Advanced Materials Research Vol. 322

Abstract: Hydrothermal humification (HTH) is a novel way to treat biomass in order to produce soil conditioner or organic fertilizer. A plant seed germination technique was used to assess the effect of HTH material derived from garden waste on seed germination, root elongation and germination index (GI) of cucumber at different stages of incubation. The incubation experiment was carried out with the mixture of HTH material and soil at a ratio of 1:3, 1:5 and 1:10 (HTH material:soil, wet weight) in soil. The results showed there are direct positive effects of the HTH material on seed germination and root growth. GI all were over 80%. High addition rates had non significantly negative effects on plant growth.

Abstract: Cold vapor atomic adsorption spectrometry method was used in measuring mercury content in human’s hair samples after comparing the mercury measurement methods. Aqua regia-hydrofluoric acid digestion was taken to pretreat hair samples, and then mercury volume can be attained by Hydra AA Automatic mercury analyzer. Mercury concentration in about 40 percent of the tested samples exceeded the U.S. EPA recommended level 1μg/g. The results were analyzed from different respects including living environments, age distribution and dietary habits, and so on. The experimental data can supply a possible proof of mercury pollution in the studied district, and build foundation for the following full-scale mercury pollution investigation.

Abstract: This paper mainly studied on using activated sludge process with zeolite to upgrade the traditional secondary treatment plants. In this process, zeolite acted as ammonian sorbent and microbial carrier firstly, and then composed zeolite and biological complex to improve denitrification of anaerobic zone and nitrification of oxic zone. In the anaerobic zone, the influent contained a lot higher ammonian concentration. The zeolite adsorbed ammonian, it increased carbon nitrogen ratio and facilitated denitrification. While in the oxic zone, adsorbate concentration of mixed liquid decreased owing to biodegra dation by the action of salinity and microorganism. Thus, it striked a balance between adsorption and desorption of zeolite with ammonium, and zeolite with ammonium released constantly ammonian to renew.

Abstract: hydrothermal humification (HTH) is a novel way to treat biomass in order to produce soil conditioner or organic fertilizer. The incubations were performed in about 200mL pots which were either filled with mixtures HTH material and soil (1:3, wt:wt).The several studies were carried out to investigate how HTH materials derived from lawn-grass, pine-branch, and pine-needle interact with existing organic matter in soils. Compared with natural soil, C/N and lignin residue changes of incubated materials were analyzed during incubation. The results show that although the C/N and lignin residue decreased across incubation, HTH addition hadn’t a significant effect on activity of microorganism, indicating a more efficient stability of HTH in soil.

Abstract: The problem of the natural convection heat transfer for phase-change in a square filled with heterogeneously porous medium is solved by lattice Boltzmann method. The lattice Boltzmann equation is governed by the heat conduction equation combined with enthalpy formation. The velocity of liquid part is fully coupled with the temperature distribution through relaxation time. It is found that the high Ra number has significantly impact on the heat transfer and convection, but the low Ra number has little influence on the natural convection. The porosity of the middle porous medium is nothing to do with the heat transfer and convection. The result is of great importance to engineering interest and also provides a new solution to phase transition.

Abstract: A β-diketonate-type ligand, N-(3-methoxyl–phenyl)ketoacetamide (L), and its complexes with europium (III) and terbium (III) were synthesized. The ligand and complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectra, ¹HNMR spectra, mass spectra and luminescent spectra. The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectra. The stoichiometry of metal-to-ligand in the complexes also was confirmed by the fluorescence behavior of the ligand and complexes in CH₃CH₂OH solution. In addition, the fluorescence properties of complexes in DMF, CH₃OH, CH₃CH₂OH, acetone and CHCl₃ were investigated. The characteristic fluorescence of terbium (III) was assigned.

Abstract: Bio-char, a by-product from fast wheat straw pyrolysis, was investigated as adsorbents for the removal of cationic dye, neutral red (NR) from solution. Adsorption studies were performed at bio-cha dose, NaCl concentration, contact time and dye concentration in the batch mode. Salt coexisted in solution is not favor in adsorption and the adsorption is faster process. The equilibrium data are modeled with Langmuir and Freundlich equations and both models are better fitted. Thermodynamic parameters are calculated and the results show that the process was spontaneous and endothermic in nature. Bio-char can be used to remove cationic dye from solution.

Abstract: A new zinc (II) complex material [bis(salicylicaldehyde-trimethylol amino methane)Zn(II)] has been prepared and characterized by means of elemental analysis, IR spectra, molar conductivity and photoluminescence spectra. The results show that the O and N atoms interact with Zn atoms through coordination bonds. As a potential organic light-emitting material ( OLEDs), the surface electron state of zinc (II) complex material has been investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) technology.

Abstract: Techniques for vibration reduction and design of stator core require knowledge of its modal frequencies, which depend on the geometry shapes, dimensions and material properties. The material properties of stator core are mainly related to its laminated process and assembly as well as the operating temperature of turbo-generator. It is found that the generally accepted value of material properties is not valid for the stator core with laminated silicon steel slice and operating at about 110-120 Celsius. This paper simply summarizes the method of determining elastic properties of stator core material, considers these as uncertainty variables obeying Gaussain distribution and changing in the possible range, and then applies to Six Sigma Analysis method for the calculation of the modal frequencies of stator core.

Abstract: This paper deals with the synthesis and characterization of poly(ethylene glycol)-grafted expanded graphite (PEG-grafted EG) as a novel composite material. The PEG-grafted EG composite was prepared by grafting PEG in the EG layers using isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) as coupling agent. The EG was prepared after microwave irradiation treatment from the expandable graphite, the obtained EG modified by an excess amount of IPDI. Modified expanded graphite (MEG) mixed in anhydrous N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and grafted PEG at low temperature atmosphere. The samples of EG and PEG-grafted EG composite was characterized by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared spectroscopy (IR) and thermogravimetric (TG) analysis technique.