Study on the electrodialytic nickel concentration from electroplating industry waste

ABSTRACT

Owing to the ability of electrodialysis to produce highly concentrated solutions from dilute stream, in this paper, the possibility of nickel recovery and concentration from real electroplating industrial waste was discussed. The results showed that the nickel content in solutions after electrodialysis was approximately two times higher than in the initial working solutions, and the nickel recovery exceeded 85%. The nickel electric current efficiency (CE_Ni) depended upon the type of electroplating bath and its acidic behaviour. The CE_Ni was in the range of 52.3–70.6%. Moreover, high boron and the total organic carbon retention coefficients equal to 88.92% and 93.93% respectively, were observed.     

Hygroscopic Behavior of Aerosol Particles Emitted from Biomass Fired Grate Boilers

This study focuses on the hygroscopic properties of submicrometer aerosol particles emitted from two small-scale district heating combustion plants (1 and 1.5 MW) burning two types of biomass fuels (moist forest residue and pellets). The hygroscopic particle diameter growth factor (Gf) was measured when taken from a dehydrated to a humidified state for particle diameters between 30–350 nm (dry size) using a Hygroscopic Tandem Differential Mobility Analyzer (H-TDMA). Particles of a certain dry size all showed similar diameter growth and the Gf at RH = 90% for 110/100 nm particles was 1.68 in the 1 MW boiler, and 1.5 in the 1.5 MW boiler. These growth factors are considerably higher in comparison to other combustion aerosol particles such as diesel exhaust, and are the result of the efficient combustion and the high concentration of alkali species in the fuel. The observed water uptake could be explained using the Zdanovski-Stokes-Robinson (ZSR) mixing rule and a chemical composition of potassium salts only, taken from ion chromatography analysis of filter and impactor samples (KCl, K₂SO₄, and K₂CO₃). Agglomerated particles collapsed and became more spherical when initially exposed to a moderately high relative humidity. When diluted with hot particle-free air, the fractal-like structures remained intact until humidified in the H-TDMA. A method to estimate the fractal dimension of the agglomerated combustion aerosol and to convert the measured mobility diameter hygroscopic growth to the more useful property volume diameter growth is presented. The fractal dimension was estimated to be ～ 2.5.     

Effect of pectinase treatment on extraction of antioxidant phenols from pomace,for the production of puree-enriched cloudy apple juices

Effects of pomace maceration on yield, turbidity, cloud stability, composition of phenolics, antioxidant activity and colour properties were studied, to evaluate the potential applicability of enzyme preparations in puree-enriched cloudy apple juice production. The yield of mixed juice and puree from pomace obtained in the enzymatic processing of apple ranged from 92.3% to 95.3%, significantly higher than the yield from the control without enzymatic pomace treatment (81.8%). Higher turbidity was obtained upon pomace treatment with Pectinex XXL and Pectinex Ultra SPL enzymes. The total content of phenolic compounds in apple pomace was higher than in raw juices (1520 mg/kg and 441 mg/L, respectively). The total polyphenol yields were higher in juices treated with Pectinex AFP L-4, Pectinex Yield Mash and Pectinex XXL, as compared to the control treatment. During 6 months of storage, a significant change was observed in the content of polyphenols, especially in procyanidin fractions.     

Measuring the efficiency of materials management based on data envelopment analysis approach: the case of Polish regions

This paper examines the applicability of DEA (Data Envelopment Analysis) to measure and evaluate the efficiency of materials management at the regional level. The research has been conducted for Polish regions as a case study. The basis for the calculation of the efficiency scores was a statistically selected set of materials used in a given region and the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The results of the analysis reveal that 4 (Łódzkie, Śląskie, Warmińsko-Mazurskie, and Zachodniopomorskie) out of 16 Polish regions are relatively efficient. The remaining regions consume too many material resources in the process of generating goods and services.     

