Liquid Properties Research Articles

Investigation of the phytochemical profiling and antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, and MDA-MB-231 cell line antiproliferative potentials of extracts from Ephedra alata Decne

Ephedra is one of the many medicinal herbs that have been used as folk/traditional medicine in Jordan and other countries to cure various illnesses. Plants of this genus are well known for their antioxidant and antibacterial properties. In this study, three different solvents were used to obtain Ephedra extracts. When evaluated, the Ephedra alata Decne ethanolic extract reportedly had the greatest levels of total phenolic compounds (TPC) and total flavonoid compounds (TFC). The aqueous extracts displayed the highest antioxidant activity in the DPPH and ABTS assays, demonstrating their considerable capacity to neutralize free radicals. However, when evaluated using the FRAP method, the acetone extracts showed the strongest antioxidant activity, indicating their high reducing power. LC–MS/MS, a potent method of analysis that combines the liquid chromatographic separation properties with mass spectrometry detection and identification capabilities, was used in this study to detect and measure phytochemical content of a total of 24 phenolic compounds and 16 terpene compounds present in the extracts of Ephedra alata Decne. Various concentrations of these chemicals were found in these extracts. The extracts’ inhibitory effects on albumin denaturation and alpha-amylase activity were also assessed; the findings demonstrated the potentials of these extracts as anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic medicines, with the acetone extract having the lowest IC50 values in the concomitant tests (306.45 µg/ml and 851.23 µg/ml, respectively). Furthermore, the lowest IC50 value (of 364.59 ± 0.45 µg/ml) for the 80% ethanol extract demonstrated that it has the strongest antiproliferative impact regarding the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line. This finding indicates that this particular extract can be potentially used to treat cancer.

Highly stable nanobubbles in the reduction of apparent viscosity of liquids during UF process

Nano-bubbles (NBs) have attracted more attention in various chemical processes due to their different physicochemical properties from macro-bubbles. However, little attention has been paid to the variations in physicochemical properties of the liquids caused by NBs. In this study, stable NBs in the range of 120–360 nm (mean diameters of 221 nm) are generated at an air pressure of 0.3 MPa. Meanwhile, the surface tension of H2O and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) solution decrease with increasing amounts of NBs, indicating that NBs altered the physicochemical properties of liquids. Consistent with the variations in surface tension, the apparent viscosity of pure H2O and 400 mg L−1 sodium alginate (SA) solutions decreased by 5.6 % and 6.6 % after bubbling for 180 min, respectively, which can be attributed to the long retention time of NBs in the mixture of NB-liquids. The correlations between the apparent viscosity of the gas–liquid mixture (μ) and the gas holdups (V) are then deduced as μ=μ0(1-αV), where μ0 is the apparent viscosity of liquid in the absence of NBs and α is the correction factor. The CFD results further confirm that the apparent viscosity of the gas–liquid mixture decreases with increasing gas holdups. During the UF process, NBs significantly increase the normalized flux of NB-H2O from 1.00 to 1.35 and from 0.72 to 1.02 for NB-10 mg L−1 SA solution, which from the other side confirms that NBs decrease the apparent viscosity of the gas–liquid mixture, thus improving the normalized flux of filtrates. This study provides valuable clues for the significance of NBs in chemical processes.

Magnetic properties of the spiral spin liquid and surrounding phases in the square lattice XY model

Magnetic properties of the spiral spin liquid and surrounding phases in the square lattice XY model

Modelling and simulation on compressible multi-component gas-liquid flows with chemical reaction and phase transition effects

