Adsorption and catalytic oxidation of residual NH on coal ash after selective non-catalytic reduction in coal-fired boilers.

Selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR) with NH as the reducing agent is widely used for the denitrification of flue gas in coal-fired boilers, where fly ash significantly influences the conversion of the residual NH that does not participate in denitrification. However, there have been few studies on the exact nature of this influence, particularly the adsorption and reaction mechanisms of NH on fly ash. In this study, temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) were used to study the mechanisms of NH adsorption and reactions over coal ash.

Maternal exposure to bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate during the thyroid hormone-dependent stage induces persistent emotional and cognitive impairment in middle-aged offspring mice.

Prenatal DEHP exposure can cause offspring neurodevelopmental toxicity, but the persistent effects of such exposure window are unclear. This study aimed to investigate the lasting neurobehavioral impact of DEHP on offspring following early exposure from GD9.5 (fetal neural tube closure) to GD16.

Insights into the enhanced flux of graphene oxide composite membrane in direct contact membrane distillation: The different role at evaporation and condensation interfaces.

Graphene oxide (GO) coating has recently been reported as a novel approach to increase membrane flux of membrane distillation (MD), yet the phenomena underlying the process are still not fully understood. In this study, a mathematical model based on capillary-film assumption was developed and validated with the results (R>0.99) from a series of MD experiments.

Path planning of mobile robot based on improved ant colony algorithm for logistics.

The path planning of robot is of great significance for the logistics industry, which helps to improve the efficiency of warehousing, sorting and distribution. On the basis of ant colony algorithm, multi step search strategy is used instead of single step search strategy, pheromone update mechanism is redesigned, and path smoothing is configured to improve the performance of the algorithm. The experimental results show that the improved ant colony algorithm proposed in this paper can plan a shorter optimal path on the 16 * 16 grid logistics storage site, and the path length is saved by 9.

Pseudocapacitive Charge Storage in MXene-VO for Asymmetric Flexible Energy Storage Devices.

Pseudocapacitive asymmetric supercapacitors are promising candidates for achieving high energy density in flexible energy storage devices. However, seeking suitable positive electrode materials that are compatible with negative electrode materials remains a considerable challenge. In the current study, a pseudocapacitive TiCT MXene used as negative electrodes is rationally compatible with redox-type VO as positive electrodes, resulting in the assembly of an all-pseudocapacitive TiCT MXene//VO asymmetric flexible energy storage device.

Co-metabolism for enhanced phenol degradation and bioelectricity generation in microbial fuel cell.

Co-metabolism is one of the effective approaches to increase the removal of refractory pollutants in microbial fuel cells (MFCs), but studies on the links between the co-substrates and biodegradation remain limited. In this study, four external carbon resources were used as co-substrates for phenol removal and power generation in MFC. The result demonstrated that acetate was the most efficient co-substrate with an initial phenol degradation of 78.

Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate inhibits expression and internalization of transthyretin in human placental trophoblastic cells.

During pregnancy, fetal thyroid hormones (THs) are dependent on maternal placental transport and their physiological level is crucial for normal fetal neurodevelopment. Earlier research has shown that Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) disrupts thyroid function and THs homeostasis in pregnant women and fetuses, and affects placental THs transport. However, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood.

Fabrication of a highly dispersed/active Pd nanoparticle supported catalyst: a cation-assisted reduction method in ethylene glycol-water solution at mild temperature.

Development of sustainable routes to synthesize precious metal supported catalysts is of great importance because of their wide applications in the catalysis field. This paper reported a controllable and recyclable cation-assisted reduction route to fabricate a palladium nanoparticle supported catalyst. At 323 K, highly dispersed Pd/AlO-CAR was prepared through introducing M (M = Mn, Zn or Cu) ions to promote the reduction of HPdCl in ethylene glycol-water solution, and the residual filtrate after preparation could be recycled to prepare Pd/AlO catalysts.

Effect of impure components in flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum on the generation of polymorph CaCO during carbonation reaction.

As one of the typical solid-wastes, FGD gypsum usually occupies land and causes resource waste and environmental pollution. Its high content of CaSO·2HO shows highly potential in synthesizing CaCO by incorporating CO. Nevertheless, the impurities in FGD gypsum have significant effects on polymorph of CaCO and the formation mechanism of CaCO polymorph during FGD gypsum carbonation was still unclear.

Facile Preparation of Ag-Coated Superhydrophobic/Superoleophilic Mesh for Efficient Oil/Water Separation with Excellent Corrosion Resistance.

We present the facile preparation of a superhydrophobic-oleophilic stainless steel mesh with excellent oil/water separation efficiency and resistance to corrosion through hydrofluoric (HF) acid etching, Ag nanoparticle coating, and stearic acid modification, to construct a superhydrophobic micro/nanohierarchical structure. The surface of the treated mesh exhibits superhydrophobicity, with a water contact angle of 152°, and superoleophilicity, with an oil contact angle of 0°. The effects of variation in the HF etching time and Ag nanoparticle coating on surface wettability were explored.

Synthesis of pH-Responsive Inorganic Janus Nanoparticles and Experimental Investigation of the Stability of Their Pickering Emulsions.

Pickering emulsions exhibit outstanding stability, especially those prepared with Janus particles, whose desorption energy is expected to be up to 3-fold greater than emulsions of homogeneous particles from theoretical calculations. To the best of our knowledge, however, there remains no experimental proof of this behavior in practice. In this study, inorganic Janus nanoparticles were fabricated by regioselective modification of the separate side of SiO nanoparticles with a judiciously selected mixture of trimethoxysilylpropyldiethylenetriamine and n-octyltrimethoxysilane.

Compartmentalized Droplets for Continuous Flow Liquid-Liquid Interface Catalysis.

