Large Volumes Of Liquid Research Articles

Treatment of Methylene Blue water solution by submerged pulse arc in multi-electrode reactor

Pulsed submerged arc (SA) treatment of aqueous methylene blue (MB) solutions was studied in the reactor with multiple mobile iron (Fe) based electrodes. The discharges were carried out between these electrodes, which are repetitively brought into collision contact with fixed electrodes, connected to the power supply. The new reactor allows electrical discharges and MB decomposition in a large (600ml) volume of liquid. The effects of alternating filtration, electrode type, arcing energy, vibration, aging of the solutions after arcing and the added H2O2 concentration on MB decomposition were studied. The ratio between the number of milliliters of the treated solution that reached complete removal of MB to the time required for this is greater by factor of 7.5 than this ratio for two electrode system obtained for the same SA conditions. The treatment efficiency in multi electrode reactor is explained by the numerous collisions of multiple electrodes leading to the formation of eroded nano-particles with the surface catalytically active towards MB oxidation.

Crystallographic control on lithium isotope fractionation in Archean to Cenozoic lithium-cesium-tantalum pegmatites

Abstract The age distribution of lithium-cesium-tantalum (LCT) pegmatites largely overlaps with major phases of collisional orogenic events and assembly of supercontinents. Some of the largest known LCT pegmatite deposits formed in very short intervals, 2.7–2.5 Ga and 1.9–1.8 Ga, corresponding to two major pulses of continental crust growth. However, the exact process of generation and segregation of large volumes of Li-bearing pegmatite liquids, perhaps involving disequilibrium fractional crystallization and leaving residual melts enriched in fluxing elements such as B, F, H2O, Li, and P, remains obscure. The new data on Li contents and isotope compositions in major mineral phases from temporally and geographically separated pegmatite bodies document extreme variations in δ7Li values among individual large LCT pegmatite bodies, in particular Archean occurrences. The observed >10‰ variations in δ7Li values for the same mineral phases from different localities (i.e., beryl, petalite, spodumene, lepidolite, amblygonite, muscovite) contrast with globally homogeneous Li isotope systematics of major mineral phases from unmodified mantle rocks. Consistent Li isotope offsets between coexisting mineral phases are best explained by Li isotope fractionation as a function of the bond length between Li and neighboring ions (O, OH, F). We suggest that spatially distinct Li isotope patterns act as fingerprints for different pegmatites and can be explained by the preexisting Li isotope differences of their crustal sources at the time of pegmatite formation owing to differences in crustal age and evolution. This would imply secular evolution of the continental crust over Earth history toward present-day globally broadly uniform crustal 7Li/6Li ratios (δ7Li ∼0‰). The differences among Archean occurrences could reflect possible Archean paleogeography and could be linked with different thermal regimes of individual cratons as a consequence of variations in crustal thickness. One possible application of the new data set may be in source verification of gem-quality stones by using Li isotopes.

A device for controlled jet injection of large volumes of liquid.

We present a needle-free jet injection device controllably actuated by a voice coil and capable of injecting up to 1.3 mL. This device is used to perform jet injections of ~900 μL into porcine tissue. This is the first time that delivery of such a large volume has been reported using an electronically controllable device. The controllability of this device is demonstrated with a series of ejections where the desired volume is ejected to within 1 % during an injection at a predetermined jet velocity.

Evaluation of water saving measures for mid-sized tourist lodging units: the case of Samos Island, Greece

Hotel sector causes significant environmental stress in both natural and built up areas due to their consumption of water and energy. In addition, the production of large volumes of liquid and solid waste results in a significant environmental footprint. The use of water and energy by hotels is strongly linked (e.g. energy is consumed for hot water, operation of the pool, preparation of meals, etc.) and usually referred to as the water – energy nexus. Thus, for big consumers like hotels, water and energy consumption should be addressed collectively as water-saving measures can lead to a reduction in energy consumption. The aim of this study is to assess the environmental performance of mid-sized hotel units by analyzing and quantifying their use of water. An analysis using a two-step approach was made of 8 accommodation facilities located on Samos Island, Greece: (i) a mapping of water use by adopting an end-use approach, and then (ii) an assessment of saving practices using three main criteria: savings, cost of investment and payback time. The preliminary results indicate that for small sized lodging units, water consumed inside the guest rooms accounts for the majority of all the water used and low-cost water saving measures and actions can reduce the pressure on water resources without disturbing guests, while increasing the financial profitability of a hotel.

