[en] Hydrogen is a kind of green fuel, and is considered as the substitute oil fuel for future. Although many of literature of photocatalyst water splitting have been presented, little of the literature focused on their energy conversions. Therefore, investigation of their energy conversions is carried out by simulation in this paper. Large energy is consumed in the plant for 1000 m"3 hydrogen fuels. In where, the efficiencies of hydrogen fuel generation are 29.9%, 15.6%, 10.5% and 7.95%, corresponding to the cases of one, two, three or four photons are needed to excite and generate one free electron by artificial light. While nature sunlight is utilized, the efficiencies are 48.4%, 25.2%, 17.8% and 13.6% corresponding to the four cases respectively; and the ratio between the combustion heat of generated hydrogen fuels and the total electric energy consumption is 319.0–333.0 %. - Highlights: • A detailed model of water splitting for hydrogen fuel is developed. • The least electron consumption for light irradiation is investigated. • The energy efficiency of hydrogen fuel generation is investigated. • The energy balance in the chamber is investigated

[en] Highlights: • Hydrogen free radicals are generated from water splitting. • Hydrogen fuel is generated from water by electric field induction. • Hydrocarbon fuel is generated from CO_2 and water by electric field induction. - Abstract: Water is the most abundant resource for generating hydrogen fuel. In addition to dissociating H"+ and "−OH ions, certain water molecules dissociate to radicals under an electric field are considered. Therefore, an electric field inducing reactor is constructed and operated to generate hydrogen free radicals in this paper. Hydrogen free radicals begin to be generated under a 1.0 V electric field, and increasing the voltage and temperature increases the number of hydrogen free radicals. The production rate of hydrogen free radicals is 0.245 mmol/(L h) at 5.0 V and room temperature. The generated hydrogen free radicals are converted to polymer fuel and hydrogen fuel at production rates of 0.0093 mmol/(L h) and 0.0038 mmol/(L h) respectively, under 5.0 V and 0.25 mA. The results provide a way to generate hydrogen free radicals, which might be used to generate hydrocarbon fuel in industrial manufacture.

[en] The functionalization of polysaccharides with synthetic nanopolymers has attracted great attention owing to the applications of this method in many industrial fields. This work aimed to investigate the effect of arsenic trioxide on the functionalization of dextran. Dextran-arsenite nanoparticle formation was induced by microwave with sulfuric acid as a catalyst. Various analytical techniques were used to verify the structure of the nanopolymers. Besides, various reaction conditions, such as dextran concentration, arsenic trioxide concentration and pH, were investigated to determine their impact on particle size. The results indicated that the product was an arsenite-based nanomaterial retaining the basic configuration of dextran and that the product size was positively correlated with pH but negatively correlated with arsenic trioxide concentration. Moreover, the inhibitory effects of the dextran-arsenite nanoparticles on the growth of the human colorectal cancer cell line HCT-116 and human hepatoma carcinoma cell lines Huh-7 and SMMC-7721 were studied. The results showed that the product could inhibit the proliferation of these three tumor cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. Therefore, the product could be a new type of functional nanomaterial for further study on the synthesis, biological activity and development of polysaccharide drugs. (author)

[en] Highlights: • Investigating and analyzing basic demands of heat energy and electrical energy. • Boiler/Turbines CHP will not be adopted in view of insufficient electrical energy. • Plant availability has the greatest impact on the payback period. • Feasibility follows: reciprocating > micro-turbine > common manner > Boiler/Turbines. Energy demands of a cassava starch plant (CSP) were investigated and modeled. Four combined heat and power (CHP) systems using biogas were evaluated and compared, including energy self-support, economic feasibility and environmental impacts. Assessment results indicated that CHP system with reciprocating internal-combustion engine (ICE-CHP) and micro turbine (MT-CHP) can meet all the energy demands of the CSP. ICE-CHP technologies obtained the best profit, followed by MT-CHP, B/T-CHP and common system. The four systems are economically feasible, ICE-CHP showed better economy than MT-CHP system. Both ICE-CHP and MT-CHP systems have the lowest environmental impacts comparing to other CHP systems in view of emissions. ICE-CHP should be suggested firstly considering the short payback period (4.57 year), the lowest environmental impacts and 100% of energy self-support. Boiler/Turbines CHP (B/T-CHP) will not be adopted as it is unable to supply all the electricity needs of the CSP. Plant availability shows the greatest impact on the payback period. If the investment cost of MT-CHP decreases by more than 12.7%, MT-CHP would have better economy than ICE-CHP. The results are helpful for the management of CSP to select the suitable CHP technology.