Ian Bennett

Seedlings of Stylosanthes guianensis CIAT 184 (Stylo 184) were germinated under salt-stress conditions (0-170.9 mM NaCl), and germination and ion content (Cl-, Na + , Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ and K +) were measured after seven days. The salt treatment had no effect on the germination percentage, but the seedling showed reduced growth and displayed variation in ion uptake, thus accumulating Na + and Cl-in the roots. Callus produced from seedlings selected as salt sensitive (T1) or salt tolerant (T2, T3, T4 and T5) was examined for growth and ion content under the influence of NaCl (0-256.4 mM NaCl) after 15 days. The sensitive clone (T1) contained the lowest Na + and Cl-content with the highest percentage of K + contributing to osmolality, suggesting it possesses an ion regulation mechanism that is typical of glycophytes; i.e., osmotic potential was adjusted by accumulating K +. The other clones (T2, T3, T4 and T5) expressed different strategies (osmotic adjustment) to cope with salt stress. T5 showed the highest mean dry weight on salt medium and displayed more effective ion regulation by maintaining low Na + :K + and Na + :Ca 2+ ratios. T2 expressed high Na + and Cl-with the highest percentage of Na + contribution to osmolality and water content (succulence). T3 and T4 had lower growth rates but similar ion regulation in relation to T5. Results indicated that the ion content can be used to discriminate salt sensitive and salt tolerant clones of Stylo 184.

Shoots of Cavalcade (Centrosema pascuorum cv. Cavalcade) and Stylo 184 (Stylosanthes guianensis CIAT 184) from in vitro germinated seeds were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 0 to 7 mg L-1 N 6-benzyladenine (BA) in combination with 0 to 0.5 mg L-1 napthalene acetic acid (NAA) for shoot induction and MS supplemented with 0 to 0.5 mg L-1 indolebutyric acid (IBA) for root induction. For Cavalcade, the medium containing 1 mg L-1 BA produced the best shoot multiplication with an excess of six shoots produced from a single shoot (over four weeks) with a mean height 2.0 ± 0.01 cm. Adventitious shoot regeneration was obtained directly from stem axes. For Stylo 184, the maximum shoot regeneration (29.5 ± 1.0 cm shoots/explant) and height (1.5 ± 0.1 cm) was achieved using 7 mg L-1 BA and 0.01 mg L-1 NAA. Direct and indirect shoot regeneration was obtained on the medium containing 1 mg L-1 BA and 0.01 mg L-1 NAA. The regeneration of shoots from callus of Stylo 184 varied between different genotypes and was high (2.6 to 5.8 shoots/explant) even after maintenance in culture of over three years. Both Cavalcade and Stylo 184 shoots were rooted on media supplemented with IBA (0 to 0.5 mg L-1) and readily transferred to soil (Stylo 184). Key words: Callus, forage legume, micropropagation, organogenesis, root induction.

Procurement of process plant equipment involves decisions based not only on an economic agenda but also on long term plant capability, which in turn depends on equipment reliability. As the greater global community raises environmental concerns and pushes for economic reform, a tool is evermore required for specific and critical selection of plant equipment. Risk assessments based on NASA’s Technology Readiness Level (TRL) scale have been employed in many previous risk models to map technology in terms of risk and reliability. The authors envisage a scale for quantifying technical risk. The focus of this paper is the technical risk assessment of gas turbines as mechanical drivers for producing Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). This risk assessment is a cornerstone of the TERA philosophy, a Technoeconomic and Environmental Risk Analysis developed by Cranfield University’s Department of Power and Propulsion in the UK. Monte Carlo simulations are used in order to compare the risks of introducing new plant equipment against existing and established plant equipment. Three scenarios are investigated using an 87MW single spool, typical industrial machine; a baseline engine followed by an engine with increased firing temperature and finally an engine with a zero staged compressor. The results suggest that if the baseline engine was to be upgraded then the zero staging option would be a better solution than increasing firing temperature since zero staging gives the lower rise in Total Time to Repair (TTTR), or downtime. The authors suggest a scaling system based on NASA’s TRL but with modified definition criteria for the separate technology readiness levels in order to better relate the scale to gas turbine technology. The intention is to link the modified TRL to downtime, since downtime has been identified as a quantitative measure of technical risk. Latest developments of the modelling are looking at integrating risk analysis and a maintenance cost and scheduling model to provide a platform for total risk assessment. This, coupled with emissions modelling, is set to provide the overall TERA tool for LNG technology selection.

