Carbon Dioxide Bubbles Research Articles

OS21-1-2 Mass transfer from a dissolving carbon dioxide bubble in glycerol-water solution

OS21-1-2 Mass transfer from a dissolving carbon dioxide bubble in glycerol-water solution

Temperature-controlled ‘breathing’ of carbon dioxide bubbles

We report a microfluidic (MF) approach to studies of temperature mediated carbon dioxide (CO(2)) transfer between the gas and the liquid phases. Micrometre-diameter CO(2) bubbles with a narrow size distribution were generated in an aqueous or organic liquid and subsequently were subjected to temperature changes in the downstream channel. In response to the cooling-heating-cooling cycle the bubbles underwent corresponding contraction-expansion-contraction transitions, which we term 'bubble breathing'. We examined temperature-controlled dissolution of CO(2) in four exemplary liquid systems: deionized water, a 0.7 M aqueous solution of NaCl, ocean water extracted from Bermuda coastal waters, and dimethyl ether of poly(ethylene glycol), a solvent used in industry for absorption of CO(2). The MF approach can be extended to studies of other gases with a distinct, temperature-dependent solubility in liquids.

Dissolution of carbon dioxide bubbles and microfluidic multiphase flows

We experimentally study the dissolution of carbon dioxide bubbles into common liquids (water, ethanol, and methanol) using microfluidic devices. Elongated bubbles are individually produced using a hydrodynamic focusing section into a compact microchannel. The initial bubble size is determined based on the fluid volumetric flow rates of injection and the channel geometry. By contrast, the bubble dissolution rate is found to depend on the inlet gas pressure and the fluid pair composition. For short periods of time after the fluids initial contact, the bubble length decreases linearly with time. We show that the initial rate of bubble shrinkage is proportional to the ratio of the diffusion coefficient and the Henry's law constant associated with each fluid pair. Our study shows the possibility to rapidly impregnate liquids with CO(2) over short distances using microfluidic technology.

Solution to Cleopatra's Cocktail challenge

If the precise amount of acetic acid needed to react with the calcium carbonate is used, all of the acid is neutralized and the cocktail would be quite palatable (the pearl lends a somewhat fishy taste). The reaction occurs very quickly with powdered calcium carbonate. In a pearl, however, the calcium carbonate is deposited between layers of an organic matrix, which reduces the rate of reaction. Experiments reveal that crushing the pearl increases the reaction rate, as does using an excess of vinegar and increasing the temperature at which the reaction is carried out. Interestingly, increasing the concentration of acetic acid beyond that found in vinegar fermented from wine (ca. 10%), reduces the rate of the reaction. A pearl weighing approximately 1 g takes 24 to 36 h to fully react with a 5% solution of acetic acid, a concentration identical to that of white vinegar sold in supermarkets. After the pearl has reacted fully with the vinegar, a small amount of translucent, gel-like material remains. This organic material represents the protein matrix of the pearl and does not react with the acid, but is softened by it. Concentrations of acetic acid higher than those that can be obtained by fermenting wine hinder the reaction. In experiments using concentrations of acetic acid higher than those found in vinegar, experiments show that the reaction rate decreases. In a 5% acetic acid solution, powdered calcium carbonate took 3 min to react fully; in a 25% solution, the reaction took 35 min; 100% acetic acid failed to react with powdered calcium carbonate within 24 h. In 100% acetic acid, a pearl's outermost layer of organic material is softened within 24 h, but the disintegration does not proceed beyond that point and there are no bubbles of carbon dioxide to indicate that a reaction is occurring. These further experiments indicate that not only are the concentrations of acetic acid found in vinegar adequate to react with a pearl, they are ideal.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Potency and recovery characteristics of rocuronium mixed with sodium bicarbonate

SummarySodium bicarbonate may be added to rocuronium to decrease pain on injection. However, this mixture may result in the formation of carbon dioxide bubbles. We investigated whether the addition of sodium bicarbonate to rocuronium alters neuromuscular blockade, in 120 patients randomly assigned to receive rocuronium mixed with saline or bicarbonate 8.4%, either in varying doses (for dose‐response measurements; 60 patients) or a fixed dose of 600 μg.kg‐1 (for time‐course measurements; 60 patients). Sodium bicarbonate resulted in a left‐shift of the rocuronium dose‐response curve. The effective doses of rocuronium to produce 95% twitch depression were 331.6 (95% CI: 310.4–352.8) and 284.3 (95% CI: 262.0–306.6) μg.kg−1 mixed with isotonic saline or sodium bicarbonate, respectively (p < 0.001). The mean (SD) onset times of rocuronium 600 μg.kg‐1 were 3.6 (0.6) and 2.7 (0.5) min in the corresponding groups, respectively (p < 0.001). The mean (SD) times to 95% recovery were 35.8 (5.8) and 47.9 (7.1) min, respectively (p < 0.001). We conclude that the mixing of sodium bicarbonate with rocuronium enhances the potency, shortens the onset and prolongs the duration of action.

