An Effective Approach on Attaining Enhanced Silicon Solar Cell Performance Through Sputter Deposited Perovskite Thin Films

Silicon - Antireflection coatings (ARCs) have become one of the key techniques for mass production of Si solar cells. They are generally performed by vacuum processes such as thermal evaporation,...     

Reduced membrane fouling in a novel bio-entrapped membrane reactor for treatment of food and beverage processing wastewater

A novel Bio-Entrapped Membrane Reactor (BEMR) packed with bio-ball carriers was constructed and investigated for organics removal and membrane fouling by soluble microbial products (SMP). An objective was to evaluate the stability of the filtration process in membrane bioreactors through backwashing and chemical cleaning. The novel BEMR was compared to a conventional membrane bioreactor (CMBR) on performance, with both treating identical wastewater from a food and beverage processing plant. The new reactor has a longer sludge retention time (SRT) and lower mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) content than does the conventional. Three different hydraulic retention times (HRTs) of 6, 9, and 12 h were studied. The results show faster rise of the transmembrane pressure (TMP) with decreasing hydraulic retention time (HRT) in both reactors, where most significant membrane fouling was associated with high SMP (consisting of carbohydrate and protein) contents that were prevalent at the shortest HRT of 6 h. Membrane fouling was improved in the new reactor, which led to a longer membrane service period with the new reactor. Rapid membrane fouling was attributed to increased production of biomass and SMP, as in the conventional reactor. SMP of 10-100 kDa from both MBRs were predominant with more than 70% of the SMP <100 kDa. Protein was the major component of SMP rather than carbohydrate in both reactors. The new reactor sustained operation at constant permeate flux that required seven times less frequent chemical cleaning than did the conventional reactor. The new BEMR offers effective organics removal while reducing membrane fouling.     

Valuing the Cultural Landscapes Past and Present: Tea Plantations in Sri Lanka

Abstract

The study focuses on tea plantation cultural landscapes in Sri Lanka and its historical formation, present issues and future considerations. [Sri Lanka was known as Ceylon before 1972. At present, the country uses Sri Lanka for all related documents.] According to the research, the tea estate is identified as the main building unit of tea heritage. This paper reveals the historical formation of tea heritage and its contribution to the existing landscape. This study focuses on the Nuwara Eliya region, as it is the main area for tea cultivation. The present condition of tea plantations in Sri Lanka is derived through a survey conducted in Labookellie estate, Blue Field estate and Pedro estate. Past and the present circumstances are examined through analysis of literature, topographical maps and site observations, while interviews with outsiders (foreign visitors) were used to strengthen the thoughts on tea plantation landscapes. This paper reveals basic concepts such as agriculture as a heritage, active agriculture and value added through future conservation and development procedure. The paper first discusses the formation of tea estates and governing factors. Second, the paper explains estate settlement as the main building block of tea heritage with researched case studies and explains existing landscape values. Third, the paper explains future thoughts on the tea plantation landscapes in Sri Lanka. Opinions of foreign visitors to the plantation are considered as a valuable contribution to the conclusions. The paper stresses the importance of understanding tea estate cultural landscapes and their heritage value for future planning and the conservation priorities in Sri Lanka.     

Characterisation of Seed Lipids from Bixa orellana and Trachyspermum copticum

Bixa orellana L. seeds possess a resinous lipid (6.3 %), which has a pungent and spicy odour. The seed is known for its medicinal properties such as anti‐inflammatory, antipyretic activity and as a cure for tonsilitis. Trachyspermum copticum L. seed is a well known digestive aid and relief from colic pain. T. copticum possesses essential oil rich in thymol (>50 %) and lipid (15.6 %). The present study was aimed to quantify lipid classes of these two species by silicic acid chromatography and analyze their fatty acid composition by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). It was observed that the seed lipids are rich in neutral lipids with 98.1 and 95.2 % and lower quantities of glycolipids of 1.5 and 3.8 % and phospholipids of 0.36 and 1.0 % in B. orellana and T. copticum, respectively. The fatty acid composition of B. orellana seed lipid showed major quantities of palmitic (26.9 %), linoleic (26.1 %), oleic (17.5 %), linolenic (15.1 %), stearic acid (10.8 %) and small quantities of eicosanoic acid (3.6 %). In T. copticum seed lipids, petroselinic acid (68.3 %) and linoleic acid (25.3 %) together constituted 93 % of the total lipid. The results revealed that the lipids after recovery of the essential components namely, bixin and volatile oil from B. orellana and T. copticum, respectively can be further explored for industrial applications.     

Multi-mode hydrogen storage in nanocontainers

Hydrogen can be stored in containers or in materials (in molecular or atomic forms). The atomic form can further exist as multiple phases. Molecular hydrogen can be adsorbed on the surface or can be present inside the material. By invoking multiple modes of hydrogen storage, we establish a paradigm shift in the philosophy of hydrogen storage. Using a novel strategy of storage of molecular hydrogen in metal (Pd) nanocontainers, we observe that 18% hydrogen is in molecular form. Interestingly, this is achieved at 25 °C and 1 atm pressure; which is in contrast to storage in MOFs and carbonaceous materials like nanotubes. Enhancement in storage capacity as compared to Pd nanocrystals of the same mass is observed (36% increase at 1 atm & 25 °C), along with fast kinetics (0.5 wt% hydrogen absorption in 5 s). A new mechanism for hydrogen storage involving the dual catalytic role of Pd is established.     

Optimization of inoculum to substrate ratio for bio-energy generation in co-digestion of tannery solid wastes

The inoculum to substrate (I/S) ratio is an important factor which influences the anaerobic digestion process. In this study, the effect of different I/S ratios on the performance of co-digestion of fleshings along with mixture of sludge generated during treatment of tannery wastewater was investigated. The parameters studied were biogas generation, volatile solids reduction, volatile fatty acid (VFA) production, and the stability of the digestion process based on VFA to alkalinity ratio was evaluated for various I/S ratios. Economical significance of I/S ratio as related to the volume of the anaerobic digester and the potential benefit of bio-energy generated are discussed in detail.     

Delamination detection with carbon nanotube thread in self-sensing composite materials

Laminated composite materials can reach high mechanical properties at low weight. Composite materials, however, are susceptible to damage due to their low interlaminar mechanical properties and poor heat and charge transport in the transverse direction to the laminate. Moreover, methods to inspect and ensure the reliability of composites are expensive and labor intensive. Recently carbon nanotube forests were spun into thread that is tough and electrically conductive. The thread was integrated into composite materials and used for the first time as a sensor to monitor strains and detect damage including delamination in the material. These self-sensing composites were found to be very sensitive to damage and will help to revolutionize the maintenance of composite structures, which will now be based on their condition and not their amount of use.