Influence Of Relative Humidity Research Articles

Analysis of spatiotemporal distribution of air quality index (AQI) in the state of West Bengal, India from 2016 to 2021

The ambient air quality is progressively declining, especially in emerging countries, due to increased urbanization, high demands of energy, and industrialization. High risks to human health and environmental degradation are associated with air pollution. The analysis of the Air Quality Index (AQI) serves as a valuable tool for simplifying the communication of air quality in a specific region, making it easily comprehensible to the general public. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and Indian air quality regulations recommend mathematical functions to compute sub-indices for calculating the AQI. The main objectives of this study were to evaluate the AQI status from a different point of view (monthly, seasonal, and annual variations and association of AQI with meteorological factors) and estimate the future AQI. The monthly AQI values in West Bengal vary from “Satisfactory to Moderate” level from 2016 to 2021. In district-wise, the highest AQI was observed in Kolkata (189), Bardhaman (178), and Murshidabad (167) in the year 2016; Kolkata (180), Bardhaman (155), and Howrah (155) in 2017; Howrah (180), Kolkata (179) and Hoogly (166) in 2018; Howrah (170), Kolkata (156) and Bardhaman (156) in 2019; Howrah (150), South 24 Parganas (137), and Kolkata (136) in 2020 and Howrah (161), Kolkata (139), and South 24 Parganas (139) in 2021 respectively in Winter season. The association between meteorological parameters, such as temperature (r = − 0.605, p < 0.001), relative humidity (r = − 0.647, p < 0.001), and precipitation (r = − 0.821, p < 0.001) and AQI shows a significant strong negative correlation (p < 0.05). In addition, the relative influence of temperature, precipitation, and relative humidity was 53.13%, 36.69%, and 10.18%, respectively, on AQI variation. Temperature plays a significant role in association with AQI distribution in the atmosphere than RH and precipitation. The distribution of AQI in the whole state of West Bengal showed a higher AQI observed in the Southern part compared to the northern part of the state. The study's conclusions and recommendations can help stakeholders and policymakers’ to control and improve the deterioration of air quality caused by concerns about AQI and human health.

Influence of Relative Humidity on Electrical Properties of Textile Laminates

The aim of this paper is to determine the influence of relative humidity on the comfort and electrical resistance properties of textile laminates in order to predict possible changes in footwear protection levels. Four textile laminates of different structure and fibre nature were selected for the study. It was determined that water vapour absorption of textile laminates strongly depends on the humidity of the storage environment. The absorption ability of laminates increases about 1.8 – 3 times as relative humidity increases from 65 % up to 95 %. The degree of increase depends on the textile laminate structure and the nature of the materials layers. The electrical properties of protective footwear can be influenced by the structure, thickness, relative humidity, and voltage of textile laminates. For textile laminates composed of natural and synthetic fibres and polymer foam as insulators, the resistivity increases with the thickness of the synthetic fibre and polymer layer. At low voltage (U = 100 V), the textile laminates tested became insulating materials, as the electrical resistivity exceeded the threshold values for antistatic materials in all relative humidity ranges. At high voltage (U = 500 V) the electrical resistivity of textile the laminates drops dramatically when the relative air humidity increases and the level of protection of the laminates depend on the amount of moisture absorbed and the nature of the layer materials. The laminates possessed insulating properties in environments of up to 65 % relative humidity. In a high humidity of the environment, the insulating properties of textile laminates turned to antistatic, except for laminate without a polymeric membrane, which became conductive.

