Pyrolysis technology is most commonly employed to convert widely available biomass into useful biofuel products to meet energy needs and obtain chemical feedstocks. In the present study, pyrolysis of paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera) was carried out with the aim to study the product distribution and their chemical compositions. The optimum process conditions for maximizing the pyrolytic yield were also determined. Experiments were performed in a well-swept resistively heated fixed-bed reactor to examine the effect of temperature and particle size on pyrolysis yields. Different ranges of temperature 350 °C, 450 °C, 550 °C and particle sizes 1 mm, 2 mm and 3 mm were used and their effect was evaluated on pyrolysis of Broussonetia papyrifera. The pyrolysis products were collected within three different groups as non-condensable gases products, condensable liquids and solid biochar. The result showed that the highest biochar product was attained at 350 oC and 3 mm particle size while the highest bio-oil yield was obtained at 450 oC and 2 mm particle size. On the other hand, the optimum temperature and particle size for gas yield was 550 oC and 1 mm. The bio-char with highest fixed carbon content (61%) and calorific value (26.5 MJ/Kg) was observed at 550 °C and 3mm. Nutrient elements like Mg, Al, Cu, Zn, Ca and K were found in high concentrations. The GC-Ms analysis of bio-oil showed that it was rich in alkanes, alcohols, ketones and cycloalkanes. The bio-oil was acidic (pH ranging 3.4-3.9) at all temperatures and particle sizes. The heating value of bio-oil was maximum at 3 mm and 550 °C (25 MJ/Kg). The gas product was mainly composed of CO2, CO, CH4 and hydrocarbons. The results of the present study showed that the pyrolysis of Broussonetia papyrifera produce carbon rich, high energy and relatively pollution-free potential solid biofuels and bio-oil.
پروفیسر عبدالمعید خاں افسوس ہے گزشتہ ماہ کی ۲۵/تاریخ کوپروفیسر عبدالمعید خاں کابھی انتقال ہوگیا۔ مرحوم برصغیر کے اساتذہ ٔ عربی واسلامیات میں ایک نمایاں مقام رکھتے تھے۔ انھوں نے پہلے قاہرہ میں کئی برس مقیم رہ کر وہاں سے ڈی۔لٹ کی ڈگری لی اور پھر کیمبرج سے پی۔ایچ ڈی کیا۔اس کے بعد جامعہ عثمانیہ سے وابستہ ہوئے تو ایسے کہ ساری زندگی یہیں بیت دی۔ابھی دوتین برس ہوئے وہ صدر شعبۂ عربی کے عہدہ سے سبکدوش ہوئے تھے۔ ۳۵برس سے اسلامیات کے مشہور اوربلند پایہ سہ ماہی رسالہ’’اسلامک کلچر‘‘کے ایڈیٹر اوربارہ برس سے دائرۃ المعارف کے ناظم تھے۔ اس درمیان میں امریکہ اور یورپ کے جامعات میں وزیٹنگ پروفیسر کی حیثیت سے بھی کام کرتے رہے۔ بیرونی ممالک کے بعض سفروں میں راقم الحروف اوروہ دونوں ہم سفر تھے۔اخلاق وعادات کے اعتبار سے بہت سادہ اورمنکسر المزاج تھے۔ اگرچہ انھوں نے بہت کم لکھاہے اوراس کی وجہ یہ ہے کہ وہ شروع سے ہی خرابی صحت کاشکار تھے اوراسی سبب سے ڈاکٹروں کی ہدایت کے مطابق عمر بھرمجرد رہے، لیکن جوکچھ لکھاہے بہت سخت لکھاہے۔ عمر۶۶برس کے لگ بھگ ہوگی۔ عقیدہ اورعمل کے لحاظ سے پکے اورسچے مسلمان تھے۔ اﷲ تعالیٰ ان کو مغفرت کی نعمت سے سرفراز فرمائے۔ [اکتوبر۱۹۷۳ء]
Afghanistan is in state of war for almost 40 long years but the political dynamics got changed after 9/11. Since the war on terror started facets of peace talks launched without meaningful end. The reconciliation process in Afghanistan had immediately started after establishment of Afghan interim government in 2001. Till 2016 mid, four different reconciliation /reintegration processes were launched by the USA and Hamid Karzai government with Afghan Taliban. The new elected president Ashraf Ghani ended all such processes in 2016 but showed willingness again in 2018 for direct peace talks between USA and Taliban clerics. In the current political scenario, Afghan reconciliation process is back on track with direct peace talks between USA, Taliban and Afghan Government along other international actors. However, Taliban were not ready to sit with the Afghan Government and this is where the Pakistan played as key to Afghan peace process. The focus of this research article is to find the challenges and opportunities of this peace process; Pakistan’s role as cardinal player can consolidate the peace process in Afghanistan. Furthermore, this research will give future recommendations for the peace process in Afghanistan.
A collection of 85 wheat genotypes was evaluated to determine the genetic diversity regarding iron and zinc content in grains alongwith yield and yield contributing traits. Correlation, principal component and cluster analyses were carried out to find the interactions and components of variation on the basis of similarities and dissimilarities. So, screened material was further utilized to estimate the general and specific combining ability of parents and their cross combinations to identify the gene action involved in the transfer of performance of traits. Evaluation of hybrid vigor was also the component of this research. This study was carried out in the experimental field of Plant Breeding and Genetics, the Department of University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. The research was completed focusing the evaluation of iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) content in grains, days to heading, days to maturity, Plant height, spike length, fertile tillers per plant, flag leaf area, peduncle length, spikelets per spike, spike density, grains per spike, 1000 grain weight and grain yield per plant. Ten lines along with five testers were crossed under line into tester mating design. BFT11, BFT72 and BFT3 proved to be the best general combiners and showed additive type of gene action. Fifty crosses were evaluated and BFT11 X BFT24, BFT72 X BFT24 and BFT65 X BFT3 proved to be best specific combiners and exhibited significant heterosis in evaluated traits. Non additive type of gene action was observed for these crosses. These parents and their hybrids are useful in providing a good input for further breeding programs.