Optimal methods to determine the physical parameters for activated carbon adsorption

The objectives of this research were to examine the physical characteristics of activated carbons made of different materials, thereby suggest a preferable approach to obtaining the optimal estimation of the parameters for the activated carbons by the statistical techniques. After the appropriate pretreatments, the apparent and true densities of activated carbon, adsorption isotherms of argon, nitrogen and mercury, and the adsorptive capacity of benzene were determined by using the recommended approaches. The results showed that the shapes of hysteresis loop indicated that the pores were probably slit‐shaped or formed by plate‐like particles, which could be confirmed by the SEM examination. It was noted that the apparent density used for pore volume calculation presented a higher possibility of underestimation. Through the use of the statistical techniques, such as factor analysis (FA) and correspondence analysis (CA), the principal physical parameters on adsorption phenomena could be characterized. Finally, the optimal methods for obtaining the surface area and pore volume of activated carbons were suggested.     

An integrated CNC accumulation system for automatic building-around-inserts

In this paper a non-layer-based additive manufacturing (AM) process named computer numerically controlled (CNC) accumulation process is presented for applications such as plastic part repairing and modification. To facilitate the CNC accumulation process, a novel three-dimensional (3D) laser scanning system based on a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) device is developed for in situ scanning of inserted components. The integration of the scanning system in the CNC accumulation process enables the building-around-inserts with little human efforts. A point processing method based on the algebraic point set surface (APSS) fitting and layered depth-normal image (LDNI) representation is developed for converting the scanning points into triangular meshes. The newly developed 3D scanning system is compact and has sufficient accuracy for the CNC accumulation process. Based on the constructed surface model, data processing operations including multi-axis tool path planning and motion control are also investigated. Multiple test cases are performed to illustrate the capability of the integrated CNC accumulation process on addressing the requirements of building-around-inserts.     

基于SEM-EDS的大气降尘特征及来源解析——以荒漠草原区井工开采煤炭基地为例

利用场发射扫描电子显微镜-配能谱分析系统（SEM-EDS）于2019年3~5月对荒漠草原区煤炭基地及其周边5个功能区（煤炭工业区、煤炭运输道路、电力工业区、商住区和沙区）共计23个大气降尘样品的粒径特征、微观形貌、单颗粒能谱图进行检测分析.结果表明,各功能区大气降尘中颗粒物总体形貌基本相似,均包括近球状、类椭球状、颗粒状、块状和柱状/片状颗粒物以及烟尘集合体.此外,煤炭运输道路、电力工业区和商住区还存在球状颗粒物.各功能区大气降尘以>10μm颗粒物为主,其中,电力工业区、商住区、沙区和煤炭工业区大气降尘平均粒径均>100μm,且总量超过65%,煤炭运输道路大气降尘平均粒径为67.59μm,粒径>50μm的颗粒物量占53%.大气降尘主要由细粉砂、粗粉砂和细砂组成.大气降尘中颗粒物的类型包括存在于各功能区中的硅酸盐矿物（石英、钾长石和斜长石）、碳酸盐矿物（方解石和白云石）、硫酸盐矿物（石膏）和高岭石,存在于煤炭运输道路、煤炭工业区和电力工业区中的富铁颗粒,存在于煤炭工业区中的铁镁颗粒,存在于煤炭运输道路、煤炭工业区、电力工业区和商住区中的烟尘集合体和燃煤飞灰.大气降尘来源主要为本地源,包括各功能区中均存在的地表扬尘、工业扬尘、建筑扬尘和大气中二次化学反应产物,煤炭运输道路、煤炭工业区和电力工业区中存在的机动车零件磨损产物,以及煤炭运输道路、煤炭工业区、电力工业区和商住区中存在的机动车尾气排放和燃煤产物.     

Environmental scanning electron microscopy as a new technique to determine the hygroscopic behaviour of individual aerosol particles

The hygroscopic behaviour of NaCl, (NH₄)₂SO₄, Na₂SO₄ and NH₄NO₃ particles in the size range of 0.1–20 μm was studied by environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM). This technique allows the in-situ observation of individual aerosol particles while changing the temperature and/or relative humidity (RH) in the sample chamber. The hygroscopic behaviour of these particles (e.g., deliquescence, adsorption of water on the particle surface) becomes directly observable with a lateral resolution of the order of 8–15 nm. The deliquescence relative humidities (DRH) of the different salts, the temperature dependence of the DRH for NH₄NO₃, and the growth factors (at increasing relative humidities) for NaCl were determined. Generally, a good agreement between the values obtained by ESEM and those found in literature was achieved. However, the DRH of NaCl determined by ESEM is systematically higher (approximately 2%, absolute) than the values obtained by other techniques, which can be explained by the observed strong absorption of water onto the crystal surface prior to droplet formation. The efflorescence behaviour of individual particles can be studied only qualitatively due to influences of the sample substrate. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the activation of soot can be studied at high resolution by ESEM.     

