Rapid quantification of hepatitis B virus DNA by real-time PCR using efficient TaqMan probe and extraction of virus DNA

Aim: To rapidly quantify hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA by real-time PCR using efficient TaqMan probe and extraction methods of virus DNA. Methods: Three standards were prepared by cloning PCR products which targeted S, C and X region of HBV genome into pGEM-T vector respectively. A pair of primers and matched TaqMan probe were selected by comparing the copy number and the Ct values of HBV serum samples derived from the three different standard curves using certain serum DNA. Then the efficiency of six HBV DNA extraction methods including guanidinium isothiocyanate, proteinase K, NaI, NaOH lysis, alkaline lysis and simple boiling was analyzed in sample A, B and C by real-time PCR. Meanwhile, 8 clinical HBV serum samples were quantified. Results: The copy number of the same HBV serum sample originated from the standard curve of S, C and X regions was 5.7 × 104/ mL, 6.3 × 102/mL and 1.6 × 103/mL respectively. The relative Ct value was 26.6, 31.8 and 29.5 respectively. Therefore, primers and matched probe from S region were chosen for further optimization of six extraction methods. The copy number of HBV serum samples A, B and C was 3.49 × 109/mL, 2.08 × 106/mL and 4.40 × 107/mL respectively, the relative Ct value was 19.9, 30 and 26.2 in the method of NaOH lysis, which was the efficientest among six methods. Simple boiling showed a slightly lower efficiency than NaOH lysis. Guanidinium isothiocyanate, proteinase K and NaI displayed that the copy number of HBV serum sample A, B and C was around 105/ mL, meanwhile the Ct value was about 30. Alkaline failed to quantify the copy number of three HBV serum samples, Standard deviation (SD) and coefficient variation (CV) were very low in all 8 clinical HBV serum samples, showing that quantification of HBV DNA in triplicate was reliable and accurate. Conclusion: Real-time PCR based on optimized primers and TaqMan probe from S region in combination with NaOH lysis is a simple, rapid and accurate method for quantification of HBV serum DNA. © 2006 The WJG Press. All rights reserved.

CFD-modeling and experiments of insulation debris transport phenomena in water flow

The investigation of insulation debris generation, transport, and sedimentation becomes more important with regard to reactor safety research for pressurized water reactors and boiling water reactors when considering the long-term behavior of emergency core coolant systems during all types of loss-of-coolant accidents (LOCAs). The insulation debris released near the break during a LOCA incident consists of a mixture of disparate particle populations that varies with size, shape, consistency, and other properties. Some fractions of the released insulation debris can be transported into the reactor sump, where it may perturb/impinge on the emergency core cooling systems. Open questions of generic interest are, for example, the particle load on strainers and corresponding pressure drop, the sedimentation of the insulation debris in a water pool, and its possible resuspension and transport in the sump water flow. A joint research project on such questions is being performed in cooperation with the University of Applied Sciences Zittau/Görlitz. The project deals with the experimental investigation and the development of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models for the description of particle transport phenomena in coolant flow. While the experiments are performed at the University of Applied Sciences Zittau/Görlitz, the theoretical work is concentrated at Forschungszentrum Dresden-Rossendorf. In the current paper the basic concepts for CFD modeling are described and feasibility studies including the conceptual design of the experiments are presented.

The use of enzymes in organic solvents in polytransesterification reactions

The aim of this research project was to identify the factors affecting the porcine pancreatic lipase (PPL.)-catalysed polytransesterification of a diester and a diol in organic solvents. It was hoped that by modifying reaction conditions a commercially acceptable polymer molecular weight (Mn) of 20,000 daltons might be attained. Exploratory investigations were carried out using 1,4-butanediolibis(2,2,2- trichloroethyl) adipate and glutarate systems in diethyl ether, with and without molecular sieves. It was found that molecular sieves promoted the reaction by reducing hydrolysis of the ester end-groups, resulting in polymer molecular weights between 1.2 and 2.2 times greater than those obtainable without molecular sieves. Investigations were then concentrated on the PPL-catalysed polytransesterification of 1,4-butanediol with divinyl adipate. The particular advantage of this system is that the reaction is irreversible. The effects of varying substrate concentration, mass of drying agent, reaction solvent, reaction temperature, mass of enzyme and also enzyme immobilisation on the 1,4-butanediolidivinyl adipate system were investigated. The highest molecular weight polymer obtained for the PPL-catalysed polytransesterification of 1,4-butanedial with divinyl adipate in diethyl ether was Mn -8,000. In higher boiling ether solvents molecular weights as high as Mn -9,200 were obtained for this system at elevated temperatures. It was found that the major factor limiting polymerisation was the low solubility of the polymer in the solvent which resulted in precipitation of the polymer onto the surface of the enzyme.

