Source localization using TDOA and FDOA measurements based on modified cuckoo search algorithm

This paper introduces a new algorithm for solving the localization problem of moving multiple disjoint sources using time difference of arrival and frequency difference of arrival. The localization of moving sources can be considered as a least-square problem. There are many algorithms used to solve this problem such as, two-step weighted least squares, constrained total least-square and practical constrained least-square. However, most of these algorithms suffer from either slow convergence or numerical instability and don’t attain Cramer–Rao lower bound. We introduce a free-gradient algorithm called cuckoo search which avoids the slow convergence problem. The cuckoo search provides a combined global and local search method. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm achieves better performance than other algorithms and attains Cramer–Rao lower bound.     

Rapid synthesis of cellulose triacetate from cotton cellulose and its effect on specific surface area and particle size distribution

A highly rapid process is described for the preparation of cellulose triacetate and its effect on particle size and surface area of the product. The process involves microwave-assisted rapid synthesis of cellulose triacetate with very low amount of acetic anhydride (10–15% of acetic anhydride is used in conventional methods) in the presence of iodine as a catalyst using a designed reaction vessel. The technique used is simple and rapid; it is also characterized by a high conversion ratio (yield 100%). A small amount of iodine (115 and 230 mg, 1.15 and 2.3% of cellulose weight) was found to be effective in the production of cellulose triacetate using 25, 30 to 40 mL acetic anhydride for 10 g cellulose under microwave irradiation for 2–4 min. The production of cellulose triacetate and the degree of substitution were confirmed by FTIR, Raman, ¹H NMR, and thermogravimetric analysis. The optimal reaction condition was discovered to be 3 min microwave radiation and 30 mL acetic anhydride in the presence of 230 mg iodine for 10 g cellulose. The effects of the amount of acetic anhydride, and amount of catalyst and reaction time on the specific surface area, pore volume, mean pore diameter, and particle size distribution were investigated. The highest surface area obtained was 39.63 m²/g. The specific surface area and particle size distribution are highly dependent on the amount of acetic anhydride and I₂ catalyst. About 10% of the synthesized cellulose acetate showed particle size less than 200 nm.     

Structural and Optical Characterization of Chemically Deposited PbS Thin Films

PbS thin films were deposited on glass substrates by a chemical bath deposition method. The effect of varying the film thickness on the structural and optical properties has been investigated. XRD analysis reveals the crystallinity of the deposited PbS films with (200) preferred crystal orientation. Increasing the film thickness enhances the crystallinity of the films as well as decreases the strain and dislocation density. The surface morphology features were dramatically changed from small spherical grains to bead-like shape. The absence of impurities in the deposited films was confirmed by energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry (EDX) measurements. The optical constants of the deposited films were calculated and a small decrease in the band gap energy was observed with increasing the film thickness.     

Recovery of nano-calcium fluoride and ammonium bisulphate from phosphogypsum waste

ABSTRACT

The production of phosphoric acid generates an enormous amount of phosphogypsum with emission of toxic fluorine acid gas. To remedy these environmental problems, a novel and a simple procedure permits converting phosphogypsum waste by recycled fluorine acid into valuable products. The obtained results confirm the efficiency of this procedure, which synthesises at room temperature the calcium fluoride in the form of nano-crystalline powder and the ammonium bisulphate salt from the exact stoichiometric proportions of phosphogypsum, hydrofluoric acid and ammonia. The total conversion of phosphogypsum is achieved after reaction time equal to one hour and a half. Generally, this novel procedure offers not only a solution for reducing phosphogypsum waste and fluorine gas emission, but also gives rise to valuable products, useful to industry and agriculture.     

Evolution of size distribution and transfer of mineral particles between flocs in activated sludges: an insight into floc exchange dynamics

The aggregation behavior of activated sludge flocs was investigated by monitoring the size distribution of flocs and transfer of mineral particles between flocs, under various conditions of agitation and dilution. The results showed that (i) the shape of the floc size distribution can be fitted with a gamma function, (ii) a steady-state mean floc size is reached for a given stirring rate, (iii) this stable floc size is shifted towards floc growth as sludge concentration is increased, (iv) under cycled-shear conditions, microbial aggregates break up and re-form in an almost reversible manner, (v) blending of raw sludge and sludge spiked with Aquatal mineral particles results in particle exchange between flocs and (vi) the detailed study of exchange kinetics indicates that some flocs do not participate to the aggregation dynamics. These experimental results suggest that the activated sludge floc size is governed by a flocculation/deflocculation balance, implying an exchange of floc constituents between microbial aggregates.     

