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We consider batch scheduling on m machines to minimize the makespan. Each job has a given set of machines to be assigned. Each machine can process several jobs simultaneously as a batch, and the machines may have different batch capacities. We study two models: (i) scheduling on equal-speed batch machines under a nested processing set restriction, where the machines have the same processing speed, and (ii) scheduling on uniform batch machines under a tree-hierarchical processing set restriction, where the machines have different processing speeds. For both models we design polynomial-time approximation algorithms to solve them. The algorithms have a worst-case ratio of 2 for non-identical batch capacities and a worst-case ratio of 2 - 1 / m for identical batch capacities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A reliable and environmental analytical method was developed for the direct determination of tetracycline using flow injection analysis (FIA) and batch procedures with spectrophotometric detection. The developed method is based on the reaction between a chromogenic reagent (vanadium (III) solution) and tetracycline at room temperature and in a neutral medium, resulting in the formation of an intense brown product that shows maximum absorption at 395 nm. The analytical conditions were improved by the application of experimental design. The proposed method was successfully used to analyze samples of commercial medications and verified throughout the concentration ranges of 25–250 and 3–25 µg/mL for both FIA and batch procedures, respectively. The limits for quantification and detection were 37 and 11 µg/mL for the FIA procedure, respectively, while were 5 and 1.5 µg/mL for the batch procedure, respectively. The commercial samples were also subjected to an HPLC analysis, and the outcomes were in high agreement with the developed method using suggested procedures. The proposed FIA and batch procedures can be immediately employed in the pharmaceutical sector for quality control of tetracycline during the production processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the number of satellites increases, the risk of fixing wrong integer ambiguities may reduce the accuracy and efficiency of ambiguity resolution (AR); Thus, partial ambiguity resolution (PAR) is proposed for solving full AR (FAR) based on fixing the subset of ambiguities. Batch PAR with integer least-squares (ILS) is helpful, but selecting an optimal subset must compare all possible combinations, which is time-consuming. In this study, we introduced the classic optimal stopping theory (OST) to dynamically identify ambiguity subsets in batch PAR, which aims to maintain the accuracy and reduce the process time. The process of selecting the ambiguity subset was divided into two stages: observation and decision. All the options in the observation stage were discarded, and the choice was only made in the decision stage. The classic OST has demonstrated that there is a maximum 37% probability of selecting an optimal option when the range of observations is 37% based on six assumptions. To better explain the principle of OST in subset selection and provide a reference method in batch PAR, we chose the ambiguity dilution of precision (ADOP) PAR as the subject and put forward the OST-assisted ADOP PAR (OAPAR) to obtain the fixed solutions. The static relative positioning experiment began with reproducing a 37% observation range in OST (OST-37%) using the global positioning system (GPS) L1 static observation. The 37% observation range has a maximum probability of 41% in selecting the subset with the minimum ADOP and has less consumed time compared to other larger observation ranges; Then, FAR and minimum ADOP PAR (MAPAR) models are used to verify the accuracy and efficiency of OAPAR. The static results of different system combinations show that, compared to MAPAR, OAPAR could achieve the same accuracy while saving consumed time, especially when the number of ambiguities is higher. Finally, PAR based on success rate (SRPAR) is used to analyze the advantages and disadvantages of OAPAR. Although the probability of correct fixing of OAPAR is slightly smaller than SRPAR, the convergence time of OAPAR is better than SRPAR. Meanwhile, with the number of ambiguities increase, the RMSEs of OAPAR gradually perform smaller than SRPAR. Furthermore, the classic OST proposes a solution to the extreme value problem in global navigation satellite system (GNSS) positioning and navigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biosurfactants stand for highly useful and promising compounds. They basically serve for a variety of applications in multiple industries and aspects of human life. Therefore, it is highly required to improve their production yield especially through the development of new and more efficient fermentation processes. In this aim, batch and fed-batch were studied and compared in terms of their effective biosurfactant production by Bacillus subtilis SPB1. Experiments of fed-batch fermentations were carried out through three different glucose feeding strategies, namely the pulsed, the constant Donespeed and the exponential feeding. The comparison between different fermentation processes revealed that fed-batch process proved to be a more efficient cultivation strategy than the batch process in terms of cell biomass, biosurfactant production and productivity. Among the three different feeding strategies, the exponential feeding process achieved the highest fermentation results of final biosurfactant concentration. The latter increased more than twofolds compared to batch fermentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work studies batch scheduling problems in which non-increasing time slot costs are taken into consideration on a single machine. In these problems, each batch occupies some time slots, and the cost yielded by batch setup and job processing in a batch is dependent on the time slots. The objective is to minimize the sum of the total time slot cost and one of the traditional performance measures, including the total flow time, maximum lateness/tardiness, and weighted number of tardy jobs. For these objectives, it is necessary to determine not only the optimal job sequence and batch partition but also the optimal time slot allocation for the batches. For each problem, we find the structured properties of the optimal schedule and then propose an algorithm based on dynamic programming. All the presented algorithms are of polynomial time if the input size of the time slot costs is O (K) . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, poly(acrylamide-acrylic acid)-SiO2, p(AM-AA)-SiO2, was made with a template polymerization technique induced by gamma irradiation as an initiator under an irradiation dose of 60.00 kGy. The produced hybrid polymer was investigated using different techniques such as scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and was applied for the separation of Y(III) and Sr(II) using column chromatography resulting in an acceptable separation. The results exhibited that the percentage of adsorption of Y(III) in the binary system increased with increasing pH value with a slight uptake percentage of Sr(II) ions in the batch technique. The highest removal percentage of Y(III) was about 90.00% with a low amount of Sr(II) and was achieved at pH 4.00 in batch technique with specific values of the distribution coefficient (Kd) and separation factor (SF). The loaded percentages of Y(III) and Sr(II) on the packed column were 95.50 and 40%, respectively, at the best conditions. The results illustrated that the recovery Y(III) and Sr(III) from the packed column were 98.97 and 96.65%, respectively, using 25% ethanol followed by 0.001 M HNO3. The hybrid polymer could be regenerated and achieved, and the results are relevant that there is no change in adsorption ability of p(AM-AA)-SiO2 after three times of use. The results recommended that the p(AM-AA)-SiO2 is effective for the separation and purification of Y(III) from Sr(II) ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of studies on lowering of the melting temperature of strontium aluminosilicate glass by introducing boron and phosphorus oxides into the batch are reported. The main physicochemical processes occurring in the batches on and heating and the sequence and temperature intervals in which they occur were determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The removal of methyl orange using coal fly ash, which is a widely available low-cost adsorbent, has been investigated. Adsorption studies for dye removal were conducted using various configurations such as batch, column and heap adsorption at various temperatures and adsorbent dosages at neutral pH. The Langmuir, Freundlich and Tempkin isotherm models were used to describe the process. The Freundlich model best represented the adsorption. Kinetic studies show the adsorption followed pseudo-second-order kinetics. Thermodynamic studies show that the process is spontaneous, endothermic and random. Column configuration was found to be the most efficient with a dye removal percentage of 99.95%, followed by heap adsorption at 99.25% removal and lastly batch configuration with 96.68% removal. Economic analysis shows that column operation would be the most effective for practical implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, for the first time, Cordia trichotoma sawdust, a residue derived from noble wood processing, was applied as an alternative biosorbent for the removal of crystal violet by discontinuous and continuous biosorption processes. The optimum conditions for biosorption of crystal violet were 7.5 pH and a biosorbent dosage of 0.8 g L−1. The biosorption kinetics showed that the equilibrium was reached at 120 min, achieving a maximum biosorption capacity of 107 mg g−1 for initial dye concentration of 200 mg L−1. The Elovich model was the proper model for representing the biosorption kinetics. The isotherm assays showed that the rise of temperature causes an increase in the biosorption capacity of the crystal violet, with a maximum biosorption capacity of 129.77 mg g−1 at 328 K. The Langmuir model was the most proper model for describing the behavior. The sign of ΔG0 indicates that the process was spontaneous and favorable, whereas the ΔH0 indicates an endothermic process. The treatment of the colored simulated effluent composed by dyes and salts resulted in 80% of color removal. The application of biosorbent in the fixed-bed system achieved a breakthrough time of 505 min, resulting in 83.35% of color removal. The Thomas and Yoon-Nelson models were able to describe the fixed-bed biosorption behavior. This collection of experimental evidence shows that the Cordia trichotoma sawdust can be applied for the removal of crystal violet and a mixture of other dyes that contain them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 2-line ferrihydrite/γ-A2O3 hybrid adsorbent (Fh/γ-Al2O3 hybrid adsorbent) precipitated on 10wt% of γ-Al2O3 seed for the effective adsorption of phosphate in water was synthesized from wastewater containing ferric sulfate. The use of γ-Al2O3 seeds for particle initiation made it possible to prepare larger particles that would allow a liquid to flow through. The synthesized Fh/γ-Al2O3 hybrid adsorbent was characterized by X-ray diffraction, 27Al-MAS NMR, N2 adsorption/desorption, SEM analysis, and EpHL measurements. The adsorption performance of phosphate on the synthesized Fh/γ-Al2O3 hybrid adsorbent was evaluated by batch and column tests at phosphate concentration below 10 ppm, which corresponds to the actual phosphate concentration of natural systems. The adsorption mechanism suggested by the batch test was in good agreement with the Langmuir adsorption model, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 33.2 mg/g. On the other hand, the experiment with the column obtained a maximum adsorption capacity of 33.6 mg/g for a volumetric flow rate of 10.25 BV/min and an influent phosphate concentration of 4.75 ppm on 0.5 g of adsorbent. The Fh/γ-Al2O3 hybrid adsorbent was shown to have superior adsorption characteristics to those of other previous research in terms of cost, adsorption efficiency, contact time, maximum adsorption capacity, and desorption efficiency of 95% from the experimental condition based on the surface characterization of the adsorbent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dissolution kinetics of different varieties of natural gypsum samples with different porosity and content of insoluble impurities are experimentally investigated under unsaturated conditions. The main goal of this work is to verify whether and how the petrophysical and petrographic nature of gypsum influence its dissolution rate. Gypsum samples were taken from Priabonian (Ludian) and Lutetian formations located in the north-eastern suburbs of Paris, where the development of sinkholes due to gypsum dissolution is a common phenomenon. Experiments using the rotating disk technique allow us to determine the kinetic rate model parameters of each sample in pure water following the empirical rate expression derived from mixed kinetic theory. The kinetic order n shows a dispersion around a mean value n = 1.2 and k, the pure dissolution rate coefficient varies according to the facies and the experimental conditions (k ≈ 1 × 10 - 6 to 8 × 10 - 6 mmol/ cm 2 / s ). These results are adjusted according to the specific roughness and texture of each sample, for the results to be more representative of in situ conditions. Batch experiments are also performed to evaluate the extremely low dissolution rates when the solution is close to equilibrium. The results reveal a double kinetics: far from equilibrium, the dissolution rates show that the linear behavior and the kinetic parameters are relatively close with the values found using the rotating disk method. For concentrations greater than 0.94 ± 0.02 of the equilibrium concentration C ref , the dissolution rates show a linear behavior but with greater slope depending on the texture of the mineral. No changes of the dissolution rates were observed on pure gypsum crystals when non soluble solid impurities are added. However, a small degree of uncertainty around the value of C ref show a significant effect on the parameters of the second kinetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies a new mixed batch scheduling problem that arises in vacuum heat treatment. A mixed batch machine can process at most a given number of jobs simultaneously. The processing time of a batch is the weighted sum of the maximum processing time and the total processing time of jobs in the batch. The objective is to minimize the makespan. We first prove that the problem on a single machine can be solved in polynomial time, while the problem on multiple identical machines is NP-hard. Then, we develop a pseudopolynomial time exact algorithm when the number of machines is fixed. Further, we analyze the worst-case performance ratio of a full batch longest processing time algorithm and design