Experimental Investigation of Performance of a Miniature Direct Methanol Fuel Cell in Short-Term Microgravity

Experimental study of a liquid fed direct methanol fuel cell has been conducted in different gravity environments. A small single cell with 5 cm × 5 cm active area has single serpentine channel on the graphite cathode polar plate and 11 parallel straight channels on the graphite anode flow bed. Cell voltage and current have been measured and two-phase flow in anode channels has been in situ visually observed. The experimental results indicate that the effect of gravity on power performance of the direct methanol fuel cell is large when the concentration polarization governs fuel cells operation. Gravitational effect becomes larger at higher current density. Increasing methanol feeding molarity is conducive to weaken the influence of gravity on performance of liquid fed direct methanol fuel cells. Increasing feeding flow rate of methanol solution from 6 to 15 ml/min could reduce the size of carbon dioxide bubbles, while the influence of gravity still exist. Transport phenomena inside direct methanol fuel cells in microgravity is also analyzed and discussed.

Effect of antioxidants on captopril floating matrices

Stability of captopril in a controlled release formulation has been a challenge for some time. The sustained release of captopril from floating matrices has been studied varying the antioxidant load, the sodium bicarbonate proportion and the compaction pressure. Although in many cases the effect of compaction pressure remains hidden, actual results show that matrices compacted at 55 MPa have smaller density and float in the dissolution medium while those compacted at 165 MPa float only adding sodium bicarbonate. The increase of compaction pressure reduces the hydration volume and increases the time necessary to attain its maximum. These changes are attributed to lower matrix porosity and to the consequent diminution of water and drug transport. Increasing ascorbic acid proportions increase the matrix hydration volume and the drug released. The use of sodium ascorbate and the substitution of 15% polymer with sodium bicarbonate reduce the matrix hydration volume, shorten the matrix hydration process and increase the drug released. This is attributed to carbon dioxide bubbles that decrease the matrix coherence and expand the matrix volume, facilitating drug dissolution and only a limited further matrix expansion. The antioxidant protection provided by sodium ascorbate was lesser of that of ascorbic acid because of greater molecular mass and lesser release rate.

Effect of FITC-dextran molecular weight on its release from floating cetyl alcohol and HPMC tablets

The release mechanism of high molecular weight fluorescein isothiocyanate dextrans (FITC-dextrans) from HPMC hydrogel matrices was studied. An anomaly was noted in the release behaviour of a series of high molecular weight FITC-dextrans from a tablet formulation designed to float in stomach contents. The tablets contained sodium bicarbonate and hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC) in a cetyl alcohol matrix. When hydrated in an acid medium, this tablet consisted of a mixed solid with a viscous surface layer containing carbon dioxide bubbles through which the active ingredient (FITC-dextran) was released into the aqueous environment. However, it was observed that, above a critical molecular weight (approx. 65 kDa), the FITC-dextran was only released into the medium by an erosion-type mechanism, whereas, below this value, both diffusion and erosion processes took place. The key constraint appeared to be the apparent gel pore-size of the hydrated HPMC that was approximately 12 nm in diameter, irrespective of the molecular weight of the HPMC samples evaluated. It was concluded that FITC-dextran release was controlled by both FITC-dextran molecular weight and the HPMC hydrogel structure.

454 LIF/HPTS・ステレオPIV法による単一CO_2気泡の溶解過程の可視化計測 : 渦の放出と周囲液相運動との関係(GS 流体工学2)

454 LIF/HPTS・ステレオPIV法による単一CO_2気泡の溶解過程の可視化計測 : 渦の放出と周囲液相運動との関係(GS 流体工学2)

Direct methanol fuel cell bubble transport simulations via thermal lattice Boltzmann and volume of fluid methods

Carbon dioxide bubble removal at the anode of a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) is an important technique especially for applications in the portable power sources. This paper presents numerical investigations of the two-phase flow, CO 2 bubbles in a liquid methanol solution, in the anode microchannels from the aspect of microfluidics using a thermal lattice Boltzmann model (TLBM). The main purpose is to derive an efficient and effective computational scheme to deal with this technical problem. It is then examined by a commercially available software using Navier–Stokes plus volume of fluid (VOF) method. The latter approach is normally employed by most researchers. A simplified microchannel simulation domain with the dimension of 1.5 μm in height (or width) and 16.0 μm in length has been setup for both cases to mimic the actual flow path of a CO 2 bubble inside an anodic diffusion layer in the DMFC. This paper compares both numerical schemes and results under the same operation conditions from the viewpoint of fuel cell engineering.