In this paper, mathematical models and numerical algorithm are conducted for simulating compressible two-phase multi-component reactive flows, coupling with the finite-rate-based chemistry and the instantaneous-equilibrium phase transition model. Distinctive from previous multi-component two-phase governing equations, all volume fraction transport equations, with non-conservative characteristics, of gaseous components are substituted with a thermal equilibrium assumption inside the gaseous mixture for closure. Moreover, based on the temperature polynomial (NASA-7) fitted gas properties and the stiffened gas equation of state (SG-EOS) described liquid properties, the instantaneous-equilibrium phase transition model is re-derived, and the solving strategy of the transient phase transition model is detailly provided using an algebraical approach rather than the iterative process. Having included these elements, the proposed model is validated on three canonical tests, first for pure reactive flows, second for pure two-phase flows, and third for complex compressible multi-component two-phase reactive flows with phase transition effects: hydrogen-oxygen detonation interacting with a water droplet. The cases have well demonstrated the proposed model capability and the expected fluid physics in both the multiphase and reactive flows are reproduced.

Experimental study on the performance of shield tunnel tail grout in ground

Shield tail grouting is an important measure to control tunnelling-induced ground deformation by injecting prepared grouting materials to fill the tail gap. The working performance of grout is usually invisible and hard to obtain in construction. This paper carries out an experimental study to investigate the tail grout behavior in ground. In the current research, a testing device is developed to explore the grout behavior in varying soils. The grout working performance is evaluated not only by the liquid grout properties such as fluidity, consistency, bleeding rate, stone rate and compressed deformation but also solid grout properties such as unconfined compressive strength and permeability. Three typical grouts are chosen and their behaviors in the various soils are observed. To take an insight on the behaviors, scanning electron microscopy and mercury intrusion porosimetry analysis are employed. The microstructure of solid grout is a sign of its working performance. The observation shows that the solid grout micro-structure is influenced by grout proportions, pressure, and ground permeabilities. The experimental results are applied in the case of Beijing Metro Line 12 for validation and as a result, the ground movement is inhibited due to high performance of tail grout.

Effect of liquid properties on film behavior on the surface of an airfoil in a high-speed flow and subsequent atomization from the trailing edge

This study examines the behavior of ethanol or water films on the surface of a NACA 0012 airfoil placed in a high-speed air flow. New water film results complement previous measurements of time averaged ligament lengths and droplet sizes generated with the same airfoil. In addition, new data are obtained for ethanol. Air velocities up to 175 m/s are used with liquid flow rates between 1.4 cm2/s and 2.6 cm2/s. The liquid was introduced onto one side of the airfoil via 26 holes, each measuring 0.5 mm in diameter and spaced 1 mm apart. These holes are positioned 35 mm downstream from the leading edge and 65 mm upstream from the trailing edge. Film behavior on the vane is captured with front-lit high-speed video. The accumulation of liquid and breakup of ligaments are captured with backlit highspeed video. Phase Doppler interferometry is used to measure droplet size and simultaneous axial and pitch wise velocity 70 mm downstream of the trailing edge. Finally, laser diffraction is used to measure line averaged droplet sizes. The results indicate notable differences between ethanol and water films. The ethanol film spreads more extensively across the width of airfoil which is attributed due to its lower surface tension. The maximum ligament length for both liquids decrease with higher air velocity and increase with the liquid flow rate. A correlation for maximum ligament length is developed and captures the effect of liquid properties, flow rate, and air velocity. Furthermore, the variation in liquid volume flow rate did not impact droplet size. However, for a given air velocity, the Sauter Mean Diameter is found to depend on surface tension. On the dependency of droplet size on the Weber number, ethanol produced smaller droplet sizes at low values of Weber number. However, at relatively high Weber numbers, the droplet sizes for both water and ethanol were similar. This suggests that droplet size is influenced by factors besides surface tension at low Weber numbers but not at higher Weber numbers. In addition, the Nukiyama-Tanasawa model to fit the volume distribution curves is simplified by fixing p and q terms. Simplification makes the model easier to understand and implement.

