Biology is a rich source of great ideas that can inspire us to find successful ways to solve the challenging problems in engineering practices including those in the chemical industry. Bio-inspired chemical engineerin...Biology is a rich source of great ideas that can inspire us to find successful ways to solve the challenging problems in engineering practices including those in the chemical industry. Bio-inspired chemical engineering(Bio Ch E)may be recognized as a significant branch of chemical engineering. It may consist of, but not limited to, the following three aspects: 1) Chemical engineering principles and unit operations in biological systems; 2) Process engineering principles for producing existing or developing new chemical products through living ‘devices';and 3) Chemical engineering processes and equipment that are designed and constructed through mimicking(does not have to reproduce one hundred percent) the biological systems including their physical–chemical and mechanical structures to deliver uniquely beneficial performances. This may also include the bio-inspired sensors for process monitoring. In this paper, the above aspects are defined and discussed which establishes the scope of BioChE.展开更多
Se-chitosan with a high Se content of 139 mg/g was successfully synthesized using the glacial acetic acid-sodium selenite(HAc-Na2SeO3)method.The chemical structure of Se-chitosan was characterized by FTIR,XRD,TGA,UV–...Se-chitosan with a high Se content of 139 mg/g was successfully synthesized using the glacial acetic acid-sodium selenite(HAc-Na2SeO3)method.The chemical structure of Se-chitosan was characterized by FTIR,XRD,TGA,UV–vis and 13C NMR,confirming that selenite acid was introduced into chitosan via the esterification reaction of the hydroxyl group at C6 and the electrostatic interaction of the amino group at C2 of chitosan.Agarose hydrogels were designed as an efficient carrier of Se-chitosan for Se-enriched cultivation of sprouts.The hydrogels exhibited a porous structure,which is beneficial for Se diffusion in hydrogels.The growth indexes of sprouts grown in Agar/Se-chitosan composite hydrogels with different Se concentrations,including plant weight,plant height and Se content,were investigated.The results showed that in the Se-enriched cultivation of sprouts,Se-chitosan possessed an excellent Se enrichment effect.As the Se concentration in Agar/Se-chitosan composite hydrogels increases from 0 to 1600μg/L,the Se content of the sprouts will also increase from 0.92 mg/kg to 6.79 mg/kg accordingly.Moreover,it is necessary to control the amount of Se-chitosan added to the hydrogels;otherwise,the growth of sprouts will be inhibited.This research provided a simple and effective method for the fabrication of Secontaining hydrogels for Se-enriched cultivation of sprouts.展开更多
Transition metal sulfides (TMSs) have a wide range of applications owing to their intriguing properties.Significant efforts have been devoted to nanostructuring TMSs to enhance their properties and performance,still t...Transition metal sulfides (TMSs) have a wide range of applications owing to their intriguing properties.Significant efforts have been devoted to nanostructuring TMSs to enhance their properties and performance,still there is a high need in general synthesis of TMS nanostructures.Herein,for the first time,a simple solvent free reactive nanocasting approach that integrates solid precursor loading,in-situ sulfuration and carbonization into a single heating step is developed for the universal synthesis of ordered mesoporous TMS@N-doped carbon composites (denoted as OM-TMS@NCs) with methionine (Met) and metal chlorides as the precursors and the mesoporous silica (SBA-15) as the hard template.A series of OM-TMS@NCs with a hexagonal mesostructure,ultra-high surface areas (430-754 m2·g-1),large pore volumes (0.85-1.32 cm3·g-1),and unique TMS stoichiometries,including MoS2,Fe7S8,Co9S8,NiS,Cu7S4 and ZnS,are obtained.Two distinct structure configurations,namely,highly dispersed ultrathin TMS nanosheets within NCs and TMS@NC co-nanowire arrays,can be obtained depending on different metals.The structure evolution of the OM-TMS@NCs over the solvent-free nanocasting process is studied in detail for a deep understanding of the synthesis.As demonstrations,these materials are promising for electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction and lithium ion storage with high performances.展开更多