Investigation of RH effect on uncommon limonene ozonolysis products and SOA formation in indoor air with real time measurement techniques

Scientific interest in SOA influence on indoor air quality increases since last 20 years. It is well known, that particles of nano-sized diameter pose a threat for human health causing, among others: eye, upper airway irritation, inflammatory response in cells, worsening asthma, hypertension, diabetes, and central nervous dysfunction. Terpenes are reactive VOCs, commonly emitted in indoor air and considered to be SOA precursors by oxidation reactions. The aim of this study was to investigate the relative humidity influence on i) formation of limonene ozonolysis products and ii) SOA formation process – especially the first steps of it. We managed to determine 4 uncommon limonene ozonolysis products (m/z: 43, 83, 99 and 110) appearing in the PTR-TOF-MS mass spectra with the same frequency as well-known formaldehyde, acetone, acetic acid and formic acid. We also detected m/z 75 and m/z 115 formed under dry conditions and m/z 111 and m/z 125 formed under humid conditions. Detected masses formula is proposed with probability >70 % and the probability is derived from the deviation of the exact mass to the measured one and the isotope distribution. SMPS data analysis allowed us to conclude that RH around 40% increases particle mass concentration, regardless initial limonene concentration. Unfortunately, conclusions about RH influence on particle number concentration are inconsistent. Under low initial terpene concentration, RH around 40% decreases particle number concentration. However, for high initial limonene concentration, RH around 40% caused increase in particle number concentration. Obtained results allowed to conclude, that i) RH influences both particle number and particle mass concentration, ii) initial substrate concentration influences SOA formation altering the RH effect, iii) comparison of results and drawing conclusions is difficult due to different experimental protocols in the literature and due to the number of factors influencing SOA formation initiated by terpene oxidation.

Effect of relative humidity on methane explosion characteristics of curved pipes in pipe gallery

To explore the influence of relative humidity on the explosion characteristics of methane-premixed gas in the urban underground pipe corridor. The experiment took a 30° bend pipe as an example, and the relative humidity in the pipe had been set to 50% RH, 70% RH, and 90% RH while changing the methane volume fraction to 7%, 9.5%, and 12% to study its influence on the explosion characteristics. When the methane volume fraction is 9.5%, the relative humidity under the same conditions is set in the straight pipe to compare the parameter changes of flame morphology and explosion pressure. The results show that when the methane in the bend is entirely burned, the flame propagation time is delayed by 32.64% by the influence of relative humidity, the flame is hindered by the wall of the bend, the phenomenon of multiple enhancement occurs, and the flame in the straight pipe decays monotonically with the increase of relative humidity. The relative humidity stabilizes the explosion pressure; the relative humidity of 70% RH in the bend has the best impact on suppressing the explosion pressure, and the relative humidity of 90% RH in the straight pipe dramatically reduces the explosion pressure range. In the bending pipe, the relative humidity inhibited the flame propagation velocity, and the flame propagation velocity at 70% RH and 90% RH decreased by 15.46% and 10.65%, respectively, compared with 50% RH.

Characteristics and Cause of PM2.5 During Haze Pollution in Winter 2022 in Zhoukou, China

The characteristics and main factors of causes of haze in Zhoukou in January 2022 were analyzed. Six air pollutants, water-soluble ions, elements, OC, EC, and other parameters in fine particulate matter were monitored and analyzed using a set of online high-time-resolution instruments in an urban area. The results showed that the secondary inorganic aerosols(SNA), carbonaceous aerosols(CA, including organic carbon OC and inorganic carbon EC), and reconstructed crustal materials(CM, such as Al2O3, SiO2, CaO, and Fe2O3, etc.) were the three main components, accounting for 61.3%, 24.3%, and 9.72% in PM2.5, respectively. The concentrations of SNA, CA, CM, and SOA were increased, accompanied with higher AQI. The sulfur oxidation rate(SOR) and nitrogen oxidation rate(NOR) in January were 0.53 and 0.46, respectively. The growth rates[μg·(m3·h)] of sulfate and nitrate were 0.027(-5.89-9.47, range) and 0.051(-23.1-12.4), respectively. During the haze period, the growth rates of sulfate and nitrate were 0.13 μg·(m3·h)-1and 0.24 μg·(m3·h)-1, which were 4.8 and 4.7 times higher than the average value of January, respectively. Although the sulfur oxidation rate was greater than the nitrogen oxidation rate, the growth rate of nitrate was approximately 1.8 times that of sulfate owing to the difference in the concentration of gaseous precursors and the influence of relative humidity. The growth rates of nitrate in SNA were significantly higher than those of sulfate on heavily polluted days. The values of SOR, NOR, and concentrations of SNA and SOA during higher AQI and humidity periods were higher than those in lower AQI and humidity periods. The Ox(NO2+O3) decreased with the increase in relative humidity. The SOA was higher at nighttime, increasing faster with the humidity than that in daytime. Under the situation of lower temperature, higher humidity, and lower wind speed, the emission of gaseous precursors of SNA requires further attention in Zhoukou in winter. Advanced control strategies of emissions of SO2 and NO2, such as mobile sources and coal-burning sources, could reduce the peak of haze in winter efficiently.