Algorithm LPT-Greedy with improved worst-case performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many important applications such as recommender systems, e-commerce sites, web crawlers involve dynamic datasets. Dynamic datasets undergo frequent changes in the form of insertion or deletion of data that affects its size. A naive algorithm may not process these frequent changes efficiently as it involves the entire set of data points each time a change is inflicted. Fast incremental algorithms process these updates to datasets efficiently to avoid redundant computation. In this article, we propose incremental extensions to shared nearest neighbor density-based clustering (SNNDB) algorithm for both addition and deletion of data points. Existing incremental extension to SNNDB viz. InSDB cannot handle deletion and handles insertions one point at a time. Our method overcomes both these bottlenecks by efficiently identifying affected parts of clusters while processing updates to dataset in batch mode. We propose three incremental variants of SNNDB in batch mode for both addition and deletion with the third variant being the most effective. Experimental observations on real world and synthetic datasets showed that our algorithms are up to 4 orders of magnitude faster than the naive SNNDB algorithm and about 2 orders of magnitude faster than the pointwise incremental method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, RE-CHAR® biochar, produced by a wood biomass pyrolysis process, which is usually applied as a soil fertilizer, was investigated for a novel use, that was as adsorbent for remediating a lead-contaminated solution. Firstly, a deep physical and chemical characterization of RE-CHAR® biochar was carried out. Then, the adsorption capacity of lead from 50 to 100 mg/L solutions was determined under batch and continuous flow conditions. Kinetics of the batch adsorption process were very rapid and complete removal was achieved within 4-h contact time at both Pb concentrations, using a biochar dosage of 5 g/L. These data were best fitted by the pseudo-second-order model, with the rate constant and the equilibrium capacity equal to ks = 0.0091 g/min and qe = 9.9957 mg/g at 50 mg/L Pb and ks = 0.0128 g/min and qe = 20.1462 mg/g at 100 mg/L Pb, respectively. The Langmuir isotherm model best fitted the equilibrium data at both Pb concentrations, with the Langmuir constant and maximum adsorption capacity equal to b = 11.5804 L/mg and qmax = 4.6116 mg/g at 50 mg/L Pb and b = 2.8933 L/mg and qmax = 9.5895 mg/g at 100 mg/L Pb. Continuous flow column tests showed that adding biochar to the soil of the adsorbent bed significantly extended the breakthrough and exhaustion times, with respect to the column filled with soil only. The Thomas model best fitted the experimental data of the breakthrough curves, with the constant kTH = 5.28 × 10−5 mL/min/mg and the maximum adsorption capacity q0 = 334.57 mg/g which was comparable to the values reported for commercial adsorbents. Based on these results, it can be assessed that RE-CHAR® biochar can be used as an effective adsorbent for lead removal from water solutions even at high concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of batch and fed-batch fermentation on the cultivation performance of Bacillus thuringiensis was investigated using a 5-l stirred tank bioreactor. Significantly higher viable cell count (> 1.5 × 1012 CFU/ml) was obtained in the fed-batch compared to batch fermentation (1.4 × 1012 CFU/ml). Glucose feeding during the fermentation seemed to enhance cell growth but failed to enhance the sporulation rate. It was found that sporulation and δ-endotoxin synthesis in fed-batch fermentation could be enhanced by the application of optimal dissolved oxygen tension (DOT) control strategy without affecting the cell growth. Fed-batch cultivation with feeding at the exponential growth phase where the DOT was switched from 80 to 40% at 12 h of cultivation recorded the highest spore count of 7.1 × 1011 spore/ml. Cultures obtained from batch cultivation, as well as fed-batch cultivation with feeding at lag or exponential growth phase and the application of optimal DOT control strategy, recorded the presence of δ-endotoxin; however, none was detected in intermittent fed-batch fermentation. Bioassay data against the bagworm Metisa plana Walker (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) recorded the highest corrected mortality (80%) at 7 days of treatment (DAT), using the culture obtained from fed-batch cultivation with feeding during the exponential growth phase, and the DOT was switched from 80 to 40% at 12 h of cultivation. It is important to note that all cultures containing δ-endotoxin exhibited 100% mortality towards M. plana at 14 DAT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anaerobic digestion of crude glycerol from biodiesel production is a feasible way for methane production. However, crude glycerol (CG) contains impurities, such as long-chain fatty acids (LCFA) that can inhibit methanogenic microorganisms. Ultrasound promotes the hydrolysis of LCFA and deagglomerates the microorganisms in biological flocs. Furthermore, Aspergillus niger and Escherichia coli produce lipases capable of degrading LCFA. This study aims at improving the methane yield from anaerobic digestion by coupling with ultrasound or E. coli/A. niger biodegradation. The effect of the different treatments was first assessed in a perfectly mixed batch reactor (PMBR), using diluted CG at concentrations of 0.2%, 1.7%, and 3.2% (v/v). Later, the best conditions were replicated in an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor to simulate full-scale practical applications. Experiments in the PMBR showed that ultrasound or A. niger biodegradation steps improved methane yield up to 11% for 0.2% CG and 99% for 1.7% CG, respectively. CG biodegradation by E. coli inhibited the subsequent anaerobic digestion for all concentrations tested. Using a UASB digester, ultrasonic treatment of CG led to an average increase of 29% in methane production. The application of ultrasound led to a lower accumulation of propionic acid in the digested material and increased biogas production. On the other hand, an average 77% increase in methane production was achieved using a preliminary CG biodegradation step by A. niger, when operated at a loading rate of 2.9 kg COD m-3 day-1. Under these conditions, an energy gain of 0.48 kWh day-1, with the production of the 0.434 m3 CH4 kg-1 CODremoval and 0.573 m3 CH4 kg-1 VS, and a biogas quality of 73% in methane were obtained. The digested material was analyzed for the detection and quantification of added-value by-products in order to obtain a broad assessment of the CG valorization through anaerobic digestion. In some experiments, propionic and oxalic acid were detected. However, the accumulation of propionic caused the inhibition of the acetogenic and methanogenic microorganisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthetic dyes are an important class of recalcitrant organic compounds that are often found in the environment as a result of their wide industrial use. There are estimated to be more than 100,000 commercially available dyes. These substances are common contaminants, and many of them are known to be toxic or carcinogenic. Colored effluents from the industry is perceived by the public as an indication of the presence of a dangerous pollution. Even at very low concentrations, dyes are highly visible—an esthetic pollution—and modify the aquatic life and food chain, as a chemical contamination. Dye contamination of water is a major problem worldwide, and the treatment of wastewaters before their discharge into the environment has become a priority. Dyes are difficult to treat due to their complex aromatic structure and synthetic origin. In general, a combination of different physical, chemical and biological processes is often used to obtain the targeted water quality. Nonetheless, there is a need to develop new removal strategies and decolorization methods that are more effective, acceptable for industrial use and ecofriendly. Currently, there is increasing interest in the application of biological materials as effective adsorbents for dye removal. Among all the materials proposed, cross-linked chitosan-based hydrogels are the most popular biosorbents. These polymeric matrices are the object of numerous fundamental studies. In this review, after a brief description of the use of chitosan in wastewater treatment and the basic principles of chitosan-based hydrogels and biosorption, we focus on some of the work published over the past 5 years. Overall, these polymeric materials have demonstrated outstanding removal capabilities for some dyes. They might be promising biosorbents for environmental purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The magnetic properties of nanoparticles make them ideal for use in various applications, especially in biomedical applications. Herein, we describe the fabrication of iron oxide nanoparticles encapsulated in polystyrene (PS) using two methods: a conventional batch and microfluidic synthesis. In particular, we present a simple synthesis method of magnetic composite nanoparticles, based on the use of a microfluidic elongational flow method in a continuous-flow apparatus where magnetite particles are embedded in a polystyrene matrix. Compared to conventional batch synthesis, microfluidics-based synthesis enables precise reaction control, enhanced mixing and rapid chemical reactions, allowing flow synthesis of particles in a controllable, sustainable, and cost-saving manner that is attractive to industry. The composite particles show a high encapsulation of magnetite nanoparticles, but with an inhomogeneous size distribution; instead, the sample obtained with microfluidic approach shows a homogenous composite particle size distribution although the magnetite content is lower compared to the miniemulsion batch methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible manufacturing system (FMS) is one of the solutions that enables any manufacturing system to withstand changing requirements of the market. An FMS consists of different automated workstations, material handling devices, and storage systems, all of which work under computer control. In the present work, analysis and modeling of a real problem has been considered for performance improvement. Modeling is done for analyzing the performance of an existing model, to propose a new layout for the system. Effect of factors like part mix, layout type, and batching condition, on the system performance in terms of productivity, system utilization rate, and cycle time is analyzed. The work includes simulation study along with Taguchi's experimental design framework for studying how different factors with varying levels affect system performance. ProModel software is used for simulating existing and proposed models of the manufacturing firm. Further, analysis of variance (ANOVA) is employed for finding the most important factor that affects system performance. Proposed methodology helps in determining best factor-level combination for each performance parameter. The results show that the system performs well with the implementation of loop layout having many numbers of batches. Towards the end, the scope of further is highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metallurgical wastes are used increasingly in alloy production. Given the great volume and age of the recovered material, the content of undesirable elements and nonmetallic inclusions in the batch tends to increase. That sharply impairs the structure and properties of the castings obtained. In turn, that is reflected in the polytherms of the melts' physical properties and correspondingly the necessary smelting temperature and time for heat-resistant alloys. In the present work, the temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity, the kinematic viscosity, and the surface tension are studied for heat-resistant Ni–Nb–Cr–Mo melts. For EP902 alloy, the critical temperatures leading to irreversible changes that improve the state of the melt are established. The quantity of foundry wastes in the batch affects the temperature dependence of the melt's physicochemical properties. With increase in the quantity of foundry wastes in smelting, the critical temperatures rise. The influence of the state of the melt on the solidification and structure of the hard metal is investigated. Solidification of EP902 alloy is studied by differential thermal analysis. It is found that solidification begins with the deposition of a solid solution based on γ phase and ends with the formation of a eutectic based on the intermetallide Ni3Nb. If the melt is heated above the critical temperatures, greater supercooling is observed but the eutectic temperature is practically unaffected. On the basis of the results for the melt's physicochemical properties and its solidification, we propose high-temperature treatment of the melt to significantly improve the quality of castings obtained from heat-resistant alloys of EP902 type with a considerable content of foundry wastes in the batch. Experimental melts are subjected to mechanical tests with optimal high-temperature treatment of the melt. For melts containing 50% foundry waste, high-temperature treatment of the melt permits the production of castings with strength and plasticity that exceed the technical specifications and are consistent from melt to melt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citrus limon peel (exocarp) was chemically treated and used for removal of U(VI) ions from aqueous solution in a batch system. Optimization of U(VI) sorption parameters, i.e. medium pH, adsorbent amount, contact time, initial U(VI) ions concentration and temperature on the removal performance of both native and modified peels was studied. Adsorption capacity of the modified peel was near up to 4 times higher than of unmodified. The correlation regression coefficients show that the adsorption process can be well-defined by Langmuir equation. Additionally, it conforms to the pseudo-second order kinetic and Weber-Morris diffussion models well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four types of undisturbed soils around the Es-Salam reactor (Algeria) were used to evaluate the sorption behavior of strontium. The batch study was carried out under different experimental conditions. The kinetics were well fited by pseudosecond order model. Soils's activation energies were 12.37, 14.76, 15.5 and 16.17 kJ mol−1, corresponding to ion-exchange-type sorption. Sorption was exothermic (ΔH° < 0), spontaneous (ΔG° < 0) and favorable at low temperature. Competing cations, particularly Ca2+ reduce the Sr adsorption. Desorption reaction showed a higher value of Sr in the easily extractible phase indicating a relative availability of the element. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analysis was carried out using tangerine peel aiming its use as a potential adsorbent of eight heavy metal ions (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) from aqueous solution. This agricultural waste was tested both in its untreated and also chemically modified form. Based on Fourier transformation infrared spectra, a comparison of biosorbent structure before and after chemical treatment was made. Batch adsorption tests were conducted at different pH and mass of sorbent to examine the influence on the effectiveness of simultaneous removal of tested ions. Kinetic studies were conducted at optimum pH 5.0 and sorbent dosage 300 mg. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model best fit the experimental data with high correlation coefficients (r2 > 0.9997). By optimizing listed parameters, high removal efficiencies (> 89%) were achieved. According to the results obtained in this study, the remediation of water polluted with heavy metals could be done using modified tangerine peel as an agricultural waste material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adsorption behavior of basic, methylene blue (MB), and reactive, remazol brilliant violet 5R (RBV), dyes from aqueous solution onto Intsia bijuga sawdust-based activated carbon (IBSAC) was executed via batch and column studies. The produced activated carbon was characterized through Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area and pore structural analysis, proximate and ultimate, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Batch studies were performed to investigate the effects of contact time, initial concentration, and solution pH. The equilibrium data for both MB and RBV adsorption better fits Langmuir model with maximum adsorption capacity of 434.78 and 212.77 mg/g, respectively. Kinetic studies for both MB and RBV dyes showed that the adsorption process followed a pseudo-second-order and intraparticle diffusion kinetic models. For column mode, the breakthrough curves were plotted by varying the flow rate, bed height, and initial concentration and the breakthrough data were best correlated with the Yoon-Nelson model compared to Thomas and Adams-Bohart model. The adsorption activity of IBSAC shows good stability even after four consecutive cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of an investigation of the solid-phase synthesis and technological parameters for the production of weather-resistant gray, gray-yellow, and gray-brown ceramic pigments are presented. The physical-chemical and technological properties of the synthesized pigments were investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different designs of hopper assemblies for glass batch mixers are examined. The factors affecting the shape, volume, and number of receiving hoppers for mixers are determined. It is shown that buckets as well as vibratory, auger, and ribbon feeders can be used to unload a batch from the mixing apparatus. Certain variants of rotary vibratory mechanisms used for unloading a mixture of raw materials from the receiving hoppers of batch mixers are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potentially scalable low-cost treatment methods for acid mine drainage (AMD) are very limited. We used a sequential combination of adsorption and phytoremediation by bunchgrass (Vetiver [ Vetiveria zizanioides L]) in a semi-batch system to remove Zn, Mn, Ni, and Cu from AMD. The objectives were: (1) to compare the removal of these metals by raw and NaOH-activated coal ash (NaOH-CA); and (2) to determine the effect of sequencing adsorption and phytoextraction on metal removal. The NaOH-CA adsorbed significantly more metals than raw coal ash (RCA) in both batch and semi-batch fixed column experiments, demonstrating the effectiveness of NaOH hydrothermal activation, which forms zeolites. Adsorption by NaOH-CA removed 59.1, 95.7, 67.6, and 77.9% of the Zn, Mn, Ni, and Cu, respectively, compared to 50.6, 95.1, 30.2, and 60.5% for the RCA. Metal removal by phytoremediation was generally less than that by adsorption, accounting for between 3.4 and 54.6% for both adsorbents. Phytoremediation following adsorption by NaOH-CA removed 89.2-99.9% of the metals compared to 70.8-98.5% when phytoremediation followed adsorption by RCA. Overall, relatively high metal removal efficiencies were attained, considering the acidic conditions (pH <4), at hydraulic residence times of 1 to 5 days. Using coal ash to treat AMD is potentially a low-cost and environmentally friendly option for minimizing the adverse public health and environmental risks associated with both wastes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A system is proposed for thermal monitoring over the height and circumference of the shaft in a blast furnace operated by Metinvest Holding, LLC. The reasons for the development of the system are outlined; the requirements on information presentation are noted; and experience with the system in blast-furnace management is described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dynamic behavior of Yarrowia lipolytica W29 strain under conditions of fluctuating, low, and limited oxygen supply was characterized in batch and glucose-limited chemostat cultures. In batch cultures, transient oscillations between oxygen-rich and -deprived environments induced a slight citric acid accumulation (lower than 29 mg L). By contrast, no citric acid was detected in continuous fermentations for all stress conditions: full anoxia (zero pO value, 100% N), limited (zero pO value, 75% of cell needs), and low (pO close to 2%) dissolved oxygen (DO) levels. The macroscopic behavior (kinetic parameters, yields, viability) of Y. lipolytica was not significantly affected by the exposure to DO fluctuations under both modes of culture. Nevertheless, conditions of oxygen limitation resulted in the destabilization of the glucose-limited growth during the continuous cultivations. Morphological responses of Y. lipolytica to DO oscillations were different between batch and chemostat runs. Indeed, a yeast-to-mycelium transition was induced and progressively intensified during the batch fermentations (filamentous subpopulation reaching 74% ( v/ v)). While, in chemostat bioreactors, the culture consisted mainly of yeast-like cells (mean diameter not exceeding 5.7 μm) with a normal size distribution. During the continuous cultures, growth at low DO concentration did not induce any changes in Y. lipolytica morphology. Dimorphism (up to 80.5% ( v/ v) of filaments) was only detected under conditions of oxygen limitation in the presence of a residual glucose excess (more than 0.75 g L). These data suggest an impact of glucose levels on the signaling pathways regulating dimorphic responses in Y. lipolytica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the laboratory, ore-coal blends consisting of small components (ore, coal, and flux) are prepared. If the coal consumption in the reduction of metals is standardized, ferroalloys with moderate iron content may be obtained; the carbon content in the alloys may be adjusted within the range 0.80-1.5%. This fundamentally new technology for the production of ferrochrome and ferromanganese permits the replacement of electric power by fuel. That considerably reduces production costs, while improving alloy quality and reducing the environmental impact of the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An analysis of the kinetic azeotropy of the terpolymer from styrene( St)-methyl methacrylate( MMA)-butyl acrylate( BuA) in emulsion polymerization is effectuated. The objective is to determine the conditions for obtaining terpolymers uniform in composition. In this regard, a composition near to the unitary azeotrope is used in