NISCAIR Online Periodicals Repository Collection: JSIR Vol.65(05) [May 2006]

Optimal design of an Indian carpet weaving loom structure

Fri, 28 Apr 2006 22:58:59 GMT

Title: Optimal design of an Indian carpet weaving loom structure

Authors: Chaudhary, Himanshu; Saha, Subir Kumar

Abstract: Present looms to weave the carpets in India are made of wood, which are susceptible to termite attacks and low service life. Besides, the high tension in the warps is generated manually through the pull of a rope by 2-3 persons. In order to avoid the above difficulties, an improved metallic loom was developed at IIT Delhi in 2001, which made weaving easy but the cost of loom is high. In this paper, optimisation of the metallic loom is carried out resulting in relatively lightweight and reduced cost. The design is verified using the Finite Element Analysis software, ANSIS.

Page(s): 410-415

Removal of direct dye from aqueous solutions with an adsorbent made from tamarind fruit shell, an agricultural solid waste

Fri, 28 Apr 2006 22:58:59 GMT

Title: Removal of direct dye from aqueous solutions with an adsorbent made from tamarind fruit shell, an agricultural solid waste

Authors: Reddy, M C Somasekhara

Abstract: Removal of a direct dye, Congo Red, has been carried out using tamarind fruit shell (TFS) as an adsorbent. Parameters like agitation time, adsorbent dosage and pH effect have been studied. Adsorption followed the first-order rate expression. The equilibrium data fit well with both Langmuir and Freundlich models of adsorption. Desorption experiments confirmed that major mode of adsorption is ion-exchange for the dye.

Page(s): 443-446

Biodesulfurization of hydrodesulfurized diesel in a trickle bed reactor—Experiments and modeling

Fri, 28 Apr 2006 22:58:59 GMT

Title: Biodesulfurization of hydrodesulfurized diesel in a trickle bed reactor—Experiments and modeling

Authors: Mukhopadhyaya, M; Chowdhury, R; Bhattacharya, P

Abstract: Hydrodesulfurized diesel [sulfur content, 200-540 ppm (mg/dm³)] has been used for bio-desulfurization using Rhodococcus sp. Biomass concentration with the progress of time has been determined using dry cell weight method. Batch studies have been conducted with a two phase medium [non-aqueous to aqueous phase ratio, 10:90 to 100:0 (i.e. 0-100% diesel)]. Sulfur concentration has been determined using a Universal Oil Products (UOP) standard method (UOP 357-80). Microbial strains have been observed to follow classical Monod type growth kinetics under the present range of substrate concentration. A systematic and programmed analysis was made to determine following intrinsic kinetic parameters: maximum growth rate (µ_max), 0.096 h^-1; and half saturation constant (Ks), 71 mg/dm³. Biodesulfurization of hydrodesulfurized diesel has been conducted in a trickle bed reactor (diam, 0.066 m; height, 0.6 m) under continuous mode. Pith balls have been used as the immobilization matrix for the microorganisms with a constant bed porosity of 0.6. Flow rate of inlet diesel has been varied (0.25-0.5 dm³/h). Sulfur conversion up to 99% has been achieved. A mechanistic mathematical model, developed for the trickle bed bioreactor, can explain the reality satisfactorily.

Page(s): 432-436

Non-catalytic biodiesel fuel production with supercritical methanol technologies

Fri, 28 Apr 2006 22:58:59 GMT

Title: Non-catalytic biodiesel fuel production with supercritical methanol technologies

Authors: Saka, Shiro; Kusdiana, Dadan; Minami, Eiji

Abstract: Study presents that supercritical methanol has the ability to convert oils/fats consisting of triglycerides and free fatty acids (FFAs) into fatty acid methyl esters through transesterification and methyl esterification, respectively, without any catalyst. This one-step method (Saka process) is simpler process realizing shorter reaction time and higher yield of methyl esters than those of the conventional alkali-catalyzed method. To improve the biodiesel quality that satisfies the standard specification, another reaction route was also developed by the two-step method (Saka-Dadan process), which consists of hydrolysis step for oils/fats in subcritical water and subsequent methyl esterification of the hydrolyzed products of fatty acids from oils/fats in supercritical methanol. These new methods are highly tolerant against the presence of FFAs and water in oils/fats. Therefore, compared to the alkali-catalyzed method, proposed methods can be applied for various types of oils/fats and their wastes as raw materials to produce biodiesel fuel.

Page(s): 420-425