A turbidimetric method to measure isoelectric points and particles deposition onto massive substrates

A simple experimental approach was developed to determine the adhesion rate of particles onto massive substrate. Turbidimetry measurements are used to follow the evolution of particle concentration in a suspension in dynamic contact with the walls of a vessel made of different materials. This method allows to rapidly obtain qualitative results about the adhesion of metallic oxides particles on massive substrates. Adhesion of particles of charged latex onto glass was used to validate the approach and was shown to be a method to determine isoelectric points (IEP) of massive substrates. Then, the adhesion of an iron oxide (hematite) particles onto several substrates was studied to determine the reactivity of current labware (glass, polypropylene) and on a metal (aluminum) commonly found in industrial fouling problems. Adhesion of hematite was found to be pH-dependant, and occurs only below ca. 6 (glass) or 7 (polypropylene), and above 7 (aluminum). DLVO calculations were performed to model the hematite/water/glass system and are consistent with the experimental results. Experiments at temperature 7–50 °C have shown an increasing of the adhesion rate from 7 to 40 °C, then a constant value until 50 °C.     

Optimization of a portable microanalytical system to reduce electrode fouling from proteins associated with biomonitoring of lead (Pb) in saliva

There is a need to develop reliable portable analytical systems for on-site and real-time biomonitoring of lead (Pb) from both occupational and environmental exposures. Saliva is an appealing matrix since it is easily obtainable, and therefore a potential substitute for blood due to existing reasonably good correlation between Pb levels in blood and saliva. The microanalytical system is based on flow-injection/stripping voltammetry with a wall-jet (flow-onto) microelectrochemical cell. Samples that contain as little as 1% saliva can cause electrode fouling, resulting in significantly reduced responsiveness and irreproducible quantitations. In addition, incomplete Pb release from salivary protein can also yield a lower Pb response than expected. This paper evaluates the extent of in vitro Pb-protein binding and the optimal pretreatment for releasing Pb from the saliva samples. Even in 50% by volume of rat saliva, the electrode fouling was not observed, due to the appropriate sample pretreatment and the constant flow of the sample and acidic carrier that prevented passivation by the protein. The system offered a linear response over a low Pb range of 1-10 ppb, low detection limit of 1 ppb, excellent reproducibility, and reliability. It also yielded the same Pb concentrations in unknown samples as did the ICP-MS. These encouraging results suggest that the microanalytical system represents an important analytical advancement for real-time non-invasive biomonitoring of Pb.     

丹麦生物质发电的现状和研究发展趋势

丹麦是世界上利用秸秆生物质燃烧发电技术开发、运行最好的国家，其经验值得中国借鉴。根据作者在丹麦对生物质燃烧发电的研究经历，系统地介绍了丹麦在秸秆生物质发电的经验、遇到的问题及相应的研究和今后的发展方向。     

Resistance to Surfactant and Protein Fouling Effects at Conducting Diamond Electrodes

Boron‐doped diamond thin‐film electrodes display negligible fouling effects in the presence of high levels of surface‐active materials, including proteins. Dramatic improvements in the stability of the analyte response (compared to common glassy carbon and carbon paste electrodes) are illustrated using bovine serum albumin (BSA), gelatin, and Triton X‐100 in connection with repetitive square‐wave voltammetric (SWV) measurements. The voltammetric response of ascorbic acid at the diamond electrode exhibits negligible shifts in peak potentials and minimal depressions of current signals over a wide range of surfactant concentrations (0–750 ppm). For example, the diamond electrode exhibited 70, 50 and 60 mV potential shifts for 10 repetitive voltammetric scans in the presence of 100 ppm BSA, gelatin and Triton X‐100, respectively, compared to 120, 190, and 280 mV shifts observed at the glassy carbon electrode. Furthermore, only 4.3 and 6.2% of the initial current decays were observed in the presence of 100 ppm Triton X‐100 and gelatin, respectively (compared to 45.2 and 34.4% diminutions at the glassy carbon electrode). Such improved performance was also confirmed from the SWV measurements of uric acid, dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, and catechol. The greatly improved resistance to surfactant interference reflects the fact that the as‐grown diamond thin film, composed of oxide‐free and hydrogen‐terminated surface, has a relatively lower surface energy and minimal electrostatic attributes, either specific or general, so that little adsorption of surface‐active agents occurs. The topographic AFM images of the diamond electrode surface confirm a negligible BSA fouling effect after repetitive SWV measurements. Such enhanced antifouling features make diamond electrodes very attractive for numerous real‐life electroanalytical applications.     

