Dynamic Performance of a Complex Distillation System to Separate a Five‐Component Hydrocarbon Mixture

Distillation is one of the most used separation processes in chemical industry, although it is a highly energy‐intensive operation. For multicomponent distillation, complex structures have been proposed in previous works, which may allow energy savings. Nevertheless, it is mandatory to understand the dynamic characteristics of such complex structures. In this work, the dynamic performance of a dividing‐wall‐based structure for the separation of a five‐component mixture is studied. A sensitivity analysis is performed on the structure in terms of the interlinking streams, performing a singular value decomposition analysis to selected cases with different operational conditions. The designs with the lowest energy duties also showed the best open‐loop properties.     

Coexistence of three ferroelectric phases and enhanced piezoelectric properties in BaTiO3–CaHfO3 lead-free ceramics

Perovskite ferroelectrics possess the fascinating piezoelectric properties near a morphotropic phase boundary, attributing to a low energy barrier that the results in structural instability and easy polarization rotation. In this work, a new lead-free system of (1-x)BaTiO₃-xCaHfO₃ was designed, and characterized by a coexistence of ferroelectric rhombohedral-orthorhombic-tetragonal (R-O-T) phases. With the increase amount of CaHfO₃ (x), a stable coexistence region of three ferroelectric phases (R-O-T) exists at 0.06 ≤ x ≤ 0.08. Both large piezoelectric coefficient (d₃₃～400 pC/N), inverse piezoelectric coefficient (d₃₃^*～547 pm/V) and planar electromechanical coupling factor (k_p～58.2%) can be achieved for the composition with x = 0.08 near the coexistence of three ferroelectric phases. Our results show that the materials with the composition located at a region where the three ferroelectric R-O-T phases coexist would have the lowest energy barrier and thus greatly promote the polarization rotation, resulting in a strong piezoelectric response.     

Real‐time monitoring by proton relaxometry of radical polymerization reactions of acrylamide in aqueous solution

The potential of time‐domain nuclear magnetic resonance (TD‐NMR) for the real‐time monitoring of solution radical polymerizations is demonstrated. A model system composed of a redox‐pair initiator system, acrylamide as monomer and water as solvent was investigated. A second‐generation continuous wave free precession technique was employed to measure the longitudinal relaxation time constant (T₁) of the samples throughout the polymerization reactions. This parameter was shown to be sensitive to the reactant feed free‐radical enhancement of the water molecule relaxation time, making it a good probe to monitor monomer conversion in real time in an automated, non‐destructive fashion. It was found that the T₁ value was better than the transverse relaxation time constant (T₂) for describing the evolution of the polymerization reactions, due to its greater sensitivity to paramagnetic effects. The TD‐NMR signal variation observed was linked to the formation, propagation and termination steps of the radical polymerization kinetics scheme. These first results may contribute to the application of real‐time monitoring of radical polymerization reactions employing low‐cost and robust TD‐NMR spectrometers. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry     

带延迟索赔和随机收入的离散风险模型的Gerber-Shiu分析（英）

破产理论是保险数学中的重要问题，它可以为保险公司决策者提供一个非常有用的早期风险预警手段．本文研究了一个带潜在延迟索赔和随机保费收入的复合二项风险模型．利用矩母函数的技巧，得到了 Gerber-Shiu 期望折罚函数的递推公式．特别地，还得到了贴现因子为 1 的特殊情形下的 Gerber-Shiu 期望折罚函数的解析表达式．最后还得到了实际应用中的一些重要的破产特征量，包括破产概率，破产时赤字的密度函数，破产前盈余与破产时赤字的联合密度函数，以及导致破产的索赔密度函数等．     

Solar light-driven reduction of crystal violet by a composite of g-C3N4, β-Ag2Se, γ-Fe2O3 and graphite

Abstract

In this work, a new g-C₃N₄-based Z-scheme with γ-Fe₂O₃ and β-Ag₂Se both n-type semiconductors, and graphite to favor electron exchange is presented. The composite material was studied by XRD, FTIR, UV-Vis, TEM, XPS, TGA, DSC and TOF-SIMS, and the ability of this photocatalytic system to act as a photo-reductant was assessed using crystal violet (CV⁺) dye. Solar light driven photo-reduction of CV⁺ in the presence of tri-sodium citrate evidenced a synergistic enhancement of the activity of the composite toward reduction, with ～20 times higher conversion rates per unit of surface area than those of g-C₃N₄. Photo-oxidation experiments under Xe lamp irradiation in the presence of H₂O₂ also showed that the AgFeCN composite featured a higher activity (～8×) than g-C₃N₄. This Z-scheme may deserve further study as a photo-reductant to obtain hydrogen or hydrogenated compounds. Moreover, the use of CV⁺ may represent a facile procedure that can aid in the selection of new photocatalysts to be used in hydrogen production.     

