Taguchi Orthogonal Array Design Research Articles

Modulation of chondroprotective hyaluronic acid and poloxamer gel with Ketoprofen loaded transethosomes: Quality by design-based optimization, characterization, and preclinical investigations in osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic joint disease that results in biomechanical and morphological changes that contribute to cartilage degradation. Ketoprofen (KP), used in the treatment of OA, is a selective inhibitor of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Topical administration of KP bypasses gastric irritation as well as first-pass metabolism and increases localized delivery. The research intricates fabrication and optimization of KP-loaded transethosomes (KP-TEs) via Taguchi orthogonal array design and Central composite design (CCD). The optimized KP-TEs depicted an average vesicle size of 110.0 ± 1.70 nm, poly dispersibility index (PDI) of 0.103 ± 0.01, zeta potential −6.08 ± 0.27 mV, and conductivity of 0.049 ± 0.0001 mS/cm. The optimized KP-TEs were loaded in composite hyaluronic acid (HA) and poloxamer 407 (Px407) for an improvement of osteotrophic and chondroprotective transethosomal gel. The drug content of KP-TEs-HA/Px407 gel was found to be 90.08 ± 1.25 %. Preclinical research has been carried out by using the monosodium iodoacetate to develop model for osteoarthritis in male wistar rats. The X-ray imaging of KP-TEs-HA/Px407 gel treated group showed intact meniscus, healthy articular joint, and normal synovial lining same as the healthy control group. The IL − 1β IL-6, IL-22, TNF-α, and IL-10, levels, X-ray imaging, and studies on histopathology demonstrated the effectiveness of transethosomal gel in reducing pain and inflammation.

An Approach to Development and In-vivo Evaluation of Beta Sitosterol Phytosomes by Taguchi Orthogonal Array Design.

The research mainly focused on developing and optimizing beta-sitosterol phytosomes through a systematic Taguchi orthogonal array design and assessment of their performance in both beta-sitosterol phytosomes. The fabrication of phytosomes containing β-sitosterol was carried out using the rotary evaporation technique. An orthogonal array design was employed in the study to precisely optimize the phytosomes. In this two responses and three independent variables were analyzed. The data was analyzed by using statistical modeling. Characterization of these phytosomes involves Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, entrapment efficiency, differential scanning calorimetry compatibility study, zeta potential and particle size. Based on the findings, an optimized phytsome formulation was developed to achieve the best results. The results indicated that beta-sitosterol phytosomes responses are significant. It effectively reduced body weight as well as levels of total cholesterol (126.120 ± 0.98 mg/dl), triglycerides (104.23 ± 2.8 mg/dl), HDL (39.31 ± 0.45 mg/dl), VLDL (21.67 ± 0.34 mg/dl), and LDL (76.43 ± 0.34 mg/dl) in rats compared to the other groups. The orthogonal array design study observed that the anti-hyperlipidemic activity of β-sitosterol was nearly as potent as that achieved with standard drug therapy.

Statistical Assessment of Counterflow Ranque-Hilsch Vortex Tube Performance

The vortex tube, which consists of a simple tube, is a device that can simultaneously heat and cool thanks to environmentally friendly pressurized fluids (air, oxygen, nitrogen, etc.). Many studies have been included in the literature to evaluate the Ranque-Hilsch Vortex tube's performance and to reveal influential factors. Variance analysis, linear regression analysis, and the Taguchi method are primarily used in practice. This study aimed to compare the strengths and weaknesses of the factorial experimental design and Taguchi orthogonal array design in the statistical evaluation of the factors affecting the heat exchange of the Ranque-Hilsch Vortex tube. For this purpose, a detailed theory was created for the appropriate factorial ANOVA model to the data set (4 × 5 × 12 = 240 experiments) containing the Ranque-Hilsch Vortex tube and effective material type (polyamide, steel, brass, and aluminum), nozzle number (2,3,4,5 and 6), and input pressure parameters (1,5-7 bar). Following the factorial ANOVA solution, including all binary interactions, the findings were obtained according to the most suitable L16 Taguchi Orthogonal array, considering the four levels for each material, nozzle, and pressure. As a result of the ANOVA, all parameters were statistically significant on heat change (p < 0.001). On the other hand, the pressure was obtained as the only statistically significant factor according to the Taguchi analysis (F = 35.17, p = 0.008). The advantages and disadvantages of the two methods were compared regarding the test findings and graphical performances.

