Drying Of Vanilla Pods Using A Greenhouse Effect Solar Dryer

ABSTRACT

This paper describes the basic design of the GHE solar dryer and evaluates the performance of the dryer when used to dry vanilla pods. From laboratory test results it was indicated that the average drying time for vanilla pods was between 49 to 53, 5 hrs, for the case of heating augmentation using coal briquette stoves. The total amount of coal briquettes used to produce drying air temperature between 33 C to 65 C and RH of about 34% during day time was 61 kg equivalent to 6.1 kW heating rate and the average electric energy usage of 36.5 kWh, respectively. Quality test results indicated that the dried products were of grade IA of the export quality standard with vaniline content of 2.36%.     

Optimization of mechanical properties of recycled plastic products via optimal processing parameters using the Taguchi method

The large amount of plastic products presently produced necessitates recycling and reuse of these non-biodegradable materials. However, the degradation in the mechanical properties of products made from recycled plastic is a major drawback that limits their use. This study aims to improve the mechanical properties of products made from recycled plastic by utilizing the Taguchi optimization method, instead of coupling the products with additives. By adopting L₉ Taguchi OA, products made from various compositions of virgin and recycled plastic are produced by injection moulding. Four controllable factors (i.e., melt temperature, packing pressure, injection time, and packing time), each at three levels, are tested to determine the optimal combination of factors and levels in the manufacturing process. By determining the optimal combination of factors and levels, the appropriate blending ratio of virgin and recycled plastic can be evaluated from the mechanical performance exhibited by the compound. The effects of the optimal processing parameters and the addition of recycled plastic in various compositions on the mechanical properties and melt flow index of the produced parts are also investigated. The results reveal that the product made of 25% recycled polypropylene (PP) and 75% virgin PP exhibits a better flexural modulus compared to the virgin form. The same product exhibits a 3.4% decrease in flexural strength. The degradation in mechanical properties of products produced from recycled plastic can be improved by optimizing the influence processing parameters during the manufacturing process.     

Biodiesel (FAME) Productivity,Catalytic Efficiency and Thermal Stability of Lipozyme TL IM for Crude Palm Oil Transesterification with Methanol

Crude palm oil (CPO) transesterification with methanol at room temperature is an important factor for optimizing biodiesel processing costs with respect to energy input; in addition, good stability of expensive lipase activity was ensured and is reported in this study. The enzyme loading, agitation speed and reaction time at a constant operating temperature of 30 °C were studied to find favourable operational conditions using a factorial design. Statistical analysis was used to assist the enzymatic transesterification so that a reduced mass transfer effect was achieved to obtain high FAME yields. The combination of optimum enzyme loading of 6.67 wt% and 150 rpm agitation speed for the system at 30 °C gave 81.73% FAME yield at 4 h and a production rate of 85.86% FAME yield/h. The high viscosity of CPO observed at 30 °C compared to 40 °C hindered the achievement of 96.15% FAME yield at room temperature. It was found that an increase of 10 °C invariably deactivated the lipase, but was compensated by the enhanced FAME production rate with 96.15% FAME yield after only 4 h reaction time. Thus, 40 °C was considered the most suitable operating temperature for lipozyme TL IM to catalyze CPO transesterification.     

Key factor in rice husk Ash/CaO sorbent for high flue gas desulfurization activity

Siliceous materials such as rice husk ash (RHA) have potential to be utilized as high performance sorbents for the flue gas desulfurization process in small-scale industrial boilers. This study presents findings on identifying the key factorfor high desulfurization activity in sorbents prepared from RHA. Initially, a systematic approach using central composite rotatable design was used to develop a mathematical model that correlates the sorbent preparation variables to the desulfurization activity of the sorbent. The sorbent preparation variables studied are hydration period, x1 (6-16 h), amount of RHA, x2 (5-15 g), amount of CaO, x3 (2-6 g), amount of water, x4 (90-110 mL), and hydration temperature, x5 (150-250 degrees C). The mathematical model developed was subjected to statistical tests and the model is adequate for predicting the SO2 desulfurization activity of the sorbent within the range of the sorbent preparation variables studied. Based on the model, the amount of RHA, amount of CaO, and hydration period used in the preparation step significantly influenced the desulfurization activity of the sorbent. The ratio of RHA and CaO used in the preparation mixture was also a significant factor that influenced the desulfurization activity of the sorbent. A RHA to CaO ratio of 2.5 leads to the formation of specific reactive species in the sorbent that are believed to be the key factor responsible for high desulfurization activity in the sorbent. Other physical properties of the sorbent such as pore size distribution and surface morphology were found to have insignificant influence on the desulfurization activity of the sorbent.     

Evaluation of various additives on the preparation of rice husk ash (RHA)/CaO-based sorbent for flue gas desulfurization (FGD) at low temperature

This paper examines the effectiveness of 10 additives toward improving SO2 sorption capacities (SSC) of rice husk ash (RHA)/lime (CaO) sorbent. The additives examined are NaOH, CaCl2, LiCl, NaHCO3, NaBr, BaCl2, KOH, K2HPO4, FeCl3 and MgCl2. Most of the additives tested increased the SSC of RHA/CaO sorbent, whereby NaOH gave highest SSC (30mg SO2/g sorbent) at optimum concentration (0.25mol/l) compared to other additives examined. The SSC of RHA/CaO sorbent prepared with NaOH addition was also increases from 17.2 to 39.5mg SO2/g sorbent as the water vapor increases from 0% RH to 80% RH. This is probably due to the fact that most of additives tested act as deliquescent material, and its existence increases the amount of water collected on the surface of the sorbent, which played an important role in the reaction between the dry-type sorbent and SO2. Although most of the additives were shown to have positive effect on the SSC of the RHA/CaO sorbent, some were found to have negative or insignificant effect. Thus, this study demonstrates that proper selection of additives can improve the SSC of RHA/CaO sorbent significantly.     

