A study of the removal of heavy metals from aqueous solutions by Moringa oleifera seeds and amine-based ligand 1,4-bis[N,N-bis(2-picoyl)amino]butane

Uptake for lead, copper, cadmium, nickel and manganese from aqueous solution using the Moringa oleifera seeds biomass (MOSB) and amine-based ligand (ABL) was investigated. Experiments on two synthetic multi-solute systems revealed that MOSB performed well in the biosorption and followed the decreasing orders Pb(II) > Cu(II) > Cd(II) > Ni(II) > Mn(II) and Zn(II) > Cu(II) > Ni(II). The general trend of the heavy metal ions uptake by the amine-based ligand followed decreased in the order Mn > Cd > Cu > Ni > Pb, which is the reverse trend for what was observed for MOSB. Comparing the single- and multi-metal solutions, there was no clear effect in the biosorption capacity of MOSB suggesting the presence of sufficient active binding sites for all metal ions studied. The MOSB performance is also not affected by pH in the range 3.5–8.     

Optimizing the DMFC operating conditions using a response surface method

The power density of a Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC) as a function of temperature, methanol concentration, air flow rate, methanol flow rate and air relative humidity was studied using a Response Surface Methodology (RSM). For a DMFC equipped with a membrane of Nafion 112, it was observed that only the temperature, methanol concentration and air flow rate were relevant factors or operating variables. A new design of experiments was done for a narrower range of these variables and the operating values that optimise the power density were obtained using the software JMP 7.0 (SAS). The predicted power density values were in agreement with the experimental results obtained for the optimized operating conditions. Then, the RSM was applied to membranes with different thicknesses, Nafion 112, Nafion 1135 and Nafion 117, and as a function of the temperature and methanol concentration. The DMFC was characterized for the open circuit voltage (OCV), methanol crossover at the OC, power density and global efficiency. The membrane showing the best compromise between power density and efficiency was Nafion 117.     

Synthesis and Characterization of the Monomer 2,2′ diallylbisphenol-A (ABFA) for obtaining Proton Exchange Membranes based on Crosslinked Sulphonated Poly(Arylene ether sulphone)s

Summary: In the present work, a methodology of synthesis and characterization of the monomer 2,2′ diallylbisphenol-A (ABFA) was developed, aiming at getting a precursor, with adequate purity, for obtaining cross-linked membranes based on sulphonated poly(arylene ether sulphone)s. The monomer synthesis involved the synthesis of 2,2′ bis(4-allyloxiphenyl)propane (Bisphenol-A, diallyl ether - BFAAE), from Bisphenol-A (BFA), followed by Claisen rearrangement of BFAAE, for the production of the target compound 2,2′ diallylbisphenol-A (ABFA). All the compounds, reagent BFA and obtained products, intermediate product BFAAE and final product ABFA, were characterized by FTIR (Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy), TGA (Thermo-gravimetric analysis) and HPLC (High-performance liquid chromatography). The compound BFAAE was obtained with a yield of 94.5% and a purity of 97.3%, the latter characterized by TGA and by HPLC. The structure of the product was confirmed by FTIR. The thermal Claisen rearrangement process was conducted by using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) technique, from a factorial experiment planning, with two factors and three levels, with temperature and time being the variables. The above cited techniques were used for monitoring the Claisen rearrangement and for the characterization of the final product. The best results yield ABFA purity between 85 and 90%, approximately, for 220 °C/60min, 230 °C/30min and 210 °C/90min conditions. The obtained results suggest that, in the studied range, polymerization and degradation of the monomer ABFA occur, simultaneously to its formation.     

Preparation and properties of Nafion/SiO2 composite membrane derived via in situ sol–gel reaction: size controlling and size effects of SiO2 nano‐particles

A novel technique in controlling the size of SiO₂ nano‐particles in the preparation of Nafion/SiO₂ composite membranes via in situ sol–gel method, as well as the effects of nano‐particle size on membrane properties and cell performance, is reported in this paper. Nafion/SiO₂ composite membranes containing SiO₂ nano‐particles with four different diameters (5 ± 0.5, 7 ± 0.5, 10 ± 1, and 15 ± 2 nm) are fabricated by altering the reactant concentrations during in situ sol–gel reaction. Sequentially, size effects of SiO₂ nano‐particles on membrane properties and cell performance are investigated by SEM/EDAX, TEM, TGA, mechanical tensile, and single cell tests, etc. The results suggest that 10 nm is a critical diameter for SiO₂ incorporated into Nafion matrix, exhibiting desirable physico‐chemical properties for operation at elevated temperature and low humidity. At 110°C and 59% RH, the output voltage of the cell equipped with Nafion/SiO₂ (10 nm) obtains an output voltage of 0.625 V at 600 mA/cm², which is 50 mV higher than that of unmodified Nafion. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

