The influence of intrusion on change characteristic of coal in Mallawa Formation of South Sulawesi Province

Coal that is deposited in the same depositional environment, age, and formation will usually have the same characteristics. However, the influence of geological conditions in an area can cause differences in the characteristics of coal in the same formation. This study aims to analyze geological factors that can affect differences in the characteristics of coal in the same depositional environment, age and formation. The study was conducted at three different locations, namely Mallawa District, Maros Regency; Lanne District, Pangkep Regency; and Massenrengpulu Region, Bone Regency. The coal sampling method in the study area uses the channel sampling method (ply by ply) which represents the bottom, middle and top coal seams. The results of the proximate analysis of coal in the Mallawa District Maros Regency showed an average moisture content of 7.78%, an average ash content of 39.99%, volatile matter 32.85%, and fixed carbon 19.39%. While in the area of Lanne District, Pangkep Regency shows an average moisture content of 9.65%, an average ash content of 40.41%, volatile matter 33.80%, and fixed carbon 16.16%. The results of proximate analysis in the Massenrengpulu area of Pangkep Regency showed an average moisture content of 3.86%, an average ash content of 23.16%, volatile matter 35.53%, and fixed carbon 37.46%. Coal from Mallawa and Lanne District has relatively the same characteristics, while the Massenrengpulu coal has lower moisture and ash content, and higher fixed carbon caused by the intrusion of igneous rocks in the area which causes the coal maturation process to be faster than the other two regions.

KARAKTERISASI SIMPLISIA DAN EKSTRAK KULIT BATANG SEKILANG (Embelia borneensis Scheff.)

The Sekilang plant (Embelia borneensis Scheff.) Is one of the plants used by the Dayak community for fishing, leech repellent and as an ingredient for hair care. Empirical use of plants can be developed into products based on natural ingredients. This must be supported by research data. As a first step, the simplicia and ethanol extract of the stem bark were characterized. The research objective was to determine the specific and non-specific characteristics of the simplicia and the extracts of the bark of the sekilang. The research stage includes plant determination, collection of raw materials, manufacture of simplicia, extract preparation, organoleptic, microscopic testing, phytochemical screening, determination of water soluble extract content, determination of ethanol soluble extract content, determination of water content and determination of ash content. Microscopy test results of sekilang stem bark showed the presence of fiber fragments, stone cells, and oxalate crystals. The average water soluble content for simplicia and sekilang bark extract was 7.5% and 80%. The average ethanol soluble content for simplicia and extract was 6% and 30%. The average moisture content for the simplicia and extract was 9.5% and 12%. The mean total ash content for simplicia and extract was 5% and 8.5%. The mean acid insoluble ash content for simplicia and extract was 1% and 0.5%.

Determination of Some Selected Thermal Properties of Pumpkin Seeds (Cucurbita pepo)

In this study, some selected thermal properties (specific heat, thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity) in the moisture content range of 5.0-5.6% or green and 4.80 – 5.20% for white varieties of pumpkin seeds were determined. The specific heat was measured using mixture method while the thermal conductivity was measured by transient technique using the heat line source. The green pumpkin seed has average moisture content of 5.2% higher than moisture content of white pumpkin seed of average 4.8%. The average specific heat values of green pumpkin seed are 6.171kJ/kgK and white pumpkin seed 4.327kJ/kgK. The thermal conductivity values for white pumpkin seed ranged from 0.074 to 0.288 W/m°C while that for green pumpkin seed ranged from 0.079 to 0.433 W/m°C. The thermal diffusivity values for green pumpkin ranged from 0.0011 to 0.06 m2/s while that for white pumpkin seed ranged from 0.01 to 0.06 m2/s. It was concluded that the higher the moisture content (5.2%) the higher the value of specific heat of seed (6.171kJ/kgK). It can also be concluded that the thermal conductivity (0.079 to 0.433 W/m°C) value is higher with high moisture content (5.2%).

