Factors Including Moisture Content Research Articles

Removal of external influences from on-line vis-NIR spectra for predicting soil organic carbon using machine learning

External factors including moisture content negatively affect the prediction accuracy of soil organic carbon (SOC) using on-line visible and near-infrared (vis-NIR) spectroscopy. This study compared the performances of four algorithms to remove the moisture content effect [direct standardization (DS), piecewise direct standardization (PDS), external parameter orthogonalization (EPO), and orthogonal signal correction (OSC)] against non-corrected (NC) spectral models developed with partial least squares regression (PLSR), support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), and M5Rules regression. An on-line soil sensing platform coupled with a vis-NIR spectrophotometer (305–1700 nm) was used to scan twelve agricultural fields in Belgium and France. A total of 372 soil samples collected during the on-line measurement were divided into a calibration (260) and a prediction (112) dataset, using the Kennard-Stone algorithm. The latter set together with identical laboratory-measured 112 dry soil spectra formed a transfer dataset to develop EPO, DS and PDS correction matrices. Results showed that models after EPO, PDS and OSC corrections resulted in improved accuracy [coefficient of determination (R2) = 0.60–0.82, root mean square error (RMSE) = 16.1–5.7 g kg−1)], compared to the NC models (R2 = 0.58–0.73, RMSE = 16.5–6.8 g kg−1), whereas the DS (R2 = −0.10 to 0.26, RMSE = 26.8–21.9 g kg−1) provided deteriorated prediction accuracy. The EPO and OSC models provided better prediction accuracy than that of the PDS corrected models. The OSC-M5Rules (R2 = 0.82, RMSE = 5.7 g kg−1) obtained the highest accuracy followed by EPO-M5Rules (R2 = 0.74, RMSE = 6.7 g kg−1) and NC-M5Rules (R2 = 0.73, RMSE = 6.8 g kg−1), which outperformed all PLSR, RF and SVM models. Therefore, on-line vis-NIR spectra should be corrected with the OSC algorithm before calibrating a machine learning model for accurate prediction of SOC.

Impact of Concrete Mix Ingredients and Surface Treatments on Epoxy Overlay Performance

Epoxy overlays are applied on bridge decks after curing concrete in patches and repairs for 28 days. A tensile bond pull-off strength of at least 250 pounds per square inch (psi) is expected from a properly applied overlay. Even though the overlay performance at room temperature is mostly satisfactory, the performance at elevated temperatures is not convincing. The degradation of mechanical and adhesion properties of epoxy, shear stress at the concrete/overlay interface caused by thermal incompatibility, and the interface moisture vapor pressure are the commonly cited parameters for poor bond strength at elevated temperatures. A combined effect of these parameters results in the most unfavorable failure mode (which is bond failure at the concrete/overlay interface) at a strength lower than the specified limit of 250 psi. The moisture migration through concrete depends on many factors including moisture content along the depth of concrete, pore microstructure, exposure condition, and drying period. This study investigated the impact of concrete mix ingredients and surface treatments on the thin epoxy overlay bond strength. The results show that the use of concrete mixes with slag and penetrating sealant pretreatment improves the bond strength.

Understanding the Agglomeration Behavior of Selected Copper Ores Using Statistical Design of Experiments

The drum agglomeration of two different crushed copper ores (I and II) has been optimized using Taguchi's L16 (45) orthogonal array design to determine the optimum conditions for maximizing the average agglomerate size and minimizing the amount of fines. The effects of controllable operating factors including moisture content (ore I: 9.6–11.1%; ore II: 12.8–14%), retention time (2–4 min), drum speed (15–45% critical), drum load (ore I: 13–32%; ore II: 6–24%) and acid concentration (6.5–90 g/L) on the performance of the agglomeration process were studied. For ore I, the maximum average agglomerate size and minimum percent fines (−1 mm) occurred under the conditions: drum load (22.75%), moisture (10.35%), time (4 min), drum speed (30% critical), and acid concentration (41 g/L), whereas for ore II, the same conditions occurred under the drum load (18%), moisture (13%), time (3 min), drum speed (30% critical), and acid concentration (30 g/L). Under the conditions studied for ore I, the most effective parameter for maximizing average agglomerate size and minimizing the amount of fines was found to be drum load. For ore I, time and acid concentration had a measurable effect on maximizing average agglomerate size, whereas moisture had a statistically significant effect on minimizing the amount of fines. For ore II, the most effective parameter for maximizing average agglomerate size and minimizing the amount of fines was found to be acid concentration. Time had a measurable effect on maximizing average agglomerate size, whereas the other variables did not affect the responses significantly for ore II.

