Journal of Brilliant Engineering (BEN)

Micah Omari Omare Joshua K. Kibet Obed Nyabaro Mainya

Cannabis sativa is an intricate plant biomass that comprises over 400 chemicals, including at least 61 cannabinoids that undergo pyrolytic degradation during smoking, generating thousands more than 2000 chemical compounds with potential toxicological effects. Despite widespread use, the mechanistic pathways of cannabinoid decomposition, particularly for Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ⁹-THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), remain poorly understood. This study investigates the thermal degradation of Δ⁹-THC and CBD, with a focus on their electronic structures, stability, and potential toxic byproducts. Computational modeling was performed using Gaussian 09 at the density functional theory (DFT) level with the B3LYP/6-311G++ basis set to evaluate molecular orbital behavior and energetics. Toxicity estimations of degradation products were carried out using the HyperChem platform. CBD was found to decompose into reactive species such as α-terpinyl radical, limonene, and olivetol, which are associated with oxidative stress and carcinogenic potential. The geometry optimizations converged after 40 (CBD) and 68 (THC) steps, with energies stabilizing at −968.519 and −968.727 Hartrees, respectively. Frontier molecular orbital analysis showed Δ⁹-THC has a wider HOMO-LUMO band gap than CBD, suggesting greater electronic stability. Solubility modeling revealed CBD is markedly more soluble in octanol than in water compared to its radical derivatives, while degradation byproducts displayed elevated toxicity indices. Computational evidence indicates that CBD thermal degradation produces toxic radicals with significant biological risks, including oxidative stress and impaired pulmonary function. These findings provide novel insight into cannabinoid pyrolysis pathways and highlight the need for experimental validation to better understand their health impacts in humans.

https://doi.org/10.36937/ben.2026.41062

Grace Umoren Itoro Esiet Udo Usenobong Benjamin Akpan John Akpan Efiang

Waste paper and dry fluted pumpkin pods are usually generated in large quantities but the prevalent approach for their disposal is detrimental to the environments and public health. Hence, this research was designed to address the concern. Waste writing-paper paste (WPP) and fluted pumpkin particles (FPP) were utilized at varying proportions (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100%) by weight to fabricate composite panels. The fabricated panels were dried completely and then subjected to various tests aimed at determining their suitability for structural applications. It was noticed that by up to 100% for the FPP yielded maximum water absorption (87.21%), thickness swelling (36.85%), specific heat capacity (1464 Jkg-1K-1) and minimum bulk density (793.9 kgm-3), thermal conductivity (0.2528 Wm-1K-1), thermal diffusivity (2.176 × 10-7 m2s-1), thermal effusivity (542 Jm-2K-1s-1/2), nailability (84.4%), flexural strength (1.335 N/mm2). The results showed generally revealed that the panels could ensure thermal comfort better than conventional ceilings like Isorel, asbestos, and plaster of Paris. For satisfaction, in terms of application and service, utilization of the FPP at 50 % content level was found to be optimal.

https://doi.org/10.36937/ben.2026.41071

İffet Gamze Mütevelli

In recent years, 3D-printed concrete (3DPC) has emerged as a technology attracting significant attention in the construction industry due to its advantages. Especially, the use of 3D-printable foam concrete (3DPFC) offers a remarkable solution for improving the performance of 3D-printed structures, with its benefits such as sustainability, lightness, and thermal insulation. Due to its low thermal conductivity, foam concrete (FC) minimizes thermal bridges, and its lightweight nature lessens the dead load on structures. In hybrid 3D printing systems, using normal-weight concrete (NWeC) for the outer filaments and foam concrete (FC) for the inner cores provides both economic and energy-efficiency benefits. This method acts as a thermal insulator and reduces the need for thermally insulated sheathing. This study addresses the thermal performance of 3DPC systems in a simple and understandable way, focusing particularly on the role of foamed concrete in reducing thermal bridges. Previous studies have mostly focused on a single material or improvements in infill geometry. However, hybrid 3D-printed systems using NWeC and FC together within the same wall have not been sufficiently investigated holistically. In hybrid systems, using NWeC in the outer layers to provide load-bearing capacity and FC in the inner regions to improve thermal insulation stands out as a promising solution offering both strength and energy efficiency. This study brings together current findings on foamed concrete materials, infill and lattice arrangements, and thermal bridge behavior, and discusses the advantages of this multi-material approach.

https://doi.org/10.36937/ben.2026.41083

Ahmet Öztürk

This study tested the performance of Electrospray (ES) cooling using binary mixtures of water and isopropyl alcohol (IPA). The main aim was to identify how combinations of fluid property, flow rate, and electrical potential interact under conditions of constant heat flux (3850 W/m²). A full 33 factorial experiment was performed for each of three values of mixture composition (10, 30, and 50% IPA) using three different flow rates (15, 30, and 45 ml/h) and three different levels of voltage (9, 10, and 11 kV). The analysis showed that flow rate has the greatest influence on cooling performance (57.02% impact). Fluid properties were found to produce the best cooling results with the 30% IPA/70% water mixture because of their ability to provide a balance of thermal capacity and low surface tension. Using the optimum condition of a high voltage (11 kV) allowed for a stable cone-jet mode that provided effective atomization and surface wetting. Lower levels of IPA were shown to hinder the formation of stable jets because of the increase in surface tension, while higher concentrations of IPA were limited by lack of thermal capacity. From the analysis of data, the optimum operating conditions were found to be flow rates of 45 ml/h, voltages of 11 kV, and 30% IPA, resulting in a minimum temperature difference of 14.12 K. These results were confirmed by the statistical regression analysis (R2=0.974) model.

https://doi.org/10.36937/ben.2026.41095

Efekan Karadağ Zafer Ekinci

Electrospun PVDF/GO/CNT composite nanofiber membranes were fabricated and evaluated for the adsorption of methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solutions. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of pH, contact time, initial dye concentration, adsorbent dosage, and temperature. The adsorption performance was highly pH-dependent, with an optimum pH of 8, at which a maximum adsorption capacity of approximately 280 mg g-1 and a removal efficiency of about 85% were obtained. Adsorption equilibrium was achieved within 60 min, and 25 °C was selected as the optimum operating temperature. Kinetic analysis showed that the adsorption process was best described by the pseudo-second-order model with high correlation coefficients (R2 = 0.993–0.995), indicating that surface adsorption controls the rate-limiting step. Equilibrium data were best fitted by the Freundlich isotherm model (R2 ≈ 0.998), suggesting heterogeneous multilayer adsorption. Thermodynamic analysis revealed that the adsorption process is spontaneous and endothermic, with negative Gibbs free energy values and a positive enthalpy change (ΔH° = 46.7 kJ mol⁻¹). These results demonstrate that the PVDF/GO/CNT composite membrane is an efficient and promising adsorbent for MB removal from wastewater.

https://doi.org/10.36937/ben.2026.41102