Pellet Size Research Articles

Rodent Diets Incorporated with Live Biotherapeutic Products (LBPs): An Innovative Dosing Strategy to Support Preclinical Animal Studies on LBP Intervention.

Currently, the administration of live biotherapeutic products (LBPs) in animal-based pre-clinical studies is achieved via oral gavage or voluntary consumption through the water supply. Oral gavage provides the most accurate and precise dosing for the administration of LBPs to laboratory animals; however, it induces stress responses and is labor-intensive, especially when long-term dosing is needed, placing a significant burden on both lab personnel and the subject animals. On the other hand, voluntary LBP consumption through water supply requires less effort and reduces animal stress, but still puts challenges concerning uncontrolled dosing, variations in LBP viability during the dosing period, uneven dosing due to sedimentation of LBPs, and the need for frequent refreshments due to stability and viability concerns in an aqueous environment. To address these problems, we developed lyophilized rodent diet pellets incorporated with stabilized Bioengineered Probiotic Yeast Medicines (BioPYM™), with customizable pellet size, robust mechanical strength, low friability, uniform BioPYM distribution, and proved stability for 10weeks at 4 to 8°C storage, ensuring easy handling and more reliable dosing. Optimal cell viability preservation in dry diets was achieved through optimization of lyoprotectant and blending methods. Pharmacokinetic studies of the shedding of live BioPYM cells and their therapeutic payloads revealed the effective delivery of therapeutic agents targeting rodent gastrointestinal system. Overall, BioPYM-diet pellets represent an improved method for the delivery of LBP, and provide convenient and precise dosing. In addition, this method improves laboratory animal welfare and decreases laboratory workload.

Overcoming strength-ductility trade-off in pelleted heterostructure titanium matrix composites by optimizing pellet size

Overcoming strength-ductility trade-off in pelleted heterostructure titanium matrix composites by optimizing pellet size

Sound absorption performance of corncob/hemp composite fabric material

Agro-industrial waste corncob was used to develop a new thin corncob/hemp composite fabric (CHCF) material to improve the sound absorption performance of fiber materials. CHCF materials were prepared from agro-industrial waste corncob pellets and natural hemp fiber by spreading corncob pellets in hemp fiber webs, layering, and high-temperature treatment. The sound absorption performances of the CHCF material, corncob material, and hemp fiber nonwoven fabric were compared, and the effects of the size, content, and gradient mass of corncob pellets, and the gradient thickness of the hemp fiber web on sound absorption by CHCF materials were also analyzed. The results showed that the CHCF material with a smaller thickness exhibited better sound absorption than corncob material and hemp fiber nonwoven fabric, and the smaller the corncob pellet size, the better the sound absorption. The content of corncob pellets had a significant impact on the sound absorption of CHCF. The gradient structures were conducive to further improving the sound absorption of CHCF materials.

CONSTRUCTAL DESIGN APPROACH FOR CARBON DIOXIDE ADSORPTION SYSTEMS

Current carbon capture and storage (CCS) benchmark technologies and materials are both energy and economically costly. Therefore, it hopes to rely on uncovering combinations of designs or materials to provide the performance leap to scale up the CCS deployment to meet the most optimistic Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) projections and socioeconomic shared pathways to mitigate global warming. While the search for advanced materials for carbon capture has drawn much of the efforts to enhance the so-called productivity (CCPr), i.e., CO2 mols per volume of CC material per cycle for high levels of purity for CO2 recovery, there is an opportunity to investigate before-hand how those materials would fare energy wise (PE) (total energy expenditure by total amount of CO2 mols captured) in the reactor. This work presents a formulation based on the Constructal Theory to explore how the features of the materials themselves (absorptivity, molecular diffusivity, density), the packing (pellets shape and size, effective diffusivity, specific capturing rate, porosity), and the configuration of a column packed-bed reactor affects the energy penalty (PE). The investigation is theoretical and numerical by modeling the CO2 mass balance in a prescribed and constant mobile phase flow rate (initially CO2-rich exhaust gases) isothermal 1d tubular packed-bed reactor and the coupling with CO2 mass balance at the pellet level with linear driving force model – both are saturated porous media. The simulations were performed using newly developed Python code and commercial software. The model was turned nondimensional, and the influence of the adapted Peclet and Damkhöler numbers was explored, which showed reverse trends in the indices CCPR and PE. It showed the trade-off between the resistances to adsorb CO2 and the other features of the reactor’s design, providing insights into how those systems may evolve.