The effect of blending on selected physical properties of crude oils and their products

A study was made of the effect of blending practice upon selected physical properties of crude oils, and of various base oils and petroleum products, using a range of binary mixtures. The crudes comprised light, medium and heavy Kuwait crude oils. The properties included kinematic viscosity, pour point, boiling point and Reid vapour pressure. The literature related to the prediction of these properties, and the changes reported to occur on blending, was critically reviewed as a preliminary to the study. The kinematic viscosity of petroleum oils in general exhibited non-ideal behaviour upon blending. A mechanism was proposed for this behaviour which took into account the effect of asphaltenes content. A correlation was developed, as a modification of Grunberg's equation, to predict the viscosities of binary mixtures of petroleum oils. A correlation was also developed to predict the viscosities of ternary mixtures. This correlation showed better agreement with experimental data (< 6% deviation for crude oils and 2.0% for base oils) than currently-used methods, i.e. ASTM and Refutas methods. An investigation was made of the effect of temperature on the viscosities of crude oils and petroleum products at atmospheric pressure. The effect of pressure on the viscosity of crude oil was also studied. A correlation was developed to predict the viscosity at high pressures (up to 8000 psi), which gave significantly better agreement with the experimental data than the current method due to Kouzel (5.2% and 6.0% deviation for the binary and ternary mixtures respectively). Eyring's theory of viscous flow was critically investigated, and a modification was proposed which extends its application to petroleum oils. The effect of blending on the pour points of selected petroleum oils was studied together with the effect of wax formation and asphaltenes content. Depression of the pour point was always obtained with crude oil binary mixtures. A mechanism was proposed to explain the pour point behaviour of the different binary mixtures. The effects of blending on the boiling point ranges and Reid vapour pressures of binary mixtures of petroleum oils were investigated. The boiling point range exhibited ideal behaviour but the R.V.P. showed negative deviations from it in all cases. Molecular weights of these mixtures were ideal, but the densities and molar volumes were not. The stability of the various crude oil binary mixtures, in terms of viscosity, was studied over a temperature range of 1oC - 30oC for up to 12 weeks. Good stability was found in most cases.

Heat transfer from molten materials to liquids

An apparatus was designed and constructed which enabled material to be melted and heated to a maximum temperature of 1000C and then flooded with a pre-heated liquid. A series of experiments to investigate the thermal interaction between molten metals (aluminium, lead and tin) and sub-cooled water were conducted. The cooling rates of the molten materials under conditions of flooding were measured with a high speed-thermocouple and recorded with a transient recorder. A simplified model for calculating heat fluxes and metal surface temperatures was developed and used. Experimental results yielded boiling heat transfer in the transition film and stable film regions of the classic boiling curve. Maximum and minimum heat fluxes were observed at nucleate boiling crisis and the Leidenfrost point respectively. Results indicate that heat transfer from molten metals to sub-cooled water is a function of temperature and coolant depth and not a direct function of the physical properties of the metals. Heat transfer in the unstable transition film boiling region suggests that boiling dynamics in this region where a stationary molten metal is under pool boiling conditions at atmospheric pressure would not initiate a fuel-coolant interaction. Low heat fluxes around the Leidenfrost point would provide efficient fuel-coolant decoupling by a stable vapour blanket to enable coarse mixing of the fuel and coolant to occur without appreciable loss of thermal energy from the fuel. The research was conducted by Gareph Boxley and was submitted for the degree of PhD at the University of Aston in Birmingham in 1980.

