This study is focused on a steady dissipative layer, which is generated by Marangoni convection flow over the surface resulted from an imposed temperature gradient, coupled with buoyancy effects due to gravity and external pressure. A model is proposed with Marangoni condition in the boundary conditions at the interface. The similarity equations are determined and approximate analytical solutions are obtained by an efficient transformation, asymptotic expansion and Padé approximant technique. For the cases that buoyancy force is favorable or unfavorable to Marangoni flow, the features of flow and temperature fields are investigated in terms of Marangoni mixed convection parameter and Prantl number.

In this paper, a dual-throat supersonic separation device with porous wall has been proposed to solve the starting problem of supersonic separator, and the feasibility of the proposed device has been tested numerically and experimentally. Its flow characteristics have been investigated and the effect of some important parameters including nozzle pressure ratio (R_NP), inlet temperature and swirl intensity were examined. In the device, the supersonic flow state and strong centrifugal acceleration of 240000g can be obtained, which are necessary for the condensation and separation of water vapor. The supersonic region in the device enlarged and the shock wave shifted downstream along with the increasing R_NP. The separation performance was improved with the increasing R_NP and the inlet temperature. The best separation performance in this study was obtained with ΔT_d=28 K.

Hierarchically macro-/mesoporous structured Al₂O₃ and TiO₂-Al₂O₃ materials were used as supports to prepare novel Co-Mo-Ni hydrodesulfurization (HDS) catalysts. A commercial Co-Mo-Ni/Al₂O₃ catalyst without macroporous channels was taken as a reference. The catalysts were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), energy-dispersive spectrometry (EDS), N₂ adsorption-desorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and temperature programmed reduction (TPR). The apparent activities of the hierarchically porous catalysts for thiophene HDS were superior to those of the commercial catalyst, which was mainly ascribed to the diffusion-enhanced effect of the hierarchically bimodal pore structure. The addition of titania to alumina in the support helped to weaken the interaction between the active phase and the support, and as a result, the novel Co-Mo-Ni/TiO₂-Al₂O₃ catalyst with a low titania loading (28%, by mass) in the support exhibited high HDS activities, even without presulfiding treatment. However, the catalyst with a high titania loading (61%, by mass) showed much lower activities, which was mostly caused by its low surface area and pore volume as well as the non-uniform distribution of titania and alumina. The kinetic analysis further demonstrated the support effects on HDS activities of the catalysts.

A carbon-based sulfonated catalyst was prepared by direct sulfonation and carbonization (in moderate conditions: 200 ℃, 12 h) of red liquor solids, a by-product of paper-making process. The prepared sulfonated catalyst (SC) had aromatic structure, composed of carbon enriched inner core, and oxygen-containing (SO₃H, COOH, OH) groups enriched surface. The SO₃H, COOH, OH groups amounted to 0.74 mmol·g^-1, 0.78 mmol·g^-1, 2.18 mmol·g^-1, respectively. The fresh SC showed much higher catalytic activity than that of the traditional solid acid catalysts (strong-acid 732 cation exchange resin, hydrogen type zeolite socony mobile-five (HZSM-5), sulfated zirconia) in esterification of oleic acid. SC was deactivated during the reactions, through the mechanisms of leaching of sulfonated species and formation of sulfonate esters. Two regeneration methods were developed, and the catalytic activity can be mostly regenerated by regeneration Method 1 and be fully regenerated by regeneration Method 2, respectively.

A slow bromination process of butyl rubber (IIR) suffers from low efficiency and low selectivity (S) of target-product. To obtain suitable approach to intensify the process, effects of assistant solvents and mixing intensity on the bromination process were systemically studied in this paper. The reaction process was found constantly accelerated with the increasing dosage and polarity of assistant solvent. Hexane with 30% (by volume) dichloromethane was found as the suitable solvent component, where the stable conversion of 1,4-isoprene transferring to target product (x_A1s) of 80.2% and the corresponding S of 91.2% were obtained in 5 min. The accelerated reaction process was demonstrated being remarkably affected by mixing intensity until the optimal stirring rate of 1100 r·min^-1 in a stirred tank reactor. With better mixing condition, a further intensification of the process was achieved in a rotating packed bed (RPB) reactor, where x_A1s of 82.6% and S of 91.9% were obtained in 2 min. The usage of the suitable solvent component and RPB has potential application in the industrial bromination process intensification.

