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The drying process of pure C3S paste with a water to binder ratio of 0.55 under different relative humidity conditions was monitored using proton nuclear magnetic resonance relaxometry. The desorption isotherm of the interlayer water was obtained experimentally. The relationship between the interlayer water content and T2 value of the interlayer water defines the surface relaxation time, which provides quantitative data regarding the adsorbed water. According to the fast exchange model, the surface area at the sealed condition was 630 m2/g-calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H), and it decreased during drying, which was associated with an increase in chemically bound water. The ratio of the decrease in the interlayer surface area to the increase in chemically bound water was 5400 m^2/g. Based on this value, the total surface area of C-S-H was calculated to 830 to 921 m^2/g-C-S-H.

The drying process of pure C3S paste with a water to binder ratio of 0.55 under different relative humidity conditions was monitored using proton nuclear magnetic resonance relaxometry. The desorption isotherm of the interlayer water was obtained experimentally. The relationship between the interlayer water content and T2 value of the interlayer water defines the surface relaxation time, which provides quantitative data regarding the adsorbed water. According to the fast exchange model, the surface area at the sealed condition was 630 m2/g-calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H), and it decreased during drying, which was associated with an increase in chemically bound water. The ratio of the decrease in the interlayer surface area to the increase in chemically bound water was 5400 m^2/g. Based on this value, the total surface area of C-S-H was calculated to 830 to 921 m^2/g-C-S-H.

The supply-chain logistics – storage and transportation over long distances – and downstream processes in biofuel production are adversely impacted by the moisture content in the biomass feedstock. Most woody, herbaceous, low-cost biomass resources such as municipal organic solid wastes and forest residues have moisture content over 30% (of the wet-biomass mass). This makes them less amenable to thermochemical biomass-to-biofuel conversion technologies like pyrolysis and gasification. If pyrolyzed or gasified, the resulting biofuels have a higher moisture content, which truncates their calorific values. During storage, there is a loss of dry matter owing to a tendency to compost aerobically/anaerobically, which is detrimental to the quality of the biomass as a potential source of biofuel. Beyond that, fire hazards due to the spontaneous combustion of wet biomass are not uncommon, necessitating storage in a dry condition. However, drying high-moisture biomass is energy-intensive. The quality of the product and the efficiency of drying are affected by particle sizes and drying technologies adopted. Within this chapter, the authors focus on managing and controlling the moisture content of the biomass utilized in the biofuels sector by resorting to drying and torrefaction technologies. The chapter dwells on drying principles, models and media in drying systems, types of drying systems, mechanical dewatering and torrefaction, the impact of drying, dewatering, and torrefaction on the physical and chemical properties of the end-product, and techno-economic analysis of torrefaction.

Fluidized beds are commonly used for industrial drying applications due to their excellent heat and mass transfer characteristics. These features are desired since solids drying is very energy-intensive. Computer models such as Computational Fluid Dynamics - Discrete Element Method (CFD-DEM) can be employed to facilitate the fundamental understanding of solids drying and as a tool to improve process design. A crucial step is model validation with experimental data. In this study, the CFD-DEM drying simulations are validated using a detailed one-to-one comparison with the experimental results of De Munck et al. (2022). The pressure drop over the bed, the solids volume fluxes, the particle temperatures, and the particle densities are presented and discussed. Reasonable agreement between the experiments and simulations is observed. Furthermore, a connection between the local bed hydrodynamics and the local solids density distribution is found.

Expanding our understanding of how cellulose fibers and fibrils interact with water and its effect on their inherent properties is needed to optimize their utilization in the making of novel bio-based materials, but also useful in more traditional products (pulp, paper, and packaging). The overall objective of the work in this thesis was to deepen the understanding of drying-induced structural changes and cellulose-water interactions using cellulosic model materials. Cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) were employed as they present a distinct advantage with their defined geometry and controlled surface chemistry compared to macroscopic cellulose fibers. The first part considers the fundamental interactions of CNFs in contact with water and by water removal, and is devoted to identifying the molecular mechanisms behind the process known as hornification. This was done by studying the exposure of CNF sheets to different heat treatments to establish a connection between their reswelling properties, chemical and structural characteristics, and mechanical behavior. The findings indicate that hornification is governed by non-covalent interactions and that the diffusion of water back into a hornified CNF network is kinetically limited. Furthermore, the influence of fibril aspect ratio and chemical functionality on the mechanical properties of wet fibrillar networks was studied. Fibrils were prepared from fibers with different hemicellulose content. It was found that longer fibrils formed stiffer and more ductile materials, owing to a longer-range and more uniform distribution of stress transfer. Additionally, high aspect ratio fibrils form networks capable of holding larger amounts of water. It was also possible to elucidate the influence of aspect ratio on the network formation, where long and short fibrils form networks with different topologies. These results were integrated into a mechanical network model to present an improved elastoplastic description of the network propert, Att utvidga vår förståelse för hur cellulosafibrer och fibriller interagerar med vatten och dess effekt på deras inneboende egenskaper är nödvändigt för att optimera deras användning vid tillverkning av nya biobaserade material, men även i traditionella produkter (massa, papper och förpackningar). Det övergripande målet med arbetet i denna avhandling var att fördjupa förståelsen för strukturella förändringar orsakade av torkning och cellulosa-vatten interaktioner med hjälp av cellulosabaserade modellmaterial. Cellulosa nanofibriller (CNFs) användes då de har en fördel med sin definierade geometri och kontrollerade ytkemi i jämförelse med makroskopiska cellulosafibrer. Den första delen avhandlar de grundläggande interaktionerna mellan CNFs i kontakt med vatten och efter vattenborttagning, och ägnas åt att identifiera de molekylära mekanismerna bakom processen som kallas hornifiering. Detta gjordes genom att studera CNF-ark som utsatts för olika värmebehandlingar för att fastställa en koppling mellan deras svällningsegenskaper, kemiska och strukturella egenskaper samt mekaniska beteende. Resultaten indikerar att förhorning styrs av icke-kovalenta interaktioner och att diffusionen av vatten tillbaka in i ett förhornat CNF-nätverk är kinetiskt begränsad. Sedan studerades inflytandet av fibrillernas längd-bredd förhållande och kemisk funktionalitet på de mekaniska egenskaperna hos våta fibrillnätverk. Fibriller framställdes från fibrer med olika hemicellulosahalt. Resultaten visade att längre fibriller bildade styvare och mer töjbara material, tack vare en längre och mer jämn fördelning av belastningsöverföring. Dessutom bildar fibriller med högt längd-bredd förhållande nätverk som kan hålla större mängder vatten. Det var också möjligt att förklara inflytandet av längd-bredd förhållande på nätverksbildningen, där långa och korta fibriller bildar nätverk med olika topologier. Dessa resultat integrerades i en mekanisk nätverksmodell för att presentera en förbättrad elasto, QC 20240508Embargo godkänt av skolchef Amelie Eriksson Karlström via e-post 2024-05-08

Temporary rivers are aquatic ecosystems that alternate periods of water flow with dry periods. Diatoms are a group of unicellular microalgae with a high colonizing ability, but little is known about their responses to drying. We carried out different resistance and resilience experiments to evaluate temporal and spatial dispersal capacity of diatoms during the dry period. The resistance was tested experimentally by rehydrating dried biofilms and sediments from temporary rivers, whereas resilience was tested by installing artificial mesocosms along a dry river section. Disconnected pools were also sampled to evaluate their propagule emission capacity. In turn, dogs from the area were sampled to test potential zoochory dispersal capacity. In the resistance experiment, we found living diatoms in all the rehydrated sediments but not in biofilms. Diatoms with mobility traits, high ecological plasticity, and resistance spores presented high, along with typical soil diatoms. In the resilience experiment, all mesocosms hosted living diatoms, which were low-profile, pioneering, and small species. Diatoms found in the mesocosms were also common in the disconnected pools, underscoring the potential role of the latter as a propagule emission zone. Dogs' paws also had living diatoms, which evidences that wild fauna could potentially act as passive diatom vectors.

