Study on prediction and optimization of gas–solid erosion on S-Zorb reactor distribution plate

Adsorption desulfurization of catalytic gasoline (S Zorb) is an important desulfurization measure that is performed to meet the environmental protection requirements before the final product oil is sold in the market. The desulfurization reactor is a gas–solid two-phase flow environment composed of high-temperature and high-pressure hydrogen-oil mixed gas and sorbent particles; erosion prominently occurs on the reactor distribution plate. This study selects the typical gas–solid two-phase flow conditions and defines the erosion mechanism of the gas–solid two-phase flow environment for the plastic material of E347. Moreover, an S Zorb desulfurization reactor model is constructed, the CFD-DEM model is adopted to predict the wall erosion characteristics in a gas–solid two-phase flow environment, typical erosion laws are obtained via calculations. The erosion laws under the influence of variable parameters are studied based on the orthogonal test, the orthogonal test results show the best parameter combination, the parameter combination yields the maximum erosion rate and high erosion area that are 29.9% and 17.3%, respectively, lower than the existing values. Moreover, an optimum scheme of the inner structure parameters of the reactor is determined for reducing erosion rate and area

A high-volumetric-capacity and high-areal-capacity ZnCo2O4 anode for Li-ion batteries enabled by a robust biopolymer binder

Constructing high-areal-capacity anodes with high loading for Li-ion batteries is still an enormous challenge, due to the drastic volume change of large-capacity anode materials during cycling. The conventional PVDF binder system fails to withstand the degradation of high-loading electrodes. Therefore, advanced binders are urgently required. Herein, for the first time, the guar gum (GG) biopolymer has been exploited as a robust binder for micro-sized ZnCo2O4 (ZCO) anode materials. Because of its robust mechanical properties and strong interactions with ZCO, the cycling stability of the ZCO anode has been significantly improved with a capacity of 412 mA h g−1 after 600 cycles at 1200 mA g−1. More importantly, the ZCO can act as a “crosslinking agent” to in situ form a robust network with GG, which efficiently maintains the electrode structure stability. Hence, a ZCO anode with an ultrahigh loading of 6.73 mg cm−2 can be achieved and deliver a high areal capacity of 5.6 mA h cm−2. Simultaneously, benefiting from the high tap density of micro-ZCO, the ZCO anode gives a high volumetric capacity of 1179 mA h cm−3. This study will make a significant contribution to accelerating the progress of designing high-areal-capacity anodes

Recent advances in basic neurosciences and brain disease: from synapses to behavior

Abstract Understanding basic neuronal mechanisms hold the hope for future treatment of brain disease. The 1st international conference on synapse, memory, drug addiction and pain was held in beautiful downtown Toronto, Canada on August 21–23, 2006. Unlike other traditional conferences, this new meeting focused on three major aims: (1) to promote new and cutting edge research in neuroscience; (2) to encourage international information exchange and scientific collaborations; and (3) to provide a platform for active scientists to discuss new findings. Up to 64 investigators presented their recent discoveries, from basic synaptic mechanisms to genes related to human brain disease. This meeting was in part sponsored by Molecular Pain, together with University of Toronto (Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiology as well as Center for the Study of Pain). Our goal for this meeting is to promote future active scientific collaborations and improve human health through fundamental basic neuroscience researches. The second international meeting on Neurons and Brain Disease will be held in Toronto (August 29–31, 2007).</p