Determination Of Water Content Research Articles

Taking essential oil by water distillation and antibacterial activity test of refined water from agarwood plant parts (Aquilaria malaccensis Lamk)

Agarwood distilled water is a by-product produced during water distillation from wood containing resin in Aquilaria sp. Distilled water contains a small fraction of aromatic compounds obtained from plants during the distillation process which collects in distilled water. This research is expected to provide information about the potential of agarwood plant parts. The methods were raw material preparation, determination of water content, making distilled water, phytochemical screening and antibacterial activity test. The results were water content (average value 1.98-5.29 %) has met the BPOM RI standards, we met glycosides in leaf, trunk, skinned stems, bark. Parts of agarwood has antibacterial activity against Streptococcus mutants bacteria.

Uji Toksisitas Akut Ekstrak Air Dan Ekstrak Etanol Daun Kacapiring (Gardenia jasminoides Ellis) Terhadap Larva Artemia Salina Leach Dengan Metode Brine Shrimp Lethality Test (BSLT)

A toxicity test is a test to detect the toxic effect of a substance on a biological system and to obtain typical dose-response data from the test preparation. This study aims to determine the content of secondary metabolites from the aqueous extract and ethanolic extract of gardenia leaves, characterization of gardenia leaf extract, and acute toxicity using the BSLT method against Artemia salina Leach shrimp larvae.Phytochemical screening tests were carried out by the color change method which included the alkaloid test, flavonoid test, tannin test, saponin test, and terpenoid test. Extract characterization tests include determination of water-soluble extract, determination of ethanol-soluble extract, determination of water content, and determination of ash content. Acute toxicity test using the Brine Shrimp Lethality Test (BSLT) method using Artemia salina Leach shrimp larvae.The results of the phytochemical screening test for the aqueous extract of gardenia leaves showed positive results on saponins, while the phytochemical screening tests on ethanol extracts showed positive results on alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, and terpenoids. The results of the characterization test on the aqueous extract of gardenia leaves were that the ethanol-soluble extract content was 20.19%, the water-soluble extract content was 23.17%, the water content was 99.13% and the ash content was 0.29%. Meanwhile, in the ethanolic extract of gardenia leaves, the ethanol-soluble extract content was 60.80%, the water-soluble extract content was 57.14%, the water content was 7.87% and the ash content was 3.22%. The results show that gardenia leaves are not toxic with the LC50 value of the water extract of the gardenia leaves is 1399.64 g/mL and the LC50 value of the ethanolic extract of the gardenia leaves is 1080.96 so that it can be used as traditional medicine.

Membrane-Based Electrochemical Sensors for Detecting Internal Corrosion Risk of Natural Gas Pipelines

Internal corrosion monitoring programs are essential for the safe management of natural gas transmission pipelines. Electrochemical technologies can provide reliable, real-time monitoring of key risk factors, such as solution conductivity, corrosion rates, and localized corrosion risk. A novel, membrane-based sensor is being developed to perform electrochemical tests in both aqueous and gaseous environments, allowing for continuous operation and data collection within a pipeline environment. This sensor can be used to determine water content in the presence of a number of gases (CH4, H2S, CO2), to monitor the pipeline’s corrosion rate with and without a condensed phase, and to provide localized corrosion data in the presence of a pitting agent. Here, we explore the sensor’s design, validation through finite-element analysis, and performance data for general and localized forms of corrosion.

Analysis of peat soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, soil water content and basal respiration: Is there a ‘best’ drying temperature?

