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Phenol is nonetheless considered a major pollutant and, therefore should be treated to eliminate the phenol in wastewater to save the environment, people, and organisms from the negative impacts of phenol. This study, for the first time, investigates the synthesis and performance evaluation of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide-functionalized cellulose nanocrystals (HDTMA-Br/CNCs) adsorbent for removing phenol from synthetic phenol-containing wastewater. The CNCs were prepared from as-received cellulose, by mixed acid hydrolysis consisting of sulfuric acid, glacial acetic acid, and deionized water in a mass ratio of 1:7:2. The prepared CNCs were functionalized by adding 20 g of the produced CNCs to the HDTMA-Br solution and stirred for 120 min. The synthesized and HDTMA-Br-functionalized CNCs were characterized using different analytical techniques, such as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM-EDX) to examine the surface morphology and the elemental composition of the modified and unmodified adsorbents. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) was used to examine the attachment of the functional group. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to analyze the crystalline structure of the adsorbent. To evaluate the performance of the synthesized adsorbent in batch mode, 1 g/L of phenol was used to prepare the synthetic phenol-containing wastewater. The analysis of the feed and permeate was done using pre-calibrated High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The multi-BET surface area of CNCs was 24.11 m2 g−1, meanwhile, fCNCs possessed a higher surface area of 201.4 m2 g−1 with a pore volume of 0.069 cm3 g−1. About ∼75 ± 1.4% phenol removal was obtained for the functionalized CNCs compared to the non-functionalized CNCs adsorbent having ∼43 ± 0.1% phenol removal at 35 °C reaction temperature. It could be observed that the spent adsorbent a shows percentage phenol removal of 70.0 ± 0.8% and 35.5 ± 1.4%, for fCNCs and CNCs at the 3rd cycle. The Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms best match the experimental data, while the pseudo-first-order kinetic model provided the greatest fit to the kinetic data. Thus far, the results suggest that modified CNCs may be an alternative adsorption material for phenol removal in wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Film boiling occurs when an overheated sample is rapidly plunged into the liquid. The study of film boiling is paramount in many engineering applications, like, cooling of nuclear reactor fuel rods, regenerative cooling of rockets, and wet treatment of blast slag furnaces. The objective of the present study is to explore the influence of boric acid at various concentrations (0.5%, 1%, 3%, and 5% vol.) and subcooling temperature on film boiling heat transfer using stainless steel rod (304 L). We performed vertical immersion quenching experiments in subcooled (50 °C) and saturation temperature at atmospheric conditions. Under saturated conditions, the sample quenched in deionized water took 73 s to cool down to 100 °C, while in the subcooled condition, the sample only took 13 s. At both saturated and subcooled conditions, 1% vol. boric acid solution accelerated the quenching rate and facilitated lowest film boiling time than other solutions considered. Conversely, film boiling time is higher when the sample is quenched in deionized water with 5% vol. of boric acid. The coolant temperature and additive concentration influence the film boiling time and Leidenfrost temperature, with a local build-up of boric acid concentration at the liquid–vapor interface being the governing mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The astaxanthin nanocapsules (ASX-LNC) was prepared by high-pressure homogenization technology, the microstructure, stability, antioxidant activity, and in vitro release characteristics of ASX-LNC were characterized and evaluated. The ASX-LNC comprised a core material and wall materials. The core material was composed of astaxanthin oil, and the wall materials were composed of β-cyclodextrin, decapolyglycerol monooleate, soybean lecithin (PC60), glycerol, and deionized water. The mean particle size of the ASX-LNC was 206.9 ± 2.8 nm, and the polydispersity index (PdI) value was 0.218 ± 0.026. The zeta potential of ASX-LNC was −26.16 ± 0.87 mV. The loading amount of ASX-LNC was 0.546%±0.032%, and the encapsulation efficiency was 99.65%±0.13%, indicating that the preparation process was feasible. The stability of ASX-LNC was determined under different conditions, indicating good stability of the ASX-LNC. In antioxidant research, the inhibition rate of free radicals of ASX-LNC was 91.03 ± 0.87% under 250 μg/mL for 30 min, and the inhibition rate of free radicals of astaxanthin ethanol solution was 90.83 ± 1.37%. The antioxidant capacity of astaxanthin was not affected by the encapsulation, which demonstrated the effect of prolonging the release of active ingredients due to the protection of the biological activity of astaxanthin by encapsulation. Compared with the astaxanthin ethanol solution, the ASX-LNC had a slow-release effect and could prolong the action time of active substances. Overall, ASX-LNC is a potential carrier for application in food and health products, which can control the release of active substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant-mediated processes offer a more straightforward and cost-effective alternative to conventional chemical and physical methods for the reduction of silver ions to silver metallic nanoparticles. This study was conducted to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using a solution of silver nitrate (AgNO3) and a local Basciftlik white potato cultivar (S. tuberosum). Furthermore, the study aimed to compare antioxidant activity of nano-silver particles with that of the potato extract. The potato cultivar was extracted with deionized water and the solution was filtrated. The filtrate was reacted with AgNO3 solution to obtain the AgNPs. The structure of synthesized AgNPs was determined by a spectroscopic study, and characteristic functional groups were analyzed by a fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The signal observed at 3267 cm−1 is indicative of the hydroxyl functional group. The highest absorption at 429 nm in ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) spectrum confirmed the occurrence of the synthesized AgNPs. The biogenic crystalline structure of the synthesized AgNPs was verified by an X-ray diffraction analysis. Average size and morphology of the St-AgNPs were determined by Scanning Electron Microscope analysis, which also indicated the formation of the AgNPs with an average size of 37.31 nm. Antioxidant activity study revealed that the synthesized AgNPs had higher antioxidant activity compared to that of the potato extract alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of water eutrophication, global energy crisis and the carbon neutrality policies, the ammonia recovery from wastewater with high efficiency and low energy consumption is crucial for preserving the ecological environment and achieving sustainable development. Transmembrane electro-chemisorption (TMECS), which integrates transmembrane chemisorption with electrochemical systems to reduce the addition of chemicals and improve recovery efficiency, is a promising technology for ammonia recovery from wastewater. Accordingly, this paper first reviews the recent advances in TMECS for ammonia recovery from wastewater. In particular, the technology principles, including ammonia stripping by cathodic base, ammonia recovery by TMECS with authigenic acid and base, and ammonia recovery by membrane cathode with in situ cathodic base are elucidated. Couplings of TMECS with other electrochemical systems, including electrodialysis, flow-electrode capacitive deionization, and electrochemical precipitation, are further summarized and compared. Finally, the challenges and prospects of the TMECS technology are addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal slurry is a semi-solid material formed by the water content of pulverized coal, which is a product of the coal production and transportation process and has viscous and wet characteristics, and is easy to cause blockage in the process of mechanized mining and transportation. To study the resistance law of the probe rod pressed into the quasi-static viscous particle medium at a uniform speed, coal dust