Progress towards the design and numerical analysis of a 3D microchannel biochip separator

This paper reports the design and numerical analysis of a three-dimensional biochip plasma blood separator using computational fluid dynamics techniques. Based on the initial configuration of a two-dimensional (2D) separator, five three-dimensional (3D) microchannel biochip designs are categorically developed through axial and plenary symmetrical expansions. These include the geometric variations of three types of the branch side channels (circular, rectangular, disc) and two types of the main channel (solid and concentric). Ignoring the initial transient behaviour and assuming that steady-state flow has been established, the behaviour of the blood fluid in the devices is algebraically analysed and numerically modelled. The roles of the relevant microchannel mechanisms, i.e. bifurcation, constriction and bending channel, on promoting the separation process are analysed based on modelling results. The differences among the different 3D implementations are compared and discussed. The advantages of 3D over 2D separator in increasing separation volume and effectively depleting cell-free layer fluid from the whole cross section circumference are addressed and illustrated. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Macrocyclic polyamine-modified poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co-ethylene dimethacrylate) monolith for capillary electrochromatography

1,4,10,13,16-Pentaazatricycloheneicosane-9,17-dione (macrocyclic polyamine)-modified polymer-based monolithic column for CEC was prepared by ring opening reaction of epoxide groups from poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co-ethylene dimethacrylate) (GMA-co-EDMA) monolith with macrocyclic polyamine. Conditions such as reaction time and concentration of macrocyclic polyamine for the modification reaction were optimized to generate substantial EOF and enough chromatographic interactions. Anodic EOF was observed in the pH range of 2.0-8.0 studied due to the protonation of macrcyclic polyamine at the surface of the monolith. Morphology of the monolithic column was examined by SEM and the incorporation of macrocyclic polyamine to the poly(GMA-co-EDMA) monolith was characterized by infrared (IR) spectra. Successful separation of inorganic anions, isomeric benzenediols, and benzoic acid derivatives on the monolithic column was achieved for CEC. In addition to hydrophobic interaction, hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interaction played a significant role in the separation process.

氟碳铈矿分离过程中的氧化问题及工艺改进

针对Cyanex 923萃取分离铈、钍、稀土过程中Ce(IV)在萃取过程中被有机相中的还原性物质还原的问题，提出采用高锰酸钾氧化萃余水相中的Ce(III)。研究结果表明，在酸性条件下，高锰酸钾能有效的氧化水相中的Ce(III)，但在萃取过程中，高锰酸根会先于Ce（IV）被萃入到有机相中，从而失去氧化Ce(III)的能力，由此提出氧化过程必须无含Cyanex 923有机相存在并参与设计了一套油水分离氧化装置。经过高锰酸钾氧化后，萃余水相中铈可低于0.5g/L，铈收率达到98%。 针对攀西氟碳铈矿新流程中直接制备的纳米级氟化铈，考察了氟化铈的紫外吸收性能，发现其在254nm处有特征吸收峰，还考察了分散剂的极性强弱、分散物浓度、粒径、温度及表面包覆等因素对紫外吸收性能的影响；发现随着粒径的减小，紫外吸收峰发生明显的红移；经TiO2包覆后CeF3的紫外吸光域范围扩展。 研究了Cyanex 923与P204组成的双溶剂萃取体系及其单独体系萃取Ce(IV)、F及Ce(IV)-F混液的热力学性质，得出了协同萃取机理，获得了萃取平衡方程式以及协萃物的组成。研究发现混合体系对Ce(IV)及Ce(IV)-F混液中的Ce、F均有明显的协萃作用，这为该萃取体系应用于现实分离中提供了可靠的保证。 在上述工作的基础上，提出了Cyanex 923与P204组成的双溶剂萃取体系分离攀西氟碳铈矿的新清洁冶金流程。对影响这一流程的化学因素进行了系统研究，并给出了工艺运行参数。

