Advanced Materials Research Vols. 931-932

Abstract: Moisture content (MC) of rough rice directly affects rice quality and its market value. This study applied spectroscopy both in visible 400-700 nm and NIR 700-1050 nm bands to record spectrum of rough rice single kernel (SK). Tainan No.11 medium rice randomly collected from field. After machine harvested, it was used in the tests and they were conditioned by oven to five MC levels ranging from 10.2 to 35.9%. Two regression methods, multiple linear regressions (MLR) and partial least square regression (PLSR), were applied to develop calibration models. Among 7 tested models were found that PLSR model of first differential with 21 gap points, which are r_c=0.98, SEC=1.1% for calibration and r_p=0.96, SEP=1.9% for prediction. The results suggested average accuracy for the best model was about 98.4% in 400-1050 nm wavelength.

Abstract: The objective of this study was for development of cassava transporting equipment installed on a truck. The study process was divided into 2 steps: 1) The study of cassava harvesting and transporting to the truck pattern by farmers practice today and 2) preliminary study of transporting cassava by using additional conveying device in order to reduce time and labor for the overall harvest system. Results in step 1 indicated that the pattern of cassava harvesting consisted of four main steps : tillage, heap compiling, stem cutting and cassava transporting to the truck. The most time consuming step was the transporting of cassava to the truck. The cassavas transporting to the plant normally had to be completed within one day. The consequently, cassava transporting was considered to be the bottle-neck problem of cassava harvest system. Result from the study in step 2, which was preliminary study of using a conveying device attached to the truck to reduce time and labor indicated that a working capacity of 1.44 rai/hour was obtained, being 3.13 time higher than the usual manual labor method.

Abstract: Sugar cane is an important economic crop of Thailand, used as a raw material to produce sugar and renewable energy. Due to a labor shortage problem, and an increase in the number of sugarcane combine harvesters, sugarcane billet planters from overseas have become more popular, because they can use seed cane prepared by combine harvesters. In order to maintain a high consistency of billet plating, the harvester discharge mechanism needs to accommodate the physical properties of sugarcane billet of Thai's variety, which vary by breed and harvesting method according to area. Thus, this study aims to find the appropriate arrangement of the metering devices within sugarcane billet planters which are suitable for Thai conditions. The stationary experiments were completed using a testing unit driven by an electric motor. At the initial stage the container of the testing unit was filled with 530 kg of Khon Kaen-3 sugarcane billets. The cleated conveyor belt was placed at the container wall, to act as a metering device for the testing unit. There were 3 arrangements of cleats: (1) a full width cleat, with 150mm cleat space, (2) a full width cleat, with 300mm cleat space, and (3) a half width cleat, with 300mm cleat space each side and 150mm displaced, and all were set and tested at a constant linear conveying speed of 0.2 m/s. The effects of each arrangement for discharge rates and consistency were analyzed. The results showed that the 3rd arrangement gave the best discharge consistency, with a precision index of 51.04%.

Abstract: The objective of this research was to study on charcoal block production from eucalyptus bark using screw press unit. The physical and thermal properties of charcoal and factors affecting the testing units performance, which were mixing ratios by weight of eucalyptus bark charcoal: cassava starch: water content (1: 0.10: 0.75, 1: 0.15: 0.75 and 1: 0.20: 0.75) and screw pressing speeds (90, 105, 120 and 135 rpm) were studied. The optimum of screw press unit was screw pressing speed of 120-135 rpm and a mixing ratio by weight of eucalyptus bark charcoal: cassava starch: water content of 1: 0.15: 0.75. The test result at the feed rate of 140 kg/hr indicated that the machine had a capacity of 119.71-121.95 kg/hr, specific energy consumption of 12.33-12.73 W-hr/kg, charcoal block bulk density of 467.55 to 468.88 kg/m³, charcoal strength of 152.58 to 153.60 kPa and heating value of 21.95 MJ/kg for charcoal block moisture content of 7.46 % (w.b.)

Abstract: The physical and mechanical properties of sugarcane leaves were necessary for the design consideration of the relating storage, handling and processing equipment. The sugarcane trash at moisture contents of 23.40 and 73.91 % w.b. were used for this study. The mean length and unit weight of sugarcane trashes were 168.63 cm and 65.87 grams respectively. The average number of leaf of each sample was 4. The mean diameter of the thrash top, width and thickness increased with the increase of moisture from 23.40 and 73.91 % w.b.. The average leaf angles (β) relative to the horizontal plane of the first left leaf, second left leaf, first right leaf and second right leaf were 65.10, 73.36, 71.07 and 78.26 degrees for 73.91 % w.b., and 66.33, 73.50, 67.50 and 75.83 degrees for 23.40 % w.b. respectively. When the moisture content increased from 23.40 to 73.91% w.b., the static coefficient of friction increased from 0.30 to 0.43, 0.38 to 0.41, 0.30 to 0.37 and 0.54 to 0.66 for plywood, mild steel, galvanized iron and rubber plate respectively. The least static coefficient of friction occurred on the galvanized iron plate. The results from experimenting on mechanical properties showed that the maximum shearing force increased with the increase in moisture content from 23.40 to 73.91% w.b. respectively. The maximum shearing force was 360.15 and 457.32 N for moisture contents of 23.40 and 73.91% w.b.. The maximum tensile force decreased toward upper region of the leaf for both 23.40 and 73.91% w.b.. The results of this study would be useful for the design and optimization of the equipment associated with harvesting, threshing, chopping and processing.

