Optimization of Pathogen Capture in Flowing Fluids with Magnetic Nanoparticles

Magnetic nanoparticles have been employed to capture pathogens for many biological applications; however, optimal particle sizes have been determined empirically in specific capturing protocols. Here, a theoretical model that simulates capture of bacteria is described and used to calculate bacterial collision frequencies and magnetophoretic properties for a range of particle sizes. The model predicts that particles with a diameter of 460 nm should produce optimal separation of bacteria in buffer flowing at 1 L h⁻¹. Validating the predictive power of the model, Staphylococcus aureus is separated from buffer and blood flowing through magnetic capture devices using six different sizes of magnetic particles. Experimental magnetic separation in buffer conditions confirms that particles with a diameter closest to the predicted optimal particle size provide the most effective capture. Modeling the capturing process in plasma and blood by introducing empirical constants (c_e), which integrate the interfering effects of biological components on the binding kinetics of magnetic beads to bacteria, smaller beads with 50 nm diameters are predicted that exhibit maximum magnetic separation of bacteria from blood and experimentally validated this trend. The predictive power of the model suggests its utility for the future design of magnetic separation for diagnostic and therapeutic applications.     

磁絮凝强化技术处理厌氧消化污泥脱水液

为满足后续生物处理单元对固体悬浮物（SS）和铁浓度的进水要求，采用磁絮凝强化技术对厌氧消化污泥脱水液进行预处理。通过正交试验和单因素试验，本文考察了混凝水力条件、聚合氯化铝（PAC）投加量、聚丙烯酰胺（PAM）投加量、磁粉投加量及药剂投加顺序对磁絮凝效果的影响。试验结果表明：磁絮凝强化技术在快搅300r/min（2min）、慢搅100r/min（15min）、静置10min时，依次投加磁粉（40mg/L）、PAC（30mg/L）、PAM（4mg/L）时处理效果最好。在此运行条件下，SS和Fe³⁺去除率分别为97.61%、98.24%、絮凝指数（FI值）取得最大值、zeta电位绝对值最小，絮凝效果最佳。与对照相比，磁絮凝强化技术对SS和Fe³⁺去除率分别可提高3.70%和10.82%，同时絮体最大沉降速度可提高33%。磁絮凝技术处理后的出水不仅可以满足后续生物处理单元对SS和铁浓度的要求，还可以有效提高磁絮凝体的沉降速度，减小沉淀时间，具有较好的实用价值。     

Development of LTCC micro-hotplate with PTC temperature sensor for gas-sensing applications

Low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) micro-hotplates show wide applications in gas sensors and micro-fluidic devices. It is easily structured in three-dimensional structures. This paper presents the low power consumption micro-hotplates which were developed with PTC (positive temperature coefficient) temperature sensor and inter-digitated electrodes. The paper presents two different structures for micro-hotplate with platinum as a heating element. The PTC temperature sensor using two different materials viz. PdAg and platinum paste are developed with micro-hotplates. The simulation has been achieved through COMSOL for LTCC and alumina micro-hotplates. The temperature variation with power consumption has been measured for the developed LTCC micro-hotplates. The change in resistance of PTC temperature sensors was measured with micro-hotplate temperature. The aim of this study was to place a temperature sensor with the gas sensor module to measure and control the temperature of micro-hotplate. A SnO₂ sensing layer is coated on LTCC micro-hotplate using screen printing and characterized for the sensing of carbon monoxide gas (CO). This study will be beneficial for designing hotplates based on LTCC technology with low power consumption and better stability of temperature for gas-sensing applications.     