Seven food grade antioxidants were resolved by microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography. The antioxidants included propyl gallate, octyl gallate, dodecyl gallate, butylated hydroxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene, tert‐butylhydroquinone and α‐tocopherol. They were resolved in 11 min using a low pH microemulsion containing 20% propan‐2‐ol. Theoretical plates in the range 39 000–95 000 per length of column (38.5 cm) were recorded for the antioxidants. The LODs were calculated to be in the range 9–44 μg/mL (30 s hydrostatic injection and a 50 μm id capillary column). The method can also be used to simultaneously analyse for the synthetic preservatives sorbic acid, benzoic acid, salicylic acid and the parabens. The method was successfully applied to noodles for the determination of butylated hydroxytoluene and propyl gallate and to pharmaceutical supplement tablets for α‐tocopherol. The in‐capillary concentration of butylated hydroxytoluene by sweeping was also demonstrated.

This paper concentrates on the emissions module of what is part of a wider project dealing with various aspects of gas turbine usage as drivers for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) production. The framework is known as TERA, a Techno-Economic and Environmental Risk Analysis, developed at Cranfield University with the core of the study being the performance module whilst the risk, economics and environmental modules are built around the performance. Whilst TERA exists for aviation and power production no such system is available for assessment of LNG production. With environmental issues high on the public agenda new legislation on emissions can be expected, especially in Europe. This will mean Oil & Gas companies will have to look for ways to reduce their emissions. One way to reduce turbo machinery losses is to replace out dated and/or obsolete machinery having less overall energy efficiency. The selection of turbomachinery involves assessments of risk, both economic and technical, as well as environmental impacts of the new technology. The core to all of this is the performance assessment, the primary basis on which selection is made. An aviation emissions model, developed at Cranfield University, is adapted for industrial applications. Technical performance calculations are made using the inhouse software called Turbomatch. Performance results for three typical days of the year (summer, winter and spring/autumn) are fed into the emissions model to get the levels of NOx , CO2 , H2 O, CO and unburnt hydrocarbon emissions. Later, NOx , CO2 and H2 O emissions levels are fed into the environmental module to estimate the damage the engine causes to the environment over 100 years with respect to global warming. Two hypothetical engine configurations are investigated based on engine data available in the public domain. The first one, an 85MW single spool industrial machine (SSI-85), is used as the baseline to compare against a 100MW triple spool, intercooled aeroderivative (ITSA-100). The results suggest that the ITSA-100 produces more NOx but has less carbon emissions and consequently less global warming effects. This has varied economic impacts depending on which emission is a priority for reduction. CO2 and H2 O emissions are more important than NOx for LNG gas turbine applications. The paper shows how this simple but effective system can be utilised to give a viable comparison between one or more proposed solutions for turbomachinery selection and replacement. The scope of the system is expanded as other modules come together to give a total assessment in terms of technical, economic, environmental and risk perspectives for LNG production.

Rooting of Eucalyptus globulus shoots was influenced by the concentration of the indole butyric acid (IBA) and NH₄ ⁺ in the root-induction medium. Optimum plantlet vigor and survival were achieved using low concentrations (1 – 2.5 μM) of IBA and when NH₄NO₃ was removed. Removal of NH₄ ⁺ also had a significant effect on medium pH, its presence caused a decrease in pH as the culture period proceeded. When different nitrate compounds (excluding NH₄NO₃) were used as the nitrogen source, the medium pH was more stable and this was associated with higher root production. The higher root production, in association with appropriate IBA concentrations, produced plantlets with higher survival and better growth on transfer to soil.

Clonal lines of Australian tree species have been developed for tolerance to saline and/or waterlogged conditions. These clonal plants have been shown to be more tolerant under glasshouse and field conditions when compared with seedling lines. Selection procedures included the initial collection of seed from trees growing naturally in seasonally waterlogged and/or saline soils. Following germination and establishment, three-month-old seedlings were stressed in glasshouse trials using progressively increased levels of salinity, either in freely drained or saturated conditions, and the most tolerant individuals were micropropagated. Under conditions of saturation and salinity stress, in both glasshouse trial conditions and under field situations, selected and cloned Eucalyptus cawaldulensis. E. spathulata subspecies spathulata, Casuarina obesa and C. glauca plants showed higher survival rates and the surviving plants grew faster than provenance-matched seedlings.