Geochemical characteristics of major and trace elements in Sahinali Coals,Aydin, Turkey

In this study, geochemical behavior of elements is investigated in 25 coal samples collected at 10 locations of ?ahinli coaliferous units at southeast of Ayd?n, Turkey. In all the samples, X-ray powder diffraction and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analyses were performed and element and mineral compositions were determined. Total organic carbon (TOC) values of coals are between 14.6 and 37.7 wt% with average of 28.5 wt%. Samples are composed of quartz, calcite, feldspar, dolomite, mica, gypsum, and salt minerals which are accompanied by illite-, kaolinite-, and smectite-type clay minerals. Comparison of average element contents of world coals and studied samples yields that K > Fe > As > U > Cs > Y > Er > Al > Th > Rb > Yb > W > Tb > Dy > Lu > Ce > Sm > La > Ho > Si > Nd > Gd > Tm > Eu > Nb > Pr > Pb > Sn > Ni > Cu > Ga > Ta > Sb > Zr > Cd > V > Zn > Co > Mo > P > Hf > Ba are found to be enriched, while Mn > Be > Ca > Sr > Bi > Mg are found to be depleted. Statistically elements are correlated with TOC.     

A Review of Dehydration of Various Industrial Sludges

Wastewater characteristics and sludge generation potential of point source categories are reviewed critically. Novel industry-specific sludge dewatering/drying solutions necessary to establish a sustainable model are examined through a detailed literature survey. Knowledge of sludge properties is one of the most critical issues needed to design dewatering/drying equipment. This study focuses on industrial wastewater/sludge characterization. In addition, a comprehensive review of current drying models and technologies is also presented. A summary of the results derived from a novel thin-film-based photonic sludge dewatering/drying study is outlined as an alternative approach for industrial sludge control. Sludge was dried in a tubular quartz reactor (TQR), the inner surface of which was coated with a TiO₂ thin film. The TQR was irradiated with UV A, UV B, and UV C lamps. The consumed and generated energy fluxes through endergonic and exergonic reactions driven by photolysis and photocatalysis were investigated. In addition, the variations in sludge dewatering/drying characteristics were also examined and compared with conventional methods to evaluate the energy requirements.     

A review of the day-ahead natural gas consumption in Denmark:starting point towards forecasting accuracy improvement

Natural gas consumption forecasting is crucial for transmission system operators,distribution system operators,traders,and other players in the market.This work...     

The effect of replacing fat with oat bran on fatty acid composition and physicochemical properties of meatballs

Oat bran was used as a fat substitute in the production of meatballs. The effect of oat bran addition on the fatty acid composition, trans fatty acids, total fat, some physicochemical and sensory properties of the samples was studied. Meatballs were produced with four different formulations; the addition of 5, 10, 15 and 20% oat bran. Control samples were formulated with 25% fat addition as in commercial production. The major fatty acids were cis-oleic, palmitic and stearic acid in all the meatball samples, those with oat bran added as well as the control. Meatballs containing oat bran had lower concentrations of total fat and total trans fatty acids than the control samples. Meatballs made with 20% oat bran had the highest protein, salt and ash contents, L value (lightness), b value (yellowness), and the lowest moisture content and a value (redness). There was no significant difference among the meatball samples with respect to sensory properties, and all samples had high acceptability.     

Comparative evaluation of full‐scale UASB reactors treating alcohol distillery wastewaters in terms of performance and methanogenic activity

In this study, two full‐scale upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors, namely TUASB and CUASB, at the wastewater treatment plants of the Tekirdaǧ Alcohol (Raki) and Canakkale Alcohol (Cognac) distilleries were investigated in terms of performance, acetoclastic methanogenic capacity and microbial composition. The results were compared with a previously studied other UASB reactor (IUASB) at the wastewater treatment plant of the Istanbul Alcohol (Raki) Distillery from which the two reactors (TUASB and CUASB) were seeded. The IUASB reactor performed well achieving COD removal efficiencies of no lower than 85% at organic logding rates (OLRs) in the range of 6–11 kg COD m⁻³ day⁻¹ between 1996 and 2001. During the last one year of operation, between 2000 and 2001, performance of the CUASB reactor in terms of COD removal efficiency was 70–80% at OLRs in a range of 1–4.5 kg COD m⁻³ day⁻¹ whereas it was 60–80% at OLRs in a range of 2.5–8.5 kg COD m⁻³ day⁻¹ in the TUASB reactor. At the end of year 2000, specific methanogenic activity (SMA) tests were carried out to determine potential loading capacity and optimum operating conditions of the IUASB, CUASB and TUASB reactors. The potential methane production (PMP) rates of the CUASB, IUASB and TUASB reactors were measured as 230 cm³ CH₄ gVSS⁻¹ day⁻¹, 350 cm³ CH₄ gVSS⁻¹ day⁻¹ and 376 cm³ CH₄ gVSS⁻¹ day⁻¹ respectively. When the PMP rates were compared with actual methane production (AMP) rates obtained from the three UASB reactors, AMP/PMP ratios were evaluated to be 0.18, 0.12 and 0.13 for CUASB, TUASB and IUASB reactors respectively. This showed that the CUASB, TUASB and IUASB reactors were using only 18%, 12% and 13% of their potential acetoclastic methanogenic capacity respectively. These results can be interpreted that the three UASB reactors were underloaded compared with their potential acetoclastic methanogenic capacities. It was, therefore, recommended that the three UASB reactors should be loaded at higher organic loading rates or sludge withdrawn in order to maintain an AMP/PMP ratio of 0.6–0.7, which can ensure desired reactor performance with safer operation. Results of epifluoresence microscopic examinations showed that the percentage of total autofluorescent methanogens was approximately 30% of the total population in sludges from the TUASB and IUASB reactors whereas it was 20% in sludge from the CUASB reactor. The two UASB reactors treating raki distillery wastewaters contained sludges having a higher percentage of autofluorescent methanogenic population and higher acetoclastic methanogenic activity. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

