Applying several soft computing techniques for prediction of bearing capacity of driven piles

Engineering with Computers - Pile as a type of foundation is a structure which can transfer heavy structural loads into the ground. Determination and proper prediction of pile bearing capacity are...     

Solar dryer for leather and a comparative study on the characteristics of open-, solar- and electrical-dried leathers

Solar energy is a cost effective, eco-friendly and pollution-free concept. It can prove to be a major energy saver for tannery application such as hot water production and leather drying. For achieving leather of good quality, controlled processing techniques are to be adopted. In order to achieve faster drying rates for higher productivity and economy in drying, a forced type of solar dryer set-up with an electrical back-up was developed. This paper illustrates the data on three different drying processes namely the open, solar and electrical drying. The data includes physical properties, surface texture, thickness variation and area reduction of leather. By controlling the drying temperature and relative humidity in solar drying, it is possible to achieve physical characteristics closer to open drying for higher productivity and cost-effective results.     

Preparation and characterization of collagen coated cholesterol-free liposome nanoparticles matrix for drug carriers and tissue engineering application

The collagen coated cholesterol (CH)-free liposome nanoparticle (CCLNP) matrix has been prepared and characterized for use as therapeutic drug carriers, tissue engineering and regenerative medicinal applications. The CH-free liposome nanoparticle (LNP) was prepared by heating method under the N2 atmosphere and CCLNP matrix was prepared by incubation of bovine Achilles tendon collagen with preformed CH-free LNP. The results indicate that collagen stabilizes the original liposomal structure, and CCLNP are more stable in vitro than control liposome. This mineralized collagen composite matrix could be useful to bone and dental implants.     

Research Note: Ozonation—An Emerging Inevitable Option for Chamois Making

An ever-increasing demand for chamois leather provides enhanced business opportunities for the leather industry. The long oxidation time required for oil-tanned leathers and conventional processing techniques pose a major limitation for wide-scale manufacture of chamois leathers, though chamois making ensures higher value return compared to conventional finished leathers. Ozonation as a mean for accelerated oxidation has been attempted in this work. Two approaches viz. ozonation of oil and post-ozonation of oil-treated skins have been studied in detail. The studies indicate that ozonation of oil-treated skins can reduce the time required for chamois making by many folds without any impairment in quality of leathers.     

Removal of diazo and triphenylmethane dyes from aqueous solutions through an adsorption process

Direct Red 31, Acid Black 1 and Acid Green 16 belonging to diazo and triphenylmethane classification of dye chemicals are widely used during the manufacture of leather. The spent dyestuffs in wastewater escape biological treatment owing to their poor biodegradability. An adsorption procedure was used in this study for the removal of dyes from aqueous solution using Rice Bran‐based Activated Carbon (RBAC). The molecular weight of the dye chemicals, the mass of RBAC and the diameter of RBAC particle had positive effects on the rate of adsorption. Initial concentration of dye chemicals, pH of the dye solution and temperature of adsorption showed a negative impact on adsorption. The enthalpies of adsorption for Direct Red 31, Acid Black 1 and Acid Green 16 were −32.1,−23.4 and −21.7 KJ mol⁻¹ respectively, indicating the adsorption was an exothermic physical process. The entropies of adsorption for Direct Red 31, Acid Black 1 and Acid Green 16 were −96.94,−59.92 and −26.96 J K⁻¹ mol ⁻¹ respectively, suggesting that RBAC favours the adsorption process. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Stabilization of collagen by the plant polyphenolics Acacia mollissima and Terminalia chebula

The central role of collagen as the major structural fibrous protein in the mammalian extracellular matrix has motivated a significant effort toward the determination of its mechanical properties at all levels, ranging from single monomers and long‐chain polymers to a structural element within a biological tissue. However, the stabilization of collagen against collagenolytic degradation finds significance in biomedical and industrial applications. Tannins are plant‐derived polyphenols that have the ability to inhibit the collagenase activity at minimum concentration. The inhibitory effect of wattle (Acacia mollissima) and myrobalan (Terminalia chebula) on the action of collagenase against collagen was probed in this study. The kinetics of the inhibition of collagenase by wattle and myrobalan was deduced from the extent of hydrolysis of 2‐furanacryloyl–L ‐leucyl–glycyl–L ‐prolyl–L ‐alanine. Both wattle and myrobalan tannin exhibited competitive modes of inhibition against collagenase. Circular dichroism studies of collagenase on treatment with wattle and myrobalan revealed changes in the secondary structure of collagenase. These results suggest that the tannins of A. mollissima and T. chebula extracts facilitated collagen stabilization through collagenase inhibition. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008