Greater Particle Density Research Articles

Physical characteristics of extrudate from mixed corn grit – red bean flour with treatment of moisture content and extruder barrel temperature

Extruded snacks, typically derived from low-protein corn, can significantly benefit from the incorporation of red beans to boost their protein content and enhance overall nutritional value. In this study, the influence of feed moisture content and extruder barrel temperature on various physical attributes of the extruded products, including moisture content, particle density, bulk density, expansion ratio, and hardness, were examined. The snacks were produced using a SYSLG-IV twin-screw extruder with a throughput capacity of 10-15 kg/h. The ingredient composition remained consistent, consisting of a 20% red bean flour and 80% corn grit blend. Three moisture content levels (14%-18%) and three different extruder barrel temperature settings (120°C-140°C) were used as variables. The results demonstrated that both variables significantly impacted the physical properties of the extruded snacks. Specifically, an increase in feed moisture content or a decrease in barrel temperature led to higher moisture content (1.01%-1.82%), greater particle density (0.17 g/cm3-0.39 g/cm3), increased bulk density (0.12 g/cm3-0.32 g/cm3), greater hardness (8.34 N-32.18 N), and reduced expansion ratio (2.17-3.0).

On the effect of pellet density on biomass pyrolysis in a pressurized fixed bed reactor

In this work, pellets of different densities but the same particle size were prepared from pine wood. The pellets as well as the raw biomass sample, all in form of cubic blocks whose side was 5 mm, were pyrolysed in a pressurised fixed bed reactor at different temperatures (350 and 500 °C) and pressures (1 and 8 bar) to investigate how variation in biomass density affect the product distribution, tar and gas compositions, and char characteristics. More char and less tar were obtained from pellets of higher density at the same pyrolysis conditions. Chars from the pyrolysis of pellets of higher density contain more oxygen and less amount of crystallite clusters, making them more reactive in combustion tests run by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Tars were obtained from higher-density pellets in lower yields and were lighter (smaller molecular weight distribution) than those from less dense pellets. At higher temperatures extensive biomass decomposition forms chars with more crystallite clusters and less oxygen, while a higher char yield with less oxygen was obtained at higher pressures, along with smaller amount of a lighter tar. Higher temperature and pressure tend to produce a less reactive char. Through this systematic work, the similarities as well as some key differences between the effect of higher pressure and greater particle density on pyrolysis behavior have been identified.

Effect of the shear rate and supersaturation on the nucleation and growth of struvite in batch stirred tank reactors

Controlled struvite precipitation is a promising solution for phosphorus recovery in wastewater treatment plants. Particle size distribution of recovered struvite affects its efficacy as a fertilizer, so should be considered in the design and operation of struvite recovery reactors. This contribution analyzes the effect of varying the average shear rate (between 150 s−1 and 876 s−1) and saturation index (between 0.76 and 2.96) in two different experimental set-ups. Solution pH and particle number and size measurements using an electric zone sensing method are used to monitor the process. In addition, photomicrographs are used to observe the shape of the precipitated particles. Interestingly, for identical thermochemical conditions, a higher mixing intensity, associated with the shear rate, leads to shorter induction times, faster precipitation and a greater particle density. On the other hand, for similar mixing conditions, a higher saturation index is also linked with shorter induction times, faster precipitation and a greater particle density. From the experimental data it is concluded that the effect of the fluid shear rate cannot be ignored and should be further studied in the precipitation process.

Effect of Biochar from Different Origin onPhysio-Chemical Properties of Soil and Yield of Garden Pea ( Pisum sativum L.) at Paklihawa, Rupandehi, Nepal

