Iranian Journal of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Volume:43 Issue: 12, Dec 2024

Phase Change Materials (PCMs) have recently garnered attention for many new applications. However, one of their main challenges is integrating them into complex geometries. The present study has developed polymer composite capsules containing PCM for Thermal Energy Storage (TES) systems. A simple one-step emulsion polymerization method was used to fabricate paraffin@styren (PCM@ST) nanocapsules. The surface of the spherical nano-encapsulated PCMs was uniform, smooth, and compact, with particle sizes ranging from 200 to 400 nm. These nano-encapsulated PCMs demonstrated stability and reliability, with a melting enthalpy of about 64.93 J/g and crystallization enthalpy of about 66.45 J/g. TGA results indicated that the nano-encapsulated PCM degraded in three steps and exhibited good thermal stability, with an encapsulation efficiency (ϕ) of 52.95%. These findings suggest that PCM@ST nanocapsules could be promising candidates for thermal energy storage applications.

In the present study, a dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid doped polyaniline titanium dioxide (ds/PANI/TiO2) nanocomposite was prepared through a simple solution mixing technique. Different tools were utilized to look into the physicochemical properties of the prepared composites. The electrochemical performance of the composite was higher than that of PANI alone. The optimized sample was tested for application in Microbial Fuel Cells (MFC). The anode was inoculated with Escherichia coli (E. coli). Glucose was used as substrate, phosphate buffer to maintain the pH at 7.5, and neutral red (NR) as mediator. In the presence of NR mediator, smaller values of charge transfer resistance (Rct 0.1 Ω·cm2), solution resistance (Rs 0.69 Ω·cm2), and equivalent series resistance (ESR 0.79 Ω·cm2) were achieved indicating a faster electron transfer process from the electrolyte toward the electrode.

A gas sensor is a detection device that can transform the information of gas concentration into an electrical signal. Its core is gas-sensitive material. Among the gas-sensitive materials, semiconductor materials have been paid more attention. In this work, starting from the metal oxide semiconductor material ZnO, to further improve its performance, graded structured ZnO/g-C3N4 microspheres were prepared by a combination method of hydrothermal reaction and high-temperature calcination, and the optimal g-C3N4 doped ratio was adjusted in ZnO/g-C3N4. The structure and morphology of the synthesized samples were characterized via X-Ray powder Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and N2 adsorption-desorption. The gas-sensitive properties of the ZnO/g-C3N4 composite and pure ZnO to ethanol are compared and investigated. It was found that the response of the ZnO/g-C3N4 composite to 100 ppm ethanol at 260 °C was 26.36, which was 2.19 times higher than that of pure ZnO. This experiment's response and recovery time are 26 s and 31 s. The results show that ZnO/g-C3N4 composites have better gas-sensitive properties than pure ZnO and g-C3N4. Among them, the sample (the g-C3N4 doping content was 5 wt%,) has the best gas sensitivity. The gas-sensitive property of the ZnO/g-C3N4 graded structure microspheres to ethanol was attributed to the unique graded structure of the material and the n-n heterojunction. The heterogeneous structure of ZnO/g-C3N4 composite inhibits the recombination of electrons and holes and electrons are faster transferred to the material’s surface, resulting in improved gas sensitivity. Furthermore, the gas sensor exhibited excellent selectivity, good repeatability, and long-term stability to ethanol, indicating that ZnO/g-C3N4 nanocomposites will be a promising application prospect for ethanol sensors.

This paper shows the enhancements of a Tl-1223 high-temperature superconducting thin film prepared on lanthanum aluminate (LAO) substrates using an optimized rapid thermal annealing process. The annealing process of the precursor film was improved, and the effects  of different annealing conditions on the thalliation crystallization of the precursor film were investigated. A precursor film of the Tl-based high-temperature superconducting thin film was first prepared on the surface of the LAO substrate using the magnetron sputtering process, followed by annealing treatment in a rapid thermal furnace. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) characterization showed that both the annealing temperature and the heating rate significantly affect the phase formation of the precursor film. Through annealing optimizations, films with a Tc of 115K and Jc of 2.2 MA/cm2 were achieved, demonstrating enhanced superconducting performance. By adjusting the parameters, a Tl-1223 superconducting thin film with a highly oriented c-axis can be fabricated. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) observations indicated that the superconducting films with good crystalline states have smooth and intact surface morphology, and the critical transition temperature (Tc) of the superconducting films prepared was measured at about 115K in liquid nitrogen. The films’ crystallinity was gauged using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) for three-dimensional information.