This study aimed to establish relationships between wine composition and in-mouth sensory properties using a sensometabolomic approach. Forty-two red wines were sensorially assessed and chemically characterised using UPLC-QTOF-MS for targeted and untargeted analyses. Suitable partial least squares regression models were obtained for "dry", "sour", "oily", "prickly", and "unctuous". "Dry" was positively contributed by flavan-3-ols, anthocyanin derivatives (AntD), valine, gallic acid and its ethyl ester, and peptides, and negatively by sulfonated flavan-3-ols, anthocyanin-ethyl-flavan-3-ols, tartaric acid, flavonols (FOL), hydroxycinnamic acids (HA), protocatechuic ethyl ester, and proline. The "sour" model included molecules involved in "dry" and "bitter", ostensibly as a result of cognitive interactions. Derivatives of FOLs, epicatechin gallate, and N-acetyl-glucosamine phosphate contributed positively to "oily", as did vanillic acid, HAs, pyranoanthocyanins, and malvidin-flavan-3-ol derivatives for "prickly", and sugars, glutathione disulfide, AntD, FOL, and one HA for "unctuous". The presented approach offers an interesting tool for deciphering the sensory-active compounds involved in mouthfeel perception.

The response of groundwater recharge to climate change needs to be understood to enable sustainable management of groundwater systems today and in the future, yet observations of recharge over long-enough time periods to reveal responses to climate trends are scarce. Here we present a meta-analysis of 60 years of recharge studies over the Gnangara Groundwater System of South-West Western Australia, covering a period of sustained drying consistent with climate change projections. The recharge process in the area is defined by a wet winter during which rain saturates a deep, highly permeable soil profile with very low water storage capacity. Measurements of recharge since the 1960s show near-linear reductions in potential recharge of 50%, in response to a 20% reduction in rainfall. For the best-represented land cover in the dataset (Banksia woodland), the reduction in potential recharge was closer to 70%. A simple analytical model suggests that reductions in the duration of winter, coupled with a decreased frequency of winter storms, were most responsible for these declines, and reveals the potential for nonlinear relationships between the recharge fraction (recharge/precipitation) and climatic variables such as mean storm frequency, mean storm depth, and the length of the winter wet season. Overall, results suggest that recharge declines in drying Mediterranean groundwater systems are likely to outstrip the declines in rainfall, and that leveraging existing observation networks worldwide to characterise recharge responses to changing climate is needed to overcome existing interpretation challenges created by inconsistent sites, methods and durations of recharge estimation.

Tato bakalářská práce se zabývá popisem různých způsobů sušení potravin a jejich vlivem na složení a změny vybraných složek potravin. První část se zaměřuje na nejběžnější metody sušení, jejich základní principy a popis používaných zařízení. Druhá část je věnována sušení konkrétních druhů potravin a porovnání různých metod s ohledem na obsah vybraných složek., This bachelor thesis deals with the description of different methods of food drying and their influence on the composition and changes of selected food components. The first part focuses on the most common drying methods, their basic principles and a description of the equipment used. The second part is devoted to the drying of specific types of foodstuffs and a comparison of the different methods with regard to the content of the selected substances., Fakulta chemicko-technologická, Studentka seznámila členy zkušební komise s obsahem své bakalářské práce, poté byla seznámena s posudkem vedoucího bakalářské práce. Studentka odpověděla na otázky členů zkušební komise., Dokončená práce s úspěšnou obhajobou

This research addresses the numerical simulation of a working fluid, using specialized SolidWorks Flow Simulation Software, analyzing the behavior of a drying air in a flat solar collector with thermal energy storage. In addition, one of the main centers of computational study is the relationship between flow, air temperature at the outlet of the collector and efficiency; This study allows researchers a vision of the principles of the design of these technologies, especially if it focuses on the drying of food. Then, a proposal is made on the requirements to be taken into account for the sizing of collectors based on the requirements of the product to be dried. Among the results obtained, it is established that a correctly designed collector and under a variable air flow, based on the intensity of the irradiation in specific coordinates and location, can reach efficiencies close to 30% with temperatures close to 60 ° C, being ideal for injecting this fluid into a drying chamber, where the food to be dehydrated is available. For the selection of the volume of the material for energy storage, it is recommended to take the melting temperatures as a base, with a constant flow of air, it is normal that within the system, the temperature varies depending on the position, therefore it is recommending the application of materials with different melting temperatures, which are strategically located within the storage tank., Esta investigación aborda la simulación numérica de un fluido de trabajo, utilizando el software especializado SolidWorks Flow Simulation, analizando el comportamiento de un aire de secado en un colector solar plano con almacenamiento de energía térmica. Además, uno de los principales centros de estudio computacional es la relación entre caudal, temperatura del aire a la salida del colector y eficiencia; Este estudio permite a los investigadores una visión de los principios del diseño de estas tecnologías, especialmente si se enfoca en el secado de alimentos. A continuación, se hace una propuesta sobre los requisitos a tener en cuenta para el dimensionamiento de los colectores en función de los requisitos del producto a secar. Entre los resultados obtenidos, se establece que un colector correctamente diseñado y bajo un flujo de aire variable, en función de la intensidad de la irradiación en coordenadas y ubicación específicas, puede alcanzar eficiencias cercanas al 30% con temperaturas cercanas a los 60 ° C, siendo ideal para inyectar este fluido en una cámara de secado, donde se encuentra disponible el alimento a deshidratar. Para la selección del volumen del material para almacenamiento de energía, se recomienda tomar como base las temperaturas de fusión, con un flujo de aire constante, es normal que, dentro del sistema, la temperatura varíe dependiendo de la posición, por lo tanto, recomienda la aplicación de materiales con diferentes temperaturas de fusión, los cuales se encuentran estratégicamente ubicados dentro del tanque de almacenamiento.

"Theobroma cacao" beans are an economically significant commodity for the Fiji Islands. The cocoa beans are harvested in the wild and then fermented and sun-dried under tropical weather conditions. The high relative humidity (RH) as well as the unpredictable weather conditions extend the sun-drying time and causes quality issues in the final dried product. Maintaining product quality is important as export quality cocoa beans are sold at premium prices to chocolate manufacturers internationally. The problems in sun-dying can be solved by reducing the RH of drying air stream. This is possible with desiccant wheel technology (DWT). The solid desiccant material in DWT desorbs moisture from air and reduces humidity. The desiccant material can be regeneration between 60 and 100 °C for the next cycle. This temperature conditions can be achieved by using a solar dryer. This study tested the drying conditions below 20% RH on small batches (6 kg) of fermented Fijian cocoa beans at 45 °C and 55 °C. Impact of these conditions on the drying kinetics and bioactive quality was tested. Experimental data was used to validate a mechanistic drying model. The model was developed using partial differential equations (PDEs) with an implicit scheme for a targeted drying time of 72 hours. Finite difference method (FDM) was used to solve PDEs. The model output was comparable to experimental data from drying runs in Fiji. Reducing the RH at 45 °C showed a better retention of key bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, caffeine, and theobromine when compared to other treatments. These findings are presented in detail in this thesis and suggests that DWT can provide consistent drying conditions in a tropical environment. The drying model is a useful tool for predicting the drying conditions for cocoa beans based on multiple input variables. The model can be used to advise cocoa farmers on the estimated processing time for cocoa beans to meet the demands of the export market.

Most of the physical, mechanical, and esthetic properties of wood products are affected by the drying of sawn timber. A better understanding of moisture transport in wood during kiln drying is necessary to obtain better quality products, shorter drying schedules, lower energy consumption, and a more sustainable process. Four-dimensional X-ray computed tomography (4DCT) (three-dimensional in space and one in time) with image processing techniques can be used to study the moisture content (MC) of sawn timber during kiln drying. The development of the technique is however made difficult by computational complexity and a lack of accurate experimental validation. In this study, a method relying on 4DCT has been developed using state-of-the-art image processing techniques. The method was validated by a regression analysis of the predicted MC against gravimetric measurements for different timber cross sections and differentinitial MC distributions on a significantly smaller scale than has previously been investigated. It is concluded that the MC can be estimated with an average uncertainty of ±4.8 percentage points on a 10 mm scale. Sawmills could ultimately benefit from a better understanding of wood-water interactions and dry sawn timber more efficiently.

