Application of Taguchi’s experimental design method for optimization of Acid Red 18 removal by electrochemical oxidation process

Background: Electro-oxidation is developed as an electrochemical method to overcome the problems of the conventional decolorization technologies and is an appropriate alternative for the treatment of colored wastewater from various industries. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of the electrochemical oxidation process in removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and Acid Red 18 (AR18) dye from aqueous solutions. Methods: In this research, a laboratory scale of electro-coagulation reactor for the treatment of synthetic wastewater was made and studied. The effects of different variables including pH, current density, dye concentration, and electrolysis time were investigated. The experiment steps were designed by Design- Expert 10 software using the selected variables. Finally, the dye and COD analysis was performed by spectrophotometer. The optimization was performed using Taguchi fractional factorial design during the removal of dye and COD. Results: Maximum removal of dye (89%) and COD (72.2%) were obtained at pH=3, current density=20 mA/cm2, initial dye concentration=100 mg/L, and reaction time=45 min. ANOVA test showed a significant relationship between statistical model and test data. Also, the results indicate that the distribution of the residues of the model was normal. Conclusion: By designing experiments through Taguchi method, the removal process will be optimized and by decreasing the number of experiments, the optimal conditions for pollutant removal will be prepared. The results suggest that the Electro-oxidation system is a very suitable technique for the enhancement of wastewater treatment. Keywords: Electrolysis, Wastewater, Azo compounds, Models, Statistical, Analysis of varianc

Digital twin testbed and practical applications in production logistics with real-time location data

Nowadays, digital twins exist everywhere in various fields. However, an analysis of existing applications in manufacturing and logistics revealed that many entirely apply the concept. To identify when a complete implementation of the concept is beneficial, we analyse the need and the implications within production logistics. This study also presents an architecture supporting integrating a digital twin into production logistics and a corresponding application scenario. Based on this, we have derived practical applications. Each application is applied to different situations, and actual benefits can overcome the limitations of the previous studies

Effect of Applying Chemical Fertilizers on Concentration of Cd, Pb and Zn in Agricultural Soils

Background &Objective:  Nowadays uncontrolled uses of chemical fertilizers which have many heavy metals such as Cadmium, Lead and Zinc in addition have economic problems, cause to serious damages in the environment. Therefore uncontrolled application of fertilizers can cause accumulation contaminants in soil, water sources and increasing in plants and human & animals’ food chain. The main objective of this research was to investigate the effects of chemical fertilizers application to increase heavy metals in agricultural soils at directions to prevent contamination in water sources, agricultural products and the best uses of chemical fertilizers. Methods: In this study, 20 soil samples and 5 useful chemical fertilizer samples were collected and investigated. After fertilizer and soil samples were prepared, digested and filtered, heavy metals were determined with using atomic absorption. Results: The results of this study showed that, Cd in Diammonum phosphate  fertilizer 1.25 times, Super phosphate triple 1.7 times and in Macro granular fertilizer 1.5 times were as much as maximum acceptable concentration in chemical fertilizers. Cadmium concentration in all of the Jarghoye (Isfahan) agricultural soil samples 3 to 7 times and in the Mobarake village (Najaf abad) agricultural soil samples 10 to 35 times were as much as maximum acceptable concentration in agricultural soils. But Pb and Zn concentration in all of the agricultural soil samples was less than the amount of maximum acceptable concentration. Conclusion: Phosphate chemical fertilizers were positive effects to increase concentration of Pb and Zn in agricultural soils. Therefore, application of the fertilizer must be more attention because of increasing heavy metals in the agriculture soils and probably increasing heavy metals in food chain. &nbsp

Application of Taguchi’s experimental design method for optimization of Acid Red 18 removal by electrochemical oxidation process

