Stability of active components of cardamom oleoresin in co-crystallized sugar cube during storage

Cardamom oleoresin was co-crystallized to formulate flavoured sugar cubes for table top use in tea. The flavoured sugar cubes were packed in two-layer composite and three-layer metalized laminate packaging materials and evaluated for 5 months at relative humidities of 33%, 63% and 93% and temperatures of 5 °C, 25 °C and 45 °C, respectively. The major active components of cardamom oleoresin viz. 1,8-cineole and α-terpinyl acetate in the co-crystallized sugar cubes was quantified by gas chromatography throughout the storage period. The major active components of cardamom in the oleoresin, freshly prepared flavoured sugar cubes, and in sugar cubes stored under extreme condition of storage at 45 °C under all the relative humidities were identified by GCMS. The rate of degradation of 1,8-cineole was higher than α-terpinyl acetate as seen from the kinetic study and activation energy in both the packaging materials under all conditions of storage.     

Effect of Dy-substitution on structural,electrical and magnetic properties of multiferroic BiFeO3 ceramics

The polycrystalline samples of dysprosium (Dy)-modified bismuth ferrite (i.e., Bi_1−xDy_xFeO₃; x=0–0.2 with the interval of 0.05) (BDFO) were synthesized using a high-temperature solid-state reaction method. Preliminary X-ray structural analysis showed that the reported crystal structure of BiFeO₃ (rhombohedral) is invariant even with Dy-substitution at the Bi-site upto x=0.2. The scanning electron micrograph of the compounds showed (i) the uniform distribution of grains on the sample surface with high density and (ii) reduction of grain size on increasing Dy content in BiFeO₃ (BFO). Studies of impedance, electrical modulus and electric conductivity of the materials in wide frequency (10–1000 kHz) and temperature (30–500 °C) ranges using a complex impedance spectroscopy technique have provided new and interesting information on the contribution of grains, grain boundary and interface in these parameters. Detailed studies of impedance spectroscopy clearly exhibit the dielectric relaxation of non-Debye type. The ac conductivity of the Dy-substituted BFO obeyed Jonscher's universal power law. An increase in Dy-content in BDFO results in the increase of spontaneous magnetization of BFO due to the collapse of spin cycloid structure.     

Photoswitching and Thermoresponsive Properties of Conjugated Multi‐chromophore Nanostructured Materials

Conjugated multi‐chromophore organic nanostructured materials have recently emerged as a new class of functional materials for developing efficient light‐harvesting, photosensitization, photocatalysis, and sensor devices because of their unique photophysical and photochemical properties. Here, we demonstrate the formation of various nanostructures (fibers and flakes) related to the molecular arrangement (H‐aggregation) of quaterthiophene (QTH) molecules and their influence on the photophysical properties. XRD studies confirm that the fiber structure consists of >95% crystalline material, whereas the flake structure is almost completely amorphous and the microstrain in flake‐shaped QTH is significantly higher than that of QTH in solution. The influence of the aggregation of the QTH molecules on their photoswitching and thermoresponsive photoluminescence properties is revealed. Time‐resolved anisotropic studies further unveil the relaxation dynamics and restricted chromophore properties of the self‐assembled nano/microstructured morphologies. Further investigations should pave the way for the future development of organic electronics, photovoltaics, and light‐harvesting systems based on π‐conjugated multi‐chromophore organic nanostructured materials.     

Modeling no-notice mass evacuation using a dynamic traffic flow optimization model

This paper presents a network transformation and demand specification approach for no-notice evacuation modeling. The research is aimed at formulating the Joint Evacuation Destination-Route-Flow-Departure (JEDRFD) problem of a no-notice mass evacuation into a system optimal dynamic traffic assignment model. The proposed network transformation technique permits the conversion of a typical transportation planning network to an evacuation network configuration in which a hot zone, evacuation destinations, virtual super-safe node and connectors are established. Combined with a demand specification method, the JEDRFD problem is formulated as a single-destination cell-transmission-model-based linear programming model. The advantage of the proposed model compared with prior studies in the literature is that the multi-dimensional evacuation operation decisions are jointly obtained at the optimum of the JEDRFD model. The linear single-destination structure of the proposed model implies another advantage in computational efficiency. A numerical example is given to illustrate the modeling procedure and solution properties. Real-time operational issues and data requirements are also discussed.     