Abstract: Fish sauce is one of the signature condiments in various cuisines in many countries. In this paper, fish sauces are successfully classified into groups depending on their quality indicated by the level of total nitrogen content. We introduce an electronic nose technology together with a neural network algorithm to the classification of fish sauces. The transient responses are used as features for the creation of pattern vectors for odor samples. The result of principal component analysis shows well-separated patterns of fish sauce. Furthermore, we also apply the learning vector quantization method for the classification. As a result, we obtain high accuracy of more than 90% in the classification of fish sauce based on the level of total nitrogen content.

Abstract: Various fermented soybean, as functional food products, are widely available in worldwide. Total phenolic and flavonoids contents containing in soybean are the potentially health benefit components. In addition, soybean fermentation could enhance the amount of these components. Therefore this study is focused on comparison of total phenolic and flavonoid contents between fermented soybean processed by the application of Bacillus subtilis SB-MYP-1.Soybean and soybean crude extracts that prepared by water and ethanol solvent. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents of fermented soybean crude extracts (FSB) were found significantly higher (p< 0.05) than soybean crude extract (SB). Ethanol FSB showed the highest total phenolic and flavonoid contents at 35.02±0.60 mg gallic acid equivalent/g extract and 14.02±0.66 mg catechin equivalent/g extract while as ethanol SB showed total phenolic and flavonoid contents at 16.94 ± 0.77 mg gallic acid equivalent/g extract and 8.77±0.21 mg catechin equivalent/g extract, respectively. In the same way, water FSB showed the highest total phenolic and flavonoid contents at 29.02 ± 1.37 mg gallic acid equivalent/g extract and 7.02 ± 0.61 mg catechin equivalent/g extract while as water SB showed total phenolic and flavonoid contents at 14.43 ± 0.77 mg gallic acid equivalent/g extract and 5.37 ± 0.24 mg catechin equivalent/g extract, respectively. In conclusion, the fermentation process could enhance total phenolic and flavonoid contents in soybean including ethanol extraction gave higher total phenolic and flavonoid contents in crude extracts. Furthermore, functional properties of both water and ethanol crude soybean extracts should be studied in vitro for beneficial in application in food products and dietary supplement in the near future.

Abstract: Impact type grain flow sensor for crop yield monitoring is known to have problem of some thrown grain by the elevator conveyor in a combine not hitting the sensing impact plate. New technology of microwave solid flow sensor was used to solve the problem of impact-type sensor. A calibration stand with its instrumentation systems to stimulate the actual operation of the clean grain auger in a rice combine had been designed and constructed in this study for the purpose of conducting the calibration and evaluation study of the sensor. Two different solid flow sensor orientations and three different solid flow sensor extrusions were investigated in order to find the best positioning of the sensor on the chute for the measurement. Results from the conducted tests indicates that the best sensor positioning is on totally flat ground at 180^o orientation and 8 cm extrusion of the chute cross section (R²=0.9400). Then, the solid flow sensor was tested at seven chute pitch angle positions (i.e-4.5^o, -3.0^o, -1.5^o, 0^o, +1.5^o, + 3.0^o, and +4.5 ^o), seven chute roll angle positions (i.e-4.5^o,-3.0^o, -1.5 ^o, 0^o, +1.5^o, +3.0 ^o, and +4.5^o). Finally, accuracy tests undertaken to compare the real time measurements against the average flow measurements. ANOVA test shows that both pitch angle and roll angle positions have significant effects on the measurement accuracy of the sensor. The measurement errors increased with increasing roll angles and increasing pitch angle. Conclusively, this conducted laboratory study was able to quantify the measurement accuracy of the SWR Solid Flow sensor for real-time measurement of grain flow under a simulated laboratory rice combine test set-up.

Abstract: Delignified sugarcane bagasse (SCB) by solvent extraction was carried out at moderate condition (90°C, 4 h) in the presence of acid catalyst. To investigate the dissolution of lignin into solvent, different solvents were utilized during lignin extraction process. Delignified SCB was further hydrolyzed by cell wall degrading enzyme complexes prior to sugar determination. The results showed that n-butanol was the most promising solvent enhancing lignin dissolution which in turn led to highest yield of glucose (63.1% based on treated SCB) and no xylose was detected in hydrolysate. The lignin extraction by n-butanol in the presence of H₂SO₄ and subsequent saccharification process were then scaled up for lactic acid production. The maximum lactic acid was obtained at 25.7 ± 0.2 g/l from L. casei fermentation after 96 hours when sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate containing 25.6±1.4 g/l initial glucose concentration was used as substrate.

Abstract: Utilization of sugarcane bagasses for butanol, ethanol and acetone production was studied by acid hydrolysis and bacterial fermentation. Glucose, xylose and arabinose contents of sugarcane bagasse hydrolyzed in 5% (v/v) sulfuric acid solution were investigated in respective range of 5 to 60 min. Results showed glucose and xylose released during hydrolysis at 121 C and long treatment time of 60 minutes had high concentrations of 18.7 and 19.8 g/l, respectively. The sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate was then used for butanol, ethanol and acetone production by anaerobic fermentation using C.butyricum, C. sporogenes, C.beijerinckii and C.acetobutylicum. The maximum production based on solvent yield was 4.7 g/l butanol, 6.3 g/l ethanol and 9.7 g/l acetone obtained from fermentation of sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate using C. beijerinckii for 48 hours in the presence of 0.5% (w/v) sugarcane bagasse.