Optimization of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) coir dust compaction
1999
Batalon, J.T. | Madamba, P.S. (Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development, Los Banos, Laguna (Philippines))
The establishment of the optimum compaction conditions was carried out using the response surface methodology (RSM) approach. The independent variables were moisture content (MC), compaction load (CL), and binding material (BM) with values ranging from 12 to 28 percent wet basis, 8,000 and 12,000 kg and 0 to 6 percent, respectively, laid out in an incomplete factorial design following the three-level-three-parameter Box and Behnken (1960) design. The important quality attributes of the product analyzed were vertical expansion (mm), compression strength (kg), water holding capacity (percent), and final product density (gm/cc). An analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that moisture content and binding materials significantly affected vertical expansion and water holding capacity at 1 percent and 5 percent levels, respectively. However, these factors did not affect significantly compression strength and final product density. Compaction load was found to be an insignificant factor to any of the four responses within the load range tested. The ANOVA also revealed that the second order polynomial (SOP) models generated for vertical expansion and water holding capacity were found to be significant and adequate. On the other hand, statistically insignificant SOP models were generated for compression strength and final product density. Through superimposition of the responses' contour plots, three optimum condition points were established, namely: point A (mc=15.2 percent, BM=0 percent); point B predicted values obtained in respective points as well as their practical implications suggests that optimum condition at point B is the most acceptable with predicted values very close to the experimental values
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