Journal of The Chinese Institute of Chemical Engineers最新文献

We prepared hybrid hydrogel of N-isopropyl acrylamide (NIPAM) and tributyl phosphate (TBP) for removing phenol by adsorption. The hybrid hydrogel was reinforced by thin layer coating of calcium alginate gel which was cross-linked by bivalent calcium ions. The prepared hybrid hydrogel was shown to effectively adsorb phenol from aqueous solution. The adsorption kinetic measurement showed that the thin layer coating of calcium alginate gel hardly hindered the mass transfer process of phenol. This is because of the superior hydrophilicity of calcium alginate gel which allows phenol molecules to diffuse in the hybrid hydrogel. The reinforced hybrid gel could be stripped of the adsorbed phenol with ammonia aqueous solution for multiple times. The thin layer coating of calcium alginate provided the hybrid hydrogel sufficient durability to carry out repeated cycles of adsorption and desorption.

Vapor–liquid equilibrium (VLE) data from literature for binary systems involving several ionic liquids were correlated. The Peng–Robinson equation of state, coupled with the van der Waals and Wong–Sandler mixing rules, was used as the thermodynamic model to evaluate the fugacity coefficients. The UNIQUAC and NRTL models were used to calculate the excess Gibbs free energy in the Wong–Sandler mixing rule. A molecular modeling strategy using the software ChemOffice was used to calculate the volume and surface area parameters of ionic liquids for UNIQUAC, while the binary interaction energy parameters for UNIQUAC and NRTL models, as well as the binary interaction parameter of the van der Waals and Wong–Sandler mixing rules were estimated through a method based on the genetic algorithm. The results show that, as expected, the Wong–Sandler mixing rules represented better the data, with both activity coefficient models showing high accuracy. However, in one case, NRTL predicted an erroneous azeotropic condition, while UNIQUAC was able to correlate the data without this error.

Poly(HEMA) microbeads were prepared by suspension polymerization of 2-hydorxyethylmethacrylate and ethyleneglycoldimethacrylate (EGDMA). The water content, ligand density, and selectivity for poly(His)-tagged d-hydantoinase of the poly(HEMA)-based adsorbents were affected by the concentration of EDGMA used during polymerization. The Ni(II)-loaded poly(HEMA) adsorbent exhibited an adsorption capacity of 1.0 mg/g for poly(His)-tagged d-hydantoinase under optimal conditions with buffer containing 100–300 mM NaCl at pH 6.0. One-step purification protocol with the adsorbent gave a purity of at least 92%. The adsorption capacity of adsorbent declined by 54% after 7 cycles, due to the leaching of Ni(II) from the adsorbent. However, upon regeneration the adsorption capacity can be restored. Given the ease of preparation and the chemical and microbial resistance, the poly(HEMA)-based IMAC adsorbent could be a promising substitute for the polysaccharide-based IMAC adsorbents.

A new one-step process for synthesis and growth of zinc–germanium–phosphide, ZnGeP₂ (ZGP), is reported for the first time herein using a three-zone resistance furnace by the horizontal gradient freeze technique. A safe and proper temperature scheme has been obtained for both synthesis and growth of ZGP crystals via the melt growth route from Zn, Ge and P powder. The prepared material has been investigated using powder X-ray diffraction which shows the correct ZGP tetragonal phase. EPMA results are also obtained to estimate the compositional homogeneity of the grown crystal.

Rice hull was calcined to rice hull ash (RHA) at 500 °C under 20 mL air/s for 50 min. The RHA thus prepared has been found to be able to remove chromium (III) ion from aqueous solution, though not very efficient. The experiments indicated that the rate of removal of Cr³⁺ and the removal of Cr³⁺ at equilibrium was increased upon decreasing the RHA dosage. The removal could also be enhanced upon increasing the initial chromium concentration, or adsorption temperature. However, pH in the range of 2.5–5.4 or stroke speed higher than 120 stroke/min could not change the removal. The dependence of the RHA dosage and the initial chromium concentration on the removal have been found to be strong, while that of adsorption temperature is mild. An empirical equation correlating the relationship between the removal of Cr³⁺ and the adsorption time was determined.

