Catalytic combustion of toluene on Pt zeolite coated cordierite foams

The catalytic properties of Pt based cordierite foam catalysts have been evaluated in catalytic combustion of toluene (800 ppm in air). The catalysts contain identical Pt content (0.1%) which was introduced by three different ways: Pt ion exchange on MFI zeolite and then coating on the foam; Pt ion exchange after zeolite coating and finally Pt directly wet impregnated on the cordierite foam. The catalytic behaviour of Pt foam based catalysts was compared with that of PtMFI zeolite under powder form. Pt exchanged MFI supported on the cordierite foams present an improvement of activity for toluene combustion of about 50 degrees C on the light off temperature (T-50%). The enhanced performance of the structured catalysts is due not only to the open structure of foams and homogeneous thin layers catalyst deposited on their cell walls, but also to the fact that the size and location of Pt particles present in MFI zeolite are changed during the dipping step. Indeed, as prepared Pt samples and those used in the preparation of the slurry were observed by transmission electron microscopy revealing that the chemical interaction of PtMFI zeolite with the binder and detergent, both present in the slurry, leads to an increase of Pt particles size which were found to migrate from internal pores to the external surface of zeolite crystallites thereby increasing catalytic activity. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Early literacy development in Catalan: characteristics and instructional influence

Resumo: Este artigo analisa a relação entre o nível de consciência fonológica, conhecimento das letra e as estratégias utilizadas para ler e escrever, em crianças de cinco anos, ensinadas em catalão. Participaram 69 crianças de três classes diferentes. Cada um dos seus professores utilizava um método diferente de ensino: analítico, sintético ou analítico-sintético. As crianças foram avaliadas no início e no final do ano letivo em: Reconhecimento de letras, segmentação palavra oral, leitura de palavras, leitura de um texto curto e um ditado. Foram realizadas análises de granulação fina em nas respostas das crianças, para identificar estratégias e padrões específicos. A análise qualitativa indica que a capacidade de segmentar uma palavra em sílabas por via oral parece ser suficiente para as crianças começarem a ler de uma forma convencional. Além disso, a consciência fonológica e o conhecimento das letras são usados em formas relativamente diferentes, dependendo do tipo de texto a ser lido. As abordagens de ensino dos professores parecem ter uma influência nos resultados das crianças.

Emulação de um motor de combustão interna através de um acionamento eletromecânico de velocidade variável utilizando um motor de indução trifásico

Dissertação para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia Electrotécnica Ramo de Energia

Measuring and evaluating the impacts of TOD measures: searching for evidence of TOD characteristics in Azambuja train line

TOD (Transit Oriented Development) is typically defined as a high density mixed area (residential and commercial) within easy walking distance of a high capacity public transport station (typically within an 800m buffer area). TOO is viewed as a set of strategies to increase the use of public transport, increasing walking activity, containing urban sprawl, and creating more liveable places. It is believed that this type of combined strategies will improve sustainable growth. This work is an exploratory work for evidence of TOD characteristics in train station areas in Azambuja train line, setting further methodologies to evaluate the success of TOD areas.

Characteristics of IEF, SDS and SAR-PAGE of Cuba EPO biosimilar

EPO is a glycoprotein produced in the kidney, which stimulates the division and differentiation of red cells in the bone marrow. Erythropoietin is available as a therapeutic agent produced by recombinant DNA technology in mammalian cell culture into which the human EPO gene has been transfected. Biosimilar Epoetins are mostly erythropoietins of the Epoetin alfa, beta or omega type, which are being produced at much lower cost due to expired patents. Recombinant human erythropoietin (rh-EPO) contains the identical amino acid sequence of natural EPO: 165 amino acids, with a molecular weight of 30,400 Da. Since glycosylation is not only dependent on the cell-line used for the expression of Epoetins but also on the entire biotechnological process the glycosylation patterns of biosimilars do not necessarily reflect the patterns of the originator compounds. Today biosimilar Epoetins are manufactured and distributed worldwide and under many different names. The use of recombinant EPOs for doping is prohibited because of its performance enhancing effect. The aim of the present study was to investigated whether biosimilar alpha r-HuEPO – ior®-EPOCIM, produced in Cuba and also available in other countries in all continents, could be differentiated from endogenous one by iso-electro-focusing plus double blotting, SDS-PAGE and SAR-PAGE for antidoping analysis.

Destruction of the tar present in syngas by combustion in porous media

The cleaning of syngas is one of the most important challenges in the development of technologies based on gasification of biomass. Tar is an undesired byproduct because, once condensed, it can cause fouling and plugging and damage the downstream equipment. Thermochemical methods for tar destruction, which include catalytic cracking and thermal cracking, are intrinsically attractive because they are energetically efficient and no movable parts are required nor byproducts are produced. The main difficulty with these methods is the tendency for tar to polymerize at high temperatures. An alternative to tar removal is the complete combustion of the syngas in a porous burner directly as it leaves the particle capture system. In this context, the main aim of this study is to evaluate the destruction of the tar present in the syngas from biomass gasification by combustion in porous media. A gas mixture was used to emulate the syngas, which included toluene as a tar surrogate. Initially, CHEMKIN was used to assess the potential of the proposed solution. The calculations revealed the complete destruction of the tar surrogate for a wide range of operating conditions and indicated that the most important reactions in the toluene conversion are C6H5CH3 + OH <-> C6H5CH2 + H2O, C6H5CH3 + OH <-> C6H4CH3 + H2O, and C6H5CH3 + O <-> OC6H4CH3 + H and that the formation of toluene can occur through C6H5CH2 + H <-> C6H5CH3. Subsequently, experimental tests were performed in a porous burner fired with pure methane and syngas for two equivalence ratios and three flow velocities. In these tests, the toluene concentration in the syngas varied from 50 to 200 g/Nm(3). In line with the CHEMKIN calculations, the results revealed that toluene was almost completely destroyed for all tested conditions and that the process did not affect the performance of the porous burner regarding the emissions of CO, hydrocarbons, and NOx.