微生物燃料电池

微生物燃料电池 (Microbial Fuel Cells,MFCs) 是一种利用微生物作为催化剂,将燃料中的化学能直接转化为电能的装置。本文首先简要介绍了MFCs 的发展简史和基本原理,针对MFCs 产电性能低的现状,分别从产电微生物、电池结构、质子交换膜(PEM)、电极以及电解液等方面着重综述了近几年有关提高MFCs 产电性能的研究进展。最后介绍了关于MFCs 的另一些有趣的研究方向：植物MFCs,生物阴极MFCs,以及污水脱氮和有毒废水处理。     

Influence of contaminations on combustion kinetics in hydrogen-fueled engine

In this work, we investigate the combustion of hydrogen fuel through the wind tunnel tests. Two kinds of fuel, the pure hydrogen and the hydrogen-ethene mixture, have been chosen to heat the oxygen-enriched air. It is found that the stable pressure in the engine combustor and the thrusts is almost the same in two cases. A valuable feature we revealed is that the heating pattern of hydrogen and ethene mixture leads to a considerable delay of the establishment of the wall pressure in the combustor, compared with the pure hydrogen case. This phenomenon implies a longer ignition delay time for the mixture case. The shorter ignition delay resulting from the hydrogen heater is attributed to the continuity of chain propagation and the exclusion of the less active C-containing radicals.     

江苏中部海岸互花米草盐沼底栖动物的组成特征

在江苏海岸,人工引种的互花米草正在成为盐沼植被的优势物种.为了了解互花米草引种对环境与生态的影响,调查了互花米草盐沼底栖动物的组成特征.在王港地区互花米草滩由西向东设置的4个站位上,进行了夏初和秋末两个时期的野外调查,采集了40个样方内可见的全部动物样本,记录了环境特征.在实验室鉴定了样本的种属,测量了动物介壳的长度.对所获数据的统计分析结果显示,本区互花米草盐沼中有7种大型底栖动物,夏初和秋末生物种类相同,但秋末生物量明显高于夏初.在代表性种属中,珠带拟蟹守螺(Cerithidea cingulata)的壳长从初夏到秋末有明显增大,而秋末粗糙滨螺(Littorna scabra)和赤豆螺(Bithynia fuchsiana)比初夏小且少.在互花米草盐沼的不同部位,腹足类物种分布有显著差异.现场观察数据显示,一些当地盐沼动物已经适应于在人工引种的互花米草盐沼中生存.     

生物质快速热解液化的实验

在集成的生物质热解液化系统装置上,进行了生物质快速热解制取液体燃料的实验.以几种代表性生物质为原料,研究了热解温度、生物质种类、运行操作条件等对热解液化率的影响.试验结果表明,在现有系统装置上,生物质最高液化率可达51.7%,不同操作条件对最终热解液化率有显著的影响.     

重金属镉离子对花生幼苗的影响

采用实验室内培养研究不同浓度Cd2+处理对花生幼苗生长和部分生理特性的影响.结果表明:1.不同浓度CCd2+对花生幼苗株高和根长生长的抑制影响是显著的.2.不同浓度Cd2+对花生幼苗生物量的影响是显著的,对地上部分的毒害作用与其对地下部分的毒害作用相当;Cd2+浓度为0.25 mg/L对花生幼苗全株生物量生长产生促进作用,但随着浓度的增加对其生长的抑制作用却在增加,不同浓度Cd2+对株高的影响基本与对全株生物量一致.3.花生幼苗叶绿素含量以及叶绿素a/,b比值在0.25mg/L Cd2+处理浓度时达到峰值,随Cd2+浓度的增加,含量下降,短时间、低浓度Cd2+胁迫对花生幼苗叶绿素a和叶绿素b的合成有刺激效应.     

The design and calculation of the delayed neutron detection system for PWR and CEFR

This paper discussed the importance of the delayed neutron detection system. We improved the delayed neutron detection station and delayed neutron detector, so the noise was greatly decreased and the detection efficiency was greatly increased. After the improvement the stability of the detector was enhanced and the false alarm was eliminated. We introduced the principle of the gas lift pump designed for the sodium cooled fast reactor. A calculation model of the failed fuel detection system of CEFR was proposed, and from the model a code using LabWindows/CVI was developed. The minimum broken area that could be detected by the delayed neutron detection system of CEFR was calculated and the delayed neutron detection signal in a few representative transient conditions during fuel failure happened was stimulated.