Performance assessment on manufacturing of unfired bricks using industrial wastes

This paper presents eco-friendly unburnt bricks made up of fly ash, waste plastic powder, waste glass powder, lime, gypsum and crusher sand as alternatives to conventional burnt clay bricks for sustainable development. The research focuses on the maximum utilization of industrial waste in eco-friendly unburnt brick production. Materials are characterized according to their chemical and geotechnical properties. In this research, we use a milled waste glass powder of size less than 600μm and plastic powder obtained from plastic waste of size less than 600μm are added along with crushed sand, gypsum, lime and fly ash with various mix proportions concerning FaL-G mix concept. All the proportions were taken on a weight basis. Compressive strength, water absorption, and efflorescence are the key parameters chosen for comparing the innovative brick with conventional fly ash brick. There are five different mixes (Type A, B, C, D & E) are made in this research. The plastic and glass powders are replaced by crusher sand at the increased rate of 2% in every mix whereas 2%,4%,6%,8%, and 10%. It was found that the type B bricks have 17.63% strength was increased when compared to base mix. From the test results, type B bricks have enhanced mechanical performance when compared to all other mixes

Enablers to implement sustainable initiatives in agri-food supply chains

yesDue to rapid agricultural industrialization, increased global food demand, and, increasing concerns related to food quality and safety, the concepts of sustainability and supply chain transparency are becoming critically important to the agriculture and agri-food sector. The new focus on sustainability performance objectives emphasizes the effective utilization and consumption of natural resources to balance ecological, economic and societal aspects of agri-food businesses. The management of sustainability adds a new demand on business managers who often have small profits and receive stringent requirements from large powerful customers and retailers. In this paper, we recognize and analyze the key enablers in implementing sustainable initiatives for Agri-Food Supply Chains (A-FSCs). Ten important sustainability driven enablers were considered from a rigorous literature review and phase of expert consultation. The identified enablers were then analyzed using a combined Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) - fuzzy Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) based framework. The ISM approach enabled an appreciation of the contextual relationships among the enablers and to classify the enablers based on their driving and dependence potential. The fuzzy DEMATEL technique supported the determination of the influential and influenced enablers and also to categorize them into cause and effect groups. An empirical case study, drawn from a vegetable and fruit retail supply chain in India, is used to focus and test the applicability of the proposed research framework. The paper facilitates professional management practice and researchers to uncover and explore the enablers for the real execution of sustainability oriented initiatives in the agri-food business sector

Are We One Hop Away from a Better Internet

ABSTRACT The Internet suffers from well-known performance, reliability, and security problems. However, proposed improvements have seen little adoption due to the difficulties of Internet-wide deployment. We observe that, instead of trying to solve these problems in the general case, it may be possible to make substantial progress by focusing on solutions tailored to the paths between popular content providers and their clients, which carry a large share of Internet traffic. In this paper, we identify one property of these paths that may provide a foothold for deployable solutions: they are often very short. Our measurements show that Google connects directly to networks hosting more than 60% of end-user prefixes, and that other large content providers have similar connectivity. These direct paths open the possibility of solutions that sidestep the headache of Internetwide deployability, and we sketch approaches one might take to improve performance and security in this setting

Studies on Effective Generation of Mediators Simultaneously at Both Half-Cells for VOC Degradation by Mediated Electroreduction and Mediated Electrooxidation

Of the several electrochemical methods for pollutant degradation, the mediated electrooxidation (MEO) process is widely used. However, the MEO process utilizes only one (anodic) compartment toward pollutant degradation. To effectively utilize the full electrochemical cell, an improved electrolytic cell producing both oxidant and reductant mediators at their respective half-cells, which can be employed for treating two pollutants simultaneously, was investigated. The cathodic half-cell was studied first toward maximum [Co^I(CN)₅]^4– (Co⁺) generation (21%) from a [Co^II(CN)₆]^3– precursor by optimizing several experimental factors such as the electrolyte, cathode material, and orientation of the Nafion324 membrane. The anodic half-cell was optimized similarly for higher Co₃(SO₄)₂ (Co³⁺) yields (41%) from a Co^IISO₄ precursor. The practical utility of the newly developed full cell setup, combining the optimized cathodic half-cell and optimized anodic half-cell, was demonstrated by electroscrubbing experiments with simultaneous dichloromethane removal by Co⁺ via the mediated electroreduction process and phenol removal by Co³⁺ via the MEO process, showing not only utilization of the full electrochemical cell, but also degradation of two different pollutants by the same applied current that was used in the conventional cell to remove only one pollutant

An experimental analysis on performance of tobacco seed oil as an alternative fuel for diesel engine

Biodiesel replaced imported oils as an ecologically beneficial alternative which may replace diesel depending on crop and oil costs. Tobacco seed oil is trans-esterified using a heterogeneous base catalyst to produce biodiesel in this study to examine the mechanical properties and emission performance characteristics using single-cylinder Kirloskar engine. Several biofuel/diesel blends were tested, and their effects on performance and efficiency were examined under varying loads at a constant rotational speed of 1500 rpm. The engine's performance and emissions characteristics were measured and compared at a fuel injection pressure of 200 bar. The results of the experimental studies show that the tobacco seed oil and biodiesel blends are more efficient than diesel fuel and their blend ratios that boost brake thermal efficiency by 10.27%, 16.66%, 9.23%, and 11.87% under 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of loading, respectively, outperform other biodiesel blends with significant environmentally sustainable emission characteristics

Performance assessment on manufacturing of unfired bricks using industrial wastes

This paper presents eco-friendly unburnt bricks made up of fly ash, waste plastic powder, waste glass powder, lime, gypsum and crusher sand as alternatives to conventional burnt clay bricks for sustainable development. The research focuses on the maximum utilization of industrial waste in eco-friendly unburnt brick production. Materials are characterized according to their chemical and geotechnical properties. In this research, we use a milled waste glass powder of size less than 600μm and plastic powder obtained from plastic waste of size less than 600μm are added along with crushed sand, gypsum, lime and fly ash with various mix proportions concerning FaL-G mix concept. All the proportions were taken on a weight basis. Compressive strength, water absorption, and efflorescence are the key parameters chosen for comparing the innovative brick with conventional fly ash brick. There are five different mixes (Type A, B, C, D & E) are made in this research. The plastic and glass powders are replaced by crusher sand at the increased rate of 2% in every mix whereas 2%,4%,6%,8%, and 10%. It was found that the type B bricks have 17.63% strength was increased when compared to base mix. From the test results, type B bricks have enhanced mechanical performance when compared to all other mixes

Secondary metabolites from the unique bamboo, <i>Melocanna baccifera</i>

<p>Phytochemistry of fruits and leaves of the unique bamboo <i>Melocanna baccifera</i> resulted in the isolation of 27 secondary metabolites, including 4-Oxabicyclo[3.2.2]nona-1(7),5,8-triene and Verbacine. Biological activity studies of Verbacine revealed it as an inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase and as cytotoxic against C6 cancer cells.</p