Characterization of Environmentally Friendly Polymers by Inverse Gas Chromatography: I Amylopectin

Amylopectin, as a potato starch based polymer, with a molecular weight of six million gram/mol was characterized using the Inverse Gas Chromatography Method (IGC). DSC method was also used to measure the glass and melting temperatures. Both DSC and IGC agreed well on a T_g of 105°C and T_m of 160–166°C. Nineteen solutes (solvents) were injected onto a chromatographic column containing amylopectin. These solutes revealed the interaction of alkanes with AP, and the wettability and water intake of AP. Alkanes showed exothermic values of interaction parameters which were increased as the temperature increased and as the number of carbons in the alkane series decreased. Retention diagrams of these solutes in a temperature range of 80–200°C revealed two zones, crystalline and amorphous. T_g and T_m were measured using these zones which complimented the DSC values. The two zones were used to calculate the degree of crystallinity below the melting temperature which ranged from 85% at 104°C to 0% at 161°C. The dispersive component of the surface energy of amylopectin was measured using alkanes which ranged from 25.35 mJ/m² at 80°C to 8.47 mJ/m² at 200°C. This is attributed to the weak crystalline surface of AP at 80°C and when the surface melted at 160°C the surface energy decreased due to the thermal expansion of the surface.     

隧道火灾后衬砌材料物理力学性能变化试验研究

通过对衬砌混凝土在不同温度等级下烧损试验，及其随后的电子显微镜扫描观察，分析了组织结构变化情况，并用X射线法对其矿物分进行了分析，研究了四种温度状态下的弹性模量的变化规律。试验结果表明，隧道火灾后衬砌材料随温度的升高，其破坏程度越明显，严重影响了隧道结构受力的性能。     

Drivers’ visual scanning behavior at signalized and unsignalized intersections: A naturalistic driving study in China

Introduction: Intersections are the most dangerous locations in urban traffic. The present study aims to investigate drivers’ visual scanning behavior at signalized and unsignalized intersections. Method: Naturalistic driving data at 318 green phase signalized intersections and 300 unsignalized ones were collected. Drivers’ glance allocations were manually categorized into 10 areas of interest (AOIs), based on which three feature subsets were extracted including glance allocation frequencies, durations and AOI transition probabilities. The extracted features at signalized and unsignalized intersections were compared. Features with statistical significances were integrated to characterize drivers’ scanning patterns using the hierarchical clustering method. Andrews Curve was adopted to visually illustrate the clustering results of high-dimensional data. Results: Results showed that drivers going straight across signalized intersections had more often glances at the left view mirror and longer fixation on the near left area. When turning left, drivers near signalized intersections had more frequent glances at the left view mirror, fixated much longer on the forward and rearview mirror area, and had higher transition probabilities from near left to far left. Compared with drivers’ scanning patterns in left turning maneuver at signalized intersections, drivers with higher situation awareness levels would divide more attention to the forward and right areas than at unsignalized intersections. Conclusions: This study revealed that intersection types made differences on drivers’ scanning behavior. Practical applications: These findings suggest that future applications in advanced driver assistance systems and driver training programs should recommend different scanning strategies to drivers at different types of intersections.     

混酸中甲苯半间歇硝化过程的危险性研究

为了解甲苯在混酸中硝化的危险性,用差示扫描量热法(DSC)测试甲苯、混酸及一硝基甲苯的热分解情况,用反应量热仪(RC1e)研究搅拌速度、温度及硝酸过用率3因素对目的反应的影响。结果表明,混酸分解温度最低,而当目的反应的3因素出现异常,以及反应过程中发生冷却失效时,均可导致硝化反应体系不稳定,此时若不停止加料,并采取措施,易引起混酸的分解,进一步可引起一硝基甲苯的分解,导致严重后果。     

2,4-二硝基苯酚钠非等温DSC热分解动力学研究

首先用同步热分析仪（STA）测定了一定温度区间内2,4-二硝基酚钠的比热容,利用Origin8.0软件回归比热容随温度变化的方程式,拟合系数为0.913 6,标准偏差为0.005 9。然后分别在空气和氮气气氛下对2,4-二硝基酚钠进行了TG/DSC测试,并与单硝基酚钠（邻、间、对位）的热分解性能进行了比较。通过在氮气气氛不同升温速率下的测试,用Kissinger法得到2,4-二硝基酚钠热分解反应的表观活化能、指前因子等动力学参数。研究表明:2,4-二硝基酚钠在300℃以下具有良好的热稳定性,Kissinger法得到的2,4-二硝基酚钠表观活化能为244.8 kJ/mol,指前因子为2.5×10¹⁸s^-1。     

Adsorption characterizations of fulvic acid fractions onto kaolinite

Fulvic acids extracted from a typical rice-production region near Taihu Lake of China were fractionated into three fractions including F4. 8, F7. 0 and F11. 0(eluted by pH4. 8 buffer, pH 7. 0bufferandpH 11. 0buffer, respectively). Sorption of fulvic acid(FA)fractions onto kaolinite was studied by batch adsorption experiments, and characterizations of kaolinite before and after adsorption were investigated using scanning electron microscopy(SEM). Adsorption isotherms of kaolinite for three FA fractions fit well with the Langmuir adsorption model. The adsorption density of the three fractions was positively correlated with the ratio of the amount of the alkyl carbon to that of carboxyl and carbonyl carbon in FA fractions and followed an order of F11. 0>F7. 0>F4.8.Hydrophobic interaction Was one of the control mechanisms for the sorption of FA fraction onto kaolinite. SEM images confirmed that compared to blank kaolinite samples, kaolinite samples coated by a FA fraction displayed an opener and more dispersed conformation resulting from the disruption of the floe structure in complex. Dispersion of kaolinite after adsorption was due to the repulsion between negatively charged FA. coated particles, which is closely related to the amount of FA fractions absorbed on kaolinite.