The behaviour of polymer quenchants

The internationally accepted Wolfson Heat Treatment Centre Engineering Group test was used to evaluate the cooling characteristics of the most popular commercial polymer quenchants: polyalkylene glycols, polyvinylpyrrolidones and polyacrylates. Prototype solutions containing poly(ethyloxazoline) were also examined. Each class of polymer was capable of providing a wide range of cooling rates depending on the product formulation, concentration, temperature, agitation, ageing and contamination. Cooling rates for synthetic quenchants were generally intermediate between those of water and oil. Control techniques, drag-out losses and response to quenching in terms of hardness and residual stress for a plain carbon steel, were also considered. A laboratory scale method for providing a controllable level of forced convection was developed. Test reproducibility was improved by positioning the preheated Wolfson probe 25mm above the geometric centre of a 25mm diameter orifice through which the quenchant was pumped at a velocity of 0.5m/s. On examination, all polymer quenchants were found to operate by the same fundamental mechanism associated with their viscosity and ability to form an insulating polymer-rich-film. The nature of this film, which formed at the vapour/liquid interface during boiling, was dependent on the polymer's solubility characteristics. High molecular weight polymers and high concentration solutions produced thicker, more stable insulating films. Agitation produced thinner more uniform films. Higher molecular weight polymers were more susceptible to degradation, and increased cooling rates, with usage. Polyvinylpyrrolidones can be cross-linked resulting in erratic performance, whilst the anionic character of polyacrylates can lead to control problems. Volatile contaminants tend to decrease the rate of cooling and salts to increase it. Drag-out increases upon raising the molecular weight of the polymer and its solution viscosity. Kinematic viscosity measurements are more effective than refractometer readings for concentration control, although a quench test is the most satisfactory process control method.

Synthesis and characterization of triazolotriazines

The Dimroth rearrangement in ring-fused 1,2,4-triazoles has been reviewed in detail in Part I and the synthesis of all known triazolo-triazines is described in Part II. Experimental investigations concerned the establishinent of the skeletal arrangement of a variety of triazolotriazines formed by several synthetic routes. Interaction of 3-amino-5-hydrazino-12,4-triazole and benzilafforded 2-amino-6, 7-diphenyl-1, 2,4-triazolo[ 5, 1-c-]-1,2,4-triazine,whereas cyclization of 5,6-diphenyl-3-hydrazino-1,2,4-triazine withcyanogen bromide resulted in the isomeric 3-amino-6,7-diphenyl,-1,2,4-triazolo [4, 3-b]-1,2,4-triazine: both amines were deaminated with amyl nitrite in boiling tetrahydrofuran without rearrangement of the heterocyclic skeleton. 6,7-Diphenyl-1,2,4-triazolo[5,1-cJ-1,2.4-triazine, synthesized from 3-hydrazino-1,2,4-triazole and benzil, formed a covalent hydrate which could be detected spectroscopically in solution, and a covalemt methanolate and ethanolate which could be isolated. A new route to 3-amino-5-hydrazino-pyrazole is described and cyclization to 7-amino-3,4-diphenyl-pyrazolo[ 5,1-.c]-1,2,4-triazine was achieved with benzil. The diazonium nitrate of 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole coupled with ethyl cyanoacetate to yield a mixture of two geometrical isomers of ethyl 2-(2H-1,2,4-triazol-3-ylhydrazono) cyanoacetate.Recrystallization of the crude coupling mixture from aqueous ethanol gave a single hydra-zone which cyclized predominantly to ethyl 7-amino-1,2,4-triazolo[5,1-c]-1,2,4-triazine-6-carboxylate in acid conditions and 6-cyano-1,2,4-triazolo[ 5,1-c]-1,2,4~triazin-7(4H)-one under basic conditions. The nature of the cyclizing medium also controlled the cyclization of .the (pyrazol-ylhydrazono) cyanoacetate hut the corresponding (tetrazol- ylhydrazono) cyanoacetate gave only ethyl 7-aminotetrazolo[ 5,1-cJ-1,2,4- -triazine-6-carboxylate. 2-( 2H-1,2,4-Triazol-3-:ylhydrazono) malonitrile cyclized unambiguously to 7-amino-6-cyano-1,2,4-triazolo-[ 5,1-c]-1,2,4- triazine. Drastic hydrolysis of ethyl 2-(2H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yllhydrazono)-cyanoacetate, ethyl 7-amino-1, 2,4-triazolo[ 5,1-c]-1,2,4-triazine-6-carboxylate, 6-cyano-1,2,4-triazolo[ 5,1-c]-1,2,4-triazin-7{ 4H)-one and 7-amino-6- cyano-1,2,4-triazolo[5,1-c]-1,2,4-triazine gave a hydrate of 1,2,4-triazo1o[5,1-c ]-1,2,4-triazin-7(4H)-one. Mass spectral fragmentations of 7-aminoazolo-[5,1-c]-1,2,4-triazinesconfirm that the azole ring is more stable than the 1,2,4-triazine ring on electron impact.