A bifunctional catalyst from waste eggshells and its application in biodiesel synthesis from waste cooking oil

Improvement in biofuel synthesis technology could facilitate widespread utilization of biodiesel, and an efficient operation in terms of cost. Catalyst enhancement through mineralization of waste biogenic material is vital for biodiesel production. In this study, biodiesel production was from waste cooking oil (WCO) using a bifunctional catalyst synthesized from waste eggshells and ferric sulfate. The CaO precursor developed from calcined eggshell at 800 °C for 3 h was impregnated with ferric sulfate at a ratio of 1:1. The Bifunctional catalyst synthesized was characterized using an X-ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. The bifunctional catalyst was applied in a one-pot reaction of WCO and methanol to produce biodiesel. The reaction was modeled using the Taguchi orthogonal array design to maximize biodiesel production. The heterogeneous catalyst contained Ca (20.7 %), Fe (18.5 %), S (4.5 %), and O (54.8 %). The identified crystalline phases are CaSO4/Fe2O3 and CaSO4.0.5H2O/Fe2O3. A maximum biodiesel yield of 89.94 wt% was observed under the operating conditions of methanol/oil molar of 5:1, time of 45 min, temperature of 70 °C, and catalyst amount of 4 wt%. The reusability of the catalyst was established for (four) 4 cycles without further treatment. The synthesized biodiesel met the standard specifications. Hence, the synthesized catalyst proved effective in the transesterification of oil with a moderately high free fatty acid, thereby the bifunctional catalyst could expedite biodiesel production from waste cooking oil, and this biofuel could serve as fuel in powering diesel engines.

Thermo-Mechanical Properties of Particulate Banana Epoxy Composite with Fruit Waste (Dragon Fruit Peel) Micro Filler for Household Applications

This study evaluates the thermo-mechanical characteristics of eco-friendly composite made of particulate banana fiber (reinforcement), epoxy resin (matrix) and dragon fruit peel powder (micro filler). The composites were developed using compression moulding technique with 3 factors, 4 variations and Taguchi orthogonal array design (L16). The proposed filler characterization results revealed that the density was 0.97 g/cm3 and combination of C–O, Ca–O, and Ca–Co could improve mechanical strength. Composites with 5 mm fiber length, 40 wt.% fiber weight, and 15 wt.% filler weight have a maximum tensile strength of 25.58 MPa, flexural strength of 44.47 MPa, impact strength 180.33 J/m, and hardness of 82.50 SD. The best composite’s thermal, wear, water and fatigue studies were proposed to suit household applications. The proposed filler improves fiber-resin bonding, which increases thermal stability to 245 °C, wear resistance, decreases water absorption, and results in a fatigue life count of 121000 cycles. Thus, this study concluded that the increasing filler content and decreasing particulate size had an impact on the thermo-mechanical characteristics of banana-reinforced polymeric composites. As a result, an eco-friendly polymeric composite mixer coupler model was developed. Comparative structural and model analyses were performed using ANSYS R17.2. The analysis results confirmed that the proposed composite had higher natural frequencies of 2766.5 Hz and lower deformation values of 0.089293 mm. This proves the proposed eco-friendly composite is a suitable replacement for a synthetic mixer coupler.

