Carbon-based solid acid catalyst from de-oiled canola meal for biodiesel production

A carbon-based acid catalyst was prepared by the sulfonation of partially carbonized de-oiled canola meal (DOCM), a by-product of canola seed processing. Partial carbonization of DOCM was carried out at 300 and 400 °C and the partially carbonized material prepared at 400 °C was steam activated to improve its surface properties. Four types of carbon catalysts were prepared using the partially carbonized material and DOCM by concentrated sulfuric acid treatment. The spectral and elemental analysis clearly indicated that the catalyst had enough acidic sites in the form of sulfonate groups having the ability to promote esterification reaction. The catalyst partially carbonized at 300 °C established various functional groups such as aromatic carbon atoms, phenolic-OH, COOH, and carbonyl groups on the surface as evidenced by the MAS ¹³C NMR and FTIR spectra. The catalyst produced by partial carbonization at 300 °C followed by sulfuric acid treatment showed better performance towards esterification of oleic acid and high FFA canola oil. The maximum conversion reached 93.8% after 24 h at 65 °C using 1:60 mol:mol of FFA to methanol and 7.5 wt.% of catalyst to FFA. The performance of the catalyst was reduced gradually during its recycling and reached to 40.5% at the end of 4th cycle.     

Impedance studies on plasticized PMMA-LiX [X: CF3SO3, N(CF3SO2)2−] polymer electrolytes

Plasticized polymer electrolytes composed of poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) as the host, propylene carbonate (PC) or ethylene carbonate (EC) as a plasticizer and LiX (X: CF₃SO₃⁻ or N(CF₃SO₂)₂⁻) as a salt were prepared by the solution cast technique. Impedance spectroscopy was performed in the temperature range between 303 and 383 K. In this paper, we report the electrical properties of polymer electrolytes with different lithium salts and plasticizers. The polymer electrolytes investigated exhibited high ionic conductivity at room temperature in the range of 10^− 6 to 10^− 4 S cm^− 1. The temperature dependence studies showed that the samples were ionic conductors and seemed to obey the Vogel-Tamman-Fulcher (VTF) rule. FTIR spectroscopy studies confirmed the polymer-salt interaction.     

Synthesis of high purity Tl1212 superconductor with ultrafine grains from coprecipitated Tl-free precursor route

In this study, high purity and fine-grained Tl1212 superconductor samples were successfully synthesized from Tl_0.8Bi_0.2Sr₂Ca_0.8Y_0.2Cu₂O₇ starting composition by a two-step solid-state reaction method using Tl-free precursor powder prepared from coprecipitation method. XRD pattern of the sample, which was sintered at 1,000 °C for 6 min essentially showed formation of high purity 1212 phase. The sample’s zero resistance critical temperature, T _{c zero} was 91 K and bulk critical current density, J _c measured at 40 K in zero magnetic field was 11.2 A/cm². SEM investigation on the sample revealed ultrafine homogeneous grains that are randomly orientated with grain sizes of approximately 0.5–1 μm. Resintering the sample did not affect its superconducting properties but induced clustering of grains as observed by SEM. It is suggested that the sample be used in specialized measurement techniques such as in ultrasonic studies where high purity and ultrafine-grained samples are required.     

Effect of polyacrylic acid (PAA) binder system on particle orientation during dry-pressing

Effect of polyacrylic acid (PAA) binder system on the development of particle orientation during uniaxial pressing is reported. Granules of different properties were compacted using uniaxial pressing at various pressure and their degree of particle orientation (DPO) was determined. The increment trend of DPO varies with granule strength and shows higher value for binder system of higher flexibility. Anisotropic shrinkage related to particle orientation is shown by compact of higher relative density (RD) and DPO; whereas anisotropic shrinkage related to non-uniform packing density is shown by compact of lower RD and DPO. Anisotropic shrinkage remains in the former compact while isotropic shrinkage was obtained for the latter compact at sintering temperature of 1600 °C. Subsequent cold isostatic pressing increases DPO and sintering shrinkage ratio of uniaxially pressed compacts.     

An ANFIS-based approach for predicting the bed load for moderately sized rivers

A total of 346 sets of bed-load data obtained from the Kinta River, Pari River, Kerayong River and Langat River were analyzed using four common bed-load equations. These assessments, based on the median sediment size (d₅₀), show that the existing equations were unable to predict the measured bed load accurately. All existing equations over-predicted the measured values, and none of the existing bed-load equations gave satisfactory performance when tested on local river data. Therefore, the present study applies a new soft computing technique, i.e. an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS), to better predict measured bed-load data. Validation of the developed network (ANFIS) was performed using a new set of bed-load data collected at Kulim River. The results show that the recommended network can more accurately predict the measured bed-load data when compared to an equation based on a regression method.     

