The main objective of this study was to optimize the roasting conditions of hazelnuts in microwave-infrared and microwave-convective heating combination ovens by using response surface methodology. It was also aimed to construct regression models for the prediction of quality parameters of hazelnuts as a function of processing conditions. The independent variables were microwave power (10, 30, 50, 70 and 90%), upper-lower infrared power (10, 30, 50, 70 and 90%) and roasting time (2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 min) for microwave-infrared combination roasting. Microwave power (70, 140 and 210W), air temperature (90, 150 and 210&deg / C) and roasting time (5, 15 and 25 min) were the independent variables of microwave-convective heating combination oven. As control, hazelnuts roasted in conventional oven at 150&deg / C for 20 min were used. The quality parameters were L* value, a* value, fracture force and moisture content of the hazelnuts for both microwave assisted ovens. The optimum roasting conditions of microwave-infrared combination oven were determined as 2.5 min of roasting time at 613.8W microwave power, 1800W upper infrared power, and 300W lower infrared power. Hazelnuts roasted at the optimum condition had comparable quality with the conventionally roasted ones. When micro- wave infrared combination oven was used, conventional roasting time of hazelnuts was reduced by 87.5%. Optimum roasting conditions of microwave-convective heating combination oven were 140 W microwave power, 150&deg / C air temperature and 20 min roasting time. High regression coefficients were calculated between the experimental data and predicted values showing that RSM is capable in predicting quality parameters of hazelnuts during microwave assisted roasting.

Modern engineering design tends to use computer simulations such as Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to replace physical experiments when evaluating a quality response, e.g., the stress level in a phone packaging process. The use of computer models has certain advantages over running physical experiments, such as being cost effective, easy to try out different design alternatives, and having greater impact on product design. However, due to the complexity of FEA codes, it could be computationally expensive to calculate the quality response function over a large number of combinations of design and environmental factors. Traditional experimental design and response surface methodology, which were developed for physical experiments with the presence of random errors, are not very effective in dealing with deterministic FEA simulation outputs. In this thesis, we will utilize a spatial statistical method (i.e., Kriging model) for analyzing deterministic computer simulation-based experiments. Subsequently, we will devise a sequential strategy, which allows us to explore the whole response surface in an efficient way. The overall number of computer experiments will be remarkably reduced compared with the traditional response surface methodology. The proposed methodology is illustrated using an electronic packaging example.

No description available.

Current prices and demand for petroleum hydrocabons have generated an increase of oil spills around the country and the world. Health and environmental impacts associated to these organic pollutants represent a huge concern for the general public, leading the public and private sector to develop new technologies and methods to minimize or eliminate those risks. Ex-Situ bioremediation through biopiles, as a main remediation technique to treat a wide range of hydrocarbons, has been a topic of considerable research interest over the last years. It provides an economical and environmental solution to restore the environment to background levels. Nevertheless, successful bioremediation under cold climate conditions is of considerable concern in countries like Canada, as low temperatures can delay the rate of bioremediation of oil hydrocarbons, thus limiting the operation of soil treatment facilities to certain times of the year. Recent research has found out that bioremediation could be conducted even at low or cold temperatures with larger periods of times. And even more, the addition of petroleum degrading microorganisms (bioaugmentation) and nutrients or biosurfactants (biostimulation) could enhance the process in some cases. In the present study, a comprehensive assessment of bioaugmentation and biostimulation strategies for ex-situ bioremediation of petroleum contaminated soil under cold climate conditions is proposed. Field scale biopiles were constructed and subjected to different concentrations of commercial microbial consortia and mature compost, as bioaugmentation and biostimulation strategies, in a soil treatment facility at Moose Creek, Ontario over a period of 94 days (November 2012 to February 2013). Assessment and comparison of the biodegradation rates of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) and their fractions were investigated. Furthermore, a response surface methodology (RSM) based on a factorial design to investigate and optimize the effects of the microbial consortia application rate and amount of compost on the TPH removal was also assessed. Results showed that biopiles inoculated with microbial consortia and amended with 10:1 soil to compost ratio under aerobic conditions performed the best, degrading 82% of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) with a first-order kinetic degradation rate of 0.016 d_1, under cold temperature conditions. The average removal efficiencies for TPHs after 94 days for control biopiles, with no amendments or with microbial consortia or compost only treatments were 48%, 55%, and 52%, respectively. Statistical analyses indicated a significant difference (p < 0.05) within and between the final measurements for TPHs and a significant difference between the treatment with combined effect, and the control biopiles. On the other hand, the modeling and optimization statistical analysis of the results showed that the microbial consortia application rate, compost amendment and their interactions have a significant effect on TPHs removal with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.88, indicating a high correlation between the observed and the predicted values for the model obtained. The optimum concentrations predicted via RSM were 4.1 ml m-3 for microbial consortia application rate, and 7% for compost amendment to obtain a maximum TPH removal of 90.7%. This research contributes to provide valuable knowledge to practitioners about cost-effective and existing strategies for ex-situ bioremediation under cold weather conditions.

