Mixture Of KCl Research Articles

Healthier Traditional Green Natural Aloreña de Málaga Table Olives Through Mineral Chlorides Fortification During Packaging

Table olive processing implies losses of mineral nutrients and increased sodium levels due to using brine during fermentation and storage. This study investigated fortifying traditional Aloreña de Málaga table olives with mixtures of KCl, CaCl2, and MgCl2 during packaging to enhance mineral content while reducing NaCl. This research analyses the distribution of cations between olives and brines and employed the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) to model mineral content and their contributions to the Reference Daily Intake (RDI). These models also facilitated the identification of optimal salt combinations for specific goals. Potassium, calcium, and magnesium contents in the olives increased from 657 mg/kg pulp (traditional) to 2578–6349 mg/kg pulp (experimental), from 858 mg/kg pulp to 858–5801 mg/kg, and from 41 mg/kg pulp to 41–2010 mg/kg pulp, respectively. Meanwhile, sodium decreased markedly, from 11,915 mg/kg pulp to about 6665 mg/kg. These changes represent a substantial improvement in the nutritional profile of these olives. Additionally, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and clustering techniques were used to group treatments based on their mineral nutrient profiles, facilitating the selection of formulations for industrial application. These findings promote the development of nutritionally enriched natural table olives, processed without lye treatment and washing.

(Digital Presentation) Electrochemical Synthesis of Chromium Carbide Coatings on the Surface of Carbon Fibres in NaCl-KCl-CrCl3-Cr Melt and Study of Their Electrocatalytic Properties

Composite materials based on carbides of refractory metals are of exceptional interest in various fields of application. They have unique characteristics such as high hardness, catalytic activity [1,2], etc. They are widely used in industry due to their high corrosion and oxidation resistance at high temperatures. Chromium carbide can be produced in various ways, for example, the most common method of production is physical deposition from the gas phase (PVD coating). Other synthesis methods are not so popular, but they are also widely known (electron beam surfacing, plasma arc welding, etc.). These methods have both advantages and disadvantages. Refractory metal carbide coatings obtained by electrochemical methods in molten salts have a number of advantages, such as the possibility of obtaining homogeneous coatings on products with complex shape, low porosity of coatings, high adhesion to the substrate.Coatings of refractory metal carbides on a developed surface can also be used as electrocatalytic systems in reducing and oxidizing reactions. At the same time, the advantage of using electrocatalysis is the possibility of carrying out various reactions in a wide range of conditions from an extremely reducing environment to an extremely oxidizing one, the ability to control the route of the reaction by precisely adjusting the potential. Unlike common catalysis, electrocatalytic reactions do not leave reagents in the form of oxides, hydroxides or salts in the products. In electrochemical processes, an electron acts as a reducing agent, therefore high purity products are formed.The purpose of this study was the electrochemical synthesis of chromium carbide in molten salts on a substrate made of carbon fibres Carbopon-B-22, as well as the study of electrocatalytic properties of the obtained composites.To precipitate chromium onto a carbon substrate, a non-pressure transfer method in a molten equimolar mixture of NaCl and KCl containing 20 wt.% CrCl3, which is in contact with metallic chromium, was used. The synthesis of chromium carbides was carried out at temperatures of 1123 and 1223 K for 8-16 hours.To study the kinetics of the electrocatalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide on the surface of carbon fiber–synthesized chromium carbides, a method based on measuring the volume of the released oxygen gas was used [3,4]. The initial carbon fiber Carbopon-B-22 was used as the cathode, and a carbon fiber electrode with Cr3C2 and Cr7C3 chromium carbides coatings was used as the anode.In this study, two integral methods were used to determine the order of the hydrogen peroxide decomposition reaction: the substitution method (calculation of reaction rate constants according to equations for different reaction orders) and graphical (plotting of various concentration dependences on time and determining the linear dependence of one of them). The reaction rate constant was determined by the slope tangent of the straight line in the corresponding coordinates.The activation energy of the process was calculated based on experimental data obtained at different temperatures.References Stulov Yu., Dolmatov V., Dubrovskiy A. and Kuznetsov S. Electrochemical synthesis of functional coatings and nanomaterials in molten salts and their application // 2023. V. 13. 352.Dolmatov V.S., Kuznetsov S.A. Synthesis of Refractory Metal Carbides on Carbon Fibers in Molten Salts and Their Electrocatalytic Properties // Journal of The Electrochemical Society. V. 168. 122501.D. G. Miklashov, V. S. Dolmatov and S. A. Kuznetsov The currentless synthesis of tantalum and niobium carbide coatings on the carbon fibers and their electrocatalytic activity for the hydrogen peroxide decomposition reaction J. Phys.: Conf. Ser. 1281 012054.Yang G., Chen F., Yang Z. Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Hydrogen Peroxide Based on the Shuttlelike Nano-CuO-Modified Electrode // Inter. J. Electrochem. – 2011. – № 2012. – P. 1-6.