The influence of relative humidity and emission source location on the migration regularity of bioaerosols in a typical urban environment

The influence of relative humidity and emission source location on the migration regularity of bioaerosols in a typical urban environment

High-Barrier, Biodegradable Films with Polyvinyl Alcohol/Polylactic Acid + Wax Double Coatings: Influence of Relative Humidity on Transport Properties and Suitability for Modified Atmosphere Packaging Applications.

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) exhibits outstanding gas-barrier properties, which favor its use as a biodegradable, high-barrier coating on food-packaging films, possibly in combination with modified atmospheres. Nonetheless, its high sensitivity to water can result in a severe loss of barrier properties, significantly limiting its applications with fresh foods and in high-humidity conditions. In this work, the water vapor (PWV) and oxygen permeability (PO2) of high-barrier biodegradable films with PVOH/PLA + wax double coatings were extensively characterized in a wide range of relative humidity (from 30 to 90%), aimed at understanding the extent of the interaction of water with the wax and the polymer matrices and the impact of this on the permeation process. What is more, a mathematical model was applied to the PWV data set in order to assess its potential to predict the permeability of the multilayer films by varying storage/working relative humidity (RH) conditions. The carbon dioxide permeability (PCO2) of the films was further evaluated, and the corresponding permselectivity values were calculated. The study was finally augmented through modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) tests, which were carried out on double-coated films loaded with 0 and 5% wax, and UV-Vis analyses. The results pointed out the efficacy of the PLA + wax coating layer in hampering the permeation of water molecules, thus reducing PVOH swelling, as well as the UV-shielding ability of the multilayer structures. Moreover, the MAP tests underlined the suitability of the double-coated films for being used as a sustainable alternative for the preservation of foods under modified atmospheres.

Corrosion state assessment of the rebar: Experimental investigation by ambient temperature and relative humidity

One of the most crucial elements affecting the durability and stability of concrete construction is steel rebar corrosion. The primary cause of structural degradation in buried rebar is the generation of corrosion byproducts and the resulting volume expansion. The increased volume of the rebar within the concrete can exert tensile forces, leading to crack formation and concrete spalling. Therefore, the evaluation and prevention of rebar corrosion play a crucial role in ensuring the longevity and stability of structures, addressing concerns regarding their service life and structural integrity. The objective of this study is to measure and analyze the voltage potential at the target corrosion rate of the steel rebar. To achieve the precise target corrosion rate of the rebar, image processing was employed to measure the corrosion rate. By eliminating light reflection and noise, image processing enabled precise calculations based on the extracted corroded portions of the rebars. To evaluate the influence of temperature and relative humidity on the surface corrosion rate, voltage potential measurements were conducted. The results revealed that the voltage potential exhibited minimal sensitivity to temperature variations. However, it displayed a significant response to changes in relative humidity. Notably, smaller-diameter steel rebars exhibited increased variations in voltage potential in accordance with changes in the rate of relative humidity. This can be attributed to the small diameter and cross-sectional size of the steel, which facilitate electron mobility and, consequently, exhibit a high sensitivity to environmental changes.