Soil needs to be dried in order to determine water content, soil organic carbon content (SOC) and total nitrogen content (N). Water content is commonly measured using standard methods that involve drying temperatures of 105–110 °C. Recommended drying temperatures differ for the determination of SOC and N. However, at moderate drying temperatures, microbial activity might lead to organic matter mineralisation and nitrification, and thus to an underestimation of SOC and N. Furthermore, low drying temperatures might not dewater soils sufficiently to correctly determine water content or bulk density. Chemical processes such as thermal decomposition and volatilisation might occur at higher temperatures. This raises the question of whether the same sample can be used to determine water content, SOC and N. Further, the effect of drying, especially at different temperatures, on basal respiration of peat soils determined by incubation experiments is so far unknown. Effects of drying temperature might be especially severe for peat soils, which have high SOC and water contents.This study systematically evaluated the effect of different drying temperatures (20, 40, 60, 80 and 105 °C) on the determination of mass loss (proxy for water content), SOC and N over a wide range of 15 different peat soils comprising amorphous, Sphagnum and sedge peat substrate. The investigated peat soils had SOC contents ranging from approximately 16.8–52.5% with different degrees of decomposition. They were thus separated into two ‘peat groups’ (amorphous and weakly decomposed). In a subsequent investigation, an incubation experiment was carried out on a subset of five peat soils to investigate the pre-treatment effect of different drying temperatures on basal respiration. The results showed that amorphous samples should be dried at 105 °C to determine water content. The weakly decomposed peat soils in the study had reliable water contents for drying temperatures above 60 °C. For temperatures below 80 °C, the determined SOC and N were biased by residual water. This could be corrected for weakly decomposed samples, but for amorphous samples only for drying temperatures ≥60 °C. Thus, mineralisation of soil organic matter is likely to take place at lower drying temperatures which are not recommendable especially for amorphous peat prone to high mineralisation rates. This is supported by the results of the incubation experiment: The effect of peat type (amorphous topsoil vs. weakly decomposed subsoil) was greater than the effect of different drying temperatures, which nonetheless affected respiration rates. The differences between all five soils were consistent, irrespective of the drying temperature. Thus, incubation experiments might be possible using peat dried at moderate temperatures.

A new method for measurement of moisture transport in porous media based on forward and backward scattering of epithermal neutrons

We present a new method for determining the spatial distribution and transport of water in porous media. It is based on the detection of both forward and backward scattered neutrons from the wet regions of the samples under investigation. The experimental set-up is based on a Pu-Be neutron source and He-3 neutron detector assemblies. The results obtained showed that back scattered neutrons are more sensitive than the forward scattered neutrons to determine water content. Moreover, both forward and back scattered neutrons are more sensitive than either back or forward neutrons for determining water content. The method was used to measure moisture transport in sand columns and brick samples. Forward and backward scattered neutrons from different wet regions along the water flow path (x) are recorded as the sample absorbs water. Water saturates the regions of the samples tested near the inlet of water faster than the others. The water front positions were found to follow the square root behavior of the absorption time, and capillary penetration coefficients were determined for the samples investigated. The developed method can be used to investigate water absorption at various flow rates in porous samples of various sizes.

Evolutions of the unfrozen water content of saturated sandstones during freezing process and the freeze-induced damage characteristics

The precise determination of unfrozen water content is of great significance to understand the freezing process of pore water and reveal the freeze-induced damage mechanism for frozen rock mass. In this study, low field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) tests were conducted on five types of frozen sandstone samples. The changes in the T2 distribution and unfrozen water content (including unfrozen bound water content and unfrozen movable water content) were obtained and then analyzed. The experimental results indicate that there is little unfrozen movable water exists in the sandstone sample at the temperature of -5 °C and lower, whereas the amount of the unfrozen bound water is slowly decreased during the freezing process. The pore size distribution largely dominates the speed of water-ice phase transition and the total ice volume in the sandstone samples. A larger equivalent average pore radius (rm) leads to a higher speed of water-ice phase transition. The freeze-induced strains of the frozen sandstones were theoretically calculated based on a frost heave model. It is indicated that the freezing strain increases rapidly in the temperature range of 0 °C to -10 °C, while tends to be stable with further decreasing the temperature. Owing to the different pore size distributions, the movable water induces more substantial freezing strain than the bound water in terms of the Wuding sandstone and Linyi sandstone having an rm larger than 1.6 μs. However, it is exactly inverted for the other three sandstones including the Tengchong sandstone, Luzhou sandstone and Zigong sandstone with much smaller rm. The study provides a reasonable method for quantifying the unfrozen water content and freeze-induced strain in frozen rock, as well as important guidance for the design and construction of rock engineering in cold regions.

