Synthesis of biodiesel fuel from safflower oil using various reaction parameters

Biodiesel fuel is gaining more and more importance because of the depletion and uncontrollable prices of fossil fuel resources. The use of vegetable oil and their derivatives as alternatives for diesel fuel is the best answer and as old as Diesel Engine. Chemically biodiesel fuel is the mono alkyl esters of fatty acids derived from renewable feed stocks like vegetable oils and animal fats. Safflower oil contains 75-80% of linoleic acid; the presence of this unsaturated fatty acid is useful in alleviating low temperature properties like pour point, cloud point and cold filter plugging point. In this paper we studied the effect of various parameters such as temperature, molar ratio (oil to alcohol), and concentration of catalyst on synthesis of biodiesel fuel from safflower oil. The better suitable conditions of 1:6 molar ratio (oil to alcohol), 60 degrees C temperature and catalyst concentration of 2% (by wt. of oil) were determined. The finally obtained biodiesel fuel was analyzed for fatty acid composition by GLC and some other properties such as flash point, specific gravity and acid value were also determined. From the results it was clear that the produced biodiesel fuel was with in the recommended standards of biodiesel fuel with 96.8% yield.     

Study of nitric acid leachout characteristics from weak base anion exchanger to maintain a specified pH regime during Gd(NO3)3 removal from moderator system of 540 MWe PHWRs

Nitric acid leachout characteristics from weak base anion exchanger (WBA) have been experimentally evaluated as a function of total nitric acid loading at a given flow velocity. An empirical first order model is used to explain the column outlet behaviour. Based on the experimental evaluation, a column configuration of a strong acid cation exchanger (SAC) topped mixed bed of SAC and WBA followed by a 5% nitric acid loaded WBA as the bottom layer of the column has been used to remove Gd(NO₃)₃ from water while maintaining the column outlet pH in the range of 5.0–5.5.     

Daily intake of manganese by local population around Kylleng Pyndengsohiong Mawthabah (Domiasiat), Meghalaya in India

Present work is carried out adjacent to world's highest rainfall area Kylleng Pyndengsohiong (KP) Mawthabah (Domiasiat), Meghalaya in India to establish the baseline value of manganese intake through dietary route by the local tribe population in view of proposed uranium mining. The locally available food items collected from villages surrounding the proposed uranium mining site at KP Mawthabah (Domiasiat) were analysed using Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) Technique. The manganese concentration in different food categories varies from 2.76-12.50 mg kg^− 1 in cereals, 1.8-4.20 mg kg^− 1 in leafy vegetables, 0.30-13.50 mg kg^− 1 in non leafy vegetables, 0.50-15.30 mg kg^− 1 in roots and tubers, 0.70-1.50 mg kg^− 1 in fruits and 0.12-0.96 mg kg^− 1 in flesh food. The mean dietary intake of Mn was found to be 3.83 ± 0.25 mg d^− 1 compared to Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) of 2-5 mg d^− 1. The daily intake of Manganese by the local tribe population is comparable with the value (3.7 mg d^− 1) recommended by International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) for reference man and lower than the intake value observed for Indian and other Asian population.     

Self-assembled biogenic melanin modulated surface chemistry of biopolymers-colloidal silica composite porous matrix for the recovery of uranium

A new composite porous matrix surface modulated by self-assembled melanin was developed and investigated for its affinity to bind uranium from an aqueous medium. The composite matrix was synthesized using biopolymers (i.e., agarose and alginate) and inorganic colloidal silica nanoparticles (AACS) by the process of cryotropic-gelation at subzero-temperature. Post-synthesis surface modification of AACS matrix with melanin (MAACS) was performed by green chemistry. The in situ sequestrial conversion of l -Dopa by the biocatalytic activity of tyrosinase enzyme allows the formation of melanin on the surface of AACS matrix. The functional moieties on the matrix display fast kinetics and high binding capacity with respect to uranium. MAACS matrix showed high porosity (~90%) with interconnected pores, high swelling kinetics and permeability. Other physicochemical properties of the matrix, such as thermal stability, storage modulus, and surface charge potential were found to be increased, while percent degradation decreased, which demonstrate improved properties of the matrix after impregnation of silica nanoparticles and surface functionalization with melanin. Thermodynamic parameters suggest that the binding of uranyl ions is passive and spontaneous. The concentrated recovery of uranium was achieved with reusability potential of adsorbent. These results suggest an environment friendly and safer method for the recovery of uranium. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 46937.     

