Process optimization for the production of biodiesel from Azolla Microphylla oil and its fuel characterization

The most competent and operative use of renewable feedstock is super critical for the production of biodiesel which has increased attention worldwide pertaining to aquatic fern Azolla. Maximizing the biodiesel yield by optimizing the process parameters of the low-frequency ultrasonic energy-assisted transesterification process of Azolla oil is the need of the hour for minimizing the production cost of biodiesel. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was applied using central composite rotatable design (CCRD) to find the best optimum reaction parameters for this transesterification process. The optimized reaction parameters arrived from the design of experiments were as following: methanol/Azolla oils molar ratio (A) = 6.49 mole/mole, KOH catalyst concentration (B) = 1.69 (weight% of oil), reactiion time (C) = 34.74 min and reaction temperature (D) = 38.87°C. The best higher theoretical predicted Azolla Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) yield was Y = 99.76% which is in well coincidence with the actual yield. The extracted Azolla biodiesel was tested for various fuel properties with standard test procedures and found to be in agreement with various Biodiesel standards and the results are promising in terms of utilizing Azolla oil as an inexhaustible and potentially economical source of biodiesel.

APPLICATION OF VHI VEGETATION INDICES TO CROP YIELD FORECASTING

The aim of this work is to highlight the algorithm and results of modeling the average regional levels of cereals and legumes yields in some regions of Ukraine (Odessa region for example) using remote data, which used the vegetation index VHI. Methods. Model calculations were performed according to the productivity of cereals and legumes in Odessa region for 2011-2020 and the vegetation index VHI for the same period. VHI products received from NOAA STAR - Global Vegetation Health Products system (4 km resolution, 7-day composite). The relationship between VHI and cereals and legumes yields was assessed by correlation-regression analysis. Results. Statistically significant relationships between VHI and cereals and legumes yields levels in Odessa region with a correlation coefficient of 0.8- 0.9 in the period from April to July were establish. Regression dependences for early forecast of сereals and legumes yields (as of the end of April and May) were established using VHI for 16 and 20 weeks (from the beginning of the year). The correlation coefficient between the actual yield Ufact and the model values is 0.93 for Ufor(16) and 0.89 for Ufor(20). The forecast error did not exceed 10 % for Ufor(16) in 70 % of cases, and for Ufor(20) – in 80 % of cases. Conclusions. The authors established regression dependences for the early forecast (as of the end of April and May) of cereals and legumes yields in Odesa region using the region-averaged vegetation indices VHI for 16 and 20 weeks from the beginning of the year. This algorithm can be used to build model ratios for calculating crop yields for different regions of Ukraine and separately for different crops.

Artificial intelligence approach in crude distillation unit operation

This study incorporates the use of Artificial Intelligence in the monitoring of atmospheric distillation unit of large scale refining operation using Google AutoML tables, Jupyter, and Python software. The process involved training, evaluation, improvement, and deployment of the models based on the input data. The predicted yield (vol %) for the models were: Auto ML model: liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) - 1.41 , straight run gasoline (SRG)– 4.96, straight run naphtha (SRN) – 17.87, straight run kerosene (SRK) – 14.5, light diesel oil (LDO) – 26.47, heavy diesel oil (HDO) – 2.7, and atmospheric residue (AR) –30.03; Jupyter Model: LPG – (0.93), SRG – (4.69), SRN – (17.24), SRK – (14.39), LDO – (26.43), HDO – (2.7), and AR – (30.18); and Python Model:LPG – (1.66) , SRG – (7.58), SRN – (11.68), SRK – (14.92), LDO – (24.77), HDO – (4.59), and AR – (24.59). The coefficient of determination (R2) values of 0.99981, 0.99943, and 0.93078 and Standard Error values of 0.240918, 0.419291, 3.536064, were obtained for the 3 models, respectively. All the software gave good predictions of the actual yield, although the Google Auto ML Table gave the best prediction. The training of the model is fundamental to its performance and precision.

