Phase separation of in situ forming poly (lactide-co-glycolide acid) implants investigated using a hydrogel-based subcutaneous tissue surrogate and UV-vis imaging.

PubMed

Sun, Yu; Jensen, Henrik; Petersen, Nickolaj J; Larsen, Susan W; Østergaard, Jesper

2017-10-25

Phase separation of in situ forming poly (lactide-co-glycolide acid) (PLGA) implants with agarose hydrogels as the provider of nonsolvent (water) mimicking subcutaneous tissue was investigated using a novel UV-vis imaging-based analytical platform. In situ forming implants of PLGA-1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone and PLGA-triacetin representing fast and slow phase separating systems, respectively, were evaluated using this platform. Upon contact with the agarose hydrogel, the phase separation of the systems was followed by the study of changes in light transmission and absorbance as a function of time and position. For the PLGA-1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone system, the rate of spatial phase separation was determined and found to decrease with increasing the PLGA concentration from 20% to 40% (w/w). Hydrogels with different agarose concentrations (1% and 10% (w/v)) were prepared for providing the nonsolvent, water, to the in situ forming PLGA implants simulating the injection site environment. The resulting implant morphology depended on the stiffness of hydrogel matrix, indicating that the matrix in which implants are formed is of importance. Overall, the work showed that the UV-vis imaging-based platform with an agarose hydrogel mimicking the subcutaneous tissue holds potential in providing bio-relevant and mechanistic information on the phase separation processes of in situ forming implants. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Separation of phenolic acids from sugarcane rind by online solid-phase extraction with high-speed counter-current chromatography.

PubMed

Geng, Ping; Fang, Yingtong; Xie, Ronglong; Hu, Weilun; Xi, Xingjun; Chu, Qiao; Dong, Genlai; Shaheen, Nusrat; Wei, Yun

2017-02-01

Sugarcane rind contains some functional phenolic acids. The separation of these compounds from sugarcane rind is able to realize the integrated utilization of the crop and reduce environment pollution. In this paper, a novel protocol based on interfacing online solid-phase extraction with high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) was established, aiming at improving and simplifying the process of phenolic acids separation from sugarcane rind. The conditions of online solid-phase extraction with HSCCC involving solvent system, flow rate of mobile phase as well as saturated extent of absorption of solid-phase extraction were optimized to improve extraction efficiency and reduce separation time. The separation of phenolic acids was performed with a two-phase solvent system composed of butanol/acetic acid/water at a volume ratio of 4:1:5, and the developed online solid-phase extraction with HSCCC method was validated and successfully applied for sugarcane rind, and three phenolic acids including 6.73 mg of gallic acid, 10.85 mg of p-coumaric acid, and 2.78 mg of ferulic acid with purities of 60.2, 95.4, and 84%, respectively, were obtained from 150 mg sugarcane rind crude extracts. In addition, the three different elution methods of phenolic acids purification including HSCCC, elution-extrusion counter-current chromatography and back-extrusion counter-current chromatography were compared. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Intravenous Cocaine Priming Reinstates Cocaine-Induced Conditioned Place Preference

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lombas, Andres S.; Freeman, Kevin B.; Roma, Peter G.; Riley, Anthony L.

2007-01-01

Separate groups of rats underwent an unbiased conditioned place preference (CPP) procedure involving alternate pairings of distinct environments with intravenous (IV) injections of cocaine (0.75 mg/kg) or saline immediately or 15 min after injection. A subsequent extinction phase consisted of exposure to both conditioning environments preceded by…

An ensemble and single-molecule fluorescence microscopy investigation of phase-separated monolayer films stained with Nile Red.

PubMed

Lu, Yin; Porterfield, Robyn; Thunder, Terri; Paige, Matthew F

2011-01-01

Phase-separated Langmuir-Blodgett monolayer films prepared from mixtures of arachidic acid (C19H39COOH) and perfluorotetradecanoic acid (C13F27COOH) were stained via spin-casting with the polarity sensitive phenoxazine dye Nile Red, and characterized using a combination of ensemble and single-molecule fluorescence microscopy measurements. Ensemble fluorescence microscopy and spectromicroscopy showed that Nile Red preferentially associated with the hydrogenated domains of the phase-separated films, and was strongly fluorescent in these areas of the film. These measurements, in conjunction with single-molecule fluorescence imaging experiments, also indicated that a small sub-population of dye molecules localizes on the perfluorinated regions of the sample, but that this sub-population is spectroscopically indistinguishable from that associated with the hydrogenated domains. The relative importance of selective dye adsorption and local polarity sensitivity of Nile Red for staining applications in phase-separated LB films as well as in cellular environments is discussed in context of the experimental results. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Organization out of disorder: liquid-liquid phase separation in plants.

PubMed

Cuevas-Velazquez, Cesar L; Dinneny, José R

2018-05-30

Membraneless compartments are formed from the dynamic physical association of proteins and RNAs through liquid-liquid phase separation, and have recently emerged as an exciting new mechanism to explain the dynamic organization of biochemical processes in the cell. In this review, we provide an overview of the current knowledge of the process of phase separation in plants and other eukaryotes. We discuss specific examples of liquid-like membraneless compartments found in green plants, their composition, and the intriguing prevalence of proteins with intrinsically disordered domains. Finally, we speculate on the function of disordered proteins in regulating the formation of membraneless compartments and how their conformational flexibility may be important for molecular memory and for sensing perturbations in the physicochemical environment of the cell, particularly important processes in sessile organisms. Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Trapped in the coordination sphere: Nitrate ion transfer driven by the cerium(III/IV) redox couple

DOE PAGES

Ellis, Ross J.; Bera, Mrinal K.; Reinhart, Benjamin; ...

2016-11-07

Redox-driven ion transfer between phases underpins many biological and technological processes, including industrial separation of ions. Here we investigate the electrochemical transfer of nitrate anions between oil and water phases, driven by the reduction and oxidation of cerium coordination complexes in oil phases. We find that the coordination environment around the cerium cation has a pronounced impact on the overall redox potential, particularly with regard to the number of coordinated nitrate anions. Our results suggest a new fundamental mechanism for tuning ion transfer between phases; by 'trapping' the migrating ion inside the coordination sphere of a redox-active complex. Here, thismore » presents a new route for controlling anion transfer in electrochemically-driven separation applications.« less

Computation of Phase Equilibria, State Diagrams and Gas/Particle Partitioning of Mixed Organic-Inorganic Aerosols

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zuend, A.; Marcolli, C.; Peter, T.

2009-04-01

The chemical composition of organic-inorganic aerosols is linked to several processes and specific topics in the field of atmospheric aerosol science. Photochemical oxidation of organics in the gas phase lowers the volatility of semi-volatile compounds and contributes to the particulate matter by gas/particle partitioning. Heterogeneous chemistry and changes in the ambient relative humidity influence the aerosol composition as well. Molecular interactions between condensed phase species show typically non-ideal thermodynamic behavior. Liquid-liquid phase separations into a mainly polar, aqueous and a less polar, organic phase may considerably influence the gas/particle partitioning of semi-volatile organics and inorganics (Erdakos and Pankow, 2004; Chang and Pankow, 2006). Moreover, the phases present in the aerosol particles feed back on the heterogeneous, multi-phase chemistry, influence the scattering and absorption of radiation and affect the CCN ability of the particles. Non-ideal thermodynamic behavior in mixtures is usually described by an expression for the excess Gibbs energy, enabling the calculation of activity coefficients. We use the group-contribution model AIOMFAC (Zuend et al., 2008) to calculate activity coefficients, chemical potentials and the total Gibbs energy of mixed organic-inorganic systems. This thermodynamic model was combined with a robust global optimization module to compute potential liquid-liquid (LLE) and vapor-liquid-liquid equilibria (VLLE) as a function of particle composition at room temperature. And related to that, the gas/particle partitioning of semi-volatile components. Furthermore, we compute the thermodynamic stability (spinodal limits) of single-phase solutions, which provides information on the process type and kinetics of a phase separation. References Chang, E. I. and Pankow, J. F.: Prediction of activity coefficients in liquid aerosol particles containing organic compounds, dissolved inorganic salts, and water - Part 2: Consideration of phase separation effects by an XUNIFAC model, Atmos. Environ., 40, 6422-6436, 2006. Erdakos, G. B. and Pankow, J. F.: Gas/particle partitioning of neutral and ionizing compounds to single- and multi-phase aerosol particles. 2. Phase separation in liquid particulate matter containing both polar and low-polarity organic compounds, Atmos. Environ., 38, 1005-1013, 2004. Zuend, A., Marcolli, C., Luo, B. P., and Peter, T.: A thermodynamic model of mixed organic-inorganic aerosols to predict activity coefficients, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 8, 4559-4593, 2008.

Fluorous tagging strategy for solution-phase synthesis of small molecules, peptides and oligosaccharides

PubMed Central

Zhang, Wei

2005-01-01

The purification of reaction mixtures is a slow process in organic synthesis, especially during the production of large numbers of analogs and compound libraries. Phase-tag methods such as solid-phase synthesis and fluorous synthesis, provide efficient ways of addressing the separation issue. Fluorous synthesis employs functionalized perfluoroalkyl groups attached to substrates or reagents. The separation of the resulting fluorous molecules can be achieved using strong and selective fluorous liquid-liquid extraction, fluorous silica gel-based solid-phase extraction or high-performance liquid chromatography. Fluorous technology is a novel solution-phase method, which has the advantages of fast reaction times in homogeneous environments, being readily adaptable to literature conditions, having easy intermediate analysis, and having flexibility in reaction scale and scope. In principle, any synthetic methods that use a solid-support could be conducted in solution-phase by replacing the polymer linker with a corresponding fluorous tag. This review summarizes the progress of fluorous tags in solution-phase synthesis of small molecules, peptides and oligosaccharides. PMID:15595439

Quantitative analysis of aqueous phase composition of model dentin adhesives experiencing phase separation

PubMed Central

Ye, Qiang; Park, Jonggu; Parthasarathy, Ranganathan; Pamatmat, Francis; Misra, Anil; Laurence, Jennifer S.; Marangos, Orestes; Spencer, Paulette

2013-01-01

There have been reports of the sensitivity of our current dentin adhesives to excess moisture, for example, water-blisters in adhesives placed on over-wet surfaces, and phase separation with concomitant limited infiltration of the critical dimethacrylate component into the demineralized dentin matrix. To determine quantitatively the hydrophobic/hydrophilic components in the aqueous phase when exposed to over-wet environments, model adhesives were mixed with 16, 33, and 50 wt % water to yield well-separated phases. Based upon high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with photodiode array detection, it was found that the amounts of hydrophobic BisGMA and hydrophobic initiators are less than 0.1 wt % in the aqueous phase. The amount of these compounds decreased with an increase in the initial water content. The major components of the aqueous phase were hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and water, and the HEMA content ranged from 18.3 to 14.7 wt %. Different BisGMA homologues and the relative content of these homologues in the aqueous phase have been identified; however, the amount of crosslinkable BisGMA was minimal and, thus, could not help in the formation of a crosslinked polymer network in the aqueous phase. Without the protection afforded by a strong crosslinked network, the poorly photoreactive compounds of this aqueous phase could be leached easily. These results suggest that adhesive formulations should be designed to include hydrophilic multimethacrylate monomers and water compatible initiators. PMID:22331596

Compatibilized Immiscible Polymer Blends for Gas Separations

PubMed Central

Panapitiya, Nimanka; Wijenayake, Sumudu; Nguyen, Do; Karunaweera, Chamaal; Huang, Yu; Balkus, Kenneth; Musselman, Inga; Ferraris, John

2016-01-01

Membrane-based gas separation has attracted a great deal of attention recently due to the requirement for high purity gasses in industrial applications like fuel cells, and because of environment concerns, such as global warming. The current methods of cryogenic distillation and pressure swing adsorption are energy intensive and costly. Therefore, polymer membranes have emerged as a less energy intensive and cost effective candidate to separate gas mixtures. However, the use of polymeric membranes has a drawback known as the permeability-selectivity tradeoff. Many approaches have been used to overcome this limitation including the use of polymer blends. Polymer blending technology synergistically combines the favorable properties of different polymers like high gas permeability and high selectivity, which are difficult to attain with a single polymer. During polymer mixing, polymers tend to uncontrollably phase separate due to unfavorable thermodynamics, which limits the number of completely miscible polymer combinations for gas separations. Therefore, compatibilizers are used to control the phase separation and to obtain stable membrane morphologies, while improving the mechanical properties. In this review, we focus on immiscible polymer blends and the use of compatibilizers for gas separation applications. PMID:28773766

Control of gel swelling and phase separation of weakly charged thermoreversible gels by salt addition

PubMed Central

Solis, Francisco J.; Vernon, Brent

2009-01-01

Doping of thermoreversible polymer gels with charged monomers provides a way to control phase separation and gelation conditions by coupling the properties of the gel with a tunable ionic environment. We analyze the dependence of the gelation and phase separation conditions on the amount of salt present using a mean field model of weakly charged associative polymers. The ions and co-ions present are explicitly considered at the mean field level, and we determine their concentrations in the different equilibrium phases when the system undergoes phase separation. For weak polymer charge, the entropic contributions of the ions to the free energy of the system play a central role in the determination of the location of phase equilibrium. In the simplest case, when the associative interaction responsible for gel formation is independent of the electrostatic interaction, the addition of salt changes the polymer equilibrium concentrations and indirectly changes the measurable swelling of the gel. We construct phase diagrams of these systems showing the location of the coexistence region, the gel-sol boundary and the location of the tie-lines. We determine the swelling of the gel within the co-existence region. Our main result is that the description of the effect of the salt on the properties of the weakly charged gel can be described through an extra contribution to the effective immiscibility parameter χ proportional to the square of the doping degree f2 and to the inverse square of the added salt concentration s−2. PMID:19759854

Phase separation of a Lennard-Jones fluid interacting with a long, condensed polymer chain: implications for the nuclear body formation near chromosomes.

PubMed

Oh, Inrok; Choi, Saehyun; Jung, YounJoon; Kim, Jun Soo

2015-08-28

Phase separation in a biological cell nucleus occurs in a heterogeneous environment filled with a high density of chromatins and thus it is inevitably influenced by interactions with chromatins. As a model system of nuclear body formation in a cell nucleus filled with chromatins, we simulate the phase separation of a low-density Lennard-Jones (LJ) fluid interacting with a long, condensed polymer chain. The influence of the density variation of LJ particles above and below the phase boundary and the role of attractive interactions between LJ particles and polymer segments are investigated at a fixed value of strong self-interaction between LJ particles. For a density of LJ particles above the phase boundary, phase separation occurs and a dense domain of LJ particles forms irrespective of interactions with the condensed polymer chain whereas its localization relative to the polymer chain is determined by the LJ-polymer attraction strength. Especially, in the case of moderately weak attractions, the domain forms separately from the polymer chain and subsequently associates with the polymer chain. When the density is below the phase boundary, however, the formation of a dense domain is possible only when the LJ-polymer attraction is strong enough, for which the domain grows in direct contact with the interacting polymer chain. In this work, different growth behaviors of LJ particles result from the differences in the density of LJ particles and in the LJ-polymer interaction, and this work suggests that the distinct formation of activity-dependent and activity-independent nuclear bodies (NBs) in a cell nucleus may originate from the differences in the concentrations of body-specific NB components and in their interaction with chromatins.

Colloidal mode of transport in the Potomac River watershed

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Maher, I.L.; Foster, G.D.

1995-12-31

Similarly to the particulate phase the colloidal phase may play an important role in the organic contaminant transport downstream the river. The colloidal phase consisting of microparticles and micromolecules which are small enough to be mobile and large enough to attract pollutants can absorb nonpolar organic compounds similarly as do soil and sediment particles. To test the hypothesis three river water samples have been analyzed for PAH content in the dissolved, the colloidal, and the particulate phase. The first sample was collected at the Blue Ridge province of Potomac River watershed, at Point of Rocks, the second one in themore » Pidmont province, at Riverbend Park, and the third sample at Coastal Plane, at Dyke Marsh (Belle Heven marina). In the laboratory environment each water sample was prefiltered to separate the particulate phase form the dissolved and colloidal phase. One part of the prefiltered water sample was ultrafiltered to separate colloids while the second part of the water was Goulden extracted. The separated colloidal phase was liquid-liquid extracted (LLE) while filters containing the suspended solids were Soxhlet extracted. The extracts of the particulate phase, the colloidal phase, and the dissolved plus colloidal phase were analyzed for selected PAHs via GC/MS. It is planned that concentrations of selected PAHs in three phases will be used for calculations of the partition coefficients, the colloid/dissolved partition coefficient and the particle/dissolved partition coefficient. Both partition coefficients will be compared to define the significance of organic contaminant transport by aquatic colloids.« less

Oscillatory phase separation in giant lipid vesicles induced by transmembrane osmotic differentials

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Oglęcka, Kamila; Rangamani, Padmini; Liedberg, Bo

Giant lipid vesicles are closed compartments consisting of semi-permeable shells, which isolate femto- to pico-liter quantities of aqueous core from the bulk. Although water permeates readily across vesicular walls, passive permeation of solutes is hindered. In this study, we show that, when subject to a hypotonic bath, giant vesicles consisting of phase separating lipid mixtures undergo osmotic relaxation exhibiting damped oscillations in phase behavior, which is synchronized with swell–burst lytic cycles: in the swelled state, osmotic pressure and elevated membrane tension due to the influx of water promote domain formation. During bursting, solute leakage through transient pores relaxes the pressuremore » and tension, replacing the domain texture by a uniform one. This isothermal phase transition—resulting from a well-coordinated sequence of mechanochemical events—suggests a complex emergent behavior allowing synthetic vesicles produced from simple components, namely, water, osmolytes, and lipids to sense and regulate their micro-environment.« less

Oscillatory phase separation in giant lipid vesicles induced by transmembrane osmotic differentials

DOE PAGES

Oglęcka, Kamila; Rangamani, Padmini; Liedberg, Bo; ...

2014-10-15

Giant lipid vesicles are closed compartments consisting of semi-permeable shells, which isolate femto- to pico-liter quantities of aqueous core from the bulk. Although water permeates readily across vesicular walls, passive permeation of solutes is hindered. In this study, we show that, when subject to a hypotonic bath, giant vesicles consisting of phase separating lipid mixtures undergo osmotic relaxation exhibiting damped oscillations in phase behavior, which is synchronized with swell–burst lytic cycles: in the swelled state, osmotic pressure and elevated membrane tension due to the influx of water promote domain formation. During bursting, solute leakage through transient pores relaxes the pressuremore » and tension, replacing the domain texture by a uniform one. This isothermal phase transition—resulting from a well-coordinated sequence of mechanochemical events—suggests a complex emergent behavior allowing synthetic vesicles produced from simple components, namely, water, osmolytes, and lipids to sense and regulate their micro-environment.« less

Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dingerson, Michael R.

1997-01-01

Report includes: (1) CLUSTER: "Studies in Macromolecular Behavior in Microgravity Environment": The Role of Protein Oligomers in Protein Crystallization; Phase Separation Phenomena in Microgravity; Traveling Front Polymerizations; Investigating Mechanisms Affecting Phase Transition Response and Changes in Thermal Transport Properties in ER-Fluids under Normal and Microgravity Conditions. (2) CLUSTER: "Computational/Parallel Processing Studies": Flows in Local Chemical Equilibrium; A Computational Method for Solving Very Large Problems; Modeling of Cavitating Flows.

ANALYSIS OF ALKYLPHENOLS AND ALKYLPHENOL ETHOXYLATES WITH SEPARATION OF ETHOXYMERS USING REVERSED PHASE LC/MS

EPA Science Inventory

Alkylphenol polyethoxylates are non-ionic surfactants, widely used in detergents, paints, personal care products, etc., which enter the environment primarily through wastewater treatment systems. Their biodegradation during wastewater treatment leads to the formation of persisten...

Phase separated membrane bioreactor: Results from model system studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Petersen, G. R.; Seshan, P. K.; Dunlop, E. H.

The operation and evaluation of a bioreactor designed for high intensity oxygen transfer in a microgravity environment is described. The reactor itself consists of a zero headspace liquid phase separated from the air supply by a long length of silicone rubber tubing through which the oxygen diffuses in and the carbon dioxide diffuses out. Mass transfer studies show that the oxygen is film diffusion controlled both externally and internally to the tubing and not by diffusion across the tube walls. Methods of upgrading the design to eliminate these resistances are proposed. Cell growth was obtained in the fermenter using Saccharomyces cerevisiae showing that this concept is capable of sustaining cell growth in the terrestial simulation.

Predictions of spray combustion interactions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shuen, J. S.; Solomon, A. S. P.; Faeth, G. M.

1984-01-01

Mean and fluctuating phase velocities; mean particle mass flux; particle size; and mean gas-phase Reynolds stress, composition and temperature were measured in stationary, turbulent, axisymmetric, and flows which conform to the boundary layer approximations while having well-defined initial and boundary conditions in dilute particle-laden jets, nonevaporating sprays, and evaporating sprays injected into a still air environment. Three models of the processes, typical of current practice, were evaluated. The local homogeneous flow and deterministic separated flow models did not provide very satisfactory predictions over the present data base. In contrast, the stochastic separated flow model generally provided good predictions and appears to be an attractive approach for treating nonlinear interphase transport processes in turbulent flows containing particles (drops).

Phase separated membrane bioreactor - Results from model system studies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Petersen, G. R.; Seshan, P. K.; Dunlop, E. H.

1989-01-01

The operation and evaluation of a bioreactor designed for high intensity oxygen transfer in a microgravity environment is described. The reactor itself consists of a zero headspace liquid phase separated from the air supply by a long length of silicone rubber tubing through which the oxygen diffuses in and the carbon dioxide diffuses out. Mass transfer studies show that the oxygen is film diffusion controlled both externally and internally to the tubing and not by diffusion across the tube walls. Methods of upgrading the design to eliminate these resistances are proposed. Cell growth was obtained in the fermenter using Saccharomyces cerevisiae showing that this concept is capable of sustaining cell growth in the terrestrial simulation.

Model system studies with a phase separated membrane bioreactor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Petersen, G. R.; Seshan, P. K.; Dunlop, Eric H.

1989-01-01

The operation and evaluation of a bioreactor designed for high intensity oxygen transfer in a microgravity environment is described. The reactor itself consists of a zero headspace liquid phase separated from the air supply by a long length of silicone rubber tubing through which the oxygen diffuses in and the carbon dioxide diffuses out. Mass transfer studies show that the oxygen is film diffusion controlled both externally and internally to the tubing and not by diffusion across the tube walls. Methods of upgrading the design to eliminate these resistances are proposed. Cell growth was obtained in the fermenter using Saccharomyces cerevisiae showing that this concept is capable of sustaining cell growth in the terrestial simulation.

Capillarity-Driven Bubble Separations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wollman, Andrew; Weislogel, Mark; Dreyer, Michael

2013-11-01

Techniques for phase separation in the absence of gravity continue to be sought after 5 decades of space flight. This work focuses on the fundamental problem of gas bubble separation in bubbly flows through open wedge-shaped channel in a microgravity environment. The bubbles appear to rise in the channel and coalesce with the free surface. Forces acting on the bubble are the combined effects of surface tension, wetting conditions, and geometry; not buoyancy. A single dimensionless group is identified that characterizes the bubble behavior and supportive experiments are conducted in a terrestrial laboratory, in a 2.1 second drop tower, and aboard the International Space Station as part of the Capillary Channel Flow (CCF) experiments. The data is organized into regime maps that provide insight on passive phase separations for applications ranging from liquid management aboard spacecraft to lab-on-chip technologies. NASA NNX09AP66A, NASA Oregon Space Grant NNX10AK68H, NASA NNX12AO47A, DLR 50WM0535/0845/1145

The Chemistry of Separations Ligand Degradation by Organic Radical Cations

DOE PAGES

Mezyk, Stephen P.; Horne, Gregory P.; Mincher, Bruce J.; ...

2016-12-01

Solvent based extractions of used nuclear fuel use designer ligands in an organic phase extracting ligand complexed metal ions from an acidic aqueous phase. These extractions will be performed in highly radioactive environments, and the radiation chemistry of all these complexants and their diluents will play a major role in determining extraction efficiency, separation factors, and solvent-recycle longevity. Although there has been considerable effort in investigating ligand damage occurring in acidic water radiolysis conditions, only minimal fundamental kinetic and mechanistic data has been reported for the degradation of extraction ligands in the organic phase. Extraction solvent phases typically use normalmore » alkanes such as dodecane, TPH, and kerosene as diluents. The radiolysis of such diluents produce a mixture of radical cations (R •+), carbon-centered radicals (R •), solvated electrons, and molecular products such as hydrogen. Typically, the radical species will preferentially react with the dissolved oxygen present to produce relatively inert peroxyl radicals. This isolates the alkane radical cation species, R •+ as the major radiolytically-induced organic species that can react with, and degrade, extraction agents in this phase. Here we report on our recent studies of organic radical cation reactions with various ligands. Elucidating these parameters, and combining them with the known acidic aqueous phase chemistry, will allow a full, fundamental, understanding of the impact of radiation on solvent extraction based separation processes to be achieved.« less

The Chemistry of Separations Ligand Degradation by Organic Radical Cations

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mezyk, Stephen P.; Horne, Gregory P.; Mincher, Bruce J.

Solvent based extractions of used nuclear fuel use designer ligands in an organic phase extracting ligand complexed metal ions from an acidic aqueous phase. These extractions will be performed in highly radioactive environments, and the radiation chemistry of all these complexants and their diluents will play a major role in determining extraction efficiency, separation factors, and solvent-recycle longevity. Although there has been considerable effort in investigating ligand damage occurring in acidic water radiolysis conditions, only minimal fundamental kinetic and mechanistic data has been reported for the degradation of extraction ligands in the organic phase. Extraction solvent phases typically use normalmore » alkanes such as dodecane, TPH, and kerosene as diluents. The radiolysis of such diluents produce a mixture of radical cations (R •+), carbon-centered radicals (R •), solvated electrons, and molecular products such as hydrogen. Typically, the radical species will preferentially react with the dissolved oxygen present to produce relatively inert peroxyl radicals. This isolates the alkane radical cation species, R •+ as the major radiolytically-induced organic species that can react with, and degrade, extraction agents in this phase. Here we report on our recent studies of organic radical cation reactions with various ligands. Elucidating these parameters, and combining them with the known acidic aqueous phase chemistry, will allow a full, fundamental, understanding of the impact of radiation on solvent extraction based separation processes to be achieved.« less

The Evolution of the Multiplicity of Embedded Protostars. II. Binary Separation Distribution and Analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Connelley, Michael S.; Reipurth, Bo; Tokunaga, Alan T.

2008-06-01

We present the Class I protostellar binary separation distribution based on the data tabulated in a companion paper. We verify the excess of Class I binary stars over solar-type main-sequence stars in the separation range from 500 AU to 4500 AU. Although our sources are in nearby star-forming regions distributed across the entire sky (including Orion), none of our objects are in a high stellar density environment. A log-normal function, used by previous authors to fit the main-sequence and T Tauri binary separation distributions, poorly fits our data, and we determine that a log-uniform function is a better fit. Our observations show that the binary separation distribution changes significantly during the Class I phase, and that the binary frequency at separations greater than 1000 AU declines steadily with respect to spectral index. Despite these changes, the binary frequency remains constant until the end of the Class I phase, when it drops sharply. We propose a scenario to account for the changes in the Class I binary separation distribution. This scenario postulates that a large number of companions with a separation greater than ~1000 AU were ejected during the Class 0 phase, but remain gravitationally bound due to the significant mass of the Class I envelope. As the envelope dissipates, these companions become unbound and the binary frequency at wide separations declines. Circumstellar and circumbinary disks are expected to play an important role in the orbital evolution at closer separations. This scenario predicts that a large number of Class 0 objects should be non-hierarchical multiple systems, and that many Class I young stellar objects (YSOs) with a widely separated companion should also have a very close companion. We also find that Class I protostars are not dynamically pristine, but have experienced dynamical evolution before they are visible as Class I objects. Our analysis shows that the Class I binary frequency and the binary separation distribution strongly depend on the star-forming environment. The Infrared Telescope Facility is operated by the University of Hawaii under Cooperative Agreement no. NCC 5-538 with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Science Mission Directorate, Planetary Astronomy Program. The United Kingdom Infrared Telescope is operated by the Joint Astronomy Centre on behalf of the Science and Technology Facilities Council of the U.K. Based in part on data collected at Subaru Telescope, which is operated by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan.

Mechanism of Radiation Damage Reduction in Equiatomic Multicomponent Single Phase Alloys.

PubMed

Granberg, F; Nordlund, K; Ullah, Mohammad W; Jin, K; Lu, C; Bei, H; Wang, L M; Djurabekova, F; Weber, W J; Zhang, Y

2016-04-01

Recently a new class of metal alloys, of single-phase multicomponent composition at roughly equal atomic concentrations ("equiatomic"), have been shown to exhibit promising mechanical, magnetic, and corrosion resistance properties, in particular, at high temperatures. These features make them potential candidates for components of next-generation nuclear reactors and other high-radiation environments that will involve high temperatures combined with corrosive environments and extreme radiation exposure. In spite of a wide range of recent studies of many important properties of these alloys, their radiation tolerance at high doses remains unexplored. In this work, a combination of experimental and modeling efforts reveals a substantial reduction of damage accumulation under prolonged irradiation in single-phase NiFe and NiCoCr alloys compared to elemental Ni. This effect is explained by reduced dislocation mobility, which leads to slower growth of large dislocation structures. Moreover, there is no observable phase separation, ordering, or amorphization, pointing to a high phase stability of this class of alloys.

Mechanism of Radiation Damage Reduction in Equiatomic Multicomponent Single Phase Alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Granberg, F.; Nordlund, K.; Ullah, Mohammad W.; Jin, K.; Lu, C.; Bei, H.; Wang, L. M.; Djurabekova, F.; Weber, W. J.; Zhang, Y.

2016-04-01

Recently a new class of metal alloys, of single-phase multicomponent composition at roughly equal atomic concentrations ("equiatomic"), have been shown to exhibit promising mechanical, magnetic, and corrosion resistance properties, in particular, at high temperatures. These features make them potential candidates for components of next-generation nuclear reactors and other high-radiation environments that will involve high temperatures combined with corrosive environments and extreme radiation exposure. In spite of a wide range of recent studies of many important properties of these alloys, their radiation tolerance at high doses remains unexplored. In this work, a combination of experimental and modeling efforts reveals a substantial reduction of damage accumulation under prolonged irradiation in single-phase NiFe and NiCoCr alloys compared to elemental Ni. This effect is explained by reduced dislocation mobility, which leads to slower growth of large dislocation structures. Moreover, there is no observable phase separation, ordering, or amorphization, pointing to a high phase stability of this class of alloys.

Mechanism of Radiation Damage Reduction in Equiatomic Multicomponent Single Phase Alloys

DOE PAGES

Granberg, F.; Nordlund, K.; Ullah, Mohammad W.; ...

2016-04-01

Recently a new class of metal alloys, of single-phase multicomponent composition at roughly equal atomic concentrations (“equiatomic”), have been shown to exhibit promising mechanical, magnetic, and corrosion resistance properties, in particular, at high temperatures. These features make them potential candidates for components of next-generation nuclear reactors and other high-radiation environments that will involve high temperatures combined with corrosive environments and extreme radiation exposure. In spite of a wide range of recent studies of many important properties of these alloys, their radiation tolerance at high doses remains unexplored. In this work, a combination of experimental and modeling efforts reveals a substantialmore » reduction of damage accumulation under prolonged irradiation in single-phase NiFe and NiCoCr alloys compared to elemental Ni. This effect is explained by reduced dislocation mobility, which leads to slower growth of large dislocation structures. Finally and moreover, there is no observable phase separation, ordering, or amorphization, pointing to a high phase stability of this class of alloys.« less

Oscillatory phase separation in giant lipid vesicles induced by transmembrane osmotic differentials

PubMed Central

Oglęcka, Kamila; Rangamani, Padmini; Liedberg, Bo; Kraut, Rachel S; Parikh, Atul N

2014-01-01

Giant lipid vesicles are closed compartments consisting of semi-permeable shells, which isolate femto- to pico-liter quantities of aqueous core from the bulk. Although water permeates readily across vesicular walls, passive permeation of solutes is hindered. In this study, we show that, when subject to a hypotonic bath, giant vesicles consisting of phase separating lipid mixtures undergo osmotic relaxation exhibiting damped oscillations in phase behavior, which is synchronized with swell–burst lytic cycles: in the swelled state, osmotic pressure and elevated membrane tension due to the influx of water promote domain formation. During bursting, solute leakage through transient pores relaxes the pressure and tension, replacing the domain texture by a uniform one. This isothermal phase transition—resulting from a well-coordinated sequence of mechanochemical events—suggests a complex emergent behavior allowing synthetic vesicles produced from simple components, namely, water, osmolytes, and lipids to sense and regulate their micro-environment. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.03695.001 PMID:25318069

High-performance liquid chromatography separation and intact mass analysis of detergent-solubilized integral membrane proteins

PubMed Central

Berridge, Georgina; Chalk, Rod; D’Avanzo, Nazzareno; Dong, Liang; Doyle, Declan; Kim, Jung-In; Xia, Xiaobing; Burgess-Brown, Nicola; deRiso, Antonio; Carpenter, Elisabeth Paula; Gileadi, Opher

2011-01-01

We have developed a method for intact mass analysis of detergent-solubilized and purified integral membrane proteins using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) with methanol as the organic mobile phase. Membrane proteins and detergents are separated chromatographically during the isocratic stage of the gradient profile from a 150-mm C3 reversed-phase column. The mass accuracy is comparable to standard methods employed for soluble proteins; the sensitivity is 10-fold lower, requiring 0.2–5 μg of protein. The method is also compatible with our standard LC–MS method used for intact mass analysis of soluble proteins and may therefore be applied on a multiuser instrument or in a high-throughput environment. PMID:21093405

Physico-chemical separation process of nanoparticles in cosmetic formulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Retamal Marín, R. R.; Babick, F.; Stintz, M.

2017-06-01

Understanding the world of nanoparticles, especially their interactions with the environment, begins with their correct detection and successive quantification. To achieve this purpose, one needs to perform correctly developed standard operating procedures (SOPs). Furthermore, the study of nanoparticles frequently requires their characterisation in complex media (e.g. in cosmetic formulations). In this study, a set of sample preparation procedures for the detection and extraction of NMs in emulsion-based formulations is proposed and their performance for model and real-life products is discussed. A separation or extraction of lipid phases is achieved by means of organic solvents. The polarity of the lipid phases is decisive for selecting an optimum solvent. The use of the Hansen Solubility Parameters (HSP) may clearly support this decision.

Workshop on Two-Phase Fluid Behavior in a Space Environment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Swanson, Theodore D. (Editor); Juhasz, AL (Editor); Long, W. Russ (Editor); Ottenstein, Laura (Editor)

1989-01-01

The Workshop was successful in achieving its main objective of identifying a large number of technical issues relating to the design of two-phase systems for space applications. The principal concern expressed was the need for verified analytical tools that will allow an engineer to confidently design a system to a known degree of accuracy. New and improved materials, for such applications as thermal storage and as heat transfer fluids, were also identified as major needs. In addition to these research efforts, a number of specific hardware needs were identified which will require development. These include heat pumps, low weight radiators, advanced heat pipes, stability enhancement devices, high heat flux evaporators, and liquid/vapor separators. Also identified was the need for a centralized source of reliable, up-to-date information on two-phase flow in a space environment.

Terminal - Tactical Separation Assured Flight Environment (T-TSafe)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Verma, Savita Arora; Tang, Huabin; Ballinger, Debbi

2011-01-01

The Tactical Separation Assured Flight Environment (TSAFE) has been previously tested as a conflict detection and resolution tool in the en-route phase of flight. Fast time simulations of a terminal version of this tool called Terminal TSAFE (T-TSAFE) have shown promise over the current conflict detection tools. It has shown to have fewer false alerts (as low as 2 per hour) and better prediction to conflict time than Conflict Alert. The tool will be tested in the simulated terminal area of Los Angeles International Airport, in a Human-in-the-loop experiment to identify controller procedures and information requirements. The simulation will include comparisons of T-TSAFE with NASA's version of Conflict Alert. Also, some other variables such as altitude entry by the controller, which improve T-TSAFE's predictions for conflict detection, will be tested. T-TSAFE integrates features of current conflict detection tools such as Automated Terminal Proximity Alert used to alleviate compression errors in the final approach phase. Based on fast-time simulation analysis, the anticipated benefits of T-TSAFE over Conflict Alert include reduced false/missed alerts and increased time to predicted loss of separation. Other metrics that will be used to evaluate the tool's impact on the controller include controller intervention, workload, and situation awareness.

Separation of Carbon Monoxide and Carbon Dioxide for Mars ISRU-Concepts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

LeVan, M. Douglas; Finn, John E.; Sridhar, K. R.

2000-01-01

Solid oxide electrolyzers, such as electrolysis cells utilizing yttria-stabilized zirconia, can produce oxygen from Mars atmospheric carbon dioxide and reject carbon monoxide and unreacted carbon dioxide in a separate stream. The oxygen-production process has been shown to be far more efficient if the high-pressure, unreacted carbon dioxide can be separated and recycled back into the feed stream. Additionally, the mass of the adsorption compressor can be reduced. Also, the carbon monoxide by-product is a valuable fuel for space exploration and habitation, with applications from fuel cells to production of hydrocarbons and plastics. In our research, we will design, construct, and test an innovative, robust, low mass, low power separation device that can recover carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide for Mars ISRU. Such fundamental process technology, involving gas-solid phase separation in a reduced gravitational environment, will help to enable Human Exploration and Development of Space. The separation device will be scaled to operate with a CO2 sorption compressor and a zirconia electrolysis device built at the NASA Ames Research Center and the University of Arizona, respectively. In our research, we will design, construct, and test an innovative, robust, low mass, low power separation device that can recover carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide for Mars ISRU, Such fundamental process technology, involving gas-solid phase separation in a reduced gravitational environment, will help to enable Human Exploration and Development of Space. The separation device will be scaled to operate with a CO2 sorption compressor and a zirconia electrolysis device built at the NASA Ames Research Center and the University of Arizona, The separation device will be scaled to operate with a CO2 sorption compressor and a zirconia electrolysis device built at the NASA Ames Research Center and the University of Arizona, Research needs for the design shown are as follows: (1) The best adsorbent for the process must be determined. (2) Adsorption isotherms must be measured, both for pure components and mixtures. (3) Mathematical modeling must be performed to provide a solid framework for design. (4) The separation system must be constructed and tested. (5) System integration must be studied.

Simultaneous scanning tunneling microscopy and synchrotron X-ray measurements in a gas environment.

PubMed

Mom, Rik V; Onderwaater, Willem G; Rost, Marcel J; Jankowski, Maciej; Wenzel, Sabine; Jacobse, Leon; Alkemade, Paul F A; Vandalon, Vincent; van Spronsen, Matthijs A; van Weeren, Matthijs; Crama, Bert; van der Tuijn, Peter; Felici, Roberto; Kessels, Wilhelmus M M; Carlà, Francesco; Frenken, Joost W M; Groot, Irene M N

2017-11-01

A combined X-ray and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) instrument is presented that enables the local detection of X-ray absorption on surfaces in a gas environment. To suppress the collection of ion currents generated in the gas phase, coaxially shielded STM tips were used. The conductive outer shield of the coaxial tips can be biased to deflect ions away from the tip core. When tunneling, the X-ray-induced current is separated from the regular, 'topographic' tunneling current using a novel high-speed separation scheme. We demonstrate the capabilities of the instrument by measuring the local X-ray-induced current on Au(1 1 1) in 800 mbar Ar. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Future utilization of space: Silverton Conference on material science and phase transformations in zero-gravity, summary of proceeding

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Eisner, M. (Editor)

1975-01-01

The importance of zero gravity environment in the development and production of new and improved materials is considered along with the gravitational effects on phase changes or critical behavior in a variety of materials. Specific experiments discussed include: fine scale phase separation in zero gravity; glass formation in zero gravity; effects of gravitational perturbations on determination of critical exponents; and light scattering from long wave fluctuations in liquids in zero gravity. It is concluded that the space shuttle/spacelab system is applicable to various fields of interest.

Effect of different pH-values on process parameters in two-phase anaerobic digestion of high-solid substrates.

PubMed

Lindner, Jonas; Zielonka, Simon; Oechsner, Hans; Lemmer, Andreas

2015-01-01

In many publications, primary fermentation is described as a limiting step in the anaerobic digestion of fibre-rich biomass [Eastman JA, Ferguson JF. Solubilization of particulacte carbon during the anaerobic digeston. J WPCF. 1981;53:352-366; Noike T, Endo G, Chang J, Yaguchi J, Matsumoto J. Characteristics of carbohydrate degradation and the rate-limiting step in anaerobic digestion. Biotechnol Bioeng. 1985;27:1482-1489; Arntz HJ, Stoppok E, Buchholz K. Anaerobic hydroysis of beet pulp-discontiniuous experiments. Biotechnol Lett. 1985;7:113-118]. The microorganisms of the primary fermentation process differ widely from the methanogenic microorganisms [Pohland FG, Ghosh S. Developments in anaerobic stabilization of organic wastes-the two-phase concept. Environ Lett. 1971;1:255-266]. To optimize the biogas process, a separation in two phases is suggested by many authors [Fox P, Pohland GK. Anaerobic treatment applications and fundamentals: substrate specificity during phase separation. Water Environ Res. 1994;66:716-724; Cohen A, Zoetemeyer RJ, van Deursen A, van Andel JG. Anaerobic digestion of glucose with separated acid production and methane formation. Water Res. 1979;13:571-580]. To carry out the examination, a two-phase laboratory-scale biogas plant was established, with a physical phase separation. In previous studies, the regulation of the pH-value during the acid formation was usually carried out by the addition of sodium hydroxide [Cohen A, Zoetemeyer RJ, van Deursen A, van Andel JG. Anaerobic digestion of glucose with separated acid production and methane formation. Water Res. 1979;13:571-580; Ueno Y, Tatara M, Fukui H, Makiuchi T, Goto M, Sode K. Production of hydrogen and methane from organic solid wastes by phase separation of anaerobic process. Bioresour Technol. 2007;98:1861-1865; Zoetemeyer RJ, van den Heuvel JC, Cohen A. pH influence on acidogenic dissimilation of glucose in an anaerobic digestor. Water Res. 1982;16:303-311]. A new technology without the use of additives was developed in which the pH-regulation is executed by the pH-dependent recycling of effluent from the anaerobic filter into the acidification reactor. During this investigation, the influence of the different target pH-values (5.5, 6.0, 7.0 and 7.5) on the degradation rate, the gas composition and the methane yield of the substrate maize silage was determined. With an increase in the target pH-value from 5.5 to 7.5, the acetic acid equivalent decreased by 88.1% and the chemical oxygen demand-concentration by 18.3% in the hydrolysate. In response, there was a 58% increase in the specific methane yield of the overall system. Contrary to earlier studies, a marked increase in biogas production and in substrate degradation was determined with increasing pH-values. However, these led to a successive approximation of a single-phase process. Based on these results, pH-values above 7.0 seem to be favourable for the digestion of fibre-rich substrates.

Magnetic ionic liquid aqueous two-phase system coupled with high performance liquid chromatography: A rapid approach for determination of chloramphenicol in water environment.

PubMed

Yao, Tian; Yao, Shun

2017-01-20

A novel organic magnetic ionic liquid based on guanidinium cation was synthesized and characterized. A new method of magnetic ionic liquid aqueous two-phase system (MILATPs) coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was established to preconcentrate and determine trace amount of chloramphenicol (CAP) in water environment for the first time. In the absence of volatile organic solvents, MILATPs not only has the excellent properties of rapid extraction, but also exhibits a response to an external magnetic field which can be applied to assist phase separation. The phase behavior of MILATPs was investigated and phase equilibrium data were correlated by Merchuk equation. Various influencing factors on CAP recovery were systematically investigated and optimized. Under the optimal conditions, the preconcentration factor was 147.2 with the precision values (RSD%) of 2.42% and 4.45% for intra-day (n=6) and inter-day (n=6), respectively. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) were 0.14ngmL -1 and 0.42ngmL -1 , respectively. Fine linear range of 12.25ngmL -1 -2200ngmL -1 was obtained. Finally, the validated method was successfully applied for the analysis of CAP in some environmental waters with the recoveries for the spiked samples in the acceptable range of 94.6%-99.72%. Hopefully, MILATPs is showing great potential to promote new development in the field of extraction, separation and pretreatment of various biochemical samples. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Capacity retention in hydrogen storage alloys

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Anani, A.; Visintin, A.; Srinivasan, S.; Appleby, A. J.; Reilly, J. J.; Johnson, J. R.

1992-01-01

Results of our examination of the properties of several candidate materials for hydrogen storage electrodes and their relation to the decrease in H-storage capacity upon open-circuit storage over time are reported. In some of the alloy samples examined to date, only about 10 percent of the hydrogen capacity was lost upon storage for 20 days, while in others, this number was as high as 30 percent for the same period of time. This loss in capacity is attributed to two separate mechanisms: (1) hydrogen desorbed from the electrode due to pressure differences between the cell and the electrode sample; and (2) chemical and/or electrochemical degradation of the alloy electrode upon exposure to the cell environment. The former process is a direct consequence of the equilibrium dissociation pressure of the hydride alloy phase and the partial pressure of hydrogen in the hydride phase in equilibrium with that in the electrolyte environment, while the latter is related to the stability of the alloy phase in the cell environment. Comparison of the equilibrium gas-phase dissociation pressures of these alloys indicate that reversible loss of hydrogen capacity is higher in alloys with P(eqm) greater than 1 atm than in those with P(eqm) less than 1 atm.

Robust and durable superhydrophobic cotton fabrics for oil/water separation.

PubMed

Zhou, Xiaoyan; Zhang, Zhaozhu; Xu, Xianghui; Guo, Fang; Zhu, Xiaotao; Men, Xuehu; Ge, Bo

2013-08-14

By introducing the incorporation of polyaniline and fluorinated alkyl silane to the cotton fabric via a facile vapor phase deposition process, the fabric surface possessed superhydrophobicity with the water contact angle of 156° and superoleophilicity with the oil contact angle of 0°. The as-prepared fabric can be applied as effective materials for the separation of water and oil mixture with separation efficiency as high as 97.8%. Compared with other materials for oil/water separation, the reported process was simple, time-saving, and repeatable for at least 30 times. Moreover, the obtained fabric kept stable superhydrophobicity and high separation efficiency under extreme environment conditions of high temperature, high humidity, strong acidic or alkaline solutions, and mechanical forces. Therefore, this reported fabric has the advantages of scalable fabrication, high separation efficiency, stable recyclability, and excellent durability, exhibiting the strong potential for industrial production.

Quantum phase transition with dissipative frustration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maile, D.; Andergassen, S.; Belzig, W.; Rastelli, G.

2018-04-01

We study the quantum phase transition of the one-dimensional phase model in the presence of dissipative frustration, provided by an interaction of the system with the environment through two noncommuting operators. Such a model can be realized in Josephson junction chains with shunt resistances and resistances between the chain and the ground. Using a self-consistent harmonic approximation, we determine the phase diagram at zero temperature which exhibits a quantum phase transition between an ordered phase, corresponding to the superconducting state, and a disordered phase, corresponding to the insulating state with localized superconducting charge. Interestingly, we find that the critical line separating the two phases has a nonmonotonic behavior as a function of the dissipative coupling strength. This result is a consequence of the frustration between (i) one dissipative coupling that quenches the quantum phase fluctuations favoring the ordered phase and (ii) one that quenches the quantum momentum (charge) fluctuations leading to a vanishing phase coherence. Moreover, within the self-consistent harmonic approximation, we analyze the dissipation induced crossover between a first and second order phase transition, showing that quantum frustration increases the range in which the phase transition is second order. The nonmonotonic behavior is reflected also in the purity of the system that quantifies the degree of correlation between the system and the environment, and in the logarithmic negativity as an entanglement measure that encodes the internal quantum correlations in the chain.

Plasmonic Landau damping in active environments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thakkar, Niket; Montoni, Nicholas P.; Cherqui, Charles; Masiello, David J.

2018-03-01

Optical manipulation of charge on the nanoscale is of fundamental importance to an array of proposed technologies from selective photocatalysis to nanophotonics. Open plasmonic systems where collective electron oscillations release energy and charge to their environments offer a potential means to this end as plasmons can rapidly decay into energetic electron-hole pairs; however, isolating this decay from other plasmon-environment interactions remains a challenge. Here we present an analytic theory of noble-metal nanoparticles that quantitatively models plasmon decay into electron-hole pairs, demonstrates that this decay depends significantly on the nanoparticle's dielectric environment, and disentangles this effect from competing decay pathways. Using our approach to incorporate embedding material and substrate effects on plasmon-electron interaction, we show that predictions from the model agree with four separate experiments. Finally, examination of coupled nanoparticle-emitter systems further shows that the hybridized in-phase mode more efficiently decays to photons whereas the out-of-phase mode more efficiently decays to electron-hole pairs, offering a strategy to tailor open plasmonic systems for charge manipulation.

A novel membrane device for the removal of water vapor and water droplets from air

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ray, Rod; Newbold, David D.; Mccray, Scott B.; Friesen, Dwayne T.; Kliss, Mark

1992-01-01

One of the key challenges facing NASA engineers is the development of systems for separating liquids and gases in microgravity environments. In this paper, a novel membrane-based phase separator is described. This device, known as a water recovery heat exchanger (WRHEX), overcomes the inherent deficiencies of current phase-separation technology. Specifically, the WRHEX cools and removes water vapor or water droplets from feed-air streams without the use of a vacuum or centrifugal force. As is shown in this paper, only a low-power air blower and a small stream of recirculated cool water is required for WRHEX operation. This paper presents the results of tests using this novel membrane device over a wide range of operating conditions. The data show that the WRHEX produces a dry air stream containing no entrained or liquid water - even when the feed air contains water droplets or mist. An analysis of the operation of the WRHEX is presented.

Conditions for extreme sensitivity of protein diffusion in membranes to cell environments

PubMed Central

Tserkovnyak, Yaroslav; Nelson, David R.

2006-01-01

We study protein diffusion in multicomponent lipid membranes close to a rigid substrate separated by a layer of viscous fluid. The large-distance, long-time asymptotics for Brownian motion are calculated by using a nonlinear stochastic Navier–Stokes equation including the effect of friction with the substrate. The advective nonlinearity, neglected in previous treatments, gives only a small correction to the renormalized viscosity and diffusion coefficient at room temperature. We find, however, that in realistic multicomponent lipid mixtures, close to a critical point for phase separation, protein diffusion acquires a strong power-law dependence on temperature and the distance to the substrate H, making it much more sensitive to cell environment, unlike the logarithmic dependence on H and very small thermal correction away from the critical point. PMID:17008402

Representative learning design in springboard diving: Is dry-land training representative of a pool dive?

PubMed

Barris, Sian; Davids, Keith; Farrow, Damian

2013-01-01

Two distinctly separate training facilities (dry-land and aquatic) are routinely used in springboard diving and pose an interesting problem for learning, given the inherent differences in landing (head first vs. feet first) imposed by the different task constraints. Although divers may practise the same preparation phase, take-off and initial aerial rotation in both environments, there is no evidence to suggest that the tasks completed in the dry-land training environment are representative of those performed in the aquatic competition environment. The aim of this study was to compare the kinematics of the preparation phase of reverse dives routinely practised in each environment. Despite their high skill level, it was predicted that individual analyses of elite springboard divers would reveal differences in the joint coordination and board-work between take-offs. The two-dimensional kinematic characteristics were recorded during normal training sessions and used for intra-individual analysis. Kinematic characteristics of the preparatory take-off phase revealed differences in board-work (step lengths, jump height, board depression angles) for all participants at key events. However, the presence of scaled global topological characteristics suggested that all participants adopted similar joint coordination patterns in both environments. These findings suggest that the task constraints of wet and dry training environments are not similar, and highlight the need for coaches to consider representative learning designs in high performance diving programmes.

Separability studies of construction and demolition waste recycled sand.

PubMed

Ulsen, Carina; Kahn, Henrique; Hawlitschek, Gustav; Masini, Eldon A; Angulo, Sérgio C

2013-03-01

The quality of recycled aggregates from construction and demolition waste (CDW) is strictly related to the content of porous and low strength phases, and specifically to the patches of cement that remain attached to the surface of natural aggregates. This phase increases water absorption and compromises the consistency and strength of concrete made from recycled aggregates. Mineral processing has been applied to CDW recycling to remove the patches of adhered cement paste on coarse recycled aggregates. The recycled fine fraction is usually disregarded due to its high content of porous phases despite representing around 50% of the total waste. This paper focus on laboratory mineral separability studies for removing particles with a high content of cement paste from natural fine aggregate particles (quartz/feldspars). The procedure achieved processing of CDW by tertiary impact crushing to produce sand, followed by sieving and density and magnetic separability studies. The attained results confirmed that both methods were effective in reducing cement paste content and producing significant mass recovery (80% for density concentration and 60% for magnetic separation). The production of recycled sand contributes to the sustainability of the construction environment by reducing both the consumption of raw materials and disposal of CDW, particularly in large Brazilian centers with a low quantity of sand and increasing costs of this material due to long transportation distances. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Development of processes for the production of solar grade silicon from halides and alkali metals, phase 1 and phase 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dickson, C. R.; Gould, R. K.; Felder, W.

1981-01-01

High temperature reactions of silicon halides with alkali metals for the production of solar grade silicon are described. Product separation and collection processes were evaluated, measure heat release parameters for scaling purposes and effects of reactants and/or products on materials of reactor construction were determined, and preliminary engineering and economic analysis of a scaled up process were made. The feasibility of the basic process to make and collect silicon was demonstrated. The jet impaction/separation process was demonstrated to be a purification process. The rate at which gas phase species from silicon particle precursors, the time required for silane decomposition to produce particles, and the competing rate of growth of silicon seed particles injected into a decomposing silane environment were determined. The extent of silane decomposition as a function of residence time, temperature, and pressure was measured by infrared absorption spectroscopy. A simplistic model is presented to explain the growth of silicon in a decomposing silane enviroment.

Capillary channel flow experiments aboard the International Space Station

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Conrath, M.; Canfield, P. J.; Bronowicki, P. M.; Dreyer, M. E.; Weislogel, M. M.; Grah, A.

2013-12-01

In the near-weightless environment of orbiting spacecraft capillary forces dominate interfacial flow phenomena over unearthly large length scales. In current experiments aboard the International Space Station, partially open channels are being investigated to determine critical flow rate-limiting conditions above which the free surface collapses ingesting bubbles. Without the natural passive phase separating qualities of buoyancy, such ingested bubbles can in turn wreak havoc on the fluid transport systems of spacecraft. The flow channels under investigation represent geometric families of conduits with applications to liquid propellant acquisition, thermal fluids circulation, and water processing for life support. Present and near future experiments focus on transient phenomena and conduit asymmetries allowing capillary forces to replace the role of gravity to perform passive phase separations. Terrestrial applications are noted where enhanced transport via direct liquid-gas contact is desired.

The response of single human cells to zero gravity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Montgomery, P. O., Jr.; Cook, J. E.; Reynolds, R. C.; Paul, J. S.; Hayflick, L.; Schulz, W. W.; Stock, D.; Kinzey, S.; Rogers, T.; Campbell, D.

1975-01-01

Twenty separate cultures of Wistar-38 human embryonic lung cells were exposed to a zero-gravity environment on Skylab for periods of time ranging from one to 59 days. Duplicate cultures were run concurrently as ground controls. Ten cultures were fixed on board the satellite during the first 12 days of flight. Growth curves, DNA microspectrophotometry, phase microscopy, and ultrastructural studies of the fixed cells revealed no effects of a zero-gravity environment on the ten cultures. Two cultures were photographed with phase time lapse cinematography during the first 27 days of flight. No differences were found in mitotic index, cell cycle, and migration between the flight and control cells. Eight cultures were returned to earth in an incubated state. Karyotyping and chromosome banding tests show no differences between the flight and control cells.

Effect of the Hartmann number on phase separation controlled by magnetic field for binary mixture system with large component ratio

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heping, Wang; Xiaoguang, Li; Duyang, Zang; Rui, Hu; Xingguo, Geng

2017-11-01

This paper presents an exploration for phase separation in a magnetic field using a coupled lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) with magnetohydrodynamics (MHD). The left vertical wall was kept at a constant magnetic field. Simulations were conducted by the strong magnetic field to enhance phase separation and increase the size of separated phases. The focus was on the effect of magnetic intensity by defining the Hartmann number (Ha) on the phase separation properties. The numerical investigation was carried out for different governing parameters, namely Ha and the component ratio of the mixed liquid. The effective morphological evolutions of phase separation in different magnetic fields were demonstrated. The patterns showed that the slant elliptical phases were created by increasing Ha, due to the formation and increase of magnetic torque and force. The dataset was rearranged for growth kinetics of magnetic phase separation in a plot by spherically averaged structure factor and the ratio of separated phases and total system. The results indicate that the increase in Ha can increase the average size of separated phases and accelerate the spinodal decomposition and domain growth stages. Specially for the larger component ratio of mixed phases, the separation degree was also significantly improved by increasing magnetic intensity. These numerical results provide guidance for setting the optimum condition for the phase separation induced by magnetic field.

Fermentation and oxygen transfer in microgravity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dunlop, Eric H.

1989-01-01

The need for high rate oxygen transfer in microgravity for a Controlled Ecological Life Support System (CELSS) environment offers a number of difficulties and challenges. The use of a phase separated bioreactor appears to provide a way of overcoming these problems resulting in a system capable of providing high cell densities with rapid fermentation rates. Some of the key design elements are discussed.

Development of a non-cryogenic nitrogen/oxygen supply system. [for spacecraft environments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1977-01-01

Modular components were refined or replaced to improve the performance of the electrolysis module in a system which generates both oxygen and hydrogen from hydrazine hydrate. Significant mechanical and electrical performance improvements were achieved in the cathode. Improvements were also made in the phase separation area but at considerable cost in time and money and to the detriment of other investigative areas. Only the pump/bubble separator failed in a manner necessitating redesign. Its failure was, however, due to its being operated above the temperature range for which it was designed. The basic electrolysis cell design was not changed.

Physical stability of R-(+)-Limonene emulsions stabilized by Ulva fasciata algae polysaccharide.

PubMed

Shao, Ping; Ma, Huiling; Qiu, Qiang; Jing, Weiping

2016-11-01

The physical stability of R-(+)-Limonene emulsions stabilized by Ulva fasciata polysaccharide (UFP) was investigated in this study. Emulsion physical stability was evaluated under different polysaccharide concentrations (1%-5%, wt/wt) and pH values (3.0-11.0). The stability of R-(+)-Limonene emulsions was demonstrated by droplet size distribution, rheological properties, zeta potential and visual phase separation. R-(+)-Limonene emulsions displayed monomodal droplet size distributions, high absolute values of zeta potential and good storage stability when 3% (wt/wt) UFP was used. The rheological properties and stability of R-(+)-Limonene emulsions appeared to be dependent on polysaccharide concentration. The emulsion stability was impacted by pH. Higher zeta potential (-52.6mV) and smaller mean droplet diameter (2.45μm) were achieved in neutral liquid environment (pH 7.0). Extreme acidity caused the flocculation of emulsions, which was manifested as phase separation, while emulsions were quite stable in an alkaline environment. Through comparing the stabilities of emulsions stabilized by different emulsifiers (i.e. UFP, GA and Gelatin), the result suggested that UFP was the best emulsifying agent among them. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A novel mechanical model for phase-separation in debris flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pudasaini, Shiva P.

2015-04-01

Understanding the physics of phase-separation between solid and fluid phases as a two-phase mass moves down slope is a long-standing challenge. Here, I propose a fundamentally new mechanism, called 'separation-flux', that leads to strong phase-separation in avalanche and debris flows. This new model extends the general two-phase debris flow model (Pudasaini, 2012) to include a separation-flux mechanism. The new flux separation mechanism is capable of describing and controlling the dynamically evolving phase-separation, segregation, and/or levee formation in a real two-phase, geometrically three-dimensional debris flow motion and deposition. These are often observed phenomena in natural debris flows and industrial processes that involve the transportation of particulate solid-fluid mixture material. The novel separation-flux model includes several dominant physical and mechanical aspects that result in strong phase-separation (segregation). These include pressure gradients, volume fractions of solid and fluid phases and their gradients, shear-rates, flow depth, material friction, viscosity, material densities, boundary structures, gravity and topographic constraints, grain shape, size, etc. Due to the inherent separation mechanism, as the mass moves down slope, more and more solid particles are brought to the front, resulting in a solid-rich and mechanically strong frontal surge head followed by a weak tail largely consisting of the viscous fluid. The primary frontal surge head followed by secondary surge is the consequence of the phase-separation. Such typical and dominant phase-separation phenomena are revealed here for the first time in real two-phase debris flow modeling and simulations. However, these phenomena may depend on the bulk material composition and the applied forces. Reference: Pudasaini, Shiva P. (2012): A general two-phase debris flow model. J. Geophys. Res., 117, F03010, doi: 10.1029/2011JF002186.

Multiple fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine

DOEpatents

Crothers, William T.

1977-01-01

A multiple fuel supply or an internal combustion engine wherein phase separation of components is deliberately induced. The resulting separation permits the use of a single fuel tank to supply components of either or both phases to the engine. Specifically, phase separation of a gasoline/methanol blend is induced by the addition of a minor amount of water sufficient to guarantee separation into an upper gasoline phase and a lower methanol/water phase. A single fuel tank holds the two-phase liquid with separate fuel pickups and separate level indicators for each phase. Either gasoline or methanol, or both, can be supplied to the engine as required by predetermined parameters. A fuel supply system for a phase-separated multiple fuel supply contained in a single fuel tank is described.

Phase-separation induced extraordinary toughening of magnetic hydrogels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tang, Jingda; Li, Chenghai; Li, Haomin; Lv, Zengyao; Sheng, Hao; Lu, Tongqing; Wang, T. J.

2018-05-01

Phase separation markedly influences the physical properties of hydrogels. Here, we find that poly (N, N-dimethylacrylamide) (PDMA) hydrogels suffer from phase separation in aqueous sodium hydroxide solutions when the concentration is higher than 2 M. The polymer volume fraction and mechanical properties show an abrupt change around the transition point. We utilize this phase separation mechanism to synthesize tough magnetic PDMA hydrogels with the in-situ precipitation method. For comparison, we also prepared magnetic poly (2-acrylamido-2-methyl-propane sulfonic acid sodium) (PNaAMPS) magnetic hydrogels, where no phase separation occurs. The phase-separated magnetic PDMA hydrogels exhibit an extraordinarily high toughness of ˜1000 J m-2; while non-phase-separated magnetic PNaAMPS hydrogels only show a toughness of ˜1 J m-2, three orders of magnitude lower than that of PDMA hydrogels. This phase separation mechanism may become a new approach to prepare tough magnetic hydrogels and inspire more applications.

Spacelab experiment definition study on phase transition and critical phenomena in fluids: Interim report on experimental justification

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Moldover, M. R.; Hocken, M. R.; Gammon, R. W.; Sengers, J. V.

1976-01-01

Pure fluids and fluid mixtures near critical points are identified and are related to the progress of several disciplines. Consideration is given to thermodynamic properties, transport properties, and the complex nonlinear phenomena which occur when fluids undergo phase transitions in the critical region. The distinction is made between practical limits which may be extended by advances in technology and intrinsic ones which arise from the modification of fluid properties by the earth's gravitational field. The kinds of experiments near critical points which could best exploit the low gravity environment of an orbiting laboratory are identified. These include studies of the index of refraction, constant volume specific heat, and phase separation.

The potential of organic (electrospray- and atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation) mass spectrometric techniques coupled to liquid-phase separation for speciation analysis.

PubMed

Rosenberg, Erwin

2003-06-06

The use of mass spectrometry based on atmospheric pressure ionisation techniques (atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation, APCI, and electrospray ionisation, ESI) for speciation analysis is reviewed with emphasis on the literature published in and after 1999. This report accounts for the increasing interest that atmospheric pressure ionisation techniques, and in particular ESI, have found in the past years for qualitative and quantitative speciation analysis. In contrast to element-selective detectors, organic mass spectrometric techniques provide information on the intact metal species which can be used for the identification of unknown species (particularly with MS-MS detection) or the confirmation of the actual presence of species in a given sample. Due to the complexity of real samples, it is inevitable in all but the simplest cases to couple atmospheric pressure MS detection to a separation technique. Separation in the liquid phase (capillary electrophoresis or liquid chromatography in reversed phase, ion chromatographic or size-exclusion mode) is particularly suitable since the available techniques cover a very wide range of analyte polarities and molecular mass. Moreover, derivatisation can normally be avoided in liquid-phase separation. Particularly in complex environmental or biological samples, separation in one dimension is not sufficient for obtaining adequate resolution for all relevant species. In this case, multi-dimensional separation, based on orthogonal separation techniques, has proven successful. ESI-MS is also often used in parallel with inductively coupled plasma MS detection. This review is structured in two parts. In the first, the fundamentals of atmospheric pressure ionisation techniques are briefly reviewed. The second part of the review discusses recent applications including redox species, use of ESI-MS for structural elucidation of metal complexes, characterisation and quantification of small organometallic species with relevance to environment, health and food. Particular attention is given to the characterisation of biomolecules and metalloproteins (metallothioneins and phytochelatins) and to the investigation of the interaction of metals and biomolecules. Particularly in the latter field, ESI-MS is the ideal technique due to the softness of the ionisation process which allows to assume that the detected gas-phase ions are a true representation of the ions or ion-biomolecule complexes prevalent in solution. It is particularly this field, important to biochemistry, physiology and medical chemistry, where we can expect significant developments also in the future.

Phase-separated, epitaxial composite cap layers for electronic device applications and method of making the same

DOEpatents

Aytug, Tolga [Knoxville, TN; Paranthaman, Mariappan Parans [Knoxville, TN; Polat, Ozgur [Knoxville, TN

2012-07-17

An electronic component that includes a substrate and a phase-separated layer supported on the substrate and a method of forming the same are disclosed. The phase-separated layer includes a first phase comprising lanthanum manganate (LMO) and a second phase selected from a metal oxide (MO), metal nitride (MN), a metal (Me), and combinations thereof. The phase-separated material can be an epitaxial layer and an upper surface of the phase-separated layer can include interfaces between the first phase and the second phase. The phase-separated layer can be supported on a buffer layer comprising a composition selected from the group consisting of IBAD MgO, LMO/IBAD-MgO, homoepi-IBAD MgO and LMO/homoepi-MgO. The electronic component can also include an electronically active layer supported on the phase-separated layer. The electronically active layer can be a superconducting material, a ferroelectric material, a multiferroic material, a magnetic material, a photovoltaic material, an electrical storage material, and a semiconductor material.

Observational constraints on the multiphase ISM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wolfire, Mark G.

2015-03-01

In recent years we have seen a wealth of new observations and analysis that sheds light on the distribution and physical properties of various ISM phases. In particular the thermal pressure from C I (Jenkins & Tripp 2011) shows the bulk of the CNM phase with a log normal pressure distribution. It appears that thermal instability is important for phase separation, but with with a thermal pressure variation about the mean driven by turbulence. In additional, there is evidence from C I, H2, and complex molecules, of both higher and lower pressure environments. An additional ``phase`` that is of increasing interest for high z, low metallicity galaxies is the C+/H2 gas that is not traced by H I or CO. This review presents the observational evidence for the existence and physical properties of these various ISM phases.

Method for separating disparate components in a fluid stream

DOEpatents

Meikrantz, David H.

1990-01-01

The invention provides a method of separating a mixed component waste stream in a centrifugal separator. The mixed component waste stream is introduced into the separator and is centrifugally separated within a spinning rotor. A dual vortex separation occurs due to the phase density differences, with the phases exiting the rotor distinct from one another. In a preferred embodiment, aqueous solutions of organics can be separated with up to 100% efficiency. The relatively more dense water phase is centrifugally separated through a radially outer aperture in the separator, while the relatively less dense organic phase is separated through a radially inner aperture.

Massive Fabrication of Polymer Microdiscs by Phase Separation and Freestanding Process.