Lipid yields of algae dried in an enhanced solar chimney

This work focuses on the lipid yield of algae dried using an enhanced solar chimney dryer with the aim towards high quality biodiesel production and low energy consumption. Jaworski’s medium was chosen for the cultivation in this research project as it can provide enough nutrients to green algae of type Chlorella. Sp. Centrifugation is an effective method to harvest the algae from its medium prior to a drying process. In this project, the methods used for drying were oven drying, open-sun drying and an enhanced solar chimney drying. The moisture content was determined where the average moisture content were 82.5% for oven drying method, 81.6% for open sun drying and 82.2% for solar chimney drying. Methods were found to affect differently the algae properties in terms of the lipid yield and mineral content. The lipid yields were 23.7%, for oven drying, 20.6% for open sun drying and 24.4% for enhanced solar chimney drying. While the oven drying was found to be the fastest way to dry the algae, the solar chimney drying proved best in energy saving while producing the same amount or more algae lipid within reasonable drying times.

Moisture swelling and shrinkage of pine wood versus susceptibility to robotic assembly of furniture elements

Moisture swelling and shrinkage of pine wood and susceptibility to robotic assembly of furniture elements. Background and Objectives. Processing technology, storage conditions and wood properties affect the actual dimensions of wooden elements. It was decided to experimentally check how the dimensions of samples, made of the selected wood species, will change under the influence of different storage conditions, typical for industrial environments. And especially how these changes will affect the susceptibility to assembly of upholstery frame rails that form a box joint. Materials and Methods. The tests were performed on three series of rails made of Scotch pine wood. Each tested series consisted of 12 elements. First, the five dimensions forming the box joint were measured. Then, each series was exposed to different conditions: in the industrial hall (air of RH = 29-48% and t = 16-24°C), in the compressor room (RH = 24-51%, t = 13-27°C) and outside in a covered shed (RH = 20-50%, t = 3-23°C). After 35 days the dimensions were measured again. Results. It was found that the average moisture content decreased and the dimensional deviations increased in the samples stored in the production hall and in the compressor room. In samples stored outside, the mean moisture content did not change, but the dimensional deviations increased significantly. Discussion. The storage of wooden elements increases the deviations from assigned dimensions. Exposure to repeated changes in moisture content and ambient temperature, even without changing the final moisture content of the elements, results in greater dimensional changes than storage under more stabilized conditions that reduce wood moisture content. Conclusions. The shrinkage and swelling of wood due to changes in its moisture content are not fully reversible, therefore, apart from maintaining the appropriate temperature and air humidity during storage, it is important to keep these conditions unchanged.

Effect of Lignite Properties on Its Suitability for the Implementation of Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) in Selected Deposits

Two experimental simulations of underground coal gasification (UCG) processes, using large bulk samples of lignites, were conducted in a surface laboratory setup. Two different lignite samples were used for the oxygen-blown experiments, i.e., “Velenje” meta-lignite (Slovenia) and “Oltenia” ortho-lignite (Romania). The average moisture content of the samples was 31.6wt.% and 45.6wt.% for the Velenje and Oltenia samples, respectively. The main aim of the study was to assess the suitability of the tested lignites for the underground coal gasification process. The gas composition and its production rates, as well as the temperatures in the artificial seams, were continuously monitored during the experiments. The average calorific value of gas produced during the Velenje lignite experiment (6.4 MJ/Nm3) was much higher compared to the result obtained for the experiment with Oltenia lignite (4.8 MJ/Nm3). The Velenje lignite test was also characterized by significantly higher energy efficiency, i.e., 44.6%, compared to the gasification of Oltenia lignite (33.4%). The gasification experiments carried out showed that the physicochemical properties of the lignite used considerably affect the in situ gasification process. Research also indicates that UCG can be considered as a viable option for the extraction of lignite deposits; however, lignites with a lower moisture content and higher energy density are preferred, due to their much higher process efficiency.