batch, semicontinuous and seeded emulsion polymerization processes. As expected, the monomer partition between the different phases modifies the terpolymer composition, in particular at the beginning of the semicontinuous processes. It is also observed that the unitary azeotrope in batch and semicontinuous emulsion polymerization is conserved in a large range of conversion due to the constancy of monomer concentration and radicals in the particle. In this way, a terpolymer with almost an accumulated constant composition is obtained in the seeded process. A thermodynamic analysis of the kinetic azeotropy is also made. The correspondence between the azeotropes of the binary copolymers and the values of the Flory interaction parameters of the monomers χ is correlated. It is found that the lesser repulsion of the St- MMA pair respect to that of St- BuA provoked that the composition of the terpolymer tends to the copolymer azeotrope of St-MMA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The performance of activated carbon (AC) for the adsorption of Acid Orange 7 (AO7) was investigated in both batch and column studies. The optimal conditions for adsorption process in batch study were found to be a stirring speed of 500 rpm, AC dosage of 5 g/L, and initial AO7 concentration of 100 mg/L. The spent AC was then treated with peroxydisulfate (PDS), and the regenerated AC was used again to adsorb AO7. Both pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order rate models for adsorption kinetics were investigated, and the results showed that the latter model was more appropriate. The effects of regeneration time, PDS concentration, and stirring speed on AO7-spent AC regeneration were investigated in batch studies, and the optimal conditions were time 2 h, stirring speed 700 rpm, and PDS concentration 10 g/L. Under the same adsorption conditions, 89% AO7 could be decolorized by adsorption using regenerated AC. In the column studies, the effect of flow rate was investigated and the adsorption capacity was nearly the same when the flow rate rose from 7.9 to 11.4 mL/min, but it decreased significantly when the flow rate was increased to 15.2 mL/min. The performance of regenerated AC in the column was also investigated, and a slight increase in the adsorption capacity was observed in the second adsorption cycle. However, the adsorption capacity decreased to some extent in the third cycle due to the consumption of C -OH group on the AC surface during PDS regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reductive blast-furnace smelting consists of multifactorial oxidative, heat-transfer, smelting, and reducing processes that involve solid carbon and are associated with carburization of the metal. Analysis yields functional relations of the zonal process with controllable parameters of the hot blast. The ore load on the coke, the batch and coke consumption, the reduction rate of iron, and the rate of slag formation may be regulated as a function of the blast flow rate. If the degree of reduction of iron declines from 0.998 to 0.96-0.98, the oxidation of the slag with respect to iron (the FeO content) may be increased to 2-10%, with slowing of the carburization of iron as the melt flows through the coke bed. Slag oxidation may be increased by the injection of powdered iron oxide into the hot blast through tuyeres. As a result, the carbon content in the metal will be 1.5-2.0%, which corresponds to the composition of austenitic steel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yarrowia lipolytica, a non-conventional yeast with a promising biotechnological potential, is able to undergo metabolic and morphological changes in response to environmental conditions. The effect of pH perturbations of different types (pulses, Heaviside) on the dynamic behavior of Y. lipolytica W29 strain was characterized under two modes of culture: batch and continuous. In batch cultures, different pH (4.5, 5.6 (optimal condition), and 7) were investigated in order to identify the pH inducing a stress response (metabolic and/or morphologic) in Y. lipolytica. Macroscopic behavior (kinetic parameters, yields, viability) of the yeast was slightly affected by pH. However, contrary to the culture at pH 5.6, a filamentous growth was induced in batch experiments at pH 4.5 and 7. Proportions of the filamentous subpopulation reached 84 and 93 % ( v/ v) under acidic and neutral conditions, respectively. Given the significant impact of neutral pH on morphology, pH perturbations from 5.6 to 7 were subsequently assayed in batch and continuous bioreactors. For both process modes, the growth dynamics remained fundamentally unaltered during exposure to stress. Nevertheless, morphological behavior of the yeast was dependent on the culture mode. Specifically, in batch bioreactors where cells proliferated at their maximum growth rate, mycelia were mainly formed. Whereas, in continuous cultures at controlled growth rates (from 0.03 to 0.20 h) even closed to the maximum growth rate of the stain (0.24 h), yeast-like forms predominated. This pointed out differences in the kinetic behavior of filamentous and yeast subpopulations, cell age distribution, and pH adaptive mechanisms between both modes of culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microalgal triglycerides (TAGs) represent a sustainable feedstock for food, chemical and biofuel industries. The operational strategy (batch, semi-continuous, continuous cultivations) has an impact on the TAG productivity. In this study, semi-continuous (i.e. with fixed harvesting frequency) and batch cultivations were compared on TAG production both at lab-scale and in outdoor cultivations. At lab-scale, the semi-continuous TAG productivity was highest for a cycle time of 2 days (SC1; 0.21 g L day) and similar to the maximum obtained with the batch (optimal harvest time; 0.23 g L day). Although TAG content was lower for SC1 (22 %) than for the batch (35 %), higher biomass productivities were obtained with SC1. Outdoors, semi-continuous cultivations were subjected to a lower degree of stress (i.e. higher amount of nitrogen present in the system relative to the given irradiance) compared to lab-scale. This yielded low and similar TAG contents (10-13 %) in the different semi-continuous runs that were outdone by the batch on both TAG content (15-25 %) and productivity (batch, 0.97-2.46 g m day; semi-continuous, 0.35-0.85 g m day). The lab-scale experiments showed that semi-continuous strategies, besides leading to similar TAG productivities compared to the batch, could make TAG production cost effective by valorising also non-TAG compounds. However, optimization of outdoor semi-continuous cultivations is still required. For instance, the nitrogen supply and the harvest frequency should be adjusted on the total irradiance. Additionally, future research should focus on recovery metabolism upon nitrogen resupply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditionally, iron and steel production is based on a two-stage system consisting of a blast furnace and a converter, which is characterized not only by high productivity but also by copious generation of gaseous emissions and solid wastes. Reductive smelting in a blast furnace with unavoidable carburization of the metal-the formation of molten iron-calls for the organization of oxidative conversion of iron to steel. The direct reduction of iron and the accompanying metals in the batch by solid carbon, with dosing and regulation of the carbon inputs, permits the organization of reductive smelting without excessive carbon