PubMed

Zhang, Hong; Fujii, Mao; Okamura, Yosuke; Zhang, Li; Takeoka, Shinji

2016-06-29

We present a facile method to fabricate polymer thin films with tens of nanometers thickness and several micrometers size (also called "microdiscs" herein) by applying phase separation of polymer blend. A water-soluble supporting layer is employed to obtain a freestanding microdisc suspension. Owing to their miniaturized size, microdiscs can be injected through a syringe needle. Herein, poly(d,l-lactic acid) microdiscs were fabricated with various thicknesses and sizes, in the range from ca. 10 to 60 nm and from ca. 1.0 to 10.0 μm, respectively. Magnetic nanoparticles were deposited on polymer microdiscs with a surface coating method. The magnetic manipulation of microdiscs in a liquid environment under an external magnetic field was achieved with controllable velocity by adjusting the microdisc dimensions and the loading amount of magnetic components. Such biocompatible polymer microdiscs are expected to serve as injectable vehicles for targeted drug delivery.

A theoretical and experimental study of turbulent nonevaporating sprays

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Solomon, A. S. P.; Shuen, J. S.; Zhang, Q. F.; Faeth, G. M.

1984-01-01

Measurements and analysis limited to the dilute portions of turbulent nonevaporating sprays injected into a still air environment were completed. Mean and fluctuating velocities and Reynolds stress were measured in the continuous phase. Liquid phase measurements included liquid mass fluxes, drop sizes and drop size and velocity correlation. Initial conditions needed for model evaluation were measured at a location as close to the injector exit as possible. The test sprays showed significant effects of slip and turbulent dispersion of the discrete phase. The measurements were used to evaluate three typical models of these processes: (1) a locally homogenous flow (LHF) model, where slip between the phases were neglected; (2) a deterministic separated flow (DSF) model, where slip was considered but effects of drop dispersion by turbulence were ignored; and (3) a stochastic separated flow (SSF) model, where effects of interphase slip and turbulent dispersion were considered using random-walk computations for drop motion. The LHF and DSF models did not provide very satisfactory predictions for the present measurements. In contrast, the SSF model performed reasonably well with no modifications in the prescription of eddy properties from its original calibration. Some effects of drops on turbulence properties were observed near the dense regions of the sprays.

Reaction-mediated entropic effect on phase separation in a binary polymer system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Shujun; Guo, Miaocai; Yi, Xiaosu; Zhang, Zuoguang

2017-10-01

We present a computer simulation to study the phase separation behavior induced by polymerization in a binary system comprising polymer chains and reactive monomers. We examined the influence of interaction parameter between components and monomer concentration on the reaction-induced phase separation. The simulation results demonstrate that increasing interaction parameter (enthalpic effect) would accelerate phase separation, while entropic effect plays a key role in the process of phase separation. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy observations illustrate identical morphologies as found in theoretical simulation. This study may enrich our comprehension of phase separation in polymer mixture.

A theoretical and experimental study of turbulent evaporating sprays

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Solomon, A. S. P.; Shuen, J. S.; Zhang, Q. F.; Faeth, G. M.

1984-01-01

Measurements and analysis limited to the dilute portions of turbulent evaporating sprays, injected into a still air environment were completed. Mean and fluctuating velocities and Reynolds stress were measured in the continuous phase. Liquid phase measurements included liquid mass fluxes, drop sizes and drop size and velocity correlation. Initial conditions needed for model evaluation were measured at a location as close to the injector exit as possible. The test sprays showed significant effects of slip and turbulent dispersion of the discrete phase. The measurements were used to evaluate three typical models of these processes: (1) a locally homogeneous flow (LHF) model, where slip between the phases were neglected; (2) a deterministic separated flow (DSF) model, where slip was considered but effects of drop dispersion by turbulence were ignored; and (3) a stochastic separated flow (SSF) model, where effects of interphase slip and turbulent dispersion were considered using random-walk computations for drop motion. For all three models, a k-epsilon model as used to find the properties of the continuous phase. The LHF and DSF models did not provide very satisfactory predictions for the present measurements. In contrast, the SSF model performed reasonably well--with no modifications in the prescription of eddy properties from its original calibration.

Metastability Gap in the Phase Diagram of Monoclonal IgG Antibody.

PubMed

Rowe, Jacob B; Cancel, Rachel A; Evangelous, Tyler D; Flynn, Rhiannon P; Pechenov, Sergei; Subramony, J Anand; Zhang, Jifeng; Wang, Ying

2017-10-17

Crystallization of IgG antibodies has important applications in the fields of structural biology, biotechnology, and biopharmaceutics. However, a rational approach to crystallize antibodies is still lacking. In this work, we report a method to estimate the solubility of antibodies at various temperatures. We experimentally determined the full phase diagram of an IgG antibody. Using the full diagram, we examined the metastability gaps, i.e., the distance between the crystal solubility line and the liquid-liquid coexistence curve, of IgG antibodies. By comparing our results to the partial phase diagrams of other IgGs reported in literature, we found that IgG antibodies have similar metastability gaps. Thereby, we present an equation with two phenomenological parameters to predict the approximate location of the solubility line of IgG antibodies with respect to their liquid-liquid coexistence curves. We have previously shown that the coexistence curve of an antibody solution can be readily determined by the polyethylene glycol-induced liquid-liquid phase separation method. Combining the polyethylene glycol-induced liquid-liquid phase separation measurements and the phenomenological equation in this article, we provide a general and practical means to predict the thermodynamic conditions for crystallizing IgG antibodies in the solution environments of interest. Copyright © 2017 Biophysical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Separation of aqueous two-phase polymer systems in microgravity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vanalstine, J. M.; Harris, J. M.; Synder, S.; Curreri, P. A.; Bamberger, S. B.; Brooks, D. E.

1984-01-01

Phase separation of polymer systems in microgravity is studied in aircraft flights to prepare shuttle experiments. Short duration (20 sec) experiments demonstrate that phase separation proceeds rapidly in low gravity despite appreciable phase viscosities and low liquid interfacial tensions (i.e., 50 cP, 10 micro N/m). Ostwald ripening does not appear to be a satisfactory model for the phase separation mechanism. Polymer coated surfaces are evaluated as a means to localize phases separated in low gravity. Contact angle measurements demonstrate that covalently coupling dextran or PEG to glass drastically alters the 1-g wall wetting behavior of the phases in dextran-PEG two phase systems.

Preparation of a thermoresponsive polymer grafted polystyrene monolithic capillary for the separation of bioactive compounds.

PubMed

Koriyama, Takuya; Asoh, Taka-Aki; Kikuchi, Akihiko

2016-11-01

To develop aqueous microseparation columns for bioactive compounds, a thermoresponsive polymer grafted polymer monolith was prepared inside silica capillaries having an I.D. of 100μm by polymerization of styrene (St) with m/p-divinylbenzene (DVB) in the presence of polydimethylsiloxane as porogen, followed by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm). SEM analysis indicated that the resulting poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) grafted polystyrene monolith had a consecutive three-dimensionally interconnected structure and through-pores, similar to the base polystyrene (PSt) monolith. The elution behavior of steroids with different hydrophobicity was evaluated using micro-high-performance liquid chromatography in sole aqueous mobile phase. Temperature dependent interaction changes were observed between steroids and the PNIPAAm modified surfaces. Furthermore, the interaction between bioactive compounds and the PNIPAAm grafted PSt surfaces was controlled and eventually separate these molecules with different hydrophobicities by simple temperature modulation in aqueous environment. The PNIPAAm grafted PSt monolithic capillary showed improved separation properties of bioactive compounds, compared with a PNIPAAm grafted hollow capillary in aqueous environment. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Sorption of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) on filter media: implications for phase partitioning studies.

PubMed

Chandramouli, Bharat; Benskin, Jonathan P; Hamilton, M Coreen; Cosgrove, John R

2015-01-01

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), are ubiquitous in the environment. Investigations into their fate and potential phase-partitioning behavior require separating solid from aqueous phases via filtration. However, sorption of aqueous-phase PFASs on filtration media may lead to underestimation of PFAS concentrations in the aqueous phase. The authors investigated the sorption of perfluoroalkyl carboxylates, perfluoroalkyl sulfonates, perfluoroalkyl phosphonic acids, perfluoroalkyl phosphinic acids (PFPiAs), polyfluoroalkyl phosphate monoesters, polyfluoroalkyl phosphate diesters (diPAPs), fluorotelomer sulfonates, and perfluorooctane sulfonamide on filtration media. The effects of concentration (3 spiking levels), filter media (4 types), matrix (4 matrices), and compound structure on sorption are reported. Glass fiber filtration resulted in the least sorption, whereas polytetrafluoroethylene filters resulted in the most sorption (up to 98%). Analyte concentration had no significant effect. Sorption was generally consistent across matrix types except for samples affected by aqueous film forming foam deployment, which displayed high sorption of PFOS on nylon filters. Sorption usually increased with an increasing number of carbon or fluorine atoms and was most pronounced for PFPiAs and diPAPs (30–75% sorption). Overall, glass fiber filters are more recommended than nylon filters in environmental samples when phase separation is required. Use of filtration media for PFAS must be preceded by matrix-specific testing to account for unpredictable effects. (C)2014 SETAC

Industrial application of green chromatography - II. Separation and analysis of preservatives in skincare products using subcritical water chromatography.

PubMed

Yang, Y; Kapalavavi, B; Gujjar, L; Hadrous, S; Marple, R; Gamsky, C

2012-10-01

Several high-temperature liquid chromatography (HTLC) and subcritical water chromatography (SBWC) methods have been successfully developed in this study for separation and analysis of preservatives contained in Olay skincare creams. Efficient separation and quantitative analysis of preservatives have been achieved on four commercially available ZirChrom and Waters XBridge columns at temperatures ranging from 100 to 200°C. The quantification results obtained by both HTLC and SBWC methods developed for preservatives analysis are accurate and reproducible. A large number of replicate HTLC and SBWC runs also indicate no significant system building-up or interference for skincare cream analysis. Compared with traditional HPLC separation carried out at ambient temperature, the HTLC methods can save up to 90% methanol required in the HPLC mobile phase. However, the SBWC methods developed in this project completely eliminated the use of toxic organic solvents required in the HPLC mobile phase, thus saving a significant amount of money and making the environment greener. Although both homemade and commercial systems can accomplish SBWC separations, the SBWC methods using the commercial system for preservative analysis are recommended for industrial applications because they can be directly applied in industrial plant settings. © 2012 The Authors ICS © 2012 Society of Cosmetic Scientists and the Société Française de Cosmétologie.

Selenium speciation in acidic environmental samples: application to acid rain-soil interaction at Mount Etna volcano.

PubMed

Floor, Geerke H; Iglesías, Mònica; Román-Ross, Gabriela; Corvini, Philippe F X; Lenz, Markus

2011-09-01

Speciation plays a crucial role in elemental mobility. However, trace level selenium (Se) speciation analyses in aqueous samples from acidic environments are hampered due to adsorption of the analytes (i.e. selenate, selenite) on precipitates. Such solid phases can form during pH adaptation up till now necessary for chromatographic separation. Thermodynamic calculations in this study predicted that a pH<4 is needed to prevent precipitation of Al and Fe phases. Therefore, a speciation method with a low pH eluent that matches the natural sample pH of acid rain-soil interaction samples from Etna volcano was developed. With a mobile phase containing 20mM ammonium citrate at pH 3, selenate and selenite could be separated in different acidic media (spiked water, rain, soil leachates) in <10 min with a LOQ of 0.2 μg L(-1) using (78)Se for detection. Applying this speciation analysis to study acid rain-soil interaction using synthetic rain based on H(2)SO(4) and soil samples collected at the flanks of Etna volcano demonstrated the dominance of selenate over selenite in leachates from samples collected close to the volcanic craters. This suggests that competitive behavior with sulfate present in acid rain might be a key factor in Se mobilization. The developed speciation method can significantly contribute to understand Se cycling in acidic, Al/Fe rich environments. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Film thickness dependence of phase separation and dewetting behaviors in PMMA/SAN blend films.

PubMed

You, Jichun; Liao, Yonggui; Men, Yongfeng; Shi, Tongfei; An, Lijia

2010-09-21

Film thickness dependence of complex behaviors coupled by phase separation and dewetting in blend [poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and poly(styrene-ran-acrylonitrile) (SAN)] films on silicon oxide substrate at 175 °C was investigated by grazing incidence ultrasmall-angle X-ray scattering (GIUSAX) and in situ atomic force microscopy (AFM). It was found that the dewetting pathway was under the control of the parameter U(q0)/E, which described the initial amplitude of the surface undulation and original thickness of film, respectively. Furthermore, our results showed that interplay between phase separation and dewetting depended crucially on film thickness. Three mechanisms including dewetting-phase separation/wetting, dewetting/wetting-phase separation, and phase separation/wetting-pseudodewetting were discussed in detail. In conclusion, it is relative rates of phase separation and dewetting that dominate the interplay between them.

Computational Investigation of the NASA Cascade Cyclonic Separation Device

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hoyt, Nathaniel C.; Kamotani, Yasuhiro; Kadambi, Jaikrishnan; McQuillen, John B.; Sankovic, John M.

2008-01-01

Devices designed to replace the absent buoyancy separation mechanism within a microgravity environment are of considerable interest to NASA as the functionality of many spacecraft systems are dependent on the proper sequestration of interpenetrating gas and liquid phases. Inasmuch, a full multifluid Euler-Euler computational fluid dynamics investigation has been undertaken to evaluate the performance characteristics of one such device, the Cascade Cyclonic Separator, across a full range of inlet volumetric quality with combined volumetric injection rates varying from 1 L/min to 20 L/min. These simulations have delimited the general modes of operation of this class of devices and have proven able to describe the complicated vortex structure and induced pressure gradients that arise. The computational work has furthermore been utilized to analyze design modifications that enhance the overall performance of these devices. The promising results indicate that proper CFD modeling may be successfully used as a tool for microgravity separator design.

Human Cortical θ during Free Exploration Encodes Space and Predicts Subsequent Memory

PubMed Central

Snider, Joseph; Plank, Markus; Lynch, Gary; Halgren, Eric

2013-01-01

Spatial representations and walking speed in rodents are consistently related to the phase, frequency, and/or amplitude of θ rhythms in hippocampal local field potentials. However, neuropsychological studies in humans have emphasized the importance of parietal cortex for spatial navigation, and efforts to identify the electrophysiological signs of spatial navigation in humans have been stymied by the difficulty of recording during free exploration of complex environments. We resolved the recording problem and experimentally probed brain activity of human participants who were fully ambulant. On each of 2 d, electroencephalography was synchronized with head and body movement in 13 subjects freely navigating an extended virtual environment containing numerous unique objects. θ phase and amplitude recorded over parietal cortex were consistent when subjects walked through a particular spatial separation at widely separated times. This spatial displacement θ autocorrelation (STAcc) was quantified and found to be significant from 2 to 8 Hz within the environment. Similar autocorrelation analyses performed on an electrooculographic channel, used to measure eye movements, showed no significant spatial autocorrelations, ruling out eye movements as the source of STAcc. Strikingly, the strength of an individual's STAcc maps from day 1 significantly predicted object location recall success on day 2. θ was also significantly correlated with walking speed; however, this correlation appeared unrelated to STAcc and did not predict memory performance. This is the first demonstration of memory-related, spatial maps in humans generated during active spatial exploration. PMID:24048836

Human cortical θ during free exploration encodes space and predicts subsequent memory.

PubMed

Snider, Joseph; Plank, Markus; Lynch, Gary; Halgren, Eric; Poizner, Howard

2013-09-18

Spatial representations and walking speed in rodents are consistently related to the phase, frequency, and/or amplitude of θ rhythms in hippocampal local field potentials. However, neuropsychological studies in humans have emphasized the importance of parietal cortex for spatial navigation, and efforts to identify the electrophysiological signs of spatial navigation in humans have been stymied by the difficulty of recording during free exploration of complex environments. We resolved the recording problem and experimentally probed brain activity of human participants who were fully ambulant. On each of 2 d, electroencephalography was synchronized with head and body movement in 13 subjects freely navigating an extended virtual environment containing numerous unique objects. θ phase and amplitude recorded over parietal cortex were consistent when subjects walked through a particular spatial separation at widely separated times. This spatial displacement θ autocorrelation (STAcc) was quantified and found to be significant from 2 to 8 Hz within the environment. Similar autocorrelation analyses performed on an electrooculographic channel, used to measure eye movements, showed no significant spatial autocorrelations, ruling out eye movements as the source of STAcc. Strikingly, the strength of an individual's STAcc maps from day 1 significantly predicted object location recall success on day 2. θ was also significantly correlated with walking speed; however, this correlation appeared unrelated to STAcc and did not predict memory performance. This is the first demonstration of memory-related, spatial maps in humans generated during active spatial exploration.

Synthesis of a mixed-model stationary phase derived from glutamine for HPLC separation of structurally different biologically active compounds: HILIC and reversed-phase applications.

PubMed

Aral, Tarık; Aral, Hayriye; Ziyadanoğulları, Berrin; Ziyadanoğulları, Recep

2015-01-01

A novel mixed-mode stationary phase was synthesised starting from N-Boc-glutamine, aniline and spherical silica gel (4 µm, 60 Å). The prepared stationary phase was characterized by IR and elemental analysis. The new stationary phase bears an embedded amide group into phenyl ring, highly polar a terminal amide group and non-polar groups (phenyl and alkyl groups). At first, this new mixed-mode stationary phase was used for HILIC separation of four nucleotides and five nucleosides. The effects of different separation conditions, such as pH value, mobile phase and temperature, on the separation process were investigated. The optimum separation for nucleotides was achieved using HILIC isocratic elution with aqueous mobile phase and acetonitrile with 20°C column temperature. Under these conditions, the four nucleotides could be separated and detected at 265 nm within 14 min. Five nucleosides were separated under HILIC isocratic elution with aqueous mobile phase containing pH=3.25 phosphate buffer (10mM) and acetonitrile with 20°C column temperature and detected at 265 nm within 14 min. Chromatographic parameters as retention factor, selectivity, theoretical plate number and peak asymmetry factor were calculated for the effect of temperature and water content in mobile phase on the separation process. The new column was also tested for nucleotides and nucleosides mixture and six analytes were separated in 10min. The chromatographic behaviours of these polar analytes on the new mixed-model stationary phase were compared with those of HILIC columns under similar conditions. Further, phytohormones and phenolic compounds were separated in order to see influence of the new stationary phase in reverse phase conditions. Eleven plant phytohormones were separated within 13 min using RP-HPLC gradient elution with aqueous mobile phase containing pH=2.5 phosphate buffer (10mM) and acetonitrile with 20°C column temperature and detected at 230 or 278 nm. The best separation conditions for seven phenolic compounds was also achieved using reversed-phase HPLC gradient elution with aqueous mobile phase containing pH=2.5 phosphate buffer (10mM) and acetonitrile with 20°C column temperature and seven phenolic compounds could be separated and detected at 230 nm within 16 min. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Partielle Geschlechtertrennung--Enttauschte Hoffnungen? Monoedukative Lernumgebungen zum Chancenausgleich im Unterricht auf dem Prufstand (Partial Separation of the Sexes--Disappointed Hopes? An Assessment of Non-Educative Learning Environments for Equalizing Educational Opportunities).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ludwig, Peter H.

2003-01-01

Argues that the thesis of discrimination against girls in coeducation schools has been replaced by a belief that, during certain phases or in specific subjects, abandonment of coeducation would promote equal opportunities. Questions whether classic or recent surveys provide empirical evidence for this moderate skeptical attitude towards…

Phase separation and large deviations of lattice active matter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Whitelam, Stephen; Klymko, Katherine; Mandal, Dibyendu

2018-04-01

Off-lattice active Brownian particles form clusters and undergo phase separation even in the absence of attractions or velocity-alignment mechanisms. Arguments that explain this phenomenon appeal only to the ability of particles to move persistently in a direction that fluctuates, but existing lattice models of hard particles that account for this behavior do not exhibit phase separation. Here we present a lattice model of active matter that exhibits motility-induced phase separation in the absence of velocity alignment. Using direct and rare-event sampling of dynamical trajectories, we show that clustering and phase separation are accompanied by pronounced fluctuations of static and dynamic order parameters. This model provides a complement to off-lattice models for the study of motility-induced phase separation.

Cats and owners interact more with each other after a longer duration of separation

PubMed Central

Eriksson, Matilda; Keeling, Linda J.

2017-01-01

Little is known about the cat’s (Felis silvestris catus) need for human contact, although it is generally believed that cats are more independent pets than e.g. dogs. In this study, we investigated the effect of time left alone at home on cat behaviour (e.g. social and distress-related) before, during and after separation from their owner. Fourteen privately owned cats (single-housed) were each subjected to two treatments: the cat was left alone in their home environment for 30 min (T0.5) and for 4 h (T4). There were no differences between treatments in the behaviour of the cat (or owner) before owner departure, nor during the first 5 min of separation. During separation, cats were lying down resting proportionally less (T = 22.5, P = 0.02) in T0.5 (0.27±0.1 (mean±SE)) compared to in T4 (0.58±0.08), probably due to a similar duration of higher activity early in the separation phase in both treatments. Comparisons of the time interval (min 20–25) in both treatments indicated no differences across treatments, which supports such an explanation. Towards the end of the separation phase (the last two 5-min intervals of separation in both treatments), no differences were observed in the cats’ behaviour, indicating that cats were unaffected by separation length. At reunion however, cats purred more (T = 10.5, P = 0.03) and stretched their body more (T = 17, P = 0.04) after a longer duration of separation (T4:0.05±0.02; 0.03±0.01; T0.5: 0.01±0.007; 0.008±0.003). Also, owners initiated more verbal contact (T = 33.5, P = 0.04) after 4 h (0.18±0.05) compared to after 30 min (0.12±0.03). There was no evidence of any correlations between the level of purring or body stretching by the cat and verbal contact by the owner implying that the behavioural expressions seen in the cats are independent of the owner’s behaviour. Hence, it seemed as cats coped well with being left alone, but they were affected by the time they were left alone, since they expressed differences in behaviour when the owner returned home. The increased level of social contact initiated by the cats after a longer duration of separation indicates a rebound of contact-seeking behaviour, implying that the owner is an important part of the cat’s social environment. PMID:29045424

Effect of applied strain on phase separation of Fe-28 at.% Cr alloy: 3D phase-field simulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Lihui; Li, Yongsheng; Liu, Chengwei; Chen, Shi; Shi, Shujing; Jin, Shengshun

2018-04-01

A quantitative simulation of the separation of the α‧ phase in Fe-28 at.% Cr alloy under the effects of applied strain is performed by utilizing a three-dimensional phase-field model. The elongation of the Cr-enriched α‧ phase becomes obvious with the influence of applied uniaxial strain for the phase separation transforms from spinodal decomposition of 700 K to nucleation and growth of 773 K. The applied strain shows a significant influence on the early stage phase separation, and the influence is enlarged with the elevated temperature. The steady-state coarsening with the mechanism of spinodal decomposition is substantially affected by the applied strain for low-temperature aging, while the influence is reduced as the temperature increases and as the phase separation mechanism changes to nucleation and growth. The peak value of particle size distribution decreases, and the PSD for 773 K becomes more widely influenced by the applied strain. The simulation results of separation of the Cr-enriched α‧ phase with the applied strain provide a further understanding of the strain effect on the phase separation of Fe-Cr alloys from the metastable region to spinodal regions.

Feasibility of Surfactant-Free Supported Emulsion Liquid Membrane Extraction

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hu, Shih-Yao B.; Li, Jin; Wiencek, John M.

2001-01-01

Supported emulsion liquid membrane (SELM) is an effective means to conduct liquid-liquid extraction. SELM extraction is particularly attractive for separation tasks in the microgravity environment where density difference between the solvent and the internal phase of the emulsion is inconsequential and a stable dispersion can be maintained without surfactant. In this research, dispersed two-phase flow in SELM extraction is modeled using the Lagrangian method. The results show that SELM extraction process in the microgravity environment can be simulated on earth by matching the density of the solvent and the stripping phase. Feasibility of surfactant-free SELM (SFSELM) extraction is assessed by studying the coalescence behavior of the internal phase in the absence of the surfactant. Although the contacting area between the solvent and the internal phase in SFSELM extraction is significantly less than the area provided by regular emulsion due to drop coalescence, it is comparable to the area provided by a typical hollow-fiber membrane. Thus, the stripping process is highly unlikely to become the rate-limiting step in SFSELM extraction. SFSELM remains an effective way to achieve simultaneous extraction and stripping and is able to eliminate the equilibrium limitation in the typical solvent extraction processes. The SFSELM design is similar to the supported liquid membrane design in some aspects.

Numerical Simulation and Performance Optimization of a Magnetophoretic Bio-separation chip

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Golozar, Matin; Darabi, Jeff; Molki, Majid

Separation of micro/nanoparticles is important in biomedicine and biotechnology. This research presents the modeling and optimization of a magnetophoretic bio-separation chip for the isolation of biomaterials, such as circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from the peripheral blood. The chip consists of a continuous flow through microfluidic channels that contains locally engineered magnetic field gradients. The high gradient magnetic field produced by the magnets is spatially non-uniform and gives rise to an attractive force on magnetic particles that move through the flow channel. The computational model takes into account the magnetic and fluidic forces as well as the effect of the volume fraction of particles on the continuous phase. The model is used to investigate the effect of two-way particle-fluid coupling on both the capture efficiency and the flow pattern in the separation chip. The results show that the microfluidic device has the capability of separating CTCs from their native environment. Additionally, a parametric study is performed to investigate the effects of the channel height, substrate thickness, magnetic bead size, bioparticle size, and the number of beads per cell on the cell separation performance.

Separation of thorium (IV) from lanthanide concentrate (LC) and water leach purification (WLP) residue

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

AL-Areqi, Wadeeah M.; Majid, Amran Ab.; Sarmani, Sukiman

Thorium (IV) content in industrial residue produced from rare earth elements production industry is one of the challenges to Malaysian environment. Separation of thorium from the lanthanide concentrate (LC) and Water Leach Purification (WLP) residue from rare earth elements production plant is described. Both materials have been tested by sulphuric acid and alkaline digestions. Th concentrations in LC and WLP were determined to be 1289.7 ± 129 and 1952.9±17.6 ppm respectively. The results of separation show that the recovery of Th separation from rare earth in LC after concentrated sulphuric acid dissolution and reduction of acidity to precipitate Th wasmore » found 1.76-1.20% whereas Th recovery from WLP was less than 4% after concentrated acids and alkali digestion processes. Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS) was used to determine Th concentrations in aqueous phase during separation stages. This study indicated that thorium maybe exists in refractory and insoluble form which is difficult to separate by these processes and stays in WLP residue as naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM)« less

Beyond the continuum: a multi-dimensional phase space for neutral-niche community assembly.

PubMed

Latombe, Guillaume; Hui, Cang; McGeoch, Melodie A

2015-12-22

Neutral and niche processes are generally considered to interact in natural communities along a continuum, exhibiting community patterns bounded by pure neutral and pure niche processes. The continuum concept uses niche separation, an attribute of the community, to test the hypothesis that communities are bounded by pure niche or pure neutral conditions. It does not accommodate interactions via feedback between processes and the environment. By contrast, we introduce the Community Assembly Phase Space (CAPS), a multi-dimensional space that uses community processes (such as dispersal and niche selection) to define the limiting neutral and niche conditions and to test the continuum hypothesis. We compare the outputs of modelled communities in a heterogeneous landscape, assembled by pure neutral, pure niche and composite processes. Differences in patterns under different combinations of processes in CAPS reveal hidden complexity in neutral-niche community dynamics. The neutral-niche continuum only holds for strong dispersal limitation and niche separation. For weaker dispersal limitation and niche separation, neutral and niche processes amplify each other via feedback with the environment. This generates patterns that lie well beyond those predicted by a continuum. Inferences drawn from patterns about community assembly processes can therefore be misguided when based on the continuum perspective. CAPS also demonstrates the complementary information value of different patterns for inferring community processes and captures the complexity of community assembly. It provides a general tool for studying the processes structuring communities and can be applied to address a range of questions in community and metacommunity ecology. © 2015 The Author(s).

Beyond the continuum: a multi-dimensional phase space for neutral–niche community assembly

PubMed Central

Latombe, Guillaume; McGeoch, Melodie A.

2015-01-01

Neutral and niche processes are generally considered to interact in natural communities along a continuum, exhibiting community patterns bounded by pure neutral and pure niche processes. The continuum concept uses niche separation, an attribute of the community, to test the hypothesis that communities are bounded by pure niche or pure neutral conditions. It does not accommodate interactions via feedback between processes and the environment. By contrast, we introduce the Community Assembly Phase Space (CAPS), a multi-dimensional space that uses community processes (such as dispersal and niche selection) to define the limiting neutral and niche conditions and to test the continuum hypothesis. We compare the outputs of modelled communities in a heterogeneous landscape, assembled by pure neutral, pure niche and composite processes. Differences in patterns under different combinations of processes in CAPS reveal hidden complexity in neutral–niche community dynamics. The neutral–niche continuum only holds for strong dispersal limitation and niche separation. For weaker dispersal limitation and niche separation, neutral and niche processes amplify each other via feedback with the environment. This generates patterns that lie well beyond those predicted by a continuum. Inferences drawn from patterns about community assembly processes can therefore be misguided when based on the continuum perspective. CAPS also demonstrates the complementary information value of different patterns for inferring community processes and captures the complexity of community assembly. It provides a general tool for studying the processes structuring communities and can be applied to address a range of questions in community and metacommunity ecology. PMID:26702047

Stability and Oil Migration of Oil-in-Water Emulsions Emulsified by Phase-Separating Biopolymer Mixtures.

PubMed

Yang, Nan; Mao, Peng; Lv, Ruihe; Zhang, Ke; Fang, Yapeng; Nishinari, Katsuyoshi; Phillips, Glyn O

2016-08-01

Oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions with varying concentration of oil phase, medium-chain triglyceride (MCT), were prepared using phase-separating gum arabic (GA)/sugar beet pectin (SBP) mixture as an emulsifier. Stability of the emulsions including emulsion phase separation, droplet size change, and oil migration were investigated by means of visual observation, droplet size analysis, oil partition analysis, backscattering of light, and interfacial tension measurement. It was found that in the emulsions prepared with 4.0% GA/1.0% SBP, when the concentration of MCT was greater than 2.0%, emulsion phase separation was not observed and the emulsions were stable with droplet size unchanged during storage. This result proves the emulsification ability of phase-separating biopolymer mixtures and their potential usage as emulsifiers to prepare O/W emulsion. However, when the concentration of MCT was equal or less than 2.0%, emulsion phase separation occurred after preparation resulting in an upper SBP-rich phase and a lower GA-rich phase. The droplet size increased in the upper phase whereas decreased slightly in the lower phase with time, compared to the freshly prepared emulsions. During storage, the oil droplets exhibited a complex migration process: first moving to the SBP-rich phase, then to the GA-rich phase and finally gathering at the interface between the two phases. The mechanisms of the emulsion stability and oil migration in the phase-separated emulsions were discussed. © 2016 Institute of Food Technologists®

Chemistry in the Dusty Coma of Comet Hale-Bopp

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boice, D. C.; Cochran, A. L.; Disanti, M. A.; Huebner, W. F.

1998-09-01

Recent progress on a multifluid, hydrodynamic model is presented for the dusty gas flow in the inner coma of comet Hale-Bopp at several heliocentric distances. The simulations are based on a 1-D neutral coma model with detailed photo and gas-phase chemistry and dust entrainment by the gas, a separate energy balance for the electrons, separate flow of the neutral gas, fast neutral atomic and molecular hydrogen, and dust entrainment with fragmentation. The model accounts for three sources of gas release: sublimation from surface ices, transport of gas from subsurface regions through the surface, and release of gas from dust in the coma. This permits a consistent study of the importance and strength of each possible source for a variety of gas-phase species. The simulations allow a study of the changes with heliocentric distance of features within a cometary coma, e.g., spatial distributions of gas-phase species and dust of various sizes and the velocity and temperature profiles. In particular, the model is used to probe spatial distributions of gas-phase species (e.g., CN, CH, C_3, C_2, HCN, HNC, CO) and dust, and the velocity and temperature structure to understand the complex gas-phase chemistry that occurs in the inner coma. Comparisons with observations are made where available to characterize the environment surrounding comet Hale-Bopp and to aid in assimilating a variety of diverse observations of this unique comet.

Rapid Separation of Copper Phase and Iron-Rich Phase From Copper Slag at Low Temperature in a Super-Gravity Field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lan, Xi; Gao, Jintao; Huang, Zili; Guo, Zhancheng

2018-03-01

A novel approach for quickly separating a metal copper phase and iron-rich phase from copper slag at low temperature is proposed based on a super-gravity method. The morphology and mineral evolution of the copper slag with increasing temperature were studied using in situ high-temperature confocal laser scanning microscopy and ex situ scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction methods. Fe3O4 particles dispersed among the copper slag were transformed into FeO by adding an appropriate amount of carbon as a reducing agent, forming the slag melt with SiO2 at low temperature and assisting separation of the copper phase from the slag. Consequently, in a super-gravity field, the metallic copper and copper matte were concentrated as the copper phase along the super-gravity direction, whereas the iron-rich slag migrated in the opposite direction and was quickly separated from the copper phase. Increasing the gravity coefficient (G) significantly enhanced the separation efficiency. After super-gravity separation at G = 1000 and 1473 K (1200 °C) for 3 minutes, the mass fraction of Cu in the separated copper phase reached 86.11 wt pct, while that in the separated iron-rich phase was reduced to 0.105 wt pct. The recovery ratio of Cu in the copper phase was as high as up to 97.47 pct.

Rapid Separation of Copper Phase and Iron-Rich Phase From Copper Slag at Low Temperature in a Super-Gravity Field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lan, Xi; Gao, Jintao; Huang, Zili; Guo, Zhancheng

2018-06-01

A novel approach for quickly separating a metal copper phase and iron-rich phase from copper slag at low temperature is proposed based on a super-gravity method. The morphology and mineral evolution of the copper slag with increasing temperature were studied using in situ high-temperature confocal laser scanning microscopy and ex situ scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction methods. Fe3O4 particles dispersed among the copper slag were transformed into FeO by adding an appropriate amount of carbon as a reducing agent, forming the slag melt with SiO2 at low temperature and assisting separation of the copper phase from the slag. Consequently, in a super-gravity field, the metallic copper and copper matte were concentrated as the copper phase along the super-gravity direction, whereas the iron-rich slag migrated in the opposite direction and was quickly separated from the copper phase. Increasing the gravity coefficient (G) significantly enhanced the separation efficiency. After super-gravity separation at G = 1000 and 1473 K (1200 °C) for 3 minutes, the mass fraction of Cu in the separated copper phase reached 86.11 wt pct, while that in the separated iron-rich phase was reduced to 0.105 wt pct. The recovery ratio of Cu in the copper phase was as high as up to 97.47 pct.

Swelling equilibrium of dentin adhesive polymers formed on the water-adhesive phase boundary: Experiments and micromechanical model

PubMed Central

Misra, Anil; Parthasarathy, Ranganathan; Ye, Qiang; Singh, Viraj; Spencer, Paulette

2013-01-01

During their application to the wet, oral environment, dentin adhesives can experience phase separation and composition change which can compromise the quality of the hybrid layer formed at the dentin-adhesive interface. The chemical composition of polymer phases formed in the hybrid layer can be represented using a ternary water-adhesive phase diagram. In this paper, these polymer phases have been characterized using a suite of mechanical tests and swelling experiments. The experimental results were evaluated using granular micromechanics based model that incorporates poro-mechanical effects and polymer-solvent thermodynamics. The variation of the model parameters and model-predicted polymer properties has been studied as a function of composition along the phase boundary. The resulting structure-property correlations provide insight into interactions occurring at the molecular level in the saturated polymer system. These correlations can be used for modeling the mechanical behavior of hybrid layer, and are expected to aid in the design and improvement of water-compatible dentin adhesive polymers. PMID:24076070

Micro- and Nano-Liquid Phases Coexistent with Ice as Separation and Reaction Media.

PubMed

Okada, Tetsuo

2017-04-01

Ice has a variety of scientifically interesting features, some of which have not been reasonably interpreted despite substantial efforts by researchers. Most chemical studies of ice have focused on the elucidation of its physicochemical nature and its roles in the natural environment. Ice often contains impurities, such as salts, and in such cases, a liquid phase coexists with solid ice over a wide temperature range. This impure ice also acts as a cryoreactor, governing the circulation of chemical species of environmental importance. Reactions and phenomena occurring in this liquid phase show features different from those seen in normal bulk aqueous solutions. In the present account, we discuss the chemical characteristics of the liquid phase that develops in a frozen aqueous phase and show how novel analytical systems can be designed based on he features of the liquid phase which are predictable in some cases but unpredictable in others. © 2017 The Chemical Society of Japan & Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

An Object-Oriented Finite Element Framework for Multiphysics Phase Field Simulations

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Michael R Tonks; Derek R Gaston; Paul C Millett

2012-01-01

The phase field approach is a powerful and popular method for modeling microstructure evolution. In this work, advanced numerical tools are used to create a phase field framework that facilitates rapid model development. This framework, called MARMOT, is based on Idaho National Laboratory's finite element Multiphysics Object-Oriented Simulation Environment. In MARMOT, the system of phase field partial differential equations (PDEs) are solved simultaneously with PDEs describing additional physics, such as solid mechanics and heat conduction, using the Jacobian-Free Newton Krylov Method. An object-oriented architecture is created by taking advantage of commonalities in phase fields models to facilitate development of newmore » models with very little written code. In addition, MARMOT provides access to mesh and time step adaptivity, reducing the cost for performing simulations with large disparities in both spatial and temporal scales. In this work, phase separation simulations are used to show the numerical performance of MARMOT. Deformation-induced grain growth and void growth simulations are included to demonstrate the muliphysics capability.« less

Electron irradiation induced phase separation in a sodium borosilicate glass

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, K.; Wang, L. M.; Ewing, R. C.; Weber, W. J.

2004-06-01

Electron irradiation induced phase separation in a sodium borosilicate glass was studied in situ by analytical electron microscopy. Distinctly separate phases that are rich in boron and silicon formed at electron doses higher than 4.0 × 10 11 Gy during irradiation. The separated phases are still in amorphous states even at a much high dose (2.1 × 10 12 Gy). It indicates that most silicon atoms remain tetrahedrally coordinated in the glass during the entire irradiation period, except some possible reduction to amorphous silicon. The particulate B-rich phase that formed at high dose was identified as amorphous boron that may contain some oxygen. Both ballistic and ionization processes may contribute to the phase separation.

Spectro-microscopic Characterization of Physical Properties and Phase Separations in Individual Atmospheric Particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

OBrien, R. E.; Wang, B.; Neu, A.; Kelly, S. T.; Lundt, N.; Epstein, S. A.; MacMillan, A.; You, Y.; Laskin, A.; Nizkorodov, S.; Bertram, A. K.; Moffet, R.; Gilles, M.

2013-12-01

The phase state and liquid-liquid phase separations of ambient and laboratory generated aerosol particles were investigated using (1) scanning transmission x-ray microscopy/near-edge x-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (STXM/NEXAFS) coupled to a relative humidity (RH) controlled in-situ chamber and (2) environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM). The phase states of the particles were determined from measurements of their size and optical density. A comparison is made between the observed phase states of ambient samples and of laboratory generated aerosols to determine how well laboratory samples represent the phase of ambient samples. In addition, liquid-liquid phase separations in laboratory generated particles were investigated. Preliminary results showing that liquid-liquid phase separations occur at RH's between the deliquescence and efflorescence points and that the organic phase surrounds the inorganic phase will be presented. The STXM/NEXAFS technique provides insight into the degree of mixing at the deliquescence point and the degree of phase separation for particles of atmospherically relevant sizes.

Space shuttle: Aerodynamic heating tests of the MDAC delta wing orbiter and canard booster

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Andresen, T. L.

1972-01-01

Design of an efficient thermal protection system for the space shuttle orbiter and booster is discussed, based on knowledge of the thermal environment to be experienced by the vehicles in all flight phases. The complex configurations of these vehicles limit the level of confidence which can be associated with purely analytical thermal environment predictions. Tests were conducted during April and May 1971 using an orbiter and booster model at a 96-in. hypersonic shock tunnel. Both models were tested separately as well as together. A sufficiently large range in Reynolds number was covered so that laminar, transitional, and turbulent data could be obtained.

Technology base for microgravity horticulture

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sauer, R. L.; Magnuson, J. W.; Scruby, R. R.; Scheld, H. W.

1987-01-01

Advanced microgravity plant biology research and life support system development for the spacecraft environment are critically hampered by the lack of a technology base. This inadequacy stems primarily from the fact that microgravity results in a lack of convective currents and phase separation as compared to the one gravity environment. A program plan is being initiated to develop this technology base. This program will provide an iterative flight development effort that will be closely integrated with both basic science investigations and advanced life support system development efforts incorporating biological processes. The critical considerations include optimum illumination methods, root aeration, root and shoot support, and heat rejection and gas exchange in the plant canopy.

The materials processing research base of the Materials Processing Center

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Latanision, R. M.

1986-01-01

An annual report of the research activities of the Materials Processing Center of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is given. Research on dielectrophoresis in the microgravity environment, phase separation kinetics in immiscible liquids, transport properties of droplet clusters in gravity-free fields, probes and monitors for the study of solidification of molten semiconductors, fluid mechanics and mass transfer in melt crystal growth, and heat flow control and segregation in directional solidification are discussed.

Crystallization features of normal alkanes in confined geometry.

PubMed

Su, Yunlan; Liu, Guoming; Xie, Baoquan; Fu, Dongsheng; Wang, Dujin

2014-01-21

How polymers crystallize can greatly affect their thermal and mechanical properties, which influence the practical applications of these materials. Polymeric materials, such as block copolymers, graft polymers, and polymer blends, have complex molecular structures. Due to the multiple hierarchical structures and different size domains in polymer systems, confined hard environments for polymer crystallization exist widely in these materials. The confined geometry is closely related to both the phase metastability and lifetime of polymer. This affects the phase miscibility, microphase separation, and crystallization behaviors and determines both the performance of polymer materials and how easily these materials can be processed. Furthermore, the size effect of metastable states needs to be clarified in polymers. However, scientists find it difficult to propose a quantitative formula to describe the transition dynamics of metastable states in these complex systems. Normal alkanes [CnH2n+2, n-alkanes], especially linear saturated hydrocarbons, can provide a well-defined model system for studying the complex crystallization behaviors of polymer materials, surfactants, and lipids. Therefore, a deeper investigation of normal alkane phase behavior in confinement will help scientists to understand the crystalline phase transition and ultimate properties of many polymeric materials, especially polyolefins. In this Account, we provide an in-depth look at the research concerning the confined crystallization behavior of n-alkanes and binary mixtures in microcapsules by our laboratory and others. Since 2006, our group has developed a technique for synthesizing nearly monodispersed n-alkane containing microcapsules with controllable size and surface porous morphology. We applied an in situ polymerization method, using melamine-formaldehyde resin as shell material and nonionic surfactants as emulsifiers. The solid shell of microcapsules can provide a stable three-dimensional (3-D) confining environment. We have studied multiple parameters of these microencapsulated n-alkanes, including surface freezing, metastability of the rotator phase, and the phase separation behaviors of n-alkane mixtures using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), temperature-dependent X-ray diffraction (XRD), and variable-temperature solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Our investigations revealed new direct evidence for the existence of surface freezing in microencapsulated n-alkanes. By examining the differences among chain packing and nucleation kinetics between bulk alkane solid solutions and their microencapsulated counterparts, we also discovered a mechanism responsible for the formation of a new metastable bulk phase. In addition, we found that confinement suppresses lamellar ordering and longitudinal diffusion, which play an important role in stabilizing the binary n-alkane solid solution in microcapsules. Our work also provided new insights into the phase separation of other mixed system, such as waxes, lipids, and polymer blends in confined geometry. These works provide a profound understanding of the relationship between molecular structure and material properties in the context of crystallization and therefore advance our ability to improve applications incorporating polymeric and molecular materials.

Large-Flow-Area Flow-Selective Liquid/Gas Separator

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vasquez, Arturo; Bradley, Karla F.

2010-01-01

This liquid/gas separator provides the basis for a first stage of a fuel cell product water/oxygen gas phase separator. It can separate liquid and gas in bulk in multiple gravity environments. The system separates fuel cell product water entrained with circulating oxygen gas from the outlet of a fuel cell stack before allowing the gas to return to the fuel cell stack inlet. Additional makeup oxygen gas is added either before or after the separator to account for the gas consumed in the fuel cell power plant. A large volume is provided upstream of porous material in the separator to allow for the collection of water that does not exit the separator with the outgoing oxygen gas. The water then can be removed as it continues to collect, so that the accumulation of water does not impede the separating action of the device. The system is designed with a series of tubes of the porous material configured into a shell-and-tube heat exchanger configuration. The two-phase fluid stream to be separated enters the shell-side portion of the device. Gas flows to the center passages of the tubes through the porous material and is then routed to a common volume at the end of the tubes by simple pressure difference from a pumping device. Gas flows through the porous material of the tubes with greater ease as a function of the ratio of the dynamic viscosity of the water and gas. By careful selection of the dimensions of the tubes (wall thickness, porosity, diameter, length of the tubes, number of the tubes, and tube-to-tube spacing in the shell volume) a suitable design can be made to match the magnitude of water and gas flow, developed pressures from the oxygen reactant pumping device, and required residual water inventory for the shellside volume.

Microstructure Evolution and Related Magnetic Properties of Cu-Zr-Al-Gd Phase-Separating Metallic Glasses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Sang Jun; Kim, Jinwoo; Park, Eun Soo

2018-04-01

We carefully investigated the correlation between microstructures and magnetic properties of Cu-Zr-Al-Gd phase-separating metallic glasses (PSMGs). The saturation magnetizations of the PSMGs were determined by total Gd contents of the alloys, while their coercivity exhibits a large deviation by the occurrence of phase separation due to the boundary pinning effect of hierarchically separated amorphous phases. Especially, the PSMGs containing Gd-rich amorphous nanoparticles show the highest coercivity which can be attributed to the size effect of the ferromagnetic amorphous phase. Furthermore, the selective crystallization of ferromagnetic amorphous phases can affect the magnetization behavior of the PSMGs. Our results could provide a novel strategy for tailoring unique soft magnetic properties of metallic glasses by introducing hierarchically separated amorphous phases and controlling their crystallinity.

Microstructure Evolution and Related Magnetic Properties of Cu-Zr-Al-Gd Phase-Separating Metallic Glasses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Sang Jun; Kim, Jinwoo; Park, Eun Soo

2018-06-01

We carefully investigated the correlation between microstructures and magnetic properties of Cu-Zr-Al-Gd phase-separating metallic glasses (PSMGs). The saturation magnetizations of the PSMGs were determined by total Gd contents of the alloys, while their coercivity exhibits a large deviation by the occurrence of phase separation due to the boundary pinning effect of hierarchically separated amorphous phases. Especially, the PSMGs containing Gd-rich amorphous nanoparticles show the highest coercivity which can be attributed to the size effect of the ferromagnetic amorphous phase. Furthermore, the selective crystallization of ferromagnetic amorphous phases can affect the magnetization behavior of the PSMGs. Our results could provide a novel strategy for tailoring unique soft magnetic properties of metallic glasses by introducing hierarchically separated amorphous phases and controlling their crystallinity.

Pi-Pi contacts are an overlooked protein feature relevant to phase separation

PubMed Central

Vernon, Robert McCoy; Chong, Paul Andrew; Tsang, Brian; Kim, Tae Hun; Bah, Alaji; Farber, Patrick; Lin, Hong

2018-01-01

Protein phase separation is implicated in formation of membraneless organelles, signaling puncta and the nuclear pore. Multivalent interactions of modular binding domains and their target motifs can drive phase separation. However, forces promoting the more common phase separation of intrinsically disordered regions are less understood, with suggested roles for multivalent cation-pi, pi-pi, and charge interactions and the hydrophobic effect. Known phase-separating proteins are enriched in pi-orbital containing residues and thus we analyzed pi-interactions in folded proteins. We found that pi-pi interactions involving non-aromatic groups are widespread, underestimated by force-fields used in structure calculations and correlated with solvation and lack of regular secondary structure, properties associated with disordered regions. We present a phase separation predictive algorithm based on pi interaction frequency, highlighting proteins involved in biomaterials and RNA processing. PMID:29424691

Superfluid helium 2 liquid-vapor phase separation: Technology assessment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lee, J. M.

1984-01-01

A literature survey of helium 2 liquid vapor phase separation is presented. Currently, two types of He 2 phase separators are being investigated: porous, sintered metal plugs and the active phase separator. The permeability K(P) shows consistency in porous plug geometric characterization. Both the heat and mass fluxes increase with K(P). Downstream pressure regulation to adjust for varying heat loads and both temperatures is possible. For large dynamic heat loads, the active phase separator shows a maximum heat rejection rate of up to 2 W and bath temperature stability of 0.1 mK. Porous plug phase separation performance should be investigated for application to SIRTF and, in particular, that plugs of from 10 to the minus ninth square centimeters to 10 to the minus eighth square centimeters in conjunction with downstream pressure regulation be studied.

Separation processes during binary monotectic alloy production

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Frazier, D. O.; Facemire, B. R.; Kaukler, W. F.; Witherow, W. K.; Fanning, U.

1984-01-01

Observation of microgravity solidification processes indicates that outside of sedimentation, at least two other important effects can separate the phases: critical-point wetting and spreading; and thermal migration of second-phase droplets due to interfacial tension gradients. It is difficult to study these surface tension effects while in a unit gravity field. In order to investigate the processes occurring over a temperature range, i.e., between a consolute point and the monotectic temperature, it is necessary to use a low-gravity environment. The MSFC drop tube (and tower), the ballistic trajectory KC-135 airplane, and the Space Shuttle are ideal facilities to aid formation and testing of hypotheses. Much of the early work in this area focuses on transparent materials so that process dynamics may be studied by optical techniques such as photography for viewing macro-processes; holography for studying diffusional growth; spinodal decomposition and coalescence; ellipsometry for surface wetting and spreading effects; and interferometry and spectroscopy for small-scale spatial resolution of concentration profiles.

Legacy systems: managing evolution through integration in a distributed and object-oriented computing environment.

PubMed

Lemaitre, D; Sauquet, D; Fofol, I; Tanguy, L; Jean, F C; Degoulet, P

1995-01-01

Legacy systems are crucial for organizations since they support key functionalities. But they become obsolete with aging and the apparition of new techniques. Managing their evolution is a key issue in software engineering. This paper presents a strategy that has been developed at Broussais University Hospital in Paris to make a legacy system devoted to the management of health care units evolve towards a new up-to-date software. A two-phase evolution pathway is described. The first phase consists in separating the interface from the data storage and application control and in using a communication channel between the individualized components. The second phase proposes to use an object-oriented DBMS in place of the homegrown system. An application example for the management of hypertensive patients is described.

An overview of the NASA electronic components information management system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kramer, G.; Waterbury, S.

1991-01-01

The NASA Parts Project Office (NPPO) comprehensive data system to support all NASA Electric, Electronic, and Electromechanical (EEE) parts management and technical data requirements is described. A phase delivery approach is adopted, comprising four principal phases. Phases 1 and 2 support Space Station Freedom (SSF) and use a centralized architecture with all data and processing kept on a mainframe computer. Phases 3 and 4 support all NASA centers and projects and implement a distributed system architecture, in which data and processing are shared among networked database servers. The Phase 1 system, which became operational in February of 1990, implements a core set of functions. Phase 2, scheduled for release in 1991, adds functions to the Phase 1 system. Phase 3, to be prototyped beginning in 1991 and delivered in 1992, introduces a distributed system, separate from the Phase 1 and 2 system, with a refined semantic data model. Phase 4 extends the data model and functionality of the Phase 3 system to provide support for the NASA design community, including integration with Computer Aided Design (CAD) environments. Phase 4 is scheduled for prototyping in 1992 to 93 and delivery in 1994.

On the phase form of a deformation quantization with separation of variables

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karabegov, Alexander

2016-06-01

Given a star product with separation of variables on a pseudo-Kähler manifold, we obtain a new formal (1, 1)-form from its classifying form and call it the phase form of the star product. The cohomology class of a star product with separation of variables equals the class of its phase form. We show that the phase forms can be arbitrary and they bijectively parametrize the star products with separation of variables. We also describe the action of a change of the formal parameter on a star product with separation of variables, its formal Berezin transform, classifying form, phase form, and canonical trace density.

Local structures in mixed Li{sub x}Fe{sub 1−y}M{sub y}PO{sub 4} (M=Co, Ni) electrode materials

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jalkanen, K.; Lindén, J.; Karppinen, M., E-mail: maarit.karppinen@aalto.fi

We employ {sup 57}Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy as a local tool to probe electrical environments of Fe{sup 2+} and Fe{sup 3+} at different lithiation (x) and cation-substitution (y) levels in Li{sub x}Fe{sub 1−y}M{sub y}PO{sub 4}/C (M=Co, Ni) Li-ion battery electrode materials. Upon delithiation the local environment of Fe{sup 3+} remains unaffected for the parent y=0 system due to the LiFePO{sub 4}/FePO{sub 4} phase separation, whereas for y>0 changes in the electrical environment are seen for Fe{sup 3+}. When the Fe{sup 2+}/Fe{sup 3+} redox couple is partially-delithiated, a decreasing quadrupole splitting value is observed for Fe{sup 3+} with increasing y, implying amore » more symmetric electrical environment. The increasing concentration of the Co{sup 2+}/Ni{sup 2+} substituent introduces increasing amounts of Li atoms in the Fe{sup 3+}-containing phase, and these nearest-neighbor Li atoms are suspected to cause the changes seen in the local environment of Fe{sup 3+}. - Graphical abstract: Local environment of iron in Li{sub x}Fe{sub 1−y}(Co/Ni){sub y}PO{sub 4} is studied by {sup 57}Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy at different lithiation (x) and cation-substitution (y) levels. - Highlights: • Local Fe environment in Li{sub x}Fe{sub 1−y}(Co/Ni){sub y}PO{sub 4} is studied by {sup 57}Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy. • Co/Ni-for-Fe substitution results in a more symmetric electrical environment for Fe{sup 3+}. • Due to presence of Co{sup 2+}/Ni{sup 2+}, Li atoms are introduced into the Fe{sup 3+}-containing phase. • These nearest-neighbor Li atoms are suggested to change the local Fe{sup 3+} environment.« less

An integrated system for synchronous culture of animal cells under controlled conditions.

PubMed

Mendoza-Pérez, Elena; Hernández, Vanessa; Palomares, Laura A; Serrato, José A

2016-01-01

The cell cycle has fundamental effects on cell cultures and their products. Tools to synchronize cultured cells allow the study of cellular physiology and metabolism at particular cell cycle phases. However, cells are most often arrested by methods that alter their homeostasis and are then cultivated in poorly controlled environments. Cell behavior could then be affected by the synchronization method and culture conditions used, and not just by the particular cell cycle phase under study. Moreover, only a few viable cells are recovered. Here, we designed an integrated system where a large number of cells from a controlled bioreactor culture is separated by centrifugal elutriation at high viabilities. In contrast to current elutriation methods, cells are injected directly from a bioreactor into an injection loop, allowing the introduction of a large number of cells into the separation chamber without stressful centrifugation. A low pulsation peristaltic pump increases the stability of the elutriation chamber. Using this approach, a large number of healthy cells at each cell cycle phase were obtained, allowing their direct inoculation into fully instrumented bioreactors. Hybridoma cells synchronized and cultured in this system behaved as expected for a synchronous culture.

Direct NMR Monitoring of Phase Separation Behavior of Highly Supersaturated Nifedipine Solution Stabilized with Hypromellose Derivatives.

PubMed

Ueda, Keisuke; Higashi, Kenjirou; Moribe, Kunikazu

2017-07-03

We investigated the phase separation behavior and maintenance mechanism of the supersaturated state of poorly water-soluble nifedipine (NIF) in hypromellose (HPMC) derivative solutions. Highly supersaturated NIF formed NIF-rich nanodroplets through phase separation from aqueous solution containing HPMC derivative. Dissolvable NIF concentration in the bulk water phase was limited by the phase separation of NIF from the aqueous solution. HPMC derivatives stabilized the NIF-rich nanodroplets and maintained the NIF supersaturation with phase-separated NIF for several hours. The size of the NIF-rich phase was different depending on the HPMC derivatives dissolved in aqueous solution, although the droplet size had no correlation with the time for which NIF supersaturation was maintained without NIF crystallization. HPMC acetate and HPMC acetate succinate (HPMC-AS) effectively maintained the NIF supersaturation containing phase-separated NIF compared with HPMC. Furthermore, HPMC-AS stabilized NIF supersaturation more effectively in acidic conditions. Solution 1 H NMR measurements of NIF-supersaturated solution revealed that HPMC derivatives distributed into the NIF-rich phase during the phase separation of NIF from the aqueous solution. The hydrophobicity of HPMC derivative strongly affected its distribution into the NIF-rich phase. Moreover, the distribution of HPMC-AS into the NIF-rich phase was promoted at lower pH due to the lower aqueous solubility of HPMC-AS. The distribution of a large amount of HPMC derivatives into NIF-rich phase induced the strong inhibition of NIF crystallization from the NIF-rich phase. Polymer distribution into the drug-rich phase directly monitored by solution NMR technique can be a useful index for the stabilization efficiency of drug-supersaturated solution containing a drug-rich phase.

Rationalizing the light-induced phase separation of mixed halide organic-inorganic perovskites.

PubMed

Draguta, Sergiu; Sharia, Onise; Yoon, Seog Joon; Brennan, Michael C; Morozov, Yurii V; Manser, Joseph S; Kamat, Prashant V; Schneider, William F; Kuno, Masaru

2017-08-04

Mixed halide hybrid perovskites, CH 3 NH 3 Pb(I 1-x Br x ) 3 , represent good candidates for low-cost, high efficiency photovoltaic, and light-emitting devices. Their band gaps can be tuned from 1.6 to 2.3 eV, by changing the halide anion identity. Unfortunately, mixed halide perovskites undergo phase separation under illumination. This leads to iodide- and bromide-rich domains along with corresponding changes to the material's optical/electrical response. Here, using combined spectroscopic measurements and theoretical modeling, we quantitatively rationalize all microscopic processes that occur during phase separation. Our model suggests that the driving force behind phase separation is the bandgap reduction of iodide-rich phases. It additionally explains observed non-linear intensity dependencies, as well as self-limited growth of iodide-rich domains. Most importantly, our model reveals that mixed halide perovskites can be stabilized against phase separation by deliberately engineering carrier diffusion lengths and injected carrier densities.Mixed halide hybrid perovskites possess tunable band gaps, however, under illumination they undergo phase separation. Using spectroscopic measurements and theoretical modelling, Draguta and Sharia et al. quantitatively rationalize the microscopic processes that occur during phase separation.

A Preliminary Assessment of Phase Separator Ground-Based and Reduced-Gravity Testing for ALS Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hall, Nancy Rabel

2006-01-01

A viewgraph presentation of phase separator ground-based and reduced-gravity testing for Advanced Life Support (ALS) systems is shown. The topics include: 1) Multiphase Flow Technology Program; 2) Types of Separators; 3) MOBI Phase Separators; 4) Experiment set-up; and 5) Preliminary comparison/results.

2H and 27Al solid-state NMR study of the local environments in Al-doped 2-line ferrihydrite, goethite, and lepidocrocite

DOE PAGES

Kim, Jongsik; Ilott, Andrew J.; Middlemiss, Derek S.; ...

2015-05-13

Although substitution of aluminum into iron oxides and oxyhydroxides has been extensively studied, it is difficult to obtain accurate incorporation levels. Assessing the distribution of dopants within these materials has proven especially challenging because bulk analytical techniques cannot typically determine whether dopants are substituted directly into the bulk iron oxide or oxyhydroxide phase or if they form separate, minor phase impurities. These differences have important implications for the chemistry of these iron-containing materials, which are ubiquitous in the environment. In this work, 27Al and 2H NMR experiments are performed on series of Al-substituted goethite, lepidocrocite, and 2-line ferrihydrite in ordermore » to develop an NMR method to track Al substitution. The extent of Al substitution into the structural frameworks of each compound is quantified by comparing quantitative 27Al MAS NMR results with those from elemental analysis. Magnetic measurements are performed for the goethite series to compare with NMR measurements. Static 27Al spin–echo mapping experiments are used to probe the local environments around the Al substituents, providing clear evidence that they are incorporated into the bulk iron phases. As a result, predictions of the 2H and 27Al NMR hyperfine contact shifts in Al-doped goethite and lepidocrocite, obtained from a combined first-principles and empirical magnetic scaling approach, give further insight into the distribution of the dopants within these phases.« less

Absolute Position of Targets Measured Through a Chamber Window Using Lidar Metrology Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kubalak, David; Hadjimichael, Theodore; Ohl, Raymond; Slotwinski, Anthony; Telfer, Randal; Hayden, Joseph

2012-01-01

Lidar is a useful tool for taking metrology measurements without the need for physical contact with the parts under test. Lidar instruments are aimed at a target using azimuth and elevation stages, then focus a beam of coherent, frequency modulated laser energy onto the target, such as the surface of a mechanical structure. Energy from the reflected beam is mixed with an optical reference signal that travels in a fiber path internal to the instrument, and the range to the target is calculated based on the difference in the frequency of the returned and reference signals. In cases when the parts are in extreme environments, additional steps need to be taken to separate the operator and lidar from that environment. A model has been developed that accurately reduces the lidar data to an absolute position and accounts for the three media in the testbed air, fused silica, and vacuum but the approach can be adapted for any environment or material. The accuracy of laser metrology measurements depends upon knowing the parameters of the media through which the measurement beam travels. Under normal conditions, this means knowledge of the temperature, pressure, and humidity of the air in the measurement volume. In the past, chamber windows have been used to separate the measuring device from the extreme environment within the chamber and still permit optical measurement, but, so far, only relative changes have been diagnosed. The ability to make accurate measurements through a window presents a challenge as there are a number of factors to consider. In the case of the lidar, the window will increase the time-of-flight of the laser beam causing a ranging error, and refract the direction of the beam causing angular positioning errors. In addition, differences in pressure, temperature, and humidity on each side of the window will cause slight atmospheric index changes and induce deformation and a refractive index gradient within the window. Also, since the window is a dispersive media, the effect of both phase and group indices have to be considered. Taking all these factors into account, a method was developed to measure targets through multiple regions of different materials and produce results that are absolute measurements of target position in three-dimensional space, rather than simply relative position. The environment in which the lidar measurements are taken must be broken down into separate regions of interest and each region solved for separately. In this case, there were three regions of interest: air, fused silica, and vacuum. The angular position of the target inside the chamber is solved using only phase index and phase velocity, while the ranging effects due to travel from air to glass to vacuum/air are solved with group index and group velocity. When all parameters are solved simultaneously, an absolute knowledge of the position of each target within an environmental chamber can be derived. Novel features of this innovation include measuring absolute position of targets through multiple dispersive and non-dispersive media, deconstruction of lidar raw data from a commercial off-the-shelf unit into reworkable parameters, and use of group velocities to reduce range data. Measurement of structures within a vacuum chamber or other harsh environment, such as a furnace, may now be measured as easily as if they were in an ambient laboratory. This analysis permits transformation of the raw data into absolute spatial units (e.g., mm). This technique has also been extended to laser tracker, theodolite, and cathetometer measurements through refractive media.

Pi-Pi contacts are an overlooked protein feature relevant to phase separation.

PubMed

Vernon, Robert McCoy; Chong, Paul Andrew; Tsang, Brian; Kim, Tae Hun; Bah, Alaji; Farber, Patrick; Lin, Hong; Forman-Kay, Julie Deborah

2018-02-09

Protein phase separation is implicated in formation of membraneless organelles, signaling puncta and the nuclear pore. Multivalent interactions of modular binding domains and their target motifs can drive phase separation. However, forces promoting the more common phase separation of intrinsically disordered regions are less understood, with suggested roles for multivalent cation-pi, pi-pi, and charge interactions and the hydrophobic effect. Known phase-separating proteins are enriched in pi-orbital containing residues and thus we analyzed pi-interactions in folded proteins. We found that pi-pi interactions involving non-aromatic groups are widespread, underestimated by force-fields used in structure calculations and correlated with solvation and lack of regular secondary structure, properties associated with disordered regions. We present a phase separation predictive algorithm based on pi interaction frequency, highlighting proteins involved in biomaterials and RNA processing. © 2018, Vernon et al.

Vertical phase separation in bulk heterojunction solar cells formed by in situ polymerization of fulleride

PubMed Central

Zhang, Lipei; Xing, Xing; Zheng, Lingling; Chen, Zhijian; Xiao, Lixin; Qu, Bo; Gong, Qihuang

2014-01-01

Vertical phase separation of the donor and the acceptor in organic bulk heterojunction solar cells is crucial to improve the exciton dissociation and charge transport efficiencies. This is because whilst the exciton diffusion length is limited, the organic film must be thick enough to absorb sufficient light. However, it is still a challenge to control the phase separation of a binary blend in a bulk heterojunction device architecture. Here we report the realization of vertical phase separation induced by in situ photo-polymerization of the acrylate-based fulleride. The power conversion efficiency of the devices with vertical phase separation increased by 20%. By optimising the device architecture, the power conversion efficiency of the single junction device reached 8.47%. We believe that in situ photo-polymerization of acrylate-based fulleride is a universal and controllable way to realise vertical phase separation in organic blends. PMID:24861168

The study of membrane formation via phase inversion method by cloud point and light scattering experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arahman, Nasrul; Maimun, Teuku; Mukramah, Syawaliah

2017-01-01

The composition of polymer solution and the methods of membrane preparation determine the solidification process of membrane. The formation of membrane structure prepared via non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) method is mostly determined by phase separation process between polymer, solvent, and non-solvent. This paper discusses the phase separation process of polymer solution containing Polyethersulfone (PES), N-methylpirrolidone (NMP), and surfactant Tetronic 1307 (Tet). Cloud point experiment is conducted to determine the amount of non-solvent needed on induced phase separation. Amount of water required as a non-solvent decreases by the addition of surfactant Tet. Kinetics of phase separation for such system is studied by the light scattering measurement. With the addition of Tet., the delayed phase separation is observed and the structure growth rate decreases. Moreover, the morphology of fabricated membrane from those polymer systems is analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The images of both systems show the formation of finger-like macrovoids through the cross-section.

Method and turbine for extracting kinetic energy from a stream of two-phase fluid

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Elliott, D. G. (Inventor)

1979-01-01

An axial flow separator turbine is described which includes a number of nozzles for delivering streams of a two-phase fluid along linear paths. A phase separator which responsively separates the vapor and liquid is characterized by concentrically related annuli supported for rotation within the paths. The separator has endless channels for confining the liquid under the influence of centrifugal forces. A vapor turbine fan extracts kinetic energy from the liquid. Angular momentum of both the liquid phase and the vapor phase of the fluid is converted to torque.

Ionic liquid/water mixtures: from hostility to conciliation.

PubMed

Kohno, Yuki; Ohno, Hiroyuki

2012-07-21

Water was originally inimical to ionic liquids (ILs) especially in the analysis of their detailed properties. Various data on the properties of ILs indicate that there are two ways to design functions of ionic liquids. The first is to change the structure of component ions, to provide "task-specific ILs". The second is to mix ILs with other components, such as other ILs, organic solvents or water. Mixing makes it easy to control the properties of the solution. In this strategy, water is now a very important partner. Below, we summarise our recent results on the properties of IL/water mixtures. Stable phase separation is an effective method in some separation processes. Conversely, a dynamic phase change between a homogeneous mixture and separation of phases is important in many fields. Analysis of the relation between phase behaviour and the hydration state of the component ions indicates that the pattern of phase separation is governed by the hydrophilicity of the ions. Sufficiently hydrophilic ions yielded ILs that are miscible with water, and hydrophobic ions gave stable phase separation with water. ILs composed of hydrophobic but hydrated ions undergo a dynamic phase change between a homogeneous mixture and separate phases according to temperature. ILs having more than seven water molecules per ion pair undergo this phase transition. These dynamic phase changes are considered, with some examples, and application is made to the separation of water-soluble proteins.

Phase-separation mechanism for C-terminal hyperphosphorylation of RNA polymerase II.