Prediction of heat transfer coefficient during condensation of water and R-134a on single horizontal integral-fin tubes

This paper presents a few salient features of an investigation carried out to study the heat transfer augmentation during condensation of water and R-134a vapor on horizontal integral-fin tubes. The experimental investigation was performed on two different experimental set-ups for water and R-134a. The test-sections were manufactured by machining fins over plain copper tubes of 24.4 ± 0.6 mm outside diameter. The performance of two types of finned tubes viz. circular integral-fin tubes (CIFTs) and spine integral-fin tubes (SIFTs) was studied for the condensation of water and R-134a. These tubes were positioned one by one inside the test-condenser to perform the experiments. All together the experiments were conducted for the condensation on 10 different test-section tubes. With the help of the experimental results, authors have developed an empirical equation. This equation predicts the condensing heat transfer coefficient from their own experimental data for the condensation over CIFTs and SIFTs within a range of ± 15% and experimental data of other thirteen investigators in a range of ± 35% for condensation of water and different refrigerants.     

Poly(ethylene oxide)/clay nanocomposites for solid polymer electrolyte applications

Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)/clay nanocomposites were prepared using a solution intercalation method. The organoclay (Nanocore I30E) used for nanocomposite synthesis was basically an octadecylammonium salt of montmorillonite clay prepared using an ion exchange method. Nanocomposite‐based solid polymer electrolytes were prepared using LiBF₄. The nanocomposite structures were characterised using wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction. The crystallisation behaviour and thermal properties were studied using differential scanning calorimetry. It was found that the crystallinity of the composite electrolytes decreases with increasing clay concentration up to 7.5 wt% and then increases with a further increase in clay concentration. The trend is different from that observed in PEO/clay nanocomposites without lithium salt where the crystallinity gradually decreases with increasing clay concentration. The solid polymer electrolyte samples were evaluated using an alternating current impedance analyser. A considerable increase in room temperature conductivity was observed at the optimum clay concentration. The conductivity decreases beyond the optimum clay concentration. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Comparative thermal performance evaluation of an active solar distillation system

In this paper, thermal models of all types of solar collector‐integrated active solar stills are developed based on basic energy balance equations in terms of inner and outer glass temperatures. In this paper, hourly yield, hourly exergy efficiency, and hourly overall thermal efficiency of active solar stills are evaluated for 0.05 m water depth. All numerical computations had been performed for a typical day in the month of 07 December 2005 for the climatic conditions of New Delhi (28°35′N, 77°12′E, 216 m above MSL). The thermal model of flat‐plate collector integrated with active solar still was validated using the experimental test set‐up results. Total daily yield from active solar still integrated with evacuated tube collector with heat pipe is 4.24 kg m^?2 day^?1, maximum among all other types of active solar stills. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fabricating superhydrophobic polymer surfaces with excellent abrasion resistance by a simple lamination templating method

Fabricating robust superhydrophobic surfaces for commercial applications is challenging as the fine-scale surface features, necessary to achieve superhydrophobicity, are susceptible to mechanical damage. Herein, we report a simple and inexpensive lamination templating method to create superhydrophobic polymer surfaces with excellent abrasion resistance and water pressure stability. To fabricate the surfaces, polyethylene films were laminated against woven wire mesh templates. After cooling, the mesh was peeled from the polymer creating a 3D array of ordered polymer microposts on the polymer surface. The resulting texture is monolithic with the polymer film and requires no chemical modification to exhibit superhydrophobicity. By controlling lamination parameters and mesh dimensions, polyethylene surfaces were fabricated that exhibit static contact angles of 160° and slip angles of 5°. Chemical and mechanical stability was evaluated using an array of manual tests as well as a standard reciprocating abraser test. Surfaces remained superhydrophobic after more than 5500 abrasion cycles at a pressure of 32.0 kPa. In addition, the surface remains dry after immersing into water for 5 h at 55 kPa. This method is environmental friendly, as it employs no solvents or harsh chemicals and may provide an economically viable path to manufacture large areas of mechanically robust superhydrophobic surfaces from inexpensive polymers and reusable templates.     

Effect of heat treatments on apatite-forming ability of NaOH- and HCl-treated titanium metal

Titanium (Ti) metal was soaked in HCl solution after NaOH treatment and then subjected to heat treatments at different temperatures. Their apatite-forming abilities in a simulated body fluid (SBF) were discussed in terms of their surface structures and properties. The nanometer scale roughness formed on Ti metal after NaOH treatment remained after the HCl treatment and a subsequent heat treatment below 700°C. Hydrogen titanate was formed on Ti metal from an HCl treatment after NaOH treatment, and this was converted into titanium oxide of anatase and rutile phases by a subsequent heat treatment above 500°C. The scratch resistance of the surface layer increased with the formation of the titanium oxide after a heat treatment up to 700°C, and then decreased with increasing temperature. The Ti metal with a titanium oxide layer formed on its surface showed a high apatite-forming ability in SBF when the heat treatment temperature was in the range 500–700°C. The high apatite-forming ability was attributed to the positive surface charge in an SBF. These positive surface charges were ascribed to the presence of chloride ions, which were adsorbed on the surfaces and dissociated in the SBF to give an acid environment.