Ultrasonic Microwave-Assisted Micelle Combined with Fungal Pretreatment of Eucommia ulmoides Leaves Significantly Improved the Extraction Efficiency of Total Flavonoids and Gutta-Percha

A biological pretreatment of Eucommia ulmoides leaf biomass was carried out. Above all, the total flavonoids were isolated from Eucommia ulmoides leaves by the treatment of alkaline solution of sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate combined with ultrasonic microwave. The extraction parameters were optimized by central composite design (CCD) software and were displayed as follows: surfactant concentration of 1.5%, microwave power of 700 W, extraction time of 30 min, and liquid–solid ratio of 50 mL/g. The actual yield of total flavonoids was 1.45%. The results of Sudan III color development showed that the cuticle of Eucommia ulmoides leaves was completely removed after dilute alkali pretreatment. Then, Eucommia ulmoides leaves were fermented by Trichoderma viride to remove the holocellulose and obtain gutta-percha. The content of cellulose and hemicellulose in Eucommia ulmoides leaves obviously decreased after Trichoderma viride fermentation. The optimum parameters were listed as follows: solid–liquid ratio of 0.06 g/mL, four extraction times, extraction time of 89.72 min, and extraction temperature of 85 °C. The actual yield of gutta-percha was 4.38%. The amount of extraction solvent per unit weight of gutta-percha from untreated Eucommia ulmoides leaves was 2.91 mL/mg, while that from leaves treated by Trichoderma viride was only 0.96 mL/mg. The amount of extraction solvent was grossly reduced, which is beneficial in terms of environmental protection. The characterizations of gutta-percha were verified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR). This study laid a certain theoretical and experimental basis for the multi-stage extraction of Eucommia ulmoides leaves and the utilization of Eucommia ulmoides resources.

Agroecological optimization of the technology for growing spring barley in the Penza region using the DSS

The article presents the results of modeling the cultivation of barley on leached chernozems of the Penza region. In order to conduct modeling, the Decision Support System (DSS) for agroecological optimization of adaptive farming systems was modernized. The adaptation of the program modules to the climatic and soil conditions of a particular research area allowed us to reach 7% of the error when modeling the cultivation of agricultural crops in the presence of a complete set of indicators necessary for building the model. Technological calculations of the model made it possible to reduce the number of minimum necessary technological operations, as well as rationally distribute the application of mineral fertilizers for the planned yield. The economic calculations of the model allowed us to achieve a high profitability of production of 66±7%. The constructed model was tested at the experimental field in 2020. Practical verification showed the possibility of using the model in agricultural production under normal climatic conditions and its high correlation with the actual results obtained. Statistical analysis of the calculated data of the model and the actual yield with the achieved economic indicators in the conditions of the model field showed the level of reliability of calculations of 95%. Keywords: AGROECOLOGICAL OPTIMIZATION, AGROECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT, AGROECOLOGICAL MODELING

Biological and economic efficacy of cowpea-radish association fertilized with organic manure in diverse planting arrangements

Green manuring and the spatial arrangement of planting intercropped crops are manageable factors to increase the bioeconomic effectiveness of intercropped systems. Therefore, the object of this study was to work out the bio-economic efficacy in cowpea-radish association under diverse Calotropis procera biomass amounts and planting arrangements in two cultivation seasons through biological and economic indices. The research was conducted in a design of randomized complete blocks with four repetitions. The treatments were made of combination of four C. procera biomass amounts placed into the soil (20, 35, 50 and 65 t ha-1) with three cowpea-radish planting arrangements (2:2, 3:3 and 4:4). The biological indices, land equivalent ratio (LER), area-time equivalency ratio (ATER), actual yield loss (AYL), and system productivity index (SPI) and the economic indicators gross revenue (GR), net revenue (NR), rate of return (RR) and profit margin (PM) were evaluated to express the bio-economic efficacy of the cowpea-radish association. The greatest biological efficiencies of the cowpea-radish association were attained with LER and ATER of 1.75 and 1.25; AYL and SPI of 1.48 and 13.15 t ha-1, respectively, in the amount of 62 t ha-1 of C. procera biomass in the planting arrangements 2: 2 and 3: 3. The largest net economic revenue (NR) of 16,382.85 R$ ha-1 was attained in the amount of 52 t ha-1 of C. procera in the planting arrangement 3: 3.

