Benzoylation of benzene to benzophenone over zeolite catalysts

The liquid phase benzoylation of benzene with benzoyl chloride (BOC) to benzophenone is catalyzed by various zeolites at 353 K. Zeolite H-beta is found to be more active than the other zeolites. The conversion of benzoyl chloride to benzophenone over H-beta increases significantly with increase in the reaction time, temperature, catalyst/BOC (wt/wt) and benzene/BOC (mole) ratios. The yield of benzophenone decreases with increase in SiO₂/Al₂O₃ ratio and isomorphous substitution of Al-by Ga- and Fe-in zeolite H-Al-beta in the following order: Al-> Ga-> Fe-H-beta suggesting that high density of acidic centers along with strong acid sites are required for the reaction.     

Particle-in-Cell algorithms for emerging computer architectures

We have designed Particle-in-Cell algorithms for emerging architectures. These algorithms share a common approach, using fine-grained tiles, but different implementations depending on the architecture. On the GPU, there were two different implementations, one with atomic operations and one with no data collisions, using CUDA C and Fortran. Speedups up to about 50 compared to a single core of the Intel i7 processor have been achieved. There was also an implementation for traditional multi-core processors using OpenMP which achieved high parallel efficiency. We believe that this approach should work for other emerging designs such as Intel Phi coprocessor from the Intel MIC architecture.     

A new method for fast anodic bonding in microsystem technology

Other than temperature and voltage, load plays a key role in anodic bonding process. In this paper we present a new design of top electrode (cathode) for anodic bonding machine by which the bonding time has been reduced up to 30 % in case of bare silicon wafer at ?400 V and approximate 52 % in case of oxidized silicon wafer with Pyrex glass bonding at ?800 V. Experimentally it has been observed there was no bonding in oxidized silicon wafer with Pyrex glass up to ?600 V by using standard design while it has been successfully bonded at same voltage (?600 V) by using new design.     

ESTIMATION OF VAPOR PRESSURES OF ORGANIC NITROGEN AND SULFUR COMPOUNDS BY A GROUP-CONTRIBUTION METHOD

The group-contribution method for vapor pressures of hydrocarbons and organic compounds containing nitrogen or sulfur, based on the kinetic theory of fluids, is revised and extended to include new groups containing nitrogen or sulfur. Good representation is obtained for vapor pressure data in the region 1.30-270 kPa. The method may be used to estimate vapor pressures and enthalpies of vaporization for those organic fluids containing nitrogen or sulfur, where no experimental data are available.     

Low frequency ac conduction and dielectric relaxation behavior of solution grown and uniaxially stretched poly(vinylidene fluoride) films

The measurements of ac conductivity [σ_m(ω)], dielectric constant [?′(ω)] and loss [?″(ω)] have been performed on solution grown (thickness ∼85 μm) and uniaxially stretched (thickness ∼25, 45 and 80 μm) films of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) in the frequency range 0.1 kHz-10 MHz and in the temperature range 77-400 K. The σ_m(ω) can be described by the relation σ(ω) = Aω^s, where s is close to unity and decreases with increase in temperature. Three relaxations, observed in the present investigation, have been designated as the α_c-, the α_a- and the β-relaxations appearing from high temperature side to the low temperature side. The α_c-relaxation could not be observed in the case of uniaxially stretched poly(vinylidene fluoride) films. The α_c- and α_a-relaxations are associated with the molecular motions in the crystalline regions and micro-Brownian motion in the amorphous regions of the main polymer chain, respectively, whereas the β-relaxation is attributed to the rotation of side group dipoles or to the local oscillations of the frozen main polymer chain.     

Thermoelectric hydrogen sensor using Li x Ni1-x O synthesized by molten salt method

Li-doped NiO was synthesized by molten salt method. LiN_O3-LiOH flux was used as a source for Li doping. NiCl₂ was added to the molten Li flux and then processed to make the Li-doped NiO material. Li:Ni ratios were maintained from 5: 1 to 30: 1 during the synthetic procedure and the chemical compositions after characterization were found from Li_0.08Ni_0.92O to Li_0.16Ni_0.84O. Li doping did not change the basic cubic structural characteristics of NiO as evidenced by XRD studies; however, the lattice parameter decreased from 0.41769 nm in pure NiO to 0.41271 nm in Li_0.16Ni_0.84O. Hydrogen gas sensors were fabricated by using these materials as thick films on alumina substrates. The half surface of each sensor was coated with the Pt catalyst. The sensor, when exposed to the hydrogen gas blended in air, heated up the catalytic surface leaving the rest half surface (without catalyst) cold. The thermoelectric voltage thus built up along the hot and cold surface of the Li-doped NiO made the basis for detecting hydrogen gas. The linearity of the voltage signal vs H₂ concentration was checked up to 4% of H₂ in air (as higher concentrations above 4.65% are explosive in air) using Li_0.10Ni_0.90O as the sensor material. The response time T₉₀ and the recovery time RT90 were less than 25 sec. H₂ concentration from 0.5% to 4% showed a good linearity against voltage. There was minimum interference of other gases and hence H₂ gas can easily be detected.     