Testing and modeling of shear and peel behavior for bonded steel/FRP connections

This paper presents a technique used to evaluate the shear and peel stiffness of an adhesive system that bonds fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) and steel sections. The technique combines experimental results and analytical solutions and involves the simulation of the shear and peel behavior of the adhesive through two continuous spring systems. The experiments involve shear lap testing of FRP sheets bonded to hollow steel sections. A closed form analytical solution was derived for both the in-plane and out-of-plane behavior of the tested FRP sheets. The measured in-plane load-displacement relations were incorporated into the closed form solution to evaluate the spring constant simulating the shear behavior of the adhesive. The out-of-plane behavior of the FRP sheets was identified experimentally through outer face strain and out-of-plane displacement measurements. A curve fitting approach in which the closed form analytical solution was fitted to the measured out-of-plane displacement profile was then used to evaluate the spring constant simulating the peel behavior of the adhesive. The study focused on a methacrylate adhesive system since preliminary investigation has shown it is suitable for applications involving bonding plastic and metal surfaces. The spring constants evaluated in this study can be used to perform detailed modeling of a bonded FRP/steel connection under a general state of loading.     

Treatment of wastewater containing toxic chromium using new activated carbon developed from date palm seed

The use of a new activated carbon developed from date palm seed wastes, generated in the jam industry, for removing toxic chromium from aqueous solution has been investigated. The activated carbon has been achieved from date palm seed by dehydrating methods using concentrated sulfuric acid. The batch experiments were conducted to determine the adsorption capacity of the biomass. The effect of initial metal concentration (25-125mgl(-1)), pH, contact time, and concentration of date palm seed carbon have been studied at room temperature. A strong dependence of the adsorption capacity on pH was observed, the capacity increase as pH value decrease and the optimum pH value is pH 1.0. Kinetics and adsorption equilibrium were studied at different sorbent doses. The adsorption process was fast and the equilibrium was reached within 180min. The maximum removal was 100% for 75mgl(-1) of Cr(+ concentration on 4gl(-1) carbon concentration and the maximum adsorption capacity was 120.48mgg(-1). The kinetic data were analyzed using various kinetic models - pseudo-first order equation, pseudo-second order equation, Elovich equation and intraparticle diffusion equation - and the equilibrium data were tested using several isotherm models, Langmuir, Freundlich, Koble-Corrigan, Redlich-Peterson, Tempkin, Dubinin-Radushkevich and Generalized isotherm equations. The Elovich equation and pseudo-second order equation provide the greatest accuracy for the kinetic data and Koble-Corrigan and Langmuir models the closest fit for the equilibrium data. Activation energy of sorption has also been evaluated as 0.115 and 0.229kJmol(-1).     

Luminescence of composites based on oxide aerogels incorporated in silica glass host matrix

This paper deals with the elaboration and photoluminescence (PL) examination of oxide powder (OP = ZnO, Al₂O₃, SnO₂, TiO₂) incorporated in silica host matrix. OP, in the first step, was prepared by a sol–gel method using supercritical drying of ethyl alcohol. The obtained powder, in a second step, was incorporated in silica aerogel monolith using tetraethylorthosilicate as SiO₂ precursor and ethyl alcohol supercritical conditions for drying. In the third step, silica aerogel containing oxide powders were heated under natural atmosphere at 1200 °C for 2 h to form the composites that exhibited a strong PL bands at Vis–IR range. Photoluminescence excitation (PLE) measurements show different origins of the emission. It was suggested that OH-related radiative centres and non-bridging oxygen hole centres (NBOHCs) defects resulting from thermal treatment and crystallization at the interfaces between OP and silica host matrix, were responsible for the bands at 400–600 and 700–900 nm respectively.