A field experiment was conducted at the Horticulture farm of Paklihawa Campus, Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Rupandehi district to observe the effect of biochar from different origin on physio-chemical properties of soil and yield of garden pea (Pisum sativum L.) and evaluate them. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with four replications. A set up constituted of various treatments viz. rice husk biochar, poultry manure biochar, sheep manure biochar, farm yard manure biochar and wood biochar along with the control group. Results showed that number of pod/plant, number of seed/pod and biomass (ton/ha) were significantly affected by application of biochar of different origin. Application of rice husk biochar had higher effect on number of pod/plant, no of seed/pod, biomass (ton/ha) and green pod yield (ton/ha). Biochar of Poultry manure and of sheep manure had almost similar effect on soil nitrogen as of other types of biochar, while higher effect on soil phosphorus and potassium as compared to other biochar. Biochar of sheep manure had higher organic matter content and carbon percentage in soil than all other application of biochar. Application of all types of biochar showed highly significant results on bulk density and particle density. It was found that biochar of rice husk had greater particle density 2.61 g/cc and all the application had decreased bulk density except that of biochar prepared from wood. Thus, the soil where biochar was applied was found to be of better quality than that of the controlled one where no biochar was used. These results suggest that biochar could be one of the best options in poor quality soil and where burning practices are mostly adopted for cleaning the field.

Dependence of Surface-Enhanced Infrared Absorption (SEIRA) Enhancement and Spectral Quality on the Choice of Underlying Substrate: A Closer Look at Silver (Ag) Films Prepared by Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD)

Silver (Ag) films of varying thickness were simultaneously deposited using physical vapor deposition (PVD) onto six infrared (IR) substrates (BaF(2), CaF(2), Ge, AMTIR, KRS-5, and ZnSe) in order to correlate the morphology of the deposited film with optimal SEIRA response and spectral band symmetry and quality. Significant differences were observed in the surface morphology of the deposited silver films, the degree of enhancement provided, and the spectral appearance of para-nitrobenzoic acid (PNBA) cast films for each silver-coated substrate. These differences were attributed to each substrate's chemical properties, which dictate the morphology of the Ag film and ultimately determine the spectral appearance of the adsorbed analyte and the magnitude of SEIRA enhancement. Routine SEIRA enhancement factors (EFs) for all substrates were between 5 and 150. For single-step Ag depositions, the following ranking identifies the greatest SEIRA enhancement factor and the maximum absorption of the 1345 cm(-1) spectral marker of PNBA at the optimal silver thickness for each substrate: BaF(2) (EF = 85 ± 19, 0.059 A, 10 nm Ag) > CaF(2) (EF = 75 ± 30, 0.052 A, 10 nm Ag) > Ge (EF = 45 ± 8, 0.019 A, 5 nm Ag) > AMTIR (EF = 38 ± 8, 0.024 A, 15 nm Ag) > KRS-5 (EF = 24 ± 1, 0.015 A, 12 nm Ag) > ZnSe (EF = 9 ± 5, 0.008 A, 8 nm Ag). A two-step deposition provides 59% larger EFs than single-step depositions of Ag on CaF(2). A maximum EF of 147 was calculated for a cast film of PNBA (surface coverage = 341 ng/cm(2)) on a 10 nm two-step Ag film on CaF(2) (0.102 A, 1345 cm(-1) symmetric NO(2) stretching band). The morphology of the two-step Ag film has smaller particles and greater particle density than the single-step Ag film.

A comparative freeze-etch study of the sarcoplasmic reticulum of avian fast and slow muscle fibers

The freeze-etch appearance of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) of fast twitch posterior (PLD) and slow twitch anterior latissimus dorsi (ALD) muscles of the chicken are examined and compared. Particle counts on fractured SR membrane of both adult and posthatch chicks reveal a significantly greater particle density associated with the SR of PLD fibers. The particle density ratio for PLD/ALD SR was found to be approximately 1.6/1 for combined sarcoplasmic (A) and luminal (B) fracture faces of adults and approximately 2.1/1 for the sarcoplasmic (A) face only of posthatch chicks. This study is interpreted as supporting the concept that SR membrane particles represent the calcium-dependent ATPase transfer protein involved in muscle relaxation.

The distribution of trapped particles in a changing magnetic field

The redistribution of charged particles in the mirror field B(s, t) = B0T(t){1 + [s/a(t)]v (t)}is worked out for slow changes in T(t), a(t), and v(t). It is found that increasing T(t) gives a relatively greater particle density increase in the center of the field than deep in the mirrors s≫a(t). The mirror distance retracts like 1/T1/(v+2). Decreasing a(t) has the opposite effect. Field variations constrained to preserve T(t) a2(t) and v(t) leave the form of the particle distribution unchanged, increasing the density everywhere by the same factor.