Spatially resolved micron-scale wrinkle structures at asphaltene films induced by mild thermal treatment and its impact on emulsion stability

Mild thermal treatment is an important partial upgrading technique to enable bitumen pipeline transportation,but no attention has been paid to the impact of mild thermal treatment on the emulsification behavior of emerging partially upgraded bitumen.Asphaltene compounds are active emulsion stabilizers in bitumen oil.The emulsion stabilizing capacity of bitumen asphaltenes was investigated,before and after a mild thermal treatment at 400℃.The structural morphology and mechanical property of the asphaltene interfacial films were analyzed by using a combination of cryo-SEM,Langmuir trough,and Brewster angle microscopy.The thermal treatment significantly enhanced the emulsion stabilizing capacity of bitumen asphaltenes;the interfacial films formed by the thermally treated asphaltene samples appeared to be rougher and thicker with more abundant micron-scale wrinkle structures.The interfacial corrugation may intensify the mechanical stability/flexibility of the asphaltene films and consequently strengthen the stability of emulsion droplet.

Studies of Thermodynamic Properties and Relative Stability of Polybrominated Xanthones by Density Functional Theory

The thermodynamic properties of xanthone（XTH） and 135 polybrominated xanthones（PBXTHs） in the standard state have been calculated at the B3LYP/6-31G＊ level using Gaussian 03 program.The isodesmic reactions were designed to calculate the standard enthalpy of formation（△fHθ） and standard free energy of formation（△fGθ） of PBXTH congeners.The relations of these thermodynamic parameters with the number and position of Br atom substitution（NPBS） were discussed,and it was found that there exist high correlation between thermodynamic parameters（entropy（Sθ）,△fHθ and △fGθ） and NPBS.According to the relative magnitude of their △fGθ,the relative stability order of PBXTH congeners was theoretically proposed.The relative rate constants of formation reactions of PBXTH congeners were calculated,Moreover,the values of molar heat capacity at constant pressure（Cp,m） from 200 to 1000 K for PBXTH congeners were also calculated,and the temperature dependence relation of them was obtained,suggesting very good relationships between Cp,m and temperature（T,T^1 and T^2） for almost all PBXTH congeners.

Delay-dependent asymptotic stability of mobile ad-hoc networks:A descriptor system approach

In order to analyze the capacity stability of the time-varying-propagation and delay-dependent of mobile ad-hoc networks （MANETs）, in this paper, a novel approach is proposed to explore the capacity asymptotic stability for the delay- dependent of MANETs based on non-cooperative game theory, where the delay-dependent conditions are explicitly taken into consideration. This approach is based on the Lyapunov-Krasovskii stability theory for functional differential equations and the linear matrix inequality （LMI） technique. A corresponding Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional is introduced for the stability analysis of this system with use of the descriptor and ＂neutral-type＂ model transformation without producing any additional dynamics. The delay-dependent stability criteria are derived for this system. Conditions are given in terms of linear matrix inequalities, and for the first time referred to neutral systems with the time-varying propagation and delay- dependent stability for capacity analysis of MANETs. The proposed criteria are less conservative since they are based on an equivalent model transformation. Furthermore, we also provide an effective and efficient iterative algorithm to solve the constrained stability control model. Simulation experiments have verified the effectiveness and efficiency of our algorithm.

New bolting structure of fractured roof based on the Bossinesq equations

Present support theories contain a number of shortcomings in the designation of fractured roof bolt parameters of rectangular or trapezoidal coal roadways.Roof fall accidents occur easily in this kind of roadway.Based on the Bossinesq equations and the Mohr strength theory,we propose a theory of an anchored cluster structure for fractured roofs and have investigated the formation of such an anchored cluster structure,its self stability mechanism and mechanical properties.The results show that an anchor and the surrounding fractured rock can form a string-like supporting structure,referred to as the structure of an anchored cluster for rational bolt parameters.Not only can the structure maintain its own stability,but as well undertake the load of the overlying strata.The designated support parameters,based on anchored cluster theory can overcome the shortcomings of other support theories applied to a fractured roof of rectangular roadways or could not be calculated.Our anchored cluster theory can provide a theoretical basis for the design of support for rectangular fractured roofs.Furthermore,the theory will help to reduce the probability of roof fall accidents caused by local fractured rock blocks,which can destroy a supporting structure.