Nalidixic acid is used to treat diseases caused by gram-negative bacteria. When drugs are released quickly in the body and have a short duration, the body can develop resistance to them. However, the release of nalidixic acid via the interlayer space of Zn2Al-LDH is slow and continuous. Until now, the study of the synthesis and investigation of double-layered hydroxide compounds with simulation calculations for relatively large organic anions has not been done abundantly. Therefore, in this research, the modeling of the nalidixic acid drug in the interlayer interplanetary of Zn2 Al-LDH was carried out, as well as the molecular dynamic simulation study of intercalation and the release of the nalidixic acid drug. In this way, quantum simulation was done first, and the partial charge of the drug was obtained. Classical mechanics calculations were performed to obtain the optimal geometric shape of the drug-Zn2 Al-LDH structure. The characterization results of the Zn2Al-LDH nanohybrid also showed that there is a good agreement between the X-ray diffraction and the simulated XRD (d003=8.16 Å) and the angular distribution of the drug was relatively horizontal. According to molecular dynamic simulation, the results of Mean Square Displacements or MSD  (the simulated drug delivery) showed that water molecules were released faster than drug molecules from the Zn2Al-LDH hybrid structure (0.11 water intensity per time step versus 0.07 of drug).

Naturally occurring substances are crucial for both the treatment and prevention of many types of cancer. Currently in therapeutic usage are over 100 naturally occurring chemicals derived from plants and animals. The symptomatic management of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) has been authorized for cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs). The Food and Drug Administration originally authorized tacrine as a ChEI for the therapy of AD. Using a molecular docking approach, the chemical activity of bavachin and bavachinin against acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase was examined. In this investigation, the enzymes acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase were inhibited by bavachin and bavachinin molecules with excellent to good IC50 values of 45.92, and 31.16 µM for bavachin and 41.06 and 24.51 µM for bavachinin. The compounds' anti-cancer properties were assessed using the T24, RT-4, TCCSUP, UM-UC-3, and HT-1376 cell lines. The chemical actions of bavachin and bavachinin on one or more expressed surface receptor proteins (EGFR, CD44, CD47, FYL Peptide Receptor 1, corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1) in the aforementioned cell lines were determined by the use of molecular modeling calculations. The outcomes provided insight into potential interactions and their atomic-level characteristics. The chemicals have a considerable binding affinity to the proteins and enzymes, as indicated by the docking scores and molecular dynamics.

Antibiotics revolutionized medicine, but misuse leads to antimicrobial resistance, posing threats to their usefulness and increasing disease spread and death risk. Discovering new microbial natural products is crucial to address this issue. The study investigates the effectiveness of a graphene oxide nanocomposite coated with magnesium oxide and methyl methacrylate in removing oxytetracycline from water. The study found optimal efficiency for adsorption with 0.015 g, 60 min contact time, pH 8, and over 90% removal rate. The Langmuir model best fits the data, with a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Temperature also decreased adsorption efficiency. The Langmuir model was best fitted to the experimental data, indicating a maximum adsorption capacity of 131.33 mg/g. The regenerated adsorbent showed high capacity, making it a cost-effective solution.

Antibiotics have a wide range of applications in aquaculture, which has led to pollution in the effluents. The present study aimed to investigate the removal of the Florfenicol antibiotic from the effluent of aquaculture, using a combined method of Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and the Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) biological treatment. This experimental and interventionist study was conducted on a pilot scale. In the AOP, we investigated the effects of pH, initial concentration of Florfenicol, H2O2 oxidant, and time on the removal of antibiotics from water solution under constant light conditions (55 watts).  In the MBBR biological treatment method, we used an aerobic pilot plant with activated sludge. After treating the effluent for 12 hours with biological treatment, we applied AOP to the samples. Our experiment used the Response Surface Method (RSM) and Central Composite Design (CCD). 68 different experimental phases were designed. To ensure the reproducibility of the results, each experiment was repeated three times, and the mean values were reported. Based on the results, the best conditions for removing florfenicol consisted of pH 4, 50 ppm H2O2, 75 minutes, and 20 ppm antibiotic concentration. This resulted in a 93.2% removal rate. In the AOP+MBBR process, a removal efficiency of 96.7% was achieved. The average COD removal in the AOP process was 59.68%, and in the AOP+MBBR process, it was 67.4%. According to the results of the present study, it can be concluded that the combined method of UV/AOP (H2O2) and MBBR has a significant effect on the removal of florfenicol from the water solution.

