Valorization of fish byproducts: Sources to end-product applications of bioactive protein hydrolysate

Fish processing industries result in an ample number of protein-rich byproducts, which have been used to produce protein hydrolysate (PH) for human consumption. Chemical, microbial, and enzymatic hydrolysis processes have been implemented for the production of fish PH (FPH) from diverse types of fish processing byproducts. FPH has been reported to possess bioactive active peptides known to exhibit various biological activities such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, angiotensin-I converting enzyme inhibition, calcium-binding ability, dipeptidyl peptidase-IV inhibition, immunomodulation, and antiproliferative activity, which are discussed comprehensively in this review. Appropriate conditions for the hydrolysis process (e.g., type and concentration of enzymes, time, and temperature) play an important role in achieving the desired level of hydrolysis, thus affecting the functional and bioactive properties and stability of FPH. This review provides an in-depth and comprehensive discussion on the sources, process parameters, purification as well as functional and bioactive properties of FPHs. The most recent research findings on the impact of production parameters, bitterness of peptide, storage, and food processing conditions on functional properties and stability of FPH were also reported. More importantly, the recent studies on biological activities of FPH and in vivo health benefits were discussed with the possible mechanism of action. Furthermore, FPH-polyphenol conjugate, encapsulation, and digestive stability of FPH were discussed in terms of their potential to be utilized as a nutraceutical ingredient. Last but not the least, various industrial applications of FPH and the fate of FPH in terms of limitations, hurdles, future research directions, and challenges have been addressed.     

A generic methodology to evaluate economics of hydrogen production using energy from nuclear power plants

Hydrogen, the deemed future transportation fuel can be produced from nuclear assisted energy sources. Assessment of economics of hydrogen production using energy from nuclear power plants is vital for asserting its competitiveness with competing technologies. A generic method is presented in this paper to evaluate Levelised Hydrogen Generation Cost, based on the discounted cash flow analysis. The method is illustrated by consideration of a typical case of hydrogen production via conventional electrolysis using electrical energy supplied from a pressure tube type boiling light water cooled heavy water moderated reactor concept.     

Thermodynamic analysis and experimental validation of multi-composition ammonia liquor absorption engine cycle for power generation

Energy conservation, utilization, and effective integration are of utmost importance for future sustenance. Accordingly, this work focuses on the generation of power from the low-grade temperature below 150°C . A proposed novel multi-composition ammonia liquor absorption engine (MALAE) power cycle can be used toward the above purpose by supplying renewable energy obtained from low concentration type solar collectors. Proposed MALAE power cycle minimizes heal loss due to heat recovery and uses high purity NH₃ vapors to expand through the isentropic turbine. MALAE power system is modeled and simulated using NH₃-H₂O as a working fluid for a reboiler temperature of 115°C . The purpose of this work is to simulate the proposed MALAE power cycle with the distillation column and two solution heat exchanger (SHE). MALAE modeling and simulation is accomplished in SCILAB software. The simulation outcome is validated with the pilot-scale 5 kW experimental setup and validation showed ±5% deviation. A comparison of MALAE cycle with published cycles signifies higher efficiency of MALAE cycle toward the utilization of low-grade energy from a temperature range of 100°C to 150°C . Finally, detailed parametric analysis of MALAE cycle efficiency is presented in terms of number of plates, distillation pressure and vapor flowrate, absorber temperature, pressure partial condenser temperature, and heat loads.     

Hydrogen Distribution in Nuclear Reactor Containment During Accidents and Associated Heat and Mass Transfer Issues—A Review

Hydrogen generation during the progression of an accident in a nuclear reactor and its release into the containment comprise an important safety concern in the management of severe accidents in nuclear power plants. The distribution of hydrogen within the containment has important bearing on possibility, mode, and consequence of combustion in the containment. Hence, several small- and large-scale facilities have been built to study the distribution of released hydrogen. Further, several numerical studies and intercomparison exercises on hydrogen distribution have been carried out. The present review summarizes the experimental and numerical studies on hydrogen distribution and suggests opportunities for further studies.     

Application of kokum (Garcinia indica) fat as cocoa butter improver in chocolate

Although cocoa butter (CB) is an ideal fat for use in chocolate, it softens with heat and is not suitable for use in warm climates. CB extenders or improvers, preferably from stearic acid‐rich fats, are good candidates to increase the heat‐resistance property of CB and chocolate. In the present investigation, one such fat, kokum, is used as an improver to increase the hardness of chocolate. Kokum fat is added in various proportions replacing CB in dark and milk chocolate formulations and its effects on rheology, hardness and triglyceride composition were studied. The results revealed that up to 5% kokum fat addition by weight of the product did not significantly affect the plastic viscosity or yield stress of milk or dark chocolate. Hardness of both dark and milk chocolate increased with increase in addition of kokum fat. The solids fat content at and above 30 °C increased with increase in level of kokum fat with CB, especially at and above 15%. These physical properties are due to increase in 2‐oleodistearin triglycerides with addition of kokum fat with CB. The results revealed that kokum fat could be used up to 5% by wt of the product to increase the heat‐resistance property of chocolate so that it can be used in warm climates. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Reclamation of nickel from spent nickel catalyst