A novel methodology for hydrogel water content determination by EPR: The basis for real-time monitoring of controlled drug release and hydrogel swelling and degradation

The hydrogel water content is of fundamental importance for controlled drug delivery, as it influences the overall hydrogel integrity and solubility, as well as the diffusion kinetics of substances. This work describes a new methodological approach for hydrogel water content determination using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), a highly sensitive spectroscopic technique. It is based on the idea that an EPR active molecule (i.e. spin probe), that is dissolved in the water phase of the hydrogel and does not interact with the polymer matrix, is a reliable water content reporter. The proposed novel methodology is cost-effective, and independent of the gel type, size or viscoelastic properties. Furthermore, it allows for the visualization of the hydrogel by 2D/3D EPR imaging, and may be further developed for real-time monitoring of hydrogel swelling and degradation, as well as controlled drug release.

Influence of Hydrate-Forming Gas Pressure on Equilibrium Pore Water Content in Soils

Natural gas hydrates (primarily methane hydrates) are considered to be an important and promising unconventional source of hydrocarbons. Most natural gas hydrate accumulations exist in pore space and are associated with reservoir rocks. Therefore, gas hydrate studies in porous media are of particular interest, as well as, the phase equilibria of pore hydrates, including the determination of equilibrium pore water content (nonclathrated water). Nonclathrated water is analogous to unfrozen water in permafrost soils and has a significant effect on the properties of hydrate-bearing reservoirs. Nonclathrated water content in hydrate-saturated porous media will depend on many factors: pressure, temperature, gas composition, the mineralization of pore water, etc. In this paper, the study is mostly focused on the effect of hydrate-forming gas pressure on nonclathrated water content in hydrate-bearing soils. To solve this problem, simple thermodynamic equations were proposed which require data on pore water activity (or unfrozen water content). Additionally, it is possible to recalculate the nonclathrated water content data from one hydrate-forming gas to another using the proposed thermodynamic equations. The comparison showed a sufficiently good agreement between the calculated nonclathrated water content and its direct measurements for investigated soils. The discrepancy was ~0.15 wt% and was comparable to the accuracy of direct measurements. It was established that the effect of gas pressure on nonclathrated water content is highly nonlinear. For example, the most pronounced effect of gas pressure on nonclathrated water content is observed in the range from equilibrium pressure to 6.0 MPa. The developed thermodynamic technique can be used for different hydrate-forming gases such as methane, ethane, propane, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, various gas mixtures, and natural gases.

X-ray Computed Tomography as a Tool for Screening Sediment Cores: An Application to the Lagoons of the Po River Delta (Italy)

Lagoon sediments have heterogeneous structure and texture, contain shells and plants and are often highly bioturbated and disturbed by human activities. In such sediments, the selection of representative cores and the choice of a subsampling strategy are important but difficult. In this study, we examine the usefulness of X-ray computed tomography (CT) for inferring sediment features that will help in making optimal decisions prior to core opening (24 cores from seven lagoons). Various algorithms (intensity projections, slice thickness, axial and sagittal images, CT number profiles and volumetric region of interest) are tested to visualise low- and high-density volumes or objects and to quantify the relations between the average volumetric CT number and the bulk density of the sediment matrix. The CT number is related mainly to water content and indirectly to total nitrogen and <16-μm grain-size fraction (model R2 = 0.94). The outliers are attributed to a weak correspondence between the fraction of sediment sampled for water content determination and the volume of sediment matrix used for CT number measurements in highly heterogeneous sediment slices. In conclusion, CT is a powerful tool for the initial screening of cores recovered from heterogeneous lagoon sediments. The adequate use of available algorithms may provide quantitative information on various sediment features, allowing the purposeful selection of cores and subsamples for further investigation.