Bhutan is the world’s most mountainous country which comes with some logistical difficulties. Due to slow transportation times and lackluster food preservation are the post-harvest losses high which especially affects the rural parts of Bhutan negatively. Solar Food: Reducing post-harvest losses through improved solar drying, is a project set out to design a low-cost solar powered food dryer to improve the quality of food preservation in the Himalayan region and is funded through Swedish Research Council. This project analyzes the temperature changes seen in each component of the solar dryer, such as the heat exchanger, absorber, heat storage and the drying chamber at different air flows. The collected data is utilized to calculate the different efficiencies and heat fluxes. Furthermore, the drying rate was measured for each experiment to determine which flow performs optimally for drying. Thus, getting a good transparency of the system which in turn will assist in identifying potential areas for improvement. The heat exchanger shows a decrease in performance with increasing flow, however, the heat flux between its sides remains fairly constant regardless of flow. In contrast to this shows the absorber an increase in performance with higher flows, and it plateaus after 10 l/s. The remaining energy in the heat storage at the end of each experiment peaked when the flow was 6 l/s, and 10 l/s short thereafter. The drying chamber had the highest temperatures in experiments with 10 l/s. The drying rate increased with increasing flow and showed no end to this trend. The results indicate that a larger absorber would likely be the most beneficial modification in a future design. Additionally, a larger more powerful fan would likely result in better drying rates, however this would increase the overall cost and power consumption and the availability of such equipment might be low., Bhutan is currently struggling with unnecessary food losses due to the logistical challenges posed by its mountainous landscapes, thus, allowing the food to spoil before it reaches the people. To address this issue, the Swedish Research Council has funded a project, coordinated by Lund University, which aims to design a solar food dryer using only locally available material found in Bhutan, which aims to help preserve food and combat food losses. The dryer is going through an iterative process of tests and redesigns, and recently underwent rigorous field testing in Bhutan to reveal potential improvements.

In this work, the drying kinetics of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) was studied considering the shrinkage effect. The experimental data were obtained using three different temperatures (40, 60, and 80 degrees C). For the determination of shrinkage, two cutting orientations were employed. The volumetric and thickness shrinkage was evaluated by direct measurement. The shrinkage showed two periods during drying and had a considerable effect on the drying rate. An equation that relates the changes in the drying area as a function of the moisture content was determined. During drying, ginger showed only a falling rate period and exhibited a characteristic drying curve., QC 20230404

Most of the physical, mechanical, and esthetic properties of wood products are affected by the drying of sawn timber. A better understanding of moisture transport in wood during kiln drying is necessary to obtain better quality products, shorter drying schedules, lower energy consumption, and a more sustainable process. Four-dimensional X-ray computed tomography (4DCT) (three-dimensional in space and one in time) with image processing techniques can be used to study the moisture content (MC) of sawn timber during kiln drying. The development of the technique is however made difficult by computational complexity and a lack of accurate experimental validation. In this study, a method relying on 4DCT has been developed using state-of-the-art image processing techniques. The method was validated by a regression analysis of the predicted MC against gravimetric measurements for different timber cross sections and different initial MC distributions on a significantly smaller scale than has previously been investigated. It is concluded that the MC can be estimated with an average uncertainty of ±4.8 percentage points on a 10 mm scale. Sawmills could ultimately benefit from a better understanding of wood-water interactions and dry sawn timber more efficiently.

The long-lasting usage of fossil fuels has brought its negative impact on the planet and thus the society is turning towards more environmentally sustainable solutions in every aspect of life. This master’s thesis discusses the novel topic of integrating concentrated solar thermal collectors, which directly produce steam, to drying processes in the food industry, which is proven to currently emit significant amounts of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs). The aim is to investigate the possible pathways solar thermal can be integrated to the industry, the minimization of fossil fuels usage, the CO2 emissions reduction, and the feasibility of the investment in concentrating thermal collectors’ fields. To achieve so, many visits have taken place to one of the most distinguished food industries in Greece, and in collaboration with it and the companies Absolicon and MG Sustainable in Sweden, a process layout is proposed that shows a steam mass flow reduction for the same yield, as well as CO2 emissions reduction and the economical feasibility for the implementation of the solar field., The implementation of parabolic trough collectors can offer direct steam generation in many processes, which can be well coupled with spray drying technology. Parabolic trough collectors are one of the solar thermal solutions that can be installed in small or large-scale in industries, with reasonable payback time, and can provide steam directly. Therefore, it is possible to bring sustainability to the food and dairy industry, with an efficient and innovative technology. Furthermore, spray drying is an efficient technology used in the food industry for drying various types of foods, ranging from milk to fruits. In this thesis report, it was found that it is feasible to implement parabolic trough collectors and that for an annual thermal energy need of 2220 MWh, for the specific industry studied, for the spray drying process, it may run entirely on solar thermal energy. For this energy to be produced from solar concentrating collectors with a one-axis tracking system, two different simulation tools were used and gave the result that each method simulates for 5 and 7 days per week respectively. In more detail, it was found that 2111 m2 of collector aperture area are required in a solar field close to the factory, in the case the industry operates with 8-hour shifts every day including weekends. On the other hand, if the industry operates only during weekdays with 8-hour shifts, the solar field size is 3833 m2, which is considerably higher. Furthermore, in both operating cases, it was found that the NPV was positive after the 25-year lifespan of the collectors and the 2 years of construction. In the case the industry operates during weekdays and weekends, with the reduced solar field size, the weighted NPV is 3 million € after 27 years. In the case the industry operates only during weekdays, the weighted NPV is 1.9 million €. Additionally, it was found that the CO2 reduction was 15215 tons, which corresponds to planting 28982 trees to absorb this amount of CO2 during t

Closed shell pistachio nuts must be split for their commercialisation, which is conducted in processing plants designed on purpose. Given that current industrial processes have limitations, and pistachio is a booming product, new opening mechanisms alternative to the traditional ones are being developed. Thus, thermal processing has recently gained attention, but the high energy consumption required in these processes has boosted the search of new alternatives. To our knowledge, there is no information about the treatment of pistachio nuts in conical spouted beds. Accordingly, we propose a novel alternative method for pistachio nuts splitting by involving the mentioned technology. Hydrodynamic runs have been conducted to ascertain the configurations that lead to stable operation, and therefore are suitable for low temperature batch drying and splitting of pistachio nuts. The results show that a single cycle of wetting, drying and cooling of pistachio nuts allows attaining splitting percentages of up to 35%.

Tomato leaves, the by-products from tomato production, are a promising source of proteins. An important challenge to extract proteins is that leaves are perishable materials. Here we investigated different post-harvest processing routes of tomato leaves (fresh processing, three-day storage, freezing, freeze drying and oven drying) to understand their effects on protein extractability from leaves. Proteins were extracted at floating pH and alkaline condition (pH 10). Obtained protein fractions were characterized according to protein solubility, protein profile, molecular weight distribution, secondary structure and color. Results showed that tomato leaves should be processed fresh for protein extraction. Alternatively, leaves can be stored for three-day at room temperature. Extraction at pH 10 did not result in enhanced protein extraction but led to dark brown color formation. Extensive protein degradation was induced during oven drying, providing a new processing route when degraded products such as peptides and free amino acids are the target products. Industrial relevance: To support the transition of human diet from animal-based to plant-based, it is important to find new plant protein sources. Tomato leaves, the by-products of tomato fruit production, are widely available and are unexplored source of proteins. An additional challenge of using leaves as a protein source lies in the perishable nature of tomato leaves. The presented study discussed the post-harvest processing options to extract proteins from tomato leaves. Our findings provided insights on how to upscale protein extraction from tomato leaves in the future.

