Reactive phosphorus removal from aquaculture and poultry productions systems using polymeric hydrogels

This work reports on the features of a sorption processes for the ultimate removal and recovery of reactive phosphorus from aquaculture and poultry production wastewater effluents. The sorbent used was a cross-linked polyamine (PAA-HCl) polymeric hydrogel. The PAA-HCl hydrogels were prepared by chemically cross-linking aqueous solutions of linear PAA-HCl chains with epichlorohydrin (EPI). The phosphorus binding capacity of the gels was measured in standard aqueous solutions as a function of ionic strength. Equilibrium PO4(3-), loadings of 100 mg anion/g gel were obtained. The regeneration ability of the gels was demonstrated by release of the bound phosphorus anions upon washing with 1-2 M NaOH solution, providing opportunities to recover and reuse the gel over multiple cycles. The ionic polyamine gels have been demonstrated to be appropriate materials for treating poultry and aquaculture wastewater effluents. Upon treatment phosphorus anion concentrations were reduced to levels suitable for discharge into natural surface waters.     

A regression model for prediction of pipe conveyor belt contact forces on idler rolls

The paper presents design and verification of regression models for prediction of pipe conveyor belt contact forces on idler rolls. Their advantage is in the fact that they have been created according to the real experimental measurement. The obtained models correspond with real operational conditions. The concept of the experimental rig at the Technical University of Košice is designed so that it represents 8 m long section of pipe conveyor. The conveyor belt is an object with action of tension force and at the same time it takes the initiative in the contact force formation. Several criteria have been used to verify the presented regression models. The tensioning force 9000, 12,000 and 15,000 N have MPE of prediction error less than 5%. About 120,000 measured values have been processed during the evaluations which correspond to approximately 15,000 results from experimental measurements.     

Zero Risk Does Not Exist: Lessons Learned from Microbial Risk Assessment Related to Use of Water and Safety of Fresh Produce

Risk assessments related to use of water and safety of fresh produce originate from both water and food microbiology studies. Although the set‐up and methodology of risk assessment in these 2 disciplines may differ, analysis of the current literature reveals some common outcomes. Most of these studies from the water perspective focus on enteric virus risks, largely because of their anticipated high concentrations in untreated wastewater and their resistance to common wastewater treatments. Risk assessment studies from the food perspective, instead, focus mainly on bacterial pathogens such as Salmonella and pathogenic Escherichia coli. Few site‐specific data points were available for most of these microbial risk assessments, meaning that many assumptions were necessary, which are repeated in many studies. Specific parameters lacking hard data included rates of pathogen transfer from irrigation water to crops, pathogen penetration, and survival in or on food crops. Data on these factors have been investigated over the last decade and this should improve the reliability of future microbial risk estimates. However, the sheer number of different foodstuffs and pathogens, combined with water sources and irrigation practices, means that developing risk models that can span the breadth of fresh produce safety will be a considerable challenge. The new approach using microbial risk assessment is objective and evidence‐based and leads to more flexibility and enables more tailored risk management practices and guidelines. Drawbacks are, however, capacity and knowledge to perform the microbial risk assessment and the need for data and preferably data of the specific region.     

Moisture sorption study on Nigerian foods: Kuka

Kuka is an important vegetable in the Nigerian food chain. The moisture sorption characteristics of the vegetable studied at 34, 37 and 45°C between a_w 0.10–0.96, revealed a BET type II behaviour. The Kuka exhibited hysteresis and an increase in EMC with increase in a_w and decrease in temperature. Four sorption models (Oswin, Halsey, Kuhn, and GAB) were studied and the Oswin model was the most suitable. The constants in the Oswin model and GAB monolayer moisture contents were obtained and found to be temperature-dependent. Heats of sorption were greater for desorption than adsorption and in either mode, they reduced with an increase in moisture content. An exponential equation was obtained to relate heat of sorption with moisture content.     

Cell synchrony and periodic behaviour in yeast populations

The underlying basis for the behaviour of a population of cells is the cell growth and division cycles of the individual cells. Under certain special circumstances, oscillations in cell cultures can be observed that are a reflection of metabolic oscillations, such as in glycolysis, or cell cycle oscillations from a partially synchronized population. These oscillations can sometimes occur spontaneously, as in the chemostat culture of Saccharomyces cerevisiae at low dilution rates, or can be induced using chemical blockers or entrainment by a periodic nutrient environment. Continuous methods for inducing a synchronized culture include the pulsed chemostat, continuous phasing and self-cycling fermentation. Results obtained by studying both spontaneously oscillating cultures and synchronized cultures have provided insight into the mechanisms responsible for the progress and control of the cell cycle as well as the intimate relationship that exists between the cellular dynamics and the dynamics of the environment.     