Anode materials for potassium-ion batteries: Current status and prospects

Potassium-ion batteries(KIBs)as one of the most promising alternatives to lithium-ion batteries have been highly valued in recent years.However,progress in KIBs is largely restricted by the sluggish development in anode materials.Therefore,it is imperative to systematically outline and evaluate the recent research advances in the field of anode materials for KIBs toward promoting the development of high-performance anode materials for KIBs.In this review,the recent achievements in anode materials for KIBs are summarized.The electrochemical properties(ie.charge storage mechanism,capacity,rate performance,and cycling stability)of these reported anode materials,as well as their advantages/disadvantages,are discerned and analyzed,enabling high-performance KIBs to meet the requirements for practical applications.Finally,technological developments,scientific challenges,and future research opportunities of anode materials for KIBs are briefly reviewed.

Flow-pipe-soil coupling mechanisms and predictions for submarine pipeline instability

The stability of a submarine pipeline on the seabed concerns the flow-pipe-soil coupling, with influential factors related to the ocean waves and/or currents, the pipeline and the surrounding soils. A flow-pipe-soil coupling system generally has various instability modes, including the vertical and lateral on-bottom instabilities, the tunnel-erosion of the underlying soil and the subsequent vortex-induced vibrations（VIVs） of free-spanning pipelines. This paper reviews the recent advances of the slip-line field solutions to the bearing capacity, the flow-pipe-soil coupling mechanism and the prediction for the lateral instability, the multi-physical coupling analysis of the tunnel-erosion, and the coupling mechanics between the VIVs and the local scour. It is revealed that the mechanism competition always exists among various instability modes, e.g., the competition between the lateral-instability and the tunnel-erosion. Finally, the prospects and scientific challenges for predicting the instability of a long-distance submarine pipeline are discussed in the context of the deep-water oil and gas exploitations.

Use of Fe/Al drinking water treatment residuals as amendments for enhancing the retention capacity of glyphosate in agricultural soils

Fe/Al drinking water treatment residuals（WTRs）, ubiquitous and non-hazardous by-products of drinking water purification, are cost-effective adsorbents for glyphosate. Given that repeated glyphosate applications could significantly decrease glyphosate retention by soils and that the adsorbed glyphosate is potentially mobile, high sorption capacity and stability of glyphosate in agricultural soils are needed to prevent pollution of water by glyphosate.Therefore, we investigated the feasibility of reusing Fe/Al WTR as a soil amendment to enhance the retention capacity of glyphosate in two agricultural soils. The results of batch experiments showed that the Fe/Al WTR amendment significantly enhanced the glyphosate sorption capacity of both soils（p 〈 0.001）. Up to 30% of the previously adsorbed glyphosate desorbed from the non-amended soils, and the Fe/Al WTR amendment effectively decreased the proportion of glyphosate desorbed. Fractionation analyses further demonstrated that glyphosate adsorbed to non-amended soils was primarily retained in the readily labile fraction（Na HCO3-glyphosate）. The WTR amendment significantly increased the relative proportion of the moderately labile fraction（HCl-glyphosate） and concomitantly reduced that of the Na HCO3-glyphosate, hence reducing the potential for the release of soil-adsorbed glyphosate into the aqueous phase. Furthermore, Fe/Al WTR amendment minimized the inhibitory effect of increasing solution p H on glyphosate sorption by soils and mitigated the effects of increasing solution ionic strength. The present results indicate that Fe/Al WTR is suitable for use as a soil amendment to prevent glyphosate pollution of aquatic ecosystems by enhancing the glyphosate retention capacity in soils.

Study on electrochemical property of La_(0.75)Mg_(0.25)Ni_(2.85)Co_(0.45–x)(AlSn)_x (x=0.0,0.1,0.2,0.3) alloys

La_（0.75）Mg_（0.25）Ni_（2.85）Co_（0.45–x）（AlSn）_x（AlSn）_x（x=0.0,0.1,0.2,0.3） alloys were prepared by magnetic induction melting method, and the phase composition and electrochemical properties were investigated systematically. The alloys were mainly composed of LaNi5, La2Ni7 and LaNi3 phase, and the cell volume of LaNi5 increased with the Al and Sn contents. For the alloy corresponding to x=0.0, the Cmax and C150 were 348.9 and 185 mA h/g, respectively, then for the alloy electrode with x=0.2, even though the Cmax was only 309.0 mA h/g less than 348.9 mA h/g, the C150 of 231 mA h/g was much higher than 185 mA h/g. And the values of the limit current density, anodic peak current density and hydrogen diffusion coefficient of the La0.75Mg0.25Ni2.85Co0.35（AlS n）0.1（x=0.1） alloy were 1079.5, 1023.8 mA /g and 5.71×10–10 cm2/s, respectively. Which were the highest than that of any other electrodes. These results suggested that the kinetic property of the La_（0.75）Mg_（0.25）Ni_（2.85）Co_（0.45–x）（AlSn）_x（AlSn）_x（x=0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3） electrodes could be improved effectively by adding moderate contents of Al and Sn.