CBR strength of reinforced soil with natural fibres and considering environmental conditions

This paper investigates the effect of including randomly spaced palm fibres in a soil matrix. The fibres in date palm have special properties such as low costs, plenitude in the region, durability, lightweight, high tension capacity and relative strength against deterioration. Thus, it is possible to use the palm fibres as an alternative low-cost natural material for soil reinforcement. As the objective of this research was to mix the soil and date palm fibres to use in the construction of soil roads, especially village road, we discuss the influence of date palm fibres on CBR (California Bearing Ratio) strength of fine sand. CBR tests were conducted under dry and submerged conditions. The durability of fibres was also investigated using the plain fibres and fibres coated with bitumen. Some samples were soaked for several months before being loaded. The results show that the addition of palm fibres increases the CBR strength of the sand specimens significantly. It is also seen that the sliding strength controls the failure of the specimens rather than the rupture strength.     

Characterization and antibacterial properties of nanoboron powders and nanoboron powder coated textiles

The antibacterial properties of boron-containing compounds are well known although there are limited studies available on the pure boron nanoparticles. In this paper, nanoboron particles are characterized in terms of their particle size, shape, stability and surface charge before and after their application onto textile surfaces to study their impact on bacterial activity. It was observed that the boron nanoparticles are effective in limiting the bacterial growth of both Gram-negative and positive species without requiring any stimulation to initiate the antibacterial action. In addition to the antibacterial functionality evaluation of the free boron nanoparticles, nanoboron coated textiles were also characterized and determined to change the wettability and surface charge of the textiles with a variable antimicrobial response to the different species. Consequently, we propose pure nanoboron as a new anti-bacterial agent that can function without external stimulation.     

A novel solvent-impregnated resin containing 3-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid for stepwise extraction of Th(IV) and U(VI) over other coexistence ions

A new solvent-impregnated resin (SIR) was constructed using Amberlite XAD-2 and 3-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid (3H2NA). The SIR was applied for stepwise extraction of Th(IV) and U(VI) from the coexistence ions dissolved in aqueous media at pHs of 3.0 and 7.0, respectively. The U(VI) and Th(IV) ions adsorbed on the minicolumn were consecutively eluted with 0.5 M and 4 M HCl solutions. They were then measured by Arsenazo III at their maximum absorption wavelengths. The characteristic parameters for the successful separation of these ions from the aqueous media were investigated. The SIR showed excellent reproducibility during the 800 subsequent extraction cycles.     

Application of mesoporous magnetic carbon composite for reactive dyes removal: Process optimization using response surface methodology

Discharging the effluents of textile wastewaters into potable water resources can endanger the ecosystem, due to their reactivity, toxicity, and chemical stability. In this research, the application of powder activated carbon modified with magnetite nanoparticles (PAC-MNPs) as an adsorbent for removal of reactive dyes (Reactive black 5 (RB5) and reactive red 120 (RR120)) was studied in a batch system. The adsorption performance was evaluated as a function of temperature, contact time and different adsorbent and adsorbate concentrations. The levels of factors were statistically optimized using Box-Behnken Design (BBD) from the response surface methodology (RSM) to maximize the efficiency of the system. The adsorption process of both dyes was fit with the pseudo-second order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm models. The identified optimum conditions of adsorption were 38.7 °C, 46.3 min, 0.8 g/L and 102 mg/L for temperature, contact time, adsorbent dose, and initial dyes concentration, respectively. According to the Langmuir isotherm, the maximum sorption capacities of 175.4 and 172.4 mg/g were obtained for RB5 and RR120, respectively. Thermodynamics studies indicated that the adsorption process of the reactive dyes was spontaneous, feasible, and endothermic. After five cycles, the adsorption efficiency was around 84 and 83% for RB5 and RR120, respectively. A high value of desorption was achieved, suggesting that the PAC-MNPs have a good potential in regeneration and reusability, and also can be effectively utilized in industrial applications. PAC-MNPs also show a good anti-interference potential for removal of reactive dyes in dye-industry wastewaters.     

Synthesis of polymeric electrospun nanofibers for application in waterproof‐breathable fabrics

This study focuses waterproof‐breathable fabric development by applying electrospun web of polyurethane (PU), PAN, and PES directly onto the substrate fabric. Advantages of textile fabrics of elastomeric nanofibrous membranes over gortex specimen are the mass production feasibility, high elastomeric properties, more body comfort parameters, and fabric production without holes and needle traces formation. In this work, we identified the PU nanofibrous membrane as the best and useful web for application in waterproof‐breathable fabrics. Air permeability, water vapor transport rate, and resistance to water penetration average value for the prepared PU fibers web (sample of S1) were about 10 ml/s, 430 g/m²/24 h, 15 cm H₂O. To improve waterproof‐breathable characteristics of the membrane, the effects of electrospinning parameters on the fibers morphology and waterproof‐breathable characteristics were investigated. PU concentration of 12% (w/w) and electrospinning voltage of 12 kV were identified as optimal conditions to reach uniform and fine PU nanofibers formation without any beads. Air permeability, water vapor transport rate, and resistance to water penetration average value for the final sample were recorded as about 2.5 ml/s, 840 g/m²/24 h, and 44 cm H₂O, correspondingly. POLYM. ENG. SCI. 56:143–149, 2016. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Foliar Application of Silicon Enhances Growth,Flower Yield,Quality and Postharvest Life of Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) under Saline Conditions by Improving Antioxidant Defense Mechanism

Silicon - Tuberose is native to Mexico and then reached Europe and spread other parts of the world. In Pakistan, tuberose stalks come in the market during late summer and autumn when only few...     

A Modified Peng-Robinson Equation State for Prediction of Gas Adsorption Isotherm

This research proposes a modified two-dimensional Peng-Robinson equation model to predict adsorp-tion isotherm in adsorbate-adsorbent systems. The parameters of the proposed model are calculated by using the op-timization of experimental data for the different single gas adsorption systems at various temperatures. The experi-mental adsorption equilibrium data of adsorbate-adsorbent systems was compared with the calculated results in our proposed model and the two-dimensional Hill-deBoer equation model. The proposed model as indicated in the re-sults shows a better prediction of the experimental results compared with two others.     

Loading Metformin/Nettle Extract Lamium album L. subsp. Crinitum in Porous Hollow Silica Nanoparticle Coated by the Layer-by-Layer Method

Silicon - Metformin (MF) and L. albuman are used to treat type 2 diabetes. Diabetes causes problems such as blindness and albumin excretion. In this study, metformin, L. albuman and a composition...     

Pipe failure rate prediction in water distribution networks using multivariate adaptive regression splines and random forest techniques

ABSTRACT

This paper presents the results of a comparison between multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS) and random forest (RF) techniques in pipe failure prediction in two water distribution networks. In this regard, pipe diameter, pipe length, pipe installation depth, pipe age and average hydraulic pressure are considered as input variables. Results show that the RF outperforms the MARS which is found as an accurate pipe failure rate predictor. The proposed models are further evaluated through dividing the data into three parts of lower, medium and higher pipe failure rate values. According to the equations produced by MARS technique, three variables of pipe diameter, pipe age and average hydraulic pressure are distinguished as the most effective variables in predicting pipe failure rate in the first case study. Four variables of pipe diameter, pipe length, pipe age and average hydraulic pressure are determined as the most effective variables in the second case study.