Amination of tertiary and secondary alcohols using aqueous ammonia as nitrogen source was carried out by a process with recyclable intramolecular reaction of 1,8-naphthosultone, which lead to α-branched primary amines. Sulfonic resin serves as the heterogeneous catalyst for C—N bond formation and protects the neighboring hydroxyl group until the required hydrolysis starts in the alkaline solution. The process can be conducted under mild conditions, no additional solvent is needed and no overreaction to secondary or tertiary amines occurs.

Traditionally, extra binary variables are demanded to formulate a fuzzy nonlinear programming (FNLP) problem with piecewise linear membership functions (PLMFs). However, this kind of methodology usually suffers increasing computational burden associated with formulation and solution, particularly in the face of complex PLMFs. Motivated by these challenges, this contribution introduces a novel approach free of additional binary variables to formulate FNLP with complex PLMFs, leading to superior performance in reducing computational complexity as well as simplifying formulation. A depth discussion about the approach is conducted in this paper, along with a numerical case study to demonstrate its potential benefits.

This paper is standing on the recent viewpoint originated from relevant industrial practices that well organized tracing, representing and feedback (TRF) mechanism of material-flow information is crucial for system utility and usability of manufacturing execution systems (MES), essentially, for activities on the side of multi-level decision making and optimization mainly in the planning and scheduling. In this paper, we investigate a key issue emphasized on a route of multi-level information evolution on the side of large-scale feedback, where material-flow states could evolve from the measuring data (local states) to networked event-type information cells (global states) and consequently to the key performance indicators (KPI) type information (gross states). Importantly, with adaptabilities to frequent structural dynamics residing in running material flows, this evolving route should be modeled as a suit of sophisticated mechanism for large-scale dynamic states tracking and representing so as to upgrade accuracy and usability of the feedback information in MES. To clarify inherent complexities of this evolving route, the investigated issue is demonstrated from extended process systems engineering (PSE) point of view, and the TRF principles of the multi-level feedback information (states) are highlighted under the multi-scale methodology. As the main contribution, a novel mechanism called TRF modeling mechanism is introduced.

The solubility of D-xylose in formic acid and binary solvents of formic acid with formic acid and acetic acid, propionic acid, n-butyric acid or isobutyric acid was measured in the temperature range from 300.35 to 325.05 K using the synthetic method by a laser monitoring technique at atmospheric pressure. The solid-liquid equilibrium data will provide essential support for industrial design and further theoretical study. The experimental data show that the solubility of D-xylose in formic acid and in the mixtures of formic acid + acetic acid (1:1), formic acid + propionic acid (1:1), formic acid + n-butyric acid (1:1), and formic acid + isobutyric acid (1:1) increases with temperature. The Apelblat equation, the λh model, and the ideal solution equation correlate the solubility data well.

Four novel benzothiazolium ionic liquids with PF₆-([C₁Bth][PF₆], [C₄Bth][PF₆], [C₅Bth][PF₆] and [C₆Bth][PF₆]) were synthesized, and the rang of their melting points were determined between 358.35 K-424.05 K. The relationship of their melting points and the length of the straight alkyl chain on cation reflected ‘S' type tendency. Then, the solubilities of the four ionic liquids in six lower alcohols (methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, 1-butanol and 2-methyl-1-propanol) were measured in the temperature rang of 253.15-383.15 K at atmospheric pressure with static analytical method, respectively. It was found that [C₆Bth][PF₆] in all investigated ionic liquids had the largest solubility in six alcohols and the solubility of [C₄Bth][PF₆] in methanol was very sensitive for temperature in 313.15-333.15 K, which was so-called "temperature-sensitivity". This feature is of great significance to their application of catalyzing reaction or extraction process, and makes the recovery and reuse of ionic liquids (ILs) become easier. Moreover, the experimental solubility data were correlated with the modified Apelblat equation and λh equation, respectively. It was found that the result of correlation using two divided temperature ranges was better than that of using the whole temperature range.

A novel full scale modified A²O (anoxic/anaerobic/aerobic/pre-anoxic)-membrane bioreactor (MBR) plant combined with the step feed strategy was operated to improve the biological nutrient removal (BNR) from low C/N ratio municipal wastewater in Southern China. Transformation of organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, and membrane fouling were investigated. Experimental results for over four months demonstrated good efficiencies for chemical oxygen demand (COD) and NH₄⁺-N removal, with average values higher than 84.5% and 98.1%, respectively. A relatively higher total nitrogen (TN) removal efficiency (52.1%) was also obtained at low C/N ratio of 3.82, contributed by the configuration modification (anoxic zone before anaerobic zone) and the step feed with a distribution ratio of 1:1. Addition of sodium acetate into the anoxic zone as the external carbon source, with a theoretical amount of 31.3 mg COD per liter in influent, enhanced denitrification and the TN removal efficiency increased to 74.9%. Moreover, the total phosphate (TP) removal efficiency increased by 18.0%. It is suggested that the external carbon source is needed to improve the BNR performance in treating low C/N ratio municipal wastewater in the modified A²O-MBR process.