This study aims to prepare a new activated carbon from cheap and readily available plant sources, Eriobotrya japonica (AC1), and utilize it as an adsorbent. This study selected Congo Red (CR) as the target pollutant molecule. The synthesized adsorbent was characterized using available analytical techniques, including Fourier Transform InfraRed (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FE-SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), and X-ray diffraction (XRD), in addition, pHpzc (point of zero charges) was selected as well as. The adsorption study was a function of different parameters, including contact time, temperature, initial concentration, and adsorbent dose. The results of this study were compared to commercial activated carbon (AC2), the fabricated adsorbent was efficient in Congo red removal, and the optimal pH was recorded to be 5.9, with adsorption behavior conforming to the Langmuir isotherm, suggesting a monolayer adsorption pattern. The pseudo-second-order kinetics were better applied to experimental data, as indicated by a higher correlation coefficient (𝑅2 ≥ 0.998), which is closer to unity. The study of thermodynamics indicated that this adsorption process was spontaneous, endothermic, and feasible across selected temperatures. The results of this research demonstrate that AC1, as an economical biosorbent, effectively removes CR dye from wastewater.

There are soluble organics, insoluble trace organics, suspended solids, nitrogen, phosphorous, sodium, and potassium in the wastewater of the dairy processing unit, which lead to unpleasant taste and smell and turbidity of water. The present study investigates the ability of Azolla filiculoides and demospongiae for the treatment of dairy wastewater from sodium, potassium, and phosphorus ions. The effect of different parameters, including contact time, pH, temperature, and kind of adsorbent on the residual values of Na, K, and P in aqueous solutions was investigated using Central Composite Design (CCD). The minimum residual value of Na was assigned to the sponge adsorbent with a time of 6 h, pH of 6, and temperature of 22 ºC. The sponge with a time of 11 h, pH of 7, and temperature of 23 ºC was selected as the best condition for the removal of K. Also, Azolla revealed maximum removal of P with a time of 6 h, pH of 8, and temperature of 24 ºC. In conclusion, Azolla filiculoides and demospongiae can be considered as facile, cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and efficient adsorbents for the treatment of dairy wastewater from various pollutants.

The removal of phenol from wastewater is crucial because of its harmful influences on human health, soil quality, and aquatic ecosystems. Among the different methods used for phenol removal, adsorption has gained popularity as an affordable and effective approach. Silica aerogel, with its highly porous structure and substantial surface area is recognized as an exceptional absorbent for phenol removal. However, achieving the desired porous structure and surface area in silica aerogel necessitates the challenging technique of supercritical drying. Highly porous silica aerogel was synthesized using sol-gel and microwave irradiation as drying method in this research. The physicochemical and textural properties of the prepared silica aerogel samples were characterized using XRD, BET/BJH, SEM-EDX, and FT-IR analyses. XRD analysis demonstrated that both samples of silica aerogel exhibited a broad peak, indicating the presence of pure silica without any impurity peaks. The surface area of the silica aerogel prepared using microwave irradiation drying was found to be 762.94 m²/g, while that prepared using supercritical drying was 590.47 m²/g, as determined by BET/BJH analysis. The adsorption test showed that acidic pH conditions are optimal for phenol adsorption on silica aerogel due to its pHpzc (point of zero charge) and the protonation of phenolate ions. The results demonstrated that the silica aerogel prepared using microwave drying achieved a remarkable phenol removal efficiency of 91.03% from a baseline concentration of 100 mg/L at pH 4, over a duration of 135 min. The results demonstrated that surface adsorption process aligns with the Freundlich isotherm model and follows pseudo-first-order kinetics.

This study investigates the adsorption of oxalic acid by rice bran, a low-cost bioresource. Fifteen adsorption experiments were conducted under conditions specified by Response Surface Methodology (RSM) using the Box–Behnken Design (BBD). A three-level Box-Behnken experimental design incorporating three factors (temperature, biosorbent mass, and contact time) was applied. A quadratic mathematical model was developed to predict the responses. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated that temperature significantly affects oxalic acid adsorption. A decrease in temperature corresponded with an increased oxalic acid removal rate. The best conditions for removing oxalic acid were determined, achieving a maximum removal rate of 100% at a temperature of 301.15 K with 5 grams of biosorbent and a contact time of 45 minutes. Kinetic analysis showed that the adsorption of oxalic acid on rice bran follows the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, demonstrating rice bran's effectiveness as a biosorbent in this process.

Porous carbon-based supercapacitors have been widely applied in the field of energy storage due to their large storage capability and physicochemical stability. However, efficient control of the microstructure of activated carbon to achieve high supercapacitor performance is still a challenge. This study used dehydration and activation methods to synthesize porous activated carbon from corn stalk waste for supercapacitor electrode applications. The preparation process was carried out through the dehydration method with 1M sulfuric acid and then activation using 5M KOH as an activator. Variations in activator mass ratio and carbonization temperature were carried out to obtain activated carbon with high surface area and pore volume. This research aims to convert corn stalk waste into active carbon material using the dehydration method, which can be used as a high-performance supercapacitor electrode. This activated carbon is used as a high-performance supercapacitor electrode material. At an activator mass ratio of 1:3 with a carbonization temperature of 800°C in a nitrogen atmosphere, activated carbon was obtained with a surface area of 396.2 m2/g,  a pore volume of 0.452 cm3/g, with a dominant micropore structure. The activated carbon material was tested via cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and galvanostatic charge-discharge cycle methods, producing a capacitance of 129.08 F/g in 3M KOH electrolyte. Moreover, supercapacitors exhibit a high energy density of 15.8 Wh/kg at power density of 2347 W/kg. This value is higher compared to activated carbon from the two-stage carbonization method. The dehydration method is an easy, environmentally friendly, sustainable, and feasible strategy for developing active carbon synthesis from biomass for green supercapacitor electrode applications.

In this research, the effectiveness of ZnO-Mn-Ce/biochar as catalyst and activated by H2O2 for the removal of Methylene Blue (MB) under LED light is investigated. The nanocomposite, fabricated via a simple impregnation method, incorporates biochar to enhance the adsorption capacity and ZnO doped with Mn and Ce to raise light uptake into the visible spectrum. The physical and chemical attributes of the photocatalyst were scrutinized employing XRD, SEM, EDX, FT-IR, and BET. SEM images showed that the particles are spherical in shape and relatively uniform in size. In presence of nanoparticles, the particle density in increases as compared to pure biochar. When nanoparticles are added, the size of the particles reaches the same size. This phenomenon indicates the proper loading of particles on biochar. The results of BET confirm that adding nanoparticles to biochar result in an increase in the specific surface area, average pore size, and void volume of the catalyst. Besides, the specific surface area of pure biochar and ZnO-Mn-Ce/biochar nanoparticles is 518.34 and 636.52 m2/g, respectively. The output of the optimization showed that the optimal pH values, catalyst dosage, H2O2 dose, and dye concentration were 9, 30 mg, 20 mL, and 10 ppm, for 100 min under the LED lamp. Significantly, the highest removal percentage was 97.3%. The kinetic study illustrates the first-order equation for the photocatalytic removal of MB via ZnO-Mn-Ce/biochar nanocatalyst. ZnO-Mn-Ce/biochar photocatalyst has a high ability to remove MB and can be used as an efficient and promising photocatalyst in the advanced oxidation process to treat colored wastewater.

Due to the rising demand for this herbicide, the global consumption of Clodinafop-Propargyl is anticipated to increase significantly between 2022 and 2030. Predicted increases in the production and consumption of Clodinafop-Propargyl are concerns, given its persistence in the Environment, potential for genetic mutations, acute toxicity, and carcinogenicity, positioning it as a relatively hazardous chemical for humans, aquatic life, mammals, and other species. This study as a catalyst system was conducted in a double-walled UV/TiO₂/H₂O₂ photoreactor with a volume of 2000 mg/L, focusing on the effect of Clodinafop-Propargyl concentration variables (ranging from 1-15 mg/L), H₂O₂ concentration range (50-150 mg/L), reaction time (15-45 minutes), and catalyst dose (0.1-0.5 g/L) for the removal of Clodinafop-Propargyl. Furthermore, a light source improved the Photocatalytic activity by broadening the UV spectral range. The impact of each experimental variable, including initial herbicide concentration, catalyst, and hydraulic retention time, was also examined. The priority of the research was to remove herbicide from the effluent as an environmental objective.  Degradation of clodinafop with UV radiation alone resulted in negligible herbicide degradation. The maximum removal of Clodinafop-Propargyl by UV/TiO₂ was 34.68%. In the Photocatalytic process, UV/TiO₂/H₂O₂, with an optimal amount of 4 mg/L Clodinafop-Propargyl, 0.15 g/L TiO₂, and 89 mg/L H₂O₂, the degradation efficiency improved to over 98% in 43 minutes.  The findings of this research demonstrate the suitable efficiency and high productivity of the advanced oxidation photocatalytic process UV/TiO₂/H₂O₂ in reducing Clodinafop-Propargyl herbicide from agricultural wastewater. This process represents an effective and cost-efficient method for removing agricultural toxins from water sources.

The present study has introduced a mixture of seven nano-metal oxides (WO2, TiO2, Al2O3, SiO2, Y2O3, ZrO2, and MgO) as a MicroWave (MW) susceptor to evaluate its effectiveness compared to two others conventional susceptors on temperature distribution, weight loss, and quality characteristics of cakes baked in a 900-W MW oven. Based on the results, the highest processing time was related to cakes baked without any susceptor. The operation time varied depending on the susceptor used; therefore, the cake baked in the MW with the nano-metal oxides susceptor had  the lowest operational time. The final surface temperatures of the samples varied between 181, 160, 140, and 130°C during MW baking with nano-metal oxides, alumina + silicon carbide (Al2O3+SiC), aluminum (Al) susceptors, and without a susceptor, respectively. Therefore, the temperature of the nano-metal oxide susceptor reached higher than 177°C, which was necessary for non-enzymatic browning reactions. The susceptor of nano-metal oxides in MW heating not only changed the surface temperature of the product in contact with the susceptor but also affected other parts of the product. Additionally, the rate of the browning reaction starts low at the beginning of the process, gradually increases, and then decreases towards the end of the process. Furthermore, cakes baked with the nano-metal oxide susceptor exhibited the lowest hardness compared to those baked without a susceptor. In conclusion, the nano-metal oxide susceptor is the most suitable choice for MW baking cakes due to its high level of surface absorption of MW radiation, resulting in increased surface temperature, shorter processing time, and lower hardness.

This study evaluated the bioactive compounds and antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal properties of Saussurea costus extract (SCE) alongside its efficacy in enhancing the oxidative stability of sunflower oil. The SCE showed a high content of bioactive compounds like naringenin (2952.48 µg/g extract) and chlorogenic acid (2120 µg/g extract). The findings showed that 70% ethanol extract had the maximum content of TPC and TFC, reaching about 139.96 µg GAE/mg and 26.46 µg RUTIN/mg, respectively. This extract was also found to be the most effective in terms of antioxidant activity, as measured by DPPH (89.36%) and FRAP (121.57 µM Trolox eq/mg sample) assays, compared to 80% methanol and aqueous extracts. Antibacterial activities against E. coli and S. aureus were effectively demonstrated with SCE at concentrations of 3 mg/mL, where it was comparably effective as synthetic antibiotics. Moreover, SCE exhibited promising antifungal activities against A. niger, Fusarium spp., and Penicillium spp. Additionally, the induction period (9.84 and 7.77 with SCE and without SCE, respectively) and peroxide values of sunflower oil were significantly improved when supplemented with SCE (9.47 and 15.37 meq. O2/kg oil with SCE and without SCE, respectively), indicating enhanced oxidative stability. These results highlight SCE's potential as a natural additive for improving food safety and stability, suggesting its broad-spectrum utility in food preservation and safety applications.