Mesoporous silica modified alumina improves pressure stability of supported ionic liquid membranes

Supported liquid membranes (including those containing ionic liquids) offer the opportunity for high selectivity for a target gas imparted by the properties of the functional liquid or liquid mixture, along with high flux resulting from gas permeation through a liquid rather than a solid. One disadvantage of supported liquid membranes is limitations on the transmembrane pressure (TMP) they can sustain. Liquids held in the pores of the support by capillary forces are prone to “blow-out” at relatively modest TMP values. Here, we modify anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes with uniformly sized ∼6–8 nm diameter cylindrical silica mesopores to improve the blow-out TMP. This modification increases the feasible TMP for various ionic liquids from ∼4 bar to more than ∼20 bar. Additionally, the liquid in the membrane at depths where the AAO membrane has not been modified (i.e., greater than a few microns) is expelled from the large pores, reducing the effective thickness of the liquid in the membrane and increasing permeance. This approach is analogous to asymmetric polymeric membranes, which are the standard of the commercial membrane industry. These findings open up the opportunity for investigation and use of supported liquid membranes at much higher TMPs than has been previously possible.

Liquid-Crystalline Supermolecules Inducing Layer Fluctuations: From Hierarchical to Dissipative Structures

Liquid crystals, which have both liquid and solid properties, inevitably exhibit fluctuations. Some frustrated liquid-crystalline phases with a hierarchical structure, such as cybotactic nematic, modulated smectic, and bicontinuous cubic phases, are fascinating fluctuation-induced phases. In addition to these equilibrium phases, a pattern formation that is a nonequilibrium order through fluctuation is one of the most attractive research areas in soft matter. In this review, the studies on producing these fluctuation-induced orders in liquid crystals are described. Liquid-crystalline supermolecules in which several mesogens are connected via a flexible spacer have been designed. They have not only a characteristic shape but also an intra-molecular dynamic order. The supermolecules induce the fluctuations in layer structures at a molecular level, producing from the frustrated hierarchical to dynamic dissipative structures. In addition to reviewing molecular design for the hierarchical structures, the pattern propagation in a smectic phase is discussed based on the rotation of smectic blocks through Rayleigh–Bénard convection.

Thermal improvement of the porous system through numerical solution of nanofluid under the existence of activation energy and Lorentz force

Background: The important physical phenomenon under the action of microgravity is called Marangoni convection. This convection occurs due to the surface tension gradient of the interface, which has various applications, such as crystal growth melt. Objective: This research aims to explore the effects of heat radiation, heat generation, viscous dissipation, and activation energy on the Marangoni flow of nanofluids. The development of the mathematical model takes into account the activation energy and uniform liquid properties. The Darcy–Forchheimer model is also used to emphasize the influence of porous media parameters. Method: The numerical algorithm of the shooting method based on Newton’s Raphson method is developed in MATLAB and used to find the numerical solution of the obtained equations. Findings: The temperature field is enhanced by thermophoresis parameters, Brownian motion parameters, Schmitt number, and magnetic number, but decreases in the range where the Marangoni ratio increases. The Nusselt and Sherwood numbers are increased and decreased via the Marangoni ratio parameter, respectively. Research gap: The numerical solution of the Marangoni flow of nanofluids in a porous medium under the effects of heat radiation, heat generation, viscous dissipation, and activation energy was not discussed before.

New Calamitic Mesogens Exhibiting Aggregation-Induced Emission (AIE).

Aggregation-induced emitters or AIEgens are generally signified by their stronger photoluminescence in aggregation than in the solution state. Due to high emission efficiency in aggregate and solid states and good processability, organic AIEgens drew attention to the development of advanced luminescent materials. However, as mesogenic materials self-assemble to a different molecular arrangement in different phases, achieving liquid crystallinity and AIE properties in the same molecule would provide a valuable tool to develop solvent-independent AIEgenic materials. With this goal, the present work reports the synthesis of new organic thermotropic liquid crystalline compounds exhibiting aggregation-induced emission (AIE). The synthesized compounds exhibit strong green luminescence in a solid state which sharply quenches upon entering smectic mesophase by heating. This is in addition to the exhibition of dispersion medium (solvent)-dependent emission, thus providing a dual mode of AIE. The mesogenic property of the synthesized compounds was studied by XRD, POM, and DSC. The AIE was studied by fluorescence spectroscopy and variable temperature fluorescence microscopy. A DFT study was carried out to gain an insight into the AIEgenic behavior of the material.

