Abstract In this research, the possibility of asphaltene separation from the vacuum tower residue using the low cost industrial solvents such as 402, 404, 406, and 410 was investigated. In order to separate asphaltene the IP143/01 and ASTM D 3279-07 separation methods were utilized. In order to find the optimal state of asphaltene precipitation, Design of experiments software with three factors of residence time, the solvent-to-feed ratio and the volume percent of 406 solvent to the total solvent of 406 and 410 were used. The results showed that the effectiveness of each parameter in precipitating the asphaltene attributed to the ratio of solvent to feed, the ratio of solvent 406 to total solvent, and the residence time, respectively and there was a significant interaction between the basic parameters. The best asphaltene precipitation of 5.06% of 7.5% happens at the residence time of 36.97 hours, the ratio of solvent to feed of 35.95 ml/gr and the volume percent of 406 solvent to the total solvent of 27.20%. Asphaltene precipitation percentage for the optimal mixture of industrial solvents was 22.5% lower than the precipitated asphaltene from normal heptane solvent. However, according to the solvents price, industrial solvents (410 and 406) were approximately 50% cheaper than normal heptane, and hence on overall, there was a cost savings of more than 20%

Abstract Abstract
Research subject: Due to the drought and lack of water resources, many efforts have been made to store water properly recently. Using of multilayer polyethylene tanks is an efficient measure in order to solve this problem and it has received considerable attention. Proper manufacturing conditions will greatly improve the strength of these tanks and their applications.
Research approach: In this study, the effect of cooling process on the final properties of polyethylene tanks prepared by rotational molding method is investigated. Three different cooling methods comprised of cooling with water, cooling by air, and quiescent cooling is selected and their mechanical and thermal properties were investigated.
Main results: The results of the tensile test show that as the tank is cooled faster, the elongation at break will be higher. It is also demonstrated that the air cooling method results in the lower elongation at break. The results of the thermal properties show that higher cooling rate creates thicker crystals in the fragment which requires higher energy to overcome these thick crystals. According to the results of the thermal properties and using the softening temperature test it is found that by increasing the cooling rate, the softening temperature will be increased as well which will improve the application of the tank in high temperature conditions. Melt flow rate and density tests are also performed to confirm the results of mechanical and thermal properties, respectively. Charpy impact test is performed at ambient temperature to confirm mechanical behavior induced by crystal structure. All in all, cooling by water performs better than other methods in terms of mechanical and thermal properties.

Abstract Research subject: One of the major problems we face with the growth of various industries around the world is the environmental pollution of heavy metals. One of the most toxic heavy metals that is problematic even at low concentrations is Cr (IV).
Research approach: In this study, the removal of this toxic heavy metal was investigated with high efficiency by UIO-66-MnFe2O4-TiO2 magnetic adsorbent. For this purpose, magnetic nanocomposite (UIO-66-MnFe2O4-TiO2) was synthesized based on metal-organic framework (MOF) for adsorption of Cr (IV). The choice of the hydrothermal method for the synthesis of UIO-66 in addition to its simplicity resulted in the production of pure and efficient UIO-66, which produced very high efficiency during the experiments. MnFe₂O₄ nanoparticles were used to magnetize the adsorbent. To increase the magnetic properties and increase the loading efficiency of the MnFe₂O₄ nanoparticles, TiO₂ nanoparticles were used to increase the loading rate on the adsorbent. XRD, SEM, FT-IR, BET, VSM and EDX tests were used to the characterization of the adsorbent properties.
Main results: Effect of four effective variables during adsorption experiments such as adsorbent content (0.05 to 0.25 g), pH (2 to 6), adsorption time (15 to 75 min), initial metal ion concentration (200 to 1000 mg / l) at five levels (+2 to +2) were investigated using experimental design with response surface methodology (RSM) and central composite design (CCD). The best conditions were determined for the independent variables for the initial metal concentration of 552 mg /l. The optimum pH was obtained 4 during the experiment. Finally, the optimum values were achieved for adsorption parameters such as adsorption time and adsorbent amount were 42.3 min and 0.143 gr, respectively, and also the maximum adsorption rate was obtained 98%. Investigation of the adsorption isotherm kinetics showed that the pseudo-second-order model and Langmuir isotherm fit the Cr (IV) data well. After the adsorption process, the adsorbent can be removed from the environment by a magnetic field.

