Production and characterisation of bio-oil from Gold Mohar (Delonix regia) seed through pyrolysis process

Fast pyrolysis of the crushed Delonix regia seed was carried out in a semi-batch reactor at a temperature ranging from 400 to 650°C with an objective to produce bio-oil. The effect of temperature to obtain an optimum condition for maximum bio-oil yield and the composition of pyrolysis product were investigated. The maximum bio-oil yield was found to be 48?wt% at pyrolysis temperature of 600°C. The chemical composition of bio-oil obtained at optimum condition was analysed using Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy and Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The chemical analysis of the biofuel showed the presence of hydrocarbons in major, aldehydes, ketones, amides, nitriles, etc. The composition and fuel characteristics of the pyrolysis oil obtained in this work show that it may potentially be used as a renewable fuel and chemical feedstock.     

Estimating correlations between rheological and engineering properties of rubberized asphalt concrete mixtures containing warm mix asphalt additive

In recent years, warm mix asphalt (WMA) is widely used for reducing energy requirements and emissions in hot mix asphalt (HMA) industry. In addition, the use of rubberized asphalt in the past has proven to be economical, environmentally sound and effective in improving the performance of pavements across the US and the world. The objective of this research was to investigate the mixture performance characteristics of rubberized warm asphalt mixtures, and their correlation with binder properties, through a series of laboratory tests (e.g., viscosity, dynamic shear rheometer (DSR), and bending beam rheometer (BBR)) conducted on the binders, and obtaining the indirect tensile strength, rutting resistance, and resilient modulus of various mixtures. The results of the experiments indicated that the use of crumb rubber and WMA additive in HMA can effectively improve the engineering properties of these mixes at lower mixing and compacting temperatures and some statistical correlations between rheological and/or engineering properties were developed successfully.     

Mobile and bound forms of trace metals in sediments of the lower ganges

Mobile and bound trace metals associated with sediment components (viz. exchangeable, carbonate, organic, Fe/Mn oxide and residual fractions) were determined at five locations on the River Ganges in the lower reaches. In the exchangeable phase, 5–22% of Pb, 5–14.4% of Cr, 3–16.4% of Cd, 3–16% of Zn and 1–13.5% of Cu were found, and in the carbonate phase 73–87% of Zn, 38–41% of Cd, 13–27% of Ni and 3–10.1% of Pb were found. The Fe/Mn oxide phase retained about 79–83% of Mn, 30–40% of Cr and Fe, 22–25% of Cu, 14–16% of Ni and 9–11% of Pb. In the organic phase about 36–47% of Cd, 22–28% of Cu and 10–15% of Pb were found. The order of release of metals was Cd > Cr > Pb > Cu > Zn > Ni > Mn > Fe, and the order of adsorption characteristics of most of the mobile metal fractions was Fe/Mn oxide > organic > clay. Correlations of the physico-chemical parameters with adsorption characteristics were also determined and a good correlation (r = 0.7) of cation exchange capacity with the clay fraction was found. I_geo (geoaccumulation indices) of metals in the sediments were also evaluated. Results showed a considerable enrichment of trace metals in the sediment phase at almost all the sites.     

Causes of seepage water in drainage and grouting galleries of the Pandoh Dam, Central Himalaya

At the Pandoh Dam in the Central Himalaya, a reddish brown material was observed seeping through drainage holes in three of the galleries. Initially considered to be phyllitic oxide, this was chemically analysed and found to be sulphate radicals. A sulphate concentration of 861.50 ppm was recorded in the seepage water. Petrography of the bedrocks and X-ray analysis of the suspended reddish brown powder as well as chemical analysis of the seepage water revealed the presence of chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite and the conversion of monosulphate phases into ettringite phases as the major cause of expansion and seepage. This process is accompanied by a significant volume increase which it was concluded was responsible for the internal stresses causing the cracking through which the seepage water entered the drainage and grouting galleries.     

A New Scratch Resistance Measure for Structural Ceramics

Scratch resistance of several structural ceramics was investigated using a conical diamond tool in an instrumented rotating scratch facility. The normal (thrust) and the tangential (cutting) forces induced during the scratch process were recorded using high-speed force transducers. The volume of material removed and the complete scratch groove characteristics were analyzed using laser profilometry and scanning electron microscopy. Based on the volume of material removed in a given scratch groove, material properties, and the measured forces, a "scratch resistance measure" that reflects the susceptibility of a ceramic to scratching-induced damage was developed. This measure is expected to assist in the ranking of ceramics for their resistance to scratching.     

Simulation of complex molecules—Computational requirements for the 1980''s

Improving the understanding of complex molecular systems is an important and interesting use of supercomputers. Computer simulation currently plays, and will continue to play, a vital role in research in this area by acting as a guide to site-specific mutagenesis. This study explains simulations of complex molecules.     

In-Service Durability Performance of Water Tanks

With an alarmingly increased rate of deterioration in reinforced concrete structures due to durability performance, efforts are being made to quantify in situ performance. Performance is a function of time and it is related to degradation and the parameters influencing it. Although state-of-the-art modeling of various deterioration mechanisms is available in the literature, evaluation of the influence of various deterioration mechanisms that decrease performance with time is difficult. However, in situ condition documentation, survey, and assessment of deteriorated structures reflect the resultant deterioration process and also helps in validation of experimental and theoretical methods of performance evaluation. In this research, a systematic in situ condition documentation, survey, and assessment of water tank structures has been done based on an empirical damage scale similar to that suggested in the literature and a bilinear graphical deterioration model for such water retaining structures in a semitropical region like India is presented on the basis of case studies.     

Odd-even oscillations of SHG efficiencies in twin NLO chromophores

Twin NLO chromophores having two azobenzene units linked by a flexible polymethylene spacer of varying lengths are shown to exhibit odd-even oscillations in their second harmonic generation (SHG) efficiencies, when measured in the powder form. These twin systems were designed to also exhibit liquid crystallinity, and indeed most of them do exhibit a nematic mesophase. The anticipated odd-even oscillations, in both their isotropization transition temperatures (Ti) and isotropization entropies (ΔSi), were also observed. The odd-even oscillation of the SHG efficiencies has been ascribed to a more effective cancellation of mesogenic dipoles in the even twins as compared to their odd counterparts, due to a preferred centrosymmetric packing in the former case. Based on the behaviour of these twin chromophoric molecules, it may be anticipated that such odd-even oscillations will also be observed in the analogous main chain NLO polymers. Received: 20 June 1997/Accepted: 22 August 1997     

A techno-economic evaluation of biomass briquetting in India

A financial analysis of biomass briquetting technology in India has been undertaken. Simple cost functions for briquetting machines have been developed. Unit cost of briquette production for various types of raw materials and different capacities of briquetting units have been calculated. Role of different factors affecting the cost of production of briquettes have also been analysed.     

Particle size distribution in a wire-arc spraying system

The size and velocity of particles produced by a ValuArc 200 (Sulzer-Metco, Westbury, NY) twin-wire-arc spraying system were measured in-flight using a DPV-2000 system (Tecnar Ltd., St-Bruno, QC, Canada) for a range of operating parameters. A technique was developed to identify and separate the size distributions of particles produced by atomization of molten metal at either the anode or the cathode by assuming that both follow a log-normal distribution. It was shown that particles produced by the anode are almost two times larger in diameter than those originating from the cathode. Experiments showed that increasing the pressure of atomizing gas decreased the size of both anodic and cathodic particles, but changing wire feed rate and operating voltage did not change particle size significantly.