Microalgal biomass represents a sustainable bioresource for various applications, such as food, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, feed, and other bio-based products. For decades, its mass production has attracted widespread attention and interest. The process of microalgal biomass production involves several techniques, mainly cultivation, harvesting, drying, and pollution control. These techniques are often designed and optimized to meet optimal growth conditions for microalgae and to produce high-quality biomass at acceptable cost. Importantly, mass production techniques are important for producing a commercial product in sufficient amounts. However, it should not be overlooked that microalgal biotechnology still faces challenges, in particular the high cost of production, the lack of knowledge about biological contaminants and the challenge of loss of active ingredients during biomass production. These issues involve the research and development of low-cost, standardized, industrial-scale production equipment and the optimization of production processes, as well as the urgent need to increase the research on biological contaminants and microalgal active ingredients. This review systematically examines the global development of microalgal biotechnology for biomass production, with emphasis on the techniques of cultivation, harvesting, drying and control of biological contaminants, and discusses the challenges and strategies to further improve quality and reduce costs. Moreover, the current status of biomass production of some biotechnologically important species has been summarized, and the importance of improving microalgae-related standards for their commercial applications is noted.

A growing interest in alternative cements has emerged with the sole purpose of reducing the environmental footprint associated with cement production. One of the promising alternatives is to use non-carbonate materials such as alkali-activated materials. They have demonstrated to have a similar performance as traditional Portland cement and have the potential to significantly reduce CO2 emissions. This paper reviews the main relevant technologies that are already available in the construction industry and explains how to consider them for alkali-activated cement and concrete production. This includes aluminosilicate pre-treatment methods (drying, grinding, and calcining) to increase the precursor's reactivity and degree of amorphization, alkali activation by two-part or one-part mix, as well as, mixing and casting fresh alkali-activated concrete ensuring low porosity and adequate strength development. This review also presents an overview of the alkali-activated cements market, providing examples of commercialized products, estimating related CO2 and costs, as well as future considerations for standardization and commercialization. Most of the commercialized alkali-activated materials are two-part mixes despite their limitations for in-situ applications. CO2 emissions can be reduced by more than 68% when compared to Portland cements. However, they have been estimated to be 2 to 3 times more expensive and the cost is primarily dependent on the aluminosilicate and alkali activators source.

Technological comparison and system modelling of sewage sludge treatment are important in terms of sustainable development and climate change mitigation. Dewatering and drying are important processes for reducing volume for transportation and often a requirement for further sludge treatment. Inventory data on mass transfers and material and energy consumptions are therefore crucial in improving and understanding sludge management systems. Reviewing the scientific literature (2003–2021) revealed 55 and 21 datasets on dewatering and drying of sewage sludge, respectively. The scarcity of data did not allow for identifying detailed relationships between inputs and outputs for the technologies, but the reviewed data can serve as the first port of call when planning sludge management. The average total solid (TS) content obtained was statistically different for mechanical dewatering (MDW), deep dewatering, bio-drying (BDR) and thermal drying (TDR). Loss of volatile solids (VS) during dewatering is barely described, but a substantial VS loss was observed for TDR (8%) and BDR (27%). The use of chemical agents in MDW showed typical values of 5–15 g kg−1 TS. The use of energy is low for MDW (average of 0.12 and 0.26 kWh kg−1 TS for raw and digested sludges, respectively) but substantially higher for TDR (average of 3.8 kWh kg−1 TS). The justified inventory data for sludge dewatering and drying provide essential support to system modelling and technological comparison in future studies, but additional data from full-scale plants on energy consumption and the composition of removed water are strongly requested to improve the inventory.

This study investigates the effects of ultrasound, in combination with chemical pretreatments, on the quality attributes (total phenolic and carotenoid content, antioxidant activity (2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay (DPPH)), ferric-reducing ability (FRAP), CIE L* a* b* color, non-enzymatic browning, rehydration ratio, textural and morphological properties) of red pepper subjected to drying (hot air drying or freeze drying). The fractional factorial design was used to assess the impact of factors. The global Derringer desirability function was used to determine the optimal conditions for the best quality attributes of dried pepper. The drying method influenced total phenolic content, a* (redness), and initial rehydration ratio; pretreatment time significantly affected FRAP antiradical activity, a*, chroma and non-browning index, while pH-value had a significant effect on the texture of dried pepper. Non-enzymatic browning was reduced to 72.6%, while the DPPH antioxidant capacity of freeze-dried peppers was enhanced from 4.2% to 71.9%. Ultrasonic pretreatment led to changes in the pepper morphology, while potassium metabisulfite (KMS) was a more effective additive than citric acid.

This study investigates the effects of ultrasound, in combination with chemical pretreatments, on the quality attributes (total phenolic and carotenoid content, antioxidant activity (2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay (DPPH)), ferric-reducing ability (FRAP), CIE L* a* b* color, non-enzymatic browning, rehydration ratio, textural and morphological properties) of red pepper subjected to drying (hot air drying or freeze drying). The fractional factorial design was used to assess the impact of factors. The global Derringer desirability function was used to determine the optimal conditions for the best quality attributes of dried pepper. The drying method influenced total phenolic content, a* (redness), and initial rehydration ratio; pretreatment time significantly affected FRAP antiradical activity, a*, chroma and non-browning index, while pH-value had a significant effect on the texture of dried pepper. Non-enzymatic browning was reduced to 72.6%, while the DPPH antioxidant capacity of freeze-dried peppers was enhanced from 4.2% to 71.9%. Ultrasonic pretreatment led to changes in the pepper morphology, while potassium metabisulfite (KMS) was a more effective additive than citric acid.

Using plant-based polysaccharide gels to produce hard capsules is a novel application of this technology in the medicinal field, which has garnered significant attention. However, the current manufacturing technology, particularly the drying process, limits its industrialization. The work herein employed an advanced measuring technique and a modified mathematical model to get more insight into the drying process of the capsule. Low field magnetic resonance imaging (LF-MRI) technique is adopted to reveal the distribution of moisture content in the capsule during drying. Furthermore, a modified mathematical model is developed by considering the dynamic variation of the effective moisture diffusivity (Deff) according to Fick’s second law, which enables accurate prediction of the moisture content of the capsule with a prediction accuracy of ±15%. The predicted Deff ranges from 3 × 10−10 to 7 × 10−10 m2·s−1, which has an irregular variation with a time extension. Moreover, as temperature increases or relative humidity decreases, there is an increased acceleration of moisture diffusion. The work provides a fundamental understanding of the drying process of the plant-based polysaccharide gel, which is crucial for enhancing the industrial preparation of the HPMC-based hard capsules.

The distribution of catalytically active species in heterogeneous porous catalysts strongly influences their performance and durability within industrial reactors. A drying model for investigating this redistribution is developed and subsequently the impact of non-linear couplings of liquid viscosity and surface tension on hydrodynamics and redistribution of species during the drying process investigated. The gained insights are then used to exert control of the redistribution within the presented model by solely varying external process parameters.

This study investigates the effects of ultrasound, in combination with chemical pretreatments, on the quality attributes (total phenolic and carotenoid content, antioxidant activity (2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay (DPPH)), ferric-reducing ability (FRAP), CIE L* a* b* color, non-enzymatic browning, rehydration ratio, textural and morphological properties) of red pepper subjected to drying (hot air drying or freeze drying). The fractional factorial design was used to assess the impact of factors. The global Derringer desirability function was used to determine the optimal conditions for the best quality attributes of dried pepper. The drying method influenced total phenolic content, a* (redness), and initial rehydration ratio; pretreatment time significantly affected FRAP antiradical activity, a*, chroma and non-browning index, while pH-value had a significant effect on the texture of dried pepper. Non-enzymatic browning was reduced to 72.6%, while the DPPH antioxidant capacity of freeze-dried peppers was enhanced from 4.2% to 71.9%. Ultrasonic pretreatment led to changes in the pepper morphology, while potassium metabisulfite (KMS) was a more effective additive than citric acid.