Transport Numbers Ion-Exchange Membranes with Mixed Solvent Electrolyte Mixtures Relevant for Electrodialysis and Battery Technology

In this study, we have analysed measurements of the electric potential and permselectivity in concentration cells with Selemion CMVN and AMVN membranes (cation- and anion-exchange membranes respectively) in electrolyte mixtures of KCl and H2O with and without ethanol (EtOH). The presence of EtOH induced a change in the measured electric potential and permselectivity of the Selemion CMVN and AMVN ion-exchange membranes, but the effect was not well explained by transference of EtOH. Instead, the regression analysis indicated that the measured permselectivities were well explained by EtOH transference coefficients of ta = 0. The variation of the permselectivity could be wholly explained by a gradual decrease in the water transference coefficient proportional to the average EtOH activity, tw ∝ aa , with tw ≈ 4 in the absence of EtOH. The analysis also indicated that the CEM and AEM were perfectly selective toward migration of K+ (tK+ = 1) and Cl- (tCl- = 1), respectively. Relations and the analysis method are based on non-equilibrium thermodynamics, and may be extended to other electrochemical systems of interest.

Transport numbers of ion-exchange membranes in ternary mixtures of KCl, H2O and ethanol relevant for electrodialysis and desalination processes

Understanding the transport phenomena in electrolyte mixtures involved in electrochemical processes is of utmost importance for the modelling and improvement of battery technology, fuel cells, ion-exchange membrane processes, and much more. In this work, we derive relations and present methods for the analysis of electric potential measurements of concentration cells and ion-exchange membrane permselectivity with ternary mixtures of KCl, H2O and ethanol (EtOH). Measurements of electric potentials across the Selemion CMVN (cation-exchange) and AMVN (anion-exchange) membranes in this ternary mixture suggest that the presence of EtOH affects the membrane permselectivity, but that the transference of EtOH is zero; i.e., ta=0. Instead, the decrease in membrane permselectivity can be explained by a varying water transference coefficient, tw. In the absence of EtOH we find tw≈4 in both membranes, and that the decrease in tw is proportional to the average thermodynamic activity of EtOH in mixtures adjacent to the membranes. The membranes were also found to be charge selective, as quantified by the ionic transport numbers; i.e., tK+=1 for the Selemion CMVN and tK+=0 for the Selemion AMVN. The presented method can readily be extended and leveraged to determine transference coefficients in other electrochemical systems.

