Performance optimization of microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) for palm oil mill effluent (POME) wastewater treatment and sustainable Bio-H2 production using response surface methodology (RSM)

Microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) are a new bio-electrochemical method for converting organic matter to hydrogen gas (H₂). Palm oil mill effluent (POME) is hazardous wastewater that is mostly formed during the crude oil extraction process in the palm oil industry. In the present study, POME was used in the MEC system for hydrogen generation as a feasible treatment technology. To enhance biohydrogen generation from POME in the MEC, an empirical model was generated using response surface methodology (RSM). A central composite design (CCD) was utilized to perform twenty experimental runs of MEC given three important variables, namely incubation temperature, initial pH, and influent dilution rate. Experimental results from CCD showed that an average value of 1.16 m³ H₂/m³ d for maximum hydrogen production rate (HPR) was produced. A second-order polynomial model was adjusted to the experimental results from CCD. The regression model showed that the quadratic term of all variables tested had a highly significant effect (P < 0.01) on maximum HPR as a defined response. The analysis of the empirical model revealed that the optimal conditions for maximum HPR were incubation temperature, initial pH, and influent dilution rate of 30.23 ^°C, 6.63, and 50.71%, respectively. Generated regression model predicted a maximum HPR of 1.1659 m³ H₂/m³ d could be generated under optimum conditions. Confirmation experimentation was conducted in the optimal conditions determined. Experimental results of the validation test showed that a maximum HPR of 1.1747 m³ H₂/m³ d was produced.     

Towards more active and stable PdAgCr electrocatalysts for formic acid electrooxidation: The role of optimization via response surface methodology

In this study, multiwall carbon nanotube (MCNT)‐supported Pd (Pd/MWCNT) catalysts are prepared by using NaBH₄ reduction method. In order to maximize the oxidation and reduction of H₂SO₄, synthesis conditions (Pd ratio, molar ratio of NaBH₄/K₂PdCl₄, volume of deionized water, and duration of agitation) are optimized by using response surface methodology (RSM). The optimum synthesis conditions are determined as 58.2% of Pd by weight, 154.6 molar ratio of NaBH₄ to K₂PdCl₄, 19.48 mL of deionized water, and 186.16 min of agitation duration. The effect of electrochemical measurement conditions on the oxidation kinetics of Pd/MWCNT is also investigated by RSM. The optimum electrochemical measurement conditions are found as 10 μL of catalyst mixture, 90°C of H₂SO₄ solution, and 5.5 M H₂SO₄. The Pd/MWCNT, Pd₅₀Ag₅₀/MWCNT, and Pd_65.6Ag_33.6Cr_0.80/MWCNT catalysts prepared under optimized conditions are characterized by using X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, N₂ adsorption‐desorption, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The crystallite sizes of these catalysts are found as 4.85, 5.66, and 5.26 nm for Pd/MWCNT, Pd₅₀Ag₅₀/MWCNT, and Pd_65.6Ag_33.6Cr_0.80/MWCNT catalysts, respectively. Isotherms of all these catalysts are found to be similar to Type V isotherms with H3 hysteresis loop. The average particle size of Pd₅₀Ag₅₀/MWCNT and Pd_65.6Ag_33.6Cr_0.80/MWCNT catalysts are determined as 5.2 and 9.2 nm, respectively. Electrochemical performance of as‐prepared catalysts is evaluated by using cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The formic acid electrooxidation (FAEO) activities are found as 18.9, 27.8, and 51.6 mA/cm² for Pd/MWCNT, Pd₅₀Ag₅₀/MWCNT, and Pd_65.6Ag_33.6Cr_0.80/MWCNT, respectively. Pd_65.6Ag_33.6Cr_0.80/MWCNT shows the highest activity and stability. Optimization of synthesis conditions and electrochemical measurement parameters allow us to obtain very good electrochemical activity and stability for FAEO reaction compared with anode catalysts in the literature.     

