Lithium solubility limit in ZnGa2O4:Bi0.0013+,Li+ phosphor

The lithium solubility limit, photoluminescence (PL) and photoluminescence excitation (PLE) properties of lithium ion co-activated ZnGa₂O₄:Bi³⁺,Li⁺ phosphor have been investigated. A LiGaO₂ second phase began to appear from 3 mol% Li⁺ ion co-activated ZnGa₂O₄:Bi³⁺,Li⁺ phosphor. The enhanced brightness of blue (λ_ex = 254 nm) and white (λ_ex = 315 nm) colors of bismuth ions doped ZnGa₂O₄:Bi³⁺,Li⁺ phosphor was assigned to the formation of LiGaO₂. Bi³⁺ activated lithium zinc gallate phosphor showed a more enhanced PLE peak around 315 nm than that of lithium zinc gallate phosphor when λ_em = 520 nm. Thus, we observed that the PL intensity of ZnGa₂O₄:Bi³⁺,Li⁺ phosphor with λ_em = 520 nm was much greater than that of ZnGa₂O₄:Li⁺ phosphor. Also, ZnGa₂O₄:Bi³⁺,Li⁺ phosphor exhibited a shorter decay time than that of ZnGa₂O₄:Li⁺ phosphor by about a factor of about 2.     

Green and gentle synthesis of Cu2O nanoparticles using lignin as reducing and capping reagent with antibacterial properties

In this work, Cu₂O nanoparticles of a particular shape were prepared by an eco-friendly, gentle and low-cost synthetic method using lignin as a reducing and capping reagent. Structure and morphology of the Cu₂O nanoparticles were characterised by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The results established that Cu₂O nanoparticles coated by lignin showed a particular shape. The morphology of Cu₂O nanoparticles presented as some loose accumulation of particles just like broccoli, and the particle size range was between 100 and 200 nm. And, the XRD revealed the structure of crystalline of the Cu₂O nanoparticles. In addition, the sterilisation of Cu₂O nanoparticles on Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) was also investigated. The Cu₂O nanoparticles showed effective bactericidal activity against E. coli and S. aureus. The antibacterial rate could get 100% after 30 min with 4.0 g/L Cu₂O nanoparticles. Furthermore, the Cu₂O nanoparticles were confirmed to have low cytotoxicity.     

Characterization of the performances of an innovative heat-exchanger/reactor

The use of heat exchanger/reactors (HEX/reactors) is a promising way to overcome the barrier of poor heat transfer in batch reactors. However to reach residence time long enough to complete the chemistry, low Reynolds number has to be combined with both a plug flow behaviour and the intensification of heat and mass transfers. This work concerns the experimental approach used to characterize an innovative HEX/reactor. The pilot is made of three process plates sandwiched between five utility plates. The process stream flows in a 2 mm corrugated channel. Pressure drop and residence time distribution characterizations aim at studying the flow hydrodynamics. Identified Darcy correlations point out the transition between laminar and turbulent flow around a Reynolds number equal to 200. Moreover the flow behaves like a quasi-plug flow (Pe > 185). The heat transfer and mixing time have also been investigated. The ratio between the reaction kinetics and the mixing time is over 100 and the intensification factor ranges from 5000 to 8000 kW m⁻³ K⁻¹. As a consequence, no limitations were identified which allows the implementation of an exothermic reaction. It has been successfully performed under severe temperature and concentration conditions, batchwise unreachable. Thus, it highlights the interest of using this continuous HEX/reactor.     

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)/mesoporous silica thermosensitive composite hydrogels for drug loading and release

Temperature-sensitive hydrogels are attracting increasing attention for controlled drug delivery. However, achieving high drug loadings and sustained drug release remains challenging. Herein, we describe the successful synthesis of a series of novel temperature-sensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPA)/mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) hydrogels by physical crosslinking of NIPA with MSN. The external and internal structures, temperature sensitivity, drug-loading capacity, and blood compatibility of the PNIPA/MSN composite hydrogels are studied. Results show that MSN addition improved the network structure and adjusted the size of the hole, MSN could also act as drug carrier, thereby enhancing the drug loading capacity. The composite hydrogels underwent a phase transition at 33.7 °C (at the lower critical solution temperature). The hemolysis rate of the composite hydrogels was less than 1%, thus they can be classified as a nonhemolytic materials with good biocompatibility. The composite hydrogels reported here thus have great potential in drug transport and temperature-activated drug release. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137, 48391.     

