Advanced Materials Research Vol. 699

Abstract: The water associated with coal is an important element in both the formation and utilization of coal deposit. The first stage of coal formation is the accumulation of vagetable matter in swamps. This is followed by consolidation and partial decay of the organic matter to form peat, which can have moisture contents of 80-90% in situ. Low-rank coals such as brown coals and lignite, which are formed in the next stage of coalification, can have moisture contents in range 30-70%. Hard or bituminous coals, which are formed in the final stages of coalification, have relatively low moisture contents of 10% or less. Thus the elimination of water is an integral part of the coalification process and it follows that the moisture content of coal is one of its most characteristic and important properties. Moisture is one of the most basic and important parameter defining coal structure but the data reported on its effect on combustion efficiency and emissions is rather limited. In this study we report effect of coal moisture on CO, NOx, SO2 and particulate emissions in a automatic-loaded boiler combustion. In this study, effects of moisture on particulate emissions of %37-38 moisture orijinal Yeniköy Ağaçlı (Y.A.), %24, %21, %17, %15 ve %10 moisture Yeniköy Ağaçlı, %6 moisture South African coal, %22 misture mixture coal (S.African ve Y.Ağaçlı) ve %13 moisture Soma are investigated in automatic-loaded boiler.

Abstract: Large amounts of boron containing wastes are come into being during its extraction processes. The wastes consist of high amount of boron do not only cause economic loss but also serious environmental problems. Boron wastes contain boron oxide and clay can be used in the production of building materials, glass and ceramic. Utilization of boron pond waste from Eti Kırka Boron Works, Turkey in red brick manufacture was investigated. Adding different ratio of boron waste into the brick clay mixture, samples were formed. The pressed samples were fired at temperatures of 800°C and 900°C. The effects of boron waste addition on physical, mechanical and firing properties of red brick were examined by DTA-TG survey, three-point bending test, water absorption, porosity and bulk density tests. Microstructures of selected fired samples were also examined using SEM. Results shown that physical and mechanical properties of all samples were improved with boron waste addition. The best result was obtained when 20% of boron waste was used in the production.

Abstract: Storage behavior and controlled release of steam are the most important properties of the essential o/w emulsions for application in steam baths. The interfacial behavior, emulsion properties and steam delivery of three commercial essential oils were investigated to improve their application. A special designed lab-scale steam chamber was successfully used for the release tests. It was found that the essential oils showed characteristic interfacial and emulsion behaviors which depend on the content of surface active compounds. The relative steam delivery profile of various oil types were negligibly different. The most useful application form seems to be oil-loaded micelle dispersions (solubilisates).

Abstract: A pilot-scale upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor was used to study the sweet potato starch wastewater treatment performance and its influencing factors. Under normal temperature conditions, the operating parameters of sweet potato starch wastewater from UASB treatment was optimized, and the better conditions from different influent CODcr concentrations was obtained. The impacts from trace elements MgCl₂, FeCl₂, CoCl₂, NiCl₂ on physiological and biochemical characteristics of anaerobic granular sludge was developed.

Abstract: We investigated an electrical conductivity of aniline polymerized inside nanopores of chromium terephthalate dielectric matrix MIL-101. We found that temperature dependences of conductivity (T) are described by the fluctuation-induced tunneling model, which means that the main contribution to a net conductivity is caused by contacts between particles of the polyaniline. We also found that the nanoporous matrix affects the composite conductivity via the size reduction of the conducting polyaniline phase encapsulated in the pores. Dependence of conductivity from a current was thoroughly investigated. This dependence is resulted from a reduction of energy gap for current carriers which is, in turn, induced by an increasing electric field applied.

Abstract: A greenhouse experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus mosseae on growth, metal accumulation and translocation of Festuca arundinacea for the phytostabilization of lead/zinc tailings in this study. The results showed that mycorrhizal inoculation substantially enhanced the growth of F. arundinacea and significantly decreased Pb and Cd concentrations in shoots. The bioconcentration factor and translocation factor values of Pb, Zn, Cu and Cd of F. arundinacea were much lower than 1, and inoculation further inhibited Pb, Cu and Cd translocation from roots into shoots, while enhanced Zn translocation. These results suggested that F. arundinacea inoculated with mycorrhizal might be a potential measure for revegetation of Pb/Zn tailings, especial for Pb, Cu and Cd stabilization, in northern China.

Abstract: Thispaper reports a novel method to concentrate bacteria in three-dimension by negative dielectrophoretic (n-DEP) force in a microchannel. This was achieved by placing a thin dielectric layer on one of a pair of parallel plate electrodes. The dielectric layer having a home-plate like pentagonal shape, forms a gradient of electric field causing n-DEP. A three-dimensional numerical simulation of bacteria trajectory predicts that bacteria flowing a microchannel were three-dimensionally concentrated beneath the tip of the pentagonal dielectric thin layer. The trajectory and concentration of bacteria under n-DEP force were also experimentally confirmed using Escherichia coli cells. Bacteria moved along edges of the dielectric layer and were pushed to the opposite electrode, resulting in their concentration in three-dimension. The proposed device might be applicable to selective concentration of bacteria depending on their dielectric properties.

Abstract: The effects of 8 MeV electron irradiation (with variable fluence) on the electrical and optical properties of Lithium doped Zinc oxide thin films prepared by sol-gel synthesis are reported. There is a decrease in crystallinity and crystallite size with increase in fluence, as confirmed by XRD and SEM. We observe a decrease in transmittance, band gap and refractive index, while there is an increase in the extension coefficient with the fluence. I-V measurements have shown a decrease in leakage current and interestingly, the metal-semiconductor-metal (M-S-M) device shows only the ohmic behavior after irradiation.

Abstract: The presence of boron compounds in waters increases in a continuous and parellel way to industrial development. Therefore, their harmful effects an living organisms also increases, especially on plants, since this element manifests an important micronutrient-toxic boron duality. Boron is widely distributed in the environment, mainly in the form of boric asid or borate salts. Generally speaking, this element is an important micronutrient for living organisms, but the range between deficiency and excess is narrow. For this reason, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendsin ist Guidelines for Drinking-Water Quality, a maximum boron concentration of 0.3 mgL-1. The same norms are recommended when seawater is used as a source of water. The aim of this study to investigate the influence of different operation variables within the precipitation process of boron with magnesium hydroxide when boron stock solution is being treated. Operation variables are precipitant amount, stirring speed, contact duration, pH, temperature.

Abstract: The biomimetic method of achieving dense platelike grain growth of the high temperature superconducting ceramic YBa2Cu3O7 (YBCO) has been studied. By using various organic matrices (dextran and chitosan) having different molecular structures, the final size and arrangement of the platelike YBCO grains exhibit significant differences, possible reasons for which are discussed. The different organic matrices used also indirectly affect the superconducting properties of the YBCO formed. By elucidating the role of the organic matrix in the biomimetic synthesis process in this way, the whole process could be controlled more precisely, leading to structural and electrical properties of the final product more desireable for specific applications.