A Meticulous Perspective...

  ZEOLITES: Zeolites are naturally occuring hydrated sodium alumino silicate minerals. LIMITATIONS of Zeolite Process: If the supplied water is turbid, the suspended matter must be removed first by coagulation, filtration, etc. Otherwise, the turbidity will clog the pores of zeolite bed making it inactive. If the water contains coloured ions (Mn2+, Fe2+), these ions should be removed first because these ions produce manganese and iron zeolite, which cannot be regenerated. If any mineral acid present in the water, it will destroy the zeolite bed, therefore it is neutralised first with soda (Na2CO3). ADVANTAGES of Zeolite Process: Water quality of below 5 ppm hardness is obtained. This equipment is compact and occupies small space. It requires less time for softening.  It requires less skill for maintenance and operation. No sludge is formed during this process. Its operation is also easy. DISADVANTAGES of Zeolite Process: This process cannot be used for turbid and acidic water as they w

  Zeolites are naturally occuring hydrated sodium alumino silicate minerals.  Na2O. Al2O3. xSiO2. yH2O where x = 2 to 10 and   y = 2 to 6. Natural zeolites are nonporous. The synthetic form of zeolite is known as permutit. Synthetic zeolite is represented by Na2Ze. Synthetic zeolites are porous and have a jelly structure. They are prepared by heating together china clay, feldspar and soda ash. These zeolites have higher exchange capacity per unit weight than natural zeolites. In this synthetic zeolite process, the hard water is allowed to percolate through sodium zeolite. The sodium ions which are loosely held in Na2Ze are replaced by Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions present in the water. Process: In   this process , the hard water is passed through a bed of sodium zeolite (Na2Ze). The hardness-causing ions (Ca2+, Mg2+) in hard water is replaced by loosely held sodium ions in zeolite bed. The outgoing soft water contains only sodium ions. Na2Ze + Ca(HCO3)2  --> CaZe + 2NaHCO3 Na2Ze + Mg(HCO3)2  -

  Hardness is the characteristic of water which does not give good lather with soap. This property of water is due to the presence of bicarbonates, chlorides and sulphates of calcium, magnesium and other salts. Some important disadvantages of hard water are the following: Hard water is not useful for various domestic purposes, viz washing, bathing, drinking, etc. The ions responsible for the hardness convert soluble soaps to insoluble precipitates. This causes wastage of soap in washing and bathing. Also, presence of iron salts may result in staining of cloth. Hard water is harmful for many industries such as textile, sugar, paper, laundry, etc. Dissolved calcium, magnesium and iron salts may react and affect the following properties: May cause coloured spots on fabrics in textile industry.  May cause difficulties in the crystallisation of sugar in sugar industry. May cause wastage of lot of soap in laundry. Giving a smooth and glossy finish to paper in paper industry.  Hard water is a

  Galvanizing is the process of coating of zinc or iron or stainless steel sheets. Process: The iron or stainless-steel article surface is first cleaned by acid pickling with dilute H2SO4 solution for 15-20 minutes at 60-90 degree celsius. This treatment removes any scale, rust (oxide layer) and impurities on the metal surface. The article is then washed well with water and dried. It is then dipped in the bath containing molten zinc maintained at 425-430 degree celsius. The surface of the bath is kept covered with a flux, i.e. ammonium chloride, which is used for cleaning the surface of the metal and also to prevent oxide formation. When the article is taken ort, it is found to have been coated with a thin layer of zinc. In order to get uniform thickness, it is passed through a pair of hot rollers, which removes any superfluous (excess) of zinc. Then, it is annealed at a temperature of 650 degree celsius and finally, cooled slowly. Uses: It is most widely used for protection of iron fr

Biogas typically refers to a gas produced by the biological breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen. Biogas originates from biogenic material and is a type of biofuel. Biogas is made from organic waste matter after it is decomposed. The decomposition breaks down the organic matter, releasing various gases. The main gases released are methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen and hydrogen sulphide. Bacteria carry out the decomposition or fermentation. The conditions for creating biogas have to be anaerobic. That is without any air and in the presence of water. The organic waste matter is generally animal or cattle dung, plant wastes, etc. These waste products contain carbohydrates, proteins and fat material that are broken down by bacteria. The waste matter is soaked in water to give the bacteria a proper medium to grow. Absence of air or oxygen is important for decomposition because bacteria then take oxygen from the waste material itself and in the process break them down. The c

LPG is a predominant mixture of propane and butane with a small percentage of unsaturates (propylene and butylene)and some lighter C2 as well as heavier C5 fraction. Included in the LPG range are propane, propylene, normal and isobutane and butylene. It is obtained as one of the top fractions in the fractional distillation of petroleum. LPG may be defined as those hydrocarbons, which are gaseous at normal atmospheric pressure, but may be condensed to the liquid state at normal temperature, by the application of moderate pressures.  Although they are normally used as gases, they are stored and transported as liquids under pressure for convenience and ease of handling. Liquids under pressure for convenience and ease of handling. Liquid LPG on evaporation produces 250 times more volume of gas. Composition of LPG: n-butane = 70% Isobutane = 17% n-propane = 11% Butylene and ethane = rest Calorific Value: Its calorific value is 27,000 kcal/m3. Uses: Used as a fuel for domestic cooking. Used

  The chemical energy stored as nutrients in the bodies and wastes of organisms flows through ecosystems from one trophic (feeding) level to another. For example, a plant uses solar energy to store chemical energy in a leaf. A caterpillar eats the leaf, a robin eats the caterpillar, and a hawk eats the robin. Decomposers and detritus feeders consume the wastes and remains of all members of this and other food chains and return their nutrients to the soil for reuse by producers. A sequence of organisms, each of which serves as a source of food or energy for the next, is called a food chain . It determines how chemical energy and nutrients move along the same pathways from one organism to another through the trophic levels in an ecosystem—primarily through photosynthesis, feeding, and decomposition. Every use and transfer of energy by organisms involves a loss of some degraded high-quality energy to the environment as heat. In natural ecosystems, most consumers feed on more than one type