Effect of stearic acid on the properties of metronidazole/methocel K4M floating matrices

The properties of metronidazole/Methocel K4M sustained release floating tablets have been studied varying the proportion of the lubricant, stearic acid, on formulations with and without sodium bicarbonate. The variables studied include technological properties of the tablets such as tablet hardness and ejection pressure, the drug release profile, the hydration kinetics and the floating behaviour. The presence of stearic acid and sodium bicarbonate improves the floating behaviour for more than 8 hours. The hydration volume, the tablet hardness and the ejection pressure decrease as the stearic acid content increases and the polymer content decreases. Drug dissolution increases with increasing proportions of stearic acid and decreasing proportions of the polymer in the tablets. The presence of sodium bicarbonate extends the differences in dissolution produced by stearic acid. These results are attributed to decreasing matrices coherence with an increasing quantity of stearic acid and a reducing polymer proportion. The carbon dioxide bubbles produced by sodium bicarbonate expand the matrices facilitating the dissolution, although their presence obstructs also the diffusion path through the hydrated gel layer.

Effect of antioxidants on captopril floating matrices.

Stability of captopril in a controlled release formulation has been a challenge for some time. The sustained release of captopril from floating matrices has been studied varying the antioxidant load, the sodium bicarbonate proportion and the compaction pressure. Although in many cases the effect of compaction pressure remains hidden, actual results show that matrices compacted at 55 MPa have smaller density and float in the dissolution medium while those compacted at 165 MPa float only adding sodium bicarbonate. The increase of compaction pressure reduces the hydration volume and increases the time necessary to attain its maximum. These changes are attributed to lower matrix porosity and to the consequent diminution of water and drug transport. Increasing ascorbic acid proportions increase the matrix hydration volume and the drug released. The use of sodium ascorbate and the substitution of 15% polymer with sodium bicarbonate reduce the matrix hydration volume, shorten the matrix hydration process and increase the drug released. This is attributed to carbon dioxide bubbles that decrease the matrix coherence and expand the matrix volume, facilitating drug dissolution and only a limited further matrix expansion. The antioxidant protection provided by sodium ascorbate was lesser of that of ascorbic acid because of greater molecular mass and lesser release rate.

The association between bubble trails and folia: a morphological and sedimentary indicator of hypogenic speleogenesis by degassing, example from Adaouste Cave (Provence, France)

Bubble trails are subaqueous features in carbonate caves, which are made by the corrosion of ascending carbon dioxide bubbles. Folia are calcite deposits resembling inverted rimstone dams in saturated pools. Based on morphological studies in Adaouste Cave (Provence, France) and on studies elsewhere in the world, we propose a new genetic model for folia, close to the model of Green (1991). The association of bubble trails and folia, occurring on overhanging walls, is interpreted to be an indicator of hypogenic degassing occurring just below the water table. The association is the result of juxtaposed processes composed of corrosion along bubble trails and calcite deposition in calcite-saturated pools.

High resolution synchrotron X-ray investigation of carbon dioxide evolution in operating direct methanol fuel cells

The carbon dioxide evolution and bubble formation in an operating fuel has been studied by means of synchrotron X-ray radiography. Two different observation directions have been chosen: a through-plane insight has been employed to track the formation of bubbles starting at the corner of the lands of the flow field; a depth profile of the carbon dioxide evolution has been derived from cross sectional studies describing an affected area of up to 100 μm. The dynamics of the bubble formation and detachment of the bubbles from the position of formation is strongly correlated with the current density. Cracks and breaks in the catalyst layer which result from the preparation process are visible under operating conditions and a possible swelling of the catalyst layer does not reach a complete vanishing of the cracks.

Growth and detachment of carbon dioxide bubbles on a horizontal porous surface with a uniform mass injection

Growth and detachment of carbon dioxide bubbles on a horizontal porous surface in water is investigated in this paper. Uniform carbon dioxide injection on the porous surface is considered. The Young–Laplace equation is solved with the geometry method to yield the bubble shape. The dynamic pressure on the bubble surface due to bubble expansion is neglected. Multi-solution modes are found. Based on the characteristics of the solution modes, it is postulated that the bubble grows with a monotonically increasing base area until the maximum value is reached according to the fundamental solution mode. After that, the bubble jumps toward the secondary solution mode at a constant volume, and then detaches from the surface. The increasing rate of the bubble volume due to mass diffusion/convection is evaluated by solving the momentum and concentration equations. Evolution of the bubble shape then is determined corresponding to the variation of the bubble volume. The numerical results indicate that hydrophobic surface produces large bubble and thus gives rise to better efficiency for dissolved gas removal.

