Solid State Bioconversion of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches into Compost by Selected Microbes

The palm oil industry plays a major role in the economic development of several tropical countries. In processing oil palm fruit for oil extraction, palm oil mills produce a considerable amount of solid wastes in the form of fibres, nut shells and empty fruit bunches (EFB). For every 100 tonnes of fresh fruit bunches processed there will be approximately 20 tonnes of nutshells, 7 tonnes of fibres and 26 tonnes of empty bunches discharged from the mill. In order to prevent environmental pollution, disposal of the oil palm wastes needs prudent handling and consideration. The composting process is currently viewed primarily as a waste management method to stabilise organic wastes. Composting is a management system that uses microbial activity to degrade raw organic material. The stabilised end product (compost) is widely used as a soil amendment to improve soil structure and to provide plant nutrients. These beneficial uses of compost can improve healthy plant production, reduce the use of chemical fertilisers and conserve natural resources. The main objective of this study is to develop an alternative technology for the production of compost from oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB), using a solid state biconversion technique (SSB), by selected microorganisms. SSB is a process whereby an insoluble substrate, with sufficient moisture, but not free water, can be converted to compost by different microorganisms. It is a simple and cost effective way of treating the organic waste, which requires no complex controls. Three efficient cellulolytic cultures Aspergillus niger, Trichoderma reesei and Phanerochaete chrysosporium were used as inoculum in this study. The strains used did not produce any toxic by-products during the bioconversion processes and they were able to utilise lignin and grow on lignocellulosic materials. Shredded and partially dried EFB (280g) were allowed to compost for 8 weeks using ammonium sulfate as a source of nitrogen with the addition of single and mixed culture innoculum of A.niger, T. resie and P.chrysosporium, and compared to the natural process as control. The composting process was carried out in 1 L flasks and the controlling parameters such as moisture content, temperature and aeration were optimised. The investigation showed that due to inoculation, the period of composting was reduced to four weeks compared to normal composting time of 24 - 32 weeks. In addition to this, the quality of the compost was improved and there was greater production of nitrate and ammoniacal nitrogen due to the accelerated decomposition. During four week period, the total carbon degraded to 54% with mixed culture showing a maximum decomposition, followed by P. chrysosporium 53.4%, A. niger 41%, T. reesie 34.6% and control 22.7%. A maximum increase of total nitrogen content of 92.1% was recorded with mixed culture followed by 77.4% with P.chrysosporium, 67.6% with A.niger, 64.7% with T. reesie and 39% with control. The CIN ratio of 47 in EFB compost improved to 11.34 with mixed culture, to between 12.32 - 18.67 with single cultures and to 26. 14 with control. There was a 60% reduction in the CIN ratio over the control. The addition of mixed culture is therefore shown to be more effective than single culture and natural composting (control). The SSB technique was found to be feasible technology with high potential for EFB conversion into compost. The compost prepared by such techniques was rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and humus content. The observations of this study will provide future guidelines for the production of non-hazardous environmental friendly organic fertilisers

Optimal design of the tractor-front-mounted sugarcane grab loader

Abstract: The percent of sugarcane mechanical sugarcane loading (in Egypt) has not been exceeded 10% because of the poor finance-ability of the farmers to by the imported self-propelled loaders.  The local workshops have been attempting to fabricate a sugarcane loader attached to the farm tractors as a cheap alternative.  Farmers did not accept the tractor-mounted loaders fabricated locally because of the problems concerning poor efficiency and poor balance of the tractor-mounted loader while operation.  The main objective was to overcome the problems concerning precise fabrication of the tractor-front-mounted loader and to develop an efficient dynamically balanced machine.  Fabricating a sugarcane grab loader for the tractor faces difficulties due to the variation of the farm tractor types and sizes.  Reference to the size of the transport vehicles was supposed to be loaded, the medium size tractors 70-90 hp was considered to be equipped with the sugarcane loader.  The most important specifications of the prevailing medium size farm tractors found in the sugarcane production area were recorded through field survey.  Important tractor parameters related to the loader design were specified.  For the prevailing medium size tractors of power range 70-90 hp, wheel base within 2.4 m.  Total tractor weight about three tons, distributes as two thirds on the rear axle and one third on the front axle.  The tractor operator is supposed to have clear view over the boom lowered for pilling, so that the height of steering wheel is important parameter determined as 1.9 m for the medium size tractors.  Important dimensions such as the tractor chassis dimensions and other dimensions related to the sugarcane loader were identified.  A chain of measurements and computations were conducted to facilitate optimizing the design of a tractor mounted sugarcane grab loader dynamically balanced with no need for counterbalance weights.   Considering the data of the medium size tractor, the dimension of the loader components computed in accordance.  A general formula relates the loader size to the tractor on which the loader supposed to be mounted was developed to facilitate fabricating the balanced loader for any size of the farm tractors.   The loader was fabricated and tested in the field.  The loader proved high dynamical stability and economical operation efficiency.   The field test results show operating the loader for loading sugarcane transport vehicles, loading cycle time was about 1.7 min, loading rate up to 14 ton/h and operation efficiency was over 90%.   Keywords: sugarcane grab loader, tractor-front-mounted-loader, loader design, loader balanc

