Rapid Mixing Process Research Articles

Selective Replacement of Cholesterol with Cationic Amphiphilic Drugs Enables the Design of Lipid Nanoparticles with Improved RNA Delivery.

The delivery of RNA across biological barriers can be achieved by encapsulation in lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). Cationic amphiphilic drugs (CADs) are pharmacologically diverse compounds with ionizable lipid-like features. In this work, we applied CADs as a fifth component of state-of-the-art LNPs via microfluidic mixing. Improved cytosolic delivery of both siRNA and mRNA was achieved by partly replacing the cholesterol fraction of LNPs with CADs. The LNPs could cross the mucus layer in a mucus-producing air-liquid interface model of human primary bronchial epithelial cells following nebulization. Moreover, CAD-LNPs demonstrated improved epithelial and endothelial targeting following intranasal administration in mice, without a marked pro-inflammatory signature. Importantly, quantification of the CAD-LNP molar composition, as demonstrated for nortriptyline, revealed a gradual leakage of the CAD from the formulation during LNP dialysis. Altogether, these data suggest that the addition of a CAD prior to the rapid mixing process might have an impact on the composition, structure, and performance of LNPs.

Mineralization processes at the Daliangzi Zn-Pb deposit, Sichuan-Yunnan-Guizhou metallogenic province, SW China: Insights from sphalerite geochemistry and zoning textures

The Daliangzi deposit is the second largest Mississippi Valley-type (MVT) Zn-Pb deposit in the Sichuan-Yunnan-Guizhou metallogenic province (SYG), SW China. However, detailed mineralization processes that occurred at different ore-forming stages and spatial locations are poorly understood. In this contribution, we report LA-ICP-MS trace element spot analysis and elemental mapping of sphalerite to reconstruct the mineralization processes. Three stages of sphalerite (SpI–SpIII) with different colours and crystallographic morphology have been identified in Daliangzi. Generally, the colloform SpI is enriched in Cd, Pb, Ag, Sb, As, and Tl. The crystalline SpII is relatively concentrated in Fe, Cu, Ga, Ge, and Mn. The colourless SpIII is depleted in most of the analysed trace elements. Trace elements were incorporated into sphalerite in various ways. For instance, Ge may be incorporated in the SpI by direct substitution of Ge4+ + □ ↔ 2Zn2+ but via coupled substitution of Ge4+ + 2Cu+↔ 3Zn2+ in the SpII and SpIII, and also can enter the SpIII as Ge-bearing mineral micro-inclusions. The temperature and sulfur fugacity estimations based on the sphalerite trace element contents show that the SpI was precipitated in a high-temperature condition with fluctuating sulfur fugacity. The SpII was crystallized during a dramatic decrease in temperature and sulfur fugacity, while the SpIII was formed in a low-temperature environment at the end of the mineralization. Combined with the growth histories of the typical zoning textures, we inferred that (i) the Cd-rich SpI with colloform texture precipitated from a rapid fluid mixing process triggered by the pulsed ingress of metal-rich fluid in open spaces with abundant organic matter; (ii) the SpII with high Ge content crystallized from a slow fluid mixing process associated with the temperature decrease and low organic matter abundance. Especially, the Ga-rich subtype with typical rhythmic bands formed from a self-organizing process that occurred in a closed environment under the stratigraphic unconformity; (iii) the pure SpIII probably formed by the replacement and recrystallization as late fluids flowed through the early sphalerite generations along fissures.

Abundant octadecylamine modified epoxy resin for superhydrophobic and durable composite coating

Concretes are generally porous and hydrophilic which lead moisture penetration to corrode metal frame resulting safety concerns. Many attempts to change concrete's wettability were leveraging fluorinated and/or silanized materials that are less environmentally friendly, costly, and non-sustainable. In this study, the epoxy resin and octadecylamine (ODA), two cost effective abundant materials, were combined to form an aqueous hydrophobic slurry as a binder to be mixed into the ordinary Portland concrete (o-concrete). By leveraging the micro/nanostructures in the system, the superhydrophobic concrete composite (SCC) with a water contact angle of 156° and sliding angle of 8° was created. Used as the stucco coating, the SCC exhibited superior adhesion to the o-concrete when hammering and sustained aggressively polishing by sandpapers. In addition, the intrinsic acid and base resistances (pH 1–13) of ODA and epoxy resin have ensured an environmentally stable SCC with an order of magnitude lower current density and 30% higher voltage potential to against corrosions. Furthermore, the SCC had a remarkable self-cleaning ability, and 68% and 87% antimicrobial reductions of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bacteria, respectively. Therefore, this s-concrete coating prepared through facile and rapid two-step mixing processes has great potential to be implemented practically in the construction industry.