A study of some constituents in human female saliva

Changes in the concentration of some constituents in women's saliva during the menstrual cycle were studied. Saliva was used because it is easier to collect than other body fluids and is continuously available for analysis. Glucose, the enzyme 17-Acetyl-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) and Calcium which are saliva constituents and belong to three different chemical groups were selected for the study. Several analytical techniques were investigated. The fluorometric assay procedure was found to be the best because of its specificity and sensitivity for the estimation of these constituents. resides the fluorametric method a spectrophotometric method was used in the NAG determination and an atomic absorption method in the calcium estimation. Glucose was estimated by an enzymatic method. This is based on the reaction of glucose with the enzymes glucose oxidase and peroxidase to yield hydrogen peroxide, which in turn oxidises a non-fluorescent substrate, p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, to a highly fluorescent product. The saliva samples in this determination had to be centrifuged at high speed, heated in a boiling water bath, centrifuged again and then treated with a mixture of cation and anion resins to remove the substances that inhibited the enzyme system. In the determination of the NAG activity the saliva samples were diluted with citric acid/phosphate buffer, and then centrifuged at high speed. The assay was based on the enzymic hydrolysis of the non-fluorescent substrate 4-Methyl-umbelli1eryl-p-D-glucosaminide to the highly fluorescent 4-Methyl-umbelliferone• Calcium was estimated by a fluorometric procedure based upon the measurement of the fluorescence produced by the complex formed between calcein blue and calcium, at pH 9 - 13. From the results obtained from the analysis of saliva samples of several women it was found that glucose showed a significant increase in its level around the expected time of ovulation. This was found in seven cycles out of ten. Similar results were found with the enzyme NAG. No significant change in the calcium levels was observe& at any particular time of the cycle. The levels of the glucose, the activity of the enzyme NAG and the concentration of the calcium were found to change daily, and to differ from one subject to another and in the same subject from cycle to cycle. The increase observed it salivary glucose levels and the enzyme NAG activity could be monitored to predict the time of ovulation.

The isolation and identification of dermatologically active constituents of coal tar

The production and uses of coal tar are reviewed as are the uses of steroids and cytotoxic agents in the treatment of psoriasis with a review of the condition also. An attempt was made to improve the efficaciousness and cosmetic acceptability of a low temperature tar, by screening fractions of this tar, derived from a variety of separation procedures. The most efficacious fraction was the highest boiling acid fraction, which is believed to consist mainly of mono- and di-hydric phenols. A time and concentration study showed that the optimum regime was the application of a 10% concentration in 5% wool fat in soft, yellow paraffin daily for 21 days. The mouse tail skin was selected as an experimental model, to ascertain the efficaciousness of fractions, because of the similarities between this skin and the psoriatic lesion. The activity of a fraction was monitored by the inducement of a granular layer in the mouse tail epidermis. Because coal tar is not an easy medium to work with, and the active fractions showed no increase in cosmetic acceptability over the parent coal tar, likely coal tar constituents were selected for screening on the basis of phenolic character, and the molecular weight range elucidated by mass spectroscopy. 32 potential anti-psoriatic agents were screened on mouse tail. Two catechols, 3,5-di-t-butyl and 4-t-butyl catechols were active. Other structures showed little or no activity. 24 catechols were screened and two extremely active catechols were discovered, 3-methyl-5-t-octyl and 5-methyl-3-t-octyl catechols. The screening of catechol-rich coal tar fractions and a coal tar fraction which had had the catechols removed by oxidation, showed that some anti-psoriatic activity was contained in the catechol fraction of coal tar. Attempts to elucidate the mode of action of these two compounds met with little success, but two modes of action are suggested.

