Desorption by ultrasound: Phenol on activated carbon and polymeric resin
An experimental feasibility study of using ultrasound to accomplish the dificult desorption of phenol from activated carbon and polymeric resin adsorbents is discussed. The desorption rates of activated carbon were found to significantly increase by ultrasound at 40 kHz and 1.44 MHz. Attrition of the activated carbon due to cavitation could be prevented by operating at a higher frequency and with an intensity below the threshold of the pulverization of carbon. According to the structural stability study of Amberlite XAD-4 and Dowex Optipore L-493 resins to withstand the abrasive cavitational effects of ultrasound at 40 kHz, the Dowex Optipore resin was stable under experimental conditions and phenol desorption rates were enhanced significantly with sonication. The ultrasonic desorption rates were favored by decreased temperature, aerated liquid medium, and increased ultrasound intensity. The desorption rates obtained without ultrasound appeared to be limited by pore diffusion, whereas those obtained in the presence of ultrasound were limited by surface reaction. The rate enhancement was due to an increase in diffusive transport within the pores caused by acoustic vortex microstreaming. The activation energy for desorption decreased with an increase in ultrasonic power density, thus making the ultrasound weaken the adsorption bond.
Combined Detoxification and In-situ Product Removal by a Single Resin During Lignocellulosic Butanol Production
Phragmites australis (an invasive plant in North America) was used as feedstock for ABE (acetone-butanol-ethanol) fermentation by Clostridium saccharobutylicum. Sulphuric acid pretreated phragmites hydrolysate (SAEH) without detoxification inhibited butanol production (0.73 g/L butanol from 30 g/L sugars). The treatment of SAEH with resin L-493 prior the fermentation resulted in no inhibitory effects and an ABE titer of 14.44 g/L, including 5.49 g/L butanol was obtained, corresponding to an ABE yield and productivity of 0.49 g/g and 0.60 g/L/h, respectively. Dual functionality of the resin was realized by also using it as an in-situ product removal agent. Integrating in-situ product removal allowed for the use of high substrate concentrations without the typical product inhibition. Resin-detoxified SAEH was supplemented with neat glucose and an effective ABE titer of 33 g/L (including 13.7 g/L acetone, 16.4 g/L butanol and 1.9 g/L ethanol) was achieved with resin-based in-situ product removal, corresponding to an ABE yield and productivity of 0.41 g/g and 0.69 g/L/h, respectively. Both detoxification of the substrate and the products was achieved by the same resin, which was added prior the fermentation. Integrating hydrolysate detoxification and in-situ butanol removal in a batch process through single resin can potentially simplify cellulosic butanol production.
Growth and Characterization of β-RDX Single-Crystal Particles
1,3,5-Trinitrohexahydro-s-triazine (RDX) single-crystal particles crystallized in the β phase have been successfully grown by sublimation–recrystallization. Synchrotron X-ray diffraction results confirm that the recrystallized products are β-RDX single crystals. Compared to the traditional solution deposition methods, the sublimation method used in this work breaks through the mass limitations during the growth of β-RDX. The distribution of α- and β-RDX on different substrates reveals that hydrophilic substrates are prone to grow β-RDX single crystals and that hydrophobic substrates prefer α-RDX single crystals. The sublimation rate dominates the growth of pure β-RDX. The mechanisms of the phase transition from β-RDX to α-RDX during the process of sublimation–recrystallization have been studied. The current results can promote the potential application of β-RDX in the propellant, explosives, and military fields.