Exposure Assessment for Carbon Dioxide Gas: Full Shift Average and Short-Term Measurement Approaches

Carbon dioxide (CO2) makes up a relatively small percentage of atmospheric gases, yet when used or produced in large quantities as a gas, a liquid, or a solid (dry ice), substantial airborne exposures may occur. Exposure to elevated CO2 concentrations may elicit toxicity, even with oxygen concentrations that are not considered dangerous per se. Full-shift sampling approaches to measure 8-hr time weighted average (TWA) CO2 exposures are used in many facilities where CO2 gas may be present. The need to assess rapidly fluctuating CO2 levels that may approach immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH) conditions should also be a concern, and several methods for doing so using fast responding measurement tools are discussed in this paper. Colorimetric detector tubes, a non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) detector, and a portable Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy instrument were evaluated in a laboratory environment using a flow-through standard generation system and were found to provide suitable accuracy and precision for assessing rapid fluctuations in CO2 concentration, with a possible effect related to humidity noted only for the detector tubes. These tools were used in the field to select locations and times for grab sampling and personal full-shift sampling, which provided laboratory analysis data to confirm IDLH conditions and 8-hr TWA exposure information. Fluctuating CO2 exposures are exemplified through field work results from several workplaces. In a brewery, brief CO2 exposures above the IDLH value occurred when large volumes of CO2-containing liquid were released for disposal, but 8-hr TWA exposures were not found to exceed the permissible level. In a frozen food production facility nearly constant exposure to CO2 concentrations above the permissible 8-hr TWA value were seen, as well as brief exposures above the IDLH concentration which were associated with specific tasks where liquid CO2 was used. In a poultry processing facility the use of dry ice to quickly freeze product produced a nearly constant CO2 concentration that caused exposures to approach the permissible 8-hr TWA exposure value.

Airway surface liquid volume expansion induces rapid changes in amiloride-sensitive Na+ transport across upper airway epithelium-Implications concerning the resolution of pulmonary edema.

During airway inflammation, airway surface liquid volume (ASLV) expansion may result from the movement of plasma proteins and excess liquid into the airway lumen due to extravasation and elevation of subepithelial hydrostatic pressure. We previously demonstrated that elevation of submucosal hydrostatic pressure increases airway epithelium permeability resulting in ASLV expansion by 500 μL cm−2 h−1. Liquid reabsorption by healthy airway epithelium is regulated by active Na+ transport at a rate of 5 μL cm−2 h−1. Thus, during inflammation the airway epithelium may be submerged by a large volume of luminal liquid. Here, we have investigated the mechanism by which ASLV expansion alters active epithelial Na+ transport, and we have characterized the time course of the change. We used primary cultures of tracheal airway epithelium maintained under air interface (basal ASLV, depth is 7 ± 0.5 μm). To mimic airway flooding, ASLV was expanded to a depth of 5 mm. On switching from basal to expanded ASLV conditions, short-circuit current (Isc, a measure of total transepithelial active ion transport) declined by 90% with a half-time (t1/2) of 1 h. 24 h after the switch, there was no significant change in ATP concentration nor in the number of functional sodium pumps as revealed by [3H]-ouabain binding. However, amiloride-sensitive uptake of 22Na+ was reduced by 70% upon ASLV expansion. This process is reversible since after returning cells back to air interface, Isc recovered with a t1/2 of 5–10 h. These results may have important clinical implications concerning the development of Na+ channels activators and resolution of pulmonary edema.

Automation Highlights from the Literature

Automation Highlights from the Literature

Severe Slugging in Air-Water Hybrid Riser System

In the subsea pipeline gathering system, severe slugging flow is prone to occur. Severe slugging flow brings major threat to production and flow assurance in oil and gas industry due to periodical pressure oscillation and large liquid volume. Currently many researchers pay much more attention on L-shaped riser, catenaries, and S-shaped riser; little research has been made on hybrid riser, which is applied in the Africa West and Gulf of Mexico oil fields. Flow characteristics simulation for hybrid riser is made in this paper, using the one-dimensional and quasi-equilibrium model to simulate not only the riser-base pressure, severe slugging period, and the liquid slug length of the whole system but also base-pressure in the flexible pipe section. The calculated results match well with the experiment data. Besides, the influence of flexible pipe to the severe slugging characteristics of hybrid riser system is analyzed, which are significant for the determination of riser structure.

