Search results for " Chemical Engineering"
showing 10 items of 2965 documents
Mechanochemical Access to Defect-Stabilized Amorphous Calcium Carbonate
2018
Amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) is an important precursor in the biomineralization of crystalline CaCO3. The lifetime of transient ACC in nature is regulated by an organic matrix, to use it as an intermediate storage buffer or as a permanent structural element. The relevance of ACC in material science is related to our understanding of CaCO3 crystallization pathways. ACC can be obtained by liquid–liquid phase separation, and it is typically stabilized with the help of macromolecules. We have prepared ACC by milling calcite in a planetary ball mill. The ball-milled amorphous calcium carbonate (BM-ACC) was stabilized with small amounts of Na2CO3. The addition of foreign ions in form of Na2C…
The sponge silicatein-interacting protein silintaphin-2 blocks calcite formation of calcareous sponge spicules at the vaterite stage
2013
Ca-carbonate, the inorganic matrix of the spicules from the calcareous sponges, is formed as the result of an enzyme-catalyzed reaction with the carbonic anhydrase [CA] as a decisive component. The growth and the morphology of the spicules are genetically controlled, and are taxon-specific. In the present study it is shown that the silicatein-interacting protein silintaphin-2 is present at the surface of the siliceous spicules of the demosponge Suberites domuncula and prevents the association of calcareous crystals synthesized in vitro to these skeletal elements. Silintaphin-2 comprises a Ca2+-binding domain that is formed by a 22 amino acid-long peptide, N-DDDSQGEIQSDMAEEEDDDNVD-C. This ve…
Changes in surface stress at the liquid/solid interface measured with a microcantilever
2000
Abstract The bending of microfabricated silicon nitride cantilevers was used to determine surface stress changes at solid–liquid interfaces. The radius of curvature of the bent cantilever is directly proportional to changes in the differential surface stress between its opposite sides. To demonstrate the possibilities and limitations of the technique, cantilevers coated on both sides with gold and densely packed monolayers of different thiols were put in a constant flow of aqueous electrolyte solution and the deflection was measured using a optical lever technique. Changes in the surface stress for the different thiol monolayers due to specific proton adsorption are presented. Possible appl…
Experimental assessment of the hydro-mechanical behaviour of a shale caprock during CO2 injection
2021
Abstract The presented experimental study focuses on the hydro-mechanical characterisation of a shale caprock (Opalinus Clay) in contact with carbon dioxide. The objective of this paper, consists in the evaluation of the material's sealing capacity in terms of entry-pressure, mechanical behaviour and sensitivity of the transport properties to chemo-mechanical effects induced by gaseous and liquid CO2 injection. Two types of Opalinus Clay core samples are tested; shaly and carbonate-rich. The sealing capacity has been evaluated on the shaly OPA according to the stepwise and the residual methods and compared to the results from mercury intrusion porosimetry. The obtained results and the diffe…
A novel thermoeconomic analysis under dynamic operating conditions for space heating and cooling systems
2019
Abstract Thermoeconomic analysis allows for a deep understanding of the cost formation process within an energy system, providing insights into the possible routes for improvement. Several thermoeconomic approaches are well-established for application in systems with steady operating conditions, such as power plants, while a limited number of applications to air-conditioning systems in buildings have been proposed, due to the difficulties in dealing with very irregular load profiles and unsteady plant operating conditions. This study investigates the potential of Thermoeconomics as a support for decision making in building energy systems, proving its capability to identify trade-offs betwee…
Ionic Liquid Binary Mixtures, Zeolites, and Ultrasound Irradiation: A Combination to Promote Carbohydrate Conversion into 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural
2019
The efficient conversion of biomass into value-added compounds under mild and safer conditions is a cornerstone of present research efforts to meet the needs of the chemical industry with sustainable development. In this work, we studied the dehydration of fructose, glucose, and sucrose into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF), catalyzed by HY zeolite, in three ionic liquid mixtures differing for the cation, aromatic, or aliphatic. We investigated the effect of several operational parameters such as temperature, catalyst loading, zeolite counterion, solvent mixture, and added chloride. In the optimal experimental conditions, we obtained good conversions to 5-HMF especially for fructose and sucr…
Analysis of the mechanical performance of hybrid (SPR/bonded) single-lap joints between CFRP panels and aluminum blanks
2013
Abstract The increasing use of innovative materials in manufacturing of modern mechanical components has led to the development of reliable joints between innovative (composite materials etc.) and traditional materials (steel, aluminum etc.). In the last few years, hybrid joints, combining the advantages of the adhesive joints and traditional mechanical joints as bolted or riveted joints, have been shown an increasing industrial interest especially in automotive and aerospace sectors. In the present paper a systematic experimental study of hybrid lap joints was carried out with the aim to detect the optimal joint configuration. Tensile tests on hybrid joints made by combining adhesive bondi…
In-situ radiotracer studies of sorption processes in solutions containing (bi)sulfite ions—II. Low carbon steel
1997
Abstract In this paper, time, potential and pH dependence of SO42− and HSO3− accumulations measured by an in-situ radiotracer method on surface oxide layers of low carbon steel are presented and discussed. This work is a continuation of a research program[1–5] and deals with the characterization of the sorption behaviour of low carbon steel in solutions containing sulfate and bisulfite ions (as a possible model of acid rain). From the experimental results it can be stated that 1. (i) the presence of bisulfite ions in the solution phase accelerates the corrosion of low carbon steel; 2. (ii) at E > 0.40 V the electrooxidation of HSO3− ions presumably proceeds to yield a steel surface covered …
Modelling the transport of carbonic acid anions through anion-exchange membranes
2003
Electrodiffusion of carbonate and bicarbonate anions through anion-exchange membranes (AEM) is described on the basis of the Nernst � /Planck equations taking into account coupled hydrolysis reactions in the external diffusion boundary layers (DBLs) and internal pore solution. The model supposes local electroneutrality as well as chemical and thermodynamic equilibrium. The transport is considered in three layers being an anion exchange membrane and two adjoining diffusion layers. A mechanism of
Obtaining lignocellulosic biomass-based catalysts and their catalytic activity in cellobiose hydrolysis and acetic acid esterification reactions
2021
Global challenges prompt the world to modify its strategies and shift from a fossil-fuel-based economy to a bio-resource-based one with the production of renewable biomass chemicals. Different processes exist that allow the transformation of raw biomass into desirable bio-based products and/or energy. In this work different biochars that were obtained as a by-product from birch chip fast pyrolysis and carbonization were used as is or chemically/physically treated. These sulfonated carbon catalysts were compared to a commercially available sulfonated styrene-divinylbenzene macroreticular resin (Dowex 50W X8). Characterisation (water content and pH value, FTIR, base titration, element analysi…