Reflection coefficient of a natural sodium bentonite in aqueous mixed electrolyte solutions: positive and negative anomalous osmosis

A natural sodium bentonite was tested in the laboratory to measure its reflection coefficient, ω, in equilibrium with mixed aqueous solutions of sodium chloride (NaCl) and potassium chloride (KCl), with the aim of assessing the relative contribution of chemico-osmosis and diffusion induced electro-osmosis to the non-hydraulic component of the liquid flux in the presence of two cationic species, which diffuse at different rates in the pore solution. The former chemico-osmotic contribution is only related to the ionic partition effect in the bentonite pores, and causes ω to vary in the 0 to 1 range, whereas the latter electro-osmotic contribution is controlled by the diffusion potential, which spontaneously builds up across the bentonite layer in response to the different aqueous-phase diffusion coefficients of the ionic species. The theoretical interpretation of the obtained test results demonstrated that chemico-osmosis was the major contribution to ω when the testing solutions only comprised KCl. However, significant deviations in the values of ω from those expected for pure chemico-osmosis were observed for mixtures of NaCl and KCl, with both negative ( ω = −1.234) and positive ( ω = 1.040) anomalous values of the reflection coefficient, resulting from the enhanced influence of diffusion induced electro-osmosis.

An activity coefficient model for mixed-solvent electrolyte mixtures based on Gibbs–Duhem’s equation: A case study of mixtures of water, KCl and ethanol

Thermodynamic properties of mixtures with several fluid components and electrolytes are challenging to model. Models are needed to develop and improve a wide range of electrochemical systems such as fuel cells, lithium-ion batteries, and processes with ion-exchange membranes. In the literature, activity coefficients are extracted using fundamentally different experimental methods that rely on electrochemical cells, vapour pressure measurements, solubility measurements, etc. The reference states of the activity coefficients obtained from these methods are likely to differ. This makes it difficult to combine or compare activity coefficient models from different sources. In this work, we present a method using Gibbs–Duhem’s equation for the development of activity coefficient models of mixtures that are based on experimental data from different methods. We use the ternary mixture of KCl, H2O and ethanol as example. First, empirical expressions are developed for the logarithm of the activity coefficients of KCl and ethanol. The expression for the activity coefficient of H2O is next derived using Gibbs–Duhem’s equation. The resulting three activity coefficient models are fitted to available experimentally data from several sources, generating linear and relatively low-complexity activity coefficient models. The empirical activity coefficient models are next compared to the electrolyte cubic plus association (e-CPA) equation of state. The models give saturation pressures in ternary mixtures that have average absolute relative deviations for water/ethanol of 8.3/3.4% for the empirical model and 11.8/3.3% for e-CPA. Experimental data reduction procedures for concentration cells, formation cells, and vapour pressure measurements are discussed, and the freedom to choose the reference state and the consequences are highlighted.

Catalytic Activity Evaluation of Molten Salt-Treated Stainless Steel Electrodes for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction in Alkaline Medium

The goal of this research is to fabricate a novel type of highly active porous electrode material, based on stainless steel and dedicated to water electrolyzers. The main novelty of the presented work is the innovative application of the molten salts treatment, which allows the design of a highly developed porous structure, which characterizes significantly higher catalytic activity than untreated steel substrates. The equimolar mixture of NaCl and KCl with 3.5 mol% AlF3 was used as the molten salt. The surface modification procedure includes the deposition of an Al layer with application at the potential of −1.8 V and following dissolution at −0.9 V, to create a porous alloy surface. The cathodic polarization measurements of the prepared porous stainless steel electrodes were measured in a 10 mass% KOH solution. Moreover, the amount of hydrogen generated during constant voltage electrolysis with a hydrogen sensor in situ was also measured. The porous stainless steel alloy showed higher current density at lower potentials in the cathodic polarization compared to untreated stainless steel. The cathodic polarization measurements in alkaline solution showed that the porous 304 stainless steel alloy is an excellent cathode material.

