Performance Evaluation of Textile Effluent Treatment Plant: Bangladesh Perspective

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the performance efficiency of an Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) of a Textile industry located at Tongi, Bangladesh with biological treatment (BT) and Membrane Bio-Reactor (MBR) with an average inflow of 300 m3/hr. The effluent samples were collected from the inlet and outlet of the ETP on a weekly basis for a 4 weeks’ period and were analysed for key parameters such as colour, temperature, total suspended solids (TSS), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), pH, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD). In this study, it was observed that the colour of the effluent in the inlet was dark blue and after multiple unit treatments of the colour’s final outlet the discharge, water colour was very light purple. The temperature was varied from 32.2⁰C to 34.33⁰C. The TDS was varied from 1252.5 mg/l to 1087.5 mg/l and the percentage removal efficiency of TDS was varied from 21.47% to 42.7%. The TSS was varied from 4 mg/l to 4.5 mg/l and the percentage removal efficiency of TSS was varied from 98.48% to 98.21%. The pH value was varied from 6.48 to 7.63. The DO value in the inlet was varied from 6.47 mg/l to 6.775 mg/l. The BOD was recorded from 12.75 mg/l to 17.75 mg/l and the percentage removal efficiency of BOD was varied from 89.92% to 87.24%. The COD was varied from 33.75 mg/l to 34.25 mg/l and the percentage removal efficiency of COD was varied from 91.11% to 90.5%. It is conjectured that the values of the measured parameters are seen to be within the permissible limit as per the standard of the Department of Environment (DoE) of Bangladesh.

Fundamental Research on Fluorine-Free Ladle Furnace Slag for Axle Steel of Electric Multiple Unit Vehicles

Fluorine-bearing refining slag (FBS) is used to produce axle steel for electric multiple unit vehicles. To avoid environmental pollution caused by fluorine, a fluorine-free ladle furnace slag (FFS) was designed based on an industrial FBS. The effects of main components on the physical and metallurgical properties of slag were investigated via theoretical analysis and laboratory tests. The composition range of components of the designed FFS are w(CaO) = 40–55 wt.%, w(SiO2) = 2–6 wt.%, w(Al2O3) = 30–40 wt.%, w(MgO) = 6–8 wt.%, and w(CaO)/w(Al2O3) = 1.25–1.50. Industrial-scale test results indicate that the FFS has similar deoxidation and desulfurization capabilities to industrial FBS.

Investigation of the Effect of Pallet Top-Deck Stiffness on Corrugated Box Compression Strength as a Function of Multiple Unit Load Design Variables

Unit loads consisting of a pallet, packages, and a product securement system are the dominant way of shipping products across the United States. The most common packaging types used in unit loads are corrugated boxes. Due to the great stresses created during unit load stacking, accurately predicting the compression strength of corrugated boxes is critical to preventing unit load failure. Although many variables affect the compression strength of corrugated boxes, recently, it was found that changing the pallet’s top deck stiffness can significantly affect compression strength. However, there is still a lack of understanding of how these different factors influence this phenomenon. This study investigated the effect of pallet’s top-deck stiffness on corrugated box compression strength as a function of initial top deck thickness, pallet wood species, box size, and board grade. The amount of increase in top deck thickness needed to lower the board grade of corrugated boxes by one level from the initial unit load scenario was determined using PDS™. The benefits of increasing top deck thickness diminish as the initial top deck thickness increases due to less severe pallet deflection from the start. The benefits were more pronounced as higher board grade boxes were initially used, and as smaller-sized boxes were used due to the heavier weights of these unit loads. Therefore, supposing that a company uses lower stiffness pallets or heavy corrugated boxes for their unit loads, this study suggests that they will find more opportunities to optimize their unit loads by increasing their pallet’s top deck thickness.

Formulation Development and Evaluation of Multiple Unit Pellet System of Tamsulosin Hydrochloride