and deionized water were mixed into different water content of coal slurry, and the resistance of the probe rod under pressure in different water content of coal slurry was measured. It is found that when the cohesion of coal slurry is small, the press-in process tends to be stable, and the intrusion resistance shows a linear-slowly increasing-suddenly increasing trend as the depth of pressure increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the implementation of carbon neutrality, more and more researchers are devoted to the development of biomass-based porous carbon materials using agricultural and forestry wastes for energy storage applications. However, biomass-derived carbon materials are still suffering from structural instability and difficult to regulate the pore structure, so it is very essential to study the regulation of pore structure in activation process of biochar. Therefore, this work developed an approach to modulate the pore structure of biomass porous carbon. The pyrolyzed biochar was primary activated by ZnCl2 to form the intermediate FC, and the FC was secondary activated by the impregnation method with the addition of trace KOH to form the graded porous carbon FCK-x. The prepared porous carbon exhibited a large specific surface area (2845 m² g−1) and a large pore volume (1.43 cm³ g−1), which is very favorable for efficient ion transport in the three-electrode system, FCK0.6 exhibited a specific capacitance of 321.7 F/g at 1A/g and the assembled supercapacitor exhibited high capacitance retention (95.17%) and charge retention (85%). This work provides a feasible way to modulate biomass pore structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In last several decades, there are great development in electronic technology, which needs high performance cooling schemes urgently. Recently, an enhanced flow boiling of open micro-channel and jet impingement hybrid cooling scheme by separating liquid-vapor pathways is proposed with a critical heat flux of 546 W/cm2. Nevertheless, due to the introduction of jet impingement, the bubbles generated in channel are compelled to migrate to the fins top to gather and grow. Consequently, a new series of bubbles behavior and flow patterns were observed. In order to have a further understand of flow patterns and the transition mechanism, visualization experiments are conducted with the deionized water, inlet temperature is 16 - 19 °C, and volumetric flow rate for micro-channel and jet impingement is 50 ml/min respectively. Subsequently, a new phenomenon was observed, where the bubbles owned the various critical motion diameters in different flow regions. Finally, based on the force balance of a bubble on fin tops, a prediction model of critical motion diameter is also proposed. The maximum error is 20%. These findings have an impact on the further development of efficient cooling technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study proposes an approach to overcome the problem of corner/edge overheating of foods undergoing radio frequency heating. For testing, a container with a central rectangular compartment surrounded by a frame of four compartments was used. Wheat flour, a representative of low-moisture foods, was packed inside the rectangular compartment to provide a density of 800 kg/m3. Afterwards, in the surrounding compartments, air, deionized water and NaCl solution were used for independent radio frequency heating tests. Two different electrode gaps (135 and 145 mm) were employed. The temperature of the sample was measured continuously using fibre optic probes at four different internal locations. The difference between the maximum and the minimum temperatures for three different cases (a: air, b: deionized water and c: NaCl solution) were as follows for electrode gaps of 135 and 145 mm, respectively: (a) 27.3 and 26.1 °C, (b) 2.5 and 4.8 °C and (c) 3.7 and 1.8 °C. Uniformity index values were also calculated. The results showed that temperature variation within the sample was greatly reduced when the sample was surrounded by deionized water or NaCl solution. PRACTICAL APPLICATION The project findings will provide processors with a practical means to achieve more uniform radio frequency heating of low-moisture foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high-standard pore water sampling in deep-sea sediments is essential for scientific and technical studies such as determining geochemical anomalies on the seafloor. This paper designed a multi-depth in-situ pore water pressure-retaining sampler (MIPPS). It can sample deep-sea in situ pore water with multiple depths, high resolution, and low disturbance. We evaluated the indicators and functions of the sampler through simulation calculations, laboratory, offshore and deep-sea experiments. The diffusion between pore water and deionized water was determined using Ansys Fluent simulation to select a suitable tube to reduce contamination. The pressure test shows that the sampler has a pressure-retaining capacity of 30 MPa. The experiments show the laboratory sampling rate in sediment at different temperatures. Furthermore, in the offshore experiment, we analyze the reasons for the decrease in the offshore sampling rate. Finally, the sampler was carried on board the heavy-duty ROV-Jellyfish for a deep-sea experiment in the South China Sea. The deep-sea experiment's success indicates that the MIPPS is accurate and trustworthy in practice. Then the sampler continued to be used for the sea area of methane seepage for in-depth scientific applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to load metformin in a nano formula and evaluate the produced nano form towards cancer cells, metformin was loaded on natural carrier coconut oil. The formed metformin-loaded coconut oil nanoemulsion was characterized by Zeta potential, particle size, drug content, drug release, and drug stability. The formed nanoemulsion was evaluated towards MCF-7, HepG2, and HCT-116 cell lines. Cell cycle analysis and apoptosis mechanism were studied. The nanoemulsion was created using deionized water, 1.5% Span 20, 1.5% Tween 80, 1.5% coconut oil, and 0.5% Metformin in an ultrasonicator to produce a homogenous solution. The anticancer activities of the metformin-loaded coconut nanoemulsion were highly improved compared to non-formulated metformin with IC50s of 8.3 ± 0.1 μg/ml, 12 ± 1.5 μg/ml, 2.685 ± 0.3 mg/ml for MCF-7, HepG2, and HCT-116 cell lines, respectively. There was a 76.5 ± 2.3 and 78.3 ± 3.2% increase in the number of apoptotic cells of MCF-7 and HepG2 cells after nanoemulsion treatment. This formula may be considered a new anticancer medication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess impacts of early in ovo injection (at 10 days of incubation) of copper (sulfate, acetate, or nanoparticles) on histomorphometric parameters of small intestine and growth performance of post-hatched chicks. Fertile eggs (n = 462) were distributed to seven groups (3 replicates, 22 eggs in each). The first group as a control, the 2nd, 3rd and 4th groups injected with 100 µL deionized water containing 8 μg/egg of Cu (sulfate, acetate and nanoparticles, respectively), and the 5th, 6th and 7th groups injected with 100 µL deionized water containing 16 μg/egg of the same Cu sources above. Results illustrated that in ovo administration of Cu sulfate and Cu acetate significantly improved histological parameters of small intestine parts of newly hatched chicks compared with the control. Cu sulfate and nano-Cu significantly augmented body weight gain compared with the control. In ovo Cu injection showed a nonsignificant improvement in feed conversion ratio. The highest level (16 μg/egg) of different sources was better than the lowest level (8 μg/egg) in most results. In conclusion, it is recommended that in ovo injection of Cu (16 μg/egg) can improve the growth performance (Cu sulfate and nano-Cu) and the small intestine histomorphometry parameters (Cu sulfate and Cu acetate) of broiler chicks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emphasis of the paper is on the development of the microwave mechanism-based cost-effective and sensitive Meandered Signal Coplanar Sensor (MSCS) with rectangular PDMS cavity for the mediator-free, rapid, quantitative and non-destructive characterization of the aqueous glucose solution. MSCS sensor is configured of the coplanar waveguide (CPW) with the meander structured inductor embedded at the center of the signal conductor, where the meander structured inductor being utilized as the sensing