Petroleum Source Rock Assessments of the Upper Permian Strata in the Central Taurus Region of Turkey

This study presents the hydrocarbon source rock potential and organic maturity of the Upper Permian Tozara Formation in the Gazipa?a-Sugözü area in the central Taurus region. The Tozara Formation deposited oxic to dysoxic shelf conditions consists of algal limestone and organic matter-rich shales. In order to assess the hydrocarbon source rock potential of the Upper Permian lithologies, two different stratigraphic sections described and sampled for organic geochemical analyses and determination of mineralogical composition.     

Potential use of pyrite cinders as raw material in cement production: Results of industrial scale trial operations

Pyrite cinders, which are the waste products of sulphuric acid manufacturing plants, contain hazardous heavy metals with potential environmental risks for disposal. In this study, the potential use of pyrite cinders (PyCs) as iron source in the production of Portland cement clinker was demonstrated at the industrial scale. The chemical and mineralogical analyses of the PyC sample used in this study have revealed that it is essentially a suitable raw material for use as iron source since it contains >87% Fe₂O₃ mainly in the form of hematite (Fe₂O₃) and magnetite (Fe₃O₄). The samples of the clinkers produced from PyC in the industrial scale trial operation of 6 months were tested for the conformity of their chemical composition and the physico-mechanical performance of the resultant cement products. The data were compared with the clinker products of the iron ore, which is used as the raw material for the production Portland cement clinker in the plant. The chemical compositions of all the clinker products of PyC appeared to conform to those of the iron ore clinker, and hence, a Portland cement clinker. The mechanical performance of the mortars prepared from the PyC clinker was found to be consistent with those of the industrial cements e.g. CEM I type cements. It can be inferred from the leachability tests (TCLP and SPLP) that PyC could be a potential source of heavy metal pollution while the mortar samples obtained from the PyC clinkers present no environmental problems. These findings suggest that the waste pyrite cinders can be readily used as iron source for the production of Portland cement. The availability of PyC in large quantities at low cost provides further significant benefits for the management/environmental practices of these wastes and for the reduction of mining and processing costs of cement raw materials.     

Thermal contact conductance characterization via computational contact homogenization: A finite deformation theory framework

In order to predict the macroscopic thermal response of contact interfaces between rough surface topographies, a computational contact homogenization technique is developed at the finite deformation regime. The overall homogenization framework transfers macroscopic contact variables, such as surfacial stretch, pressure and heat flux, as boundary conditions on a test sample within a micromechanical interface testing procedure. An analysis of the thermal dissipation within the test sample reveals a thermodynamically consistent identification for the macroscopic thermal contact conductance parameter that enables the solution of a homogenized thermomechanical contact boundary value problem based on standard computational approaches. The homogenized contact response effectively predicts a temperature jump across the macroscale contact interface. The strong dependence of this homogenized response on macroscale solution variables of interest is demonstrated via representative three‐dimensional numerical investigations. The proposed contact homogenization framework is suitable for the analysis of similar energy transport phenomena across heterogeneous contact interfaces where the investigation of the sources for energy dissipation is of concern. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A design tool to evaluate the vehicle ride comfort characteristics: modeling, physical testing, and analysis

A greater need to enhance comfort characteristics during vehicle design process has recently forced the manufacturers to develop simulation-based approaches. In this study, a simulation-based model of a full-car suspension system is proposed to predict the ride comfort. A simulation model was created for calculating ride comfort effectively. This simulation uses seat-back, seat-surface, and feet acceleration values collected from four different road vehicles which were run on six different roads. Parameters which effect ride comfort were also investigated. Using these parameters, a simulation-based model of a full-car suspension system including engine and seat is created for predicting the ride comfort. The correlation between the results of physical tests and the simulation is very promising. It was found that the effect of an engine has a substantial influence on the ride comfort. To find the optimum values of each parameter, an optimization process was executed properly and added in the model. Using this model, the best ride comfort values were computed without the need of physical prototypes. The developed algorithm can be very helpful as an assistant tool for engineers during vehicle design and manufacturing process.     