Programmed temperature control for inactivation of Clostridium perfringens spores in cooked chicken with different germinants

This study designed a new programmed temperature control (PTC) process for cooked chicken, aiming to increase the efficacy of Clostridium perfringens spore inactivation through inducing spore germination at different levels of dormancy. The results showed that the use of PTC treatment in the presence of germinant AGFK (a mixture of l-asparagine, D-glucose, D-fructose, and KCl) lead to a reduction of exceeding 6 lg CFU/mL spores in a model system after being subjected to 90 °C for 20 min. A significant up-regulation of gerKA, gerKC and gerAA relative expression suggested that the PTC treatment may induce more spore germination. Meanwhile, there was an observed rise in the release of pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid, accompanied by a steady decline in refractivity. In the cooked chicken meat undergone a cooling process, the number of C. perfringens spores were reduced by approximately 5 lg CFU/g after the PTC treatment and heated at 90 °C for 20 min. In conclusion, the PTC treatment can effectively enhance the inactivation of C. perfringens spores by inducing more spore germination at different levels of dormancy during cooked meat preparation.

High-pressure intrusion of double salt aqueous solution in pure silica chabazite: searching for cation selectivity

Heterogeneous lyophobic systems (HLSs), i.e. systems composed of a nanoporous solid and a non-wetting liquid, have attracted much attention as promising candidates for innovative mechanical energy storage and dissipation devices. In this work, a new HLS based on a pure silica chabazite (Si-CHA) and a ternary electrolyte solution (KCl + CaCl2) is studied from porosimetric and crystallographic points of view. The combined approach of this study has been fundamental in unravelling the properties of the system. The porosimetric experiments allowed the determination of the energetic behaviour, while high-pressure in situ crystallographic analyses helped elucidate the mechanism of intrusion. The results are compared with those obtained for systems involving the same zeolite but intruded with solutions containing only single salts (CaCl2 or KCl). The porosimetric results of the three Si-CHA systems intruded by simple and complex electrolyte solutions (KCl 2 M, CaCl2 2 M and the mixture KCl 1 M + CaCl2 1 M) suggest that the intrusion pressure is mainly influenced by the nature of the cations. The CaCl2 2 M solution shows the highest intrusion pressure and KCl 2 M the lowest, whereas the mixture KCl 1 M + CaCl2 1 M is almost in the middle. These differences are probably related to the higher hydration enthalpy and Gibbs energy of Ca2+ compared with those of K+. It has been demonstrated that partial ion desolvation is needed to promote the penetration of the species, and a higher solvation energy requires higher pressure. The `intermediate' value of intrusion pressure shown by the complex electrolyte solution arises from the fact that, statistically, the second/third solvation cation shells can be assumed to be partially shared between K+ and Ca2+. The stronger interaction of Ca2+ with H2O molecules thus also influences the desolvation of K+, increasing the pressure needed to activate the process compared with the pure KCl 2 M solution. This is confirmed by the structural investigation, which shows that at the beginning of intrusion only K+, Cl− and H2O penetrate the pores, whereas the intrusion of Ca2+ requires higher pressure, in agreement with the hydration enthalpies of the two cations.

Unlocking the Potential of Porous Bi2Te3-Based Thermoelectrics Using Precise Interface Engineering through Atomic Layer Deposition.

Porous thermoelectric materials offer exciting prospects for improving the thermoelectric performance by significantly reducing the thermal conductivity. Nevertheless, porous structures are affected by issues, including restricted enhancements in performance attributed to decreased electronic conductivity and degraded mechanical strength. This study introduces an innovative strategy for overcoming these challenges using porous Bi0.4Sb1.6Te3 (BST) by combining porous structuring and interface engineering via atomic layer deposition (ALD). Porous BST powder was produced by selectively dissolving KCl in a milled mixture of BST and KCl; the interfaces were engineered by coating ZnO films through ALD. This novel architecture remarkably reduced the thermal conductivity owing to the presence of several nanopores and ZnO/BST heterointerfaces, promoting efficient phonon scattering. Additionally, the ZnO coating mitigated the high resistivity associated with the porous structure, resulting in an improved power factor. Consequently, the ZnO-coated porous BST demonstrated a remarkable enhancement in thermoelectric efficiency, with a maximum zT of approximately 1.53 in the temperature range of 333-353 K, and a zT of 1.44 at 298 K. Furthermore, this approach plays a significant role in enhancing the mechanical strength, effectively mitigating a critical limitation of porous structures. These findings open new avenues for the development of advanced porous thermoelectric materials and highlight their potential for precise interface engineering through the ALD.