Determining Water Content of Non-Surfactant Emulsion Fuel Using Bomb-Calorimeter

Non-surfactant Water-in-Diesel emulsion fuel (NWD) has short stability period and tend to separate immediately into water and diesel. NWD needs to be supplied into the diesel engine or combustor as soon as it was formed. Since the combustion and emission performance are closely related to the water content of an emulsion fuel, the immediate water content of NWD needs to be more closely inspected. The ASTM D95 standard provides a method to determine the water content of an NWD, but this method takes a long time to perform (up to 2 hours) and arduous. This paper describes the estimation of water content in a non-surfactant emulsion fuel by bomb-calorimetry, which can deliver quicker results than ASTM distillation. Experiments were performed with samples of emulsion fuel using and void of surfactant. The samples were first homogenized using an ultrasonic bath before they were sent to a bomb-calorimeter. The higher heating value of the emulsion was estimated using the weighted average since the components were deemed to be non-reactive. The bomb-calorimetric results of the non-surfactant emulsion fuel showed a close proximation, while the emulsion fuel with surfactant delivered less conclusive results. It was concluded from this study that an estimation of water content in NWD could be performed using bomb-calorimetry eight times faster than using the ASTM D95 standard with a deviation of maximum 3%.

A piecewise analysis model for electrical conductivity calculation from time domain reflectometry waveforms

Electrical conductivity (EC) represents a material’s ability to conduct electric current. Soil EC has been used as a soil quality attribute related to soil pH, nutrient availability, crop suitability and soil microbial activity. Time domain reflectometry (TDR) estimates soil water content and EC based on the propagation/reflection and energy attenuation of voltage signals along a waveguide. To maximize the data use efficiency, waveform interpretations for simultaneous water content and EC determination are needed. A tangent line/bounded mean oscillation (TL-BMO) model is available to estimate soil water content from TDR waveforms, but an associated EC model is not yet available. The objectives of this study are (1) to introduce a piecewise analysis method for TDR waveform interpretation, and (2) to develop a model for EC computation along a TDR waveguide under homogeneous water content. The proposed model sequentially fits a TDR waveform for the coaxial cable, the connection, and the waveguide according to the transmission line equation. A TDR waveguide can be discretized into multiple successive pieces for the determination of EC variations along the waveguide. Simplifications of the fitting procedures via (1) existing models, e.g., TL-BMO and Topp et al. (1988) models, and (2) analysis of waveforms obtained from controlled conditions, e.g., in distilled water under room temperature (~20 °C) and air pressure (~101 kPa), are also applied. Accuracy and stability of the proposed model are tested via observed TDR waveforms obtained under uniform EC conditions but perturbated with a range of noise levels. EC values computed with only one discretized piece (i.e., no discretization along the waveguide) are consistent with the theoretical EC values, and the results are robust for all of the tested noise levels. As the number of discretized pieces and the noise levels increase, numerical oscillations in the results increase. The maximum relative errors are <20%, occurring when the mean power of noise is as large as the mean power of waveforms (0 dB noise). Flexibility of the proposed model is tested using waveforms simulated under spatially varying EC, and the EC variations along a TDR waveguide can be detected by the proposed model. In summary, the proposed model provides reliable EC estimations, and it can evaluate uniform or varying EC distributions along a TDR waveguide under uniform moisture conditions. This model can be imbedded into the TL-BMO model for integrated water content and EC determination for commonly measured (251-scanning point) TDR waveforms.

Effects of salinity and sodicity of water on friability of two texturally-different soils at different matric potentials

