Biofuels–Renewable Energy Sources: A Review

Biodiesel is biodegradable and nontoxic, and it significantly reduces toxic and other emissions when burned as a fuel. The advantages of biodiesel as diesel fuel are its portability, ready availability, renewability, higher combustion efficiency, non-toxicity, higher flash point, and lower sulfur and aromatic content, higher cetane number, and higher biodegradability. The major disadvantages of biodiesel are its higher viscosity, lower energy content, higher cloud point and pour point, higher nitrogen oxide (NO_x) emissions, lower engine speed and power, injector coking, engine compatibility, high price, and greater engine wear. The technical disadvantages of biodiesel/fossil diesel blends include problems with fuel freezing in cold weather, reduced energy density, and degradation of fuel under storage for prolonged periods. The sources of biodiesel are vegetable oils and fats. The direct use of vegetable oils and/or oil blends is generally considered to be unsatisfactory and impractical for both direct injection and indirect type diesel engines because of their high viscosities and low volatilities injector coking and trumpet formation on the injectors, higher level of carbon deposits, oil ring sticking, and thickening and gelling of the engine lubricant oil, acid composition. Biodiesel is obtained by transesterifying triglycerides with methanol. A popular variation of the batch transesterification process which needs high alcohol/acid ratio (several separation problems and high corrosivity and toxicity) is the use of continuous stirred tank reactors in series. This continuous process is heterogeneous and is based on reactive distillation. The key factor is the selection of the right and effective solid catalyst which leads to reduction of energy consumption and investments at all.     

蒸汽活化生物质焦吸附模拟烟气中SO2和NO的研究

以麦秆和稻壳生物质为研究对象,在不同的热解温度、热解速率以及蒸汽活化温度条件下制备了生物质焦,采用比表面积与孔隙度分析仪测定生物质焦的比表面积和孔隙结构参数。利用固定床吸附装置,研究了热解温度、热解速率、活化温度和模拟烟气中SO₂和NO浓度等因素对生物质焦吸附SO₂和NO性能的影响。结果表明,蒸汽活化可以显著提高生物质焦的BET比表面积、D-R比表面积、D-R微孔容积和总孔容,降低其平均孔径,并显著增加蒸汽活化生物质焦对SO₂与NO吸附的起始穿透时间和吸附量。快速热解下制得的蒸汽活化焦对SO₂和NO的吸附效果优于慢速热解,热解温度为873 K的蒸汽活化焦的吸附性能明显好于热解温度为673与1 073 K的蒸汽活化焦。在973~1 173 K下,随着蒸汽活化温度的提高,蒸汽活化生物质焦对SO₂和NO的吸附量呈现先上升后下降的趋势。随着模拟烟气中SO₂与NO浓度的降低,蒸汽活化生物质焦对SO₂与NO吸附的起始穿透时间延长,但相应的SO₂和NO吸附量下降。在873 K、快速热解和1 073 K条件下制得的蒸汽活化麦秆焦对SO₂和NO吸附量最大,其值分别为109.02和21.77 mg/g。     

Spectrophotometric Determination of Phenols and Cyanides After Distillation from Natural Waters

Abstract

Total phenols were determined by molecular spectrophotometry, after distillation, complexation with 4-aminoantipyrine and extraction into chloroform. Cyanides were also determined spectrophotometrically after distillation from the acidified samples, and complexation in moderate acidic solution with barbituric acid. The dynamic ranges were 0 – 100 μg L^?1 for total phenols and 0 – 30 μg L^?1 for cyanides. The above methods were applied in the analysis of river, lake and stream waters collected from Northern Greece. The seasonal and spatial variation of concentrations was evaluated by two-way ANOVA. Background levels (4 – 12 μg L^?1 for total phenols and 0.3 – 3 μg L^?1 for cyanides), were found in almost all surface waters, with some exceptions.     

稀释蒸汽中Na+及积炭对甲醇制丙烯催化剂性能影响

考察了稀释蒸汽中Na⁺及积炭对甲醇制丙烯(MTP)催化剂物理化学性质和催化性能影响, 及离子交换后催化性能. 采用X射线衍射(XRD)、扫描电镜(SEM)、X射线荧光(XRF)光谱、N₂吸附-脱附、程序升温氨脱附(NH3-TPD)和热重(TG)分析等方法对失活和再生催化剂进行了表征, 并在101325 Pa、470℃ 和甲醇空速(WHSV)为1.0-3.0 h^-1的反应条件下, 采用连续流动固定床微型反应器考察其催化甲醇制丙烯性能. 结果表明: MTP反应970 h后的催化剂晶体结构和形貌没有受到明显破坏, 但稀释蒸汽中Na⁺极易扩散至催化剂表面,部分取代H质子的位置, 从而使催化剂酸性逐渐下降而中毒失活; 另外, MTP催化剂表面的积炭导致分子筛微孔堵塞是造成其失活的主要原因, 可通过烧炭再生过程消除, 而水蒸汽脱铝对催化剂性能的影响缓慢但更严重. 用再生和离子交换处理后, Na⁺中毒催化剂MTP反应性能基本完全恢复. 在470 h反应过程中, 甲醇转化率保持在99%以上, 丙烯选择性大于46%, 且随着反应时间的延长, 丙烯选择性逐渐升高、乙烯选择性逐渐下降.     

