Effect of some BED blends on the equivalence ratio, exhaust oxygen fraction and water and oil temperature of a diesel engine

Nowadays, natural-based oxygenated fuels, especially biodiesel and ethanol, have been considered as substitutes for fossil fuels. Because of relatively lower energy content of oxygenated fuels, it is necessary to blend them with fossil ones. In this research, authors conducted an investigation on some BED blends to determine and compare their effects on equivalence ratio, exhaust oxygen fraction and water and oil temperature in a diesel engine. For this purpose, 18 different blendes of ethanol and biodiesel with net diesel fuel were tested in a MT4-244 engine¹ considering two engine speeds in full load condition. In almost all samples the equivalence ratio decreased with increasing of biodiesel and ethanol percents. Exhaust oxygen fraction in all of samples increased with increasing of biodiesel and ethanol percents, whereas the engine water and oil temperatures slightly reduced.     

Nontrivial role of carbon nanofibers morphology in binderless Pt nanocatalyst supported electrode

Similar to conventional composite electrodes, developing binderless-based carbon nanostructured (CNs) electrodes for fuel cells requires particularly the optimisation of both the morphology and the density of the CNs. In this work, carbon nanofibers (CNFs) have been optimised and used as catalyst support for Pt nanoparticles (NPs). The nontrivial role of the CNFs on the catalytic behavior is clearly demonstrated. We have shown that for a similar amount, morphology and dispersion of the Pt NPs fabricated onto CNFs, the density of the latter and to a lesser extent their diameter are the main factors influencing the catalytic activity. For the particular case of CNFs considered in this work, an optimum activity toward methanol fuel cell reaction was obtained when Pt NPs were supported with CNFs synthesized with a C₂H₂/Ar ratio of 0.31.     

Enhancement of hydrogen evolution at cobalt-zinc deposited graphite electrode in alkaline solution

Thin Co layers were electrochemically deposited on a graphite electrode at different deposition current densities and thicknesses. After determining the best deposition conditions for hydrogen evolution (deposition current density and thickness), co-deposits of Co with Zn were prepared on the graphite electrode. The binary coatings prepared on the graphite electrode (CoZn) were etched in a concentrated alkaline solution (30% NaOH) to produce a porous and electrocatalytic surface suitable for use in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). After the leaching process, a low amount of Pt was deposited onto the etched CoZn deposit in order to further improve the catalytic activity of the electrode for the HER. The HER activity is assessed by recording cathodic current-potential curves, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and electrolysis techniques. Chemical composition of layers after alkaline leaching was determined by energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. The surface morphologies of coatings were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was found that, the HER activity of coatings depends on the metal ratio of Co and Zn, deposition current density and the thickness of coatings. The alkaline leached CoZn coating has a compact and porous structure as well as good electrocatalytic activity for the HER in alkaline media. Moreover, deposition of a low amount of Pt over the CoZn can further enhance its hydrogen evolution activity.     

Multiple responses analysis and modeling of Fenton process for treatment of high strength landfill leachate

Landfill leachate is one of the most recalcitrant wastes for biotreatment and can be considered a potential source of contamination to surface and groundwater ecosystems. In the present study, Fenton oxidation was employed for degradation of stabilized landfill leachate. Response surface methodology was applied to analyze, model and optimize the process parameters, i.e. pH and reaction time as well as the initial concentrations of hydrogen peroxide and ferrous ion. Analysis of variance showed that good coefficients of determination were obtained (R2 > 0.99), thus ensuring satisfactory agreement of the second-order regression model with the experimental data. The results indicated that, pH and its quadratic effects were the main factors influencing Fenton oxidation. Furthermore, antagonistic effects between pH and other variables were observed. The optimum H2O2 concentration, Fe(II) concentration, pH and reaction time were 0.033 mol/L, 0.011 mol/L, 3 and 145 min, respectively, with 58.3% COD, 79.0% color and 82.1% iron removals.     