Soil salinisation and sodification are two principal processes in arid and semi-arid regions which have been irrigated with poor-quality waters. A laboratory experiment was carried out to study the effect of soil texture, salinity (EC) and sodicity (SAR) of irrigation water and matric potential on soil friability. Intact soil aggregates/clods with different size ranges of 4–8, 8–15, 15–20, and 20–40 mm were collected from two texturally-different soils of sandy loam (SL) and clay loam (CL). Undisturbed soil samples were also taken for determination of soil water contents at matric potentials (h) of –30, –100, –200, and −400 kPa. All of the soil samples were subjected to five wetting/drying cycles using twelve different water quality treatments, combinations of four levels of EC (0.2, 1, 6, and 10 dS m−1) and three levels of SAR [1, 5 and 12 (meq L−1)1/2]. The tensile strength of aggregates/clods was determined by the indirect Brazilian test. Then, the soil friability was calculated by employing three methods of coefficient of variation (F1), ranking order (F2), and volume-dependence (F3). The results showed that the F values varied considerably depending on the friability calculation method and matric potential. Soil friability was not affected by the treatments at the wet range because of the dominant effect of high water content on soil mechanical behavior; whereas soil aggregates/clods of 4–8, 8–15 and 15–20 mm at h of −400 kPa showed the highest friability. Soil friability decreased with an increase in SAR and increased with an increment in EC at low matric potentials (i.e., –200 and −400 kPa) due to the negative and positive effects of sodium and soluble ions on soil microstructure, respectively. The effects of SAR on soil stability, dispersion clay and tensile strength and as a consequence on soil friability was more pronounced at low EC values. Results showed more influence of water quality (EC and SAR) in clay loam than sandy loam soil due to its higher clay content. Comparison of the F values with well-known classification revealed that F1 and F2 were about 2–4 orders of magnitude higher than F3, especially for aggregates size ranges of 4–8 and 8–15 mm at h of –200 and −400 kPa and air-dry condition; and the coefficient of variation and ranking order methods were more acceptable and reliable than the volume-dependence method for characterizing the soil friability.

An Integrated Experimental Workflow for Formation Water Characterization in Shale Reservoirs: A Case Study of the Bazhenov Formation

Summary In this study, we aim to develop a new integrated solution for determining the formation water content and salinity for petrophysical characterization. The workflow includes three core components: the evaporation method (EM) with isotopic analysis, analysis of aqueous extracts, and cation exchange capacity (CEC) study. The EM serves to quickly and accurately measure the contents of both free and loosely clay-bound water. The isotopic composition confirms the origin and genesis of the formation water. Chemical analysis of aqueous extracts gives the lower limit of sodium chloride (NaCl) salinity. The CEC describes rock-fluid interactions. The workflow is applicable for tight reservoir rock samples, including shales and source rocks. A representative collection of rock samples is formed based on the petrophysical interpretation of well logs from a complex source rock of the Bazhenov Formation (BF; Western Siberia, Russia). The EM employs the retort principle but delivers much more accurate and reliable results. The suite of auxiliary laboratory methods includes derivatography, Rock-Eval pyrolysis, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Water extracts from the rock samples at natural humidity deliver a lower bound for mineralization (salinity) of formation water. Isotopic analysis of the evaporated water samples covered δ18O and δ2H. A modified alcoholic ammonium chloride [(NH4Cl)Alc] method provides the CEC and exchangeable cation concentration of the rock samples with low carbonate content. The studied rock samples had residual formation water up to 4.3 wt%, including free up to 3.9 wt% and loosely clay-bound water up to 0.96 wt%. The latter correlates well to the clay content. The estimated formation water salinity reached tens of grams per liter. At the same time, the isotopic composition confirmed the formation genesis at high depth and generally matched with that of the region's deep stratal waters. The content of chemically bound water reached 6.40 wt% and exceeded both free and loosely bound water contents. The analysis of isotopic composition proved the formation water origin. The CEC fell in the range of 1.5 to 4.73 cmol/kg and depended on the clay content. In this study, we take a qualitative step toward quantifying formation water in shale reservoirs. The research effort delivered an integrated workflow for reliable determination of formation water content, salinity lower bound, and water origin. The results fill the knowledge gaps in the petrophysical interpretation of well logs and general reservoir characterization and reserve estimation. The research novelty uses a unique suite of laboratory methods adapted for tight shale rocks holding less than 1 wt% of water.