胶体体系的固化及分离过程的计算机模拟

胶体体系是自然界很重要的组成部分，广泛应用于工业生产和日常生活中。胶体体系在固化的过程中，会形成有序的晶体结构或无序的玻璃态结构。对胶体的结晶和玻璃化的认识对研究相变理论，纳米材料以及自组装有着重要的意义。事实上，在这一领域存在着许多悬而未决的问题。另一方面，胶体的分离也是胶体科学研究中不可或缺的步骤。特别是近年来微流器件技术的进步为流体动力学色谱分离方法带来了进一步发展的机会，这为胶体的分离提供了非常有效的实验手段。然而，由于实际应用过程的复杂性，理论方法还不足以深入探讨胶体粒子体系固化和分离的本质。作为一种可以直接反映物理过程的研究方法，计算机模拟成为一种有效的研究胶体粒子固化和分离的手段。 硬球模型是一种最简单的胶体粒子体系，能够很好地描述具有体积排斥作用的胶体粒子的行为，因此，对于胶体粒子体系固化问题，我们采用分子动力学方法研究了硬球粒子体系的固化过程。此外，对于胶体和高分子体系的分离过程，我们主要采用耗散分子动力学（dissipative particle dynamics DPD）进行研究。论文的主要内容包括： 1)采用硬球分子动力学模型，研究了胶体颗粒在不同的压缩速率下得到的堆积态的结构异质性。我们应用Lubachevsky-Stillinger方法，在不同的压缩速率下得到了一系列的结构受限的硬球堆积状态。这些体系的有序度随着压缩速率的减小而增加，而体系的密度则是先增加后减小又增加，在中间压缩速率时出现最小值。通过测量体系中的局域序参量分布，粒子位置的均方根涨落分布和直接观察受限粒子的位置，发现这些状态中包含有无规区域和结晶区域，存在显著的结构异质性。特别的是低密度状态中许多小的有序区域互相连接成贯穿体系的逾渗网络，说明晶区之间的结构不匹配是生成这些状态的重要机理。 2)用DPD方法模拟了线性高分子链和星形高分子链在穿越纳米孔道的输运过程。对复合管道中小管的半径分别为2.5 和2.0 的两种情况进行了研究。在各种情况下我们都发现了存在一个临界流量Jc，只有当流量大于Jc的时候高分子才能进入纳米孔洞。对于线性高分子，长链的高分子进入同样粗细的小管所需要的临界流量比短链大。线性链和星形链在半径是2.0小管子中的临界流量比通过半径2.5的管子的临界流量大，或者近似相同。在半径2.5的小管中，星形高分子的临界流量要大于同等尺寸的线性高分子。此外，我们没有观察到不同接枝数的星形高分子的临界流量之间的差异。出现这种情况的原因可能是DPD模型中粒子间的相互作用势能很软，所以不能很好地体现出不同接枝数的星形高分子在位阻上的差异。 3）我们利用DPD方法模拟了圆柱形管道中线性高分子链的输运过程。比较了模拟得到的高分子保留时间和DG理论预测值之间的差异。发现分子量越大的高分子对DG理论的偏离越显著。计算了高分子链在流动过程中伸长的情况，发现了链的伸长率S与Weissenberg number 有着明确的标度关系。与狭缝中的情况类似，对于圆柱型管道中流动的线性高分子，如果采用修饰过的Peclet number，则能够更好地满足Aris-Taylor分散的标度关系。 4)我们建立了纳米粒子在DPD模拟的动力学模型，研究了在本体溶液中纳米粒子的自扩散系数和速度关联函数对与胶体粒子的半径定性关系。发现纳米粒子的扩散系数随粒子半径的增加而减小。纳米粒子的半径越大，其速度关联函数的衰减越慢，同样大小纳米粒子的质量越大，其速度关联函数衰减得越慢。我们进一步模拟了在狭缝中纳米粒子的输运过程。通过观察流体受限方向的流速曲线，我们发现由于与器壁之间的体积排斥作用，使得纳米粒子远离流体的边界。对Aris-Taylor分散的研究结果表明，在λ不大的时候，应用不同的Peclet numbers 对分散方程结果的影响不大。

The application of spline wavelet transform to the determination of electroosmotic mobility in capillary electrophoresis

