Low grade crude palm oil (LGCPO) presents as an attractive option as feedstock for biodiesel production due to its low cost and non-competition with food resources. Typically, LGCPO contains high contents of free fatty acids (FFA), rendering it impossible in direct trans-esterification processes due to the saponification reaction. Esterification is the typical pre-treatment process to reduce the FFA content and to produce fatty acid methyl ester (FAME). The pre-treatment of LGCPO using two different acid catalysts, such as titanium oxysulphate sulphuric acid complex hydrate (TiOSH) and 5-sulfosalicylic acid dihydrate (5-SOCAH) was investigated for the first time in this study. The optimum conditions for the homogenous catalyst (5-SOCAH) wer

The effect of air injection angle on the performance of airlift pump used for water pumping has been studied analytically and experimentally. An airlift pump of dimensions 42mm diameter and 2200 mm length with conventional and modified air injection device was considered. A modification on conventional injection device (normal air-jacket type) was carried out by changing injection angle from 90  (for conventional) to 45  and 22.5  (for modified). Continuity and one-dimensional momentum balance for the flow field with basic principle of two-phase flow and expressions of slip ratio and friction factor as function of flow rates were formulated. The analytical and experimental investigations were carried out f

Moisture damage is a primary mode of distress occurring in hot mix asphalt (HMA) pavements in Iraq. Because of the loss of bond, or stripping, caused by the presence of moisture between the asphalt and aggregate, which is a problem in some areas and can be severe in some cases, it is requires to evaluate the design asphalt mixture to moisture susceptibility. Many factors such as aggregate characteristics, asphalt characteristics, environment, traffic, construction practices and drainage can contribute to stripping. Asphalt concrete mixes were prepared at their optimum asphalt content by superpave system and then tested to evaluate their engineering properties, which include tensile strength, resilient modulus, and perman

The present research had dealt with preparing  bars  with the length of about  (13 cm) and  adiametar  of  (1.5 cm) of composite materials with metal  matrix  represented by (Al-Cu-Mg) alloy cast enforced by (ZrO₂) particles with chosen weight  percentages (1.5, 2.5 ,3.5, 5.5 %). The base  cast and the composite  materials were prepared by casting method by uses vortex  Technique inorder to  fix up (ZrO₂) particles in homogeneous way on  the  base cast. In addition to  that, two main groups of composite materials were prepared depending on the particles size of (ZrO₂) , respectively.       &n

Magnesium aluminum silicate of glass ceramic having different amounts of magnesium fluoride in the range (0-13.2)%. Thermal expansion coefficient and micro hardness of the base glass and glass ceramic samples are seen to be interdependent but due to the multi – component system, the behaviour is seen to be somewhat complex, with an increase in Mg F2 content. The thermal expansion coefficient increase and micro harness decrease, numerical simulation of thermal expansion and hardness is useful in this study, L2 – regression is used to calculate the two parameters associated with each glass component, by comparing the measured parameters and the calculated parameters ,it is useful to use such a method to calculate the quantity

To achieve sustainability in the field of civil engineering, there has become a great interest in developing reactive powder concrete RPC through the use of environmentally friendly materials to reduce the release of CO₂ gas produced from cement factories as well as contribute to the recycling of industrial wastes that have a great impact on environmental pollution.

In this study, reactive powder concrete was prepared using total binder content of 800 kg/m³, water to binder ratio (0.275), and micro steel fibers  1% by volume of concrete. The experimental program included replacing fly ash with (8, 12, 16) % by cement weight to find the optimal ratio, which achieved the best mechanical proper

Study the effect of additives polymer polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) after solving in water by concentration 10% since represent a standard of PVA solution with added to cement – silica composite of ratio (1:2) with 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25% respectively to the standard quantity of water which using as a mortar of building. The results are demonstrate increasing on compression resistance with increase of PVA solution until 20%, and decreasing of thermal conductivity which represent a composite are increasing in thermal insulating. The results were recommended decreasing of water absorption with increase of PVA solution ratio as illustrated in this study.

Background Alloys with the addition of zirconium and niobium eliminate the adverse effects of aluminum and vanadium on the nervous system, the possibility of metallosis and the initiation of diseases (including cancers or Alzheimer›s disease). In addition, they have better corrosion resistance, and a Young›s modulus value similar to longitudinal bone tissue. Therefore, only choosing appropriate materials does not guarantee proper functioning of the implants, the surfaces of the implants also have to be suitable to meet the requirements. The laser surface hardening process modifies the surface properties by imparting microstructural changes, whereas surface remelting induces changes in the surface topography, roughness, wettability and w

In this study, Epoxy Resin plates was prepared by mixing epoxy(A) and hardner(B)with ratio(A:B) (3:1) with different thickness (0.3-0.96)cm. The effect of thickness on optical properties have been studied (absorption ,transmission ,reflectance) also the optical constant were found like (absorption coefficient, extenuation coefficient and refraction index) for all of the prepared plates. The results have shown that by increasing the thickness of plates., the absorption intensity increase in which at plates thickness (0.3-0.96)cm the absorption intensity were(1.54-1.43) respectively, and since absorption peak for epoxy occur in ultraviolet region and exactly at wavelength(368)nm and energy gap(Eg=3.05 eV) thus their good transmittance in the

The study was conducted to detect the effect of addition of 0.03, 0.06 and0.10% potassium sorbate and 0.10, 0.15, 0.20 and 0.30% sodium propionate upon the sensory properties of laboratory made biscuit. The statistical analysis of the results revealed no significant differences (P<0.05) between the propionate treatment (A,B,C,D) and between the sorbate treatment (E,F,G) and the control (H) in most sensory properties of biscuit prior to storage. Upon six month storage of biscuit made with addition of different levels of sodium propionate 20-40C (room temperature) no significant differences (P<0.05) were shown on softness, flakiness and color in comparison with the control . No significant differences (P<0.05) were also