PubMed

Lu, Huasong; Yu, Dan; Hansen, Anders S; Ganguly, Sourav; Liu, Rongdiao; Heckert, Alec; Darzacq, Xavier; Zhou, Qiang

2018-06-01

Hyperphosphorylation of the C-terminal domain (CTD) of the RPB1 subunit of human RNA polymerase (Pol) II is essential for transcriptional elongation and mRNA processing 1-3 . The CTD contains 52 heptapeptide repeats of the consensus sequence YSPTSPS. The highly repetitive nature and abundant possible phosphorylation sites of the CTD exert special constraints on the kinases that catalyse its hyperphosphorylation. Positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb)-which consists of CDK9 and cyclin T1-is known to hyperphosphorylate the CTD and negative elongation factors to stimulate Pol II elongation 1,4,5 . The sequence determinant on P-TEFb that facilitates this action is currently unknown. Here we identify a histidine-rich domain in cyclin T1 that promotes the hyperphosphorylation of the CTD and stimulation of transcription by CDK9. The histidine-rich domain markedly enhances the binding of P-TEFb to the CTD and functional engagement with target genes in cells. In addition to cyclin T1, at least one other kinase-DYRK1A 6 -also uses a histidine-rich domain to target and hyperphosphorylate the CTD. As a low-complexity domain, the histidine-rich domain also promotes the formation of phase-separated liquid droplets in vitro, and the localization of P-TEFb to nuclear speckles that display dynamic liquid properties and are sensitive to the disruption of weak hydrophobic interactions. The CTD-which in isolation does not phase separate, despite being a low-complexity domain-is trapped within the cyclin T1 droplets, and this process is enhanced upon pre-phosphorylation by CDK7 of transcription initiation factor TFIIH 1-3 . By using multivalent interactions to create a phase-separated functional compartment, the histidine-rich domain in kinases targets the CTD into this environment to ensure hyperphosphorylation and efficient elongation of Pol II.

Separation of multiphosphorylated peptide isomers by hydrophilic interaction chromatography on an aminopropyl phase.

PubMed

Singer, David; Kuhlmann, Julia; Muschket, Matthias; Hoffmann, Ralf

2010-08-01

The separation of isomeric phosphorylated peptides is challenging and often impossible for multiphosphorylated isomers using chromatographic and capillary electrophoretic methods. In this study we investigated the separation of a set of single-, double-, and triple-phosphorylated peptides (corresponding to the human tau protein) by ion-pair reversed-phase chromatography (IP-RPC) and hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC). In HILIC both hydroxyl and aminopropyl stationary phases were tested with aqueous acetonitrile in order to assess their separation efficiency. The hydroxyl phase separated the phosphopeptides very well from the unphosphorylated analogue, while on the aminopropyl phase even isomeric phosphopeptides attained baseline separation. Thus, up to seven phosphorylated versions of a given tau domain were separated. Furthermore, the low concentration of an acidic ammonium formate buffer allowed an online analysis with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) to be conducted, enabling peptide sequencing and identification of phosphorylation sites.

Monitoring of atmospheric gaseous and particulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in South African platinum mines utilising portable denuder sampling with analysis by thermal desorption-comprehensive gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Geldenhuys, G; Rohwer, E R; Naudé, Y; Forbes, P B C

2015-02-06

Concentrations of diesel particulate matter and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in platinum mine environments are likely to be higher than in ambient air due to the use of diesel machinery in confined environments. Airborne PAHs may be present in gaseous or particle phases each of which has different human health impacts due to their ultimate fate in the body. Here we report on the simultaneous sampling of both phases of airborne PAHs for the first time in underground platinum mines in South Africa, which was made possible by employing small, portable denuder sampling devices consisting of two polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) multi-channel traps connected in series separated by a quartz fibre filter, which only require small, battery operated portable personal sampling pumps for air sampling. Thermal desorption coupled with comprehensive gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TD-GC×GC-TofMS) was used to analyse denuder samples taken in three different platinum mines. The samples from a range of underground environments revealed that PAHs were predominantly found in the gas phase with naphthalene and mono-methylated naphthalene derivatives being detected at the highest concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 18 μg m(-3). The particle bound PAHs were found in the highest concentrations at the idling load haul dump vehicle exhausts with a dominance of fluoranthene and pyrene. Particle associated PAH concentrations ranged from 0.47 to 260 ng m(-3) and included benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene and benzo[ghi]perylene. This work highlights the need to characterise both phases in order to assess occupational exposure to PAHs in this challenging sampling environment. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Development of a novel amide-silica stationary phase for the reversed-phase HPLC separation of different classes of phytohormones.

PubMed

Aral, Hayriye; Aral, Tarık; Ziyadanoğulları, Berrin; Ziyadanoğulları, Recep

2013-11-15

A novel amide-bonded silica stationary phase was prepared starting from N-Boc-phenylalanine, cyclohexylamine and spherical silica gel (4 µm, 60 Å). The amide ligand was synthesised with high yield. The resulting amide bonded stationary phase was characterised by SEM, IR and elemental analysis. The resulting selector bearing a polar amide group is used for the reversed-phase chromatography separation of different classes of thirteen phytohormones (plant hormones). The chromatographic behaviours of these analytes on the amide-silica stationary phase were compared with those of RP-C18 column under same conditions. The effects of different separation conditions, such as mobile phase, pH value, flow rate and temperature, on the separation and retention behaviours of the 13 phytohormones in this system were studied. The optimum separation was achieved using reversed-phase HPLC gradient elution with an aqueous mobile phase containing pH=6.85 potassium phosphate buffer (20 mM) and acetonitrile with a 22 °C column temperature. Under these experimental conditions, the 12 phytohormones could be separated and detected at 230 or 270 nm within 26 min. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Phase behaviour of casein micelles and barley beta-glucan polymer molecules in dietary fibre-enriched dairy systems.

PubMed

Repin, Nikolay; Scanlon, Martin G; Fulcher, R Gary

2012-07-01

Enrichment of colloidal dairy systems with dietary fibre frequently causes quality defects because of phase separation. We investigate phase separation in skimmed milk enriched with Glucagel (a commercial product made from barley that is predominantly comprised of the polysaccharide β-glucan). The driving force for phase separation was depletion flocculation of casein micelles in the presence of molecules of the polysaccharide. Depending on the volume fraction of casein micelles and the concentration of Glucagel, the stable system phase separated either as a transient gel or as a sedimented system. The rate at which phase separation progressed also depended on the volume fraction of casein micelles and the concentration of Glucagel. To confirm the role of depletion flocculation in the phase separation process, enzymatic reduction in the molecular weight of β-glucan was shown to limit the range of attraction between micelles and allow the stable phase to exist at a higher β-glucan concentration for any given volume fraction of casein micelles. These phase diagrams will be useful to dairy product manufacturers striving to improve the nutrient profile of their products while avoiding product quality impairment. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Separation of biological materials in microgravity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brooks, D. E.; Boyce, J.; Bamberger, S. B.; Vanalstine, J. M.; Harris, J. M.

1986-01-01

Partition in aqueous two phase polymer systems is a potentially useful procedure in downstream processing of both molecular and particulate biomaterials. The potential efficiency of the process for particle and cell isolations is much higher than the useful levels already achieved. Space provides a unique environment in which to test the hypothesis that convection and settling phenomena degrade the performance of the partition process. The initial space experiment in a series of tests of this hypothesis is described.

Atlantis: An Open Architecture for Synergy of Process-Centered Environments and Computer-Supported Cooperative Work

DTIC Science & Technology

1998-04-01

revision phase would be followed, after which a second review would be scheduled , and so forth, until the review succeeds. 2.3 Realization of the...normal rules, when Summit rules are inferred they are enqueued in a separate Summit queue and are scheduled for execution only after local forward... scheduling and activating activities according to the defined process; reac- tively triggering activities based on state changes; monitoring the process

Conserved interdomain linker promotes phase separation of the multivalent adaptor protein Nck

PubMed Central

Banjade, Sudeep; Wu, Qiong; Mittal, Anuradha; Peeples, William B.; Pappu, Rohit V.; Rosen, Michael K.

2015-01-01

The organization of membranes, the cytosol, and the nucleus of eukaryotic cells can be controlled through phase separation of lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. Collective interactions of multivalent molecules mediated by modular binding domains can induce gelation and phase separation in several cytosolic and membrane-associated systems. The adaptor protein Nck has three SRC-homology 3 (SH3) domains that bind multiple proline-rich segments in the actin regulatory protein neuronal Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (N-WASP) and an SH2 domain that binds to multiple phosphotyrosine sites in the adhesion protein nephrin, leading to phase separation. Here, we show that the 50-residue linker between the first two SH3 domains of Nck enhances phase separation of Nck/N-WASP/nephrin assemblies. Two linear motifs within this element, as well as its overall positively charged character, are important for this effect. The linker increases the driving force for self-assembly of Nck, likely through weak interactions with the second SH3 domain, and this effect appears to promote phase separation. The linker sequence is highly conserved, suggesting that the sequence determinants of the driving forces for phase separation may be generally important to Nck functions. Our studies demonstrate that linker regions between modular domains can contribute to the driving forces for self-assembly and phase separation of multivalent proteins. PMID:26553976

Modification of linear prepolymers to tailor heterogeneous network formation through photo-initiated Polymerization-Induced Phase Separation

PubMed Central

Szczepanski, Caroline R.; Stansbury, Jeffrey W.

2015-01-01

Polymerization-induced phase separation (PIPS) was studied in ambient photopolymerizations of triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) modified by poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). The molecular weight of PMMA and the rate of network formation (through incident UV-irradiation) were varied to influence both the promotion of phase separation through increases in overall free energy, as well as the extent to which phase development occurs during polymerization through diffusion prior to network gelation. The overall free energy of the polymerizing system increases with PMMA molecular weight, such that PIPS is promoted thermodynamically at low loading levels (5 wt%) of a higher molecular weight PMMA (120 kDa), while a higher loading level (20 wt%) is needed to induce PIPS with lower PMMA molecular weight (11 kDa), and phase separation was not promoted at any loading level tested of the lowest molecular weight PMMA (1 kDa). Due to these differences in overall free energy, systems modified by PMMA (11 kDa) underwent phase separation via Nucleation and Growth, and systems modified by PMMA (120 kDa), followed the Spinodal Decomposition mechanism. Despite differences in phase structure, all materials form a continuous phase rich in TEGDMA homopolymer. At high irradiation intensity (Io=20mW/cm2), the rate of network formation prohibited significant phase separation, even when thermodynamically preferred. A staged curing approach, which utilizes low intensity irradiation (Io=300µW/cm2) for the first ~50% of reaction to allow phase separation via diffusion, followed by a high intensity flood-cure to achieve a high degree of conversion, was employed to form phase-separated networks with reduced polymerization stress yet equivalent final conversion and modulus. PMID:26190865

Phase separation and second-order phase transition in the phenomenological model for a Coulomb-frustrated two-dimensional system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mamin, R. F.; Shaposhnikova, T. S.; Kabanov, V. V.

2018-03-01

We have considered the model of the phase transition of the second order for the Coulomb frustrated 2D charged system. The coupling of the order parameter with the charge was considered as the local temperature. We have found that in such a system, an appearance of the phase-separated state is possible. By numerical simulation, we have obtained different types ("stripes," "rings," "snakes") of phase-separated states and determined the parameter ranges for these states. Thus the system undergoes a series of phase transitions when the temperature decreases. First, the system moves from the homogeneous state with a zero order parameter to the phase-separated state with two phases in one of which the order parameter is zero and, in the other, it is nonzero (τ >0 ). Then a first-order transition occurs to another phase-separated state, in which both phases have different and nonzero values of the order parameter (for τ <0 ). Only a further decrease of temperature leads to a transition to a homogeneous ordered state.

Effect of temperature gradient on liquid-liquid phase separation in a polyolefin blend.

PubMed

Jiang, Hua; Dou, Nannan; Fan, Guoqiang; Yang, Zhaohui; Zhang, Xiaohua

2013-09-28

We have investigated experimentally the structure formation processes during phase separation via spinodal decomposition above and below the spinodal line in a binary polymer blend system exposed to in-plane stationary thermal gradients using phase contrast optical microscopy and temperature gradient hot stage. Below the spinodal line there is a coupling of concentration fluctuations and thermal gradient imposed by the temperature gradient hot stage. Also under the thermal gradient annealing phase-separated domains grow faster compared with the system under homogeneous temperature annealing on a zero-gradient or a conventional hot stage. We suggest that the in-plane thermal gradient accelerates phase separation through the enhancement in concentration fluctuations in the early and intermediate stages of spinodal decomposition. In a thermal gradient field, the strength of concentration fluctuation close to the critical point (above the spinodal line) is strong enough to induce phase separation even in one-phase regime of the phase diagram. In the presence of a temperature gradient the equilibrium phase diagrams are no longer valid, and the systems with an upper critical solution temperature can be quenched into phase separation by applying the stationary temperature gradient. The in-plane temperature gradient drives enhanced concentration fluctuations in a binary polymer blend system above and below the spinodal line.

Amide-induced phase separation of hexafluoroisopropanol-water mixtures depending on the hydrophobicity of amides.

PubMed

Takamuku, Toshiyuki; Wada, Hiroshi; Kawatoko, Chiemi; Shimomura, Takuya; Kanzaki, Ryo; Takeuchi, Munetaka

2012-06-21

Amide-induced phase separation of hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP)-water mixtures has been investigated to elucidate solvation properties of the mixtures by means of small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), (1)H and (13)C NMR, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. The amides included N-methylformamide (NMF), N-methylacetamide (NMA), and N-methylpropionamide (NMP). The phase diagrams of amide-HFIP-water ternary systems at 298 K showed that phase separation occurs in a closed-loop area of compositions as well as an N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) system previously reported. The phase separation area becomes wider as the hydrophobicity of amides increases in the order of NMF < NMA < DMF < NMP. Thus, the evolution of HFIP clusters around amides due to the hydrophobic interaction gives rise to phase separation of the mixtures. In contrast, the disruption of HFIP clusters causes the recovery of the homogeneity of the ternary systems. The present results showed that HFIP clusters are evolved with increasing amide content to the lower phase separation concentration in the same mechanism among the four amide systems. However, the disruption of HFIP clusters in the NMP and DMF systems with further increasing amide content to the upper phase separation concentration occurs in a different way from those in the NMF and NMA systems.

Phase Separation and Crystallization of Hemoglobin C in Transgenic Mouse and Human Erythrocytes

PubMed Central

Canterino, Joseph E.; Galkin, Oleg; Vekilov, Peter G.; Hirsch, Rhoda Elison

2008-01-01

Individuals expressing hemoglobin C (β6 Glu→Lys) present red blood cells (RBC) with intraerythrocytic crystals that form when hemoglobin (Hb) is oxygenated. Our earlier in vitro liquid-liquid (L-L) phase separation studies demonstrated that liganded HbC exhibits a stronger net intermolecular attraction with a longer range than liganded HbS or HbA, and that L-L phase separation preceded and enhanced crystallization. We now present evidence for the role of phase separation in HbC crystallization in the RBC, and the role of the RBC membrane as a nucleation center. RBC obtained from both human homozygous HbC patients and transgenic mice expressing only human HbC were studied by bright-field and differential interference contrast video-enhanced microscopy. RBC were exposed to hypertonic NaCl solution (1.5–3%) to induce crystallization within an appropriate experimental time frame. L-L phase separation occurred inside the RBC, which in turn enhanced the formation of intraerythrocytic crystals. RBC L-L phase separation and crystallization comply with the thermodynamic and kinetics laws established through in vitro studies of phase transformations. This is the first report, to the best of our knowledge, to capture a temporal view of intraerythrocytic HbC phase separation, crystal formation, and dissolution. PMID:18621841

Phase separations in mixtures of a liquid crystal and a nanocolloidal particle.

PubMed

Matsuyama, Akihiko

2009-11-28

We present a mean field theory to describe phase separations in mixtures of a liquid crystal and a nanocolloidal particle. By taking into account a nematic, a smectic A ordering of the liquid crystal, and a crystalline ordering of the nanoparticle, we calculate the phase diagrams on the temperature-concentration plane. We predict various phase separations, such as a smectic A-crystal phase separation and a smectic A-isotropic-crystal triple point, etc., depending on the interactions between the liquid crystal and the colloidal surface. Inside binodal curves, we find new unstable and metastable regions, which are important in the phase ordering dynamics. We also find a crystalline ordering of the nanoparticles dispersed in a smectic A phase and a nematic phase. The cooperative phenomena between liquid-crystalline ordering and crystalline ordering induce a variety of phase diagrams.

Kinetics of phase separation and coarsening in dilute surfactant pentaethylene glycol monododecyl ether solutions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tanaka, S.; Kubo, Y.; Yokoyama, Y.; Toda, A.; Taguchi, K.; Kajioka, H.

2011-12-01

We investigated the phase separation phenomena in dilute surfactant pentaethylene glycol monodedecyl ether (C12E5) solutions focusing on the growth law of separated domains. The solutions confined between two glass plates were found to exhibit the phase inversion, characteristic of the viscoelastic phase separation; the majority phase (water-rich phase) nucleated as droplets and the minority phase (micelle-rich phase) formed a network temporarily, then they collapsed into an usual sea-island pattern where minority phase formed islands. We found from the real-space microscopic imaging that the dynamic scaling hypothesis did not hold throughout the coarsening process. The power law growth of the domains with the exponent close to 1/3 was observed even though the coarsening was induced mainly by hydrodynamic flow, which was explained by Darcy's law of laminar flow.

Cell partition in two phase polymer systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brooks, D. E.

1979-01-01

Aqueous phase-separated polymer solutions can be used as support media for the partition of biological macromolecules, organelles and cells. Cell separations using the technique have proven to be extremely sensitive to cell surface properties but application of the systems are limited to cells or aggregates which do not significantly while the phases are settling. Partition in zero g in principle removes this limitation but an external driving force must be applied to induce the phases to separate since their density difference disappears. We have recently shown that an applied electric field can supply the necessary driving force. We are proposing to utilize the NASA FES to study field-driven phase separation and cell partition on the ground and in zero g to help define the separation/partition process, with the ultimate goal being to develop partition as a zero g cell separation technique.

Liquid Crystals in Chromatography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Witkiewicz, Zygfryd

The following sections are included: * INTRODUCTION * LIQUID CRYSTALS SUITABLE FOR GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY * Monomeric Liquid Crystal Stationary Phases * Polymeric Liquid Crystal Stationary Phases * Polymeric Liquid Crystal Stationary Phases * Conventional Analytical Columns * Capillary Columns * FACTORS AFFECTING THE CHROMATOGRAPHIC SEPARATIONS ON LIQUID CRYSTAL STATIONARY PHASES * Kind of Mesophase of the Liquid Crystal * Molecular Structure of the Liquid Crystals and of the Chromatographed Substances * Substrate on which the Liquid Crystal is Deposited * ANALYTICAL APPLICATIONS OF LIQUID CRYSTAL STATIONARY PHASES IN GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY * Separation of Isomers of Benzene and Naphthalene Derivatives * Separation of Alkane and Alkene Isomers * Separation of Mixtures of Benzene and Aliphatic Hydrocarbon Derivatives Containing Heteroatoms * Separation of Polynuclear Hydrocarbons * INVESTIGATION OF THE PROPERTIES OF LIQUID CRYSTALS BY GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY * APPLICATION OF LIQUID CRYSTALS IN LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY * Column Chromatography * Thin-Layer Chromatography * APPLICATION OF LIQUID CRYSTAL STATIONARY PHASES IN SUPERCRITICAL FLUID CHROMATOGRAPHY * FINAL REMARKS * References

Quantum critical phase with infinite projected entangled paired states

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Poilblanc, Didier; Mambrini, Matthieu

2017-07-01

A classification of SU(2)-invariant projected entangled paired states (PEPS) on the square lattice, based on a unique site tensor, has been recently introduced by Mambrini et al. [M. Mambrini, R. Orús, and D. Poilblanc, Phys. Rev. B 94, 205124 (2016), 10.1103/PhysRevB.94.205124]. It is not clear whether such SU(2)-invariant PEPS can either (i) exhibit long-range magnetic order (such as in the Néel phase) or (ii) describe a genuine quantum critical point (QCP) or quantum critical phase (QCPh) separating two ordered phases. Here, we identify a specific family of SU(2)-invariant PEPS of the classification which provides excellent variational energies for the J1-J2 frustrated Heisenberg model, especially at J2=0.5 , corresponding to the approximate location of the QCP or QCPh separating the Néel phase from a dimerized phase. The PEPS are built from virtual states belonging to the 1/2⊗N⊕0 SU(2) representation, i.e., with N "colors" of virtual spin-1/2 . Using a full-update infinite-PEPS approach directly in the thermodynamic limit, based on the corner transfer matrix renormalization algorithm supplemented by a conjugate gradient optimization scheme, we provide evidence of (i) the absence of magnetic order and of (ii) diverging correlation lengths (i.e., showing no sign of saturation with increasing environment dimension) in both the singlet and triplet channels, when the number of colors N ≥3 . We argue that such a PEPS gives a qualitative description of the QCP or QCPh of the J1-J2 model.

Thermal cycling effects on static and dynamic properties of a phase separated manganite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sacanell, J.; Sievers, B.; Quintero, M.; Granja, L.; Ghivelder, L.; Parisi, F.

2018-06-01

In this work we address the interplay between two phenomena which are signatures of the out-of-equilibrium state in phase separated manganites: irreversibility against thermal cycling and aging/rejuvenation process. The sample investigated is La0.5Ca0.5MnO3, a prototypical manganite exhibiting phase separation. Two regimes for isothermal relaxation were observed according to the temperature range: for T > 100 K, aging/rejuvenation effects are observed, while for T < 100 K an irreversible aging was found. Our results show that thermal cycles act as a tool to unveil the dynamical behavior of the phase separated state in manganites, revealing the close interplay between static and dynamic properties of phase separated manganites.

Legacy systems: managing evolution through integration in a distributed and object-oriented computing environment.

PubMed Central

Lemaitre, D.; Sauquet, D.; Fofol, I.; Tanguy, L.; Jean, F. C.; Degoulet, P.

1995-01-01

Legacy systems are crucial for organizations since they support key functionalities. But they become obsolete with aging and the apparition of new techniques. Managing their evolution is a key issue in software engineering. This paper presents a strategy that has been developed at Broussais University Hospital in Paris to make a legacy system devoted to the management of health care units evolve towards a new up-to-date software. A two-phase evolution pathway is described. The first phase consists in separating the interface from the data storage and application control and in using a communication channel between the individualized components. The second phase proposes to use an object-oriented DBMS in place of the homegrown system. An application example for the management of hypertensive patients is described. PMID:8563252

Wind tunnel tests of the dynamic characteristics of the fluidic rudder

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Belsterling, C. A.

1976-01-01

The fourth phase is given of a continuing program to develop the means to stabilize and control aircraft without moving parts or a separate source of power. Previous phases have demonstrated the feasibility of (1) generating adequate control forces on a standard airfoil, (2) controlling those forces with a fluidic amplifier and (3) cascading non-vented fluidic amplifiers operating on ram air supply pressure. The foremost objectives of the fourth phase covered under Part I of this report were to demonstrate a complete force-control system in a wind tunnel environment and to measure its static and dynamic control characteristics. Secondary objectives, covered under Part II, were to evaluate alternate configurations for lift control. The results demonstrate an overall response time of 150 msec, confirming this technology as a viable means for implementing low-cost reliable flight control systems.

Stress-Triggered Phase Separation Is an Adaptive, Evolutionarily Tuned Response

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Riback, Joshua A.; Katanski, Christopher D.; Kear-Scott, Jamie L.

In eukaryotic cells, diverse stresses trigger coalescence of RNA-binding proteins into stress granules. In vitro, stress-granule-associated proteins can demix to form liquids, hydrogels, and other assemblies lacking fixed stoichiometry. Observing these phenomena has generally required conditions far removed from physiological stresses. We show that poly(A)-binding protein (Pab1 in yeast), a defining marker of stress granules, phase separates and forms hydrogels in vitro upon exposure to physiological stress conditions. Other RNA-binding proteins depend upon low-complexity regions (LCRs) or RNA for phase separation, whereas Pab1’s LCR is not required for demixing, and RNA inhibits it. Based on unique evolutionary patterns, we createmore » LCR mutations, which systematically tune its biophysical properties and Pab1 phase separation in vitro and in vivo. Mutations that impede phase separation reduce organism fitness during prolonged stress. Poly(A)-binding protein thus acts as a physiological stress sensor, exploiting phase separation to precisely mark stress onset, a broadly generalizable mechanism.« less

Method for separating water soluble organics from a process stream by aqueous biphasic extraction

DOEpatents

Chaiko, David J.; Mego, William A.

1999-01-01

A method for separating water-miscible organic species from a process stream by aqueous biphasic extraction is provided. An aqueous biphase system is generated by contacting a process stream comprised of water, salt, and organic species with an aqueous polymer solution. The organic species transfer from the salt-rich phase to the polymer-rich phase, and the phases are separated. Next, the polymer is recovered from the loaded polymer phase by selectively extracting the polymer into an organic phase at an elevated temperature, while the organic species remain in a substantially salt-free aqueous solution. Alternatively, the polymer is recovered from the loaded polymer by a temperature induced phase separation (cloud point extraction), whereby the polymer and the organic species separate into two distinct solutions. The method for separating water-miscible organic species is applicable to the treatment of industrial wastewater streams, including the extraction and recovery of complexed metal ions from salt solutions, organic contaminants from mineral processing streams, and colorants from spent dye baths.

Process for improving soluble coal yield in a coal deashing process

DOEpatents

Rhodes, Donald E.

1980-01-01

Coal liquefaction products are contacted with a deashing solvent and introduced into a first separation zone. The first separation zone is maintained at an elevated temperature and pressure, determined to maximize the recovery of soluble coal products, to cause said coal liquefaction products to separate into a first light phase and a first heavy phase. Under these conditions the heavy phase while still fluid-like in character is substantially non-flowable. Flowability is returned to the fluid-like heavy phase by the introduction of an additional quantity of deashing solvent into the first separation zone at a location below the interface between the first light and heavy phases or into the heavy phase withdrawal conduit during withdrawal of the first heavy phase and prior to any substantial pressure reduction. The first heavy phase then is withdrawn from the first separation zone for additional downstream processing without plugging either the withdrawal conduit or the downstream apparatus. The first light phase comprising the soluble coal products is withdrawn and recovered in an increased yield to provide a more economical coal deashing process.

Understanding the Impact of Water on the Miscibility and Microstructure of Amorphous Solid Dispersions: An AFM-LCR and TEM-EDX Study.

PubMed

Li, Na; Gilpin, Christopher J; Taylor, Lynne S

2017-05-01

Miscibility is critical for amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs). Phase-separated ASDs are more prone to crystallization, and thus can lose their solubility advantage leading to product failure. Additionally, dissolution performance can be diminished as a result of phase separation in the ASD matrix. Water is known to induce phase separation during storage for some ASDs. However, the impact of water introduced during preparation has not been as thoroughly investigated to date. The purpose of this study was to develop a mechanistic understanding of the effect of water on the phase behavior and microstructure of ASDs. Evacetrapib and two polymers were selected as the model system. Atomic force microscopy coupled with Lorentz contact resonance, and transmission electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were employed to evaluate the microstructure and composition of phase-separated ASDs. It was found that phase separation could be induced via two routes: solution-state phase separation during ASD formation caused by water absorption during film formation by a hydrophilic solvent, or solid-phase separation following exposure to high RH during storage. Water contents of as low as 2% in the organic solvent system used to dissolve the drug and polymer were found to result in phase separation in the resultant ASD film. These findings have profound implications on lab-scale ASD preparation and potentially also for industrial production. Additionally, these high-resolution imaging techniques combined with orthogonal analyses are powerful tools to visualize structural changes in ASDs, which in turn will enable better links to be made between ASD structure and performance.

Continuously phase-modulated standing surface acoustic waves for separation of particles and cells in microfluidic channels containing multiple pressure nodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Junseok; Rhyou, Chanryeol; Kang, Byungjun; Lee, Hyungsuk

2017-04-01

This paper describes continuously phase-modulated standing surface acoustic waves (CPM-SSAW) and its application for particle separation in multiple pressure nodes. A linear change of phase in CPM-SSAW applies a force to particles whose magnitude depends on their size and contrast factors. During continuous phase modulation, we demonstrate that particles with a target dimension are translated in the direction of moving pressure nodes, whereas smaller particles show oscillatory movements. The rate of phase modulation is optimized for separation of target particles from the relationship between mean particle velocity and period of oscillation. The developed technique is applied to separate particles of a target dimension from the particle mixture. Furthermore, we also demonstrate human keratinocyte cells can be separated in the cell and bead mixture. The separation technique is incorporated with a microfluidic channel spanning multiple pressure nodes, which is advantageous over separation in a single pressure node in terms of throughput.

Selective Detection of Peptide-Oligonucleotide Heteroconjugates Utilizing Capillary HPLC-ICPMS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Catron, Brittany; Caruso, Joseph A.; Limbach, Patrick A.

2012-06-01

A method for the selective detection and quantification of peptide:oligonucleotide heteroconjugates, such as those generated by protein:nucleic acid cross-links, using capillary reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (cap-RPHPLC) coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry detection (ICPMS) is described. The selective detection of phosphorus as 31P+, the only natural isotope, in peptide-oligonucleotide heteroconjugates is enabled by the elemental detection capabilities of the ICPMS. Mobile phase conditions that allow separation of heteroconjugates while maintaining ICPMS compatibility were investigated. We found that trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) mobile phases, used in conventional peptide separations, and hexafluoroisopropanol/triethylamine (HFIP/TEA) mobile phases, used in conventional oligonucleotide separations, both are compatible with ICPMS and enable heteroconjugate separation. The TFA-based separations yielded limits of detection (LOD) of ~40 ppb phosphorus, which is nearly seven times lower than the LOD for HFIP/TEA-based separations. Using the TFA mobile phase, 1-2 pmol of a model heteroconjugate were routinely separated and detected by this optimized capLC-ICPMS method.

Self-referenced locking of optical coherence by single-detector electronic-frequency tagging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shay, T. M.; Benham, Vincent; Spring, Justin; Ward, Benjamin; Ghebremichael, F.; Culpepper, Mark A.; Sanchez, Anthony D.; Baker, J. T.; Pilkington, D.; Berdine, Richard

2006-02-01

We report a novel coherent beam combining technique. This is the first actively phase locked optical fiber array that eliminates the need for a separate reference beam. In addition, only a single photodetector is required. The far-field central spot of the array is imaged onto the photodetector to produce the phase control loop signals. Each leg of the fiber array is phase modulated with a separate RF frequency, thus tagging the optical phase shift for each leg by a separate RF frequency. The optical phase errors for the individual array legs are separated in the electronic domain. In contrast with the previous active phase locking techniques, in our system the reference beam is spatially overlapped with all the RF modulated fiber leg beams onto a single detector. The phase shift between the optical wave in the reference leg and in the RF modulated legs is measured separately in the electronic domain and the phase error signal is feedback to the LiNbO 3 phase modulator for that leg to minimize the phase error for that leg relative to the reference leg. The advantages of this technique are 1) the elimination of the reference beam and beam combination optics and 2) the electronic separation of the phase error signals without any degradation of the phase locking accuracy. We will present the first theoretical model for self-referenced LOCSET and describe experimental results for a 3 x 3 array.

Using different drift gases to change separation factors (alpha) in ion mobility spectrometry

PubMed

Asbury; Hill

2000-02-01

The use of different drift gases to alter separation factors (alpha) in ion mobility spectrometry has been demonstrated. The mobility of a series of low molecular weight compounds and three small peptides was determined in four different drift gases. The drift gases chosen were helium, argon, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide. These drift gases provide a range of polarizabilities and molecular weights. In all instances, the compounds showed the greatest mobility in helium and the lowest mobility in carbon dioxide; however the percentage change of mobility for each compound was different, effectively changing the alpha value. The alpha value changes were primarily due to differences in drift gas polarizability but were also influenced by the mass of the drift gas. In addition, gas-phase ion radii were calculated in each of the different drift gases. These radii were then plotted against drift gas polarizability producing linear plots with r2 values greater than 0.99. The intercept of these plots provides the gas-phase radius of an ion in a nonpolarizing environment, whereas the slope is indicative of the magnitude of the ion's mobility change related to polarizability. It therefore, should be possible to separate any two compounds that have different slopes with the appropriate drift gas.

Improved Separations of Proteins and Sugar Derivatives Using the Small-Scale Cross-Axis Coil Planet Centrifuge with Locular Multilayer Coiled Columns.

PubMed

Shinomiya, Kazufusa; Umezawa, Motoki; Seki, Manami; Nitta, Jun; Zaima, Kazumasa; Harikai, Naoki; Ito, Yoichiro

2016-12-01

Countercurrent chromatography (CCC) is liquid-liquid partition chromatography without using a solid support matrix. This technique requires further improvement of partition efficiency and shortening theseparation time. The locular multilayer coils modified with and without mixer glass beads were developed for the separation of proteins and 4-methylumbelliferyl (MU) sugar derivatives using the small-scale cross-axis coil planet centrifuge. Proteins were well separated from each other and the separation was improved at a low flow rate of the mobile phase. On the other hand, 4-MU sugar derivatives were sufficiently resolved with short separation time at a highflow rate of the mobile phase under satisfactory stationary phase retention. Effective separations were achieved using the locular multilayer coil for proteins with aqueous-aqueous polymer phase systems and for 4-MU sugar derivatives with organic-aqueous two-phase solvent systems by inserting a glass bead into each locule.

Crystal Growth of II-VI Semiconducting Alloys by Directional Solidification

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lehoczky, Sandor L.; Szofran, Frank R.; Su, Ching-Hua; Cobb, Sharon D.; Scripa, Rosalia A.; Sha, Yi-Gao

1999-01-01

This research study is investigating the effects of a microgravity environment during the crystal growth of selected II-VI semiconducting alloys on their compositional, metallurgical, electrical and optical properties. The on-going work includes both Bridgman-Stockbarger and solvent growth methods, as well as growth in a magnetic field. The materials investigated are II-VI, Hg(1-x)Zn(x)Te, and Hg(1-x)Zn(x)Se, where x is between 0 and 1 inclusive, with particular emphasis on x-values appropriate for infrared detection and imaging in the 5 to 30 micron wavelength region. Wide separation between the liquidus and solidus of the phase diagrams with consequent segregation during solidification and problems associated with the high volatility of one of the components (Hg), make the preparation of homogeneous, high-quality, bulk crystals of the alloys an extremely difficult nearly an impossible task in a gravitational environment. The three-fold objectives of the on-going investigation are as follows: (1) To determine the relative contributions of gravitationally-driven fluid flows to the compositional redistribution observed during the unidirectional crystal growth of selected semiconducting solid solution alloys having large separation between the liquidus and solidus of the constitutional phase diagram; (2) To ascertain the potential role of irregular fluid flows and hydrostatic pressure effects in generation of extended crystal defects and second-phase inclusions in the crystals; and, (3) To obtain a limited amount of "high quality" materials needed for bulk crystal property characterizations and for the fabrication of various device structures needed to establish ultimate material performance limits. The flight portion of the study was to be accomplished by performing growth experiments using the Crystal Growth Furnace (CGF) manifested to fly on various Spacelab missions.

Enantiomeric separation of type I and type II pyrethroid insecticides with different chiral stationary phases by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography.

PubMed

Zhang, Ping; Yu, Qian; He, Xiulong; Qian, Kun; Xiao, Wei; Xu, Zhifeng; Li, Tian; He, Lin

2018-04-01

The enantiomeric separation of type I (bifenthrin, BF) and type II (lambda-cyhalothrin, LCT) pyrethroid insecticides on Lux Cellulose-1, Lux Cellulose-3, and Chiralpak IC chiral columns was investigated by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Methanol/water or acetonitrile/water was used as mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.8 mL/min. The effects of chiral stationary phase, mobile phase composition, column temperature, and thermodynamic parameters on enantiomer separation were carefully studied. Bifenthrin got a partial separation on Lux Cellulose-1 column and baseline separation on Lux Cellulose-3 column, while LCT enantiomers could be completely separated on both Lux Cellulose-1 and Lux Cellulose-3 columns. Chiralpak IC provided no separation ability for both BF and LCT. Retention factor (k) and selectivity factor (α) decreased with the column temperature increasing from 10°C to 40°C for both BF and LCT enantiomers. Thermodynamic parameters including ∆H and ∆S were also calculated, and the maximum R s were not always obtained at lowest temperature. Furthermore, the quantitative analysis methods for BF and LCT enantiomers in soil and water were also established. Such results provide a new approach for pyrethroid separation under reversed-phase condition and contribute to environmental risk assessment of pyrethroids at enantiomer level. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Separation of Iron Phase and P-Bearing Slag Phase from Gaseous-Reduced, High-Phosphorous Oolitic Iron Ore at 1473 K (1200 °C) by Super Gravity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Jintao; Zhong, Yiwei; Guo, Lei; Guo, Zhancheng

2016-04-01

In situ observation on the morphology evolution and phosphorous migration of gaseous-reduced, high-phosphorous oolitic iron ore during the melting process was carried out with a high-temperature confocal scanning laser microscope. The results showed that 1473 K (1200 °C) was a critical temperature at which the gangue minerals started to form into the slag phase while the iron grains remained in a solid state; in addition, the phosphorus remained in the slag phase. Since the separation of iron grains and P-bearing slag was not achieved at the low temperature under the conventional conditions, separate experiments of the iron phase and the P-bearing slag phase from gaseous-reduced, high-phosphorous oolitic iron ore at 1473 K (1200 °C) by super gravity were carried out in this study. Based on the iron-slag separation by super gravity, phosphorus was removed effectively from the iron phase at the temperature below the melting point of iron. Iron grains moved along the super-gravity direction, joined, and concentrated as the iron phase on the filter, whereas the slag phase containing apatite crystals broke through the barriers of the iron grains and went through the filter. Consequently, increasing the gravity coefficient was definitely beneficial for the separation of the P-bearing slag phase from the iron phase. With the gravity coefficient of G = 1200, the mass fractions of separated slag and iron phases were close to their respective theoretical values, and the mass fraction of MFe in the separated iron phase was up to 98.09 wt pct and that of P was decreased to 0.083 wt pct. The recovery of MFe in the iron phase and that of P in the slag phase were up to 99.19 and 95.83 pct, respectively.

Functional Nanostructured Materials Based on Polymerized Surfactant Liquid Crystal Assemblies Liquid Crystal Assemblies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gin, Douglas

2003-03-01

The development of materials with controlled nanostructures is one of the most important new areas of scientific research in chemistry and engineering. Our research group has developed a novel approach for making nanostructured polymer materials with unique functional properties using liquid crystals as starting materials. In this approach, we design polymerizable organic building blocks based on lyotropic liquid crystals (LLCs) (i.e., amphiphiles or surfactants) that carry, or can accommodate, a functional property of general interest. Through appropriate molecular design, these monomers self-assemble in the presence of water into fluid, yet ordered phase-separated, water-hydrocarbon assemblies with predictable nanoscale geometries. The architectures of these LLC phases can range from stacked two-dimensional lamellae to hexagonally ordered cylindrical channels with uniform feature sizes in the 1-10 nm range. These LLC phases are then photopolymerized into robust polymer networks with preservation of their small-scale structures. This approach allows us to investigate the effect of nanometer-scale architecture on important bulk properties, as well as to engineer chemical environments on the nanometer-scale for several areas of application. In this talk, new functional materials based on the polymerization of the lyotropic inverted hexagonal phase will be presented as one example of our general approach. Issues in the design and photopolymerization of functional amphiphilic monomers that adopt this LC architecture will be discussed. More importantly, the use of the resulting nanostructured polymer networks in three areas of application will be presented: (1) as templates for the synthesis of functional nanocomposites; (2) as tunable heterogeneous catalysts, and (3) as nanoporous membrane and separation media. In particular, issues pertaining to the contribution of nanoscale architecture to the performance of these systems will be highlighted. Opportunities for tailoring the nanoscale chemical environment and architecture of these materials through molecular design will be presented. Finally, the development of methods for controlling macroscopic orientation through processing will also be discussed.

Integrated system design report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

1989-07-01

The primary objective of the integrated system test phase is to demonstrate the commercial potential of a coal fueled diesel engine in its actual operating environment. The integrated system in this project is defined as a coal fueled diesel locomotive. This locomotive, shown on drawing 41D715542, is described in the separate Concept Design Report. The test locomotive will be converted from an existing oil fueled diesel locomotive in three stages, until it nearly emulates the concept locomotive. Design drawings of locomotive components (diesel engine, locomotive, flatcar, etc.) are included.

Formation of porous crystals via viscoelastic phase separation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsurusawa, Hideyo; Russo, John; Leocmach, Mathieu; Tanaka, Hajime

2017-10-01

Viscoelastic phase separation of colloidal suspensions can be interrupted to form gels either by glass transition or by crystallization. With a new confocal microscopy protocol, we follow the entire kinetics of phase separation, from homogeneous phase to different arrested states. For the first time in experiments, our results unveil a novel crystallization pathway to sponge-like porous crystal structures. In the early stages, we show that nucleation requires a structural reorganization of the liquid phase, called stress-driven ageing. Once nucleation starts, we observe that crystallization follows three different routes: direct crystallization of the liquid phase, the Bergeron process, and Ostwald ripening. Nucleation starts inside the reorganized network, but crystals grow past it by direct condensation of the gas phase on their surface, driving liquid evaporation, and producing a network structure different from the original phase separation pattern. We argue that similar crystal-gel states can be formed in monatomic and molecular systems if the liquid phase is slow enough to induce viscoelastic phase separation, but fast enough to prevent immediate vitrification. This provides a novel pathway to form nanoporous crystals of metals and semiconductors without dealloying, which may be important for catalytic, optical, sensing, and filtration applications.

UAS Integration into the NAS Project

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bauer, Jeff

2010-01-01

The goal of the UAS Integration in the NAS Project is to contribute capabilities that reduce technical barriers related to the safety and operational challenges associated with enabling routine UAS access to the NAS This goal will be accomplished through a two-phased approach of system-level integration of key concepts, technologies and/or procedures, and demonstrations of integrated capabilities in an operationally relevant environment. Technical objectives include: PHASE 1: a) Validating the key technical areas identified by this project. System-level analyses, a State of the Art Analysis (SOAA), and a ConOps will identify the challenges and barriers preventing routine UAS access to the NAS. b) Developing a national roadmap and gap analysis identifying specific deliverables in the area of operations, procedures, and technologies that will impact future policy decisions. PHASE 2: a) Provide regulators with a methodology for developing airworthiness requirements for UAS and data to support development of certifications standards and regulatory guidance. b) Provide systems-level integrated testing of concepts and/or capabilities that address barriers to routine access to the NAS. Through simulation and flight testing, address issues including separation assurance, communications requirements, and Pilot Aircraft Interfaces (PAIs) in operationally relevant environments

Charge ordered ferromagnetic phase in La_0.5Ca_0.5MnO_3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mathur, Neil

2003-03-01

Charge order and ferromagnetism should be mutually exclusive in the manganites, because ferromagnetism in these materials is normally promoted by delocalised electrons. Surprisingly, a phase that is both strongly charge ordered and fully ferromagnetic is observed [1] at 90 K in La_0.5Ca_0.5MnO_3, using Fresnel imaging, dark-field TEM and electron holography. This new phase coexists with the two low temperature phases that were already known to coexist in La_0.5Ca_0.5MnO_3. (One of these expected phases is ferromagnetic but not charge-ordered, the other is charge-ordered but not ferromagnetic.) Strain fields could be responsible for the novel microscopic texture presented here - perhaps creating conditions in which nearest neighbour hopping is sufficient to promote ferromagnetism. Similarly, strain fields are believed to cause sub-micron phase separation in the manganites. It therefore seems that the manganites can adapt to their environments over a wide range of length scales [2]. [1] http://xxx.lanl.gov/abs/cond-mat/0209436 [2] Neil Mathur and Peter Littlewood, Physics Today, early 2003.

Phase separation of self-propelled ballistic particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bruss, Isaac R.; Glotzer, Sharon C.

2018-04-01

Self-propelled particles phase-separate into coexisting dense and dilute regions above a critical density. The statistical nature of their stochastic motion lends itself to various theories that predict the onset of phase separation. However, these theories are ill-equipped to describe such behavior when noise becomes negligible. To overcome this limitation, we present a predictive model that relies on two density-dependent timescales: τF, the mean time particles spend between collisions; and τC, the mean lifetime of a collision. We show that only when τF<τC do collisions last long enough to develop a growing cluster and initiate phase separation. Using both analytical calculations and active particle simulations, we measure these timescales and determine the critical density for phase separation in both two and three dimensions.

Suppression of turbulent energy cascade due to phase separation in homogenous binary mixture fluid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takagi, Youhei; Okamoto, Sachiya

2015-11-01

When a multi-component fluid mixture becomes themophysically unstable state by quenching from well-melting condition, phase separation due to spinodal decomposition occurs, and a self-organized structure is formed. During phase separation, free energy is consumed for the structure formation. In our previous report, the phase separation in homogenous turbulence was numerically simulated and the coarsening process of phase separation was discussed. In this study, we extended our numerical model to a high Schmidt number fluid corresponding to actual polymer solution. The governing equations were continuity, Navier-Stokes, and Chan-Hiliard equations as same as our previous report. The flow filed was an isotropic homogenous turbulence, and the dimensionless parameters in the Chan-Hilliard equation were estimated based on the thermophysical condition of binary mixture. From the numerical results, it was found that turbulent energy cascade was drastically suppressed in the inertial subrange by phase separation for the high Schmidt number flow. By using the identification of turbulent and phase separation structure, we discussed the relation between total energy balance and the structures formation processes. This study is financially supported by the Grand-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B) (No. T26820045) from the Ministry of Education, Cul-ture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan.

Temperature-Induced Phase Separation in Molecular Assembly of Nanotubes Comprising Amphiphilic Polypeptide with Poly( N-Ethyl Glycine) in Water by a Hydrophilic-Region Driven Type Mechanism.

PubMed

Hattori, Tetsuya; Itagaki, Toru; Uji, Hirotaka; Kimura, Shunsaku

2018-06-20

Two kinds of amphiphilic polypeptides having different types of hydrophilic polypeptoids, poly(sarcosine)-b-(L-Leu-Aib)6 (ML12) and poly(N-ethyl glycine)-b-(L-Leu-Aib)6 (EL12), were self-assembled via two paths to phase-separated nanotubes. One path was via sticking ML12 nanotubes with EL12 nanotubes, and the other was a preparation from a mixture of ML12 and EL12 in solution. In either case, nanotubes showed temperature-induced phase separation along the long axis, which was observed by two methods of labeling one phase with gold nanoparticles and fluorescence resonance energy transfer between the components. The phase-separation was ascribed to aggregation of poly(N-ethyl glycine) blocks over the cloud point temperature. The addition of 5% trifluoroethanol was needed for the phase separation, because the tight association of the helices in the hydrophobic region should be loosened to allow lateral diffusion of the components to be separated. The phase-separation in molecular assemblies in water based on the hydrophilic-region driven type mechanism therefore requires sophisticated balances of association forces exerting among the hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions of the amphiphilic polypeptoids.

Impinging jet separators for liquid metal magnetohydrodynamic power cycles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bogdanoff, D. W.

1973-01-01

In many liquid metal MHD power, cycles, it is necessary to separate the phases of a high-speed liquid-gas flow. The usual method is to impinge the jet at a glancing angle against a solid surface. These surface separators achieve good separation of the two phases at a cost of a large velocity loss due to friction at the separator surface. This report deals with attempts to greatly reduce the friction loss by impinging two jets against each other. In the crude impinging jet separators tested to date, friction losses were greatly reduced, but the separation of the two phases was found to be much poorer than that achievable with surface separators. Analyses are presented which show many lines of attack (mainly changes in separator geometry) which should yield much better separation for impinging jet separators).

Effect of the thermal environment on the efficiency of packed columns in supercritical fluid chromatography.

PubMed

Zauner, Jordan; Lusk, Ryan; Koski, Steven; Poe, Donald P

2012-11-30

When a packed column is operated at temperatures and pressures near the critical point in supercritical fluid chromatography, the thermal environment in which it is placed has a significant impact on retention and efficiency. We measured the retention factors, plate heights, and related parameters for elution of a test mixture of alkylbenzenes with 5% methanol/95% carbon dioxide mobile phase on a 250 mm × 4.6 mm i.d. column packed with 5-micron Luna-C18 particles. Separations were performed at outlet pressures from 100 to 150 bar and a column oven temperature of 323K. For a bare column thermostated with convective air, significant efficiency losses were observed for outlet pressures equal to or less than 120 bar. These large efficiency losses are attributed to radial temperature gradients. Addition of foam insulation resulted in significant improvements in efficiency. Operating the column in still air using a commercially available column heater provided the best overall performance, with no measurable efficiency loss over the entire range of pressures studied. A reduced plate height of 1.88 was obtained at an optimum flow rate of 3.0 mL/min at 100 bar outlet pressure and with the temperature of the incoming mobile phase set approximately 2.3K above the temperature of the column oven. Retention time repeatability for all three thermal conditions was equal to or less than 0.5% RSD. These results demonstrate that it is possible to perform fast, efficient separations with excellent repeatability using SFC under near-critical conditions if the thermal environment is optimized to minimize the generation of radial temperature gradients. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Observations of liquid-liquid phase separation in several types of secondary organic materials free of inorganic salts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, M.; Liu, P.; Martin, S. T.; Bertram, A. K.; Ham, S.

2016-12-01

Particles consisting of secondary organic materials (SOMs) are ubiquitous in the atmosphere. In order to predict the role of these particles in climate, visibility, and atmospheric chemistry, knowledge of the phase states of the particles is required. However, the phase states of the SOMs are still poorly understood. Herein we focused on liquid-liquid phase separation in different types of SOM particles free of inorganic salts produced by the ozonolysis of β-caryophyllene, ozonolysis of limonene, photo-oxidation of isoprene, and photo-oxidation of toluene. Liquid-liquid phase separation was investigated using optical microscopy and SOM particle mass concentrations ranging from 15 µg·m-3 to 7000 µg·m-3. During humidity cycles, liquid-liquid phase separation was observed in β-caryophyllene-derived SOM and limonene-derived SOM particles while no liquid-liquid phase separation was observed in isoprene-derived SOM and toluene-derived SOM particles. Results from the studies will be presented.

Binary Colloidal Alloy Test-5: Phase Separation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lynch, Matthew; Weitz, David A.; Lu, Peter J.

2008-01-01

The Binary Colloidal Alloy Test - 5: Phase Separation (BCAT-5-PhaseSep) experiment will photograph initially randomized colloidal samples onboard the ISS to determine their resulting structure over time. This allows the scientists to capture the kinetics (evolution) of their samples, as well as the final equilibrium state of each sample. BCAT-5-PhaseSep studies collapse (phase separation rates that impact product shelf-life); in microgravity the physics of collapse is not masked by being reduced to a simple top and bottom phase as it is on Earth.

Gas-Liquid Flows and Phase Separation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

McQuillen, John

2004-01-01

Common issues for space system designers include:Ability to Verify Performance in Normal Gravity prior to Deployment; System Stability; Phase Accumulation & Shedding; Phase Separation; Flow Distribution through Tees & Manifolds Boiling Crisis; Heat Transfer Coefficient; and Pressure Drop.The report concludes:Guidance similar to "A design that operates in a single phase is less complex than a design that has two-phase flow" is not always true considering the amount of effort spent on pressurizing, subcooling and phase separators to ensure single phase operation. While there is still much to learn about two-phase flow in reduced gravity, we have a good start. Focus now needs to be directed more towards system level problems .

Modelling the blast environment and relating this to clinical injury: experience from the 7/7 inquest.

PubMed

Hepper, Alan E; Pope, D J; Bishop, M; Kirkman, E; Sedman, A; Russell, R; Mahoney, P F; Clasper, J

2014-06-01

This paper addresses the computational modelling of a series of specific blast-related incidents and the relationships of clinical and engineering interpretations. The Royal Centre for Defence Medicine and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory were tasked in 2010 by the UK Ministry of Defence to assist the Coroner's inquests into the 7 July 2005 London bombings. A three phase approach was taken. The first phase included an engineering expert in blast effects on structures reviewing photographs of the damaged carriages and bus to give a view on the likely physical effects on people close to the explosions. The second phase was a clinical review of the evidence by military clinicians to assess blast injury in the casualties. The third phase was to model the blast environment by structural dynamics experts to assess likely blast loading on victims to evaluate the potential blast loading on individuals. This loading information was then assessed by physiology experts. Once all teams (engineering, clinical and modelling/physiological) had separately arrived at their conclusions, the information streams were integrated to arrive at a consensus. The aim of this paper is to describe the methodology used as a potential model for others to consider if faced with a similar investigation, and to show the benefit of the transition of military knowledge to a civilian environment. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

Distinction of synthetic dl-α-tocopherol from natural vitamin E (d-α-tocopherol) by reversed-phase liquid chromatography. Enhanced selectivity of a polymeric C18 stationary phase at low temperature and/or at high pressure.

PubMed

Yui, Yuko; Miyazaki, Shota; Ma, Yan; Ohira, Masayoshi; Fiehn, Oliver; Ikegami, Tohru; McCalley, David V; Tanaka, Nobuo

2016-06-10

Separation of diastereomers of dl-α-tocopherol was studied by reversed-phase liquid chromatography using three types of stationary phases, polymeric ODS, polymeric C30, and monomeric ODS. Polymeric ODS stationary phase (Inertsil ODS-P, 3mmID, 20cm) was effective for the separation of the isomers created by the presence of three chiral centers on the alkyl chain of synthetic dl-α-tocopherol. Considerable improvement of the separation of isomers was observed on ODS-P phase at high pressure and at low temperature. Complete separation of four pairs of diastereomers was achieved at 12.0°C, 536bar, while three peaks were observed when the separation was carried out either at 12.0°C at low pressure or at 20°C at 488bar. Higher temperature (30.0°C) with the ODS-P phase resulted in only partial separation of the diastereomers even at high pressure. Only slight resolution was observed for the mixture of diastereomers with the C30 stationary phase (Inertsil C30) at 12.0°C and 441bar, although the stationary phase afforded greater resolution for β- and γ-tocopherol than ODS-P. A monomeric C18 stationary phase did not show any separation at 12.0°C and 463bar. The results suggest that the binding site of the polymeric ODS-P phase is selective for flexible alkyl chains that provided the longest retention for the natural form, (R,R,R) form, and the enantiomer, (S,S,S) form, of dl-α-tocopherol. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Integral equation theory study on the phase separation in star polymer nanocomposite melts.

PubMed

Zhao, Lei; Li, Yi-Gui; Zhong, Chongli

2007-10-21

The polymer reference interaction site model theory is used to investigate phase separation in star polymer nanocomposite melts. Two kinds of spinodal curves were obtained: classic fluid phase boundary for relatively low nanoparticle-monomer attraction strength and network phase boundary for relatively high nanoparticle-monomer attraction strength. The network phase boundaries are much more sensitive with nanoparticle-monomer attraction strength than the fluid phase boundaries. The interference among the arm number, arm length, and nanoparticle-monomer attraction strength was systematically investigated. When the arm lengths are short, the network phase boundary shows a marked shift toward less miscibility with increasing arm number. When the arm lengths are long enough, the network phase boundaries show opposite trends. There exists a crossover arm number value for star polymer nanocomposite melts, below which the network phase separation is consistent with that of chain polymer nanocomposite melts. However, the network phase separation shows qualitatively different behaviors when the arm number is larger than this value.

Liquid-liquid phase separation of freely falling undercooled ternary Fe-Cu-Sn alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, W. L.; Wu, Y. H.; Li, L. H.; Zhai, W.; Zhang, X. M.; Wei, B.

2015-11-01

The active modulation and control of the liquid phase separation for high-temperature metallic systems are still challenging the development of advanced immiscible alloys. Here we present an attempt to manipulate the dynamic process of liquid-liquid phase separation for ternary Fe47.5Cu47.5Sn5 alloy. It was firstly dispersed into numerous droplets with 66 ~ 810 μm diameters and then highly undercooled and rapidly solidified under the containerless microgravity condition inside drop tube. 3-D phase field simulation was performed to explore the kinetic evolution of liquid phase separation. Through regulating the combined effects of undercooling level, phase separation time and Marangoni migration, three types of separation patterns were yielded: monotectic cell, core shell and dispersive structures. The two-layer core-shell morphology proved to be the most stable separation configuration owing to its lowest chemical potential. Whereas the monotectic cell and dispersive microstructures were both thermodynamically metastable transition states because of their highly active energy. The Sn solute partition profiles of Fe-rich core and Cu-rich shell in core-shell structures varied only slightly with cooling rate.

Combined Instrumentation Package COMARS+ for the ExoMars Schiaparelli Lander

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gülhan, Ali; Thiele, Thomas; Siebe, Frank; Kronen, Rolf

2018-02-01

In order to measure aerothermal parameters on the back cover of the ExoMars Schiaparelli lander the instrumentation package COMARS+ was developed by DLR. Consisting of three combined aerothermal sensors, one broadband radiometer sensor and an electronic box the payload provides important data for future missions. The aerothermal sensors called COMARS combine four discrete sensors measuring static pressure, total heat flux, temperature and radiative heat flux at two specific spectral bands. The infrared radiation in a broadband spectral range is measured by the separate broadband radiometer sensor. The electronic box of the payload is used for amplification, conditioning and multiplexing of the sensor signals. The design of the payload was mainly carried out using numerical tools including structural analyses, to simulate the main mechanical loads which occur during launch and stage separation, and thermal analyses to simulate the temperature environment during cruise phase and Mars entry. To validate the design an extensive qualification test campaign was conducted on a set of qualification models. The tests included vibration and shock tests to simulate launch loads and stage separation shocks. Thermal tests under vacuum condition were performed to simulate the thermal environment of the capsule during the different flight phases. Furthermore electromagnetic compatibility tests were conducted to check that the payload is compatible with the electromagnetic environment of the capsule and does not emit electromagnetic energy that could cause electromagnetic interference in other devices. For the sensor heads located on the ExoMars back cover radiation tests were carried out to verify their radiation hardness. Finally the bioburden reduction process was demonstrated on the qualification hardware to show the compliance with the planetary protection requirements. To test the actual heat flux, pressure and infrared radiation measurement under representative conditions, aerothermal tests were performed in an arc-heated wind tunnel facility. After all qualification tests were passed successfully, the acceptance test campaign for the flight hardware at acceptance level included the same tests than the qualification campaign except shock, radiation hardness and aerothermal tests. After passing all acceptance tests, the COMARS+ flight hardware was integrated into the Schiaparelli capsule in January 2015 at the ExoMars integration site at Thales Alenia Space in Turin. Although the landing of Schiaparelli failed, resulting in the loss of most COMARS+ flight data because they were stored on the lander, some data points were directly transmitted to the orbiter at low sampling rate during the entry phase. These data indicate that all COMARS+ sensors delivered useful data until parachute deployment with the exception of the plasma black-out phase. Since measured structure and sensor housing temperatures are far below predicted pre-flight values, a new calibration using COMARS+ spare sensors at temperatures below 0 °C is necessary.

Extent and mechanism of phase separation during the extrusion of calcium phosphate pastes.

PubMed

O'Neill, Rory; McCarthy, Helen O; Cunningham, Eoin; Montufar, Edgar; Ginebra, Maria-Pau; Wilson, D Ian; Lennon, Alex; Dunne, Nicholas

2016-02-01

The aim of this study was to increase understanding of the mechanism and dominant drivers influencing phase separation during ram extrusion of calcium phosphate (CaP) paste for orthopaedic applications. The liquid content of extrudate was determined, and the flow of liquid and powder phases within the syringe barrel during extrusion were observed, subject to various extrusion parameters. Increasing the initial liquid-to-powder mass ratio, LPR, (0.4-0.45), plunger rate (5-20 mm/min), and tapering the barrel exit (45°-90°) significantly reduced the extent of phase separation. Phase separation values ranged from (6.22 ± 0.69 to 18.94 ± 0.69 %). However altering needle geometry had no significant effect on phase separation. From powder tracing and liquid content determination, static zones of powder and a non-uniform liquid distribution was observed within the barrel. Measurements of extrudate and paste LPR within the barrel indicated that extrudate LPR remained constant during extrusion, while LPR of paste within the barrel decreased steadily. These observations indicate the mechanism of phase separation was located within the syringe barrel. Therefore phase separation can be attributed to either; (1) the liquid being forced downstream by an increase in pore pressure as a result of powder consolidation due to the pressure exerted by the plunger or (2) the liquid being drawn from paste within the barrel, due to suction, driven by dilation of the solids matrix at the barrel exit. Differentiating between these two mechanisms is difficult; however results obtained suggest that suction is the dominant phase separation mechanism occurring during extrusion of CaP paste.

Comparing the selectivity and chiral separation of d- and l- fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl chloride protected amino acids in analytical high performance liquid chromatography and supercritical fluid chromatography; evaluating throughput, economic and environmental impact.

PubMed

Vera, C M; Shock, D; Dennis, G R; Farrell, W; Shalliker, R A

2017-04-14

The chiral separation of d- and l- FMOC amino acids was undertaken using the Lux Cellulose-1 polysaccharide based chiral column in HPLC (normal phase and reverse phase) and SFC conditions. This was done to compare the relative selectivity and separation between the three separation modes and to evaluate the potential benefits of SFC separations with regards to resolution, throughput, economic and environmental impact. It was established that the separation of d- and l- FMOC amino acids in SFC displayed behaviours that were similar to both normal phase and reversed phase, rather than distinctly one or the other. Additionally, although reversed phase conditions yielded significantly higher resolution values between enantiomers across the range of amino acids studied, improvements in selectivity in SFC via the introduction of higher concentrations of formic acid in the mobile phase allowed for better resolution per unit of time. Moreover since the SFC mobile phase is composed mostly of recyclable CO 2 , there is a reduction in organic solvent consumption, which minimises the economic and environmental costs. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Nanoscopy of Phase Separation in InxGa1-xN Alloys.

PubMed

Abate, Yohannes; Seidlitz, Daniel; Fali, Alireza; Gamage, Sampath; Babicheva, Viktoriia; Yakovlev, Vladislav S; Stockman, Mark I; Collazo, Ramon; Alden, Dorian; Dietz, Nikolaus

2016-09-07

Phase separations in ternary/multinary semiconductor alloys is a major challenge that limits optical and electronic internal device efficiency. We have found ubiquitous local phase separation in In1-xGaxN alloys that persists to nanoscale spatial extent by employing high-resolution nanoimaging technique. We lithographically patterned InN/sapphire substrates with nanolayers of In1-xGaxN down to few atomic layers thick that enabled us to calibrate the near-field infrared response of the semiconductor nanolayers as a function of composition and thickness. We also developed an advanced theoretical approach that considers the full geometry of the probe tip and all the sample and substrate layers. Combining experiment and theory, we identified and quantified phase separation in epitaxially grown individual nanoalloys. We found that the scale of the phase separation varies widely from particle to particle ranging from all Ga- to all In-rich regions and covering everything in between. We have found that between 20 and 25% of particles show some level of Ga-rich phase separation over the entire sample region, which is in qualitative agreement with the known phase diagram of In1-xGaxN system.

Low density microcellular foams

DOEpatents

Aubert, J.H.; Clough, R.L.; Curro, J.G.; Quintana, C.A.; Russick, E.M.; Shaw, M.T.

1985-10-02

Low density, microporous polymer foams are provided by a process which comprises forming a solution of polymer and a suitable solvent followed by rapid cooling of the solution to form a phase-separated system and freeze the phase-separated system. The phase-separated system comprises a polymer phase and a solvent phase, each of which is substantially continuous within the other. The morphology of the polymer phase prior to and subsequent to freezing determine the morphology of the resultant foam. Both isotropic and anisotropic foams can be produced. If isotropic foams are produced, the polymer and solvent are tailored such that the solution spontaneously phase-separates prior to the point at which any component freezes. The morphology of the resultant polymer phase determines the morphology of the reusltant foam and the morphology of the polymer phase is retained by cooling the system at a rate sufficient to freeze one or both components of the system before a change in morphology can occur. Anisotropic foams are produced by forming a solution of polymer and solvent that will not phase separate prior to freezing of one or both components of the solution. In such a process, the solvent typically freezes before phase separation occurs. The morphology of the resultant frozen two-phase system determines the morphology of the resultant foam. The process involves subjecting the solution to essentially one-dimensional cooling. Foams having a density of less than 0.1 g/cc and a uniform cell size of less than 10 ..mu..m and a volume such that the foams have a length greater than 1 cm are provided.

Origin of Reversible Photoinduced Phase Separation in Hybrid Perovskites.

PubMed

Bischak, Connor G; Hetherington, Craig L; Wu, Hao; Aloni, Shaul; Ogletree, D Frank; Limmer, David T; Ginsberg, Naomi S

2017-02-08

The distinct physical properties of hybrid organic-inorganic materials can lead to unexpected nonequilibrium phenomena that are difficult to characterize due to the broad range of length and time scales involved. For instance, mixed halide hybrid perovskites are promising materials for optoelectronics, yet bulk measurements suggest the halides reversibly phase separate upon photoexcitation. By combining nanoscale imaging and multiscale modeling, we find that the nature of halide demixing in these materials is distinct from macroscopic phase separation. We propose that the localized strain induced by a single photoexcited charge interacting with the soft, ionic lattice is sufficient to promote halide phase separation and nucleate a light-stabilized, low-bandgap, ∼8 nm iodide-rich cluster. The limited extent of this polaron is essential to promote demixing because by contrast bulk strain would simply be relaxed. Photoinduced phase separation is therefore a consequence of the unique electromechanical properties of this hybrid class of materials. Exploiting photoinduced phase separation and other nonequilibrium phenomena in hybrid materials more generally could expand applications in sensing, switching, memory, and energy storage.

A Dusty Coma Model of Comet Hyakutake

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boice, D. C.; Benkhoff, J.

1996-09-01

We present a multifluid, hydrodynamic model for the gas, dust, and plasma flow in a cometary coma appropriate for Comet Hyakutake. The model accounts for three sources of gas release: sublimation from surface ices, transport of gas from subsurface regions through the surface, and release of gas from dust in the coma. The simulations are based on a spherically symmetric neutral coma model with detailed photo and gas-phase chemistry and dust entrainment by the gas. The model includes a separate energy balance for the electrons, separate flow of the neutral gas, fast neutral atomic and molecular hydrogen, and dust entrainment with fragmentation. The simulations allow a study of how certain features of a cometary coma, e.g., spatial distributions of gas-phase species and dust of various sizes, change with heliocentric distance. Special attention is given to observations of hydrocarbon and sulphur species. In comparison with observations, the model can be used to characterize the environment surrounding Hyakutake and aid in assimilating a variety of diverse observations of this bright comet. A complete description of the model and more extensive results with comparisons to observations where possible will be presented.

Solar fuels generator

DOEpatents

Lewis, Nathan S.; Spurgeon, Joshua M.

2016-10-25

The solar fuels generator includes an ionically conductive separator between a gaseous first phase and a second phase. A photoanode uses one or more components of the first phase to generate cations during operation of the solar fuels generator. A cation conduit is positioned provides a pathway along which the cations travel from the photoanode to the separator. The separator conducts the cations. A second solid cation conduit conducts the cations from the separator to a photocathode.

Separation by solvent extraction

DOEpatents

Holt, Jr., Charles H.

1976-04-06

17. A process for separating fission product values from uranium and plutonium values contained in an aqueous solution, comprising adding an oxidizing agent to said solution to secure uranium and plutonium in their hexavalent state; contacting said aqueous solution with a substantially water-immiscible organic solvent while agitating and maintaining the temperature at from -1.degree. to -2.degree. C. until the major part of the water present is frozen; continuously separating a solid ice phase as it is formed; separating a remaining aqueous liquid phase containing fission product values and a solvent phase containing plutonium and uranium values from each other; melting at least the last obtained part of said ice phase and adding it to said separated liquid phase; and treating the resulting liquid with a new supply of solvent whereby it is practically depleted of uranium and plutonium.

Ordering-separation phase transitions in a Co3V alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ustinovshchikov, Yu. I.

2017-01-01

The microstructure of the Co3V alloy formed by heat treatment at various temperatures is studied by transmission electron microscopy. Two ordering-separation phase transitions are revealed at temperatures of 400-450 and 800°C. At the high-temperature phase separation, the microstructure consists of bcc vanadium particles and an fcc solid solution; at the low-temperature phase separation, the microstructure is cellular. In the ordering range, the microstructure consists of chemical compound Co3V particles chaotically arranged in the solid solution. The structure of the Co3V alloy is shown not to correspond to the structures indicated in the Co-V phase diagram at any temperatures.

