Extraction equilibrium conditions of beryllium and aluminium from a beryl ore for optimal industrial beryllium compound production

This study examines the extraction of beryllium and aluminium from a Nigerian beryl ore using Cyanex®272 in kerosene from an aqueous sulphate pregnant solution. Parameters such as extractant concentration and equilibrium pH that dictates the extraction yield were studied. Under the following conditions: temperature 27?±?2°C, phase ratio 1?1, about 45.50 and 46.76% of beryllium and aluminium were extracted by 0.15?mol?L^?1 Cyanex®272 concentration within 30?min. However, the extraction yield of beryllium and aluminium was increased to 91.68% and 97.89% at equilibrium pH of 3 and 4, respectively, for beryllium and aluminium at 27?±?2°C. A 0.05?mol?L^?1 H₂SO₄ solution was found to be adequate for the stripping of about 99.00% Be and 95.40% Al from the loaded organic phase. The pure solutions containing metal ions were accordingly beneficiated to obtain beryllium and aluminium compounds of industrial values.     

Outdoor ventilation performance of various configurations of a layout of two adjacent buildings under isothermal conditions

This paper explores the pedestrian-level wind environment around two buildings of unequal heights for the effects of ratio of height of upwind building to that of downwind building, referred to as buildings height ratio, spacing distance between the buildings, and direction of ambient wind, on the outdoor air ventilation. The objective is to propose appropriate spacing distances for various configurations of this type of buildings layout in a suburban area of Kuala Lumpur, which would enable harnessing the full ventilation potential of the local wind conditions. A three-dimensional numerical technique employing computational fluid dynamics simulation of continuity and Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes equations was used to study the turbulent flow field around the full-scale sizes of the buildings. Results indicate the influence of spacing distance between buildings, relative heights of the buildings and direction of ambient wind on outdoor ventilation. Results also show that 3-D turbulent flow processes such as lateral and secondary flows play significant roles in defining the wind flow pattern and ventilation availability. The perpendicular wind direction presents remarkable adverse effects compared to the inclined direction, while a higher upwind building height which would ordinarily be expected to proportionally obstruct wind flow could be of advantage, at low values of building height ratios, in enhancing outdoor ventilation. The findings established the need to give consideration to climatic factors such as wind flow and direction in planning urban cities, as it affects buildings to be situated in close proximity, especially when there is height difference.     

Evaluation of reduction roasting and magnetic separation for upgrading Mn/Fe ratio of fine ferromanganese

Low grade ferromanganese tailing was subjected to different mineralogical techniques, reduction roasting and magnetic separation to establish whether commercially acceptable manganese qualities and high Mn/Fe ratio could be obtained, and also to determine the best processing route for beneficiating this ore. The main manganese mineral within the feed sample is birnessite, with minor amounts of pyrolusite and todorokite. Size by assay analysis conducted presented a result with a yield of about 35.75% and Mn grade of 27.63% to coarse (?3.35 + 1 mm) and yield of 20.24% and Mn grade of 27.71% to (?1.18 + 0.50 mm) fraction. Two-stage high induced magnetic separations at 16,000 and 11,000 G produces Mn grades with similar grade to that obtained from the ferromanganese feed sample. Reduction roasting followed by magnetic separation on ?1.18 + 0.50 mm at 1000 G recovered 72.31% Mn with a grade of 58.44% Mn, 2.52% Fe and 3.29% Si at Mn/Fe ratio of 23.22. This study reveals the influence of roasting in converting the hematite and goethite to magnetite and the response of the roasted fraction to magnetic separation.     

Zeolite-modified WO3 gas sensors – Enhanced detection of NO2

Solid-state metal oxide gas sensors with zeolite overlayers have been developed as a means to improve sensor selectivity. Screen printed tungsten oxide (WO₃) sensors were modified by the addition of acidic and catalytic zeolite layers. The sensors were characterised before and after sensing experiments using X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray analysis and scanning electron microscopy. The sensors were tested against various gases and gas mixtures to assess their discriminatory behaviour. The results show that the sensors response can be tailored to be selective towards specific target gases by changing the zeolite; for example the H-ZSM-5 sensor gave a response 19 times greater to NO₂ than an unmodified control sensor. It was observed that the WO₃ based gas sensors showed a remarkable selectivity towards NO₂ in a gas mixture. The sensors also showed high levels of stability and sensitivity and have potential to be used in electronic nose technology.     

High pressure processing of meat batters with added walnuts

Various model systems were designed in order to analyse the way in which addition of different levels of walnut (0, 10, 20%) and processing by high pressure (HPP) (400 MPa for 10 min at 10 °C) influenced the physico‐chemical properties of cooked (70 °C for 30 min) meat batters. The addition of walnut increased the fat level and decreased the moisture content in the meat batters. All of the meat batters exhibited good water and fat binding properties. The hardness, cohesiveness, springiness and chewiness of cooked products were reduced by addition of walnut but were unaffected by HPP. Incorporation of nuts in meat products can potentially be used to confer cardiac health benefits.     

Characteristics of meat batters with added native and preheated defatted walnut

Effects of incorporation of native and preheated defatted walnut on the physicochemical, emulsifying and rheological properties of meat batters, as affected by final heating temperature were investigated. Replacing meat protein with native defatted walnut in meat product formulations reduced (P < 0.05) gel strength and emulsifying properties and hence the firmness and stability of meat batters but enhanced water- and fat-binding properties and hence the yield of a processed meat product. However, incorporation of preheated defatted walnut, in addition to improving (P < 0.05) water- and fat-binding properties during thermal treatment, improved the gelling ability of myofibrillar proteins, probably because the preheating of the defatted walnut promoted interactions between walnut proteins and muscle proteins.     

Physicochemical properties of low sodium frankfurter with added walnut: effect of transglutaminase combined with caseinate, KCl and dietary fibre as salt replacers

This study compares the effects of combinations of microbial transglutaminase (TGase) and various non-meat ingredients (caseinate, KCl and wheat fibre) used as salt replacers, with the effects of NaCl on the physicochemical properties (cooking loss, emulsion stability, texture and colour) of frankfurters with added walnuts. The combination of TGase with caseinate, KCl or fibre led to harder, springier and chewier (P < 0.05) frankfurters with better water- and fat-binding properties (emulsion stability and cooking loss) (P < 0.05) than those made with TGase only. Ranking of ingredient efficiency in combination with TGase showed that caseinate > KCl > fibre. Frankfurters with caseinate presented the highest lightness and the lowest redness values. Frankfurter with NaCl had a harder, springier and chewier gel/emulsion network with lower cooking loss than those NaCl free.     

Modeling of moisture migration in an FRP reinforced masonry structure

The study of moisture migration in a layered structure made of distinct building materials is of great importance for the understanding of its hygrothermomechanical response and for the design consideration of long-term structural integrity and durability. Modeling of moisture migration in an fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite upgraded masonry structure is particularly necessary, since the interfacial adhesive between the reinforcing FRP laminate and the host masonry can be susceptible to moisture damages. In this study, a generic theoretical formulation based on the framework of the Fourier moisture diffusion model was developed for a layered structure. The resulting governing equation was expressed in terms of humidity potential state variable whose relation with the moisture content state variable of the constituent material was defined in the sorption isotherm material property. Finite element implementation of the humidity potential formulation was also carried out. The finite element humidity migration modeling scheme was then utilized to perform two case studies. It was shown that the moisture migration processes in a concrete slab with a reinforcing FRP laminate partially covering one surface as well as in an FRP reinforced URM unit with air cavity can be captured in details when these structures are subjected to outdoor/indoor isothermal humidity gradients.