Unraveling the effect of temperature and humidity on the life cycle of Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) and the impact on pest outbreaks.

Temperature and humidity are considered the main abiotic factors that affect both the development and survival of ectothermic organisms. In this study, we estimated the development time as well as the thermal requirements of the sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius, 1794; Lepidoptera: Crambidae), a key insect pest of sugarcane and discussed the influence of temperature and relative humidity and its infestation intensity in a scenario of climate change. The models Brière-1 and Ikemoto-Takai provided the best fit to the data of development rate versus temperature. The average life cycle (from egg to adult) ranged from 39.21 ± 4.84 at 32 °C to 137.10 ± 7.47 at 18 °C days. The thermal constant and average base temperature were 547.69 degree-days and 13.64 °C, respectively. The number of larval instars varied from 4 to 7 depending on the temperature, being higher at lower temperatures. The thermal range comprised the interval from 16.7 °C to 33.9 °C and the optimum temperature was estimated as 27.4 °C. Locations with elevated temperature (≥25 °C) and high relative humidity (≥70%) presented larger populations of D. saccharalis. Our findings show that the infestation pressure of this species is highly influenced by both temperature and humidity, and the studied models allow to forecast pest outbreaks. In the context of climate change, information about the thermal range and the optimum temperature contributes to predicting the spatial-temporal distribution of D. saccharalis and, consequently, aids decision making in pest management.

The Effect of Dust Deposition on the Performance of Photovoltaic Panels

Given the energy crisis and climate change due to pollution, and given that the largest emissions of greenhouse gases are produced by the energy industry, we must turn our attention to the efficient use of solar energy, which is the cleanest and most abundant of all renewable energies. In this paper, based on an analysis of the specialized literature, we studied the effect of dust accumulation on the surface of photovoltaic modules on some performance characteristics and on the efficiency of these panels and modules compared to the efficiency of clean modules. We analyzed the cause of dust accumulation and the influence of the tilt angles of the photovoltaic panels on the dust deposition rate. We highlighted the influence of atmospheric temperature, solar radiation, wind speed, and relative humidity depending on the density of the dust deposited on the surface of the photovoltaic panel, and we found a decrease in the efficiency of the panel based on the increase in dust density for slightly high values of solar radiation, wind speed, and relative humidity. We highlighted the reduction in CO2 emissions by replacing electricity from fossil fuels with solar energy. The efficient use of solar energy is a solution for the decarbonization of the energy sector.

The acoustic activity of Physalaemus cuvieri (Anura Leptodactylidae) is strongly influenced by climatic conditions, but not by latitude or landscape metrics

Understanding the factors that influence acoustic activity of anuran species is essential for proper species management and herein, we investigated the influence of landscape metrics (% native vegetation cover and number of patches), latitude and climatic variables (temperature and relative humidity) on the acoustic activity of Physalaemus cuvieri. We used Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) to record the acoustic activity in males of the target species in 29 water bodies distributed throughout the Cerrado, the Brazilian savanna. We investigated whether the rate of call emission by P. cuvieri males is influenced by predictor variables based on generalized linear mixed models. The call rate of P. cuvieri males was influenced only by air temperature variation throughout night. We found a peak of acoustic activity in the warmer hours in the beginning of the night followed by a decrease as the air temperature declines throughout the dawn. Contrary to our expectations, we did not find any significant influence of latitude, relative humidity or landscape metrics (number of fragments or percentage of native vegetation cover) on the acoustic activity of P. cuvieri. The impacts of landscape metrics on the acoustic activity of P. cuvieri are not significant, because it is a species with more generalist ecological requirements, which to allow the individuals to move across the landscape to be successful in colonizing water bodies situated in altered environments. Previous studies have suggested that changes in temperature may affect species phenology, since individuals alter their vocal activity, or their time spent in chorus in response to climate change. In this sense, our results are important because they allow us to predict the impact of future climate change on the acoustic activity of the target species, as well as demographic implications.