The aim of current work was to grow extended release multiple unit pellets of Tamsulosin Hydrochloride, is an alpha-blocker, used for the healing of the symptoms of a prostate gland condition called BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) by extrusion- spheronization (E/S) and solution/suspension layering (S/S) method. In the Extrusion-Spheronization, A ratio of 75:25, 67:33, 64:36 Tamsulosin Hydrochloride and Microcrystalline cellulose were mixed for making drug pellets and extended release (ER) coating was performed in fluidized bed processor (FBP) by solution/suspension layering with Ethyl cellulose (aqueous. dispersion, 4 cps and 7 cps) and Hypromellose (5cps) with different ratios % weight buildups accordingly. In the Solution/suspension layering (S/S) method, Tamsulosin Hydrochloride drug pellets were prepared by layering onto MCC spheres in FBP. These drug pellets were further coated for extended release with HPMC, 5cps and EC, 7cps. In drug coating stage, drug and different binder (Hypromellose, 5 cps) concentrations 8, 10, 12, 14 mg/unit were coated onto the cores for optimization of binder concentration. The weight of MCC spheres were optimized for further formulations. For all the drug coated pellets, ER coating was given with EC, 7cps and HPMC, 5 cps at a coating level of 8% weight by weight. In the extrusion- spheronization (E/S) Optimization of Drug pellets: Among the trials TD3 (Tamsulosin HCl and MCC) showed good mechanical strength with better yield due to increased MCC concentration. Optimization of Extended Release Coating: Optimized TD3 drug pellets were coated with ER coating using water insoluble polymer (Aq.EC 25% dispersion/ EC, 4cps/ EC, 7cps) and water soluble polymer (HPMC, 5cps). Among these polymers, extended release coating was optimized (TD3E14) with the combination of EC, 7cps and HPMC, 5cps at 8% weight build up. In the Solution/Suspension layering: Optimization of binder concentration in drug coating stage: HPMC, 5cps with 12 mg/unit for TF7 was optimized based on %yield. Optimization of MCC spheres in drug coating stage in formulation of ER pellets with different weight drug pellets: The weight of MCC spheres (160, 170, 180, 190 mg/unit) used in the drug coating stage with binder HPMC, 5cps (12 mg/unit). These drug pellets were given with ER coating at 8% weight buildup by using EC, 7cps and HPMC, 5cps. Among these trials, TF7E7 was optimized. Based on the investigations of the present study, conclusions was. formulating low dose, high soluble, BCS class I drug- Tamsulosin Hydrochloride ER formulation by extrusion-spheronization showed flexibility for batch processing and cost effectiveness while solution/suspension layering was process feasible but time consuming due to high drug loading.

Individual-based multiple-unit dissimilarity: novel indices and null model for assessing temporal variability in community composition

Beta-diversity was originally defined spatially, i.e., as variation in community composition among sites in a region. However, the concept of beta-diversity has since been expanded to temporal contexts. This is referred to as “temporal beta-diversity”, and most approaches are simply an extension of spatial beta-diversity. The persistence and turnover of individuals over time is a unique feature of temporal beta-diversity. Nakadai (2020) introduced the “individual-based beta-diversity” concept, and provided novel indices to evaluate individual turnover and compositional shift by comparing individual turnover between two periods at a given site. However, the proposed individual-based indices are applicable only to pairwise dissimilarity, not to multiple-temporal (or more generally, multiple-unit) dissimilarity. Here, individual-based beta-diversity indices are extended to multiple-unit cases. In addition, a novel type of random permutation criterion related to these multiple-unit indices for detecting patterns of individual persistence is introduced in the present study. To demonstrate the usage the properties of these indices compared to average pairwise measures, I applied them to a dataset for a permanent 50-ha forest dynamics plot on Barro Colorado Island in Panama. Information regarding “individuals” is generally missing from community ecology and biodiversity studies of temporal dynamics. In this context, the methods proposed here are expected to be useful for addressing a wide range of research questions regarding temporal changes in biodiversity, especially studies using traditional individual-tracked forest monitoring data.

Analysis of Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid Alternative Propulsion Systems for Regional Diesel-Electric Multiple Unit Trains

This paper presents a simulation-based analysis of hybrid and plug-in hybrid propulsion system concepts for diesel-electric multiple unit regional railway vehicles. These alternative concepts primarily aim to remove emissions in terminal stops with longer stabling periods, with additional benefits reflected in the reduction of overall fuel consumption, produced emissions, and monetary costs. The alternative systems behavior is modeled using a backward-looking quasi-static simulation approach, with the implemented energy management strategy based on a finite state machine control. A comparative assessment of alternative propulsion systems is carried out in a case study of a selected regional railway line operated by Arriva, the largest regional railway undertaking in the Netherlands. The conversion of a standard diesel-electric multiple unit vehicle, currently operating on the network, demonstrated a potential GHG reduction of 9.43–56.92% and an energy cost reduction of 9.69–55.46%, depending on the type of service (express or stopping), energy storage technology selection (lithium-ion battery or double-layer capacitor), electricity production (green or grey electricity), and charging facilities configuration (charging in terminal stations with or without additional charging possibility during short intermediate stops) used. As part of a bigger project aiming to identify optimal transitional solutions towards emissions-free trains, the outcomes of this study will help in the future fleet planning.

Concept development and testing of the UK’s first hydrogen-hybrid train (HydroFLEX)

In October 2018, Porterbrook and the University of Birmingham announced the HydroFLEX project, to demonstrate a hydrogen-hybrid modified train at Rail Live 2019. The concept of modifying a Class 319 Electric Multiple Unit was developed, with equipment including a fuel cell stack, traction battery, 24 V control system and hydrogen storage elements to be mounted inside one of the carriages. This was followed by procurement of a fuel cell stack, traction batteries, and control equipment, which was then installed inside the train, being fixed to the seat rails. One substantial change from the concept was the provision of considerably more hydrogen storage than the minimum necessary, providing the train with more potential to be further modified to allow for higher speed mainline testing. After the Rail Live exhibition where HydroFLEX was demonstrated, numerous modifications were performed to increase the reliability and power of the HydroFLEX train, primarily concerned with modifying the base train logic, with the aim of a successful mainline test. Supporting this effort was a multitude of documentation concerning safety, operations, and approvals to gain approvals from the relevant approvals bodies. The project demonstrated the feasibility of using hydrogen fuel cells as an autonomous fuel for railway propulsion systems, which has the potential for full decarbonisation.