α-Alumina and spinel react into single-phase high-alumina spinel in <3 seconds during flash sintering

In situ X-ray diffraction measurements at the Advanced Photon Source show that α-Al₂O₃ and MgAl₂O₄ react nearly instantaneously and completely, and nearly completely to form single-phase high-alumina spinel during voltage-to-current type of flash sintering experiments. The initial sample was constituted from powders of α-Al₂O₃, MgAl₂O₄ spinel, and cubic 8 mol% Y₂O₃-stabilized ZrO₂ (8YSZ) mixed in equal volume fractions, the spinel to alumina molar ratio being 1:1.5. Specimen temperature was measured by thermal expansion of the platinum standard. These measurements correlated well with a black-body radiation model, using appropriate values for the emissivity of the constituents. Temperatures of 1600-1736°C were reached during the flash, which promoted the formation of alumina-rich spinel. In a second set of experiments, the flash was induced in a current-rate method where the current flowing through the specimen is controlled and increased at a constant rate. In these experiments, we observed the formation of two different compositions of spinel, MgO•3Al₂O₃ and MgO•1.5Al₂O₃, which evolved into a single composition of MgO•2.5Al₂O₃ as the current continued to increase. In summary, flash sintering is an expedient way to create single-phase, alumina-rich spinel.     

Investigation of structural,optical, and magnetic properties of Nd-doped Sr2SnO4 Ruddlesden Popper oxide

The samples of Sr_2-xNd_xSnO₄ with x = 0, 0.01, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, and 0.10 were synthesized by a high-temperature solid-state ceramic route. Rietveld refining of X-ray diffraction results showed that all the synthesized compositions are single phase under tetragonal crystal structure. The presence of functional group and local structure has been studied using FTIR and Raman spectroscopy, respectively. XPS study of samples showed the presence of oxygen vacancy and interstitial oxygen in the sample. Optical band gap of samples analyzed by UV-Vis spectra gradually increases with dopant concentration, and Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy study showed most intense emission around 1064 nm. Room-temperature magnetic hysteresis curve in sample SSN2 showed ferromagnetism, slowly decreasing with Nd and becoming antiferromagnetic for higher compositions. Utilizing the absorption state observed in PL as metastable state makes it promising candidate for laser and IR detector application and the ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic nature of sample makes it suitable candidate for spintronics device applications.     

Effect of bacterial inoculum ratio in mixed culture for decolourization and detoxification of pulp paper mill effluent

BACKGROUND: Effluent released from industry is a mixture of various pollutants. For the degradation of complex pollutants, mixed bacterial cultures can be more effective than a single culture. This study investigated the balance of bacterial populations in a mixed culture for maximum reduction of pollutants. RESULTS: This study deals with the degradation and detoxification of pulp paper mill effluent (PPME) by three bacterial strains, i.e. Serratia marcescens, Serratia liquefaciens and Bacillus cereus in different ratios, and found that two ratios, 4:1:1 and 1:4:1, were effective for the degradation of PPME. These ratios reduced the various pollution parameters. Enzyme bioassay revealed that more enzyme was produced during degradation for the ratio 4:1:1. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis showed that the ratio 4:1:1 degraded 95% of lignin and related compounds, and chlorophenols up to 98%, whereas ratio 1:4:1 reduced lignin by 84% and chlorophenols by 58% after 7 days incubation. Degradation products were confirmed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) analysis. A seed germination bioassay on Phaseolous mungo L. revealed that toxicity was reduced by the ratio 4:1:1. CONCLUSION: Due to variable potential of different bacteria show variation in their growth pattern at any contaminated site. This study shows that an appropriate ratio of mixed cultures is required for maximum degradation and detoxification of PPME. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Physico chemical,microstructural and sensory characteristics of low‐fat meat emulsion containing aloe gel as potential fat replacer

In this study, a possible use of aloe gel (AG) as a potential fat replacer in the manufacture of low‐fat meat emulsion was investigated. The low‐fat meat emulsions with added AG and vegetable oil (VO) in different proportions [AG7.5 (7.5% AG + 7.5% VO); AG5 (5% AG + 10% VO); AG2.5 (2.5% AG + 12.5% VO)] were compared with full‐fat meat emulsion [Control (15% VO only)]. A substantial fat reduction (P < 0.05) up to 50% as compared to full‐fat control meat emulsion was recorded without compromising other sensory attributes of meat emulsion. Microstructural properties as studied by scanning electron microscopy indicated more homogenous regular emulsion matrix with fewer cracks and more regular shaped oil droplets in AG‐added samples than the control samples.     