Continuous Manufacturing of Cocrystals Using 3D-Printed Microfluidic Chips Coupled with Spray Coating.

Using cocrystals has emerged as a promising strategy to improve the physicochemical properties of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) by forming a new crystalline phase from two or more components. Particle size and morphology control are key quality attributes for cocrystal medicinal products. The needle-shaped morphology is often considered high-risk and complex in the manufacture of solid dosage forms. Cocrystal particle engineering requires advanced methodologies to ensure high-purity cocrystals with improved solubility and bioavailability and with optimal crystal habit for industrial manufacturing. In this study, 3D-printed microfluidic chips were used to control the cocrystal habit and polymorphism of the sulfadimidine (SDM): 4-aminosalicylic acid (4ASA) cocrystal. The addition of PVP in the aqueous phase during mixing resulted in a high-purity cocrystal (with no traces of the individual components), while it also inhibited the growth of needle-shaped crystals. When mixtures were prepared at the macroscale, PVP was not able to control the crystal habit and impurities of individual mixture components remained, indicating that the microfluidic device allowed for a more homogenous and rapid mixing process controlled by the flow rate and the high surface-to-volume ratios of the microchannels. Continuous manufacturing of SDM:4ASA cocrystals coated on beads was successfully implemented when the microfluidic chip was connected in line to a fluidized bed, allowing cocrystal formulation generation by mixing, coating, and drying in a single step.

Disentangling runoff generation mechanisms: Combining isotope tracing with integrated surface/subsurface simulation

The majority of runoff studies to date have reported a similar pattern of rapid rain-to-runoff conversion via overland flow and shallow subsurface water flow, as well as the ubiquity of thresholds and hysteresis in rainfall-runoff response. But each of those approaches has limitations in terms of inference and process description. Processes of water transport and mixing and how they influence runoff generation are still not well understood or quantified. In this study, HydroGeoSphere, a fully-integrated surface/subsurface flow model, was used together with stable isotopes for disentangling runoff generation mechanisms in a headwater catchment. The study area (0.21 km2) is the first-level tributary of the Xin’an Jiang River located in a humid climate region of eastern China. Water flow simulation elucidated the spatial water transport process, and isotope tracing quantified the complex water mixing process between the shallow soil and hillslope surface. This study provides insights into the rapid transformation of rainfall infiltration and mixing in soil and exfiltration to a hillslope. Results show that the stream runoff was separated into rainfall-induced overland flow (9 %), exfiltration-induced overland flow (including the 53 % of mixed water from rainfall infiltration and 6 % of the stored soil water), and subsurface flow (32 %). Exfiltration-induced overland flow was the dominant water source in the headwater catchment during a rainfall-runoff event. The mutual influence of rainfall infiltration and soil water exfiltration caused the shallow soil to rapidly become saturated, thus forming saturation excess overland flow. The consistence of estimated soil water velocity based on the integrated isotope and numerical modeling approach, at about 0.4 m/d nearby the stream channel, improved the reliability of model visualizations. Further analysis indicates that water flow paths and velocities responding to the rainfall event were attributed to the soil moisture conditions and topography. This study demonstrates that identifying the rapid mixing processes between the rain and the soil water was crucial for understanding hillslope overland flow and runoff generation in headwater catchments.

Coagulation and Flocculation Optimization Process Applied to the Sidestream of an Urban Wastewater Treatment Plant

