Targeting for cogeneration potential through total site integration

Total site integration offers energy conservation opportunities across different individual processes and also to design as well as to optimize the central utility system. In total site integration of the overall process, indirect integration with intermediate fluids or through a central utility system are preferred as it offers greater advantages of flexibility and process control but with reduced energy conservation opportunities. To achieve the maximum possible indirect integration between processes assisted heat transfer, i.e., heat transfer outside the region between process pinch points, plays a significant role. A new concept is proposed in this paper for total site integration by generating a site level grand composite curve (SGCC). Proposed SGCC targets the maximum possible indirect integration as it incorporates assisted heat transfer. In this paper, a methodology is proposed to estimate the cogeneration potential at the total site level, utilizing the concept of multiple utility targeting on the SGCC. The proposed methodology to estimate the cogeneration potential is simple and linear as well as utilizes the rigorous energy balance at each steam header.     

Solving conflicting bi-objective facility location problem by NSGA II evolutionary algorithm

This paper focuses on the facility location problem with two conflicting objectives. We observe that minimization of the total cost of a particular echelon may lead to the increase in the total cost of a supply chain as a whole. Thus, these conflicting objectives are required to be met together from a supply chain perspective. We have solved the problem formulated in mixed nonlinear programming by a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm (MOEA) known as non-dominated sorting algorithm, or NSGA II in short. Numerical example is provided to show the effect of the algorithm on the solution.     

Spinodal clustering induced dewetting and non-monotonic stabilization of polymer blend films at high nanofiller concentrations

We examine the effects of high fullerene nanoparticle (f-NP) concentrations, ?_f-NP ∼ (10–20) mass% on polystyrene (PS)/polybutadiene (PB) blend thin film stability. Dewetting of the polymer blend around spinodally clustered f-NPs in this high concentration limit leads to a spinodal like dewetting morphology. This is in contrast to our previously observed results on the stabilization effects of f-NPs on PS/PB blend thin films in the intermediate f-NP concentration range of 7–10 mass%, wherein, after saturating the polymer–blend interface, the NPs stabilize the film by segregating to the blend–substrate interface. We determine three regimes of polymer blend film stability as a function of filler concentration: a) ?_f-NP < 7 mass% where preferential segregation of the f-NPs to the polymer–polymer interface leads to macroscopic dewetting, b) ?_f-NP ∼ (7–10) mass% where PS/PB blend films exhibit complete film stability, and c) ?_f-NP ∼ (11–20) mass%, where spinodal clustering of the f-NPs gives rise to polymer–NP phase exclusion and subsequent dewetting.     

Sequential comparison of two treatments in clinical trials:a decision theoretic approach based on randomized play-the-winner rule

In the context of comparing two treatments in clinical trials randomized play-the-winner rule is used with the goal of treating more patients by the better treatment On its basis we give two decision rules by introducing stopping rule Some performance characteristics of one of the decision rules are discussed and examined .A minimax rule is suggested Finally some exact and asymptotic properties of the decision rule is derived     

Enzymatic characteristics of recombinant medium isozyme of 2'-5' oligoadenylate synthetase

P69 is an isozyme of the medium size class of human 2'-5' oligoadenylate synthetases. In this study, recombinant P69 was expressed and used for enzymological and structural investigations. Bacterially expressed P69 was inactive whereas the same protein expressed in insect cells was highly active. Whether this difference could be due to differential post-translational modifications of the protein was investigated. Mutations of appropriate residues showed that myristoylation of the protein was not necessary for enzyme activity. In contrast, inhibition of glycosylation of P69, by tunicamycin treatment of the insect cells, produced an enzymatically inactive protein. Recombinant P69 produced in insect cells was purified by affinity chromatography. It was a dimeric glycoprotein, very stable and completely dependent on double stranded (ds) RNA for activity. The enzyme catalyzed the non-processive synthesis of 2'-5'-linked oligoadenylate products containing up to 30 residues. 2'-O-Methylated dsRNA was incapable of activating P69 and a 25-base pair dsRNA was as effective as larger dsRNA. This expression system will be useful for large scale production of P69 and its mutants for structural studies.     