Utilization of Locally Available Feeds to Develop Sustainable Blue Swimming Crab (Portunus pelagicus) Farming in Central Java

The popularity of the blue swimming crab (Portunus pelagicus) has led to significant overfishing. Aquaculture offers a potential solution to reduce fishing pressure, given that P. pelagicus is relatively easy to hatch, has high fecundity, a short larval duration, and rapid growth. However, knowledge about feed preferences and feed-use efficiency in P. pelagicus is limited. This study compared the effectiveness of three locally available feeds. A total of 160 juvenile P. pelagicus were divided into five repetitions across four diet groups: PPV (shrimp pellets + Perna viridis flesh, crude protein = 45 %), PAI (shrimp pellets + Acetes indicus, crude protein = 45 %), P100 (shrimp pellets, crude protein = 30%), and P150 (shrimp pellets at 150% of the dry matter requirement, crude protein = 45%, iso-protein to both PPV & PAI). The experiment consisted of three phases: a one-week pre-trial to determine feeding rates, followed by a six-week culture period (Period-1) and an eight-week culture period (Period-2). Body weight and survival were measured biweekly, feed amounts were adjusted accordingly, and costs were recorded. Survival rates and feed conversion ratios were similar across all diets. Crab growth was lower in Period-2 than in Period-1 across treatments. The specific growth rates for PPV, PAI, and P150 were comparable, while P100 resulted in lower growth. The cost of PPV was higher than that of PAI, P100, and P150, with the economic feed conversion ratio for P100 and P150 outperforming PPV and PAI. Shrimp pellets proved to be an efficient feed for the grow-out phase of blue swimming crabs, though pellet size should match the crab’s size.

Study of electric field distribution on plasma and plasma catalysis reactor for different electrode configurations and pellet sizes

In various non thermal plasma based applications, the dynamics of electric fields and charged particle interactions are crucial. In order to find an efficient plasma reactor, the effects of different electrode configurations for the plasma approach and pellet packaging & optimal sizing for the plasma catalysis approach were studied for 6 different types of volume discharge and surface discharge reactor using COMSOL Multiphysics 6.0. The different electrode configurations viz. concentric cylindrical, square and helical as volume discharged reactors and floating & 2 types of non-floating electrodes as surface discharge reactors are considered. The effect of different size (diameter 1/3/5 mm) of pellets were studied for helical and cylindrical plasma reactors for plasma catalysis. The simulated results were then experimentally verified and validated for production of ozone and the conversion or reduction of NOx from diesel exhaust.

Investigation on the effect of operational parameters in a microreactor system on the morphology and size distribution of thorium oxalate

Thorium oxide has recently garnered attention as a nuclear fuel due to the scarcity of uranium resources and the abundance of thorium resources, as well as its favorable thermal and neutronic properties. One of the most desirable characteristics of thorium nuclear fuels is their thermal properties, which are affected by the size distribution and morphology of thorium oxide particles. Thorium nitrate is the most common method for producing thorium oxide. Since no purification processes occur in the production of thorium oxide from oxalates, particle size and shape control are crucial. In this paper, the synthesis of thorium oxalate particles is carried out in a microreactor system to control the parameters of the precipitates. The main parameters that influence the efficiency, size distribution, and morphology of thorium oxalate are the concentration ratio of oxalic acid to thorium nitrate solution, as well as the flow rate ratio of these feed materials. Results show that at lower flow rate ratios of thorium nitrate to oxalic acid solution and higher concentration ratios of acid to thorium nitrate solution, a uniform particle size distribution and smaller particles are obtained, which are suitable for further calcination to prepare high-density and small grain size pellets.

Investigating the Mechanisms of Li Creeping Driven By High Stack Pressure in Sulfide Solid Electrolytes for All-Solid-State Batteries