area. The rectangular cavity made of PDMS (Polydimethylsiloxane) polymer has been used to restrict the Sample Under Test (SUT) to the sensing area. Aqueous samples with varying glucose concentrations have been prepared with deionized water and 0.9% NaCl (Sodium Chloride) solution. Analysis of the experimental RF (radio frequency) measurements revealed that the increase in glucose concentration exhibited distinct and distinguishable S-parameters (scattering parameters). The findings support the potential application of the proposed sensor for quantification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The waste-to-wealth practice has evolved into the circular economy concept, in which every by-product is converted into a usable product, enabling the concept of zero-waste. As a result, research on converting wastes, particularly bio and agricultural wastes, into usable products is prioritized. Activated carbons are one of these products, which are derived through a variety of physical and chemical processes from agricultural and biowaste. These activated carbons have applications in various fields, including energy storage, catalysis, and water purification. However, the quality of this activated carbon is dependent on the bioresource's structure and chemical composition. As a result, many sources to produce activated carbon, including stems, wood, leaves, root, bark, fiber, flower, and seeds, have been identified and are being explored for their potential use as an electrode material for supercapacitors. Out of these sources, fiber from different bioresources shows improved performance as supercapacitor electrodes due to their higher cellulose and lignin contents. In this study, we systematically review various sources of activated carbon and their performance as supercapacitor electrodes. The electrochemical characterization methodologies used to characterize this fiber-based activated carbon are examined critically, and factors influencing its improved/poor performance are collated. Additionally, the most performing fiber-based sources of activated carbon for supercapacitor electrodes are identified, along with a future perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical spray pyrolysis technique was used to synthesis zinc sulfide (ZnS) thin films without annealing treatment. The thin films were grown on a glass substrate under various Zn:S ratios (1:1,1:2, 1:3). The spray solution was prepared by combining zinc acetate dihydrate and thiourea as precursor materials for Zn2+ and S2- ions, with deionized water serving as the solvent. The results of the ZnS film on glass showed a well-characterized thin film acquired using Zn:S of (1:1,1:2,1:3) molar ratio, nozzle to substrate distance (NSD) of 30 cm and a substrate temperature of 300 °C. Strong peaks (111) were obtained for all samples via X-ray diffraction analysis. The photoluminescence spectrum showed three distinctive peaks at roughly 2.36, 2.98, and 3.6 eV and the energy gap of the synthesized thin film was 3.66 eV. The MSM photodetectors (PDs) made from the layers on glass substrate showed response to UV illumination (400 nm), exhibiting a photosensitivity of 665% at base voltage of 3 V. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mini-grooved flat heat pipe (FHP) is an efficient approach to cool the electronics within small space. As it was hard to measure the flow and thermal characteristics inside the FHP, a novel three-dimensional model was set up to couple velocity, pressure, temperature, and mass transport inside the FHP, anticipating understanding the working mechanisms of FHP filled with different working fluids under transient and steady states. Temperature-dependent physical properties of working fluid and simulated thermal conductivity of wick were employed. The numerical results were validated by experiment with the maximum deviations in thermal resistance and maximum temperature of 17.9% and 5.0%, respectively. It was found that working fluid types, properties and input heat affected the FHP performance. The deionized water filled FHP shows more excellent thermal characteristics. Under input heat of 10 W, the thermal resistance, maximum temperature, and temperature nonuniformity of deionized water filled FHP were numerically lower than those of anhydrous ethanol filled FHP by 48.1%, 11.5% and 56.4%, and lower than those of hexane filled FHP by 54.4%, 14.3% and 62.6%, respectively. However, the starting performance of deionized water filled FHP is comparatively poorer. FHP filled with anhydrous ethanol or hexane is more appealing for electronics cooling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the methods to improve the pool boiling process is electrodeposition, which is cheap, simple, and creates a strong bond in the structure. Besides, it can produce controllable porosity and improve boiling performance. In this paper, experiments were conducted in atmospheric conditions, using deionized water and hierarchical patterns created by a combination of 6-step electrodeposition and photolithography. The modified surfaces are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) images, and profilometric analysis. Besides, the effect of various parameters, including diameter, distance from perimeter to perimeter and wettability, along with the effect of nucleation site's density (NSD), and effective surface area were investigated. Prediction of critical heat flux (CHF) values and experimental data showed that capillary effect of these surfaces increased the maximum heat flux compared to the plain surface. Also, changing the morphology of deposition and creating the volcano-shape structures were identified as a more suitable place for nucleation and enhancing the capillary effect and the effect of porosity and roughness. The maximum heat flux and heat transfer coefficient (HTC) for sample number 16 reached 145.36 W / c m 2 and 13.13 W / K. c m 2 respectively, which was proportional to the improvement of 118.8% and 119% relative to the plain surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Activated carbon derived from biomass waste and their application as supercapacitor electrodes have aroused a considerable research interest in recent years. In this work, we demonstrate the use of Coffea canephora leaf (CCL) waste for the preparation of activated carbon as supercapacitor electrodes via chemical activation with straightforward pyrolysis at high temperatures for the first time. Potassium hydroxide with three different concentrations, i.e. 0.1 M, 0.3 M, and 0.5 M, was used as activating agent. The as-prepared activated carbon using 0.3 M KOH (CCL-0.3) displayed good physicochemical properties and exhibited superior electrochemical performance than the other two samples (0.1 and 0.5 M). CCL-0.3 achieved the specific capacitances of 297 F g−1 and 220 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 in 1 M H2SO4 and 1 M Na2SO4 electrolytes, respectively. Moreover, CCL-0.3 in 1 M H2SO4 exhibits the equivalent series resistance (Rs) and the charge transfer resistance (Rct) value of CCL-0.3 in 1 M H2SO4 of 0.73 Ω and 4.9 Ω, respectively. Additionally, this study provides strategies for preparing activated carbon as supercapacitor electrode materials with superior performance via chemical activation with straightforward pyrolysis for the renewable energy storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead (Pb) soil contamination is widespread and poses a threat to human health. Even long-term exposure to low levels of Pb contaminated soils is potentially harmful to organisms. Soil remediation options include phytoextraction that has gained particular attention due to low cost and minimal soil disruption. The North American native switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), a second-generation bioenergy crop was used in this study due to its ability to produce high biomass and grow on marginal lands. In this study, the effects of supplementary soil nitrogen (N) or foliar iron (Fe) application on the growth and metal uptake of switchgrass were examined. Plants were grown under controlled conditions using Pb (5802.5 mg kg−1) contaminated soil. The soil nitrogen (N) application involved three levels: control (no added N), medium (500 mg kg−1), and high (1000 mg kg−1). Plants receiving the high N had the significantly greatest dry mass (DM) of the foliage and the highest Pb concentration. The iron (Fe) foliar application involved two levels: (1) deionized water and (2) iron (20 mg kg−1) solution. Plants were additionally