Encapsulation of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum CRD7 in sub-micron pullulan fibres by spray drying: Maximizing viability with prebiotic and thermal protectants

Pullulan was used as the wall material for microencapsulation of L. plantarum CRD7 by spray drying, while isomalto-oligosaccharides (IMO) was used as prebiotic. Also, the effect of different thermal protectants on survival rate during microencapsulation was evaluated. Taguchi orthogonal array design showed that pullulan at 14 % concentration, IMO at 30 % concentration and whey protein isolate at 20 % rate were the optimized wall material, prebiotic and thermal protectant, respectively for microencapsulation of L. plantarum. FESEM images revealed that the spray-dried encapsulates were fibrous similar to those produce by electrospinning, while fluorescence microscopy ascertained that most of the probiotic cells were alive and intact after microencapsulation. The adsorption-desorption isotherm was of Type II and the encapsulate had specific surface area of 1.92 m2/g and mean pore diameter of 15.12 nm. The typical amide II and III bands of the bacterial proteins were absent in the FTIR spectra, suggestive of adequate encapsulation. DSC thermogram showed shifting of melting peaks to wider temperature range due to interactions between the probiotic and wall materials. IMO at 30 % (w/w) along with WPI at 20 % concentration provided the highest storage stability and the lowest rate of cell death of L. plantarum after microencapsulation. Acid and bile salt tolerance results confirmed that microencapsulated L. plantarum could sustain the harsh GI conditions with >7.5 log CFU/g viability. After microencapsulation, L. plantarum also possessed the ability to ferment milk into curd with pH of 4.62.

Influence of design parameters on sustained drug release properties of 3D-printed theophylline tablets

The application of three-dimensional printing (3DP) in the pharmaceutical industry brings a broad spectrum of benefits to patients by addressing individual needs and improve treatment success. This study investigates the sustained release properties of 3DP tablets containing Theophylline (TPH), which is commonly used to treat respiratory diseases and recently having a comeback due to its potential in the treatment of conditions like Covid-19. Since TPH is a narrow therapeutic window (NTW) drug with serious side effects in the event of overdose, the release properties must be observed particularly closely. We employed a state-of-the-art single screw extrusion 3D printer, which is fed with granules containing the drug. By employing a Taguchi orthogonal array design of experiments (DOE), tablet design parameters and factor related process stability were sought to be evaluated fundamentally. Following this, examinations regarding tailored TPH dosages were undertaken and a relationship between the real printed dose of selected tablet designs and their sustained drug release was established. The release profiles were analyzed using different mathematical model fits and compared in terms of mean dissolution times (MDT). Finally, in-vivo/in-vitro correlation (IVIVC) and physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling showed that a paradigm patient group could be covered with the dosage forms produced.

Optimization of Welding Parameters for Minimizing Defects and Porosity in Electric Arc Welding of Mild Steel Grade Fe 500 Using of Taguchi Method

Abstract: Electric arc welding is a widely used technique in industrial applications for joining metals, including mild steel grade Fe 500. However, the process is susceptible to defects such as porosity, which can compromise the integrity and quality of welds. In this study, we investigate the optimization of welding parameters to minimize defects and porosity in electric arc welding of mild steel grade Fe 500, utilizing the Taguchi method. The Taguchi method, known for its efficiency in optimization studies, is employed to systematically identify the most influential welding parameters and their optimal levels. Through a series of experiments based on the Taguchi orthogonal array design, we vary parameters such as current amperage, voltage, and electrode size to explore their effects on weld quality. The experimental results reveal significant insights into the relationship between welding parameters and defect formation. By analyzing signal-to-noise ratios and ultimate tensile strength, we quantify the effects of parameter variations on weld quality. The Taguchi analysis enables us to identify the optimal combination of welding parameters that minimizes defects and porosity while maximizing weld strength.

Integrated optimization of common rail direct injection diesel engine input parameters with linseed biodiesel: A hybrid approach using grey relational analysis and genetic algorithm techniques