Fluid Physics and Transport Phenomena in a Simulated Reduced Gravity Environment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lipa, J.

2004-01-01

We describe a ground-based apparatus that allows the cancellation of gravity on a fluid using magnetic forces. The present system was designed for liquid oxygen studies over the range 0.001 - 5 g s. This fluid is an essential component of any flight mission using substantial amounts of liquid propellant, especially manned missions. The apparatus has been used to reduce the hydrostatic compression near the oxygen critical point and to demonstrate inverted phase separation. It could also be used to study pool boiling and two-phase heat transfer in Martian, Lunar or near-zero gravity, as well as phenomena such as Marangoni flow and convective instabilities. These studies would contribute directly to the reliability and optimization of the Moon and Mars flight programs.

Design of analytical systems based on functionality of doped ice.

PubMed

Okada, Tetsuo

2014-01-01

Ice plays an important role for the circulations of some compounds in the global environment. Both the ice surface and the liquid phase developed in a frozen solution are involved in such reactions of the molecules of environmental importance. This leads to the idea that ice can be used to design novel analytical reaction systems. We devised ice chromatography, in which ice particles are used as the liquid chromatographic stationary phase, and have subsequently developed various analytical systems utilizing the functionality of ice. This review focuses our attention on the analytical facets of ice containing impurities such as salts; hereinafter, we call this "doped ice". The design of novel separation systems and use as microreactors with doped ice are mainly discussed.

Formation of ion clusters in the phase separated structures of neutral-charged polymer blends

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kwon, Ha-Kyung; Olvera de La Cruz, Monica

2015-03-01

Polyelectrolyte blends, consisting of at least one charged species, are promising candidate materials for fuel cell membranes, for their mechanical stability and high selectivity for proton conduction. The phase behavior of the blends is important to understand, as this can significantly affect the performance of the device. The phase behavior is controlled by χN, the Flory-Huggins parameter multiplied by the number of mers, as well as the electrostatic interactions between the charged backbone and the counterions. It has recently been shown that local ionic correlations, incorporated via liquid state (LS) theory, enhance phase separation of the blend, even in the absence of polymer interactions. In this study, we show phase diagrams of neutral-charged polymer blends including ionic correlations via LS theory. In addition to enhanced phase separation at low χN, the blends show liquid-liquid phase separation at high electrostatic interaction strengths. Above the critical strength, the charged polymer phase separates into ion-rich and ion-poor regions, resulting in the formation of ion clusters within the charged polymer phase. This can be shown by the appearance of multiple spinodal and critical points, indicating the coexistence of several charge separated phases. This work was performed under the following financial assistance award 70NANB14H012 from U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology as part of the Center for Hierarchical Materials Design (CHiMaD).

Advances in Spacecraft Brine Water Recovery: Development of a Radial Vaned Capillary Drying Tray

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Callahan, Michael R.; Sargusingh, Miriam J.; Pickering, Karen D.; Weislogel, Mark M.

2014-01-01

Technology improvements in the recovery of water from brine are critical to establishing closed-loop water recovery systems, enabling long-duration missions, and achieving a sustained human presence in space. A genre of 'in-place drying' brine water recovery concepts, collectively referred to herein as Brine Residual In-Containment, are under development. These brine water recovery concepts aim to increase the overall robustness and reliability of the brine recovery process by performing drying inside the container used for final disposal of the solid residual waste. Implementation of in-place drying techniques have been demonstrated for applications where gravity is present and phase separation occurs naturally by buoyancy-induced effects. In this work, a microgravity-compatible analogue of the gravity-driven phase separation process is considered by exploiting capillarity in the form of surface wetting, surface tension, and container geometry. The proposed design consists of a series of planar radial vanes aligned about a central slotted core. Preliminary testing of the fundamental geometry in a reduced gravity environment has shown the device to spontaneously fill and saturate rapidly, thereby creating a free surface from which evaporation and phase separation can occur similar to a terrestrial-like 'cylindrical pool' of fluid. Mathematical modeling and analysis of the design suggest predictable rates of filling and stability of fluid containment as a function of relevant system dimensions; e.g., number of vanes, vane length, width, and thickness. A description of the proposed capillary design solution is presented along with preliminary results from testing, modeling, and analysis of the system.

Advancements in Spacecraft Brine Water Recovery: Development of a Radial Vaned Capillary Drying Tray

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Callahan, Michael R.; Sargusingh, Miriam J.; Pickerin, Karen D.; Weislogel, Mark M.

2013-01-01

Technology improvements in the recovery of water from brine are critical to establishing closedloop water recovery systems, enabling long duration missions, and achieving a sustained human presence in space. A genre of 'in-place drying' brine water recovery concepts, collectively referred to herein as Brine Residual In-Containment (BRIC), are under development which aim to increase the overall robustness and reliability of the brine recovery process by performing drying inside the container used for final disposal of the solid residual waste. Implementation of in-place drying techniques have been demonstrated for applications where gravity is present and phase separation occurs naturally by buoyancy induced effects. In this work, a microgravity compatible analogue of the gravity-driven phase separation process is considered by exploiting capillarity in the form of surface wetting, surface tension, and container geometry. The proposed design consists of a series of planar radial vanes aligned about a central slotted core. Preliminary testing of the fundamental geometry in a reduced gravity environment has shown the device to spontaneously fill and saturate rapidly creating a free surface from which evaporation and phase separation can occur similar to a 1-g like 'cylindrical pool' of fluid. Mathematical modeling and analysis of the design suggest predictable rates of filling and stability of fluid containment as a function of relevant system dimensions, e.g., number of vanes, vane length, width, and thickness. A description of the proposed capillary design solution is presented along with preliminary results from testing, modeling and analysis of the system.

Phase Separation in Solutions of Monoclonal Antibodies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Benedek, George; Wang, Ying; Lomakin, Aleksey; Latypov, Ramil

2012-02-01

We report the observation of liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) in a solution of humanized monoclonal antibodies, IgG2, and the effects of human serum albumin, a major blood protein, on this phase separation. We find a significant reduction of phase separation temperature in the presence of albumin, and a preferential partitioning of the albumin into the antibody-rich phase. We provide a general thermodynamic analysis of the antibody-albumin mixture phase diagram and relate its features to the magnitude of the effective inter-protein interactions. Our analysis suggests that additives (HSA in this report), which have moderate attraction with antibody molecules, may be used to forestall undesirable protein condensation in antibody solutions. Our findings are relevant to understanding the stability of pharmaceutical solutions of antibodies and the mechanisms of cryoglobulinemia.

Lo/Ld phase coexistence modulation induced by GM1.

PubMed

Puff, Nicolas; Watanabe, Chiho; Seigneuret, Michel; Angelova, Miglena I; Staneva, Galya

2014-08-01

Lipid rafts are assumed to undergo biologically important size-modulations from nanorafts to microrafts. Due to the complexity of cellular membranes, model systems become important tools, especially for the investigation of the factors affecting "raft-like" Lo domain size and the search for Lo nanodomains as precursors in Lo microdomain formation. Because lipid compositional change is the primary mechanism by which a cell can alter membrane phase behavior, we studied the effect of the ganglioside GM1 concentration on the Lo/Ld lateral phase separation in PC/SM/Chol/GM1 bilayers. GM1 above 1mol % abolishes the formation of the micrometer-scale Lo domains observed in GUVs. However, the apparently homogeneous phase observed in optical microscopy corresponds in fact, within a certain temperature range, to a Lo/Ld lateral phase separation taking place below the optical resolution. This nanoscale phase separation is revealed by fluorescence spectroscopy, including C12NBD-PC self-quenching and Laurdan GP measurements, and is supported by Gaussian spectral decomposition analysis. The temperature of formation of nanoscale Lo phase domains over an Ld phase is determined, and is shifted to higher values when the GM1 content increases. A "morphological" phase diagram could be made, and it displays three regions corresponding respectively to Lo/Ld micrometric phase separation, Lo/Ld nanometric phase separation, and a homogeneous Ld phase. We therefore show that a lipid only-based mechanism is able to control the existence and the sizes of phase-separated membrane domains. GM1 could act on the line tension, "arresting" domain growth and thereby stabilizing Lo nanodomains. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Study Of Phase Separation In Glass

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Neilson, George F.; Weinberg, Michael C.; Smith, Gary L.

1989-01-01

Report describes an experimental study of effect of hydroxide content on phase separation in soda/silica glasses. Ordinary and gel glasses melted at 1,565 degree C, and melts stirred periodically. "Wet" glasses produced by passing bubbles of N2 saturated with water through melts; "dry" glasses prepared in similar manner, except N2 dried before passage through melts. Analyses of compositions of glasses performed by atomic-absorption and index-of-refraction measurements. Authors conclude hydroxide speeds up phase separation, regardless of method (gel or ordinary) by which glass prepared. Eventually helps material scientists to find ways to control morphology of phase separation.

Polymerization Behavior of Hydrophilic-Rich Phase of Dentin Adhesive

PubMed Central

Abedin, F.; Parthasarathy, R.; Misra, A.; Spencer, P.

2015-01-01

The 2-fold objectives of this study were 1) to understand whether model hydrophobic- and hydrophilic-rich phase mimics of dentin adhesive polymerize similarly and 2) to determine which factor, the dimethacrylate component, bisphenol A glycerolate dimethacrylate (BisGMA) or photoinitiator concentration, has greater influence on the polymerization of the hydrophilic-rich phase mimic. Current dentin adhesives are sensitive to moisture, as evidenced by nanoleakage in the hybrid layer and phase separation into hydrophobic- and hydrophilic-rich phases. Phase separation leads to limited availability of the cross-linkable dimethacrylate monomer and hydrophobic photoinitiators within the hydrophilic-rich phase. Model hydrophobic-rich phase was prepared as a single-phase solution by adding maximum wt% deuterium oxide (D2O) to HEMA/BisGMA neat resins containing 45 wt% 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA). Mimics of the hydrophilic-rich phase were prepared similarly but using HEMA/BisGMA neat resins containing 95, 99, 99.5, and 100 wt% HEMA. The hydrophilic-rich mimics were prepared with standard or reduced photoinitiator content. The photoinitiator systems were camphorquinone (CQ)/ethyl 4-(dimethylamino)benzoate (EDMAB) with or without [3-(3, 4-dimethyl-9-oxo-9H-thioxanthen-2-yloxy)-2-hydroxypropyl]trimethylammonium chloride (QTX). The polymerization kinetics was monitored using a Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer with a time-resolved collection mode. The hydrophobic-rich phase exhibited a significantly higher polymerization rate compared with the hydrophilic-rich phase. Postpolymerization resulting in the secondary rate maxima was observed for the hydrophilic-rich mimic. The hydrophilic-rich mimics with standard photoinitiator concentration but varying cross-linker (BisGMA) content showed postpolymerization and a substantial degree of conversion. In contrast, the corresponding formulations with reduced photoinitiator concentrations exhibited lower polymerization and inhibition/delay of postpolymerization within 2 h. Under conditions relevant to the wet, oral environment, photoinitiator content plays an important role in the polymerization of the hydrophilic-rich phase mimic. Since the hydrophilic-rich phase is primarily water and monomethacrylate monomer (e.g., HEMA as determined previously), substantial polymerization is important to limit the potential toxic response from HEMA leaching into the surrounding tissues. PMID:25576471

Improved Separations of Proteins and Sugar Derivatives Using the Small-Scale Cross-Axis Coil Planet Centrifuge with Locular Multilayer Coiled Columns

PubMed Central

Shinomiya, Kazufusa; Umezawa, Motoki; Seki, Manami; Nitta, Jun; Zaima, Kazumasa; Harikai, Naoki; Ito, Yoichiro

2016-01-01

1) Background Countercurrent chromatography (CCC) is liquid-liquid partition chromatography without using a solid support matrix. This technique requires further improvement of partition efficiency and shortening theseparation time. 2) Methods The locular multilayer coils modified with and without mixer glass beads were developed for the separation of proteins and 4-methylumbelliferyl (MU) sugar derivatives using the small-scale cross-axis coil planet centrifuge. 3) Results Proteins were well separated from each other and the separation was improved at a low flow rate of the mobile phase. On the other hand, 4-MU sugar derivatives were sufficiently resolved with short separation time at a highflow rate of the mobile phase under satisfactory stationary phase retention. 4) Conclusion Effective separations were achieved using the locular multilayer coil for proteins with aqueous-aqueous polymer phase systems and for 4-MU sugar derivatives with organic-aqueous two-phase solvent systems by inserting a glass bead into each locule. PMID:27891507

Phase behavior of casein micelles/exocellular polysaccharide mixtures: Experiment and theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tuinier, R.; de Kruif, C. G.

1999-05-01

Dispersions of casein micelles and an exocellular polysaccharide (EPS), obtained from Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris NIZO B40 EPS, show a phase separation. The phase separation is of the colloidal gas-liquid type. We have determined a phase diagram that describes the separation of skim milk with EPS into a casein-micelle rich phase and an EPS rich phase. We compare the phase diagram with those calculated from theories developed by Vrij, and by Lekkerkerker and co-workers, showing that the experimental phase boundary can be predicted quite well. From dynamic light scattering measurements of the self-diffusion of the casein micelles in the presence of EPS the spinodal could be located and it corresponds with the experimental phase boundary.

Rocket experiment METS - Microwave Energy Transmission in Space

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaya, N.; Matsumoto, H.; Akiba, R.

A Microwave Energy Transmission in Space (METS) rocket experiment is being planned by the Solar Power Satellite Working Group at the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science in Japan for the forthcoming International Space Year, 1992. The METS experiment is an advanced version of the previous MINIX rocket experiment (Matsumoto et al., 1990). This paper describes a conceptual design of the METS rocket experiment. It aims at verifying a newly developed microwave energy transmission system for space use and to study nonlinear effects of the microwave energy beam in the space plasma environment. A high power microwave of 936 W will be transmitted by the new phased-array antenna from a mother rocket to a separated target (daughter rocket) through the ionospheric plasma. The active phased-array system has a capability of focusing the microwave energy around any spatial point by controlling the digital phase shifters individually.

Demixing of polymers under nanoimprinting process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Zhen

Polymer blend has been an important area in polymer science for decades. The knowledge of polymer blend in bulk is well established and technologies based on it have created products ubiquitous in our daily life. More intriguing problem arises when the phase separation of a polymer blend occurs under physical confinement. In this thesis, we investigated the effect of interfacial interactions between constituent polymers and confinement environment on phase evolution. Specifically, morphologies of thin films of binary polymer blends were examined on chemically homogenous substrates (preferential surface, neutral surface), on chemical pattern, between two parallel rigid substrates, and under thermal embossing/step-and-flash nanoimprint lithography conditions. We found that preferential wetting of selective component dominates the phase evolution, which can be suppressed by the use of neutral surfaces or external pressure. By manipulating these factors, a wide range of unique non-equilibrium micro or nanostructures can thus be achieved.

Use of a parallel artificial membrane system to evaluate passive absorption and elimination in small fish.

PubMed

Kwon, Jung-Hwan; Katz, Lynn E; Liljestrand, Howard M

2006-12-01

A parallel artificial lipid membrane system was developed to mimic passive mass transfer of hydrophobic organic chemicals in fish. In this physical model system, a membrane filter-supported lipid bilayer separates two aqueous phases that represent the external and internal aqueous environments of fish. To predict bioconcentration kinetics in small fish with this system, literature absorption and elimination rates were analyzed with an allometric diffusion model to quantify the mass transfer resistances in the aqueous and lipid phases of fish. The effect of the aqueous phase mass transfer resistance was controlled by adjusting stirring intensity to mimic bioconcentration rates in small fish. Twenty-three simple aromatic hydrocarbons were chosen as model compounds for purposes of evaluation. For most of the selected chemicals, literature absorption/elimination rates fall into the range predicted from measured membrane permeabilities and elimination rates of the selected chemicals determined by the diffusion model system.

Chiral magnetic microspheres purified by centrifugal field flow fractionation and microspheres magnetic chiral chromatography for benzoin racemate separation

PubMed Central

Tian, Ailin; Qi, Jing; Liu, Yating; Wang, Fengkang; Ito, Yoichiro; Wei, Yun

2013-01-01

Separation of enantiomers still remains a challenge due to their identical physical and chemical properties in a chiral environment, and the research on specific chiral selector along with separation techniques continues to be conducted to resolve individual enantiomers. In our laboratory the promising magnetic chiral microspheres Fe3O4@SiO2@cellulose-2, 3-bis (3, 5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) have been developed to facilitate the resolution using both its magnetic property and chiral recognition ability. In our present studies this magnetic chiral selector was first purified by centrifuge field flow fractionation, and then used to separate benzoin racemate by a chromatographic method. Uniform-sized and masking-impurity-removed magnetic chiral selector was first obtained by field flow fractionation with ethanol through a spiral column mounted on the type-J planetary centrifuge, and using the purified magnetic chiral selector, the final chromatographic separation of benzoin racemate was successfully performed by eluting with ethanol through a coiled tube (wound around the cylindrical magnet to retain the magnetic chiral selector as a stationary phase) submerged in dry ice. In addition, an external magnetic field facilitates the recycling of the magnetic chiral selector. PMID:23891368

Separation and determination of estrogen in the water environment by high performance liquid chromatography-fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

PubMed Central

Zheng, Bei; Li, Wentao; Li, Hongyan; Liu, Lin; Lei, Pei; Ge, Xiaopeng; Yu, Zhiyong; Zhou, Yiqi

2016-01-01

The components for connecting high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were investigated to determine estrogen in the water environment, including heating for atomization, solvent removal, sample deposition, drive control, spectrum collection, chip swap, cleaning and drying. Results showed that when the atomization temperature was increased to 388 K, the interference of mobile phase components (methanol, H2O, acetonitrile, and NaH2PO4) were completely removed in the IR measurement of estrogen, with 0.999 of similarity between IR spectra obtained after separation and corresponding to the standard IR spectra. In experiments with varying HPLC injection volumes, high similarity for IR spectra was obtained at 20 ul injection volume at 0.01 mg/L BPA while a useful IR spectrum for 10 ng/L BPA was obtained at 80 ul injection volume. In addition, estrogen concentrations in the natural water samples were calculated semi-quantitatively from the peak intensities of IR spectrum in the mid-infrared region. PMID:27577974

Separation and determination of estrogen in the water environment by high performance liquid chromatography-fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, Bei; Li, Wentao; Li, Hongyan; Liu, Lin; Lei, Pei; Ge, Xiaopeng; Yu, Zhiyong; Zhou, Yiqi

2016-08-01

The components for connecting high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were investigated to determine estrogen in the water environment, including heating for atomization, solvent removal, sample deposition, drive control, spectrum collection, chip swap, cleaning and drying. Results showed that when the atomization temperature was increased to 388 K, the interference of mobile phase components (methanol, H2O, acetonitrile, and NaH2PO4) were completely removed in the IR measurement of estrogen, with 0.999 of similarity between IR spectra obtained after separation and corresponding to the standard IR spectra. In experiments with varying HPLC injection volumes, high similarity for IR spectra was obtained at 20 ul injection volume at 0.01 mg/L BPA while a useful IR spectrum for 10 ng/L BPA was obtained at 80 ul injection volume. In addition, estrogen concentrations in the natural water samples were calculated semi-quantitatively from the peak intensities of IR spectrum in the mid-infrared region.

A Physical Model for Three-Phase Compaction in Silicic Magma Reservoirs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huber, Christian; Parmigiani, Andrea

2018-04-01

We develop a model for phase separation in magma reservoirs containing a mixture of silicate melt, crystals, and fluids (exsolved volatiles). The interplay between the three phases controls the dynamics of phase separation and consequently the chemical and physical evolution of magma reservoirs. The model we propose is based on the two-phase damage theory approach of Bercovici et al. (2001, https://doi.org/10.1029/2000JB900430) and Bercovici and Ricard (2003, https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-246X.2003.01854.x) because it offers the leverage of considering interface (in the macroscopic limit) between phases that can deform depending on the mechanical work and phase changes taking place locally in the magma. Damage models also offer the advantage that pressure is defined uniquely to each phase and does not need to be equal among phases, which will enable us to consider, in future studies, the large capillary pressure at which fluids are mobilized in mature, crystal-rich, magma bodies. In this first analysis of three-phase compaction, we solve the three-phase compaction equations numerically for a simple 1-D problem where we focus on the effect of fluids on the efficiency of melt-crystal separation considering the competition between viscous and buoyancy stresses only. We contrast three sets of simulations to explore the behavior of three-phase compaction, a melt-crystal reference compaction scenario (two-phase compaction), a three-phase scenario without phase changes, and finally a three-phase scenario with a parameterized second boiling (crystallization-induced exsolution). The simulations show a dramatic difference between two-phase (melt crystals) and three-phase (melt-crystals-exsolved volatiles) compaction-driven phase separation. We find that the presence of a lighter, significantly less viscous fluid hinders melt-crystal separation.

Phenomenological model and phase behavior of saturated and unsaturated lipids and cholesterol.

PubMed

Putzel, G Garbès; Schick, M

2008-11-15

We present a phenomenological theory for the phase behavior of ternary mixtures of cholesterol and saturated and unsaturated lipids, one that describes both liquid and gel phases. It leads to the following description of the mechanism of the phase behavior: In a binary system of the lipids, phase separation occurs when the saturated chains are well ordered, as in the gel phase, simply due to packing effects. In the liquid phase, the saturated ones are not sufficiently well ordered for separation to occur. The addition of cholesterol, however, increases the saturated lipid order to the point that phase separation is once again favorable. Our theory addresses this last mechanism-the means by which cholesterol-mediated ordering of membrane lipids leads to liquid-liquid immiscibility. It produces, for the system above the main chain transition of the saturated lipid, phase diagrams in which there can be liquid-liquid phase separation in the ternary system but not in any of the binary ones, while below that temperature it yields the more common phase diagram in which a gel phase, rich in saturated lipid, appears in addition to the two liquid phases.

Separation of gas from liquid in a two-phase flow system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hayes, L. G.; Elliott, D. G.

1973-01-01

Separation system causes jets which leave two-phase nozzles to impinge on each other, so that liquid from jets tends to coalesce in center of combined jet streams while gas phase is forced to outer periphery. Thus, because liquid coalescence is achieved without resort to separation with solid surfaces, cycle efficiency is improved.

Microscopic origin of the magnetoelectronic phase separation in Sr-doped LaCoO3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Németh, Zoltán; Szabó, András; Knížek, Karel; Sikora, Marcin; Chernikov, Roman; Sas, Norbert; Bogdán, Csilla; Nagy, Dénes Lajos; Vankó, György

2013-07-01

The nanoscopic magnetoelectronic phase separation in doped La1-xSrxCoO3 perovskites was studied with local probes. The phase separation is directly observed by Mössbauer spectroscopy in the studied doping range of 0.05 ≤ x ≤ 0.25 both at room temperature and in the low-temperature magnetic phase. Extended with current synchrotron-based x-ray spectroscopies, these data help to characterize the volume as well as the local electric and magnetic properties of the distinct phases. A simple model based on a random distribution of the doping Sr ions describes well both the evolution of the separated phases and the variation of the Co spin state. The experiments suggest that Sr doping initiates small droplets and a high degree of doping-driven cobalt spin-state transition, while the Sr-free second phase vanishes rapidly with increasing Sr content.

Cell separations and the demixing of aqueous two phase polymer solutions in microgravity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brooks, Donald E.; Bamberger, Stephan; Harris, J. M.; Van Alstine, James M.

1991-01-01

Partition in phase separated aqueous polymer solutions is a cell separation procedure thought to be adversely influenced by gravity. In preparation for performing cell partitioning experiments in space, and to provide general information concerning the demixing of immiscible liquids in low gravity, a series of phase separated aqueous polymer solutions have been flown on two shuttle flights. Fluorocarbon oil and water emulsions were also flown on the second flight. The aqueous polymer emulsions, which in one g demix largely by sedimentation and convection due to the density differences between the phases, demixed more slowly than on the ground and the final disposition of the phases was determined by the wetting of the container wall by the phases. The demixing behavior and kinetics were influenced by the phase volume ratio, physical properties of the systems and chamber wall interaction. The average domain size increased linearly with time as the systems demixed.

Rationalizing the light-induced phase separation of mixed halide organic–inorganic perovskites

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Draguta, Sergiu; Sharia, Onise; Yoon, Seog Joon

Mixed halide hybrid perovskites, CH 3NH 3Pb(I 1-xBrx) 3' represent good candidates for lowcost, high efficiency photovoltaic, and light-emitting devices. Their band gaps can be tuned from 1.6 to 2.3 eV, by changing the halide anion identity. Unfortunately, mixed halide perovskites undergo phase separation under illumination. This leads to iodide- and bromide-rich domains along with corresponding changes to the material’s optical/electrical response. Here, using combined spectroscopic measurements and theoretical modeling, we quantitatively rationalize all microscopic processes that occur during phase separation. Our model suggests that the driving force behind phase separation is the bandgap reduction of iodiderich phases. It additionallymore » explains observed non-linear intensity dependencies, as well as self-limited growth of iodide-rich domains. Most importantly, our model reveals that mixed halide perovskites can be stabilized against phase separation by deliberately engineering carrier diffusion lengths and injected carrier densities.« less

Rationalizing the light-induced phase separation of mixed halide organic–inorganic perovskites

DOE PAGES

Draguta, Sergiu; Sharia, Onise; Yoon, Seog Joon; ...

2017-08-04

Mixed halide hybrid perovskites, CH 3NH 3Pb(I 1-xBrx) 3' represent good candidates for lowcost, high efficiency photovoltaic, and light-emitting devices. Their band gaps can be tuned from 1.6 to 2.3 eV, by changing the halide anion identity. Unfortunately, mixed halide perovskites undergo phase separation under illumination. This leads to iodide- and bromide-rich domains along with corresponding changes to the material’s optical/electrical response. Here, using combined spectroscopic measurements and theoretical modeling, we quantitatively rationalize all microscopic processes that occur during phase separation. Our model suggests that the driving force behind phase separation is the bandgap reduction of iodiderich phases. It additionallymore » explains observed non-linear intensity dependencies, as well as self-limited growth of iodide-rich domains. Most importantly, our model reveals that mixed halide perovskites can be stabilized against phase separation by deliberately engineering carrier diffusion lengths and injected carrier densities.« less

Visualization of entry flow separation for oscillating flow in tubes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Qiu, Songgang; Simon, Terence W.

1992-01-01

Neutrally buoyant helium-filled soap bubbles with laser illumination are used to document entry flow separation for oscillating flow in tubes. For a symmetric entry case, the size of the separation zone appears to mildly depend on Reynolds number in the acceleration phase, but is roughly Reynolds number independent in the deceleration phase. For the asymmetric entry case, the separation zone was larger and appeared to grow somewhat during the deceleration phase. The separation zones for both entry geometry cases remain relatively small throughout the cycle. This is different from what would be observed in all-laminar, oscillator flows and is probably due to the high turbulence of the flow, particularly during the deceleration phase of the cycle.

Offline solid-phase extraction for preconcentration of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in environmental water and their simultaneous determination using the reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography method.

PubMed

G Archana; Dhodapkar, Rita; Kumar, Anupama

2016-09-01

The present study reports a precise and simple offline solid-phase extraction (SPE) coupled with reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method for the simultaneous determination of five representative and commonly present pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), a new class of emerging pollutants in the aquatic environment. The target list of analytes including ciprofloxacin, acetaminophen, caffeine benzophenone and irgasan were separated by a simple HPLC method. The column used was a reversed-phase C18 column, and the mobile phase was 1 % acetic acid and methanol (20:80 v/v) under isocratic conditions, at a flow rate of 1 mL min(-1). The analytes were separated and detected within 15 min using the photodiode array detector (PDA). The linearity of the calibration curves were obtained with correlation coefficients 0.98-0.99.The limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), precision, accuracy and ruggedness demonstrated the reproducibility, specificity and sensitivity of the developed method. Prior to the analysis, the SPE was performed using a C18 cartridge to preconcentrate the targeted analytes from the environmental water samples. The developed method was applied to evaluate and fingerprint PPCPs in sewage collected from a residential engineering college campus, polluted water bodies such as Nag river and Pili river and the influent and effluent samples from a sewage treatment plant (STP) situated at Nagpur city, in the peak summer season. This method is useful for estimation of pollutants present in microquantities in the surface water bodies and treated sewage as compared to nanolevel pollutants detected by mass spectrometry (MS) detectors.

[Influence of mobile phase composition on chiral separation of organic selenium racemates].

PubMed

Han, Xiao-qian; Qi, Bang-feng; Dun, Hui-juan; Zhu, Xin-yi; Na, Peng-jun; Jiang, Sheng-xiang; Chen, Li-ren

2002-05-01

The chiral separation of some chiral compounds with similar structure on the cellulose tris (3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) chiral stationary phase prepared by us was obtained. Ternary mobile phases influencing chiral recognition were investigated. A mode of interaction between the structural character of samples and chiral stationary phase is discussed. The results indicated that the retention and chiral separation of the analytes had a bigger change with minute addition of alcohols or acetonitrile as modifier in n-hexane/2-propanol (80/20, volume ratio) binary mobile phase.

Multi-physics simulations of space weather

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gombosi, Tamas; Toth, Gabor; Sokolov, Igor; de Zeeuw, Darren; van der Holst, Bart; Cohen, Ofer; Glocer, Alex; Manchester, Ward, IV; Ridley, Aaron

Presently magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) models represent the "workhorse" technology for simulating the space environment from the solar corona to the ionosphere. While these models are very successful in describing many important phenomena, they are based on a low-order moment approximation of the phase-space distribution function. In the last decade our group at the Center for Space Environment Modeling (CSEM) has developed the Space Weather Modeling Framework (SWMF) that efficiently couples together different models describing the interacting regions of the space environment. Many of these domain models (such as the global solar corona, the inner heliosphere or the global magnetosphere) are based on MHD and are represented by our multiphysics code, BATS-R-US. BATS-R-US can solve the equations of "standard" ideal MHD, but it can also go beyond this first approximation. It can solve resistive MHD, Hall MHD, semi-relativistic MHD (that keeps the displacement current), multispecies (different ion species have different continuity equations) and multifluid (all ion species have separate continuity, momentum and energy equations) MHD. Recently we added two-fluid Hall MHD (solving the electron and ion energy equations separately) and are working on extended magnetohydrodynamics with anisotropic pressures. This talk will show the effects of added physics and compare space weather simulation results to "standard" ideal MHD.

Role of lipid phase separations and membrane hydration in phospholipid vesicle fusion.

PubMed

Hoekstra, D

1982-06-08

The relationship between lipid phase separation and fusion of small unilamellar phosphatidylserine-containing vesicles was investigated. The kinetics of phase separation were monitored by following the increase of self-quenching of the fluorescent phospholipid analogue N-(7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazol-4-yl)phosphatidylethanolamine, which occurs when the local concentration of the probe increases upon Ca2+-induced phase separation in phosphatidylserine (PS) bilayers [Hoekstra, D. (1982) Biochemistry 21, 1055-1061]. Fusion was determined by using the resonance energy transfer fusion assay [Struck, D. K., Hoekstra, D., & Pagano, R. E. (1981) Biochemistry 20, 4093-4099], which monitors the mixing of fluorescent lipid donor and acceptor molecules, resulting in an increase in energy transfer efficiency. The results show that in the presence of Ca2+, fusion proceeds much more rapidly (t 1/2 less than 5 s) than the process of phase separation (T 1/2 congruent to 1 min). Mg2+ also induced fusion, albeit at higher concentrations than Ca2+. Mg2+-induced phase separation were not detected, however. Subthreshold concentrations of Ca2+ (0.5 mM) or Mg2+ (2 mM) induced extensive fusion of PS-containing vesicles in poly(ethylene glycol) containing media. This effect did not appear to be a poly(ethylene glycol)-facilitated enhancement of cation binding to the bilayer, and consequently Ca2+-induced phase separation was not observed. The results suggest that macroscopic phase separation may facilitate but does not induced the fusion process and is therefore, not directly involved in the actual fusion mechanism. The fusion experiments performed in the presence of poly(ethylene glycol) suggest that the degree of bilayer dehydration and the creation of "point defects" in the bilayer without rigorous structural rearrangements in the membrane are dominant factors in the initial fusion events.

Supercritical fluid chromatographic resolution of water soluble isomeric carboxyl/amine terminated peptides facilitated via mobile phase water and ion pair formation.

PubMed

Patel, M A; Riley, F; Ashraf-Khorassani, M; Taylor, L T

2012-04-13

Both analytical scale and preparative scale packed column supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) have found widespread applicability for chiral separations of multiple polar pharmaceutical candidates. However, SFC is rapidly becoming an achiral technique. More specifically, ion pair SFC is finding greater utility for separation of ionic analytes such as amine salts and organic sulfonates. The key to this success is, in part, the incorporation of additives such as trifluoroacetic acid and ammonium acetate into the mobile phase in association with a wide variety of both bonded silica stationary phases and high purity bare silica. Ion pairing SFC coupled with evaporative light scattering detection and mass spectrometric detection is presented here for the separation of water soluble, uncapped, isomeric peptide pairs that differ in amino acid arrangement. The separation is best achieved on either diol-bonded silica or bare silica with 1-5% (w/w) water as a significant ingredient in the mobile phase. Nitrogenous stationary phases such as 2-ethylpyridine, which had been very successful for the separation of capped peptides failed to yield the desired separation regardless of the mobile phase composition. A HILIC type retention mechanism is postulated for the separation of both isomeric uncapped peptide pairs. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Low density microcellular foams

DOEpatents

Aubert, James H.; Clough, Roger L.; Curro, John G.; Quintana, Carlos A.; Russick, Edward M.; Shaw, Montgomery T.

1987-01-01

Low density, microporous polymer foams are provided by a process which comprises forming a solution of polymer and a suitable solvent followed by rapid cooling of the solution to form a phase-separated system and freeze the phase-separated system. The phase-separated system comprises a polymer phase and a solvent phase, each of which is substantially continuous within the other. The morphology of the polymer phase prior to and subsequent to freezing determine the morphology of the resultant foam. Both isotropic and anisotropic foams can be produced. If isotropic foams are produced, the polymer and solvent are tailored such that the solution spontaneously phase-separates prior to the point at which any component freezes. The morphology of the resultant polymer phase determines the morphology of the resultant foam and the morphology of the polymer phase is retained by cooling the system at a rate sufficient to freeze one or both components of the system before a change in morphology can occur. Anisotropic foams are produced by forming a solution of polymer and solvent that will not phase separate prior to freezing of one or both components of the solution. In such a process, the solvent typically freezes before phase separation occurs. The morphology of the resultant frozen two-phase system determines the morphology of the resultant foam. The process involves subjecting the solution to essentially one-dimensional cooling. Means for subjecting such a solvent to one-dimensional cooling are also provided. Foams having a density of less than 0.1 g/cc and a uniform cell size of less than 10 .mu.m and a volume such that the foams have a length greater than 1 cm are provided.

A fracture mechanics study of the phase separating planar electrodes: Phase field modeling and analytical results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haftbaradaran, H.; Maddahian, A.; Mossaiby, F.

2017-05-01

It is well known that phase separation could severely intensify mechanical degradation and expedite capacity fading in lithium-ion battery electrodes during electrochemical cycling. Experiments have frequently revealed that such degradation effects could be substantially mitigated via reducing the electrode feature size to the nanoscale. The purpose of this work is to present a fracture mechanics study of the phase separating planar electrodes. To this end, a phase field model is utilized to predict how phase separation affects evolution of the solute distribution and stress profile in a planar electrode. Behavior of the preexisting flaws in the electrode in response to the diffusion induced stresses is then examined via computing the time dependent stress intensity factor arising at the tip of flaws during both the insertion and extraction half-cycles. Further, adopting a sharp-interphase approximation of the system, a critical electrode thickness is derived below which the phase separating electrode becomes flaw tolerant. Numerical results of the phase field model are also compared against analytical predictions of the sharp-interphase model. The results are further discussed with reference to the available experiments in the literature. Finally, some of the limitations of the model are cautioned.

Elongated phase separation domains in spin-cast polymer blend thin films characterized using a panoramic image.

PubMed

Zhang, Hong; Okamura, Yosuke

2018-02-14

Polymer thin films with micro/nano-structures can be prepared by a solvent evaporation induced phase separation process via spin-casting a polymer blend, where the elongated phase separation domains are always inevitable. The striation defect, as a thickness nonunifomity in spin-cast films, is generally coexistent with the elongated domains. Herein, the morphologies of polymer blend thin films are recorded from the spin-cast center to the edge in a panoramic view. The elongated domains are inclined to appear at the ridge regions of striations with increasing radial distance and align radially, exhibiting a coupling between the phase separation morphology and the striation defect that may exist. We demonstrate that the formation of elongated domains is not attributed to shape deformation, but is accomplished in situ. A possible model to describe the initiation and evolution of the polymer blend phase separation morphology during spin-casting is proposed.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Baldini, Maria; Muramatsu, Takaki; Sherafati, Mohammad

Phase separation is a crucial ingredient of the physics of manganites; however, the role of mixed phases in the development of the colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) phenomenon still needs to be clarified. In this paper, we report the realization of CMR in a single-valent LaMnO 3 manganite. We found that the insulator-to-metal transition at 32 GPa is well described using the percolation theory. Pressure induces phase separation, and the CMR takes place at the percolation threshold. A large memory effect is observed together with the CMR, suggesting the presence of magnetic clusters. The phase separation scenario is well reproduced, solving amore » model Hamiltonian. Finally, our results demonstrate in a clean way that phase separation is at the origin of CMR in LaMnO 3.« less

Solvent annealing induced phase separation and dewetting in PMMA∕SAN blend film: film thickness and solvent dependence.

PubMed

You, Jichun; Zhang, Shuangshuang; Huang, Gang; Shi, Tongfei; Li, Yongjin

2013-06-28

The competition between "dewetting" and "phase separation" behaviors in polymer blend films attracts significant attention in the last decade. The simultaneous phase separation and dewetting in PMMA∕SAN [poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(styrene-ran-acrylonitrile)] blend ultrathin films upon solvent annealing have been observed for the first time in our previous work. In this work, film thickness and annealing solvent dependence of phase behaviors in this system has been investigated using atomic force microscopy and grazing incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS). On one hand, both vertical phase separation and dewetting take place upon selective solvent vapor annealing, leading to the formation of droplet∕mimic-film structures with various sizes (depending on original film thickness). On the other hand, the whole blend film dewets the substrate and produces dispersed droplets on the silicon oxide upon common solvent annealing. GISAXS results demonstrate the phase separation in the big dewetted droplets resulted from the thicker film (39.8 nm). In contrast, no period structure is detected in small droplets from the thinner film (5.1 nm and 9.7 nm). This investigation indicates that dewetting and phase separation in PMMA∕SAN blend film upon solvent annealing depend crucially on the film thickness and the atmosphere during annealing.

Adapting phase-switch Monte Carlo method for flexible organic molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bridgwater, Sally; Quigley, David

2014-03-01

The role of cholesterol in lipid bilayers has been widely studied via molecular simulation, however, there has been relatively little work on crystalline cholesterol in biological environments. Recent work has linked the crystallisation of cholesterol in the body with heart attacks and strokes. Any attempt to model this process will require new models and advanced sampling methods to capture and quantify the subtle polymorphism of solid cholesterol, in which two crystalline phases are separated by a phase transition close to body temperature. To this end, we have adapted phase-switch Monte Carlo for use with flexible molecules, to calculate the free energy between crystal polymorphs to a high degree of accuracy. The method samples an order parameter , which divides a displacement space for the N molecules, into regions energetically favourable for each polymorph; which is traversed using biased Monte Carlo. Results for a simple model of butane will be presented, demonstrating that conformational flexibility can be correctly incorporated within a phase-switching scheme. Extension to a coarse grained model of cholesterol and the resulting free energies will be discussed.

Gas-Liquid Processing in Microchannels

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

TeGrotenhuis, Ward E.; Stenkamp, Victoria S.; Twitchell, Alvin

Processing gases and liquids together in microchannels having at least one dimension <1 mm has unique advantages for rapid heat and mass transfer. One approach for managing the two phases is to use porous structures as wicks within microchannels to segregate the liquid phase from the gas phase. Gas-liquid processing is accomplished by providing a gas flow path and inducing flow of the liquid phase through or along the wick under an induced pressure gradient. A variety of unit operations are enabled, including phase separation, partial condensation, absorption, desorption, and distillation. Results are reported of an investigation of microchannel phasemore » separation in a transparent, single-channel device. Next, heat exchange is integrated with the microchannel wick approach to create a partial condenser that also separates the condensate. Finally, the scale-up to a multi-channel phase separator is described.« less

Phase separation in solutions of monoclonal antibodies and the effect of human serum albumin

PubMed Central

Wang, Ying; Lomakin, Aleksey; Latypov, Ramil F.; Benedek, George B.

2011-01-01

We report the observation of liquid-liquid phase separation in a solution of human monoclonal antibody, IgG2, and the effects of human serum albumin, a major blood protein, on this phase separation. We find a significant reduction of phase separation temperature in the presence of albumin, and a preferential partitioning of the albumin into the antibody-rich phase. We provide a general thermodynamic analysis of the antibody-albumin mixture phase diagram and relate its features to the magnitude of the effective interprotein interactions. Our analysis suggests that additives (HSA in this report), which have moderate attraction with antibody molecules, may be used to forestall undesirable proetin condensation in antibody solutions. Our findings are relevant to understanding the stability of pharmaceutical solutions of antibodies and the mechanisms of cryoglobulinemia. PMID:21921237

Exploring the dynamics of phase separation in colloid-polymer mixtures with long range attraction.

PubMed

Sabin, Juan; Bailey, Arthur E; Frisken, Barbara J

2016-06-28

We have studied the kinetics of phase separation and gel formation in a low-dispersity colloid - non-adsorbing polymer system with long range attraction using small-angle light scattering. This system exhibits two-phase and three-phase coexistence of gas, liquid and crystal phases when the strength of attraction is between 2 and 4kBT and gel phases when the strength of attraction is increased. For those samples that undergo macroscopic phase separation, whether to gas-crystal, gas-liquid or gas-liquid-crystal coexistence, we observe dynamic scaling of the structure factor and growth of a characteristic length scale that behaves as expected for phase separation in fluids. In samples that gel, the power law associated with the growth of the dominant length scale is not equal to 1/3, but appears to depend mainly on the strength of attraction, decreasing from 1/3 for samples near the coexistence region to 1/27 at 8kBT, over a wide range of colloid and polymer concentrations.

Critical review: Injectability of calcium phosphate pastes and cements.

PubMed

O'Neill, R; McCarthy, H O; Montufar, E B; Ginebra, M-P; Wilson, D I; Lennon, A; Dunne, N

2017-03-01

Calcium phosphate cements (CPC) have seen clinical success in many dental and orthopaedic applications in recent years. The properties of CPC essential for clinical success are reviewed in this article, which includes properties of the set cement (e.g. bioresorbability, biocompatibility, porosity and mechanical properties) and unset cement (e.g. setting time, cohesion, flow properties and ease of delivery to the surgical site). Emphasis is on the delivery of calcium phosphate (CaP) pastes and CPC, in particular the occurrence of separation of the liquid and solid components of the pastes and cements during injection; and established methods to reduce this phase separation. In addition a review of phase separation mechanisms observed during the extrusion of other biphasic paste systems and the theoretical models used to describe these mechanisms are discussed. Occurrence of phase separation of calcium phosphate pastes and cements during injection limits their full exploitation as a bone substitute in minimally invasive surgical applications. Due to lack of theoretical understanding of the phase separation mechanism(s), optimisation of an injectable CPC that satisfies clinical requirements has proven difficult. However, phase separation of pastes during delivery has been the focus across several research fields. Therefore in addition to a review of methods to reduce phase separation of CPC and the associated constraints, a review of phase separation mechanisms observed during extrusion of other pastes and the theoretical models used to describe these mechanisms is presented. It is anticipated this review will benefit future attempts to develop injectable calcium phosphate based systems. Crown Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

NASA's UAS NAS Access Project

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnson, Charles W.

2011-01-01

The vision of the Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Integration in the National Airspace System (NAS) Project is "A global transportation system which allows routine access for all classes of UAS." The goal of the UAS Integration in the NAS Project is to "contribute capabilities that reduce technical barriers related to the safety and operational challenges associated with enabling routine UAS access to the NAS." This goal will be accomplished through a two-phased approach based on development of system-level integration of key concepts, technologies and/or procedures, and demonstrations of integrated capabilities in an operationally relevant environment. Phase 1 will take place the first two years of the Project and Phase 2 will take place the following three years. The Phase 1 and 2 technical objectives are: Phase 1: Developing a gap analysis between current state of the art and the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) UAS Concept of Operations . Validating the key technical areas identified by this Project . Conducting initial modeling, simulation, and flight testing activities . Completing Sub-project Phase 1 deliverables (spectrum requirements, comparative analysis of certification methodologies, etc.) and continue Phase 2 preparation (infrastructure, tools, etc.) Phase 2: Providing regulators with a methodology for developing airworthiness requirements for UAS, and data to support development of certifications standards and regulatory guidance . Providing systems-level, integrated testing of concepts and/or capabilities that address barriers to routine access to the NAS. Through simulation and flight testing, address issues including separation assurance, communications requirements, and human systems integration in operationally relevant environments. The UAS in the NAS Project will demonstrate solutions in specific technology areas, which will address operational/safety issues related to UAS access to the NAS. Since the resource allocation for this Project is limited ($150M over the five years), the focus is on reducing the technical barriers where NASA has unique capabilities. As a result, technical areas, such as Sense and Avoid (SAA) and beyond line of sight command and control will not be addressed. While these are critical barriers to UAS access, currently, there is a great deal of global effort being exercised to address these challenge areas. Instead, specific technology development in areas where there is certainty that NASA can advance the research to high technology readiness levels will be the Project's focus. Specific sub-projects include Separation Assurance, Human Systems Integration, Communications, Certification, and Integrated Test and Evaluation. Each sub-project will transfer technologies to relevant key stakeholders and decision makers through research transition teams, technology forums, or through other analogous means.

Hydrogen isotope systematics of phase separation in submarine hydrothermal systems: Experimental calibration and theoretical models

USGS Publications Warehouse

Berndt, M.E.; Seal, R.R.; Shanks, Wayne C.; Seyfried, W.E.

1996-01-01

Hydrogen isotope fractionation factors were measured for coexisting brines and vapors formed by phase separation of NaCl/H2O fluids at temperatures ranging from 399-450??C and pressures from 277-397 bars. It was found that brines are depleted in D compared to coexisting vapors at all conditions studied. The magnitude of hydrogen isotope fractionation is dependent on the relative amounts of Cl in the two phases and can be empirically correlated to pressure using the following relationship: 1000 ln ??(vap-brine) = 2.54(??0.83) + 2.87(??0.69) x log (??P), where ??(vap-brine) is the fractionation factor and ??P is a pressure term representing distance from the critical curve in the NaCl/H2O system. The effect of phase separation on hydrogen isotope distribution in subseafloor hydrothermal systems depends on a number of factors, including whether phase separation is induced by heating at depth or by decompression of hydrothermal fluids ascending to the seafloor. Phase separation in most subseafloor systems appears to be a simple process driven by heating of seawater to conditions within the two-phase region, followed by segregation and entrainment of brine or vapor into a seawater dominated system. Resulting vent fluids exhibit large ranges in Cl concentration with no measurable effect on ??D. Possible exceptions to this include hydrothermal fluids venting at Axial and 9??N on the East Pacific Rise. High ??D values of low Cl fluids venting at Axial are consistent with phase separation taking place at relatively shallow levels in the oceanic crust while negative ??D values in some low Cl fluids venting at 9??N suggest involvement of a magmatic fluid component or phase separation of D-depleted brines derived during previous hydrothermal activity.

Vapor-liquid phase separator studies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yuan, S. W. K.; Lee, J. M.; Kim, Y. I.; Hepler, W. A.; Frederking, T. H. K.

1983-01-01

Porous plugs serve as both entropy rejection devices and phase separation components separating the vapor phase on the downstream side from liquid Helium 2 upstream. The liquid upstream is the cryo-reservoir fluid needed for equipment cooling by means of Helium 2, i.e Helium-4 below its lambda temperature in near-saturated states. The topics outlined are characteristic lengths, transport equations and plug results.

Coil planet centrifugation as a means for small particle separation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Herrmann, F. T.

1983-01-01

The coil planet centrifuge uses a centrifugal force field to provide separation of particles based on differences in sedimentation rates by flow through a rotating coiled tube. Three main separations are considered: (1) single phase fresh sheep and human erythrocytes, (2) single phase fixed heep and human erythrocytes, and (3) electrophoretically enhanced single phase fresh sheep and human erythrocytes.

Reversed phase liquid chromatography with UV absorbance and flame ionization detection using a water mobile phase and a cyano propyl stationary phase Analysis of alcohols and chlorinated hydrocarbons.

PubMed

Quigley, W W; Ecker, S T; Vahey, P G; Synovec, R E

1999-10-01

The development of liquid chromatography with a commercially available cyano propyl stationary phase and a 100% water mobile phase is reported. Separations were performed at ambient temperature, simplifying instrumental requirements. Excellent separation efficiency using a water mobile phase was achieved, for example N=18 800, or 75 200 m(-1), was obtained for resorcinol, at a retention factor of k'=4.88 (retention time of 9.55 min at 1 ml min(-1) for a 25 cmx4.6 mm i.d. column, packed with 5 mum diameter particles with the cyano propyl stationary phase). A separation via reversed phase liquid chromatography (RP-LC) with a 100% water mobile phase of six phenols and related compounds was compared to a separation of the same compounds by traditional RP-LC, using octadecylsilane (ODS), i.e. C18, bound to silica and an aqueous mobile phase modified with acetonitrile. Nearly identical analysis time was achieved for the separation of six phenols and related compounds using the cyano propyl stationary phase with a 100% water mobile phase, as compared to traditional RP-LC requiring a relatively large fraction of organic solvent modifier in the mobile phase (25% acetonitrile:75% water). Additional understanding of the retention mechanism with the 100% water mobile phase was obtained by relating measured retention factors of aliphatic alcohols, phenols and related compounds, and chlorinated hydrocarbons to their octanol:water partition coefficients. The retention mechanism is found to be consistent with a RP-LC mechanism coupled with an additional retention effect due to residual hydroxyl groups on the cyano propyl stationary phase. Advantages due to a 100% water mobile phase for the chemical analysis of alcohol mixtures and chlorinated hydrocarbons are reported. By placing an absorbance detector in-series and preceding a novel drop interface to a flame ionization detector (FID), selective detection of a separated mixture of phenols and related compounds and aliphatic alcohols is achieved. The compound class of aliphatic alcohols is selectively and sensitively detected by the drop interface/FID, and the phenols and related compounds are selectively and sensitively detected by absorbance detection at 200 nm. The separation and detection of chlorinated hydrocarbons in a water sample matrix further illustrated the advantages of this methodology. The sensitivity and selectivity of the FID signal for the chlorinated hydrocarbons are significantly better than absorbance detection, even at 200 nm. This methodology is well suited to continuous and automated monitoring of water samples. The applicability of samples initially in an organic solvent matrix is explored, since an organic sample matrix may effect retention and efficiency. Separations in acetonitrile and isopropyl alcohol sample matrices compared well to separations with a water sample matrix.

Continuum theory of phase separation kinetics for active Brownian particles.

PubMed

Stenhammar, Joakim; Tiribocchi, Adriano; Allen, Rosalind J; Marenduzzo, Davide; Cates, Michael E

2013-10-04

Active Brownian particles (ABPs), when subject to purely repulsive interactions, are known to undergo activity-induced phase separation broadly resembling an equilibrium (attraction-induced) gas-liquid coexistence. Here we present an accurate continuum theory for the dynamics of phase-separating ABPs, derived by direct coarse graining, capturing leading-order density gradient terms alongside an effective bulk free energy. Such gradient terms do not obey detailed balance; yet we find coarsening dynamics closely resembling that of equilibrium phase separation. Our continuum theory is numerically compared to large-scale direct simulations of ABPs and accurately accounts for domain growth kinetics, domain topologies, and coexistence densities.

Green chiral HPLC enantiomeric separations using high temperature liquid chromatography and subcritical water on Chiralcel OD and Chiralpak AD.

PubMed

Droux, Serge; Félix, Guy

2011-01-01

We report here the application of subcritical water in chiral separations on two popular polysaccharide chiral stationary phases (CSPs): Chiralpak AD and Chiralcel OD. The behavior of these two CSPs was studied under reversed phase conditions at room temperature to discover the maximum percentage of water in the mobile phase, which provided the separation of enantiomers of flavanone and benzoin, respectively, in a reasonable time (i.e., less than 1 h). Then, the stability of Chiralpak AD and Chiralcel OD versus temperature was investigated and discussed. Chiralcel OD separation of flavanone racemate was obtained at 120 °C with water and 2-propanol (80/20) as the mobile phase, while benzoin racemate was separated in pure water at 160 °C. Separations of several racemates were also presented, and advantages and limitations of the technique were discussed. Copyright © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Optimization of the high-performance liquid chromatographic separation of a complex mixture containing urinary steroids, boldenone and bolasterone: application to urine samples.

PubMed

Gonzalo-Lumbreras, R; Izquierdo-Hornillos, R

2000-05-26

An HPLC separation of a complex mixture containing 13 urinary anabolics and corticoids, and boldenone and bolasterone (synthetic anabolics) has been carried out. The applied optimization method involved the use of binary, ternary and quaternary mobile phases containing acetonitrile, methanol or tetrahydrofuran as organic modifiers. The effect of different reversed-phase packings and temperature on the separation was studied. The optimum separation was achieved by using a water-acetonitrile (60:40, v/v) mobile phase in reversed-phase HPLC at 30 degrees C, allowing the separation of all the analytes in about 24 min. Calibration graphs were obtained using bolasterone or methyltestosterone as internal standards. Detection limits were in the range 0.012-0.107 microg ml(-1). The optimized separation was applied to the analysis, after liquid-liquid extraction, of human urine samples spiked with steroids.

Phase separation in the t-J model. [in theory of high-temperature superconductors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Emery, V. J.; Lin, H. Q.; Kivelson, S. A.

1990-01-01

A detailed understanding of the motion of 'holes' in an antiferromagnet is of fundamental importance for the theory of high-temperature superconductors. It is shown here that, for the t-J model, dilute holes in an antiferromagnet are unstable against phase separation into a hole-rich and a no-hole phase. When the spin-exchange interaction J exceeds a critical value Jc, the hole-rich phase has no electrons. It is proposed that, for J slightly less than Jc, the hole-rich phase is a low-density superfluid of electron pairs. Phase separation in related models is briefly discussed.

Separation of O/X Polarization Modes on Oblique Ionospheric Soundings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harris, T. J.; Cervera, M. A.; Pederick, L. H.; Quinn, A. D.

2017-12-01

The oblique-incidence sounder (OIS) is a well-established instrument for determining the state of the ionosphere, with several advantages over vertical-incidence sounders (VIS). However, the processing and interpretation of OIS ionograms is more complicated than that of VIS ionograms. Due to the Earth's magnetic field, the ionosphere is birefringent at radio frequencies and a VIS or OIS will typically see two distinct ionospheric returns, known as the O and X modes. The separation of these two modes on a VIS, using a polarimetric receive antenna, is a well-established technique. However, this process is more complicated on an OIS due to a variable separation in the phase difference between the two modes, as measured between the two arms of a polarimetric antenna. Using a polarimetric antenna that can be rotated and tilted, we show that this variation in phase separation within an ionogram is caused by the variation in incidence angle, with some configurations leading to greater variation in phase separation. We then develop an algorithm for separating O and X modes in oblique ionograms that can account for the variation in phase separation, and we demonstrate successful separation even in relatively difficult cases. The variation in phase separation can also be exploited to estimate the incident elevation, a technique which may be useful for other applications of HF radio.

Centrifugal partition chromatography in a biorefinery context: Separation of monosaccharides from hydrolysed sugar beet pulp.

PubMed

Ward, David P; Cárdenas-Fernández, Max; Hewitson, Peter; Ignatova, Svetlana; Lye, Gary J

2015-09-11

A critical step in the bioprocessing of sustainable biomass feedstocks, such as sugar beet pulp (SBP), is the isolation of the component sugars from the hydrolysed polysaccharides. This facilitates their subsequent conversion into higher value chemicals and pharmaceutical intermediates. Separation methodologies such as centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC) offer an alternative to traditional resin-based chromatographic techniques for multicomponent sugar separations. Highly polar two-phase systems containing ethanol and aqueous ammonium sulphate are examined here for the separation of monosaccharides present in hydrolysed SBP pectin: l-rhamnose, l-arabinose, d-galactose and d-galacturonic acid. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was selected as an effective phase system modifier improving monosaccharide separation. The best phase system identified was ethanol:DMSO:aqueous ammonium sulphate (300gL(-1)) (0.8:0.1:1.8, v:v:v) which enabled separation of the SBP monosaccharides by CPC (200mL column) in ascending mode (upper phase as mobile phase) with a mobile phase flow rate of 8mLmin(-1). A mixture containing all four monosaccharides (1.08g total sugars) in the proportions found in hydrolysed SBP was separated into three main fractions; a pure l-rhamnose fraction (>90%), a mixed l-arabinose/d-galactose fraction and a pure d-galacturonic acid fraction (>90%). The separation took less than 2h demonstrating that CPC is a promising technique for the separation of these sugars with potential for application within an integrated, whole crop biorefinery. Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Development of the Two Phase Flow Separator Experiment for a Reduced Gravity Aircraft Flight

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Golliher, Eric; Gotti, Daniel; Owens, Jay; Gilkey, Kelly; Pham, Nang; Stehno, Philip

2016-01-01

The recent hardware development and testing of a reduced gravity aircraft flight experiment has provided valuable insights for the future design of the Two Phase Flow Separator Experiment (TPFSE). The TPFSE is scheduled to fly within the Fluids Integration Rack (FIR) aboard the International Space Station (ISS) in 2020. The TPFSE studies the operational limits of gas and liquid separation of passive cyclonic separators. A passive cyclonic separator utilizes only the inertia of the incoming flow to accomplish the liquid-gas separation. Efficient phase separation is critical for environmental control and life support systems, such as recovery of clean water from bioreactors, for long duration human spaceflight missions. The final low gravity aircraft flight took place in December 2015 aboard NASA's C9 airplane.

Investigating the Complexity of Transitioning Separation Assurance Tools into NextGen Air Traffic Control

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gomez, Ashley Nicole; Martin, Lynne Hazel; Homola, Jeffrey; Morey, Susan; Cabrall, Christopher; Mercer, Joey; Prevot, Thomas

2013-01-01

In a study, that introduced ground-based separation assurance automation through a series of envisioned transitional phases of concept maturity, it was found that subjective responses to scales of workload, situation awareness, and acceptability in a post run questionnaire revealed as-predicted results for three of the four study conditions but not for the third, Moderate condition. The trend continued for losses of separation (LOS) where the number of LOS events were far greater than expected in the Moderate condition. To offer an account of why the Moderate condition was perceived to be more difficult to manage than predicted, researchers examined the increase in amount and complexity of traffic, increase in communication load, and increased complexities as a result of the simulation's mix of aircraft equipage. Further analysis compared the tools presented through the phases, finding that controllers took advantage of the informational properties of the tools presented but shied away from using their decision support capabilities. Taking into account similar findings from other studies, it is suggested that the Moderate condition represented the first step into a "shared control" environment, which requires the controller to use the automation as a decision making partner rather than just a provider of information. Viewed in this light, the combination of tools offered in the Moderate condition was reviewed and some tradeoffs that may offset the identified complexities were suggested.

Renormalization-group study of superfluidity and phase separation of helium mixtures immersed in a nonrandom aerogel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lopatnikova, Anna; Nihat Berker, A.

1997-02-01

Superfluidity and phase separation in 3-4He mixtures immersed in a jungle-gym (nonrandom) aerogel are studied by renormalization-group theory. Phase diagrams are calculated for a variety of aerogel concentrations. Superfluidity at very low 4He concentrations and a depressed tricritical temperature are found at the onset of superfluidity. A superfluid-superfluid phase separation, terminating at an isolated critical point, is found entirely within the superfluid phase. These phenomena and trends with respect to aerogel concentration are explained by the connectivity and tenuousness of a jungle-gym aerogel.

Fabrication of PVDF-based blend membrane with a thin hydrophilic deposition layer and a network structure supporting layer via the thermally induced phase separation followed by non-solvent induced phase separation process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Zhiguo; Cui, Zhenyu; Li, Tianyu; Qin, Shuhao; He, Benqiao; Han, Na; Li, Jianxin

2017-10-01

A simple strategy of thermally induced phase separation followed by non-solvent induced phase separation (TIPS-NIPS) is reported to fabricate poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)-based blend membrane. The dissolved poly (styrene-co-maleic anhydride) (SMA) in diluent prevents the crystallization of PVDF during the cooling process and deposites on the established PVDF matrix in the later extraction. Compared with traditional coating technique, this one-step TIPS-NIPS method can not only fabricate a supporting layer with an interconnected network structure even via solid-liquid phase separation of TIPS, but also form a uniform SMA skin layer approximately as thin as 200 nm via surface deposition of NIPS. Besides the better hydrophilicity, what's interesting is that the BSA rejection ratio increases from 48% to 94% with the increase of SMA, which indicates that the separation performance has improved. This strategy can be conveniently extended to the creation of firmly thin layer, surface functionalization and structure controllability of the membrane.

Development of Uniform Microstructures in Immiscible Alloys by Processing in a Low-Gravity Environment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Grugel, R. N.; Brush, L. N.

1996-01-01

Highly segregated macrostructures tend to develop during processing of hypermonotectic alloys because of the density difference existing between the two liquid phases. The approximately 4.6 seconds of low-gravity provided by Marshall Space Flight Center's 105 meter drop tube was utilized to minimize density-driven separation and promote uniform microstructures in hypermonotectic Ag-Ni and Ag-Mn alloys. For the Ag-Ni alloys a numerical model was developed to track heat flow and solidification of the bi-metal drop configuration. Results, potential applications, and future work are presented.

Poly(1-allylimidazole)-grafted silica, a new specific stationary phase for reversed-phase and anion-exchange liquid chromatography.

PubMed

Sun, Min; Qiu, Hongdeng; Wang, Licheng; Liu, Xia; Jiang, Shengxiang

2009-05-01

A new specific stationary phase based on poly(1-allylimidazole)-grafted silica has been synthesized and characterized, by infrared spectra, elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results of test showed that poly(1-allylimidazole) can effectively mask the residual silanol groups and reduce the adverse effect of residual silanol. Using this stationary phase, phenol compounds, aniline compounds, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were successfully separated with symmetric peak shapes in the reversed-phase chromatography. Inorganic anions (IO(3)(-), BrO(3)(-), Br(-), NO(3)(-), I(-), SCN(-)) were also separated completely in the anion-exchange chromatography using sodium chloride solution as the mobile phase. The effects of pH and the concentration of eluent on the separation of inorganic anions were studied. The separation mechanism appears to involve the mixed interactions of hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic, pi-pi, electrostatic, and anion-exchange interactions.

Preparation and evaluation of a silica-based 1-alkyl-3-(propyl-3-sulfonate) imidazolium zwitterionic stationary phase for high-performance liquid chromatography.

PubMed

Qiu, Hongdeng; Jiang, Qiong; Wei, Zheng; Wang, Xusheng; Liu, Xia; Jiang, Shengxiang

2007-09-07

A new zwitterionic stationary phase based on silica bonded with 1-alkyl-3-(propyl-3-sulfonate) imidazolium was synthesized and characterized in this paper. The materials have been confirmed and evaluated by elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Potassium and calcium were separated simultaneously with several common inorganic anions including an iodate, chloride, bromide, nitrate and iodide on the phase. The effects of the concentration, organic solvent and pH of the eluent on the separation of anions were studied. Operated in the anion-exchange mode, this new stationary phase shows considerable promise for the separation of anions. Bases, vitamins and three imidazolium ionic liquids with different alkyl chains are also separated successfully on this column. The stationary phase has multiple retention mechanisms, such as anion-exchange, electrostatic attraction and repulsion interactions, and hydrophobic interaction between the zwitterionic stationary phase and specimens.

Molar mass fractionation in aqueous two-phase polymer solutions of dextran and poly(ethylene glycol).

PubMed

Zhao, Ziliang; Li, Qi; Ji, Xiangling; Dimova, Rumiana; Lipowsky, Reinhard; Liu, Yonggang

2016-06-24

Dextran and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) in phase separated aqueous two-phase systems (ATPSs) of these two polymers, with a broad molar mass distribution for dextran and a narrow molar mass distribution for PEG, were separated and quantified by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Tie lines constructed by GPC method are in excellent agreement with those established by the previously reported approach based on density measurements of the phases. The fractionation of dextran during phase separation of ATPS leads to the redistribution of dextran of different chain lengths between the two phases. The degree of fractionation for dextran decays exponentially as a function of chain length. The average separation parameters, for both dextran and PEG, show a crossover from mean field behavior to Ising model behavior, as the critical point is approached. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Space cryogenics components based on the thermomechanical effect - Vapor-liquid phase separation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yuan, S. W. K.; Frederking, T. H. K.

1989-01-01

Applications of the thermomechanical effect has been qualified including incorporation in large-scale space systems in the area of vapor-liquid phase separation (VLPS). The theory of the porous-plug phase separator is developed for the limit of a high thermal impedance of the solid-state grains. Extensions of the theory of nonlinear turbulent flow are presented based on experimental results.

Temperature-responsive chromatography for the separation of biomolecules.

PubMed

Kanazawa, Hideko; Okano, Teruo

2011-12-09

Temperature-responsive chromatography for the separation of biomolecules utilizing poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) and its copolymer-modified stationary phase is performed with an aqueous mobile phase without using organic solvent. The surface properties and function of the stationary phase are controlled by external temperature changes without changing the mobile-phase composition. This analytical system is based on nonspecific adsorption by the reversible transition of a hydrophilic-hydrophobic PNIPAAm-grafted surface. The driving force for retention is hydrophobic interaction between the solute molecules and the hydrophobized polymer chains on the stationary phase surface. The separation of the biomolecules, such as nucleotides and proteins was achieved by a dual temperature- and pH-responsive chromatography system. The electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions could be modulated simultaneously with the temperature in an aqueous mobile phase, thus the separation system would have potential applications in the separation of biomolecules. Additionally, chromatographic matrices prepared by a surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) exhibit a strong interaction with analytes, because the polymerization procedure forms a densely packed polymer, called a polymer brush, on the surfaces. The copolymer brush grafted surfaces prepared by ATRP was an effective tool for separating basic biomolecules by modulating the electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions. Applications of thermally responsive columns for the separations of biomolecules are reviewed here. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

High-performance liquid-chromatographic separation of subcomponents of antimycin-A

USGS Publications Warehouse

Abidi, S.L.

1988-01-01

Using a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) technique, a mixture of antimycins A was separated into eight hitherto unreported subcomponents, Ala, Alb, A2a, A2b, A3a, A3b, A4a, and A4b. Although a base-line resolution of the known four major antimycins Al, A2, A3, and A4 was readily achieved with mobile phases containing acetate buffers, the separation of the new antibiotic subcomponents was highly sensitive to variation in mobile phase conditions. The type and composition of organic modifiers, the nature of buffer salts, and the concentration of added electrolytes had profound effects on capacity factors, separation factors, and peak resolution values. Of the numerous chromatographic systems examined, a mobile phase consisting of methanol-water (70:30) and 0.005 M tetrabutylammonium phosphate at pH 3.0 yielded the most satisfactory results for the separation of the subcomponents. Reversed-phase gradient HPLC separation of the dansylated or methylated antibiotic compounds produced superior chromatographic characteristics and the presence of added electrolytes was not a critical factor for achieving separation. Differences in the chromatographic outcome between homologous and structural isomers were interpretated based on a differential solvophobic interaction rationale. Preparative reversed-phase HPLC under optimal conditions enabled isolation of pure samples of the methylated antimycin subcomponents for use in structural studies.