The breakdown of stainless steels in strong acids

A study was made of the corrosion behaviour in the ASTM standard Nitric acid and Oxalic acid tests, of two commercial AISI type 304L steels in the as received condition and after various heat treatments. Optical microscopy and SEM, TEM and STEM in conjunction with energy dispersive x-ray analysis, were used to correlate the corrosion behaviour of these steels with their microstructure. Some evidence of phosphorus segregation at grain boundaries was found. The corrosion behaviour at microstructural level was studied by examining on the TEM thin foils of steel that had been exposed to boiling nitric acid. Banding attack in the nitric acid and oxalic acid tests was studied using SEM and EPNA and found to be due to the micro-segregation of chromium and nickel. Using two experimental series of 304L, one a 17% Cr, 91 Ni, steel with phosphorus additions from 0.006% to 0.028%, the other a 20% Cr, 121 Ni steel with boron additions from 0.0011 to 0.00B51. The effect of these elements on corrosion in the nitric acid test was studied. The effect of different cooling rates and different solution treatment temperature on the behaviour of these steels was examined. TEM and STEM in conjunction with energy-dispersive x-ray analysis were again used to study the microstructure of the steels. Phosphorus was found to affect the corrosion behaviour but no effect was found with boron.

Numerical and experimental investigations for insulation particle transport phenomena in water flow

The investigation of insulation debris generation, transport and sedimentation becomes more important with regard to reactor safety research for pressurized and boiling water reactors, when considering the long-term behaviour of emergency core coolant systems during all types of loss of coolant accidents (LOCA). The insulation debris released near the break during a LOCA incident consists of a mixture of a disparate particle population that varies with size, shape, consistency and other properties. Some fractions of the released insulation debris can be transported into the reactor sump, where it may perturb or impinge on the emergency core cooling systems. Open questions of generic interest are for example the particle load on strainers and corresponding pressure-drop, the sedimentation of the insulation debris in a water pool, its possible re-suspension and transport in the sump water flow. A joint research project on such questions is being performed in cooperation with the University of Applied Science Zittau/Görlitz and the Forschungszentrum Dresden-Rossendorf. The project deals with the experimental investigation and the development of computational fluid dynamic (CFD) models for the description of particle transport phenomena in coolant flow. While the experiments are performed at the University Zittau/Görlitz, the theoretical work is concentrated at Forschungszentrum Dresden-Rossendorf. In the present paper, the basic concepts for computational fluid dynamic (CFD) modelling are described and experimental results are presented. Further experiments are designed and feasibility studies were performed.

The effect of a curing agent on the thermal degradation of fire retardant brominated epoxy resins

The diglycidyl ether of tetrabromobisphenol A, the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A and their mixture was cured by 4,4'-diaminodiphenyl methane. The pyrolysis of the obtained epoxy resins was studied by TG, DSC, TG/FTIR as well as FTIR characterization of pyrolysis residues. The gaseous and high boiling pyrolysis products were collected, characterized by GC/MS and their formation is discussed. The brominated epoxy resins are thermally less stable than the non-brominated ones. This effect is caused by the amine-containing hardener. The degradation initiation reaction is associated with the formation of hydrogen bromide which further destabilizes the epoxy network. The effect of the curing agent can be used in recycling of epoxy resins to separate brominated pyrolysis products from non-brominated ones.