Optimising germinated conditions to enhance yield of resveratrol content in peanut sprout using response surface methodology

Peanut sprout has associated with enhance the content of a nonflavonoids known as resveratrol, which influences a variety of functions including against cancer, cardiovascular and delaying ageing. Peanut from Liaoning province of China was used as a material to accumulate resveratrol during germination. The individual effects of soaking temperature and time as well as germination temperature, time and humidity on resveratrol accumulation in 5 days germinated peanut were investigated. Then, based on Box–Behnken design, interactive effects of the germination parameters were evaluated by response surface methodology. The optimum conditions were as follows: soaking temperature at 35 °C, soaking time at 8 h, germination temperature at 29 °C, germination humidity at 90%, and germination time at 5 day. Under the optimum condition, resveratrol content reached 32.87 μg g^?1, which was almost 9.78 times higher than that in the peanut which did not germinate.     

Enhanced photocatalytic H2 evolution over In2S3 via decoration with GO and Fe2P co-catalysts

In this study, GO and Fe₂P were used as co-catalysts to improve the separation efficiency of photogenerated electron-hole pairs in an In₂S₃ photocatalyst. The metallic character of Fe₂P provided a cheap substitute for traditional noble metal co-catalyst for H₂ production in aqueous media. The GO/Fe₂P/In₂S₃ composite demonstrated significantly enhanced photocatalytic activity compared to pure In₂S₃, delivering a H₂ production rate of 483.35 μmol h^?1 g^?1 and a quantum yield was 22.68% under visible light irradiation. The design of the photocatalyst was optimized using “Design Expert” software. The analysis showed that a GO loading of 1.18 wt%, a Fe loading of 5.36 wt%, and a calcination temperature of 180 °C were optimal.     

Nonlinear performance evaluation model for throughput of AQM scheme using full factorial design approach

The performance of active queue management (AQM) is measured in terms of throughput, delay, queue size, and loss rate. We have carried out the optimized performance measure of throughput for AQM scheme random early detection (RED) using full factorial design (FDD) technique that is a new approach of performance analysis particularly for congestion control algorithms. We have considered the input factors, viz, buffer size, maximum threshold, and the number of file transfer protocol (FTP) sources for the evaluation of RED that can be used for other AQM schemes, viz, adaptive RED, three‐section RED (TRED), and adaptive queue management with random dropping (AQMRD). The effect of each input factor as well as their interactions are evaluated using factorial design technique that results to obtain the nonlinear equation for performance measure in terms of input factors buffer size, maximum threshold, and the number of FTP sources. Finally, we show the contour plots for variation of performance measure throughput (steady state) from minimum to maximum values with respect to the different setting of input parameters.     

基于响应曲面法的涡轮增压器废气阀门激光焊接工艺优化研究

激光焊接技术凭借其高效、高精度的特点已广泛应用在汽车制造产业,在涡轮增压器的生产中,激光焊接也逐步被应用于实现废气阀门与阀杆的连接。虽然当前对于激光焊接的工艺研究很多,但对工艺参数的优化也一直缺少一个科学有效的方法。本文以熔接深度、熔接宽度和内部缺陷作为响应变量,选取焊接功率、焊接速度作为因子,运用响应曲面法(RSM)设计实验方案,通过对响应结果进行分析,研究焊接参数对焊接质量的影响,拟合能够预测最优参数的数学模型,最终将获得的最优参数运用到生产中进行验证。     

A hybrid simulation approach for integrating safety behavior into construction planning: An earthmoving case study

One of the key challenges in improving construction safety and health is the management of safety behavior. From a system point of view, workers work unsafely due to system level issues such as poor safety culture, excessive production pressure, inadequate allocation of resources and time and lack of training. These systemic issues should be eradicated or minimized during planning. However, there is a lack of detailed planning tools to help managers assess the impact of their upstream decisions on worker safety behavior. Even though simulation had been used in construction planning, the review conducted in this study showed that construction safety management research had not been exploiting the potential of simulation techniques. Thus, a hybrid simulation framework is proposed to facilitate integration of safety management considerations into construction activity simulation. The hybrid framework consists of discrete event simulation (DES) as the core, but heterogeneous, interactive and intelligent (able to make decisions) agents replace traditional entities and resources. In addition, some of the cognitive processes and physiological aspects of agents are captured using system dynamics (SD) approach. The combination of DES, agent-based simulation (ABS) and SD allows a more “natural” representation of the complex dynamics in construction activities. The proposed hybrid framework was demonstrated using a hypothetical case study. In addition, due to the lack of application of factorial experiment approach in safety management simulation, the case study demonstrated sensitivity analysis and factorial experiment to guide future research.