Carbohydrate polymers of chirata (Swertia chirata) leaves: Structural features, in vitro anti-oxidant activity and fluorescence quenching study

Chirata (Swertia chirata) is widely used in Indian folk medicine for the prevention of various disorders. Herein, we analyzed the water-extracted carbohydrate polymer (WECP) of this herb using chemical, chromatographic, and spectroscopic methods. The anti-oxidant capacity of this fraction was studied by ferric reducing anti-oxidant power (FRAP) and DPPH radical assays. Effect of WECP on bovine serum albumin spectrum (BSA) was determined using excitation wavelength of 282 nm. Anion exchange chromatography of WECP yielded 5 fractions (F1–F5) with different chemical compositions. The major fraction (F5) was homogeneous, had an apparent molecular mass of 4.5 kDa, and contains both carbohydrates (57%) and phenolics (34%). The anti-oxidant capacities of WECP and F5 were comparable to standard anti-oxidants. Notably, activities of the carbohydrate polymers (F1–F5) correlate with their phenolics content. Fluorescence quenching measurement suggests that F5 can form complex with BSA and the value of the binding constant is K=6.28×10⁵/M.     

Nanogold based electrochemical sensor for determination of norepinephrine in biological fluids

A stable layer of gold nano particles (AuNPs) was deposited on the surface of indium tin oxide (ITO) and was used as an electrode for the detection of norepinephrine (NE) by square wave voltammetry (SWV) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). This modified electrode exhibits potent and persistent electron-mediating behavior and a well-defined oxidation peak towards NE was observed. The peak potential of NE was observed at less positive potential with increase in peak current as compared to bare ITO and bare gold electrodes. NE exhibited two quasi-reversible couples at AuNPs modified ITO over the potential range from −0.6 to 0.8 V in phosphate buffer solution (PBS) (pH 7.2). At optimal experimental condition, the catalytic oxidative peak current was responsive with the NE concentrations ranging from 100 nM to 25 μM. The detection limit was found to be 87 nM. Also, the effect of pH revealed that the oxidation of NE at the AuNPs modified ITO involved the transfer of equal number of protons and electrons. The interfering effect of common coexisting metabolites in blood and urine has also been reported. The modified electrode exhibited high stability and reproducibility. A comparison of results with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) signalizes a good agreement.     

Wear Performance of Laser Processed Tantalum Coatings

This first generation investigation evaluates the in vitro tribological performance of laser-processed Ta coatings on Ti for load-bearing implant applications. Linear reciprocating wear tests in simulated body fluid showed one order of magnitude less wear rate, of the order of 10(-4)mm(3)(N.m)(-1), for Ta coatings compared to Ti. Our results demonstrate that Ta coatings can potentially minimize the early-stage bone-implant interface micro-motion induced wear debris generation due to their excellent bioactivity comparable to that of hydroxyapatite (HA), high wear resistance and toughness compared to popular HA coatings.     

Amine versus ammonia absorption of CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> as a measure of reducing GHG emission: a critical analysis

Carbon dioxide (CO₂), one of the green house gases (GHGs) is well known for more than a century. Its emission from the combustion of fossil fuels in addition to other industrial sources is adversely affecting the climate on earth. Climate change is emerging as a risk all over the world that has generated public concern. Estimates have indicated that power production contributes to the tune of 70% of the total CO₂ released into the atmosphere from fossil fuel combustion worldwide. Capturing and securely storing CO₂ from the global combustion systems thus constitutes an important and achievable target. A legion of researchers have thus far developed absorbents to remove CO₂ from combustion facilities that are currently recognized globally as most effective. The cost of capturing CO₂ can be reduced by finding a low-cost solvent that can minimize energy requirements, equipment size, and corrosion. Monoethanolamine is being used for removing CO₂ from the exhaust streams and is a subject inculcated over a period of about last 80 odd years. Host of such other amines are being investigated and put into practice. However, commercializations of such operating plants for capturing CO₂ from power plants in the world are few and far between. On the other hand, aqueous ammonia is the other chemical solvent for capturing CO₂ that has proven experimentally to be more effective than amine-based processes. This communication aims at critically elucidating relative merits and demerits of ammonia and amine-based CO₂ capture options from the exhausts of coal fired thermal power plants (TPPs). It includes the life cycle CO₂ emissions for both the processes. Finally, it is estimated that a total emission of about 152 Mt CO₂-equivalent could occur after use of 100 Mt ammonium bicarbonate (NH₄HCO₃) as synthetic N-fertilizer that is about 50% of the total CO₂ captured (315 Mt) for producing the fertilizer, NH₄HCO₃. Clearly, this estimate demonstrates that the synthetic N-fertilizer, NH₄HCO₃, produced by NH₃ scrubbing of CO₂ from fossil fuel (e.g., coal) fired TPP could have a significant beneficial environmental impact so far as GHG emission is concerned.