Decrease In Viscosity Research Articles

The Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training with Different Duration on Fibrinogen and Plasma Viscosity in Sedentary Male College Students

Background: There have been few investigations into the impact of high-intensity interval training on blood rheology. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate how high-intensity interval training conducted with different duration affects fibrinogen and plasma viscosity in sedentary young college men. Methods: For this study, 36 healthy male participants were selected and grouped based on their individual characteristics. The groups included a control group (n = 9), a 45-second training group (tr-45; n = 9), a 30-second training group (tr-30; n = 9), and a 15-second training group (tr-15; n = 9). The training regimen comprised six sessions over two weeks, with varying sets (4, 5, 6, 6, 7, 4 respectively) and durations of 15, 30, and 45 seconds for different groups. There was a fixed 4-minute rest interval between each set, with a consistent load of 0.6 on the Wingate cycle ergometer. Blood samples were collected 48 hours before and after the final session to analyze fibrinogen and plasma viscosity levels. Results: There were no significant differences between groups in plasma fibrinogen levels (F3, 32 = 2.303, P = 0.96). However, post-test analysis revealed a significant decrease in plasma fibrinogen in the tr-45 group (P = 0.027) compared to pre-test levels. Plasma viscosity did not significantly change between groups (F3, 32 = 0.651, P = 0.058), but there was a significant interaction between time and group (F3, 40 = 4.43, P = 0.009). Post-test analysis showed a significant decrease in plasma viscosity in the tr-45 (P = 0.010), tr-30 (P = 0.002), and tr-15 (P = 0.003) groups, while it significantly increased in the control group (P = 0.004) compared to pre-test levels. Conclusions: The findings suggest that high-intensity interval training can effectively decrease blood rheology and factors such as fibrinogen and plasma viscosity, with the 45-second HIIT being more efficient. Therefore, incorporating this training into Physical Activity Programs could be beneficial for inactive men.

Nanodomains and Their Temperature Dependence in a Phosphonium-Based Ionic Liquid: A Single-Molecule Tracking Study.

Ionic liquids (ILs) exhibit a unique nanoscale structure (i.e., nanodomains) characterized by their organization into distinct domains. We present evidence of nanodomains in trihexyl(tetradecyl)phosphonium chloride, [P66614][Cl], using single-molecule tracking (SMT) and the maximum entropy method (MEM) to analyze single-molecule trajectories. The diffusion properties of ATTO 647N were assessed as the temperature of [P66614][Cl] increased from 20 °C (4020 cP), 35 °C (1239 cP), 45 °C (599 cP) to 50 °C (439 cP). The MEM analysis revealed a distinct two-population distribution of diffusion coefficients representing nanodomains in [P66614][Cl] at 20 °C (4020 cP). The slow population accounts for 16%, with a diffusion coefficient of 0.104 μm2/s, while the fast population constitutes 84% with a diffusion coefficient of 0.634 μm2/s. Two diffusing populations were also measured for the chemically different probes ATTO 647N, DiD, and Nile Blue chloride in [P66614][Cl] at 20 °C. In contrast, only a single fast population was measured in [P66614][Cl] at 50 °C. At a similar viscosity (640 cP) but a lower temperature of 20 °C, trihexyl(tetradecyl)phosphonium bis[(trifluoromethyl)-sulfonyl]imide, [P66614][NTf2], also showed only a single diffusing population. The elimination of the slow population and the presence of a single diffusing population in [P66614][Cl] as the temperature increases and the viscosity decreases is consistent with liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) as a mechanism of nanodomain formation. In addition, the measurement of two diffusing populations for three fluorophores with different chemical structures is also consistent with a physical mechanism, and not a chemical mechanism, for nanodomain formation.

