Fresh Chip Research Articles

Production pathways for profitability and valuing ecosystem services for willow coppice in intensive agricultural applications

Increasing agricultural sustainability is a key challenge facing the globe today. Energy crops, planted as riparian buffers are one way to support this, simultaneously mitigating water quality degradation and climate change. However, the economics of implementing such riparian buffer systems is under researched. Hence this work conducted a bottom-up economic analysis of willow coppice riparian buffers on a Northern Irish dairy farm, which is indicative of agricultural intensification across Europe. This work includes an economic assessment of a willow coppice riparian buffer strip, using harvested yield data from an established willow buffer site for the first time. It also considered the impact of harvesting technology on the economic performance of a willow coppice riparian buffer strip for the first time. The analysis considered three willow production pathways: 1) direct chip harvesting, 2) full-stem harvesting, and 3) a scenario with a guaranteed purchasing contract for fresh chip. Economic performance was considered using net present value over a 25-year plantation lifetime. The full-stem scenario provided the highest economic return over its lifetime with an average yearly net present value of £497 ha−1 (in £ sterling). This system was then considered for integration into a typical dairy farm, assuming 5 % land usage and including government grants for establishing riparian zones. The result was a drop in value of £28 ha−1 yr−1 compared to a dairy-only scenario; however, per litre of milk the farm employing willow coppice riparian buffer strips outperformed a typical dairy farm both environmentally and economically. Further analysis considered a novel approach that included payments for ecosystem services in the economic analysis. This analysis found that the implementation of government payments for ecosystem services (nutrient removal) increased the economic return of the willow coppice riparian buffer system by £400 ha−1 yr−1, resulting in minimal impact on the return from dairy land.

Electronic structure of CaMn1-xNbxO3 (x=0.02, 0.04, 0.06 and 0.08) perovskites. Self-organization of terminal layers

Electronic structure of niobium doped CaMn1-xNbxO3 (x = 0.02, 0.04, 0.06 and 0.08) powder and fresh chip manganites was studied by x-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (XANES) at Mn K-edge, and by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) of Mn 3s -, Mn 2p -, O 1s -, Ca 2p- and Nb 3d-core levels. These XPS spectra for all the studied perovskites are very similar. The O 1s and Ca 2p spectra for powders differ from those for fresh chips because of the quick oxidation and carbonization of powder surface. The Mn 3s, Mn 2p and Nb 3d spectra for the powders and fresh chips are almost the same. According to Mn 3s spectra the formal valence of surface manganese ions is 3.82 for all studied oxides indicating the presence of oxygen vacancies in the samples. Niobium is in pentavalent state as evidenced by XPS measurements, but the negative chemical shift of the Nb 3d5/2 core level with respect to Nb2O5 oxide is observed. High similarity of the XPS spectra of the samples with different Nb doping is probably a result of the self-organization of terminal layers.

Initiation and propagation of tool wear in turning of titanium alloys – Evaluated in successive sliding wear test

Titanium alloys are known to cause significant crater wear on the rake face of cutting inserts when exposed to the fresh chip during cutting, limiting the lifetime of the tool. Previous studies have shown that wear surfaces on inserts has a crater filled with transferred titanium. The WC grains in the bottom of the crater are depleted of carbon, resulting in a top surface rich in tungsten. To further investigate the initiation of wear in the present study a sliding test, previously developed to imitate the conditions on the rake face during cutting, was used. The test was performed in interrupted mode, allowing intermediate SEM studies of the tool surface, while successively increasing the sliding distance. A cemented carbide grade, H13A, commonly used for cutting titanium alloys, and titanium alloy Ti6Al4V were used as model materials. The results from the sliding tests showed that both transfer of titanium and wear of the cemented carbide composite occur simultaneously. The wear is shallow and occurs on a very small scale, which adds up to a large crater, which is continuously filled with a smooth layer of titanium.