The rule of current change was studied during capillary electrophoresis (CE) separation process while the conductivity of the sample solution was different from that of the buffer. Using a quadratic spline wavelet of compact support, the wavelet transforms (WTs) of capillary electrophoretic currents were performed. The time corresponding to the maximum of WT coefficients was chosen as the time of current inflection to calculate electroosmotic mobility. The proposed method was suitable for different CE modes, including capillary zone electrophoresis, nonaqueous CE and micellar electrokinctic chromatography. Compared with the neutral marker method, the relative errors of the developed method for the determination of electroosmotic mobility were all below 2.5%. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

AN EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY ON MEMBRANE DISTILLATION FOR TREATMENT OF GINSENG DEW AND GINSENG WASHING WATER

Membrane distillation is a new membrane separation process which has been developed in the last few years. When a piece of microporous hydrophobic membrane separates two kinds of aqueous solutions different in temperature, the solutions cannot transport through the pores of membrane in any directions because of the hydrophobicity of membrane. However, vapor can readily penetrate through the

Mercaptans extraction from jet-fuel streams using ionic liquids

Desulfurization is one of the most important processes in the refining industry. Due to a growing concern about the risks to human health and environment, associated with the emissions of sulfur compounds, legislation has become more stringent, requiring a drastic reduction in the sulfur content of fuel to levels close to zero (< 10 ppm S). However, conventional desulfurization processes are inefficient and have high operating costs. This scenario stimulates the improvement of existing processes and the development of new and more efficient technologies. Aiming at overcoming these shortcomings, this work investigates an alternative desulfurization process using ionic liquids for the removal of mercaptans from "jet fuel" streams. The screening and selection of the most suitable ionic liquid were performed based on experimental and COSMO-RS predicted liquid-liquid equilibrium data. A model feed of 1-hexanethiol and n-dodecane was selected to represent a jet-fuel stream. High selectivities were determined, as a result of the low mutual solubility between the ionic liquid and the hydrocarbon matrix, proving the potential use of the ionic liquid, which prevents the loss of fuel for the solvent. The distribution ratios of mercaptans towards the ionic liquids were not as favorable, making the traditional liquid-liquid extraction processes not suitable for the removal of aliphatic S-compounds due to the high volume of extractant required. This work explores alternative methods and proposes the use of ionic liquids in a separation process assisted by membranes. In the process proposed the ionic liquid is used as extracting solvent of the sulfur species, in a hollow fiber membrane contactor, without co-extracting the other jet-fuel compound. In a second contactor, the ionic liquid is regenerated applying a sweep gas stripping, which allows for its reuse in a closed loop between the two membrane contactors. This integrated extraction/regeneration process of desulfurization produced a jet-fuel model with sulfur content lower than 2 ppm of S, as envisaged by legislation for the use of ultra-low sulfur jet-fuel. This result confirms the high potential for development of ultra-deep desulfurization application.

Studies on Magnetic Iron Oxide Loaded Activated Carbon

The current water treatment technology is oriented towards the removal of contaminants, mostly organic compounds, by activated carbon. Activated carbons are classified as Granular Activated Carbons (GAC) and Powdered Activated Carbons (PAC) on the basis of the particle size of the carbon granules. Powdered carbons are generally less expensive than granular carbon, operating costs with powdered carbon could be lower. Though powdered activated carbon has many advantages over granular carbon, its application in large-scale separation process is limited by difficulty in recovery and regeneration. Deposition of magnetic iron oxide on carbon particles provides a convenient way of recovering the spent carbon from process water. The study deals with the preparation and physico-chemical characterization of magnetic iron oxide loaded activated carbons. The evaluation of absorption properties of magnetic iron oxide loaded activated carbon composites. The target molecules studied were phenol, p-nitro phenol and methylene blue. The feasibility of magnetic separation of iron oxide loaded activated carbons were studied and described in this thesis.