treated with the soil fungicide propiconazole (2 mg L−1) and the soil chelate nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) in order to enhance phytoextraction. Plants receiving the Fe foliar application had significantly higher DM of the foliage and significantly lower Pb concentrations in the roots and the foliage. These results will potentially improve phytoextraction by switchgrass grown in Pb contaminated soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various studies have reported that electrolytes present in the plant's process water influence the coal flotation performance. However, coal fines, which are fed into the flotation circuit are from different coal seams, and their surface properties usually vary considerably. In this study, flotation experiments were conducted using coal fines from three different coal seams of the West Bokaro coalfield in plant's process water to explore the extent of change in flotation response of each coal. Besides, flotation experiments using deionized water were parallelly examined for comparison. XRD, SEM, FTIR, BET, contact angle, wetting rate, and zeta potential measurements were performed to understand and compare the surface properties of three coals. The flotation results indicated that compared to deionized water, process water increased flotation yield, combustible recovery as well as ash recovery for all three coals at all examined collector dosages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work reports the preparation of hydrogel nanocomposites based on copolymerization of methyl methacrylate using ammonium persulfate as the initiator, methylene bisacrylic amide as the crosslinker & various amounts of functionalized CNT for inter-hydrogel binding. Functionalization of CNTs was performed by its oxidation at room temperature using nitric acid as the oxidizing agent, then acylation of carboxylic acid agent in CNTs by SOCl2 addition and finally esterification of CNTs by the addition of ethylene glycol to acylchloride. The swelling rate of the obtained composites was checked in deionized water where the composite containing more CNTs percent in the hydrogel structure showed a higher swelling rate (>50%).Then, for increase of chemical activity, the obtained hydrogel nanocomposites were impregnated by solution of CuSO4 with different concentrations and the resultant hydrogels as the activity filler were analyzed by FTIR, XRD and SEM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To facilitate its vitrification, a portion of the radioactive wastes currently stored at the Hanford Site will be staged and treated using tank-side operations to render their chemistry compliant with the requirements of Hanford's low-activity waste vitrification facility. Initial sampling of staged feeds indicates that process-water dilution, used to reduce waste feed sodium content to levels acceptable for vitrification (5–6 M Na), may cause precipitation of fine, difficult to settle solids that could affect downstream tank-side filtration and ion-exchange. However, dilution-induced precipitation has not been demonstrated under controlled, rigorous laboratory conditions. This paper presents a set of qualitative and quantitative assessments of dilution-induced precipitation using a nonradioactive, Hanford Tank AP-105 simulated waste. These studies found that dilution of AP-farm waste simulants induced precipitation of up to 150 ppm solids, regardless of whether dilution was done with process water (which contains, among other analytes, naturally occurring Ca and Mg) or deionized water. Naturally occurring process-water analytes appeared to accelerate the rate (and possibly extent) of precipitation. Filtration of diluted waste simulants also found that the precipitated solids challenged prototypic tank-side filter operations; however, the impact to filtration performance was readily managed through waste staging settle/decant operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the flow behavior of deionized water through the staggered circular micro pin fin arrays with three longitudinal spacings (SL = 2D, 3D and 4D) is investigated using flow visualization technology of micro particle image velocimetry (micro-PIV) in the range of Re = 100–800. The streamline distribution and velocity field in the three micro pin fin arrays are obtained. Experimental results indicate that the longitudinal spacing has considerable effect on both the extension of the wake region and velocity field around pin fins. The small longitudinal spacing hinders the extension of the wake region behind the pin fin and delays the vortex shedding. The micro pin fin array with SL = 2D provides maximum velocity span and transverse velocity, indicating intense local fluid mixing. The flow and heat transfer characteristics in the microchannel with a single circular micro pin fin are also studied. By comparison, the feature of the wake region in the micro pin fin array with a large longitudinal spacing is similar to that in the flow past a single micro pin fin. Moreover, vortex shedding occurs in the micro pin fin array at higher Reynolds number. The correlation between velocity field and temperature field around the pin fin is investigated. The belt zone with enhanced heat transfer around the pin fin is consistent with the distribution of fluid with high velocities. Vortex shedding can obviously enhance the heat transfer downstream of the micro pin fin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capacitive deionization (CDI) shows promising potential for water desalination due to its high performance, energy efficiency, and environmental friendliness. Because of their excellent conductivity, chemical stability, and high surface area, carbon derivatives are the most used capacitive deionization electrode materials. Among these carbon materials, graphene is quite attractive because of its exceptional electrical conductivity and very large surface area compared with other carbon materials. In addition to the low energy requirements of the CDI that in many scenarios outperforms reverse osmosis, further reduction in the energy can be realized through recovering some of the input energy. The recovered energy can be used to power additional CDI cells, stored in other energy storage devices such as supercapacitors, or used in any other application. This study summarizes recent progress in implementing graphene as an electrode material for CDI and the different methods used for recovering energy from CDI cells. Furthermore, the energy consumption in CDI with and without energy recovery is compared with the most common desalination technologies such as reverse osmosis, multiple-effect distillation, and multistage flash distillation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: During the last decades, the widespread use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) has been considered because of their small size and antimicrobial effects. The main concern about these particles is that they can induce oxidative stress. In this study, the dose-dependent effects of green synthesized silver nanoparticles (Green-AgNPs) were evaluated on adult male rats. Methods: Animals were injected intraperitoneally (I.P) with the vehicle (deionized water) and different doses of Green-AgNPs (50, 100, 200, and 400 ppm), daily for 21 days. For the safety assessment, body weight and organ coefficient (liver, kidney, spleen, and brain) were measured. The effects of Green-AgNPs administration on working memory, anxiety behavior, novel object recognition, and spatial memory were analyzed. The lipophilic fluorescent products (LFPs), as an indicator of oxidative stress, were also evaluated in the liver, kidney, spleen, and hippocampus. Results: After 21 days of exposure, significant changes were not observed in body weight and organ coefficients. Green-AgNPs at the doses of 100, 200, and 400 ppm caused memory impairment and anxieties as well as altered liver, kidney, spleen, and hippocampus redox status. All tissues of the exposed animals showed an increased LFPs level compared to those of the rats in the vehicle group. Conclusions: This study indicated that the consumption of Green-AgNPs in higher doses (>50 ppm), not only had negative effects on behavioral indices but also caused memory impairment in rats and was toxic. This might be due to the induction of oxidative stress demonstrated by increased LFPs levels in tissues. Cascade events after I.P. injection of different doses of Green-AgNPs in rats After I.P. administration of