Conservação de sementes de feijão-caupi sob diferentes condições de armazenamento

RESUMO: O feijão-caupi (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) é tradicionalmente muito consumido pelos brasileiros, sobretudo no Semiárido Nordestino, e representa uma das principais explorações agrícolas do país, desempenhando papel fundamental também na demanda por mão de obra no cultivo e beneficiamento. Estudos acerca das condições ideais de armazenamento de sementes e grãos são necessários e imprescindíveis. Assim sendo, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a qualidade fisiológica de sementes de Vigna unguiculata CV BRS Aracê armazenadas em duas condições de conservação por nove meses. As sementes foram divididas em dois lotes, conforme o grau de umidade (12% – lote 1, 13,5% – lote 2). As sementes foram armazenadas em silos de zinco acondicionadas em ambiente refrigerado e ambiente de laboratório, por um período de 0 (controle), 3, 6 e 9 meses. Os testes de germinação ocorreram em laboratório e em casa de vegetação. As variáveis analisadas foram: determinação do teor de água (%), porcentagem de germinação e porcentagem de emergência. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, com dezesseis tratamentos e quatro repetições, com 25 sementes cada, consistindo em um arranjo fatorial de 2 × 2 × 4 (condição de conservação × teor de água × período de armazenamento). As sementes de feijão-caupi armazenadas em ambiente de laboratório apresentaram maior oscilação no teor de água durante o armazenamento em relação às sementes armazenadas em ambiente refrigerado. O armazenamento sob refrigeração durante nove meses manteve a qualidade fisiológica das sementes. As sementes armazenadas com 12% de teor de água apresentam um percentual de emergência superior sobre aquelas armazenadas com 13,5%, após nove meses de armazenamento.&#x0D; PALAVRAS-CHAVE: germinação, qualidade fisiológica, Vigna unguiculata.

Resposta germinativa de sementes de cactáceas colunares sob diferentes regimes de temperatura e de potencial hídrico

O mandacaru (Cereus jamacaru DC. subsp. jamacaru) e o facheiro (Pilosocereus pachycladus F.Ritter subsp. pernambucoensis (F.Ritter) Zappi) são duas cactáceas colunares endêmicas do semiárido brasileiro, região caracterizada por apresentar áreas em que ocorre déficit hídrico. Assim sendo, este estudo objetivou avaliar o efeito do estresse hídrico sobre a germinação e o vigor de sementes dessas duas espécies sob diferentes temperaturas e potenciais hídricos. Para simular o estresse hídrico foram utilizadas soluções de polietilenoglicol (PEG 6000) nos seguintes potenciais hídricos: 0,0 (controle); -0,2; -0,4; -0,6 e -0,8 MPa. As sementes foram distribuídas em caixas tipo “gerbox” entre papel “mata borrão”, sob as temperaturas de 25 e 30 °C. A contagem do número de sementes germinadas foi realizada diariamente durante 21 dias após a protrusão radicular. As variáveis analisadas foram: teor de água (%), germinação (%), índice de velocidade de germinação (IVG) e tempo médio de germinação (TMG). O delineamento foi inteiramente casualizado seguindo o esquema fatorial de 2 × 5 (temperatura × potencial hídrico) para cada espécie. Os resultados obtidos neste estudo sugerem que o C. jamacaru subsp. jamacaru e o P. pachycladus subsp. pernambucoensis são capazes de germinar em solos com baixa disponibilidade hídrica e que a redução dos níveis osmóticos das soluções de PEG 6000 no meio germinativo provoca decréscimos na viabilidade e vigor das sementes de mandacaru e facheiro. A 30 °C há menor tolerância das sementes ao estresse hídrico.

Sahilkent (Bafra, Samsun) yöresindeki alüvyal zeminlerin sıvılaşma potansiyelinin CPT verileri kullanılarak araştırılması

In this study, liquefaction potential of the alluvial soils consisting of clay, silt, and sand sized materials in Sahilkent (Bafra, Samsun) area was investigated using CPT data. Within the scope of the study, 20 boreholes each having a depth of 15 meters were drilled throughout Bafra district, and one undisturbed soil sample were obtained per meter from 5 of these boreholes located in Sahilkent area. Wet sieve, hydrometer, plastic limit, liquid limit, and natural water content determinations were conducted on 20 samples with high silt and sand content. In the preliminary evaluation, it was determined that there is a liquefaction potential in some regions at different depths, and in order to perform detailed liquefaction analyses, 15-meter-deep CPTu were carried out in 1 meter distance from those 5 borehole locations. In CPTu tests, data including cone tip resistance, sleeve friction, effective stress, relative stiffness, etc. were recorded every 5 cm, and average values of these data for each meter depth were used in the liquefaction analysis. Liquefaction analyses was conducted for an earthquake scenario of Mw = 7.2 and the liquefaction potential of the 15-meter soil layer in the study area was determined. As a result of the analyses, it was determined that no liquefaction will occur for an earthquake scenario of Mw = 7.2 in Sahilkent region. It is thought that high fine-grained content of the alluvium, and the fact that existing clean sand levels are located between fine-grained soil layers increase the resistance of the soil against liquefaction.

