Extraction of iridium(III) by ion-pair formation with 2-octylaminopyridine in weak organic acid media

To extract iridium(III), various physicochemical parameters were studied. 2-Octylaminopyridine was used for the extraction of iridium(III) from acetate medium at 8.5 pH. Quantitative extraction of iridium(III) was achieved via ion-pair formation of cation [2-OAPH⁺] and anion [Ir(CH₃COO)₄]^?. The stripping of iridium(III)-laden organic phase was carried out 2 M HCl (3 × 10 mL) . The stoichiometry of the extracted ion–pair complex was found to be 1:4:1 (metal: acetate: extractant). The extracted species [2-OAPH⁺. Ir(CH₃COO)₄^?] is assumed to be an ion association product of [Ir(CH₃COO)₄] ^? and [2-OAPH]⁺. The proposed method was successfully used in the separation of iridium(III) from binary and ternary mixtures. Analysis of various alloy samples was also carried out.     

Evaporation of Ethanol-Water Mixture Drop on Horizontal Substrate

This study investigates the evaporation of sessile drop comprising ethanol and water mixture on horizontal poly methyl methacrylate surface. The contact angle (θ) and contact radius (R) of ethanol-water mixture drop are recorded with time, considering the impacts of presence of ethanol. With excess ethanol, the drop evaporation is principally controlled by a phase in which both the contact angle and contact radius are falling. A diffusional model assuming linear relation between contact radius and time is proposed as θ = eR ^?3 + cR ^?1, where e and c denote fitting coefficients. This model correlates with the experimental data.     

Immobilization of cholesterol oxidase and potassium ferricyanide on dodecylbenzene sulfonate ion‐doped polypyrrole film

Dodecylbenzene sulfonate (DBS)‐doped polypyrrole (PPY) conducting polymer films were electrochemically deposited onto the indium‐tin‐oxide (ITO)‐coated glass plates in aqueous medium. The enzyme cholesterol oxidase (ChOx) was immobilized on these DBS–PPY films by a physical adsorption technique. These ChOx‐immobilized DBS–PPY films were characterized by ultraviolet–visible and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The enzyme activity studies indicate that ～40% of ChOx leaches out from the ChOx/DBS–PPY film. The ChOx activity in the ChOx/DBS–PPY film was assayed as a function of cholesterol concentration. The results of amperometric measurements conducted on ChOx/DBS–PPY/ITO film show linearity over the range 2–8 mM of cholesterol solution. The ChOx/DBS–PPY/ITO electrodes exhibit a response time of 30 s and are stable for ～3 months at 4 °C. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 82: 3486–3491, 2001     

Review on smart home energy management

Presently, the increasing demand for the smart home system has necessitated a holistic approach to the problem and the need for a complete literature review. This paper discusses about the necessity for a smart home and developed an idea of the smart home energy management system with the literature review related to the energy management system scheduling, control, real-time automation, and communication.     

Nanoscale zerovalent iron-Sargassum swartzii biocomposites for the removal of malachite green from an aqueous solution

A novel nanoscale zerovalent iron-Sargassum swartzii (nZVI-SS) biocomposite was tested for its ability to remove malachite green from aqueous solutions. Batch equilibrium tests at different pH conditions showed that at pH 10, a maximum removal of 142.85 mg/g was observed according to Langmuir model. Involvement of various functional groups of the biosorbent in preferential biosorption of cationic dye was observed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Morphological changes occurring on the biocomposite materials were characterized using scanning electron microscopy. Furthermore, temperature and kinetic profiles during the biosorption process were also reported.     

Horizontal collaboration in semiconductor manufacturing industry supply chain: An evaluation of collaboration intensity index

This paper aims to provide a generic quantitative model to comprehensively assess the degree of collaboration with individual horizontal collaboration initiatives with a view to check feasibility for satisfying the customer requirements. The analytic hierarchy process–fuzzy logic model (AHP–FLM) approach is chosen for developing the model, a method that is often used to tackle complex strategic decision making that calls for subjective judgment based on well-established logical reasoning, rather than on simple feeling and intuition. In the process, the complex and unstructured problem for ‘compatibility test’ is broken down into elements, and then a customized hierarchy structure is set up to demonstrate the relationship between different hierarchy levels and among these elements. Each element may have a different level of importance for the horizontal collaboration. A fuzzy rule based collaboration intensity index (CII) is developed to build up the relationships among these evaluation attributes. Synthesizing the generic relative importance and the forecasted degree of collaboration, the proposed approach can determine the success of the collaboration initiative. An illustrative example of a semiconductor industry supply chain (SSC) member that intends to partner with a potential and competing candidate enterprise is developed to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed fuzzy strategic alliance selection framework and to measure the effectiveness of a horizontal collaboration initiative.     

A graphical representation for a statistical test of average equivalence and variance comparison with process data

This paper provides a graphical approach for presenting results of a statistical test of average equivalence with process data. In addition, a graphical representation of process change in variance is presented. An example from the biopharmaceutical industry is provided to illustrate the information contained in the chart. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES ON A NOVEL CHEMICAL HEAT PUMP DRYER USING A GAS-SOLID REACTION

The authors have been studying Chemical Heat Pumps (CHP) from the viewpoints of energy saving and environmental impact. The CHP can store thermal energy in the form of chemical energy by an endothermic reaction, and release it at various temperature levels during heat demand periods by exo/endothermic reactions. The authors have proposed in an earlier study a novel chemical heat pump (CHP) system for environmentally-friendly effective utilization of thermal energy in drying as a chemical heat pump dryer (CHPD). In this exploratory study, we test the effectiveness of operating the proposed CHPDs experimentally. Basic experiments on the CHPDs such as hot dry air production for convective drying are performed on lab-scale CHPD apparatuses using gas-solid reactions in calcium oxide/calcium hydroxide reactant beds. The proposed CHPDs are found to produce hot air by CHP operation for drying. The temperature levels of the produced hot air and the reaction rates/conversions are as good as in the case of hot water supply system using basically same CHP operation. The cold heat for air dehumidification is also found to be generated/recovered by the same CHPD system. The generated heat amounts can be increased by changing the operating conditions although the heat recovery must be enhanced for practical application of CHPDs.