ALD-Based Interface Engineering for Improving Electrical Conductivity of Nanoporous Thermoelectric Materials

The way to improve the performance of thermoelectric materials is to break the strong correlation between electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity. Combining porous structures with atomic layer deposition (ALD) is a promising strategy to solve this problem. The porous structure introduced into thermoelectric materials effectively lowers the lattice thermal conductivity, greatly increasing performance. However, the formation of nanopores is accompanied by a decrease in electrical conductivity. Here, we create nanoporous Bi0.4Sb1.6Te3 powder formed through selective dissolution from the mixture of KCl and Bi0.4Sb1.6Te3 powder. We propose a strategy to control carrier concentration by ALD of ZnO on nanoporous Bi0.4Sb1.6Te3 powder, thereby improving electrical conductivity and lowering thermal conductivity. Even after spark plasma sintering, ZnO is conformally formed at the nanoporous Bi0.4Sb1.6Te3 grain boundaries. The electrical conductivity increases from 651.72 S/cm to 724.52 S/cm by interfacial reaction of ZnO and Bi0.4Sb1.6Te3. In addition, ZnO inhibits grain growth and creates numerous grain boundaries to lower the lattice thermal conductivity of the porous structure. As a result, the ZT of the nanoporous Bi0.4Sb1.6Te3 deposited with ZnO is increased by 46%. This study demonstrates that ALD is an effective method for improving the conductivity of nanoporous thermoelectric materials.

A comprehensive analysis of cooling curves, fluidity, inclusions, porosity, and microstructure of NaCl-KCl-NaF flux treated Al-12Si alloy

In this study, we investigated the effects of treating Al-12 wt% silicon alloy with an equimolar composition mixture of NaCl, KCl, and NaF on various aspects of the alloy’s properties. Key findings of the research indicate that the flux treatment had significant effects on the alloy. It led to increased nucleation temperatures and reduced undercooling, thereby facilitating nucleation sites and grain refinement. Additionally, the inclusion of flux reduced the entrapment of inclusions in the melt, which can potentially enhance the mechanical properties of the alloy. However, it also led to a larger and more widely distributed gas porosity in the solidified samples, as gas evolved from the flux trapped during solidification. Moreover, the flux treatment had noticeable impacts on the morphology of eutectic silicon particles, reducing their aspect ratio. These findings offer valuable insights into the potential benefits and challenges of sodium-based flux melt treatment in optimizing the quality of Al-12Si alloy castings, particularly in die-casting applications.

Improvement of tear ferning patterns of artificial tears using dilute electrolyte solutions

The purpose of the research was to examine how the addition of dilute solutions of sodium chloride (NaCl), potassium chloride (KCl), or a combination of the two would impact the tear ferning (TF) patterns in artificial tears. Artificial tears (1 μL) were mixed with solutions (1–7 μL) of NaCl, KCl, or both (10–30 mg), prepared in double-distilled water (100 mL), to produce homogenous mixtures. A sample (1 μL) of each mixture was dried on a microscopic glass slide at 20 °C and with less than 20% humidity. The TF patterns were inspected using a light microscope, graded, and compared with the corresponding TF grades of pure artificial tears. Significant improvements (Wilcoxon test, P = 0.001) in the TF grades of the artificial tears were observed after the addition of solutions of NaCl and KCl or a mixture of both. The TF grades of the artificial tears decreased after adding different volumes and concentrations of electrolyte solutions. Generally, NaCl was more efficient than KCl in improving such grades. The TF grades of Blink Contact Soothing Eye Drops and Refresh Plus Tears were noticeably improved compared to the other grades. For example, Blink Contact Soothing Eye Drops' TF grade improved from 1.7 to 0.6 when 6 μL of NaCl solution (30 mg/100 mL water) was added to 1 μL of the eye drops. When a mixture of NaCl and KCl (1:2; 5–7 μL; 30 mg each in 100 mL water) was added, the TF grade improved to 0.5. In conclusion, the TF test evaluated the effect of adding dilute electrolyte solutions to artificial tears in vitro. Adding dilute solutions of NaCl and KCl, or a mixture of both, significantly improved the TF grades of artificial tears.

