Homogeneous Mixture Research Articles

Carbon Nanotubes in Cement—A New Approach for Building Composites and Its Influence on Environmental Effect of Material

An addition of carbon nanostructures to cement paste is problematic due to the difficulties in obtaining homogenous mixtures. The paper reports on a more effective way of mixing carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT-COOH) in cement pastes. The additional biological impact of the studied nanomodified cement was analyzed in the case of two moss species’ vitality. The applied approach of obtaining a homogeneous mixture is based on intense mechanochemical mixing of MWCNT-COOH together with polycarboxylate superplasticizer (SP). As a result, a more homogenous suspension of MWCNT-COOH within a liquid superplasticizer, suitable for addition to hydrophilic cement paste, was obtained. FT-IR/Raman spectroscopy was used for materials’ characterization. To explain the mixing process at the molecular level, systematic theoretical studies using density functional theory (DFT) were performed. The structures, interaction energies and IR/Raman vibrational spectra of model carboxylic acids, mixed with functionalized SWCNTs as simplified models of real MWCNTs, were obtained. Due to the controversial opinions on the environmental hazards of carbon nanostructures, additional in vivo studies were performed. In this case, effects of cement modified by the addition of small amounts of MWCNT-COOH with SP in comparison to the composite without carbon nanostructures and control subsoil on the vitality of mosses Polytrichum formosum and Pseudoscleropodium purum were studied.

EPCO-37. LONGITUDINAL TUMOR-WIDE SAMPLING OF GLIOBLASTOMA REVEALS EARLY EVOLUTIONARY DIVERGENCE OF RECURRENCE AND CLUES TOWARDS IDENTIFYING THE BIOLOGICAL TUMOR CENTER

Abstract Therapy resistance in glioblastoma is in part attributed to intratumoral heterogeneity and treatment-resistant cell populations. Understanding heterogeneity requires more complete tumor sampling at diagnosis and at recurrence. We used a whole-tumor sampling approach to obtain 43 spatially mapped biopsies from 3 glioblastomas at diagnosis and recurrence, Pyclone and ClonEvol imputed clonal evolution from exome data, and weighted gene co-expression network analysis inferred gene expression programs from RNA sequencing. Across the cohort, tumor-wide clonal alterations representing evolutionarily early expansions included canonical changes (i.e. Chr7 gain, EGFR amplification) and a diverse set of copy number variations (Chr19/20 gain), driver mutations (i.e. PTEN, KDR), and fusions (LIMCH1::UCHL1, KANK::DOCK8). In 2/3 patients, the founding clone was the only subclone common to primary and recurrence samples and 37% of cancer drivers across the cohort appeared after evolutionary divergence of the primary and recurrent tumors. We identified thirty-two transcriptional programs, six of which were differentially expressed between timepoints. Programs enriched for mitochondrial activity, endothelium/pericytes and classical glioblastoma subtype signature were more highly expressed in primary samples. Programs enriched for mesenchymal-like state, oligodendrocytes and inhibitory interneurons were more highly expressed in recurrence samples. At diagnosis, 11/16 samples showed higher expression of the classical subtype program compared to mesenchymal-like, but at recurrence the mesenchymal program dominated in 18/18 samples. Expression of the programs correlated more strongly with position relative to the contrast-enhancing rather than T2 tumor centroid (p<0.001). These findings reveal novel diversity and complexity in the genetic roots of individual glioblastoma. Recurrences arose from subclones diverging early in evolution of the primary tumor and contained clonal drivers not detected in the primary. Expression data revealed transition from an intratumorally heterogeneous mixture of classical and mesenchymal signatures to tumor-wide mesenchymal at recurrence and suggests that the contrast enhancing centroid may serve as the biological center of the tumor.

Unlocking the Potential of Isopropanol as an Eco-Friendly Eluent for Large-Scale Fractionation of Fulvic Acids via Preparative Reversed-Phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatography and Multidimensional RP-HPLC: Evaluation of Molecular Diversity and Element Composition.

