Interaction and flocculation of spherical colloids wetted by a surface-induced corona of paranematic order

Particles dispersed in a liquid crystal above the nematic-isotropic phase transition are wetted by a surface-induced corona of paranematic order. Such coronas give rise to pronounced two-particle interactions. In this article, we report details on the analytical and numerical study of these interactions published recently [Phys. Rev. Lett. 86, 3915 (2001)]. We especially demonstrate how for large particle separations the asymptotic form of a Yukawa potential arises. We show that the Yukawa potential is a surprisingly good description for the two-particle interactions down to distances of the order of the nematic coherence length. Based on this fact, we extend earlier studies on a temperature induced flocculation transition in electrostatically stabilized colloidal dispersions [Phys. Rev. E 61, 2831 (2000)]. We employ the Yukawa potential to establish a flocculation diagram for a much larger range of the electrostatic parameters, namely the surface charge density and the Debye screening length. As a new feature, a kinetically stabilized dispersion close to the nematic-isotropic phase transition is found.Comment: Revtex v4.0, 16 pages, 12 Postscript figures. Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

The impacts of replacing air bubbles with microspheres for the clarification of algae from low cell-density culture

Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) is a well-known coagulation–flotation system applied at large scale for microalgae harvesting. Compared to conventional harvesting technologies DAF allows high cell recovery at lower energy demand. By replacing microbubbles with microspheres, the innovative Ballasted Dissolved Air Flotation (BDAF) technique has been reported to achieve the same algae cell removal efficiency, while saving up to 80% of the energy required for the conventional DAF unit. Using three different algae cultures (Scenedesmus obliquus, Chlorella vulgaris and Arthrospira maxima), the present work investigated the practical, economic and environmental advantages of the BDAF system compared to the DAF system. 99% cells separation was achieved with both systems, nevertheless, the BDAF technology allowed up to 95% coagulant reduction depending on the algae species and the pH conditions adopted. In terms of floc structure and strength, the inclusion of microspheres in the algae floc generated a looser aggregate, showing a more compact structure within single cell alga, than large and filamentous cells. Overall, BDAF appeared to be a more reliable and sustainable harvesting system than DAF, as it allowed equal cells recovery reducing energy inputs, coagulant demand and carbon emissions

Numerical modelling of the filling of formworks with self-compacting concrete

This paper describes the numerical modelling of the flow of self-compacting concrete (SCC) in column and wall formworks during the filling process. It is subdivided in four main parts. In the first part, the rheological properties of SCC and the theory regarding the pressure exerted by the SCC on the formworks are shortly described. In the second part, the formwork filling tests, that have been carried out at the Magnel Laboratory for Concrete Research of the Ghent University, are presented. The general layout of the tests and the measurement set-up are clearly described. In the third part, the numerical modelling of the flow of SCC using a commercially available solver is explained as well as the obtained results from the CFD simulations. Finally in the last part, a comparison is made between the measurements and the simulation results. The formwork pressures are hydrostatic for SCC pumped from the base of the formworks

Rheological Behavior of Food Emulsions Mixed with Saliva: Effect of Oil Content, Salivary Protein Content, and Saliva Type

In this paper, we studied the effect of saliva on the rheological properties of ß-lactoglobulin- and lysozyme-stabilized emulsions, prepared at pH¿=¿6.7 in relation to variation of emulsions- and saliva-related parameters. The effect of oil¿volume fraction (2.5% w/w to 10% w/w), salivary protein concentration (0.1 to 0.8 mg ml¿1), and the use of both stimulated and unstimulated saliva was investigated. Viscosity and storage modulus were measured before (¿ emul and G¿emul, respectively) and after addition of saliva (¿ mix and G¿mix). To better estimate the changes due to saliva-induced flocculation of the emulsions, the ratios ¿ mix/¿ emul, G¿mix/G¿emul were calculated. In addition, tan ¿ (=the ratio of the loss and storage moduli) was investigated to evaluate the viscoelastic behavior of the emulsion/saliva mixtures. Increasing the oil¿volume fraction and salivary protein concentration resulted in an increase in ¿ mix/¿ emul and G¿mix/G¿emul, while a decrease in tan ¿ of the emulsion/saliva mixtures is occurring. When compared with unstimulated saliva, mixing ß-lactoglobulin-stabilized emulsions with stimulated saliva led to a reduction in ¿ mix/¿ emul and G¿mix/G¿emul, and an augment of tan ¿ at all measured deformations. In case of lysozyme-stabilized emulsions, the use of stimulated saliva increased G¿mix/G¿emul for ¿

Improving the in vitro bioaccessibility of β-carotene using pectin added nanoemulsions

The intestinal absorption of lipophilic compounds such as β-carotene has been reported to increase when they are incorporated in emulsion-based delivery systems. Moreover, the reduction of emulsions particle size and the addition of biopolymers in the systems seems to play an important role in the emulsion properties but also in their behavior under gastrointestinal conditions and the absorption of the encapsulated compound in the intestine. Hence, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of pectin addition (0%, 1%, and 2%) on the physicochemical stability of oil-in-water nanoemulsions containing β-carotene during 35 days at 4 °C, the oil digestibility and the compound bioaccessibility. The results showed that nanoemulsions presented greater stability and lower β-carotene degradation over time in comparison with coarse emulsion, which was further reduced with the addition of pectin. Moreover, nanoemulsions presented a faster digestibility irrespective of the pectin concentration used and a higher β-carotene bioaccessibility as the pectin concentration increased, being the maximum of ≈36% in nanoemulsion with 2% of pectin. These results highlight the potential of adding pectin to β-carotene nanoemulsions to enhance their functionality by efficiently preventing the compound degradation and increasing the in vitro bioaccessibility.This work was funded by the project AGL2015-65975-R (FEDER, MINECO, UE) and project RTI2018-094268-B-C21 (MCIU, AEI; FEDER, UE)