green synthesized AgNPs in rats, these particles can pass through endothelial cells to various organs, such as the liver, kidney, spleen, and brain. Then caused oxidative stress and increased production of free radicals in the tissues. Overload free radicals result in the initiation of lipid peroxidation and result in the production of aldehydes. Following changes in the redox state in the neurons, these events caused memory impairment in high doses of green synthesized AgNPs. Aldehydes produced are unstable and react with amino groups of proteins, amino acids, or phospholipids. Assessment of generated lipophilic fluorescent products (LFPs) as stress oxidative marker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, an innovative method to improve the dewatering of micro- and nanofibrillated cellulose (MNFC) containing furnishes is proposed. This method is based on fiber flotation in which cationic bubbles are injected into the furnish to separate fibers from liquid medium and accumulate them on the surface of the furnish. These cationic bubbles are generated by pressurizing a solution of Hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride in deionized water in a dissolved air flotation (DAF) tank. The drainage properties of the furnishes with MNFC content from 0% to 25% were studied. With the help of the cationic bubbles, drainage rate of 0% and 15% MNFC furnish increased from 183 ml/s to 210 ml/s and 38 ml/s to 113 ml/s, respectively. The final couch solids content of these furnishes also increased from 16 wt% to 23 wt% and from 21 wt% to 24 wt%, respectively. Cationic bubbles flocculate MNFC fibers and increase retention. Sheets characteristics including morphology, permeability, mass distribution and surface profilometry were investigated. Cationic bubbles help structure fiber elements and improve the sheet formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The centrifugal drying response from a sodium acrylate superabsorbent copolymer saturated with water, saline, and a synthetic urine mimic was evaluated. It was hypothesized that drying using mechanical methods might be more economical than through evaporation. Commercial, mid-grade, multi-welled centrifuges capable of speeds as high as 8000 rpm and spin times up to 12 min were used to perform parametric studies of the separations. For centrifugal extraction, meshes that varied average pore size from 28 to 89 micrometers were constructed to contain the saturated superabsorbent polymer while the fluid was driven from it under controlled spinning. Gravimetric determinations post-centrifugation found that 30 − 60% of fluid mass could be extracted. The ionic strength of the saline saturated superabsorbent polymers resulted in a much lower initial saturation volume compared to those saturated with deionized water, and raised the amount of polymer in each tube during centrifugation allowing for higher throughput. Higher fluid extraction is achievable with larger pores in the mesh, although the bigger pores allowed dried particles to propagate through the mesh. Longer centrifugation intervals and higher rotational speeds have only a modest effect on the efficiency and centrifugation used to isolate fluids from saturated desiccants remains incomplete. If the absorbent particles could be tethered together, mechanical drying could be more efficient. Under the best conditions, centrifugation consumes roughly 70 kJ/g (70 MJ/kg) of fluid extracted, which is more than the energy for evaporating water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-uniform heating is a significant challenge in radiofrequency (RF) heating of low moisture foods. Previous experiments showed that the immersion of fluids (air, deionized water, and soybean oil) changed the RF heating uniformity and rate of cornflour. However, the behind mechanism is not well understood. This study developed a finite-element-based model that incorporated quasi-static electromagnetics and Fourier's heat transfer to understand the effect of the three immersion fluids on the RF heating performance of cornflour. The model was validated and showed good agreement with experimental thermal images. The simulation results showed that the immersion of soybean oil increased the average heating rate and improved the heating uniformity compared to immersions of air and deionized water. Less distortion of electric potential reduced the fringe effect of edge heating and thus improved the heating uniformity. The higher heating rate was attributed to more dissipated power within the cornflour sample and less surface heat loss from cornflour to the surrounding fluid than the immersion of air or water. The use of soybean oil as immersion fluid could be a promising strategy to be implemented with RF technology to improve heating performance of low moisture food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Co-Ni LDH/carbon fiber was prepared through a simple hydrothermal method using the cotton as the carbon source, and investigated as electrode materials for use in supercapacitors. The morphology and structure of the resulting samples were analyzed by SEM, and XRD techniques, respectively, and characterization results proved Ni-Co hydroxide nanosheets were orderly grown on the carbon fiber surface with 3D network structure. In comparison to Co-Ni hydroxides grown on the nickel foam substrate, the Co-Ni LDH/carbon fiber electrode displayed the superior specific capacitance of 1600 F/g at 0.5 A/g and excellent cycling stability of 87.9% retention at 10 A/g after 2000 cycles in 2.0 M KOH electrolyte. AC impedance results illustrated that the electron transfer resistance of Co-Ni LDH/carbon fiber electrode was significantly lower than that of the Co-Ni LDH/Ni foam electrode, illustrating that the carbon fiber can effectively promote the dispersion of Co-Ni LDH, decrease the electron transfer resistance of the as-prepared electrode materials, and ultimately improve the energy storage properties of Co-Ni LDH/carbon fiber. Moreover, the highly ordered Co-Ni LDH nanosheets advanced the contact between KOH electrolyte and the active materials on the electrode, thereby developing the capacitive performance of Co-Ni LDH/carbon fiber. The above results obviously demonstrate 3D Co-Ni LDH/carbon fiber serves as an encouraging electrode material for the application of high-performance supercapacitor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tight oil is an unconventional petroleum resource, which occupies a essential position in the global energy structure. The main purpose of this paper is to quantitatively characterize the lower limit of the physical properties of tight oil reservoirs in nanomaterial porous media. This paper starts with the single-phase deionized water flow experiment in micro-nano-quartz tube, combined with the tight oil reservoir core single-phase simulation, formation water seepage experiment, analyzes and characterizes the low-velocity and nonlinear seepage characteristics of tight reservoir fluid. At the same time, combined with the dynamic network simulation technology, the process of water flooding in tight oil reservoirs under different conditions is simulated, and the influence of each influencing factor on the two-phase seepage of water flooding is determined. In addition, combined with different water injection capillary numbers, water flooding nuclear magnetic resonance experiments, the dynamic characteristics and distribution changes of oil and water, in two phases in the water flooding process are analyzed, and the simulation results are used for verification and analysis, to indicate the reasonable and efficient water flooding development of tight oil reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using sol-gel method and dipping coating process, Tetrabutyl titanate and glacial acetic acid were added to the solvent absolute ethanol and boric acid, deionized water, nitric acid and other raw materials were added. B3+ doped TiO2 film was successfully prepared on ITO glass, The optical properties and electrochromic properties of B3+ doped TiO2 films were studied by means of TG-DTA, XRD, UV-Vis, SEM, and electrochemical workstation. The results show that the spectral control range of B3+ doped TiO2 film is significantly improved, The electrochemical cycling stability of the film is also improved. When the volume fraction of B3+ is 9%, the electrochromic effect is best. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aerial part of Origanum majorana L. was extracted with deionized water and then filtered. The liquid extract was treated with silver nitrate to yield the AgNPs. The maximum absorption was observed at 483 nm in the UV-Vis spectrum. SEM analysis exhibited the spherical shape of silver nanoparticles with an average size of 72.01 nm. The XRD diffraction peaks at 2θ degrees revealed the face-centered cubic crystalline structure. Antioxidant activity of AgNPs and water extract was carried out by DPPH•, ABTS•+, and reducing power assays. AgNPs revealed higher DPPH• scavenging activity (IC50, µg/mL, 12.25) than that of the extract (21.66). Moreover, AgNPs exhibited outstanding ABTS•+ activity (3.87) compared to the standards. The reducing power activity of AgNPs was found (µmol TE/mg extract, 5.09 ± 0.21) the same as the BHT. AgNPs and extract exhibited excellent antioxidant activity promising for usage in food and pharmaceutical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report results from a blind comparison of six analytical laboratories ISO/IEC 17025 accredited for the implementation of the analytical element of EN 1911, which involves the quantification of chloride in deionized water collected from HCl emitting industrial processes regulated under the EU's Industrial Emissions Directive (IED). Both "synthetic" (sodium chloride dissolved in deionized water) and "real" (extracted and collected from a stack simulator facility) samples were prepared across ranges which were equivalent to concentrations in the stack of 0–10 mg·m−3 and 0–60 mg·m−3, respectively. Laboratory measurements of the real samples showed significantly poorer performance than the synthetic, implying that the use of synthetic samples in national proficiency testing schemes may be leading to an overly optimistic view of the uncertainties that can routinely be achieved in measurements of real industrial processes. In addition, at the applicable emission limits (10 mg·m−3 and 3 mg·m−3) and measurement ranges (0–15 mg·m−3 and 0–4.5 mg·m−3) under the IED and more recent BAT Conclusions legislation it was found that of the real samples 22 out of 102 (21.6%) and 28 out of 51 (54.9%), respectively, of the measurements would not comply with the overall uncertainty that at least one national regulator considers as necessary for EN 1911 to be an "effective tool" for the calibration of automated measuring systems (AMSs – process plant operator analyzers providing continuous monitoring of emissions). Hence, it is proposed that at the next revision of EN 1911 the standard should be revised to give the same degree of consideration to the analytical element of the method as the sampling element. Key analytical laboratory uncertainty sources should be identified, numerical uncertainty requirements should be placed on key analytical uncertainty sources, and there should be an overall uncertainty requirement for the analytical element. Implications: The deviations observed between laboratories ISO/IEC 17025 accredited for chloride analysis bring into question the ability of the current version of EN 1911 (the CEN Standard Reference Method for monitoring HCl industrial emissions) to meet the uncertainty requirements associated with emission limits under both the EU's Industrial Emissions Directive and the increasingly stringent industrial sub-sectors BAT Conclusions legislation. It is proposed that at the next revision of EN 1911 that uncertainty guidance and requirements for the analytical element are added if this measurement method is to continue to be mandated across Europe for ensuring emissions data meet legislative quality requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of electrochemical sensors could offer a powerful solution for environmental monitoring and may overcome many limitations existing in current methods of analysis. In this study, a simple, facile and green electrodeposition method was employed for the design of a high-performance electrochemical sensor based on ruthenium and cobalt bimetallic nanoparticles modified glassy carbon electrode (Ru-Co/GCE) for hydrazine detection. The electrochemical properties of the sensor were explored using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The morphology and elemental composition of the proposed electrode were characterised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The proposed sensor exhibited excellent selectivity, stability and reproducible electrocatalytic response towards hydrazine oxidation. Excellent linearity over a wide concentration range of 0.0025–9.55 mM with very low limit of detection (LOD) of 0.00025 mM. Ru-Co/GCE sensor was successfully applied for the detection of hydrazine in different water samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review proposes an insight into the prospects of electrochemistry for the treatment of highly concentrated effluents in three sections. The first section of this review presents an overview of electrochemical water treatment strategies adapted to these very specific waste streams, including the influence of operating conditions, electrode materials and processes (with special emphasis on anodic oxidation, electro-Fenton and electrocoagulation). The second part provides the engineering parameters to ensure successful upscaling of electrochemical processes in terms of modeling mass transport, charge transfer and hydrodynamics, reactor designs and energy requirements. This section also addresses process combinations, where electrochemistry could complement traditional methods of treatment, in order to improve the overall efficiency of the integrated system. Finally, the last section focuses on the nature, characteristics and challenges inherent to highly concentrated wastewater, divided into five categories: industrial wastewater (e.g., pharmaceutical, electronics, chemical, food-processing), hypersaline effluents (e.g., reverse osmosis concentrates), solutions contaminated with a mixture of organic and inorganic contaminants (e.g., leachate, mining), highly viscous solution (or non-Newtonian liquid) (e.g., sludge) and solutions of high chemical oxygen demand load but with low pollutant content (e.g., from soil washing). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical polymerization of aniline by a combination of ultrasonic waves and electrolysis of water was performed. This method involves three processes: 1) creation of O2 micro bubbles produced by electrolysis of water on the anode side, 2) depolarization of the bubbles at the electrode surface via mechanical vibration using ultrasonic waves to diffuse ions in the electrolyte solution, and 3) progression of direct current (DC) electrochemical polymerization to yield a conductive polymer with fine pores on the surface. The diameter of the pores is on the micrometer scale and is similar in size to pollens. The combination of the electronic function of the conductive polymer and porous polymer surface can be applied as a method to collect allergens such as dust and flower pollens. Electrical adsorption and desorption of pollen was conducted with the porous polyaniline synthesized using a micro-bubble sonic-electrochemical preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(K, Na)NbO3 (KNN) lead-free piezoelectric crystals with different K/Na molar ratios were synthesized through a hydrothermal method using isopropanol/deionized water as the reaction medium. It is shown that cube-like KNN crystals were synthesized at a relatively low [OH–] concentration. The structure of the as-synthesized KNN crystals transfers from a NaNbO3-type orthorhombic phase to a KNbO3-type tetragonal phase with the increase of the K/Na ratio. This principle is also instructive in a finer range of K/Na ratio (0.71:0.29–0.73:0.27), indicating a facile synthesis route and recommended conditions for the synthesis of KNN materials with a morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) between NaNbO3 and KNbO3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water is the most abundant liquid on Earth, but only 2.5% of worldwide water are fresh. It is impossible to ignore the importance of water in almost every process on Earth, from the smallest bacteria life to the formation of the continents. Today, efforts for the desalination of seawater and brackish water are critical to produce drinking water. In recent years, a novel material: hydrogel, was considered in desalination processes. Interesting hydrogel applications were proposed for forward osmosis desalination, solar still, electrodialysis, and capacitive desalination. Simple and inexpensive desalination ways for