The influence of thermal-hygrometric properties of air on the tune of pipe-organs

Pipes of pipe-organ dynamically change their tune during the year due to environmental conditions, sometimes consistently, making these instruments hard to be played. Because thermal-hygrometric properties of air change through the seasons, this study investigates the influence of air temperature and relative humidity on pipes' tune by monitoring a real pipe organ during a year. Normalized frequency was introduced to analyze and compare notes and logs of different extents with each other, and a variation within 7% was reported. Absolute Humidity parameter was introduced to gather temperature and relative humidity under a single parameter, allowing the evaluation of the contribution of the relative humidity to the frequency changes. Fitting models and their equations were extracted, and normalized residuals were estimated. The same analyses were performed on a small pipe organ at a laboratory scale to confirm the reliability of those models. A comparison between standard equations for calculating the resonance frequency of pipes and the introduced models is also discussed. Finally, the slight influence of humidity on the sounding frequency was confirmed. K/coefficients were introduced to align the results of the longitudinal resonance frequency equation for cylindrical cavities from literature with the resulting model by comparing the temperature influence.

Influence of Relative Air Humidity on the Abrasion Resistance of Polyurethane Ureas with Different Hard Segment Content in a Polymer Chain

Influence of Relative Air Humidity on the Abrasion Resistance of Polyurethane Ureas with Different Hard Segment Content in a Polymer Chain

Spatiotemporal characterization of relative humidity trends and influence of climatic factors in Bangladesh

The frequency and intensity of climate change and resulting impacts are more prevalent in South Asian countries, particularly in Bangladesh. Relative humidity (RH) is a crucial aspect of climate, and higher RH variability has far-reaching impacts on human health, agriculture, environment, and infrastructure. While temperature and rainfall have gained much research attention, RH studies have received scant attention in the research literature. This study investigated the trends and variability of RH levels in Bangladesh and the influence of other meteorological factors over the past 40 years. Variabilities in the meteorological factors were identified by calculating descriptive statistics. Innovative trend analysis (ITA) and Mann-Kendall test (MK-test) methods were utilized to assess monthly, seasonal, and annual trends. The magnitude of temperature, rainfall, and windspeed influences on RH variability were identified using Pearson's correlation, Spearman rank correlation, and Kendall correlation model. Variability analysis showed higher spatial variations in RH levels across the country, and RH skewed negatively in all stations. Results reveal that daily, monthly, seasonal, and annual trends of RH exhibited positive trends in all stations, with an increasing rate of 0.083–0.53% per year in summer, 0.43–0.68% per year in winter, and 0.58–0.31% per year in the rainy season. Both ITA and MK-test provided consistent results, indicating no discrepancies in trend results. All three models indicate that temperature, rainfall, and windspeed have weak to moderate positive influences on changing RH levels in Bangladesh. The study will contribute to decision-making to improve crop yields, health outcomes, and infrastructure efficiency.

Surface Condensation Water under Salix psammophila Is the Main Water Source in Addition to Rainfall in the Kubuqi Desert

Amidst climate change, managing water and vegetation adaptability is vital in ecology and agriculture. Salix psammophila is key in deserts, maintaining ecological balance and combating desertification. Understanding its surface condensation and response to weather is critical for survival. This study aims to investigate the formation patterns of surface condensation water under S. psammophila at different irrigation levels and the influence of precipitation, temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed. Conducted in China’s Kubuqi Desert from June to September 2022, the study employed micro-lysimeters with four irrigation test sets and a control group, conducting detailed observations at various locations. The results indicate that S. psammophila significantly influences surface condensation water by blocking solar radiation and reducing wind speed. The drip irrigation system also regulates surface condensation water on S. psammophila. Moreover, meteorological factors such as 24 h maximum temperature, relative humidity difference, wind speed, and air vapor pressure deficit show significant correlations with surface condensation water formation. In conclusion, this study enhances the understanding of desert ecosystem water balance, vegetation adaptability, and efficient water resource utilization. It provides valuable scientific guidance for the conservation and restoration of desert ecosystems.

