Pyrolysis of waste pomegranate peels for bio-oil production

In order to obtain bio-oil from the pomegranate peel which is a by-product of juice production process, the dried pomegranate peel was pyrolyzed at a heating rate of 10°C/min and different temperatures between 400 and 550°C. The highest pyrolytic oil yield of 40.47 wt% was obtained at the final temperature of 550°C. The oil product was characterized by various analysis techniques. The results showed that the oil product mostly contained fine chemicals with oxygen like phenols, furfural, and its derivatives with the carbon number in a range of C₃-C₁₀. The oil product had the potential for producing fine chemicals.     

The impact of toxicity of metals on the activity of ureolytic mixed culture during the precipitation of calcium

In this article, the inhibitory impact of metals on substrate utilization and microbial carbonate precipitation (MCP) by ureolytic mixed cultures (UMC) was investigated with glucose and mineral medium under batch conditions. The IC(50) (toxicant concentration eliciting 50% inhibitory effect) values were determined from the BOD values of samples. Inhibition, expressed as the value of 50% inhibitory effect (IC(50)), was evaluated by the decrease in substrate removal using BOD tests. The effect of toxicity of metals on substrate degradation, IC(50) values, was found to increase in the following order: Cd(II)>Cu(II)>Pb(II)>Cr(VI)>Ni(II)>Zn(II). Nitrification a possible phenomenon in the biocatalytic process was observed in several samples and this inhibited the precipitation of soluble calcium. During the removal of calcium from industrial calcium-rich wastewater, toxicity of metal at higher metal concentrations and possibility of nitrification at higher sludge ages should be considered.     

Effects of surfactants on the microstructures of electrospun polyacrylonitrile nanofibers and their carbonized analogs

In this study, the influence of surfactants on the processability of electrospun polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers and their carbonized analogs was investigated. The surfactants employed in this effort are Triton X‐100 (nonionic surfactant, SF‐N), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) (anionic surfactant, SF‐A), and hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HDTMAB) (cationic surfactant, SF‐C). Interactions between electrospun PAN and the surfactants, reflected in effects on as‐spun and carbonized nanofiber morphologies and microstructures, were explored. The results show that uniform nanofibers are obtained when cationic and anionic surfactants (surfactant free and nonionic surfactants) are utilized in the preparation of electrospun PAN. In contrast, a bead‐on‐a‐string morphology results when the aniconic and cationic surfactants are present, and defect structure is enhanced with cationic surfactant addition. Moreover, fiber breakage is observed when the nonionic surfactant Triton X‐100 is employed for electrospinning. After carbonizaition, the PAN polymers were observed to have less ordered structures with addition of any type of surfactant used for electrospinning and the disorder becomes more pronounced when the anionic surfactant is utilized. Owing to the fact that microstructure defects create midband gap states that enable more electrons to be emitted from the fiber, an enhancement of electron emission is observed for PAN electrospun in the presence of the anionic surfactant. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 3726–3735, 2013     

Removal of reactive dyes from wastewater by acrylate polymer beads bearing amino groups: isotherm and kinetic studies

The aim of this study was to prepare a novel resin for the removal of reactive dyes from aqueous media. To prepare the resin, poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate/ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) beads were grafted with poly(glycidyl methacrylate) by surface‐initiated atom transfer radical polymerisation. Epoxy groups of the grafted polymer were modified with tris(2‐aminoethyl)amine ligand. The modified resin was characterised by swelling studies, FT‐IR and SEM. Three different reactive dyes were selected (CI Reactive Brown 10, CI Reactive Red 120 and CI Reactive Green 5) and used in the removal studies. The effects of pH, temperature, ionic strength and initial dye concentration on the adsorption capacity of the resin were investigated. The adsorption capacity of the resin for Reactive Brown 10, Reactive Red 120 and Reactive Green 5 was 0.029 ± 0.010, 0.032 ± 0.0019 and 0.042 ± 0.0013 mmol/g resin (34.1 ± 1.2, 47.6 ± 2.3 and 69.3 ± 1.7 mg/g resin) respectively. The equilibrium adsorption data were analysed by Langmuir, Dubinin–Radushkevich, Freundlich and Temkin isotherm models. A good fit was found between the Langmuir isotherm and data for the three dyes on resin. The adsorption kinetic data were modelled using pseudo‐first‐order, pseudo‐second‐order and intraparticle diffusion kinetic equations. It was found that the pseudo‐second‐order equation could describe the adsorption kinetics. The results indicated that the modified resin is an attractive alternative for removing reactive dyes from wastewater.     

A network-based shortest route model for parallel disassembly line balancing problem

Disassembly lines should be balanced efficiently to increase productivity of the line and to reduce disassembly costs. This problem is called disassembly line balancing problem (DLBP). The objective of the DLBP is usually to find the minimum number of disassembly workstations required. This study introduces parallel DLBP (PDLBP) with single-product and proposes a network model based on the shortest route model (SRM) for solving PDLBP. The proposed model is illustrated via numerical examples. A comprehensive experiment is also conducted to evaluate problem-specific features of disassembly lines. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study dealing with PDLBP. This paper will present a different point of view regarding DLBP.     