Humic substances are organic mixtures of extreme complexity, which significantly complicate their analysis by any method. Fractionation into more homogeneous mixtures seems to be almost the only way to overcome these difficulties. Preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) provides almost any amounts of substances required for both further fractionation and studies by other methods. For the first time, isopropyl alcohol (IPA) is proposed for these purposes; its advantages are shown by the example of groundwater fulvic acids (FA). IPA is much safer than conventional solvents and elutes the most nonpolar compounds that are nonelutable by methanol and acetonitrile. The isolated fractions differ significantly in their molecular composition, which is confirmed by ultrahigh-resolution mass spectrometry and molecular spectroscopy. Stepwise IPA-gradient HPLC-UV analysis of each preparative fraction demonstrates the possibilities of multidimensional HPLC for FA. The isolated fractions were studied for contents of a broad range of elements, and the relationships between the molecular and trace-element compositions of the fractions were revealed. Our data reveals the existence of numerous and different organometal compounds in FA composition; thus, the proposed approach can be used for a more in-depth study of the mechanisms of element migration in the environment.

Variational Type Graph Autoencoder For Denoising On Event Recommendation

Recommendations for events play a pivotal role in facilitating the discovery of upcoming intriguing events within Event-Based Social Networks (EBSNs). Previous research has established the crucial significance of mining contextual features and implicit relationships to enhance recommendation performance and alleviate data sparsity issues. However, the noise inherent in contextual features exacerbates data sparsity and hampers the ability of previous methods to explore implicit relationships for mitigating data sparsity. To address this challenge, we propose a variational type graph autoencoder model that attenuates the influence of noise in different types of context features by introducing type-specific latent variables. Firstly, we introduce a heterogeneous denoising convolution module composed of two components: 1) Denoising attention aggregation is proposed to mitigate the influence of noisy structures and uncover implicit relationships. 2) A heterogeneous normalization module leverages context features within the same type to alleviate the effects of noise in context features and data sparsity. Furthermore, we propose a learnable heterogeneous mixture prior that assists in assigning different priors to distinct types of latent variables, effectively modeling different types of contextual features. Through comprehensive experiments conducted on real-world datasets, we demonstrate the compelling performance of our model compared to state-of-the-art competitive approaches.

Eutectic binary phase diagram and kinetically stable homogeneous co-amorphous mixtures of two imidazole drugs

Eutectic binary phase diagram and kinetically stable homogeneous co-amorphous mixtures of two imidazole drugs

Detailed analysis on primary and secondary break up characteristics of liquid fuel jet in crossflow using homogeneous mixture model and large eddy simulation

The detailed breakup characteristics of the liquid jet fuel, Jet-A, in crossflow to various ranges of momentum flux ratios and Weber numbers have been investigated using a high-fidelity compressible multi-phase numerical technique. Multi-phase large eddy simulation with adaptive mesh refinement and Eulerian to Lagrangian transformation are applied to the homogeneous mixture model. The liquid surface instabilities and their frequencies inside the injector orifice are observed and analyzed. Interactions between liquid jet and crossflow result in phenomena such as horse-shoe vortex formation, boundary separation, liquid trailing, and counter-rotating vortex pair. Liquid column breakup characteristics and wave structures are analyzed from both temporal and spatial viewpoints. The Sauter mean diameter distribution and cumulative distributions of droplets resulting from secondary breakup are presented, along with the droplet size distribution derived from the momentum flux ratio and Weber number. Several engineering models, including the instability frequencies, the breakup length, and the penetration depth, are proposed in terms of the momentum flux ratio and Weber number, providing valuable insights for injector and combustor design.