Nanoparticle Conjugation of Ginsenoside Rg3 Inhibits Hepatocellular Carcinoma Development and Metastasis

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer‐related death worldwide. The prognosis of HCC remains very poor; thus, an effective treatment remains urgent. Herein, a type of nanomedicine is developed by conjugating Fe@Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles with ginsenoside Rg3 (NpRg3), which achieves an excellent coupling effect. In the dimethylnitrosamine‐induced HCC model, NpRg3 application significantly prolongs the survival of HCC mice. Further research indicates that NpRg3 application significantly inhibits HCC development and eliminates HCC metastasis to the lung. Notably, NpRg3 application delays HCC‐induced ileocecal morphology and gut microbial alterations more than 12 weeks during HCC progression. NpRg3 administration elevates the abundance of Bacteroidetes and Verrucomicrobia, but decreases Firmicutes. Twenty‐nine predicted microbial gene functions are enriched, while seven gene functions are reduced after NpRg3 administration. Moreover, the metabolomics profile presents a significant progression during HCC development, but NpRg3 administration corrects tumor‐dominant metabolomics. NpRg3 administration decreases 3‐indolepropionic acid and urea, but elevates free fatty acids. Importantly, NpRg3 application remodels the unbalanced correlation networks between gut microbiota and metabolism during HCC therapy. In conclusion, nanoparticle conjugation of ginsenoside Rg3 inhibits HCC development and metastasis via the remodeling of unbalanced gut microbiota and metabolism in vivo, providing an antitumor therapy strategy.     

刚性地面对爆炸冲击波传播规律的影响

为研究刚性地面对爆炸冲击波传播特性的影响,采用ANSYS/LS-DYNA对TNT炸药在刚性地面工况下起爆后的整个过程进行了数值分析,得到了刚性地面工况下爆炸冲击波的传播规律以及特征参数,并将其与自由空气工况下爆炸冲击波的传播规律以及特征参数进行了对比分析。建立了TNT炸药在刚性地面工况下起爆后,比例距离在0.5 m/kg^1/3≤Z≤3 m/kg^1/3之间时的冲击波超压峰值简便计算公式,分析了起爆高度对刚性地面附近冲击波的影响规律,并得到了刚性地面反射增强效应作用范围的判别公式。数值分析所得结果可为结构或构件在刚性地面上发生爆炸时荷载的初步确定提供一定的参考。     

High‐performance printable paper‐like composites derived from plastic flexible film wastes

Owing to lack of proper recycling methods, plastic flexible film wastes are usually directly discarded or incinerated, which brings about severe environmental pollution. Therefore, converting plastic wastes into value‐added products has received more and more attention in recent years. In this work, paper‐like composites derived from plastic flexible film wastes were prepared via the thermally induced phase separation method by adding polyethylene‐graft‐maleic anhydride (PE‐g‐MAH) as a compatibilizer and fumed silica as an additive. The resulting paper‐like composites were characterized by SEM and infrared spectroscopy. Other properties such as mechanical properties, thermal properties, whiteness, printability and adsorption performance were also tested in detail. It was found that remarkable enhancements in mechanical, thermal and printable properties of the paper‐like composites were obtained when nano‐SiO₂ loading was 2.5–3 wt%. Uniformly distributed holes that can endow good printability by providing space for ink or other functional molecules were observed by using SEM. Furthermore, the CIE whiteness value of the resulting composites can reach 91.6%–96.7% on adding nano‐SiO₂. Additionally, the paper‐like composites integrating nano‐SiO₂ and PE‐g‐MAH exhibited good solid ink affinity and high water or oil adsorption capacity. Thus, according to this research, high‐performance printable paper‐like composites used as major components of multifunctional papers can be prepared based on plastic flexible film wastes. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry     

Appraisal of ε-Caprolactam and Trimellitic Anhydride Potential as Novel Chain Extenders for Poly(lactic acid)

The potential of ε-caprolactam (CAP) and trimellitic anhydride (TMA) compounds as novel chain extenders for poly(lactic acid) (PLA) has been assessed; the amounts of 0.01, 0.025, and 0.05 wt% each additive have been added. The chain extension was evidenced by the increase in PLA/CAP and PLA/TMA viscosities in mixing torque measurements and by infrared spectroscopy. PLA reaction with CAP and TMA has also been confirmed from contact angle and surface free energy studies, which have shown that the increase in TMA amount decreased the hydrophilicity of PLA due to the decreased concentration of terminal surface hydroxyl groups. However, the addition of CAP accentuated the PLA hydrophilicity as indicated by the increase in the polar component of the surface energy. On the other hand, the glass transition temperature of PLA/TMA and PLA/CAP decreased as a result of a local plasticizing effect, which favored the chain mobility and the crystallization of PLA due to the concomitant nucleating effect of the chain extenders moieties too. Furthermore, the higher molecular weight of PLA/CAP and PLA/TMA was responsible for their increased thermal stability and higher impact strength with respect to PLA. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 60:944–955, 2020. © 2020 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Design and synthesis of foam glasses from recycled materials

Recycling has emerged as an environmental key point due to the diminishing of natural resources and the generation of ever-increasing amounts of industrial solid wastes. Glass wastes are among the materials that attract great interest in the recycling concept. This work presents the results of foams production from four series of compositions. The first series comprises powders of a sodium-calcium-silicate sheet glass cullet as the main component, an alkali-earth aluminosilicate glass as an additive, and a reagent grade silicon carbide (SiC) powder as gassing agent. In the second series, the glass cullet was used in combination with fly ashes (FLA) as main components, while SiC waste from abrasive paper served as foaming agent. In the third and fourth series, carbonates (calcite and dolomite) were used for foaming powder mixtures composed of sheet glass cullet and FLA, and powdered cathode ray tube panel glasses, respectively. All the processing parameters, including the main components, the nature and content of foaming agents are shown to play a crucial role on the foaming ability and final properties of the glass foams.