Thermodynamic description of molten salt systems: KCl-LiCl-NaCl and KCl-LiCl-NdCl3

The mixture of KCl and LiCl has been used as electrolyte in the electrorefining process to recover uranium from used nuclear fuels due to the low melting point. However, lanthanides and sodium in the reactor waste continuously dissolve into it and thus alter its thermodynamic properties. To understand the thermodynamic behavior evolution of the electrolyte with the accumulation of impurities, thermodynamic modeling for KCl-LiCl-NaCl and KCl-LiCl-NdCl3 and four constituent binary systems in the entire composition space was performed using the CALPHAD (CALculation of PHAse Diagrams) approach. The ionic liquid was described by the two-sublattice model, where neutral species were introduced to consider short-range ordering (SRO) within the melt, whereas the solid solution was modeled based on the Compound Energy Formalism. Literature data on phase equilibria and thermochemical properties were critically evaluated and used during the optimization of thermodynamic parameters for KCl-LiCl-NaCl and KCl-LiCl-NdCl3 and their subsystems. The calculated phase diagrams and mixing enthalpies are in good agreement with the experimental data. The thermodynamic modeling for the KCl-LiCl-NdCl3 system was carried out for the first time. To fill the gap in experimental measurement, enthalpy of mixing for the KCl-LiCl-NdCl3 melt was estimated using the surrounded-ion model. These data then served as critical inputs for thermodynamic optimization. The present study can provide insights into thermodynamic property evolution of the electrolyte and solubility limit of various impurities during the electrorefining process.

Fast Neutron Measurement System Using Prompt Gamma Neutron Activation Solid Converter: Monte Carlo Study.

Measuring fast neutron emission around accelerators is important for purposes of environmental monitoring and radiation safety. It is necessary to detect two types of neutrons: thermal and fast. Fast neutron spectroscopy is commonly employed using a hydrogen-recoil proportional-counter; however, its threshold is 2 MeV. The aim of this study was to expand PGNA converters based on KCl to fulfil the need to detect neutron energies ranging from 0.02 MeV to 3 MeV. In our previous research, we established a counting system comprised of a large converter of KCl with a NaI(Tl) gamma radiation spectrometer. The KCl converter is efficient for fast neutron prompt gamma emission. The potassium naturally includes a radioisotope that emits 1.460 MeV gamma rays. The presence of the constant level of 1.460 MeV gamma ray counts offers an advantage, providing a stable background for the detector. The study was carried out using MCNP simulations of the counting system with a variety of PGNA converters based on KCl. We concluded that KCl mixtures combined with other elements, such as PGNA converters, demonstrated improved detection performance for fast neutron emissions. Furthermore, an explication of how to add materials to KCl to provide a proper converter for fast neutrons was introduced.