Physicochemical and Biological Characterisation of Diclofenac Oligomeric Poly(3-hydroxyoctanoate) Hybrids as β-TCP Ceramics Modifiers for Bone Tissue Regeneration

Nowadays, regenerative medicine faces a major challenge in providing new, functional materials that will meet the characteristics desired to replenish and grow new tissue. Therefore, this study presents new ceramic-polymer composites in which the matrix consists of tricalcium phosphates covered with blends containing a chemically bounded diclofenac with the biocompatible polymer—poly(3-hydroxyoctanoate), P(3HO). Modification of P(3HO) oligomers was confirmed by NMR, IR and XPS. Moreover, obtained oligomers and their blends were subjected to an in-depth characterisation using GPC, TGA, DSC and AFM. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the hydrophobicity and surface free energy values of blends decreased with the amount of diclofenac modified oligomers. Subsequently, the designed composites were used as a substrate for growth of the pre-osteoblast cell line (MC3T3-E1). An in vitro biocompatibility study showed that the composite with the lowest concentration of the proposed drug is within the range assumed to be non-toxic (viability above 70%). Cell proliferation was visualised using the SEM method, whereas the observation of cell penetration into the scaffold was carried out by confocal microscopy. Thus, it can be an ideal new functional bone tissue substitute, allowing not only the regeneration and restoration of the defect but also inhibiting the development of chronic inflammation.     

Comparison of Lupinus angustifolius protein digestibility in dependence on protein,amino acids,trypsin inhibitors and polyphenolic compounds content

Lupine seeds are proposed as a source of valuable protein in human and animal nutrition. However, not only protein content but its bioavailability is important. Thus, the protein digestibility of twenty Lupinus angustifolius varieties seeds and the impact of some factors (protein and polyphenols content, trypsin inhibition and amino acids composition) on the protein digestion were discussed. Composition as well as the digestibility of these seeds was influenced by variety, weather conditions (precipitations) and place of cultivation (soil quality). The average digestibility of the seeds was 46%. The positive impact on the digestibility had the extractivity of the protein. Higher than it was expected activity of trypsin inhibitors (even up to ~32%) in some varieties influenced the protein availability, while the lysine and phenolic compounds content did not affect digestibility. The content of compounds influencing protein digestibility depends both on variety as well as on agronomical conditions.     

Impact of Frequency of Load Changes in Fatigue Tests on the Temperature of the Modified Polymer

In the article, the authors describe the analysis of the impact of the frequency of fatigue tests on the temperature of the modified polymer. The base material for producing the samples was the epoxy resin Epidian 57 cured with Z1 hardener. The presented study is part of a research program of adhesive joints made with the composition Epidian 57/Z1 aiming to determine the effect of physical modification of the adhesive composition on its properties and on the properties of adhesive joints made with such a modified composition. The tested adhesive compositions were modified by additions of micro- and nanoparticles in an amount of 1.85 % (micro- and nanoparticles) or 10 % (microparticles) in weight, depending on the type of the particles. In the studies, the authors used the particles of tungsten, microspheres and carbon nanotubes. The polymer samples produced by casting were loaded with compressive identical, one-sided loads at two different frequencies of load changes. During the tests, the authors recorded the temperature changes as a function of the number of cycles. The changes in the temperature field on the surface of the samples during the tests were observed by the infrared camera. As a result of the studies, it was possible to observe a significant impact of the composition of the polymer and the frequency of load changes during the test on the temperature of the sample.     

Organic food processing: a framework for concept,starting definitions and evaluation

In 2007 EU Regulation (EC) 834/2007 introduced principles and criteria for organic food processing. These regulations have been analysed and discussed in several scientific publications and research project reports. Recently, organic food quality was described by principles, aspects and criteria. These principles from organic agriculture were verified and adapted for organic food processing. Different levels for evaluation were suggested. In another document, underlying paradigms and consumer perception of organic food were reviewed against functional food, resulting in identifying integral product identity as the underlying paradigm and a holistic quality view connected to naturalness as consumers' perception of organic food quality. In a European study, the quality concept was applied to the organic food chain, resulting in a problem, namely that clear principles and related criteria were missing to evaluate processing methods. Therefore the goal of this paper is to describe and discuss the topic of organic food processing to make it operational. A conceptual background for organic food processing is given by verifying the underlying paradigms and principles of organic farming and organic food as well as on organic processing. The proposed definition connects organic processing to related systems such as minimal, sustainable and careful, gentle processing, and describes clear principles and related criteria. Based on food examples, such as milk with different heat treatments, the concept and definitions were verified. Organic processing can be defined by clear paradigms and principles and evaluated according criteria from a multidimensional approach. Further work has to be done on developing indicators and parameters for assessment of organic food quality. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry