Dark fermentative biohydrogen production by Acinetobacter junii-AH4 utilizing various industry wastewaters

Hydrogen (H₂) is one of the most promising renewable energy sources, anaerobic bacterial H₂ fermentation is considered as one of the most environmentally sustainable alternatives to meet the potential fossil fuel demand. Bio-H₂ is the cleanest and most effective source of energy provided by the dark fermentation utilizing organic substrates and different wastewaters. In this study, the bio-H₂ production was achieved by using the bacteria Acinetobacter junii-AH4. Further, optimization was carried out at different pH (5.0–8.0) in the presence of wastewaters as substrates (Rice mill wastewater (RMWW), Food wastewater (FWW) and Sugar wastewater (SWW). In this way, the optimized experiments excelled with the maximum cumulative H₂ production of 566.44 ± 3.5 mL/L (100% FWW at pH 7.5) in the presence of Acinetobacter junii-AH4. To achieve this, a bioreactor (3 L) was employed for the effective production of H₂ and Acinetobacter junii-AH4 has shown the highest cumulative H₂ of 613.2 ± 3.0 mL/L, HPR of 8.5 ± 0.4 mL/L/h, HY of 1.8 ± 0.09 mol H₂/mol glucose. Altogether, the present study showed a COD removal efficiency of 79.9 ± 3.5% by utilizing 100% food wastewater at pH 7.5. The modeled data established a batch fermentation system for sustainable H₂ production. This study has aided to achieve an ecofriendly approach using specific wastewaters for the production of bio-H₂.     

Characterization of the interface between LiCoO2 and Li7La3Zr2O12 in an all-solid-state rechargeable lithium battery

The interfacial layer formed between a lithium-ion conducting solid electrolyte, Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂ (LLZ), and LiCoO₂ during thin film deposition was characterized using a combination of microscopy and electrochemical measurement techniques. Cyclic voltammetry confirmed that lithium extraction occurs across the interface on the first cycle, although the nonsymmetrical redox peaks indicate poor electrochemical performance. Using analytical transmission electron microscopy, the reaction layer (∼50 nm) was analyzed. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy revealed that the concentrations of some of the elements (Co, La, and Zr) varied gradually across the layer. Nano-beam electron diffraction of this layer revealed that the layer contained neither LiCoO₂ nor LLZ, but some spots corresponded to the crystal structure of La₂CoO₄. It was also demonstrated that reaction phases due to mutual diffusion are easily formed between LLZ and LiCoO₂ at the interface. The reaction layer formed during high temperature processing is likely one of the major reasons for the poor lithium insertion/extraction at LLZ/LiCoO₂ interfaces.     

Correlation between central receiver size and solar field using flat heliostats

In Central Receiver Systems (CRSs), thousands of heliostats track the sunrays and reflect beam radiation on to a receiver surface. The size of the reflected image and the extent of reflection from the heliostats are one of the important criteria that need to be taken into account while designing a receiver, since spillage losses may vary from 2 to 16% of the total losses. The present study aims to determine the size of an external cylindrical receiver, such that the rays reflected from all the heliostats in the field are intercepted. A dimensionless correlation with respect to tower height and receiver size (diameter and height) as a function of heliostat size and its position is discussed in the paper. This correlation could be used as a first-order approximation to estimate the receiver dimensions. When applied to the Ivanpah Solar Electricity Generating Station (ISEGS) plant, the correlation yields satisfactory estimation of receiver dimensions.     

Transmit Antenna Selection with Optimum Combining for Aggregate Interference in Cognitive Underlay Radio Network

Transmit antenna selection (TAS) is most popular technique in underlay cognitive radio (CR) networks as they increase the capacity of secondary users with less hardware requirements. In this paper, a new scenario of CR ad-hoc network topology is proposed in which apart from primary users, there are multiple number of secondary users which are assumed to be distributed as homogeneous spatial Poisson point process (PPP) and are trying to use the primary spectrum in underlay mode. These multiple secondary transmitters generate the aggregate interference and can degrade the performance of secondary receiver. Here this aggregate interference is estimated and its impact on performance of secondary receiver under unconstrained mode of operation is presented. Further, to enhance the performance of secondary receivers in this scenario, single TAS technique based on maximizing the received signal to interference noise ratio by using optimum combining (OC) method is proposed. Furthermore, in this work the design of end to end Simulink based environment for secondary trans–receiver system with advancements in channel design and estimation is proposed. The bit error rate (BER) analysis is presented and verified for image data for single TAS-OC technique for unconstrained mode in underlay CR network in Rician fading channel. The BER performance is also presented for different number of secondary interference sources which are located at fixed distance in one case and they are assumed to be distributed as PPP in another case.     

Thermal barrier coating application of zircon sand

Naturally occurring zircon sand was plasma spray coated on steel substrates previously coated with NiCrAlY bond coat. The coatings were characterized for their microstructure, chemical composition, thermal shock resistance, and the nature of structural phases present. The as-sprayed coatings consisted of t-ZrO₂ (major phase), m-ZrO₂, ZrSiO₄ (minor phases), and amorphous SiO₂. These coatings, when annealed at 1200 °C/1.44 × 10⁴s yielded a ZrSiO₄ phase as a result of the reaction between ZrO₂ and SiO₂. Dramatic changes occurred in the characteristics of the coatings when a mixture of zircon sand and Y₂O₃ was plasma spray coated and annealed at 1400 °C/1.44 × 10⁴s. The t-ZrO₂ phase was completely stabilized, and these coatings were found to have considerable potential for thermal barrier applications.     

Synthesis and spectral characterization of surface‐enriched polymer‐supported phase transfer catalysts and their effects on alkylation of phenylacetone

Polymer‐supported phase transfer catalysts with active sites mostly on the surface were prepared by suspension copolymerization of styrene (St), divinylbenzene (DVB), and vinylbenzyl chloride (VBC) with AIBN, followed by the quaternization of the resulting copolymer beads with triethylamine. Active sites on the surface were achieved by the delayed addition of functional monomer (VBC) to the partially copolymerized St/DVB. Polymer beads enriched with active sites were characterized by SEM, EDAX, FTIR, and ESCA. The electron micrographs showed that the exterior surface of delayed‐addition functional monomer catalysts (type 1) has a large number of nodules attached to the surface compared to the smooth surface exhibited by the conventional type 2 catalyst upon the simultaneous addition of all three monomers. In the EDAX analysis up to a depth of 100 Å, the surface chloride of type 1 peak intensity is greater (compared with type 2), indicating the  CH₂Cl enrichment on the surface. In FTIR, the peak intensities of the C N stretching (quaternary onium group) in type 1 are greater than those of type 2, confirming the evidence of more quaternization on the surface than in the bulk. From ESCA analysis to a depth of about 30 Å, it was found that type 1 (beads) contains 26% and type 2 contains 14% of covalent chloride on the surface, which strongly supports the grafting of VBC on St/DVB. In the estimation found by the Volhard method, type 1 has 4.73 m eq g⁻¹ and type 2 has 2.29 m eq g⁻¹ of ionic chloride, thus supporting the surface grafting of VBC. The catalytic activity of these two different catalysts was tested by studying the reaction, that is, the C‐alkylation of phenylacetone. The rate constants of this reaction for type 1 are almost twofold greater than those of type 2, a finding that could uphold the preceding experimental observations. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 76: 408–418, 2000     

Effect of elastomer modification on the adhesive characteristics of maleimide‐functional phenolic resins

The effect of addition of elastomeric modifiers on the adhesive properties like lap shear strength and T‐peel strength of an addition curable, maleimide functional novolac phenolic resin (PMF), self‐cured and cocured with a novolac epoxy resin, was studied using aluminium adherends. The modifiers used were (1) two grades of carboxyl terminated butadiene acrylonitrile copolymer (CTBN) of different molecular weights, (2) a low molecular weight, epoxidized hydroxyl‐terminated polybutadiene, and (3) a high molecular weight acrylate terpolymer containing pendant epoxy functionality. The adhesive properties, when examined as a function of the varying concentrations of the additives, ranging from 10 to 30 parts per hundred parts (phr) of the resin, were found to depend on the nature of the matrix being modified as well as on the nature and concentration of the elastomer. The adhesive properties at ambient temperature of the self‐cured, highly brittle PMF resin were dramatically improved by the inclusion of all the elastomers, the increase being substantial in the case of high molecular weight CTBN. For the more rigid, less ductile, epoxy‐cured PMF system, the adhesive properties were marginally improved by the high molecular weight CTBN, whereas the other elastomers were practically ineffective. For both self‐cured and epoxy‐cured PMF systems, the inclusion of these elastomers generally decreased the high‐temperature adhesive properties, implying impairment of thermal characteristics, evidenced also from their dynamic mechanical spectra. The presence of phase‐separated elastomer particles in the modified systems has been evidenced from scanning electron micrographs. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 74: 2321–2332, 1999     

Surface modification and characterization of zirconium carbide particulate reinforced C70600 CuNi composite fabricated via friction stir processing

In the present research work, Friction stir processing (FSP) technique has been applied to develop a C70600 graded copper-nickel (CuNi) Surface metal matrix composite (SMMC) reinforced with and without addition of ZrCp. Rotational and traverse speeds were set as 1200 rpm and 30 mm/min, respectively. The fabricated SMMC were metallurgically characterized by using Optical microscope (OM) and Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). The homogeneous distribution of ZrC particles and good interfacial bonding between matrix/reinforcement were observed via OM and FESEM microscopes. The microhardness of the CuNi/ZrC surface composite was observed by using microhardness tester at the cross section of the sample. The average higher microhardness of 148 Hv at CuNi/ZrC SMMC and lower microhardness of 115 Hv at FSPed CuNi was found. The Ultimate tensile strength (UTS) value was measured by using micro tensile testing machine. The UTS value of CuNi/ZrC composite and FSPed CuNi were observed to be 310 MPa and 302 MPa, respectively. The mode of fracture was also observed via FESEM. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) test was carried out to confirm the presence of CuNi & ZrC in the SMMC layer.