In this thesis, it is aimed to design lithium extraction from boron clays using statistical design of experiments and robust design methodologies. There are several factors affecting extraction of lithium from clays. The most important of these factors have been limited to a number of six which have been gypsum to clay ratio, roasting temperature, roasting time, leaching solid to liquid ratio, leaching time and limestone to clay ratio. For every factor, three levels have been chosen and an experiment has been designed. After performing three replications for each of the experimental run, signal to noise ratio transformation, ANOVA, regression analysis and response surface methodology have been applied on the results of the experiments. Optimization and confirmation experiments have been made sequentially to find factor settings that maximize lithium extraction with minimal variation. The mean of the maximum extraction has been observed as 83.81% with a standard deviation of 4.89 and the 95% prediction interval for the mean extraction is (73.729, 94.730). This result is in agreement with the studies that have been made in the literature. However / this study is unique in the sense that lithium is extracted from boron clays by using limestone directly from the nature, and gypsum as a waste product of boric acid production. Since these two materials add about 20% cost to the extraction process, the results of this study become important. Moreover, in this study it has been shown that statistical design of experiments help mining industry to reduce the need for standardization.

The main objective of this study was to optimize processing conditions during halogen lamp-microwave combination baking of cake by using Response Surface Methodology. It was also aimed to compare quality of products baked in microwave-halogen lamp combination oven, halogen lamp oven, microwave oven and conventional oven. In the first part of the study, as independent variables, baking time for conventional oven / microwave power and baking time for microwave oven / halogen lamp power and baking time for halogen lamp oven and microwave power, halogen lamp power and baking time for halogen lamp-microwave combination oven were used. Weight loss, specific volume, firmness and color of the cakes were measured during the study. Cakes baked in conventional oven at 175&deg / C for 24 minutes were determined as the control cakes. Weight loss of cakes increased with increasing independent variables for all oven types. Specific volume and firmness of cakes increased with increasing microwave power, but decreased with upper halogen lamp power. Color formation was achieved in the combination baking but not as much as in the conventional baking. Response Surface Methodology was used to optimize the baking conditions in the second part of the study. Upper and lower halogen lamp powers, microwave power and baking time were used as independent variables. Optimum processing conditions were found as 60% for upper halogen lamp power, 70% for lower halogen lamp power, 30% for microwave power and 5 minutes for baking time. Cakes baked at optimum baking conditions had comparable quality with conventionally baked ones, except color. In short, by the usage of halogen lamp-microwave combination oven it was possible to obtain high quality cakes by reducing of conventional baking time about 79%.

Grape pomace is a by-product of wineries. It is one of the most potent antioxidant sources due to its high phenolic content. In this thesis study, ultrasound assisted extraction of phenolic compounds from Merlot grape pomace has been studied. The effects of sonication time, subsequent extraction time in shaking water bath at 45&deg / C and composition of the solvent on extraction efficiency and recovery of phenolics were studied by response surface methodology. Folin-Ciocalteu colorimetric method was used to analyze effects of process parameters on the total phenolic content of the extracts. The best recovery (47.2 mg gallic acid equivalents of total phenolics per g of dried grape pomace) was obtained using 30 % aqueous ethanol and applying 6 minutes of sonication followed by 12 minutes of shaking in water bath at 45&deg / C.

