Air pollutants formed in thermal decomposition of folpet fungicide under oxidative conditions

This contribution studies the decomposition of folpet fungicide under oxidative conditions and compares the product species with those of captan fungicide, which is structurally related to folpet. Toxic products arising from folpet comprised carbon disulfide (highest emission factor of 4.9 mg g(-1) folpet), thiophosgene (14.4), phosgene (34.1), hydrogen cyanide (2.6), tetrachloroethylene (111), hexachloroethane (167), and benzonitrile (4.5). Owing to their related molecular structures, folpet emitted similar products to captan but at different yields, under the same experimental conditions. It appears that the availability of easily abstractable H atoms, in the structure of captan but not in that of folpet, defines the product distribution. In conjunction with the quantum chemical calculations, these experimental measurements afford an enhanced explanation of the formation pathways of hazardous decomposition products of these two structurally related fungicides.     

Energy and nutrient digestibilities in wheat dried distillers' grains with solubles fed to growing pigs

The aim of this study was to characterize the nutritional profile and to determine the digestibilities of nutrients in wheat‐based dried distillers' grains with solubles (DDGS) fed to growing pigs. Six ileal cannulated barrows individually housed in metabolism crates were fed experimental diets which consisted of a basal wheat‐based diet or the basal diet with wheat replaced by 400 g kg^?1 mixed wheat or winter wheat DDGS in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design. Ileal digesta and fecal samples were collected for determining apparent ileal (AID) and apparent total tract digestibilities (ATTD), respectively. The contents of proximate components and amino acids in DDGS were about three times higher than in wheat. The AID and ATTD of dry matter, nitrogen and energy were lower (P < 0.05) in DDGS compared with wheat. The DDGS samples had lower (P < 0.05) AID of amino acids compared with wheat; average values for lysine, threonine and isoleucine in DDGS were 43.8, 62.9 and 68.0%, respectively. The ileal and fecal digestible energy content in DDGS averaged 9.7 ± 1.18 and 13.5 ± 0.61 MJ kg^?1, respectively. Respective values for wheat were 13.3 ± 0.52 and 14.6 ± 0.22 MJ kg^?1 and both were higher (P < 0.05) than in DDGS. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Optimisation techniques to compare various selected drying schedules for larch timber

The paper deals with an investigation of the influence of the method used to assembly a drying schedule for larch (Larix) timber on kiln performance and quality of drying. Ten drying schedules were analysed (six from literature and four from industry) using a simulation tool, which was experimentally validated for larch. First, the methods were compared using various criteria, namely drying rate, drying cost, energy consumption and quality of drying. Second, a multi-criteria analysis was performed using one-factor multilevel-categoric design. The results of this study showed that the kiln performance and the drying quality are influenced by the method applied to assembly the schedule. Currently, none of the analysed methods can completely fulfill the industrial requirements (short time, low cost and high quality). According to a cluster analysis, the results showed that the analysed methods can be grouped into three clusters based on their similarities regarding the kiln performance and quality of drying.     

Influence of vitamin B6 supplementation on polyunsaturated fatty acids concentration in serum and liver of rats fed a diet restricted in protein

The influence of vitamin B6 on fatty acids content in serum and liver of rats receiving low protein diets was studied. Addition of B6 decreased linoleic acid (LA) and increased alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in serum of rats fed a protein-deficient diet (9% energy from proteins) for 3 months. Further restriction of dietary protein (4.5% of energy from protein) caused an increase of the DHA concentration and sum of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). In the liver of undernourished rats significant changes of PUFA composition were noticed, although without any significant influence of vitamin B6.     

Malted and unmalted oats in brewing

Using oats as a raw material in brewing has recently become the focus of increased interest. This is due to research findings that have shown that oats can be consumed safely by coeliac sufferers. It is also a response to consumer demand for products with novel sensory properties. In this study, beer was produced entirely from oat malt, from barley malt and from oat and barley malts mixed with various quantities of unmalted oats. Compared with barley wort, wort made from malted oats provided a lower extract content and had a higher protein content, but a lower free amino nitrogen content (FAN). The oat wort also showed increased viscosity and haze. The addition of unmalted oats during wort production produced significant changes in the physico‐chemical parameters of both oat and barley worts and beers. Unmalted oats caused an increase in wort viscosity and haze, and a reduction in total soluble nitrogen and FAN. Unmalted oats also contributed to lowering the concentration of higher alcohols and esters. Beer made from 100% oat and barley malts exhibited a similar alcohol content. The use of an oat adjunct in both cases resulted in a lower ethanol content. The introduction of enzyme preparations during the production of wort with oat adjunct had many benefits: increased extract content and FAN; a higher volume of wort; and a lower viscosity that led to faster wort filtration. This research suggests that the use of enzymes is necessary to make production using a high proportion of oats in the grist profitable. Copyright © 2014 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling     

Thermal energy savings in buildings with PCM-enhanced envelope: Influence of occupancy pattern and ventilation

Integration of building materials incorporating PCMs into the building envelope can result in increased efficiency of the built environment. A PCM-enhanced wall system is proposed in this paper and a simplified model for the heat exchange between the indoor environment and ambient was developed. The objective of the study was to assess the effect of occupancy pattern and ventilation on the energy savings potential of the wall system. It was found that (1) the occupancy pattern influences the value of the PCM melting point for which maximum energy savings value was reached and (2) the ventilation and its pattern reduces the relative value of the energy savings.     