Cirina forda and Rhyncophorus phoenicis are widely consumed insects in tropical Africa. Drying is one of themain conservation techniques to improve the availability of these insects, which are harvested seasonally in thewild. The main goal of this study was to investigate the sorption isotherms and to estimate the shelf-life of thesetwo dried insects. Sorption isotherms were determined at 25, 30, 40 and 50 °C by using dynamic vapor sorption.Amongst five isotherm sorption models that were selected to fit the experimental data, Peleg’s equation was foundto give the best fit for both insect species. It was observed that all insects exhibited type III sorption isotherms,indicating monolayer-multilayer behaviour with a progressively decreasing biding energy as the number of layersrises. Using the Heiss-Eichner model, dry base initial moisture contents of 8 and 7%, are proposed for C. fordaand R. phoenicis respectively. These conditions ensure a shelf-life of 12 months at 30 °C when insects are packagedin polyethylene films., info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Most of the physical, mechanical, and esthetic properties of wood products are affected by the drying of sawn timber. A better understanding of moisture transport in wood during kiln drying is necessary to obtain better quality products, shorter drying schedules, lower energy consumption, and a more sustainable process. Four-dimensional X-ray computed tomography (4DCT) (three-dimensional in space and one in time) with image processing techniques can be used to study the moisture content (MC) of sawn timber during kiln drying. The development of the technique is however made difficult by computational complexity and a lack of accurate experimental validation. In this study, a method relying on 4DCT has been developed using state-of-the-art image processing techniques. The method was validated by a regression analysis of the predicted MC against gravimetric measurements for different timber cross sections and different initial MC distributions on a significantly smaller scale than has previously been investigated. It is concluded that the MC can be estimated with an average uncertainty of ±4.8 percentage points on a 10 mm scale. Sawmills could ultimately benefit from a better understanding of wood-water interactions and dry sawn timber more efficiently.

This study investigates the effects of ultrasound, in combination with chemical pretreatments, on the quality attributes (total phenolic and carotenoid content, antioxidant activity (2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay (DPPH)), ferric-reducing ability (FRAP), CIE L* a* b* color, non-enzymatic browning, rehydration ratio, textural and morphological properties) of red pepper subjected to drying (hot air drying or freeze drying). The fractional factorial design was used to assess the impact of factors. The global Derringer desirability function was used to determine the optimal conditions for the best quality attributes of dried pepper. The drying method influenced total phenolic content, a* (redness), and initial rehydration ratio; pretreatment time significantly affected FRAP antiradical activity, a*, chroma and non-browning index, while pH-value had a significant effect on the texture of dried pepper. Non-enzymatic browning was reduced to 72.6%, while the DPPH antioxidant capacity of freeze-dried peppers was enhanced from 4.2% to 71.9%. Ultrasonic pretreatment led to changes in the pepper morphology, while potassium metabisulfite (KMS) was a more effective additive than citric acid.

This study investigates the effects of ultrasound, in combination with chemical pretreatments, on the quality attributes (total phenolic and carotenoid content, antioxidant activity (2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay (DPPH)), ferric-reducing ability (FRAP), CIE L* a* b* color, non-enzymatic browning, rehydration ratio, textural and morphological properties) of red pepper subjected to drying (hot air drying or freeze drying). The fractional factorial design was used to assess the impact of factors. The global Derringer desirability function was used to determine the optimal conditions for the best quality attributes of dried pepper. The drying method influenced total phenolic content, a* (redness), and initial rehydration ratio; pretreatment time significantly affected FRAP antiradical activity, a*, chroma and non-browning index, while pH-value had a significant effect on the texture of dried pepper. Non-enzymatic browning was reduced to 72.6%, while the DPPH antioxidant capacity of freeze-dried peppers was enhanced from 4.2% to 71.9%. Ultrasonic pretreatment led to changes in the pepper morphology, while potassium metabisulfite (KMS) was a more effective additive than citric acid.

This review provides a concise overview of up-to-date developments in the processing of neat poly(lactic acid) (PLA), improvement in its properties, and preparation of advanced materials using a green medium (CO2 under elevated pressure). Pressurized CO2 in the dense and supercritical state is a superior alternative medium to organic solvents, as it is easily available, fully recyclable, has easily tunable properties, and can be completely removed from the final material without post-processing steps. This review summarizes the state of the art on PLA drying, impregnation, foaming, and particle generation by the employment of dense and supercritical CO2 for the development of new materials. An analysis of the effect of processing methods on the final material properties was focused on neat PLA and PLA with an addition of natural bioactive components. It was demonstrated that CO2-assisted processes enable the control of PLA properties, reduce operating times, and require less energy compared to conventional ones. The described environmentally friendly processing techniques and the versatility of PLA were employed for the preparation of foams, aerogels, scaffolds, microparticles, and nanoparticles, as well as bioactive materials. These PLA-based materials can find application in tissue engineering, drug delivery, active food packaging, compostable packaging, wastewater treatment, or thermal insulation, among others.

[EN] This is the experimental dataset used in the paper: Testing protective coatings for metal conservation: the influence of the application method. This data presents results on the effect that methodology application variables can have on the protective capacity of the coatings. The influence of the thickness, number of layers and drying time of Paraloid B72, C80 microcrystalline wax and Incralac on bare steel coupons on the performance of the coatings has been evaluated with techniques such as: electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), a reflected light metallurgical microscope and electromagnetic induction thickness probe. It has been shown that the number of layers is not always proportional to the thickness of the coating and that after accelerated ageing, some coatings that had been left to dry for 14 days, have a better protective capacity than those that were left to dry for less time., [ES] Este es el conjunto de datos experimentales utilizado en el artículo: Pruebas de recubrimientos protectores para la conservación de metales: la influencia del método de aplicación. Estos datos presentan resultados sobre el efecto que las variables de aplicación de la metodología pueden tener en la capacidad protectora de los recubrimientos. Se ha evaluado la influencia del espesor, número de capas y tiempo de secado de Paraloid B72, cera microcristalina C80 e Incralac sobre cupones de acero desnudo en el comportamiento de los recubrimientos mediante técnicas como: espectroscopia de impedancia electroquímica (EIS), microscopio metalúrgico de luz reflejada y sonda de espesores por inducción electromagnética. Se ha demostrado que el número de capas no siempre es proporcional al espesor del recubrimiento y que, tras un envejecimiento acelerado, algunos recubrimientos que se habían dejado secar durante 14 días, tienen una mejor capacidad protectora que los que se dejaron secar durante menos tiempo.

Cold Water Extraction (CWE) is a technique used to extract the pore solution of cementitious materials and to study its alkalinity. CWE can be used on paste, mortar or concrete, and requires only standard laboratory equipment. The method is not yet standardised, so several parameters must be arbitrarily selected when conducting the test. This work investigated the influence of four parameters on the calculated alkali metal concentrations in the pore solution: the method for determining the amount of pore solution (oven-drying at 40 and 105 °C, desiccator with silica gel and solvent exchange), the size fraction of the powdered material, the leaching duration and the liquid-to-solid ratio. A comparison with values obtained by Pore Water Extraction (PWE) on two cement types emphasises and quantifies the crucial impact of the amount of pore solution on CWE results. The results suggest that some bound alkali metals may be released during CWE. A mechanism is proposed, and recommendations are made to limit any effect of this on CWE results.

We have studied the imbibition and drying of water/co-solvent mixtures in paper and glass microfiber filters. The experiments reveal a rich interplay of solution imbibition, solvent evaporation and solvent-mediated pore-fiber transport. After deposition, liquids occupy the micron-scale inter-fiber pores of a paper sheet. In thermodynamic equilibrium, polar liquids such as water and co-solvents reside in the nm-scale intra-fiber pores of the cellulose fibers. The timescales for attaining equilibrium prove to depend sensitively on the water content, such that co-solvents can be temporarily trapped in a non-equilibrium configuration. The combination of two experimental methods allows the determination of both the overall co-solvent content and an estimation of what fractions reside in the pores and in the fibers of a paper sheet. The results are relevant to understanding the behavior of solutions in paper and provide insight into the dynamics of aqueous inkjet printing inks.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the modulating effect of the processing of Hermetia illucens larvae on the antibacterial activity of the fat related to lipolysis to free fatty acids (FFAs), mainly as lauric acid. Blanching and freezing were compared for slaughtering, oven or freeze-drying for drying, and mechanical pressing or supercritical fluid for defatting. Freezing plus freeze-drying produced the highest FFAs content (21%), mainly as lauric acid (11%). In agreement, freezing plus freeze-drying was also the most effective method to obtain fats with higher antibacterial activity, regardless of the defatting method. The antibacterial activity was significantly more relevant for gram-positive bacteria, having a strain-dependent character. The most effective fat was bactericidal for Listeria monocytogenes and Bacillus subtilis and reduced Staphylococcus aureus growth. Therefore, it is possible to selectively modulate the antibacterial activity of the H. illucens fat due to lipolysis by the processing methods of larvae.