Ammonium (NH4+) recirculation from the streams generated in the dehydration stage of the sludge generated in the anaerobic digestion of urban wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), known as centrate or sidestream, produces a reduction in the efficiency of WWTPs. Given this scenario and the formulation that a WWTP should be considered a by-product generating facility (biofactory), solutions for ammonia/ammonium recovery are being promoted. These include a nitrogen source that reduces the need for ammonia production through the Haber–Bosch process. Therefore, the recovery of nutrients from urban cycles is a potential and promising line of research. In the case of nitrogen, this has been aimed at recovering NH4+ to produce high-quality fertilizers through membrane or ion exchange processes. However, these techniques usually require a pretreatment, which could include an ultrafiltration stage, to eliminate suspended solids and organic matter. In this case, the coagulation/flocculation (C/F) process is an economical alternative for this purpose. In this work, the sidestream from Vilanova i la Geltrú WWTP (Barcelona, Spain) was characterized to optimize a C/F process before being treated by other processes for ammonium recovery. The optimization was performed considering a bibliographic and experimental analysis of several operating parameters: coagulant and flocculant agents, mixing velocity, and operation time, among others. Then, the removal efficiency of control parameters such as turbidity, chemical oxygen demand (COD), and total suspended solids (TSS) was calculated. This optimization resulted in the use of 25 mg/L of ferric chloride (FeCl3) combined with 25 mg/L of a flocculant composed of silicon (SiO2 3%), aluminum (Al2SO4 64.5%), and iron salts (Fe2O3 32.5%), into a 1 min rapid mixing process at 200 rpm and a slow mixing for 30 min at 30 rpm, followed by a final 30 min settling process. The numerical and statistical results of the process optimization reached 91.5%, 59.1%, and 95.2% removal efficiency for turbidity, COD, and TSS, respectively. These efficiencies theoretically support the enhanced coagulation/flocculation process as a pretreatment for a higher NH4+ recovery rate, achieving 570.6 mgNH4+/L, and a reduction in the dimensioning or substitution of other membrane processes process due to its high TSS removal value.

Multichannel pulse high-current driver of magnetic actuator

Magnetic linear actuators have a wide range of applications. Their main advantage is the ease with which they can be controlled by regulating the current. However, high electrical power is required for obtaining a large continuous force, acceleration, and stroke from a device with small dimensions. In this study, we developed a comprehensive open-source system consisting of simple movable iron magnetic actuators, a four-channel controller, and dedicated software. The graphical user interface facilitates the designing of the sequence of piston strokes, including the start time, duration of movement, and force for each stroke separately. The controller generates a high current of pulses, which allows achieving a high force, acceleration, and stroke from small-sized coils while maintaining a relatively safe voltage. The system was originally designed as a reagent syringe driver to control the rapid mixing process used for studying the kinetics of enzymatic reactions. However, this driver may also be applied in various other scientific as well as nonscientific applications.

Optimalisasi Penggunaan Kitosan Limbah Kulit Udang Vannamei sebagai Koagulan dalam Perbaikan Kualitas Air Danau

The lake in UNHAS is thought to have experienced pollution which causes the water quality to be poor so that it cannot be utilized at all. For that we need a way to improve water quality. In this study, a natural coagulant was used, namely chitosan from Vannamei shrimp shell waste from KIMA which from the past until now has not been optimally managed, so that it is an aspect that also needs attention. The method used was a jar test, through rapid mixing and slow mixing processes with variants of increasing the concentration of chitosan 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 (%) at stirring speed of 100, 300, 500, and 70 rpm.
 The results of the study, namely the effect of shrimp shell chitosan on lake water quality for TDS testing showed that, the more addition of chitosan which was parallel with the stirring speed, the solid content decreased so that the shrimp shell chitosan as a coagulant was indeed quite good to be used as an alternative to improve lake water quality in reducing solids content. Optimal at a stirring speed of 500 rpm with the addition of the concentration of chitosan as much as 10 ml / 2.5% to the volume of the lake water sample.

Impact of Acidity Profile on Nascent Polyaniline in the Modified Rapid Mixing Process-Material Electrical Conductivity and Morphological Study.

Polyaniline (PANI) was synthesized chemically with the modified rapid mixing protocol in the presence of sulfuric acid of various concentrations. A two-step synthetic procedure was utilized maintaining low-temperature conditions. Application of the modified rapid mixing protocol allowed obtaining a material with local ordering. A higher concentration of acid allowed obtaining a higher yield of the reaction. Structural characterization performed with Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) analysis showed the vibration bands characteristic of the formation of the emeraldine salt in both products. Ultraviolet–visible light (UV–Vis) spectroscopy was used for the polaronic band and the p–p* band determination. The absorption result served to estimate the average oxidation level of PANI by comparison of the ratio of the absorbance of the polaronic band to that of the π–π* transition. The absorbance ratio index was higher for PANI synthesized in a more acidic solution, which showed a higher doping level for this polymer. For final powder products, particle size distributions were also estimated, proving that PANI (5.0 M) is characterized by a larger number of small particles; however, these particles can more easily agglomerate and form larger structures. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns revealed an equilibrium between the amorphous and semicrystalline phase in the doped PANI. A higher electrical conductivity value was measured for polymer synthesized in a higher acid concentration. The time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) analysis showed that the molecular composition of the polymers was the same; hence, the difference in properties was a result of local ordering.

Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling and Field Applications of Non-Powered Hydraulic Mixing in Water Treatment Plants

In this study, non-powered hydraulic mixing with three layers of baffles and holes was evaluated as an alternative to vertical shaft impellers in a rapid mixing process through both computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling and field applications. From the CFD modeling, the turbulence (i.e., vortex rings) caused by excess kinetic energy between the inlet and second-layer baffle ensures rapid mixing of the coagulants throughout the total water flow and overcomes the damping effect of the components in a mixing basin. Although optimal inlet velocity needs to be investigated for sufficient mixing between coagulants and pollutants in raw water with relatively low energy consumption and maintenance costs, non-powered hydraulic mixing developed in this study was proved to create strong turbulence and can be applied in any water treatment plants that involves coagulation-flocculation processes. Based on the comparison of the water quality between two water treatment plants using identical raw water and coagulant operated from 2014 to 2016, no difference in water quality of treated water indicated that non-powered hydraulic mixing can be replaced with vertical shaft impellers, hence, both energy consumption and maintenance costs can be reduced. Further study is warranted to optimize non-powered hydraulic mixing for the tradeoff between mixing efficiency and energy consumption in the water treatment plants.

A 6.8 GHz Polyaniline-Graphene Antenna On FR4 Substrate

In this paper polyaniline-Graphene pellets are used for the implementation of a conducting polymer antenna which radiates at 6.8 GHz.The conducting polymer polyaniline is synthesized by oxidative polymerization and rapid mixing process. The conductivity enhancement is done by secondary doping and the incorporation of exfoliated graphene as filler in the polyaniline host matrix. As a result of the filler incorporation, conductivity is enhanced to 5000 S/m and it is pelletized and used as radiating elements of the antenna.FR4 with permittivity 4.4 and loss tangent of 0.001 is used as substrate. The antenna is designed to operate in 6.8GHz and it works with a bandwidth of 450 MHz.The proposed antenna shows a gain of -2.2 dBi for a thickness of 1.92mm.

Application of Chitosan as Cyanide Adsorbance on Gold Ore Processing

<p>Gold ore processing method have an impact on water pollution if the waste produced is not managed properly. Chitosan have the ability as an adsorbent, but its effectiveness to absorb cyanide content in gold processing wastewater is unknown. This study aimed to examine the ability of chitosan adsorption on cyanide in the processing of gold ore. The statistic design used was a factorial in-time Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with two repetitions. The analysis carried out consisted of the effect of chitosan concentration on absorbance, pH, TDS, turbidity, cyanide, and the modification effect of chitosan production on absorbance power. The method used in this research was flocculation coagulation method by the jar test.The method was carried out by rapid and slow mixing process with a flocullator. The method was used to determine the best of chitosan type and the best contact time to decrease the concentration of cyanide waste from the processing of gold ore. The results showed that the best concentration of chitosan modified was chitosan modification with swelling crosslink glutaraldehid (GA) in 1000 ppm concentration and using slow mixing contact time for 120 minutes. That chitosan modified significantly adsorp cyanide waste in 90.38%.</p>

Continuous, size and shape-control synthesis of hollow silica nanoparticles enabled by a microreactor-assisted rapid mixing process

Hollow silica nanoparticles (HSNPs) were synthesized using a microreactor-assisted system with a hydrodynamic focusing micromixer. Due to the fast mixing of each precursor in the system, the poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) thermodynamic-locked (TML) conformations were protected from their random aggregations by the immediately initiated growth of silica shells. When altering the mixing time through varying flow rates and flow rate ratios, the different degrees of the aggregation of PAA TML conformations were observed. The globular and necklace-like TML conformations were successfully captured by modifying the PAA concentration at the optimized mixing condition. Uniform HSNPs with an average diameter ∼30 nm were produced from this system. COMSOL numerical models was established to investigate the flow and concentration profiles, and their effects on the formation of PAA templates. Finally, the quality and utility of these uniform HSNPs were demonstrated by the fabrication of antireflective thin films on monocrystalline photovoltaic cells which showed a 3.8% increase in power conversion efficiency.