Contamination of UHT milk by aflatoxin M1 in Iran

In this study the levels of aflatoxin M₁ (AFM₁) in UHT milk samples were determined in May, August and November and February. Two hundred and ten UHT milk samples were obtained from supermarkets in Tehran, Iran. The occurrence and concentration range of AFM₁ in the samples were investigated by competitive enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) method. AFM₁ was found in 116 (55.2%) of 210 UHT milk samples examined. The levels of AFM₁ in 70 (33.3%) samples were higher than the maximum tolerance limit (0.05 μg/l) accepted by some European countries while none of the samples exceeded the prescribed limit of US regulations. The highest mean concentration of AFM₁ was recorded in February (0.087 μg/l). The lowest mean concentration of AFM₁ was recorded in August (0.021 μg/l). Statistical evaluation showed that there were significant difference (P < 0.01) between the mean concentrations of AFM₁ of UHT milk samples taken in February with May and August. AFM₁ contents of milk samples taken in February were not higher than UHT milk samples taken in November (P < 0.01). The AFM₁ incidence of exceeding legal limit in UHT milk samples (33.3%) was relatively much higher than some other countries. It was therefore concluded that, the levels of AFM₁ in UHT milk samples consumed in Iran were high and seemed to pose a threat to public health.     

A Modified LAPSUS Model to Enhance the Effective Rainfall Estimation by SCS-CN Method

In this study, LAPSUS model is modified to enhance the effective rainfall estimation by SCS curve number method. The LAPSUS model calculates discharge based on effective rainfall and routs it towards lower neighbouring grid cells following the multiple flow direction principle. Then, the sediment transport capacity and sediment transport rate are calculated in each grid cell. Finally, erosion or sedimentation is calculated by comparing the sediment transport rate with the sediment already in the transport of each grid cell. The amount of rainfall, curve number, convergence factor, discharge exponent, slope exponent, erodibility factor, and sedimentation ability factor are inputted to the application page of the modified model that was created in the C⁺⁺ programming. The outputs of the model are runoff and erosion maps in ASCII format. Evaluating performance of the modified model showed a high accuracy of its results. The value of the coefficient of determination (R²) calculated 0.99 for runoff and 0.97 for erosion. The Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency was 0.96 for runoff and 0.97 for erosion. The value of the precision index calculated 0.81 for both runoff and erosion. Also, the nRMSE calculated 3% for both runoff and erosion. The result showed that the modified model capable to estimate the runoff and erosion on a landscape in a micro sub-catchment scale.     

Identification and quantification of phenolic acids and flavonol glycosides in Tunisian Morus species by HPLC-DAD and HPLC–MS

The total polyphenol and flavonoids in leaves of Morus alba var. alba, Morus alba var. rosa and Morus rubra were determined and identification of their components was carried out. The total content of phenolics varied between 345.20 and 631.53 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/100 g dry weight (DW) basis. The total amount of flavonoids ranged between 193.87 and 398.33 mg rutin equivalents (RE)/100 g DW. Thirteen compounds were isolated by chromatography, and their structures determined to be mainly flavonol glycosides and phenolic acids. Three novel components were identified as kaempferol-7-O-glucoside, quercetin-3-O-β-glucoside-7-O-α-rhamnoside and quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside-7-O-glucoside, for the first time from mulberry leaves. Others known compounds were also identified.     

Analysis of the Mechanical Stability of Boreholes Drilled in Sedimentary Rocks

This article presents the method and results of wellbore stability analysis for three common reservoir lithologies consisting of a consolidated sandstone, a shaly sandstone, and a limestone formation. The effect of stress anisotropy on the mechanical stability of wellbores is evaluated while varying the inclination angle from 0 to 90°, for both the Mohr-Coulomb and the Drucker-Prager failure criteria. The selected failure criterion, and the in-situ rock stress regime are found to have significant effects on the safe drilling fluid density required to maintain wellbore integrity. According to some field examples, the Drucker-Prager failure criterion appears to systematically mimic rock conditions more realistically than the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion. The simulated consolidated sandstone formation is found more stable with lesser drilling fluid density, at any inclination angle, than the simulated shaly sandstone formation. The simulated limestone formation is even more stable than the consolidated sandstone at all inclination angles since it requires lighter fluid density to prevent wellbore collapse. For all these rock types, the higher the deviation angle (from vertical), the higher the drilling fluid density needed for maintaining wellbore integrity. For the depth and rock conditions simulated, both consolidated and shaly sands are unstable in a strike-slip stress regime, but stable in an extensional stress regime. The simulated limestone formation was found stable in both stress regimes. However, in an extensional stress regime, the limestone formation required lighter fluid density to maintain wellbore integrity than in a strike-slip stress regime. This article introduces the theory of using a practically-oriented model to assess the mechanical stability of a wellbore in a linearly-elastic stress field. The model can be used to determine the range of mechanically stable well inclinations for a given formation, and to suggest drilling-fluid density programs tailored to efficient and safe drilling.