Energy is a crucial input in the process of economic, social and industrial development of any nation. Fluctuating solar insolation and late sunrise hour has led to poor quality dried biological material production. A simulation of hot-air supplemented solar dryer (HSSD) designed for such purpose is presented for temperature distribution based on direct solar irradiation of 1423 W/m2 of Akure, Nigeria (5.304º Latitude 7.258º Longitude). The environmental conditions in the hybrid dryer were measured during a day of operation. The model of the dryer was created and a numerical model was established to allow replicating the internal environmental conditions of the dryer. The airflow, temperature, radiative heat flux and other parameters inside the HSSD system were simulated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach. The simulated result was compared with the calculated and estimated parameter values for the HSSD. The simulated air-flow pattern and temperature distribution on the horizontal and vertical planes in the drying chamber were analyzed and the results revealed spatial homogeneity of drying air condition. However, there is higher velocity profile at the outlet vent due to buildup of hot air at outlet vent. There was relatively low interference of external temperature in the drying chamber.

Energy is a crucial input in the process of economic, social and industrial development of any nation. Fluctuating solar insolation and late sunrise hour has led to poor quality dried biological material production. A simulation of hot-air supplemented solar dryer (HSSD) designed for such purpose is presented for temperature distribution based on direct solar irradiation of 1423 W/m2 of Akure, Nigeria (5.304º Latitude 7.258º Longitude). The environmental conditions in the hybrid dryer were measured during a day of operation. The model of the dryer was created and a numerical model was established to allow replicating the internal environmental conditions of the dryer. The airflow, temperature, radiative heat flux and other parameters inside the HSSD system were simulated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach. The simulated result was compared with the calculated and estimated parameter values for the HSSD. The simulated air-flow pattern and temperature distribution on the horizontal and vertical planes in the drying chamber were analyzed and the results revealed spatial homogeneity of drying air condition. However, there is higher velocity profile at the outlet vent due to buildup of hot air at outlet vent. There was relatively low interference of external temperature in the drying chamber.

Tesis por compendio, [ES] El objetivo de la presente tesis es el de desarrollar y utilizar técnicas basadas en la fotónica de baja frecuencia, como la radiofrecuencia, las microondas y los infrarrojos, para monitorizar de forma no destructiva procesos utilizados en la industria agroalimentaria, desde el punto de vista de la termodinámica irreversible. Estudiar los distintos fenómenos que ocurren durante la operación de deshidratación de patata mediante el secado con aire caliente combinado con microondas, utilizando la termografía infrarroja para monitorizar los perfiles de temperatura superficial que presenta la muestra, la espectrofotometría en el rango de las microondas y la termodinámica irreversible para modelizar el proceso. Desarrollar un sistema de monitorización de la congelación de la carne de pollo, que permita obtener datos del proceso a tiempo real y de forma no invasiva mediante la espectrofotometría en el rango de la radiofrecuencia y la termografía infrarroja. A su vez, con esos datos se modelizará el comportamiento del producto a lo largo del proceso de congelación, utilizando los principios de la termodinámica irreversible para estimar los distintos fenómenos que ocurren. Desarrollar una herramienta de predicción de los distintos estados del agua y la sacarosa durante el proceso de caramelizado de manzanas, basada en las propiedades dieléctricas obtenidas mediante la espectrofotometría en el rango de las microondas. Diseñar y desarrollar un sensor basado en las propiedades dieléctricas en el rango de la radiofrecuencia, capaz de monitorizar en tiempo real y de forma no invasiva con el medio las cinéticas de liberación de compuestos encapsulados en matrices de alginato en un medio líquido. Utilizando este nuevo sensor se pueden modelizar y estudiar las cinéticas de liberación y utilizarse para diseñar la encapsulación de compuestos., [CA] L'objectiu de la present tesi és el de desenvolupar i utilitzar tècniques basades en la fotònica de baixa freqüència, com ara la radiofreqüència, les microones i els infrarojos, per monitoritzar de forma no destructiva processos utilitzats a la indústria agroalimentària, des del punt de vista de la termodinàmica irreversible. Estudiar els diferents fenòmens que ocorren durant l'operació de deshidratació de patata mitjançant l'assecat amb aire calent combinat amb microones, utilitzant la termografia infraroja per monitoritzar els perfils de temperatura superficial que presenta la mostra, l'espectrofotometria al rang de les microones i la termodinàmica irreversible per modelitzar el procés. Desenvolupar un sistema de monitorització de la congelació de la carn de pollastre, que permeti obtenir dades del procés a temps real i de manera no invasiva mitjançant l'espectrofotometria al rang de la radiofreqüència i la termografia infraroja. Alhora, amb aquestes dades es modelitzarà el comportament del producte al llarg del procés de congelació, utilitzant els principis de la termodinàmica irreversible per estimar els diferents fenòmens que ocorren. Desenvolupar una eina de predicció dels diferents estats de l'aigua i la sacarosa durant el procés de caramel·litzat de pomes, basada en les propietats dielèctrics obtingudes mitjançant l'espectrofotometria al rang de les microones. Dissenyar i desenvolupar un sensor basat en les propietats dielèctrics al rang de la radiofreqüència, capaç de monitoritzar en temps real i de forma no invasiva amb el medi les cinètiques d'alliberament de compostos encapsulats en matrius d'alginat en un medi líquid. Utilitzant aquest sensor nou es poden modelitzar i estudiar les cinètiques d'alliberament i utilitzar-se per dissenyar l'encapsulació de compostos., [EN] The objective of this thesis is to develop and use techniques based on low-frequency photonics, such as radiofrequency, microwaves and infrared, to non-destructively monitor processes used in the agri-food industry, from the point of view of irreversible thermodynamics. To study the different phenomena that occur during the potato dehydration operation by drying with hot air combined with microwaves, using infrared thermography to monitor the surface temperature profiles of the sample, spectrophotometry in the microwave range and thermodynamics. irreversible to model the process. Develop a monitoring system for the freezing of chicken meat, which allows data to be obtained from the process in real time and non-invasively through spectrophotometry in the radiofrequency range and infrared thermography. In turn, with these data, the behavior of the product will be modeled throughout the freezing process, using the principles of irreversible thermodynamics to estimate the different phenomena that occur. To develop a prediction tool for the different states of water and sucrose during the candying process of apples, based on the dielectric properties obtained by spectrophotometry in the microwave range. Design and develop a sensor based on dielectric properties in the radiofrequency range, capable of monitoring in real time and non-invasively with the medium the release kinetics of compounds encapsulated in alginate matrices in a liquid medium. Using this new sensor, release kinetics can be modeled and studied and used to design the encapsulation of compounds.