Maintenance Approaches for Different Production Methods

Various production methods are used in industry to manufacture or produce a variety of products needed by industry and consumers. The nature of a product determines which production method is most suitable or cost-effective. A continuous process is typically used to produce large volumes of liquids or gases. Batch processing is often used for small volumes, such as pharmaceutical products. This paper discusses a research project to determine the relationship between maintenance approaches and production methods. A survey was done to determine to what extent three maintenance approaches reliability-centred maintenance (RCM), total productive maintenance (TPM), and business-centred maintenance (BCM) are used for three different processing methods (continuous process, batch process, and a production line method).

Field‐free, sheathless cell focusing in exponentially expanding hydrophoretic channels for microflow cytometry

Cell focusing into a narrow stream is an essential step prior to counting and sorting cells in microfluidic devices for flow cytometry and cell sorting applications. Hydrodynamic focusing techniques, however, rely on the need for large volumes of sheath liquid and complex mechanical setup for flow control, preventing miniaturization of the systems. Although microfluidic methods based on active or passive particle control offer sheathless and efficient focusing, they often accompany fabrication complexities or bulky external setups, and operate in a certain range of flow rates. We present here a microfluidic device to focus cells into a narrow stream. The device employs hydrophoresis to guide cells by locally patterned slanted grooves, and channel expansion to improve focusing efficiency and produce a narrow stream of cells. This device principle allows easy improvement of focusing efficiency by adding more expansion steps. Adjusting channel expansion also ensures successful cell focusing without defocusing by inertial effects even at high Reynolds numbers. Using this device, we successfully produced a narrow stream of cells having size variation of >11% in a coefficient of variation (CV), achieving a narrow cell stream with a focusing variation below CV of 3.0%.

Resource Evaluation for Shale Gas Reservoirs

Summary Many shale gas reservoirs have been previously thought of as source rocks, but the industry now finds these source rocks still contain large volumes of natural gas and liquids that can be produced by use of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. However, one of the most uncertain aspects of shale gas development is our ability to accurately forecast gas resources and shale gas development economics. The uncertainty of the problem begs for a probabilistic solution. The objective of our work was to develop the data sets, methodology, and tools to determine values of original gas in place (OGIP), technically recoverable resources (TRR), recovery factor (RF), and economic viability in highly uncertain and risky shale gas reservoirs. Existing approaches for determining values of TRR, such as the use of decline curves or even volumetric analyses, may not be reliable early on because there may not be enough production history for decline curves to work well or the uncertainty in the reservoir properties may be too large for volumetric analyses to be useful. To achieve our research objective, we developed a computer program, Unconventional Gas Resource Assessment System (UGRAS). In the program, we integrated Monte Carlo technique with an analytical reservoir simulator to estimate the original volume in place, predict production performance, and estimate the fraction of TRR that are economically recoverable resources (ERR) for a variety of economic situations. We applied UGRAS to dry gas wells in the Barnett shale and the Eagle Ford shale to determine the probabilistic distribution of their resource potential and economic viability. On the basis of our assumptions, the Eagle Ford shale in the dry-gas portion of the play has more technically recoverable resources than the Barnett shale. However, the Eagle Ford shale is currently not as profitable as the Barnett shale because of the higher drilling costs in the Eagle Ford dry-gas window. We anticipate that the tools and methodologies developed in this work will be applicable to any shale gas reservoir that has sufficient data available. These tools should ultimately be able to allow determination of technically and economically recoverable resources from shale gas reservoirs globally.

High Power DC Diaphragm Discharge Excited in a Vapor Bubble for the Treatment of Water

Novel apparatus for the generation of underwater plasma based on DC diaphragm discharge excited in a vapor bubble has been developed for decontamination and disinfection of conductive water. The apparatus allows deposition of relatively high applied power into the discharge (order of kW) and the treatment of a relatively large volume of liquid (order of L/min). The apparatus is operated at the quasi-pulse regime with self-terminating discharge pulses (with a repetition rate of 15–20 Hz) generated upon the formation of the vapor bubble inside the diaphragm (capillary) and its subsequent breakdown. The effects of input power, solution conductivity and the method of liquid flow through the reactor on the plasmachemical yield of H2O2 production and degradation of phenol have been determined. The biocidal effects of the apparatus were evaluated on inactivation of bacteria E. coli and E. faecalis suspended in aqueous NaCl solutions and on growth inhibition of the cyanobacterium Planktothrix sp. in natural lake water. The apparatus proved to be capable of efficiently reducing biological contamination in water, especially when operated in the plug-flow regime (up to a 5-log reduction in bacteria after 3 passes through the reactor). In the case of cyanobacteria, the growth inhibition further proceeded after exposure to the discharge and one pass of the biomass through the reactor was sufficient to reduce the algae in the water.

