Solving mixed-integer nonlinear programming problems using improved genetic algorithms

This paper proposes a method for solving mixed-integer nonlinear programming problems to achieve or approach the optimal solution by using modified genetic algorithms. The representation scheme covers both integer and real variables for solving mixed-integer nonlinear programming, nonlinear programming, and nonlinear integer programming. The repairing strategy, a secant method incorporated with a bisection method, plays an important role in converting infeasible chromosomes to feasible chromosomes at the constraint boundary. To prevent premature convergence, the appropriate diversity of the structures in the population must be controlled. A cross-generational probabilistic survival selection method (CPSS) is modified for real number representation corresponding to the representation scheme. The efficiency of the proposed method was validated with several numerical test problems and showed good agreement.     

SYNTHESIS OF ACTIVATED CARBON FROM JATROPHA SEED COAT AND APPLICATION TO ADSORPTION OF IODINE AND METHYLENE BLUE

This article provides evidence that jatropha seed coat residues can be used as a carbon source for preparing activated carbons that have good adsorption properties for iodine and methylene blue. Activated carbons were prepared using three different methods of activation, physical, chemical, and physico-chemical, for a range of activation temperatures (600°, 700°, 800°, and 900°C) and activation hold times (1, 2, and 3 h). The highest BET surface area (1479 m² g^?1) and the highest iodine adsorption (1511 mg g^?1) were obtained with physico-chemical activation at a temperature of 900°C and a hold time of 2 h. This activated carbon gave higher BET surface area and iodine adsorption than commercial activated carbon (1169.1 m² g^?1 and 1076 mg g^?1). The activated carbons prepared by physico-chemical activation at 900°C and 2 h were then tested for adsorption of methylene blue at a range of concentrations of methylene blue (100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 mg L^?1). It was found that a Langmuir isotherm gave a better fit (R ² = 0.999) to the observed adsorptions than a Freundlich isotherm (R ² = 0.884). For the adsorption kinetics, a pseudo-second-order model gave a better fit (R ² > 0.998, Δq _e  = 3.7%) than a pseudo-first-order model (R ² ≈ 0.95, Δq _e  = 85.6%). These results suggest that chemisorption is the rate-controlling step for the adsorption of methylene blue. The experimental results show that jatropha seed coat is a lignocellulosic waste precursor for preparation of activated carbon that is an alternative source for preparation of commercial-grade activated carbons.     

Protease production by Aspergillus oryzae in solid‐state fermentation using agroindustrial substrates

BACKGROUND: An inexpensive and readily available agroindustrial substrate such as rice bran can be used to produce cheap commercial enzymes by solid‐state fermentation. This work investigates the production of food‐grade proteases by solid‐state fermentation using readily available Thai rice bran. RESULTS: A local strain of Aspergillus oryzae (Ozykat‐1) was used to produce proteases. Rice bran used alone proved to have poor substrate morphology (insufficient porosity) for satisfactory solid‐state fermentation. A certain amount of wheat bran was necessary to improve the morphology of the substrate. The following variables affected protease production: substrate composition, initial moisture content and initial pH. A high protease activity (∼1200 U g⁻¹ dry solids) was obtained on a substrate that had a wheat bran to rice bran ratio of 0.33 by dry weight, a moisture content of 50%, initial pH of 7.5, and incubation temperature of 30 °C. CONCLUSION: Nutritionally, rice bran used alone was as good a substrate as mixed bran for producing protease, but rice bran had poor morphological characteristics for consistent fermentation. A substrate that had a wheat bran to rice bran ratio of 0.33 by dry weight was best for producing protease. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Application of gas anti-solvent process to the recovery of andrographolide from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Andrographis paniculatanees</Emphasis>

The gas anti-solvent (GAS) process was employed to extract andrographolide, which is the active ingredient found in Andrographis Paniculatanees, using carbon dioxide as an anti-solvent. The effects of temperature, flow rate and solvent type on the extraction recovery, particle size and morphology were investigated in this study. The experiments were conducted at the temperature ranging from 25–45 °C, carbon dioxide flow rate of 1–15 mL/min, and various types of organic solvents (methanol, ethanol, acetone and N,N-dimethylformamide). The extracted product was analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The highest extraction yield was found to be 1.24 g andrographolide per 100 g of A. paniculata when using acetone as a solvent, carbon dioxide flow rate of 5 mL/min and the temperature of 35 °C. It was also found that no significant change in size or morphology of the precipitates was observed when changing temperature, carbon dioxide flow rate and solvents.