Fuzzy Logic-based Electrothermal Life Model for Inverter-fed Induction Motor Insulation

Pulse width modulated adjustable speed drives used in industries lead to significant advantages in terms of performance, size, and efficiency. But, the output voltage and the current waveforms become non-sinusoidal leading to an increase in voltage and thermal stresses. This results into accelerated insulation aging and premature failure of the motors. With multiple stresses, the life models for insulating materials become complex and ambiguous. This article presents the fuzzy logic application to derive an electrothermal life model to investigate the synergic effects of voltage and thermal stresses on intrinsic aging of inverter-fed induction motor insulation. Three parameters, viz. voltage stress factor, waveform slope stress factor, and spike frequency factor, are proposed to describe the insulation stresses for pulse width modulated voltages. These parameters are computed from the experimental results at different switching frequencies and are used in fuzzy logic-based life estimation algorithms. The results of the fuzzy logic life model are verified by performing the accelerated aging test with the same pulse width modulated voltages on paper insulation. An electrothermal life model is derived from the fuzzy logic results, which can be directly used for the life estimation of any general purpose low-voltage inverter-fed induction motor insulation.     

A hybrid optimization model for proficient bidding strategies with no Karush–Kuhn–Tucker optimality conditions

The computational complexity behind the bi‐level optimization problem has led the researchers to adopt Karush–Kuhn–Tucker (KKT) optimality conditions. However, the problem function has more number of complex constraints to be satisfied. Classical optimization algorithms are impotent to handle the function. This paper presents a simplified minimization function, in which both the profit maximization problem and the ISO market clearance problem are considered, but with no KKT optimality conditions. Subsequently, this paper solves the minimization function using a hybrid optimization algorithm. The hybrid optimization algorithm is developed by combining the operations of group search optimizer (GSO) and genetic algorithm (GA). The hybridization enables the dispersion process of GSO to be a new mutated dispersion process for improving the convergence rate. We evaluate the methodology by experimenting on IEEE 14 and IEEE 30 bus systems. The obtained results are compared with the outcomes of bidding strategies that are based on GSO, PSO, and GA. The results demonstrate that the hybrid optimization algorithm solves the minimization function better than PSO, GA, and GSO. Hence, the profit maximization in the proposed methodology is relatively better than that of the conventional algorithms. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Tuning of Cloud Point by the Nature of Surfactant Headgroup: Influence of Counterion and Additives

Work was performed to distinguish the role of sulfonate (–SO₃ ^?) and sulfate (–OSO₃ ^?) with respect to the micellization and clouding phenomenon in ionic surfactant solutions. The clouding phenomenon is a recent addition to the conventional one observed with nonionic surfactants. Three ionic surfactants [sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS), sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS), and sodium dodecylsulfonate (SDSo)] are chosen and the effects of added tetra-n-pentylammonium bromide (TPeAB) and benzyl tributylammonium bromide (BTAC) have been studied on micellization and clouding behaviors in aqueous solution. Based on critical micelle concentration (CMC) and cloud point (CP) measurements, the following order has been observed: SDBS < SDS < SDSo. Though both SDBS and SDSo contain sulfonate groups, they are found at the two ends of the ordering. Therefore, the role of the phenyl ring is also having importance in clouding phenomena. For a typical surfactant, TPeAB was found to be more effective than BTAC. Based on the CP studies, two compositions of SDSo + TPeAB/BTAC were chosen and the effects of different additives (carbohydrate, amino acid, and l-ascorbic acid) on the CP were investigated. Additive may either decrease or increase CP, depending on the structure of the counterion or additive. The present work shows a few novelties: (1) headgroup/counterion dependence of CP and (2) hydrophobicity of counterion/surfactant has an important bearing on the phenomenon. The data can be utilised in improving cloud point extraction methodologies (CPEMs).