Abstract Research Subject: Polymer melts show complex response under the act of deformation. This response has direct relation to their molecular structure. The purpose of this study was to investigate the rheological behavior of branched polymers and the effect of branching on linear and nonlinear viscoelastic flow for usage in various industrial applications.
Research Approach: For this purpose, the tests such as frequency sweep and extensional for two polyethylene (LDPE) with long branches have been used. From these tests we obtained storage and loss moduli, complex viscosity and extensional viscosity. Molecular models in nonlinear regions can also be used in this regard. Main Results: Linear tests can partly show the presence of branch in LDPE, while nonlinear tests show strain hardening behavior for branched sample. One of the models for branched polymers is the Multimode Pom-Pom (MPP) model which can be used to predict the strain hardening phenomenon in extensional flows. In this study, the average number of lateral branches was also calculated using this model.

Abstract Optical properties of graphene oxide and poly methyl methacrylate nanocomposite was investigated in this paper. Initially, graphene oxide was prepared from the oxidation of graphite powder by a strong acid by Hummers-Offemane method. Then identification, purity determination and particle size were obtained by using infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The average size of graphene oxide nano particles was estimated about 38.4 nm using the XRD technique. So nano composites of graphene oxide based on poly methyl methacrylate were prepared by the co-precipitation method as an optical sensor element. Nano composites were identified and characterized by FE SEM, EDX, XRD and FT IR analyzes. To investigate the optical properties of the specimens, UV-vis spectro photometry and reflective spectrometer were used. For three samples of the poly methyl methacrylate nano composite containing nano -graphene oxide, the values ​​of the color parameters b *, a * and L * were obtained that were prepared in the same conditions. Then the black index of the Westlanchr('39')s ratio was calculated. The average blackness index calculated was 3.7 for this nano composite. The study of UV-vis spectra in the region of 400-1100 nm for this nano composite showed that in the 400 - 700 nm regions the light transmission of UV light is approximately zero. Therefore, the results showed that the use of graphene oxide in the PMMA matrix improves the nano composite coating properties against UV waves and nano oxide graphene gives better shades of black color compared to other fillers and pigments.

Abstract Research subject: Saponin compounds have been considered as anti-cancer, antimicrobial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral activity agents. In addition, they are also used as foaming agents in some food industries. There are few studies for assessing the extraction of this substance, so far. The main purpose of this study is to assess and compare the extraction yield of Saponin by conventional extracting using solvent and super-critical fluid method.
Research approach: In the extraction with solvent, the effect of three independent parameters including mass of solid material, percentage of ethanol solvent, and time of extraction on process performance was investigated. Yield of extraction and Saponin concentration were considered as indexes for evaluating the process performance. In the super critical fluid extraction, the effects of extraction time, pressure, and temperature were investigated. In this method, carbon dioxide was used as super critical fluid and 80% ethanol was used as co-solvent. In order to design of experiment and process optimization, response surface methodology and central composite design was used.
Main results: In optimum condition of extraction with solvent, the mass of solid material, ethanol solvent percentage, and extraction time were 5.4 g, 77.5%, and 7 h, respectively. In this condition, the maximum efficiency of extraction yield of 1.12 mg of saponins per a gram of dry primary substance was obtained. The results indicated that time and solvent percentage were significant parameters. Further, interaction between two factors of time and solvent percentage was significant. For supercritical fluid extraction, in optimum condition, extraction time, pressure, and temperature were 10 h, 400 bar, and 50 °C, respectively. Extraction yield in this condition was 20% more than the yield of conventional method. It is concluded that the supercritical fluid extraction method has higher performance than conventional method.