concentrations in the metal. That eliminates the need for oxidative smelting of the steel. Reductive smelting of coal-bearing batch has been undertaken and, for the first time anywhere, alloy-steel samples have been produced directly from batch, without the intermediate production of hot metal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work reports new findings on the physisorption of Foron Blue 291 on natural bentonite under both static and dynamic flow conditions of the aqueous solution that may prove important when using the adsorption technique for wastewater treatment. The quantity of dye retained by the solid matrix under both ideal exchange conditions between dyes and adsorbents given in a batch reactor and a pulse injection of dissolved azo dye in a soil column composed of a mixture of mean grain-sized sand and bentonite at different flow rates and at various mass fractions of bentonite was studied. Column experiments involving the use of a non-reactive tracer (Fluorescein) were performed to examine hydrodynamic behaviours of the clay/sand mixture studied. It is shown that advective-dispersive transport across a clay/sand mixture may be characterized by a double porosity medium. The results obtained on the reactive transport of Foron Blue 291 underscore that Foron Blue 291 adsorption depends heavily on the mass fraction of clay in a clay/sand mixture. With a clay mass fraction of 30 %, 77 % of the dissolved Foron Blue 291 mass was irreversibly removed by the adsorbent. At low flow rates, removal ratios obtained from the dynamic reactive system were similar to those obtained through previous static reactor experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Essentially, the reduction of iron in the blast furnace and the oxidative smelting of steel in the oxygen converter are opposing processes. In addressing the carburization of iron in the blast furnace and its decarburization in the converter, we consider noninertial control of the zonal blast-furnace processes. A functional relation is established between the parameters of the zonal processes and the parameters of the hot blast, the reducing gas, and the blast-furnace gas. On that basis, the batch and coke consumption and the yield of metal, slag, and gas in unit time may be strictly and continuously regulated. That, in turn, permits monitoring of the ore load on the coke. Noninertial control of the zonal blast-furnace processes by this means permits regulation of the slag's oxidative potential, the ore load, and the consumption of injected dusty iron oxides and hence reduction of the carbon content in the hot metal to 2.0-2.5% or less. This approach leads ultimately to the creation of a single-stage process from ore to steel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Use of 4 agro-industrial by products and organic materials as nitrogen sources for production of Aspergillus oryzae S2 α-amylase in liquid culture was investigated. The 2 agro-industrial byproducts maltose and saccharose, and also lactose and starch were individually evaluated for use as carbon sources. A Box-Behnken experimental design was used to determine optimal conditions for production of α-amylase. A maximum amylase activity of 750 U/mL was obtained at a temperature of 24°C, a urea concentration of 1 g/L, and a C/N ratio of 2. Laboratory scale application of optimal conditions in a 7 L fermentor produced a final α-amylase activity of 770 U/mL after 3 days of batch cultivation. Addition of 10% starch to the culture medium each 12 h immediately after the stationary phase of cell growth led to a production yield of 1,220 U/mL at the end of fed-batch cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The regimes for recoloring glass melt in the commercial furnaces at the Chagodoshchenskii Glass Works and K JSC, which operate with slag batches, are analyzed. It is shown that the efficiency of the process of changing the color of the glass is determined by, first and foremost, the rational regime for changing the composition and redox potential of the batch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distributed environments with the users decoupling from resource providers are generally defined as utility Grids. This paper focuses on the problems of an efficient scheduling in virtual organizations (VOs) of utility Grids. The proposed scheduling model ensures the VO stakeholders preferences and provides strategies for effective resources utilization. An approach based on the combination of the cyclic scheduling scheme, backfilling and several heuristic procedures is proposed and studied. Comparative simulation results are introduced for different algorithms and heuristics. Resource domain composition and heterogeneity as well as the VO pricing policy are taken into account. Considered scheduling approaches provide different benefits depending on the VO scheduling objectives. The results justify the use of the proposed approaches in a broad range of the resource environment parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Results of analyzing the overall balance of materials, the oxygen balance, and the thermal balance within a 120-t arc smelting furnace are presented. It is found that the heat influx in the oxidation of iron and other batch components is so great that the thermal conditions and the process as a whole become autogenous. The significant losses in complete chemical combustion indicate unsatisfactory organization of the aerodynamic fluxes within the furnace. The aerodynamic fluxes and temperature fields in the region of the cold batch between the electrodes and the inner surface of the furnace wall are discussed on the basis of SolidWorks Flow Simulation software. Recommendations are made regarding the configuration of the gas-oxygen burners, the oxygen lances, and the units for injection of the carbon-based materials into the bath. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, different methods were tested to evaluate the adsorption and desorption of metalaxyl in two acid soils with different organic carbon and clay contents. The three methods (batch, stirred flow chamber and column) that were examined produced similar findings when the two soils were compared: (a) the metalaxyl adsorption capacity was higher in the soil with higher organic matter and clay content, and (b) the soil with the lower organic matter and clay contents provided higher adsorption rate constants. In the two soils tested, the metalaxyl adsorbed in the soil was highly reversible. When only one soil was considered, the different methods yielded different results. The metalaxyl adsorption and its rate were higher with the stirred flow chamber than in the column experiments, and in the column experiments, the total metalaxyl adsorption and the rate of adsorption were higher than in the batch experiments. The percentages of metalaxyl desorbed from the soil were similar in the stirred flow chamber and column experiments, but in the batch experiments, the percentages were significantly lower. In the stirred flow chamber experiments, the desorption processes were faster than the adsorption processes, while in the column experiments, the adsorption and desorption processes exhibited similar rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, eight commercially available, chemically defined Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell culture media from different vendors were evaluated in batch culture using an IgG-producing CHO DG44 cell line as a model. Medium adaptation revealed that the occurrence of even small