Hierarchically porous carbon materials are promising for energy storage,separation and catalysis.It is desirable but fairly challenging to simultaneously create ultrahigh surface areas,large pore volumes and high N co...Hierarchically porous carbon materials are promising for energy storage,separation and catalysis.It is desirable but fairly challenging to simultaneously create ultrahigh surface areas,large pore volumes and high N contents in these materials.Herein,we demonstrate a facile acid-base enabled in situ molecular foaming and activation strategy for the synthesis of hierarchically macro-/meso-/microporous N-doped carbon foams(HPNCFs).The key design for the synthesis is the selection of histidine(His)and potassium bicarbonate(PBC)to allow the formation of 3D foam structures by in situ foaming,the PBC/His acid-base reaction to enable a molecular mixing and subsequent a uniform chemical activation,and the stable imidazole moiety in His to sustain high N contents after carbonization.The formation mechanism of the HPNCFs is studied in detail.The prepared HPNCFs possess 3D macroporous frameworks with thin well-graphitized carbon walls,ultrahigh surface areas(up to 3200 m^2 g^-1),large pore volumes(up to 2.0 cm^3 g^-1),high micropore volumes(up to 0.67 cm^3 g^-1),narrowly distributed micropores and mesopores and high N contents(up to 14.6 wt%)with pyrrolic N as the predominant N site.The HPNCFs are promising for supercapacitors with high specific capacitances(185-240 F g^-1),good rate capability and excellent stability.They are also excellent for CO2 capture with a high adsorption capacity(~4.13 mmol g^-1),a large isosteric heat of adsorption(26.5 kJ mol^-1)and an excellent CO2/N2 selectivity(~24).展开更多
Monodisperse droplet spray dryers have great advantages in particle formation through spray drying because of their ability to produce uniform sized particles. Experimental analyses of this system have shown that drop...Monodisperse droplet spray dryers have great advantages in particle formation through spray drying because of their ability to produce uniform sized particles. Experimental analyses of this system have shown that droplets atomized through the piezoceramic nozzle need to be sufficiently well dispersed before entering the drying chamber to achieve sufficiently dried particles. However, the dispersion dynamics cannot be readily observed because of experimental limitations, and key factors influencing the dispersion state currently remain unclear. This study carried out numerical simulations for droplet dispersions in the dispersion chamber, which allow this important process to be visualized. The system- atic and quantitative analyses on the dispersion states provide valuable data for improving the design of the dispersion chamber, and optimizing the spray drying operation.展开更多
文摘Biology is a rich source of great ideas that can inspire us to find successful ways to solve the challenging problems in engineering practices including those in the chemical industry. Bio-inspired chemical engineering(Bio Ch E)may be recognized as a significant branch of chemical engineering. It may consist of, but not limited to, the following three aspects: 1) Chemical engineering principles and unit operations in biological systems; 2) Process engineering principles for producing existing or developing new chemical products through living ‘devices';and 3) Chemical engineering processes and equipment that are designed and constructed through mimicking(does not have to reproduce one hundred percent) the biological systems including their physical–chemical and mechanical structures to deliver uniquely beneficial performances. This may also include the bio-inspired sensors for process monitoring. In this paper, the above aspects are defined and discussed which establishes the scope of BioChE.
基金supported by the Science and Technology Program of Suzhou(SNG2021029)the Educational Commission of Jiangsu Province of China(20KJA150011)the Priority Academic Program Development(PAPD)of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions and the Program of Innovative Research Team of Soochow University.
文摘Se-chitosan with a high Se content of 139 mg/g was successfully synthesized using the glacial acetic acid-sodium selenite(HAc-Na2SeO3)method.The chemical structure of Se-chitosan was characterized by FTIR,XRD,TGA,UV–vis and 13C NMR,confirming that selenite acid was introduced into chitosan via the esterification reaction of the hydroxyl group at C6 and the electrostatic interaction of the amino group at C2 of chitosan.Agarose hydrogels were designed as an efficient carrier of Se-chitosan for Se-enriched cultivation of sprouts.The hydrogels exhibited a porous structure,which is beneficial for Se diffusion in hydrogels.The growth indexes of sprouts grown in Agar/Se-chitosan composite hydrogels with different Se concentrations,including plant weight,plant height and Se content,were investigated.The results showed that in the Se-enriched cultivation of sprouts,Se-chitosan possessed an excellent Se enrichment effect.As the Se concentration in Agar/Se-chitosan composite hydrogels increases from 0 to 1600μg/L,the Se content of the sprouts will also increase from 0.92 mg/kg to 6.79 mg/kg accordingly.Moreover,it is necessary to control the amount of Se-chitosan added to the hydrogels;otherwise,the growth of sprouts will be inhibited.This research provided a simple and effective method for the fabrication of Secontaining hydrogels for Se-enriched cultivation of sprouts.