In the pursuit of improved productivity and efficiency, the search for alternative fuels that reduce dependence on fossil fuels is of utmost importance. This research study aims to investigate the influence of process parameters, namely blend percentage, fuel injection pressure, exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) rate, and engine load, on various engine performance parameters such as torque, brake thermal efficiency (BTE), brake mean effective pressure (BMEP), hydrocarbon emissions (HC), and mechanical efficiency. The experiments are conducted following the Taguchi orthogonal array (L25) design of experiments. Additionally, grey relational analysis, a multi-objective optimization technique, is applied to identify the optimal levels of the process variables that optimize all the response parameters. The optimal values obtained through grey relational analysis are determined as 0% blend, 600 bar fuel injection pressure, 12% EGR rate, and 12 kg engine load. Moreover, the Genetic Algorithm-based Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm (MOGA) is employed for multi-objective optimization of the engine input variables, yielding optimal levels of 19.45% blend, 594.35 bar fuel injection pressure, 14.12% EGR rate, and 12 kg engine load. Furthermore, multivariable regression models are developed to predict the response variables within the experimental domain. These models are validated through a confirmation test. The findings of this study provide insights into the optimization of process variables for enhanced engine performance, with the developed models serving as valuable tools for future predictions and optimization.

Preparation and optimization of an eggshell membrane-based biomaterial for GTR applications

ObjectivesGuided Tissue Regeneration (GTR) is a popular clinical procedure for periodontal tissue regeneration. However, its key component, the barrier membrane, is largely collagen-based and is still quite expensive, posing a financial burden to the patients as well as healthcare systems and negatively impacting the patient’s decision-making. Thus, our aim is to prepare a novel biomimetic GTR membrane utilizing a natural biomaterial, soluble eggshell membrane protein (SEP), which is economical as it comes from an abundant industrial waste from food and poultry industries, unlike collagen. Additive polymer, poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), and a bioceramic, nano-hydroxyapatite (HAp), were added to improve its mechanical and biological properties. MethodsFor this barrier membrane preparation, we initially screened the significant factors affecting its mechanical properties using Taguchi orthogonal array design and further optimized the significant factors using response surface methodology. Furthermore, this membrane was characterized using SEM, EDAX, and ATR-FTIR, and tested for proliferation activity of human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (HPLFs). ResultsOptimization using response surface methodology predicted that the maximal tensile strength of 3.1 MPa and modulus of 39.9 MPa could be obtained at membrane composition of 8.9 wt% PLGA, 7.2 wt% of SEP, and 2 wt% HAp. Optimized PLGA/SEP/HAp membrane specimens that were electrospun on a static collector showed higher proliferation activity of HPLFs compared to tissue culture polystyrene and a commercial collagen membrane. SignificanceFrom the results observed, we can conclude that SEP-based nanofibrous GTR membrane could be a promising, environment-friendly, and cost-effective alternative for commercial collagen-based GTR membrane products.

Chemometrics Assisted Formulation of Glimepiride Nanosuspension for Solubility Enhancement in Diabetic Therapy—A Systematic Approach

AbstractGlimepiride (GLM), a third‐generation sulfonylurea oral hypoglycemic medication, is used to treat type II diabetes. Admittedly, it has a low bioavailability, a relatively short half‐life (t1/2), and high toxicity. To address the issue, a nanosuspension of poorly soluble GLM is designed using a Quality‐by‐Design (QbD) method, to enhance its solubility. Prospective risk factors are identified and assessed using Critical Material Attribute (CMAs) and Critical Processing Parameter (CPPs) to evaluate the targets by Taguchi orthogonal array (OA) design and to study the effects of formulation and process variables on dependent variables. The amount of Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) (X2), agitation time (X5), and concentration of Poloxamer (X7) are found as significant parameters (p < 0.05), and are further optimized using the Box Behnken Design as response surface methodology model. The optimized GLM nanosuspension 1) has mean particle size (PS), zeta potential, viscosity (VS), and percentage cumulative drug release (CDR%) of 258.17 nm, −25.2 mV, 1.087cPs, and 98.52%, respectively. The pattern of drug release is fitted to Non‐Fickian kinetics. The study results in an economic and efficient nano formulation with enhanced solubility.