Texas A&M vortex type phase separator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Best, Frederick

2000-01-01

Phase separation is required for regenerative biological and chemical process systems as well as thermal transport and rejection systems. Liquid and gas management requirements for future spacecraft will demand small, passive systems able to operate over wide ranges of inlet qualities. Conservation and recycling of air and water is a necessary part of the construction and operation of the International Space Station as well as future long duration space missions. Space systems are sensitive to volume, mass, and power. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a method to recycle wastewater with minimal power consumption. Regenerative life support systems currently being investigated require phase separation to separate the liquid from the gas produced. The microgravity phase separator designed and fabricated at Texas A&M University relies on centripetal driven buoyancy forces to form a gas-liquid vortex within a fixed, right-circular cylinder. Two-phase flow is injected tangentially along the inner wall of this cylinder producing a radial acceleration gradient. The gradient produced from the intrinsic momentum of the injected mixture results in a rotating flow that drives the buoyancy process by the production of a hydrostatic pressure gradient. Texas A&M has flown several KC-135 flights with separator. These flights have included scaling studies, stability and transient investigations, and tests for inventory instrumentation. Among the hardware tested have been passive devices for separating mixed vapor/liquid streams into single-phase streams of vapor only and liquid only. .

Limitation of predictive 2-D liquid chromatography in reducing the database search space in shotgun proteomics: in silico studies.

PubMed

Moskovets, Eugene; Goloborodko, Anton A; Gorshkov, Alexander V; Gorshkov, Mikhail V

2012-07-01

A two-dimensional (2-D) liquid chromatography (LC) separation of complex peptide mixtures that combines a normal phase utilizing hydrophilic interactions and a reversed phase offers reportedly the highest level of 2-D LC orthogonality by providing an even spread of peptides across multiple LC fractions. Matching experimental peptide retention times to those predicted by empirical models describing chromatographic separation in each LC dimension leads to a significant reduction in a database search space. In this work, we calculated the retention times of tryptic peptides separated in the C18 reversed phase at different separation conditions (pH 2 and pH 10) and in TSK gel Amide-80 normal phase. We show that retention times calculated for different 2-D LC separation schemes utilizing these phases start to correlate once the mass range of peptides under analysis becomes progressively narrow. This effect is explained by high degree of correlation between retention coefficients in the considered phases. © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Effect of Charge Patterning on the Phase Behavior of Polymer Coacervates for Charge Driven Self Assembly

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Radhakrishna, Mithun; Sing, Charles E.

Oppositely charged polymers can undergo associative liquid-liquid phase separation when mixed under suitable conditions of ionic strength, temperature and pH to form what are known as `polymeric complex coacervates'. Polymer coacervates find use in diverse array of applications like microencapsulation, drug delivery, membrane filtration and underwater adhesives. The similarity between complex coacervate environments and those in biological systems has also found relevance in areas of bio-mimicry. Our previous works have demonstrated how local charge correlations and molecular connectivity can drastically affect the phase behavior of coacervates. The precise location of charges along the chain therefore dramatically influences the local charge correlations, which consequently influences the phase behavior of coacervates. We investigate the effect of charge patterning along the polymer chain on the phase behavior of coacervates in the framework of the Restricted Primitive Model using Gibbs Ensemble Monte Carlo simulations. Our results show that charge patterning dramatically changes the phase behavior of polymer coacervates, which contrasts with the predictions of the classical Voorn-Overbeek theory. This provides the basis for designing new materials through charge driven self assembly by controlling the positioning of the charged monomers along the chain.

Input Source and Strength Influences Overall Firing Phase of Model Hippocampal CA1 Pyramidal Cells During Theta: Relevance to REM Sleep Reactivation and Memory Consolidation

PubMed Central

Booth, Victoria; Poe, Gina R.

2005-01-01

In simulation studies using a realistic model CA1 pyramidal cell, we accounted for the shift in mean firing phase from theta cycle peaks to theta cycle troughs during REM sleep reactivation of hippocampal CA1 place cells over several days of growing familiarization with an environment (Poe et al., 2000). Changes in the theta drive between proximal and distal dendritic regions of the cell modulated the theta phase of firing when stimuli were presented at proximal and distal dendritic locations. Stimuli at proximal dendritic sites (proximal to 100 μm from the soma) invoked firing with a significant phase preference at the depolarizing theta peaks, while distal stimuli (> 290 μm from the soma) invoked firing at hyperpolarizing theta troughs. The location-related phase preference depended on active dendritic conductances, a sufficient electrotonic separation between input sites and theta-induced subthreshold membrane potential oscillations in the cell. The simulation results predict that the shift in mean theta phase during REM sleep cellular reactivation could occur through potentiation of distal dendritic (temporo-ammonic) synapses and depotentiation of proximal dendritic (Schaffer collateral) synapses over the course of familiarization. PMID:16411243

Process boundaries of irreversible scCO2 -assisted phase separation in biphasic whole-cell biocatalysis.

PubMed

Brandenbusch, Christoph; Glonke, Sebastian; Collins, Jonathan; Hoffrogge, Raimund; Grunwald, Klaudia; Bühler, Bruno; Schmid, Andreas; Sadowski, Gabriele

2015-11-01

The formation of stable emulsions in biphasic biotransformations catalyzed by microbial cells turned out to be a major hurdle for industrial implementation. Recently, a cost-effective and efficient downstream processing approach, using supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2 ) for both irreversible emulsion destabilization (enabling complete phase separation within minutes of emulsion treatment) and product purification via extraction has been proposed by Brandenbusch et al. (2010). One of the key factors for a further development and scale-up of the approach is the understanding of the mechanism underlying scCO2 -assisted phase separation. A systematic approach was applied within this work to investigate the various factors influencing phase separation during scCO2 treatment (that is pressure, exposure of the cells to CO2 , and changes of cell surface properties). It was shown that cell toxification and cell disrupture are not responsible for emulsion destabilization. Proteins from the aqueous phase partially adsorb to cells present at the aqueous-organic interface, causing hydrophobic cell surface characteristics, and thus contribute to emulsion stabilization. By investigating the change in cell-surface hydrophobicity of these cells during CO2 treatment, it was found that a combination of catastrophic phase inversion and desorption of proteins from the cell surface is responsible for irreversible scCO2 mediated phase separation. These findings are essential for the definition of process windows for scCO2 -assisted phase separation in biphasic whole-cell biocatalysis. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Effects of temperature and solvent condition on phase separation induced molecular fractionation of gum arabic/hyaluronan aqueous mixtures.

PubMed

Hu, Bing; Han, Lingyu; Gao, Zhiming; Zhang, Ke; Al-Assaf, Saphwan; Nishinari, Katsuyoshi; Phillips, Glyn O; Yang, Jixin; Fang, Yapeng

2018-05-14

Effects of temperature and solvent condition on phase separation-induced molecular fractionation of gum arabic/hyaluronan (GA/HA) mixed solutions were investigated. Two gum arabic samples (EM10 and STD) with different molecular weights and polydispersity indices were used. Phase diagrams, including cloud and binodal curves, were established by visual observation and GPC-RI methods. The molecular parameters of control and fractionated GA, from upper and bottom phases, were measured by GPC-MALLS. Fractionation of GA increased the content of arabinogalactan-protein complex (AGP) from ca. 11% to 18% in STD/HA system and 28% to 55% in EM10/HA system. The phase separation-induced molecular fractionation was further studied as a function of temperature and solvent condition (varying ionic strength and ethanol content). Increasing salt concentration (from 0.5 to 5 mol/L) greatly reduced the extent of phase separation-induced fractionation. This effect may be ascribed to changes in the degree of ionization and shielding of the acid groups. Increasing temperature (from 4 °C to 80 °C) also exerted a significant influence on phase separation-induced fractionation. The best temperature for GA/HA mixture system was 40 °C while higher temperature negatively affected the fractionation due to denaturation and possibly degradation in mixed solutions. Increasing the ethanol content up to 30% showed almost no effect on the phase separation induced fractionation. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of Coriolis force on counter-current chromatographic separation by centrifugal partition chromatography.

PubMed

Ikehata, Jun-Ichi; Shinomiya, Kazufusa; Kobayashi, Koji; Ohshima, Hisashi; Kitanaka, Susumu; Ito, Yoichiro

2004-02-06

The effect of Coriolis force on the counter-current chromatographic separation was studied using centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC) with four different two-phase solvent systems including n-hexane-acetonitrile (ACN); tert-butyl methyl ether (MtBE)-aqueous 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) (1:1); MtBE-ACN-aqueous 0.1% TFA (2:2:3); and 12.5% (w/w) polyethylene glycol (PEG) 1000-12.5% (w/w) dibasic potassium phosphate. Each separation was performed by eluting either the upper phase in the ascending mode or the lower phase in the descending mode, each in clockwise (CW) and counterclockwise column rotation. Better partition efficiencies were attained by the CW rotation in both mobile phases in all the two-phase solvent systems examined. The mathematical analysis also revealed the Coriolis force works favorably under the CW column rotation for both mobile phases. The overall results demonstrated that the Coriolis force produces substantial effects on CPC separation in both organic-aqueous and aqueous-aqueous two-phase systems.

Halogenated methyl-phenyl ethers (anisoles) in the environment: determination of vapor pressures, aqueous solubilities, Henry's law constants, and gas/water- (Kgw), n-octanol/water- (Kow) and gas/n-octanol (Kgo) partition coefficients.

PubMed

Pfeifer, O; Lohmann, U; Ballschmiter, K

2001-11-01

Halogenated methyl-phenyl ethers (methoxybenzenes, anisoles) are ubiquitous organics in the environment although they are not produced in industrial quantities. Modelling the fate of organic pollutants such as halogenated anisoles requires a knowledge of the fundamental physico-chemical properties of these compounds. The isomer-specific separation and detection of 60 of the 134 possible congeners allowing an environmental fingerprinting are reported in this study. The vapor pressure p0(L) of more than 60 and further physico-chemical properties of 26 available congeners are given. Vapor pressures p0(L), water solubilities S(L)W, and n-octanol/water partition coefficients Kow were determined by capillary HR-GC (High Resolution Gas Chromatography) on a non-polar phase and by RP-HPLC (Reversed Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography) on a C18 phase with chlorobenzenes as reference standards. From these experimental data the Henry's law constants H, and the gas/water Kgw and gas/n-octanol Kgo partition coefficients were calculated. We found that vapor pressures, water solubilities, and n-octanol/water partition coefficients of the halogenated anisoles are close to those of the chlorobenzenes. A similar environmental fate of both groups can, therefore, be predicted.

Creating Drug Solubilization Compartments via Phase Separation in Multicomponent Buccal Patches Prepared by Direct Hot Melt Extrusion-Injection Molding.

PubMed

Alhijjaj, Muqdad; Bouman, Jacob; Wellner, Nikolaus; Belton, Peter; Qi, Sheng

2015-12-07

Creating in situ phase separation in solid dispersion based formulations to allow enhanced functionality of the dosage form, such as improving dissolution of poorly soluble model drug as well as being mucoadhesive, can significantly maximize the in vitro and in vivo performance of the dosage form. This formulation strategy can benefit a wide range of solid dosage forms for oral and alternative routes of delivery. This study using buccal patches as an example created separated phases in situ of the buccal patches by selecting the excipients with different miscibility with each other and the model drug. The quaternary dispersion based buccal patches containing PEG, PEO, Tween 80, and felodipine were prepared by direct hot melt extrusion-injection molding (HME-IM). The partial miscibility between Tween 80 and semicrystalline PEG-PEO led to the phase separation after extrusion. The Tween phases acted as drug solubilization compartments, and the PEG-PEO phase had the primary function of providing mucoadhesion and carrier controlled dissolution. As felodipine was preferably solubilized in the amorphous regions of PEG-PEO, the high crystallinity of PEG-PEO resulted in an overall low drug solubilizing capacity. Tween 80 was added to improve the solubilization capacity of the system as the model drug showed good solubility in Tween. Increasing the drug loading led to the supersaturation of drug in Tween compartments and crystalline drug dispersed in PEG-PEO phases. The spatial distribution of these phase-separated compartments was mapped using X-ray micro-CT, which revealed that the domain size and heterogeneity of the phase separation increased with increasing the drug loading. The outcome of this study provides new insights into the applicability of in situ formed phase separation as a formulation strategy for the delivery of poorly soluble drugs and demonstrated the basic principle of excipient selection for such technology.

Multi-mode application of graphene quantum dots bonded silica stationary phase for high performance liquid chromatography.

PubMed

Wu, Qi; Sun, Yaming; Zhang, Xiaoli; Zhang, Xia; Dong, Shuqing; Qiu, Hongdeng; Wang, Litao; Zhao, Liang

2017-04-07

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs), which possess hydrophobic, hydrophilic, π-π stacking and hydrogen bonding properties, have great prospect in HPLC. In this study, a novel GQDs bonded silica stationary phase was prepared and applied in multiple separation modes including normal phase, reversed phase and hydrophilic chromatography mode. Alkaloids, nucleosides and nucleobases were chosen as test compounds to evaluate the separation performance of this column in hydrophilic chromatographic mode. The tested polar compounds achieved baseline separation and the resolutions reached 2.32, 4.62, 7.79, 1.68 for thymidine, uridine, adenosine, cytidine and guanosine. This new column showed satisfactory chromatographic performance for anilines, phenols and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in normal and reversed phase mode. Five anilines were completely separated within 10min under the condition of mobile phase containing only 10% methanol. The effect of water content, buffer concentration and pH on chromatographic separation was further investigated, founding that this new stationary phase showed a complex retention mechanism of partitioning, adsorption and electrostatic interaction in hydrophilic chromatography mode, and the multiple retention interactions such as π-π stacking and π-π electron-donor-acceptor interaction played an important role during the separation process. This GQDs bonded column, which allows us to adjust appropriate chromatography mode according to the properties of analytes, has possibility in actual application after further research. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Reversed-phase thin-layer chromatography of homologs of Antimycin-A and related derivatives

USGS Publications Warehouse

Abidi, Sharon L.

1989-01-01

Using a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) technique, a mixture of antimycins A was separated into eight hitherto unreported subcomponents, Ala, Alb, A2a, A2b, A3a, A3b, A4a, and A4b. Although a base-line resolution of the known four major antimycins Al, A2, A3, and A4 was readily achieved with mobile phases containing acetate buffers, the separation of the new antibiotic subcomponents was highly sensitive to variation in mobile phase conditions. The type and composition of organic modifiers, the nature of buffer salts, and the concentration of added electrolytes had profound effects on capacity factors, separation factors, and peak resolution values. Of the numerous chromatographic systems examined, a mobile phase consisting of methanol-water (70:30) and 0.005 M tetrabutylammonium phosphate at pH 3.0 yielded the most satisfactory results for the separation of the subcomponents. Reversed-phase gradient HPLC separation of the dansylated or methylated antibiotic compounds produced superior chromatographic characteristics and the presence of added electrolytes was not a critical factor for achieving separation. Differences in the chromatographic outcome between homologous and structural isomers were interpretated based on a differential solvophobic interaction rationale. Preparative reversed-phase HPLC under optimal conditions enabled isolation of pure samples of the methylated antimycin subcomponents for use in structural studies.

Re-entrant phase behavior for systems with competition between phase separation and self-assembly

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reinhardt, Aleks; Williamson, Alexander J.; Doye, Jonathan P. K.; Carrete, Jesús; Varela, Luis M.; Louis, Ard A.

2011-03-01

In patchy particle systems where there is a competition between the self-assembly of finite clusters and liquid-vapor phase separation, re-entrant phase behavior can be observed, with the system passing from a monomeric vapor phase to a region of liquid-vapor phase coexistence and then to a vapor phase of clusters as the temperature is decreased at constant density. Here, we present a classical statistical mechanical approach to the determination of the complete phase diagram of such a system. We model the system as a van der Waals fluid, but one where the monomers can assemble into monodisperse clusters that have no attractive interactions with any of the other species. The resulting phase diagrams show a clear region of re-entrance. However, for the most physically reasonable parameter values of the model, this behavior is restricted to a certain range of density, with phase separation still persisting at high densities.

Time-Correlated Single-Photon Counting Fluorescence Imaging of Lipid Domains In Raft-Mimicking Giant Unilamellar Vesicles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clarke, James; Cheng, Kwan; Shindell, Orrin; Wang, Exing

We have designed and constructed a high-throughput electrofusion chamber and an incubator to fabricate Giant Unilamellar Vesicles (GUVs) consisting of high-melting lipids, low-melting lipids, cholesterol and both ordered and disordered phase sensitive fluorescent probes (DiIC12, dehydroergosterol and BODIPY-Cholesterol). GUVs were formed in a 3 stage pulse sequence electrofusion process with voltages ranging from 50mVpp to 2.2Vpp and frequencies from 5Hz to 10Hz. Steady state and time-correlated single-photon counting (TCSPC) fluorescence lifetime (FLIM) based confocal and/or multi-photon microscopic techniques were used to characterize phase separated lipid domains in GUVs. Confocal imaging measures the probe concentration and the chemical environment of the system. TCSPC techniques determine the chemical environment through the perturbation of fluorescent lifetimes of the probes in the system. The above techniques will be applied to investigate the protein-lipid interactions involving domain formation. Specifically, the mechanisms governing lipid domain formations in the above systems that mimic the lipid rafts in cells will be explored. Murchison Fellowship at Trinity University.

Isolation of plasma membranes from the nervous system by countercurrent distribution in aqueous polymer two-phase systems.

PubMed

Schindler, Jens; Nothwang, Hans Gerd

2009-01-01

The plasma membrane separates the cell-interior from the cell's environment. To maintain homeostatic conditions and to enable transfer of information, the plasma membrane is equipped with a variety of different proteins such as transporters, channels, and receptors. The kind and number of plasma membrane proteins are a characteristic of each cell type. Owing to their location, plasma membrane proteins also represent a plethora of drug targets. Their importance has entailed many studies aiming at their proteomic identification and characterization. Therefore, protocols are required that enable their purification in high purity and quantity. Here, we report a protocol, based on aqueous polymer two-phase systems, which fulfils these demands. Furthermore, the protocol is time-saving and protects protein structure and function.

Assessing the occurrence and distribution of pyrethroids in water and suspended sediments

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hladik, M.L.; Kuivila, K.M.

2009-01-01

The distribution of pyrethroid insecticides in the environment was assessed by separately measuring concentrations in the dissolved and suspended sediment phases of surface water samples. Filtered water was extracted by HLB solid-phase extraction cartridges, while the sediment on the filter was sonicated and cleaned up using carbon and aluminum cartridges. Detection limits for the 13 pyrethroids analyzed by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry were 0.5 to 1 ng L-1 for water and 2 to 6 ng g for the suspended sediments. Seven pyrethroids were detected in six water samples collected from either urban or agricultural creeks, with bifenthrin detected the most frequently and at the highest concentrations. In spiked water samples and field samples, the majority of the pyrethroids were associated with the suspended sediments.

Phase separation of bio-oil produced by co-pyrolysis of corn cobs and polypropylene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Supramono, D.; Julianto; Haqqyana; Setiadi, H.; Nasikin, M.

2017-11-01

In co-pyrolysis of biomass-plastics, bio-oil produced contains both oxygenated and non-oxygenated compounds. High oxygen composition is responsible for instability and low heating value of bio-oil and high acid content for corrosiveness. Aims of the present work are to evaluate possibilities of achieving phase separation between oxygenated and non-oxygenated compounds in bio-oil using a proposed stirred tank reactor and to achieve synergistic effects on bio-oil yield and non-oxygenated compound layer yield. Separation of bio-oil into two layers, i.e. that containing oxygenated compounds (polar phase) and non-oxygenated compounds (non-polar phase) is important to obtain pure non-polar phase ready for the next processing of hydrogenation and used directly as bio-fuel. There has been no research work on co-pyrolysis of biomass-plastic considering possibility of phase separation of bio-oil. The present work is proposing a stirred tank reactor for co-pyrolysis with nitrogen injection, which is capable of tailoring co-pyrolysis conditions leading to low viscosity and viscosity asymmetry, which induce phase separation between polar phase and non-polar phase. The proposed reactor is capable of generating synergistic effect on bio-oil and non-polar yields as the composition of PP in feed is more than 25% weight in which non-polar layers contain only alkanes, alkenes, cycloalkanes and cycloalkenes.

Polymerization- and Solvent-Induced Phase Separation in Hydrophilic-rich Dentin Adhesive Mimic

PubMed Central

Abedin, Farhana; Ye, Qiang; Good, Holly J; Parthasarathy, Ranganathan; Spencer, Paulette

2014-01-01

Current dental resin undergoes phase separation into hydrophobic-rich and hydrophilic-rich phases during infiltration of the over-wet demineralized collagen matrix. Such phase separation undermines the integrity and durability of the bond at the composite/tooth interface. This study marks the first time that the polymerization kinetics of model hydrophilic-rich phase of dental adhesive has been determined. Samples were prepared by adding varying water content to neat resins made from 95 and 99wt% hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) and 5 and 1wt% (2,2-bis[4-(2-hydroxy-3-methacryloxypropoxy)phenyl1]-propane (BisGMA) prior to light curing. Viscosity of the formulations decreased with increased water content. The photo-polymerization kinetics study was carried out by time-resolved FTIR spectrum collector. All of the samples exhibited two-stage polymerization behavior which has not been reported previously for dental resin formulation. The lowest secondary rate maxima were observed for water content of 10-30%wt. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed two glass transition temperatures for the hydrophilic-rich phase of dental adhesive. The DSC results indicate that the heterogeneity within the final polymer structure decreased with increased water content. The results suggest a reaction mechanism involving both polymerization-induced phase separation (PIPs) and solvent-induced phase separation (SIPs) for the model hydrophilic-rich phase of dental resin. PMID:24631658

Laser-induced phase separation of silicon carbide

PubMed Central

Choi, Insung; Jeong, Hu Young; Shin, Hyeyoung; Kang, Gyeongwon; Byun, Myunghwan; Kim, Hyungjun; Chitu, Adrian M.; Im, James S.; Ruoff, Rodney S.; Choi, Sung-Yool; Lee, Keon Jae

2016-01-01

Understanding the phase separation mechanism of solid-state binary compounds induced by laser–material interaction is a challenge because of the complexity of the compound materials and short processing times. Here we present xenon chloride excimer laser-induced melt-mediated phase separation and surface reconstruction of single-crystal silicon carbide and study this process by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and a time-resolved reflectance method. A single-pulse laser irradiation triggers melting of the silicon carbide surface, resulting in a phase separation into a disordered carbon layer with partially graphitic domains (∼2.5 nm) and polycrystalline silicon (∼5 nm). Additional pulse irradiations cause sublimation of only the separated silicon element and subsequent transformation of the disordered carbon layer into multilayer graphene. The results demonstrate viability of synthesizing ultra-thin nanomaterials by the decomposition of a binary system. PMID:27901015

Sequence control of phase separation and dewetting in PS/PVME blend thin films by changing molecular weight of PS.

PubMed

Xia, Tian; Qin, Yaping; Huang, Yajiang; Huang, Ting; Xu, Jianhui; Li, Youbing

2016-11-28

The morphology evolution mechanism of polystyrene (PS)/poly (vinyl methyl ether) (PVME) blend thin films with different PS molecular weights (M w ) was studied. It was found that the morphology evolution was closely related to the molecular weight asymmetry between PS and PVME. In the film where M w (PS) ≈ M w (PVME), dewetting happened at the interface between the bottom layer and substrate after SD phase separation. While in the film where M w (PS) > M w (PVME), dewetting happened at the interface between the middle PS/PVME blend layer and bottom PVME layer near the substrate prior to phase separation. The different sequences of phase separation and dewetting and different interface for dewetting occurrence were studied by regarding the competitive effects of viscoelasticity contrast between polymer components and preferential wetting between PVME and the substrate. The viscoelastic nature of the PS component played a crucial role in the sequence of phase separation and dewetting.

Tube radial distribution phenomenon with a two-phase separation solution of a fluorocarbon and hydrocarbon organic solvent mixture in a capillary tube and metal compounds separation.

PubMed

Kitaguchi, Koichi; Hanamura, Naoya; Murata, Masaharu; Hashimoto, Masahiko; Tsukagoshi, Kazuhiko

2014-01-01

A fluorocarbon and hydrocarbon organic solvent mixture is known as a temperature-induced phase-separation solution. When a mixed solution of tetradecafluorohexane as a fluorocarbon organic solvent and hexane as a hydrocarbon organic solvent (e.g., 71:29 volume ratio) was delivered in a capillary tube that was controlled at 10°C, the tube radial distribution phenomenon (TRDP) of the solvents was clearly observed through fluorescence images of the dye, perylene, dissolved in the mixed solution. The homogeneous mixed solution (single phase) changed to a heterogeneous solution (two phases) with inner tetradecafluorohexane and outer hexane phases in the tube under laminar flow conditions, generating the dynamic liquid-liquid interface. We also tried to apply TRDP to a separation technique for metal compounds. A model analyte mixture, copper(II) and hematin, was separated through the capillary tube, and detected with a chemiluminescence detector in this order within 4 min.

Formation and Maturation of Phase Separated Liquid Droplets by RNA Binding Proteins

PubMed Central

Lin, Yuan; Protter, David S. W.; Rosen, Michael K.; Parker, Roy

2015-01-01

Eukaryotic cells possess numerous dynamic membrane-less organelles, RNP granules, enriched in RNA and RNA binding proteins containing disordered regions. We demonstrate that the disordered regions of key RNP granule components, and the full-length granule protein hnRNPA1, can phase separate in vitro, producing dynamic liquid droplets. Phase separation is promoted by low salt concentrations or RNA. Over time, the droplets mature to more stable states, as assessed by slowed fluorescence recovery after photobleaching and resistance to salt. Maturation often coincides with formation of fibrous structures. Different disordered domains can co-assemble into phase-separated droplets. These biophysical properties demonstrate a plausible mechanism by which interactions between disordered regions, coupled with RNA binding, could contribute to RNP granule assembly in vivo through promoting phase separation. Progression from dynamic liquids to stable fibers may be regulated to produce cellular structures with diverse physiochemical properties and functions. Misregulation could contribute to diseases involving aberrant RNA granules. PMID:26412307

Dynamics of polymerization induced phase separation in reactive polymer blends

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Jaehyung

Mechanisms and dynamics of phase decomposition following polymerization induced phase separation (PIPS) of reactive polymer blends have been investigated experimentally and theoretically. The phenomenon of PIPS is a non-equilibrium and non-linear dynamic process. The mechanism of PIPS has been thought to be a nucleation and growth (NG) type originally, however, newer results indicate spinodal decomposition (SD). In PIPS, the coexistence curve generally passes through the reaction temperature at off-critical compositions, thus phase separation has to be initiated first in the metastable region where nucleation occurs. When the system farther drifts from the metastable to unstable region, the NG structure transforms to the SD bicontinuous morphology. The crossover behavior of PIPS may be called nucleation initiated spinodal decomposition (NISD). The formation of newer domains between the existing ones is responsible for the early stage of PIPS. Since PIPS is non- equilibrium kinetic process, it would not be surprising to discern either or both structures. The phase separation dynamics of DGEBA/CTBN mixtures having various kinds of curing agents from low reactivity to high reactivity and various amount of curing agents were examined at various reaction temperatures. The phase separation behavior was monitored by a quantity of scattered light intensity experimentally and by a quantity of collective structure factor numerically. Prior to the study of phase separation dynamics, a preliminary investigation on the isothermal cure behavior of the mixtures were executed in order to determine reaction kinetics parameters. The cure behavior followed the overall second order reaction kinetics. Next, based on the knowledge obtained from the phase separation dynamics study of DGEBA/CTBN mixtures, the phase separation dynamics of various composition of DGEBA/R45EPI mixtures having MDA as a curing agent were investigated. The phase separation behavior was quite dependent upon the composition variation. R45EPI itself can react with itself or with DGEBA without curing, therefore three-component system was considered in this mixture. For the numerical studies of this three- component mixture, a system that is composed of a reactive component-1 that is miscible with its growing molecules and another reactive component-2 that is not miscible with its growing molecules was considered with crosslinking reaction kinetics of the each component.

Direct visualization of phase separation between superconducting and nematic domains in Co-doped CaFe2As2 close to a first-order phase transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fente, Antón; Correa-Orellana, Alexandre; Böhmer, Anna E.; Kreyssig, Andreas; Ran, S.; Bud'ko, Sergey L.; Canfield, Paul C.; Mompean, Federico J.; García-Hernández, Mar; Munuera, Carmen; Guillamón, Isabel; Suderow, Hermann

2018-01-01

We show that biaxial strain induces alternating tetragonal superconducting and orthorhombic nematic domains in Co-substituted CaFe2As2 . We use atomic force, magnetic force, and scanning tunneling microscopy to identify the domains and characterize their properties, finding in particular that tetragonal superconducting domains are very elongated, more than several tens of micrometers long and about 30 nm wide; have the same Tc as unstrained samples; and hold vortices in a magnetic field. Thus, biaxial strain produces a phase-separated state, where each phase is equivalent to what is found on either side of the first-order phase transition between antiferromagnetic orthorhombic and superconducting tetragonal phases found in unstrained samples when changing Co concentration. Having such alternating superconducting domains separated by normal conducting domains with sizes of the order of the coherence length opens opportunities to build Josephson junction networks or vortex pinning arrays and suggests that first-order quantum phase transitions lead to nanometric-size phase separation under the influence of strain.

Direct visualization of phase separation between superconducting and nematic domains in Co-doped CaFe 2 As 2 close to a first-order phase transition

DOE PAGES

Fente, Antón; Correa-Orellana, Alexandre; Böhmer, Anna E.; ...

2018-01-09

We show that biaxial strain induces alternating tetragonal superconducting and orthorhombic nematic domains in Co substituted CaFe 2As 2. We use Atomic Force, Magnetic Force and Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (AFM, MFM and STM) to identify the domains and characterize their properties, nding in particular that tetragonal superconducting domains are very elongated, more than several tens of μm long and about 30 nm wide, have the same Tc than unstrained samples and hold vortices in a magnetic eld. Thus, biaxial strain produces a phase separated state, where each phase is equivalent to what is found at either side of the rstmore » order phase transition between antiferromagnetic orthorhombic and superconducting tetragonal phases found in unstrained samples when changing Co concentration. Having such alternating superconducting domains separated by normal conducting domains with sizes of order of the coherence length opens opportunities to build Josephson junction networks or vortex pinning arrays and suggests that first order quantum phase transitions lead to nanometric size phase separation under the influence of strain.« less

Investigation of foam flotation and phase partitioning techniques

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Currin, B. L.

1985-01-01

The present status of foam flotation as a separation process is evaluated and limitations for cells and proteins are determined. Possible applications of foam flotation to separations in microgravity are discussed. Application of the fluid mechanical aspects of foam separation techniques is made to phase partitioning in order to investigate the viscous drag forces that may effect the partitioning of cells in a two phase poly(ethylene glycol) and dextran system.

Ternary Phase-Separation Investigation of Sol-Gel Derived Silica from Ethyl Silicate 40

PubMed Central

Wang, Shengnan; Wang, David K.; Smart, Simon; Diniz da Costa, João C.

2015-01-01

A ternary phase-separation investigation of the ethyl silicate 40 (ES40) sol-gel process was conducted using ethanol and water as the solvent and hydrolysing agent, respectively. This oligomeric silica precursor underwent various degrees of phase separation behaviour in solution during the sol-gel reactions as a function of temperature and H2O/Si ratios. The solution composition within the immiscible region of the ES40 phase-separated system shows that the hydrolysis and condensation reactions decreased with decreasing reaction temperature. A mesoporous structure was obtained at low temperature due to weak drying forces from slow solvent evaporation on one hand and formation of unreacted ES40 cages in the other, which reduced network shrinkage and produced larger pores. This was attributed to the concentration of the reactive sites around the phase-separated interface, which enhanced the condensation and crosslinking. Contrary to dense silica structures obtained from sol-gel reactions in the miscible region, higher microporosity was produced via a phase-separated sol-gel system by using high H2O/Si ratios. This tailoring process facilitated further condensation reactions and crosslinking of silica chains, which coupled with stiffening of the network, made it more resistant to compression and densification. PMID:26411484

Spatial patterning of P granules by RNA-induced phase separation of the intrinsically-disordered protein MEG-3

PubMed Central

Smith, Jarrett; Calidas, Deepika; Schmidt, Helen; Lu, Tu; Rasoloson, Dominique; Seydoux, Geraldine

2016-01-01

RNA granules are non-membrane bound cellular compartments that contain RNA and RNA binding proteins. The molecular mechanisms that regulate the spatial distribution of RNA granules in cells are poorly understood. During polarization of the C. elegans zygote, germline RNA granules, called P granules, assemble preferentially in the posterior cytoplasm. We present evidence that P granule asymmetry depends on RNA-induced phase separation of the granule scaffold MEG-3. MEG-3 is an intrinsically disordered protein that binds and phase separates with RNA in vitro. In vivo, MEG-3 forms a posterior-rich concentration gradient that is anti-correlated with a gradient in the RNA-binding protein MEX-5. MEX-5 is necessary and sufficient to suppress MEG-3 granule formation in vivo, and suppresses RNA-induced MEG-3 phase separation in vitro. Our findings suggest that MEX-5 interferes with MEG-3’s access to RNA, thus locally suppressing MEG-3 phase separation to drive P granule asymmetry. Regulated access to RNA, combined with RNA-induced phase separation of key scaffolding proteins, may be a general mechanism for controlling the formation of RNA granules in space and time. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.21337.001 PMID:27914198

Terrestrial Testing of the CapiBRIC, a Microgravity Optimized Brine Processor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sargusingh, Miriam J.; Callahan, Michael R.; Weislogel, Mark M.

2016-01-01

Utilizing geometry based static phase separation exhibited in the radial vaned capillary drying tray, a system was conceived to recover water from brine. This technology has been named the Capillary BRIC; abbreviated CapiBRIC. The CapiBRIC utilizes a capillary drying tray within a drying chamber. Water is recovered from clean water vapor evaporating from the free surface leaving waste brine solids behind. A novel approach of optimizing the containment geometry to support passive capillary flow and static phase separation provides the opportunity for a low power system that is not as susceptible to fouling as membranes or other technologies employing physical barriers across the free brine surface to achieve phase separation in microgravity. Having been optimized for operation in microgravity, full-scale testing of the CapiBRIC as designed cannot be performed on the ground as the force of gravity would dominate over the capillary forces. However, subscale units relevant to full-scale design were used to characterize fill rates, containment stability, and interaction with a variable volume reservoir in the PSU Dryden Drop Tower (DDT) facility. PSU also using tested units scaled such that capillary forces dominated in a 1-g environment to characterize evaporation from a free-surface in 1-g upward, sideways and downward orientations. In order to augment the subscale testing performed by PSU, a full scale 1-g analogue of the CapiBRIC drying unit was initiated to help validate performance predictions regarding expected water recovery ratio, estimated processing time, and interface definitions for inlets, outlets, and internal processes, including vent gas composition. This paper describes the design, development and test of the terrestrial CapiBRIC prototypes.

Method of separating lignocellulosic material into lignin, cellulose and dissolved sugars

DOEpatents

Black, S.K.; Hames, B.R.; Myers, M.D.

1998-03-24

A method is described for separating lignocellulosic material into (a) lignin, (b) cellulose, and (c) hemicellulose and dissolved sugars. Wood or herbaceous biomass is digested at elevated temperature in a single-phase mixture of alcohol, water and a water-immiscible organic solvent (e.g., a ketone). After digestion, the amount of water or organic solvent is adjusted so that there is phase separation. The lignin is present in the organic solvent, the cellulose is present in a solid pulp phase, and the aqueous phase includes hemicellulose and any dissolved sugars.

Method of separating lignocellulosic material into lignin, cellulose and dissolved sugars

DOEpatents

Black, Stuart K.; Hames, Bonnie R.; Myers, Michele D.

1998-01-01

A method for separating lignocellulosic material into (a) lignin, (b) cellulose, and (c) hemicellulose and dissolved sugars. Wood or herbaceous biomass is digested at elevated temperature in a single-phase mixture of alcohol, water and a water-immiscible organic solvent (e.g., a ketone). After digestion, the amount of water or organic solvent is adjusted so that there is phase separation. The lignin is present in the organic solvent, the cellulose is present in a solid pulp phase, and the aqueous phase includes hemicellulose and any dissolved sugars.

Separation of piracetam derivatives on polysaccharide-based chiral stationary phases.

PubMed

Kažoka, H; Koliškina, O; Veinberg, G; Vorona, M

2013-03-15

High-performance liquid chromatography was used for the enantiomeric separation of two chiral piracetam derivatives. The suitability of six commercially available polysaccharide-based chiral stationary phases (CSPs) under normal phase mode for direct enantioseparation has been investigated. The influence of the CSPs as well the nature and content of an alcoholic modifier in the mobile phase on separation and elution order was studied. It was established that CSP Lux Amylose-2 shows high chiral recognition ability towards 4-phenylsubstituted piracetam derivatives. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Origin of colossal magnetoresistance in LaMnO 3 manganite

DOE PAGES

Baldini, Maria; Muramatsu, Takaki; Sherafati, Mohammad; ...

2015-08-13

Phase separation is a crucial ingredient of the physics of manganites; however, the role of mixed phases in the development of the colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) phenomenon still needs to be clarified. In this paper, we report the realization of CMR in a single-valent LaMnO 3 manganite. We found that the insulator-to-metal transition at 32 GPa is well described using the percolation theory. Pressure induces phase separation, and the CMR takes place at the percolation threshold. A large memory effect is observed together with the CMR, suggesting the presence of magnetic clusters. The phase separation scenario is well reproduced, solving amore » model Hamiltonian. Finally, our results demonstrate in a clean way that phase separation is at the origin of CMR in LaMnO 3.« less

A volatile organics concentrator for use in monitoring Space Station water quality

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ehntholt, Daniel J.; Bodek, Itamar; Valentine, James R.; Trabanino, Rudy; Vincze, Johanna E.; Sauer, Richard L.

1990-01-01

The process used to identify, select, and design an approach to the isolation and concentration of volatile organic compounds from a water sample prior to chemical analysis in a microgravity environment is discerned. The trade analysis leading to the recommended volatile organics concentrator (VOC) concept to be tested in a breadboard device is presented. The system covers the areas of gases, volatile separation from water, and water removal/gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer interface. Five options for potential use in the VOC and GC/MS system are identified and ranked, and also nine options are presented for separation of volatiles from the water phase. Seven options for use in the water removal/GC column and MS interface are also identified and included in the overall considerations. A final overall recommendation for breadboard VOC testing is given.

Cyclohexylamine additives for enhanced peptide separations in reversed phase liquid chromatography.

PubMed

Cole, S R; Dorsey, J G

1997-01-01

While the choice of stationary phase, organic modifier, and gradient strength can have significant effects on biomolecule separations, mobile phase additives can also have a significant effect on the chromatographic selectivity, recovery, efficiency and resolution. Given the importance of stationary phase coverage, the beneficial, silanol-masking properties of amines, and the potential for selectivity modification through ion-pair interactions, cyclohexylamine was examined as a mobile phase additive and compared with triethylamine and trifluoroacetic acid. Greatly improved separation was possible when cyclohexylamine was used as compared with phosphate buffer, and cyclohexylamine did not require purification before use, while triethylamine required distillation before 'clean' chromatograms were obtained.

Renormalization-Group Theory Study of Superfluidity and Phase Separation of Helium Mixtures Immersed in Jungle-Gym Aerogel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lopatnikova, Anna; Berker, A. Nihat

1997-03-01

Superfluidity and phase separation in ^3He-^4He mixtures immersed in jungle-gym (non-random) aerogel are studied by renormalization-group theory.(Phys. Rev. B, in press (1996)) Phase diagrams are calculated for a variety of aerogel concentrations. Superfluidity at very low ^4He concentrations and a depressed tricritical temperature are found at the onset of superfluidity. A superfluid-superfluid phase separation, terminating at an isolated critical point, is found entirely within the superfluid phase. These phenomena, and trends with respect to aerogel concentration, are explained by the connectivity and tenuousness of jungle-gym aerogel.

Renormalization-group study of superfluidity and phase separation of helium mixtures immersed in a nonrandom aerogel

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lopatnikova, A.; Berker, A.N.

1997-02-01

Superfluidity and phase separation in {sup 3}He-{sup 4}He mixtures immersed in a jungle-gym (nonrandom) aerogel are studied by renormalization-group theory. Phase diagrams are calculated for a variety of aerogel concentrations. Superfluidity at very low {sup 4}He concentrations and a depressed tricritical temperature are found at the onset of superfluidity. A superfluid-superfluid phase separation, terminating at an isolated critical point, is found entirely within the superfluid phase. These phenomena and trends with respect to aerogel concentration are explained by the connectivity and tenuousness of a jungle-gym aerogel. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}

Phase separation and the formation of cellular bodies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Bin; Broedersz, Chase P.; Meir, Yigal; Wingreen, Ned S.

Cellular bodies in eukaryotic cells spontaneously assemble to form cellular compartments. Among other functions, these bodies carry out essential biochemical reactions. Cellular bodies form micron-sized structures, which, unlike canonical cell organelles, are not surrounded by membranes. A recent in vitro experiment has shown that phase separation of polymers in solution can explain the formation of cellular bodies. We constructed a lattice-polymer model to capture the essential mechanism leading to this phase separation. We used both analytical and numerical tools to predict the phase diagram of a system of two interacting polymers, including the concentration of each polymer type in the condensed and dilute phase.

Influence of particle size and shell thickness of core-shell packing materials on optimum experimental conditions in preparative chromatography.

PubMed

Horváth, Krisztián; Felinger, Attila

2015-08-14

The applicability of core-shell phases in preparative separations was studied by a modeling approach. The preparative separations were optimized for two compounds having bi-Langmuir isotherms. The differential mass balance equation of chromatography was solved by the Rouchon algorithm. The results show that as the size of the core increases, larger particles can be used in separations, resulting in higher applicable flow rates, shorter cycle times. Due to the decreasing volume of porous layer, the loadability of the column dropped significantly. As a result, the productivity and economy of the separation decreases. It is shown that if it is possible to optimize the size of stationary phase particles for the given separation task, the use of core-shell phases are not beneficial. The use of core-shell phases proved to be advantageous when the goal is to build preparative column for general purposes (e.g. for purification of different products) in small scale separations. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Development of Electrospun Nanomaterials and their Applications in Separation Science

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Newsome, Toni Elwell

In separations, efficiency is inversely related to the diameter of the sorbent particles of the stationary phase. Thus, materials research in separation science has primarily been directed towards reducing the diameter of the sorbent particle used in the stationary phase. In this dissertation, innovative methods designed for the fabrication and application of electrospun sorbent nanomaterials for separation science are described. Electrospinning is a facile, cost-effective technique that relies on repulsive electrostatic forces to produce nanofibers from a viscoelastic solution. Here, electrospinning is used to generate polymer, carbon, and silica-based nanofibers which are employed as sorbent nanomaterials in extractions and separations. Electrospun carbon nanofibers have proven to be ideal extractive phases for solid-phase microextraction (SPME) when coupled to gas chromatography (GC) for headspace sampling of volatile analytes. Herein, these carbon nanofibers were employed in the direct extraction of nonvolatile analytes and coupled to liquid chromatography (LC) for the first time. The high surface area of the coatings led to enhanced extraction efficiencies; they offered a 3-33 fold increase in efficiency relative to a commercial SPME phase. Carbon nanofibers proved to be stable when immersed in liquids common to LC demonstrating the enhanced stability of these coatings in SPME coupled to LC relative to conventional SPME fibers. The enhanced chemical and mechanical stability of the carbon SPME coatings considerably expanded the range of compounds applicable to SPME and extended the lifetimes of the fibers. Electrospun nanofibers have also proven to be ideal stationary phases in ultra-thin layer chromatography (UTLC). Nanofibers provide faster separations and enhanced separation efficiencies compared to commercial particle-based stationary phases in a relatively short distance. Here, the electrospun-UTLC technology was extended for the first time to nanofibers composed of silica, the most commonly used surface for TLC. An electrospinning method was optimized to produce silica-based nanofibers with the smallest diameter possible (300-380 nm) while maintaining homogenous nanofiber morphology. Highly efficient separations were performed in 15 mm with observed plate heights as low as 8.6 mum. Silica-based nanofibers proved to be chemically stable with a wide variety of TLC reagents demonstrating the enhanced compatibility of these phases with common TLC methods relative to polymer and carbon nanofiber UTLC plates. The extension of electrospun UTLC to silica-based nanofibers vastly expanded the range of analytes and TLC methods which can be used with this technology. The main disadvantage of conventional TLC development methods is that the mobile phase velocity decreases with increasing separation distance. Here, the chromatographic performance of electrospun polymer stationary phases was further improved by using a forced-flow mobile phase in planar electrochromatography (PEC) in which mobile phase velocity does not diminish with increasing distance. Separations were performed on polymer nanofiber UTLC plates in 1-2 min. Compared to UTLC, PEC offered unique selectivity, decreased analysis times (> 4 times faster), and enhanced efficiency (2-3 times lower plate height). In addition, two-dimensional (2D) separations of a complex analyte mixture using UTLC followed by PEC required only 11 min and exhibited a significant increase in separation number (70-77).

Effects of Swirler Shape on Two-Phase Swirling Flow in a Steam Separator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kataoka, Hironobu; Shinkai, Yusuke; Tomiyama, Akio

Experiments on two-phase swirling flow in a separator are carried out using several swirlers having different vane angles, different hub diameters and different number of vanes to seek a way for improving steam separators of uprated boiling water reactors. Ratios of the separated liquid flow rate to the total liquid flow rate, flow patterns, liquid film thicknesses and pressure drops are measured to examine the effects of swirler shape on air-water two-phase swirling annular flows in a one-fifth scale model of the separator. As a result, the following conclusions are obtained for the tested swirlers: (1) swirler shape scarcely affects the pressure drop in the barrel of the separator, (2) decreasing the vane angle is an effective way for reducing the pressure drop in the diffuser of the separator, and (3) the film thickness at the inlet of the pick-off-ring of the separator is not sensitive to swirler shape, which explains the reason why the separator performance does not depend on swirler shape.

Recovery of cesium

DOEpatents

Izatt, Reed M.; Christensen, James J.; Hawkins, Richard T.

1984-01-01

A process of recovering cesium ions from mixtures of ions containing them and other ions, e.g., a solution of nuclear waste materials, which comprises establishing a separate source phase containing such a mixture of ions, establishing a separate recipient phase, establishing a liquid membrane phase in interfacial contact with said source and recipient phases, said membrane phase containing a ligand, preferably a selected calixarene as depicted in the drawing, maintaining said interfacial contact for a period of time long enough to transport by said ligand a substantial portion of the cesium ion from the source phase to the recipient phase, and recovering the cesium ion from the recipient phase. The separation of the source and recipient phases may be by the membrane phase only, e.g., where these aqueous phases are emulsified as dispersed phases in a continuous membrane phase, or may include a physical barrier as well, e.g., an open-top outer container with an inner open-ended container of smaller cross-section mounted in the outer container with its open bottom end spaced from and above the closed bottom of the outer container so that the membrane phase may fill the outer container to a level above the bottom of the inner container and have floating on its upper surface a source phase and a recipient phase separated by the wall of the inner container as a physical barrier. A preferred solvent for the ligand is a mixture of methylene chloride and carbon tetrachloride.

Phase Separation of Superconducting Phases in the Penson-Kolb-Hubbard Model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jerzy Kapcia, Konrad; Czart, Wojciech Robert; Ptok, Andrzej

2016-04-01

In this paper, we determine the phase diagrams (for T = 0 as well as T > 0) of the Penson-Kolb-Hubbard model for two dimensional square lattice within Hartree-Fock mean-field theory focusing on an investigation of superconducting phases and on a possibility of the occurrence of the phase separation. We obtain that the phase separation, which is a state of coexistence of two different superconducting phases (with s- and η-wave symmetries), occurs in definite ranges of the electron concentration. In addition, increasing temperature can change the symmetry of the superconducting order parameter (from η-wave into s-wave). The system considered exhibits also an interesting multicritical behaviour including bicritical points. The relevance of the results to experiments for real materials is also discussed.

The role of surfaces, chemical interfaces, and disorder on plutonium incorporation in pyrochlores

DOE PAGES

Perriot, Romain; Dholabhai, Pratik P.; Uberuaga, Blas P.

2016-07-27

Pyrochlores, a class of complex oxides with formula A 2B 2O 7, are one of the candidates for nuclear waste encapsulation, due to the natural occurrence of actinide-bearing pyrochlore minerals and laboratory observations of high radiation tolerance. In this work, we use atomistic simulations to determine the role of surfaces, chemical interfaces, and cation disorder on the plutonium immobilization properties of pyrochlores as a function of pyrochlore chemistry. We find that both Pu 3+ and Pu 4+ segregate to the surface for the four low-index pyrochlore surfaces considered, and that the segregation energy varies with the chemistry of the compound.more » We also find that pyrochlore/pyrochlore bicrystals A 2B 2O 7/A 2'B 2'O 7 can be used to immobilize Pu 3+ and Pu 4+ either in the same or separate phases of the compound, depending on the chemistry of the material. Finally, we find that Pu 4+ segregates to the disordered phase of an order/disorder bicrystal, driven by the occurrence of local oxygen-rich environments. However, Pu 3+ is weakly sensitive to the oxygen environment, and therefore only slightly favors the disordered phase. This behavior suggests that, at some concentration, Pu incorporation can destabilize the pyrochlore structure. Together, these results provide new insight into the ability of pyrochlore compounds to encapsulate Pu and suggest new considerations in the development of waste forms based on pyrochlores. Particularly, the phase structure of a multi-phase pyrochlore composite can be used to independently getter decay products based on their valence and size.« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Perriot, Romain; Dholabhai, Pratik P.; Uberuaga, Blas P.

Pyrochlores, a class of complex oxides with formula A 2B 2O 7, are one of the candidates for nuclear waste encapsulation, due to the natural occurrence of actinide-bearing pyrochlore minerals and laboratory observations of high radiation tolerance. In this work, we use atomistic simulations to determine the role of surfaces, chemical interfaces, and cation disorder on the plutonium immobilization properties of pyrochlores as a function of pyrochlore chemistry. We find that both Pu 3+ and Pu 4+ segregate to the surface for the four low-index pyrochlore surfaces considered, and that the segregation energy varies with the chemistry of the compound.more » We also find that pyrochlore/pyrochlore bicrystals A 2B 2O 7/A 2'B 2'O 7 can be used to immobilize Pu 3+ and Pu 4+ either in the same or separate phases of the compound, depending on the chemistry of the material. Finally, we find that Pu 4+ segregates to the disordered phase of an order/disorder bicrystal, driven by the occurrence of local oxygen-rich environments. However, Pu 3+ is weakly sensitive to the oxygen environment, and therefore only slightly favors the disordered phase. This behavior suggests that, at some concentration, Pu incorporation can destabilize the pyrochlore structure. Together, these results provide new insight into the ability of pyrochlore compounds to encapsulate Pu and suggest new considerations in the development of waste forms based on pyrochlores. Particularly, the phase structure of a multi-phase pyrochlore composite can be used to independently getter decay products based on their valence and size.« less

Implementation and outcome evaluation of high-fidelity simulation scenarios to integrate cognitive and psychomotor skills for Korean nursing students.

PubMed

Ahn, Heejung; Kim, Hyun-Young

2015-05-01

This study is involved in designing high-fidelity simulations reflecting the Korean nursing education environment. In addition, it evaluated the simulations by nursing students' learning outcomes and perceptions of the simulation design features. A quantitative design was used in two separate phases. For the first phase, five nursing experts participated in verifying the appropriateness of two simulation scenarios that reflected the intended learning objectives. For the second phase, 69 nursing students in the third year of a bachelor's degree at a nursing school participated in evaluating the simulations and were randomized according to their previous course grades. The first phase verified the two simulation scenarios using a questionnaire. The second phase evaluated students' perceptions of the simulation design, self-confidence, and critical thinking skills using a quasi-experimental post-test design. ANCOVA was used to compare the experimental and control groups, and correlation coefficient analysis was used to determine the correlation among them. We created 2 simulation scenarios to integrate cognitive and psychomotor skills according to the learning objectives and clinical environment in Korea. The experimental group had significantly higher scores on self-confidence in the first scenario. The positive correlations between perceptions of the simulation design features, self-confidence, and critical thinking skill scores were statistically significant. Students with a more positive perception of the design features of the simulations had better learning outcomes. Based on this result, simulations need to be designed and implemented with more differentiation in order to be perceived more appropriately by students. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chromatographic Separations Using Solid-Phase Extraction Cartridges: Separation of Wine Phenolics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brenneman, Charles A.; Ebeler, Susan E.

1999-12-01

We describe a simple laboratory experiment that demonstrates the principles of chromatographic separation using solid-phase extraction columns and red wine. By adjusting pH and mobile phase composition, the wine is separated into three fractions of differing polarity. The content of each fraction can be monitored by UV-vis spectroscopy. When the experiment is combined with experiments involving HPLC or GC separations, students gain a greater appreciation for and understanding of the highly automated instrumental systems currently available. In addition, they learn about the chemistry of polyphenolic compounds, which are present in many foods and beverages and which are receiving much attention for their potentially beneficial health effects.

Adhesive phase separation at the dentin interface under wet bonding conditions.

PubMed

Spencer, Paulette; Wang, Yong

2002-12-05

Under in vivo conditions, there is little control over the amount of water left on the tooth and, thus, there is the danger of leaving the dentin surface so wet that the bonding resin undergoes physical separation into hydrophobic and hydrophilic-rich phases. The purpose of this study was to investigate phase separation in 2,2-bis[4(2-hydroxy-3-methacryloyloxy-propyloxy)-phenyl] propane (BisGMA)-based adhesive using molecular microanalysis and to examine the effect of phase separation on the structural characteristics of the hybrid layer. Model BisGMA/HEMA (hydroxyethl methacrylate) mixtures with/without ethanol and commercial BisGMA-based adhesive (Single Bond) were combined with water at concentrations from 0 to 50 vol%. Macrophase separation in the BisGMA/HEMA/water mixtures was detected using cloud point measurements. In parallel with these measurements, the BisGMA/HEMA and adhesive/water mixtures were cast as films and polymerized. Molecular structure was recorded from the distinct features in the phase-separated adhesive using confocal Raman microspectroscopy (CRM). Human dentin specimens treated with Single Bond were analyzed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and CRM mapping across the dentin/adhesive interface. The model BisGMA/HEMA mixtures with ethanol and the commercial BisGMA-based adhesive experienced phase separation at approximately 25 vol% water. Raman spectra collected from the phase-separated adhesive indicated that the composition of the particles and surrounding matrix material was primarily BisGMA and HEMA, respectively. Based on SEM analysis, there was substantial porosity at the adhesive interface with dentin. Micro-Raman spectral analysis of the dentin/adhesive interface indicates that the contribution from the BisGMA component decreases by nearly 50% within the first micrometer. The morphologic results in corroboration with the spectroscopic data suggest that as a result of adhesive phase separation the hybrid layer is not an impervious 3-dimensional collagen/polymer network but a porous web characterized by hydrophobic BisGMA-rich particles distributed in a hydrophilic HEMA-rich matrix. Copyright 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Phase-Separated Polyaniline/Graphene Composite Electrodes for High-Rate Electrochemical Supercapacitors.

PubMed

Wu, Jifeng; Zhang, Qin'e; Zhou, An'an; Huang, Zhifeng; Bai, Hua; Li, Lei

2016-12-01

Polyaniline/graphene hydrogel composites with a macroscopically phase-separated structure are prepared. The composites show high specific capacitance and excellent rate performance. Further investigation demonstrates that polyaniline inside the graphene hydrogel has low rate performance, thus a phase-separated structure, in which polyaniline is mainly outside the graphene hydrogel matrix, can enhance the rate performance of the composites. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Device for two-dimensional gas-phase separation and characterization of ion mixtures

DOEpatents

Tang, Keqi [Richland, WA; Shvartsburg, Alexandre A [Richland, WA; Smith, Richard D [Richland, WA

2006-12-12

The present invention relates to a device for separation and characterization of gas-phase ions. The device incorporates an ion source, a field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS) analyzer, an ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) drift tube, and an ion detector. In one aspect of the invention, FAIMS operating voltages are electrically floated on top of the IMS drift voltage. In the other aspect, the FAIMS/IMS interface is implemented employing an electrodynamic ion funnel, including in particular an hourglass ion funnel. The present invention improves the efficiency (peak capacity) and sensitivity of gas-phase separations; the online FAIMS/IMS coupling creates a fundamentally novel two-dimensional gas-phase separation technology with high peak capacity, specificity, and exceptional throughput.

Steric Pressure among Membrane-Bound Polymers Opposes Lipid Phase Separation.

PubMed

Imam, Zachary I; Kenyon, Laura E; Carrillo, Adelita; Espinoza, Isai; Nagib, Fatema; Stachowiak, Jeanne C

2016-04-19

Lipid rafts are thought to be key organizers of membrane-protein complexes in cells. Many proteins that interact with rafts have bulky polymeric components such as intrinsically disordered protein domains and polysaccharide chains. Therefore, understanding the interaction between membrane domains and membrane-bound polymers provides insights into the roles rafts play in cells. Multiple studies have demonstrated that high concentrations of membrane-bound polymeric domains create significant lateral steric pressure at membrane surfaces. Furthermore, our recent work has shown that lateral steric pressure at membrane surfaces opposes the assembly of membrane domains. Building on these findings, here we report that membrane-bound polymers are potent suppressors of membrane phase separation, which can destabilize lipid domains with substantially greater efficiency than globular domains such as membrane-bound proteins. Specifically, we created giant vesicles with a ternary lipid composition, which separated into coexisting liquid ordered and disordered phases. Lipids with saturated tails and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chains conjugated to their head groups were included at increasing molar concentrations. When these lipids were sparse on the membrane surface they partitioned to the liquid ordered phase. However, as they became more concentrated, the fraction of GUVs that were phase-separated decreased dramatically, ultimately yielding a population of homogeneous membrane vesicles. Experiments and physical modeling using compositions of increasing PEG molecular weight and lipid miscibility phase transition temperature demonstrate that longer polymers are the most efficient suppressors of membrane phase separation when the energetic barrier to lipid mixing is low. In contrast, as the miscibility transition temperature increases, longer polymers are more readily driven out of domains by the increased steric pressure. Therefore, the concentration of shorter polymers required to suppress phase separation decreases relative to longer polymers. Collectively, our results demonstrate that crowded, membrane-bound polymers are highly efficient suppressors of phase separation and suggest that the ability of lipid domains to resist steric pressure depends on both their lipid composition and the size and concentration of the membrane-bound polymers they incorporate.

Comprehensive determination of macrolide antibiotics, their synthesis intermediates and transformation products in wastewater effluents and ambient waters by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Senta, Ivan; Krizman-Matasic, Ivona; Terzic, Senka; Ahel, Marijan

2017-08-04

Macrolide antibiotics are a prominent group of emerging contaminants frequently found in wastewater effluents and wastewater-impacted aquatic environments. In this work, a novel analytical method for simultaneous determination of parent macrolide antibiotics (azithromycin, erythromycin, clarithromycin and roxithromycin), along with their synthesis intermediates, byproducts, metabolites and transformation products in wastewater and surface water was developed and validated. Samples were enriched using solid-phase extraction on Oasis HLB cartridges and analyzed by reversed-phase liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. The target macrolide compounds were separated on an ACE C18 PFP column and detected using multiple reaction monitoring in positive ionization polarity. The optimized method, which included an additional extract clean-up on strong anion-exchange cartridges (SAX), resulted in high recoveries and accuracies, low matrix effects and improved chromatographic separation of the target compounds, even in highly complex matrices, such as raw wastewater. The developed method was applied to the analysis of macrolide compounds in wastewater and river water samples from Croatia. In addition to parent antibiotics, several previously unreported macrolide transformation products and/or synthesis intermediates were detected in municipal wastewater, some of them reaching μg/L levels. Moreover, extremely high concentrations of macrolides up to mg/L level were found in pharmaceutical industry effluents, indicating possible importance of this source to the total loads into ambient waters. The results revealed a significant contribution of synthesis intermediates and transformation products to the overall mass balance of macrolides in the aquatic environment. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Critical and maximally informative encoding between neural populations in the retina

PubMed Central

Kastner, David B.; Baccus, Stephen A.; Sharpee, Tatyana O.

2015-01-01

Computation in the brain involves multiple types of neurons, yet the organizing principles for how these neurons work together remain unclear. Information theory has offered explanations for how different types of neurons can maximize the transmitted information by encoding different stimulus features. However, recent experiments indicate that separate neuronal types exist that encode the same filtered version of the stimulus, but then the different cell types signal the presence of that stimulus feature with different thresholds. Here we show that the emergence of these neuronal types can be quantitatively described by the theory of transitions between different phases of matter. The two key parameters that control the separation of neurons into subclasses are the mean and standard deviation (SD) of noise affecting neural responses. The average noise across the neural population plays the role of temperature in the classic theory of phase transitions, whereas the SD is equivalent to pressure or magnetic field, in the case of liquid–gas and magnetic transitions, respectively. Our results account for properties of two recently discovered types of salamander Off retinal ganglion cells, as well as the absence of multiple types of On cells. We further show that, across visual stimulus contrasts, retinal circuits continued to operate near the critical point whose quantitative characteristics matched those expected near a liquid–gas critical point and described by the nearest-neighbor Ising model in three dimensions. By operating near a critical point, neural circuits can maximize information transmission in a given environment while retaining the ability to quickly adapt to a new environment. PMID:25675497

An atom probe perspective on phase separation and precipitation in duplex stainless steels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Wei; Garfinkel, David A.; Tucker, Julie D.; Haley, Daniel; Young, George A.; Poplawsky, Jonathan D.

2016-06-01

Three-dimensional chemical imaging of Fe-Cr alloys showing Fe-rich (α)/Cr-rich (α‧) phase separation is reported using atom probe tomography techniques. The extent of phase separation, i.e., amplitude and wavelength, has been quantitatively assessed using the Langer-Bar-on-Miller, proximity histogram, and autocorrelation function methods for two separate Fe-Cr alloys, designated 2101 and 2205. Although the 2101 alloy possesses a larger wavelength and amplitude after annealing at 427 °C for 100-10 000 h, it exhibits a lower hardness than the 2205 alloy. In addition to this phase separation, ultra-fine Ni-Mn-Si-Cu-rich G-phase precipitates form at the α/α‧ interfaces in both alloys. For the 2101 alloy, Cu clusters act to form a nucleus, around which a Ni-Mn-Si shell develops during the precipitation process. For the 2205 alloy, the Ni and Cu atoms enrich simultaneously and no core-shell chemical distribution was found. This segregation phenomenon may arise from the exact Ni/Cu ratio inside the ferrite. After annealing for 10 000 h, the number density of the G-phase within the 2205 alloy was found to be roughly one order of magnitude higher than in the 2101 alloy. The G-phase precipitates have an additional deleterious effect on the thermal embrittlement, as evaluated by the Ashby-Orowan equation, which explains the discrepancy between the hardness and the rate of phase separation with respect to annealing time (Gladman T 1999 Mater. Sci. Tech. Ser. 15 30-36). ).

An atom probe perspective on phase separation and precipitation in duplex stainless steels

DOE PAGES

Garfinkel, David A.; Tucker, Julie D.; Haley, Daniel A.; ...

2016-05-16

Here, three-dimensional chemical imaging of Fe–Cr alloys showing Fe-rich (α)/Cr-rich (α') phase separation is reported using atom probe tomography techniques. The extent of phase separation, i.e., amplitude and wavelength, has been quantitatively assessed using the Langer-Bar-on-Miller, proximity histogram, and autocorrelation function methods for two separate Fe–Cr alloys, designated 2101 and 2205. Although the 2101 alloy possesses a larger wavelength and amplitude after annealing at 427 °C for 100–10 000 h, it exhibits a lower hardness than the 2205 alloy. In addition to this phase separation, ultra-fine Ni–Mn–Si–Cu-rich G-phase precipitates form at the α/α' interfaces in both alloys. For the 2101more » alloy, Cu clusters act to form a nucleus, around which a Ni–Mn–Si shell develops during the precipitation process. For the 2205 alloy, the Ni and Cu atoms enrich simultaneously and no core–shell chemical distribution was found. This segregation phenomenon may arise from the exact Ni/Cu ratio inside the ferrite. After annealing for 10 000 h, the number density of the G-phase within the 2205 alloy was found to be roughly one order of magnitude higher than in the 2101 alloy. The G-phase precipitates have an additional deleterious effect on the thermal embrittlement, as evaluated by the Ashby–Orowan equation, which explains the discrepancy between the hardness and the rate of phase separation with respect to annealing time (Gladman T 1999 Mater. Sci. Tech. Ser. 15 30–36).« less

Hierarchical multiscale hyperporous block copolymer membranes via tunable dual-phase separation

PubMed Central

Yoo, Seungmin; Kim, Jung-Hwan; Shin, Myoungsoo; Park, Hyungmin; Kim, Jeong-Hoon; Lee, Sang-Young; Park, Soojin

2015-01-01

The rational design and realization of revolutionary porous structures have been long-standing challenges in membrane science. We demonstrate a new class of amphiphilic polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) block copolymer (BCP)–based porous membranes featuring hierarchical multiscale hyperporous structures. The introduction of surface energy–modifying agents and the control of major phase separation parameters (such as nonsolvent polarity and solvent drying time) enable tunable dual-phase separation of BCPs, eventually leading to macro/nanoscale porous structures and chemical functionalities far beyond those accessible with conventional approaches. Application of this BCP membrane to a lithium-ion battery separator affords exceptional improvement in electrochemical performance. The dual-phase separation–driven macro/nanopore construction strategy, owing to its simplicity and tunability, is expected to be readily applicable to a rich variety of membrane fields including molecular separation, water purification, and energy-related devices. PMID:26601212

Chiral magnetic microspheres purified by centrifugal field flow fractionation and microspheres magnetic chiral chromatography for benzoin racemate separation.

PubMed

Tian, Ailin; Qi, Jing; Liu, Yating; Wang, Fengkang; Ito, Yoichiro; Wei, Yun

2013-08-30

Separation of enantiomers still remains a challenge due to their identical physical and chemical properties in a chiral environment, and the research on specific chiral selector along with separation techniques continues to be conducted to resolve individual enantiomers. In our laboratory the promising magnetic chiral microspheres Fe3O4@SiO2@cellulose-2, 3-bis (3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) have been developed to facilitate the resolution using both its magnetic property and chiral recognition ability. In our present studies this magnetic chiral selector was first purified by centrifuge field flow fractionation, and then used to separate benzoin racemate by a chromatographic method. Uniform-sized and masking-impurity-removed magnetic chiral selector was first obtained by field flow fractionation with ethanol through a spiral column mounted on the type-J planetary centrifuge, and using the purified magnetic chiral selector, the final chromatographic separation of benzoin racemate was successfully performed by eluting with ethanol through a coiled tube (wound around the cylindrical magnet to retain the magnetic chiral selector as a stationary phase) submerged in dry ice. In addition, an external magnetic field facilitates the recycling of the magnetic chiral selector. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Detailed monitoring of two biogas plants and mechanical solid-liquid separation of fermentation residues.

PubMed

Bauer, Alexander; Mayr, Herwig; Hopfner-Sixt, Katharina; Amon, Thomas

2009-06-01

The Austrian "green electricity act" (Okostromgesetz) has led to an increase in biogas power plant size and consequently to an increased use of biomass. A biogas power plant with a generating capacity of 500 kW(el) consumes up to 38,000 kg of biomass per day. 260 ha of cropland is required to produce this mass. The high water content of biomass necessitates a high transport volume for energy crops and fermentation residues. The transport and application of fermentation residues to farmland is the last step in this logistic chain. The use of fermentation residues as fertilizer closes the nutrient cycle and is a central element in the efficient use of biomass for power production. Treatment of fermentation residues by separation into liquid and solid phases may be a solution to the transport problem. This paper presents detailed results from the monitoring of two biogas plants and from the analysis of the separation of fermentation residues. Furthermore, two different separator technologies for the separation of fermentation residues of biogas plants were analyzed. The examined biogas plants correspond to the current technological state of the art and have designs developed specifically for the utilization of energy crops. The hydraulic retention time ranged between 45.0 and 83.7 days. The specific methane yields were 0.40-0.43 m(3)N CH(4) per kg VS. The volume loads ranged between 3.69 and 4.00 kg VS/m(3). The degree of degradation was between 77.3% and 82.14%. The screw extractor separator was better suited for biogas slurry separation than the rotary screen separator. The screw extractor separator exhibited a high throughput and good separation efficiency. The efficiency of slurry separation depended on the dry matter content of the fermentation residue. The higher the dry matter content, the higher the proportion of solid phase after separation. In this project, we found that the fermentation residues could be divided into 79.2% fluid phase with a dry matter content of 4.5% and 20.8% solid phase with a dry matter content of 19.3%. Dry matter, volatile solids and carbon, raw ash and phosphate--in relation to the mass--accumulated strongly in the solid phase. Nitrogen and ammonia nitrogen were slightly enriched in the solid phase. Only the potassium content decreased slightly in the solid phase.

Microfluidic Droplet Dehydration for Concentrating Processes in Biomolecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anna, Shelley

2014-03-01

Droplets in microfluidic devices have proven useful as picoliter reactors for biochemical processing operations such as polymerase chain reaction, protein crystallization, and the study of enzyme kinetics. Although droplets are typically considered to be self-contained, constant volume reactors, there can be significant transport between the dispersed and continuous phases depending on solubility and other factors. In the present talk, we show that water droplets trapped within a microfluidic device for tens of hours slowly dehydrate, concentrating the contents encapsulated within. We use this slow dehydration along with control of the initial droplet composition to influence gellation, crystallization, and phase separation processes. By examining these concentrating processes in many trapped drops at once we gain insight into the stochastic nature of the events. In one example, we show that dehydration rate impacts the probability of forming a specific crystal habit in a crystallizing amino acid. In another example, we phase separate a common aqueous two-phase system within droplets and use the ensuing two phases to separate DNA from an initial mixture. We further influence wetting conditions between the two aqueous polymer phases and the continuous oil, promoting complete de-wetting and physical separation of the polymer phases. Thus, controlled dehydration of droplets allows for concentration, separation, and purification of important biomolecules on a chip.

A new approach to network heterogeneity: Polymerization Induced Phase Separation in photo-initiated, free-radical methacrylic systems

PubMed Central

Szczepanski, Caroline R.; Pfeifer, Carmem S.; Stansbury, Jeffrey W.

2012-01-01

Non-reactive, thermoplastic prepolymers (poly- methyl, ethyl and butyl methacrylate) were added to a model homopolymer matrix composed of triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) to form heterogeneous networks via polymerization induced phase separation (PIPS). PIPS creates networks with distinct phase structure that can partially compensate for volumetric shrinkage during polymerization through localized internal volume expansion. This investigation utilizes purely photo-initiated, free-radical systems, broadening the scope of applications for PIPS since these processing conditions have not been studied previously. The introduction of prepolymer into TEGDMA monomer resulted in stable, homogeneous monomer formulations, most of which underwent PIPS upon photo-irradiation, creating heterogeneous networks. During polymerization the presence of prepolymer enhanced autoacceleration, allowing for a more extensive ambient cure of the material. Phase separation, as characterized by dynamic changes in sample turbidity, was monitored simultaneously with monomer conversion and either preceded or was coincident with network gelation. Dynamic mechanical analysis shows a broadening of the tan delta peak and secondary peak formation, characteristic of phase-separated materials, indicating one phase rich in prepolymer and another depleted form upon phase separation. In certain cases, PIPS leads to an enhanced physical reduction of volumetric shrinkage, which is attractive for many applications including dental composite materials. PMID:23109733

Linear solvation energy relationships in normal phase chromatography based on gradient separations.

PubMed

Wu, Di; Lucy, Charles A

2017-09-22

Coupling the modified Soczewiñski model and one gradient run, a gradient method was developed to build a linear solvation energy relationship (LSER) for normal phase chromatography. The gradient method was tested on dinitroanilinopropyl (DNAP) and silica columns with hexane/dichloromethane (DCM) mobile phases. LSER models built based on the gradient separation agree with those derived from a series of isocratic separations. Both models have similar LSER coefficients and comparable goodness of fit, but the LSER model based on gradient separation required fewer trial and error experiments. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Development of a passive phase separator for space and earth applications

PubMed Central

Wu, Xiongjun; Loraine, Greg; Hsiao, Chao-Tsung; Chahine, Georges L.

2018-01-01

The limited amount of liquids and gases that can be carried to space makes it imperative to recycle and reuse these fluids for extended human operations. During recycling processes gas and liquid phases are often intermixed. In the absence of gravity, separating gases from liquids is challenging due to the absence of buoyancy. This paper describes development of a passive phase separator that is capable of efficiently and reliably separating gas–liquid mixtures of both high and low void fractions in a wide range of flow rates that is applicable to for both space and earth applications. PMID:29628785

Effect of pressure on the selectivity of polymeric C18 and C30 stationary phases in reversed-phase liquid chromatography. Increased separation of isomeric fatty acid methyl esters, triacylglycerols, and tocopherols at high pressure.

PubMed

Okusa, Kensuke; Iwasaki, Yuki; Kuroda, Ikuma; Miwa, Shohei; Ohira, Masayoshi; Nagai, Toshiharu; Mizobe, Hoyo; Gotoh, Naohiro; Ikegami, Tohru; McCalley, David V; Tanaka, Nobuo

2014-04-25

A high-density, polymeric C18 stationary phase (Inertsil ODS-P) or a polymeric C30 phase (Inertsil C30) provided improved resolution of the isomeric fatty acids (FAs), FA methyl esters (FAMEs), triacylglycerols (TAGs), and tocopherols with an increase in pressure of 20-70MPa in reversed-phase HPLC. With respect to isomeric C18 FAMEs with one cis-double bond, ODS-P phase was effective for recognizing the position of a double bond among petroselinic (methyl 6Z-octadecenoate), oleic (methyl 9Z-octadecenoate), and cis-vaccenic (methyl 11Z-octadecenoate), especially at high pressure, but the differentiation between oleic and cis-vaccenic was not achieved by C30 phase regardless of the pressure. A monomeric C18 phase (InertSustain C18) was not effective for recognizing the position of the double bond in monounsaturated FAME, while the separation of cis- and trans-isomers was achieved by any of the stationary phases. The ODS-P and C30 phases provided increased separation for TAGs and β- and γ-tocopherols at high pressure. The transfer of FA, FAME, or TAG molecules from the mobile phase to the ODS-P stationary phase was accompanied by large volume reduction (-30∼-90mL/mol) resulting in a large increase in retention (up to 100% for an increase of 50MPa) and improved isomer separation at high pressure. For some isomer pairs, the ODS-P and C30 provided the opposite elution order, and in each case higher pressure improved the separation. The two stationary phases showed selectivity for the isomers having rigid structures, but only the ODS-P was effective for differentiating the position of a double bond in monounsaturated FAMEs. The results indicate that the improved isomer separation was provided by the increased dispersion interactions between the solute and the binding site of the stationary phase at high pressure. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Interactions between coherent twin boundaries and phase transition of iron under dynamic loading and unloading

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Kun; Chen, Jun; Zhang, Xueyang; Zhu, Wenjun

2017-09-01

Phase transitions and deformation twins are constantly reported in many BCC metals under high pressure, whose interactions are of fundamental importance to understand the strengthening mechanism of these metals under extreme conditions. However, the interactions between twins and phase transition in BCC metals remain largely unexplored. In this work, interactions between coherent twin boundaries and α ↔ ɛ phase transition of iron are investigated using both non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations and the nudged elastic band method. Mechanisms of both twin-assisted phase transition and reverse phase transition are studied, and orientation relationships between BCC and HCP phases are found to be ⟨"separators="|11 1 ¯ ⟩ B C C||⟨"separators="|1 ¯2 1 ¯ 0 ⟩ H C P and ⟨"separators="|1 1 ¯ 0 ⟩ B C C||⟨"separators="|0001 ⟩ H C P for both cases. The twin boundary corresponds to {"separators="|10 1 ¯ 0 } H C P after the phase transition. It is amazing that the reverse transition seems to be able to "memorize" and recover the initial BCC twins. The memory would be partly lost when plastic slips take place in the HCP phase before the reverse transition. In the recovered initial BCC twins, three major twin spacings are observed, which are well explained in terms of energy barriers of transition from the HCP phase to the BCC twin. Besides, the variant selection rule of the twin assisted phase transition is also discussed. The results of present work could be expected to give some clues for producing ultra-fine grain structures in materials exhibiting martensitic phase transition.

Cloud-point extraction and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography for the determination of synthetic phenolic antioxidants in edible oils.

PubMed

Chen, Miao; Xia, Qinghai; Liu, Mousheng; Yang, Yaling

2011-01-01

A cloud-point extraction (CPE) method using Triton X-114 (TX-114) nonionic surfactant was developed for the extraction and preconcentration of propyl gallate (PG), tertiary butyl hydroquinone (TBHQ), butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) from edible oils. The optimum conditions of CPE were 2.5% (v/v) TX-114, 0.5% (w/v) NaCl and 40 min equilibration time at 50 °C. The surfactant-rich phase was then analyzed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection at 280 nm, using a gradient mobile phase consisting of methanol and 1.5% (v/v) acetic acid. Under the studied conditions, 4 synthetic phenolic antioxidants (SPAs) were successfully separated within 24 min. The limits of detection (LOD) were 1.9 ng mL(-1) for PG, 11 ng mL(-1) for TBHQ, 2.3 ng mL(-1) for BHA, and 5.9 ng mL(-1) for BHT. Recoveries of the SPAs spiked into edible oil were in the range 81% to 88%. The CPE method was shown to be potentially useful for the preconcentration of the target analytes, with a preconcentration factor of 14. Moreover, the method is simple, has high sensitivity, consumes much less solvent than traditional methods, and is environment-friendly. Practical Application: The method established in this article uses less organic solvent to extract SPAs from edible oils; it is simple, highly sensitive and results in no pollution to the environment.

Charge pattern matching as a ‘fuzzy’ mode of molecular recognition for the functional phase separations of intrinsically disordered proteins

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Yi-Hsuan; Brady, Jacob P.; Forman-Kay, Julie D.; Chan, Hue Sun

2017-11-01

Biologically functional liquid-liquid phase separation of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) is driven by interactions encoded by their amino acid sequences. Little is currently known about the molecular recognition mechanisms for distributing different IDP sequences into various cellular membraneless compartments. Pertinent physics was addressed recently by applying random-phase-approximation (RPA) polymer theory to electrostatics, which is a major energetic component governing IDP phase properties. RPA accounts for charge patterns and thus has advantages over Flory-Huggins (FH) and Overbeek-Voorn mean-field theories. To make progress toward deciphering the phase behaviors of multiple IDP sequences, the RPA formulation for one IDP species plus solvent is hereby extended to treat polyampholyte solutions containing two IDP species plus solvent. The new formulation generally allows for binary coexistence of two phases, each containing a different set of volume fractions ({φ }1,{φ }2) for the two different IDP sequences. The asymmetry between the two predicted coexisting phases with regard to their {φ }1/{φ }2 ratios for the two sequences increases with increasing mismatch between their charge patterns. This finding points to a multivalent, stochastic, ‘fuzzy’ mode of molecular recognition that helps populate various IDP sequences differentially into separate phase compartments. An intuitive illustration of this trend is provided by FH models, whereby a hypothetical case of ternary coexistence is also explored. Augmentations of the present RPA theory with a relative permittivity {ɛ }{{r}}(φ ) that depends on IDP volume fraction φ ={φ }1+{φ }2 lead to higher propensities to phase separate, in line with the case with one IDP species we studied previously. Notably, the cooperative, phase-separation-enhancing effects predicted by the prescriptions for {ɛ }{{r}}(φ ) we deem physically plausible are much more prominent than that entailed by common effective medium approximations based on Maxwell Garnett and Bruggeman mixing formulas. Ramifications of our findings on further theoretical development for IDP phase separation are discussed.

Combined heat and mass transfer device for improving separation process

DOEpatents

Tran, Thanh Nhon

1999-01-01

A two-phase small channel heat exchange matrix simultaneously provides for heat transfer and mass transfer between the liquid and vapor phases of a multi-component mixture at a single, predetermined location within a separation column, significantly improving the thermodynamic efficiency of the separation process. The small channel heat exchange matrix is composed of a series of channels having a hydraulic diameter no greater than 5.0 millimeters for conducting a two-phase coolant. In operation, the matrix provides the liquid-vapor contacting surfaces within the separation column, such that heat and mass are transferred simultaneously between the liquid and vapor phases. The two-phase coolant allows for a uniform heat transfer coefficient to be maintained along the length of the channels and across the surface of the matrix. Preferably, a perforated, concave sheet connects each channel to an adjacent channel to facilitate the flow of the liquid and vapor phases within the column and to increase the liquid-vapor contacting surface area.

Combined heat and mass transfer device for improving separation process

DOEpatents

Tran, T.N.

1999-08-24

A two-phase small channel heat exchange matrix simultaneously provides for heat transfer and mass transfer between the liquid and vapor phases of a multi-component mixture at a single, predetermined location within a separation column, significantly improving the thermodynamic efficiency of the separation process. The small channel heat exchange matrix is composed of a series of channels having a hydraulic diameter no greater than 5.0 millimeters for conducting a two-phase coolant. In operation, the matrix provides the liquid-vapor contacting surfaces within the separation column, such that heat and mass are transferred simultaneously between the liquid and vapor phases. The two-phase coolant allows for a uniform heat transfer coefficient to be maintained along the length of the channels and across the surface of the matrix. Preferably, a perforated, concave sheet connects each channel to an adjacent channel to facilitate the flow of the liquid and vapor phases within the column and to increase the liquid-vapor contacting surface area. 12 figs.

Molecular beam epitaxy growth and magnetic properties of Cr-Co-Ga Heusler alloy films

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Feng, Wuwei, E-mail: wfeng@cugb.edu.cn; Wang, Weihua; Zhao, Chenglong

2015-11-15

We have re-investigated growth and magnetic properties of Cr{sub 2}CoGa films using molecular beam epitaxy technique. Phase separation and precipitate formation were observed experimentally again in agreement with observation of multiple phases separation in sputtered Cr{sub 2}CoGa films by M. Meinert et al. However, significant phase separation could be suppressed by proper control of growth conditions. We showed that Cr{sub 2}CoGa Heusler phase, rather than Co{sub 2}CrGa phase, constitutes the majority of the sample grown on GaAs(001) at 450 {sup o}C. The measured small spin moment of Cr{sub 2}CoGa is in agreement with predicted HM-FCF nature; however, its Curie temperaturemore » is not as high as expected from the theoretical prediction probably due to the off-stoichiometry of Cr{sub 2}CoGa and the existence of the disorders and phase separation.« less

The effect of protein on phase separation in giant unilamellar lipid vesicles.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hutchison, J. B.; Weis, R. M.; Dinsmore, A. D.

2009-03-01

We explore the coarsening and out of plane curvature (budding) of domains in lipid bilayer vesicles composed of DOPC (unsaturated), PSM (saturated), and cholesterol. Green fluorescent protein (GFP) was added to the membrane in controlled amounts by binding to the Ni-chelating lipid, Ni-DOGS. Vesicles with diameters between 10 and 50 microns were prepared via a standard electroformation procedure. As a sample is lowered through temperature Tmix, a previously homogeneous vesicle phase separates into two fluid phases with distinct compositions. Phase-separated domains have a line tension (energy/length) at the boundary with the major phase which competes with bending energy and lateral tension to determine the overall configuration of the vesicle. Domain budding and coarsening were observed and recorded using both bright field and fluorescence microscopy during temperature scans and with varying concentrations of GFP. The addition of a model protein into our system allows for a broader understanding of the effect of protein, which are ubiquitous in cell membranes, on phase separation, budding, and coarsening.

Equilibrium polymerization models of re-entrant self-assembly

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dudowicz, Jacek; Douglas, Jack F.; Freed, Karl F.

2009-04-01

As is well known, liquid-liquid phase separation can occur either upon heating or cooling, corresponding to lower and upper critical solution phase boundaries, respectively. Likewise, self-assembly transitions from a monomeric state to an organized polymeric state can proceed either upon increasing or decreasing temperature, and the concentration dependent ordering temperature is correspondingly called the "floor" or "ceiling" temperature. Motivated by the fact that some phase separating systems exhibit closed loop phase boundaries with two critical points, the present paper analyzes self-assembly analogs of re-entrant phase separation, i.e., re-entrant self-assembly. In particular, re-entrant self-assembly transitions are demonstrated to arise in thermally activated equilibrium self-assembling systems, when thermal activation is more favorable than chain propagation, and in equilibrium self-assembly near an adsorbing boundary where strong competition exists between adsorption and self-assembly. Apparently, the competition between interactions or equilibria generally underlies re-entrant behavior in both liquid-liquid phase separation and self-assembly transitions.

Phase separation of electrons strongly coupled with phonons in cuprates and manganites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alexandrov, Sasha

2009-03-01

Recent advanced Monte Carlo simulations have not found superconductivity and phase separation in the Hubbard model with on-site repulsive electron-electron correlations. I argue that microscopic phase separations in cuprate superconductors and colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) manganites originate from a strong electron-phonon interaction (EPI) combined with unavoidable disorder. Attractive electron correlations, caused by an almost unretarded EPI, are sufficient to overcome the direct inter-site Coulomb repulsion in these charge-transfer Mott-Hubbard insulators, so that low energy physics is that of small polarons and small bipolarons. They form clusters localized by disorder below the mobility edge, but propagate as the Bloch states above the mobility edge. I identify the Froehlich EPI as the most essential for pairing and phase separation in superconducting layered cuprates. The pairing of oxygen holes into heavy bipolarons in the paramagnetic phase (current-carrier density collapse (CCDC)) explains also CMR and high and low-resistance phase coexistence near the ferromagnetic transition of doped manganites.

A Laterally-Mobile Mixed Polymer/Polyelectrolyte Brush Undergoes a Macroscopic Phase Separation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Hoyoung; Park, Hae-Woong; Tsouris, Vasilios; Choi, Je; Mustafa, Rafid; Lim, Yunho; Meron, Mati; Lin, Binhua; Won, You-Yeon

2013-03-01

We studied mixed PEO and PDMAEMA brushes. The question we attempted to answer was: When the chain grafting points are laterally mobile, how will this lateral mobility influence the structure and phase behavior of the mixed brush? Two different model mixed PEO/PDMAEMA brush systems were prepared: a mobile mixed brush by spreading a mixture of two diblock copolymers, PEO-PnBA and PDMAEMA-PnBA, onto the air-water interface, and an inseparable mixed brush using a PEO-PnBA-PDMAEMA triblock copolymer having respective brush molecular weights matched to those of the diblock copolymers. These two systems were investigated by surface pressure-area isotherm, X-ray reflectivity and AFM imaging measurements. The results suggest that the mobile mixed brush undergoes a lateral macroscopic phase separation at high chain grafting densities, whereas the inseparable system is only microscopically phase separated under comparable brush density conditions. We also conducted an SCF analysis of the phase behavior of the mixed brush system. This analysis further supported the experimental findings. The macroscopic phase separation observed in the mobile system is in contrast to the microphase separation behavior commonly observed in two-dimensional laterally-mobile small molecule mixtures.

Thermal vacancies and phase separation in bcc mixtures of helium-3 and helium-4

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fraass, Benedick Andrew

1980-01-01

Thermal vacancy concentrations in crystals of 3He- 4He mixtures have been determined. A new x-ray diffractometer-position sensitive detector system is used to make measurements of the absolute lattice parameter of the helium crystals with an accuracy of 300 ppM, and measurements of changes in lattice parameters to better than 60 ppM. The phase separation of the concentrated 3He- 4He mixtures has been studied in detail with the x-ray measurements. Vacancy concentrations in crystals with 99%, 51%, 28%, 12%, and 0% 3He have been determined. Phase separation has been studied in mixed crystals with concentrations of 51%, 28%, and 12% 3Hemore » and melting pressures between 3.0 and 6.1 MPa. The phase separation temperatures determined in this work are in general agreement with previous work. The pressure dependence of T c, the phase separation temperature for a 50% mixture, is found to be linear: dT c/dP = -34 mdeg/MPa. The x-ray measurements are used to make several comments on the low temperature phase diagram of the helium mixtures.« less

Hybrid films with phase-separated domains: A new class of functional materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kang, Minjee; Leal, Cecilia

The cell membrane is highly compartmentalized over micro-and nano scale. The compartmentalized domains play an important role in regulating the diffusion and distribution of species within and across the membrane. In this work, we introduced nanoscale heterogeneities into lipid films for the purpose of developing nature-mimicking phase-separated materials. The mixtures of phospholipids and amphiphilic block copolymers self-assemble into supported 1D multi-bilayers. We observed that in each lamella, mixtures of lipid and polymer phase-separate into domains that differ in their composition akin to sub-phases in cholesterol-containing lipid bilayers. Interestingly, we found evidence that like-domains are in registry across multilayers, making phase separation three-dimensional. To exploit such distinctive domain structure for surface-mediated drug delivery, we incorporated pharmaceutical molecules into the films. The drug release study revealed that the presence of domains in hybrid films modifies the diffusion pathways of drugs that become confined within phase-separated domains. A comprehensive domain structure coupled with drug diffusion pathways in films will be presented, offering new perspectives in designing a thin-film matrix system for controlled drug delivery. This work was supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. DMR-1554435.

Synthesis of asymmetric polyetherimide membrane for CO2/N2 separation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahmad, A. L.; Salaudeen, Y. O.; Jawad, Z. A.

2017-06-01

Large emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) to the environment requires mitigation to avoid unbearable consequences on global climate change. The CO2 emissions generated by fossil fuel combustion within the power and industrial sectors need to be quickly curbed. The gas emission can be abated using membrane technology; this is one of the most promising approaches for selective separation of CO2/N2. The purpose of the study is to synthesis an asymmetric polyetherimide (PEI) membrane and to establish its morphological characteristics for CO2/N2 separation. The PEI flat-sheet asymmetric membrane was fabricated using phase inversion with N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) as solvent and water-isopropanol as a coagulant. Particularly, polymer concentration of 20, 25, and 30 wt. % were studied. In addition, the structure and morphology of the produced membrane were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Importantly, results showed that the membrane with high PEI concentration of 30 wt. % yield an optimal selectivity of 10.7 for CO2/Nitrogen (N2) separation at 1 bar and 25 ºC for pure gas, aided by the membrane surface morphology. The dense skin present was as a result of non-solvent (water) while isopropanol generates a porous sponge structure. This appreciable separation performance makes the PEI asymmetric membrane an attractive alternative for CO2/N2 separation.

Gradient enhanced-fluidity liquid hydrophilic interaction chromatography of ribonucleic acid nucleosides and nucleotides: A "green" technique.

PubMed

Beilke, Michael C; Beres, Martin J; Olesik, Susan V

2016-03-04

A "green" hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) technique for separating the components of mixtures with a broad range of polarities is illustrated using enhanced-fluidity liquid mobile phases. Enhanced-fluidity liquid chromatography (EFLC) involves the addition of liquid CO2 to conventional liquid mobile phases. Decreased mobile phase viscosity and increased analyte diffusivity results when a liquefied gas is dissolved in common liquid mobile phases. The impact of CO2 addition to a methanol:water (MeOH:H2O) mobile phase was studied to optimize HILIC gradient conditions. For the first time a fast separation of 16 ribonucleic acid (RNA) nucleosides/nucleotides was achieved (16min) with greater than 1.3 resolution for all analyte pairs. By using a gradient, the analysis time was reduced by over 100% compared to similar separations conducted under isocratic conditions. The optimal separation using MeOH:H2O:CO2 mobile phases was compared to MeOH:H2O and acetonitrile:water (ACN:H2O) mobile phases. Based on chromatographic performance parameters (efficiency, resolution and speed of analysis) and an assessment of the environmental impact of the mobile phase mixtures, MeOH:H2O:CO2 mixtures are preferred over ACN:H2O or MeOH:H2O mobile phases for the separation of mixtures of RNA nucleosides and nucleotides. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Characterising Tidal Flow Within AN Energetic Tidal Environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Neill, S. P.; Goward Brown, A.; Lewis, M. J.

2016-02-01

The Pentland Firth is a highly energetic and complex tidal strait separating the north of Scotland with the Orkney Islands and is a key location for tidal energy exploitation. Topographic features including islands and headlands, combined with bathymetric complexities within the Pentland Firth create turbulent hydrodynamic flows which are difficult to observe. Site selection in tidal energy environments historically focuses on tidal current magnitude. Without consideration for the more complex hydrodynamics of tidal energy environments tidal energy developers may miss the opportunity to tune their devices or create environment specific tidal energy converters in order to harness the greatest potential from site. Fully characterising these tidal energy environments ensures economic energy extraction. Understanding the interaction of energy extraction with the environment will reduce uncertainty in site selection and allow mitigation of any potential environmental concerns. We apply the 3D ROMS model to the Pentland Firth with the aim of resolving uncertainties within tidal energy resource assessment. Flow magnitudes and directions are examined with a focus on tidal phasing and asymmetry and application to sediment dynamics. Using the ROMS model, it is possible to determine the extent to which the tidal resource varies temporally and spatially with tidal energy extraction. Accurately modelling the tidal dynamics within this environment ensures that potential consequences of tidal energy extraction on the surrounding environment are better understood.

Advanced Collaborative Emissions Study (ACES)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Greenbaum, Daniel; Costantini, Maria; Van Erp, Annemoon

2013-12-31

The objective of the Advanced Collaborative Emissions Study (ACES) was to determine before widespread commercial deployment whether or not the new, energy-efficient, heavy duty diesel engines (2007 and 2010 EPA Emissions Standards Compliant) may generate anticipated toxic emissions that could adversely affect the environment and human health. ACES was planned to take place in three phases. In Phase 1, extensive emissions characterization of four production-intent prototype engine and control systems designed to meet 2007 standards for nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) was conducted at an existing emissions characterization facility: Southwest Research Institute (SwRI). One of the tested enginesmore » was selected (at random, after careful comparison of results) for health testing in Phase 3. In Phase 2, extensive emission characterization of three production-intent prototype engine and control systems meeting the 2010 standards (including more advanced NOx controls to meet the more stringent 2010 NOx standards) was conducted at the same test facility. In Phase 3, one engine/aftertreatment system selected from Phase 1 was further characterized during health effects studies (at an existing inhalation toxicology laboratory: Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, [LRRI]) to form the basis of the ACES safety assessment. The Department of Energy (DOE) award provided funding for emissions characterization in Phases 1 and 2 as well as exposure characterization in Phase 3. The main health analyses in Phase 3 were funded separately and are not reported here.« less

Effect of atomic disorder on the magnetic phase separation.

PubMed

Groshev, A G; Arzhnikov, A K

2018-05-10

The effect of disorder on the magnetic phase separation between the antiferromagnetic and incommensurate helical [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] phases is investigated. The study is based on the quasi-two-dimensional single-band Hubbard model in the presence of atomic disorder (the [Formula: see text] Anderson-Hubbard model). A model of binary alloy disorder is considered, in which the disorder is determined by the difference in energy between the host and impurity atomic levels at a fixed impurity concentration. The problem is solved within the theory of functional integration in static approximation. Magnetic phase diagrams are obtained as functions of the temperature, the number of electrons and impurity concentration with allowance for phase separation. It is shown that for the model parameters chosen, the disorder caused by impurities whose atomic-level energy is greater than that of the host atomic levels, leads to qualitative changes in the phase diagram of the impurity-free system. In the opposite case, only quantitative changes occur. The peculiarities of the effect of disorder on the phase separation regions of the quasi-two-dimensional Hubbard model are discussed.

Effect of atomic disorder on the magnetic phase separation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Groshev, A. G.; Arzhnikov, A. K.

2018-05-01

The effect of disorder on the magnetic phase separation between the antiferromagnetic and incommensurate helical and phases is investigated. The study is based on the quasi-two-dimensional single-band Hubbard model in the presence of atomic disorder (the Anderson–Hubbard model). A model of binary alloy disorder is considered, in which the disorder is determined by the difference in energy between the host and impurity atomic levels at a fixed impurity concentration. The problem is solved within the theory of functional integration in static approximation. Magnetic phase diagrams are obtained as functions of the temperature, the number of electrons and impurity concentration with allowance for phase separation. It is shown that for the model parameters chosen, the disorder caused by impurities whose atomic-level energy is greater than that of the host atomic levels, leads to qualitative changes in the phase diagram of the impurity-free system. In the opposite case, only quantitative changes occur. The peculiarities of the effect of disorder on the phase separation regions of the quasi-two-dimensional Hubbard model are discussed.

Fluorescent probes for lipid rafts: from model membranes to living cells.

PubMed

Klymchenko, Andrey S; Kreder, Rémy

2014-01-16

Membrane microdomains (rafts) remain one of the controversial issues in biophysics. Fluorescent molecular probes, which make these lipid nanostructures visible through optical techniques, are one of the tools currently used to study lipid rafts. The most common are lipophilic fluorescent probes that partition specifically into liquid ordered or liquid disordered phase. Their partition depends on the lipid composition of a given phase, which complicates their use in cellular membranes. A second class of probes is based on environment-sensitive dyes, which partition into both phases, but stain them by different fluorescence color, intensity, or lifetime. These probes can directly address the properties of each separate phase, but their cellular applications are still limited. The present review focuses on summarizing the current state in the field of developing and applying fluorescent molecular probes to study lipid rafts. We highlight an urgent need to develop new probes, specifically adapted for cell plasma membranes and compatible with modern fluorescence microscopy techniques to push the understanding of membrane microdomains forward. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Therapeutic Antibody Engineering To Improve Viscosity and Phase Separation Guided by Crystal Structure.

PubMed

Chow, Chi-Kin; Allan, Barrett W; Chai, Qing; Atwell, Shane; Lu, Jirong

2016-03-07

Antibodies at high concentrations often reveal unanticipated biophysical properties suboptimal for therapeutic development. The purpose of this work was to explore the use of point mutations based on crystal structure information to improve antibody physical properties such as viscosity and phase separation (LLPS) at high concentrations. An IgG4 monoclonal antibody (Mab4) that exhibited high viscosity and phase separation at high concentration was used as a model system. Guided by the crystal structure, four CDR point mutants were made to evaluate the role of hydrophobic and charge interactions on solution behavior. Surprisingly and unpredictably, two of the charge mutants, R33G and N35E, showed a reduction in viscosity and a lower propensity to form LLPS at high concentration compared to the wild-type (WT), while a third charge mutant S28K showed an increased propensity to form LLPS compared to the WT. A fourth mutant, F102H, had reduced hydrophobicity, but unchanged viscosity and phase separation behavior. We further evaluated the correlation of various biophysical measurements including second virial coefficient (A2), interaction parameter (kD), weight-average molecular weight (WAMW), and hydrodynamic diameters (DH), at relatively low protein concentration (4 to 15 mg/mL) to physical properties, such as viscosity and liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), at high concentration. Surprisingly, kD measured using dynamic light scattering (DLS) at low antibody concentration correlated better with viscosity and phase separation than did A2 for Mab4. Our results suggest that the high viscosity and phase separation observed at high concentration for Mab4 are mainly driven by charge and not hydrophobicity.

A new submarine oil-water separation system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cai, Wen-Bin; Liu, Bo-Hong

2017-12-01

In order to solve the oil field losses of environmental problems and economic benefit caused by the separation of lifting production liquid to offshore platforms in the current offshore oil production, from the most basic separation principle, a new oil-water separation system has been processed of adsorption and desorption on related materials, achieving high efficiency and separation of oil and water phases. And the submarine oil-water separation device has been designed. The main structure of the device consists of gas-solid phase separation device, period separating device and adsorption device that completed high efficiency separation of oil, gas and water under the adsorption and desorption principle, and the processing capacity of the device is calculated.

Method for separating mono- and di-octylphenyl phosphoric acid esters

DOEpatents

Arnold, Jr., Wesley D.

1977-01-01

A method for separating mono-octylphenyl phosphoric acid ester and di-octylphenyl phosphoric acid ester from a mixture thereof comprises reacting the ester mixture with a source of lithium or sodium ions to form a mixture of the phosphate salts; contacting the salt mixture with an organic solvent which causes the dioctylphenyl phosphate salt to be dissolved in the organic solvent phase and the mono-octylphenyl phosphate salt to exist in a solid phase; separating the phases; recovering the phosphate salts from their respective phases; and acidifying the recovered salts to form the original phosphoric acid esters.

Two-phase turbine engines. [using gas-liquid mixture accelerated in nozzles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Elliott, D. G.; Hays, L. G.

1976-01-01

A description is given of a two-phase turbine which utilizes a uniform mixture of gas and liquid accelerated in nozzles of the types reported by Elliott and Weinberg (1968). The mixture acts directly on an axial flow or tangential impulse turbine or is separated into gas and liquid streams which operate separately on a gas turbine and a hydraulic turbine. The basic two-phase cycles are examined, taking into account working fluids, aspects of nozzle expansion, details of turbine cycle operation, and the effect of mixture ratio variation. Attention is also given to two-phase nozzle efficiency, two-phase turbine operating characteristics and efficiencies, separator turbines, and impulse turbine experiments.

Prediction of Phase Separation of Immiscible Ga-Tl Alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Yunkyum; Kim, Han Gyeol; Kang, Youn-Bae; Kaptay, George; Lee, Joonho

2017-06-01

Phase separation temperature of Ga-Tl liquid alloys was investigated using the constrained drop method. With this method, density and surface tension were investigated together. Despite strong repulsive interactions, molar volume showed ideal mixing behavior, whereas surface tension of the alloy was close to that of pure Tl due to preferential adsorption of Tl. Phase separation temperatures and surface tension values obtained with this method were close to the theoretically calculated values using three different thermodynamic models.

The chiral separation of triazole pesticides enantiomers by amylose-tris (3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) chiral stationary phase.

PubMed

Wang, Peng; Liu, Donghui; Jiang, Shuren; Xu, Yangguang; Zhou, Zhiqiang

2008-10-01

The amylose-tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) chiral stationary phase was synthesized and used to separate the enantiomers of triazole pesticides by high-performance liquid chromatography. The mobile phase was n-hexane-isopropanol applying a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. Six triazole pesticides were enantioselectively separated. Myclobutanil, paclobutrazol, tebuconazole, and uniconazole obtained complete separation with the resolution factors of 5.73, 2.99, 1.72, and 2.07, respectively, and imazalil and diniconazole obtained partial separation with the resolution factors of 0.79 and 0.77 under the optimized conditions. The effect of the content of isopropanol as well as column temperature on the separation was investigated. A circular dichroism detector was used to identify the enantiomers and determine the elution orders. The results showed the low temperature was good for the chiral separation except for diniconazole. The thermodynamic parameters calculated based on linear Van't Hoff plots showed the chiral separations were controlled by enthalpy.

Analyses of procyanidins in foods using Diol phase HPLC

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Separation of procyanidins using silica-based HPLC suffered from poor resolution for higher oligomers and low sensitivity due to the fluorescence quenching effects of methylene chloride in the mobile phase. Optimization of a published Diol-phase HPLC method resulted in near baseline separation for p...

Identifying Effective Design Approaches to Allocate Genotypes in Two-Phase Designs: A Case Study in Pelargonium zonale.

PubMed

Molenaar, Heike; Boehm, Robert; Piepho, Hans-Peter

2017-01-01

Robust phenotypic data allow adequate statistical analysis and are crucial for any breeding purpose. Such data is obtained from experiments laid out to best control local variation. Additionally, experiments frequently involve two phases, each contributing environmental sources of variation. For example, in a former experiment we conducted to evaluate production related traits in Pelargonium zonale , there were two consecutive phases, each performed in a different greenhouse. Phase one involved the propagation of the breeding strains to obtain the stem cutting count, and phase two involved the assessment of root formation. The evaluation of the former study raised questions regarding options for improving the experimental layout: (i) Is there a disadvantage to using exactly the same design in both phases? (ii) Instead of generating a separate layout for each phase, can the design be optimized across both phases, such that the mean variance of a pair-wise treatment difference (MVD) can be decreased? To answer these questions, alternative approaches were explored to generate two-phase designs either in phase-wise order (Option 1) or across phases (Option 2). In Option 1 we considered the scenarios (i) using in both phases the same experimental design and (ii) randomizing each phase separately. In Option 2, we considered the scenarios (iii) generating a single design with eight replicates and splitting these among the two phases, (iv) separating the block structure across phases by dummy coding, and (v) design generation with optimal alignment of block units in the two phases. In both options, we considered the same or different block structures in each phase. The designs were evaluated by the MVD obtained by the intra-block analysis and the joint inter-block-intra-block analysis. The smallest MVD was most frequently obtained for designs generated across phases rather than for each phase separately, in particular when both phases of the design were separated with a single pseudo-level. The joint optimization ensured that treatment concurrences were equally balanced across pairs, one of the prerequisites for an efficient design. The proposed alternative approaches can be implemented with any model-based design packages with facilities to formulate linear models for treatment and block structures.

Dynamics of coarsening in multicomponent lipid vesicles with non-uniform mechanical properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Funkhouser, Chloe M.; Solis, Francisco J.; Thornton, K.

2014-04-01

Multicomponent lipid vesicles are commonly used as a model system for the complex plasma membrane. One phenomenon that is studied using such model systems is phase separation. Vesicles composed of simple lipid mixtures can phase-separate into liquid-ordered and liquid-disordered phases, and since these phases can have different mechanical properties, this separation can lead to changes in the shape of the vesicle. In this work, we investigate the dynamics of phase separation in multicomponent lipid vesicles, using a model that couples composition to mechanical properties such as bending rigidity and spontaneous curvature. The model allows the vesicle surface to deform while conserving surface area and composition. For vesicles initialized as spheres, we study the effects of phase fraction and spontaneous curvature. We additionally initialize two systems with elongated, spheroidal shapes. Dynamic behavior is contrasted in systems where only one phase has a spontaneous curvature similar to the overall vesicle surface curvature and systems where the spontaneous curvatures of both phases are similar to the overall curvature. The bending energy contribution is typically found to slow the dynamics by stabilizing configurations with multiple domains. Such multiple-domain configurations are found more often in vesicles with spheroidal shapes than in nearly spherical vesicles.

FUS Phase Separation Is Modulated by a Molecular Chaperone and Methylation of Arginine Cation-π Interactions.

PubMed

Qamar, Seema; Wang, GuoZhen; Randle, Suzanne J; Ruggeri, Francesco Simone; Varela, Juan A; Lin, Julie Qiaojin; Phillips, Emma C; Miyashita, Akinori; Williams, Declan; Ströhl, Florian; Meadows, William; Ferry, Rodylyn; Dardov, Victoria J; Tartaglia, Gian G; Farrer, Lindsay A; Kaminski Schierle, Gabriele S; Kaminski, Clemens F; Holt, Christine E; Fraser, Paul E; Schmitt-Ulms, Gerold; Klenerman, David; Knowles, Tuomas; Vendruscolo, Michele; St George-Hyslop, Peter

2018-04-19

Reversible phase separation underpins the role of FUS in ribonucleoprotein granules and other membrane-free organelles and is, in part, driven by the intrinsically disordered low-complexity (LC) domain of FUS. Here, we report that cooperative cation-π interactions between tyrosines in the LC domain and arginines in structured C-terminal domains also contribute to phase separation. These interactions are modulated by post-translational arginine methylation, wherein arginine hypomethylation strongly promotes phase separation and gelation. Indeed, significant hypomethylation, which occurs in FUS-associated frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), induces FUS condensation into stable intermolecular β-sheet-rich hydrogels that disrupt RNP granule function and impair new protein synthesis in neuron terminals. We show that transportin acts as a physiological molecular chaperone of FUS in neuron terminals, reducing phase separation and gelation of methylated and hypomethylated FUS and rescuing protein synthesis. These results demonstrate how FUS condensation is physiologically regulated and how perturbations in these mechanisms can lead to disease. Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Separation of polyethylene glycols and amino-terminated polyethylene glycols by high-performance liquid chromatography under near critical conditions.

PubMed

Wei, Y-Z; Zhuo, R-X; Jiang, X-L

2016-05-20

The separation and characterization of polyethylene glycols (PEGs) and amino-substituted derivatives on common silica-based reversed-phase packing columns using isocratic elution is described. This separation is achieved by liquid chromatography under the near critical conditions (LCCC), based on the number of amino functional end groups without obvious effect of molar mass for PEGs. The mobile phase is acetonitrile in water with an optimal ammonium acetate buffer. The separation mechanism of PEG and amino-substituted PEG under the near LCCC on silica-based packing columns is confirmed to be ion-exchange interaction. Under the LCCC of PEG backbone, with fine tune of buffer concentration, the retention factor ratios for benzylamine and phenol in buffered mobile phases, α(benzylamine/phenol)-values, were used to assess the ion-exchange capacity on silica-based reversed-phase packing columns. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on separation of amino-functional PEGs independent of the molar mass by isocratic elution using common C18 or phenyl reversed-phase packing columns. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effects of ammonium sulfate and sodium chloride concentration on PEG/protein liquid-liquid phase separation.

PubMed

Dumetz, André C; Lewus, Rachael A; Lenhoff, Abraham M; Kaler, Eric W

2008-09-16

When added to protein solutions, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) creates an effective attraction between protein molecules due to depletion forces. This effect has been widely used to crystallize proteins, and PEG is among the most successful crystallization agents in current use. However, PEG is almost always used in combination with a salt at either low or relatively high concentrations. Here the effects of sodium chloride and ammonium sulfate concentration on PEG 8000/ovalbumin liquid-liquid (L-L) phase separation are investigated. At low salt the L-L phase separation occurs at decreasing protein concentration with increasing salt concentration, presumably due to repulsive electrostatic interactions between proteins. At high salt concentration, the behavior depends on the nature of the salt. Sodium chloride has little effect on the L-L phase separation, but ammonium sulfate decreases the protein concentration at which the L-L phase separation occurs. This trend is attributed to the effects of critical fluctuations on depletion forces. The implications of these results for designing solution conditions optimal for protein crystallization are discussed.

Numerical analysis of wet separation of particles by density differences

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Markauskas, D.; Kruggel-Emden, H.

2017-07-01

Wet particle separation is widely used in mineral processing and plastic recycling to separate mixtures of particulate materials into further usable fractions due to density differences. This work presents efforts aiming to numerically analyze the wet separation of particles with different densities. In the current study the discrete element method (DEM) is used for the solid phase while the smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) is used for modeling of the liquid phase. The two phases are coupled by the use of a volume averaging technique. In the current study, simulations of spherical particle separation were performed. In these simulations, a set of generated particles with two different densities is dropped into a rectangular container filled with liquid. The results of simulations with two different mixtures of particles demonstrated how separation depends on the densities of particles.

Tectonic evolution of part of the Southern Metamorphic Belt of the Armorican Massif including the Ile de Groix

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Richards, Lawrence Edward

The Southern Metamorphic Belt (SMB) of the Armorican Massifextends 400km along the south coast of Brittany and into Vendee. It is separated from the Central Armorican Domain by a major, late-Hercynian shear belt, known as the South Armorican Shear Zone. In the area studied, belts of metasedimentary and metavolcanic schist of uncertain age are separated by belts of granitic gneiss; areas of migmatite and Hercynian granite plutons cross-cut these belts. Three distinctive lithologic assemblages have been identified in the schist belts, characteristic of different depositional environments: the Le Pouldu Group, Kerleven and Gouesnach formations probably originated as abyssal black shales deposited on oceanic crust; the St. Laurent Formation and Melgven Schists probably formed as distal greywacke deposits on a deep continental shelf; the Nerly and Beg-Meil formations probably formed in a proximal marine or fluviatile environment. These disparate assemblages were tectonically juxtaposed by overthrusting (obduction) before an amphibolite facies metamorphism and deformation during the Cadomian Orogeny. The Moelan Gneiss, a Lower Ordovician alkali-granite intrusion, postdates M1/D1 and probably formed in a rifting environment at the onset of ocean-floor spreading along an axis south of the present Armorican Massif. The famous blueschists of the Ile de Groix probably formed in a subduction zone on the south side of the ocean and were obducted onto the passive southern margin of the Armorican Massif following closure of the ocean and continental collision. A second phase of regional deformation, producing a cataclastic foliation in the Moelan Gneiss, probably resulted from the collision. Large-scale overthrusting of the southern continent onto the Armorican Massif took place, causing metamorphism with partial melting at depth generating migmatites. A third phase of pervasive deformation may correlate with oroclinal bending of the Ibero-Armorican Arc during the Hercynian Orogeny.

Green chromatography separation of analytes of greatly differing properties using a polyethylene glycol stationary phase and a low-toxic water-based mobile phase.

PubMed

Šatínský, Dalibor; Brabcová, Ivana; Maroušková, Alena; Chocholouš, Petr; Solich, Petr

2013-07-01

A simple, rapid, and environmentally friendly HPLC method was developed and validated for the separation of four compounds (4-aminophenol, caffeine, paracetamol, and propyphenazone) with different chemical properties. A "green" mobile phase, employing water as the major eluent, was proposed and applied to the separation of analytes with different polarity on polyethylene glycol (PEG) stationary phase. The chromatography separation of all compounds and internal standard benzoic acid was performed using isocratic elution with a low-toxicity mobile phase consisting of 0.04% (v/v) triethylamine and water. HPLC separation was carried out using a PEG reversed-phase stationary phase Supelco Discovery HS PEG column (15 × 4 mm; particle size 3 μm) at a temperature of 30 °C and flow rate at 1.0 mL min(-1). The UV detector was set at 210 nm. In this study, a PEG stationary phase was shown to be suitable for the efficient isocratic separation of compounds that differ widely in hydrophobicity and acid-base properties, particularly 4-aminophenol (log P, 0.30), caffeine (log P, -0.25), and propyphenazone (log P, 2.27). A polar PEG stationary phase provided specific selectivity which allowed traditional chromatographic problems related to the separation of analytes with different polarities to be solved. The retention properties of the group of structurally similar substances (aromatic amines, phenolic compounds, and xanthine derivatives) were tested with different mobile phases. The proposed green chromatography method was successfully applied to the analysis of active substances and one degradation impurity (4-aminophenol) in commercial preparation. Under the optimum chromatographic conditions, standard calibration was carried out with good linearity correlation coefficients for all compounds in the range (0.99914-0.99997, n = 6) between the peak areas and concentration of compounds. Recovery of the sample preparation was in the range 100 ± 5% for all compounds. The intraday method precision was determined as RSD, and the values were lower than 1.00%.

Graphene-ferroelectric metadevices for nonvolatile memory and reconfigurable logic-gate operations.

PubMed

Kim, Woo Young; Kim, Hyeon-Don; Kim, Teun-Teun; Park, Hyun-Sung; Lee, Kanghee; Choi, Hyun Joo; Lee, Seung Hoon; Son, Jaehyeon; Park, Namkyoo; Min, Bumki

2016-01-27

Memory metamaterials are artificial media that sustain transformed electromagnetic properties without persistent external stimuli. Previous memory metamaterials were realized with phase-change materials, such as vanadium dioxide or chalcogenide glasses, which exhibit memory behaviour with respect to electrically/optically induced thermal stimuli. However, they require a thermally isolated environment for longer retention or strong optical pump for phase-change. Here we demonstrate electrically programmable nonvolatile memory metadevices realised by the hybridization of graphene, a ferroelectric and meta-atoms/meta-molecules, and extend the concept further to establish reconfigurable logic-gate metadevices. For a memory metadevice having a single electrical input, amplitude, phase and even the polarization multi-states were clearly distinguishable with a retention time of over 10 years at room temperature. Furthermore, logic-gate functionalities were demonstrated with reconfigurable logic-gate metadevices having two electrical inputs, with each connected to separate ferroelectric layers that act as the multi-level controller for the doping level of the sandwiched graphene layer.

Nanoblinker: Brownian Motion Powered Bio-Nanomachine for FRET Detection of Phagocytic Phase of Apoptosis

PubMed Central

Minchew, Candace L.; Didenko, Vladimir V.

2014-01-01

We describe a new type of bio-nanomachine which runs on thermal noise. The machine is solely powered by the random motion of water molecules in its environment and does not ever require re-fuelling. The construct, which is made of DNA and vaccinia virus topoisomerase protein, can detect DNA damage by employing fluorescence. It uses Brownian motion as a cyclic motor to continually separate and bring together two types of fluorescent hairpins participating in FRET. This bio-molecular oscillator is a fast and specific sensor of 5′OH double-strand DNA breaks present in phagocytic phase of apoptosis. The detection takes 30 s in solution and 3 min in cell suspensions. The phagocytic phase is critical for the effective execution of apoptosis as it ensures complete degradation of the dying cells’ DNA, preventing release of pathological, viral and tumor DNA and self-immunization. The construct can be used as a smart FRET probe in studies of cell death and phagocytosis. PMID:25268504

Graphene-ferroelectric metadevices for nonvolatile memory and reconfigurable logic-gate operations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Woo Young; Kim, Hyeon-Don; Kim, Teun-Teun; Park, Hyun-Sung; Lee, Kanghee; Choi, Hyun Joo; Lee, Seung Hoon; Son, Jaehyeon; Park, Namkyoo; Min, Bumki

2016-01-01

Memory metamaterials are artificial media that sustain transformed electromagnetic properties without persistent external stimuli. Previous memory metamaterials were realized with phase-change materials, such as vanadium dioxide or chalcogenide glasses, which exhibit memory behaviour with respect to electrically/optically induced thermal stimuli. However, they require a thermally isolated environment for longer retention or strong optical pump for phase-change. Here we demonstrate electrically programmable nonvolatile memory metadevices realised by the hybridization of graphene, a ferroelectric and meta-atoms/meta-molecules, and extend the concept further to establish reconfigurable logic-gate metadevices. For a memory metadevice having a single electrical input, amplitude, phase and even the polarization multi-states were clearly distinguishable with a retention time of over 10 years at room temperature. Furthermore, logic-gate functionalities were demonstrated with reconfigurable logic-gate metadevices having two electrical inputs, with each connected to separate ferroelectric layers that act as the multi-level controller for the doping level of the sandwiched graphene layer.

Supramolecular separation mechanism of pentafluorophenyl column using ibuprofen and omeprazole as markers: LC-MS and simulation study.

PubMed

Hussain, Afzal; AlAjmi, Mohamed F; Ali, Imran

2018-06-01

The pentafluorophenyl (PFP) column is emerging as a new advancement in separation science to analyze a wide range of analytes and, thus, its separation mechanism at supramolecular level is significant. We developed a mechanism for the separation of ibuprofen and omeprazole using different combinations (ranging from 50:50 to 60:40) of water-acetonitrile containing 0.1% formic acid as the mobile phase. The column used was Waters Acquity UPLC HSS PFP (75 × 2.1 mm, 1.8 μm). The reverse order of elution was observed in different combinations of the mobile phases. The docking study indicated hydrogen bonding between ibuprofen and PFP stationary phase (binding energy was -11.30 kJ/mol). Separation at PFP stationary phase is controlled by hydrogen bonding along with π-π interactions. This stationary phase may be used to analyze both aromatic and aliphatic analytes. The developed mechanism will be useful to separate various analytes by considering the possible interactions, leading to saving of energy, time and money. In addition, this work will be highly useful in preparative chromatography where separation is the major problem at a large scale. Moreover, the developed LC-MS-QTOF method may be used to analyze ibuprofen and omeprazole in an unknown sample owing to the low value of detection limits. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Electrospun Polymer Blend Nanofibers for Tunable Drug Delivery: The Role of Transformative Phase Separation on Controlling the Release Rate.

PubMed

Tipduangta, Pratchaya; Belton, Peter; Fábián, László; Wang, Li Ying; Tang, Huiru; Eddleston, Mark; Qi, Sheng

2016-01-04

Electrospun fibrous materials have a wide range of biomedical applications, many of them involving the use of polymers as matrices for incorporation of therapeutic agents. The use of polymer blends improves the tuneability of the physicochemical and mechanical properties of the drug loaded fibers. This also benefits the development of controlled drug release formulations, for which the release rate can be modified by altering the ratio of the polymers in the blend. However, to realize these benefits, a clear understanding of the phase behavior of the processed polymer blend is essential. This study reports an in depth investigation of the impact of the electrospinning process on the phase separation of a model partially miscible polymer blend, PVP K90 and HPMCAS, in comparison to other conventional solvent evaporation based processes including film casting and spin coating. The nanoscale stretching and ultrafast solvent removal of electrospinning lead to an enhanced apparent miscibility between the polymers, with the same blends showing micronscale phase separation when processed using film casting and spin coating. Nanoscale phase separation in electrospun blend fibers was confirmed in the dry state. Rapid, layered, macroscale phase separation of the two polymers occurred during the wetting of the fibers. This led to a biphasic drug release profile from the fibers, with a burst release from PVP-rich phases and a slower, more continuous release from HPMCAS-rich phases. It was noted that the model drug, paracetamol, had more favorable partitioning into the PVP-rich phase, which is likely to be a result of greater hydrogen bonding between PVP and paracetamol. This led to higher drug contents in the PVP-rich phases than the HPMCAS-rich phases. By alternating the proportions of the PVP and HPMCAS, the drug release rate can be modulated.

TES buffer-induced phase separation of aqueous solutions of several water-miscible organic solvents at 298.15 K: phase diagrams and molecular dynamic simulations.

PubMed

Taha, Mohamed; Lee, Ming-Jer

2013-06-28

Water and the organic solvents tetrahydrofuran, 1,3-dioxolane, 1,4-dioxane, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, tert-butanol, acetonitrile, or acetone are completely miscible in all proportions at room temperature. Here, we present new buffering-out phase separation systems that the above mentioned organic aqueous solutions can be induced to form two liquid phases in the presence of a biological buffer 2-[[1,3-dihydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)propan-2-yl]amino]ethanesulfonic acid (TES). The lower liquid phase is rich in water and buffer, and the upper phase is organic rich. This observation has both practical and mechanistic interests. The phase diagrams of these systems were constructed by experimental measurements at ambient conditions. Molecular dynamic (MD) simulations were performed for TES + water + THF system to understand the interactions between TES, water, and organic solvent at molecular level. Several composition-sets for this system, beyond and inside the liquid-liquid phase-splitting region, have been simulated. Interestingly, the MD simulation for compositions inside the phase separation region showed that THF molecules are forced out from the water network to start forming a new liquid phase. The hydrogen-bonds, hydrogen-bonds lifetimes, hydrogen-bond energies, radial distribution functions, coordination numbers, the electrostatic interactions, and the van der Waals interactions between the different pairs have been calculated. Additionally, MD simulations for TES + water + tert-butanol∕acetonitrile∕acetone phase separation systems were simulated. The results from MD simulations provide an explanation for the buffering-out phenomena observed in [TES + water + organic solvent] systems by a mechanism controlled by the competitive interactions of the buffer and the organic solvent with water. The molecular mechanism reported here is helpful for designing new benign separation materials.

Advances in organic polymer-based monolithic column technology for high-resolution liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry profiling of antibodies, intact proteins, oligonucleotides, and peptides.

PubMed

Eeltink, Sebastiaan; Wouters, Sam; Dores-Sousa, José Luís; Svec, Frantisek

2017-05-19

This review focuses on the preparation of organic polymer-based monolithic stationary phases and their application in the separation of biomolecules, including antibodies, intact proteins and protein isoforms, oligonucleotides, and protein digests. Column and material properties, and the optimization of the macropore structure towards kinetic performance are also discussed. State-of-the-art liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry biomolecule separations are reviewed and practical aspects such as ion-pairing agent selection and carryover are presented. Finally, advances in comprehensive two-dimensional LC separations using monolithic columns, in particular ion-exchange×reversed-phase and reversed-phase×reversed-phase LC separations conducted at high and low pH, are shown. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Recent progress of chiral stationary phases for separation of enantiomers in gas chromatography.

PubMed

Xie, Sheng-Ming; Yuan, Li-Ming

2017-01-01

Chromatography techniques based on chiral stationary phases are widely used for the separation of enantiomers. In particular, gas chromatography has developed rapidly in recent years due to its merits such as fast analysis speed, lower consumption of stationary phases and analytes, higher column efficiency, making it a better choice for chiral separation in diverse industries. This article summarizes recent progress of novel chiral stationary phases based on cyclofructan derivatives and chiral porous materials including chiral metal-organic frameworks, chiral porous organic frameworks, chiral inorganic mesoporous materials, and chiral porous organic cages in gas chromatography, covering original research papers published since 2010. The chiral recognition properties and mechanisms of separation toward enantiomers are also introduced. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Nanocomposites for ultra high density information storage, devices including the same, and methods of making the same

DOEpatents

Goyal, Amit; Shin, Junsoo

2014-04-01

A nanocomposite article that includes a single-crystal or single-crystal-like substrate and heteroepitaxial, phase-separated layer supported by a surface of the substrate and a method of making the same are described. The heteroepitaxial layer can include a continuous, non-magnetic, crystalline, matrix phase, and an ordered, magnetic magnetic phase disposed within the matrix phase. The ordered magnetic phase can include a plurality of self-assembled crystalline nanostructures of a magnetic material. The phase-separated layer and the single crystal substrate can be separated by a buffer layer. An electronic storage device that includes a read-write head and a nanocomposite article with a data storage density of 0.75 Tb/in.sup.2 is also described.

Stability of Mixed Preparations Consisting of Commercial Moisturizing Creams with an Ointment Base Investigated by Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

PubMed

Onuki, Yoshinori; Funatani, Chiaki; Yamamoto, Yoshihisa; Fukami, Toshiro; Koide, Tatsuo; Hayashi, Yoshihiro; Takayama, Kozo

2017-01-01

A moisturizing cream mixed with a steroid ointment is frequently prescribed to patients suffering from atopic dermatitis. However, there is a concern that the mixing operation causes destabilization. The present study was performed to investigate the stability of such preparations closely using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). As sample preparations, five commercial moisturizing creams that are popular in Japan were mixed with an ointment base, a white petrolatum, at a volume ratio of 1 : 1. The mixed preparations were stored at 60°C to accelerate the destabilization processes. Subsequently, the phase separations induced by the storage test were monitored using MRI. Using advanced MR technologies including spin-spin relaxation time (T 2 ) mapping and MR spectroscopy, we successfully characterized the phase-separation behavior of the test samples. For most samples, phase separations developed by the bleeding of liquid oil components. From a sample consisting of an oil-in-water-type cream, Urepearl Cream 10%, a distinct phase-separation mode was observed, which was initiated by the aqueous component separating from the bottom part of the sample. The resultant phase separation was the most distinct among the test samples. To investigate the phase separation quantitatively and objectively, we conducted a histogram analysis on the acquired T 2 maps. The water-in-oil type creams were found to be much more stable after mixing with ointment base than those of oil-in-water type creams. This finding strongly supported the validity of the mixing operation traditionally conducted in pharmacies.

Heterogeneous ice nucleation on phase-separated organic-sulfate particles: effect of liquid vs. glassy coatings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schill, G. P.; Tolbert, M. A.

2013-05-01

Atmospheric ice nucleation on aerosol particles relevant to cirrus clouds remains one of the least understood processes in the atmosphere. Upper tropospheric aerosols as well as sub-visible cirrus residues are known to be enhanced in both sulfates and organics. The hygroscopic phase transitions of organic-sulfate particles can have an impact on both the cirrus cloud formation mechanism and resulting cloud microphysical properties. In addition to deliquescence and efflorescence, organic-sulfate particles are known to undergo another phase transition known as liquid-liquid phase separation. The ice nucleation properties of particles that have undergone liquid-liquid phase separation are unknown. Here, Raman microscopy coupled with an environmental cell was used to study the low temperature deliquescence, efflorescence, and liquid-liquid phase separation behavior of 2 : 1 mixtures of organic polyols (1,2,6-hexanetriol and 1 : 1 1,2,6-hexanetriol + 2,2,6,6-tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)cyclohexanol) and ammonium sulfate from 240-265 K. Further, the ice nucleation efficiency of these organic-sulfate systems after liquid-liquid phase separation and efflorescence was investigated from 210-235 K. Raman mapping and volume-geometry analysis indicate that these particles contain solid ammonium sulfate cores fully engulfed in organic shells. For the ice nucleation experiments, we find that if the organic coatings are liquid, water vapor diffuses through the shell and ice nucleates on the ammonium sulfate core. In this case, the coatings minimally affect the ice nucleation efficiency of ammonium sulfate. In contrast, if the coatings become semi-solid or glassy, ice instead nucleates on the organic shell. Consistent with recent findings that glasses can be efficient ice nuclei, the phase-separated particles are nearly as efficient at ice nucleation as pure crystalline ammonium sulfate.

Heterogeneous ice nucleation on phase-separated organic-sulfate particles: effect of liquid vs. glassy coatings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schill, G. P.; Tolbert, M. A.

2012-12-01

Atmospheric ice nucleation on aerosol particles relevant to cirrus clouds remains one of the least understood processes in the atmosphere. Upper tropospheric aerosols as well as sub-visible cirrus residues are known to be enhanced in both sulfates and organics. The hygroscopic phase transitions of organic-sulfate particles can have an impact on both the cirrus cloud formation mechanism and resulting cloud microphysical properties. In addition to deliquescence and efflorescence, organic-sulfate particles are known to undergo another phase transition known as liquid-liquid phase separation. The ice nucleation properties of particles that have undergone liquid-liquid phase separation are unknown. Here, Raman microscopy coupled with an environmental cell was used to study the low temperature deliquescence, efflorescence, and liquid-liquid phase separation behavior of 2:1 mixtures of organic polyols (1,2,6-hexanetriol, and 1:1 1,2,6-hexanetriol +2,2,6,6-tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)cycohexanol) and ammonium sulfate from 240-265 K. Further, the ice nucleation efficiency of these organic-sulfate systems after liquid-liquid phase separation and efflorescence was investigated from 210-235 K. Raman mapping and volume-geometry analysis indicates that these particles contain solid ammonium sulfate cores fully engulfed in organic shells. For the ice nucleation experiments, we find that if the organic coatings are liquid, water vapor diffuses through the shell and ice nucleates on the ammonium sulfate core. In this case, the coatings minimally affect the ice nucleation efficiency of ammonium sulfate. In contrast, if the coatings become semi-solid or glassy, ice instead nucleates on the organic shell. Consistent with recent findings that glasses can be efficient ice nuclei, the phase separated particles are nearly as efficient at ice nucleation as pure crystalline ammonium sulfate.

The antagonistic role of chaotropic hexafluorophosphate anions and imidazolium cations composing ionic liquids applied as phase additives in the separation of tri-cyclic antidepressants.

PubMed

Caban, Magda; Stepnowski, Piotr

2017-05-15

The main advantage of alkylimidazolium cation-based ionic liquids (ILs) as phase additives in RP-HPLC is believed to be the suppression of deleterious residual free silanols in chemically modified silica stationary phases. However, up to now, the influence of ILs was usually evaluated having in mind a particular IL salt as one compound, not as a specific mixture of cations and anions. This in fact led to some misinterpretation of observed results, very often related to the suppression effect, while in fact caused by the nature of IL anions, which contribute to the elevated chaotropicity of the separation phases. In the present study, we have attempted to consider the effect gained due to the presence of both ionic liquid entities in the mobile phase used for the separation of basic compounds. Tri-cyclic antidepressants (TCAs) were taken as representative analytes. The effect of ILs on the chromatographic separation of TCAs was investigated in comparison to common mobile phase additives and by the presentation of retention factors, tailing factors and theoretical plates. In addition, an overloading study was performed for the IL-based phases for the first time. In general, it was found that the effect of chaotropic hexafluorophosphate anions in ILs is much stronger and opposite to that caused by imidazolium cations. The overloading study gives interesting information on how imidazolium cations affect the separation of cationic analytes. Finally, the usefulness of imidazolium-based ILs as mobile phase modifiers in the RP-HPLC separation of basic compounds was discussed. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Experimental Investigation and Thermodynamic Assessment of Phase Equilibria in the PLLA/Dioxane/Water Ternary System for Applications in the Biomedical Field.

PubMed

Ruggiero, Flavia; Netti, Paolo Antonio; Torino, Enza

2015-12-01

Fundamental understanding of thermodynamic of phase separation plays a key role in tuning the desired features of biomedical devices. In particular, phase separation of ternary solution is of remarkable interest in processes to obtain biodegradable and biocompatible architectures applied as artificial devices to repair, replace, or support damaged tissues or organs. In these perspectives, thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) is the most widely used technique to obtained porous morphologies and, in addition, among different ternary systems, polylactic acid (PLLA)/dioxane/water has given promising results and has been largely studied. However, to increase the control of TIPS-based processes and architectures, an investigation of the basic energetic phenomena occurring during phase separation is still required. Here we propose an experimental investigation of the selected ternary system by using isothermal titration calorimetric approach at different solvent/antisolvent ratio and a thermodynamic explanation related to the polymer-solvents interactions in terms of energetic contribution to the phase separation process. Furthermore, relevant information about the phase diagrams and interaction parameters of the studied systems are furnished in terms of liquid-liquid miscibility gap. Indeed, polymer-solvents interactions are responsible for the mechanism of the phase separation process and, therefore, of the final features of the morphologies; the knowledge of such data is fundamental to control processes for the production of membranes, scaffolds and several nanostructures. The behavior of the polymer at different solvent/nonsolvent ratios is discussed in terms of solvation mechanism and a preliminary contribution to the understanding of the role of the hydrogen bonding in the interface phenomena is also reported. It is the first time that thermodynamic data of a ternary system are collected by mean of nano-isothermal titration calorimetry (nano-ITC). Supporting Information is available.

Separation as an Important Risk Factor for Suicide: A Systematic Review

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ide, Naoko; Wyder, Marianne; Kolves, Kairi; De Leo, Diego

2010-01-01

Examining how different phases of relationship separation effects the development of suicidal behaviors has been largely ignored in suicide studies. The few studies conducted suggest that individuals experiencing the acute phase of marital/de facto separation may be at greater risk of suicide compared with those experiencing long-term separation…

URANIUM SEPARATION PROCESS

DOEpatents

McVey, W.H.; Reas, W.H.

1959-03-10

The separation of uranium from an aqueous solution containing a water soluble uranyl salt is described. The process involves adding an alkali thiocyanate to the aqueous solution, contacting the resulting solution with methyl isobutyl ketons and separating the resulting aqueous and organic phase. The uranium is extracted in the organic phase as UO/sub 2/(SCN)/sub/.

Effect of Nd doping on structural, dielectric and thermodynamic properties of PZT (65/35) ceramic

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mohiddon, Md Ahamad; Kumar, Abhishek; Yadav, K. L.

2007-05-01

The influence of neodymium (Nd) addition on the phase formation and dielectric properties of Pb(Zr 0.65Ti 0.35)O 3 composition prepared from mixed oxide method was analyzed. Pellets were sintered in air and PbZrO 3 (PZ) atmosphere separately. Non-perovskite ZrO 2 phase was observed in samples which were sintered in air, also grain size was found to decrease with Nd doping in non-PZ environment samples. Decrease in transition temperature by 80 °C with increasing Nd concentration was observed in both set of samples. Maximum dielectric constant and dielectric losses are found to decrease with Nd doping. Complex impedance analysis revealed that grain boundary resistance increases with Nd doping. Thermodynamic parameters such as change in enthalpy, free energy and change in entropy were studied.

Adaptive ground implemented phase array

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Spearing, R. E.

1973-01-01

The simulation of an adaptive ground implemented phased array of five antenna elements is reported for a very high frequency system design that is tolerant to the radio frequency interference environment encountered by a tracking data relay satellite. Signals originating from satellites are received by the VHF ring array and both horizontal and vertical polarizations from each of the five elements are multiplexed and transmitted down to ground station. A panel on the transmitting end of the simulation chamber contains up to 10 S-band RFI sources along with the desired signal to simulate the dynamic relationship between user and TDRS. The 10 input channels are summed, and desired and interference signals are separated and corrected until the resultant sum signal-to-interference ratio is maximized. Testing performed with this simulation equipment demonstrates good correlation between predicted and actual results.

Mesoscopic model for binary fluids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Echeverria, C.; Tucci, K.; Alvarez-Llamoza, O.; Orozco-Guillén, E. E.; Morales, M.; Cosenza, M. G.

2017-10-01

We propose a model for studying binary fluids based on the mesoscopic molecular simulation technique known as multiparticle collision, where the space and state variables are continuous, and time is discrete. We include a repulsion rule to simulate segregation processes that does not require calculation of the interaction forces between particles, so binary fluids can be described on a mesoscopic scale. The model is conceptually simple and computationally efficient; it maintains Galilean invariance and conserves the mass and energy in the system at the micro- and macro-scale, whereas momentum is conserved globally. For a wide range of temperatures and densities, the model yields results in good agreement with the known properties of binary fluids, such as the density profile, interface width, phase separation, and phase growth. We also apply the model to the study of binary fluids in crowded environments with consistent results.

Combination of Complex-Based and Magnitude-Based Multiecho Water-Fat Separation for Accurate Quantification of Fat-Fraction

PubMed Central

Yu, Huanzhou; Shimakawa, Ann; Hines, Catherine D. G.; McKenzie, Charles A.; Hamilton, Gavin; Sirlin, Claude B.; Brittain, Jean H.; Reeder, Scott B.