Biocompatible polymers for antibody support on gold surfaces

The elimination or minimization of non-specific protein adsorption from serum is critical for the use of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensors for in vitro and in vivo analysis of complex biological solutions. The ultimate goals in this application are to minimize non-specific adsorption of protein and to maximize analyte signal. A reduction of the non-specific protein adsorption from serum of up to 73% compared to carboxymethylated-dextran 500 kDa (CM-dextran) was achieved following a survey of eight biocompatible polymers and 10 molecular weights of CM-dextran. These coatings minimize non-specific adsorption on the sensor while also serving as immobilization matrices for antibody fixation to the probes. Polymers including polysaccharides: CM-dextrans, CM-hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid, and alginic acid were investigated. Humic acid, polylactic acid, polyacrylic acid, orthopyridyldisuldfide–polyethyleneglycol–N-hydroxysuccinimide (OPSS–PEG–NHS), and a synthesized polymer; polymethacrylic-acid-co-vinyl-acetate (PMAVA) were also used. The non-specific protein adsorption reduction was measured over a 14 day period at 0 °C for each polymer. Calibration curves using some of these polymers were constructed to show the performance and low detection limit possibilities of these new antibody supports. For many of the polymers, this is the first demonstration of employment as an antibody support for an optical or surface active sensor. CM-dextran is the polymer offering the largest signal for the antigen detection. However, the biocompatible polymers demonstrate a greater stability to non-specific binding in serum. These biocompatible polymers offer different alternatives for CM-dextran.     

Fouling Mitigation in a Heat Exchanger: High Cycles of Concentration for a Cooling-Tower Application

The purpose of the present study is to investigate the effect of a physical water treatment (PWT) technology on fouling mitigation in a simulated cooling tower operating at high cycles of concentration. Hard water was produced by evaporating pure water in a circulating open cooling tower, where dissolved calcium carbonate ions became concentrated with time. Heat transfer tests were conducted in a rectangular channel by varying the cycle of concentration (COC) from 5 to 10, and fouling resistances were measured over 270 hrs for each case with and without the PWT treatment. Another test was conducted with no blowdown case with and without the PWT treatment. The fouling resistance at 5 cycles with the PWT treatment was about 70% less than that in the case without the PWT treatment at the end of 270-hr tests. Even at 10 cycles, the PWT treatment reduced the fouling resistance by 60% from the value for the no treatment case. Thus, one can conclude that the PWT technology can help circulating cooling-tower water at relatively high COC for significant freshwater conservation, while keeping fouling resistances below industry standards.     

涡流发生器污垢特性实验台的设计

为了研究涡流发生器的污垢特性设计了一个能够在线监测温度、流量以及压差进而可以直接得到污垢热阻的实验台。通过验证实验、准确性分析与误差分析,验证了实验台设计精度在允许的误差范围内。示例实验结果表明实验台具有研究涡流发生器的污垢特性、压力特性以及换热特性的功能。     

抗污染薄层复合聚酰胺膜的结构设计及改性策略

由活性层和支撑层组成的薄层复合(TFC)聚酰胺(PA)膜,是目前广泛应用于纳滤、反渗透、正渗透和压力延迟渗透过程中的高性能脱盐膜,具有水通量大和截盐率高等优异性能。然而,由于TFC-PA膜存在活性层疏水性强、支撑层孔径大等特点,致使TFC-PA膜在实际使用过程中极易受到膜污染,制约了TFC-PA膜的进一步推广和使用。本文讨论分析了TFC-PA膜的结构特点和表面性质,总结归纳了在不同膜过程中TFC-PA膜污染形成的原因及特点,详细论述了国内外抗污染TFC-PA膜的研究进展。本文重点介绍了活性层抗污染改性和支撑层抗污染改性方法,并对其抗污染机理以及存在的问题进行了阐述与分析,最后对抗污染TFC-PA膜的结构设计与表面改性策略进行了总结及展望。     

污垢热阻动态监测装置及其传热计算方法的研究

介绍了污垢热阻动态监测装置的构成及特点.根据传热学基本原理,对该套装置进行了光滑管对流换热性能测试,结果表明两侧流体热平衡最大偏差小于10%,实验结果与经验公式计算的Nu数相吻合,其最大偏差小于l0%.用该装置进行换热表面污垢的动态自动监测,可以得出准确可靠的实验结果.     

The hydration properties of carboxybetaine zwitterion brushes

Combined quantum mechanical calculations and classical molecular dynamics simulations were conducted to investigate the hydration properties of carboxybetaine zwitterion brushes with varying separation distances between the quaternary ammonium cation and carboxylic anion. The brushes consist of zwitterion trimers and are investigated to mimic interacting zwitterion chains grafted on a substrate as well as polymers with interacting zwitterion side chains. Our results show that the values of both positive and negative charges, their separation distances as well as chain interactions appear to play a critical role in the hydration properties of the zwitterions. The overall hydration property of these zwitterions is dictated by the competition between the strong hydration of the charged groups and the dehydration of the hydrocarbon chains. The strongest hydration occurs when the ? CH₂? unit in the hydrocarbon chain reaches 6–8 for these trimers. Further increase in the hydrocarbon chain length to 10–14 leads to significant and sudden dehydration of the trimers. The water structure and the water residence time surrounding the zwitterions also demonstrate substantial alteration at this length scale. This hydrophilic‐to‐hydrophobic transition is induced by the hydrophobic interactions of the trimer chains. Our hydration results could explain the observed trend of the superiority of the methylated carbohydrates and poly(ethylene glycol) as antifouling materials compared to corresponding hydroxyl‐terminated compounds. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.