This research effort presents a tabu search algorithm to solve the dynamic airlift loading problem. Given a set of palletized cargo items which require transportation from an aerial port of embarkation to an aerial port of debarkation within a pre-specified time frame, the dynamic airlift loading problem seeks to partition the pallets into aircraft loads, select an efficient and effective subse...

This paper presents the results of a simulation model designed to estimate aircraft Mission Capable Rates (MCR) for the United States Air Force. This simulation model originated out of the need to estimate the MCR for different modernization schemes to be implemented on the Air Force C-5 Galaxy aircraft. Assigned to the Air Mobility Command (AMC), the C-5 is one of our nation’s only two strateg...

BACKGROUND: Airlift solid–liquid two-phase partitioning bioreactors (SL-TPPBs) have been shown to be effective for the treatment of gas streams containing benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and o-xylene (BTEX). The airlift SL-TPPB is a low-energy system that utilizes a sequestering phase of solid silicone rubber beads (10%v/v) that will uptake and release large amounts of BTEX in order to maintain ...

The performance of airlift bioreactors are closely related with their geometry, especially the gas-liquid separator design. In this study, the influence of the gas-liquid separator geometry on oxygen transfer and gas hold-up was evaluated in 10-L concentric-tube airlift bioreactor operating with distilled water and xanthan gum solution. The specific airflow rate (ɸAIR) exhibited the higher effe...

The present study investigated the feasibility of bioCO(2) sequestration using Chlorella sorokiniana. It was found that 5% CO(2) (v/v) in air was the most suitable concentration for the growth of this organism. At this concentration, the maximum rate of CO(2) sequestered and the biomass obtained were found to be 1.21 g L(-1)d(-1) and 4.4 g L(-1) respectively. Modeling and simulation of the grow...

The optimal physical factors affecting enzyme production in an airlift fermenter have not been studied so far. Therefore, the physical parameters such as aeration rate, pH, and temperature affecting PLA-degrading enzyme production by Actinomadura keratinilytica strain T16-1 in a 3 l airlift fermenter were investigated. The response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize PLA-degrading en...

Models were developed for prediction and interpretation of the observed steady-state axial dissolved oxygen concentration profiles in tall airlift bioreactors. The observed concentration profiles were non-linear because of a combination of hydrodynamic and mass transport factors. The profiles were influenced mainly by the liquid-phase axial dispersion coefficient, the volumetric overall gas–liq...

For the first time three different natural compounds, isolated from hairy roots of Astragalus membranaceus, cultivated in airlift bioreactor were tested for their cytotoxic potential and apoptosis induction in a panel of human tumor cell lines. Root cultures, cultivated in bioreactor gave 18.5 g l(-1) dry wt roots with the highest astragaloside production in vitro up to now - 1.64% (astragalosi...