Background: Electro-oxidation is developed as an electrochemical method to overcome the problems of the conventional decolorization technologies and is an appropriate alternative for the treatment of colored wastewater from various industries. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of the electrochemical oxidation process in removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and Acid Red 18 (AR18) dye from aqueous solutions. Methods: In this research, a laboratory scale of electro-coagulation reactor for the treatment of synthetic wastewater was made and studied. The effects of different variables including pH, current density, dye concentration, and electrolysis time were investigated. The experiment steps were designed by Design-Expert 10 software using the selected variables. Finally, the dye and COD analysis was performed by spectrophotometer. The optimization was performed using Taguchi fractional factorial design during the removal of dye and COD. Results: Maximum removal of dye (89%) and COD (72.2%) were obtained at pH=3, current density=20 mA/cm2, initial dye concentration=100 mg/L, and reaction time=45 min. ANOVA test showed a significant relationship between statistical model and test data. Also, the results indicate that the distribution of the residues of the model was normal. Conclusion: By designing experiments through Taguchi method, the removal process will be optimized and by decreasing the number of experiments, the optimal conditions for pollutant removal will be prepared. The results suggest that the Electro-oxidation system is a very suitable technique for the enhancement of wastewater treatment

Assessment of Microbial Contamination of Surfaces and Medical Equipment in Wards of the Panjom Azar Hospital of Gorgan in 2014

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, different wards of panjom Azar educational hospital including ICU, dialysis and surgery room were investigated. Samples were collected randomly, for three months from July to September 2014, from beds, oxygen masks, oxygen manometer, patient table, covers of the patient's medical records, nurse's desk, border walls and water tap.  Samples were then cultured on blood agar and EMB agar. In order to determine the bacteria type, specific culture media with specific biochemical tests and diagnostic disks were used. Results: Results showed that from 216 samples collected from the levels, the 190 cases (88%) had microbial contamination. Most of the recognized bacteria were Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter and klebsiela. Results of microbial culture of equipments and levels were positive in case of bacterial contamination and maximum contamination was observed in the dialysis ward of the hospital. Conclusion: Due to the relatively high detected contamination, contamination control of levels and patient care equipments could considered as an effective action in reducing nosocomial infections. Thus, using appropriate disinfectant equipment, monitoring the disinfectants preparation, continuous monitoring and detection of common microorganisms are the most important ways for infection control in hospitals

Employing digital twins within production logistics

Digitalisation and automation of existing processes are key competitive factors for industry. Still, logistic operations often comprise manual effort, because the movement of goods and material places stringent requirements on the interactions between different systems, human-computer/robot-interaction as well as on changes in the operative processes. In general, the introduction and up-take of new enabling technologies, like the IoT, in complex systems evolved over decades, are challenging. The experience has shown that it is hard to assess all restrictions and interactions between new and old components before any new equipment or infrastructure is implemented and put in operation. This paper presents and discusses the usage of digital twins for supporting the decision-making processes in two different areas: Workstation design and logistics operation analysis. The results are based on tests and experiments carried out in a production logistics test-bed that includes physical devices, an IoT-infrastructure and simulation software. The digital twin is realised in a combination of using Unity and the simulation software IPS. The primary results show that there is no one-size fit all in terms of granularity of the underlying simulation model as well as for the reduction of reality in the digital twin, but the results also indicate that a context-aware digital twin supports the decision-making within a given scope.QC 20200929</p

Employing digital twins within production logistics

Digitalisation and automation of existing processes are key competitive factors for industry. Still, logistic operations often comprise manual effort, because the movement of goods and material places stringent requirements on the interactions between different systems, human-computer/robot-interaction as well as on changes in the operative processes. In general, the introduction and up-take of new enabling technologies, like the IoT, in complex systems evolved over decades, are challenging. The experience has shown that it is hard to assess all restrictions and interactions between new and old components before any new equipment or infrastructure is implemented and put in operation. This paper presents and discusses the usage of digital twins for supporting the decision-making processes in two different areas: Workstation design and logistics operation analysis. The results are based on tests and experiments carried out in a production logistics test-bed that includes physical devices, an IoT-infrastructure and simulation software. The digital twin is realised in a combination of using Unity and the simulation software IPS. The primary results show that there is no one-size fit all in terms of granularity of the underlying simulation model as well as for the reduction of reality in the digital twin, but the results also indicate that a context-aware digital twin supports the decision-making within a given scope.QC 20200929</p