Optimization of the enzyme-catalyzed synthesis of amino acid-based surfactants from palm oil fractions

The feasibility of using palm oil fractions as cheap and abundant sources of raw material for the synthesis of amino acid surfactants was investigated. Of a number of enzymes screened, the best results were obtained with the immobilized enzyme, Lipozyme. The effects of temperature, solvent, incubation period, fatty substrate/amino acid molar ratio, enzyme amount, and water removal on the reactions were analyzed and compared to those on reactions with free fatty acids and pure triglycerides as fatty substrates. All reactions were most efficient when carried out at high temperatures (70-80 degrees C) in hexane as a solvent. However, while reactions with free fatty acids proceeded better when a slight excess of the free fatty acids over the amino acids was used, reactions with triglycerides and palm oil fractions were best performed at equimolar ratios. Also, the addition of molecular sieves slightly enhanced reactions with free fatty acids but adversely affected reactions with triglycerides and palm oil fractions. Although reactions with palm oil fractions took longer (6 d) to reach equilibrium compared to reactions with free fatty acids (4 d) and pure triglycerides (4 d), better yields were obtained. Such lipase-catalyzed transacylation of palm oil fractions with amino acids is potentially useful in the production of mixed medium- to long-chain surfactants for specific applications.     

Carboxymethyl sago pulp/carboxymethyl sago starch hydrogel: Effect of polymer mixing ratio and study of controlled drug release

Carboxymethyl sag o pulp (CMSP)/carboxymethyl sago starch (CMSS) hydrogel was synthesized by electron beam irradiation. In the series of hydrogels prepared, 40%/20% CMSP/CMSS hydrogel had the highest gel fraction. The swelling capacity of CMSP/CMSS hydrogel was found to be highest in distilled water, followed by pH 11, pH 7.4, and pH 1.2. Scanning Electron Microscope photographs revealed that the drug‐loaded hydrogel had a smoother surface than unloaded hydrogel. Fourier Transform Infrared and Differential Scanning Calorimetry analysis showed the absence of interaction between the hydrogels and the drug. All drug‐loaded hydrogels had drug encapsulation efficiency between 63% and 69%. CMSP/CMSS hydrogel swelled and allowed the release of drug at pH 7.4. These properties qualify the hydrogel as a potential candidate for controlled drug release at the ocular and colonic regions. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43652.     

Gelam Honey Has a Protective Effect against Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-Induced Organ Failure

Gelam honey exerts anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities and is thought to have potent effects in reducing infections and healing wounds. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of intravenously-injected Gelam honey in protecting organs from lethal doses of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Six groups of rabbits (N = 6) were used in this study. Two groups acted as controls and received only saline and no LPS injections. For the test groups, 1 mL honey (500 mg/kg in saline) was intravenously injected into two groups (treated), while saline (1 mL) was injected into the other two groups (untreated); after 1 h, all four test groups were intravenously-injected with LPS (0.5 mg/kg). Eight hours after the LPS injection, blood and organs were collected from three groups (one from each treatment stream) and blood parameters were measured and biochemical tests, histopathology, and myeloperoxidase assessment were performed. For survival rate tests, rabbits from the remaining three groups were monitored over a 2-week period. Treatment with honey showed protective effects on organs through the improvement of organ blood parameters, reduced infiltration of neutrophils, and decreased myeloperoxidase activity. Honey-treated rabbits also showed reduced mortality after LPS injection compared with untreated rabbits. Honey may have a therapeutic effect in protecting organs during inflammatory diseases.     

Influence of slab milling process parameters on surface integrity of HSLA: a multi-performance characteristics optimization

An attempt has been made in this paper to determine the optimal setting of slab milling process parameters. Four process parameters, i.e. cutting fluid, cutting speed, feed and depth-of-cut each at three levels except the cutting fluid at two levels, were considered. The multi-performance characteristics of the process were measured in terms of surface integrity defined by surface roughness, surface strain and micro-hardness of the work-piece. Eighteen experiments, as per Taguchi’s?L₁₈ orthogonal array, were performed on high-strength low-alloy steel. Grey relational analysis, being a widely used technique for multi-performance optimization, was used to determine Grey relational grade. Subsequently, Taguchi response table method and ANOVA were used for data analysis. Confirmation experiment was conducted to determine the improvement in the surface integrity using this approach. Results revealed that machining done in the presence of cutting fluid, at a cutting speed of 1,800 r.p.m. with a feed of 150?mm/min and depth-of-cut of 0.23?mm, yielded the optimum multi-performance characteristics of the slab milling process. Further, the results of ANOVA indicated that all four machining parameters significantly affected the multi-performance with maximum contribution from depth-of-cut (33.76%) followed by feed (24.02%), cutting speed (16.29%) and cutting fluid (13.21%).