Analysis of trace dicyandiamide in stream water using solid phase extraction and liquid chromatography UV spectrometry

An improved method for trace level quantification of dicyandiamide in stream water has been developed. This method includes sample pretreatment using solid phase extraction. The extraction procedure (including loading, washing, and eluting) used a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min, and dicyandiamide was eluted with 20 mL of a methanol/acetonitrile mixture (V/V = 2:3), followed by pre-concentration using nitrogen evaporation and analysis with high performance liquid chromatography–ultraviolet spectroscopy (HPLC–UV). Sample extraction was carried out using a Waters Sep-Pak AC-2 Cartridge (with activated carbon). Separation was achieved on a ZIC^®-Hydrophilic Interaction Liquid Chromatography (ZIC-HILIC) (50 mm × 2.1 mm, 3.5 μm) chromatography column and quantification was accomplished based on UV absorbance. A reliable linear relationship was obtained for the calibration curve using standard solutions (R² > 0.999). Recoveries for dicyandiamide ranged from 84.6% to 96.8%, and the relative standard deviations (RSDs, n = 3) were below 6.1% with a detection limit of 5.0 ng/mL for stream water samples.     

促进安全和健康的工作——ILO的安全、健康和环境全球计划

在当今这样一个快速发展的全球化经济中，国际劳工组织（ILO）安全工作部门主任Sameera Al-Tuwaijri博士指出，人类将面临许多安全、健康与环境的挑战，国际劳工组织正在积极应对这些挑战。     

Effects of fuel reactivity and injection timing on diesel engine combustion and emissions

Recent strategies for simultaneously reducing NOx and soot emissions have focused on achieving nearly premixed, low-temperature combustion (LTC) in diesel engines. A promising approach in this regard is to vary fuel reactivity in order to control the ignition delay and optimize the level of premixing and reduce emissions. The present study examines such a strategy by performing 3-D simulations in a single-cylinder of a diesel engine. Simulations employ the state-of-the-art two-phase models and a validated semi-detailed reaction mechanism. The fuel reactivity is varied by using a blend of n-heptane and iso-octane, which represent surrogates for gasoline and diesel fuels, respectively. Results indicate that the fuel reactivity strongly influences ignition delay and combustion phasing, whereas the start of injection (SOI) affects combustion phasing. As fuel reactivity is reduced, the ignition delay is increased and the combustion phasing is retarded. The longer ignition delay provides additional time for mixing, and reduces equivalence ratio stratification. Consequently, the premixed combustion is enhanced relative to diffusion combustion, and thus the soot emission is reduced. NO_x emission is also reduced due to reduced diffusion combustion and lower peak temperatures caused by delayed combustion phasing. An operability range is observed in terms of fuel reactivity and SOI, beyond which the mixture may not be sufficiently well mixed, or compression ignited. The study demonstrates the possibility of finding an optimum range of fuel reactivity, SOI, and EGR for significantly reducing engine out emissions for a given load and speed.