As the primary use of Li-ion batteries shifts from small electronic devices to electric vehicles, there is a need to increase the stability and energy density of Li-ion batteries. In order to achieve high energy density, use of lithium metal as an anode has being considered due to its high theoretical capacity (3860 mAh g-1) and low reduction potential (-3.04 V vs. SHE). However, the liquid electrolyte used in Li-ion batteries is not only dangerous due to the risk of fire in case of leakage, but also has the disadvantage of shortening the lifetime of the battery due to the generation of lithium dendrites during cycling when lithium metal is used as anode. To overcome these disadvantages, all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) using solid electrolytes have emerged, which are expected to improve safety and cycling stability even when using lithium metal anodes. Among the various types of solid electrolytes, sulfide solid electrolytes are widely used due to their high ionic conductivity and ductility, which allows easy formation of good interfaces, resulting in high performance ASSBs.ASSBs are suffering from the irreversible capacity loss during cycling results from the contact loss between active material and solid electrolyte particles due to the volume change of active materials during cell cycling.1 Applying high pressure has been suggested as a remedy, reported as either recovering irreversible capacity after applying high pressure to cycled cells or mitigating such losses by applying significant high stack pressure.2,3 However, due to the soft nature of lithium, at high pressure, lithium migrates through the electrolyte layer to the opposite electrode, which is known as Li creep, causing the cell to short-circuit. In order to achieve long life of Li metal ASSBs, it is necessary to understand the Li creep phenomenon induced by high stack pressure.This study endeavors to elucidate the impact of the micro/nano-structure of pore channel in electrolyte layer on the pressure-induced Li creep phenomenon, employing LiI-doped Li3PS4 as the electrolyte due to its stability in contact with Li metal.4 Electrolytes with different particle sizes were prepared and electrolyte pellets were fabricated, and the porosity, pore size and pore channel of the electrolyte pellets were confirmed via micro- and nano-scale X-ray CT. The investigation extends to measuring the time to short-circuit in cells with two different electrolyte pellets under high stack pressure, alongside SEM analysis of the internal structure of the short-circuited cell's electrolyte layer. This analysis aimed to confirm whether lithium migration through the pores is a contributory factor to Li creep, thereby shedding light on the structural factors influencing this phenomenon.

Testing the effects of seed pellet composition to aid in semiarid restoration seeding

Restoring and revegetating semiarid regions with native perennial grasses is an extremely difficult task, often unsuccessful due to harsh abiotic conditions. We conducted studies evaluating the use of seed pellets to improve restoration seeding success in controlled and field environments. In a controlled setting, we evaluated the impacts of clay volume, pellet size, and watering rate on seedling establishment and pellet disintegration. The amount of clay, size of pellets, and watering rate were varied in a full factorial design. Seedlings emerged from 40% of the pellets. Clay content did not impact seedling emergence, but larger pellets (2.5 cm) were more likely to produce seedlings. However, when smaller pellets (1.5 cm) produced seedlings, a higher proportion emerged (15 vs. 9%). In the field, we compared seedling establishment monthly, overall summer recruitment, and disintegration of seed pellets made with 10% and 55% clay to broadcast seed and a non‐seeded control using a randomized design. Seedling emergence was higher for both the 10% (1.4 seedlings) and 55% clay pellets (1.0 seedling) than the control treatments (0.5 seedlings), and also higher for the 10% clay pellets than broadcast treatments (0.8 seedlings). Additionally, we found that seedling establishment and recruitment were unaffected by pellet disintegration. End‐of‐season recruitment was higher in 10% clay pellets (2.6 seedlings) than in 55% clay pellets (1.2 seedlings) and control treatments (1.0 seedling). We also found that 2.5 cm pellets had slightly higher recruitment, indicating that larger pellets may be more suited to seedling survival in semiarid environments.

Experimental investigation of high-temperature latent heat storage packed bed using alloy-based phase change materials

This study explores the effectiveness of a high-temperature latent heat thermal energy storage (LTES) system incorporating Al-Si-based microencapsulated phase change material (MEPCM) composite pellets within a cylindrical packed bed. A parametric analysis was conducted to examine the impact of varying pellet sizes (1, 3, and 5 mm) and airflow rates (20–50 L min−1) on the efficiency of heat storage and discharge. The experimental approach included controlled charging and discharging cycles at temperatures ranging from 500 to 800 °C, with Reynolds numbers between 17.6 and 261. The findings indicate that the system achieved a maximum round-trip efficiency of 0.93, with no substantial gains observed beyond a Reynolds number of 150. Additionally, the results reveal the importance of minimizing heat loss to improve system efficiency, particularly during the discharge phase. These insights are crucial for optimizing the design and operational parameters of high-temperature LTES systems to enhance energy storage efficiency.

Oxygen Consumption in Filamentous Pellets of Aspergillus niger: Microelectrode Measurements and Modeling.

