Hot corrosion behavior of plasma and HVOF sprayed Co- and Ni-based coatings at 900°C

High temperature Co- and Ni-based metallic coatings were applied on samples of 310 stainless steel using plasma spray and high velocity oxy fuel (HVOF) methods. The samples were sprayed with Na₂SO₄, V₂O₅ and NaCl salt solutions and exposed in air at 900°C to cyclic conditions with an aim to simulate an environment typically encountered in oil refinery operation. Extent of hot corrosion damage was assessed using gravimetric measurements while microstructure of the coatings was examined using scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. X-ray diffraction was used to determine phase constitution. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the performance of specific coatings in hot corrosive environments. Experimental results indicate that the presence of V₂O₅ and NaCl serves to enhance hot corrosion while Co-based coatings perform better than Ni-based coating.     

Economic and environmental benefits of landfill gas from municipal solid waste in Malaysia

Discharge of Green House Gases (GHGs) and the management of municipal solid waste (MSW) continue to be a major challenge particularly in growing economies. However, these are resources which can be converted to green energy. Landfill gas which is essentially methane (50–55%) and carbon dioxide (40–45%) (both GHGs) is released from MSW by biodegradation processes. The estimation of this methane and its economic and environmental benefits for environmental sustainability are the objectives of this study. Methane emission from MSW disposed of in landfills was estimated using Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) methodology. From the study, based on 8,196,000 tonnes MSW generated in Peninsular Malaysia in 2010, anthropogenic methane emission of about 310,220 tonnes per year was estimated. This was estimated to generate 1.9 billion kWh of electricity year^?1 worth over RM 570 million (US$190 million). In addition, this leads to carbon dioxide reduction of 6,514,620 tonnes year^?1 equivalent to carbon credit of over RM 257 million (US$85 million). These results were also projected for 2015 and 2020 and the outcomes are promising. Therefore, the exploration of this resource, besides the economic benefits helps in reducing the dependence on the depleting fossil fuel and hence broadening the fuel base of the country.     

Microencapsulation of Fish Oil by Spray Granulation and Fluid Bed Film Coating

Abstract: The stability of microencapsulated fish oil prepared with 2 production processes, spray granulation (SG) and SG followed by film coating (SG-FC) using a fluid bed equipment, was investigated. In the 1st process, 3 types of fish oil used were based on the ratios of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (10/50, 33/22, and 18/12). Each type was emulsified with soluble soybean polysaccharide (SSPS) and maltodextrin to produce 25% oil powders. In the 2nd process, 15% film coating of hydroxypropyl betacyclodextrin (HPBCD) was applied to the granules from the 1st process. The powder stability against oxidation was examined by measurement of peroxide values (PV) and headspace propanal after storage at room temperature and at 3 to 4 °C for 6 wk. Uncoated powder containing the lowest concentration of PUFA (18/12) was found to be stable during storage at room temperature with maximum PV of 3.98 ± 0.001 meq/kg oil. The PV increased sharply for uncoated powder with higher concentration of omega-3 (in 33/22 and 10/50 fish oils) after 3 wk storage. The PVs were in agreement with the concentration of propanal, and these 2 parameters remained constant for most of the uncoated powders stored at low temperature. Unexpectedly, the outcomes showed that the coated powders had lower stability than uncoated powders as indicated by higher initial PVs; more hydroperoxides were detected as well as increasing propanal concentration. The investigation suggests that the film-coating by HPBCD ineffectively protected fish oil as the coating process might have induced further oxidation; however, SG is a good method for producing fish oil powder and to protect it from oxidation because of the “onion skin” structure of granules produced in this process.     

Physico-chemical,morphological and thermal analysis for the combined pozzolanic activities of minerals additives

The research was aimed to evaluate the physico-chemical, morphological and thermal analysis of combined pozzolanic activities of minerals additives. Fly ash and ground granulated blast furnace slag were added, separately and collectively, as mineral replacement in ordinary Portland cement. Tests carried out on specimens cured at different ages were: compressive strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, scanning electron microscopic (SEM) studies, differential thermal analysis (DTA) and thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), etc. The results indicated that the compressive strength and ultrasonic pulse velocity development rate of concrete specimens were significantly influenced by the addition of mineral additives. SEM data showed that the fly ash particles were more embedded and surrounded by slag. XRD analysis and DTA/TGA investigation have revealed different reaction kinetics of paste. The peak intensity of calcium hydroxide was significantly retarded by the addition of fly ash and slag, especially in combination, attributed to the dilution effect and calcium hydroxide consumption by pozzolanic reaction.     

Diet, physical activity, and adiposity in children in poor and rich neighbourhoods: a cross-sectional comparison

Background  

Obesity in Canadian children increased three-fold in twenty years. Children living in low-income neighborhoods exercise less and are more overweight than those living in more affluent neighborhoods after accounting for family socio-economic status. Strategies to prevent obesity in children have focused on personal habits, ignoring neighborhood characteristics. It is essential to evaluate diet and physical activity patterns in relation to socio-economic conditions to understand the determinants of obesity. The objective of this pilot study was to compare diet, physical activity, and the built environment in two Hamilton area elementary schools serving socio-economically different communities.     

Fowlpox virus encodes nonessential homologs of cellular alpha-SNAP, PC-1, and an orphan human homolog of a secreted nematode protein

The genome of fowlpox virus (FWPV), type species of the Avipoxviridae, is considerably rearranged compared with that of vaccinia virus (the prototypic poxvirus and type species of the Orthopoxviridae) and is 30% larger. It is likely that the genome of FWPV contains genes in addition to those found in vaccinia virus, probably involved with its replication and survival in the chicken. A 7,470-bp segment of the FWPV genome has five open reading frames (ORFs), two of which encode ankyrin repeat proteins, many examples of which have been found in poxviruses. The remaining ORFs encode homologs of cellular genes not reported in any other virus. ORF-2 encodes a homolog of the yeast Sec17p and mammalian SNAP proteins, crucial to vesicular transport in the exocytic pathway. ORF-3 encodes a homolog of an orphan human protein, R31240_2, encoded on 19p13.2. ORF-3 is also homologous to three proteins (YLS2, YMV6, and C07B5.5) from the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and to a 43-kDa antigen from the parasitic nematode Trichinella spiralis. ORF-5 encodes a homolog of the mammalian plasma cell antigen PC-1, a type II glycoprotein with exophosphodiesterase activity. The ORFs are present in the virulent precursor, HP1, of the sequenced attenuated virus (FP9) and are conserved in other strains of FWPV. They were shown, by deletion mutagenesis, to be nonessential to virus replication in tissue culture. RNA encoding the viral homolog of PC-1 is expressed strongly early and late in infection, but RNAs encoding the homologs of SNAP and R31240_2 are expressed weakly and late.     

The optical absorption edge in amorphous thin films of MoO3-In2O3

A study of the effects of changes in composition, film thickness, substrate deposition temperature and annealing on the optical properties of MoO₃-In₂O₃ is presented. The results are found to be compatible with the reduction in the value of optical energy gap of these materials as the molar fraction of In₂O₃ in the MoO₃ thin film increases. This decrease of optical gap may be attributed to the incorporation of In(III) ions in an MoO₃ lattice. The decrease in optical band gap with increasing thickness may be interpreted in terms of the incorporation of oxygen vacancies which are also believed to be the source of conduction electrons in the MoO₃-In₂O₃ complex. The decrease of band gap with increasing substrate temperature may be attributed to the enhanced ordering of the samples and the decrease of band gap with annealing may be attributed to a reduction in the concentration of lattice imperfections.