Modeling of elastic-plastic deformation of the ring parts as applied to the analysis of the results of testing the material of the fuel-element cladding

An analytical formula for a smooth description of the tension diagram of EK-181 steel and a method for rearranging the diagram when changing the direction of deformation are proposed for the first time. The process of straightening a quarter of an annular sample and further stretching is numerically modeled. It is shown that the conditional yield strength of the material of the straightened sample is 7.5% less than the actual conditional yield strength of steel. It is shown that the test for pure bending of a cantilever sample in the form of a semicircle with the processing of the bending diagram (by analogy with GOST 3565–80 for torsion) provides an estimate of the conditional yield strength which is 32% higher than the actual yield strength. The possibility of numerical reconstruction of the tension diagram from the diagram of pure bending of a cantilevered semi-ring sample is proved. It is shown that this procedure really gives the value of the conditional yield strength of steel EK-181 with a tolerance for the residual deformation of 0.2%. The analysis of the test procedure for the rings of fuel element cladding and the proposed algorithm for determination of the conditional yield stress of the ring material is carried out. Attention is drawn to the arbitrariness of the choice of the designed load on the two-stage diagram of the diametrical tension of the ring and to the lack of scientific substantiation of the possibility of determining the yield stress on the second part of the diagram. It is shown that this method in the current form contradicts GOST for tensile testing due to the absence of a base with a uniform stress state on the ring. Therefore, the considered method is not recommended for determining the values of the conditional yield strength suitable for strength calculations.

Bio-economic return from the green fertilizing and plant population in strip-intercropping of beet and rocket

The triumph of the crops association with vegetables in semi-arid environment depends on crop types grown and adequate manipulation of treatment-factors tested such as fertilization, plant population, among others. Thus, this investigation aimed to valuate the bio-economic return of beet-rocket strip-intercropping in diverse balanced quantities of hairy woodrose (M. aegyptia) and roostertree (C. procera) biomass (20, 35, 50 and 65 t ha-1 on base dry) and in different rocket plant population (40, 60, 80 and 100% of that recommended population in monocropping - RPM), associated with the beet population of 100% of the RPM, in two years of cultivation. The bio-economic indices: land equivalent ratio (LER), intercropping advantage (IA), actual yield loss (AYL), productive efficiency index (PEI), canonical variable score (Z), gross return (GR) and net return (NR), rate of return (RR) and profit margin (PM) were assessed. The greatest bio-economic returns of beet-rocket strip-intercropping were of: 1.87; 7.44; 1.90; 0.98; 2.52; 85,827.79 and 65,425.01 R$ ha-1; 4.24 R$ for each real invested, and 77.02%, respectively, for LER, IA, AYL, PEI, Z, GR, NR, RR and PM in the biomass quantity of 65 t ha-1 of hairy woodrose and roostertree, in the rocket population of 100% of the RPM (a million plants ha-1). The hairy woodrose and roostertree biomass use from Caatinga biome proved to be a viable technology for growers who practice the cultivation of beet-rocket strip-intercropping in semi-arid environment.

Study on Profitability of Wheat in Major Wheat Producing States of India

The present study was undertaken with the objective to compare the minimum support price (MSP) with total Cost (C2) of wheat and also actual yield with break-even yield in major wheat producing states of India. The secondary data were collected from Directorate of Economics and Statistics for the period 2000-01 to 2016-17. The area of study comprises those states which covered >80 per cent of wheat production in India (i.e., Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan and Haryana). The result of study showed that the difference between MSP and cost C2 per quintal was found to be positive but fluctuating over the study period (except in the year 2002-03 and 2005-06 in Madhya Pradesh and 2005-06 and 2014-15 in Uttar Pradesh). It can be concluded that wheat growers of the states benefitted more from MSP by cultivation of wheat. The margin of safety was also fluctuating over the period of time in all the five wheat-producing states but gap continuously widening in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan revealed that the profitability from wheat was increasing in these states.