NODIC: a novel distributed clustering routing protocol in WSNs by using a time-sharing approach for CH election

Wireless Networks - Due to the battery limitations, energy-efficient routing is one of the most important issues in WSNs. In this paper, a novel distributed clustering routing protocol (NODIC) is...     

Determination of potential methane production capacity of a granular sludge from a pilot‐scale upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor using a specific methanogenic activity test

A 450 dm³ pilot‐scale upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor was used for the treatment of a fermentation‐based pharmaceutical wastewater. The UASB reactor performed well up to an organic loading rate (OLR) of 10.7 kg COD m^?3 d^?1 at which point 94% COD removal efficiency was achieved. This high treatment efficiency did not continue, however and the UASB reactor was then operated at lower OLRs for the remainder of the study. Specific methanogenic activity (SMA) tests were, therefore, carried out to determine the potential loading capacity of the UASB reactor. For this purpose, the SMA tests were carried out at four different initial acetate concentrations, namely 500 mg dm^?3, 1000 mg dm^?3, 1500 mg dm^?3 and 2000 mg dm^?3 so that substrate limitation could not occur. The results showed that the sludge sample taken from the UASB reactor (OLR of 6.1 kg COD m^?3 d^?1) had a potential acetoclastic methane production (PMP) rate of 72 cm³ CH₄ g^?1 VSS d^?1. When the PMP rate was compared with the actual methane production rate (AMP) of 67 cm³ CH₄ g^?1 VSS d^?1 obtained from the UASB reactor, the AMP/PMP ratio was found to be 0.94 which ensured that the UASB reactor was operated using its maximum potential acetoclastic methanogenic capacity. In order to achieve higher OLRs with desired COD removal efficiencies it was recommended that the UASB reactor should be loaded with suitable OLRs pre‐determined by SMA tests. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

Response Surface Modeling and Evaluation of the Influence of Deposition Parameters on the Electrolytic Cu-Sn Alloy Powders Production

In this article, the electrodeposition process of Cu-Sn alloy powders from tripolyphosphate (TPP)-based electrolytes was investigated as a function of deposition parameters. The effects of deposition parameters such as current density, electrolyte composition (Cu/Sn mole ratio), mechanical stirring speed, and temperature on the Cu content of alloy powder and cathodic current efficiency were evaluated using the response surface methodology (RSM). The empirical models developed in terms of deposition parameters were found to be statistically adequate to describe the process responses. The study revealed that as far as the copper content was concerned in the alloyed powders, all parameters selected had positive correlations. However, a high stirring speed and low current density led to a greater current efficiency. The morphology and chemical composition of the electrodeposited Cu-Sn alloy powders were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) analysis. An SEM analysis showed that the powder morphology was affected considerably by the cathodic current density and stirring speed.     

Experimental investigation of Gasoline-Like Fuel obtained from waste lubrication oil on engine performance and exhaust emission

Experimental investigation on engine performance and exhaust emission of a gasoline engine fueled by Gasoline-Like Fuel (GLF) was performed in this study. The GLF was obtained from waste lubrication oil (WLO) using the pyrolitic distillation method. Firstly, the WLO collected in a tank was particulates removed by a refining process. The refined lubrication oil samples were taken into a reactor and blended with calcium oxide (CaO) 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 wt.% to remove sulphur in the oil. The blended samples were heated in the reactor and then distilled to decrease sulphur and to produce fuel samples. Distillation tests and characteristics of the produced fuel such as density, flash point and lower heating value were examined. The experimental results indicated that the CaO at 2 wt.% had the highest effect on decreasing the amount of sulphur content in the lubrication oil. Fuels produced using 2 wt.% CaO were separated into two parts which were light fuel with 20 wt.% and heavy fuel with 60 wt.% of the total WLO. Remaining of the WLO is about 20 wt.%, which is rejected from the reactor. The light fuel, referred to as GLF and gasoline samples are used to investigate the effect of the GLF on performance and emissions of a 1300 cm³ spark ignited engine manufactured by Fiat. The engine used in the study has specifications of four-stroke and four cylinders, water cooled, fueled with carburetor and naturally aspirated. Each cylinder has a bore of 76 mm and a stroke of 71.5 mm. The experimental results showed that the GLF had a positive effect on brake power, brake thermal efficiency, mean effective pressure and specific fuel consumption. The GLF also raised CO emission and exhaust temperature, but it decreased hydrocarbon (HC) in the exhaust.