Determining water content in a liquid fuel by the luminosity of its droplet

In this research, an effective way to identify the grade of a typical liquid fuel or combustible liquid judging by the luminous intensity of a single droplet is offered. This method is based on comparing the luminosity of droplets under study illuminated by an impulse laser against reference values. The experiments feature droplets of typical fuels, a combustible liquid, and water at different heated air temperatures ranging from 20 to 500 °C. Water is used due to its popularity as an environmentally friendly additive to high-potential fuels. The experiments involved a non-contact optical diagnostic technique of Planar Laser Induced Fluorescence and two fluorophore types (Rhodamine 6G and Rhodamine B). The luminosity ranges of droplets of fuel-water compositions were experimentally determined for the first time. A number of approximations were obtained for typical combustible liquids, which make it possible to determine the percentage of water in a fuel.

Determination of water content in municipal sludge by multiple headspace extraction gas chromatography.

This paper reports a new method for the determination of sludge water content by a multiple headspace extraction gas chromatographic (MHE-GC) method. It is based on measuring the GC signals for the water vapor in a sample vial from the first five headspace extractions, from which the water content in the sludge sample can be extrapolated according to the established calculation equation. The results show that the method has a good repeatability (the relative standard deviation is less than 1%) and accuracy. The maximum relative difference is less than 16% compared to the reference method. The present method is very simple and efficient, and suitable for rapid sample testing in related applications.

The Determination of Water Content in Natural Gas: Aspen Hysys Simulation and P,T Analysis

Natural gas is currently one of the most important fossil fuels in the group of non-renewable energy sources, which is used very widely due to its properties. In order to be able to use it safely, it must be adjusted in accordance with the technical-delivery conditions before use. One of the basic quality parameters of natural gas is the water content, which is set at a maximum value of 110 mg per m3 of natural gas. For this reason, it is necessary to correctly determine the water content before the gas treatment, in order to choose the right dehydration technology. In this article, three methods were used to determine the water content of natural gas.

Determination of Leaf Water Content with a Portable NIRS System Based on Deep Learning and Information Fusion Analysis

HighlightsA portable NIRS system with local computing hardware was developed for leaf water content determination.The proposed convolutional neural network for regression showed a satisfactory performance.Decision fusion of multiple regression models achieved a higher precision than single models.All of the devices and machine intelligence algorithms were integrated into the system.Software was developed for system control and user interface.Abstract. Spectroscopy has been widely used as a valid non-destructive technique for the determination of crop physiological parameters. In this study, a portable near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) system was developed for rapid measurement of rape (Brassica campestris) leaf water content. An integrated spectrometer (900 to 1700 nm) was used to collect the spectra. A Wi-Fi module was adopted for driving the spectrometer and realizing data communication. The NVIDIA Jetson Nano developer kit was employed to handle the received spectra and perform computing tasks. Three embedded spectral analysis models, including support vector regression (SVR), partial least square regression (PLSR), and deep convolutional neural network for regression (CNN-R), and decision fusions of these methods were built and compared. The results demonstrated that the separate models produced satisfactory predictions. The proposed system achieved the highest precision based on the fusion of PLSR and CNN-R. The hardware devices and analytical algorithms were all integrated into the proposed portable system, and the tested samples were collected from an actual field environment, which shows great potential of the system for outdoor applications. Keywords: Decision fusion, Deep learning, Leaf water content, Local computing, Portable NIRS system.