Review Papers

323

Silk sericin and its applications : A review

M N Padamwar & A P Pawar

Describes silk which comprises fibroin and sericin.  Sericin contributes about 20-30 per cent of total cocoon weight.  Different methods of isolation of sericin from silk thread are known.  Solubility, molecular weight, and gelling properties of sericin depend on the method of isolation.  It has wide applications in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics such as, wound healing, bioadhesive moisturizing, antiwrinkle and antiaging.

IPC : Int. Cl⁷. : D 01 B 7/00, D 01 C 3/02, A 61 P

Papers

330

Study on two relative number and cost of EMR schemes in major disciplines of science including engineering

Kanta Rani, M Bharathi & Sukumar Mallick

One hundred seventy EMR schemes are selected every year in six major areas of science, including engineering.  Five years data show that there is a wide variation in number and percentage of schemes recommended in different disciplines Strong correlation is found between the number of schemes funded by CSIR in physical science disciplines (including engineering, mathematical, earth and environmental sciences), Biological sciences, and Chemical sciences and proportion of postgraduates that complete their PhD in these areas.  It is felt that more centers of research are needed in the physical sciences in order to produce highly trained manpower in these areas.

336

The use of neural networks on VLE data prediction

Mehmet Bilgin, I Metin Hasdemir & Oguzhan Oztas

The neural network model is employed to predict the vapor-liquid equilibrium (VLE) data for six different binary systems having different chemical structures and solution types (azeotrope-nonazeotrope) in various conditions (isothermal or isobaric).  A model based on a feed-forward back-propagation neural network is proposed.  It is observed that the data found by neural network model gives an excellent agreement with the experimental data, while the UNIFAC model shows deviations, particularly at low pressures.  In fact the neural network model can be treated as a potent means for VLE data prediction in a fast and reliable way, compared to the conventional thermodynamical models.

IPC: Int. Cl⁷.: G 06 N 3/02

344

Methane losses from floating gasholder type biogas plants in relation to global warming

R S Khoiyangbam, Sushil Kumar & M C Jain

Methane losses from uncovered portion of cattle dung slurry in biogas plant of various capacities (3, 6, 9, and 85 m³) are measured using closed chamber method.  Measurements conducted from January to December 2002 during a year and reported.  The correlation coefficient between the CH₄ flux and the slurry temperature is found to be positive which is significant.

IPC: Int. Cl⁷.: G01 W 1/00, C01 B 3/02

348

Polyurethane coatings using trimer of isophorone diisocyanate

V V Gite, P P Mahulikar, D G Hundiwale & U R Kapadi

A trimer of isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) is prepared considering its industrial applications and safety associated with it is compared to normal diisocyanates.  The IPDI trimer is characterized by PMR and IR spectroscopies, physical constant (melting point) and isocyanate content. After conditioning the samples are subjected to various tests pertaining to coating such as gloss, scratch resistance and flexibility, while mechanical tests include tensile strength, per cent elongation, Young’s modulus and hardness and the performance are compared in the light of the molecular weight of PEG. Chemical resistance of these samples is studied in industrially important acids, alkalis, and solvents and swelling characteristics are also studied.

IPC: Int. Cl.⁷: C 01B 15/024, C 01 B 21/098 

355

Removal of some basic dyes from artificial textile wastewater by adsorption on Akash Kinari coal

Tabrez A Khan, Ved Vati Singh & D Kumar

The removal of three dyes, methylene blue, malachite green, and rhodamine B from aqueous solutions at different concentrations, pH and temperatures by Akash Kinari coal is studied.  It is found that per cent adsorptions of methylene blue, malachite green, and rhodamine B onto the adsorbate decrease when their concentrations in solutions are increased.  The rate constants of adsorption (K_ad) for methylene blue, malachite green, and rhodamine B are found to vary.Calculated values of the langmuir constant for adsorption capacity of the dyes (Q_o) on the adsorbent at different temperatures are also found to vary.  The results show that Akash Kinari coal is a good adsorbent for removal of colour from textile wastewater.

IPC: Int Cl.⁷: B 08 B 3/00

365

Advances in the applied chemistry of allylic polymers

C C Menon & A Selvaraj

Investigation of diallyl phthalate polymer (DAPP) based moulding powder with partial substitution of DAPP by epoxidisied DAPP polymer (EDAPP) indicates improvement in mechanical properties without detriment to electrical strength.  Peak performance is manifested at 20 per cent substituion.  EDAPP is also found to be an effective reactive diluent for cold setting epoxy resin adhesives.  Bond strength is observed to be unaffected by extension up to 40 per cent.  Hardboard (Fibre board) modified by DAPP as an impregnant results in a novel wood-polymer composite with tangible improvement of density, electrical strength, modulus of rupture, and reduced water absorption having varied applications.

IPC: Int Cl.⁷ : B 27 K 3/08, C 01 B 13/18

376

Chemical characterization and enrichment of selected toxic elements in ambient particulate matter around a slag based cement plant in Chhattisgarh state – A case study

Rajnikant Sharma & Shamsh Pervez

Describes a study conducted for a slag based cement plant located in southeastern part of Chhattisgarh State.  Samples of Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) and Non-respirable Suspended Particulate Matter are collected and analyzed for selected toxic elements.  Results indicate a high contribution of toxic elements in the ambient particulate matter by the stack emissions from the selected cement plant.  Good positive correlation coefficient values are found for RSPM and metal concentration.

IPC: Int.. Cl.⁷: C 02 F 1/100 101:10

383

Studies on char morphology in relation to petrographic characterstics of some permian coals of India

Nandita Choudhury,  S G Chaudhuri,
C C Chakraborty & P Boral

Chars from four overall raw coal samples are obtained by devolatilising them at 900°C in a controlled condition.  The char morphology study and pore size measurements are carried out, using reflected light optical microscope.

IPC: Int.. Cl.⁷: C01B 5/00 101:60

Conference Report

386

R & D management conference – 2003

Madhu Sahni

Sci-Tech Update

391

·         Underwater windmills to harness tidal powers

·         Simple method for management of tape storage environments

·         Superconductor technology applied to power devices

·         New drug treatment for bipolar disorder

·         New Standard for germanium containing semiconductors released

·         New additives for automotive industry