Bursting of Underwater Oil Drops.

For decades, two main facets of underwater oil spills have been explored extensively-the rise of oil drops and resulting evolution of the oil slick at the air-water interface. We report on the bursting of rising oil drops at an air-liquid interface which precedes slick formation and reveal a counterintuitive bulge reversal that releases a daughter oil droplet inside the bulk as opposed to upward-shooting jets observed in bursting air bubbles. By unraveling the underlying physics we show that daughter droplet size and bulk liquid properties are correlated and their formation can be suppressed by an increase in the bulk viscosity.

Effect of ester chain length and anion on electrochemical properties of imidazolium dicyanamide ionic liquids: experimental and theoretical studies

Effect of ester chain length and anion on electrochemical properties of imidazolium dicyanamide ionic liquids: experimental and theoretical studies

Pragmatic Prediction Model of Droplet Trajectory in a Turbine Cascade

Abstract Droplet deposition on a turbine cascade is important for the turbine system performance but its experimental analysis is difficult. Thus, the simulation of a droplet liquid phase in a gas flow field was studied to optimize turbine cascade design. However, the computational fluid dynamics (CFD)-based approach for such droplet problems requires enormous costs. Thus, the application of CFD simulation in the turbine blade's early-stage design is challenging, requiring iterative optimization for adjusting design with performance prediction. Therefore, this study proposed an analytical prediction method, having a reasonable cost and moderate accuracy, as an alternative to the whole multi-phase numerical simulation approach. The proposed method predicts droplet motion using the outline of the turbine blade and gas–liquid physical properties. Furthermore, the approach was validated by performing a three-dimensional Eulerian–Lagrangian simulation with low-pressure turbine blade T106. It was found that the droplet trajectories in the turbine cascade are governed by Stokes number. Furthermore, the streamlines of the gas flow were characterized by the shape of the turbine blade. The proposed model reproduced droplet trajectories obtained using CFD within an error margin of 10%. Consequently, it was concluded that the proposed analytical model is a promising approach to predict the droplet trajectory in a turbine cascade, obtained by the three-dimensional numerical simulation at a low cost.

Ultrafast measurement of photoacoustic parameters with mid-infrared frequency comb transients.

The photoacoustic (PA) effect has been widely used in various applications, including highly sensitive spectroscopy and label-free, non-invasive imaging. In this work, we demonstrate a fast and precise measurement of PA parameters for light-absorbing liquids using mid-infrared asynchronous sampling pump-probe measurements. To simulate the observed PA oscillation signals and extract various PA parameters as a function of pump power, we derived analytical solutions of the PA wave equation driven by a train of ultrashort Gaussian pump pulses. By fitting the analytical solution to the measured PA signals using a nonlinear curve fitting method, we could measure the PA parameters, including damping rate, viscosity, and natural frequency. Furthermore, the dynamic response of thermophysical properties of the chloroform solution is also investigated by measuring the variation of the Grüneisen parameter with pump power. We anticipate that this work will open new possibilities for precise in situ measurements of the thermal properties of light-absorbing liquids.

Preparation and characterization of coconut shell liquid smoke and the properties of preserving tofu

