Modeling,downsizing, and performance comparison of a fuel cell hybrid mid-size car with FCEV for urban and hill road driving cycles

A fuel cell hybrid (FCH) mid-size car is modeled and simulated in Advanced Vehicle Simulator (ADVISOR), the results are compared with 2017 Toyota Mirai Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) to examine the capability of hybridization and compare the fuel economy of the modeled vehicle. The aim of this analysis is to understand the energy interactions of the fuel cell and batteries and to identify an optimal energy management. In the current modeling, the fuel cell power is downsized by 30% with a corresponding increase in the number of battery modules by 50% to compensate the fuel cell power by maintaining the same motor power demand. The Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule (UDDS) and mountain driving cycle (NREL2VAIL) test cycles are considered to estimate the fuel economy for urban and hill road driving conditions. The FCH mid-size car achieves better performance in terms of acceleration and equivalent fuel economy in comparison with 2017 Toyota Mirai FCEV. The effectiveness of the optimal energy management of the hybrid FC/battery powertrain performance is better and validated with the 2017 Toyota Mirai FCEV.     

Deep eutectic solvents in the transformation of biomass into biofuels and fine chemicals: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - The global energy demand has been projected to rise over 28% by 2040, calling for more renewable resources such as lignocellulosic biomass to produce biofuels, and...     

Three-phase partitioning for the separation of proteins,enzymes, biopolymers,oils and pigments: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Modern biomass and organic waste are becoming major, carbon-neutral sources of fine chemicals, biomolecules and fuels to replace fossil fuel products. As a...     

A Novel Biodegradable Green Poly(l-Aspartic Acid-Citric Acid) Copolymer for Antimicrobial Applications

Poly (l-aspartic acid-citric acid) green copolymers were developed using thermal polymerization of aspartic acid (ASP) and citric acid (CA) followed by direct bulk melt condensation technique. Antibacterial properties of copolymer of aspartic acid based were investigated as a function of citric acid content. This study is focused on the microorganism inhibition performance of aspartic acid based copolymers. Results showed that inhibition properties increase with increasing citric acid content. Characterization of obtained copolymers was carried out with the help of infrared absorption spectra (FTIR), x-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA). The antibacterial activity of copolymers against bacteria like E-coli, Bacillus and pseudomonas was investigated. The copolymers showed excellent antimicrobial activities against three types of microorganisms. Overall studies indicated that the above copolymers possess a broad wound dressing activity against above three types of bacteria and may be useful as antibacterial agents.     

Treatment of simulated Reactive Yellow 22 (azo) dye effluents using Spirogyra species

The potential of commonly available green algae belonging to Spirogyra species was investigated as viable biomaterials for biological treatment of simulated synthetic azo dye (Reactive Yellow 22) effluents. The results obtained from the batch experiments revealed the ability of the algal species in removing the dye colour and was dependent both on the dye concentration and algal biomass. Maximum dye colour removal was observed on the third day for all the system conditions. Monitoring of ORP values helped to understand the overlying biochemical mechanism of algal-dye system. Based upon the results, the dye-algal treatment mechanism was attributed to biosorption (sorption of dye molecules over the surface of algal cells), bioconversion (diffusion of dye molecules into the algal cells and subsequent conversion) and biocoagulation (coagulation of dye molecules present in the aqueous phase onto the biopolymers released as metabolic intermediates during metabolic conversion of dye and subsequent settlement).     

Formulation and Characterization of Sodium Alginate g-Hydroxy Ethylacrylate Bio-Degradable Polymeric Beads: In Vitro Release Studies

Novel type of highly swollen beads were prepared by grafting 2-hydroxyethylacrylate onto biodegradable Sodium alginate (SA) via free-radical polymerization using potassium persulphate as an initiator and Triprolidine hydrochloride as a model drug. Evidence of grafting was obtained by fourier transform infrared spectroscopic technique. Morphological properties of the beads were studied by SEM analysis. Thermal properties and crystallinity of the beads were characterized using differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis and X-ray diffraction techniques, respectively. Dissolution experiments were performed to study the release profiles at 37?°C in phosphate buffer solution (pH-7.4). Effect of monomer content, crosslinking agent and drug/polymer ratio on swelling properties and release profiles were also comparatively studied. A dissolution result concludes that drug release decreases with increasing crosslinker content. The highest release (96%) was obtained for the beads prepared with 0.5?mL crosslinking agent. Equilibrium swelling degree also supports the drug release profiles confirming SA-g-HEA beads showed better release profiles compare to plain SA beads.     

