Reactive extraction of propionic acid using tri‐n‐octylamine,tri‐n‐butyl phosphate and aliquat 336 in sunflower oil as diluent

BACKGROUND : Propionic acid is widely used in chemical and allied industries and can be produced by biocultivation in a clean and environmentally friendly route. Recovery of the acid from the dilute stream from the bioreactor is an economic problem. Reactive extraction is a promising method of recovering the acid but suffers from toxicity problems of the solvent employed. There is thus a need for a non‐toxic solvent or a combination of less toxic extractants in a non‐toxic diluent that can recover acid efficiently. RESULTS: The effect of different extractants (tri‐n‐butylphosphate (TBP), tri‐n‐octylamine (TOA) and Aliquat 336) and their mixed binary solutions in sunflower oil diluent was studied to find the best extractant‐sunflower oil combination. Equilibrium complexation constant, K_E, values of 4.02, 3.13 and 1.87 m³ kmol^?1 were obtained for propionic acid extraction using Aliquat 336, TOA and TBP, respectively, in sunflower oil. The effect of different modifiers (1‐decanol, methylisobutyl ketone, butyl acetate and dodecanol) on the extraction was also studied and it was found that modifiers enhance extraction, with 1‐decanol found to be the best. CONCLUSION: The problem of toxicity in reactive extraction can be reduced by using a non‐toxic diluent (sunflower oil) or a modifier in a non‐toxic solvent, with the extractant. The addition of modifiers was found to improve the extraction. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Influence of surface texture and roughness parameters on friction and transfer layer formation during sliding of aluminium pin on steel plate

Surface texture of harder mating surfaces plays an important role during sliding against softer materials and hence the importance of characterizing the surfaces in terms of roughness parameters. In the present investigation, basic studies were conducted using inclined pin-on-plate sliding tester to understand the surface texture effect of hard surfaces on coefficient of friction and transfer layer formation. A tribological couple made of a super purity aluminium pin against steel plate was used in the tests. Two surface parameters of steel plates, namely roughness and texture, were varied in the tests. It was observed that the transfer layer formation and the coefficient of friction along with its two components, namely, the adhesion and plowing, are controlled by the surface texture and are independent of surface roughness (R_a). Among the various surface roughness parameters, the average or the mean slope of the profile was found to explain the variations best. Under lubricated conditions, stick–slip phenomena was observed, the amplitude of which depends on the plowing component of friction. The presence of stick–slip motion under lubricated conditions could be attributed to the molecular deformation of the lubricant component confined between asperities.     

Equilibria and kinetics for reactive extraction of lactic acid using Alamine 336 in decanol

Lactic acid is an important commercial product and extracting this from aqueous solution is a growing requirement in fermentation‐based industries. The design of an amine extraction process requires (i) equilibrium and (ii) kinetic data for the acid–amine (solvent) system used. The equilibrium complexation constants for ratios of (1:1) and (2:1) have been estimated. The kinetics of extraction of lactic acid by Alamine 336 in decanol has also been determined. The reaction between lactic acid and Alamine 336 in decanol in a stirred cell falls in Regime 3, ie extraction accompanied by a fast chemical reaction occurring in the diffusion film. The reaction has been found to be zero order in Alamine 336 and first order in lactic acid with a rate constant of 0.21 s^?1. These data will be useful in the design of extraction processes. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

Elucidating the Crack Resistance of Alkali‐Activated Slag Mortars Using Coupled Fracture Tests and Image Correlation

The resistance of alkali silicate‐activated slag mortars to crack propagation is explored. With increasing SiO₂‐to‐alkali oxide ratio (M_s) of the activating solution (between 1.0 and 2.0), the flexural strengths, fracture energies, and the strain energy release rates (crack resistance, G_R) are noted to increase. The G_R values, especially of the systems with M_s of 1.5 and 2.0, are higher than that of ordinary portland cement (OPC) mortar. In contrast, the fracture process zone (FPZ) was observed to be smaller for the alkali‐activated slag mortars, with higher localized strains. Similarly, the FPZs also shrink with increasing M_s. These responses are related to the differences in the reaction products in these systems. The fundamental differences in the fracture response of these binder systems are elucidated through tracking the FPZ development. The crack extension‐crack tip opening displacement relations and its relationship with the inelastic strain energy release rates are also used to bring out the differences between the binder systems.     