Abstract Research subject: Polymer nanofibers have attracted much industrial interest over the past decade. In general, these fibers are suitable for a variety of applications including medical applications, insulation, capacitors, advanced aerospace technologies, and so on. Specifically in aerospace technology, the used materials must be thermally stable with suitable electrical conductivity. However, many of these polymer nanofibers suffer from low temperature degradation and low electrical conductivity, limiting their use in many potential applications. Graphite has unique properties such as high conductivity and high thermal stability. This exceptional material can be included as a nanoparticle in polymer nanofibers to modify electrical and thermal properties.The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of addition of graphite nanoparticle on thermal and electrical propertiesof polymer fibers.
Research approach: For this purpose, polyvinyl alcohol 72000 (PVA) as a non-conductive polymer and graphite nanoparticles were used. Polyvinyl alcohol-graphite nanofibers were synthesized method by electrospinning technique under optimized parameters. The optimum conditions for the electrospinning process were: PVA concentration of 8%, applied voltage of 22 Kv, flow rate of 10 ml and tip/collector distance of 20 cm.
Main results: Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies showed that produced PVA fibers were smooth, continuous without any bead, with a diameter of about 350 nm. The PVA / graphite nanofibers were also smooth but much thinner (about 200 nm) than PVA fibers at the same processing parameters. Moreover, X-ray patterns of PVA/graphite nanofibers include peaks of graphite particles in the structure and slso the suppression of crystallinity. According to the results of 4 point probe teste, by increasing weight percentage of graphite in the fibers, electrical conductivity increased up to 0.5 . The thermal behavior of PVA nanofibers after mixing with graphite was also investigated by differential calorimetry analysis (DSC) and TGA. It was demonstrated that PVA / graphite nanofibers are thermally stable up to 300 ° C.

Abstract Research subject: In recent years, due to limited water resources and the extraordinary increase in nitrates in the environment, efforts to remove and control in order to benefit from the natural adsorbents have been made. Although according to the negatively charged surface of bentonite particles, absorbent needs improvement.
Research approach: In the current study, the adsorption of nitrate columns by the modified calcium montmorillonite adsorbent was investigated. Furthermore, In order to change the surface load and increase the adsorption efficiency, three-step acid leaching, oxidation layering, and loading of the cationic surfactant hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide on the adsorbent were performed. Molecular interaction and crystallography of pure montmorillonite and synthetic nano-adsorbent (ACZ) were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray analysis. Moreover, the morphology of ACZ nano adsorbents was evaluated using Transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy.
Main results: Nanoparticle compaction and less access to pores and cavities in the fixed bed column reduced the adsorbent capacity inside the column compared to the discontinuous system.
The results showed that an increase in inlet concentration from 80 to 150 mg/L increased the adsorption capacity from 67.39 to 88.25 mg/g. Reducing the inlet flow rate increased the penetration time, interaction, and greater access to the binding sites for nitrate ions and finally improved the column performance and increased the inlet flow rate reduced the adsorption capacity and breakthrough time. Therefore, the adsorption of nitrate ions by the stage of internal mass transfer is controlled and depends on the duration of interaction and the possibility of penetration into the active sites. With increasing the bed height from 4.2 to 9 cm, there was a significant increase in adsorption capacity from 60.608 to 77.167 mg/g. The effect of detergents and recovery showed an absorption column; After 3 leaching steps, acid leaching played an important role in increasing column recovery. Experimental data with correlation coefficients of R²>0.95 corresponded to Thomas and Yoon-Nelson kinetic models.
In this study, the ACZ nano adsorbent column for rapid removal of nitrate ions from aqueous solutions was introduced and for use in reusable systems was proposed.