This thesis develops a methodology for designing resilient system-of-systems (SoS) networks. This methodology includes a capability-based resilience assessment framework, used to quantify SoS resilience. A complex networks approach is used to generate potential SoS network designs, focusing on scale-free and random network topologies, degree-based and random rewiring adaptation, and targeted and random node removal threats. Statistical design methods, specifically response surface methodology, are used to evaluate SoS networks and provide an understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of potential designs. Linear regression is used to model a continuous representation of the network design space, and determine optimally resilient networks for particular threat types. The methodology is applied to an information exchange (IE) network model (i.e., a message passing network model) and military command and control (C2) model. Results show that optimally resilient IE network topologies are random for networks with adaptation, regardless of the threat type. However, the optimally resilient adaptation method sharply transitions from being fully random to fully degree-based as threat randomness increases. These findings suggest that intermediately defined networks should not be considered when designing for resilience. Cost-benefit analysis of C2 networks suggests that resilient C2 networks are more cost-effective than robust ones, as long as the cost of rewiring network links is less than three-fourths the cost of creating new links. This result identifies a threshold for which a resilient network design approach is more cost-effective than a robust one.This thesis develops a methodology for designing resilient system-of-systems (SoS) networks. This methodology includes a capability-based resilience assessment framework, used to quantify SoS resilience. A complex networks approach is used to generate potential SoS network designs, focusing on scale-free and random network topologies, degree-based and random rewiring adaptation, and targeted and random node removal threats. Statistical design methods, specifically response surface methodology, are used to evaluate SoS networks and provide an understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of potential designs. Linear regression is used to model a continuous representation of the network design space, and determine optimally resilient networks for particular threat types. The methodology is applied to an information exchange (IE) network model (i.e., a message passing network model) and military command and control (C2) model. Results show that optimally resilient IE network topologies are random for networks with adaptation, regardless of the threat type. However, the optimally resilient adaptation method sharply transitions from being fully random to fully degree-based as threat randomness increases. These findings suggest that intermediately defined networks should not be considered when designing for resilience. Cost-benefit analysis of C2 networks suggests that resilient C2 networks are more cost-effective than robust ones, as long as the cost of rewiring network links is less than three-fourths the cost of creating new links. This result identifies a threshold for which a resilient network design approach is more cost-effective than a robust one.

Thesis (MScFoodSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Cyclopia genistoides (honeybush) has been identified as an excellent resource for the production of a xanthone-enriched extract due to its high mangiferin content and successful cultivation. The predominant xanthone present in C. genistoides is mangiferin, a potent antioxidant proven to exhibit a wide range of bioactivities that contribute greatly to the health-promoting abilities of honeybush extracts. Isomangiferin, the regio-isomer of mangiferin and of comparable antioxidant capacity to mangiferin, is another valuable compound present in substantial quantities in C. genistoides. A xanthone-enriched extract would find possible application in functional food/beverage products that provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition. In the current study, the effect of ethanol (EtOH) concentration (0-100%, v/v), plant material size (milled vs. teabag fraction), extraction time (0-60 min) and elevated extraction temperatures on the extraction of xanthones from unfermented C. genistoides was investigated. Single factor experiments showed the best extraction efficiency, evaluated in terms of extract yield, xanthone yield and xanthone content of the extract, was achieved by extracting milled plant material with 20-60% EtOH (v/v) for 30 min at elevated temperatures (70°C). Response surface methodology (RSM) to evaluate the individual and interaction effects of process variables, namely EtOH concentration (0-100%, v/v) and temperature (0-70°C) was used to further optimise the extraction process. EtOH concentration was found to have the largest effect on extraction efficiency (p < 0.05), whilst temperature had a negligible effect. Optimal levels of EtOH concentration (40%, v/v) and temperature (70°C) for