Microbial bioethanol production from Agave tequilana leaves juice sugars: Process variable optimization and kinetic modeling

This study focuses on the valorization of Agave tequilana leaves through bioethanol production from juice sugars. Optimal cultivation conditions were determined using a Taguchi orthogonal array design to maximize bioethanol production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae BEL6 61003. The optimal conditions included reducing sugars at 120 g/L, air flow at 0.5 vvm; agitation at 300 rpm, and pH at 4.5. Under these conditions, the maximum bioethanol concentration reached 43.26 ± 2.20 g/L, with a productivity (rP) of 2.4 ± 0.12 g/L·h and a yield of 43 %. A mathematical model was developed to describe the dynamics of the fermentation process under optimal conditions, comparing the kinetic equations of Moser-Boulton and Moser-Loung. The simulations strongly fit the experimental data, with coefficient of determination (R2) values reaching 0.96 for both models. The selection of the best model was assessed using the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), favoring the Moser-Boulton equation as the more effective model.

Unlocking the potential of Tunisian dam sediment: optimizing zeolite X synthesis via Taguchi and Box-Behnken methods for sustainable resource recovery and versatile applications.

The Tunisian Lebna dam sediment was utilized to create the zeolite faujasite type Na-X. The aim of this investigation is to optimize the yield of Na-X zeolite using alkaline fusion hydrothermal treatment. Taguchi orthogonal array design was employed with nine trials to explore operating parameters including fusion temperature and time, activator type, and sediment type. The efficiency of alkaline fusion was evaluated using acid solubility. After dissolving the optimal alkali-fused sample in water, the Box-Behnken plan was used to identify the influence of L/S ratio, crystallization temperature, and time on zeolite Na-X yield. Rietveld analysis identified the mineral phases in the sediment as quartz (82.0%), calcite (8.8%), kaolinite (6.0), and illite (1.2%). With a NaOH activator, 850°C fusion temperature for 30min, 15 L/S ratio, and 75°C crystallization temperature for 4days, highly crystalline zeolite Na-X was created. FTIR, TGA, N2 adsorption-desorption isotherm, and X-ray diffraction were used to thoroughly describe this sample. The findings reveal the substantial zeolitization potential of the raw Lebna dam sediment, resulting in a high yield of zeolite Na-X.

Investigation of The Use of Calcium Naphthalene Sulfonate as A Binder in Magnesite Spinel Brick Production and Determination of Optimum Conditions

Refractory materials are indispensable for industries working with high temperatures. Magnesite spinel refractory bricks are used in the cement industry, and calcium lignosulfonate is used as a binder in their production. Due to forest fires and similar reasons in recent years, there is a problem in the supply of calcium lignosulfonate raw materials. In this study, research was conducted on alternative binders to be used in the production of magnesite spinel bricks and the optimum conditions for production with the selected binder were determined. Some of the binders are calcium naphthalene sulfonate, sodium naphthalene sulfonate, magnesium oxide, magnesium sulfate, and molasses. As a result of preliminary tests, it was observed that the most successful results were obtained with calcium naphthalene sulfonate. The optimum conditions for the production of magnesite spinel refractory bricks using calcium naphthalene sulfonate were found by the Taguchi method. As parameters, seawater sintered magnesite in 4 different fractions (A: 3-5 mm, B: 1-3 mm, C: 0-1 mm and D: Powder) and Sinter Spinel in 2 different fractions (E: 3-5 mm and F: 1-3 mm) in total, 6 parameters were selected and an L16 (44x22) Taguchi orthogonal array design was created for this. Volume weight, water absorption, porosity, and strength tests were performed on the samples obtained. Accordingly, taking into account the strength values, the optimum conditions were determined as A1, B1, C2, D4, E1 and F2. Under these conditions, the estimated strength value was calculated as 84.24 N/mm2 and the experimental value was 83.85 N/mm2.

Multi objective optimization of EDM process parameters for HCHCr steel

Electric discharge machining (EDM) or spark machining involves controlled erosion of electrically conducting materials by an interrupted, repetitive electric spark creating discharge between the cathode- tool and anode- work-piece, separated by a dielectric fluid medium. The objective of this work is to study the influence of machining characteristics during EDM of high carbon and high chromium steel (HCHCr) with copper electrode. EDM of HCHCr steel is conducted according to Taguchi orthogonal array (OA) design of experiment to evaluate the material removal rate (MRR), tool wear rate (TWR) and surface finish (Ra).The experiments are conducted on die-sinking EDM with varying current, voltage, and pulse-on-time to measure the above responses. Finally, the multi objective optimization technique namely principal component analysis (PCA) is used for optimizing the process parameters. The experimental results indicate the optimum parameters as: current 9 Amps, pulse-on time 15 µs and pulse-off time 10 µs.