The objective of this study is to investigate membrane fouling caused by ultrafiltration (UF) when reusing tertiary effluent in an industrial park. A bench-scale membrane system was performed. Experimental results showed that the removal of iron, manganese, and turbidity were 62%, 30%, and 77%, respectively. From the infrared ray analysis of membrane fouling, one can see that the organic functional groups were aromatic rings and a few linear chain compounds of chromophore and auxochrome found in dyestuff. Therefore, tertiary effluent may induce both colloidal and organic fouling into the UF system.

At least 20 different human proteins can fold abnormally resulting in the formation of pathological aggregates and several deadly degenerative diseases. Evidence also suggests that non-disease-associated proteins, under appropriate conditions, can aggregate in vitro to form amyloid fibrillar species. Numerous reports have shown that the interaction between cell membrane and amyloid proteins is of particular importance in the cytotoxic effects elicited by amyloid proteins. Despite the significant progress has been made, there are still large gaps in our knowledge of the disease mechanism(s) associated with this aforementioned interaction. In the current research, using a dual-wavelength fluorescence ratiometric method along with a voltage-sensitive dye, di-8-ANEPPS, we found that a decrease in intramembrane dipole potential was observed upon binding of amyloid proteins with phospholipids and this decrease became more dramatic when protein was in its aggregated form. Moreover, our data revealed that a correlation among the presence of cholesterol, the type of phospholipid, and the drop in dipole potential was evident. In comparison with the pure DPPC, the relative difference in dipole potential between fibrillar and freshly prepared samples attenuated with the addition of cholesterol while an increase in relative potential difference was observed in DPPG. Importantly, our results, for the first time, presented that the membrane dipole potential in amyloid protein–phospholipid interaction was dependent on the aggregation state of proteins, which is highly associated with the biological effects elicited by amyloid proteins.

Grifola umbellata (Fries) is a traditional Chinese medicinal mushroom. In this paper, the effects of cultural condition on the mycelial growth and exopolysaccharide (EPS) production were studied. Glucose was the best carbon source for mycelia growth and EPS production. Yeast extract was the best nitrogen source for mycelia growth, whereas skim milk as nitrogen source can remarkably improve EPS production. The optimal medium constituents for EPS production were as follows: glucose 3%, skim milk 0.2%, 0.1% KH₂PO₄, 0.1% MgSO₄, 7H₂O and 0.005% vitamin B1. The initial pH value of 5 was the most efficient to EPS production. The G. umbellata culture with skim milk as nitrogen source displayed a much higher specific EPS yield of 112.35 mg/g, accounting for a 4.36 times increase compared to that with combined nitrogen source medium.

Solubility data of a mixture containing 94.2% ethanol and 5.8% octane was measured in carbon dioxide solvent using a high-pressure type phase equilibrium apparatus at pressures up to 103.5 bar and at temperature of 75 °C. The results showed that considerable separation was not achieved in this ethanol and octane ratio. However, the experimental data were then compared with the theoretical data which were obtained from two models which are regular solution theory and Redlich–Kwong equation of state. Regular solution theory is employed to each phase by applying activity coefficient expressions. Redlich–Kwong equation of state is employed to the vapor phase and then with applying fugacity coefficient, liquid phase data is obtained. The regular solution theory as a novel model approach has been found to be encouraging for the prediction of phase equilibria solubilities. It concluded that the regular solution theory model could predict two phases equilibrium data better than Redlich–Kwong equation of state.

The global warming has led to enormous challenges worldwide for a large variety of communities, particularly these associated to water and water treatment industry. Due to increasing scarcity of water resources, the development of new membrane materials and water treatment processes will play an important role in tackling this emerging problem. In this paper, the recent development in characterization of in particular, geometrical parameters of micro- and nano-membrane materials will be reviewed. Membranes with micro- and nano-pores have widely been used for ultrafiltration and nanofiltration. The structure of the pores and the surface of the pores/membranes may be optimized to achieve much improved flow rate in these micro-/nano-channels. Therefore, accurate characterization of porous structures will contribute significantly to the prediction of membrane performance. It will not only provide an insight into the new characterization methods but also the development of novel materials.