REDUCING THE VISCOSITY OF THE OIL MIXTURE BY A ROTARY PULSE APPARATUS IN UKHTA — YAROSLAVL OIL PIPELINE

Physical methods of exposure can be used to improve the rheological characteristics of viscous, resinous oils, the transportation of which through main pipelines requires additional operating costs. The authors of this article evaluated the effectiveness of the method for improving oil rheology due to multifactorial effects (shear loads, high–amplitude pressure pulses, developed turbulence) on a sample of a mixture of oils of the Ukhta - Yaroslavl oil pipeline in a rotary pulse apparatus (RIA). The specific power consumption for processing an oil sample was 2.84 kWh/m3. The initial rheological and physico-chemical parameters of the studied oil are described, according to which it is characterized as heavy, viscous, highly resinous oil. The analysis of the flow curves showed that, by the nature of the flow, the sample of a mixture of oils from the Ukhta — Yaroslavl main oil pipeline belongs to Newtonian liquids. The evaluation of the effectiveness of the multifactorial effect on the oil sample implemented in RIA was carried out using dimensionless coefficients showing the ratio of dynamic viscosity, the specific power required to maintain the flow of oil in a rotary viscometer before and after physical exposure to oil, as well as the ratio of the change in the energy of thixotropy of oil to the energy spent on the processing process. The samples were processed in an RIA-based installation, in which pressure pulsations, developed turbulence, and large shear loads are generated in the liquid flow. When comparing the viscosity values of untreated and treated mixed oil in a rotary pulse apparatus, the dynamic viscosity measured at 20 °C decreased by 8 %. The component composition of the oil after processing in RIA has practically not changed. Measuring the viscosity of oil before processing and immediately after processing in RIA shows a decrease in viscosity by more than two times, since the temperature of the oil flow increases after passing through RIA by more than 10 °C. The increase in oil temperature during processing is due to large shear stresses during its flow in slit channels and in the gap between the rotor and stator due to the large amplitude of pressure pulsations and flow velocity.The relaxation time of the rheological parameters of the treated oil was seven days.

Thermoplastic Starch with Maltodextrin: Preparation, Morphology, Rheology, and Mechanical Properties

This work describes the preparation of highly homogeneous thermoplastic starches (TPS’s) with the addition of 0, 5, or 10 wt.% of maltodextrin (MD) and 0 or 3 wt.% of TiO2 nanoparticles. The TPS preparation was based on a two-step preparation protocol, which consisted in solution casting (SC) followed by melt mixing (MM). Rheology measurements at the typical starch processing temperature (120 °C) demonstrated that maltodextrin acted as a lubricating agent, which decreased the viscosity of the system. Consequently, the in situ measurement during the MM confirmed that the torque moments and real processing temperatures of all TPS/MD systems decreased in comparison with the pure TPS. The detailed characterization of morphology, thermomechanical properties, and local mechanical properties revealed that the viscosity decrease was accompanied by a slight decrease in the system homogeneity. The changes in the real processing temperatures might be quite moderate (ca 2–3 °C), but maltodextrin is a cheap and easy-to-add modifier, and the milder processing conditions are advantageous for both technical applications (energy savings) and biomedical applications (beneficial for temperature-sensitive additives, such as antibiotics).

Variable viscosity and activation energy aspects in convection heat transfer over gravity driven solar collector plate for thermal energy storage

Variable viscosity, activation energy and microgravity effects on Darcy nanofluid for the thermal performance improvement in thermal energy storage systems through stretching flat plate solar collector is the focus of this research. Thermal energy storage (TES) can be improved though solar collectors, phase change materials and photovoltaic cells using nanofluid in the base liquid. To increase the reaction rate in nanoparticles, the activation energy and solar radiations are used for the efficiency of TES. The viscosity of nanofluid improves the heat and mass transmission. Due to solar radiations, nanofluid plays prominent role in TES applications such as heat exchangers, electronic cooling devices and solar power generation through solar plate collector. Solar energy based mathematical model is developed to execute the frequency of oscillating heat transfer in TES numerically. Primitive and Stokes coefficients are used for feasible programming. Finite difference analysis is performed to display oscillatory thermal energy using Gaussian-elimination matrix scheme. Steady velocity, surface temperature and concentrations are plotted and utilized in oscillatory formula to perform oscillatory skin friction, oscillatory heat transfer and oscillatory mass transfer along π⁄4 angle. Fluid velocity enhances but temperature and concentration variation decreases as viscosity decreases. High amplitude in velocity, temperature and concentration is sketched as activation energy and microgravity increases. Steady heat and mass transmission enhances as thermophoretic and Brownian motion enhances. Amplitude and frequency of oscillations in heat transport, skin friction and mass transport enhances as Prandtl and Schmidt component enhances. In validation of results, the 0.00064% percentage error for heat transport and 0.00102% percentage error for mass transmission are deduced.

