Zinc Particle Size Research Articles

Effects of supplementation with different zinc-based products on the growth and health of Nile tilapia

Zinc is one of the essential microelements for the metabolism of animals. Zinc nanoparticles may have higher bioavailability due to their low specific surface area, facilitating absorption by fish. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of supplementation with different zinc-based products on the growth and health of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. Zinc, in different sizes (nanoparticles or bulk) and forms (inorganic or organic), were used as a supplement in the tilapia diet at a dose of 15 mg kg feed−1 for 60 days. At the end of the feeding trial, production performance, hemato-immunological parameters, activity of antioxidant system enzymes, exposure to Streptococcus agalactiae and zinc concentration in the muscle were examined. After the bacterial challenge, the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) significantly increased in the fish treated with organic zinc, inorganic nano zinc, and organic nano zinc, while in the control group (inorganic zinc), MCHC remained unchanged. Regarding defense cells, dietary inorganic nano zinc increased the number of basophils (1.50 ± 1.10) compared to organic zinc (0.80 ± 0.90). Lymphocyte count increased after the challenge only in the organic zinc treatments (bulk and nanoparticles). Neutrophils decreased in the control (inorganic zinc) (2.20 ± 1.70) and inorganic nano zinc (2.60 ± 2.70) treatments after the challenge. When compared before and after the bacterial challenge, the plasma antimicrobial titer significantly increased after the bacterial challenge in all treatments. No significant differences were observed for total proteins, enzymes (SOD and CAT), cumulative survival and zinc deposition on fillet. In conclusion, organic zinc in nanoparticles or bulk size increased Nile tilapia innate defense during bacterial infection. However, the other parameters evaluated were not affected by zinc particle size or form (organic or inorganic), indicating that further evaluations should be conducted with organic zinc in nanoparticles or bulk size in the tilapia diet.

Statistical Approach to Design Zn Particle Size, Shape, and Crystallinity for Alkaline Batteries

The modern alkaline primary battery is composed of a highly alkaline, gelled electrolyte-zinc powder anode dispersion (slurry), a cellulose-based separator, and an electrolytic manganese dioxide (EMD) cathode pellet – typically arranged in a cylindrical cell geometry. This battery system has its origins in the 1950s and thus has had decades to be researched and matured and it is known that the limiting performance of this battery system is concentrated at the slurried zinc anode. This had led many researchers to focus on the anode for improvement with most previous engineering efforts targeting enhanced performance, capacity, and stability of this material. Due to the various material fabrication processes involved with manufacturing industrial zinc powder, there exists an array of unique zinc particle size, shape, and crystallinity combinations that distinguish industrial zinc powders from one another. These industrial zinc powders are typically produced through trial-and-error processes using existing “rules of thumb”. Consequentially, it is possible that something has been missed and a data-driven approach could elucidate the optimum combination of zinc particle properties.In this study, we investigate the effect of Zn particle size, shape, and degree of crystallinity on the achievable capacity and corrosion current. Various types of zinc powders were sieved into size fraction ranges and chemically and thermo-chemically treated to control their crystallinity. The procedure for producing zinc powders of various sizes, shapes, and crystallinities led to a 64-powder Zn matrix that was then electrochemically analyzed by linear sweep voltammetry to determine the corrosion current and galvanostatically discharged to determine the achievable capacity. These experiments were done in a newly-designed, custom-built electroanalytical cell that will be described in the talk. Following the data collection, a 4k factorial statistical analysis was performed. This analysis identified which of the controlling variables have a statistically significant influence on the achievable capacity and corrosion. The statistical model was also able to provide guidance regarding the preferred particle shape. This information can be used to develop actionable procedures for battery manufacturers to create cells that are more stable, longer lasting, and have higher energy densities.

Hydrometallurgical Treatment of Converter Dust from Secondary Copper Production: A Study of the Lead Cementation from Acetate Solution

The subject of interest in this study was lead cementation with zinc from solution after conventional agitate acidic leaching of converter dust from secondary copper production. The kinetics of lead cementation from an acid solution of lead acetate using zinc powder was studied. The optimal cementation conditions for removing lead from the solution were determined to have a stirring intensity of 300 rpm, a zinc particle size distribution <0.125–0.4> mm and an ambient temperature. Under these conditions, an almost 90% efficiency in removing lead from solution was achieved. The cementation precipitate contains Pb, and a certain amount of Cu. Lead is present in the cementation precipitate in the PbO, Pb5O8 and Pb(Cu2O2) phases. The solution after cementation was also refined from copper. The solution can be used for further processing in order to obtain a marketable Zn-based product. The resulting cementation precipitate can be further processed and modified to obtain a lead-based product. A kinetic study of the process of lead cementation from solution was also carried out. Based on experimental measurements, the value of apparent activation energy (Ea) which was found to be ~18.66 kJ·mol−1, indicates that this process is diffusion controlled in the temperature range 293–333 K.