Effect of exogenous taurine on pea (Pisum sativum L.) plants under salinity and iron deficiency stress

Soil salinity and Fe deficiency affect plant growth and survival by changing nutrient availability and disrupting water balance. Natural and human activities, such as evaporation and deforestation, can intensify these soil conditions. Taurine, a novel growth regulator, holds promise in mediating plant defense responses. Its effects on defense responses are still unclear. Previously, taurine showed potential in improving clover tolerance to alkaline stress and manganese toxicity. Taurine impact on plant growth under Fe deficiency and salinity stress remains uninvestigated. A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of taurine on pea plant growth, ion uptake, and defense strategies in response to salt stress and Fe deficiency. Iron deficiency was established by substituting 0.1 mM FeSO4 for 0.1 mM Fe-EDTA in the nutrient solution. Salinity stress was induced by incorporating a mixture of NaCl, MgCl2, KCl, Na2SO4, Na2CO3, NaHCO3 and CaCl2 in a 1:1:1:1:1:1:1 ratio to produce a salinity concentration of 100 mM. The simultaneous imposition of salinity and Fe deficiency significantly exacerbated oxidative stress, as evidenced by elevated levels of relative membrane permeability, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), superoxide radical (O2•−), methylglyoxal (MG), malondialdehyde (MDA), and increased activity of lipoxygenase (LOX). Salinity stress alone and the combination of salinity and Fe deficiency resulted in substantial accumulation of Na+ ions that impeded acquisition of essential nutrients. Taurine (100 and 200 mg L−1) notably improved osmotic adjustment and oxidative defense to diminish water imbalance and oxidative injury in plants under stress. These results suggest that exogenous taurine may serve as a promising means of mitigating the detrimental effects of salt stress and Fe deficiency in plants.

Numerical modeling of methane pyrolysis in a bubble column of molten catalysts for clean hydrogen production

Methane pyrolysis using molten catalysts in a bubble column reactor (BCR) has recently been proposed to produce hydrogen with separable carbon particles as byproducts. In this study, a numerical model of the BCR of molten catalysts for methane pyrolysis was developed and validated using experimental data. Based on a non-isothermal 1-D simplification, continuous liquid and discrete bubble phases were considered by incorporating submodels for bubble behaviors, catalytic and homogeneous reactions, heat/mass transfer, and a submerged orifice for methane supply. The initial bubble diameter was predicted using the correlation derived from measurements. When applied to experiments with Ni(27)Bi(73) and mixtures of KCl–MnCl2, the model accurately reproduced the methane conversion at different temperatures and column heights. Furthermore, detailed information on the key phenomena was acquired, including the profiles of the bubble diameter, rise velocity, reaction rates, temperature, and gas composition. A sensitivity analysis confirmed that the uncertainties regarding the physical properties of molten catalysts had a negligible impact. A comparison of the performances of Ni(27)Bi(73) and KCl(50)MnCl2(50) under the same reaction conditions revealed a favorable influence of the catalyst density on methane conversion because of the increased pressure. The proposed model would be useful in reactor optimization and scale-up with high hydrogen productivity.

Synthesis, characterization and band gap energy of new water soluble fluorescent diethanolamine-boron-subphthalocyanine dye using B nanoparticles and SiB6 microparticles

In the present work, the novel synthesis methods were developed for the preparation of a new water soluble and fluorescent diethanolamine-boron-subphthalocyanine (Dea-B-SubPc) dye. The boron nanoparticles and SiB6 were utilized as the boron sources for the Dea-B-SubPc synthesis. In order to obtain the boron nanoparticles, the powder mixture of boron microparticles, phthalonitrile (Pn) and KCl was encapsulated into a Cu pipe and then mechanically roll-milled at room-temperature. The Dea-B-SubPc dye was synthesized via the reaction of the roll-milled boron nanoparticles and Pn in 50 % Dea-toluene solution at 120 °C. The Dea-B-SubPc was also synthesized by the reaction of Pn and SiB6 microparticles using similar experimental conditions. The prepared Dea-B-SubPc was characterized by using the SEM, FT-IR, NMR, HR-ESI-MS, cyclic voltammetry (CV), UV–vis. absorption and fluorescence (FL) emission spectroscopy. The Dea-B-SubPc is soluble in H2O, DMSO, MeOH and EtOH solvents. The optical band gap energy of the Dea-B-SubPc was found as 2.15 eV in MeOH and H2O, and 2.10 eV in DMSO. The Dea-B-SubPc solutions exhibited FL emissions at 592.2 nm in DMSO, 575.2 nm in MeOH and 577.8 nm in H2O with the excitation at 450 nm. The EHOMO and ELUMO energy levels of the Dea-B-SubPc were calculated as −5.82 eV and −4.08 eV, respectively and then the electrochemical band gap energy was found as 1.74 eV using the CV measurements. In summary, both the B nanoparticles and SiB6 microparticles were used successfully for the synthesis of the Dea-B-SubPc as a new fluorescent and low band gap energy dye material.