English to Malayalam Translation: A Statistical Approach

This paper underlines a methodology for translating text from English into the Dravidian language, Malayalam using statistical models. By using a monolingual Malayalam corpus and a bilingual English/Malayalam corpus in the training phase, the machine automatically generates Malayalam translations of English sentences. This paper also discusses a technique to improve the alignment model by incorporating the parts of speech information into the bilingual corpus. Removing the insignificant alignments from the sentence pairs by this approach has ensured better training results. Pre-processing techniques like suffix separation from the Malayalam corpus and stop word elimination from the bilingual corpus also proved to be effective in training. Various handcrafted rules designed for the suffix separation process which can be used as a guideline in implementing suffix separation in Malayalam language are also presented in this paper. The structural difference between the English Malayalam pair is resolved in the decoder by applying the order conversion rules. Experiments conducted on a sample corpus have generated reasonably good Malayalam translations and the results are verified with F measure, BLEU and WER evaluation metrics

A framework for translating English text into Malayalam using statistical models

A methodology for translating text from English into the Dravidian language, Malayalam using statistical models is discussed in this paper. The translator utilizes a monolingual Malayalam corpus and a bilingual English/Malayalam corpus in the training phase and generates automatically the Malayalam translation of an unseen English sentence. Various techniques to improve the alignment model by incorporating the morphological inputs into the bilingual corpus are discussed. Removing the insignificant alignments from the sentence pairs by this approach has ensured better training results. Pre-processing techniques like suffix separation from the Malayalam corpus and stop word elimination from the bilingual corpus also proved to be effective in producing better alignments. Difficulties in translation process that arise due to the structural difference between the English Malayalam pair is resolved in the decoding phase by applying the order conversion rules. The handcrafted rules designed for the suffix separation process which can be used as a guideline in implementing suffix separation in Malayalam language are also presented in this paper. Experiments conducted on a sample corpus have generated reasonably good Malayalam translations and the results are verified with F measure, BLEU and WER evaluation metrics

Análisis de las etapas del proceso de mediación familiar desde el Modelo Relacional Simbólico, en una intervención a una pareja en situación de separación de la Localidad de Puente Aranda. Bogotá D.C. 2008

La presente investigación se realizó con el objetivo de describir y analizar una mediación familiar hecha con la metodología del modelo relacional simbólico, por dos alumnos de la maestría en mediación familiar y comunitaria, a una pareja en situación de separación. Para ello se construyó un protocolo de acuerdo al modelo relacional simbólico, para la selección de las parejas. Por medio de la metodología determinada por la investigación cualitativa y específicamente el estudio de caso, los investigadores hicieron la recolección de la información, teniendo como guía los conceptos que se trabajaron en la mediación familiar, que corresponden a, los géneros, el relanzamiento de los vínculos, las generaciones y las estirpes. Una vez seleccionada la pareja se realizó la mediación familiar de acuerdo a las etapas y metodología planteada por el modelo, haciendo un registro pormenorizado de cada sesión. Finalizada la mediación familiar los investigadores realizaron la descripción y el análisis de lo ocurrido, encontrando como las varias sesiones y los objetivos de las mismas benefician a los padres en el transito de su separación, potenciando su rol como padres y relanzando los vínculos que los unen. El cumplimiento de las etapas fue adecuado, sin embargo en el manejo de la técnica los mediadores familiares tuvieron imprecisiones que los alejaron en algunos momentos del modelo relacional simbólico, debido a la falta de experticia frente a la aplicación de la mediación familiar. Los investigadores presentan recomendaciones para la formación y el entrenamiento de mediadores familiares de acuerdo al modelo relacional simbólico.

Utilidad del uso del genograma en la configuración de un nuevo mapa de relaciones a partir del cuidado y relanzamiento del vínculo conyugal al parental en una mediación de una pareja en proceso de separación

Este estudio se basa en una mediación familiar adelantada con una pareja en proceso de separación conyugal; la mediación es descrita con el propósito de ilustrar la aplicación operativa del marco teórico y la metodología propuesta por el Modelo Relacional Simbólico, haciendo especial referencia al genograma, instrumento que ofrece la posibilidad de acceder a la dimensión simbólica y plurigeracional de la relación, de una manera en que la pareja descubre, ratifica y potencializa recursos, y proyecta el paso de una condición relacional a otra, facilitando la reconfiguración y reorganización de los vínculos familiares.