drinking water production are needed. Hydrogel compounds are one of the leading options in such issue. The use of the hydrogel-based solar steam generator could produce drinkable water cheaper than other water desalination processes. The hydrogel classification is based on physical structure, ion charge, synthesis methods, particle size, chemical, and physical bonding, and mechanical properties. Therefore, this review summarizes the recent research progresses in the use of hydrogels for desalination and purified water production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel voltammetric method with practically no sample pretreatment was developed for determination of Quinclorac (QNC) in rice samples by using a working Carbon Paste Electrode (CPE) modified with ionic liquid, with deposition potential (ED) of −1.43 V for 30 s in NaOH 0.01 mol L−1. The systematic influence of cations and anions of imidazole ionic liquids on the composition of CPE has evaluated. The best electrode composition was 65% (w/w) of graphite powder, 30% (w/w) of mineral oil and 5.0% (w/w) of C4min+BF4- ionic liquid (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate). The matrices analyzed were deionized water and extracts of upland rice: white, brown, peel and seed. The limits of quantification ranged between 0.954 mg kg−1 and 3.61 mg kg−1. The recovery percentages of QNC in rice samples ranged between 90% and 121%. The simplicity and good analytical frequency enable the proposed method to be used to obtain preliminary information on the presence of QNC, prior to the implementation of more detailed, costly and elaborate quantitative analyses. The technique can be applied in the study and evaluation of sorption mechanisms, metabolization of the herbicide in plants and its persistence and degradation in the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the solidification characteristics of deionized water dispersed with natural graphite flakes (NGF), called micro-particle enhanced phase change material (MePCM), in two spherical capsules of '64 mm' and '52 mm' diameter. Heterogeneous nucleation factor of deionized water reduces from 0.0531 to 0.0001 due to reduction in contact angle with addition of NGF. Thermal conductivity results show an enhancement of 25% in the MePCMs with 5 wt. % over the base PCM and the enhancement is not proportional to increase in mass fraction of NGF. The presence of NGF in deionized water eliminates the subcooling and expedites the solidification rate. The MePCM stores almost 94% of cool energy in a shortened duration compared to the base PCM in both capsules. In summary, the NGF can be a promising thermal enhancer to prepare the MePCMs in large scale at an affordable cost for the cool thermal energy storage applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the proposed method cysteine-functionalized chitosan-coated magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized and used as an effective adsorbent for the extraction of carboxin and bensulfuron-methyl. The experiments were performed according to an orthogonal rotatable Box-Behnken design. The results showed that the limits of detection, quantification values, and linear ranges were 0.6, 2.0 µg.L−1, and 2–1000 µgL−1 for carboxin, and 0.3, 1.0 µgL−1, and 1–1000 µgL−1 for bensulfuron-methyl. The proposed method was applied to spiked real samples. The percentage of recovery values (91.53%-98.46%) with low relative standard deviation (≤4.6%) demonstrated excellent repeatability and applicability of this adsorbent to water samples. Abbreviations: Aminopropyl triethoxysilane, APTES; Box-Behnken design, BBD; Central composite design, CCD; Chitosan, CS; Double-distilled deionized water, DDW; Extraction recovery, ER; Fourier transform infrared, FT-IR; Liquid-Liquid extraction, LLE; Liquid-Solid extraction, LSE; Maximum residue limits, MRL; Magnetic dispersive-solid-phase extraction, MD-SPE; Magnetic nanoparticles, MNPs; Multiple linear regression, MLR; Response surface methodology, RSM; Solid-phase extraction, SPE; Thermal gravimetric analyses, TGA; Tetraethyl orthosilicate, TEOS; X-ray diffraction, XRD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of industry, the large-scale consumption of fossil energy has brought serious environmental pollution. Therefore, the development of renewable clean energy to replace traditional fossil fuels has become the focus of research. In this study, nickel hydroxide (Ni(OH)2) composite was prepared by a simple hydrothermal method. Transmission electron microscope (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to characterize its morphology and structure. The results proved the successful preparation of the Ni(OH)2 composite and show that the prepared composite has a three-dimensional flower-like structure. In addition, the electrochemical performance of the prepared Ni(OH)2 composite was investigated under the three-electrode system. The three-dimensional flower-like structure of the composite can make the electrode and electrolyte fully contact, providing a rapid transfer path for ions and electrons to improve the electrochemical performance of the electrode material. This work provides new ideas for the preparation of self-assembled nickel-based materials and the wide application in electrocatalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the popularity of dental bleaching, the need of immediate restoration following bleaching is increasing urgently. This study aimed to seek methods to improve the bonding strength to enamel of composite resin after bleaching. The best concentration and reaction time of Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) regarding bonding strength after bleaching were determined using micro tensile bond strength test (µTBS) to enamel. Bovine Incisors were randomly divided into six groups. Composite resin was built-up after different pretreatments (deionized water, 10% sodium ascorbate, the remineralization fluid, EGCG of the optimal concentration and 75% ethanol) for 1 h after bleaching. µTBS and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to evaluate the effect to immediate bonding strength after bleaching. The mode of failure was determined by a stereo-microscope at 50-fold magnifications. Treatment with 10% EGCG for 30 mins was selected as the best concentration and reaction time. Bleaching led to significantly reduced shear bond strength (p < 0.05). 10% EGCG produced higher µTBS than other groups (p < 0.05). The resin tags after treatments with the four pretreatments were significantly longer and thicker than the control groups under SEM. The application of 10% EGCG could rescue the resin-enamel bond strength after bleaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The abuse of nitrofuran in aquaculture will lead to serious environmental pollution. In this study, a sensor of poly(acid chrome blue K)-modified glassy carbon electrode was prepared by cyclic voltammetry. Nitrofurazone (NF) was used as the model for studying the electrochemical behaviour of nitrofuran on the modified electrode. The NF showed adsorption-controlled characteristics on the modified electrode. After enrichment for 100 s at 0.0 V, the reduction peak of NF was quantitatively analysed by differential pulse voltammetry. The reduction peak current at the prepared sensor was 10.42 times that of the bare glassy carbon electrode. The reduction peak current of NF was proportional to the concentration within the ranges of 0.2–15.0 and 15.0–80.0 μM, and the limit of detection was 0.028 μM. Under optimised conditions, nitrofuran antibiotics, such as furazolidone and nitrofurantoin, were measured. The linear ranges of furazolidone and nitrofurantoin were 10.0–60.0 and 5.0–30.0 μM, respectively, with corresponding detection limits of 0.19 and 0.072 μM. The modified electrode was simple to prepare and showed good sensitivity and reproducibility. The modified electrode was used for detecting NF in cultured water samples, and the recovery was 92.1%–110.6%. Thus, it shows promising application potential in the detection of actual samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of industry, the large-scale consumption of fossil energy has brought serious environmental pollution. Therefore, the development of renewable clean energy to replace traditional fossil fuels has become the focus of research. In this study, nickel hydroxide (Ni(OH)2) composite was prepared by a simple hydrothermal method. Transmission electron microscope (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to characterize