maximum extract and mangiferin yields were successfully achieved within the experimental domain, using 10 mL/g solvent:solid ratio and 30 min extraction time. Ultrafiltration (UF) was subsequently employed to facilitate further xanthone enrichment of the unfermented C. genistoides extract (40% EtOH, v/v). A series of laboratory scale membrane devices (centrifugal membrane units, stirred cell and tangential flow ultrafiltration (TFU) system) were used in an up-scale approach to determine the effect of membrane material (regenerated cellulose (RC) vs. polyethersulphone (PES)), molecular weight cut off (MWCO; 3 kDa, 10 kDa, 30 kDa), feed concentration (1% vs. 3% soluble solids (SS)) and operating parameters (transmembrane pressure (TMP) and feed flow rate) on membrane performance and permeate quality. The best performing membrane in terms of productivity and xanthone enrichment was the 10 kDa RC membrane when using an extract concentration close to that of industrially prepared extracts (3% SS). RSM was used to further optimise UF of unfermented C. genistoides through a 10 kDa RC membrane in the TFU system. The individual and interaction effects of TMP (0.82-2.04 bar) and feed flow rate (200-444 mL/min) on permeate flux, xanthone enrichment and the fouling index were investigated. The individual effects of TMP and feed flow rate had a significant effect on all measured responses, while their interaction only affected average permeate flux and fouling index significantly. Optimal TMP and feed flow rate values of 2.04 bar and 444 mL/min, respectively, were selected within the experimental domain, restricted by equipment constraints. Validation of the combined protocol including ethanol-water extraction and UF using plant material from ten different unfermented C. genistoides batches resulted in enriched extracts containing 10.6-17.8% xanthone content. During UF, average mangiferin and isomangiferin enrichments of 20% and 22%, respectively, were obtained. Whilst no correlation was found between the feed concentration of the extracts, xanthone enrichment and fouling index, a strong linear correlation (R2 = 0.98) was found between feed concentration and permeate yield. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Cyclopia genistoides (heuningbos) is geidentifiseer as ‘n uitstekende bron vir die produksie van ‘n xantoon-verrykte ekstrak weens sy hoë mangiferien-inhoud sowel as suksesvolle verbouing daarvan. Die oorheersende xantoon teenwoordig in C. genistoides is mangiferien, ‘n kragtige antioksidant met ‘n bewese wye reeks bioaktiwiteite wat grootliks bydra tot die gesondheidsvoordele van heuningbosekstrakte. Isomangiferien, die regio-isomeer van mangiferien met vergelykbare antioksidant-aktiwiteit as mangiferien, is nog ‘n waardevolle verbinding teenwoordig in aansienlike hoeveelhede in C. genistoides. ‘n Xantoon-verrykte ekstrak kan moontlik toegepas word in funksionele voedsel- of drankie-produkte, wat gesondheidsvoordele bo en behalwe die basiese voedsaamheid inhou. Die effek van etanol (EtOH)-konsentrasie (0-100%, v/v), plantmateriaal grootte (gemaal teenoor teesakkie-fraksie), ekstraksietyd (0-60 min) en ekstraksietemperatuur op die ekstraksie van xantone uit ongefermenteerde C. genistoides is ondersoek. Enkelfaktor eksperimente het getoon dat die beste ekstraksie-effektiwiteit, in terme van ekstrakopbrengs, xantoonopbrengs en xantooninhoud van die ekstrak, bereik is deur gemaalde plantmateriaal met 20-60% EtOH (v/v) vir 30 min by verhoogde temperature (70°C) te ekstraheer. Respons-oppervlak Metodologie (ROM) is aangewend om die individuele en interaktiewe effekte van die veranderlikes, naamlik EtOH-konsentrasie (0-100%, v/v) en temperatuur (0-70°C) te ondersoek asook om die ekstraksieproses verder te optimiseer. EtOH-konsentrasie het die grootste effek op die ekstraksie-effektiwiteit gehad (p < 0.05), terwyl die effek van temperatuur onbeduidend was. Optimale vlakke van EtOH-konsentrasie (40% v/v) en temperatuur (70°C) vir maksimum ekstrak- en mangiferienopbrengs is binne die eksperimentele domein is gevind, met die gebruik van 10 mL/g oplosmiddel:vastestof verhouding en ‘n ekstraksietyd van 30 min. Ultrafiltrasie (UF) is daarna gebruik om verdere xantoon-verryking van die ongefermenteerde C. genistoides ekstrak (40% EtOH, v/v) te fasiliteer. ‘n Reeks labratoriumskaal membraantoestelle (sentrifugale membraaneenhede, ‘n geroerde selsisteem en ‘n kruisvloei-ultrafiltrasie (KVU) sisteem) is gebruik in ‘n opskaleringsbenadering om die effek van die membraanmateriaal (geregenereerde sellulose (RS) vs. polyetersulfoon (PES)), molekulêre gewig afsnit (MWCO; 3 kDa, 10 kDa, 30 kDa), voerkonsentrasie (1% vs. 3% oplosbare vastestowwe (OV)) en operasionele parameters (transmembraandruk (TMD) en voervloeispoed) op membraanprestasie en permeaatkwaliteit te bepaal. Die membraan met die beste prestasie in terme van produktiwiteit en xantoon-verryking was die 10 kDa RS membraan wanneer gebruik met ‘n ekstrakkonsentrasie na aan dié van die industrieel vervaardigde ekstrakte (3% OV). ROM is gebruik om die KVU van ongefermenteerde C. genistoides deur ‘n 10 kDa RS membraan verder te optimiseer. Die