Reaction Sequence and Microstructrual Development of CeO2-Doped Reaction-Bonded Mullite

A promising technique for the fabrication of mullite ceramics and mullite-matrix composites with low dimensional changes ("near-net-shape processing") is reaction bonding using Si metal and α-Al₂O₃ as starting materials, because sintering-induced shrinkage is compensated by Si-oxidation-induced volume expansion. A mullite reaction bonding (RBM) route which proceeds at much lower temperatures (lessthan equal to1350°C) than in conventional RBM systems (greaterthan equal to1500°C) is based on Ce doping which provides accelerated Si oxidation and mullite formation due to the formation of transient, low-viscosity Ce-Al-Si-O liquids. The present study shows that the required Ce-Al-Si-O liquids form in a reducing environment with Ce occurring as Ce³⁺. In an oxidizing environment, Ce is present as Ce⁴⁺, giving rise to precipitation of crystalline CeO₂. Ce³⁺ left and right arrow Ce⁴⁺ redox reactions in the temperature range under consideration appear to be controlled by the presence of nonoxidized Si in the samples. According to the present investigation the amount of CeO₂ added to the starting powders must be tailored carefully: Exaggerated CeO₂ content produces large amounts of low-viscosity Ce-Al-Si-O liquids which may have the disadvantage of excessive sealing of the open porosity. This slows the oxygen diffusion velocity into the specimen considerably, with the consequence that nonoxidized Si and a residual Ce-Al-Si-O glass coexist in the ceramics after processing. A solution to this problem is to simultaneously enhance mullite crystal growth through seeding which works against excessive liquid-phase-induced shrinkage of the samples. This in turn enables complete oxidation and recrystallization of all liquid phases.     

Characterization of plasma electrolytic oxidation coatings on Zircaloy-4 formed in different electrolytes with AC current regime

Plasma electrolytic oxidation was undertaken on Zircaloy-4 in alkaline silicate and pyrophosphate electrolytes, with a square waveform AC current regime. The resultant coatings were examined using scanning electron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and nanoindentation. The coatings formed in silicate electrolyte comprised mainly a porous inner layer and a more compact outer layer, with characteristic solidification structures being evident following prolonged treatment. The coatings contained monoclinic and tetragonal ZrO₂, the latter being mainly present in the outer layer, which was of hardness up to ∼8 GPa. In contrast, extensively cracked coatings resulted from use of pyrophosphate electrolyte; the coating integrity was improved by the addition of silicate to the pyrophosphate electrolyte. The different morphologies of the coatings appeared to be related to the differing nature of the microdischarges and to the incorporation of silicon species that enhanced the formation of t-ZrO₂.     

Electrical double-layer capacitors: evaluation of ageing phenomena during cycle life testing

This paper represents an assessment of the main ageing phenomena in electrical double-layer capacitors (EDLCs). In this study the cycle life of the EDLC cells with a rated capacitance of 1,600 F has been investigated at different ambient temperatures and current rates. From the experimental results we can observe that the impact of the high ambient temperature is significant on the cycle life of the cells. Moreover, the results also show the negative impact of the current rate. The internal resistance tests showed that the increase of the resistance is much higher than the decrease of the capacitance. Thus, the ageing of the EDLC during cycling was clearly non-linear. Further the EIS measurements indicated the higher increase of the imaginary part of the impedance at low frequencies during cycling, which indicates the capacitance fade.     

Sulfur in wheat gluten: In situ analysis by X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy

The sulfur containing gluten proteins largely determine the baking quality of wheat. In order to probe the speciation of sulfur, gluten proteins [gliadin, high molecular weight (HMW) and low molecular weight (LMW) subunits of glutenin], stored glutenin subunits as well as flour were investigated in situ by S K-edge X-ray near edge absorption structure (XANES) spectroscopy. The spectra confirmed the existence of disulfide bonds in oxidised (oxygen stream) glutenin subunits, supporting their significance for the formation of gluten networks. Additionally, glutenin subunits, which were stored under ambient air and temperature conditions, predominantly contained sulfur of higher oxidation states (sulfoxide, sulfonic acid). The disulfide state and also sulfoxide and sulfonic acid states were detected after reoxidation of glutenin subunits with potassium bromate.