Study on Synthesis, Characterization, Thermal Stability and Conductivity Properties of a New Conjugated Oligoazomethine and some of its Metal Complexes

A novel azomethine oligomer of 2,3-bis[(2-hydroxyphenyl)methylene]diaminopyridine (HPMDAP) was first synthesized by oxidative polycondensation reaction using air and NaOCl as oxidative agents. Optimum reaction conditions for the oxidative polycondensation and the main parameters of the process were established. At optimum reaction conditions, the yield of the product was found to be 69%. Oligomeric complexes of 2,3-bis[(2-hydroxyphenyl)methylene]diaminopyridine with Cd(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), Fe(II), Pb(II), Cr(III) and Zn(II) were successfully prepared. Structures of monomer, oligomer and some oligomer metal complexes obtained were confirmed by FT-IR, UV–vis, ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR and elemental analysis. Characterization was carried out by TG-DTA, size exclusion chromatography (SEC), magnetic moment and solubility tests. The ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR data showed that polymerization proceed by C–C coupling of ortho and para positions according to –OH group of HPMDAP. Elemental analysis of chelates suggests that the metal ligand ratio is about 1:2. Molecular weight distribution values of the products were determined by size exclusion chromatography (SEC). According to TG analyses, the carbonaceous residues of HPMDAP and OHPMDAP were found to be 34.94 and 29.36% at 1000 °C, respectively. Thermal analyses of Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Fe, Pb, Cr and Zn oligomer–metal complexes were also investigated under N₂ atmosphere between 15 and 1000 °C. Electrical conductivities of OHPMDAP and its metal complexes were also measured with four probe technique.     

Oxidative Polymerization of N<Subscript>2</Subscript>0<Subscript>2</Subscript> Type Schiff Base Monomer and Its Metal Complexes: Synthesis and Thermal,Optical and Electrochemical Properties

Abstract  

This article describes the synthesis and some properties of a new phenol-based Schiff base oligomer and its metal complexes. First, Schiff base monomer, 2,3-bis[(2-hydroxy-naphtyl)methylene]diaminopyridine (HNMDAP) was synthesized by condensation of 2-hydroxy-1-naphtaldehyde with 2,3-diaminopyridine. Then, HNMDAP was oxidized to give its corresponding oligomer (OHNMDAP) in the presence of the oxidants such as H₂O₂, NaOCl and air in alkaline medium. Finally, OHNMDAP was converted into the chelates of some divalent metals. The resulting compounds were characterized by spectral (UV–vis and IR), thermal (TG), electrochemical (CV) techniques in addition to conductivity measurements. Both HNMDAP and OHNMDAP were also tested by some selected bacteria in vitro medium.     

Triboelectrostatic Phenomena in Suction-type Dilute-phase Pneumatic Transport Systems

Pulverulent and granular materials processed in any suction-type dilute-phase pneumatic transport system tribocharge the pipes they move through. The aim of this study is to refine the understanding of the triboelectrostatic phenomena involved. A laboratory installation was employed for the investigation of the charging and discharging of various zones of an insulating pipe during and after the suction of a well-defined quantity of fine, dust-like, particles. The amount and the sign of the charge that was measured using several custom-designed electrostatic induction probes depended on the nature of the processed powders and varied from one zone of the pipe to another. Surface potential decay measurements confirmed that the insulating pipe retains high levels of charge for several hours after the cease of the suction. These observations point out he need of thorough laboratory modelling of any new pneumatic transport system, in order to avoid the electrostatic hazards related to electric charge build-up in various parts of the installation during operation.     

Synthesis and fabrication of Mg-doped ZnO-based dye-synthesized solar cells

Undoped and 2, 4 and 6 at.% Mg-doped ZnO nanorods were successfully deposited on ZnO seeded fluorine tin oxide substrates by a simple chemical bath deposition technique to form a photoanode. It was seen that all the samples had a hexagonal wurtzite structure with compact rod morphology. From Tauc’s plot results, as compared to the undoped one (3.26 eV), the optical band gap of the ZnO:Mg samples increased to 3.32 eV for 4 at.% Mg-doping concentration and then decreased to 3.27 eV for 6 at.% Mg-doping. Photoluminescence results measured at 300 K indicated that ZnO nanorods had a ultra-violet peak with a wavelength of 382 nm, a blue peak at 420 nm and a deep level band in the range of 450–800 nm. Undoped and Mg-doped ZnO nanorods were subsequently used to realize ZnO-based dye-synthesized solar cells which exhibited the best power conversion efficiency of 0.144 % for 4 at.% ZnO:Mg sample.