45 research outputs found
Modulation Instability of Ultrashort Pulses in Quadratic Nonlinear Media beyond the Slowly Varying Envelope Approximation
We report a modulational instability (MI) analysis of a mathematical model
appropriate for ultrashort pulses in cascaded quadratic-cubic nonlinear media
beyond the so-called slowly varying envelope approximation. Theoretically
predicted MI properties are found to be in good agreement with numerical
simulation. The study shows the possibility of controlling the generation of MI
and formation of solitons in a cascaded quadratic-cubic media in the few cycle
regimes. We also find that stable propagation of soliton-like few-cycle pulses
in the medium is subject to the fulfilment of the modulation instability
criteria
Enzymatic glyceride synthesis in a foam reactor
We report the results of our study on Rhizomucor miehei lipaseâ catalyzed lauric acidâ glycerol esterification in a foam reactor. A satisfactory yield of glyceride synthesis can be achieved with an unusually high initial water content (50% w/w). We found that product formation could be regulated by controlling foaming. Foaming was a function of the air flow rate, reaction temperature, pH value, ionic strength, and substrate molar ratio. Monolaurin and dilaurin, which constituted nearly 80% of the total yield, were the two dominant products in this reaction; trilaurin was also formed at the initial stages of the reaction. A study of pH and ionic strength effects on an independent basis revealed that they affect the interfacial mechanism in different manners. On varying the ratio of lauric acid and glycerol, only a slight change in the degree of conversion was detected and the consumption rate of fatty acid was approximately the same.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/141443/1/aocs0643.pd