Development and characterization of PVA-zein/α-tocopherol nonwoven mats for functional wound dressing applications

Wound healing poses significant clinical challenges due to issues like bacterial infections, oxidative stress, and the need for sustained therapeutic delivery. This study aimed to develop and characterize biocompatible nonwoven fibrous mats composed of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and zein encapsulating α-tocopherol for wound dressing applications. α-Tocopherol was nano-encapsulated in zein proteins using an antisolvent co-precipitation method, followed by its dispersion in PVA solutions. The resulting composition was then processed using a novel, scalable, and inexpensive solution blow spinning (SBS) process that offers higher throughputs to generate non-woven mats. The resulting fibers in the non-woven mats, ranging in diameter from 350 nm to 796 nm, demonstrate uniform morphology, as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy validated the successful incorporation of α-tocopherol without altering the chemical structure of the PVA-zein matrix. Rheological assessments revealed Newtonian behavior and a decrease in viscosity with higher tocopherol content, enhancing the processability of the mats. Mechanical testing showed that increasing tocopherol content improved tensile strength, elongation, and Young's modulus. The mats exhibited a biphasic release profile with an initial burst and sustained α-tocopherol release over 24 h, fitting the Korsmeyer-Peppas model and hence indicating a diffusion-controlled mechanism. Cytotoxicity assays confirmed high cell viability (>90 %) and enhanced cell spreading, underscoring their biocompatibility. These findings suggest that PVA-zein/tocopherol fiber mats are promising candidates for functional wound dressing materials, offering sustained antioxidant activity and a favorable wound healing environment. Future work will focus on optimizing fiber composition for antimicrobial properties and conducting in vivo studies to validate their clinical efficacy.

Rheological Characteristics of Concrete Mixtures Modified with Urease Additives

Statement of the problem. Rheological characteristics of concrete samples made with the use of various bioadditives are studied. Results. The results of experimental studies of the rheological properties of concrete, taking into account the effect of dietary supplements based on the following strains of bacteria B.subtilis, Ps.aeruginosa, with urease activity, are presented. Conclusions. The values of the cone sediment of concrete mixtures made using various grades of Portland cement were obtained, the values of conditional viscosity were also established, and the limiting shear stress and compressive strength of the obtained concrete cube samples made using urease bioadditives were determined. It was found that the use of dietary supplements leads to a decrease in the conditional viscosity of the mixture by 2 times, as well as to an increase in compressive strength by at least 15 %. Thus, it has been established that bioadditives improve the quality of the bond between the components of concrete, making it more durable and resistant to loads, as well as its rheological characteristics.

Self-Compacting Mixtures of Fair-Faced Concrete Based on GGBFS and a Multicomponent Chemical Admixture—Technological and Rheological Properties

The use of superplasticizers in a self-compacting concrete mix without the addition of a foaming agent in practice leads to a well-known problem associated with increased air entrainment and promotes the formation of harmful large bubbles, high-void content, and ununiform appearance. This paper presents research on the properties of cement paste consisting of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), powder based on ground granulated blast furnace slag (GBBS), and superplasticizer. The methodology of this study was the estimation of flow diameter and flow time, as well as the evaluation of the rheological characteristics. The influence of ground granulated blast furnace slag and polycarboxylate plasticizer on the flowability and viscosity of cement paste was studied. The effect of superplasticizer (SP) based on polycarboxylate esters (PCE) anti-foaming agent (AFA) based on a glycol ester and air-entraining admixture (AEA) based on an amphoteric surfactant on flowability, viscosity, rheological properties and the strength of the cement paste was evaluated. It was found that the increase of slag content in cement paste (25%) with the presence of superplasticizer (0.64%) significantly changes the flowability and viscosity. It was stated that the addition of 0.04% anti-foaming agents increases flowability (20%) and reduces viscosity (44%) of cement paste. It was stated that the addition of small dosages of glycol ester-based anti-foaming agent (0.02 and 0.04%) significantly changes the rheological properties, decreases the shear yield stress by 2.1–2.8 times, the plastic viscosity by 2.4–2.6 times and apparent viscosity 1.6–2.5 times, improves the compressive strength at the age of 1 and 7 days by 2.5 and 1.4 times, respectively. The addition of air-entraining admixture led to a decrease in the plastic viscosity by 1.2–1.4 times. It was stated that the presence of air-entraining admixture assists in increasing the apparent viscosity by 1.7–2.4 times. It was shown that the presence of complex admixtures of various origins, purposes, and mechanisms of action would assist in predicting the behavior of concrete mixtures under the conditions of the building site and reduce the consumption of polycarboxylate esters due to the enhancing plasticizing effect of anti-foaming agent and air-entraining admixture.