Using electrical resistance to evaluate the chip seal curing process

Chip seals are among the most cost-effective surface treatments available for pavement preventive maintenance. However, frequent issues associated with asphalt emulsion early mechanical strength development, resulting in premature surface treatment failure, have led to the need to improve the characterisation of the chip seal curing process. As such, the use of an electrical resistance measurement has been studied to develop a sound construction methodology that prevents common failures that occur soon after construction. This paper presents a novel approach, based on electrical resistance measurements, to determine when a chip seal has developed enough binder adhesive strength to bond to the existing pavement while keeping the aggregate chips in place. The electrical resistance measurements provide a rapid, non-destructive indication of the amount of curing that has occurred. By implementing this methodology the user can determine when a chip seal has gained sufficient mechanical strength to allow for brooming or opening to unrestricted traffic without an undue loss of cover aggregate. Laboratory and full-scale field trials were conducted using a variety of materials. The electrical properties of the fresh seal coats were quantified by employing a handheld electrical device with a two-point probe resistance measurement. The experimental results suggest that chip seal systems have gained significant mechanical strength when the initial electrical resistance measurement increases by a factor of 10. As a result, this study establishes that electrical resistance measurements can be used to determine when a fresh chip seal has sufficiently cured to withstand the shear forces of brooms and uncontrolled traffic. The implementation of the technique could potentially impact chip seal construction quality, as well as service life performance.

Efficiency of a compactor in wood chip volume reduction

The baling of freshly harvested wood chips was tested in an Orkel MP2000, a baling machine extensively used in agriculture and industry to densify residues. Wood chips from two different feedstocks: poplar (Populus x euroamericana) and black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia). Baling effected a volume reduction of 43% with respect to the loose bulk density of the piled chips. Each bale has an average mass of 638 kg, and the time consumption to produce one bale was typically 98 s – 122 s. Productivity then varied from 19.8 t h−1 and 21.7 t h−1 of the fresh (green) wood chips. Diesel fuel consumption ranged from 1.4 L t−1 to 1.5 L t−1 of fresh chip weight and represented about 12% of the production cost. The packaging cost is approximately 23 € t−1 of fresh chips equivalent to a bale cost of 15 €. Comminuted wood pressed into bales could provide a valid solution in the use of conventional agricultural and forestry machines. In fact, the handling and transportation of bales can be performed by means of equipment normally used in other agro-forestry activities (front loaders of tractors). In addition, pressed woodchips in packaged bales with waterproof sheets also guarantees a useful storage technique with significant storage surface reduction relative to loose wood chips.

When to Broom or Remove Traffic Control Safely on Fresh Emulsified Asphalt Chip Seals

The optimal time to allow brooms to sweep a fresh chip seal is usually determined by experienced field personnel. Factors that affect this decision include aggregate type; aggregate moisture content; emulsion type and grade; application rates of emulsion and aggregate; weather conditions at the site, including humidity, air and pavement temperature, and wind; and number of rollers. Given all these factors, and because changes in one factor can have a significant effect on how an emulsion gains strength and how soon it can resist the forces of brooms and traffic, the decision as to when to allow brooms and traffic on fresh chip seals becomes difficult, at best, to predict. The results of this research suggest that moisture content of the chip seal system is related directly to the strength of an asphalt emulsion residue. Laboratory and field testing confirm that the strength of an asphalt emulsion residue as measured by a modification to the ASTM D7000 sweep test can be used to predict the moisture content level at which a chip seal developed enough strength to resist damage by brooms and vehicular traffic. Three full-scale test pavements were constructed in differing climates, and the results of moisture content testing in the field were compared with modified sweep test results in the laboratory. Results indicated that the three field tests were capable of resisting brooming and traffic damage when the moisture content of the chip seal system ranged between 15% and 25%. This finding correlated well with results of laboratory testing with the modified sweep test on the materials from field tests as well as on experimental laboratory materials.

Regeneration of IMAC-Cu Proteinchip by Borate Eluent

Influence of borate eluent pH value and competition eluant on regeneration of the used IMAC-Cu proteinchip is investigated by SEM and SELDI-TOF-MS proteinchip detection system. The results show that proteins are easier to be removed from the used proteinchip surface with the decreasing of borate eluent pH value, but its destruction to the chemical structure of the proteinchip also grows in intensity. The elution effect of protein on IMAC-Cu proteinchip can be significantly enhanced when the competition eluant Gly or EDTA is added to borate eluate. However, comparing with Gly, EDTA as competition eluant has generation effect. The absorption protein quantity and type of the regenerated IMAC-Cu proteinchip by the pH 8 borate eluent added 0.02mol/L EDTA for 72h is very similar to the fresh chip after absorbing same serum of cancer patients.