Coconut shell waste can generate environmental problems if left without treatment, as it contains lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose compounds, which pyrolyze to produce liquid smoke, charcoal, and tar. This study aims to prepare and characterize liquid smoke using several parameters, including the chemical content preserving tofu and the hedonic test of consumer preferences. The dried coconut shell (3000 g) was pyrolyzed at 300 °C for 5 h. Liquid smoke (grade 3) was purified by distillation (grade 2) and filtered with activated charcoal to produce grade 1 liquid smoke. The liquid smoke properties were characterized as yield, pH, phenol, and moisture, while the chemical components were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). For the commercial and coconut shell liquid smoke (grade 1) used in this study, the application was aimed at preserving the tofu for three days. Panelists observed the aroma, the texture, and the appearance compared to the control. Ten panelists performed the hedonic test of fried preserved tofu. The organoleptic aspects included taste, texture, aroma, and color. The liquid smoke obtained from coconut shell pyrolysis was red-brown, with a yield of 52.75%, pH 0.5 (grade 3), pH 1.7 (grade 2), and pH 2.3, with a total phenol of 2.479 (grade 1). The GC-MS results exhibited three essential chemical compounds, namely phenol, methoxy phenol, and hydroxyphenyl phosphonic acid, influencing the preservation. The liquid smoke solution extended the shelf life of tofu, especially at a concentration of 1.5 (% v/v), so the water content decreased. The average panelist responded “good” on the hedonic test on all of the tofu treatments compared to the control.

Theoretical model for predicting bubble formation from submerged orifices

Bubble diameter formed at submerged orifices is crucial and challenging to predict with a reliable universal model. A theoretical model covering a wide range of pore structures, operating conditions, and liquid properties for predicting bubble diameter based on bubble force equilibrium at the bubble detachment moment was proposed and verified with good prediction accuracy. The bubble-induced liquid velocity was incorporated to improve the prediction accuracy, and its underlying mechanism on bubble formation diameter was revealed. Additionally, the influencing mechanisms of orifice size, gas inlet velocity, and principal fluid properties on bubble formation diameter were elaborated systematically based on the new mathematical model, and the abnormal phenomenon of bubble formation under high temperatures and elevated pressures is clarified. Based on the proposed high-precision mechanistic model, the theoretical foundations for designing and scaling up industrial aerated reactors and scientific boundary conditions for numerical simulation are provided.

Modeling Study on Heat Capacity, Viscosity, and Density of Ionic Liquid–Organic Solvent–Organic Solvent Ternary Mixtures via Machine Learning

Physicochemical properties of ionic liquids (ILs) are essential in solvent screening and process design. However, due to their vast diversity, acquiring IL properties through experimentation alone is both time-consuming and costly. For this reason, the creation of prediction models that can accurately forecast the characteristics of IL and its mixtures is crucial to their application. This study proposes a model for predicting the three important parameters of the IL-organic solvent–organic solvent ternary system: density, viscosity, and heat capacity. The model incorporates group contribution (GC) and machine learning (ML) methods. A link between variables such as temperature, pressure, and molecular structure is established by the model. We gathered 2775 viscosity, 6515 density, and 1057 heat capacity data points to compare the prediction accuracy of three machine learning methods, namely, artificial neural networks (ANNs), extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), and light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM). As can be observed from the findings, the ANN model produced the best results out of the three GC-based ML methods, even though all three produced dependable predictions. For heat capacity, the mean absolute error (MAE) of the ANN model is 1.7320 and the squared correlation coefficient (R2) is 0.9929. Regarding viscosity, the MAE of the ANN model is 0.0225 and the R2 is 0.9973. For density, the MAE of the ANN model is 7.3760 and the R2 is 0.9943. The Shapley additive explanatory (SHAP) approach was applied to the study to comprehend the significance of each feature in the prediction findings. The analysis results indicated that the R-CH3 group of the ILs, followed by the imidazolium (Im) group, had the highest impact on the heat capacity property of the ternary system. On the other hand, the Im group and the R-H group of ILs had the most effects on viscosity. In terms of density, the Im group of the ILs had the greatest effect on the ternary system, followed by the molar fraction of the organic solvent.

Quantitative Characterization of Adhesion Work on Shale Surfaces and Discussion on the Influence of Roughness Based on Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM).