基金Financial supports from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.21875153 and 21501125)the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province(No.BK20150312)+1 种基金the Suzhou Bureau of Science and Technology(No.SYG201637)are much appreciatedWe also thank the Young Thousand Talented Program(2015)of China,the Priority Academic Program Development(PAPD)of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions and the Project of Scientific and Technologic Infrastructure of Suzhou(No.SZS201708)for supports.
文摘Transition metal sulfides (TMSs) have a wide range of applications owing to their intriguing properties.Significant efforts have been devoted to nanostructuring TMSs to enhance their properties and performance,still there is a high need in general synthesis of TMS nanostructures.Herein,for the first time,a simple solvent free reactive nanocasting approach that integrates solid precursor loading,in-situ sulfuration and carbonization into a single heating step is developed for the universal synthesis of ordered mesoporous TMS@N-doped carbon composites (denoted as OM-TMS@NCs) with methionine (Met) and metal chlorides as the precursors and the mesoporous silica (SBA-15) as the hard template.A series of OM-TMS@NCs with a hexagonal mesostructure,ultra-high surface areas (430-754 m2·g-1),large pore volumes (0.85-1.32 cm3·g-1),and unique TMS stoichiometries,including MoS2,Fe7S8,Co9S8,NiS,Cu7S4 and ZnS,are obtained.Two distinct structure configurations,namely,highly dispersed ultrathin TMS nanosheets within NCs and TMS@NC co-nanowire arrays,can be obtained depending on different metals.The structure evolution of the OM-TMS@NCs over the solvent-free nanocasting process is studied in detail for a deep understanding of the synthesis.As demonstrations,these materials are promising for electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction and lithium ion storage with high performances.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.21875153,21501125)the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province(BK20150312)the Jiangsu Shuangchuang Team Program is appreciated.
文摘Hierarchically porous carbon materials are promising for energy storage,separation and catalysis.It is desirable but fairly challenging to simultaneously create ultrahigh surface areas,large pore volumes and high N contents in these materials.Herein,we demonstrate a facile acid-base enabled in situ molecular foaming and activation strategy for the synthesis of hierarchically macro-/meso-/microporous N-doped carbon foams(HPNCFs).The key design for the synthesis is the selection of histidine(His)and potassium bicarbonate(PBC)to allow the formation of 3D foam structures by in situ foaming,the PBC/His acid-base reaction to enable a molecular mixing and subsequent a uniform chemical activation,and the stable imidazole moiety in His to sustain high N contents after carbonization.The formation mechanism of the HPNCFs is studied in detail.The prepared HPNCFs possess 3D macroporous frameworks with thin well-graphitized carbon walls,ultrahigh surface areas(up to 3200 m^2 g^-1),large pore volumes(up to 2.0 cm^3 g^-1),high micropore volumes(up to 0.67 cm^3 g^-1),narrowly distributed micropores and mesopores and high N contents(up to 14.6 wt%)with pyrrolic N as the predominant N site.The HPNCFs are promising for supercapacitors with high specific capacitances(185-240 F g^-1),good rate capability and excellent stability.They are also excellent for CO2 capture with a high adsorption capacity(~4.13 mmol g^-1),a large isosteric heat of adsorption(26.5 kJ mol^-1)and an excellent CO2/N2 selectivity(~24).
文摘Monodisperse droplet spray dryers have great advantages in particle formation through spray drying because of their ability to produce uniform sized particles. Experimental analyses of this system have shown that droplets atomized through the piezoceramic nozzle need to be sufficiently well dispersed before entering the drying chamber to achieve sufficiently dried particles. However, the dispersion dynamics cannot be readily observed because of experimental limitations, and key factors influencing the dispersion state currently remain unclear. This study carried out numerical simulations for droplet dispersions in the dispersion chamber, which allow this important process to be visualized. The system- atic and quantitative analyses on the dispersion states provide valuable data for improving the design of the dispersion chamber, and optimizing the spray drying operation.