Alternativa productiva para el aprovechamiento del residuo cachaza

Este trabajo de investigación, busca ofrecer al sector panelero de Colombia nuevas estrategias eco-eficientes y amigables con el medio ambiente, en pro de fortalecer las buenas prácticas agrícolas, que contribuyan con la gestión óptima de los residuos que se crean alrededor de la cadena de producción de la panela. Teniendo en cuenta que la obtención de desechos tanto orgánicos como inorgánicos, genera un impacto medioambiental negativo, se pudo identificar una de estas fuentes de contaminación, a través de un proceso de observación. Ésta es conocida como la Cachaza, la cual se genera dentro de un procedimiento denominado Limpieza del Dulce de Caña. Inicialmente, la caña se muele a través de una trituradora que exprime dulce sin tratamiento, el cual pasa por un ducto hasta regarse sobre una primera paila, donde se le aplica balso. Por medio del calor que produce una hornilla sobre la que se coloca dicha paila, se realiza un proceso de separación, el residuo consolidado en una espuma espesa, comienza a flotar por encima del dulce, siendo extraída a medida que va saliendo y depositada en otros recipientes. Considerando constantes prácticas como el vertimiento de la Cachaza sobre algunas fuentes hídricas (ríos, lagunas, etc.) y cultivos de caña ya fermentados (que elaboran nutrientes negativos sobre los mismos); se profundizará sobre los diferentes impactos ambientales que se originan en éste proceso agroindustrial. El objetivo principal del presente trabajo de investigación, consiste en la implementación de un proyecto de logística inversa, formulando estrategias para el procesamiento de la Cachaza a implementar en un trapiche de la zona de Rio negro a fin de reutilizar este residuo generando subproductos que aporten a la mitigación del impacto ambiental, dando así un valor agregado a toda la cadena. Mediante un análisis costo beneficio se evaluará qué tan fácil o difícil resulta la implementación de dicho proyecto, el cual al incluir un proceso adicional a la cadena de producción de la panela generara un suplemento alimenticio para los equinos y aprovechara el 100% de sus residuos a muy bajo costo.

On the steadiness of separating meandering currents

The existence of inertial steady currents that separate from a coast and meander afterward is investigated. By integrating the zonal momentum equation over a suitable area, it is shown that retroflecting currents cannot be steady in a reduced gravity or in a barotropic model of the ocean. Even friction cannot negate this conclusion. Previous literature on this subject, notably the discrepancy between several articles by Nof and Pichevin on the unsteadiness of retroflecting currents and steady solutions presented in other papers, is critically discussed. For more general separating current systems, a local analysis of the zonal momentum balance shows that given a coastal current with a specific zonal momentum structure, an inertial, steady, separating current is unlikely, and the only analytical solution provided in the literature is shown to be inconsistent. In a basin-wide view of these separating current systems, a scaling analysis reveals that steady separation is impossible when the interior flow is nondissipative (e.g., linear Sverdrup-like). These findings point to the possibility that a large part of the variability in the world’s oceans is due to the separation process rather than to instability of a free jet.

Toughness & oblique metalcutting

The implications of whether new surfaces in cutting are formed just by plastic flow past the tool or by some fracturelike separation process involving significant surface work, are discussed. Oblique metalcutting is investigated using the ideas contained in a new algebraic model for the orthogonal machining of metals (Atkins, A. G., 2003, "Modeling Metalcutting Using Modern Ductile Fracture Mechanics: Quantitative Explanations for Some Longstanding Problems," Int. J. Mech. Sci., 45, pp. 373–396) in which significant surface work (ductile fracture toughnesses) is incorporated. The model is able to predict explicit material-dependent primary shear plane angles and provides explanations for a variety of well-known effects in cutting, such as the reduction of at small uncut chip thicknesses; the quasilinear plots of cutting force versus depth of cut; the existence of a positive force intercept in such plots; why, in the size-effect regime of machining, anomalously high values of yield stress are determined; and why finite element method simulations of cutting have to employ a "separation criterion" at the tool tip. Predictions from the new analysis for oblique cutting (including an investigation of Stabler's rule for the relation between the chip flow velocity angle C and the angle of blade inclination i) compare consistently and favorably with experimental results.