A steam power plant can work as a dual purpose plant for simultaneous production of steam and electrical power. In this paper we seek the optimum integration of a steam power plant as a source and a site utility system as a sink of steam and power. Estimation for the cogeneration potential prior to the design of a central utility system for site utility systems is vital to the targets for site fuel demand as well as heat and power production. In this regard, a new cogeneration targeting procedure is proposed for integration of a steam power plant and a site utility consisting of a process plant. The new methodology seeks the optimal integration based on a new cogeneration targeting scheme. In addition, a modified site utility grand composite curve (SUGCC) diagram is proposed and compared to the original SUGCC. A gas fired steam power plant and a process site utility is considered in a case study. The applicability of the developed procedure is tested against other design methods (STAR^® and Thermoflex software) through a case study. The proposed method gives comparable results, and the targeting method is used for optimal integration of steam levels. Identifying optimal conditions of steam levels for integration is important in the design of utility systems, as the selection of steam levels in a steam power plant and site utility for integration greatly influences the potential for cogeneration and energy recovery. The integration of steam levels of the steam power plant and the site utility system in the case study demonstrates the usefulness of the method for reducing the overall energy consumption for the site.

The impact of ultrasonic power density on changes of heavy metals during sludge sonication was investigated. Results showed that ultrasound could release heavy metals from sludge into the supernatant. There existed an effective power density range of 0.8-1.6 W·ml^-1 for the release of the total heavy metal; there was little release below 0.8 W·ml^-1 and too high power density was adverse to the release. Furthermore, sonication showed selective release of heavy metal from sludge to the supernatant; copper, cadmium and lead were not released by sonication, while arsenic and nickel were released easily and their release ratio could reach 40%. The effective energy range for each heavy metal was also different that 0.8-1.2 W·ml^-1 for arsenic, 0.5-1.6 W·ml^-1 for nickel, and 0.8-1.6 W·ml^-1 for mercury and chrome. The differences among heavy metal release during sonication might be explained by the different distribution of chemical fractions of each metal in sludge. Such selectivity could be used to control heavy metal release during sludge treatment.

Antibacterial activity of boron-doped TiO₂ (B/TiO₂) nano-materials under visible light irradiation and in the dark was investigated. A simple sol-gel method was used to synthesize TiO₂ nano-materials. X-ray diffraction pattern of B/TiO₂ nano-materials represents the diffraction peaks relating to the crystal planes of TiO₂ (anatase and rutile). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy result shows that part of boron ions incorporates into TiO₂ lattice to form a possible chemical environment like Ti—O—B and the rest exist in the form of B₂O₃. The study on antibacterial effect of B/TiO₂ nano-materials on fungal Candida albicans (ATCC10231), Gram-negative Escherichia coli (ATCC25922) and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC6538) shows that the antibacterial action is more significant on Candida albicans than on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Under visible light irradiation, the antibacterial activity is superior to that in the dark.

Benzil bis(carbohydrazone) (BBC) is prepared and explored as new N—N Schiff's base, which plays the role of an excellent ion carrier in the construction of a Cd(Ⅱ) ion membrane sensor. The tris(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate best performance corresponds to a membrane composition of 30% poly (vinyl chloride), 65% (TEHP), 3.5% BBC and 1.5% tetradodecyl-ammoniumtetrakis(4-chlorophenyl) borate (ETH 500). This sensor shows very good selectivity and sensitivity towards cadmium ion over a wide variety of cations, including alkali, alkaline earth, transition and heavy metal ions. The effect of membrane composition, selectivity, pH and influence of additive on the response properties of electrode were investigated. The response mechanism was discussed in the view of UV-spectroscopy. The electrode exhibits a Nernstian behavior (with slope of 29.7 mV per decade) over a very wide concentration range from 1.0×10^-1 to 1.0×10^-8 mol·L^-1 with a detection limit of 3.2×10^-8 mol·L^-1. It shows relatively fast response time in whole concentration range (<8 s) and can be used for at least 10 weeks in the pH range of 2.0-9.0. The proposed sensor is successfully used for the determination of cadmium in different chocolate samples and as indicator electrode in titration with ethylene diamine tetraacetate (EDTA).