To address the limitations of batch organic-aqueous biphasic catalysis, we develop a conceptually novel method termed Flow Pickering Emulsion, or FPE, to process biphasic reactions in a continuous flow fashion. This method involves the compartmentalization of bulk water into micron-sized droplets based on a water-in-oil Pickering emulsion, which are packed into a column reactor. The compartmentalized water droplets can confine water-soluble catalysts, thus "immobilizing" the catalyst in the column reactor, while the interstices between the droplets allow the organic (oil) phase to flow.

Surface Activity and Aggregation Behavior of Siloxane-Based Ionic Liquids in Aqueous Solution.

Six novel siloxane-based surface-active ionic liquids (SAILs)--siloxane ammonium carboxylate [Si(n)N(2)-CA(1), (n = 3, 4)]--were designed and synthesized. Their melting points, surface activities, and self-aggregation behavior in aqueous solution were studied. The results showed that because of the bulky hydrophobic siloxane chains at the end of the tail, all six siloxane-based SAILs are room-temperature ionic liquids (RT-SAILs).

Recycling nanoparticle catalysts without separation based on a pickering emulsion/organic biphasic system.

A conceptually novel methodology is explored for in situ recycling of nanoparticle catalysts based on transforming a conventional organic/aqueous biphasic system into a Pickering emulsion/organic biphasic system (PEOBS). The suggested PEOBS exists as two phases, with the nanoparticle catalyst "anchored" in the Pickering emulsion phase, but is "continuous" between the organic phase and the continuous phase of the Pickering emulsion. Aqueous hydrogenations are used to evaluate the reaction performances of PEOBS, and the underlying principles of PEOBS are preliminarily elaborated.

Adsorption and Aggregation behaviors of tetrasiloxane-tailed gemini surfactants with (EO)m spacers.

Adsorption and aggregation behaviors of novel tetrasiloxane-tailed gemini surfactants N,N'-ditetrasiloxane-N,N'-digluconamide oligo ethylene glycol diglycidyl (Si-m-Si, where m is the number of ethylene glycol of 1, 2, and 3) were investigasted using surface tension, bromophenol blue encapsulation, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and transmission electron microscope (TEM) methods. The static surface tension of the aqueous Si-m-Si solutions measured at the critical aggregate concentration (CAC) was observed to be lower than that of traditional hydrocarbon gemini surfactants. This suggests that these newly synthesized gemini surfactants are capable of forming a closely packed monolayer film at the air/aqueous solution interface.

Synthesis and aggregation behavior of grafted maleic acid copolymers.

Grafted SMA containing poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride)-g-(poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether) (SMA-PEG) and its hydrophobically modified products poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride)-g-(poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether & dodecyl) (SMA-PEG+C(12)) and poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride)-g-(dodecyl) (SMA-C(12)) were prepared using a single batch method. Their adsorption and rheology behavior was investigated using equilibrium surface tension and rheological techniques. The adsorption parameters, saturation surface excess concentration (Γ(max)), and the minimum area (A(min)) of these copolymers were evaluated.

Adsorption and aggregation behavior of tetrasiloxane-tailed surfactants containing oligo(ethylene oxide) methyl ether and a sugar moiety.

Three novel amphiphilic dicephalic (double-headed) surfactants containing oligo(ethylene-oxide)methyl-ether and a sugar moiety TGA-m (m = 1, 2, and 3) that incorporate a tetrasiloxane at the terminus of a hydrocarbon chain were designed and synthesized. Their surface activity and aggregation behavior in aqueous solution were systematically investigated by surface tension, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques at 298 K. The surface tension measurements provided the critical aggregation concentration (CAC) and the surface tension at the CAC (γ(cac)).

Carbohydrate-modified siloxane surfactants and their adsorption and aggregation behavior in aqueous solution.

Four carbohydrate-modified siloxane surfactants, Si(n)N-GA and Si(n)N-LA (n = 3, 4), were designed and synthesized. Their surface activities, adsorption, and aggregation behavior in aqueous solution were investigated by surface tension measurements, dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Due to the bulky siloxane moiety at the end of hydrophobic chains, the surfactant solutions displayed low critical aggregation concentration (cac) and low surface tension.

Preparation and properties of comb-like surfactants containing poly(ethylene oxide) methyl ether grafts.

The comb-like surfactants, poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride)-g-(poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether), poly(St-co-MA)-g-(MPEG), have been prepared using a macromonomer approach to get controlled molecular structures. The macromonomer (MAMPEG) was obtained by esterification of poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether with maleic anhydride. Poly(St-co-MA)-g-(MPEG) with various molar ratios of St to MAMPEG (R) were then constructed by radical copolymerization.

Effect of temperature on dynamic rheological behavior of discontinuous cubic liquid crystal.

The dynamic rheological properties of discontinuous cubic liquid crystal, formed by nonionic surfactant C(12-14)E(12), were investigated in the discrete and continuous patterns of raising temperature. In the discrete pattern, the discontinuous cubic phase appears in two types of viscoelastic behaviors under the melting points of cubic phase: elastic gel and viscoelastic liquid. When the discontinuous cubic phase begins to melt, it has the weak polymer-like viscoelasticity.

Kinetics of disproportionation of air bubbles beneath a planar air-water interface stabilized by food proteins.

The rate of shrinkage of air bubbles of initial radii, r, from 50 to 150 microm injected beneath a planar air-water interface has been measured. Bubbles were stabilized by 0.05 wt% protein in approximately 0.

Disproportionation of clustered protein-stabilized bubbles at planar air-water interfaces.

The rate of shrinkage of air bubbles, of initial radius from 50 to 200 microm, injected beneath a planar air-water interface has been measured. Bubbles were stabilized in solutions of 0.05 wt% gelatin or pure beta-lactoglobulin.