The effect of copper content on the reactivity of Cu/Co6Al2 solids in the catalytic steam reforming of methane reaction

The steam reforming of methane over Cu/Co₆Al₂ mixed oxides with different copper contents was studied. The Co₆Al₂ support was prepared via the hydrotalcite route. It was thermally stabilized at 500 °C, impregnated with 5 wt.%, 15 wt.% or 25 wt.% copper using copper (II) nitrate Cu(NO₃)₂·3H₂O precursor and then calcined again at 500 °C under an air flow. The impregnation of copper enhanced significantly the reactivity of the solids in the considered reaction. The 5Cu/Co₆Al₂ solid was the most reactive one, with a methane conversion of 96% at 650 °C. The selectivities of H₂ and CO₂ were also better for the catalyst containing 5 wt.% copper compared to higher copper loadings. The decrease in the catalytic reactivity with increasing the copper content was attributed to the formation of agglomerated and less reactive CuO species, which were detected by XRD and TPR analyses.     

The Influence of Different Pretreatment Methods on Color and Pigment Change in Beetroot Products

Vegetable processing pomace contains valuable substances such as natural colors that can be reused as functional ingredients. Due to a large amount of water, they are an unstable material. The aim of our research was to assess how the pretreatment method (thermal or nonthermal) affects the properties of powders obtained from beet juice and pomace after the freeze-drying process. The raw material was steamed or sonicated for 10 or 15 min, and then squeezed into juice and pomace. Both squeezed products were freeze-dried. The content of dry substance; L*, a*, and b* color parameters; and the content of betalain pigments were analyzed. Pretreatments increased the proportion of red and yellow in the juices. Steam and ultrasound caused a significant reduction in parameter b* in the dried pomace. A significant increase in betanin in lyophilizates was observed after pretreatment with ultrasound and steam for 15 min. As a result of all experiments, dried juices and pomaces can also be used as a colorant source. However, there is higher potential with pomaces due to their additional internal substances as well as better storage properties. After a few hours, juice was sticky and not ready to use.     

Chemical Composition of a Novel Distillate from Fermented Mixture of Nine Anti-Inflammatory Herbs and Its UVB-Protective Efficacy in Mouse Dorsal Skin via Attenuating Collagen Disruption and Inflammation

Since ancient times, various herbs have been used in Asia, including Korea, China, and Japan, for wound healing and antiaging of the skin. In this study, we manufactured and chemically analyzed a novel distillate obtained from a fermented mixture of nine anti-inflammatory herbs (Angelica gigas, Lonicera japonica, Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz., D. opposita Thunb., Ulmus davidiana var. japonica, Hordeum vulgare var. hexastichon Aschers., Xanthium strumarium L., Cnidium officinale, and Houttuynia cordata Thunb.). The fermentation of natural plants possesses beneficial effects in living systems. These activities are attributed to the chemical conversion of the parent plants to functional constituents which show more potent biological activities. In our current study, the distillate has been manufactured after fermenting the nine oriental medical plants with Lactobacillus fermentum, followed by distilling. We analyzed the chemical ingredients involved in the distillate and evaluated the effects of topical application of the distillate on ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced skin damage in Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice. Topical application of the distillate significantly ameliorated the macroscopic and microscopic morphology of the dorsal skin against photodamage induced by UVB radiation. Additionally, our current results showed that topical application of the distillate alleviated collagen disruption and reduced levels of proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin 1 β expressions) in the dorsal skin against UVB radiation. Taken together, our current findings suggest that the distillate has a potential to be used as a material to develop a photoprotective adjuvant.     

基于Ti3C2-MXene的太阳能界面水汽转换

水资源匮乏是现代化发展中面临的全球性问题,太阳能界面水汽转换(Interfacial Solar Steam Generation, ISSG)是一种高效、绿色、低成本进行海水淡化和废水处理的方法。ISSG使用绿色的太阳能作为热源,通过光热转换并将热限制在水气界面上以高效产生蒸气,然后经过冷凝收集获得清洁水。设计和构筑具有强光吸收的光热转换材料是ISSG的技术核心。Ti₃C₂-MXene是一种新型二维碳化钛材料,具有比表面积大、水分散性好和光热转换效率高等优点,在ISSG领域具有巨大的应用潜力。本文介绍了ISSG技术和MXene,总结了光热转换材料的设计原则,论述了Ti₃C₂-MXene复合材料在ISSG领域的研究进展,其中包括二维MXene薄膜、三维MXene气凝胶和水凝胶、生物基-MXene复合材料的构筑和性能等,并分析了Ti₃C₂-MXene所面临的挑战和发展前景。     

物理化学教学中安全工程教育的融合与内化实例*

如何强化安全工程教育是化学化工类专业高等教育的一个重要课题。通过对蒸汽锅炉爆炸、火灾爆燃事故以及锈蚀危害等3个实例的详细讲述,指出在物理化学的教学中,若适时融入相关的安全工程教育,可以使学生深刻理解安全事故发生及防范所依赖的物理化学原理,从而起到安全意识的内化作用。教学中现代教育技术的引入可以增强这一效果。     

Three-dimensional porous photo-thermal fiber felt with salt-resistant property for high efficient solar distillation

The urgent need for fresh water resource is a public issue facing the world. Solar distillation for seawater desalination is a promising freshwater production method. Interfacial solar evaporation systems based on 2D photo-thermal membranes have been widely studied, but salt pollution is one of the main challenges for solar distillation. In order to solve this problem, a hydrophilic three-dimensional (3D) porous photo-thermal fiber felt (PFF) was obtained by one-step method, through a simple polydopamine (PDA) coating method with hydrophobic graphite felt as a substrate. The PFF had a good evaporation rate of 1.48 kg m^?2 h^-1 and its corresponding light-vapor conversion efficiency reached 87.4%. In addition, the PFF exhibited an excellent salt-resistant ability when applied to photo-thermal evaporation of high-salinity seawater with 10 wt% NaCl, owing to its intrinsic 3D macroporous structure for the migration circulation of salt ions. The development of the PFF offers a new route for the exploration of salt-resistant photo-thermal materials and is promising for the practical application of solar distillation.