its morphology and structure. The results proved the successful preparation of the Ni(OH)2 composite and show that the prepared composite has a three-dimensional flower-like structure. In addition, the electrochemical performance of the prepared Ni(OH)2 composite was investigated under the three-electrode system. The three-dimensional flower-like structure of the composite can make the electrode and electrolyte fully contact, providing a rapid transfer path for ions and electrons to improve the electrochemical performance of the electrode material. This work provides new ideas for the preparation of self-assembled nickel-based materials and the wide application in electrocatalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims to evaluate carrageenan as a potential biocomposite for hard capsule in the drug delivery application. The interaction between carrageenan and isovanillin was studied by modeling their molecule electronic surface potential and enthalpy. Simulation results showed that the physical crosslinking is established at two points: hydroxyl (isovanillin)-sulfate (carrageenan) and aldehyde (isovanillin)-hydroxyl (carrageenan) with strong hydrogen bonds (H-bond) lengths of 1.74–1.79 Å. FTIR showed that isovanillin addition increased the intermolecular H-bond up to 57% as the OH-stretching is shifted from 3376 to 3356 cm−1. At 3 wt.% isovanillin concentration, the tensile strength of the biocomposite film increased to 49% and the hard capsule developed from the formulation solution disintegrated in 9 min. Upon contact with water, the H-bonds broke and caused the carrageenan fragments to dissolve in deionized water. The disintegration and mechanical properties of the crosslinked carrageenan biocomposite film made from renewable and low price materials facilitate the application of the film as hard capsules for drug delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface dissolution behaviors of spodumene, feldspar, and quartz, and its influences on their surface properties and flotation separation were investigated when pretreated in deionized water (DI water), NaOH solution and HCl solution individually. The surface components of minerals, such as Si and Al, had shown different dissolution behaviors. In the presence of sodium oleate, the contact angle of spodumene increased after pretreated by the NaOH solution, but it decreased after pretreated by the HCl solution. The dissolution of Si from spodumene is helpful to the adsorption of sodium oleate and the flotation separation of spodumene from silicates, but the dissolution of Al has the opposite effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fine particles are considered a significant environmental pollution problem. The wet electrostatic precipitators (ESPs) are now used most widely among the advanced fine particle removal technologies. The rigid glass fiber reinforced plastics (FRP) collectors modified with hole-slotted structures were used to enhance the water film distribution over their surfaces. This paper experimentally investigated the effects of the hole-slot patterns and the operating parameters on the particle removal performance in wet ESPs using the hole-slot-structured collector. The voltage-current characteristics and the energy consumption among the different pattern collectors were discussed. Besides, the effects of the water film on the particle number concentration classification and the effects of the applied voltage and the specific collecting electrode areas (SCA) on the relative collection efficiency (RCE) were investigated and discussed. The experiment results show that the corona current of three hole-slot structured FRP collectors was higher than that of the conventional rigid collectors (CRC) at the same voltage. Using the FRP collectors with circular holes and horizontal slots could decrease the energy consumption and using the FRP collectors with vertical slots increases the energy consumption compared with the CRC when the collection efficiency was lower than 92.5%. The water film could increase the collection efficiency of the fine particles and prevent the fine particles cross through the holes and the slots. The hole-slot-structured FRP collectors were appropriate for the working conditions of high SCA and long residence time. When the water film in the hole and slotted structures was incomplete, the fine particles could pass through the collector plate to form secondary back-mixing. Implications: The wet ESPs are used most widely among the advanced treatment technologies of the fine particles' removal. The rigid glass fiber reinforced plastics (FRP) collectors modified with hole-slotted structures were used to enhance the water film distribution over their surfaces. The hole-slot-structured FRP collectors were appropriate for the working conditions of high SCA and long residence time. When the water film in the hole and slotted structures was incomplete, the fine particles could pass through the collector plate to form secondary back-mixing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of nanoparticles has been intensively investigated to improve foam flooding in oil production. Because nanoparticles have larger adhesion energy at the air-water interface than the surfactant, they help to prevent a gas diffusion between bubbles that leads to foam film rupture. In this study, the detail investigation on the behavior of mixed-surfactant foam stabilized by silica nanoparticles (SiO2-NPs) was conducted. The binary surfactant systems of an internal olefin sulfonate (IOS) and sodium polyethylene glycol monohexadecyl ether sulfate (C32H66Na2O5S) were selected. The impact of alkane oil with varying carbon chain length (i.e. hexane, octane, dodecane, and hexadecane) was investigated. The findings from a similar system of foam in deionized water (DI) and brine solution also presented for comparison. For SiO2-NPs foam/brine system in the presence of oil, the foam stability increased to a maximum with respect to certainly added nanoparticles (10 ppm), and the additional surfactant is required to maintain the foam stability when the alkane chain length increases. The foam stability parameter indicated by spreading (S) and entering (E) coefficients shows that the SiO2-NPs foam systems with the shorter-tail surfactant (mixed C15-18 IOS) had lower the coefficient values compared to the longer-tail one (mixed C19-23 IOS), suggesting that the structure of surfactant influents on foam stability. The findings from this study bring an understanding of the SiO2-NPs foam/alkane oil behavior in the brine solution, which helps to select the appropriate system for improving foam flooding in EOR applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The organic-inorganic composite water-retaining agent has been widely concerned because of its advantages such as strong salt tolerance, high strength and good thermal stability. However, there are still problems with non-uniform dispersion of inorganic particles and organic-inorganic interface is not tightly integrated. It causes the three-dimensional network structure formed is unstable, affecting the mechanical strength and water absorption properties of the water-retaining agent. To solve the above problems, this paper proposes a new method for preparing the double network structure organic-inorganic composite water-retaining agent by photocatalytic surface-initiated polymerization technology. Subsequently, the photocatalytic surface-initiated polymerization mechanism was studied by IR, and the distribution of TiO2 nanoparticles in polymers as well as their interface with organic phase were observed by TEM. Additionally, the water absorption performance and the kinetic process of absorption of water-retaining agent were researched. The results show that the free radicals produced by TiO2 with UV irradiation stimulate the copolymerization of acrylamide (AM) and acrylic acid (AA) monomers on its surface. The inorganic particles of TiO2 are dispersed evenly in the polymer and the organic and inorganic two-phase interfaces are tightly integrated. Meanwhile, the organic-inorganic composite water-retaining agent has water absorption performance and the water absorbency in deionized water reaches 942 g/g (1 g TiO2-P(AM-AA) organic-inorganic composite water-retaining agent (TiO2 / AM-AA = 5:1000) can absorb 942 g water). Therefore, this work provides a reference for the research and development of new organic-inorganic composite water-retaining agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]