CO2驱沥青质沉积对致密储层的伤害机理——以鄂尔多斯盆地延长组长8储层为例

为了揭示CO2驱替过程中沥青质沉积对致密储层的伤害机理,文中基于岩心核磁共振T2谱测试原理,开展了CO2注入压力下的岩心驱替实验,研究了沥青质在岩心中的沉积特征,评价了沥青质沉积对储层的伤害程度。实验结果表明:沥青质沉积量和渗透率伤害率随着CO2注入压力的升高呈现先快速上升后趋于平缓的趋势;在CO2注入过程中,沥青质主要沉积在弛豫时间大于10 ms的大、中孔隙,导致大、中孔隙占比下降,微细、小孔隙占比增加,且随着CO2注入压力的升高,大、中孔隙占比下降幅度增大,微细、小孔隙占比上升幅度增大;此外,沥青质沉积会引起润湿性发生反转,随着沥青质沉积量的增加,润湿反转指数增大,岩心润湿性不断向强油湿方向转变。     

Inferring kinetic dissolution of NaCl in aqueous glycol solution using a low-cost apparatus and population balance model

An experimental methodology for inferring brine dissolution rate in monoethylene glycol (MEG) solutions at different temperatures using a webcam combined with a mathematical model is presented. The measurement system is designed to track the RGB (red, green, and blue) colour variations during the dissolution process. A dynamic model augmented with the population balance equation is applied to describe the dissolution process. Moreover, the dissolution rate is consistently related to the temperature and MEG concentration through the driving force based on the Gibbs energy and chemical affinity. The applied low-cost measurement apparatus proved to be a useful resource for tracking the dissolution dynamics in a wide range of undersaturation.     

Cd-substituted Mg composites with dual-equivalent permeability and permittivity for high-frequency miniaturization antennas

Spinel Mg ferrites Mg_1-xCd_xCo_0.05Fe_1.95O₄ (x=0.0, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4) as potential agents for the miniaturization of high frequency antennas are presented. All the synthesized compositions were experimentally revealed to possess pure spinel phase. Dual-equivalent permeability and permittivity (μ'≈26, ε'≈25, x=0.3 and μ'≈29, ε'≈28, x=0.4) from 5 to 100 MHz can be achieved by introducing Cd²⁺ ions, yielding large miniaturization factors of up to 25 and 28. To figure out the effects of Cd²⁺ ions substitution on magnetic and dielectric properties, the change in microstructure is mainly investigated. Meanwhile, enhanced magnetic properties including upward saturation magnetization (Ms) (approximately 47.60 emu/g) and reduced coercivity (approximately 54.22 Oe) are obtained due to increased grain size and denser microstructure arrangements reflected from scanning electron microscopy images. With low magnitude order of magnetic and dielectric losses factors (tanδ_ε reaches 10^-4, tanδ_μ reaches 10^-2), the composites can potentially exhibit high operating efficiencies at high frequencies.     

Effects of sintering in a high magnetic field on properties of vitrified bond and vitrified CBN composites

Vitrified bond CBN grinding wheels are being widely used due to their superior performance. Also, advantages of vitrified grinding wheels are high elastic modulus, stable chemical property, and low thermal expansion coefficient. Brittleness and low strength are key factors restricting the development of vitrified bond CBN grinding wheels. In this paper, the sintering in a high magnetic field was innovatively introduced into the manufacturing of vitrified bond CBN grinding wheels, and the effects of sintering in a high magnetic field on properties on vitrified bond and vitrified CBN composites were systematically investigated. Vitrified bond was characterized using three-point bending, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction. It was observed that microstructure of vitrified bond could be changed, grain orientation could be controlled and average grain size could be decreased in a high magnetic field, while vitrified bond strength could be simultaneously improved. High quality vitrified bond could be obtained by appropriately adjusting the strength and direction of high magnetic field. Results demonstrated that vitrified bond properties were improved when the magnetic field strength was 6?T. In order to highlight the high magnetic field effect on the vitrified CBN composites, the ordinary CBN abrasives and nickel plated CBN abrasives were used respectively. Microstructures, bending strengths of vitrified CBN composites were compared in different high magnetic fields. When the magnetic field strength was appropriate (less than 6?T), the binding characteristic of vitrified bond CBN composites with nickel plated CBN abrasives was greatly improved. The highest bending strength value of vitrified CBN composites was 79.5?MPa in 6?T high magnetic field.