Hydrogen Generation via Novel Supercritical Water Reformation Technology

Track II: Transportation and BiofuelsIncludes audio file (18 min.)A novel, robust, fuel reformation technology has been developed for portable, mobile, stationary, and on-site generation of hydrogen from a variety of feedstocks involving both renewable and nonrenewable resources. Unlike conventional steam methane reforming (SMR), this novel reforming process is carried out non-catalytically in supercritical water, where supercritical water acts both as a highly-energized reforming agent and as an extraordinary homogenizing solvent. The unparalleled merits of this technology, as demonstrated in an experimental prototype system, are quite numerous, including: (a) catalyst-free reactions; (b) capability of handling high sulfur-containing liquid fuels; (c) high once-through conversion; (d) lower temperature operation and higher energy efficiency than conventional steam reforming technology; (e) alleviation and control of coking; (f) use of unpurified, locally available water; (g) compact size and minimal space requirements; (h) great flexibility in feedstock variety; and (h) near-zero discharge. The process technology is superbly applicable to the U.S. military's need for mobile electric power (MEP) generation based on integrated fuel reformation-fuel cell systems, for purposes of stealth (reduced noise and thermal signature), increased mission endurance (higher efficiency), and reduced logistical burden (overall lower fuel consumption). The process technology is also eminently suitable for on-site hydrogen generation via energy-efficient conversion of ethanol crude beer into hydrogen, thus providing a means of seamless integration between the Hydrogen Economy and the Ethanol Economy. Scientific and technological details of the supercritical water reformation (SWR) process will be discussed, with a particular emphasis placed on process chemistry, process engineering, energy materials, and prototype design

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Analysis: Lessons Learned from Stationary Power Generation Final Report

This study considered opportunities for hydrogen in stationary applications in order to make recommendations related to RD&D strategies that incorporate lessons learned and best practices from relevant national and international stationary power efforts, as well as cost and environmental modeling of pathways. The study analyzed the different strategies utilized in power generation systems and identified the different challenges and opportunities for producing and using hydrogen as an energy carrier. Specific objectives included both a synopsis/critical analysis of lessons learned from previous stationary power programs and recommendations for a strategy for hydrogen infrastructure deployment. This strategy incorporates all hydrogen pathways and a combination of distributed power generating stations, and provides an overview of stationary power markets, benefits of hydrogen-based stationary power systems, and competitive and technological challenges. The motivation for this project was to identify the lessons learned from prior stationary power programs, including the most significant obstacles, how these obstacles have been approached, outcomes of the programs, and how this information can be used by the Hydrogen, Fuel Cells & Infrastructure Technologies Program to meet program objectives primarily related to hydrogen pathway technologies (production, storage, and delivery) and implementation of fuel cell technologies for distributed stationary power. In addition, the lessons learned address environmental and safety concerns, including codes and standards, and education of key stakeholders

Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Piper attenuatum

Piper attenuatum is used as a traditional medicinal plant in India. One of the substances in P. attenuatum has been suggested to have anti-inflammatory effects. However, there is insufficient research about the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of action of P. attenuatum. The effects of P. attenuatum methanol extract (Pa-ME) on the production of inflammatory mediators nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), the expression of proinflammatory genes, the translocation level of transcription factors, and intracellular signaling activities were investigated using macrophages. Pa-ME suppressed the production of NO and PGE2 in lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-), pam3CSK4-, and poly(I:C)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells without displaying cytotoxicity. The mRNA expression levels of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) were decreased by Pa-ME. P-ME reduced the translocation of p50/NF-κB and AP-1 (c-Jun and c-Fos), as well as the activity of their upstream enzymes Src, Syk, and TAK1. Immunoprecipitation analysis showed failure of binding between their substrates, phospho- (p-) p85 and p-MKK3/6. p-p85 and p-MKK3/6, which were induced by overexpression of Src, Syk, and TAK1, were also reduced by Pa-ME. Therefore, these results suggest that Pa-ME exerts its anti-inflammatory effects by targeting Src and Syk in the NF-κB signaling pathway and TAK1 in the AP-1 signaling pathway

New diagnostic criteria and severity assessment of acute cholangitis in revised Tokyo guidelines

