Use of polymers for cement-based structural materials

Cement-based materials are widely used in the civil infrastructure. Polymers as admixtures can improve the properties, particularly in relation to water absorption reduction, toughness enhancement, vibration damping and increase of the bond strength of cement to reinforcements. Polymeric admixtures include particles, short fibers and organic liquids. Latex in the form of an aqueous particle dispersion is most common. Other than being used as admixtures, polymers are used as partial replacement of fine aggregate, for coating, sealing and repairing concrete and for coating steel reinforcing bars for corrosion protection.     

Synthesis of LiFePO4 with fine particle by co-precipitation method

LiFePO₄ is a potential candidate for the cathode material of the lithium secondary batteries. A co-precipitation method was adopted to prepare LiFePO₄ because it is simple and cheap. Nitrogen gas was needed to prevent oxidation of Fe²⁺ in the aqueous solution. The co-precipitated precursor shows the high reactivity with the reductive gas, and the single phase of LiFePO₄ is successfully synthesized with the aid of carbon under less reductive conditions. LiFePO₄ fine powder prepared by co-precipitation method shows high rate capability, impressive specific capacity and cycle property.     

Solution of a multidimensional inverse radiation problem by means of mode reduction

The Karhunen–Loève Galerkin procedure is employed to solve an inverse radiation problem of determining the time‐varying strength of a heat source, which mimics flames in a furnace, from temperature measurements in three‐dimensional participating media where radiation and conduction occur simultaneously. The inverse radiation problem is solved through the minimization of a performance function, which is expressed by the sum of square residuals between calculated and observed temperature, using a conjugate gradient method. Through the Karhunen–Loève Galerkin procedure, one can represent the system dynamics with a minimum degree of freedom, and consequently the amount of computation required in the solution of the inverse problem is reduced drastically when the present technique is adopted. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Workplane illuminance prediction method for daylighting control systems

A new prediction method with an interior light sensor for the workplane illuminance in daylighting control systems is introduced. Based on radiosity theory, the spatial distributions of daylight and electric light in the space are discussed and the prediction method is developed. An experimental verification of the technique is performed in an outdoor test-room for a double-glazed window system with a motorized venetian blind integrated between the two glazings. Electric light and daylight predictions were performed in accordance with the proposed method. The results showed that the electric light workplane illuminance can be predicted with high accuracy (±5 lux error with a linear correlation) and that the daylight workplane illuminance can be predicted within ±20 lux (with a linear correlation) for any sky conditions (overcast, clear sky, or variable) with the window system controlled to prevent direct daylight transmission. This method is useful for integrated control of motorized daylighting devices and dimmable electric lights.     

High performance biofilm process for treating wastewater discharged from coal refining plants containing nitrogen, cyanide and thiocyanate.

Wastewater discharge from coal refining plants contains a number of biologically toxic compounds; 2000-2500 mg/l of COD of which 40% is composed of phenol, 100-400 mg/l of thiocyanate, 10-40 mg/l of cyanide, 100-250 mg/l of NH4+-N and 150-300 mg/l of total nitrogen. In order to treat this kind of high strength wastewater, we have developed a high performance biofilm process using fluidizing bio-carriers of the tube chip type. The fluidizing biofilm carriers are made of a composite of polyethylene and several inorganic materials, whose density is controlled at 0.97-0.98 g/ml. The fluidizing biofilm carriers show sound fluidization characteristics inside bioreactors. The wastewater is treated using three consecutive series reactors in oxic-anoxic-oxic arrangement. Each reactor is charged with the fluidizing biofilm carriers of 50 vol%. Furthermore, newly cultured active microorganisms for the thiocyanate biodegradation are added in the biofilm process. At total hydraulic retention time of 2.2 days, this process can achieve steady state removal efficiencies: COD, 99%; thiocyanate, 99%; NH4+-N, 99% and total nitrogen, 90%.     

Optical characteristics of waste stabilization ponds: recommendations for monitoring.

The optical character of waste stabilization ponds (WSPs) is of concern for several reasons. Algal photosynthesis, which produces oxygen for waste oxidation in WSPs, is influenced by attenuation of sunlight in ponds. Disinfection in WSPs is influenced by optical characteristics because solar UV exposure usually dominates inactivation. The optical nature of WSPs effluent also affects assimilation by receiving waters. Despite the importance of light behaviour in WSPs, few studies have been made of their optical characteristics. We discuss simple optical measures suitable for routine monitoring of WSPs (including at sites remote from laboratories): optical density of filtrates - an index of dissolved coloured organic (humic) matter, visual clarity - to provide an estimate of the beam attenuation coefficient (a fundamental quantity needed for optical modelling) colour (hue) - as an indicator of general WSP 'condition' and irradiance attenuation quantifying depth of light penetration. The value of optical characterisation of WSPs is illustrated with reference to optical data for WSPs in NZ (including high-rate algal ponds) treating dairy cattle wastewater versus domestic sewage. We encourage increased research on optical characteristics of WSPs and the incorporation of optical measures in monitoring and modelling of WSP performance.     

Spectrum efficient region-based resource allocation with fractional loading for FH-OFDMA cellular systems

A practical resource management method that can significantly reduce cochannel interference (CCI) and improve spectrum utilisation in FH-OFDMA packet-based cellular networks is presented. The proposed method seeks an effective combination of dynamic resource allocation with fractional coding and bit loading to respectively minimise CCI and maximise system throughput for a desired performance.     

Effects of surfactant/silica and silica/cerium ratios on the characteristics of mesoporous Ce-MCM-41

Using the surfactant CTMABr (cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide) and cerium(IV) sulfate, mesoporous Ce-MCM-41 molecular sieves were produced under a hydrothermal condition with various surfactant/silica (surfactant/Si) and silica/cerium (Si/Ce) ratios. Changes to the structural traits caused by changing the molar ratios of both surfactant/Si and Si/Ce were investigated. XRD (X-ray diffraction), FT-IR (fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), and SEM (scanning electro microscopy) were used for the characterization of prepared mesoporous samples. Among the tested molar ratios, surfactant/Si ratio of 0.5 and 0.2 showed highest values of d_1 0 0 and intensity, respectively, for the Si-MCM-41. XRD analysis also identified a quintessential hexagonal structure of Ce-MCM-41 for the Si/Ce molar ratio higher than 40 (maintaining the surfactant/Si ratio at 0.2). When cerium content was increased to have the Si/Ce molar ratio of 20, the hexagonal structure of Ce-MCM-41 was collapsed due to the structural stress of substituted cerium. FT-IR results confirmed calcination of Ce-MCM-41 and the incorporation of Ce⁴⁺ ions of cerium sulfate into the silica surface with proper removal of the surfactant. Rod-like shape with rounded edges of the prepared Ce-MCM-41 samples was identified by SEM. These results suggest surfactant/Si ratio of 0.2 and Si/Ce ratio of 40 for the production of Ce-MCM-41 with the highest level of crystallinity.