrylamide-co-4-vinylpyridine） （poly（Bis-co-4-VP）） microgel dispersion were studied in detail via this parameter. The results showed that the stability of the dispersion mainly comes from the ionization of pyridine groups, making the microgel positively charged on its surface. This was confirmed by the measurement of Zeta potential and the result of conductometric titration. The result of fluorescence analysis indicated that the hydrophobicity in the microgels is enhanced with the increase in total 4-VP unit content.     

A critical reappraisal of recent communications on the hydrodynamic characterization of silica (aerosil) hydrosols

Different results from recent communications on the hydrodynamic characterization of ultrasonicated silica (®Aerosil) hydrosols led to a critical reappraisal of the data.It can be concluded that the degree of dispersion achievable in pyrogenic (Aerosil) hydrosols by ultrasonication is highly sensitive to the detailed parameters of the dispersion process. Characterization in terms ofabsolute numbers of a limiting particle morphology, corresponding to minima of aggregate size, porosity and number of primary particles in the aggregate is not possible.The most straightforward approach for hydrodynamic characterization seems to be a combination of sedimentation and diffusion data.Other approaches using a combination of sedimentation and viscosity data underestimate the particle dimensions. Moreover, they are quite arbitrary since the final result depends upon the proper choice between several equations for fitting the viscosity concentration dependence; the most rigorous approach seems to be an extended Einstein equation which has recently been adapted to particle aggregates.     

Dielectric analysis of polystyrene microcapsules using scanning dielectric microscope

 A dielectric imaging technique with a scanning dielectric microscope was applied to polystyrene microcapsules in an aqueous environment to study the electrical properties of individual ones. The dielectric images obtained over a frequency range from 10 kHz to 10 MHz showed frequency dependence, which indicated dielectric dispersion (or relaxation) due to interfacial polarization or the build up of charge on the boundaries between the microcapsule shell and the aqueous phases. The dielectric dispersion was analyzed based on an equivalent electrical circuit model and a shell-sphere model in which a spherical core is covered with an insulating shell. Received: 26 September 1997 Accepted: 26 December 1997     

Thermal investigation of PEG 4000 — oxazepam binary system

A thermal study using DSC and Hot Stage Microscopy (HSM) was carried out to investigate the interaction in solid state of the binary system PEG 4000 — oxazepam, and to establish their phase diagram. The eutectic composition, which melting occurs at lower temperature as compared with the pure components, has been determined. The results obtained by DSC and HSM have indicated that PEG 4000 — oxazepam mixtures displays no obvious incompatibilities, and that the system shows a typical eutectic behaviour. However because of the closeness of the melting of PEG 4000 to the eutectic temperature, it was difficult to determine precisely the eutectic composition and temperature on the basis of DSC measurements alone. The use of heats of fusion corresponding to physical mixtures allowed an estimation of the eutectic composition at 6% w/w oxazepam. Additional information of temperature (57.6C) and composition (5–10% w/w oxazepam) of the eutectic was obtained by HSM using the contact method. This low melting temperature in this range of compositions offers advantages in terms of drug stability and easy manufacture.     

Simultaneous acquisition of X-ray spectra using a multi-wire, position-sensitive gas flow detector

A multi-wire, gas-filled position-sensitive detector has been developed for the simultaneous recording of wavelength-dispersed X-ray signals that enables X-ray fluorescence spectrometry with a limited multi-element capability in the low Z element range. Details of the modular construction of the detector are given. The detector performance was characterized using Al–K radiation and a variable slit system. The detector has been applied in a laboratory spectrometer equipped with an electron source and a double multilayer mirror device as the wavelength-dispersing element. Spectra from Al and Si obtained in the simultaneous acquisition mode show good agreement with calculations performed using a ray-tracing model.     

Mass spectrometer-wall probe diagnostic of Ar discharges containing SF6 and/or O2: Reactive ions in etching plasmas

Positive and negative ions of Ar/SF₆ and Ar/SF₆/O₂ plasmas (etching plasmas) and of Ar/O₂ plasmas (cleaning plasmas) in Pyrex tubes have been investigated using a mass spectrometer-wall probe diagnostic technique. The measurement of negative ions proved to be a very sensitive method for the detection of wall material. In etching plasmas with small admixtures of SF₆, oxygen was found as the only representative of wall material. At larger amounts of SF₆, silicon could be detected. In cleaning plasmas with small admixtures of O₂ applied to a previously etched Pyrex surface, fluorine was found, indicating the reversal of fluoridation by oxygenation.     

Influence of the variable wall thickness of the sample tubes and a quartz Dewar on the EPR signal intensity in a single TE102 and double TE104 rectangular cavity

The response of a single TE₁₀₂ and double TE₁₀₄ rectangular cavity to the insertion of samples contained in tubes with variable wall thickness and a quartz Dewar into the cavity has been analyzed. A direct, indirect, and concurrent (positive or negative) “lens effect” inside the double TE₁₀₄ rectangular cavity is discussed. The experimental dependence of the EPR signal intensity on the wall thickness of the sample tube, δ, for the line-like samples with identical length of the sample material column, L=30 mm, recorded in the microwave cavity showed a directly proportional increase of the relative “lens effect” with the increase of the wall thickness of the tube in the interval, δ∈<0.1 mm, >0.5 mm. The insertion of the variable-temperature double-wall quartz Dewar (home-built, resonant frequency shift, ca. −300 MHz) into the single TE₁₀₂ rectangular cavity showed the same relative “lens effect”, with ca. 1.5-time increase of the EPR signal intensity, for a point-like sample and the line-like samples with material columns of diameter of 1 and 1.3 mm, and wall thickness of the sample tubes, δ∈<0.1 mm, >0.5 mm. The increased effect of the Dewar arises because the active volume of the quartz Dewar tube walls is always much more larger than the active volume of the sample tube wall. In the case of the double TE₁₀₄ rectangular cavity, the insertion of the quartz Dewar: (i) into the same cavity, in which the sample is present, caused a direct “lens effect”, with ca. 1.8-fold increase of the EPR signal intensity; however, (ii) into the complementary cavity, in which the sample is absent, caused an indirect “lens effect”, with ca. 0.6-fold decrease of the EPR signal intensity. With the Dewar and sample in one cavity and a large empty sample tube in the complementary cavity, a concurrent (positive or negative) “lens effect” can be observed. Thus, the possible increase/decrease of the EPR signal intensity depends on the volume ratio of the quartz Dewar tube walls and large sample tube wall inserted into the double TE₁₀₄ rectangular cavity. Each of the above phenomena may be a significant source error in quantitative EPR spectrometry unless the samples to be compared in the quantitative EPR analysis are contained in sample tubes having the same wall thickness and each EPR spectra should be recorded inside an identical quartz Dewar.