aggregates might be a good indicator of cell growth performance in subsequent high cell density cultures. Batch experiments confirmed that the culture medium has a significant impact on bioprocess performance, but high amino acid concentrations alone were not sufficient to ensure superior cell growth and high antibody production. However, some key amino acids that were limiting in most media could be identified. Unbalanced glucose and amino acids led to high cell-specific lactate and ammonium production rates. In some media, persistently high glucose concentrations probably induced the suppression of respiration and oxidative phosphorylation, known as Crabtree effect, which resulted in high cell-specific glycolysis rates along with a continuous and high lactate production. In additional experiments, two of the eight basal media were supplemented with feeds from two different manufacturers in six combinations, in order to understand the combined impact of media and feeds on cell metabolism in a CHO fed-batch process. Cell growth, nutrient consumption and metabolite production rates, antibody production, and IgG quality were evaluated in detail. Concentrated feed supplements boosted cell concentrations almost threefold and antibody titers up to sevenfold. Depending on the fed-batch strategy, fourfold higher peak cell concentrations and eightfold increased IgG titers (up to 5.8 g/L) were achieved. The glycolytic flux was remarkably similar among the fed-batches; however, substantially different specific lactate production rates were observed in the different media and feed combinations. Further analysis revealed that in addition to the feed additives, the basal medium can make a considerable contribution to the ammonium metabolism of the cells. The glycosylation of the recombinant antibody was influenced by the selection of basal medium and feeds. Differences of up to 50 % in the monogalacto-fucosylated (G1F) and high mannose fraction of the IgG were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An environmentally safe technology for obtaining glass ceramic material-granular filtering foam-glass ceramic-has been developed on the basis of household and commercial cullet, red clay, and organic additives. Laboratory and operational tests of the new filtering material and its suitability for purifying different types of waters are presented. A complex of oxides and hydroxides, which was obtained on the surface of the foam-glass ceramic granules, makes it possible to remove iron and manganese from water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Applicability of the new material pyrolyzed Delonix regia pod carbon for the removal of excess fluoride ions from the water that harm the human and the environment was studied. The adsorbent was characterized both physically and chemically. Surface chemistry characterization was done with pH-drift method. Batch adsorption studies were carried out for the effect of pH, dosage, contact time, initial fluoride concentration, temperature and interfering co-ions. The physicochemical properties and textural characters were analyzed. Equilibrium data were studied using Freundlich, Langmuir, Temkin and Dubinin-Radushkevich models, in which Freundlich isotherm was considered to be the best fit for the adsorbent. The sorption nature was studied using thermodynamic parameters which showed spontaneous, irreversible, stable and endothermic. The adsorption kinetics follows pseudo-second order. The mechanism of adsorption was determined from intraparticle diffusion model. Boyd plot showed that the adsorption of fluoride on the carbon was mainly governed by particle diffusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, the dairy industry is continuously looking for new and more efficient clotting enzymes to create innovative products. Cyprosin B is a plant aspartic protease characterized by clotting activity that was previously cloned in Saccharomyces cerevisiae BJ1991 strain. The production of recombinant cyprosin B by a batch and fed-batch culture was compared using glucose and galactose as carbon sources. The strategy for fed-batch cultivation involved two steps: in the first batch phase, the culture medium presented glucose 1 % (w/v) and galactose 0.5 % (w/v), while in the feed step the culture medium was constituted by 5 % (w/v) galactose with the aim to minimize the GAL7 promoter repression. Based on fed-batch, in comparison to batch growth, an increase in biomass (6.6-fold), protein concentration (59 %) and cyprosin B activity (91 %) was achieved. The recombinant cyprosin B was purified by a single hydrophobic chromatography, presenting a specific activity of 6 × 10 U·mg, corresponding to a purification degree of 12.5-fold and a recovery yield of 16.4 %. The SDS-PAGE analysis showed that recovery procedure is suitable for achieving the purified recombinant cyprosin B. The results show that the recombinant cyprosin B production can be improved based on two distinct steps during the fed-batch, presenting that this strategy, associated with a simplified purification procedure, could be applied to large-scale production, constituting a new and efficient alternative for animal and fungal enzymes widely used in cheese making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An analytical review of the literature on changes in glassmaking processes, diathermancy of molten glass and light transmission of glass as a function of the redox potential of the raw material and batch is given. Experimental data on the effect of the redox potentials (RP) of batches and cullet on the color of glasses with commercial compositions are presented. The conditions for transformations and equilibrium of iron oxides in glassmaking are examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biosorption of manganese(II) using suspended and immobilized cells of fungal Penicillium camemberti (biomass) and nano- P. camemberti (nano-biomass) was studied by evaluating the physicochemical parameters of the solution such as initial manganese ion concentration, pH, temperature, dosage, and contact time in both batch system and fixed bed column. The maximum biosorption obtained from the batch process was 91.54 and 71.08 % for nano-biomass and biomass in initial concentration of 5 ppm, respectively. The Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and BET isotherms isotherm models were used in the equilibrium modeling. The correlation coefficient of more than 0.90 turned out that the adsorption process of Mn(II) on biomass and nano-biomass were in accordance with both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The sorption process followed a second-order rate kinetics indicating the process to be diffusion controlled. The results also demonstrate that an intra-particle diffusion mechanism plays a significant role in the sorption process. The structure of P. camemberti was characterized by FT-IR spectrums. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The applicability of results obtained for small-diameter cupolas to industrial cupolas is assessed. Analysis of the similarity conditions in switching from a small-diameter cupola to a large-diameter cupola indicates that the main requirements in physical modeling are satisfied. The temperature conditions in the bed and in the batch-heating zone will not depend on the furnace diameter as long as the furnace's geometric parameters and the piece sizes of the coke and the batch conform to the basic requirements of similarity theory and physical modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]