Integrated fertilizer requirements of groundnut-wheat cropping system

Investigations were carried out in a long term field experiment from 1976 to 1982, on a loamy sand soil to find out the fertilizer requirements of groundnut and wheat grown in fixed rotation. Application of 26 kgP/ha to wheat alone was found to be sufficient for both wheat and succeeding groundnut. Application of phosphorus to both wheat and groundnut did not result in extra beneficial effect over P application to wheat alone. However, application of 26 kg P/ha to groundnut alone was not sufficient for succeeding wheat. There was no response from K application (25 kg K/ha) in either of these two crops. Increasing the dose of N from 50–150 kg/ha to wheat significantly increased the grain yield of wheat but the pod yield of succeeding groundnut were markedly lowered. Response of wheat to 150 kg N/ha was more marked when P was also applied to wheat and response was less when P was applied to preceding groundnut alone. Zinc application at 6.25 kg/ha to wheat alone resulted in significant increase in grain yield of wheat and pod yield of succeeding groundnut.     

First Identification of a Putative Sex Pheromone in a Praying Mantid

Praying mantids are models for a wide variety of behavioral, physiological, and ecological studies, and sex pheromones have been assumed to be important components of their biology. However, no mantid pheromone has ever been identified. We collected volatiles emitted by females of the mantid, Sphodromantis lineola, via solid phase microextraction (SPME). Mass spectral analysis revealed the collected volatiles to be a mixture of pentadecanal and tetradecanal. We prepared a synthetic mixture of these compounds, and found that males were both attracted to this mixture and stimulated to exhibit typical precopulatory behavior. We then examined male antennae with scanning electron microscopy, and confirmed the presence of porous antennal sensilla typical of insect pheromone receptors, i.e., that male mantids are equipped with the appropriate morphological apparatus to receive volatile chemical signals. Pheromones, in conjunction with visual and tactile cues, are thus an important feature of the reproductive biology of this, and undoubtedly other species of mantids. In addition to adding a crucial aspect of behavioral biology to our knowledge of this group, identification and synthesis of mantid pheromones may be a first step in attracting and aggregating these generalist predators for use in pest control.     

A hybrid evolutionary approach to the registration area planning problem

The last two decades have witnessed a phenomenal growth in the number of cellular wireless network users which in turn stressed the need to utilize the limited network bandwidth in an efficient manner. The network bandwidth is consumed not only by user traffic, but also by control traffic needed for ensuring the mobility of users. As we don’t have any control over the volume of user traffic, all attempts to efficiently use bandwidth are based on frequency reuse and minimizing the control traffic. The registration area planning (RAP) problem seeks a partition of the cells of the network into contiguous areas called registration areas so that the bandwidth consumed by control signals is minimized. RAP problem in an \(\mathcal {NP}\) -Hard problem. In this paper, we present a steady-state grouping genetic algorithm with local search to solve this problem. We have compared our approach with the state-of-the-art approaches reported in the literature. Computational results show the effectiveness of our approach.     

CFD modeling of pilot-scale pump-mixer: Single-phase head and power characteristics

The present work involves single-phase computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of continuous flow pump-mixer employing top-shrouded Rushton turbines with trapezoidal blades. Baffle—impeller interaction has been modeled using sliding mesh and multiple reference frame approaches. Standard k-ε model has been used for turbulence modeling. Several CFD runs representing different combinations of geometric and process parameters have been carried out. Results of CFD simulations have been used to find out two macroscopic performance parameters of pump-mixer—power consumption and head generated by the impeller. The simulation results have been compared with the experimental data obtained on a pilot-scale setup. Good agreement between CFD predictions and experimental results is observed. In most cases, sliding mesh approach is found to perform better than multiple reference frame approach. Details from CFD simulations have been used to have an insight into the pumping action of the impeller.