Background: The Tokyo Guidelines for the management of acute cholangitis and cholecystitis were published in 2007 (TG07) and have been widely cited in the world literature. Because of new information that has been published since 2007, we organized the Tokyo Guidelines Revision Committee to conduct a multicenter analysis to develop the updated Tokyo Guidelines (TG13). Methods/materials : We retrospectively analyzed 1,432 biliary disease cases where acute cholangitis was suspected. The cases were collected from multiple tertiary care centers in Japan. The 'gold standard' for acute cholangitis in this study was that one of the three following conditions was present: (1) purulent bile was observed; (2) clinical remission following bile duct drainage; or (3) remission was achieved by antibacterial therapy alone, in patients in whom the only site of infection was the biliary tree. Comparisons were made for the validity of each diagnostic criterion among TG13, TG07 and Charcot's triad. Results: The major changes in diagnostic criteria of TG07 were re-arrangement of the diagnostic items and exclusion of abdominal pain from the diagnostic list. The sensitivity improved from 82.8 % (TG07) to 91.8 % (TG13). While the specificity was similar to TG07, the false positive rate in cases of acute cholecystitis was reduced from 15.5 to 5.9 %. The sensitivity of Charcot's triad was only 26.4 % but the specificity was 95.6 %. However, the false positive rate in cases of acute cholecystitis was 11.9 % and not negligible. As for severity grading, Grade II (moderate) acute cholangitis is defined as being associated with any two of the significant prognostic factors which were derived from evidence presented recently in the literature. The factors chosen allow severity assessment to be performed soon after diagnosis of acute cholangitis. Conclusion: TG13 present a new standard for the diagnosis, severity grading, and management of acute cholangitis. © 2012 The Author(s).link_to_subscribed_fulltex

New diagnostic criteria and severity assessment of acute cholecystitis in revised Tokyo guidelines

Background: The Tokyo Guidelines for the management of acute cholangitis and cholecystitis (TG07) were published in 2007 as the world's first guidelines for acute cholangitis and cholecystitis. The diagnostic criteria and severity assessment of acute cholecystitis have since been widely used all over the world. A validation study of TG07 has shown that the diagnostic criteria for acute cholecystitis are highly reliable but that the definition of definite diagnosis is ambiguous. In addition, considerable new evidence referring to acute cholecystitis as well as evaluations of TG07 have been published. Consequently, we organized the Tokyo Guidelines Revision Committee to evaluate TG07, recognize new evidence, and conduct a multi-center analysis to revise the guidelines (TG13). Methods and materials: We retrospectively analyzed 451 patients with acute cholecystitis from multiple tertiary care centers in Japan. All 451 patients were first evaluated using the criteria in TG07. The "gold standard" for acute cholecystitis in this study was a diagnosis by pathology. The validity of TG07 diagnostic criteria was investigated by comparing clinical with pathological diagnosis. Results: Of 451 patients evaluated, a total of 227 patients were given a diagnosis of acute cholecystitis by pathological examination (prevalence 50.3 %). TG07 criteria provided a definite diagnosis of acute cholecystitis in 224 patients. The sensitivity of TG07 diagnostic criteria for acute cholecystitis was 92.1 %, and the specificity was 93.3 %. Based on the preliminary results, new diagnostic criteria for acute cholecystitis were proposed. Using the new criteria, the sensitivity of definite diagnosis was 91.2 %, and the specificity was 96.9 %. The accuracy rate was improved from 92.7 to 94.0 %. In regard to severity grading among 227 patients, 111 patients were classified as Mild (Grade I), 104 as Moderate (Grade II), and 12 as Severe (Grade III). Conclusion: The proposed new diagnostic criteria achieved better performance than the diagnostic criteria in TG07. Therefore, the proposed criteria have been adopted as new diagnostic criteria for acute cholecystitis and are referred to as the 2013 Tokyo Guidelines (TG13). Regarding severity assessment, no new evidence was found to suggest that the criteria in TG07 needed major adjustment. As a result, TG07 severity assessment criteria have been adopted in TG13 with minor changes. © 2012 The Author(s).link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Sulfonation of Nylon-6 by Solid Phase Reaction

Sulfonation of nylon-6 has been widely studied via solution phase reaction processes, which involve dissolution of the base polymer in a strong solvent. In this paper, novel solid phase reaction technology was adopted to induce the addition of the sulfonate side chain onto the backbone of nylon-6 using 1,3-propane sultone. The reaction of the polymer with the reagent, which was catalysed by dimsyl anions, was carried out at 65°C in a specially designed, well-mixed reactor. The reaction materials remained as free-flowing powders through the process. A sulfonate level of 1.32 mol% was achieved. The conversion of the 1,3-propane sultone was 23.3%. The sulfonation was qualitatively identified with FTi.r. and d.s.c. Its sulfonate level was determined by quantitative measurement of sulfur and nitrogen content of the treated polymer

Washability Curves for Pyrite Removal in Coal Using Perchloroethylene as Heavy Medium

Pyritic sulfur is removed from raw, high sulfur coal by gravitational separation using a suitable solvent, or heavy medium. This is possible due to the inherent difference in the specific gravity of clean coal and the mineral matter in it. The effectiveness of perchloroethylene (PCE) as a heavy medium was experimentally evaluated. The most important factors governing the efficiency of this process are the quantity of clean coal yield and depyriting efficiency. It was found that the pyritic sulfur removal efficiency as well as the clean coal yield depended strongly on its particle size distribution and mineral matter content. This paper presents valuable data on the effect of particle size of coal on clean coal yield as well as pyritic sulfur removal efficiency. A master curve is obtained to determine a workable size range which gives the most optimal yield of clean and depyrited coal