Seasonal variability of airborne mold concentrations as related to dust in a coastal urban area in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Recent studies have demonstrated that the amount of specific airborne mold types and their concentrations increase during dust events. This study investigates the seasonal variation of airborne mold concentrations before, during, and after the dust transport in an eastern Mediterranean coastal area, Izmir city, Turkey. A total of 136 airborne mold samples were collected between September 2020 and May 2021. Two different culture media, namely Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) and Malt-Extract Agar (MEA), were used for enumeration and genus-based identification of the airborne mold. In addition to culture media, the influences of air temperature, relative humidity, and particulate matter equal to or less than 10µm (PM10) were also investigated seasonally. The HYSPLIT trajectory model and web-based simulation results were mainly used to determine dusty days. The mean total mold concentrations (TMC) on dusty days (543 Colony Forming Unit (CFU)/m3 on PDA and 668CFU/m3 on MEA) were approximately 2-2.5 times higher than those on non-dusty days (288CFU/m3 on PDA and 254CFU/m3 on MEA) for both culture media. TMC levels showed seasonal variations (p < 0.001), indicating that meteorological parameters influenced mold concentrations and compositions. Some mold genera, including Cladosporium sp., Chrysosporium sp., Aspergillus sp., Bipolaris sp., Alternaria sp., and yeast, were found higher during dusty days than non-dusty days. Thus, dust event impacts levels and types of airborne molds and has implications for regions where long-range dust transport widely occurs.

Use of partial discharges measurements and video recordings to investigate the influence of relative humidity on zinc oxide subjected to high electric fields

This study investigates the influence of humidity on the high voltage behaviour of zinc oxide porous pellets at room temperature, using the phase resolved partial discharge (PRPD) method. The experimental configuration corresponds to the one that would be used for flash sintering cylindrical ZnO pellets at low temperatures in possibly scalable conditions: planar Pt electrodes without Pt paste. The study explores the incubation period by increasing the 50 Hz AC electric field up to 8 kV cm−1 (applied by steps or with a continuous ramp) in an air atmosphere with varying relative humidity (RH). Experiments were repeated on several samples and showed that the maximum amplitude of PDs decreased while their number increased as the RH increased. With the support of video recording of the experiments, different characteristics in the PD pattern evolution with increasing AC voltage could be attributed to various locations between the electrodes, at the sample surface, or at the interface with the electrodes. By examining the PRPDs, it was possible to identify two distinct types of PDs having different thresholds of inception: one type corresponds to PDs occurring mostly at the triple junction ‘ZnO-platinum-air’ or in the ZnO-electrodes gap and depends strongly on the RH level and; the other type corresponds to electric arcs between the electrodes, with an inception threshold much less affected by the RH level.

Comparative Analysis of Instrumental and Manual Visibility Observations at Xiamen Airport and the Influence of Relative Humidity