Effect of nanoparticle shape on the heat transfer and thermodynamic performance of a shell and tube heat exchanger

Nanofluid is a heat transfer fluid that can improve the performance of heat exchanger systems. Different parameters such as particle size, shape, and volume concentration affect the performance of these systems. The objective of this paper is to study the effect of different nanoparticle shapes (such as cylindrical, bricks, blades, platelets, and spherical) on the performance of a shell and tube heat exchanger operating with nanofluid analytically. Boehmite alumina (γ-AlOOH) nanoparticles of different shapes were dispersed in a mixture of water/ethylene glycol as the nanofluid. The thermodynamic performance of the shell and tube heat exchanger that is used in a waste heat recovery system was analysed in terms of heat transfer rate and entropy generation. Established correlations were used to measure the thermal conductivity, heat transfer coefficient and rate and entropy generation of nanofluid. The results show an increase in both the heat transfer and thermodynamic performance of the system. However, among the five nanoparticle shapes, cylindrical shape exhibited better heat transfer characteristics and heat transfer rate. On the other hand, entropy generation for nanofluids containing cylindrical shaped nanoparticles was higher in comparison with the other nanoparticle shapes. However, the increased percentage of entropy was below 1%. Therefore, this greater entropy generation could be deemed negligible and cylindrical shaped nanoparticles are recommended to be utilized in heat exchanger systems working with nanofluids.     

THIN LAYER METHOD ANALYSIS OF SPOUTED BED DRIED MALAYSIAN PADDY – CHARACTERISTIC DRYING CURVES

A lab‐scale spouted bed dryer was used for the drying of paddy. The Malaysian grown paddy is a sample of Geldart's Group D particle. Drying was carried out in the dryer at two different internal configurations, namely with or without the installation of a draft tube, and at several drying temperatures (60–90C), air flow rates (1.14–1.45 m/s) and bed heights (30–45 cm). Drying kinetics of paddy in spouted bed showed only induction and falling rate periods, without constant drying rate period. Thin layer method analysis shows characteristic drying rate curves of linear and exponential functions for the first and second falling rate period, respectively, in conventional spouted bed drying. A single power function was observed in spouted bed drying with a draft tube, mainly as a result of a better tempering effect that gave a lower drying rate gradient.     

Improved fish migration optimization method to identify PEMFC parameters

In a worldwide environment context where the emergency need to decrease pollutant emissions is an important issue, the research for solutions is increasing. Fuel cell technology is anticipated to become a practicable approach for solving the problem of pollution due to its environmentally friendly characteristics. In this work, a novel problem formulation is suggested for the efficient recognition of PEMFC parameters which the solving is by using the Improved Fish Migration Optimizer (IFMO) technique. After coding the steps of the algorithm in MATLAB, the objective function is resolved for the fuel cell. Comprehensive simulations evaluate the formulation performance with the suggested and traditional objective functions; then, the outcomes are compared. To confirm the suggested formulation ascendancy compared to the traditional curve-fitting method, a complete assessment based on convergence rate, the value of the objective function, and the value of absolute voltage error are performed. The achieved value of the objective function, absolute voltage error, and average time of computation is 0.005, 0.4, and 1.63, respectively. Environmentally, the combustion of hydrogen and its use in PEMFC produce no carbon dioxide.     

Properties of controlled low-strength materials incorporating cement kiln dust and slag

This research evaluated the potential use of cement kiln dust (CKD) together with slag to replace the use of cement in the production of controlled low-strength material (CLSM). The low strength requirements of CLSM compared to conventional concrete enable the use of industrial by-products for the production of CLSM. In this study, the workability-related fresh properties of CLSM mixtures were observed through slump flow diameter, V-funnel flow time and filling capacity. Setting times, temperature rise, air content and unit weight of CLSM mixtures were also determined as part of fresh properties. The hardened properties that were monitored for 28 days included the unconfined compressive strength. The test results presented herein show that a combination of less than 50 kg/m³ slag and up to 300 kg/m³ CKD provides a good mix that satisfies the requirements of a CLSM with similar or better properties to that of CKD-based CLSM mix containing Portland cement. Suitable CLSM mixtures with reasonable fresh and hardened properties could also be developed by using CKD alone. However, reduced strength in such CLSM mixtures may limit their field application. The slag significantly assisted in increasing compressive strength of CKD-based CLSM mixtures. A CLSM mix containing a combination of slag and CKD was shown to have excellent characteristics for flowable backfill and excavatable base material. Therefore, producing CKD/slag based CLSM through the use of co-generated products from the cement and iron manufacturing processes can provide leadership for the construction industry in the transition for sustainable development.     

Understanding the stability of a sputtered Al buffer layer for single-walled carbon nanotube forest synthesis

We have clarified the reason that aluminum (Al) buffer layers prepared by sputtering on catalytic substrates are stable for single-walled carbon nanotube forest synthesis on chemical vapor deposition. We have focused on the difference between thermal evaporation and sputtering as the method for the preparation of the buffer layers and have analyzed the Al layers using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Al layers produced by sputtering strongly suggest the formation of γ-alumina by aluminum hydroxides while those from thermal evaporation contain metallic Al. As a result a drastic structural change occurs during thermal annealing, making the buffer layer unstable.