Verification and validation of numerical models of the transport of insulation debris

A combination of the two-fluid and drift flux models have been used to model the transport of fibrous debris. This debris is generated during loss of coolant accidents in the primary circuit of pressurized or boiling water nuclear reactors, as high pressure steam or water jets can damage adjacent insulation materials including mineral wool blankets. Fibre agglomerates released from the mineral wools may reach the containment sump strainers, where they can accumulate and compromise the long-term operation of the emergency core cooling system. Single-effect experiments of sedimentation in a quiescent rectangular column and sedimentation in a horizontal flow are used to verify and validate this particular application of the multiphase numerical models. The utilization of both modeling approaches allows a number of pseudocontinuous dispersed phases of spherical wetted agglomerates to be modeled simultaneously. Key effects on the transport of the fibre agglomerates are particle size, density and turbulent dispersion, as well as the relative viscosity of the fluid-fibre mixture.

Methyl chloride purification for the silicone industry

This study experimentally investigated methyl chloride (MeCl) purification method using an inhouse designed and built volumetric adsorption/desorption rig. MeCl is an essential raw material in the manufacture of silicone however all technical grades of MeCl contain concentrations (0.2 - 1.0 % wt) of dimethyl ether (DME) which poison the process. The project industrial partner had previously exhausted numerous separation methods, which all have been deemed not suitable for various reasons. Therefore, adsorption/desorption separation was proposed in this study as a potential solution with less economic and environmental impact. Pure component adsorption/desorption was carried out for DME and MeCl on six different adsorbents namely: zeolite molecular sieves (types 4 Å and 5 Å); silica gels (35-70 mesh, amorphous precipitated, and 35-60 mesh) and granular activated carbon (type 8-12 mesh). Subsequent binary gas mixture adsorption in batch and continuous mode was carried out on both zeolites and all three silica gels following thermal pre-treatment in vacuum. The adsorbents were tested as received and after being subjected to different thermal and vacuum pre-treatment conditions. The various adsorption studies were carried out at low pressure and temperature ranges of 0.5 - 3.5 atm and 20 - 100 °C. All adsorbents were characterised using Brunauer Emmett Teller (BET), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDXA) to investigate their physical and chemical properties. The well-known helium (He) expansion method was used to determine the empty manifold and adsorption cell (AC) regions and respective void volumes for the different adsorbents. The amounts adsorbed were determined using Ideal gas laws via the differential pressure method. The heat of adsorption for the various adsorbate-adsorbent (A-S) interactions was calculated using a new calorimetric method based on direct temperature measurements inside the AC. Further adsorption analysis included use of various empirical and kinetic models to determine and understand the behaviour of the respective interactions. The gas purification behaviour was investigated using gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy (GC-MC) analysis. Binary gas mixture samples were syringed from the manifold iii and AC outlet before and after adsorption/desorption analysis through manual sample injections into the GC-MS to detect and quantify the presence of DME and ultimately observe for methyl chloride purification. Convincing gas purification behaviour was confirmed using two different GC columns, thus giving more confidence on the measurement reliability. From the single pure component adsorption of DME and MeCl on the as received zeolite 4A subjected to 1 h vacuum pre-treatment, both gases exhibited pseudo second order adsorption kinetics with DME exhibiting a rate constant nearly double that of MeCl thus suggesting a faster rate of adsorption. From the adsorption isotherm classification both DME and MeCl exhibited Type II and I adsorption isotherm classifications, respectively. The strength of bonding was confirmed by the differential heat of adsorption measurement, which was found to be 23.30 and 10.21 kJ mol-1 for DME and MeCl, respectively. The former is believed to adsorb heterogeneously through hydrogen bonding whilst MeCl adsorbs homogenously via van der Waal’s (VDW) forces. Single pure component adsorption on as received zeolite 5A, silica gels (35-70, amorphous precipitated and 35-60) resulted in similar adsorption/desorption behaviour in similar quantities (mol kg-1). The adsorption isotherms for DME and MeCl on zeolite 5A, silica gels (35-70, amorphous precipitated and 35-60) and activated carbon 8-12 exhibited Type I classifications, respectively. Experiments on zeolite 5A indicated that DME adsorbed stronger, faster and with a slightly stronger strength of interaction than MeCl but in lesser quantities. On the silica gels adsorbents, DME exhibited a slightly greater adsorption capacity whilst adsorbing at a similar rate and strength of interaction compared to MeCl. On the activated carbon adsorbent, MeCl exhibited the greater adsorption capacity at a faster rate but with similar heats of adsorption. The effect of prolonged vacuum (15 h), thermal pre-treatment (150 °C) and extended equilibrium time (15 min) were investigated for the adsorption behaviour of DME and MeCl on both zeolites 4A and 5A, respectively. Compared to adsorption on as received adsorbents subjected to 1 h vacuum the adsorption capacities for DME and MeCl were found to increase by 1.95 % and 20.37 % on zeolite 4A and by 4.52 % and 6.69 % on zeolite 5A, respectively. In addition the empirical and kinetic models and differential heats of adsorption resulted in more definitive fitting curves and trends due to the true equilibrium position of the adsorbate with the adsorbent. Batch binary mixture adsorption on thermally and vacuum pre-treated zeolite 4A demonstrated purification behaviour of all adsorbents used for MeCl streams containing DME impurities, with a concentration as low as 0.66 vol. %. The GC-MS analysis showed no DME detection for the tested concentration mixtures at the AC outlet after 15 or 30 min, whereas MeCl was detectable in measurable amounts. Similar behaviour was also observed when carrying out adsorption in continuous mode. On the other hand, similar studies on the other adsorbents did not show such favourable MeCl purification behaviour. Overall this study investigated a wide range of adsorbents (zeolites, silica gels and activated carbon) and demonstrated for the first time potential to purify MeCl streams containing DME impurities using adsorption/desorption separation under different adsorbent pre-treatment and adsorption operating conditions. The study also revealed for the first time the adsorption isotherms, empirical and kinetic models and heats of adsorption for the respective adsorbentsurface (A-S) interactions. In conclusion, this study has shown strong evidence to propose zeolite 4A for adsorptive purification of MeCl. It is believed that with a technical grade MeCl stream competitive yet simultaneous co-adsorption of DME and MeCl occurs with evidence of molecular sieiving effects whereby the larger DME molecules are unable to penetrate through the adsorbent bed whereas the smaller MeCl molecules diffuse through resulting in a purified MeCl stream at the AC outlet. Ultimately, further studies are recommended for increased adsorption capacities by considering wider operating conditions, e.g. different adsorbent thermal and vacuum pre-treatment and adsorbing at temperatures closer to the boiling point of the gases and different conditions of pressure and temperature.

Uniform design for the optimization of Al2O3 nanofilms produced by electrophoretic deposition

Surface modification by means of nanostructures is of interest to enhance boiling heat transfer in various applications including the organic Rankine cycle (ORC). With the goal of obtaining rough and dense aluminum oxide (Al2O3) nanofilms, the optimal combination of process parameters for electrophoretic deposition (EPD) based on the uniform design (UD) method is explored in this paper. The detailed procedures for the EPD process and UD method are presented. Four main influencing conditions controlling the EPD process were identified as nanofluid concentration, deposition time, applied voltage and suspension pH. A series of tests were carried out based on the UD experimental design. A regression model and statistical analysis were applied to the results. Sensitivity analyses of the effect of the four main parameters on the roughness and deposited mass of Al2O3 films were also carried out. The results showed that Al2O3 nanofilms were deposited compactly and uniformly on the substrate. Within the range of the experiments, the preferred combination of process parameters was determined to be nanofluid concentration of 2 wt.%, deposition time of 15 min, applied voltage of 23 V and suspension pH of 3, yielding roughness and deposited mass of 520.9 nm and 161.6 × 10− 4 g/cm2, respectively. A verification experiment was carried out at these conditions and gave values of roughness and deposited mass within 8% error of the expected ones as determined from the UD approach. It is concluded that uniform design is useful for the optimization of electrophoretic deposition requiring only 7 tests compared to 49 using the orthogonal design method.