Developmental changes in storage proteins and peptidyl prolyl cis–trans isomerase activity in grains of different wheat cultivars

In the present study, storage proteins from five different wheat cultivars were extracted, fractionated and evaluated for their accumulation at different stages of development. SDS–PAGE analysis revealed that the accumulation of high molecular weight glutenin subunits was cultivar and stage dependent. However, low molecular weight glutenin subunits’ accumulation was not altered significantly after 16 days post anthesis in any of the cultivars. The rheological parameters (storage- and loss-modulus) of dough and gluten showed close association with either gliadins or glutenins. Peptidyl prolyl cis–trans isomerase (PPIase) activity, measured at different stages of grains development, showed variability with both the developmental stage and cultivar, and appeared to be primarily due to cyclophilins. Principal component analysis revealed the association of PPIase activity with either gliadin or total proteins, suggesting their significant role in the deposition of storage proteins in wheat.     

Allergenic responses of red kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris cv chitra) polypeptides in BALB/c mice recognized by bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis patients

Allergenicity potential of red kidney beans (Phaseolus vulgaris cv chitra) was assessed and attempts were made to identify the responsible proteins by pepsin digestibility assay and IgE immunoblotting. To evaluate allergenic potential, BALB/c mice were sensitized with red kidney bean proteins and levels of specific immunoglobulin, histamine, mast cell protease-1, cytokines and CCL-2 were measured. To confirm our findings in BALB/c, the studies were also extended to human subjects. Human sera collected from control subjects and allergic patients after skin prick test were used for IgE immunoblotting, measuring the levels of total and specific IgE and determining cross reactivity of red kidney bean with other legumes. Red kidney bean allergenic potential was evident by significant increase in specific IgE, IgG1, histamine, mast cell protease-1 and Th2 cytokine levels in comparison to control. Enhanced level of eosinophils in jejunum, prominent anaphylactic symptoms, and eruptive histopathological changes give indication towards red kidney beans allergenicity. IgE immunoblotting detected five protein components with molecular weights of approximately 170, 100, 43, 34 and 20 kDa. Red kidney bean proteins showed cross reactivity with peanut, soybean, chickpea and black gram. Finally, this work demonstrated that red kidney beans may induce allergic response in mice similar to human subjects, with identification of five clinically relevant allergenic protein components.     

A bi-objective task scheduling approach in fog computing using hybrid fireworks algorithm

The Journal of Supercomputing - With the rapid increase in the functionality of IoT applications, the services provided by edge/IoT devices have surged in the recent past. Fog computing is gaining...     

A multi-tier based clustering framework for scalable and energy efficient WSN-assisted IoT network

Wireless Networks - The effectiveness of wireless sensor network (WSN) in Internet of Thing (IoT) based large scale application depends on the deployment method along with the routing protocol. The...     

Lab scale optimization of various factors for photocatalytic hydrogen generation over low cost Cu0.02Ti0.98O2-δ photocatalyst under UV/Visible irradiation and sunlight

We have demonstrated earlier that maximum H₂ generated @ 1.167 l/h/m² over Cu_0.02Ti_0.98O_2-δ photocatalyst with apparent quantum efficiency, AQE of 7.5% and solar fuel efficiency, SFE of 3.9% under sunlight. With an aim to scale-up the solar photocatalytic hydrogen process to pilot plant, optimization studies at lab scale as well as in upscaled photoreactors were performed over Cu_0.02Ti_0.98O_2-δ, photocatalyst under UV/visible and sunlight. Cu_0.02Ti_0.98O_2-δ was synthesized by facile sol-gel route and characterized by relevant techniques. Several operational parameters were investigated in order to finalize the conditions which are most favourable for photocatalytic hydrogen yield. Factors such as photocatalyst loadings, v/v concentration of sacrificial reagent, replacement of methanol by industrial waste glycerol, role of different configuration of light source with reactor, effect of stirring during the photocatalytic reaction, effect of fluctuations of solar flux at hourly basis, illumination area on hydrogen yield were studied. Contribution of each factor in determining the hydrogen yield was quantified. Relative standard deviation in hydrogen yield as a function of each factor was estimated. Our findings suggest that in addition to catalyst loadings and sacrificial reagent, improved dispersion of photocatalyst obtained by stirring the reaction mixture in horizontal geometry resulted in enhanced H₂ yield. Hydrogen yield obtained at lab scale can be appropriately extrapolated with respect to illumination area instead of weight of photocatalyst. A relative standard deviation (RSD) of ± 3.82% and ± 4.53% in H₂ yield was calculated for sunny and cloudy days in time zone of 10.30–16.30 h IST. Deviation of H₂ yield was more on cloudy days and beyond 16:30 h. These studies have provided a daily window of 11:00–15:00 h to be utilized throughout the year for a commercial scaled up process, prohibiting the illumination during less productive hours of the day for shaping the improved economics of solar hydrogen generation. Our results obtained at lab scale would be useful to perform sunlight driven scaled –up photocatalytic process using low cost visible light efficient photocatalyst, Cu_0.02Ti_0.98O_2-δ.