Structural Color of Partially Deacetylated Chitin Nanowhisker Film Inspired by Jewel Beetle.

Nanochitin was developed to effectively utilize crab shells, a food waste product, and there is ongoing research into its applications. Short nanowhiskers were produced by sonicating partially deacetylated nanochitin in water, resulting in a significant decrease in viscosity due to reduced entanglement of the nanowhiskers. These nanowhiskers self-assembled into a multilayered film through an evaporation technique. The macro- and nanoscale structures within the film manipulate light, producing vibrant and durable structural colors. The dried cast film exhibited green and purple stripes extending from the center to the edge formed by interference effects from the multilayer structure and thickness variations. Preserving structural colors requires maintaining a low ionic strength in the dispersion, as a higher ionic strength reduces electrostatic repulsion between nanofibers, increasing viscosity and potentially leading to the fading of color. This material's sensitivity to environmental changes, combined with chitin's biocompatibility, makes it well-suited for food sensors, wherein it can visually indicate freshness or spoilage. Furthermore, chitin's stable and non-toxic properties offer a sustainable alternative to traditional dyes in cosmetics, delivering vivid and long-lasting color.

Properties evaluation of electric smelting furnace slag: Viscosity and sulfide capacity under different FeO content

This study investigated the viscosity and sulfide capacity of electric smelting furnace (ESF) slag (CaO-SiO2-6wt.%MgO-10 wt%Al2O3-FeO) with a basicity of 0.8 through cylinder rotating method and gas-slag equilibrium experiments. Additionally, the high-temperature structure of the slag was analyzed using FTIR and Raman spectroscopy. The results showed that as the FeO content increased from 1 wt% to 9 wt%, the viscosity of the ESF slag gradually decreased, with a more pronounced reduction observed when the FeO content exceeded 5 wt%. The increase in FeO content led to a reduction in the initial liquidus temperature, resulting in the formation of a greater amount of liquid phase at lower temperatures. Furthermore, FeO released O2− ions at high temperatures, which depolymerized the silicate network structure, thereby reducing the viscous flow resistance. These dual effects of FeO contributed to the decrease in slag viscosity. In addition, the sulfide capacity of the slag increased with rising FeO content, and the activity order of sulfides in the slag was FeS > CaS > MgS. This was because Ca2+ ions were largely consumed for charge compensation within the silicate structure in the low-basicity slag. Based on these findings, during the ESF furnace smelting process, the desulfurization step should preferably be conducted at the front end of the reduction process.

Effect of chitosan molecular weight and protein to polysaccharide ratio on the rheological and physicochemical properties of milk proteins–chitosan complex coacervate

The small amplitude oscillatory shear (SAOS) rheological properties of complex coacervate of milk proteins with high (HMC), medium (MMC), and low (LMC) molecular weight chitosan in the optimal ratios of milk proteins to chitosan (15:1, 10:1, and 5:1, respectively) were measured. In addition, the morphological (SEM), structural (XRD), and thermal (DSC) properties of the complex coacervates were investigated in comparison with the milk protein concentrate. Complex coacervates showed the shear-thinning behavior due to a linear decrease of complex viscosity with increasing frequency. Furthermore, the highest complex modulus and the more compact structure under optimal conditions, in terms of the ratio of protein to chitosan and pH, revealed strong electrostatic bonding between proteins and chitosan. All coacervates showed a G′ > G″ (Tanδ<1), indicating the formation of an interconnected gel-like structure that was described by the power law model. The maximum fracture stress was obtained at optimum conditions (R = 15:1, pH =6.7 for HMC; R = 10:1, pH =5.5 for MMC and R = 5:1, pH =4.6 for LMC), indicating the highest intermolecular interaction between milk proteins and chitosan. The coacervates had a completely amorphous structure similar to MPC, and according to DSC results, the ionic bonds between milk proteins and chitosan were not destroyed up to 300 °C. Coacervation leads to purified milk proteins at a low cost. In addition, the coacervates can be used for the encapsulation of heat-sensitive compounds, and also as a stabilizer to improve the texture of food.