Visibility is a major factor affecting the safety and efficiency of aviation operations. As instrumental visibility measurements are the basis for calculating runway visual range, measurement accuracy is crucial. In this study, we collected instrumental visibility data (VI) from two sets of Vaisala transmissometers (referred to as LT05 and LT23) and one set of forward-scatter meters (referred to as FD) installed at Xiamen Airport. We also considered manually observed visibility (VM) and relative humidity (RH) records of automatic weather stations for 2015 to 2020. Taking the VM data as the benchmark, we comprehensively evaluated the difference between the VI of each instrument and VM as well as the influence of RH on such deviations based on the deviation (ΔV), relative deviation (ΔVMdi), root mean square error (RMSE), relative-RMSE, mean value, and correlation analysis method. Our results showed that: (1) among the three sets of visibility meters, the VI values of LT05 were the closest to the VM values under different VM levels and at high RH. Deviations in the FD measurements were greater than those of the two LT sets under low-visibility conditions that significantly affect aviation operations (VM &lt; 800 m). (2) In general, the VI values were lower than the VM values, and the larger the VM value, the greater the deviation. (3) Extremely large ΔV and ΔVMdi values appeared in spring when the visibility level was rapidly increasing or decreasing. (4) The FD results were greatly affected by RH, with higher proportions of large ΔV and large ΔVMdi data than the two LT sets under high-humidity conditions. Therefore, the Vaisala transmissometers outperformed the forward-scatter meter at the airports along the southeastern coast of China and those in high-humidity environments.

Numerical study of heat and mass transfer during drying process of barley grain piles based on the pore scale

AbstractDrying conditions greatly affect the quality of grains, and efforts should be made to minimize the loss of grains during the drying process. In this study, numerical simulations were conducted to investigate the drying behavior of barley at both the particle and grain pile scales by solving the coupled heat and moisture equation. The model was validated using thin‐layer drying experimental results from the literature, and it was found that the simulated values of average moisture content of the grain had a maximum relative error of 7.73% compared to the experimental values. Furthermore, the impact of air temperature and relative humidity on drying was analyzed. The results showed that the heat and mass transfer coefficients of barley grains varied along the surface, the irregularity of the barley grains resulted in an asymmetric distribution of the surface heat transfer coefficient. Regions with lower porosity in the grain pile exhibited lower rates of heat and moisture transfer, particularly in the central area. Moisture transfer within the grain pile dominated the drying time compared to heat transfer. It was also observed that air temperature and relative humidity were the main variables influencing the drying rate of the grains. As the inlet air temperature increased from 45 to 70°C, the drying rate of the grain pile increased from 0.068% to 0.085%(d.b.)/min. Similarly, reducing the relative humidity from 40% to 18% resulted in an increase in the drying rate from 0.062% to 0.075%(d.b.)/min (within the first 10 min).Practical ApplicationsThis study employed numerical simulations to investigate the drying behavior of barley at both the particle scale and grain pile scale. The developed model was validated using experimental data from thin‐layer drying studies, confirming a significant agreement between the simulated and experimental values. Moreover, the study unveiled the impact of air temperature and relative humidity on the drying process. It was observed that regions with lower porosity within the grain pile experienced reduced rates of heat and moisture transfer. Notably, moisture transfer dominates the drying time. Additionally, the study emphasized the substantial influence of air temperature and relative humidity on the drying rates. These findings offer valuable insights for optimizing drying parameters, including air temperature and relative humidity, in order to enhance the efficiency and quality of the barley grain drying process.

C2-Hydrocarbon Mixture Separation on Polyethylene Membranes with Grafted Sulfonated Polystyrene in H+, Li+ and Na+ Forms

The olefin separation from their mixture with paraffins by facilitated transport membranes is a very important process for the further macromolecular compounds production. Membranes loaded with silver ions, which are responsible for the facilitated olefin transport, are instable with time due to their reduction, while those containing protons catalyze the polymerization of olefins. In this work, membranes based on polyethylene with grafted sulfonated polystyrene in various ionic forms (H+, Li+, Na+) were used for the first time for the separation of the ethylene/ethane mixture. The influence of sulfonation time, relative humidity, and various ionic forms on ethylene separation was studied. The SEM study shows a non-uniform sulfur distribution over the membrane thickness for membranes sulfonated for different reaction times. With increasing sulfonation time and relative humidity the ethylene permeability and the factor of its separation with ethane increase. Separation factors for membranes in the Li+-form are shown to be as high as for membranes in the H+-form. A possible mechanism for the facilitated ethylene transport is discussed.