Synthesis and characterization of acidic properties of Al-SBA-15 materials with varying Si/Al ratios

Al-SBA-15 of varying Si/Al ratios in the range 11.4–78.4 was synthesized using tri-block copolymer P123. The calcined materials were examined by XRD, pore size distribution, surface area, ²⁷Al NMR spectroscopy. The acidity and acid strength distribution were studied using microcalorimetric adsorption of NH₃. The acidic properties were also examined by cumene cracking reaction as a function of Si/Al ratios. Systematic variation of acidity and activity was observed as a function of Si/Al ratio. The initial heats of NH₃ adsorption correlated well with activity indicate that acid sites with ΔH > 100 kJ/mole is responsible for cumene cracking activity. Linear correlations were obtained with total acidity and cumene cracking activities. The tetrahedral aluminum was found to be responsible for the observed acidities and catalytic activities.     

Fertilizer use saves fuels in India

Dung supplies are inadequate to provide enough farmyard manure (FYM) and cheap dung-cakes. Use of FYM necessitates supply of other fuels for cooking. Fertilizers consume only 5% of the thermal energy embodied in FYM. Replacement of the currently used amount of FYM by fertilizers will save fuels and costs. If all of the plant nutrients are to be supplied by FYM to a hectare of wheat crop, 2.9 tonnes of coal are needed to replace the dung-cakes lost; fertilizer use will save Rs. 1444/ha. It is suggested that FYM use be minimized and fertilizer use increased for fuel thrift.     

Towards improved design of boring bars part 1: Dynamic cutting force model with continuous system analysis for the boring bar performance

The vibrational amplitude is generally large in the case of a boring bar due to its slenderness. A dynamic cutting force model has been presented to take this large amplitude into account. The boring bar is then modelled as a cantilever with this dynamic force acting at the free end and a generalized continuous system model is obtained. This model is solved for the specific case of boring with a zero side cutting edge angle for which published results are available. A reasonably close agreement is found between the proposed model and the experimental results.     

Seeded Crystallization of Leucite

The leucite crystallization kinetics from a hydrothermally derived precursor seeded with nano-crystalline leucite was investigated by X-ray diffraction and non-isothermal differential thermal analysis. The nano-crystalline leucite was prepared by high-energy milling of high-purity leucite powder and the leucite precursor was prepared by the hydrothermal method of silica sol, aluminum nitrate, and potassium nitrate. After the seeds were introduced, the crystallization temperature of the precursor was lowered by 100°C and the transition phase kalsilite did not appear during the crystallization process. When the seeded precursor was heat treated at 700°C, a small amount of cubic leucite was stabilized to room temperature. The seeded precursor showed an exothermic peak between 800° and 920°C under different heating rates. The activation energy for the growth of leucite from the seeded precursor was 256(SD9) kJ/mol.     

State of the academic field of IS in India

The field of information systems (IS) remains ill-defined, facing problems of recognition and identity crisis. Several papers and debates have been dedicated on this topic for over three decades. The focus of these debates have largely centered on the state of the IS field in Americas and Europe and with a limited study conducted in the Asia–Pacific context. This study attempts to assess the field in the Indian context and highlight the challenges and issues faced by IS faculties in India. Based on literature survey of the seminal papers in the field, we identified the salient topics of interest to IS researchers: identity of the IS field; diversity of the field; research approaches, methods and rigor; reference disciplines; journals and conferences; and IS course and curriculum. A two-phase study was carried out to explore the interest generated by the IS field in India. In the first phase, secondary data review of leading business schools in India was carried out to understand their focus on IS as an academic discipline. In the second phase, we conducted interviews of IS researchers from the premium business schools in India. In our study, we analyze the research focus of IS faculties in B-schools in India, analyze the composition of the faculty pool and the nature of research work undertaken by them. Our study points at the restricted focus of IS researchers in India around a few narrow areas, with a significant breadth of topics not being explored for research. We found the identity struggle of the field to be prominent, which was further compounded by the limited number of active, IS researchers. The growing importance of qualitative techniques in IS research, the challenges of developing a sound base in multiple reference disciplines and the need for making IS course interesting for business school students were some of the other significant observations. Our study also highlighted the paradox of the success of the IT industry in India leading to reduced enrollment of IS courses in B-Schools. We conclude by providing recommendations to B-school deans and directors.     

Prediction of liquid film mass transfer coefficients in packed columns using liquid holdup

A unique characteristic linear dimension (d), defined as the cube root of the specific liquid holdup (h_sp) in the packed column, was used to correlate successfully the liquid film mass transfer coefficient k_La for gas absorption-desorption for sparingly soluble gases in liquids below loading. To produce this simple, dimensionless correlation, k_La data reported in literature were used, covering a wide range of physical properties of liquids, packings and operating conditions. This new approach showed operating holdup as an important factor in gas liquid mass transfer.     

Preparation and surface- active properties of polyoxyethylene-glycol (600) monoesters of fatty acids

Polyoxyethyleneglycol (PEG-600) monoesters of undecylenic, lauric, myristic, palmitic, stearic, oleic, ricinoleic and 12-hydroxystearic acids were prepared in 80-85% yield by reacting PEG with boric acid, esterifying the resultant borate with fatty acid, and selectively hydrolyzing the borate ester; their surface active properties were evaluated. Increase in acyl chain length increased the surface tension. The presence of a double bond or hydroxyl group in C₁₈ series improved the wetting and emulsifying proper-ties. Unsaturation in the fatty acid chain reduced the foaming power.