Understanding the agglomeration behavior of nickel laterite and gold ores using statistical design of experiments

The drum agglomeration of nickel laterite and gold ores has been optimized through the design of experiments (DOE) using a Taguchi L16 (4 5 ) orthogonal array to determine the optimum conditions for maximizing average agglomerate size and minimizing the amount of fines. The effects of controllable operating factors including moisture content (nickel laterite ore: 34-37%; gold ore: 7-10%), retention time (2-3.5 min), drum speed (15-45% critical speed), drum load (nickel laterite ore: 8-32 %; gold ore: 6-22%) and acid concentration (150-600 g/L) on the performance of the agglomeration process were studied. For nickel laterite ore, maximum average agglomerate size and minimum percent fines (-1 mm) occurred under the following conditions: drum load (23.7%), moisture (36.5%), time (3 min), drum speed (30% critical speed) and acid concentration (150 g/L). Under the studied nickel laterite ore conditions, the most effective parameters for maximizing average agglomerate size and minimizing the amount of fines were found to be drum load and acid concentration, respectively. Drum speed had a statistically significant effect on minimizing the amount of fines. Maximum average agglomerate size and minimum percent fines (-1 mm) for gold ore occurred under the following conditions: drum load (19.3%), moisture (8.5%), time (2 min 15 s) and drum speed (40% critical). The most significant factors for maximizing average agglomerate size and minimizing the amount of fines for gold ore were found to be drum load, time and moisture.

Determination of Effective Moisture Diffusivity of Banana Using Thermogravimetric Analysis

Drying has been extensively used as a food preservation procedure. The longer life attained by drying is however accompanied by huge energy consumption and deterioration of quality. Moisture diffusivity is an important factor that is considered essential to understand for design, analysis, and optimization of drying processes for food and other materials. Without an accurate value of moisture diffusivity, drying kinetics, energy consumption, quality attributes such as shrinkage, texture, and microstructure cannot be predicted properly. However, moisture diffusivities differ due to variation of composition and microstructure of foodstuff and drying variables. For a particular food, it changes with many factors including moisture content, water holding capacity, process variables and physiochemical attributes of food. Published information on moisture diffusivities of banana is inadequate and sometimes inconsistent due to lack of precise repeatable analysis techniques. In this work, the effective moisture diffusivity of banana was determined by Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), which ensures precise measurements and reproduction of experiments. A TGA Q500 V20.13 Build 39 was deployed to obtain the drying curve of the food material. It was found that effective moisture diffusivity ranged from 6.63 x10-10 to 1.03 x10-9 and 1.34 x10-10 to 6.60 x10-10 for isothermal at 70 0C and non-isothermal process respectively.These values are consistent with the value of moisture diffusivity found in the literature.

Passive drainage and biofiltration of landfill gas: Australian field trial

In Australia a significant number of landfill waste disposal sites do not incorporate measures for the collection and treatment of landfill gas. This includes many old/former landfill sites, rural landfill sites, non-putrescible solid waste and inert waste landfill sites, where landfill gas generation is low and it is not commercially viable to extract and beneficially utilize the landfill gas. Previous research has demonstrated that biofiltration has the potential to degrade methane in landfill gas, however, the microbial processes can be affected by many local conditions and factors including moisture content, temperature, nutrient supply, including the availability of oxygen and methane, and the movement of gas (oxygen and methane) to/from the micro-organisms. A field scale trial is being undertaken at a landfill site in Sydney, Australia, to investigate passive drainage and biofiltration of landfill gas as a means of managing landfill gas emissions at low to moderate gas generation landfill sites. The design and construction of the trial is described and the experimental results will provide in-depth knowledge on the application of passive gas drainage and landfill gas biofiltration under Sydney (Australian) conditions, including the performance of recycled materials for the management of landfill gas emissions.

Active-Layer Dynamics at the Calypsostranda CALM Site, Recherche Fiord Region, Spitsbergen

Measurements of active-layer thickness were carried out at CALM Site P1 (Calypsostranda), on the southern border of Recherche Fiord (Bellsund region) on the island of Spitsbergen, Svalbard Archipelago. The aim of the studies was to determine the depth and rate of summer thawing and to explain the reasons for local differences. This is of significance owing to the role of the active layer in processes governing development of the periglacial morphogenetic zone. Local factors—including moisture content, vegetation cover, and slope aspect—are important determinants of active-layer thickness and its variability in the Calypsostranda area. Formal sampling and measurement programs, such as those administered by CALM affiliates, are important for discerning between local effects and long-term impacts of climatic changes.

Detoxification of Aflatoxins in Foods and Feeds by Physical and Chemical Methods

Detoxification of aflatoxin contaminated foods has been a continuing challenge for the food industry. This article examines primarily the detoxification of aflatoxin B1 in foods and feeds. The sensitivity of aflatoxins to physical or chemical treatments is affected by many factors including moisture content, location of the toxins in the food, forms of the food, and interactions of the toxins with food components. Thus, it is important to understand these factors before a specific detoxification method can be recommended. In addition, the use of any applicable treatment conditions should not cause undesirable alterations to the nutritional and organoleptic qualities of the foods. The combined use of physical and chemical treatment procedures appear to provide a better prospect than the use of only a single treatment procedure. A reevaluation of the present processing conditions may shed light on the development of modified procedures to effectively degrade aflatoxins in foods, while still achieving other processing objectives.