Influence of the Mixing Energy Consumption Affecting Coagulation and Floc Aggregation.

The operational significance of energy-intensive rapid mixing processes remains unaddressed in coagulation and flocculation of insoluble precipitates (flocs), which play an important role in the removal of impurities from drinking water supplies. In this study, the influence of rapid mixing and associated mixing energy on floc aggregation was examined for a surface water source characterized by a high fraction of aquatic humic matter. Infrared spectral analyses showed that the colloidal complexes resulting from ligand exchange between iron and dissolved natural organic matter (DOM) were not substantially influenced by the mixing energy input. This signified that DOM removal by coagulation can be achieved at lower mixing intensity, thereby reducing energy consumption. In contrast, macroscopic investigations showed the coagulation mixing energy affected floc size distributions during the slow mixing stage in flocculation and, to some extent, their settling characteristics. The results from analysis of floc properties clearly showed that more mixing energy was expended than necessary in coagulation, which is typically designed at a high mixing intensity range of 600-1000 s-1 in treatment plants. The key findings from this study have practical implications to water utilities to strategically meet water quality goals while reducing energy demands.

Effects of hydrodynamics and coagulant doses on particle aggregation during a rapid mixing

The effects of hydrodynamics and alum dose on particle growth were investigated by monitoring particle counts in a rapid mixing process. Experiments were performed to measure the particle growth and breakup under various conditions. The rapid mixing scheme consisted of the following operating parameters: Velocity gradient (G) (200-300 s -1 ), alum dose (10-50 mg/L) and mixing time (30-180 s). The Poisson regression model was applied to assess the effects of the doses and velocity gradient with mixing time. The mechanism for the growth and breakup of particles was elucidated. An increase in alum dose was found to accelerate the particle count reduction. The particle count at a G value of 200 s -1 decreased more rapidly than those at 300 s -1 . The growth and breakup of larger particles were more clearly observed at higher alum doses. Variations of particles due to aggregation and breakup of micro-flocs in rapid mixing step were interactively affected by G, mixing time and alum dose. Micro-flocculation played an important role in a rapid mixing process.

Lipid Nanoparticles Containing siRNA Synthesized by Microfluidic Mixing Exhibit an Electron-Dense Nanostructured Core

Lipid nanoparticles (LNP) containing ionizable cationic lipids are the leading systems for enabling therapeutic applications of siRNA; however, the structure of these systems has not been defined. Here we examine the structure of LNP siRNA systems containing DLinKC2-DMA(an ionizable cationic lipid), phospholipid, cholesterol and a polyethylene glycol (PEG) lipid formed using a rapid microfluidic mixing process. Techniques employed include cryo-transmission electron microscopy, 31P NMR, membrane fusion assays, density measurements, and molecular modeling. The experimental results indicate that these LNP siRNA systems have an interior lipid core containing siRNA duplexes complexed to cationic lipid and that the interior core also contains phospholipid and cholesterol. Consistent with experimental observations, molecular modeling calculations indicate that the interior of LNP siRNA systems exhibits a periodic structure of aqueous compartments, where some compartments contain siRNA. It is concluded that LNP siRNA systems formulated by rapid mixing of an ethanol solution of lipid with an aqueous medium containing siRNA exhibit a nanostructured core. The results give insight into the mechanism whereby LNP siRNA systems are formed, providing an understanding of the high encapsulation efficiencies that can be achieved and information on methods of constructing more sophisticated LNP systems.

Dispersive Transport of Angiographic Contrast During Antegrade Arterial Injection