2011-01-01

Multipoint water–fat separation techniques rely on different water–fat phase shifts generated at multiple echo times to decompose water and fat. Therefore, these methods require complex source images and allow unambiguous separation of water and fat signals. However, complex-based water–fat separation methods are sensitive to phase errors in the source images, which may lead to clinically important errors. An alternative approach to quantify fat is through “magnitude-based” methods that acquire multiecho magnitude images. Magnitude-based methods are insensitive to phase errors, but cannot estimate fat-fraction greater than 50%. In this work, we introduce a water–fat separation approach that combines the strengths of both complex and magnitude reconstruction algorithms. A magnitude-based reconstruction is applied after complex-based water–fat separation to removes the effect of phase errors. The results from the two reconstructions are then combined. We demonstrate that using this hybrid method, 0–100% fat-fraction can be estimated with improved accuracy at low fat-fractions. PMID:21695724

Morphological Simulation of Phase Separation Coupled Oscillation Shear and Varying Temperature Fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Heping; Li, Xiaoguang; Lin, Kejun; Geng, Xingguo

2018-05-01

This paper explores the effect of the shear frequency and Prandtl number ( Pr) on the procedure and pattern formation of phase separation in symmetric and asymmetric systems. For the symmetric system, the periodic shear significantly prolongs the spinodal decomposition stage and enlarges the separated domain in domain growth stage. By adjusting the Pr and shear frequency, the number and orientation of separated steady layer structures can be controlled during domain stretch stage. The numerical results indicate that the increase in Pr and decrease in the shear frequency can significantly increase in the layer number of the lamellar structure, which relates to the decrease in domain size. Furthermore, the lamellar orientation parallel to the shear direction is altered into that perpendicular to the shear direction by further increasing the shear frequency, and also similar results for larger systems. For asymmetric system, the quantitative analysis shows that the decrease in the shear frequency enlarges the size of separated minority phases. These numerical results provide guidance for setting the optimum condition for the phase separation under periodic shear and slow cooling.

The Two-Phase Flow Separator Experiment Breadboard Model: Reduced Gravity Aircraft Results

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rame, E; Sharp, L. M.; Chahine, G.; Kamotani, Y.; Gotti, D.; Owens, J.; Gilkey, K.; Pham, N.

2015-01-01

Life support systems in space depend on the ability to effectively separate gas from liquid. Passive cyclonic phase separators use the centripetal acceleration of a rotating gas-liquid mixture to carry out phase separation. The gas migrates to the center, while gas-free liquid may be withdrawn from one of the end plates. We have designed, constructed and tested a breadboard that accommodates the test sections of two independent principal investigators and satisfies their respective requirements, including flow rates, pressure and video diagnostics. The breadboard was flown in the NASA low-gravity airplane in order to test the system performance and design under reduced gravity conditions.

A two-dimensional phase separation on the spherical surface of the metallic glass Au55Pb22.5Sb22.5

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lee, M. C.; Johnson, W. L.

1982-01-01

Recent experiments indicate that a phase separation in a spherical sample of the metallic glass Au55Pb22.5Sb22.5 occurs near the surface of the sphere. This strongly suggests either a contribution of surface-free energy to the decomposition process or a possible influence of near surface impurities absorbed during synthesis of the sphere. The surface phase separation has been studied as a function of cooling rate of the sphere. At high cooling rates (small sphere sizes), the surface separation disappears altogether suggesting that the surface of the parent liquid droplet is initially homogeneous.

3D CFD simulation of Multi-phase flow separators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Zhiying

2017-10-01

During the exploitation of natural gas, some water and sands are contained. It will be better to separate water and sands from natural gas to insure favourable transportation and storage. In this study, we use CFD to analyse the effect of multi-phase flow separator, whose detailed geometrical parameters are designed in advanced. VOF model and DPM are used here. From the results of CFD, we can draw a conclusion that separated effect of multi-phase flow achieves better results. No solid and water is carried out from gas outlet. CFD simulation provides an economical and efficient approach to shed more light on details of the flow behaviour.

Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal Displays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Doane, J. William

The following sections are included: * INTRODUCTION AND HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT * PDLC MATERIALS PREPARATION * Polymerization induced phase separation (PIPS) * Thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) * Solvent induced phase separation (SIPS) * Encapsulation (NCAP) * RESPONSE VOLTAGE * Dielectric and resistive effects * Radial configuration * Bipolar configuration * Other director configurations * RESPONSE TIME * DISPLAY CONTRAST * Light scattering and index matching * Incorporation of dyes * Contrast measurements * PDLC DISPLAY DEVICES AND INNOVATIONS * Reflective direct view displays * Large-scale, flexible displays * Switchable windows * Projection displays * High definition spatial light modulator * Haze-free PDLC shutters: wide angle view displays * ENVIRONMENTAL STABILITY * ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS * REFERENCES

Separation of VX, RVX and GB Enantiomers Using Liquid ChromatographyTime-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-02-01

Torrance, CA). The mobile phase consisted of n - hexane (A) and isopropyl alcohol (B), and sample volume was 10 µL. Separation was achieved using...level for preparative separation. All reagents and solvents were high-performance LC grade. Hexane and isopropyl alcohol were purchased from Fisher...1 column and normal-phase LC were used with a mobile phase of 96/4 (v/v %) hexane /isopropyl alcohol at a flow rate of 0.6 mL/min. The enantiomers

Social enrichment improves social recognition memory in male rats.

PubMed

Toyoshima, Michimasa; Yamada, Kazuo; Sugita, Manami; Ichitani, Yukio

2018-05-01

The social environment is thought to have a strong impact on cognitive functions. In the present study, we investigated whether social enrichment could affect rats' memory ability using the "Different Objects Task (DOT)," in which the levels of memory load could be modulated by changing the number of objects to be remembered. In addition, we applied the DOT to a social discrimination task using unfamiliar conspecific juveniles instead of objects. Animals were housed in one of the three different housing conditions after weaning [postnatal day (PND) 21]: social-separated (1 per cage), standard (3 per cage), or social-enriched (10 per cage) conditions. The object and social recognition tasks were conducted on PND 60. In the sample phase, the rats were allowed to explore a field in which 3, 4, or 5 different, unfamiliar stimuli (conspecific juveniles through a mesh or objects) were presented. In the test phase conducted after a 5-min delay, social-separated rats were able to discriminate the novel conspecific from the familiar ones only under the condition in which three different conspecifics were presented; social-enriched rats managed to recognize the novel conspecific even under the condition of five different conspecifics. On the other hand, in the object recognition task, both social-separated and social-enriched rats were able to discriminate the novel object from the familiar ones under the condition of five different objects. These results suggest that social enrichment can enhance social, but not object, memory span.

Gas-liquid chromatography with a volatile "stationary" liquid phase.

PubMed

Wells, P S; Zhou, S; Parcher, J F

2002-05-01

A unique type of gas-liquid chromatography is described in which both mobile and "stationary" phases are composed of synthetic mixtures of helium and carbon dioxide. At temperatures below the critical point of the binary mixture and pressures above the vapor pressure of pure liquid carbon dioxide, helium and carbon dioxide can form two immiscible phases over extended composition ranges. A binary vapor phase enriched in helium can act as the mobile phase for chromatographic separations, whereas a CO2-rich liquid in equilibrium with the vapor phase, but condensed on the column wall, can act as a pseudostationary phase. Several examples of chromatographic separations obtained in "empty" capillary columns with no ordinary stationary liquid phase illustrate the range of conditions that produce such separations. In addition, several experiments are reported that confirm the proposed two-phase hypothesis. The possible consequences of the observed chromatographic phenomenon in the field of supercritical fluid chromatography with helium headspace carbon dioxide are discussed.

New results on water in bulk, nanoconfined, and biological environments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stanley, H. E.; Kumar, Pradeep; Xu, Limei; Yan, Zhenyu; Mazza, Marco G.; Buldyrev, S. V.; Chen, S.-H.; Mallamace, F.

2007-12-01

Water is perhaps the most ubiquitous, and the most essential, of any molecule on earth. Despite decades of research, however, water's puzzling properties are not understood and 63 anomalies that distinguish water from other liquids remain unsolved. We present evidence from experiments and computer simulations supporting the hypothesis that water displays polyamorphism, i.e., water separates into two distinct liquid phases. This concept of a new liquid-liquid critical point is finding application to other liquids as well as water, such as silicon and silica. We also discuss related puzzles, such as the mysterious behavior of water near a biomolecule.

Planning for Materials Processing in Space

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1977-01-01

A systems design study to describe the conceptual evolution, the institutional interrelationshiphs, and the basic physical requirements to implement materials processing in space was conducted. Planning for a processing era, rather than hardware design, was emphasized. Product development in space was examined in terms of fluid phenomena, phase separation, and heat and mass transfer. The effect of materials processing on the environment was studied. A concept for modular, unmanned orbiting facilities using the modified external tank of the space shuttle is presented. Organizational and finding structures which would provide for the efficient movement of materials from user to space are discussed.

CEC with new monolithic stationary phase based on a fluorinated monomer, trifluoroethyl methacrylate.

PubMed

Yurtsever, Arda; Saraçoğlu, Berna; Tuncel, Ali

2009-02-01

A new, fluorinated monolithic stationary phase for CEC was first synthesized by a single-stage, thermally initiated copolymerization of a fluorinated monomer, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl methacrylate (TFEM) and ethylene dimethacrylate (EDMA) in the presence of a porogen mixture. In this preparation, 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid was used as the charge-bearing monomer. The porogen mixture was prepared by mixing isoamylalcohol and 1,4-butanediol. A clear increase in the electroosmotic mobility was observed with increasing pH. The electroosmotic mobility decreased with increasing ACN concentration. Poly(TFEM-co-EDMA) monolith prepared under optimized polymerization conditions was successfully used in the separation of alkylbenzenes and phenols by CEC. The best chromatographic separation for alkylbenzenes was performed with lower ACN concentrations (i.e. 60% v/v) with respect to the common acrylic-based CEC monoliths. The theoretical plate numbers up to 220 000 plates/m were achieved in the reversed phase separation of phenols. Poly(TFEM-co-EDMA) monolith also allowed the simultaneous separation of aniline and benzoic acid derivatives by a single run and by using a lower ACN concentration in the mobile phase with respect to the similar electrochromatographic separations. A stable retention behaviour in reversed phase separation of alkylbenzenes was obtained with the poly(TFEM-co-EDMA) monolith.

A nitromethane-based HPLC system alternative to acetonitrile for carotenoid analysis of fruit and vegetables.

PubMed

Sandmann, Gerhard

2010-01-01

Acetonitrile-based HPLC systems are the most commonly used for carotenoid analysis from different plant tissues. Because of the acetonitrile shortage, an HPLC system for the separation of carotenoids on C(18) reversed-phase columns was developed in which an acetonitrile-alcohol-based mobile phase was replaced by nitromethane. This solvent comes closest to acetonitrile with respect to its elutrophic property. Our criterion was to obtain similar separation and retention times for a range of differently structured carotenoids. This was achieved by further increase in the lipophilicity with ethylacetate. For all the carotenoids which we tested, we found co-elution only of β-cryptoxanthin and lycopene. By addition of 1% of water, separation of this pair of carotenoids was also achieved. The final recommended mobile phase consisted of nitromethane : 2-propanol : ethyl acetate : water (79 : 10 : 10 : 1, by volume). On Nucleosil C(18) columns and related ones like Hypersil C(18), we obtained separation of carotenes, hydroxyl, epoxy and keto derivatives, which resembles the excellent separation properties of acetonitrile-based mobile phases on C(18) reversed phase columns. We successfully applied the newly developed HPLC system to the separation of carotenoids from different vegetables and fruit. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Synthesis of a stationary phase based on silica modified with branched octadecyl groups by Michael addition and photoinduced thiol-yne click chemistry for the separation of basic compounds.

PubMed

Huang, Guang; Ou, Junjie; Wang, Hongwei; Ji, Yongsheng; Wan, Hao; Zhang, Zhang; Peng, Xiaojun; Zou, Hanfa

2016-04-01

A novel silica-based stationary phase with branched octadecyl groups was prepared by the sequential employment of the Michael addition reaction and photoinduced thiol-yne click chemistry with 3-aminopropyl-functionalized silica microspheres as the initial material. The resulting stationary phase denoted as SiO2 -N(C18)4 was characterized by elemental analysis, FTIR spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy, demonstrating the existence of branched octadecyl groups in silica microspheres. The separations of benzene homologous compounds, acid compounds and amine analogues were conducted, demonstrating mixed-mode separation mechanism on SiO2 -N(C18)4 . Baseline separation of basic drugs mixture was acquired with the mobile phase of acetonitrile/H2 O (5%, v/v). SiO2 -N(C18)4 was further applied to separate Corydalis yanhusuo Wang water extracts, and more baseline separation peaks were obtained for SiO2 -N(C18)4 than those on Atlantis dC18 column. It can be expected that this new silica-based stationary phase will exhibit great potential in the analysis of basic compounds. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Forced-flow once-through boilers. [structural design criteria/aerospace environments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stone, J. R.; Gray, V. H.; Gutierrez, O. A.

1975-01-01

A compilation and review of NASA-sponsored research on boilers for use in spacecraft electrical power generation systems is presented. Emphasis is on the heat-transfer and fluid-flow problems. In addition to space applications, much of the boiler technology is applicable to terrestrial and marine uses such as vehicular power, electrical power generation, vapor generation, and heating and cooling. Related research areas are discussed such as condensation, cavitation, line and boiler dynamics, the SNAP-8 project (Mercury-Rankine cycle), and conventional terrestrial boilers (either supercritical or gravity-assisted liquid-vapor separation types). The research effort was directed at developing the technology for once-through compact boilers with high heat fluxes to generate dry vapor stably, without utilizing gravity for phase separations. A background section that discusses, tutorially, the complex aspects of the boiling process is presented. Discussions of tests on alkali metals are interspersed with those on water and other fluids on a phenomenological basis.

Lower critical solution temperature (LCST) phase separation of glycol ethers for forward osmotic control.

PubMed

Nakayama, Daichi; Mok, Yeongbong; Noh, Minwoo; Park, Jeongseon; Kang, Sunyoung; Lee, Yan

2014-03-21

Lower critical solution temperature (LCST) phase transition of glycol ether (GE)-water mixtures induces an abrupt change in osmotic pressure driven by a mild temperature change. The temperature-controlled osmotic change was applied for the forward osmosis (FO) desalination. Among three GEs evaluated, di(ethylene glycol) n-hexyl ether (DEH) was selected as a potential FO draw solute. A DEH-water mixture with a high osmotic pressure could draw fresh water from a high-salt feed solution such as seawater through a semipermeable membrane at around 10 °C. The water-drawn DEH-water mixture was phase-separated into a water-rich phase and a DEH-rich phase at around 30 °C. The water-rich phase with a much reduced osmotic pressure released water into a low-salt solution, and the DEH-rich phase was recovered into the initial DEH-water mixture. The phase separation behaviour, the residual GE concentration in the water-rich phase, the osmotic pressure of the DEH-water mixture, and the osmotic flux between the DEH-water mixture and salt solutions were carefully analysed for FO desalination. The liquid-liquid phase separation of the GE-water mixture driven by the mild temperature change between 10 °C and 30 °C is very attractive for the development of an ideal draw solute for future practical FO desalination.

Investigation of phase separated polyimide blend films containing boron nitride using FTIR imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chae, Boknam; Hong, Deok Gi; Jung, Young Mee; Won, Jong Chan; Lee, Seung Woo

2018-04-01

Immiscible aromatic polyimide (PI) blend films and a PI blend film incorporated with thermally conductive boron nitride (BN) were prepared, and their phase separation behaviors were examined by optical microscopy and FTIR imaging. The 2,2‧-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzidine (TFMB)-containing and 4,4‧-thiodianiline (TDA)-containing aromatic PI blend films and a PI blend/BN composite film show two clearly separated regions; one region is the TFMB-rich phase, and the other region is the TDA-rich phase. The introduction of BN induces morphological changes in the immiscible aromatic PI blend film without altering the composition of either domain. In particular, the BN is selectively incorporated into the TDA-rich phase in this study.

STS-42 Phase Partitioning Experiment (PPE) closeup taken onboard OV-103

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1992-01-01

STS-42 Phase Partitioning Experiment (PPE), an International Microgravity Laboratory 1 (IML-1) experiment, is documented in a closeup taken onboard Discovery, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 103. Phase partitioning is a very effective technique used by biochemists and cell biologists to obtain fairly pure cells. Cells are separated and collected in a mixture of two immiscible liquids (fluids that tend not to mix) by their surface characteristics. In the PPE, investigators feel they will be able to separate closely related cells because cell density and convection flows are not factors in the phase partitioning process in space. They also hope to study other factors that influence the process. Phase partitioning is used to separate biological materials such as bone marrow cells for cancer treatment.

Separation and Sealing of a Sample Container Using Brazing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bar-Cohen, Yoseph; Rivellini, Tommaso P.; Wincentsen, James E.; Gershman, Robert

2007-01-01

A special double-wall container and a process for utilizing the container are being developed to enable (1) acquisition of a sample of material in a dirty environment that may include a biological and/or chemical hazard; (2) sealing a lid onto the inner part of the container to hermetically enclose the sample; (3) separating the resulting hermetic container from the dirty environment; and (4) bringing that hermetic container, without any biological or chemical contamination of its outer surface, into a clean environment. The process is denoted S(exp 3)B (separation, seaming, and sealing using brazing) because sealing of the sample into the hermetic container, separating the container from the dirty environment, and bringing the container with a clean outer surface into the clean environment are all accomplished simultaneously with a brazing operation.

Crude oil as a microbial seed bank with unexpected functional potentials

PubMed Central

Cai, Man; Nie, Yong; Chi, Chang-Qiao; Tang, Yue-Qin; Li, Yan; Wang, Xing-Biao; Liu, Ze-Shen; Yang, Yunfeng; Zhou, Jizhong; Wu, Xiao-Lei

2015-01-01

It was widely believed that oil is a harsh habitat for microbes because of its high toxicity and hydrophobicity. However, accumulating evidence has revealed the presence of live microbes in crude oil. Therefore, it’s of value to conduct an in-depth investigation on microbial communities in crude oil. To this end, microorganisms in oil and water phases were collected from four oil-well production mixtures in Qinghai Oilfield, China, and analyzed for their taxonomic and functional compositions via pyrosequencing and GeoChip, respectively. Hierarchical clustering of 16S rRNA gene sequences and functional genes clearly separated crude oil and water phases, suggestive of distinct taxonomic and functional gene compositions between crude oil and water phases. Unexpectedly, Pseudomonas dominated oil phase where diverse functional gene groups were identified, which significantly differed from those in the corresponding water phases. Meanwhile, most functional genes were significantly more abundant in oil phase, which was consistent with their important roles in facilitating survival of their host organisms in crude oil. These findings provide strong evidence that crude oil could be a “seed bank” of functional microorganisms with rich functional potentials. This offers novel insights for industrial applications of microbial-enhanced oil recovery and bioremediation of petroleum-polluted environments. PMID:26525361

Thermodynamics and structural transition of binary atomic Bose-Fermi mixtures in box or harmonic potentials: A path-integral study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Tom; Chien, Chih-Chun

2018-03-01

Experimental realizations of a variety of atomic binary Bose-Fermi mixtures have brought opportunities for studying composite quantum systems with different spin statistics. The binary atomic mixtures can exhibit a structural transition from a mixture into phase separation as the boson-fermion interaction increases. By using a path-integral formalism to evaluate the grand partition function and the thermodynamic grand potential, we obtain the effective potential of binary Bose-Fermi mixtures. Thermodynamic quantities in a broad range of temperatures and interactions are also derived. The structural transition can be identified as a loop of the effective potential curve, and the volume fraction of phase separation can be determined by the lever rule. For 6Li-7Li and 6Li-41K mixtures, we present the phase diagrams of the mixtures in a box potential at zero and finite temperatures. Due to the flexible densities of atomic gases, the construction of phase separation is more complicated when compared to conventional liquid or solid mixtures where the individual densities are fixed. For harmonically trapped mixtures, we use the local density approximation to map out the finite-temperature density profiles and present typical trap structures, including the mixture, partially separated phases, and fully separated phases.

Laser-induced separation of hydrogen isotopes in the liquid phase

DOEpatents

Freund, Samuel M.; Maier, II, William B.; Beattie, Willard H.; Holland, Redus F.

1980-01-01

Hydrogen isotope separation is achieved by either (a) dissolving a hydrogen-bearing feedstock compound in a liquid solvent, or (b) liquefying a hydrogen-bearing feedstock compound, the liquid phase thus resulting being kept at a temperature at which spectral features of the feedstock relating to a particular hydrogen isotope are resolved, i.e., a clear-cut isotope shift is delineated, irradiating the liquid phase with monochromatic radiation of a wavelength which at least preferentially excites those molecules of the feedstock containing a first hydrogen isotope, inducing photochemical reaction in the excited molecules, and separating the reaction product containing the first isotope from the liquid phase.

Phase segregation due to simultaneous migration and coalescence

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Davis, Robert H.

1994-01-01

The primary objective of the research is to perform ground-based analysis and experiments on the interaction and coalescence of drops (or bubbles) leading to macroscopic phase separation. Migration of the drops occurs as a result of the individual and collective action of gravity and thermocapillary effects. Larger drops migrate faster than smaller ones, leading to the possibility of collisions and coalescence. Coalescence increases the rate of macroscopic phase separation, since the result is larger drops with higher migration rates. It is hoped that the understanding gained will lead to the design of microgravity experiments to further elucidate the mechanisms governing coalescence and phase separation.

Water Capture Device Signal Integration Board

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chamberlin, Kathryn J.; Hartnett, Andrew J.

2018-01-01

I am a junior in electrical engineering at Arizona State University, and this is my second internship at Johnson Space Center. I am an intern in the Command and Data Handling Branch of Avionics Division (EV2), my previous internship was also in EV2. During my previous internship I was assigned to the Water Capture Device payload, where I designed a prototype circuit board for the electronics system of the payload. For this internship, I have come back to the Water Capture Device project to further the work on the electronics design I completed previously. The Water Capture Device is an experimental payload to test the functionality of two different phase separators aboard the International Space Station (ISS). A phase separator sits downstream of a condensing heat exchanger (CHX) and separates the water from the air particles for environmental control on the ISS. With changing CHX technology, new phase separators are required. The goal of the project is to develop a test bed for the two phase separators to determine the best solution.

Synthesis and evaluation of a maltose-bonded silica gel stationary phase for hydrophilic interaction chromatography and its application in Ginkgo Biloba extract separation in two-dimensional systems.

PubMed

Sheng, Qianying; Yang, Kaiya; Ke, Yanxiong; Liang, Xinmiao; Lan, Minbo

2016-09-01

Maltose covalently bonded to silica was prepared by using carbonyl diimidazole as a cross-linker and employed as a stationary phase for hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography. The column efficiency and the effect of water content, buffer concentration, and pH value influenced on retention were investigated. The separation or enrichment selectivity was also studied with nucleosides, saccharides, amino acids, peptides, and glycopeptides. The results indicated that the stationary phase processed good separation efficiency and separation selectivity in hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography mode. Moreover, a two-dimensional hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography× reversed-phase liquid chromatography method with high orthogonality was developed to analyze the Ginkgo Biloba extract fractions. The development of this two-dimensional chromatographic system would be an effective tool for the separation of complex samples of different polarities and contents. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Integration of carboxyl modified magnetic particles and aqueous two-phase extraction for selective separation of proteins.

PubMed

Gai, Qingqing; Qu, Feng; Zhang, Tao; Zhang, Yukui

2011-07-15

Both of the magnetic particle adsorption and aqueous two-phase extraction (ATPE) were simple, fast and low-cost method for protein separation. Selective proteins adsorption by carboxyl modified magnetic particles was investigated according to protein isoelectric point, solution pH and ionic strength. Aqueous two-phase system of PEG/sulphate exhibited selective separation and extraction for proteins before and after magnetic adsorption. The two combination ways, magnetic adsorption followed by ATPE and ATPE followed by magnetic adsorption, for the separation of proteins mixture of lysozyme, bovine serum albumin, trypsin, cytochrome C and myloglobin were discussed and compared. The way of magnetic adsorption followed by ATPE was also applied to human serum separation. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Drive-amplitude-modulation atomic force microscopy: From vacuum to liquids

PubMed Central

Jaafar, Miriam; Cuenca, Mariano; Melcher, John; Raman, Arvind

2012-01-01

Summary We introduce drive-amplitude-modulation atomic force microscopy as a dynamic mode with outstanding performance in all environments from vacuum to liquids. As with frequency modulation, the new mode follows a feedback scheme with two nested loops: The first keeps the cantilever oscillation amplitude constant by regulating the driving force, and the second uses the driving force as the feedback variable for topography. Additionally, a phase-locked loop can be used as a parallel feedback allowing separation of the conservative and nonconservative interactions. We describe the basis of this mode and present some examples of its performance in three different environments. Drive-amplutide modulation is a very stable, intuitive and easy to use mode that is free of the feedback instability associated with the noncontact-to-contact transition that occurs in the frequency-modulation mode. PMID:22563531

A gravity independent biological grey water treatment system for space applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nashashibi, Majda'midhat

2002-09-01

Biological treatment of grey water in space presents serious challenges, stemming mainly from microgravity conditions. The major concerns are phase separation and mass transfer limitations. To overcome solid-liquid phase separation, novel immobilized cell packed bed (ICPB) bioreactors have been developed to treat synthetic grey water. Packed bed bioreactors provide a unique environment for attached microbial growth resulting in high biomass concentrations, which greatly enhance process efficiency with substantial reductions in treatment time and reactor volume. To overcome the gas-liquid phase separation and mass transfer limitations, an oxygenation module equipped with tubular membranes has been developed to deliver bubble-less oxygen under pressure. The selected silicone membranes are hydrophobic, non-porous and oxygen selective. Oxygen dissolves in the walls of the membranes and then diffuses into the water without forming bubbles. Elevated pressures maintain all gaseous by-products in solution and provide high dissolved oxygen concentrations within the system. The packing media are lightweight, inexpensive polyethylene terephthalate (PET) flakes that have large specific surface area, act as a filter for solids and yield highly tortuous flow paths thereby increasing the contact time between the biomass and contaminants. Tests on both pressurized and ambient pressure ICPB bioreactors revealed organic carbon removal efficiencies over 90%. Despite the high ammonia level in the influent, nitrification occured in both the ambient pressure and pressurized nitrification bioreactors at efficiencies of 80% and 60%, respectively. Biomass yield was approximately 0.20 g volatile suspended solids per gram of grey water-COD processed in the pressurized bioreactor. The biomass yield of such novel aerobic ICPB systems is comparable to that of anaerobic processes. These efficient systems produce minimal amounts of biomass compared to other aerobic processes, making them less prone to clogging under long operation periods. The effluent contains low concentration of suspended solids, thus further phase separation may not be necessary. The maintenance requirements are minimal, thereby reducing labor time. The bioreactors could sustain loading and pressure shocks with rapid recovery. An empirical model has been developed for design and scale-up of the pressurized bioreactor for organic carbon and nitrogen conversions. NASA-Johnson Space Center adopted the nitrification bioreactor for prototype testing and potential future use in long duration human space missions.

Complexation Enhancement Drives Water-to-Oil Ion Transport: A Simulation Study

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Qiao, Baofu; Ferru, Geoffroy; Ellis, Ross J.

We address the structures and energetics of ion solvation in aqueous and organic solutions to understand liquid-liquid ion transport. Atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with polarizable force field are performed to study the coordination transformations driving lanthanide (Ln(III)) and nitrate ion transport between aqueous and an alkylamide-oil solution. An enhancement of the coordination behavior in the organic phase is achieved in contrast with the aqueous solution. In particular, the coordination number of Ce3+ increases from 8.9 in the aqueous to 9.9 in the organic solutions (from 8 in the aqueous to 8.8 in the organic systems for Yb3+). Moreover, themore » local coordination environ ment changes dramatically. Potential of mean force calculations show that the Ln(III)-ligand coordination interaction strengths follow the order of Ln(III-)nitrate> Ln(III)-water>Ln(III)-DMDBTDMA. They increase 2-fold in the lipophilic environment in comparison to the aqueous phase, and we attribute this to the shedding of the outer solvation shell. Our findings highlight the importance of outer sphere interactions on the competitive solvation energetics that cause ions to migrate between immiscible phases; an essential ingredient for advancing important applications such as rare earth metal separations. Some open questions in simulating the coordination behavior of heavy metals are also addressed.« less

Coordinated encoding between cell types in the retina: insights from the theory of phase transitions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sharpee, Tatyana

2015-03-01

In this talk I will describe how the emergence of some types of neurons in the brain can be quantitatively described by the theory of transitions between different phases of matter. The two key parameters that control the separation of neurons into subclasses are the mean and standard deviation of noise levels among neurons in the population. The mean noise level plays the role of temperature in the classic theory of phase transitions, whereas the standard deviation is equivalent to pressure, in the case of liquid-gas transitions, or to magnetic field for magnetic transitions. Our results account for properties of two recently discovered types of salamander OFF retinal ganglion cells, as well as the absence of multiple types of ON cells. We further show that, across visual stimulus contrasts, retinal circuits continued to operate near the critical point whose quantitative characteristics matched those expected near a liquid-gas critical point and described by the nearest-neighbor Ising model in three dimensions. Because the retina needs to operate under changing stimulus conditions, the observed parameters of cell types corresponded to metastable states in the region between the spinodal line and the line describing maximally informative solutions. Such properties of neural circuits can maximize information transmission in a given environment while retaining the ability to quickly adapt to a new environment. NSF CAREER award 1254123 and NIH R01EY019493

Triton X-114 based cloud point extraction: a thermoreversible approach for separation/concentration and dispersion of nanomaterials in the aqueous phase.

PubMed

Liu, Jing-fu; Liu, Rui; Yin, Yong-guang; Jiang, Gui-bin

2009-03-28

Capable of preserving the sizes and shapes of nanomaterials during the phase transferring, Triton X-114 based cloud point extraction provides a general, simple, and cost-effective route for reversible concentration/separation or dispersion of various nanomaterials in the aqueous phase.

SEPARATION OF SOME RARE EARTHS BY REVERSED-PHASE PARTITION CHROMATOGRAPHY. Report No. 129/V; Rozdzielenie Niektorych Ziem Rzadkich za Pomoca Chromatografii Podzialowej z Odwroconymi Fazami

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Siekierski, S.; Fidelis, I.

1960-01-01

The reversed phase partition chromatography was applied to the separation of small amounts of some rare earths. As a stationary phase TBP was used. and the elution was carried out with concentrated HNO/sub 3/. (auth)

Effects of the dynamic modification of stationary phases by sorbates in gas chromatography: The possibility of separating enantiomers in achiral systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zenkevich, I. G.; Pavlovskii, A. A.

2016-10-01

It is shown that the gas chromatographic separation of enantiomers on columns with achiral nonpolar stationary phases is principally possible as a result of the dynamic modification of stationary phases by sorbates under analysis. It is found that a number of key characteristic features is intrinsic to such separation: it can be only partial, it does not occur for all chromatographic columns, and it is observed only for some compounds and only within narrow ranges of quantities of sorbates that are close to the limits of mass overload of chromatographic systems. These characteristic features are illustrated by the examples of separating (1 R,5 R)-(+)- and (1 S,5 S)-(-)-α-pinenes on a WCOT column with an RTX-5 phase. The main characteristic feature of the separation of enantiomers as a result of the dynamic modification of stationary phases is the nonconformity of peaks in chromatograms with two individual enantiomers, compared to other ways and means for their separation; the first eluting peak belongs to the enantiomer that predominates in a mixture irrespective of its configuration, while the second peak corresponds to the racemic mixture of enantiomers; i.e., the ratio of peak areas in chromatograms does not correspond to the actual ratio of enantiomers in samples under analysis and is strongly distorted as a result of their incomplete separation. It is concluded that the separation of racemic mixtures in achiral systems is fundamentally impossible under any conditions, and this is one of the key criteria of the validity of the considered concept as a whole.

Phase separation and crystallization process of amorphous Fe{sub 78}B{sub 12}Si{sub 9}Ni{sub 1} alloy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mukhgalin, V. V.; Lad’yanov, V. I.

2015-08-17

The influence of the melt heat treatment on the structure and crystallization process of the rapidly quenched amorphous Fe{sub 78}B{sub 12}Si{sub 9}Ni{sub 1} alloys have been investigated by means of x-ray diffraction, DSC and TEM. Amorphous phase separation has been observed in the alloys quenched after the preliminary high temperature heat treatment of the liquid alloy (heating above 1400°C). Comparative analysis of the pair distribution functions demonstrates that this phase separation accompanied by a changes in the local atomic arrangement. It has been found that crystallization process at heating is strongly dependent on the initial amorphous phase structure - homogeneousmore » or phase separated. In the last case crystallization goes through the formation of a new metastable hexagonal phase [a=12.2849(9) Ǻ, c=7.6657(8) Ǻ]. At the same time the activation energy for crystallization (Ea) reduces from 555 to 475 kJ mole{sup −1}.« less

Origin of Reversible Photoinduced Phase Separation in Hybrid Perovskites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bischak, Connor G.; Hetherington, Craig L.; Wu, Hao; Aloni, Shaul; Ogletree, D. Frank; Limmer, David T.; Ginsberg, Naomi S.

2017-02-01

Nonequilibrium processes occurring in functional materials can significantly impact device efficiencies and are often difficult to characterize due to the broad range of length and time scales involved. In particular, mixed halide hybrid perovskites are promising for optoelectronics, yet the halides reversibly phase separate when photo-excited, significantly altering device performance. By combining nanoscale imaging and multiscale modeling, we elucidate the mechanism underlying this phenomenon, demonstrating that local strain induced by photo-generated polarons promotes halide phase separation and leads to nucleation of light-stabilized iodide-rich clusters. This effect relies on the unique electromechanical properties of hybrid materials, characteristic of neither their organic nor inorganic constituents alone. Exploiting photo-induced phase separation and other nonequilibrium phenomena in hybrid materials, generally, could enable new opportunities for expanding the functional applications in sensing, photoswitching, optical memory, and energy storage.

Antibody enhancement of free-flow electrophoresis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cohly, H. H. P.; Morrison, Dennis R.; Atassi, M. Zouhair

1988-01-01

Specific T cell clones and antibodies (ABs) were developed to study the efficiency of purifying closely associated T cells using Continuous Flow Electrophoresis System. Enhanced separation is accomplished by tagging cells first with ABs directed against the antigenic determinants on the cell surface and then with ABs against the Fc portion of the first AB. This second AB protrudes sufficiently beyond the cell membrane and glycocalyx to become the major overall cell surface potential determinant and thus causes a reduction of electrophoretic mobility. This project was divided into three phases. Phase one included development of specific T cell clones and separation of these specific clones. Phase two extends these principles to the separation of T cells from spleen cells and immunized lymph node cells. Phase three applies this double antibody technique to the separation of T cytotoxic cells from bone marrow.

Movie of phase separation during physics of colloids in space experiment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2002-01-01

Still photographs taken over 16 hours on Nov. 13, 2001, on the International Space Station have been condensed into a few seconds to show the de-mixing -- or phase separation -- process studied by the Experiment on Physics of Colloids in Space. Commanded from the ground, dozens of similar tests have been conducted since the experiment arrived on ISS in 2000. The sample is a mix of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA or acrylic) colloids, polystyrene polymers and solvents. The circular area in the video is 2 cm (0.8 in.) in diameter. The phase separation process occurs spontaneously after the sample is mechanically mixed. The evolving lighter regions are rich in colloid and have the structure of a liquid. The dark regions are poor in colloids and have the structure of a gas. This behavior carnot be observed on Earth because gravity causes the particles to fall out of solution faster than the phase separation can occur. While similar to a gas-liquid phase transition, the growth rate observed in this test is different from any atomic gas-liquid or liquid-liquid phase transition ever measured experimentally. Ultimately, the sample separates into colloid-poor and colloid-rich areas, just as oil and vinegar separate. The fundamental science of de-mixing in this colloid-polymer sample is the same found in the annealing of metal alloys and plastic polymer blends. Improving the understanding of this process may lead to improving processing of these materials on Earth.

Phase separation during the Experiment on Physics of Colloids in Space

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2003-01-01

Still photographs taken over 16 hours on Nov. 13, 2001, on the International Space Station have been condensed into a few seconds to show the de-mixing -- or phase separation -- process studied by the Experiment on Physics of Colloids in Space. Commanded from the ground, dozens of similar tests have been conducted since the experiment arrived on ISS in 2000. The sample is a mix of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA or acrylic) colloids, polystyrene polymers and solvents. The circular area is 2 cm (0.8 in.) in diameter. The phase separation process occurs spontaneously after the sample is mechanically mixed. The evolving lighter regions are rich in colloid and have the structure of a liquid. The dark regions are poor in colloids and have the structure of a gas. This behavior carnot be observed on Earth because gravity causes the particles to fall out of solution faster than the phase separation can occur. While similar to a gas-liquid phase transition, the growth rate observed in this test is different from any atomic gas-liquid or liquid-liquid phase transition ever measured experimentally. Ultimately, the sample separates into colloid-poor and colloid-rich areas, just as oil and vinegar separate. The fundamental science of de-mixing in this colloid-polymer sample is the same found in the annealing of metal alloys and plastic polymer blends. Improving the understanding of this process may lead to improving processing of these materials on Earth.

Comparison of analytical protein separation characteristics for three amine-based capillary-channeled polymer (C-CP) stationary phases.

PubMed

Jiang, Liuwei; Marcus, R Kenneth

2016-02-01

Capillary-channeled polymer (C-CP) fiber stationary phases are finding utility in the realms of protein analytics as well as downstream processing. We have recently described the modification of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) C-CP fibers to affect amine-rich phases for the weak anion-exchange (WAX) separation of proteins. Polyethylenimine (PEI) is covalently coupled to the PET surface, with subsequent cross-linking imparted by treatment with 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether (BUDGE). These modifications yield vastly improved dynamic binding capacities over the unmodified fibers. We have also previously employed native (unmodified) nylon 6 C-CP fibers as weak anion/cation-exchange (mixed-mode) and hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC) phases for protein separations. Polyamide, nylon 6, consists of amide groups along the polymer backbone, with primary amines and carboxylic acid end groups. The analytical separation characteristics of these three amine-based C-CP fiber phases are compared here. Each of the C-CP fiber columns in this study was shown to be able to separate a bovine serum albumin/hemoglobin/lysozyme mixture at high mobile phase linear velocity (∼70 mm s(-1)) but with different elution characteristics. These differences reflect the types of protein-surface interactions that are occurring, based on the active group composition of the fiber surfaces. This study provides important fundamental understanding for the development of surface-modified C-CP fiber columns for protein separation.

Shuttle unified navigation filter, revision 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Muller, E. S., Jr.

1973-01-01

Equations designed to meet the navigation requirements of the separate shuttle mission phases are presented in a series of reports entitled, Space Shuttle GN and C Equation Document. The development of these equations is based on performance studies carried out for each particular mission phase. Although navigation equations have been documented separately for each mission phase, a single unified navigation filter design is embodied in these separate designs. The purpose of this document is to present the shuttle navigation equations in a form in which they would most likely be coded-as the single unified navigation filter used in each mission phase. This document will then serve as a single general reference for the navigation equations replacing each of the individual mission phase navigation documents (which may still be used as a description of a particular navigation phase).

Hyper-X Stage Separation: Background and Status

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Reubush, David E.

1999-01-01

This paper provides an overview of stage separation activities for NASA's Hyper-X program; a focused hypersonic technology effort designed to move hypersonic, airbreathing vehicle technology from the laboratory environment to the flight environment. This paper presents an account of the development of the current stage separation concept, highlights of wind tunnel experiments and computational fluid dynamics investigations being conducted to define the separation event, results from ground tests of separation hardware, schedule and status. Substantial work has been completed toward reducing the risk associated with stage separation.

Modeling phase separation in mixtures of intrinsically-disordered proteins

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gu, Chad; Zilman, Anton

Phase separation in a pure or mixed solution of intrinsically-disordered proteins (IDPs) and its role in various biological processes has generated interest from the theoretical biophysics community. Phase separation of IDPs has been implicated in the formation of membrane-less organelles such as nucleoli, as well as in a mechanism of selectivity in transport through the nuclear pore complex. Based on a lattice model of polymers, we study the phase diagram of IDPs in a mixture and describe the selective exclusion of soluble proteins from the dense-phase IDP aggregates. The model captures the essential behaviour of phase separation by a minimal set of coarse-grained parameters, corresponding to the average monomer-monomer and monomer-protein attraction strength, as well as the protein-to-monomer size ratio. Contrary to the intuition that strong monomer-monomer interaction increases exclusion of soluble proteins from the dense IDP aggregates, our model predicts that the concentration of soluble proteins in the aggregate phase as a function of monomer-monomer attraction is non-monotonic. We corroborate the predictions of the lattice model using Langevin dynamics simulations of grafted polymers in planar and cylindrical geometries, mimicking various in-vivo and in-vitro conditions.

An easy-to-use calculating machine to simulate steady state and non-steady-state preparative separations by multiple dual mode counter-current chromatography with semi-continuous loading of feed mixtures.

PubMed

Kostanyan, Artak E; Shishilov, Oleg N

2018-06-01

Multiple dual mode counter-current chromatography (MDM CCC) separation processes with semi-continuous large sample loading consist of a succession of two counter-current steps: with "x" phase (first step) and "y" phase (second step) flow periods. A feed mixture dissolved in the "x" phase is continuously loaded into a CCC machine at the beginning of the first step of each cycle over a constant time with the volumetric rate equal to the flow rate of the pure "x" phase. An easy-to-use calculating machine is developed to simulate the chromatograms and the amounts of solutes eluted with the phases at each cycle for steady-state (the duration of the flow periods of the phases is kept constant for all the cycles) and non-steady-state (with variable duration of alternating phase elution steps) separations. Using the calculating machine, the separation of mixtures containing up to five components can be simulated and designed. Examples of the application of the calculating machine for the simulation of MDM CCC processes are discussed. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Use of Solid Phase Extraction in the Biochemistry Laboratory to Separate Different Lipids

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Flurkey, William H.

2005-01-01

Solid-phase extraction (SPE) was used to demonstrate how various lipids and lipid classes could be separated in a biochemistry laboratory setting. Three different SPE methods were chosen on their ability to separate a lipid mixture, consisting of a combination of a either a fatty acid, a triacylglycerol, a mono- or diacylglycerol, phospholipid,…

The ADvanced SEParation (ADSEP)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1998-01-01

The ADvanced SEParation (ADSEP) commercial payload is making use of major advances in separation technology: The Phase Partitioning Experiment (PPE); the Micorencapsulation experiment; and the Hemoglobin Separation Experiment (HSE). Using ADSEP, commercial researchers will attempt to determine the partition coefficients for model particles in a two-phase system. With this information, researchers can develop a higher resolution, more effective cell isolation procedure that can be used for many different types of research and for improved health care. The advanced separation technology is already being made available for use in ground-based laboratories.

Aqueous-Based Fabrication of Low-VOC Nanostructured Block Copolymer Films as Potential Marine Antifouling Coatings.

PubMed

Kim, Kris S; Gunari, Nikhil; MacNeil, Drew; Finlay, John; Callow, Maureen; Callow, James; Walker, Gilbert C

2016-08-10

The ability to fabricate nanostructured films by exploiting the phenomenon of microphase separation has made block copolymers an invaluable tool for a wide array of coating applications. Standard approaches to engineering nanodomains commonly involve the application of organic solvents, either through dissolution or annealing protocols, resulting in the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In this paper, an aqueous-based method of fabricating low-VOC nanostructured block copolymer films is presented. The reported procedure allows for the phase transfer of water insoluble triblock copolymer, poly(styrene-block-2 vinylpyridine-block-ethylene oxide) (PS-b-P2VP-b-PEO), from a water immiscible phase to an aqueous environment with the assistance of a diblock copolymeric phase transfer agent, poly(styrene-block-ethylene oxide) (PS-b-PEO). Phase transfer into the aqueous phase results in self-assembly of PS-b-P2VP-b-PEO into core-shell-corona micelles, which are characterized by dynamic light scattering techniques. The films that result from coating the micellar solution onto Si/SiO2 surfaces exhibit nanoscale features that disrupt the ability of a model foulant, a zoospore of Ulva linza, to settle. The multilayered architecture consists of a pH-responsive P2VP-"shell" which can be stimulated to control the size of these features. The ability of these nanostructured thin films to resist protein adsorption and serve as potential marine antifouling coatings is supported through atomic force microscopy (AFM) and analysis of the settlement of Ulva linza zoospore. Field trials of the surfaces in a natural environment show the inhibition of macrofoulants for 1 month.

Chromatographic behavior of small organic compounds in low-temperature high-performance liquid chromatography using liquid carbon dioxide as the mobile phase.

PubMed

Motono, Tomohiro; Nagai, Takashi; Kitagawa, Shinya; Ohtani, Hajime

2015-07-01

Low-temperature high-performance liquid chromatography, in which a loop injector, column, and detection cell were refrigerated at -35ºC, using liquid carbon dioxide as the mobile phase was developed. Small organic compounds (polyaromatic hydrocarbons, alkylbenzenes, and quinones) were separated by low-temperature high-performance liquid chromatography at temperatures from -35 to -5ºC. The combination of liquid carbon dioxide mobile phase with an octadecyl-silica (C18 ) column provided reversed phase mode separation, and a bare silica-gel column resulted in normal phase mode separation. In both the cases, nonlinear behavior at approximately -15ºC was found in the relationship between the temperature and the retention factors of the analytes (van't Hoff plots). In contrast to general trends in high-performance liquid chromatography, the decrease in temperature enhanced the separation efficiency of both the columns. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Dynamical mean-field theory and weakly non-linear analysis for the phase separation of active Brownian particles

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Speck, Thomas; Menzel, Andreas M.; Bialké, Julian

2015-06-14

Recently, we have derived an effective Cahn-Hilliard equation for the phase separation dynamics of active Brownian particles by performing a weakly non-linear analysis of the effective hydrodynamic equations for density and polarization [Speck et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 112, 218304 (2014)]. Here, we develop and explore this strategy in more detail and show explicitly how to get to such a large-scale, mean-field description starting from the microscopic dynamics. The effective free energy emerging from this approach has the form of a conventional Ginzburg-Landau function. On the coarsest scale, our results thus agree with the mapping of active phase separation ontomore » that of passive fluids with attractive interactions through a global effective free energy (motility-induced phase transition). Particular attention is paid to the square-gradient term necessary for the phase separation kinetics. We finally discuss results from numerical simulations corroborating the analytical results.« less

Evaluation of comprehensive multidimensional separations using reversed-phase, reversed-phase liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry for shotgun proteomics.

PubMed

Nakamura, Tatsuji; Kuromitsu, Junro; Oda, Yoshiya

2008-03-01

Two-dimensional liquid-chromatographic (LC) separation followed by mass spectrometric (MS) analysis was examined for the identification of peptides in complex mixtures as an alternative to widely used two-dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by MS analysis for use in proteomics. The present method involves the off-line coupling of a narrow-bore, polymer-based, reversed-phase column using an acetonitrile gradient in an alkaline mobile phase in the first dimension with octadecylsilanized silica (ODS)-based nano-LC/MS in the second dimension. After the first separation, successive fractions were acidified and dried off-line, then loaded on the second dimension column. Both columns separate peptides according to hydrophobicity under different pH conditions, but more peptides were identified than with the conventional technique for shotgun proteomics, that is, the combination of a strong cation exchange column with an ODS column, and the system was robust because no salts were included in the mobile phases. The suitability of the method for proteomics measurements was evaluated.

Demulsification of water/oil/solid emulsions by hollow-fiber membranes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tirmizi, N.P.; Raghuraman, B.; Wiencek, J.

1996-05-01

The demulsification techniques investigated use preferential surface wetting to allow separation of oil and water phases in ultrafiltration and microfiltration membranes. A hydrophobic membrane allows the permeation of an oil phase at almost zero pressure and retains the water phase, even though the molecular weight of the water molecule (18) is much smaller than that of the oil molecule (198 for tetradecane, used in this study). Hydrophobic membranes having pore sizes from 0.02 to 0.2 {micro}m were tested for demulsification of water-in-oil emulsions and water/oil/solid mixtures. The dispersed (aqueous)-phase drop sizes ranged from 1 to 5 {micro}m. High separation rates,more » as well as good permeate quality, were obtained with microfiltration membranes. Water content of permeating oil was 32--830 ppm depending on operating conditions and interfacial properties. For emulsions with high surfactant content, simultaneous operation of a hydrophobic and hydrophilic membrane, or simultaneous membrane separation with electric demulsification was more efficient in obtaining complete phase separation.« less

Segregation in like-charged polyelectrolyte-surfactant mixtures can be precisely tuned via manipulation of the surfactant mass ratio.

PubMed

Wills, Peter W; Lopez, Sonia G; Burr, Jocelyn; Taboada, Pablo; Yeates, Stephen G

2013-04-09

In this study, we consider segregative phase separation in aqueous mixtures of quaternary ammonium surfactants didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDQ) and alkyl (C12, 70%; C14 30%) dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (BAC) upon the addition of poly(diallyldimethylammonium) chloride (pDADMAC) as a function of both concentration and molecular weight. The nature of the surfactant type is dominant in determining the concentration at which separation into an upper essentially surfactant-rich phase and lower polyelectrolyte-rich phase is observed. However, for high-molecular-weight pDADMAC there is a clear indication of an additional depletion flocculation effect. When the BAC/DDQ ratio is tuned, the segregative phase separation point can be precisely controlled. We propose a phase separation mechanism for like-charged quaternary ammonium polyelectrolyte/surfactant/water mixtures induced by a reduction in the ionic atmosphere around the surfactant headgroup and possible ion pair formation. An additional polyelectrolyte-induced depletion flocculation effect was also observed.

Iptycene-based stationary phase with three-dimensional aromatic structure for highly selective separation of H-bonding analytes and aromatic isomers.

PubMed

Yang, Xiaohong; Han, Ying; Qi, Meiling; Chen, Chuanfeng

2016-05-06

Unique structures and molecular recognition ability endow iptycene derivatives with great potential as stationary phases in chromatography, which, however, has not been explored yet. Herein, we report the first example of utilizing a pentiptycene quinone (PQ) for gas chromatographic (GC) separations. Remarkably, the statically coated capillary column with the stationary phase achieved extremely high column efficiency of 4800 plates/m. It exhibited preferential retention and high resolving capability for H-bonding and aromatic analytes and positional isomers, showing advantages over the ordinary polysiloxane phase. Moreover, the fabricated iptycene column showed excellent separation repeatability with RSD values of 0.02-0.06% for intra-day, 0.20-0.35% for inter-day and 3.1-5.5% for between-column, respectively. In conclusion, iptycene derivatives as a new class of stationary phases show promising future for their use in GC separations. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

De-vitrification of nanoscale phase-separated amorphous thin films in the immiscible copper-niobium system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Puthucode, A.; Devaraj, A.; Nag, S.; Bose, S.; Ayyub, P.; Kaufman, M. J.; Banerjee, R.

2014-05-01

Copper and niobium are mutually immiscible in the solid state and exhibit a large positive enthalpy of mixing in the liquid state. Using vapour quenching via magnetron co-sputter deposition, far-from equilibrium amorphous Cu-Nb films have been deposited which exhibit a nanoscale phase separation. Annealing these amorphous films at low temperatures (~200 °C) initiates crystallization via the nucleation and growth of primary nanocrystals of a face-centred cubic Cu-rich phase separated by the amorphous matrix. Interestingly, subsequent annealing at a higher temperature (>300 °C) leads to the polymorphic nucleation and growth of large spherulitic grains of a body-centred cubic Nb-rich phase within the retained amorphous matrix of the partially crystallized film. This sequential two-stage crystallization process has been investigated in detail by combining transmission electron microscopy [TEM] (including high-resolution TEM) and atom probe tomography studies. These results provide new insights into the crystallization behaviour of such unusual far-from equilibrium phase-separated metallic glasses in immiscible systems.

Fuel

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Simon, D.L.

1977-07-19

A process is described for making a fuel by combining turpentine, alcohol and blending agent and reducing the temperature of a batch to form two separate phases of differing densities, both of which are separately useable as fuels for internal combustion engines. The proportions of combustion favor the denser phase. However, under certain conditions, the less dense phase may be desired. Either phase may also be combined with gasoline to enhance the performance of the gasoline.

Discussion of Priorities

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2003-01-01

The Microgravity Science Division identifies four priority ratings for microgravity research and technology issues: 1) Critical; 2) Severely Limiting; 3) Enhancements; 4) Communication. Reduced gravity instabilities are critical, while severely limiting issues include phase separation, phase change, and flow through components. Enhancements are listed for passive phase separation and phase change. This viewgraph presentation also classifies microgravity issues as spaceflight, ground-based, or other for the time periods 2003-2008, 2009-2015, and beyond.

Design of Phosphonium-Type Zwitterion as an Additive to Improve Saturated Water Content of Phase-Separated Ionic Liquid from Aqueous Phase toward Reversible Extraction of Proteins

PubMed Central

Ito, Yoritsugu; Kohno, Yuki; Nakamura, Nobuhumi; Ohno, Hiroyuki

2013-01-01

We designed phosphonium-type zwitterion (ZI) to control the saturated water content of separated ionic liquid (IL) phase in the hydrophobic IL/water biphasic systems. The saturated water content of separated IL phase, 1-butyl-3-methyimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide, was considerably improved from 0.4 wt% to 62.8 wt% by adding N,N,N-tripentyl-4-sulfonyl-1-butanephosphonium-type ZI (P555C4S). In addition, the maximum water content decreased from 62.8 wt% to 34.1 wt% by increasing KH2PO4/K2HPO4 salt content in upper aqueous phosphate buffer phase. Horse heart cytochrome c (cyt.c) was dissolved selectively in IL phase by improving the water content of IL phase, and spectroscopic analysis revealed that the dissolved cyt.c retained its higher ordered structure. Furthermore, cyt. c dissolved in IL phase was re-extracted again from IL phase to aqueous phase by increasing the concentration of inorganic salts of the buffer solution. PMID:24013379

Synthetic oligonucleotide separations by mixed-mode reversed-phase/weak anion-exchange liquid chromatography.

PubMed

Zimmermann, Aleksandra; Greco, Roberto; Walker, Isabel; Horak, Jeannie; Cavazzini, Alberto; Lämmerhofer, Michael

2014-08-08

Synthetic oligonucleotides gain increasing importance in new therapeutic concepts and as probes in biological sciences. If pharmaceutical-grade purities are required, chromatographic purification using ion-pair reversed-phase chromatography is commonly carried out. However, separation selectivity for structurally closely related impurities is often insufficient, especially at high sample loads. In this study, a "mixed-mode" reversed-phase/weak anion exchanger stationary phase has been investigated as an alternative tool for chromatographic separation of synthetic oligonucleotides with minor sequence variations. The employed mixed-mode phase shows great flexibility in method development. It has been run in various gradient elution modes, viz. one, two or three parameter (mixed) gradients (altering buffer pH, buffer concentration, and organic modifier) to find optimal elution conditions and gain further insight into retention mechanisms. Compared to ion-pair reversed-phase and mere anion-exchange separation, enhanced selectivities were observed with the mixed-mode phase for 20-23 nucleotide (nt) long oligonucleotides with similar sequences. Oligonucleotides differing by 1, 2 or 3 nucleotides in length could be readily resolved and separation factors for single nucleotide replacements declined in the order Cytosine (C)/Guanine (G)>Adenine (A)/Guanine∼Guanine/Thymine (T)>Adenine/Cytosine∼Cytosine/Thymine>Adenine/Thymine. Selectivities were larger when the modification was at the 3' terminal-end, declined when it was in the middle of the sequence and was smallest when it was located at the 5' terminus. Due to the lower surface area of the 200Å pore size mixed-mode stationary phase compared to the corresponding 100Å material, lower retention times with equal selectivities under milder elution conditions were achievable. Considering high sample loading capacities of the mixed-mode anion-exchanger phase, it should have great potential for chromatographic oligonucleotide separation and purification. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Spatially modulated structural colour in bird feathers.

PubMed

Parnell, Andrew J; Washington, Adam L; Mykhaylyk, Oleksandr O; Hill, Christopher J; Bianco, Antonino; Burg, Stephanie L; Dennison, Andrew J C; Snape, Mary; Cadby, Ashley J; Smith, Andrew; Prevost, Sylvain; Whittaker, David M; Jones, Richard A L; Fairclough, J Patrick A; Parker, Andrew R

2015-12-21

Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius) feathers display periodic variations in the reflected colour from white through light blue, dark blue and black. We find the structures responsible for the colour are continuous in their size and spatially controlled by the degree of spinodal phase separation in the corresponding region of the feather barb. Blue structures have a well-defined broadband ultra-violet (UV) to blue wavelength distribution; the corresponding nanostructure has characteristic spinodal morphology with a lengthscale of order 150 nm. White regions have a larger 200 nm nanostructure, consistent with a spinodal process that has coarsened further, yielding broader wavelength white reflectance. Our analysis shows that nanostructure in single bird feather barbs can be varied continuously by controlling the time the keratin network is allowed to phase separate before mobility in the system is arrested. Dynamic scaling analysis of the single barb scattering data implies that the phase separation arrest mechanism is rapid and also distinct from the spinodal phase separation mechanism i.e. it is not gelation or intermolecular re-association. Any growing lengthscale using this spinodal phase separation approach must first traverse the UV and blue wavelength regions, growing the structure by coarsening, resulting in a broad distribution of domain sizes.

Sodium triflate decreases interaggregate repulsion and induces phase separation in cationic micelles.

PubMed

Lima, Filipe S; Cuccovia, Iolanda M; Buchner, Richard; Antunes, Filipe E; Lindman, Björn; Miguel, Maria G; Horinek, Dominik; Chaimovich, Hernan

2015-03-10

Dodecyltrimethylammonium triflate (DTATf) micelles possess lower degree of counterion dissociation (α), lower hydration, and higher packing of monomers than other micelles of similar structure. Addition of sodium triflate ([NaTf] > 0.05 M) to DTATf solutions promotes phase separation. This phenomenon is commonly observed in oppositely charged surfactant mixtures, but it is rare for ionic surfactants and relatively simple counterions. While the properties of DTATf have already been reported, the driving forces for the observed phase separation with added salt remain unclear. Thus, we propose an interpretation for the observed phase separation in cationic surfactant solutions. Addition of up to 0.03 M NaTf to micellar DTATf solutions led to a limited increase of the aggregation number, to interface dehydration, and to a progressive decrease in α. The viscosity of DTATf solutions of higher concentration ([DTATf] ≥ 0.06 M) reached a maximum with increasing [NaTf], though the aggregation number slightly increased, and no shape change occurred. We hypothesize that this maximum results from a decrease in interaggregate repulsion, as a consequence of increased ion binding. This reduction in micellar repulsion without simultaneous infinite micellar growth is, probably, the major driving force for phase separation at higher [NaTf].

Hybrid and Mixed Matrix Membranes for Separations from Fermentations

PubMed Central

Davey, Christopher John; Leak, David; Patterson, Darrell Alec

2016-01-01

Fermentations provide an alternative to fossil fuels for accessing a number of biofuel and chemical products from a variety of renewable and waste substrates. The recovery of these dilute fermentation products from the broth, however, can be incredibly energy intensive as a distillation process is generally involved and creates a barrier to commercialization. Membrane processes can provide a low energy aid/alternative for recovering these dilute fermentation products and reduce production costs. For these types of separations many current polymeric and inorganic membranes suffer from poor selectivity and high cost respectively. This paper reviews work in the production of novel mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs) for fermentative separations and those applicable to these separations. These membranes combine a trade-off of low-cost and processability of polymer membranes with the high selectivity of inorganic membranes. Work within the fields of nanofiltration, reverse osmosis and pervaporation has been discussed. The review shows that MMMs are currently providing some of the most high-performing membranes for these separations, with three areas for improvement identified: Further characterization and optimization of inorganic phase(s), Greater understanding of the compatibility between the polymer and inorganic phase(s), Improved methods for homogeneously dispersing the inorganic phase. PMID:26938567

Spatially modulated structural colour in bird feathers

PubMed Central

Parnell, Andrew J.; Washington, Adam L.; Mykhaylyk, Oleksandr O.; Hill, Christopher J.; Bianco, Antonino; Burg, Stephanie L.; Dennison, Andrew J. C.; Snape, Mary; Cadby, Ashley J.; Smith, Andrew; Prevost, Sylvain; Whittaker, David M.; Jones, Richard A. L.; Fairclough, J. Patrick. A.; Parker, Andrew R.

2015-01-01

Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius) feathers display periodic variations in the reflected colour from white through light blue, dark blue and black. We find the structures responsible for the colour are continuous in their size and spatially controlled by the degree of spinodal phase separation in the corresponding region of the feather barb. Blue structures have a well-defined broadband ultra-violet (UV) to blue wavelength distribution; the corresponding nanostructure has characteristic spinodal morphology with a lengthscale of order 150 nm. White regions have a larger 200 nm nanostructure, consistent with a spinodal process that has coarsened further, yielding broader wavelength white reflectance. Our analysis shows that nanostructure in single bird feather barbs can be varied continuously by controlling the time the keratin network is allowed to phase separate before mobility in the system is arrested. Dynamic scaling analysis of the single barb scattering data implies that the phase separation arrest mechanism is rapid and also distinct from the spinodal phase separation mechanism i.e. it is not gelation or intermolecular re-association. Any growing lengthscale using this spinodal phase separation approach must first traverse the UV and blue wavelength regions, growing the structure by coarsening, resulting in a broad distribution of domain sizes. PMID:26686280

On the effect of basic and acidic additives on the separation of the enantiomers of some basic drugs with polysaccharide-based chiral selectors and polar organic mobile phases.

PubMed

Mosiashvili, L; Chankvetadze, L; Farkas, T; Chankvetadze, B

2013-11-22

This article reports the systematic study of the effect of basic and acidic additives on HPLC separation of enantiomers of some basic chiral drugs on polysaccharide-based chiral columns under polar organic mobile-phase conditions. In contrary to generally accepted opinion that the basic additives improve the separation of enantiomers of basic compounds, the multiple scenarios were observed including the increase, decrease, disappearance and appearance of separation, as well as the reversal of the enantiomer elution order of studied basic compounds induced by the acidic additives. These effects were observed on most of the studied 6 chiral columns in 2-propanol and acetonitrile as mobile phases and diethylamine as a basic additive. As acidic additives formic acid was used systematically and acetic acid and trifluoroacetic acid were applied for comparative purposes. This study illustrates that the minor acidic additives to the mobile phase can be used as for the adjustment of separation selectivity and the enantiomer elution order of basic compounds, as well as for study of chiral recognition mechanisms with polysaccharide-based chiral stationary phases. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Intrinsic crystal phase separation in the antiferromagnetic superconductor Rb(y)Fe(2-x)Se2: a diffraction study.

PubMed

Yu Pomjakushin, V; Krzton-Maziopa, A; Pomjakushina, E V; Conder, K; Chernyshov, D; Svitlyk, V; Bosak, A

2012-10-31

The crystal and magnetic structures of the superconducting iron-based chalcogenides Rb(y)Fe(2-x)Se(2) have been studied by means of single-crystal synchrotron x-ray and high-resolution neutron powder diffraction in the temperature range 2-570 K. The ground state of the crystal is an intrinsically phase-separated state with two distinct-by-symmetry phases. The main phase has the iron vacancy ordered √5 × √5 superstructure (I4/m space group) with AFM ordered Fe spins. The minority phase does not have √5 × √5-type of ordering and has a smaller in-plane lattice constant a and larger tetragonal c-axis and can be well described by assuming the parent average vacancy disordered structure (I4/mmm space group) with the refined stoichiometry Rb(0.60(5))(Fe(1.10(5))Se)(2). The minority phase amounts to 8-10% mass fraction. The unit cell volume of the minority phase is 3.2% smaller than the one of the main phase at T = 2 K and has quite different temperature dependence. The minority phase merges with the main vacancy ordered phase on heating above the phase separation temperature T(P) = 475 K. The spatial dimensions of the phase domains strongly increase above T(P) from 1000 to >2500 Å due to the integration of the regions of the main phase that were separated by the second phase at low temperatures. Additional annealing of the crystals at a temperature T = 488 K, close to T(P), for a long time drastically reduces the amount of the minority phase.

Multiple dual mode counter-current chromatography with variable duration of alternating phase elution steps.

PubMed

Kostanyan, Artak E; Erastov, Andrey A; Shishilov, Oleg N

2014-06-20

The multiple dual mode (MDM) counter-current chromatography separation processes consist of a succession of two isocratic counter-current steps and are characterized by the shuttle (forward and back) transport of the sample in chromatographic columns. In this paper, the improved MDM method based on variable duration of alternating phase elution steps has been developed and validated. The MDM separation processes with variable duration of phase elution steps are analyzed. Basing on the cell model, analytical solutions are developed for impulse and non-impulse sample loading at the beginning of the column. Using the analytical solutions, a calculation program is presented to facilitate the simulation of MDM with variable duration of phase elution steps, which can be used to select optimal process conditions for the separation of a given feed mixture. Two options of the MDM separation are analyzed: 1 - with one-step solute elution: the separation is conducted so, that the sample is transferred forward and back with upper and lower phases inside the column until the desired separation of the components is reached, and then each individual component elutes entirely within one step; 2 - with multi-step solute elution, when the fractions of individual components are collected in over several steps. It is demonstrated that proper selection of the duration of individual cycles (phase flow times) can greatly increase the separation efficiency of CCC columns. Experiments were carried out using model mixtures of compounds from the GUESSmix with solvent systems hexane/ethyl acetate/methanol/water. The experimental results are compared to the predictions of the theory. A good agreement between theory and experiment has been demonstrated. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Utilization of deep eutectic solvents as novel mobile phase additives for improving the separation of bioactive quaternary alkaloids.

PubMed

Tan, Ting; Zhang, Mingliang; Wan, Yiqun; Qiu, Hongdeng

2016-01-01

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) were used as novel mobile phase additives to improve chromatographic separation of four quaternary alkaloids including coptisine chloride, sanguinarine, berberine chloride and chelerythrine on a C18 column. DESs as a new class of ionic liquids are renewably sourced, environmentally benign, low cost and easy to prepare. Seven DESs were obtained by mixing different hydrogen acceptors and hydrogen-bond donors. The effects of organic solvents, the concentration of DESs, the types of DESs and the pH values of the buffer solution on the separation of the analytes were investigated. The composition of acetonitrile and 1.0% deep eutectic solvents aqueous solution (pH 3.3, adjusted with hydrochloric acid) in a 32:68 (v/v) ratio was used as optimized mobile phase, with which four quaternary alkaloids were well separated. When a small amount of DESs was added in the mobile phase for the separation of alkaloids on the C18 column, noticeable improvements were distinctly observed such as decreasing peak tailing and improving resolution. The separation mechanism mediated by DESs as mobile phase additives can be attributed to combined effect of both hydrogen acceptors and hydrogen-bond donors. For example, choline chloride can effectively cover the residual silanols on silica surface and ethylene glycol can reduce the retention time of analytes. The proposed method has been applied to determine BerbC in Lanqin Chinese herbal oral solution and BerbC tablet. Utilization of DESs in mobile phase can efficiently improve separation and selectivity of analytes from complex samples. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A green separation strategy for neodymium (III) from cobalt (II) and nickel (II) using an ionic liquid-based aqueous two-phase system.

PubMed

Chen, Yuehua; Wang, Huiyong; Pei, Yuanchao; Wang, Jianji

2018-05-15

It is significant to develop sustainable strategies for the selective separation of rare earth from transition metals from fundamental and practical viewpoint. In this work, an environmentally friendly solvent extraction approach has been developed to selectively separate neodymium (III) from cobalt (II) and nickel (II) by using an ionic liquid-based aqueous two phase system (IL-ATPS). For this purpose, a hydrophilic ionic liquid (IL) tetrabutylphosphonate nitrate ([P 4444 ][NO 3 ]) was prepared and used for the formation of an ATPS with NaNO 3 . Binodal curves of the ATPSs have been determined for the design of extraction process. The extraction parameters such as contact time, aqueous phase pH, content of phase-formation components of NaNO 3 and the ionic liquid have been investigated systematically. It is shown that under optimal conditions, the extraction efficiency of neodymium (III) is as high as 99.7%, and neodymium (III) can be selectively separated from cobalt (II) and nickel (II) with a separation factor of 10 3 . After extraction, neodymium (III) can be stripped from the IL-rich phase by using dilute aqueous sodium oxalate, and the ILs can be quantitatively recovered and reused in the next extraction process. Since [P 4444 ][NO 3 ] works as one of the components of the ATPS and the extractant for the neodymium, no organic diluent, extra etractant and fluorinated ILs are used in the separation process. Thus, the strategy described here shows potential in green separation of neodymium from cobalt and nickel by using simple IL-based aqueous two-phase system. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Copolymer-grafted silica phase from a cation-anion monomer pair for enhanced separation in reversed-phase liquid chromatography.