Multiscale simulation of water/oil displacement with dissolved CO[formula omitted]: Implications for geological carbon storage and CO[formula omitted]-enhanced oil recovery

This study combines molecular and pore-scale simulations to enhance our understanding of water, carbon dioxide (CO2), and oil flow in a porous system for high-efficiency geological carbon storage and enhanced oil recovery. We use molecular dynamics simulations to study the variation of interfacial tension (IFT), viscosity, and contact angle across varying system CO2 concentrations. The study reveals that the IFT simulation accuracy in the three-component mixture system relates positively to the volume-to-interfacial area ratio, and IFT decreases with CO2 concentration. Oil–CO2 mixture viscosity decreases and shows an intersection with water viscosity as CO2 concentration increases. The contact angle on the hydrophobic surface of kaolinite first increases and then decreases with CO2 concentration, while the hydrophilic surface contact angle is not sensitive to the CO2 concentration. Visualizing CO2 density distribution reveals its accumulation at fluid-fluid and fluid-solid interfaces and the combined effect results in the highest CO2 density at contact-line regions. Meanwhile, the elevated CO2 density at fluid-fluid interfaces reduces IFT, contributing to the initial contact angle increase, while the CO2 density increase at fluids-solid surface explains the subsequent contact angle decrease. These findings are then upscaled into a core-scale system using lattice Boltzmann simulations. The results are summarized into a phase diagram, which reveals the non-monotonic variations of the initial-residual (I-R) curves across different CO2 concentrations, and the residual saturation overall decreases with CO2 concentration for high initial saturations. These findings underscore the critical roles of system CO2 concentration and rock components, particularly kaolinite clay minerals, in subsurface multiphase seepage confronted in geological carbon storage and CO2-enhanced oil recovery, highlighting the importance of digital rock physical chemistry.

Radiopaque Polyurethanes Containing Barium Sulfate: A Survey on Thermal, Rheological, Physical, and Structural Properties.

Radiopaque polyurethanes are extensively used in biomedical fields owing to their favorable balance of properties. This research aims to investigate the influence of particle concentration on various properties, including rheological, radiopacity, structural, thermal, and mechanical attributes, with a thorough analysis. The findings are benchmarked against a commercial product (PL 8500 A) that contains 10% weight barium sulfate. Two more thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) were formulated with two different concentrations of barium sulfate (10 wt.% and 20 wt.%) and compared to the commercially available product. FTIR demonstrated similar absorption bands among all samples, indicating that the fabrication method did not impact the TPU matrix. DSC indicated a predominantly amorphous structure for PL 8500 A compared to the other samples, while the kinetic degradation was more influenced by the higher barium sulfate content. The rheological analysis showed a decrease in the complex viscosity and storage modulus with the radiopacifier and an increase in the radiopacity, as demonstrated by the X-radiography. X-ray microtomography showed a more spherical particle format with a heterogeneous particle structure for PL 8500 A compared to the other polyurethanes. These findings enhance the comprehension of the structure-property relationships inherent in these materials and facilitate the development of customized materials for targeted applications.

Investigating the Effect of the Yellow Chlorophyll on the Characteristics of Liquid Polyethylene Glycol for Liquid Electrolyte Solar Cells

In this study, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and natural dye were employed to make the liquid electrolyte media for solar cells. To prepare varied amounts of dye, the yellow dye of the flowers was extracted using diluted ethanol via ionized water. To produce a constant concentration of all polymer liquids, 10g of PEG dissolves in 1000 ml of solvents including: (di-water, dilute dye, and concentrated dye) individually. The viscosity of solutions was determined using an Ostwald viscometer at various temperatures. Optical parameters such as transmittance, absorbance, and indirect energy gap were investigated utilizing the ultraviolet spectrum. The results reveal that increasing the temperature causes the viscosity decreases and the solar cell efficiency increases. When the dye concentration is increased, the absorbance and absorption coefficient increase, while the transmittance decreases. After adding the concentrated dye, the energy gap of liquid PEG reduces from 1.4 eV to 0.6 eV. PEG with concentrated dye, on the other hand, is the best sample based on the energy gap value. As a result, four concentrations of PEG liquid were prepared: (0.02, 0.025, and 0.03) w/v concentrations, followed by the addition of the concentration dye in the same quantity for each concentration of PEG liquid. Four prepared liquids were tested for viscosity. The results showed that the viscosity of PEG + concentrated dye decreased as the PEG concentration was increased. When the concentration of PEG solution without dye is increased, the viscosity of PEG liquids increases.

