Comparison of different mechanical refining technologies on the enzymatic digestibility of low severity acid pretreated corn stover.

The effect of mechanical refining on the enzymatic digestibility of pretreated corn stover (PCS) was investigated. Low severity, dilute sulfuric acid PCS was subjected to mechanical refining using a bench-scale food processor blender, a PFI mill, a 12-inch laboratory disk refiner, and a 25 mm co-rotating twin-screw extruder. Glucose yields from enzymatic hydrolysis were improved by 10-15% after blending and disk refining, while PFI refining and twin-screw extrusion showed a glucose yield improvement of 16-20%.

Experimental study on local mass transfer in a simplified bifurcation model: potential role in atherosclerosis.

Local mass transfer coefficients and flow patterns were examined in an idealized human aortic bifurcation model. The objectives of this study are to gain further insights on the convective mass transfer process and its possible role in the localization of atherosclerotic lesions. The laser photochromic tracer method provided velocity and wall shear stress estimates in the plane of symmetry of a UV-transparent Plexiglas bifurcation model.