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In this work, proton-conducting membranes have been prepared by entrapping human nail keratin in bacterial cellulose at different mass ratios. Bacterial cellulose was obtained by fermenting coconut water with the Acetobacter xylinum bacterium, and keratin was obtained from human nails. The membrane is produced by the blending and heating process at a temperature of 40°C. FTIR spectroscopy showed the interaction between bacterial cellulose and human nail keratin at a peak area of 3,000–2,000 cm−1. The X-ray diffraction analysis has confirmed the effect of keratin mass on the diffractogram pattern of the membranes. The maximum proton conductivity has been measured as 4.572 × 10−5 S·cm−1 at 25°C and produces a degree of swelling of 32.50% for a mass ratio of bacterial cellulose/human nail keratin 4:1.

Background: Schizophrenia is a psychotic mental disorder that affects the activities of daily life, one of which is oral hygiene.These symptoms affect the ability of schizophrenic patients to clean their teeth and mouth, thus manifesting into the oral cavity. Teeth that are not cleaned give rise to plaque and its severity can be assessed by plaque index. Objective: This study aims to determine the effectiveness of education and training teeth brushing on the knowledge, attitudes, and index of plaque. Materials and Method: Quasi-experimental was conducted among schizophrenic (n= 104), with experimental group (n=52), and control group (n=52). The questionnaire distributed to 104 outpatients, to know the patient’s level of knowledge and attitudes toward oral health, measurement of plaque index using TQHI (Turesky Modification of The Quigley-Hein Index). Education and training of teeth brushing are given to the experimental group with one-week intervals. Results: Mann Whitney U test on the experimental-control group showed significant results with p <0.05. Increased knowledge and attitudes are also showed by experimental groups with p <0.05. The results showed there was a decrease in the plaque index in the experimental group compared to the control group. Conclusion: Dental education is needed to improve the oral health of schizophrenic patients. In the future, it is expected that there will be an education and training program for scheduled toothbrushing outpatients for schizophrenia to improve oral health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proton conducting composite membranes have been prepared via binary mixtures comprising sulfonated polysulfone (SPSU) and natural zeolite (NZ). Polysulfone has been sulfonated in 1, 2-dichloroethane using the homogeneous method with trimethylsilyl chlorosulfonate as sulfonating agent. The ratio of monomer mol and trimethylsilyl chlorosulfonate was 1:1.5. Natural zeolite was activated in 1 M phosphoric acid and calcinated at 500°C for 4 hours. The sulfonated polysulfone was added with zeolite at mass ratios of 1:0.5, 1:1 and 1:1.5. The manufacture of composite membranes has been done by evaporating dimethyl formamide of each mass ratios. The composite membranes were characterized by FT-IR, XRD analysis, and conductivity (σ). From the results of FT-IR spectra showed that interaction between sulfonated polysulfone and natural zeolite. From diffractogram showed that the diffractogram pattern after being blend with zeolite, the presence of crystal phase between 20-30° at 2θ. From the conductivity, the maximum proton conductivity was measured as 7.15 x 10-4 S/cm at 40°C for mass ratios of 1: 0.5 and results, as well as literature data the possible proton conductivity mechanism of the membrane, has been modeled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preparation of composite membranes based on sulfonated polysulfone and activated carbon have been done. Polysulfone was sulfonated through homogeneous method using sulfonating agent trimethylsilyl chlorosulfonate. Activated carbon derived from coal tailings which then carbonized at temperature of 400 °C and activated through chemical activation in 30% of phosphoric acid with ratio of 0.5: 1 volume per weight of phosphoric acid and carbon. The composite membranes was prepared by blending the sulfonated polysulfone and activated carbon with mass ratios of 1:1; 1:1.5; and 1:2. Dimethyl formamide used to dissolve the sulfonated polysulfone, with stirring for 12 hours at room temperature. The manufacture of composite membranes have been done by evaporating dimethyl formamide of each variation. The composite membranes were characterized by FT-IR, TGA, and XRD analysis. From the results of FT-IR spectra showed that interaction between sulfonated polysulfone and activated carbon. Whereas the results of TGA analysis showed a slight increase in stability over temperature range of 100 °C to 250 °C. From diffractogram pattern shows amorphous phase have reduced due to the addition of activated carbon, The maximum conductivity (σ) has been measured for the composite membranes 1: 2 as 8.8 x 10-4 at 40 °C . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthesis of proton conductive membranes based on acid-base complex pair: bacterial cellulose (BC) and benzotriazole (Btri) has done. Microbial cellulose is derived from bacterial cellulose market, known as nata de coco. Nata de coco was pulverized and washed with solution of NaClO 2% then heated for 30 minutes to boil. Proton conductive membranes have made by mixing the bacterial cellulose powder and distilled water, stirred for 24 hours with a magnetic stirrer, after it was added benzotriazole with the mass ratio between bacterial cellulose and benzotriazole; 1: 0.20, 1: 0.25 and 1: 0.30, and stirred for 24 hours with a magnetic stirrer continued at the casting stage, drying at a temperature of 50°C for 36 hours. Characteristics of the material obtained was studied by using FTIR analysis for functional groups, XRD analysis to study diffractogram pattern of the resulting material, and SEM analysis to show the morphology of the material, as well as proton conductivity. The results show that conductivity of membranes based on acid-base complex pair bacterial cellulose and benzotriazole in the ratio 1: 0.25 g/g has proton conductivity 1.7 x 10-5 S/cm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]