In the process of freeze concentration (FC), the main problems in operating the counter‐current wash column used for separating ice from ice slurries are channeling and viscous fingering. These phenomena lead to the mixing of pure water and mother liquid, as well as entrainment of mother liquid within the removed ice. Experimental and thermal analysis of the wash front interface in this research relates ice melting and wash front breakthrough with the operating conditions (such as the wash water temperature, ice bed temperature and porosity). Criteria for wash front stability are proposed. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009

The SiO2 coated Al thin films deposited on glass substrate for solar front reflectors were designed using Essential Macleod Program (EMP) and successfully fabricated by magnetron sputtering. The obtained thin films showed high reflectivity (up to 89.51%) under the light wavelength ranged from 250 to 2500 nm, which was identical with calculated results. Moreover, the thin films showed high anti-corrosion properties after the harsh abrasion tests. The high performance of the thin films was mainly attributed to the SiO2 layer, which served as a good protection without serious degradation of reflectivity, demonstrating the bright prospects for outdoor solar front reflectors.

The pyrolysis characteristics of oil sludge and coal mixed fuel in an argon atmosphere were studied by thermogravimetric analyzer. Factors that affect the pyrolysis process were analyzed. The pyrolysis mechanism equation of the oil sludge and coal fuel was determined. Hereafter, the dynamic properties were provided, namely the activation energy and frequency factor. In this paper, pyrolysis of the mixture occurs in six distinct steps, each accompanied by its unique reactionary mechanics. The activation energy at each step increased with respect to temperature (presenting an initial increase and subsequent decrease). as the rate of temperature increase was amplified, each respective step has its activation energy slightly reduced. Moreover, the mixture shows the influence of non-linear relationships during pyrolysis.

Pyrolysis characteristics of edible mushroom bran with different heating rates were investigated applying a thermogravimetric analyzer (TG) coupled with a Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer. The pyrolysis experiments were performed up to 1073 K at heating rates of 10, 20, 30 K/min in a dynamic nitrogen flow of 20 ml/min. The results show that important differences on the pyrolytic behavior and product distributions are observed when heating rate is changed. At the lower heating rates, the starting temperature, final temperature of pyrolysis and the maximum rates of mass losses were relatively low. When the heating rate was increased, the starting temperature, final temperature of pyrolysis and the maximum rates of mass losses also increased. There have three stages: the first-stage was from the temperature of 20 to110°C with a weight loss of 12.33~14.36%; the second-stage was from 220°C to 400°C with a weight loss of 45.09~49.59%; the third stage was from 400 to 800°Cwith a weight loss of 15.11%~ 15.34%. The main pyrolysis vapour was CO2, phenol , and significant amounts of H2O, hydrocarbon, carbonyl compounds and acids.