Multiscale Structured Particle‐Based Zinc Anodes in Non‐Stirred Alkaline Systems for Zinc–Air Batteries

AbstractPrimary zinc–air batteries are well established in the commercial market, but secondary zinc–air batteries still suffer from challenging problems. Multiple charge and discharge cycles result in zinc density migration and the formation of passivating by‐products, which can ultimately change the shape of the zinc anode. This work focuses on the use of zinc particles in combination with highly structured current collectors in a cell with a stagnant alkaline electrolyte. Copper weave and copper foam were used as current collectors. The influences of the zinc particle size, the mass loading and the macroscopic structure of the anodes were characterized. Highly structured electrode designs led to improved discharge and cycling performances. Due to the increased active surface area, the electrodes take advantage of highly distributed zinc deposits. The results reveal that the use of multiscale structures within the zinc anode can be beneficial for further applications.

Characteristic Studies of Micron Zinc Particle Hydrolysis in a Fixed Bed Reactor

Abstract Zinc fuel is considered as a kind of promising energy sources for marine propeller. As one of the key steps for zinc marine energy power system, zinc hydrolysis process had been studied experimentally in a fixed bed reactor. In this study, we focus on the characteristics of micron zinc particle hydrolysis. The experimental results suggested that the steam inner diffusion is the controlling step of accumulative zinc particles hydrolysis reaction at a relative lower temperature and a relative higher water partial pressure. In other conditions, the chemical reaction kinetics was the controlling step. And two kinds of chemical reaction kinetics appeared in experiments: the surface reaction and the gas-gas reaction. The latter one occurs usually for larger zinc particles and high reaction temperature. Temperature seems to be one of the most important parameters for the dividing of different reaction mechanisms. Several parameters of the hydrolysis process including heating rate, water partial pressure, the particle size and temperature were also studied in this paper. Results show that the initial reaction temperature of zinc hydrolysis in fixed bed is about 410°C. And the initial reaction temperature increases as the heating rate increases and as the water partial pressure decreases. The total hydrogen yield increases as the heating rate decreases, as the water partial pressure increases, as the zinc particle size decreases, and as the reaction temperature increases. A hydrogen yield of more than 81.5% was obtained in the fixed bed experiments.

Conductivity and anticorrosion performance of polyaniline/zinc composites: Investigation of zinc particle size and distribution effect

Polyaniline/zinc composites and nanocomposites were prepared using solution mixing method. Zinc (Zn) particles with an average particle size of 60μm and zinc nanoparticles with an average particle size of 35nm were used as fillers in polyaniline (PANI) matrix. Films and coatings of PANI/Zn composites and nanocomposites were prepared by the solution casting method. Electrical conductivity and anticorrosion properties of PANI/Zn composite and nanocomposite films and coatings with different zinc loadings were evaluated. According to the results, electrical conductivity and anticorrosion performances of both PANI/Zn composites and nanocomposites were increased by increasing the zinc loading. Also results showed that the PANI/Zn nanocomposite films and coatings have better electrical conductivity and corrosion protection effect on iron coupons compared to that of PANI/Zn composite.

Effects of particle sizes and shapes of zinc metal on the properties of anticorrosive coatings

The paper deals with a study of the zinc particle sizes and shape effects on the anticorrosive coating properties. As a binder the epoxyester resin is used. The zinc particle size and shape effects are discussed from the mechanical coating properties, film permeabilities to water vapor and above all the pigment anticorrosion protection efficiency points of view. The connection between the spherical particle sizes and the coating anticorrosive efficiency was found. The smaller particle sizes mean better anticorrosive coating properties. The lamellar zinc particles exhibit the highest anticorrosion efficiency at a concentration around 20 vol.%.

Thermoplastic matrix controlled-release zinc fertilizers

Thermoplastic matrix controlled-release (C.R.) zinc fertilizers are produced by extruding a mixture of zinc salt and inert polymer material. Three methods of laboratory evaluation were used to characterize a range of C.R. zinc formulations differing in concentration and nature of zinc salt, carrier matrix, and size. The methods were (i) electron microscopy, (ii) zinc emission into water, and (iii) zinc diffusion in indicator-agar. These methods complemented each other, with electron microscopy elucidating physical features governing zinc release from the fertilizer pellets. Finely divided particles of soluble zinc salt, for instance, were associated with formulations whose release characteristics approached theoretical (time) -order release kinetics. Apart from zinc particle size, other factors controlling zinc emission characteristics were the type of zinc salt, the zinc loading, and pellet size. Varying the polymer matrix materials had little or no effect on zinc release from the C.R. zinc formulations compared in this study.

The protection of mild steel by zinc-rich paint in flowing aerated 0.5 M NaCl solutions.—I. The effect of zinc particle size

An accelerated testing procedure was used to determine the effect of average zinc dust particle size on the electrochemical behaviour of a zinc-rich chlorinated rubber primer applied to mild steel. Tests with a painted surface to exposed area ratio of 11.6 to one in flowing aerated 0.5M NaCl solution showed that a particle size of 2.5 μm provided the best protection over the flow range investigated.

Condensed Zinc Particle Size Determined by a Time Discrete Sampling Apparatus

This paper describes an experiment in which a novel sampling technique is employed to determine the size distribution of zinc particles originating through homogeneous condensation of zinc vapor expanding with a helium carrier gas through a supersonic nozzle. Decelerating a skimmed portion of the nozzle flow by mixing with quiescent air at matched pressure was found to be an effective method of sampling. The particles were collected on a cylinder shuttered in a way which permitted several time discrete samplings within a very short time span. Electron microscope analysis of the particles sampled showed a narrow distribution of sizes with 80% of the particles having diameters within a 100 A range and a peak number of particles having diameters about 135 A.