Selected Physical and Flowability Properties of Evolving Distillers Dried Grains With Solubles (DDGS)

With the rapid development of the ethanol industry over the past few decades, research on distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), its main coproduct, has increased in recent years. However, research about the basic properties of DDGS lacks comprehensiveness. This study examined 16 DDGS samples from 10 ethanol plants in the Midwest U.S., and used standard laboratory methods to measure a series of physical and flowability properties. Results showed an average moisture content of 8.69% (w. b.), water activity of 0.55, angle of repose of 48.04°, shear strength of 0.0324 kg/cm2, geometric mean diameter (dgw) of 0.74 mm, geometric standard deviation (Sgw) of 1.72 mm, loose bulk density of 483.9 kg/m3, packed bulk density of 568.5 kg/m3, Hunter L of 56.71, Hunter a of 13.85, and Hunter b of 46.51. This study represents a step toward a more complete understanding of DDGS, and how various properties change as production practices evolve in the ethanol industry.

Importance of the Moisture Content of Large-Sized Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) Roundwood in Its Road Transport

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is one of the most important forest tree species in Europe, and its wood is a main raw material in the wood industry of many countries of the region. The high variability of pine wood density in connection with its moisture content is a challenge in transport operations. An important part of the roundwood transport of pine wood by trucks is the transport of large-size roundwood (sawlogs). As part of the research, an analysis was carried out of the influence of absolute wood moisture content, determined in various ways, on selected truck transport parameters of large-size pine wood. The analyses of the supply of wood to a large sawmill in northern Poland took into account different seasons. The results indicate that the average moisture content of the transported pine wood is at a level of approximately 95% (determined by dry weight) and the density at 0.878 Mg m−3 (determined using the stereometric method). Quick measurement with the use of a resistance hygrometer gives significantly lower results both on the side surface and on the cross-cut end of the log. Regardless of the method of measurement, the absolute moisture content of wood in loads depends on the date of delivery (season), which is reflected in the variability of the density and weight of the loads. The indicated strong correlations between the selected, tested characteristics of roundwood transports are important for forestry practice too. It is the possibility of using the methods of quick determination of fresh wood moisture to estimate the density of wood and to predict and determine the mass of the load.

Isolation and Characterization of Contaminant Mycoflora from Stored Red Peppers

Red pepper is a spice vulnerable to fungal growth and mycotoxin contamination while in the field and post-harvest during storage. Storage fungi are omnipresent and colonize fast when moisture levels go up, ultimately leading to mycotoxin production. Stored samples of the whole, crushed and ground red pepper in the Southern Indian States and Maharashtra, India were examined to isolate and characterize the prevalent contaminant fungal species. The average moisture content was below 10% for all the red pepper samples and the average total fungal load was less than 1×104 CFU/g. Crushed red pepper showed higher fungal counts than ground and whole red pepper. The identified contaminant mycoflora belonged to the group; Aspergillus, Eurotium sp., Cladosporium sp., Eupenicillium sp., Penicillium sp., Miscellaneous fungi, Neosartorya sp., Curvularia sp., and Hyphopichia sp. Aflatoxigenic Aspergillus flavus was present only in 8.3% of the crushed and 2.54% of whole red pepper samples stored for more than two months.

Innovative Irrigation Using Humidity and Soil Moisture for Efficient Usage of Water in Agriculture Field Compared to Drip Irrigation

Aim: The storage of clean water assets around the world has produced a requirement for their ideal use. Innovative irrigation is the advance method which can overcome the drawbacks of traditional drip irrigation. Materials: In this proposed system two soils, sandy soil with average moisture content 60% and clay soil with average moisture content 76% are taken; A total of 20 samples are taken from 2 groups. The sample size was estimated to be 5 in each group using Gpower with the input soil samples with alpha error of 0.95, threshold value of 0.05, confidence level of 95%, pretest G- power is 80%. Significance of this proposed system is 0.05. Result: Comparing the two soils, the soil which can maintain a low percentage of moisture content appears to be suitable for the irrigation. Minimum percentage of moisture can be achieved by using the smart irrigation system which appear to be better than the traditional drip irrigation. The moisture content in sandy soil is 83% and the clay soil is 63%. Since moisture content is inversely proportional to water content. Conclusion: Clay soil appears to be better than sandy soil, traditional issues in drip irrigation is overcomed by innovative irrigation system.