Fruits are considered one of the healthiest foods, but their high moisture content makes them perishable; they must be dried to improve shelf life. Given India's dominance in mango fruit production, the purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effects of drying conditions on mango physical properties, as well as for blanching pre-treatment. Statistical analysis evaluates seven thin layer drying models for the drying kinetics analysis. The effect of blanching on drying kinetics is investigated at predetermined time intervals, along with the moisture ratio. For determining the fit quality of the proposed models, the coefficient of determination (R2), Root Mean Square Error, and Sum of Squared Errors are used. Subsequently, five different drying methods (Open Sun Dryer, Controlled Solar Box Dryer, Hot Air Oven Dryer, Microwave Oven Dryer, and Electric Oven Dryer) are used to optimize the drying of mango samples using Multi-Criteria Decision Making methods. The Analytical Hierarchy Process, Multi-Objective Optimization by Ratio Analysis and Complex Proportional Assessment methods, along with fuzzy sets, determine the best drying method with the lowest energy consumption, cost and drying time. Finally, sensitivity analysis is performed to validate the results. It can be concluded that the mathematical models Page, Two-term, Diffusion, and Weibull provide a better fit to the experimental data than other models. Blanching affects on drying because it shortens the drying time. According to optimization results, the electric oven dryer and microwave oven dryer produced the best results and are regarded as the best drying methods for both controlled and blanched samples considering energy consumption, dryer cost, drying time.

Food processing is a complex, multifaceted problem that requires substantial human interaction to optimize the various process parameters to minimize energy consumption and ensure better-quality products. The development of a machine learning (ML)-based approach to food processing applications is an exciting and innovative idea for optimizing process parameters and process kinetics to reduce energy consumption, processing time, and ensure better-quality products; however, developing such a novel approach requires significant scientific effort. This paper presents and evaluates ML-based approaches to various food processing operations such as drying, frying, baking, canning, extrusion, encapsulation, and fermentation to predict process kinetics. A step-by-step procedure to develop an ML-based model and its practical implementation is presented. The key challenges of neural network training and testing algorithms and their limitations are discussed to assist readers in selecting algorithms for solving problems specific to food processing. In addition, this paper presents the potential and challenges of applying ML-based techniques to hybrid food processing operations. The potential of physics-informed ML modeling techniques for food processing applications and their strategies is also discussed. It is expected that the potential information of this paper will be valuable in advancing the ML-based technology for food processing applications.

The Amazon is hypothesized to reach an irreversible 'tipping point' when deforestation slows the hydrological cycle sufficiently that tropical forest ecosystems cannot be sustained. However, inception of such a tipping point has not been supported by observations and the relevant links between deforestation and atmospheric moisture recycling are poorly understood. Here we show that reduction in evapotranspiration from 20 years of deforestation dried the atmosphere persistently and caused moisture decoupling, i.e. an opposite sign of moisture change between the lower and middle troposphere. Increased deforestation exacerbated the lower troposphere drying and caused it to penetrate deeper into the middle troposphere in the dry and transition seasons over monsoon forests and savannas. Deforestation induced warming-enhanced buoyant updrafts, elevated hot and dry air and thereby reduced downward mixing of water supplies from the tropical Atlantic that normally moisten the Amazon forests. The severe atmospheric desiccation in the southern and eastern Amazon cannot be compensated by enhanced water supplies from the Atlantic Ocean, demonstrating an irreversible transition in Amazon hydrological cycle exacerbated by rapid deforestation. The more recent drying through the seasons over rainforests and during the wet season over the transition zones from rainforests to monsoon forests and savannas, however, suggests a window of opportunity for preventing ecosystem collapse with forest conservation.

The egg is a food with great amount of nutrients to be used by our body. Present review provides general information about chicken egg and its relation to health. In addition, it also compiled information regarding the status and conditions of heat treatments as well as emerging technologies applied giving value to products from the poultry sector. The review was carried out with databases dated between 2013 and 2020; from scientific journals affiliated to Science Direct, Scopus; Scielo, and Redalyc. The egg is a product with a variety of functional properties, but also considered as a high-risk food for health. In recent years, a trend that applies thermal treatments to obtain a microbiologically safe product for consumers, aims to have the least effect on its natural properties when handled by industry. In general, the egg is a raw material easily processed through different methods, allowing the obtention of liquid or solid products, to be used into new ones. Such technologies contribute to reduce operational costs as well as improving quality., El huevo es un alimento con una gran cantidad de nutrientes para ser utilizados por nuestro organismo. El objetivo de la revisión es suministrar información general sobre el huevo de gallina y su relación con la salud; además, revisar el estado de los tratamientos térmicos y tecnologías emergentes aplicadas con el fin de generar valor en productos del sector avícola. La revisión se realizó sobre bases de datos de revistas científicas adscritas a Science Direct, Scopus, Scielo y Redalyc, durante un periodo comprendido entre 2013 y 2020. Dado que el huevo se considera un alimento de alto riesgo para la salud y un producto con una variedad de propiedades funcionales, en los últimos años, se ha identificado una tendencia en aplicar tratamientos térmicos que permitan obtener un producto seguro microbiológicamente para los consumidores y con el menor efecto en dichas propiedades para ser utilizado por la industria. En general, el huevo es una materia prima fácilmente procesable a través de diferentes tecnologías, que permiten obtener productos líquidos o sólidos para ser utilizados en nuevos productos procesados. El uso de estas tecnologías permite reducir los costos operativos y mejorar la calidad del producto.

Fruits are considered one of the healthiest foods, but their high moisture content makes them perishable; they must be dried to improve shelf life. Given India's dominance in mango fruit production, the purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effects of drying conditions on mango physical properties, as well as for blanching pre-treatment. Statistical analysis evaluates seven thin layer drying models for the drying kinetics analysis. The effect of blanching on drying kinetics is investigated at predetermined time intervals, along with the moisture ratio. For determining the fit quality of the proposed models, the coefficient of determination (R2), Root Mean Square Error, and Sum of Squared Errors are used. Subsequently, five different drying methods (Open Sun Dryer, Controlled Solar Box Dryer, Hot Air Oven Dryer, Microwave Oven Dryer, and Electric Oven Dryer) are used to optimize the drying of mango samples using Multi-Criteria Decision Making methods. The Analytical Hierarchy Process, Multi-Objective Optimization by Ratio Analysis and Complex Proportional Assessment methods, along with fuzzy sets, determine the best drying method with the lowest energy consumption, cost and drying time. Finally, sensitivity analysis is performed to validate the results. It can be concluded that the mathematical models Page, Two-term, Diffusion, and Weibull provide a better fit to the experimental data than other models. Blanching affects on drying because it shortens the drying time. According to optimization results, the electric oven dryer and microwave oven dryer produced the best results and are regarded as the best drying methods for both controlled and blanched samples considering energy consumption, dryer cost, drying time.

Fruits are considered one of the healthiest foods, but their high moisture content makes them perishable; they must be dried to improve shelf life. Given India's dominance in mango fruit production, the purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effects of drying conditions on mango physical properties, as well as for blanching pre-treatment. Statistical analysis evaluates seven thin layer drying models for the drying kinetics analysis. The effect of blanching on drying kinetics is investigated at predetermined time intervals, along with the moisture ratio. For determining the fit quality of the proposed models, the coefficient of determination (R2), Root Mean Square Error, and Sum of Squared Errors are used. Subsequently, five different drying methods (Open Sun Dryer, Controlled Solar Box Dryer, Hot Air Oven Dryer, Microwave Oven Dryer, and Electric Oven Dryer) are used to optimize the drying of mango samples using Multi-Criteria Decision Making methods. The Analytical Hierarchy Process, Multi-Objective Optimization by Ratio Analysis and Complex Proportional Assessment methods, along with fuzzy sets, determine the best drying method with the lowest energy consumption, cost and drying time. Finally, sensitivity analysis is performed to validate the results. It can be concluded that the mathematical models Page, Two-term, Diffusion, and Weibull provide a better fit to the experimental data than other models. Blanching affects on drying because it shortens the drying time. According to optimization results, the electric oven dryer and microwave oven dryer produced the best results and are regarded as the best drying methods for both controlled and blanched samples considering energy consumption, dryer cost, drying time.