Adhesion is an intrinsic property of rocks and liquids. Investigating the factors contributing to its formation and the mechanisms governing its action is crucial for elucidating the adhesion work between solids and liquids. The adhesion work, serving as a parameter that characterizes the energy changes during the solid-liquid contact process, is a vital tool for probing this phenomenon. However, conventional measurements of the adhesion work are significantly influenced by surface roughness and fail to differentiate local variations in the adhesion performance. This limitation obscures our understanding of the primary adsorption sites and mechanisms between solids and liquids, posing significant challenges to the study of rock surface properties. In this study, in conjunction with scanning electron microscopy and contact angle analyses, we elucidated for the first time the locations where voids form during the solid-liquid contact process, the lithological composition of rough areas, and their impact on the adhesion work between water/oil and the surfaces. Additionally, employing atomic force microscopy (AFM), we examined the variations in water/oil-solid adhesion work across different characteristic regions, thereby characterizing the overall hydrophilic/hydrophobic properties of the rock core. Specific conclusions are as follows: (1) A negative correlation exists between roughness and the contact angle adhesion work, with heterogeneity impeding liquid-rock contact; (2) By comparing the strength of water-solid/oil-solid adhesion work within localized areas, we delineated the adhesion work characteristics of samples and their primary generation sites, with oil-solid adhesion work in target blocks predominantly originating from quartz, clay minerals, and organic matter; (3) The influence of pore throat development on the overall adhesion work of samples was clarified, demonstrating that an increase in the proportion of internal rock pores enhances the surface oil-solid adhesion work; (4) A dimensionless wetting index I was established to mitigate the impact of roughness on the expression of adhesion work, exhibiting a strong correlation with traditional evaluation methods.

The interactions between zeolite and two cellulose derivatives: A comprehensive analysis of liquid and solid phase properties

This study investigates the impact of cellulose-derived polymers, anionic carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), and cationic cellulose (CC) on the colloidal and thermal stability of zeolite Na-X materials. By exploring polymer adsorption onto Na-X surfaces and characterising the resultant materials, using FT-IR, XPS, SEM, PSD, CHN, and zeta potential, the research unveils how CMC and CC modify zeolite properties. This investigation elucidates the potential roles of these polymers in colloidal systems with zeolites, revealing their promise for crafting organic-inorganic materials. Additional insight was also provided by careful examination of the thermal stability (TGA-DSC) of the obtained cellulose/zeolite materials. Furthermore, the study distinguishes the different adsorption mechanisms of CMC and CC, with CMC relying on some weak interactions (H-bonding and van der Waals forces), while CC interacts mainly via electrostatic forces. Both CMC and CC can act as stabilizing agents, with CMC being more efficient and using both electrosteric and depletion stabilizations. Importantly, the concentration of CC plays a role in bridging flocculation, highlighting the concentration-dependent nature of the stabilization mechanism.

Preparation and optical properties of one-dimensional magnetically oriented halloysite@Fe3O4 nanomaterials

Clay minerals with composite magnetic particles offer potential as magnetically oriented nanomaterials for application in inorganic liquid crystals. However, the instability of magnetically oriented clay@Fe3O4 materials, caused by the easy detachment of Fe3O4 particles from the clay minerals surfaces and the corrosivity of the HCl dispersant on Fe3O4 particles, has limited their development. In this work, hollow tubular halloysite (Hal) was used as the carrier for Fe3O4 particles to obtain halloysite@Fe3O4 (Hal@Fe3O4), in which Fe3O4 particles were uniformly coated on the outer surface of Hal and located in the Hal tubular lumen. In addition, LiCl was employed as a dispersant instead of HCl in Hal@Fe3O4 dispersions. They collaboratively enhanced the stability of magnetically oriented Hal@Fe3O4 nanomaterials compared to magnetically oriented palygorskite@Fe3O4 nanomaterials. The stable one-dimensional magnetically oriented Hal@Fe3O4 nanomaterials demonstrated liquid crystal properties that were adjustable by a magnetic field, and photonic crystal properties. As a result, these functional materials could be used in many fields, such as inorganic liquid crystals, photonic crystals, and photonic switches.