Cost optimization for the cutting a cobalt chrome refractory material

This paper shows a complete approach to solve a given problem, from the experimentation to the optimization of different cutting parameters. To solve an industrial problem of slotting CoCr29Ni10W7, a Cobalt-based refractory material, we have implemented a design of experiment to determine the effect of cutting parameters on tool life, surface roughness, and cutting forces. After theses trials, an optimization approach has been implemented to find the lowest manufacturing cost while respecting the roughness constraints and cutting force limitation constraints. The optimization approach is based on the Response Surface Method using the Sequential Quadratic programming algorithm and Kriging interpolation for a constrained problem.     

An amidated carboxymethylcellulose hydrogel for cartilage regeneration

An amidic derivative of carboxymethylcellulose was synthesized (CMCA). The new polysaccharide was obtained by converting a large percentage of carboxylic groups ( approximately 50%) of carboxymethylcellulose into amidic groups rendering the macromolecule quite similar to hyaluronan. Then, the polysaccharide (CMCA) was crosslinked. The behavior of CMCA hydrogel towards normal human articular chondrocytes (NHAC) was in vitro studied monitoring the cell proliferation and synthesis of extra cellular matrix (ECM) components and compared with a hyaluronan based hydrogel (Hyal). An extracellular matrix rich in cartilage-specific collagen and proteoglycans was secreted in the presence of hydrogels. The injectability of the new hydrogels was also analysed. An experimental in vivo model was realized to study the effect of CMCA and Hyal hydrogels in the treatment of surgically created partial thickness chondral defects in the rabbit knee. The preliminary results pointed out that CMCA hydrogel could be considered as a potential compound for cartilage regeneration.     

Surface Renewal Estimation of Pasture Evapotranspiration

Experiments to measure the evapotranspiration of an improved, irrigated pasture were conducted at the University of California, Davis, CA field station and over a commercial irrigated pasture on Twitchell Island in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta using the surface renewal (SR) method. In Davis, the SR method was used to determine well-watered crop evapotranspiration (ETc) over short grass, and the results were compared with the ASCE-EWRI standardized reference evapotranspiration (ET0) for a short canopy to establish that a crop coefficient Kc = 1.00 is appropriate for estimating well-watered pasture ETc. In the Twitchell Island study, surface renewal was used to determine the actual evapotranspiration (ETa) from a commercial pasture. A stress coefficient of Ks = ETa/ET0 ≈ 0.90 was observed during the high ET period (ET0>7?mm?day?1) from about mid-June through mid-July for the Twitchell Island pasture. Otherwise, the pasture was mainly unstressed, so the Ks = 1.0. Thus, assuming no future changes in irrigation management, using ET0 from Twitchell Island, a Kc = 1.00, and Ks = 1.00 will provide good estimates of ETa during low to moderate ET periods and Ks ≈ 0.90 should be used when ET0>7.0?mm?day?1. In general, a thermocouple for SR measurements costs about $100, whereas the price for a sonic anemometer varies between $3,000 and $20,000, so the SR method provides a low-cost method to measure ETa.     

Directly resistively heated-column gas chromatography for the evaluation of cow milk fat purity

Cow milk fat purity is currently evaluated by triacylglycerol (TAG) analysis. The method is based on the gas chromatographic analysis of TAG according to their total number of carbon atoms, followed by the application of formulae deriving from multiple linear regressions. The original procedure was set up by using a packed column, but different successive works showed its suitability also with the adoption of more modern adjustments. Recently, the use of high-speed gas chromatography has been spreading. In this work, the suitability of the directly resistively heated-column gas chromatography [Ultrafast module (UFM)-GC] for the evaluation of milk fat purity by the Official EU method was tested. Pure milk fat, together with mixtures of milk fat containing two levels of four foreign fats (coconut fat, sunflower oil, lard and beef tallow), were analyzed by both the conventional capillary GC method and UFM-GC. Sheep, goat and buffalo milk fats were also analyzed. The reference material CRM-519 was used for calibration. Repeatability and reproducibility values were always below the limits reported in the Official method, demonstrating the suitability of UFM-GC for the evaluation of milk fat purity. The investigation on sheep, goat and buffalo milk fat confirmed that the S ranges, calculated for cow milk fat, are not applicable to the evaluation of genuineness of non-bovine milk fats.     

Detailed kinetic study of anisole pyrolysis and oxidation to understand tar formation during biomass combustion and gasification

Anisole was chosen as the simplest surrogate for primary tar from lignin pyrolysis to study the gas-phase chemistry of methoxyphenol conversion. Methoxyphenols are one of the main precursors of PAH and soot in biomass combustion and gasification. These reactions are of paramount importance for the atmospheric environment, to mitigate emissions from wood combustion, and for reducing tar formation during gasification. Anisole pyrolysis and stoichiometric oxidation were studied in a jet-stirred reactor (673–1173 K, residence time 2 s, 800 Torr (106.7 kPa), under dilute conditions) coupled with gas chromatography–flame ionization detector and mass spectrometry. Decomposition of anisole starts at 750 K and a conversion degree of 50% is obtained at about 850 K under both studied conditions. The main products of reaction vary with temperature and are phenol, methane, carbon monoxide, benzene, and hydrogen. A detailed kinetic model (303 species, 1922 reactions) based on a combustion model for light aromatic compounds has been extended to anisole. The model predicts the conversion of anisole and the formation of the main products well. The reaction flux analyses show that anisole decomposes mainly to phenoxy and methyl radicals in both pyrolysis and oxidation conditions. The decomposition of phenoxy radicals is the main source of cyclopentadienyl radicals, which are the main precursor of naphthalene and heavier PAH in these conditions.     

Zinc incorporation capacity of whey protein nanoparticles prepared with desolvation with ethanol

Whey protein isolate (WPI) nanoparticles were prepared using ethanol desolvation, and their capacity to incorporate ZnCl(2) was analysed. Desolvation was carried out at pH 9 and the volume of added ethanol was 0-3 times the volume of protein solution. The desolvated solutions were dispersed in acidified water (pH 3) immediately after desolvation. The size of the WPI nanoparticles increased with the volume ratio of ethanol:water used, as well as with the amount of ZnCl(2). The nanoparticles showed high incorporation efficiencies, and remained stable after 30 days of storage at 22 °C. The amount of zinc incorporated in the WPI particle suspensions was within the range of daily zinc requirements for healthy adults.