PubMed

Mallik, Abul K; Qiu, Hongdeng; Takafuji, Makoto; Ihara, Hirotaka

2014-05-01

This work reports a new imidazolium and L-alanine derived copolymer-grafted silica stationary phase for ready separation of complex isomers using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). For this purpose, 1-allyl-3-octadecylimidazolium bromide ([AyImC18]Br) and N-acryloyl-L-alanine sodium salt ([AAL]Na) ionic liquids (IL) monomers were synthesized. Subsequently, the bromide counteranion was exchanged with the 2-(acrylamido)propanoate organic counteranion by reacting the [AyImC18]Br with excess [AAL]Na in water. The obtained IL cation-anion monomer pair was then copolymerized on mercaptopropyl-modified silica (Sil-MPS) via a surface-initiated radical chain-transfer reaction. The selective retention behaviors of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), including some positional isomers, steroids, and nucleobases were investigated using the newly obtained Sil-poly(ImC18-AAL), and octadecyl silylated silica (ODS) was used as the reference column. Interesting results were obtained for the separation of PAHs, steroids, and nucleobases with the new organic phase. The results showed that the Sil-poly(ImC18-AAL) presented multiple noncovalent interactions, including hydrophobic, π-π, carbonyl-π, and ion-dipole interactions for the separation of PAHs and dipolar compounds. Only pure water was sufficient as the mobile phase for the separation of the nucleobases. Ten nucleosides and bases were separated, using only water as the mobile phase, within a very short time using the Sil-poly(ImC18-AAL), which is otherwise difficult to achieve using conventional hydrophobic columns such as ODS. The combination of electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions are important for the effective separation of such basic compounds without the use of any organic additive as the eluent on the Sil-poly(ImC18-AAL) column.

Cleaning and dewatering fine coal

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yoon, Roe-Hoan; Eraydin, Mert K.; Freeland, Chad

Fine coal is cleaned of its mineral matter impurities and dewatered by mixing the aqueous slurry containing both with a hydrophobic liquid, subjecting the mixture to a phase separation. The resulting hydrophobic liquid phase contains coal particles free of surface moisture and droplets of water stabilized by coal particles, while the aqueous phase contains the mineral matter. By separating the entrained water droplets from the coal particles mechanically, a clean coal product of substantially reduced mineral matter and moisture contents is obtained. The spent hydrophobic liquid is separated from the clean coal product and recycled. The process can also bemore » used to separate one type of hydrophilic particles from another by selectively hydrophobizing one.« less

Specific features of the cathodoluminescence spectra of AlInGaN QWs, caused by the influence of phase separation and internal electric fields

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kuznetsova, Ya. V., E-mail: yana@mail.ioffe.ru; Jmerik, V. N.; Nechaev, D. V.

2016-07-15

The specific features of the cathodoluminescence (CL) spectra in AlInGaN heterostructures, caused by the influence of phase separation and internal electric fields, observed at varied CL excitation density, are studied. It is shown that the evolution of the CL spectrum and the variation in the spectral position of emission lines of nanoscale layers with current density in the primary electron beam makes it possible to identify the occurrence of phase separation in the layer and, in the absence of this separation, to estimate the electric-field strength in the active region of the structure.

Evaluation of Inorganic/Organic Separators

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Donnel, C. P., III

1976-01-01

Thirty-six (36) experimental 40AH sealed silver-zinc cells were constructed during phase I of this two (2) phase program. These cells were divided into six (6) groups of six (6) cells each. Each group of six (6) cells was evenly divided into two batches of three (3) cells each. Groups 1 through 4 each featured a different inorganic filler material in the slurry used to coat the separator substrate. Groups 5 and 6 featured an alternate method of separator bag construction. With the exception of the various separator materials, the parts and processes used to produce these thirty-six (36) cells were the same as those used to make the HR40-7 cell. The two (2) batches of cells in each cell group differed only in the lots of solutions and other separator slurry components used. Each cell was given two formation charge/discharge cycles prior to being shipped to NASA Lewis Research Center. Phase II of the program consisted of constructing another thirty-six (36) 40AH experimental cells in six (6) groups of six (6) cells each. Each group was distinguished by the type of precoated separator material used to fabricate separator bags. A new method of separator bag construction was used in this phase of the program. These cells were given two (2) formation cycles and shipped to NASA Lewis Research Center.

Instrumentation status of the low-b magnet systems at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Darve, C.; /Fermilab; Balle, C.

2011-05-01

The low-{beta} magnet systems are located in the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) insertion regions around the four interaction points. They are the key elements in the beams focusing/defocusing process allowing proton collisions at luminosity up to 10{sup 34}cm{sup -2}s{sup -1}. Those systems are a contribution of the US-LHC Accelerator project. The systems are mainly composed of the quadrupole magnets (triplets), the separation dipoles and their respective electrical feed-boxes (DFBX). The low-{beta} magnet systems operate in an environment of extreme radiation, high gradient magnetic field and high heat load to the cryogenic system due to the beam dynamic effect. Due tomore » the severe environment, the robustness of the diagnostics is primordial for the operation of the triplets. The hardware commissioning phase of the LHC was completed in February 2010. In the sake of a safer and more user-friendly operation, several consolidations and instrumentation modifications were implemented during this commissioning phase. This paper presents the instrumentation used to optimize the engineering process and operation of the final focusing/defocusing quadrupole magnets for the first years of operation.« less

Identifying Effective Design Approaches to Allocate Genotypes in Two-Phase Designs: A Case Study in Pelargonium zonale

PubMed Central

Molenaar, Heike; Boehm, Robert; Piepho, Hans-Peter

2018-01-01

Robust phenotypic data allow adequate statistical analysis and are crucial for any breeding purpose. Such data is obtained from experiments laid out to best control local variation. Additionally, experiments frequently involve two phases, each contributing environmental sources of variation. For example, in a former experiment we conducted to evaluate production related traits in Pelargonium zonale, there were two consecutive phases, each performed in a different greenhouse. Phase one involved the propagation of the breeding strains to obtain the stem cutting count, and phase two involved the assessment of root formation. The evaluation of the former study raised questions regarding options for improving the experimental layout: (i) Is there a disadvantage to using exactly the same design in both phases? (ii) Instead of generating a separate layout for each phase, can the design be optimized across both phases, such that the mean variance of a pair-wise treatment difference (MVD) can be decreased? To answer these questions, alternative approaches were explored to generate two-phase designs either in phase-wise order (Option 1) or across phases (Option 2). In Option 1 we considered the scenarios (i) using in both phases the same experimental design and (ii) randomizing each phase separately. In Option 2, we considered the scenarios (iii) generating a single design with eight replicates and splitting these among the two phases, (iv) separating the block structure across phases by dummy coding, and (v) design generation with optimal alignment of block units in the two phases. In both options, we considered the same or different block structures in each phase. The designs were evaluated by the MVD obtained by the intra-block analysis and the joint inter-block–intra-block analysis. The smallest MVD was most frequently obtained for designs generated across phases rather than for each phase separately, in particular when both phases of the design were separated with a single pseudo-level. The joint optimization ensured that treatment concurrences were equally balanced across pairs, one of the prerequisites for an efficient design. The proposed alternative approaches can be implemented with any model-based design packages with facilities to formulate linear models for treatment and block structures. PMID:29354145

Simulations of irradiated-enhanced segregation and phase separation in Fe-Cu-Mn alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Boyan; Hu, Shenyang; Li, Chengliang; Li, Qiulin; Chen, Jun; Shu, Guogang; Henager, Chuck, Jr.; Weng, Yuqing; Xu, Ben; Liu, Wei

2017-09-01

For reactor pressure vessel steels, the addition of Cu, Mn, and Ni has a positive effect on their mechanical, corrosion and radiation resistance properties. However, experiments show that radiation-enhanced segregation and/or phase separation is one of the important material property degradation processes. In this work, we develop a model integrating rate theory and phase-field approaches to investigate the effect of irradiation on solute segregation and phase separation. The rate theory is used to describe the accumulation and clustering of radiation defects, while the phase-field approach describes the effect of radiation defects on phase stability and microstructure evolution. The Fe-Cu-Mn ternary alloy is taken as a model system. The free energies used in the phase-field model are from CALPHAD. Spatial dependent radiation damage from atomistic simulations is introduced into the simulation cell for a given radiation dose rate. The radiation effect on segregation and phase separation is taken into account through the defect concentration dependence of solute mobility. Using the model, the effect of temperature and radiation rates on Cu and Mn segregation and Cu-rich phase nucleation were systematically investigated. The segregation and nucleation mechanisms were analyzed. The simulations demonstrate that the nucleus of Cu precipitates has a core-shell composition profile, i.e. Cu-rich at the center and Mn-rich at the interface, in good agreement with theoretical calculations as well as experimental observations.

Nano-phase separation and structural ordering in silica-rich mixed network former glasses.

PubMed

Liu, Hao; Youngman, Randall E; Kapoor, Saurabh; Jensen, Lars R; Smedskjaer, Morten M; Yue, Yuanzheng

2018-06-13

We investigate the structure, phase separation, glass transition, and crystallization in a mixed network former glass series, i.e., B2O3-Al2O3-SiO2-P2O5 glasses with varying SiO2/B2O3 molar ratio. All the studied glasses exhibit two separate glassy phases: droplet phase (G1) with the size of 50-100 nm and matrix phase (G2), corresponding to a lower calorimetric glass transition temperature (Tg1) and a higher one (Tg2), respectively. Both Tg values decrease linearly with the substitution of B2O3 for SiO2, but the magnitude of the decrease is larger for Tg1. Based on nuclear magnetic resonance and Raman spectroscopy results, we infer that the G1 phase is rich in boroxol rings, while the G2 phase mainly involves the B-O-Si network. Both phases contain BPO4- and AlPO4-like units. Ordered domains occur in G2 upon isothermal and dynamic heating, driven by the structural heterogeneity in the as-prepared glasses. The structural ordering lowers the activation energy of crystal growth, thus promoting partial crystallization of G2. These findings are useful for understanding glass formation and phase separation in mixed network former oxide systems, and for tailoring their properties.

URANIUM DECONTAMINATION WITH RESPECT TO ZIRCONIUM

DOEpatents

Vogler, S.; Beederman, M.

1961-05-01

A process is given for separating uranium values from a nitric acid aqueous solution containing uranyl values, zirconium values and tetravalent plutonium values. The process comprises contacting said solution with a substantially water-immiscible liquid organic solvent containing alkyl phosphate, separating an organic extract phase containing the uranium, zirconium, and tetravalent plutonium values from an aqueous raffinate, contacting said organic extract phase with an aqueous solution 2M to 7M in nitric acid and also containing an oxalate ion-containing substance, and separating a uranium- containing organic raffinate from aqueous zirconium- and plutonium-containing extract phase.

The separation of flavonoids from Pongamia pinnata using combination columns in high-speed counter-current chromatography with a three-phase solvent system.

PubMed

Yin, Hao; Zhang, Si; Long, Lijuan; Yin, Hang; Tian, Xinpeng; Luo, Xiongming; Nan, Haihan; He, Sha

2013-11-08

The mangrove plant Pongamia pinnata (Leguminosae) is well known as a plant pesticide. Previous studies have indicated that the flavonoids are responsible of the biological activities of the plant. A new high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) method for the separation of three flavonoids, karanjin (1), pinnatin (2), and pongaflavone (3), from P. pinnata was developed in the present study. The lower and intermediate phase (LP and IP) of a new three-phase solvent system, n-hexane-acetonitrile-dichloromethane-water, at a volume ratio of 5:5:1:5, were used as the stationary phases, while the upper phase (UP) was used as the mobile phase, and the volume ratio between the stationary phases in the CCC column could be tuned by varying the initial pumped volume ratio of the stationary phases. The CCC columns containing all three phases of the solvent system were considered combination columns. According to the theories of combination column, it is possible to optimize the retention time of the target compounds by varying the volume ratio of the stationary phases in the HSCCC combination columns, as well as the suitable volume ratios of the stationary phases for the separation of the target compounds were predicted from the partition coefficients of the compounds in the three-phase solvent system. Then, three HSCCC separations using the combination columns with initial pumped LP:IP volume ratios of 1:0, 0.9:0.1, and 0.7:0.3 were performed separately based on the prediction. Three target compounds were prepared with high purity when the initial pumped volume ratio of the stationary phases was 0.9:0.1. The baseline separation of compounds 2 and 3 was achieved on the combination column with an initial pumped volume ratio of 0.7:0.3. Furthermore, the three experiments clearly demonstrated that the retentions and resolutions of the target compounds increased with an increasing volume ratio of IP, which is consistent with the prediction for the retention times for the solutes on combination columns. The method proposed here reduces the need for solvent selection compared with the conventional method and may have broad potential applicability in the preparation of natural products. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Structural and hydrodynamic properties of an intrinsically disordered region of a germ cell-specific protein on phase separation

PubMed Central

Brady, Jacob P.; Farber, Patrick J.; Sekhar, Ashok; Lin, Yi-Hsuan; Huang, Rui; Bah, Alaji; Chan, Hue Sun; Forman-Kay, Julie D.; Kay, Lewis E.

2017-01-01

Membrane encapsulation is frequently used by the cell to sequester biomolecules and compartmentalize their function. Cells also concentrate molecules into phase-separated protein or protein/nucleic acid “membraneless organelles” that regulate a host of biochemical processes. Here, we use solution NMR spectroscopy to study phase-separated droplets formed from the intrinsically disordered N-terminal 236 residues of the germ-granule protein Ddx4. We show that the protein within the concentrated phase of phase-separated Ddx4, Ddx4cond, diffuses as a particle of 600-nm hydrodynamic radius dissolved in water. However, NMR spectra reveal sharp resonances with chemical shifts showing Ddx4cond to be intrinsically disordered. Spin relaxation measurements indicate that the backbone amides of Ddx4cond have significant mobility, explaining why high-resolution spectra are observed, but motion is reduced compared with an equivalently concentrated nonphase-separating control. Observation of a network of interchain interactions, as established by NOE spectroscopy, shows the importance of Phe and Arg interactions in driving the phase separation of Ddx4, while the salt dependence of both low- and high-concentration regions of phase diagrams establishes an important role for electrostatic interactions. The diffusion of a series of small probes and the compact but disordered 4E binding protein 2 (4E-BP2) protein in Ddx4cond are explained by an excluded volume effect, similar to that found for globular protein solvents. No changes in structural propensities of 4E-BP2 dissolved in Ddx4cond are observed, while changes to DNA and RNA molecules have been reported, highlighting the diverse roles that proteinaceous solvents play in dictating the properties of dissolved solutes. PMID:28894006

Electronic Phase Separation in Iron Selenide (Li,Fe)OHFeSe Superconductor System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mao, Yiyuan; Li, Jun; Huan, Yulong; Yuan, Jie; Li, Zi-an; Chai, Ke; Ma, Mingwei; Ni, Shunli; Tian, Jinpeng; Liu, Shaobo; Zhou, Huaxue; Zhou, Fang; Li, Jianqi; Zhang, Guangming; Jin, Kui; Dong, Xiaoli; Zhao, Zhongxian

2018-05-01

The phenomenon of phase separation into antiferromagnetic (AFM) and superconducting (SC) or normal-state regions has great implication for the origin of high-temperature (high-Tc) superconductivity. However, the occurrence of an intrinsic antiferromagnetism above the Tc of (Li, Fe)OHFeSe superconductor is questioned. Here we report a systematic study on a series of (Li, Fe)OHFeSe single crystal samples with Tc up to ~41 K. We observe an evident drop in the static magnetization at Tafm ~125 K, in some of the SC (Tc < ~38 K, cell parameter c < ~9.27 {\\AA}) and non-SC samples. We verify that this AFM signal is intrinsic to (Li, Fe)OHFeSe. Thus, our observations indicate mesoscopic-to-macroscopic coexistence of an AFM state with the normal (below Tafm) or SC (below Tc) state in (Li, Fe)OHFeSe. We explain such coexistence by electronic phase separation, similar to that in high-Tc cuprates and iron arsenides. However, such an AFM signal can be absent in some other samples of (Li, Fe)OHFeSe, particularly it is never observed in the SC samples of Tc > ~38 K, owing to a spatial scale of the phase separation too small for the macroscopic magnetic probe. For this case, we propose a microscopic electronic phase separation. It is suggested that the microscopic static phase separation reaches vanishing point in high-Tc (Li, Fe)OHFeSe, by the occurrence of two-dimensional AFM spin fluctuations below nearly the same temperature as Tafm reported previously for a (Li, Fe)OHFeSe (Tc ~42 K) single crystal. A complete phase diagram is thus established. Our study provides key information of the underlying physics for high-Tc superconductivity.

Understanding the mechanism of LCST phase separation of mixed ionic liquids in water by MD simulations.

PubMed

Zhao, Yuling; Wang, Huiyong; Pei, Yuanchao; Liu, Zhiping; Wang, Jianji

2016-08-17

Recently, it has been found experimentally that two different amino acid ionic liquids (ILs) can be mixed to show unique lowest critical solution temperature (LCST) phase separation in water. However, little is known about the mechanism of phase separation in these IL/water mixtures at the molecular level. In this work, five kinds of amino acid ILs were chosen to study the mechanism of LCST-type phase separation by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Toward this end, a series of all-atom MD simulations were carried out on the ternary mixtures consisting of two different ILs and water at different temperatures. The various interaction energies and radial distribution functions (RDFs) were calculated and analyzed for these mixed systems. It was found that for amino acid ILs, the -NH2 or -COOH group of one anion could have a hydrogen bonding interaction with the -COO(-) group of another anion. With the increase of temperature, this kind of hydrogen bonding interaction between anions was strengthened and then the anion-H2O electrostatic interaction was weakened, which led to the LCST-type phase separation of the mixed ILs in water. In addition, a series of MD simulations for [P6668]1[Lys]n[Asp]1-n/H2O systems were also performed to study the effect of the mixing ratio of ILs on phase separation. It was also noted that the experimental critical composition corresponding to the lowest critical solution temperature was well predicted from the total electrostatic interaction energies as a function of mole fraction of [P6668][Lys] in these systems. The conclusions drawn from this study may provide new insight into the LCST-type phase behavior of ILs in water, and motivate further studies on practical applications.

Exploring Liquid Sequential Injection Chromatography to Teach Fundamentals of Separation Methods: A Very Fast Analytical Chemistry Experiment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Penteado, Jose C.; Masini, Jorge Cesar

2011-01-01

Influence of the solvent strength determined by the addition of a mobile-phase organic modifier and pH on chromatographic separation of sorbic acid and vanillin has been investigated by the relatively new technique, liquid sequential injection chromatography (SIC). This technique uses reversed-phase monolithic stationary phase to execute fast…

Separation and characterization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and alkylphenols in coal derived solvents

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hurtubise, R.J.; Allen, T.W.; Hussain, A.

1981-03-29

Dry-column chromatography with an aluminum oxide stationary phase and a n-hexane-ether (19:1) mobile phase was used to separate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) by ring size. Prior to the dry-column chromatography step, the coal derived solvents were added to an acid treated silica gel column and eluted with chloroform. This step removed pyridine-type nitrogen heterocycles. After separation of the individual ring fractions, the fractions were further separated by either thin layer chromatography (TLC) or high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). If TLC was used, then after separation fluorescence profiles of each PAH ring fraction distributed on 30%-acetylated cellulose chromatoplates were obtained withmore » a spectrodensitometer. Measurement of fluorescence peak heights gave an approximate measure of the amount of the 3-, 4-, 5-, and 6- ring PAH. For HPLC separation, the 3- and 4- ring PAH fractions obtained from the dry-column chromatography step were separated with a ..mu..-Bondapak C/sub 18/ column and methanol:water (65:35) mobile phase. The HPLC separated PAH were characterized by chromatographic correlation factors and corrected fluorescence excitation spectra. Alkylphenols were identified in coal recycle solvent sample following separation by HPLC.« less

Capillary Channel Flow (CCF) EU2-02 on the International Space Station (ISS): An Experimental Investigation of Passive Bubble Separations in an Open Capillary Channel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Weislogel, Mark M.; Wollman, Andrew P.; Jenson, Ryan M.; Geile, John T.; Tucker, John F.; Wiles, Brentley M.; Trattner, Andy L.; DeVoe, Claire; Sharp, Lauren M.; Canfield, Peter J.;

Space weather at planet Venus during the forthcoming BepiColombo flybys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McKenna-Lawlor, S.; Jackson, B.; Odstrcil, D.

2018-03-01

The BepiColombo (BC) Mission which will be launched in 2018, will include during its Cruise Phase two flybys of Venus and five Mercury flybys. It will then enter a one Earth year orbit about Mercury (with a possible one-year extension) during which two spacecraft, one provided by ESA (MPO) and one provided by JAXA (MMO), will perform both autonomous and coordinated observations of the Hermean environment at various separations. The measurements will take place during the minimum of solar cycle 24 and the rise of solar cycle 25. At the start of the minimum of solar cycle 23, four major flares, each associated with the production of MeV particle radiation and CME activity occurred. Predictions of the HAFv.2 model of the arrival of particle radiation and a travelling shock at Venus on 6 December 2006 were verified by in-situ measurements made aboard Venus Express (VEX) by the ASPERA 4 instrument. Interplanetary scintillation observations, as well as the ENLIL 3-D MHD model when employed separately or in combination, enable the making of predictions of the solar wind density and speed at various locations in the inner heliosphere. Both methods, which outdate HAFv.2, are utilized in the present paper to predict (retrospectively) the arrival of the flare related, interplanetary propagating shock recorded at Venus on 6 December 2006 aboard VEX with a view to putting in place the facility to make very reliable space weather predictions for BC during both its Cruise Phase and when in the Hermean environment itself. The successful matching of the December 2006 predictions with in-situ signatures recorded aboard Venus Express provide confidence that the predictive methodology to be adopted will be appropriate to provide space weather predictions for BepiColombo during its Venus flybys and throughout the mission.

Separation performance of cucurbit[7]uril in ionic liquid-based sol-gel coating as stationary phase for capillary gas chromatography.

PubMed

Wang, Xiaogang; Qi, Meiling; Fu, Ruonong

2014-12-05

Here we report the separation performance of a new stationary phase of cucurbit[7]uril (CB7) incorporated into an ionic liquid-based sol-gel coating (CB7-SG) for capillary gas chromatography (GC). The CB7-SG stationary phase showed an average polarity of 455, suggesting its polar nature. Abraham system constants revealed that its major interactions with analytes include H-bond basicity (a), dipole-dipole (s) and dispersive (l) interactions. The CB7-SG stationary phase achieved baseline separation for a wide range of analytes with symmetrical peak shapes and showed advantages over the conventional polar stationary phase that failed to resolve some critical analytes. Also, it exhibited different retention behaviors from the conventional stationary phase in terms of retention times and elution order. Most interestingly, in contrast to the conventional polar phase, the CB7-SG stationary phase exhibited longer retentions for analytes of lower polarity but relatively comparable retentions for polar analytes such as alcohols and phenols. The high resolving ability and unique retention behaviors of the CB7-SG stationary phase may stem from the comprehensive interactions of the aforementioned interactions and shape selectivity. Moreover, the CB7-SG column showed good peak shapes for analytes prone to peak tailing, good thermal stability up to 280°C and separation repeatability with RSD values in the range of 0.01-0.11% for intra-day, 0.04-0.41% for inter-day and 2.5-6.0% for column-to-column, respectively. As demonstrated, the proposed coating method can simultaneously address the solubility problem with CBs for the intended purpose and achieve outstanding GC separation performance. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A semiempirical study for the ground and excited states of free-base and zinc porphyrin-fullerene dyads

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Parusel, A. B.

2000-01-01

The ground and excited states of a covalently linked porphyrin-fullerene dyad in both its free-base and zinc forms (D. Kuciauskas et al., J. Phys. Chem. 100 (1996) 15926) have been investigated by semiempirical methods. The excited-state properties are discussed by investigation of the character of the molecular orbitals. All frontier MOs are mainly localized on either the donor or the acceptor subunit. Thus, the absorption spectra of both systems are best described as the sum of the spectra of the single components. The experimentally observed spectra are well reproduced by the theoretical computations. Both molecules undergo efficient electron transfer in polar but not in apolar solvents. This experimental finding is explained theoretically by explicitly considering solvent effects. The tenth excited state in the gas phase is of charge-separated character where an electron is transferred from the porphyrin donor to the fullerene acceptor subunit. This state is stabilized in energy in polar solvents due to its large formal dipole moment. The stabilization energy for an apolar environment such as benzene is not sufficient to lower this state to become the first excited singlet state. Thus, no electron transfer is observed, in agreement with experiment. In a polar environment such as acetonitrile, the charge-separated state becomes the S, state and electron transfer takes place, as observed experimentally. The flexible single bond connecting both the donor and acceptor subunits allows free rotation by ca. +/- 30 degrees about the optimized ground-state conformation. For the charge-separated state this optimized geometry has a maximum dipole moment. The geometry of the charge-separated state thus does not change relatively to the ground-state conformation. The electron-donating properties of porphyrin are enhanced in the zinc derivative due to a reduced porphyrin HOMO-LUMO energy gap. This yields a lower energy for the charge-separated state compared to the free-base dyad.

Robust water fat separated dual-echo MRI by phase-sensitive reconstruction.

PubMed

Romu, Thobias; Dahlström, Nils; Leinhard, Olof Dahlqvist; Borga, Magnus

2017-09-01

The purpose of this work was to develop and evaluate a robust water-fat separation method for T1-weighted symmetric two-point Dixon data. A method for water-fat separation by phase unwrapping of the opposite-phase images by phase-sensitive reconstruction (PSR) is introduced. PSR consists of three steps; (1), identification of clusters of tissue voxels; (2), unwrapping of the phase in each cluster by solving Poisson's equation; and (3), finding the correct sign of each unwrapped opposite-phase cluster, so that the water-fat images are assigned the correct identities. Robustness was evaluated by counting the number of water-fat swap artifacts in a total of 733 image volumes. The method was also compared to commercial software. In the water-fat separated image volumes, the PSR method failed to unwrap the phase of one cluster and misclassified 10. One swap was observed in areas affected by motion and was constricted to the affected area. Twenty swaps were observed surrounding susceptibility artifacts, none of which spread outside the artifact affected regions. The PSR method had fewer swaps when compared to commercial software. The PSR method can robustly produce water-fat separated whole-body images based on symmetric two-echo spoiled gradient echo images, under both ideal conditions and in the presence of common artifacts. Magn Reson Med 78:1208-1216, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

Water-induced phase separation of miconazole-poly (vinylpyrrolidone-co-vinyl acetate) amorphous solid dispersions: Insights with confocal fluorescence microscopy.

PubMed

Saboo, Sugandha; Taylor, Lynne S

2017-08-30

The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of confocal fluorescence microscopy (CFM) to study the water-induced phase separation of miconazole-poly (vinylpyrrolidone-co-vinyl acetate) (mico-PVPVA) amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs), induced during preparation, upon storage at high relative humidity (RH) and during dissolution. Different fluorescent dyes were added to drug-polymer films and the location of the dyes was evaluated using CFM. Orthogonal techniques, in particular atomic force microscopy (AFM) coupled with nanoscale infrared spectroscopy (AFM-nanoIR), were used to provide additional analysis of the drug-polymer blends. The initial miscibility of mico-PVPVA ASDs prepared under low humidity conditions was confirmed by AFM-nanoIR. CFM enabled rapid identification of drug-rich and polymer-rich phases in phase separated films prepared under high humidity conditions. The identity of drug- and polymer-rich domains was confirmed using AFM-nanoIR imaging and localized IR spectroscopy, together with Lorentz contact resonance (LCR) measurements. The CFM technique was then utilized successfully to further investigate phase separation in mico-PVPVA films exposed to high RH storage and to visualize phase separation dynamics following film immersion in buffer. CFM is thus a promising new approach to study the phase behavior of ASDs, utilizing drug and polymer specific dyes to visualize the evolution of heterogeneity in films exposed to water. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

On-line comprehensive two-dimensional normal-phase liquid chromatography × reversed-phase liquid chromatography for preparative isolation of Peucedanum praeruptorum.

PubMed

Wang, Xin-Yuan; Li, Jia-Fu; Jian, Ya-Mei; Wu, Zhen; Fang, Mei-Juan; Qiu, Ying-Kun

2015-03-27

A new on-line comprehensive preparative two-dimensional normal-phase liquid chromatography × reversed-phase liquid chromatography (2D NPLC × RPLC) system was developed for the separation of complicated natural products. It was based on the use of a silica gel packed medium-pressure column as the first dimension and an ODS preparative HPLC column as the second dimension. The two dimensions were connected with normal-phase (NP) and reversed-phase (RP) enrichment units, involving a newly developed airflow assisted adsorption (AAA) technique. The instrument operation and the performance of this NPLC × RPLC separation method were illustrated by gram-scale isolation of ethanol extract from the roots of Peucedanum praeruptorum. In total, 19 compounds with high purity were obtained via automated multi-step preparative separation in a short period of time using this system, and their structures were comprehensively characterized by ESI-MS, (1)H NMR, and (13)C NMR. Including two new compounds, five isomers in two groups with identical HPLC and TLC retention values were also obtained and identified by 1D NMR and 2D NMR. This is the first report of an NPLC × RPLC system successfully applied in an on-line preparative process. This system not only solved the interfacing problem of mobile-phase immiscibility caused by NP and RP separation, it also exhibited apparent advantages in separation efficiency and sample treatment capacity compared with conventional methods. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Recovery Of Chromium Metal (VI) Using Supported Liquid Membrane (SLM) Method, A study of Influence of NaCl and pH in Receiving Phase on Transport

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cholid Djunaidi, Muhammad; Lusiana, Retno A.; Rahayu, Maya D.

2017-06-01

Chromium metal(VI) is a valuable metal but in contrary has high toxicity, so the separation and recovery from waste are very important. One method that can be used for the separation and recovery of chromium (VI) is a Supported Liquid Membrane (SLM). SLM system contains of three main components: a supporting membrane, organic solvents and carrier compounds. The supported Membrane used in this research is Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), organic solvent is kerosene, and the carrier compound used is aliquat 336. The supported liquid membrane is placed between two phases, namely, feed phase as the source of analyte (Cr(VI)) and the receiving phase as the result of separation. Feed phase is the electroplating waste which contains of chromium metal with pH variation about 4, 6 and 9. Whereas the receiving phase are the solution of HCl, NaOH, HCl-NaCl and NaOH-NaCl with pH variation about 1, 3, 5 and 7. The efficiency separation is determined by measurement of chromium in the feed and the receiving phase using AAS (Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry). The experiment results show that transport of Chrom (VI) by Supported Liquid membrane (SLM) is influenced by pH solution in feed phase and receiving phase as well as NaCl in receiving phase. The highest chromium metal is transported from feed phase about 97,78%, whereas in receiving phase shows about 58,09%. The highest chromium metal transport happens on pH 6 in feed phase, pH 7 in receiving phase with the mixture of NaOH and NaCl using carrier compound aliquat 336.

Tube Radial Distribution Flow Separation in a Microchannel Using an Ionic Liquid Aqueous Two-Phase System Based on Phase Separation Multi-Phase Flow.

PubMed

Nagatani, Kosuke; Shihata, Yoshinori; Matsushita, Takahiro; Tsukagoshi, Kazuhiko

2016-01-01

Ionic liquid aqueous two-phase systems were delivered into a capillary tube to achieve tube radial distribution flow (TRDF) or annular flow in a microspace. The phase diagram, viscosity of the phases, and TRDF image of the 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride and NaOH system were examined. The TRDF was formed with inner ionic liquid-rich and outer ionic liquid-poor phases in the capillary tube. The phase configuration was explained using the viscous dissipation principle. We also examined the distribution of rhodamine B in a three-branched microchannel on a microchip with ionic liquid aqueous two-phase systems for the first time.

Separation mechanism of chiral impurities, ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, found in amphetamine-type substances using achiral modifiers in the gas phase.

PubMed

Holness, Howard K; Jamal, Adeel; Mebel, Alexander; Almirall, José R

2012-11-01

A new mechanism is proposed that describes the gas-phase separation of chiral molecules found in amphetamine-type substances (ATS) by the use of high-resolution ion mobility spectrometry (IMS). Straight-chain achiral alcohols of increasing carbon chain length, from methanol to n-octanol, are used as drift gas modifiers in IMS to highlight the mechanism proposed for gas-phase separations of these chiral molecules. The results suggest the possibility of using these achiral modifiers to separate the chiral molecules (R,S) and (S,R)-ephedrine and (S,S) and (R,R)-pseudoephedrine which contain an internal hydroxyl group at the first chiral center and an amino group at the other chiral center. Ionization was achieved with an electrospray source, the ions were introduced into an IMS with a resolving power of 80, and the resulting ion clusters were characterized with a coupled quadrupole mass spectrometer detector. A complementary computational study conducted at the density functional B3LYP/6-31g level of theory for the electronic structure of the analyte-modifier clusters was also performed, and showed either "bridged" or "independent" binding. The combined experimental and simulation data support the proposed mechanism for gas-phase chiral separations using achiral modifiers in the gas phase, thus enhancing the potential to conduct fast chiral separations with relative ease and efficiency.

Monolithic poly[(trimethylsilyl-4-methylstyrene)-co- bis(4-vinylbenzyl)dimethylsilane] stationary phases for the fast separation of proteins and oligonucleotides.

PubMed

Jakschitz, Thomas A E; Huck, Christian W; Lubbad, Said; Bonn, Günther K

2007-04-13

In this paper the synthesis, optimisation and application of a silane based monolithic copolymer for the rapid separation of proteins and oligonucleotides is described. The monolith was prepared by thermal initiated in situ copolymerisation of trimethylsilyl-4-methylstyrene (TMSiMS) and bis(4-vinylbenzyl)dimethylsilane (BVBDMSi) in a silanised 200 microm I.D. fused silica column. Different ratios of monomer and crosslinker, as well as different ratios of micro- (toluene) and macro-porogen (2-propanol) were used for optimising the physical properties of the stationary phase regarding separation efficiency. The prepared monolithic stationary phases were characterised by measurement of permeability with different solvents, determination of pore size distribution by mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP). Morphology was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Applying optimised conditions, a mixture comprised of five standard proteins ribunuclease A, cytochrome c, alpha-lactalbumine, myoglobine and ovalbumine was separated within 1 min by ion-pair reversed-phase liquid chromatography (IP-RPLC) obtaining half-height peak widths between 1.8 and 2.4 s. Baseline separation of oligonucleotides d(pT)(12-18) was achieved within 1.8 min obtaining half-height peak widths between 3.6 and 5.4 s. The results demonstrate the high potential of this stationary phase for fast separation of high-molecular weight biomolecules such as oligonucleotides and proteins.

Investigating the effect of V2O5 addition on sodium barium borosilicate glasses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Halder, Rumu; Sengupta, Pranesh; Sudarsan, V.; Kaushik, C. P.; Dey, G. K.

2016-05-01

V2O5 doped sodium barium borosilicate glasses were characterized by photoluminescence spectroscopy and electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA). The glass remains homogeneous for lower concentration of V2O5 but a phase separation is observed when V2O5 doping is increased beyond 5 mol%. Detailed microanalysis reveals that the phase separated glass consists of a phase containing V, Ba and Si and a separate Si rich phase within the glass matrix. The luminescence study demonstrated that at low concentration the vanadium mainly interacts with the structural units of B/Si while at higher concentrations, V-O-V/ V-O- Na+/Ba2+ linkages are formed.

Separation of Chloroplast Pigments Using Reverse Phase Chromatography.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Reese, R. Neil

1997-01-01

Presents a protocol that uses reverse phase chromatography for the separation of chloroplast pigments. Provides a simple and relatively safe procedure for use in teaching laboratories. Discusses pigment extraction, chromatography, results, and advantages of the process. (JRH)

The effect of liquid-liquid phase separation of glass on the properties and crystallization behavior

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Li, J. Z.

1985-01-01

A theoretical discussion is given of the phase separation mechanism of amorphous materials. This includes nucleus growth, spinoidal decomposition, and nuclei agglomeration and coarsening. Various types of glass are analyzed.

Preparative separation of the polar part from the rhizomes of Anemarrhena asphodeloides using a hydrophilic C18 stationary phase.

PubMed

Cai, Jianfeng; Xin, Huaxia; Cheng, Lingping; Fu, YanHui; Jiang, Dasen; Feng, Jiatao; Fu, Qing; Jin, Yu; Liang, Xinmiao

2017-09-15

The goal of this study was to develop a method that utilized a hydrophilic C18 stationary phase in the preparative high performance liquid chromatography to isolate the polar part from the rhizomes of Anemarrhena asphodeloides. The results showed that an initial mobile phase of pure water for the separation could greatly increase the retention and solubility of the polar compounds at the preparative scale. Introducing polar groups on the surface of the hydrophilic C18 column together with the use of optimized mobile phase compositions improved the column separation selectivity for polar compounds. Eleven previously undescribed compounds in Anemarrhena asphodeloides were obtained, indicating that the method developed in this study would facilitate the purification and separation of the polar part of traditional Chinese medicines. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Method and apparatus for controlling carrier envelope phase

DOEpatents

Chang, Zenghu [Manhattan, KS; Li, Chengquan [Sunnyvale, CA; Moon, Eric [Manhattan, KS

2011-12-06

A chirped pulse amplification laser system. The system generally comprises a laser source, a pulse modification apparatus including first and second pulse modification elements separated by a separation distance, a positioning element, a measurement device, and a feedback controller. The laser source is operable to generate a laser pulse and the pulse modification apparatus operable to modify at least a portion of the laser pulse. The positioning element is operable to reposition at least a portion of the pulse modification apparatus to vary the separation distance. The measurement device is operable to measure the carrier envelope phase of the generated laser pulse and the feedback controller is operable to control the positioning element based on the measured carrier envelope phase to vary the separation distance of the pulse modification elements and control the carrier envelope phase of laser pulses generated by the laser source.

[Separation of alkaloids in tea by high-speed counter-current chromatography].

PubMed

Yuan, L; Fu, R; Zhang, T; Deng, J; Li, X

1998-07-01

Alkaloids extracted from the green tea were separated by high-speed counter-current chromatography. A series of experiments have been performed to investigate effects of different solvent system. A system of CHCl3-CH3OH-NaH2PO4(23 mmol/L) = (4:3:2) was selected, in which the upper phase was used as the stationary phase, and the lower phase as mobile phase. When acidity of solvent system is pH 5.6, three chemical components are very efficiently isolated by one injection of 50 mg sample mixture. Analyzing the eluted fractions by TLC, we know that one is caffeine, and the other is theophylline. In comparing the separation results by high-speed counter-current chromatography with those by TLC, the advantages of this method is verified. It should find wide applications of this technology for the separation of crude mixture of plant components.

Development of a new class of flexible polymeric membranes for sensing, nanofiltration & cascaded separation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Du, Nian

The last decade has witnessed an explosion of interests in the science and technology of engineered nanomaterials. While the benefits of nanotechnology are widely publicized, the discussion about the transformation of nanomaterials in the environment, and their potential impacts on human health has just begun. Nanoscale particles, whether ultrafine, nano, engineered, intentional, or incidental, pose significant health effects. New approaches for environmental monitoring of nanomaterials at high sensitivity and in real-time are particularly needed. Since nanoparticles must be isolated from complex environmental and biological matrices, the most effective and simple method of isolating engineered nanomaterials from air or water is filtration. Hence the overall project objective of this work is to develop innovative methods that can simultaneously remove, detect and inactivate diverse nanostructured materials. At the center of the technology is a novel class of polymeric filters capable of simultaneously removing and detecting metal and metal oxide nanoparticles. This project reports the development of a new class of self-standing, flexible, phase-inverted, poly(amic) acid membranes with experimentally-controlled nanopores ranging from less than 10nm to greater than 100nm. Compared to most commercial filter membranes, phase-inverted PAA membranes were found to exhibit superior durability and higher efficiency. The filtration efficiency was ˜99.97% for a number of nanoparticles including Quantum Dots, TiO2, Au and Ag. This work also showed that PAA membranes could be used to separate mixtures of nanoparticles. Although the separation does not show much selectivity according to the NPs’ chemical composition, it shows the ability to separate efficiently based on nanoparticle size. PAA showed an excellent performance not only for nanoparticle isolation at sub-nanometer size ranges, but also as a platform for the detection of engineered nanoparticles at low ppb levels. We demonstrated the application of phase-inverted PAA membranes for quantitative detection of silver NPs using commercial food supplements, and the results were confirmed with AAS, SEM and EDS. Selective detection was achieved in the presence of high concentrations of other metal nanoparticles such as zinc oxide and gold NPs, and silver ions.

Comparison of high-performance liquid chromatography separation of red wine anthocyanins on a mixed-mode ion-exchange reversed-phase and on a reversed-phase column.

PubMed

Vergara, Carola; Mardones, Claudia; Hermosín-Gutiérrez, Isidro; von Baer, Dietrich

2010-09-03

Anthocyanins, which confer the characteristic color to red wine, can be used as markers to classify wines according to the grape variety. It is a complex separation that requires very high chromatographic efficiency, especially in the case of aged red wines, due to the formation of pyranoanthocyanins. A coelution between these kinds of compounds can affect the R(ac/coum) ratio of aged wines, and might lead to false results when classifying the wine variety. In 2007, the use of a novel mixed-mode ion-exchange reversed-phase column was reported to separate anthocyanins extracted from grapes of Vitis labrusca with different selectivity than C-18 columns. In the present work, the separation of anthocyanins including pyranoanthocyanins in young and aged Cabernet Sauvignon wines and other varieties is evaluated. The most interesting contributions of this research are the different elution order and selectivity obtained for anthocyanins and pyranoanthocyanins (only formed in wine), compared with those observed in C-18 stationary phases. Also interesting is the separation of the polymeric fraction, which elutes as a clearly separated peak at the chromatogram's end. However, a comparison with a high efficiency C-18 column with the same dimensions and particle size demonstrated that the tested mixed-mode column shows broader peaks with a theoretical plate number below 8000, for malvidin-3-glucoside peak, while it can be up to 10 times higher for a high efficiency C-18 column, depending on the column manufacturer. Under the tested conditions, in mixed-mode phase, the analysis time is almost twice that of a C-18 column with the same dimensions and particle size. A mixed-mode phase with increased efficiency should provide an interesting perspective for separation of anthocyanins in wine, due to its improved selectivity, combined with a useful role in a second-dimension separation in preparative anthocyanin chromatography. 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Microgravity

NASA Image and Video Library

1998-10-01

The ADvanced SEParation (ADSEP) commercial payload is making use of major advances in separation technology: The Phase Partitioning Experiment (PPE); the Micorencapsulation experiment; and the Hemoglobin Separation Experiment (HSE). Using ADSEP, commercial researchers will attempt to determine the partition coefficients for model particles in a two-phase system. With this information, researchers can develop a higher resolution, more effective cell isolation procedure that can be used for many different types of research and for improved health care. The advanced separation technology is already being made available for use in ground-based laboratories.

Crosslinked structurally-tuned polymeric ionic liquids as stationary phases for the analysis of hydrocarbons in kerosene and diesel fuels by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography.

PubMed

Zhang, Cheng; Park, Rodney A; Anderson, Jared L

2016-04-01

Structurally-tuned ionic liquids (ILs) have been previously applied as the second dimension column in comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) and have demonstrated high selectivity in the separation of individual aliphatic hydrocarbons from other aliphatic hydrocarbons. However, the maximum operating temperatures of these stationary phases limit the separation of analytes with high boiling points. In order to address this issue, a series of polymeric ionic liquid (PIL)-based stationary phases were prepared in this study using imidazolium-based IL monomers via in-column free radical polymerization. The IL monomers were functionalized with long alkyl chain substituents to provide the needed selectivity for the separation of aliphatic hydrocarbons. Columns were prepared with different film thicknesses to identify the best performing stationary phase for the separation of kerosene. The bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]imide ([NTf2](-))-based PIL stationary phase with larger film thickness (0.28μm) exhibited higher selectivity for aliphatic hydrocarbons and showed a maximum allowable operating temperature of 300°C. PIL-based stationary phases containing varied amount of IL-based crosslinker were prepared to study the effect of the crosslinker on the selectivity and thermal stability of the resulting stationary phase. The optimal resolution of aliphatic hydrocarbons was achieved when 50% (w/w) of crosslinker was incorporated into the PIL-based stationary phase. The resulting stationary phase exhibited good selectivity for different groups of aliphatic hydrocarbons even after being conditioned at 325°C. Finally, the crosslinked PIL-based stationary phase was compared with SUPELCOWAX 10 and DB-17 columns for the separation of aliphatic hydrocarbons in diesel fuel. Better resolution of aliphatic hydrocarbons was obtained when employing the crosslinked PIL-based stationary phase as the second dimension column. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Current-induced transition from particle-by-particle to concurrent intercalation in phase-separating battery electrodes.

PubMed

Li, Yiyang; El Gabaly, Farid; Ferguson, Todd R; Smith, Raymond B; Bartelt, Norman C; Sugar, Joshua D; Fenton, Kyle R; Cogswell, Daniel A; Kilcoyne, A L David; Tyliszczak, Tolek; Bazant, Martin Z; Chueh, William C

2014-12-01

Many battery electrodes contain ensembles of nanoparticles that phase-separate on (de)intercalation. In such electrodes, the fraction of actively intercalating particles directly impacts cycle life: a vanishing population concentrates the current in a small number of particles, leading to current hotspots. Reports of the active particle population in the phase-separating electrode lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4; LFP) vary widely, ranging from near 0% (particle-by-particle) to 100% (concurrent intercalation). Using synchrotron-based X-ray microscopy, we probed the individual state-of-charge for over 3,000 LFP particles. We observed that the active population depends strongly on the cycling current, exhibiting particle-by-particle-like behaviour at low rates and increasingly concurrent behaviour at high rates, consistent with our phase-field porous electrode simulations. Contrary to intuition, the current density, or current per active internal surface area, is nearly invariant with the global electrode cycling rate. Rather, the electrode accommodates higher current by increasing the active particle population. This behaviour results from thermodynamic transformation barriers in LFP, and such a phenomenon probably extends to other phase-separating battery materials. We propose that modifying the transformation barrier and exchange current density can increase the active population and thus the current homogeneity. This could introduce new paradigms to enhance the cycle life of phase-separating battery electrodes.

Detecting phase separation of freeze-dried binary amorphous systems using pair-wise distribution function and multivariate data analysis.

PubMed

Chieng, Norman; Trnka, Hjalte; Boetker, Johan; Pikal, Michael; Rantanen, Jukka; Grohganz, Holger

2013-09-15

The purpose of this study is to investigate the use of multivariate data analysis for powder X-ray diffraction-pair-wise distribution function (PXRD-PDF) data to detect phase separation in freeze-dried binary amorphous systems. Polymer-polymer and polymer-sugar binary systems at various ratios were freeze-dried. All samples were analyzed by PXRD, transformed to PDF and analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA). These results were validated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) through characterization of glass transition of the maximally freeze-concentrate solute (Tg'). Analysis of PXRD-PDF data using PCA provides a more clear 'miscible' or 'phase separated' interpretation through the distribution pattern of samples on a score plot presentation compared to residual plot method. In a phase separated system, samples were found to be evenly distributed around the theoretical PDF profile. For systems that were miscible, a clear deviation of samples away from the theoretical PDF profile was observed. Moreover, PCA analysis allows simultaneous analysis of replicate samples. Comparatively, the phase behavior analysis from PXRD-PDF-PCA method was in agreement with the DSC results. Overall, the combined PXRD-PDF-PCA approach improves the clarity of the PXRD-PDF results and can be used as an alternative explorative data analytical tool in detecting phase separation in freeze-dried binary amorphous systems. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

[Separation and determination of eight plant hormones by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography].

PubMed

Fang, N; Hou, S; Shao, X; He, Y; Zhao, G

1998-09-01

In this paper, reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatographic technique was used for the separation and determination of eight plant hormones. Methanol-water-acetic acid system was chosen as the mobile phase. The effects of different separation conditions, such as the methanol and acetic acid concentrations in mobile phase, on the retention behaviours of eight plant hormones in this system were studied. The general trends in retention behaviours could be correlated to the methanol concentration in mobile phase. The experimental results showed that the optimum separation was achieved with following gradient elution condition: 0-3 minutes, 70% (water percentage in mobile phase), 3-13 minutes, 70%-20%, 13-48 minutes, 20%. Benzene was added to be as the internal standard. Under this experimental condition, the eight plant hormones could be separated completely and detected quantitatively at 260 nm within 16 minutes. The calibration curves for the eight compounds gave linearity over a wide range. The correlation coefficients of each components were r(ZT) = 0.9971, r(GAs) = 0.9999, r(K) = 0.9997, r(BA) = 0.9995, r(IAA) = 0.9998, r(IPA) = 0.9982, r(IBA) = 0.9995 and r(NAA) = 0.9995. The method is rapid, simple and efficient. It is a suitable method for the accurate determination of gibberellic acid (GA) and alpha-naphthaleneacetic acid (alpha-NAA) in products for agricultural use.

Preparation of the monomers of gingerols and 6-shogaol by flash high speed counter-current chromatography.

PubMed

Qiao, Qingliang; Du, Qizhen

2011-09-09

The flash high speed counter-current chromatographic (FHSCCC) separation of gingerols and 6-shogaol was performed on a HSCCC instrument equipped with a 1200-ml column (5 mm tubing i.d.) at a flow rate of 25 ml/min. The performance met the FHSCCC feature that the flow rate of mobile phase (ml) is equal to or greater than the square of the diameter of the column tubing (mm). The separation employed the upper phase of stationary phase of the n-hexane-ethyl acetate-methanol-water (3:2:2:3, v/v) as the stationary phase. A stepwise elution was performed by eluting with the lower phase of n-hexane-ethyl acetate-methanol-water (3:2:2:3, v/v) for first 90 min and the lower phase of the n-hexane-ethyl acetate-methanol-water (3:2:6:5, v/v) for the second 90 min. In each separation 5 g of the ethyl acetate extract of rhizomes of ginger was loaded, yielding 1.96 g of 6-gingerol (98.3%), 0.33 g of 8-gingerol (97.8%), 0.64 g of 6-shogaol (98.8%) and 0.57 g of 10-gingerol (98.2%). The separation can be expected to scale up to industrial separation. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Thermal conductivity and rectification in asymmetric archaeal lipid membranes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Youssefian, Sina; Rahbar, Nima; Van Dessel, Steven

2018-05-01

Nature employs lipids to construct nanostructured membranes that self-assemble in an aqueous environment to separate the cell interior from the exterior environment. Membrane composition changes among species and according to environmental conditions, which allows organisms to occupy a wide variety of different habitats. Lipid bilayers are phase-change materials that exhibit strong thermotropic and lyotropic phase behavior in an aqueous environment, which may also cause thermal rectification. Among different types of lipids, archaeal lipids are of great interest due to their ability to withstand extreme conditions. In this paper, nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations were employed to study the nanostructures and thermal properties of different archaeols and to investigate thermal rectification effects in asymmetric archaeal membranes. In particular, we are interested in understanding the role of bridged phytanyl chains and cyclopentane groups in controlling the phase transition temperature and heat flow across the membrane. Our results indicate that the bridged phytanyl chains decrease the molecular packing of lipids, whereas the existence of cyclopentane rings on the tail groups increases the molecular packing by enhancing the interactions between isoprenoid chains. We found that macrocyclic archaeols have the highest thermal conductivity, whereas macrocyclic archaeols with two cyclopentane rings have the lowest. The effect of the temperature on the variation of thermal conductivity was found to be progressive. Our results further indicate that small thermal rectification effects occur in asymmetric archaeol bilayer membranes at around 25 K temperature gradient. The calculated thermal rectification factor was around 0.09 which is in the range of rectification factor obtained experimentally for nanostructures such as carbon nanotubes (0.07). Such phenomena may be of biological significance and could also be optimized for use in various engineering applications.

Facile preparation of an alternating copolymer-based high molecular shape-selective organic phase for reversed-phase liquid chromatography.

PubMed

Mallik, Abul K; Noguchi, Hiroki; Rahman, Mohammed Mizanur; Takafuji, Makoto; Ihara, Hirotaka

2018-06-22

The synthesis of a new alternating copolymer-grafted silica phase is described for the separation of shape-constrained isomers of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and tocopherols in reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Telomerization of the monomers (octadecyl acrylate and N-methylmaleimide) was carried out with a silane coupling agent; 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (MPS), and the telomer (T) was grafted onto porous silica surface to prepare the alternating copolymer-grafted silica phase (Sil-alt-T). The new hybrid material was characterized by elemental analyses, diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT) spectroscopy, and solid-state 13 C and 29 Si cross-polarization magic-angle spinning (CP/MAS) NMR spectroscopy. The results of 13 C CP/MAS NMR demonstrated that the alkyl chains of the grafted polymers in Sil-alt-T remained disordered, amorphous, and mobile represented by gauche conformational form. Separation abilities and molecular-shape selectivities of the prepared organic phase were evaluated by the separation of PAHs isomers and Standard Reference Material 869b, Column Selectivity Test Mixture for Liquid Chromatography, respectively and compared with commercially available octadecylsilylated silica (ODS) and C 30 columns as well as previously reported alternating copolymer-based column. The effectiveness of this phase is also demonstrated by the separation of tocopherol isomers. Oriented functional groups along the polymer main chains and cavity formations are investigated to be the driving force for better separation with multiple-interactions with the solutes. One of the advantages of the Sil-alt-T phase to that of the previously reported phase is the synthesis of the telomer first and then immobilized onto silica surface. In this case, the telomer was characterized easily with simple spectroscopic techniques and the molecular mass and polydispersity index of the telomer were determined by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) before grafting onto silica surface. Moreover, both of the monomers were commercially available. Therefore, the technique of preparation was very facile and better separation was achieved with the Sil-alt-T phase compared to the ODS, C 30 and other previously reported alternating copolymer-based columns. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Enantiomeric separation of six chiral pesticides that contain chiral sulfur/phosphorus atoms by supercritical fluid chromatography.

PubMed

Zhang, Lijun; Miao, Yelong; Lin, Chunmian

2018-03-01

Six chiral pesticides containing chiral sulfur/phosphorus atoms were separated by supercritical fluid chromatography with supercritical CO 2 as the main mobile phase component. The effect of the chiral stationary phase, different type and concentration of modifiers, column temperature, and backpressure on the separation efficiency was investigated to obtain the appropriate separation condition. Five chiral pesticides (isofenphos-methyl, isocarbophos, flufiprole, fipronil, and ethiprole) were baseline separated under experimental conditions, while isofenphos only obtained partial separation. The Chiralpak AD-3 column showed a better chiral separation ability than others for chiral pesticides containing chiral sulfur/phosphorus atoms. When different modifiers at the same concentration were used, the retention factor of pesticides except flufiprole decreased in the order of isopropanol, ethanol, methanol; meanwhile, the retention factor of flufiprole increased in the order of isopropanol, ethanol, methanol. For a given modifier, the retention factor and resolution decreased on the whole with the increase of its concentration. The enantiomer separation of five chiral pesticides was an "enthalpy-driven" process, and the separation factor decreased as the temperature increased. The backpressure of the mobile phase had little effect on the separation factor and resolution. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Self-assembled structural color in nature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parnell, Andrew

The vibrancy and variety of structural color found in nature has long been well-known; what has only recently been discovered is the sophistication of the physics that underlies these effects. In the talk I will discuss some of our recent studies of the structures responsible for color in bird feathers and beetle elytra, based on structural characterization using small angle x-ray scattering, x-ray tomography and optical modeling. These have enabled us to study a large number of structural color exhibiting materials and look for trends in the structures nature uses to provide these optical effects. In terms of creating the optical structure responsible for the color of the Eurasian Jay feathers (Garrulus glandarius) the nanostructure is produced by a phase-separation process that is arrested at a late stage; mastery of the color is achieved by control over the duration of this phase-separation process. Our analysis shows that nanostructure in single bird feather barbs can be varied continuously by controlling the time the keratin network is allowed to phase separate before mobility in the system is arrested. Dynamic scaling analysis of the single barb scattering data implies that the phase separation arrest mechanism is rapid and also distinct from the spinodal phase separation mechanism i.e. it is not gelation or intermolecular re-association. Any growing lengthscale using this spinodal phase separation approach must first traverse the UV and blue wavelength regions, growing the structure by coarsening, resulting in a broad distribution of domain sizes. AJP acknowledges financial support via the APS/DPOLY exchange lectureship 2017.

40 CFR 63.7912 - What are my inspection and monitoring requirements for separators?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 14 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false What are my inspection and monitoring requirements for separators? 63.7912 Section 63.7912 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY... CATEGORIES (CONTINUED) National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Site Remediation Separators...

40 CFR 63.7912 - What are my inspection and monitoring requirements for separators?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 14 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false What are my inspection and monitoring requirements for separators? 63.7912 Section 63.7912 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY... CATEGORIES (CONTINUED) National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Site Remediation Separators...

40 CFR 63.7912 - What are my inspection and monitoring requirements for separators?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 14 2012-07-01 2011-07-01 true What are my inspection and monitoring requirements for separators? 63.7912 Section 63.7912 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY... CATEGORIES (CONTINUED) National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Site Remediation Separators...

40 CFR 63.7912 - What are my inspection and monitoring requirements for separators?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 13 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false What are my inspection and monitoring requirements for separators? 63.7912 Section 63.7912 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY... CATEGORIES (CONTINUED) National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Site Remediation Separators...

40 CFR 63.7912 - What are my inspection and monitoring requirements for separators?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 13 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false What are my inspection and monitoring requirements for separators? 63.7912 Section 63.7912 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY... CATEGORIES (CONTINUED) National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Site Remediation Separators...

Tuning the luminescence of ZnO:Eu nanoparticles for applications in biology and medicine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaszewski, Jarosław; Kiełbik, Paula; Wolska, Ewelina; Witkowski, Bartłomiej; Wachnicki, Łukasz; Gajewski, Zdzisław; Godlewski, Marek; Godlewski, Michał M.

2018-06-01

Zinc oxide nanoparticles were synthesized with microwave hydrothermal technique and tested as luminescent contrast for biological imaging. Luminescence was activated by Eu3+ ions embedded in the nanoparticle matrix in the increasing concentrations of 1, 5 and 10 %mol. It was found that europium did not create a separate crystalline phase up to the concentration as high as 5 %mol. However, Eu3+ ions did not substitute Zn2+ in the host lattice, but allocated in the low symmetry environment. It was proposed that europium was locating in the inter-grain space or on the surface of nanoparticles. The luminescence intensity in ZnO:Eu, as well as the size of particles, increased with the Eu ion concentration. Moreover, in 10 %mol Eu sample, the separate phase of Eu-hydroxide was identified with crystals of micrometre length. Interestingly, in vivo study revealed, that contrary to the in silico experiments, following gastric gavage, the brightest nanoparticle-related luminescence signal was observed at 1 %mol. concentration of Eu. Since the alimentary uptake of nanoparticles was related to their size, we concluded that the increase in luminescence at 5 and 10 %mol. Eu concentrations was associated with the largest ZnO:Eu and Eu-hydroxide particles that did not cross the gastrointestinal barrier.

Effect of Alcohols on the Phase Behavior and Emulsification of a Sucrose Fatty Acid Ester/Water/Edible Oil System.

PubMed

Matsuura, Tsutashi; Ogawa, Akihiro; Ohara, Yukari; Nishina, Shogo; Nakanishi, Maho; Gohtani, Shoichi

2018-02-01

The effect of alcohols (ethanol, 1-propanol, propylene glycol, glycerin, sucrose) on the phase behavior and emulsification of sucrose stearic acid ester (SSE)/water/edible vegetable oil (EVO) systems was investigated. Adding sucrose, propylene glycol, and glycerin narrowed the oil-separated two-phase region in the phase diagram of the SSE/water/EVO systems, whereas adding ethanol and 1-propanol expanded the oil-separated two-phase region. Changing the course of emulsification in the phase diagram showed that the size of the oil-droplet particle typically decreased in a system with a narrowed oil-separated region. The emulsification properties of the systems varied with respect to changes in the phase diagram. The microstructure of the systems was examined using small-angle X-ray scattering, and the ability to retain the oil in the lamellar structure of the SSEs was suggested as an important role in emulsification, because the mechanism of the systems was the same as that for the liquid crystal emulsification method.

Use of vancomycin silica stationary phase in packed capillary electrochromatography: III. enantiomeric separation of basic compounds with the polar organic mobile phase.

PubMed

Fanali, Salvatore; Catarcini, Paolo; Quaglia, Maria Giovanna

2002-02-01

The separation of basic compounds into their enantiomers was achieved using capillary electrochromatography in 50 or 75 microm inner diameter (ID) fused-silica capillaries packed with silica a stationary phase derivatized with vancomycin and mobile phases composed of mixtures of polar organic solvents containing 13 mM ammonium acetate. Enantiomer resolution, electroosmotic flow, and the number of theoretical plates were strongly influenced by the type and concentration of the organic solvent. Mobile phases composed of 13 mM ammonium acetate dissolved in mixtures of acetonitrile/methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, or isopropanol were tested and the highest enantioresolutions were achieved using the first mobile phase, allowing the separation of almost all investigated enantiomers (9 from 11 basic compounds). The use of capillaries with different ID (50 and 75 microm ID) packed with the same chiral stationary phase revealed that a higher number of theoretical plates and higher enantioresolution was achieved with the tube with lowest ID.

Coherent and incoherent phase stabilities of thermoelectric rocksalt IV-VI semiconductor alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Doak, Jeff W.; Wolverton, C.

2012-10-01

Nanostructures formed by phase separation improve the thermoelectric figure of merit in lead chalcogenide semiconductor alloys, with coherent nanostructures giving larger improvements than incoherent nanostructures. However, large coherency strains in these alloys drastically alter the thermodynamics of phase stability. Incoherent phase stability can be easily inferred from an equilibrium phase diagram, but coherent phase stability is more difficult to assess experimentally. Therefore, we use density functional theory calculations to investigate the coherent and incoherent phase stability of the IV-VI rocksalt semiconductor alloy systems Pb(S,Te), Pb(Te,Se), Pb(Se,S), (Pb,Sn)Te, (Sn,Ge)Te, and (Ge,Pb)Te. Here we use the term coherent to indicate that there is a common and unbroken lattice between the phases under consideration, and we use the term incoherent to indicate that the lattices of coexisting phases are unconstrained and allowed to take on equilibrium volumes. We find that the thermodynamic ground state of all of the IV-VI pseudobinary systems studied is incoherent phase separation. We also find that the coherency strain energy, previously neglected in studies of these IV-VI alloys, is lowest along [111] (in contrast to most fcc metals) and is a large fraction of the thermodynamic driving force for incoherent phase separation in all systems. The driving force for coherent phase separation is significantly reduced, and we find that coherent nanostructures can only form at low temperatures where kinetics may prohibit their precipitation. Furthermore, by calculating the energies of ordered structures for these systems we find that the coherent phase stability of most IV-VI systems favors ordering over spinodal decomposition. Our results suggest that experimental reports of spinodal decomposition in the IV-VI rocksalt alloys should be re-examined.

Light on fluorescent lipids in rafts: a lesson from model membranes.

PubMed

Kahya, Nicoletta

2010-09-15

Tracking fluorescent lipids in cellular membranes has been applied for decades to shed light on membrane trafficking, sorting, endocytosis and exocytosis, viral entry, and to understand the functional relevance of membrane heterogeneity, phase separation and lipid rafts. However, fluorescent probes may display different organizing behaviour from their corresponding endogenous lipids. A full characterization of these probes is therefore required for proper interpretation of fluorescence microscopy data in complex membrane systems. Model membrane studies provide essential clues that guide us to design and interpret our experiments, help us to avoid pitfalls and resolve artefacts in complex cellular environments. In the present issue of the Biochemical Journal, Juhasz, Davis and Sharom demonstrate the importance of testing lipid probes systematically in heterogeneous model membranes of specific composition and well-defined thermodynamic properties. The phase-partitioning behaviour of fluorescent probes, alone and/or in combination, cannot simply be assumed, but has to be fully characterized.

A phase contrast imaging–interferometer system for detection of multiscale electron density fluctuations on DIII-D

DOE PAGES

Davis, E. M.; Rost, J. C.; Porkolab, M.; ...

2016-08-15

Heterodyne interferometry and phase contrast imaging (PCI) are robust, mature techniques for measuring low-k and high-k electron density fluctuations, respectively. Here, we describe the first-ever implementation of a combined PCI-interferometer. The combined system uses a single 10:6 μm probe beam, two interference schemes, and two detectors to measure electron density uctuations at large spatiotemporal bandwidth (10 kHz < f < 5MHz and 0 cm -1 ≤ k ≤ 20 cm -1), allowing simultaneous measurement of ion- and electron-scale instabilities. Further, correlating our interferometer's measurements with those from DIII-D's pre-existing, toroidally separated interferometer allows core-localized, low-n MHD studies that may otherwisemore » be inaccessible via external magnetic measurements. In the combined diagnostic's small port requirements and minimal access restrictions make it well-suited to the harsh neutron environments and limited port space expected in next-step devices.« less

A phase contrast imaging-interferometer system for detection of multiscale electron density fluctuations on DIII-D

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davis, E. M.; Rost, J. C.; Porkolab, M.; Marinoni, A.; Van Zeeland, M. A.

2016-11-01

Heterodyne interferometry and phase contrast imaging (PCI) are robust, mature techniques for measuring low-k and high-k electron density fluctuations, respectively. This work describes the first-ever implementation of a combined PCI-interferometer. The combined system uses a single 10.6 μm probe beam, two interference schemes, and two detectors to measure electron density fluctuations at large spatiotemporal bandwidth (10 kHz

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-phase associations in Washington coastal sediment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prahl, Fredrick G.; Carpenter, Roy

1983-06-01

Polycyclic aromatic (PAH) and aliphatic hydrocarbon compositions, organic carbon, nitrogen and lignin contents were determined in whole, unfractionated sediment from the Washington continental shelf and in discrete sediment fractions separated by particle size and density. At least 20 to 25% of perylene and PAH derived from pyrolytic processes and 50% of the retene measured in whole sediment are contained within organic C- and lignin-rich panicles of density ≤ 1.9 g/cc. These particles, which include primarily vascular plant remains and bits of charcoal, comprise less than 1% of the total sediment weight. In contrast, a series of methylated phenanthrene homologs, possibly of fossil origin, are concentrated in some component of the more dense, lithic matrix of the sediment. Equilibrium models of PAH sorption/desorption from aqueous phase onto small particles of high surface area do not appear applicable to the behavior of the major PAH types identified in this aquatic environment.

Nanofluid of graphene-based amphiphilic Janus nanosheets for tertiary or enhanced oil recovery: High performance at low concentration

PubMed Central

Luo, Dan; Wang, Feng; Zhu, Jingyi; Cao, Feng; Liu, Yuan; Li, Xiaogang; Willson, Richard C.; Yang, Zhaozhong; Chu, Ching-Wu; Ren, Zhifeng

2016-01-01

The current simple nanofluid flooding method for tertiary or enhanced oil recovery is inefficient, especially when used with low nanoparticle concentration. We have designed and produced a nanofluid of graphene-based amphiphilic nanosheets that is very effective at low concentration. Our nanosheets spontaneously approached the oil–water interface and reduced the interfacial tension in a saline environment (4 wt % NaCl and 1 wt % CaCl2), regardless of the solid surface wettability. A climbing film appeared and grew at moderate hydrodynamic condition to encapsulate the oil phase. With strong hydrodynamic power input, a solid-like interfacial film formed and was able to return to its original form even after being seriously disturbed. The film rapidly separated oil and water phases for slug-like oil displacement. The unique behavior of our nanosheet nanofluid tripled the best performance of conventional nanofluid flooding methods under similar conditions. PMID:27354529