Use of Heber FERON as Part of the Treatment in Diffuse brain tumors: Report of Two Cases and Literature Review

Glioblastomas are the most common and malignant tumor among glial neoplasms (1). According to the Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States (CBTRUS), the age-adjusted annual incidence rate of malignant primary brain tumors is 7.06/100,000 inhabitants and glioblastoma was 49.1% of them (2). It is characterized by being a fast-growing tumor, composed of a heterogeneous mixture of poorly differentiated astrocytic tumor cells, with pleomorphism, necrosis and vascular proliferation. According to the fifth classification of the World Health Organization, this type of tumor does not present a mutation in the IDH gene and usually presents a mutation in the EGFR gene, a mutation of the TERT promoter, trisomy of chromosome 7 and monosomy of chromosome 10 (3). It can manifest at any age, but it mainly affects adults, with a peak incidence between 45 and 70 years (3).The failure of current therapeutic approaches (focusing on surgical resection followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy) is due to the dissemination that occurs in these tumors. Gliomas are highly infiltrating neoplasms, with solitary tumor cells or clusters of neoplastic cells that migrate extensively throughout the brain. In addition, malignant gliomas are an important stimulator of angiogenesis in a physiological manner, and angiogenesis in turn, may be a significant component in the progression of glial tumors. (5)This situation shows that the population of patients with malignant gliomas does not have therapeutic options to prolong their life, for this reason these two cases are presented to whom a therapeutic option with HeberFERON was offered to patients with diffuse brain tumors with a poor prognosis, also evaluating its antitumor effect (Imaging).

Synthesis Strategies for High Entropy Nanoparticles.

Nanoparticles (NPs) of high entropy materials (HEMs) have attracted significant attention due to their versatility and wide range of applications. HEM NPs can be synthesized by fragmenting bulk HEMs or disintegrating and recrystallizing them. Alternatively, directly producing HEMs in NP form from atomic/ionic/molecular precursors presents a significant challenge. A widely adopted strategy involves thermodynamically driving HEM NP formation by leveraging the entropic contribution but incorporating strategies to limit NP growth at the elevated temperatures used for maximizing entropy. A second approach is to kinetically drive HEM NP formation by promoting rapid reactions of homogeneous reactant mixtures or using highly diluted precursor dissolutions. Additionally, experimental evidence suggests that enthalpy plays a significant role in driving HEM NP formation processes at moderate temperatures, with the high energy cost of generating additional surfaces and interfaces at the nanoscale stabilizing the HEM phase. This review critically assesses the various synthesis strategies developed for HEM NP preparation, highlighting key illustrative examples and offering insights into the underlying formation mechanisms. Such insights are critical for fine-tuning experimental conditions to achieve specific outcomes, ultimately enabling the effective synthesis of optimized generations of these advanced materials for both current and emerging applications across various scientific and technological fields.

Probing Electrostatic and Hydrophobic Associative Interactions in Cells.

Weak nonspecific interactions between biomacromolecules determine the cytoplasmic organization. Despite their importance, it is challenging to determine these interactions in the intracellular dense and heterogeneous mixture of biomacromolecules. Here, we develop a method to indicate electrostatic and hydrophobic associative interactions and map these interactions. The method relies on a genetically encoded probe containing a sensing peptide and a circularly permuted green fluorescent protein that provides a ratiometric readout. Inside bacterial and mammalian cells, we see that the cytoplasmic components interact strongly with cationic and hydrophobic probes but not with neutral hydrophilic probes, which remain inert. The Escherichia coli cytoplasm interacts strongly with highly negatively charged hydrophilic probes, but the HEK293T cytoplasm does not. These associative interactions are modulated by ATP depletion. Hence, the nonspecific associative interaction profile in cells is condition- and species-dependent.

Results on the Use of an Original Burner for Reducing the Three-Way Catalyst Light-Off Time

Individual road mobility comes with two major challenges: greenhouse gas emissions related to global warming and chemical pollution. For the pollution reduction in the spark ignition engine vehicle, the standard and reliable aftertreatment technology is the three-way catalytic converter (TWC). However, the TWC starts to convert once an optimal temperature, usually known as the light-off temperature, is reached. There are many methods to reduce the warm-up period of the TWC, among which is using a burner. The initial question underlying this study was to see if the use of a relatively straightforward extra-combustion device mounted upstream the TWC, without complex elements, was able to serve the purpose of reducing the light-off time. Consequently, an original burner was designed and investigated numerically via the CFD method and experimentally via measurements of the temperature evolution within a TWC, along with the emissions specific to the burner’s operation. The main findings of this study are: (1) the CFD-based examination is a good way to decide on how to achieve the so-called fit-for-purpose internal aerodynamics of the burner (i.e., to obtain a homogeneous mixture) and (2) to reach the light-off temperature, conventionally taken as 500 K, the burner was operated for 5.2 s, i.e., 3.6 g of gasoline injected, 2.7 g of CO2 and 1.351 g of CO, respectively, emitted. Moreover, this study identified measures for improving the burner’s design as well as an enhanced procedure for the burner’s operating control both aiming to produce a cleaner combustion during the TWC pre-heating.