Techno‐Economic assessment for superactive carbon production from side stream lignin

AbstractSuperactive carbon (SAC), having a high surface area of over 2500 m2/g, could be a superior choice for many applications. However, the manufacture of SAC in bulk quantities is challenging. To demonstrate the possibility of SAC manufacturing in large amounts, a techno‐economic assessment was performed. For that purpose, a new method utilizing a mixture of waste lignin, KOH and KCl was employed. The chemicals were recovered after use. The technical assessment was performed based on laboratory‐scale experimental findings, a simplified process diagram, and mass and heat balance calculations. The economic evaluation was assessed through the estimation of capital costs (CAPEX), operational costs (OPEX) and the minimum selling price (MSP). Moreover, to demonstrate the potential costs saving for the water treatment process, the performance of SAC for the removal of natural organic matter was compared with that of commercial active carbon. SAC was obtained at a minimized KOH amount (1 g/g) and chemicals were successfully recovered with a rate of 5–10% losses. The CAPEX, OPEX and MSP were found to be 4–21 million EUR, 1–9 million EUR/year and 4.4–2.9 kEUR/t for a 0.5–5.0 t/year production capacity, respectively, at a profitability requirement of 20% and a less than 5 year payback period. In addition, SAC demonstrated considerably higher adsorptive capacity for natural organic matter (600–900 mg total organic carbon/g) compared with commercial active carbon (40–50 mg total organic carbon/g), which could lead to substantial process savings. SAC manufacture through this method has been validated and the benefit for the potential application is sufficiently clear to promote the successful commercialization of SAC using lignin wastes. © 2022 The Authors. Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining published by Society of Industrial Chemistry and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Study on formulation and preparation technology of the composite cellulose-based enteric capsule shells

Objective To study the new formulation and technology of composite cellulose-based enteric capsule shell with one-time dipping molding without organic solvent. Methods Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate-55S (Hp55S) was used as the main film-forming material, agar as gelling agent, and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) as disintegrating regulator. The preparation technology was as follows: ① Hp55S was dissolved in dilute ammonia solution with pH of 10 ∼ 11 at room temperature to obtain transparent Hp55S solution. ② The mixture of HPMC, KCl, and Tween-80 was fully dispersed in the agar solution at 90 ∼ 100 °C and cooled to 50 ∼ 55 °C under continuous stirring to obtain a transparent agar/HPMC solution. ③The Hp55S solution was heated to 50 ∼ 55 °C and poured into the agar/HPMC solution and stirred evenly to obtain the composite cellulose solution, which was kept at 50 ∼ 55 °C for standby. ④The composite cellulose-based enteric capsule shells were prepared by dipping, spinning, drying, stripping and trimming, and joining. Results The composite cellulose-based enteric capsule shell prepared according to this formula and process met the quality requirements of ‘enterosoluble vacant capsules’ in Chinese Pharmacopeia. Conclusion Compared with the traditional formula and preparation technology of enteric capsule shell, the product is a plant type enteric capsule shell, no organic solvent is used in the formula, and the forming steps of multiple dipping solution is not used in the process. The advantages of this study are that the production steps are simplified, the production process is environmentally friendly, and the production cost is reduced.