Odour emission ability (OEA) and its application in assessing odour removal efficiency

Odourous emissions from sewer networks and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) can significantly impact a local population. Sampling techniques such as wind tunnels and flux hood chambers are traditionally used to collect area source samples for subsequent quantification of odour emission rates using dilution olfactometry, however these methods are unsuitable for assessing liquid samples from point sources due to the large liquid volumes required. To overcome this limitation, a gas phase sample preparation method was developed for assessing the total Odour Emission Ability (OEA) from a liquid sample. The method was validated using two volatile organic sulphur compounds (VOSCs), dimethyl-trisulphide (DMTS) and bismethylthiomethane (BMTM) that are frequently detected from sewers and WWTPs and are relatively stable compared with common VOSCs like mercaptan or methyl mercaptan. The recovery rates of DMTS and BMTM were quantified by injecting a known volume of a standard liquid sample into Tedlar bags using a static injection and a dynamic injection methodology. It was confirmed that both dynamic and static injection methods at ambient condition achieved high recovery rates with no need to consider increasing evaporation by elevating the temperature. This method can also be used to assess odour removal effectiveness of liquids by comparing the OEA before and after the treatment tests. Two application examples were presented.

Repeated consumption of a large volume of liquid and semi-solid foods increases ad libitum intake, but does not change expected satiety

Food intake and a food’s expected satiating effect initially rely on sensory attributes. People will learn about the food’s satiating capacity by exposure. We investigated whether repeated consumption changed the expected satiety effects and intake of iso-energetic liquid and semi-solid foods. In a randomised cross-over study, participants (n=53; age: 21±2.9y; BMI: 21.8±2.0kg/m2) consumed one of two iso-energetic dairy foods (liquid or semi-solid) for breakfast in each 5-day test condition. Expectations regarding satiety were measured on days 1, 2, and 5. Foods were offered ad libitum on days 1 and 5 and in a fixed volume on days 2–4. Appetite sensations were rated up to 180min after the start of the session on fixed time points. Expected satiety effects of the semi-solid food were higher than of the liquid food on all days (p<0.0001). Ad libitum intake of the liquid food was higher than of the semi-solid food on day 1 (liquid: 391±177g, semi-solid: 277±98g; p<0.0001) and day 5 (liquid: 477±161g, semi-solid: 375±148g; p<0.0001). On day 2, hunger was rated lower and fullness rated higher after the semi-solid compared with the liquid food; on day 4, no differences were observed (significant product∗ exposure interaction AUC). Changes in hunger and fullness indicated that the fixed volumes of liquid and solid food were perceived to be equally satiating after repeated consumption, but this did not result in the anticipated changes: expected satiety effects remained lower, and ad libitum intake higher for the liquid compared with the semi-solid food. The effect of texture on a food’s expected satiety effects and its ad libitum intake appears to be large, also after repeated consumption. Expectations based on sensory cues are not easily changed.

Use of indigenous microwave system for dissolution and treatment of waste from nuclear materials

Microwave heating technique has the unique advantages of low processing time, less consumption of reagents, homogeneous heating and maintenance-free adaptability to glove box. Dissolution of thorium and plutonium containing fuel viz sintered thorium oxide, thorium-uranium oxide and thorium-plutonium oxide pellets is one of the most difficult step for their analysis and characterization. Complete dissolution of the fuel samples is a pre-requisite for the analysis of fuel material in the solution form. Even a trace level of un-dissolved particle may interfere with the accurate and precise determination in the analysis. Large volumes of liquid and solid wastes are generated during the processing and analysis of samples. These wastes being radioactive can’t be disposed directly to sea or soil. They have to be segregated and categorised and all possibilities are explored to see the feasibility of retrieving the precious nuclear material. The present paper describes an overview of all the efforts made at AFFF for rapid dissolution of nuclear materials using an indigenous microwave digestion system as well as its use for the treatment of waste being generated.

Uniformity of liquid absorption by coatings - Technique and impact of coating composition

Abstract The interaction between a liquid and a paper surface is important for a number of paper treatment processes, where absorption is of special significance during printing. Many absorption measurement techniques use a large available volume of liquid to characterise absorption, when compared to the volume of the coating. The uniformity of the absorption is also seldom characterised. We have developed a new technique, which is presented in this article, to study the uniformity of absorption of a small amount of liquid. This technique is based on the short-time absorption (tenth of a second) of a coloured liquid, the blotting of excess liquid and a characterisation of the pattern of the stain. This method made it possible to detect differences among coating layers with different compositions. In many cases, the absorption non-uniformity could be linked to variations in the coating thickness and/or wettability. The thinner and thicker areas of the coating layers were interpreted as having different pore structures. Neither the coating thickness nor the wettability could provide a full explanation, which showed the need to develop a method to characterise absorption uniformity instead of only relying on measuring the total absorption potential.