Spent nickel catalyst containing an average 9.6% nickel was obtained locally from an oil hydrogenation industry. It was digested with 1–3N HCl, HNO₃, H₂SO₄ and mixtures thereof in one to three stages of durations ranging from one to three hr at 100°C using spent nickel catalyst to acid proportions of 1:3 to 1:8 (w/v). Nickel recoveries of over 94% were obtained when one part of spent catalyst was digested for three hr with six or more parts of 3N mixture of HCl and HNO₃ (3:1, v/v). Acid extracts of spent nickel catalyst obtained using HCl, H₂SO₄ and mixtures thereof were treated with NaOCl to convert their content of iron in the ferric form. The iron from the nickel extract was precipitated out in the form of ferric hydroxide at pH 6.0. Nickel from the iron-freed acid extracts was recovered at pH 8.5±0.5 as nickel hydroxide. Nickel formate was prepared by refluxing nickel hydroxide with 10% formic acid in about 6% excess to stoichiometric requirements for 30 min. The dried nickel formate was reduced in peanut oil at 230°C to 270°C for 0.25 to 2.75 hr. The reduction at 260°C on kieselguhr support, employing nickel formate:oil:support in ratio of 50:43:7, for two hr provided catalyst of maximum activity. The hydrogenation activity of the reclaimed catalyst, assessed by standard AOCS procedure, was greater than that of the parent catalyst. Presented at the AOCS Meeting in New Orleans, LA, in May 1987.     

A new scheme for cooling tower water conservation in arid-zone countries

Cooling towers (CTs) that are used for heat rejection in water-cooled (WC) systems consume a large quantity of water, which is generally not available naturally. CTs are selected when the maximal cooling load is desired and under the worst design conditions. Typically, CTs operate under partial-load conditions and/or favorable weather conditions. Moreover, for most of the summer season, the dry bulb temperature (DBT) of the incoming ambient air is significantly greater than the incoming hot water temperature, and the air undergoes sensible cooling. Currently, the control scheme that is commonly used in most CTs maintains a constant exiting water temperature for different cooling loads and a different ambient wet bulb temperature (WBT) by regulating the air circulation through the CT. The air circulation is reduced with the help of a variable frequency drive (VFD), which results in a significant reduction in the fan power of the CT. This paper presents an assessment of CT performance with a VFD application using a computer simulation program and illustrates a proposed scheme for maximal water savings. These theoretical results demonstrated that reducing the air flow by applying a VFD in a CT can achieve at least a 25% reduction in water consumption.     

Heat transfer and friction in an asymmetrically heated rectangular duct with half and fully perforated baffles at different pitches

The paper presents results of an experimental study of heat transfer and friction in a rectangular section duct with fully perforated baffles (open area ratio of 46.8%) or half perforated baffles (open area ratio of 26%) at relative roughness pitch of 7.2–28.8 affixed to one of the broader walls. The Reynolds number of the study ranges from 2700 to 11,150. The baffled wall of the duct is uniformly heated while the remaining three walls are insulated. These boundary conditions correspond closely to those found in solar air heaters. The study shows an enhancement of 79–169% in Nusselt number over the smooth duct for the fully perforated baffles and 133–274% for the half perforated baffles while the friction factor for the fully perforated baffles is 2.98–8.02 times of that for the smooth duct and is 4.42–17.5 times for the half perforated baffles. In general, the half perforated baffles are thermo-hydraulically better to the fully perforated baffles at the same pitch. Of all the configurations studied, the half perforated baffles at a relative roughness pitch of 7.2 give the greatest performance advantage of 51.6–75% over a smooth duct at equal pumping power.     

Effect of heat treatment on the structure and stability of multiwalled carbon nanotubes produced by catalytic chemical vapor deposition technique

The multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) produced by catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CCVD) route were heat treated to 2500 °C to improve the structure, morphology and purity level. The process has lead to substantial reduction in the catalytic impurity along with an improved thermal stability and degree of graphitization of these tubes that can possibly lead to its better utilization in various applications. The structural changes following heat treatment have been correlated using various characterization techniques such as Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, thermo gravimetric analysis and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. The electrical and mechanical properties of the polymer composites prepared with heat treated MWCNT show improved properties over the one prepared by as produced MWCNT.     

Network Planning for Deep Fading Area at 1.8 GHz LTE Network

Wireless Personal Communications - In the current scenario path loss, coverage and capacity by operating network under fading condition is research challenge. In this paper, signal strength of long...