The Amazon is hypothesized to reach an irreversible 'tipping point' when deforestation slows the hydrological cycle sufficiently that tropical forest ecosystems cannot be sustained. However, inception of such a tipping point has not been supported by observations and the relevant links between deforestation and atmospheric moisture recycling are poorly understood. Here we show that reduction in evapotranspiration from 20 years of deforestation dried the atmosphere persistently and caused moisture decoupling, i.e. an opposite sign of moisture change between the lower and middle troposphere. Increased deforestation exacerbated the lower troposphere drying and caused it to penetrate deeper into the middle troposphere in the dry and transition seasons over monsoon forests and savannas. Deforestation induced warming-enhanced buoyant updrafts, elevated hot and dry air and thereby reduced downward mixing of water supplies from the tropical Atlantic that normally moisten the Amazon forests. The severe atmospheric desiccation in the southern and eastern Amazon cannot be compensated by enhanced water supplies from the Atlantic Ocean, demonstrating an irreversible transition in Amazon hydrological cycle exacerbated by rapid deforestation. The more recent drying through the seasons over rainforests and during the wet season over the transition zones from rainforests to monsoon forests and savannas, however, suggests a window of opportunity for preventing ecosystem collapse with forest conservation.

The muña leaf is consumed as an infusion, it has pharmacological properties and is used to relieve digestive and respiratory symptoms. Therefore, drying is important for preservation and storage until use or processing. The objective of this research was to evaluate the influence of drying temperature on kinetics, diffusion coefficient and thermodynamic properties. We worked with muña leaves that were subjected to different pretreatments (bleached at 1% ascorbic acid, immersion in water at 60 ° C and without pre-treatment) dried at three temperatures (40, 50 and 60 ° C). The effective diffusion coefficient, activation energy, was determined and the drying process was described using eight mathematical models to represent the drying curve. The Logarithmic model was selected as the one with the best fit to represent the drying kinetics of the muña. Activation energy values ​​were similar between treatments. The increase in temperature promotes: decrease in enthalpy and entropy; increase in Gibbs free energy and effective diffusion coefficient. Therefore, it is essential to reduce the water content by drying to maintain the quality of the muña leaves., La hoja de muña se utiliza como infusión, posee propiedades farmacológicas y se usa para aliviar los síntomas digestivos y respiratorios. Por lo que, el secado es importante para la conservación y almacenamiento hasta su uso o procesamiento. El objetivo de esta investigación fue evaluar la influencia de la temperatura de secado sobre la cinética, coeficiente de difusión y las propiedades termodinámicas. Se trabajó con hojas de muña sometidos a diferentes pretratamientos (blanqueado a 1% de ácido ascórbico, inmersión en agua a 60 °C y sin pre tratamiento) secados a tres temperaturas (40, 50 y 60 °C). Se determinó el coeficiente de difusión efectiva, energía de activación y se describió el proceso de secado mediante ocho modelos matemáticos para representar la curva de secado. El modelo Logarítmico fue seleccionado como el de mayor ajuste para representar la cinética de secado de la muña.  Los valores de energía de activación fueron similares entre los tratamientos. El aumento de la temperatura promueve: disminución de la entalpía y la entropía; aumento de la energía libre de Gibbs y coeficiente de difusión efectivo. Por lo tanto, es fundamental reducir el contenido de agua mediante el secado para mantener la calidad de las hojas de muña.

The muña leaf is consumed as an infusion, it has pharmacological properties and is used to relieve digestive and respiratory symptoms. Therefore, drying is important for preservation and storage until use or processing. The objective of this research was to evaluate the influence of drying temperature on kinetics, diffusion coefficient and thermodynamic properties. We worked with muña leaves that were subjected to different pretreatments (bleached at 1% ascorbic acid, immersion in water at 60 ° C and without pre-treatment) dried at three temperatures (40, 50 and 60 ° C). The effective diffusion coefficient, activation energy, was determined and the drying process was described using eight mathematical models to represent the drying curve. The Logarithmic model was selected as the one with the best fit to represent the drying kinetics of the muña. Activation energy values ​​were similar between treatments. The increase in temperature promotes: decrease in enthalpy and entropy; increase in Gibbs free energy and effective diffusion coefficient. Therefore, it is essential to reduce the water content by drying to maintain the quality of the muña leaves., La hoja de muña se utiliza como infusión, posee propiedades farmacológicas y se usa para aliviar los síntomas digestivos y respiratorios. Por lo que, el secado es importante para la conservación y almacenamiento hasta su uso o procesamiento. El objetivo de esta investigación fue evaluar la influencia de la temperatura de secado sobre la cinética, coeficiente de difusión y las propiedades termodinámicas. Se trabajó con hojas de muña sometidos a diferentes pretratamientos (blanqueado a 1% de ácido ascórbico, inmersión en agua a 60 °C y sin pre tratamiento) secados a tres temperaturas (40, 50 y 60 °C). Se determinó el coeficiente de difusión efectiva, energía de activación y se describió el proceso de secado mediante ocho modelos matemáticos para representar la curva de secado. El modelo Logarítmico fue seleccionado como el de mayor ajuste para representar la cinética de secado de la muña.  Los valores de energía de activación fueron similares entre los tratamientos. El aumento de la temperatura promueve: disminución de la entalpía y la entropía; aumento de la energía libre de Gibbs y coeficiente de difusión efectivo. Por lo tanto, es fundamental reducir el contenido de agua mediante el secado para mantener la calidad de las hojas de muña.

Southern pine lumber is often treated with preservatives, but issues related to initial kiln-drying conditions and geographic source across the wide southern pine growth range have been suspected to negatively affect subsequent permeability and treatability. These effects remain poorly understood. In this series of exploratory studies, southern pine from across part of the growing range subjected to different kiln-drying regimes was evaluated in three phases exploring the effects of geographic source and initial kiln-drying conditions on per-meability, pit structure and eventual preservative treatment of southern pine lumber. The results suggest that elevated temperatures coupled with poor humidity control at the start of the kiln drying process may negatively influence permeability and preservative penetration, but had only negligible effects on several other wood properties

This paper deals with the details of preparation of three principal routes for bulking of cellulose fibres. One route is dry cross-linking/hornification using aluminium ions and other salts followed by drying/curing. The mechanisms of these reactions still remain unknown. A second route is physical grafting of fibres using carboxymethylcellulose and bringing the acidic groups into their aluminium form before forming a sheet of paper/board. Hence, curing is not necessary, and this constitutes a unique wet bulking methodology. The mechanism behind this method is believed to be an increase in the surface friction of fibres, when the electrostatic double layer is shielded together with electrostatic cross-linking with aluminium ions. The higher friction between fibres partly prevents the sheet consolidation during drying. A third route is physical grafting of fibres using carboxymethyl cellulose and ion-exchanging the acidic groups with aluminium salts before drying and curing of the fibres. A most interesting factor is that all the thermal treatment methods do not form fibre nodules due to interfibre crosslinking during the heat treatment, a commonly observed phenomena when dealing with chemical crosslinking of fibres. All routes investigated are water-based and should be fairly simple to implement in commercial operations. An inherent advantage is that the bulking is associated with lower water retention values, which should be advantageous for a higher solids content after pressing and, hence, beneficial for paper machine productivity. Bulking is, however, also associated with a loss in bond strength, which in most cases must be alleviated using various additives such as starches and microfibrillated cellulose and it has also been demonstrated in the project how the strength properties (such as z-strength) could be restored at a higher bulk., QC 20221028

1-Chloronaphthalene (CN) has been a common solvent additive in both fullerene- A nd nonfullerene-based organic solar cells. In spite of this, its working mechanism is seldom investigated, in particular, during the drying process of bulk heterojunctions composed of a donor:acceptor mixture. In this work, the role of CN in all-polymer solar cells is investigated by in situ spectroscopies and ex situ characterization of blade-coated PBDB-T:PF5-Y5 blends. Our results suggest that the added CN promotes self-aggregation of polymer donor PBDB-T during the drying process of the blend film, resulting in enhanced crystallinity and hole mobility, which contribute to the increased fill factor and improved performance of PBDB-T:PF5-Y5 solar cells. Besides, the nonradiative energy loss of the corresponding device is also reduced by the addition of CN, corresponding to a slightly increased open-circuit voltage. Overall, our observations deepen our understanding of the drying dynamics, which may guide further development of all-polymer solar cells.