Optimisation of Second-Generation Biodiesel Production from Australian Native Stone Fruit Oil Using Response Surface Method

© 2018 by the authors. In this study, the production process of second-generation biodiesel from Australian native stone fruit have been optimised using response surface methodology via an alkali catalysed transesterification process. This process optimisation was performed varying three factors, each at three different levels. Methanol: oil molar ratio, catalyst concentration (wt %) and reaction temperature were the input factors in the optimisation process, while biodiesel yield was the key model output. Both 3D surface plots and 2D contour plots were developed using MINITAB 18 to predict optimum biodiesel yield. Gas chromatography (GC) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis of the resulting biodiesel was also done for biodiesel characterisation. To predict biodiesel yield a quadratic model was created and it showed an R2 of 0.98 indicating the satisfactory performance of the model. Maximum biodiesel yield of 95.8% was obtained at a methanol: oil molar ratio of 6:1, KOH catalyst concentration of 0.5 wt % and a reaction temperature of 5 ◦C. At these reaction conditions, the predicted biodiesel yield was 95.9%. These results demonstrate reliable prediction of the transesterification process by Response surface methodology (RSM). The results also show that the properties of the synthesised Australian native stone fruit biodiesel satisfactorily meet the ASTM D6751 and EN14214 standards. In addition, the fuel properties of Australian native stone fruit biodiesel were found to be similar to those of conventional diesel fuel. Thus, it can be said that Australian native stone fruit seed oil could be used as a potential second-generation biodiesel source as well as an alternative fuel in diesel engines

Wick's Theorem and a New Perturbation Theory Around the Atomic Limit of Strongly Correlated Electron Systems

A new type of perturbation expansion in the mixing $V$ of localized orbitals with a conduction-electron band in the $U\to\infty$ Anderson model is presented. It is built on Feynman diagrams obeying standard rules. The local correlations of the unperturbed system (the atomic limit) are included exactly, no auxiliary particles are introduced. As a test, an infinite-order ladder-type resummation is analytically treated in the Kondo regime, recovering the correct energy scale. An extension to the Anderson-lattice model is obtained via an effective-site approximation through a cumulant expansion in $V$ on the lattice. Relation to treatments in infinite spatial dimensions are indicated.Comment: selfextracting postscript file containing entire paper (10 pages) including 3 figures, in case of trouble contact author for LaTeX-source or hard copies (prep0994

Making Diversity Tangible: Assessing the Role of Service-Learning in Teaching Diversity

There is a growing need for students to be able to work within diverse environments, yet there is little evidence to suggest that they are more prepared or ethically grounded to work with diverse populations, specifically protected groups. This study examines a course that was designed to specifically to prepare student to lead in diverse work environments by examining issues of diversity and social justice. A service-learning pedagogy was used to help link critical in-class discussions and course content to the lived experiences of the protect groups by working in the community. Findings suggest that the service-learning is an important component to increasing awareness and understanding of diversity and social justice. Suggestions for improving similar courses are provided.

Weak-disorder effects in the finite-charge infinite-U Hubbard model

We calculate the effects of weak disorder on a strongly correlated electron system, namely a version of the infinite-U Hubbard model with general charge for which a 1/N expansion can be carried out (N being the orbital degeneracy). The partition function and quasiparticle decay rate are calculated to next leading order in the 1/N expansion by summing all ladder type diffusive corrections in the impurity potential. We find that away from the critical metal-insulator filling these quantities exhibit the power law behaviour expected on the basis of general weak-interacting theories. Very close to the metal-insulator filling, however, the situation changes and new, sublinear power law components are obtained. These new power laws are a result of the diffusion pole crossing over to a q4 behaviour, which is in turn a consequence of the 'holon' like propagation of the charge fluctuations in the pure system.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/48871/2/cm934713.pd

Non-Fermi liquid effects in the low temperature behaviour of a disordered strongly interacting electron system

We examine a version of the U=[infinity] Hubbard model for which a 1/N expansion can be carried out (N being the orbital degeneracy), in the presence of disorder. We calculate the 1/N corrections to the partition function and single particle decay rate, treating the disorder by summing up those ladder diagrams in the impurity potential that are known to yield the diffusion pole in conventional disorder theories. We find, away from the critical metal-insulator filling, agreement with earlier weak interaction theories with a single parameter characterising the effective interaction, while close to the critical filling we find novel power law corrections whose origin may be traced to the strong momentum dependence of the diffusion pole in the density correlation function.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/30615/1/0000255.pd

In vivo Evaluation of a Cosmetic Emulsion Containing Soybean Extract for Anti-Aging