Potato Chips Fried in Canola and/or Cottonseed Oil Maintain High Quality

ABSTRACTPotato chips fried in partially hydrogenated canola oil (CA), cottonseed oil (CS) and CA: CS blends (85:15 and 70:30) and stored (light or dark) for 4 wk were studied. Peroxide value (PV) was not affected by oil type or storage conditions but increased with storage time. Flavor volatiles (26) were identified and quantified. Oil type affected concentrations of chip volatile aldehydes but not heterocyclic cornpounds. No differences among oil types were found in fresh chip flavor or likability scores by a sensory panel.

Effect of variety and plant age on the cyanide content of whole-root cassava chips and its reduction by sun-drying

The cyanide content of fresh whole-root chips of two cassava varieties (CMC-40, low-cyanide, and CMC-84, high-cyanide) as affected by plant age (9–12 months) was determined monthly, as was the effect of sun-drying, either on concrete floors (plain or black-painted) or on inclined trays, on cyanide elimination. Total cyanide contents in fresh chips of variety CMC-84 were always higher (772 ± 167 vs. 436 ± 111 mg/kg DM) than those of variety CMC-40, and in both varieties cyanide contents in chips decreased as plant age increased. Most of the cyanide in fresh chips was found as bound cyanide (66% for CMC-40 and 79% for CMC-84), but the proportion of free cyanide was higher than values previously determined in the separate root tissues. Sun-drying on inclined trays normally required less time than on a concrete floor; at the fresh chip loading rate used (8.5–9.0 kg m −2) for floor drying, no appreciable differences in drying times and cyanide elimination were found between plain and black-painted concrete surfaces. Sun-drying on a concrete floor eliminated more cyanide (86–93% of initial level), for both varieties, than on inclined trays (61–87%). Most of the remaining cyanide in chips dried on a concrete floor was found as free cyanide (62 ± 16% for CMC-40 and 59 ± 18% for CMC-84), but in chips dried on trays these values were considerably lower (25 ± 11% for CMC-40 and 19 ± 8% for CMC-84). Results are discussed in relation to the maximum hydrocyanic acid concentration (100 mg kg −1) that has been set as a quality standard for cassava chips or pellets.

The importance of oxygen in dry machining of metal on a lathe

Experiments have been made during machining operations carried out in a vacuum chamber. It is found that vapours and gases can influence the cutting, and that oxygen is particularly effective in reducing cutting forces and improving surface finish. This observation is supported by cutting and friction tests on an ordinary lathe, with jets of oxygen or nitrogen directed at the tool-chip interface. It is concluded that the action of oxygen is primarily to restrict the formation of an adherent built-up nose of metal on the tool, which may reach a large size during vacuum machining. Calculation of the rate of collision of oxygen molecules with the fresh chip surface suggests that there is not time for formation of a monatomic layer on the undersurface of the chip before it leaves the tool face contact, so the adsorption on the tool itself is likely to be the more important factor. The effectiveness of a lubricating film on the tool face was demonstrated by coating the tool with MoS2, which prevented the build-up, in vacuo, until the coating wore away.

Potato quality XVI. Low temperature storage of raw French-fry cuts and potato slices for chipping

Fresh French-fry cuts and potato chip slices may be stored for 14 to 16 days at33 F and 40 F. Using a 0.048M NaHSO3 dip plus a saturated H2CO3 dip for two minutes delays the browning reaction. With the use of this treatment, the accumulation of reducing sugars at low temperature is delayed. Thirty-pound polyethylene bags were used to simulate commercial practices. Cool’ng the dipping solution aids in retaining the H2CO3 solution near pH 5.0–5.2. The pH of the dip solution is rapidly determined with indicator paper and additional CO2 may be bubbled into the solution to maintain this pH. The use of dry ice had the same beneficial results. Fresh potato slices held 16 days at 33 F did not increase in brown discoloration when fried. There was no off-flavor or odor and the slices had not lost their turgidity prior to frying. The containers should remain sealed at least two days, and after this, beneficial results are still obtained. The recommended treatments result in an increase in shelf life without intensifying color from low temperature storage.