Experimental study of the performance of liquid cooling tank used for single-phase immersion cooling data center

High efficiency cooling method in data center (DC), such as single-phase immersion cooling system, has received more attention. For practical application, serval servers would be placed in a liquid cooling tank where the coolant should be evenly transferred to every server. Therefore, the performance of liquid cooling tank is curial to the operation of DC, especially for the temperature uniformity among GPUs. In this study, the liquid cooling tank was designed and the impact of inlet temperature, coolant flowrate, and the load ratio of server on the performance was experimentally conducted. Results showed that, decreasing inlet temperature of coolant and the load ratio of GPUs, and increasing the flowrate are benefit to decrease the average GPU temperature. The decrease of dynamic viscosity and the increase of thermal conductivity is also helpful to the heat exchange. When the inlet temperature increased from 20 °C to 50 °C, the outlet temperature was increased by 30 °C; however, the average GPU temperature was only increased by 21 °C. The designed liquid cooling tank showed a good temperature uniformity, where the temperature deviation was within 5 °C and the square deviation was in the range of 1.0–1.5.

Numerical Simulations of Flow and Heat Exchange in Zigzag-Shaped Microchannels

Cooling of electronic components is of great importance currently. One of the most important methods of integrated circuit cooling is the use of microchannel heat sinks. The aim of this work is to analyze the cooling capacity of zigzag shaped microchannels. The heat exchange for four different microchannels was tested depending on the flow rate of the cooling liquid (water) and the temperature of the cooled element. The system of differential equations that describe fluid flow and heat transport is presented in the paper. The equations were solved using the finite volume method. The work showed that both the increase in the number of zigzag sections and the increase in the flow velocity cause an increase in the flow resistance. In contrast, an increase in the temperature of the cooled element causes a decrease in fluid viscosity, which results in a decrease in flow resistance. From the point of heat exchange, both the increase in the number of segments, the flow rate, and the temperature of the cooled element increase the cooling capacity of the microchannel. Research shows that zigzag shaped microchannels are excellent cooling elements, especially for geometrically small heat sources such as electronic components.

Impact of Ferulated Arabinoxylans from Maize Bran on Farinograph and Pasting Properties of Wheat Flour Blends.

This research explores the extraction of ferulated arabinoxylans (FAXs) from maize bran and their incorporation into wheat flour to assess their impact on rheological and pasting properties. Flour blends were prepared with FAX concentrations of 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10%, and these blends were then evaluated using farinograph, mixograph, micro-extensibility, and viscosity analyses. The results indicated that farinograph water absorption increased significantly (p ≤ 0.05), ranging from 54.9% to 60.5%, as the FAX content rose, correlating with higher gel-forming potential. Notably, the 2% FAX treatment (FAX2) exhibited the longest dough development time at 24.7 min. Stability and mixing time index (MTI) values also varied significantly (p ≤ 0.05) among treatments, with FAX2 displaying a longer mixing time of 14.4 ± 3.3 min. A pasting analysis revealed a significant decrease in peak and hot paste viscosity (p < 0.05) with increasing FAX concentrations, suggesting an association between lower hot paste viscosity and reduced breakdown. Micro-extensibility measures further indicated that blends with 0% and 2% FAX had greater extensibility, while the 4% FAX blend showed higher resistance. Overall, this research aims to advance the understanding of how these components can enhance flour functionality and contribute to the development of healthier, higher-quality baked products.