indiwiduele en interaktiewe effekte van TMD (0.82-2.04 bar) en voervloeispoed (200-444 mL/min) op permeaatvloei, xantoon-verryking en die blokkeringindeks is ondersoek. Die individuele effekte van TMD en voervloeispoed het ‘n betekenisvolle effek op alle gemete response gehad, terwyl hul interaksie net gemiddelde permeaatvloei en besoedelingsindeks beduidend beïnvloed het. Optimale TMD en voervloeispoed waardes van 2.04 bar en 444 mL/min, onderskeidelik, is geselekteer binne die eksperimentele domein, wat bepaal is deur die beperkings van die toerusting. Die geldigheid van die gesamentlike protocol, insluitende etanol-water ekstraksie en UF, is getoets deur plantmateriaal van tien verskillende ongefermenteerde C. genistoides monsters te gebruik. Dit het gelei tot verrykte ekstrakte wat 10.6-17.8% xantone bevat het. UF het onderskeidelik gemiddelde mangiferien- en isomangiferien-verryking van 20% en 22% gelewer. Geen korrelasie is gevind tussen die voerkonsentrasie van die ekstrakte en die besoedelingsindeks nie, maar ‘n goeie liniêre korrelasie (R2 = 0.98) is tussen voerkonsentrasie en permeaatopbrengs gevind.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:23:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-05-13Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:50:24Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 botaro_ja_me_arafcf.pdf: 1079828 bytes, checksum: e3d6aa320e7262e913df25c024a8740c (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Recentemente, a indústria de alimentos está preocupada em desenvolver novos produtos, usando ingredientes inovadores, que promovam benefícios à saúde. O uso de proteínas de leguminosas como uma alternativa para a proteína animal tem sido estudada. O tremoço branco (Lupinus albus L.) apresenta elevada concentração de proteína e óleo, principalmente ácidos graxos insaturados e poliinsaturados, fibra alimentar, açúcares e vitaminas B1 e B2. Por outro lado, o tremoço não pode ser consumido diretamente porque possui alcaloides, que além de serem tóxicos, atribuem gosto amargo ao grão. Como a maioria dos alcaloides é solúvel em água, a quantidade de alcaloide do grão pode ser diminuída através de água corrente, fervente ou salmoura. Sucos de frutas são bastante consumidos no Brasil, especialmente no verão, não somente pelo sabor, mas como fonte de hidratação e por serem ricos em nutrientes. Os sucos de frutas tropicais conquistam cada vez mais o mercado consumidor, sendo o Brasil, um dos principais produtores. A pitanga, fruto da pitangueira (Eugenia uniflora L.) é uma planta frutífera nativa do Brasil (das regiões Sul e Sudeste e que tem se adaptado favoravelmente às condições climáticas e edáficas da região Nordeste), da Argentina e do Uruguai. A pitanga é uma fruta cuja polpa apresenta excelentes condições para industrialização, devido ao seu alto rendimento, aroma agradável e sabor exótico. O objetivo do presente estudo foi o de verificar, através da metodologia de superfície de resposta, as melhores condições para a utilização simultânea de extrato aquoso de tremoço branco e de suco tropical de pitanga, no desenvolvimento de uma bebida. Para tanto, as variáveis independentes foram representadas pelo volume de extrato aquoso de tremoço (mL) e pelo volume de suco de pitanga... / Recently, the food industry is concerned about developing new products, using innovative ingredients that promote health benefits. The use of vegetable protein as an alternative to animal protein is being studied. The white lupine (Lupinus albus L.) has high concentrations of protein and oil, especially non saturated fatty acids and polynonsaturated fats, dietary fiber, sugars and vitamins B1 and B2. On the other hand, the lupine bean can’t be consumed straight because it has alkaloids which besides being toxic, add a bitter taste to the bean. As most alkaloids are water soluble, the amount of alkaloid in the beans can be reduced by running water, boiling or brine. Fruit juices are widely consumed in Brazil, especially in the summer, not only for their flavor, but as a source of hydration and because they are rich in nutrients. The tropical fruit juices are conquering the market more and more, with Brazil being one of the main producers in the world. The Pitanga (Eugenia uniflora L.) is the fruit of the Pitangueira, a native plant of southern Brazil (which has adapted positively to weather and soil conditions in the country’s Northeast), Argentina and Uruguay. Pitanga is a fruit which pulp presents excellent conditions for industrialization, due to its high yield, pleasant aroma and exotic flavor. The aim of the present study was to verify, through the response surface methodology, the optimum conditions for the combined use of aqueous extract of white lupine and tropical pitanga juice in the development of a drink. Therefore, the independent variables were represented by the volume of aqueous extract of lupine (mL) and by the volume of pitanga juice (mL). The dependent variables (responses) were obtained through sensory test of acceptance (appearance, aroma, taste and overall acceptability). The combined... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)