Influence of solvent-free extraction of fish oil from catfish (Clarias magur) heads using a Taguchi orthogonal array design: A qualitative and quantitative approach.

This study aimed to efficiently utilize catfish heads, enhancing the oil extraction process while improving the cost-effectiveness of fish byproduct management. The study employed the wet rendering method, a solvent-free approach, utilizing a two-factor Taguchi orthogonal array design to identify critical parameters for optimizing oil yield and ensuring high-quality oil attributes. The extraction temperature (80-120°C) and time (5-25 min) were chosen as variables in the wet rendering process. Range analysis identified the extraction time as a more significant (p < 0.05) factor for most parameters, including oil yield, oil recovery, acid value, free fatty acids, peroxide value, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances. The extraction temperature was more significant (p < 0.05) for oil color. Consequently, the wet rendering method was optimized, resulting in an extraction temperature of 80°C and an extraction time of 25 min, yielding the highest oil yield. This optimized wet rendering process recovered 6.37 g/100 g of oil with an impressive 54.16% oil recovery rate, demonstrating comparable performance to traditional solvent extraction methods. Moreover, Fourier transfer infrared spectra analysis revealed distinct peaks associated with triacylglycerols and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). The oil recovered under optimized conditions contained higher levels of PUFA, including oleic acid (189.92 μg/g of oil), linoleic acid (169.92 μg/g of oil), eicosapentaenoic acid (17.41 μg/g of oil), and docosahexaenoic acid (20.82 μg/g of oil). Volatile compound analysis revealed lower levels of secondary oxidation compounds under optimized conditions. This optimized wet rendering method offers practical advantages in terms of cost-efficiency, sustainability, reduced environmental impact, and enhanced oil quality, making it an attractive option for the fish processing industries. Future research possibilities may include the purification of the catfish head oil and its application in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

The use of low-pressure cold plasma optimization for microbial decontamination and physicochemical preservation of strawberries

Strawberries are highly perishable products due to the presence of elevated water levels, thereby necessitating postharvest treatments to enhance physicochemical quality (PQ) and shelf-life. Although several studies have focused on the development of cold plasma processes as postharvest treatments, the effect of the processing parameters remains unexplored. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the use of low-pressure cold plasma (LP-CP) for microbial decontamination and physicochemical preservation of strawberries using Taguchi orthogonal array design (OAD). The results showed that optimizing LP-CP treatment power, exposure time, and reactor pressure delayed the deterioration rates of strawberries by approximately 10–60 %. Total plate count (TPC) showed that LP-CP treatment with 90 W for 90 s at 0.076 Torr was the optimum condition for microbial decontamination. Color change (CC) was optimally inhibited with 90 W for 60 s in 0.076 Torr. Meanwhile, the optimum condition for maintaining electrolyte leakage (EL) was 30 W for 30 s at 0.076 Torr. Optimal ascorbic acid (AA) content and antioxidant capacity (DPPH) were obtained at 30 W for 30 s in <0.756 Torr. LP-CP processing parameters of power (up to 59–96 %) had the most significant contribution (p < 0.05), followed by time (up to 29 %) and pressure (up to 10 %). Based on the results, reducing microbial contamination preserved the surface color of strawberries. Lowering LP-CP power input, exposure time, and reactor pressure was suggested to enhance the membrane integrity and antioxidant properties of the samples. The results of this study could promote green industrialization of strawberries by reducing waste and improving process efficiency to achieve sustainable development.