Characteristics of locally fabricated sugarcane grab loaders related to transport

AbstractManual loading of sugarcane is expensive slow operation last for several hours, therefore, mechanical loading have been urgently required.  To overcome the problem of the astronomical prices of self propelled sugarcane loaders, the tractor attached sugarcane loader were designed and locally fabricated.  The constructive and functional parameters of front loaders mounted on agricultural wheel tractors have to satisfy the requirements of the working process and of the dynamic stability and have to correspond to the structures of the tractors they are mounted on.   The current article aimed to study the geometry loader/vehicle relationship while loading and transporting sugarcane.   Vehicles equipped for sugarcane transport include rail transport represented in decauvell wagons and rail wagons.  Road transport equipment such as trailers pulled by tractors and lorry are equipped and operated for sugarcane transport.   Locally developed loaders are rigid boom loader type and articulated boom loader type.   The geometry of loader/vehicle relationship was developed in the situation of loading to facilitate estimating loading capabilities of each type of the loader.   Load density of mechanically loaded sugarcane vehicles may be lower than that when manually loaded.   The main reason may refer to the chance given to the labor of the sword to cut the curved cane stalks where manual loading last for longer time.   The loader of rigid dual arm of the boom could not be lowered in between the side columns of the sugarcane transport vehicle.  The loader operator lift the sugarcane bundle to a level over the side columns and leave the cane drop down with density load.   The front link of the articulated loader boom is a single link that can be easily lowered down in between the side columns of sugarcane transport vehicles so that the cane bundle placed in more compressed for

Tackling mathematical difficulties in transport theory education: insight from semiotics

Transport theory involves the study of phenomena most relevant to engineering such as fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and diffusion. These phenomena appear in almost every engineering artifact, from drug delivery to the nuclear reactor. In several disciplines, core courses are dedicated to this science. I have studied and taught transport theory in several engineering disciplines: nuclear engineering, materials science, and biomedical engineering. Here, I reflect on this experience and describe a source of difficulty that runs throughout that experience

Smart work and efficiency at the work place

This research is the first comparative study on Smart Work, specifically in academic institutions. The study uses the University of California, Berkeley as a benchmark to investigate the context and perspectives of smart work, and how best practices can be extended to AUC, as well other universities. Smart work proposes that when employees are able to tailor their working arrangements to fit personal commitments, they can create a motivated workforce, and produce the highest quality of work. Smart Work is not less beneficial for the academic institution, than it is for the employee. It helps achieve job satisfaction, in addition to institutional goals. Smart Work does not pose any conflict between personal wellbeing, and economic growth. Smart Work is based on three main factors. Policy making is essential for identifying the right framework that best suits employees’ needs and helps them achieve efficiency at the workplace. Secondly, implementation of policies is beneficial in many ways. It ensures that customer needs are met, encourages assessment and monitoring tools to warrant improved productivity. Finally, management support increases trust with the employer, since it eliminates inequality within the workforce. Support of the management is a clear sign that the university has the best interest of the employees in mind, through offering flexibility, benefits and professional development opportunities. This creates a strong sense of loyalty, and job satisfaction retention of the best caliber of employees. Empirical evidence on the various forms of smart work can be identified as: “providing employees with flexibility is associated with positive outcomes in terms of health and well-being, as well as positive institutional outcomes such as increased productivity, staff retention. Conversely, denying workers control over their work schedules results in negative well-being outcomes” (Tucker and Folkard, 2011, page 34)

A comparative study of income taxes in Britain, Egypt and France

This study is an investigation of the role of income taxation since its first imposition as a temporary measure till it "became a reformative tool for social endsIt contains three parts dealing with income taxation, as part of the fiscal structure in War and Peace; how it is technically conducted; and what are its impacts, incidence and social effects.The field of research is limited to the development of the existing income taxes in Britain, Egypt and Prance.Britain is the pioneer in imposing income taxation which has proved to he of great economic as well as social significance. Prance followed in the British footsteps hut only after a long time of reluctance and hesitation. In Egypt the tax is a novelty in the social framework and some people are taking it as an "Aladdin's lamp" which can "bring them everything they need and take them along the right path

The continual impact of profitability indicators on stock market prices of listed Industrial Companies in Jordan

This paper examined how Amman Stock Exchange evaluates the effect of earnings yield and dividends yield on stock market prices, and determine the duration of this evaluation. The study period extends for 5 years, from 2012 to 2016, and the study sample consists of 41 industrials publicly held firms listed in Amman Stock Exchange. The study data analysis shows: A significant effect of the earnings yields on the stock market price at 1% level in the earnings realization year, while the dividends yield does not affect the stock market price at 5% significant level for the same year. This model shows that changes in the independent variables interprets 5% of the change in the dependent variable. A significant effect of the earnings yields and the dividends yield on the stock market price at 1% level in the first year follows the earnings realization year. This model shows that the changes in the independent variables interprets 22% of the change in the dependent variable. A significant effect of the dividends yields on the stock market price at 1% level in the second and third years follows the earnings realization year, with a coefficient of determination 20% and 19.8% respectively. In the fourth year follows the earning realization year the dividends yield does not affect stock market price at 5% significant level, and the earnings yield does not affect stock market price after the first year follows the earning realization year at 5% significant level