Immobilization of laccase on itaconic acid grafted and Cu(II) ion chelated chitosan membrane for bioremediation of hazardous materials

BACKGROUND: Chitosan membranes were formed through a phase inversion technique and then cross‐linked with epichlorohydrin (CHX). Heterogeneous graft copolymerization of itaconic acid (IA) onto membrane was carried out with different monomer concentrations (CHX‐g‐p(IA)). The membrane properties such as equilibrium swelling ratio, porosity, and contact angle were measured, together with analysis by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive analysis of X‐rays (EDAX), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. RESULTS: The Cu(II) ion incorporated membranes (i.e. CHX‐g‐p(IA)‐Cu(II)) were used for reversible immobilization of laccase using CHX‐g‐p(IA) membrane as a control system. Maximum laccase adsorption capacities of the CHX‐g‐p(IA) and CHX‐g‐p(IA)‐Cu(II) membranes (with 9.7% grafting yield) were found to be 6.3 and 17.6 mg mL^?1 membrane at pH 4.0 and 6.0, respectively. The K_m value for immobilized laccase on CHX‐g‐p(IA)‐Cu(II) (4.16 × 10^?2 mmol L^?1) was 2.11‐fold higher than that of free enzyme (1.97 × 10^?2 mmol L^?1). Finally, the immobilized laccase was used in a batch system for degradation of three different dyes (Reactive Black 5, RB5; Cibacron Blue F3GA, CB; and Methyl Orange, MO). The immobilized laccase on CHX‐g‐p(IA)‐Cu(II) membrane was more effective for removal of MO dye than removal of CB and RB5 dyes. CONCLUSION: Flexibility of the enzyme immobilized grafted polymer chains is expected to provide easy reaction conditions without diffusion limitation for substrate dye molecules and their products. The support described, prepared from green chemicals, can be used for the immobilization of industrially important enzymes. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate/polyhydroxybutyrate composite membranes for fluoride release

Controlled release technology is a recent technology which has considerable potential in the fields of medicine, pharmacy, and agriculture. Fluoride ion is commonly used in the preventive treatment of decay, and when provided with extra fluoride, children living in regions that lack fluoride benefit from it. For the present study, clinical properties of an intraoral controlled release fluoride delivery system were considered. The preparation of a controlled release membrane system is described. Polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate/polyhydroxybutyrate composite systems were examined as fluoride carriers. Polymeric membranes were prepared by photopolymerization and then characterized. Contact angles and swelling ratios of fluoride‐loaded membranes were determined. The surface morphology of the microporous membranes were examined by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In vitro fluoride release studies were carried out in an artificial saliva medium. The amount of released fluoride was determined and the effect of medium pH and temperature on fluoride release was investigated. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 87: 976–981, 2003     

Effect of Modified Phosphate Rock Saturated by Various Salts on Stack Gas Desulfurization in a Fluidized Bed Reactor

In this work, the suitability of phosphate ore treated with the varied salts such as FeSO₄, NaCI, CaCI₂, Na₂SiO₃, and Na₂SO₄ as an alternative material for limestone and dolomite in flue gas desulfurization has been investigated. Also, the effect of the varied salts on calcination and sulfation of the raw, calcine, and semicalcined phosphate samples has been investigated in a differential fluidized bed reactor at 700–800°C (4 min) in air and 0.3% SO₂. It was established that the salts have prominent effects on sulfation and calcination. The changes in the pore structure and products obtained at the end of sulfation were investigated using BET surface area method. In conclusion, it was observed that the sulfation and calcination conversion ratios generally increased when the phosphate rock was treated the varied salts.     

Preparation of poly (acrylic acid) containing core‐shell type resin for removal of basic dyes

BACKGROUND: A core‐shell type carboxylic acid modified resin was prepared and dye sorption characteristics of the resin were investigated. The resulting grafted resin material has been shown to be an efficient sorbent for removal of basic dyes from water as a result of the carboxylic acid group's affinity towards basic dye molecules. RESULTS: The resin was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR) and titrimetric methods. The basic dyes (methylene blue and crystal violet) were removed by contacting the swollen resin with aqueous dye solutions at room temperature. The adsorption capacities of resin were determined by colorimetric analysis of the residual dye content in the adsorption medium, which gave capacities for methylene blue and crystal violet of 300 and 250 mg g^?1 resin, respectively. The prepared resin is also able to remove basic dyes completely from dilute aqueous dye solutions. Batch kinetic sorption experiments determined that a pseudo‐second‐order rate kinetic model was applicable. CONCLUSION: Flexibility of the polymer side chains is expected to provide pseudo‐homogeneous reaction conditions and easy accessibility of the functional groups involved. The adsorbents are expected to have the advantage of mobility of the grafted chains in the removal of basic dyes from aqueous mixtures. The resin has potential as an adsorbent for removal of basic dyes for use over a wide pH range. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry