Applied Mechanics and Materials Vol. 804

Abstract: Silk fabric has been dyed with natural indigo (Indigofera tentoria) in absence and present ferrous sulfate mordant by using post-mordanting and pad dyeing processes. It was observed that with an increase in the dye concentration, the ultraviolet (UV) protection factor (UPF) values ranged between good and very good for the silk fabric. Silk fabrics dyed with natural indigo showed green shade. The level of fastness properties were ranged from good to very good. The results confirmed that natural dyes from natural indigo with ferrous sulfate have potential applications in fabric dyeing and in producing UV-protective silk fabrics.

Abstract: Pathumthani is a metropolitan area where has a lot of industries and agricultures. The aim of this work was to study the assessment of heavy metal content in PM₁₀ (particulate matter ≤ 10 mm) at Amphoe Muang Pathumthani Province. The samples of PM₁₀ (particulate matter ≤ 10 mm) were collected in 7 stations during February to March 2013. The particles were trapped on glass fiber filters using high volume samplers. The concentration of heavy metals was evaluated by using the Inductively Coupled Plasma - Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). The results showed that the concentration of heavy metals in PM₁₀ was BDL-0.41 µg/m³. Zinc, a heavy metal, was found in every sampling station. The order-average concentration of heavy metals in atmospheric air, at Amphoe Muang Pathumthani, was Zn > Cu > Mn > Ba > Ni > Cd.

Abstract: Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium, a common tissue culture media for orchids which is mostly supplemented with various natural organic substances with high nutritional values can accelerate the growth of plant tissues. Nevertheless, the knowledge of actual compositions of these natural added substances is limited, causing various culture results. In this study, we have investigated the effects of added natural organic nutrient ratios on 2 orchid tissue cultures, Dendrobium, Dendrobium farmeri Paxt. and Dendrobium griffithianum Lindl. Additionally, simple, affordable medium recipes, MS media supplemented with banana were thus economically sterilized by either a simple type steaming vapor boiler or an autoclave for reliability improvement. The results showed that the orchids grew better in medium supplemented with Namwa banana especially at 150 g/L for Dendrobium farmeri Paxt. and 75 g/L for Dendrobium griffithianum Lindl. The suitable steaming procedure at 100°C for 60 minutes was adequate for eliminating most pathogens from the media and helped both orchid seedlings cultivated very well. Moreover, the optimized homemade tissue culture protocol provides fast effectiveness, simplicity, consistently high nutritional values, and practically being suitable technique for ready transferring to the community.

Abstract: Water quality in canals and other water courses is changing with space and time. Nutrients, organics and inorganic compounds are contained in water and cause pollution. Rapid expansion of communities development nearly Khlong Prem Prachakorn over past decades have caused considerable impact on water quality in this canal. The objective of this research was investigated Khlong Prem Prachakorn water quality. The geographical information system (GIS) was applied for ecological conservation studies in this area. Water samples were taken along the length of the canal between Bang Khaen train station intersection and Wat Samiannari intersection with a total distance of 1.3 kilometers. The physicochemical parameters were measured. The results shown that the values of each parameters being monitored are within the range of the surface water quality standards in Thailand. This research contributes to an existing knowledge and understanding of Khlong Prem Prachakorn’s water quality problems and can be used to promote water quality improvement campaign.

Abstract: Thailand is an agricultural country. Most farmers still depend on rainfall for cultivation. Global warming may result in changes in the amount and distribution of rainfall both in space and time. This could impact the occurrence of heavy rain and drought in the country. Thus, it is necessary to analyze heavy rain and drought conditions in Thailand under global warming for the purpose of preparedness and impact mitigation. The data used in this study consist of present climate and future climate. The data for present climate are from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) and the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD). The data for future climate are from the Educational Global Climate Model (EdGCM). The results are risk maps of heavy rain and drought in Thailand during the years 2046-2065 and 2081-2099 under a global warming scenario.

Abstract: Copper ions are commonly contaminated in the effluents from many electronic factory. In copper filtration, most filter types are usually expensive and causes toxic residues and creates another health and environmental problem. Therefore, this research has been developed a copper filtration approach based on homemade non-hazardous residues of banana peels, unmeshed sand, and charcoal. The results showed that baked, minced banana peels media could absorb synthetic water having copper ion at 50 ppm with filtration efficiency of 70% within 2 hr. Baked minced banana peels in combination with sand and charcoal could adsorb Copper (II) at 50 mg/ mL more than 80%. However, the swollen structure of banana peels during copper (II) filtration caused limit filtration efficiency to 4-5 hour extraction period. The tentative wastewater treatment application is, therefore, the use of bio-adsorbent for effective adsorption of toxic heavy metals from effluents open discarded from agricultural wastes in the environment.

Abstract: The predictability by an atmospheric prediction model is determined by the uncertainties in the initial condition and the imperfection of the model. It is difficult to provide accurate weather prediction and determines the predictability of a model. Atmospheric prediction model efficiency is obtained from the analysis of predictability measurement. Five existing predictability measurements; Lyapunov exponent, finite size Lyapunov exponent, finite time Lyapunov exponent, local Lyapunov exponent and largest Lyapunov exponent are used to measure predictability of the northeast monsoon (winter monsoon) by the Educational Global Climate Model (EdGCM) and to test sensitivity of the model to small initial perturbations. The EdGCM is run for 142-year predictions from the year 1958 to 2100. However, only the outputs of geopotential height at 500hPa of December from 2012 to 2100 are used for predictability measurement. The results show that the EdGCM predictability for the northeast monsoon forecast is about 120 years.

Abstract: Many studies have been reported in the field of biological materials. For the most part, this interest has focused on teeth, bones, hooves and horns, elucidating the relationship between structure and mechanical properties. Due to their novel outstanding structures and mechanical properties, this knowledge is helpful for the use and design of the superior bio-inspired synthetic materials. Similarly, this research aims to investigate the microstructure and mechanical properties of the water buffalo horn in 1-5 years old in Phatthalung province in southern Thailand. The tensile properties and the Young’s modulus were systematically measured by a universal testing machine. The hardness was determined by micro vickers hardness testing machines. The results showed that the average of Young’s modulus, the tensile strength at break and the vickers hardness of a 2-year-old water buffalo horn were about 6.1 GPa, 92.6 MPa and 180 MPa, respectively, which were higher than that at 1, 3, 4 and 5 years old. The elongation at break of a 1 year old water buffalo horn has a maximum value of 61%. The microstructure and chemical composition were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX), respectively. The results of SEM showed that the fracture surface of the water buffalo horn has a rippled shape in each layer. The EDX analysis showed that the water buffalo horn consists of carbon, nitrogen, sulfur and oxygen.

Abstract: The objective of this research was to study the relationship between the spectrum intensity and moisture content of milled rice by using Reflection Spectroscopy at the wavelength between 340-800 nm. The results showed that different rice species with different ages have different spectrum patterns. The knowledge on the optical properties can be applied to determine the moisture content and the mixing ratio of each type of rice in a rice mixture.

Abstract: Lignocellulosic biomass can nowadays be bioconverted to value-added biofuels by numerous cellulases purified from diverse microbes. In nature, complex microbial communities produce multifunctional cellulase systems with broader substrate utilization and act sequentially in the synergistic action by subsequently converting cellulose into an utilizable energy source and glucose. This research was to apply cellulase producing isolates based on their possible synergistic action to degrade complex cellulose containing biomass. In the study, the microorganism species, isolated species from durian peels after macerated for 3 days and shown for their high biodegradation activity, Bacillus spp. (B12, B13, and B16) and Pseudomonas spp., (B23 and B55), could express high cellulase activity on carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and filter paper (FP). Bacillus spp. B13 and B16 showed high cellulase activity on soluble cellulose of CMC while B12 and B55 displayed high cellulase activity on crystalline insoluble cellulose of FP. To observe the synergistic effect of the cellulase-producing consortia, co-cultures of B12,B23 and F23 were grew well on both CMC and FP. Therefore, these findings of synergistic effects of microbial consortia could bring us a future work to develop high efficient cellulase producing systems for further industry application.