A series of chitosan samples spanning a wide range of molecular weights have been homogeneously acetylated to varying degrees and characterized. These have been used to flocculate a well-characterized "model colloid" polymer latex. The optimum flocculation concentrations have been identified using both residual turbidity and initial-rate methods. A charge neutralization mechanism with an enhancement of rate by a "charge patch" effect is shown to operate while both degree of acetylation and molecular weight can have an effect upon the optimum flocculation concentration.
A bubbling fluidized bed membrane reactor for steam reforming of methane is mathematically
investigated, with the permselective Pd membranes removing hydrogen from the reaction system
to enhance the methane conversion. Oxygen fed into the reaction system can decrease the
endothermicity of the overall reaction by the combustion of methane, thereby reducing the need
of external firing. Operation at low feed steam−carbon ratios is also possible with the steam
required for the reforming reaction being provided as a product from the combustion reactions,
although problems related to coking also need to be addressed at very low ones. A drop in the
reactor temperature at the inlet of the reactor itself due to the high endothermicity and fast
kinetics of the steam reforming reactions does not strongly support the idea of a higher feed
temperature favoring the reaction conversion. Thereafter, in situ generation of heat by the
combustion reactions is a more effective means to give better reactor performance, and a higher
feed temperature can be used to supplement this performance. However, since higher oxygen−methane ratios also tend to consume more of the methane itself, this cannot be increased much
and an optimum value exists with respect to the favorable production of pure hydrogen from the
reactor permeate side.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.