Steviol Glycosides (SG) synthesis in Stevia plants is significantly influenced by genetic, climatic, and soil factors. This study evaluates the variations in SG in two Stevia genotypes, ‘Indian’ and ‘Chinese’, under drought stress conditions. Two irrigation levels were employed: a control group receiving 100% field capacity and a drought stress group receiving only 30% field capacity. The study, conducted in 2022 across three farms in Iran—RF1 in Tehran, RF2 in Fars, and RF3 in Golestan—utilized a randomized complete block design, each featuring unique climatic conditions. Our findings indicate that the interaction between research farm, drought stress, and genotype significantly influenced the content of Rebaudioside-A, -B, -C, Stevioside, SG content, SG yield, and leaf yield. The results showed that the highest Reb-A (20.2 mg/g), Stev (55.6 mg/g), and SG content (89.9 mg/g) was observed in RF1. Drought stress had a different effect on the content of various SG compounds in the two genotypes studied, such that drought stress increased the SG compounds in the ‘Indian’ genotype and decreased the average of these compounds in the ‘Chinese’ genotype. Under drought stress, leaf yield decreased in all three research fields and both Stevia genotypes compared to non-stress conditions. The highest yield in all three regions was observed in the ‘Indian’ genotype under non-drought conditions, with yields of 577.0, 881.0, and 1213.0 kg/ha, respectively. Latitude was positively and significantly correlated with Stevioside and Reb-A among the climatic parameters. Altitude and mean annual temperature showed a significant negative correlation with SG metabolites. Drought stress impact on SG content varied by genotype: it increased levels in the ‘Indian’ genotype but decreased them in the ‘Chinese’ genotype. Latitude was positively correlated with SG compounds, while higher altitude and mean annual temperature were linked to reduced SG content. Therefore, cultivating the ‘Indian’ genotype is advisable in regions with lower altitudes, higher rainfall, and moderate temperatures, particularly under water-scarce conditions.

This study sought to molecularly determine the presence of TEM-1, VIM, and CTX Metallo Beta-Lactamase (MBL) genes in Bacillus cereus isolated from selected infant formula specimens, and 30 were designated for advanced analysis. Suspected colonies of B. cereus were obtained from the samples and subjected to morphological and biochemical characterization to confirm their identity as B. cereus isolates. Antibiotic susceptibility testing. This study was executed in alignment with the guidelines established by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). To identify MBL genes, we implemented a phenotypic confirmatory test on Mueller Hinton agar to ensure reliable identification fortified with clavulanic acid was implemented. The detection of MBL genes was evidenced by an inhibition zone increase exceeding 5 mm on the plate with clavulanic acid relative to the plate lacking this supplement. For molecular detection, PCR was used to identify the MBL genes in the isolated strains. Among the 30 PCR-tested samples, 28 were found to harbor the TEM-1 gene, indicating its presence in the B. cereus isolated from the infant formula samples. However, none of the isolates tested positive for the VIM or CTX MBL genes. In conclusion, infant dry milk is identified as a conducive environment for B. cereus growth, and the TEM-1 gene is frequently present in the strains derived from these samples. However, the lack of detection of VIM and CTX genes indicates that these resistance genes are not widespread in the isolated B. cereus from infant powder milk.

Single- and multi-core compound droplets have various applications in the industry, including drug delivery, microfluidics, food processing, biotechnology, etc. The present paper examined the deformation of eccentric and concentric single-core compound droplets suspended in Couette flow using a finite volume/front tracking method. The impact of the eccentricity, inner-to-outer radius ratio, initial location of the compound droplet, and density ratio on droplet deformation was examined. The results demonstrated that while the eccentricity and size of the inner droplet do not affect the compound droplet shape, the deformation augments by reducing the initial position and enhancing the density ratio. For instance, the outer droplet deformation was increased by about 4% when the density ratio changed from 0.85 to 1.05. The results revealed that the Taylor deformation of the outer droplet reaches about 0.76 for four cases in which the inner droplet eccentricity changes. It was demonstrated that the deformation of the inner and outer droplets is initially enhanced when the compound droplet is initially located closer to the top wall.

The rising global population necessitates increased urbanization and food waste management. Eggshells, a significant portion of this waste, present an opportunity for sustainable resource recovery and value-added product development. This research aims to mitigate global food waste by utilizing poultry eggshell waste from chickens, ducks, and ostriches as a cost-effective source of calcium chloride (CaCl2). The eggshells were treated with hydrochloric acid and subjected to different drying methods—spray, freeze, and oven drying. This study evaluates the efficacy of the extracted CaCl2 in the cheese-making industry, specifically for Iranian high-fat white cheese, and compares its performance to a standard Merck sample. The highest yield of CaCl2 (92.46%) was achieved from chicken eggshells using the oven drying method, while the lowest yield (75.46%) occurred with ostrich eggshells via spray drying, with the purity of extracted CaCl2 comparable to the Merck standard. Maximum cheese yield (12.69%) was obtained using unpasteurized milk with Merck CaCl2, whereas the lowest yield (11.02%) was observed with pasteurized milk without it. The purity of CaCl2 significantly influenced lipolysis and proteolysis during cheese-making. While no significant pH differences were noted among cheeses made with eggshell-derived CaCl2, the NCaCl2-NP sample exhibited the highest pH, resembling the Merck sample. Moisture content variations aligned with pH trends, whereas syneresis exhibited an inverse relationship, highlighting the role of poultry eggshell-derived CaCl2 in cheese texture and quality. Despite no significant differences in the L index or whiteness among cheeses produced from different drying methods, those made with chicken eggshells, particularly via oven and freeze drying, exhibited the lowest color quality. The textural properties of high-fat white cheese made with poultry eggshell-derived CaCl2 were generally comparable to the control (Merck-P), suggesting its viability in maintaining cheese texture. This study underscores sustainable waste management and promotes a circular economy through effective utilization of eggshell waste.

