KINETICS FOR FAST PYROLYSIS OF HAZEL NUT SHELL

Abstract

In this article, the potential utilization of hazel nut shell as a combustible residue was studied. To obtain liquid and gaseous products, the hazel nut shell was subjected to pyrolysis and it was converted to 49.3 % (w) gaseous and 20.0 % (w) liquid products at 475 °C for 7.5 minutes in a simple pyrolysis device The kinetic model used in the present study was based on fractional weight loss for each pyrolysis step. The simple fast pyrolysis was compared with TGA technique.     

Robust quadratic stabilization applied to design of continuous-time and discrete-time observers

In this paper, an application of a robust quadratic stabilization algorithm (RQSA) to continuous-time and discrete-time observers is presented. The RQSA is based on checking end points of a bounding hyperpolyhedron. The RQSA applied to observers is introduced, and implemented for a simplified car model, in both continuous-time and discrete-time case. The paper concludes that the RQSA is feasible to estimate unavailable states, even though there are structured uncertainties in the system matrix and in the measurement matrix.     

An artificial neural network model for the prediction of critical submergence for intake in a stratified fluid medium

Density differences may occur because of temperature differentials, suspended sediments, dissolved salts or other chemicals. Most of the large surface reservoirs are stably stratified throughout most, or all, of the year. One of the means of assisting the management is to allow a selective withdrawal from the reservoir. And while an intake is used for withdrawal (from the lower layer), a maximum discharge is required not allowing the uptake of the upper layer fluids. The value of the intake's vertical distance from the upper layer elevation (submergence) when the upper layer fluids begin to be drawn into the intake is known as ‘critical submergence’. In this study, the critical submergence for a circular intake pipe in a stratified body (which has different layer thickness) is investigated. Experiments were conducted on a vertically flowing downward intake pipe in a still-water reservoir. Artificial neural network (ANN) models and formulas, which are found by the theoretical analysis of critical spherical sink surface (CSSS), are used for the analysis of experimental results. The CSSS has the same centre and discharge as the intake. The ANN model and CSSS results are compared with the experimental results.     

Batch kinetics and isotherms for biosorption of copper(II) ions onto pre-treated powdered waste sludge (PWS)

Waste sludge samples from different plants were tested for Cu(II) ion biosorption capacities with and without pre-treatment. Waste sludge from a paint industry wastewater treatment plant was found to perform better than the others after pre-treatment with 1% H(2)O(2). Powdered waste sludge (PWS) from the paint industry wastewater treatment plant was used for recovery of Cu(II) ions from aqueous solution by biosorption after pre-treatment with 1% H(2)O(2). Batch kinetics and isotherms of biosorption of Cu(II) ions were investigated at variable initial Cu(II) concentrations between 50 and 400 mg l(-1) with a PWS particle size of 64 microm. The pseudo-first and -second order kinetic models were used to correlate the experimental data. The kinetic constants were determined for both models and the second order kinetic model was found to be more suitable. The Langmuir, Freundlich and the generalized isotherm models were used to correlate the equilibrium biosorption data and the isotherm constants were determined. The Langmuir isotherm was found to fit the experimental data better than the other isotherms tested. The maximum biosorption capacity (116 mg g(-1)) of the pre-treated powdered waste sludge for Cu(II) ions was found to be superior as compared to the other biosorbents reported in literature.     

Effects of Reagent Concentrations on Advanced Oxidation of Amoxicillin by Photo-Fenton Treatment

The degradation and mineralization of amoxicillin in an aqueous solution was accomplished by using a photo-Fenton treatment. An ultraviolet light source with a 254-nm wavelength was used with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and iron(II). The effects of reagent concentrations on amoxicillin degradation and mineralization were investigated systematically by using the Box-Behnken statistical experiment design. Amoxicillin (10–200??mgL-1), H2O2 (10–500??mgL-1), and iron(II) (0–50??mgL-1) concentrations were considered independent variables; the percent amoxicillin degradation and the total organic carbon (TOC) removal (mineralization) were the objective functions to be maximized. Both H2O2 and iron(II) concentrations affected the extent of the amoxicillin degradation and mineralization. The amoxicillin degradation was completed within 2.5?min, and 53% mineralization took place within 60?min. The optimum H2O2∶Fe∶amoxicillin ratio that resulted in complete amoxicillin degradation and 53% mineralization was 100∶40∶105??mgL-1.     

Effect of cooperativity on microbial growth

The classical Monod equation for the specific growth rate of a microbial population can be derived by assuming a single substrate enzyme-catalysed reaction (Michaelis-Menten kinetics) as the rate-limiting step in microbial growth. In some cases the enzyme which catalyses the rate-limiting step in microbial growth may have more than one substrate binding site and the binding of one substrate molecule to the enzyme facilitates the binding of the next substrate molecule (cooperativity). The presence of cooperativity changes the form of the Michaelis-Menten equation for enzyme-catalysed substrate reactions and also the Monod equation for microbial growth. The number of interacting active sites on an enzyme molecule is an additional parameter in this case. In this article, the cooperative growth model for n interacting sites on the enzyme is derived and compared with the classical Monod model.     

Effect of Cobalt and Nickel Doping on Structural and Magnetic Properties of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles

Two series samples of Iron Oxide nanoparticles doped with nickel and cobalt with different doping values (x?=?0.01; 0.03; 0.05 and 0.07), were successfully synthesized by using sol–gel method, and then they were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). X-ray diffraction analysis of two series samples showed the formation α-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles, accompanied by two phases iron spinels, CoFe₂O₄ and NiFe₂O₄. In addition, the variations in grain size were observed for both two series. The observation by scanning electron microscopy reveals a change in the morphology of the grains of all the samples doped, which confirm the cobalt and nickel effect on the morphology of iron oxide nanoparticles. Magnetic measurements which were measured by VSM showed significant magnetic parameters such as coercivity and magnetization besides the ferromagnetic behavior of both two series doped with Cobalt and Nickel.