Purpose: To develop and assess the anti-aging potential of a cosmetic W/O emulsion containing an extract of soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr. Fabaceae.Methods: This single-blind placebo-controlled study was performed in 11 healthy male human volunteers. A formulation comprising of 4 % of concentrated extract of soybean was prepared by loading the extract in the internal aqueous phase of the emulsion. A control (base), consisting of theemulsion without the extract, was also prepared. Both formulations were applied to the cheeks of all volunteers for 12 weeks and their effect on different skin parameters, i.e., moisture contents, elasticity and surface evaluation of living skin (SELS) were assessed.Results: The formulation containing 4 % soybean extract showed significant (p ≤ 0.05) effects on skin elasticity and moisture contents but the base showed insignificant effect (p ≤ 0.05). There was significant (p . 0.05) decline in SELS, i.e., SEsc (skin scaliness, from 1.73 } 0.05 to 1.66 } 0.06), SEw (skin wrinkles, from 71.74 ± 1.52 to 68.51 ± 1.64), SEsm (skin smoothness, from 109.01 ± 4.77 to 102.03 ± 4.23), and SEr (skin roughness, from 4.04 ±0.09 to 3.82± 0.08) parameters after applicationof the extract formulation for 12 weeks.Conclusion: Topical application of the cosmetic emulsion containing soybean extract exerts potential skin anti-aging effects.Keywords: Glycine max, Soybean, Anti-aging, Skin elasticity, Cosmetic emulsion, Surface evaluation of living skin (SELS), Skin moisture conten

A Numerical Model of an Electrostatic Precipitator

This paper presents a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model for a wire-plate electrostatic precipitator (ESP). The turbulent gas flow and the particle motion under electrostatic forces are modelled using the CFD code FLUENT. Numerical calculations for the gas flow are carried out by solving the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations and turbulence is modelled using the k-ε turbulence model. An additional source term is added to the gas flow equation to capture the effect of electric field. This additional source term is obtained by solving a coupled system of the electric field and charge transport equations. The particle phase is simulated by using Discrete Phase Model (DPM). The results of the simulation are presented showing the particle trajectory inside the ESP under the influence of both aerodynamic and electrostatic forces. The simulated results have been validated by the established data. The model developed is useful to gain insight into the particle collection phenomena that takes place inside an industrial ESP

Hidden but Ubiquitous: The Pre-Rift Continental Mantle in the Red Sea Region

Volcanism in the western part of the Arabian plate resulted in one of the largest alkali basalt provinces in the world, where lava fields with sub-alkaline to alkaline affinity are scattered from Syria and the Dead Sea Transform Zone through western Saudi Arabia to Yemen. After the Afar plume emplacement (∼30 Ma), volcanism took place in Yemen and progressively propagated northward due to Red Sea rifting-related lithospheric thinning (initiated ∼27–25 Ma). Few lava fields were emplaced during the Mesozoic, with the oldest 200 Ma volcanic activity recorded in northern Israel. We report results from volcanic pipes in the Marthoum area, east of Harrat Uwayrid, where over a hundred pipes occupy a stratigraphic level in the early Ordovician Saq sandstones. Most of them are circular or elliptical features marked by craters aligned along NW-SE fractures in the sandstone resulting from phreatomagmatic explosions that occurred when rising magma columns came in contact with the water table in the porous sandstone host. These lavas have Sr-Pb-Nd-Hf isotopic compositions far from the Cenozoic Arabian alkaline volcanism field, being considerably more enriched in Nd-Hf and Pb isotopes than any other Arabian Plate lava ever reported. New K-Ar dating constrains their age from Late Cretaceous to Early Eocene, thus anticipating the Afar plume emplacement and the Red Sea rift. Basalt geochemistry indicates that these volcanic eruptions formed from low-degree partial melting of an enriched lithospheric mantle source triggered by local variations in the asthenosphere-lithosphere boundary. This mantle source has a composition similar to the HIMU-like enriched isotopic component reported in the East African Rift and considered to represent the lowermost lithospheric mantle of the Nubian Shield. The generated melt, mixed in different proportions with melt derived from a depleted asthenosphere, produces the HIMU-like character throughout the Cenozoic Arabian alkaline volcanism. Although apparently hidden, this enriched lithospheric component is therefore ubiquitous and widespread in the cratonic roots of the African and Arabian subcontinental mantle

Multiplet Effects in the Quasiparticle Band Structure of the f1−f2f^1-f^2 Anderson Model

In this paper, we examine the mean field electronic structure of the $f^1-f^2$ Anderson lattice model in a slave boson approximation, which should be useful in understanding the physics of correlated metals with more than one f electron per site such as uranium-based heavy fermion superconductors. We find that the multiplet structure of the $f^2$ ion acts to quench the crystal field splitting in the quasiparticle electronic structure. This is consistent with experimental observations in such metals as $UPt_3$.Comment: 9 pages, revtex, 3 uuencoded postscript figures attached at en