Studies on friction and transfer layer: role of surface texture

Friction influences the nature of transfer layer formed at the interface between tool and metal during sliding. In the present investigation, experiments were conducted using “Inclined Scratch Tester” to understand the effect of surface texture of hard surfaces on coefficient of friction and transfer layer formation. EN8 steel flats were ground to attain surfaces of different textures with different roughness. Then super purity aluminium pins were scratched against the prepared steel flats. Scanning electron micrographs of the contact surfaces of pins and flats were used to reveal the morphology of transfer layer. It was observed that the coefficient of friction and the formation of transfer layer depend primarily on the texture of hard surfaces, but independent of surface roughness of hard surfaces. It was observed that on surfaces that promote plane strain conditions near the surface, the transfer of material takes place due to the plowing action of the asperities. But, on a surface that promotes plane stress conditions the transfer layer was more due to the adhesion component of friction. It was observed that the adhesion component increases for surfaces that have random texture but was constant for the other surfaces.     

Response Surface Methodology and Artificial Neural Networks for Optimization of Catalytic Esterification of Lactic Acid

Response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural network (ANN) models were employed to study the esterification of lactic acid and isoamyl alcohol. A carbon-based solid acid catalyst prepared by wet impregnation was used in the esterification reaction. Experimental characterization revealed its potential to serve as catalyst for the esterification reaction. The experiments were performed based on the design of experiments provided by RSM and ANN models. Both models were compared on the basis of prediction efficacies and deviation from actual data. The prediction data results demonstrated that the ANN model gave better prediction efficiency and lower prediction deviation than the RSM model. The ANN model provided a higher coefficient of determination and lower error values than the RSM model. Moreover, the catalyst exhibited a good stability and recyclability up to four reaction cycles.     

On the design of inscribed triangle circular fractal antenna for UWB applications

In this article, an ultrawide band inscribed triangle circular fractal antenna is presented. The antenna has been designed on FR4 substrate dielectric constant ?_r = 4.3 and thickness of substrate 1.53 mm with initial dimension of 30 mm diameter. The experimental result of fractal antenna exhibits the excellent ultra bandwidth from 2.25 GHz to 15 GHz corresponds to 147.83% impedance bandwidth at VSWR 2:1. This ultrawide band characteristcs of antenna has been achieved by using the CPW-fed and fractal concept. The measured radiation pattern of fractal antenna is nealy omnidirectional in azimuth plane and bidirectional in elevation plane. The measured group delay of proposed antenna is almost constant throughout the band. Such type of antenna is very useful for UWB communication system.     

Influence of roughness parameters and surface texture on friction during sliding of pure lead over 080 M40 steel

In the present investigation, tests were conducted on a tribological couple made of cylindrical lead pin with spherical tip against 080 M40 steel plates of different textures with varying roughness under both dry and lubricated conditions using an inclined pin-on-plate sliding tester. Surface roughness parameters of the steel plates were measured using optical profilometer. The morphologies of the worn surfaces of the pins and the formation of transfer layer on the counter surfaces were observed using a scanning electron microscope. It was observed that the coefficient of friction and the formation of transfer layer depend primarily on the surface texture of hard surfaces. A newly formulated non-dimensional hybrid roughness parameter called ‘ξ’ (a product of number of peaks and maximum profile peak height) of the tool surface plays an important role in determining the frictional behaviour of the surfaces studied. The effect of surfaces texture on coefficient of friction was attributed to the variation of plowing component of friction, which in turn depends on the roughness parameter ‘ξ’.