We present a density functional theory investigation of the interaction between water and cerium oxide surfaces, considering both the stoichiometric and the reduced surfaces. We study the atomic structure and energetics of various configurations of water adsorption (for a water coverage of 0.25 ML) and account for the effect of temperature and pressure of the environment, containing both oxygen...

The surface heat transfer efficiency of three heating media (water, and forced air with and without a water vapor-pressure deficit) was compared using four commodities: mango, papaya, grapefruit, and orange. Forced vapor-saturated-air (VFA), and water (HW) transferred heat most efficiently to the fruit surface. Thermal stress to the fruit was greatest during heating in VFA. Thermal diffusivity ...

A possibility of measuring water vapor column from diffuse irradiance, and thus the extension of optical retrievals to cloudy days, was investigated. The data from the Rotating Shadowband Spectroradiometer (RSS) during its winter deployment at the North Slope of Alaska (NSA) site is used. The initial analysis covers 20 days in March 1999 that include clear, partly cloudy, and overcast days. Dur...

Free films of pullulan-polymethacrylate associations were produced by casting process to develop a novel target-specific material. For characterization, tests of water vapor permeability, swelling index, infrared absorption spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy and mechanical analysis were performed. The polysaccharide concentration directly influenced vapor per...

The aim of this study was to characterize and determine the bi-functional efficacy of active packaging films produced with starch (4%) and glycerol (1.0%), reinforced with cellulose nanocrystals (0-1%) and activated with alcoholic extracts of red propolis (0.4 to 1.0%). The cellulose nanocrystals used in this study were extracted from licuri leaves. The films were characterized using moisture, ...

The effect of post-treatment upon the H₂O adsorption performance of biomass-based carbons was studied under post-combustion CO₂ capture conditions. Oxygen surface functionalities were partially replaced through heat treatment, acid washing, and wet impregnation with amines. The surface chemistry of the final carbon is strongly affected by the type of post-treatment: acid treatment introduces a ...

This study explores the preparation of corn starch (CS) films incorporated with nanocellulose fiber (NCF) and different concentrations thymol (0.1, 0.3, 0.5% weight thymol/volume solution (% w / v )) via solvent casting method. The resulting were characterized by functional chemistry, crystallinity, morphology, mechanical, thermal, barrier properties. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy ana...

This paper deals with the study of calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) and geopolymeric (GEO) binders as alternatives to ordinary Portland cement (OPC) for the production of more environmentally-friendly construction materials. For this reason, three types of mortar with the same mechanical strength class (R3 ≥ 25 MPa, according to EN 1504-3) were tested and compared; they were based on CSA cement, an...

Combining density-functional theory and thermodynamics we compute the phase diagram of surface structures of rutile RuO2(110) in equilibrium with water vapor in the complete range of experimentally accessible gas phase conditions. Through the formation of hydroxyl or water-like groups, already lowest concentrations of hydrogen in the gas phase are sufficient to stabilize an oxygen-rich polar ox...

Modification of soy protein film properties by heat-curing was studied. Glycerin-plasticized films were cast from alkaline aqueous solutions of soy protein isolate. Films were heated at 80 or 95°C for 2, 6, 14, or 24 h. Tensile strength (TS), elongation at break (E), moisture content (MC), water solubility (WS), water vapor permeability (WVP), and color of heated and control films were measured...