Optimizing the intensification of extraction

Diffusive extraction into a large volume of liquid from a solid of arbitrary shape is studied subject to the condition that the complete equalization of concentration inside the solid occurs due to external action at certain points in time. It is found that a single pulse most effectively increases the yield of the product if it is applied at the middle point of the duration of the process T. If intensification is performed n times, the yield of the product is maximal if the pulses are separated by time intervals of T/(n + 1). This result depends neither on the shape of the solid nor on the details of its internal structure. The optimum moments of intensification are shifted to longer times in the case of extraction into a finite volume.

Some new features of Direct Analysis in Real Time mass spectrometry utilizing the desorption at an angle option

The present study is a first step towards the unexplored capabilities of Direct Analysis in Real Time (DART) mass spectrometry (MS) arising from the possibility of the desorption at an angle: scanning analysis of surfaces, including the coupling of thin-layer chromatography (TLC) with DART-MS, and a more sensitive analysis due to the preliminary concentration of analytes dissolved in large volumes of liquids on glass surfaces. In order to select the most favorable conditions for DART-MS analysis, proper positioning of samples is important. Therefore, a simple and cheap technique for the visualization of the impact region of the DART gas stream onto a substrate was developed. A filter paper or TLC plate, previously loaded with the analyte, was immersed in a derivatization solution. On this substrate, owing to the impact of the hot DART gas, reaction of the analyte to a colored product occurred. An improved capability of detection of DART-MS for the analysis of liquids was demonstrated by applying large volumes of model solutions of coumaphos into small glass vessels and drying these solutions prior to DART-MS analysis under ambient conditions. This allowed the introduction of, by up to more than two orders of magnitude, increased quantities of analyte compared with the conventional DART-MS analysis of liquids. Through this improved detectability, the capabilities of DART-MS in trace analysis could be strengthened.

Use of Self-Delivery siRNAs to Inhibit Gene Expression in an Organotypic Pachyonychia Congenita Model

Although RNA interference offers therapeutic potential for treating skin disorders, delivery hurdles have hampered clinical translation. We have recently demonstrated that high pressure, resulting from intradermal injection of large liquid volumes, facilitated nucleic acid uptake by keratinocytes in mouse skin. Furthermore, similar intradermal injections of small interfering RNA (siRNA; TD101) into pachyonychia congenita (PC) patient foot lesions resulted in improvement. Unfortunately, the intense pain associated with hypodermic needle administration to PC lesions precludes this as a viable delivery option for this disorder. To investigate siRNA uptake by keratinocytes, an organotypic epidermal model, in which pre-existing endogenous gene or reporter gene expression can be readily monitored, was used to evaluate the effectiveness of "self-delivery" siRNA (i.e., siRNA chemically modified to enhance cellular uptake). In this model system, self-delivery siRNA treatment resulted in reduction of pre-existing fluorescent reporter gene expression under conditions in which unmodified controls had little or no effect. Additionally, treatment of PC epidermal equivalents with self-delivery "TD101" siRNA resulted in marked reduction of mutant keratin 6a mRNA with little or no effect on wild-type expression. These results indicate that chemical modification of siRNA may overcome certain limitations to transdermal delivery (specifically keratinocyte uptake) and may have clinical utility for inhibition of gene expression in the skin.

Magnetic levitation of large liquid volume

It is well known from experiments and industrial applications of cold crucible melting that an intense AC magnetic field can be used to levitate large volumes of liquid metal in the terrestrial conditions. The levitation confinement mechanism for large volumes of fluid is considerably different from the case of a small droplet, where surface tension plays a key role in constraining the liquid outflow at the critical bottom point. The dynamic interaction between the oscillatory motion of the free surface and the effects of turbulent flow is analysed using a unified numerical model, which describes the time dependent behaviour of the liquid metal and the magnetic field. The MHD modified k-? turbulence model is used to describe the mixing and damping properties at smaller scales not resolved by the macro model. The numerical multiphysics simulations suggest that it is possible to levitate a few kilograms of liquid metal in a cold crucible without requiring mechanical support from the container walls. Possible applications to the processing of reactive metals are discussed.