This paper presents a case study on the evaluation of pollutant dispersion from urban tunnels using simulation-based approaches. In urban tunnel design, understanding the environmental impact of tunnel emissions is crucial. Specifically, this study focuses on the dispersion of pollutants, particularly carbon monoxide, at the middle air exchange station and its exhaust shaft. The study provides valuable insights into the environmental impact of tunnel emissions and contributes to ensuring that standard tunnel design and ventilation systems meet the required standards for minimizing pollution and maintaining a safe and sustainable urban environment. Comprehensive analysis and simulation models, including the Graz Lagrangian Model and the Graz Mesoscale Model, were utilized for the study. The research demonstrates that carbon monoxide concentrations decrease to negligible levels (below one ppm) within a 100 m distance from the ventilation shafts. The annual average concentration of carbon monoxide within a range of up to 30 m remained below ten ppm, and since there are no specific facilities in the vicinity of the shaft, there is no cause for concern. Additionally, in terms of daily maximum concentrations, under specific atmospheric stability conditions and particular weather patterns, the maximum carbon monoxide concentration extends up to a distance of 60 m, remaining below 20 ppm, and then dissipates beyond that distance. It is important to note that these results were observed at elevations of 20 to 30 m above ground level. Below those levels, carbon monoxide concentrations in all considered scenarios are extremely low and can be disregarded. The study highlights that the implemented ventilation systems effectively mitigate pollutant dispersion in the urban tunnel. The results demonstrate that carbon monoxide emissions are well below the acceptable limits, ensuring the safety of nearby residential and office buildings, hospitals, green areas, and parks. The research findings provide valuable insights for informed decision-making in tunnel design, emphasizing the importance of appropriate ventilation systems and construction methods to minimize the environmental impact of tunnel emissions.

The hydrodynamics of a new centrifugal tray named “Push valve centrifugal tray” has been studied. This tray uses a radial arrangement of the directional vapor valves (push valves) to create a centrifugal force and a pipe downcomer with a unique structure to distribute the liquid flow over the tray. A 3D computational fluid dynamics model was developed using an unsteady state Eulerian-Eulerian framework. The study examined dry and total pressure drop, velocity streamlines, water volume fraction, and radial velocity. Results showed that the “Push valve centrifugal tray” can control the high momentum of the gas flow at high capacities and use it for better two-phase contact and, ultimately, two-phase separation. The proposed new pipe downcomer also has unique characteristics, such as uniform liquid distribution and eliminating liquid stagnant points on the tray. The tray can be an effective and inexpensive way to debottleneck and retrofit the tray columns.

Humid air is one of the rich sources of water, especially in desert areas. One of the ways to extract water from humid air is to cool it down to a dew point in order to condense and collect water. This research applied a thermoelectric cooler for harvesting water from humid air. Cooling water was used to reject heat from the hot side of the thermoelectric. The effect of some parameters, such as the temperature, velocity, and humidity of the inlet air as well as the cooling water temperature, was investigated experimentally. The results showed that increasing the inlet air humidity and temperature increases the water collected. At a relative humidity of 20% and an air temperature of 35 oC, the maximum amount of water at an inlet air velocity of 1 m/s was equal to about 43 mL. Of course, the amount of water obtained increases with increased air humidity. For example, in 100% relative humidity, about 200 mL/h of water can be collected. In general, the research results showed that thermoelectric coolers could be used to extract water from humid air, even in low humidity, with relatively good efficiency.

A Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit (FCCU) is always considered to be a benchmark problem in the petroleum refinery industry. The process is interactive, with each process depending on the other. In this study, the control of the reactor and regenerator temperature in the FCCU involves the utilization of Adaptive Traditional Fuzzy (ATF) logic controllers and Adaptive Mixed Fuzzy (AMF) logic controllers. The purpose of designing the AMF controller is to offer solutions for minimizing the coupling effect resulting from the interaction of the FCCU. The development of this controller involves a combination of ATF and Coupling Fuzzy (CF) controller elements across different degrees of freedom. To optimize the scale factors for the ATF and CF control schemes, a Real-coded Genetic Algorithm (RGA) is employed. The results show that the RGA-tuned AMF controller tracks the setpoint better than the ATF controller, with less interaction effect.

In this study, the NonRandom Two-Liquid (NRTL) model was used to calculate the isoactivity equations from the experimental Liquid-Liquid Equilibrium (LLE) data. Additionally, the original Differential Evolution method (DE_rand1) and its modifications involve the self-adaptive control parameters differential evolution (JDE), the adaptive differential evolution with optional external archive (JADE), and the Composite Differential Evolution (CODE) have been used to estimate the binary interaction parameters. Randomization of regression parameters has been used to minimize the fitting objective function. Furthermore, the effectiveness of these optimization methods was tested in a quaternary system of water, acetic acid, 50 % dichloromethane (DCM), and 50 % methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) at 301.15 K. Moreover, the optimization process assessment was carried out by regression analysis using Root Mean Square Deviation (RMSD), mean, standard deviation, and the duration of execution time spent on both the activity and the fractional objective functions. Root Mean Square Deviation (RMSD) results that were less than or equal to 0.0107 demonstrated the effectiveness of Differential Evolution methods in estimating NRTL parameters for this specific system. Finally, the original method (DE_rand1) was found to be the most efficient approach among all its variations.

Electro-coalescence has been an environmentally friendly technology for decades. However, electric field strength should not exceed a critical value (Ecrit) to inhibit droplets from disintegrating during coalescence. Response surface methodology (RSM) with a D-optimal design was utilized to develop a model to achieve the maximum Ecrit of a single drop. The p-values showed that all studied variables were statistically significant, including Waveform, frequency, drop diameter, and interfacial tension. The results showed that by increasing the drop diameter,  decreases at all frequencies in the presence and absence of surfactant. Frequency change revealed Ecrit increases with a moderate slope for all waveforms. Because the change in field periodicity at higher frequencies becomes more frequent, this observation was attributed to a lower degree of drop deformation due to shorter on-time intervals of pulsatile electric field and non-compliance of drop vibration with field frequency. Moreover, the critical electric field declined by decreasing the interfacial tension for all waveforms and the entire frequency range examined. Adding SDS surfactant diminishes the force of surface tension against electric force and the critical field is reduced accordingly. Following  the revelation of the interaction between diameter and frequency, elevated frequencies significantly impact larger droplets, and the sensitivity of Ecrit to the diameter decreases with frequency. This suggests higher frequencies as a valuable and fast controllable variable to compensate for the effect of droplet size distribution. Optimization suggested a minimum drop diameter and a maximum frequency that can be used as two essential limits for the robust electro-coalescer design. The maximum critical electric field was obtained for Pulse 90 at a frequency of 1000 Hz for a drop diameter of 2.12 mm in the absence of the surfactant. These findings can be used to attain the appropriate ranges of variables to design a robust electro-coalescer.

In this study, we investigated the effects of various additives on the properties of fluorine hydrite binders, created by neutralizing acidic waste from hydrofluoric acid production. Our objectives included determining how the technological properties of anhydrite binders change with different additive amounts, identifying the optimal binder composition, developing mathematical models of the involved processes, and conducting statistical analysis through experimental design and mathematical planning. Particle-size analysis was performed using dynamic light scattering with a Fritsch Analysette-22, and the samples' phase composition was examined using an X'PertPro X-ray diffractometer (Philips Corporation, Netherlands). Calculations were performed using STATISTICA software. The studies showed that the setting speed and strength of products based on anhydrite binder are primarily influenced by the water temperature and amount used for mixing, assuming optimal binder dispersity. The strength of samples made from neutralized waste ranged from 0.5 to 1.2 MPa, while the strength of samples based on activated anhydrite binder ranged from 5.3 to 10.7 MPa, meeting the requirements for board production.