DRYING CHARACTERISTICS OF TAPIOKA

Experimcntal studies were carried out on a multipurposc industrial solar drycr having corrugated absorber with two glass covers. Drying charactcristics of Tapioka wcre obtained on the fixed bed portion of this dryer     

Decolorization of Methyl Orange Dye at IrO2‐SnO2‐Sb2O5 Coated Titanium Anodes

A film of iridium and tin dioxides doped with antimony oxide (IrO₂‐SnO₂‐Sb₂O₅) was deposited onto Ti mesh and plate substrates by the Pechini method. The electrode surface morphology and composition were characterized by SEM‐EDS. The ternary oxide coating was used for the anodic oxidation of methyl orange (MO) azo dye. Linear sweep voltammetry was used to identify the electrode potentials that favour MO degradation. Batch electrolyses were then carried out at a constant electrode potential of 1.5, 1.75 and 2.0 V vs. SHE using either a three‐electrode batch cell or a flow reactor. The dye solutions were totally decolorized via reactive oxygen species, such as ^?OH, H₂O₂ and O₃ formed in situ from water oxidation at the Ti/IrO₂‐SnO₂‐Sb₂O₅ surface.     

Optimal allocation for estimating the mean of a bivariate polynomial

Suppose we wish to estimate the mean of some polynomial function of random variables from two independent Bernoulli populations, the parameters of which. rhemselves, are modeled as independent beta random variables. It. is assumed that the t.otal sample size for the experiment is fixed, but that the number of experimental units observed from each population may be random. This problem arises, ior example, when estimating the fault tolerance of a system by testing its compomentc individually. Using a decision theorebic approach, we seek to minimize the Bayes risk that arises from using a squared error loss function The Bayes estimator can lw detrmined in a straightforwardmanner, so the problem of optimal estimation rcduces. therefore, to a problem of optimallocatton of the samples between the two populatiorls. This can be solved via dynamic programming. Similar programming techniques are utilized to evaluate properties of a number of ad hoc allocation strategies that might also be collsidered for use in this problem.Two sample polynomials are analyzed along with a number of examples indicating the effects of different prior parameter settings. The effects of differences between prior pararueters used in the design and analysis stages of the experiment are also examined. For the polynomials considered, the adaptive strategies are found to be especially robust. We discuss computational techniques that facilitate such analyses by permitting rapid re-evaluation of strategies. Capabilities of this sort enrouragepeople to explorr designs more fully and to consider them from a number of different viewpuillts.     

THERMAL ANALYSIS AND DRYING KINETICS OF OLIVE BAGASSE

ABSTRACT

The slow thermal decomposition of olive bagasse at temperatures ranging from 25 to 900° C, with particular stress on the moisture evaporation phenomena, is analyzed making use of thermogravimetry, derivative ihermogravimelry and differential scanning calorimetry. The results obtained demonstrate that Thermal Analysis techniques contribute for the characterization of iniernai moisture transfer processes. “ Drying curves” obtained from Thermal Analysis experiments were compared with thin-layer drying curves of olive bagasse at relatively high temperatures. The existence of a critical moisture content, which distinguishes two types of water liaisons, was demonstrated, and its value quantified at 17-18%.     

Promising Stability of Gold-Based Catalysts Prepared by Direct Anionic Exchange for DeNO x Applications in Lean Burn Conditions

Supported gold catalysts on γ-Al₂O₃ have been investigated in the catalytic reduction of NO _x in simulated Diesel exhaust gas conditions. Different parameters have been examined essentially the mode of gold incorporation via classical deposition–precipitation and anionic exchange methods and the nature of the pre-activation thermal treatment. The resistance to thermal ageing under reactive conditions at 500 °C was found completely different with a significant rate enhancement on anionic-exchange samples. Further comparisons also show that the nature of the pre-activation thermal treatment influences the extent of surface reconstructions during thermal ageing with a detrimental effect of reductive pre-treatment on the catalytic performances.     

PAHs in Sediments Contaminated by the Haven Oil Spill. (Genoese Bay)

Sediment samples were collected 40 months after the wreckage of the HAVEN off shore Arenzano, facing the Genoese coast, at 300 to 500 m depth, (wreckage zone) and analysed by UV fluorescence spectroscopy and CG/MS. PAHs as alkylated naphtalene, fluorene, phenanthrene, dibenzothiophene series have been studied. Analytical results reveal – 1° – a great alteration of alkylated homologues compared to parent compounds - 2° - the appearance of anthracene (absent in the original crude oil) in samples – 3° – a relative increase of high molecular weight PAHs (4–5 rings and more) as benzo(ghi)perylene and indeno(cd)pyrene. These changes result from the partial burning of the contaminant oil. A beginning of biodegradation is observed for alkylated phenanthrenes.     

Covalent Isoresonance

Two molecular species are defined to be isoresonant if each have like numbers of the same (type of) bonds and there is an isomorphism between superpositions of pairs of Kekulé structures giving equivalent interaction patterns (as appear in Hamiltonian matrices). Thus a close physico-chemical correspondence follows, as predicted by a variety of semiempirical quantum-chemical models, and thence presumably for corresponding molecules. Notably simple structural criteria sufficient for isoresonance are found.