Small-Scale Test Protocol for Firefighting Foams DEF(AUST)5706: Effect of Bubble Size Distribution and Expansion Ratio

The experimental program described in this paper sought to assess the suitability of the small scale DEF(AUST)5706 standard for measuring the suppression and burnback performance of Class B foams on pool fires. DEF(AUST)5706 is an Australian Defence standard mandatory for use by the Australian Navy, Army and Air Force. The test protocol required the measurement of the 3/4 control, extinguishment and 1/3 burnback times for a circular pan of aviation gasoline (AVGAS 100/130), 0.28 m² in surface area. The test program involved compressed-air foams (CAF) and aspirated foams of two expansion ratios, and employed two AFFF formulations: a 6% telomer concentrate and, to obtain base-line measurements, 3% PFOS FC-600 concentrate which was manufactured by the 3 M company prior to the PFOS phase out. At lower expansion (7:1), the aspirated and compressed-air foams demonstrated similar fire control performance, whilst more expanded (9:1) CAF was generally more efficient at extinguishing, but less efficient in controlling the fire. CAF formed a better seal over the fuel surface and at the hot pan walls, and these foams performed noticeably better than aspirated foam against fuel re-ignition. The paper links these observations with the underlying distributions of bubble sizes, which were measured and fitted to modified Rosin/Rammler cumulative volume distribution functions. We propose that a modified version of DEF(AUST)5706 be adopted as a universal small-scale test protocol.     

Observational aspects of sunspot oscillations

Oscillatory phenomena observed in sunspot umbrae and penumbrae are reviewed and critically discussed. A natural interplay between the thermal atmospheric stratification and the ordered collimation imposed by the intense magnetic field leads naturally to the characteristic properties of the umbral chromospheric and photospheric oscillations and their interpretation as low-beta (beta = 8pip/B2) slow magneto-acoustic-gravity waves guided along the ambient magnetic field.     

Combined effect of special grain boundaries and grain boundary carbides on IGSCC of Ni–16Cr–9Fe–xC alloys

Susceptibility to intergranular stress corrosion cracking in Ni–16Cr–9Fe–xC alloys in 360°C primary water is reduced with increasing fraction of special grain boundaries, i.e. coincident site lattice boundaries (CSLB) and low angle boundaries, and grain boundary carbides. Intergranular stress corrosion cracking (IGSCC) was investigated using interrupted constant extension rate tensile tests in a primary water environment at 360°C. Thermal–mechanical treatments were used to increase the fraction of special boundaries from approximately 20–25% to between 30 and 40%. In a carbon-doped heat, further heat treating was used to precipitate grain boundary carbides preferentially on high-angle boundaries (HAB). Orientation imaging microscopy was used to determine the relative grain misorientations and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to identify specific grain boundaries after each interruption. After each strain increment, the same regions in each sample were examined for cracking. Results showed that irrespective of the microstructure condition, CSLBs always cracked less than HABs. Results also showed that IGSCC is reduced with increasing solution carbon content, and for the same amount of carbon in solution, the addition of grain boundary carbides reduced IGSCC still further. The best microstructure was the one consisting of an enhanced CSLB fraction and chromium carbides precipitated preferentially on high-angle boundaries.     

Influence of Ammonium Nitrate Prills' Properties on Detonation Velocity of ANFO

Prilled/granulated ammonium nitrate is commonly used as a fertilizer and a basic ingredient of industrial explosives, especially of ANFO. One of the most important factors that affect the explosive properties of ANFO is the porosity of the prills/granules. This paper describes an attempt to manufacture ammonium nitrate prills of determined porosity in order to investigate its influence on the ANFO detonation velocity. A method of manufacturing porous ammonium nitrate prills with a high‐level of oil absorption (up to 20% by volume) was developed. The relations between porosity and granulometric distribution of ammonium nitrate prills versus the detonation velocity of ANFO were examined. It has been proved that the detonation velocity of ANFO increases significantly with higher porosity and smaller size of ammonium nitrate prills/granules. The influence of ANFO oxygen balance (researched by changing the content of fuel oil in the mixture) on detonation velocity has been determined for two kinds of ammonium nitrate prills–one with a low and another one with a high level of porosity.