Self-regulating passive fuel supply for small direct methanol fuel cells operating in all orientations

A microfluidic fuel supply concept for passive and portable direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) that operates in all spatial orientations is presented. The concept has been proven by fabricating and testing a passive DMFC prototype. Methanol transport at the anode is propelled by the surface energy of deformed carbon dioxide bubbles, generated as a reaction product during DMFC operation. The experimental study reveals that in any orientation, the proposed pumping mechanism transports at least 3.5 times more methanol to the reactive area of the DMFC than the stoichiometry of the methanol oxidation would require to sustain DMFC operation. Additionally, the flow rates closely follow the applied electric load; hence the pumping mechanism is self-regulating. Oxygen is supplied to the cathode by diffusion and the reaction product water is transported out of the fuel cell along a continuous capillary pressure gradient. Results are presented that demonstrate the continuous passive operation for more than 40 h at ambient temperature with a power output of p = 4 mW cm−2 in the preferred vertical orientation and of p = 3.2 mW cm−2 in the least favorable horizontal orientation with the anode facing downwards.

Solution and hydrate formation behind a shock wave in liquid with nitrogen — carbon dioxide bubbles in a presence of surfactant

The processes of solution and hydrate formation behind a shock wave of moderate amplitude were studied experimentally in water with bubbles of nitrogen — carbon dioxide mixture at different initial static pressures in the medium and surfactant concentrations. It is shown that these bubbles do not affect significantly the processes of solution and hydrate formation behind a shock wave during the considered periods. The hypothesis about partial hydration of nitrogen from the gas mixture at intense formation of carbon dioxide hydrate was suggested for the conditions, when the pressure behind the wave is less than the equilibrium pressure of nitrogen hydrate formation at a given temperature.

Microfluidic synthesis of a cell adhesive Janus polyurethane microfiber

We present a simple synthetic approach for the preparation of cell attachable Janus polyurethane (PU) microfibers in a microfluidic system. The synthesis was performed by using laminar flows of multiple streams with spontaneous formation of carbon dioxide bubbles resulting in an asymmetrically porous PU microfiber. The fabricated asymmetric microfiber (Janus microfiber) provides two distinctive properties: one is a porous region to promote the cellular adhesion and the other is a nonporous region rendering the mechanical strength of the scaffold. The Janus microfibers show dramatic improvement of cell adhesion, proliferation, and viability over a culture period. Cells cultured on the fibers easily bridged gaps between microfibers by joining together to form a cell sheet. The maximum distance between fibers that fibroblasts bridged is approximately 200 microm over 15 days. The Janus microfiber can be used for not only an alternative 2D cell culture plate but also as a novel 3D scaffold for tissue engineering without any need for elegant surface modification for enhancing cell adhesions.

Processes of dissolution and hydrate formation behind a shock wave in a liquid with carbon dioxide bubbles

The processes of dissolution and hydrate formation behind the front of a shock wave of moderate amplitude in water with carbon dioxide bubbles are studied experimentally at various initial static pressures. The influence of a surface-active substance (SAS) in the medium on the processes of dissolution and hydrate formation behind the shock wave is investigated. It is demonstrated that behind a shock wave of moderate amplitude in a liquid with carbon dioxide bubbles an intensive process of dissolution and hydrate formation takes place, resulting in complete disappearance of the gas phase in a matter of a few milliseconds. The presence of an SAS in the medium does not significantly influence the processes of dissolution and hydrate formation within the investigated periods of time.

Preparation and characterization of hollow hydroxyapatite microspheres by spray drying method

Hollow hydroxyapatite (Ca 10(PO 4) 6(OH) 2) microspheres were prepared using a simple spray drying method. The incorporation of ammonium bicarbonate could produce carbon dioxide and ammonia gas bubbles during the spraying, and thus created a hollow inner structure in the resultant microspheres. The hollow microspheres prepared using different amounts of ammonium bicarbonate were also characterized. These microspheres were composed of nanoparticles with an average crystallite size of 15 nm. A high surface area (80 m 2/g) and porosity of the microspheres could be achieved when the concentration of ammonium bicarbonate was about 5 wt.%. Fourier transform infrared results showed that CO 3 2− was incorporated into the HA microspheres. These hollow microspheres have many potential uses such as injectable drug-delivery carriers.