An improved Eulerian-Lagrangian method combined with ductile material model for cavitation erosion assessment

Abstract Cavitation erosion in hydraulic machinery constitutes a multifaceted, instantaneous physicochemical process resulting in material wear and decreased efficiency. This paper employs an enhanced Eulerian-Lagrangian method to evaluate cavitation erosion. The method captures erosive impact loads released by the non-spherical collapse of near-wall bubbles and integrates them with a one-dimensional ductile material mode, a capability lacking in traditional homogeneous mixture methods. A classic axisymmetric nozzle test case is conducted under four different cavitation numbers (s=0.8, 0.9, 1.09, and 1.6) to validate the reliability of the new approach. Qualitative and quantitative analysis demonstrates that the impact load distribution on the lower and upper walls aligns with experimental measurements. Compared with reference works, the new method accurately predicts the maximum wear position and yields a narrower erosion area closer to the experimental data. Moreover, the relative error of the minimum incubation time at s=0.9 on the lower wall calculated by the new method is 4.67%, and the relative error of the maximum wear rate is 36.6%. This method is pivotal for further studying how various materials respond to cavitation wear. Further analysis reveals that material response patterns are similar under cavitation erosion conditions at s=0.8, 0.9, and 1.09. In contrast, the material surface wear rate is reduced by 46.7%, and the incubation time nearly triples at s=1.6.

A numerical study on the oscillatory dynamics of tip vortex cavitation

In this paper, we numerically study the mechanism of the oscillatory flow dynamics associated with the tip vortex cavitation (TVC) over an elliptical hydrofoil section. Using our recently developed three-dimensional variational multiphase flow solver, we investigate the TVC phenomenon at Reynolds number $Re = 8.95 \times 10^5$ via dynamic subgrid-scale modelling and the homogeneous mixture theory. To begin, we examine the grid resolution requirements and introduce a length scale considering both the tip vortex strength and the core radius. This length scale is then employed to non-dimensionalize the spatial resolution in the tip vortex region, the results of which serve as a basis for estimation of the required mesh resolution in large eddy simulations of TVC. We next perform simulations to analyse the dynamical modes of tip vortex cavity oscillation at different cavitation numbers, and compare them with the semi-analytical solution. The breathing mode of cavity surface oscillation is extracted from the spatial-temporal evolution of the cavity's effective radius. The temporally averaged effective radius demonstrates that the columnar cavity experiences a growth region followed by decay as it progresses away from the tip. Further examination of the characteristics of local breathing mode oscillations in the growth and decay regions indicates the alteration of the cavity's oscillatory behaviour as it travels from the growth region to the decay region, with the oscillations within the growth region being characterized by lower frequencies. For representative cavitation numbers $\sigma \in [1.2,2.6]$ , we find that pressure fluctuations exhibit a shift of the spectrum towards lower frequencies as the cavitation number decreases, similar to its influence on breathing mode oscillations. The results indicate the existence of correlations between the breathing mode oscillations and the pressure fluctuations. While the low-frequency pressure fluctuations are found to be correlated with the growth region, the breathing mode oscillations within the decay region are related to higher-frequency pressure fluctuations. The proposed mechanism can play an important role in developing mitigation strategies for TVC, which can reduce the underwater radiated noise by marine propellers.

Diethylene glycol-zinc chloride based deep eutectic solvent for green extraction of bixin compound

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are ionic liquid alternatives that replace volatile and flammable organic solvents. DESs are formed by hydrogen bond interaction between the hydrogen bond donor (HBD) and the hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA). We prepared DES using zinc chloride (ZnCl2) as HBA and diethylene glycol (DEG) as HBD. Formed DES was applied to extract the bixin contained in annatto seeds. The homogenous liquid mixtures were analysed for their pH, viscosity, density, conductivity, thermal properties, and solubility in various solvents. Bixin extracted using DES was identified by thin-layer chromatography (TLC), UV–Vis spectrophotometer, Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR), and Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1HNMR). The mixtures with a mole fraction of ZnCl2 0.1 (DES1), 0.2 (DES2), and 0.3 (DES3) are liquid at room temperature. The analysis results prove that bixin has been successfully extracted using DES, where DES1 was better for bixin extraction than DES2 and DES3, with extracted bixin levels of 32.42, 28.84, and 0.46 mg g-1 by dry seeds mass, respectively. In this case, DES1, DES2, and DES3 could extract 62.17, 55.31, and 0.88 % of bixin from the entire total bixin contained in annatto seeds. The DES can be used for bixin extraction using a relatively simple method based on the results obtained.

Facile Synthesis, Sintering, and Optical Properties of Single-Nanometer-Scale SnO2 Particles with a Pyrrolidone Derivative for Photovoltaic Applications

We investigate the preparation of mesoscopic SnO2 nanoparticulate films using a Sn(IV) hydrate salt combined with a liquid pyrrolidone derivative to form a homogeneous precursor mixture for functional SnO2 nanomaterials. We demonstrate that N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) plays a crucial role in forming uniform SnO2 films by both stabilizing the hydrolysis products of Sn(IV) sources and acting as a base liquid during nanoparticle growth. The hydrolysis of Sn(IV) was controlled by adjusting the reaction temperature to as low as 110 °C for 48 h. High-resolution TEM analysis revealed that highly crystalline SnO2 nanoparticles, approximately 3–5 nm in size, were formed. The SnO2 nanoparticles were deposited onto F-doped SnO2 glass and converted into dense particle films through heat treatments at 400 °C and 500 °C. This pyrrolidone-based nanoparticle synthesis enabled the production of not only crystallized SnO2 but also transparent and uniform films, most importantly by controlling the slow hydrolysis of Sn(IV) and polycondensation only with those two chemicals. These findings offer valuable insights for developing stable and uniform electron transport layers of SnO2 in mesoscopic solar cells, such as perovskite solar cells.

Preliminary Study on Multi-Scale Modeling of Asphalt Materials: Evaluation of Material Behavior through an RVE-Based Approach

This study employs a microstructure-based finite element modeling approach to understand the mechanical behavior of asphalt mixtures across different length scales. Specifically, this work aims to develop a multi-scale modeling approach employing representative volume elements (RVEs) of optimal size; this is a key issue in asphalt modeling for high-fidelity fracture modeling of heterogeneous asphalt mixtures. To determine the optimal RVE size, a convergence analysis of homogenized elastic properties is conducted using two types of RVEs, one made with polydisperse spherical inclusions, and another made with polydisperse truncated cylindrical inclusions, each aligned with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Official’s maximum density gradation curve for a 12.5 mm Nominal Maximum Aggregate Size (NMAS). The minimum RVE lengths for this NMAS were found to be in the range of 32–34 mm. After the optimal RVE size for each inclusion shape is obtained, computational models of heterogeneous Indirect Tensile Asphalt Cracking Test samples are then generated. These models include the components of viscoelastic mastic, linear elastic aggregates, and cohesive zone modeling to simulate the rate-dependent failure evolution from micro- to macro-cracking. Examination of load-displacement responses at multiple loading rates shows that both heterogeneous models replicate experimentally measured data satisfactorily. Through micro- and macro-level analyses, this study enhances our understanding of the composition-performance relationships in asphalt pavement materials. The procedure proposed in this study allows us to identify the optimal RVE sizes that preserve computational efficiency without significantly compromising their ability to capture the asphalt material behavior under specific operational conditions.