Filamentous fungi cultivated as biopellets are well established in biotechnology industries. A distinctive feature of filamentous fungi is that hyphal growth and fungal morphology affect product titers and require tailored process conditions. Within the pellet, mass transfer, substrate consumption, and biomass formation are intricately linked to the local hyphal fraction and pellet size. This study combined oxygen concentration measurements with microelectrode profiling and three-dimensional X-ray microtomography measurements of the same fungal pellets for the first time. This allowed for the precise correlation of micromorphological information with local oxygen concentrations of two Aspergillus niger strains (hyperbranching and regular branching). The generated results showed that the identified oxygen-penetrated outer pellet regions exhibited a depth of 90-290 µm, strain-specific, with the active part percentage in the pellet ranging from 18% to 69%, without any difference between strains. Using a 1D continuum diffusion consumption model, the oxygen concentration in the pellets was computed depending on the local hyphal fraction. The best simulation results were achieved by individually estimating the oxygen-related biomass yield coefficient of the consumption term within each examined pellet, with an average estimated value of 1.95 (± 0.72) kg biomass per kg oxygen. The study lays the foundation for understanding oxygen supply in fungal pellets and optimizing processes and pellet morphologies accordingly.

Exploring Geometric Properties and Cycle Design in Packed Bed and Monolith Contactors Using Temperature-Vacuum Swing Adsorption Modeling for Direct Air Capture.

This study presents a comprehensive comparison between the packed bed and monolith contactor configurations for direct air capture (DAC) via process modeling of a temperature-vacuum swing adsorption (TVSA) process. We investigate various design parameters to optimize performance across different contactor geometries, including pellet size, monolith wall thickness, active sorbent content in monoliths, and packed bed structure configurations, considering both a traditional long column (PB40) and multiple shorter columns configured in parallel (PB5). Our parametric analysis assesses specific exergy consumption, sorbent, and volume requirements across different operating conditions of a five-step TVSA cycle. For minimizing sorbent requirements, PB5 and monoliths with over 80% sorbent loading were the best-performing contactor designs with overlapping performance in the low-exergy region. Beyond this region, PB5 faced limitations in reducing sorbent requirements further and was constrained by a maximum velocity at which it is sensible to operate without substantially increasing the exergy demand. In contrast, monoliths decreased sorbent requirements with minimal exergy increase due to reduced mass transfer resistances and lower pressure drop associated with their thin walls. The analysis of volume requirement-specific exergy Pareto fronts revealed that PB5 was less competitive with this metric due to the requirements for additional void space in the contactor configuration. The study also revealed that optimal sorbent loading for reducing volume requirements in monoliths differed from those minimizing sorbent usage, with the most effective loading being below 100%. Thus, the optimal contactor design varies depending on the goals of minimizing sorbent and volume requirements, and the choice and design of the contactor will depend on the relative costs of these factors. Lastly, our findings challenge the assumption that higher velocities are always preferable for direct air capture, suggesting instead that the operating velocity depends on the contactor configuration.

Enhancing Aquaculture Productivity through Integrated Farming Systems: A Comparative Study of Fish-Pig and Fish-Duck Systems