Adsorption of phenol using adsorbent derived from Saccharum officinarum biomass: optimization, isotherms, kinetics, and thermodynamic study

The present research shows the application of Taguchi's design of experiment approach to optimize the process parameters for the removal of phenol onto surface of Saccharum officinarum biomass activated carbon (SBAC) from an aqueous solution to maximize adsorption capacity of SBAC. The effect of adsorption parameters viz. adsorbent dose (m), temperature (T), initial concentration (C0) and mixing time (t) on response characteristics i.e., adsorption capacity (qt) has been studied at three levels by using L9 orthogonal array (OA) which further analyzed by variance analysis (ANOVA) for adsorption data and signal/noise (S/N) ratio data by using ‘larger the better’ characteristics. Using ANOVA, the optimum parameters are found to be m = 2 g/L, C0 = 150 mg/L, T = 313 K and t = 90 min, resulting in a maximum adsorption capacity of 64.59 mg/g. Adopting ANOVA, the percentage contribution of each process parameter in descending order of sequence is adsorbent dose 59.97% > initial phenol concentration 31.70% > contact time 4.28% > temperature 4.04%. The phenol adsorption onto SBAC was best fitted with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and follows the Radke-Prausnitz isotherm model. Thermodynamic parameters suggested a spontaneous, exothermic nature and the adsorption process approaches physisorption followed by chemisorption. Hence the application of Taguchi orthogonal array design is a cost-effective and time-efficient approach for carrying out experiments and optimizing procedures for adsorption of phenol and improve the adsorption capacity of SBAC.

Experimental Investigation of the Water Droplet Evaporation on Inclined Surfaces by Taguchi and ANOVA Optimization Analysis

Abstract We experimentally investigated the evaporation characteristics of a sessile water droplet on a glass substrate with different surface roughness levels. The influence of five parameters is evaluated for the evaporation process: substrate temperature (30 °C, 45 °C, and 60 °C), surface roughness (P0, P600, and P60), droplet volume (3, 5, and 8 µL), water droplets initial temperature (30 °C, 40 °C, and 60 °C), and inclination angle (0 deg, 45 deg, and 75 deg) of the glass substrate. The Taguchi orthogonal array design of L27 is utilized to establish minimal candidate trial points for experimental works, and more trials have been conducted to quantify the effects accurately. Then, analysis of variance (ANOVA) has been used to evaluate the evaporation times for the sessile droplets. The results indicate that evaporation times decrease with rising substrate temperatures, increasing substrate inclination angle, and increasing initial water droplet temperatures. In contrast, evaporation times rise with increasing surface roughness and droplet volumes. After evaluation of the ANOVA analysis, surface roughness levels and droplet volumes are considered the most influential parameters after substrate temperatures, which is the most effective parameter on the evaporation times. On the other hand, initial water droplet temperatures and substrate inclination angle are less effective considering droplet evaporation times. A linear regression fit was derived via ANOVA analysis for the evaporation time, and the best mean deviation was found to be 10% from the experiments. The experimental outcomes were compared to previous research, and correlations were derived. The proposed correlation has given good results considering experimental and literature data.

Analysis of the mechanical properties of the single layered braid reinforced thermoplastic pipe (BRTP) for oil & gas industries

Reinforced thermoplastic pipes (RTPs) are instantly being broadly scrutinized as a feasible surrogate for metallic pipes due to their superior corrosion resistance, low weight, and low maintenance worth, they have three primary layers inner, outer, and reinforcement. Process parameters for manufacturing reinforced layers are critically essential to enhancing the mechanical performance of RTPs. However, limited comparative research on the impact of braiding parameters on RTP’s mechanical characteristics appears to be publicly available. Therefore, this study examines how these variables affect the mechanical characteristics of braid RTP. This new class of braid RTP is constructed of an HDPE liner pipe, over-wrapped with a single braid layer of resin glass fiber. L9 Taguchi orthogonal array design for experiments was used to create specimens. Furthermore, specimens were subjected to tensile and compression to assess their mechanical properties. Epoxy and ±75 were the most promising parameters in achieving the highest number of tensile and compression properties among choices of thermoplastic polymer matrices and braid angles, respectively. ANOVA suggested that both parameters are significant and significantly impact the mechanical properties of the prototype braid RTP. Also, A1B3 is considered the best combination for producing braid RTP with higher mechanical performance; no notable interaction among factors was found.