Electrocoagulation of methylene blue and eosin yellowish using mild steel electrodes

The paper presents the study of electrocoagulation (EC) of aqueous dye solutions of two different industrial dyes in a batch stirred cell. Experiments were carried out with 200 mg/l individual concentration of methylene blue (MB) and eosin yellowish (EY) in presence of NaCl as electrolyte. Effect of operating time and current density on the decolorization of dye solutions, reduction of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and variation in conductivity, pH during treatment has been studied. Small difference between color diminution and COD reduction has been found with the progress of treatment. First-order rate equation for dye removal has been developed from the experimental results. Sludge formation during EC and problems associated with this solid waste generation and disposal has been assessed. Energy consumption in KWh/m(3) with reduction of COD (kg) during treatment has been reported. Electric power consumption of 1.5 KWh reduces 0.21 and 0.11 kg COD from 0.24 and 0.14 kg of initial COD for MB and EY, respectively, starting from 200 mg/l dye concentration.     

Appropriate bleaching technique for coconut fiber

Recipes for bleaching of coconut fiber at both ambient and elevated temperature were investigated using appropriate statistical design of experiments using hydrogen peroxide with essential bleaching assisting auxiliaries. The statistical tool is also being utilized to suggest optimized recipe for the treatments considering mainly whiteness index, yellowness index, and tenacity. Statistical computation affirmed need of higher amount of bleaching chemicals in elevated temperature than ambient bleaching. Both the bleaching treatments were resulting in small mass loss essentially of noncellulosic nature including lignin and thus result in improved mechanical properties. The change in whiteness and yellowness index of the bleached fiber under the shed storage condition for duration of 2 years was found to be negligible.     

Evaluation of Wear Behaviour of Metal Injection Moulded Nickel Based Metal Matrix Composite

Silicon - Metal injection moulding (MIM) is a near-net shape manufacturing technology for producing intricate parts, cost-effectively. MIM comprises combined techniques of plastic injection...     

A numerical model to predict the powder–binder separation during micro-powder injection molding

The micro-powder injection molding (micro-PIM) process has the potential to bridge the gap between the design and manufacturing of micro-components that are often used in small and handy devices. Numerical modeling helps to analyze and overcome various difficulties of micro-PIM. In the present work, a numerical model is developed to predict the powder–binder separation (a common defect in PIM and especially severe in micro-PIM) during the injection of an alumina feedstock. A powder–binder separation criterion is proposed dealing with applied injection pressure and friction force between the powder and binder. An indirect comparison of feedstock travel time between two locations is used to validate the model. The predicted segregation from the simulated result is supported by a qualitative experimental measurement. The developed model can be used to optimize injection parameters to get a defect-free product.     

Mannopyranoside Glycolipids Inhibit Mycobacterial and Biofilm Growth and Potentiate Isoniazid Inhibition Activities in M. smegmatis

Lipomannan and lipoarabinomannan are integral components of the mycobacterial cell wall. Earlier studies demonstrated that synthetic arabinan and arabinomannan glycolipids acted as inhibitors of mycobacterial growth, in addition to exhibiting inhibitory activities of mycobacterial biofilm. Herein, it is demonstrated that synthetic mannan glycolipids are better inhibitors of mycobacterial growth, whereas lipoarabinomannan has a higher inhibition efficiency to biofilm. Syntheses of mannan glycolipids with a graded number of mannan moieties and an arabinomannan glycolipid are conducted by chemical methods and subsequent mycobacterial growth and biofilm inhibition studies are conducted on Mycobacterium smegmatis. Growth inhibition of (73±3) % is observed with a mannose trisaccharide containing a glycolipid, whereas this glycolipid did not promote biofilm inhibition activity better than that of arabinomannan glycolipid. The antibiotic supplementation activities of glycolipids on growth and biofilm inhibitions are evaluated. Increases in growth and biofilm inhibitions are observed if the antibiotic is supplemented with glycolipids, which leads to a significant reduction of inhibition concentrations of the antibiotic.     

AKH-NFIS: Adaptive Krill Herd Network Fuzzy Inference System for Mobile Robot Navigation

Wireless Personal Communications - Mobile robot navigation has been a current issue in the most recent two decades. Mobile robots are necessary to explore in obscure and dynamic situations. To...     

A novel free space communication system using nonlinear InGaAsP microsystem resonators for enabling power-control toward smart cities

Wireless Networks - Nowadays, the smart grid has demonstrated a great ability to make life easier and more comfortable given recent advances. This paper studies the above issue from the perspective...     

Synthesis of mesoporous geopolymeric powder from LD slag as superior adsorbent for Zinc (II) removal

Linz-Donawitz(LD) slag Geopolymer(LDSGP), a porous aluminosillicate geopolymeric adsorbent, has been synthesized from steel plant LD slag for efficient removal of Zinc(II) ions from wastewater, thus presenting a solution for converting industrial waste to adsorbent for wastewater treatment. The colloid paste of raw LD slag and the alkaline activator (10?M NaOH?+?sodium silicate (1:1 w/w)) has been cured for 3?days at low temperature to geopolymerize the calcium oxide rich LD slag. The BET surface area of LDSGP adsorbent (30.84?m²/g) has improved considerably compared to raw LDS (4.85?m²/g) and the FESEM and HRTEM images reveal the presence of micropetal and cauliflower like structures at outer surface of the adsorbent particles. The mesoporous nature of LDSGP adsorbent can be understood by analyzing N₂ adsorption-desorption and pore size distribution plot. The PXRD pattern of LDSGP adsorbent powder confirms the presence of Ca₂SiO₄ and Ca₃SiO₅ in the geopolymeric matrix. Langmuir isotherm model correlates the batch adsorption data of Zn²⁺ ions onto LDSGP particles at 298?K, 308?K and 318?K. The maximum Zn²⁺ ions adsorption capacity of LDSGP is 86?mg/g at 318?K. The adsorption kinetic data is correlated with pseudo-second-order model indicating chemisorption of Zn²⁺ ions onto LD slag geopolymeric powder adsorbent.