Integrated farming systems involving fish-animal are of high relevance in current scenario. Studies like this asses the suitability of such systems in improving the aquaculture productivity and overall benefits to the ecosystem. It plays a crucial role in optimizing the use of small water resources in rural areas to enhance animal production. Given the potential of pig and duck manure as nutrient inputs in fish culture, a grow-out trial was conducted in a 0.1 ha earthen pond located in Elangitampatty, Kezhisenkattupatti, and Asakkattuppatti villages of Kollihills Taluk in Namakkal district, Tamil Nadu. The pond was stocked with four carp species: Catla, Rohu, Mrigal, and Grass carp in a ratio of 40:20:30:10 at a density of 7500 fish per hectare. Three treatments were employed: (1) Control (T0), where fish were fed with commercial feed, (2) Integrated fish-duck farming (T1), and (3) Integrated pig-fish farming (T2). In the control group (T0), fish were fed commercial fish feed (24% crude protein, 4 mm pellet size) at 4% of body weight, while in T1 and T2, fish received 50% of the commercial feed and were supplemented with duck and pig excreta, respectively. After an 8-month grow-out period, fish weights and total production in each group were recorded. Water quality parameters, such as pH, dissolved oxygen, free carbon dioxide, alkalinity, and hardness, were measured using standard methods (APHA, 2019). Results showed that pond fertilization with pig and duck excreta promoted the growth of algae, phytoplankton, and zooplankton, providing a natural food source for the fish. Total fish production was highest in the fish-pig integration system (T2), with a recorded yield of 4960.09 kg. Catla (Catla catla) had the highest individual species yield, with a total harvested weight of 2225.98 kg, followed by Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) at 1490.37 kg. The final average weight of Grass carp in T0, T1, and T2 was 1047 ± 13.27 g, 1151.10 ± 12.85 g, and 1490.37 ± 13.52 g, respectively. For Catla, the final average weight in T0, T1, and T2 was 910 ± 9.45 g, 960 ± 10.26 g, and 980 ± 12.20 g, respectively. Similarly, Rohu in T0, T1, and T2 weighed 850 ± 7.98 g, 900 ± 11.23 g, and 910 ± 11.16 g, respectively, while Mrigal in T0, T1, and T2 weighed 600 ± 6.04 g, 720 ± 8.50 g, and 730 ± 10.56 g, respectively. The results highlight that the fish-pig system outperformed the fish-duck system in terms of fish productivity, which may be due to the better nutrient composition in pig manure and the genetic potential of the fish species. An economic analysis revealed that the fish-pig integration system generated the highest net income (Rs. 555,353.90) and benefit-cost ratio (2.12), indicating that integrated fish-pig farming is more profitable than both fish-duck farming and the control group without integration.

Homogeneity and mechanical properties of orodispersible films loaded with pellets

Orodispersiblefilms(ODFs) have served as an emerging platform for the delivery of drugs in a convenient way. The production of ODFs with incorporated pellets may still be a challenging process due to problems to obtain proper homogeneity and deteriorating mechanical properties of the films with incorporated relatively big particles in high concentration. The goal of this work was to evaluate the possibility to achieve fast disintegrating ODFs with homogenously incorporated spherical granules without loss of required mechanical properties. Hypromellose films with incorporated placebo pellets (size 200 µm or 100 µm) in a content range of 20–45 % w/w were prepared by a solvent casting method. Planetary mixer (Thinky) was successfully applied for preparation of a homogeneous mass for casting. The suspended spherical solid particles caused dose and size dependent changes in the mechanical properties and disintegration behaviour of ODFs films, but only 100 µm pellets in concentration higher than 40 % reduced significantly the tear resistance. The films with the pellets disintegrated faster and the larger particles reduced the disintegration time by 60 %. Good homogeneity of pellets distribution, expressed as a number of the particles per unit area, was confirmed for films obtained with a gap height 500 or 800 µm.

Recent Advances and Applications of Passive Acoustic Monitoring in Assessing Shrimp Feeding Behaviour Under Laboratory and Farm Conditions

ABSTRACTThe use of passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) has recently been integrated with other noninvasive ethological methodologies to enhance the understanding of shrimp feeding behaviour, as their mandibles emit click sounds during food intake. This review aims to compile recent advances and various applications of PAM in assessing shrimp feeding behaviour under controlled laboratory and farm conditions. It includes a description of key concepts, terms and general methodologies in the field of bioacoustics to facilitate understanding of acoustic characterisation, specific methodologies and the main uses of PAM in shrimp research. Among the primary contributions of PAM in laboratory studies are acoustic characterisation of clicks and mandibular structures associated with their emission for different species; variations in acoustic click parameters related to animal size, feed texture and pellet size; and effects on feeding behaviour caused by shrimp size, stocking density and specific characteristics of artificial diets (texture, formulations, additives and pellet sizes). Finally, future perspectives and recommendations for laboratory studies using PAM are provided. The review highlights the contribution of PAM, which, allied with other ethological methodologies, emerges as a novel tool for researching shrimp behaviour and optimising feed management in aquaculture.

Microwave drying characteristics and kinetics of hematite pellets

Microwave drying characteristics and kinetics of hematite pellets were investigated based on evaluation of the effects of initial mass, microwave power and pellet size during the drying process. The results showed the average drying rate increased with initial mass from 50 g to 80 g and microwave power from 600 W to 1000 W. However, it decreased with increasing pellet size from 10–12 mm to 14–16 mm. The process was successively controlled by external diffusion, internal diffusion, and chemical reaction. The Verma model was the most suitable kinetic model for describing the process. The effective diffusion coefficient of moisture ranged from 6.61 × 10−7 m2/s to 9.98 × 10−7 m2/s. The activation energy for the microwave drying process was only 2.83 W/g.