PURPOSE: Angiography is commonly used during endovascular procedures to navigate catheters into a target artery and for evaluation of the arterial luminal geometry. X-ray attenuating contrast material is injected into the arteries and transported into pathologies such as aneurysms or arteriovenous malformations. Images of the transported contrast are used to guide therapeutic decisions. Experience and intuition of the interventionalist are often serving as guide for the injection force, and hence, the speed and volume of the bolus. Forceful injections of small boluses can evoke local turbulence and dispersive mixing in the zone immediately distal to the catheter tip. Turbulence by its nature acts as a strong agitating mechanism such that the bolus of contrast quickly mixes with the flowing blood to occupy the entire lumen so the artery can be visualized. The aims of the present study are (a) to determine the distance from catheter tip beyond which contrast can consider to be fully mixed with the blood during antegrade injection and (b) to determine the thickness of the boundary layer in which contrast concentration is poor, which can contribute to underestimation of vascular diameter using this method. METHODS: We performed in silico experiments to describe blood and angiographic contrast transport in a straight artery model. The conditions investigated are derived from clinical contrast injection rates typically found in cerebral angiography. RESULTS: A recirculation flow exists in the mixing zone distal to the catheter tip issuing the contrast and convective mixing rather than diffusion is dominating the rapid mixing process. In the vicinity of the arterial wall in the mass transfer boundary layer, however, transport is dominated by molecular diffusion. For lower molecule diffusion coefficient, the mass transfer boundary layer contains a lower concentration of contrast than for a higher molecular diffusion coefficient. CONCLUSIONS: These findings imply that contrast visibility near the arterial wall is poor such that arterial dimensions derived from angiograms may be underestimated and consequently sizing of potential implants inaccurate. Outside the mass transfer boundary layer contrast can be considered as fully mixed with the carrying flow in about 10 arterial diameters distal to the injection port.

Scale-up concept for modular microstructured reactors based on mixing, heat transfer, and reactor safety

Microstructured reactors are characterized by rapid mixing processes and excellent temperature control of chemical reactions. These properties allow the safe operation of hazardous chemistry in intensified processes. Problems occur during scale-up of these processes, where heat transfer becomes the limiting effect. With high flow rates and transitional or even turbulent flow regimes in small channels, rapid mixing and excellent heat transfer can be maintained up to high production rates. For exothermic reactions, limits for parametric sensitivity and safe operation are shown from literature and combined with convective heat transfer for consistent scale-up. Good knowledge of reaction kinetics, thermodynamics and heat transfer is essential to determine runaway regions for exothermic reactions. From these correlations, consistent channel design and continuous-flow reactor setup is shown.

Mineral–microbe interactions in deep-sea hydrothermal systems: a challenge for Raman spectroscopy

In deep-sea hydrothermal environments, steep chemical and thermal gradients, rapid and turbulent mixing and biologic processes produce a multitude of diverse mineral phases and foster the growth of a variety of chemosynthetic micro-organisms. Many of these microbial species are associated with specific mineral phases, and the interaction of mineral and microbial processes are of only recently recognized importance in several areas of hydrothermal research. Many submarine hydrothermal mineral phases form during kinetically limited reactions and are either metastable or are only thermodynamically stable under in situ conditions. Laser Raman spectroscopy is well suited to mineral speciation measurements in the deep sea in many ways, and sea-going Raman systems have been built and used to make a variety of in situ measurements. However, the full potential of this technique for hydrothermal science has yet to be realized. In this focused review, we summarize both the need for in situ mineral speciation measurements in hydrothermal research and the development of sea-going Raman systems to date; we describe the rationale for further development of a small, low-cost sea-going Raman system optimized for mineral identification that incorporates a fluorescence-minimizing design; and we present three experimental applications that such a tool would enable.

Convective distribution of tropospheric ozone and tracers in the Central American ITCZ region: Evidence from observations during TC4

During the Tropical Composition, Clouds and Climate Coupling (TC4) experiment that occurred in July and August of 2007, extensive sampling of active convection in the ITCZ region near Central America was performed from multiple aircraft and satellite sensors. As part of a sampling strategy designed to study cloud processes, the NASA ER‐2, WB‐57 and DC‐8 flew in stacked “racetrack patterns” in convective cells. On July 24, 2007, the ER‐2 and DC‐8 probed an actively developing storm and the DC‐8 was hit by lightning. Case studies of this flight, and of convective outflow on August 5, 2007 reveal a significant anti‐correlation between ozone and condensed cloud water content. With little variability in the boundary layer and a vertical gradient, low ozone in the upper troposphere indicates convective transport. Because of the large spatial and temporal variability in surface CO and other pollutants in this region, low ozone is a better convective indicator. Lower tropospheric tracers methyl hydrogen peroxide, total organic bromine and calcium substantiate the ozone results. OMI measurements of mean upper tropospheric ozone near convection show lower ozone in convective outflow. A mass balance estimation of the amount of convective turnover below the tropical tropopause transition layer (TTL) is 50%, with an altitude of maximum convective outflow located between 10 and 11 km, 4 km below the cirrus anvil tops. It appears that convective lofting in this region of the ITCZ is either a two‐stage or a rapid mixing process, because undiluted boundary layer air is never sampled in the convective outflow.