Biofilm matrix: a multifaceted layer of biomolecules and a defensive barrier against antimicrobials.

Bacterial cells often exist in the form of sessile aggregates known as biofilms, which are polymicrobial in nature and can produce slimy Extracellular Polymeric Substances (EPS). EPS is often referred to as a biofilm matrix and is a heterogeneous mixture of various biomolecules such as polysaccharides, proteins, and extracellular DNA/RNA (eDNA/RNA). In addition, bacteriophage (phage) was also found to be an integral component of the matrix and can serve as a protective barrier. In recent years, the roles of proteins, polysaccharides, and phages in the virulence of biofilms have been well studied. However, a mechanistic understanding of the release of such biomolecules and their interactions with antimicrobials requires a thorough review. Therefore, this article critically reviews the various mechanisms of release of matrix polymers. In addition, this article also provides a contemporary understanding of interactions between various biomolecules to protect biofilms against antimicrobials. In summary, this article will provide a thorough understanding of the functions of various biofilm matrix molecules.

Diffusion and Exchange Kinetics of Microparticle Formulations by Spatial Fourier Transform Fluorescence Recovery after Photobleaching with Patterned Illumination.

The mechanism of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) mobility during release in microparticle formulation was investigated using periodically structured illumination combined with spatial Fourier transform fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FT-FRAP). FT-FRAP applies structured photobleaching across a given field of view, allowing for the monitoring of molecular mobility through the analysis of recovery patterns in the FT domain. Encoding molecular mobility in the FT domain offers several advantages, including improved signal-to-noise ratio, simplified mathematical calculations, reduced sampling requirements, compatibility with multiphoton microscopy for imaging API molecules within the formulations, and the ability to distinguish between exchange and diffusion processes. To prepare microparticles for FT-FRAP analysis, a homogeneous mixture of dipyridamole and pH-independent methyl methacrylate polymer (Eudragit RS and RL) was processed using laminar jet breakup induced by vibration in a frequency-driven encapsulator. The encapsulated microparticles were characterized based on particle size distribution, encapsulation efficiency, batch size, and morphology. Utilizing FT-FRAP, the internal diffusion and exchange molecular mobility within RL and RS microparticles were discriminated and quantified. Theoretical modeling of exchange- and diffusion-controlled release revealed that both RL and RS microparticles exhibited similar exchange decay rates, but RL displayed a significantly higher diffusion coefficient. This difference in diffusion within RL and RS microparticles was correlated with their macroscopic dissolution performance.

Теоретические исследования процесса смешивания кормов центробежным смесителем

The article presents theoretical studies aimed at understanding the physical processes occurring in the production of compound feeds using a centrifugal cascade mixer, which open up new horizons in optimizing feed production technology. Special attention in these studies is paid to the analysis of the mixing process, which, as it turned out, is closely interrelated with the principles of operation of the dispenser. As a result of the analysis, it was found that the dispenser and mixer should be considered as a single system, regardless of the mixing mechanism used in the production process. This made it possible to develop a cascade mixer of feed materials of centrifugal type and continuous action, which is an innovative solution in the field of feed production. This mixer provides a homogeneous mixture of loose feed components and can be integrated into production lines for the preparation of both feed and combined mineral briquettes. The key advantage of the proposed mixer is the use of a centrifugal force field, which, unlike the gravity field, provides more efficient mixing. In this case, the process of preparing compound feeds can be represented as a sequence of three key stages: the metered supply of components, the introduction of one component into the composition of another, transportation (removal) of the finished product from the working area of the mixer. The research allowed us to obtain analytical dependences of the components of the centrifugal force on the angular velocity of the rotor and its radius. This allows you to optimize the operating parameters of the mixer to achieve maximum mixing efficiency. During the research, a mathematical model of the spatial motion of a particle in a mixer was developed. The model is presented in the form of Lagrange equations of the second kind, the generalized coordinates of which are the displacement of the particle along the cone and the polar angle of the particle position. This makes it possible to solve the optimization problems of centrifugal mixers according to a given objective function. Thanks to the conducted research, it was possible to develop an innovative mixer that provides a homogeneous mixture of components of loose compound feeds. The use of centrifugal forces in the mixer made it possible to increase the mixing efficiency and ensure that the final product meets the requirements of the formulation. The research results are of great practical importance and can be used to improve feed production technologies. Keywords: COMPOUND FEED, FEED MIXTURE, MIXER, DISPENSER, CENTRIFUGAL MIXER, PARTICLE MOTION IN THE MIXER