Application and evaluation of nanohybrid polymer as flow improver for Indian crude oil

Paraffin deposition remains a persistent challenge in the petroleum industry, particularly exacerbated in cold environments, necessitating effective mitigation strategies. Among these, pour point depressants (PPDs) stand out as a superior method. Nanomaterials have advantage of their surface properties due to which they are extensively used in petroleum industry. The present study is aimed at synthesizing a nanohybrid polymer tailored for use as a flow improver for Indian crude oil. The synthesized product was characterized by different analytical techniques and evaluated by pour point studies, rheological studies, Cold finger test, microscopic studies and aging studies. Results underscored the substantial potential of the PPD in reducing both pour point and viscosity of the crude oil. Significantly, the most notable achievement was observed at a concentration of 3000 ppm, yielding a remarkable pour point reduction of 18 °C alongside a substantial 95% decrease in viscosity. Microscopic analyses unveiled the presence of dispersed wax crystals after treatment with the nanohybrid polymer, indicative of its interaction with paraffin crystals, thereby impeding their formation or growth. Furthermore, aging studies elucidated the stability and sustained efficacy of nanohybrid polymer over time, crucial considerations for its practical applicability within the Petroleum industry. Overall, this investigation underscores the promising role of nanohybrid polymers as effective pour point depressants, offering tangible solutions to the persistent challenge of paraffin deposition while enhancing operational efficiencies and cost-effectiveness within the industry.

Effect of eucalyptus globulus pulp properties on fock reactivity

AbstractDissolving-grade pulps serve as the primary material for producing regenerated cellulose fibers, and their utilization is steadily increasing. Despite extensive research efforts, it remains necessary to deepen our understanding of the inherent factors that impact pulp reactivity apart from the well-known degree of polymerization. The Fock reactivity test is commonly used to quantify the reactivity of cellulose pulp by measuring the percentage of cellulose that reacts with carbon disulfide. Dissolving pulps typically require a reactivity of over 90%. Hemicellulose content, intrinsic viscosity, cell wall porosity, crystallinity, and accessible area of four different pulps were characterized and distinct treatments were employed to try to separate the effect of different pulp properties and assess their effect on Fock reactivity. Hemicelluloses removal by xylanase and cold caustic treatments (86% removal) increased the Fock reactivity by 30%, from 55.7% to 71.3%. Assuming the hemicelluloses are fully accessible by the CS2, cellulose reactivity increased from 35.6% to 69.5%,but at the expense of an intrinsic viscosity decrease from 990 cm3/g to 689 cm3/g. This unexpected intrinsic viscosity decrease can be due to the cellulose de-shielding effect provoked by hemicellulose removal and some cellulose degradation during cold caustic extraction. Vibrational impact ball-milling applied on a pulp with 5% hemicellulose content notably boosted Fock reactivity by 56%, from 54% to 84.5%, but two pulp properties, intrinsic viscosity, and crystallinity, decreased concurrently due to the high-energy treatment. This phenomenon complicates identifying a direct correlation between heightened reactivity and a single parameter. To address this, endoglucanase treatment was used to separate intrinsic viscosity from crystallinity, clarifying their contributions to changes in Fock reactivity. Unfortunately, the effect of a given physical or bio/chemical pulp treatment affects more than one pulp property, always including the cellulose degree of polymerization, which has made it difficult to isolate the pulp properties that affect Fock reactivity. Several processes have been tested to obtain pulp with dissolving potential.

Application of a shear cell for the simulation of extrusion to test the structurability of raw materials

The required raw material properties and the mechanisms behind fibrous structure formation during high moisture extrusion cooking (HMEC) to produce plant-based meat analogues are not sufficiently understood. The implementation of new raw materials is therefore a labour-intensive, empirical endeavour. Hence, this research explores the potential of a high-pressure shear cell (HPSC) as a tool for rapid screening of raw materials for HMEC suitability. During these texturisation tests, material viscosity was monitored to gain deeper mechanistic insights. For that, hydrated pea protein isolate (PPI) and soy protein concentrate (SPC) were sheared at 5-40 s−1 in the HPSC with a cone-plate or plate-plate geometry under extrusion-like conditions at 140–160 °C and 20 bar. Fibrous structures were successfully generated with both tested plant proteins, but reproducibility was limited to trials with SPC. Monitoring of viscoelastic properties revealed an onsetting polymerisation, followed by a decrease in viscosity, indicating fracturing of the forming network as underlying structuring mechanism. The suggested fracturing of an emerging network aligns with an observed increase in fibrousness in the plate-plate geometry compared to the cone-plate geometry due to the radial shear rate gradient. Finally, this research showcased a high similarity of the process-structure response pattern for SPC between the applied HPSC process and HMEC. Yet, further modifications, such as increasing the mechanical energy input capacity, are required to effectively apply HPSC processing for the prediction of the structuring behaviour in HMEC for the broad range of existing raw materials.