A novel resource recovery strategy: Substituting carbon powder with organic solid waste in the production of zinc-bearing dust sludge metallization pellets

This study addresses the issues of difficult to treat organic solid waste and significant secondary pollution generated in the current steelmaking process by using the RHF process. Using pyrolytic slag of waste cloth and mill roll sludge produced in steel plants as raw materials, this study explores the feasibility of replacing part of the carbon powder with organic solid waste to produce metallized pellets. The results indicate that this method is feasible. With 12 % carbon addition, a roasting temperature of 1200 °C, a roasting time of 30 min, and a pellet size of 12 mm–14 mm, the metallization rate and de‑zincification rate of the pellets produced with organic solid waste replacing part of the carbon powder are both improved compared to those with full carbon powder. The metallization rate of these pellets can exceed 90 %, and the de‑zincification rate can consistently remain above 99 %.

Human uncultured adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction shows therapeutic potential against osteoarthritis in immunodeficient rats via direct effects of transplanted M2 macrophages

BackgroundThe uncultured adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction (SVF), consisting of adipose-derived stromal cells (ADSCs), M2 macrophages (M2Φ) and others, has shown therapeutic potential against osteoarthritis (OA), however, the mechanisms underlying its therapeutic effects remain unclear. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of the SVF on OA in a human-immunodeficient rat xenotransplantation model.MethodsOA model was induced in the knees of female immunodeficient rats by destabilization of the medial meniscus. Immediately after the surgery, human SVF (1 × 105), ADSCs (1 × 104), or phosphate buffered saline as a control group were transplanted into the knees. At 4 and 8 weeks postoperatively, OA progression and synovitis were analyzed by macroscopic and histological analyses, and the expression of collagen II, SOX9, MMP-13, ADAMTS-5, F4/80, CD86 (M1), CD163 (M2), and human nuclear antigen (hNA) were evaluated immunohistochemically. In vitro, flow cytometry was performed to collect CD163-positive cells as M2Φ from the SVF. Chondrocyte pellets (1 × 105) were co-cultured with SVF (1 × 105), M2Φ (1 × 104), and ADSCs (1 × 104) or alone as a control group, and the pellet size was compared. TGF-β, IL-10 and MMP-13 concentrations in the medium were evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.ResultsIn comparison with the control and ADSC groups, the SVF group showed significantly slower OA progression and less synovitis with higher expression of collagen II and SOX9, lower expression of MMP-13 and ADAMTS-5, and lower F4/80 and M1/M2 ratio in the synovium. Only the SVF group showed partial expression of hNA-, CD163-, and F4/80-positive cells in the rat synovium. In vitro, the SVF, M2Φ, ADSC and control groups, in that order, showed larger pellet sizes, higher TGF-β and IL-10, and lower MMP-13 concentrations.ConclusionsThe M2Φ in the transplanted SVF directly affected recipient tissue, enhancing the secretion of growth factors and chondrocyte-protecting cytokines, and partially improving chondrocytes and joint homeostasis. These findings indicate that the SVF is as an effective option for regenerative therapy for OA, with mechanisms different from those of ADSCs.

Particle-resolved computational modeling of hydrogen-based direct reduction of iron ore pellets in a fixed bed. Part II: Influence of the pellet sizes and shapes

Full-fledged computational modeling of Direct Reduction reactors encompasses single-pellets models and the step-wise scaling up to industrial-scale reactors. This study delves into the particle-resolved computational modeling of hydrogen-based direct reduction of 0.5 kg iron ore fixed-beds, as a scale-bridging step and focusing on the influence of pellet sizes and shapes. To investigate the effect of particle sizes, two beds with particles sized 10.0–12.5 and 12.5–16.0 mm were characterized and numerically reconstructed using the discrete element method. While to assess the effect of particle shapes, a third numerical bed was generated directly upon a high-resolution CT-scan of a real bed. Through reactive CFD simulations, we investigated the reduction process in these three beds using hydrogen as the reducing gas. Our findings reveal that the bed structure significantly impacts the reduction efficiency and overall conversion degree. This study emphasizes the importance of accurate bed reconstruction and provides critical insights for optimizing the hydrogen-based direct reduction process in industrial applications.

Effect of pellet size on pellet sintering process of manganese ore fines at natural basicity

Effect of pellet size on pellet sintering process of manganese ore fines at natural basicity