Chitosan supported hetero-metallic bio-nanocomposites for paracetamol removal from homogeneous solutions and heterogeneous mixtures with focused antibacterial studies

Biopolymers infused with bimetallic nanoparticles exhibit a wide range of functionalities necessary for efficiently eliminating diverse water contaminants. However, the protracted production process requires further exploration. As such, present study seeks to optimize microwave-assisted technique for the facile synthesis of cross-linked chitosan (CTS) supported bimetallic-oxide nanoparticles, specifically zinc oxide (ZnO) and iron-oxide (Fe3O4), denoted as CTS-TTP/Zn-Fe. The primary objective is to investigate the efficacy of these beads in the removal of Paracetamol (PCM) from single and complex water matrices while also assessing their antibacterial properties. Characterization includes chemical composition, surface structures, thermal stability, and magnetic properties. The experimental results demonstrated that CTS-TPP/Zn-Fe beads achieved a remarkable PCM removal efficiency of ~99 % (qm = 4.98 mg g−1), with a Zn:Fe mole ratio of 1:1. The experimental data showed good applicability with Freundlich isotherm and chemisorption-supported rate models (R2 > 0.9). To evaluate the long-term viability and practicality of these beads, three crucial field applicability tests were conducted. These encompassed competition studies with other pharmaceuticals, desorption investigations for repeated use, and efficiency evaluations in an ionic solution. Collectively, this research provides a comprehensive understanding, spanning from material design to practical applications, with potential relevance for large-scale wastewater treatment when coupled with appropriate flux control measures.

Optimization of the full-load combustion schemes of n-butanol/biodiesel reactivity-controlled compression ignition (RCCI) toward high-efficiency and low-emission engines

Biodiesel and n-butanol, as popular alternative fuels, can be used in advanced reactivity-controlled compression ignition (RCCI) engines for efficient and clean combustion. However, the complex interactions between n-butanol and biodiesel, as well as the best combustion schemes at different loads, remain poorly understood. Given this, the objective of this paper is to identify optimal fuel organizations for n-butanol/biodiesel RCCI engines across different load scenarios by combining engine simulation with a global optimization algorithm, explore the potential synergies of control parameters, and analyze microscopic dual-fuel interactions based on the integrated average reaction path analysis. Results show that the optimal scheme at low load employs almost homogeneous fuel-air mixtures at elevated temperature atmosphere above 390 K, with n-butanol energy share exceeding 96% and optimal biodiesel injection timing between −70 and −50 °CA. Higher n-butanol ratio coupled with increased intake temperature improves engine performance. For mid load, biodiesel injection timing is retarded to −55 to −30 °CA, and biodiesel proportion is increased to introduce reactivity stratification, while maintaining its energy share below 20% to mitigate NOx emissions. Notably, biodiesel density is identified as the primary physical property influencing NOx formation. At high load, a split combustion scheme involving premixing and subsequent diffusion combustion is optimal. The physical effects of n-butanol addition minimally impact the low-temperature ignition of biodiesel, while its chemical effects significantly defer the low-temperature reactivity. The reaction path analysis reveals that n-butanol competes with biodiesel for OH radical consumption, with a large proportion of OH and HO2 consumed in the cyclic reactions of nC4H9OH and nC4H8OH. Adjusting the reactivity stratification affects the reaction state of n-butanol entrained by the biodiesel jets. Higher reactivity gradient intensifies biodiesel reactions to induce the pyrolysis of the involved n-butanol through nC4H8OH => 2C2H4 + OH, therefore resulting in more staged heat release.