The application of aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) is a cost-effective and simple method of protein separation (including enzymes) from complex systems. The first stage of designing the protein purification process in an ATPS involves the identification of the conditions for the formation of a given extraction system. For this purpose, the conditions for the formation of ATPSs in a thermoseparating EO50PO50 polymer/potassium phosphates system have been studied. Factors determining the ATPS formation comprised: separation temperature (4ºC or 20ºC), phosphate solution pH (6, 7.5 or 9) as well as the concentration of NaCl introduced into the systems (0.085 M, 0.475 M and 0.85 M). ATPS without NaCl were prepared as well. The conditions for the formation of the primary EO50PO50/potassium phosphate ATPS were determined with their phase diagrams. It was observed that with an increase of phosphate pH and NaCl concentration in the system, there was a decrease of the EO50PO50 and phosphate concentrations necessary to form a primary ATPS. After the primary two-phase separation, the top phase (rich in the EO50PO50 polymer) was partitioned from the bottom phase (rich in phosphates). Next, by means of polymer phase thermoseparation, a secondary two-phase system was formed. In the secondary EO50PO50/phosphate ATPS, the bottom phase was formed by the concentrated EO50PO50 polymer (30-80% concentration), while the top phase by a solution composed mainly of water, containing phosphate ions and remains of EO50PO50 polymer (3-7%).
Thermodynamic descriptions of the ternary Fe-B-V system and its binary sub-system B-V, are developed using experimental thermodynamic and phase equilibrium data from the literature. The thermodynamic parameters of the other binaries, Fe-V and Fe-B, are taken from earlier assessments slightly modifying the Fe-V description. The work is in the context of a new Fe-B-X (X = Cr, Ni, Mn, V, Si, Ti, C) database.
The solution phases are described using substitutional solution model. The borides are treated as stoichiometric or semi-stoichiometric phases and described with two-sublattice models.
Thermodynamic description of the Fe-B-C system in its iron-rich corner is developed in the context of a new Fe-B-X (X = Cr, Ni, Mn, Si, Ti, V, C) database. The thermodynamic parameters of the binary sub-systems, Fe-B, Fe-C and B-C, are taken from earlier assessments modifying the B-C description. The parameters of the Fe-B-C system are optimized in this study using experimental thermodynamic and phase equilibrium data from the literature. Liquid, beta-rhombo-B and graphite phases are described using the substitutional solution model, while the ferrite (bcc), the austenite (fcc), the cementite (M3C) and the M23C6 phases are described with the sublattice model and the borides, Fe2B, FeB and B4C, are treated as stoichiometric phases. A good correlation was obtained between the calculated and the experimental thermodynamic and phase equilibrium data. The description is recommended to be used at the composition region of wt% C + wt% B < 15 and at temperatures below 2700oC.
Thermodynamic descriptions of the ternary Fe-B-Cu system and its binary sub-system B-Cu aredeveloped in the context of a new Fe-B-X (X = Cr, Cu, Mn, Mo, Ni, Si, Ti, V, C) database. The thermodynamic parameters of the other binary sub-systems (Fe-B and Fe-Cu) are taken from earlier assessments. Experimental thermodynamic and phase equilibrium data available in the literature have been used for the optimization of the Fe-B-Cu and B-Cu systems’ thermodynamic parameters. The solution phases are described using a substitutional solution model and the compounds (two borides of the Fe-B system) are treated as stoichiometric phases. A good agreement was obtained between the calculated and the experimental thermodynamic and phase equilibrium data.
Thermodynamic optimizations of the ternary Fe-B-Ti system and its binary sub-system, B-Ti are presented. The thermodynamic descriptions of the other binaries, Fe-Ti and Fe-B, are taken from the earlier studies slightly modifying the Fe-Ti system assessment. The adjustable parameters of the Fe-B-Ti and B-Ti systems are optimized in this study using the experimental thermodynamic and the phase equilibrium data from the literature. The solution phases of the system are described using the substitutional solution model and the compounds (including borides) are treated as stoichiometric phases. The results show a good correlation between the calculated and measured thermodynamic and phase equilibrium data.
Thermodynamic descriptions of the ternary Fe-B-Si system and its binary sub-system, B-Si, are developed in the context of a new Fe-B-X (X = Cr, Ni, Mn, V, Si, Ti, C) database. The thermodynamic parameters of the other binary sub-systems, Fe-Si and Fe-B, are taken from earlier assessments. Experimental thermodynamic and phase equilibrium data available in the literature has been used for the optimization of the thermodynamic parameters of the Fe-B-Si and B-Si systems. The solution phases are described using substitutional solution model and the compounds (silicides and borides) are treated as stoichiometric phases. The calculated and experimental thermodynamic and phase equilibrium data were found to be in good agreement.
Ti-containing steel weld metals with Al contents of 0.01-0.085% were prepared. The effects of Al contents on the inclusions evolution were investigated by means of thermodynamic calculations coupled with electron probe micro-analyses and transmission electron microscopy. The results show that the inclusions in the 0.01% Al weld metal are mainly composed of ilmenite with some amounts of (Mn-Si-Al)-oxide and titanial_spinel. When Al content is increased up to 0.035%, a more amount of corundum and a small amount of pseudobrookite are formed. In 0.085% Al weld metal, the (Mn-Si-Al)-oxide disappears completely, and the inclusions contain a substantial amount of corundum, in addition to a minimal amount of pseudobrookite. Ti3O5, MnTi2O4 and MnTiO3 are the primary constituents of pseudobrookite, titanial_spinel and ilmenite, respectively. Titanial_spinel and ilmenite have higher amounts of Mn, but lower Ti levels compared with pseudobrookite. In the case of presence of a considerable amounts of titanial_spinel and ilmenite, Mn-depleted zone is formed in matrix around the inclusions.
Thermodynamic optimizations of the ternary Fe-B-Mo system and its binary sub-system B-Mo are presented. The Fe-B-Mo description is then extended to the quaternary Fe-B-Cr-Mo system by assessing the ternary B-Cr-Mo system. The thermodynamic descriptions of the other binaries (Fe-B, Fe-Cr, Fe-Mo, B-Cr, and Cr-Mo) and the other ternaries (Fe-B-Cr and Fe-Cr-Mo) are taken from earlier studies. In this study, the adjustable parameters of the B-Mo, Fe-B-Mo, and B-Cr-Mo systems were optimized using the experimental thermodynamic and the phase equilibrium data from the literature. The solution phases of the system (liquid, bcc and fcc) are described with the substitutional solution model, and most borides are treated as stoichiometric phases or semistoichiometric phases, using a simple two-sublattice model for the latter. The system’s intermetallic phases, Chi, Mu, R, and Sigma (not dissolving boron) as well as boride M3B2, based on a formulation of (Cr,Fe)(Cr,Fe,Mo)2(B)2, are described with a three-sublattice model. Reasonable agreement is obtained between the calculated and measured phase equilibria in all four systems: B-Mo; Fe-B-Mo; B-Cr-Mo; and Fe-B-Cr-Mo.