Study of 210Po and 210Pb in the riverine environments of coastal Karnataka

Activity of ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb were measured in soil and sediment samples collected from the major rivers Kali, Sharavathi and Netravathi of Coastal Karnataka. The activity of these two radionuclides were determined by radiochemical separation of ²¹⁰Po and counting the activity using a ZnS(Ag) Alpha counter. The activity of ²¹⁰Pb was higher than that of ²¹⁰Po in the riverine environs. The ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb content in sediment was found to increase with silt/clay and organic matter contents. However no significant correlation was found between the activity ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb with pH in sediments. The activity of ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb and influence of physico-chemical parameters on these radionuclides were studied and discussed in this paper.     

Interaction of Endosulfan and malathion with blue-green algae Anabaena and Aulosira fertilissima

The growth of Anabaena and Aulosira fertilissima was adversely affected by endosulfan even at 1 microg ml(-1). The inhibition was significantly above 50% at 20 microg ml(-1) throughout the incubation. Anabaena survived up to 500 microg ml(-1) of malathion, but was completely bleached in the presence of 50 microg ml(-1) of endosulfan. Aulosira was more sensitive to malathion than Anabaena and recovered to control levels only at 10 microg ml(-1). The morphology and hetercyst frequency were not altered in Anabaena. Aulosira cultures were dull brown in colour at 20 microg ml(-1) of endosulfan with the filaments clumping, instead of the usual mat formation. Both malathion and endosulfan considerably lowered (14)C uptake and nitrogenase activities in Aulosira. Nitrogen fixation was unaffected in Anabaena as the amounts of ethylene produced were equal to, or above, control levels. The impact of these insecticides on photosynthesis in Anabaena was only slight.     

Autecology of the tailed jay butterfly Graphium agamemnon (Lepidoptera : Rhopalocera : Papilionidae)

The Tailed Jay Graphium agamemnon is one of the attractive papilionid butterflies that enliven the environment of Visakhapatnam. It occurs throughout the year. It lays eggs singly on young leaves of the mast tree Polyalthia longifolia var. pendula (Annonaceae). The eggs take 3-4 days to hatch. The larvae go through 5 instars over a period of 15-16 days. The pupal period is 13-14 days. The total period from egg to adult emergence spans over 33-36 days. Based on this short life cycle, and larval and pupal development success studied every month, this butterfly can be multivoltine with a minimum of 7-8 broods in a year. Both CI and GR decreased with the age of larva, their average figures being 3.78 and 0.43 respectively. AD values are high (average 92%) and decreased through successive instars. Both ECD and ECI followed a similar pattern with an increase from instar I up to II, then a decrease up to IV and again an increase in instar V and the highest value is with fifth instar. Adults frequently visited flowers (12-35 flowers in a min) spending 1.0 to 3.2 seconds on a flower. The nectar concentration ranged between 16 and 58%. Peak foraging activity mostly fell between 0900-1000 h. The proboscis received pollen in most of the floral species visited, thus satisfying one of the characteristics of butterfly pollination. Being a fast and strong flier it is treated as "high energy" pollinator promoting cross-pollination.     

Removal of Diazo dye from aqueous phase by algae Spirogyra species

This communication presents a preliminary study conducted to investigate dye (Direct Brown 2‐Diazo) colour removal using viable algae Spirogyra species. The results indicate the ability of algae Spirogyra species to remove dye colour and found to be dependent on the contact time and biomass. Colour removal mechanism by algae Spirogyra species may be attributed to biosorption and/or bioconversion and/or biocoagulation.