水热法制备Ni/Nd2O3催化剂及其催化水合联氨制氢

采用水热合成法制备了Ni/Nd₂O₃催化剂，对其催化水合联氨制氢性能进行了考察，探讨了催化剂合成条件及催化体系中NaOH浓度对催化性能的影响，并采用XRD、XPS、TEM、TG对催化剂进行了分析表征。结果表明，当Ni/Nd=94∶6、水热条件为8h、120℃时，合成的Ni/Nd₂O₃催化剂在催化水合联氨制氢时表现出了最优的催化性能，其H₂选择性为95.9%。该催化剂中Ni的结晶度较高，Nd以Nd₂O₃的形式存在，具有促进颗粒分散、暴露活性位点、协助Ni、Nd电子转移等优点。与不加NaOH溶液的催化制氢体系相比，当NaOH的加入浓度为1.3mol/L时，催化剂催化水合联氨的制氢速率提高了约3.7倍。催化剂可维持良好的稳定性，循环使用5次后H₂选择性仍高达94.4%。     

Recovery and characterization of lignin from alkaline straw pulping black liquor: As feedstock for bio‐oil research

Conversion of lignin derived from lignocellulosic biomass to bio‐oil has the promising potential to significantly reduce petroleum dependence. For that purpose, it is necessary to search for a low‐cost lignin source. In this study, lignin sample was separated from straw pulping black liquor by HCl‐precipitation, followed by extraction with a mixture of dioxane and water. The content of lignin in the total black liquor solid reached up to 34.8%, determined by UV spectroscopy, and the yield could account for 74.4% of the total lignin composition. The structure of lignin was investigated by various spectroscopic techniques such as FTIR, ¹H‐NMR, XRD, and XPS. The structural analysis revealed that recovered lignin preserved basic lignin structure, but had relatively lower amount of β‐O‐4 linkages. The molecular weights were studied through THF‐eluted GPC showing that separated lignin had the low M_n, which was favorable for the full degradation process during conversion of lignin to bio‐oil. Therefore, a feasible solution for effective utilization of lignin in straw pulping black liquor as feedstock for bio‐oil was proposed in the study. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42057.     

Concept for automated computer-aided identification and evaluation of potentially non-compliant food products traded via electronic commerce

The online marketplace for food products is continually expanding and all types of food and beverages can now be purchased over the internet. It is primarily the responsibility of the food business operator to ensure compliance with food safety law. However, the competent authorities are tasked with controlling the e-food sector as part of their regulatory duties to protect consumer health and to prevent fraud, regardless of the sales channel being used. For this purpose, a new software prototype concept was developed that automatically identifies and evaluates potentially non-compliant e-food products. The prototype was developed using a modular architecture comprising a research tool, an image analysis tool, and a monitoring tool. User-defined thresholds are applied to assess the reliability of the retrieved data. Results that are not deemed reliable enough can be reworked using a computer-aided evaluation interface. The research tool utilizes both internet search engines and customized search algorithms. A multi-stage filtering process is performed to limit the sites according to defined criteria (e.g. food product merchants only). The data acquisition module stores all matching data from webpages for later analysis and preservation of evidence. In another module, automatic recognition of a site's legal notice (impressum) is carried out for the respective vendor within whose online shop a potentially non-compliant food product is being offered. The image analysis tool performs logo recognition to enrich the text-based information of websites, thus providing additional visual information. The monitoring tool performs regular automated monitoring of e-food vendors, products and ingredients. The proof of principle of the prototype was achieved by conducting a web search for hazardous food products containing synephrine and caffeine. In total, 1242 product offerings on the internet for suspicious food products were identified among the 8683 search results. The software prototype has potential to enhance consumer protection and food safety with respect to e-foods.     

高效液相色谱法测定水果中脂溶性维生素含量的研究

建立了反相色谱法同时测定水果中脂溶性维生素的方法,色谱条件为甲醇：水=97：3,检测波长：300nm,流速：1.0mL/m in,样品在20m in内达到基线分离。该方法适用于测定水果蔬菜等低含量脂溶性维生素的测定,准确性高,灵敏度好,是一种快速简单的分离脂溶性维生素的有效方法,适用于水果的质量控制,填补了国内检测低脂溶性维生素含量检测方法的空白。     

Effects of pyrolysis temperature on the chemical composition of refined softwood and hardwood lignins

The current study uses nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy to investigate the evolution of refined softwood and hardwood lignins under various pyrolytic exposures. Little chemical change occurred at pyrolysis temperatures of 250 and 300 °C, whereas significant mass loss and chemical change was observed at 400 and 500 °C. These losses were mainly attributed to evolution of methoxyl, hydroxyl, and propyl groups. Mass loss plateaued following pyrolysis at 500 °C, but rearrangements continued to occur at higher temperatures, resulting in char that became increasingly polyaromatic in nature. Following brief pyrolytic exposures at 500 and 600 °C, the refined hardwood and softwood lignins yielded coal-like products. Lignin pyrolyzed at higher temperatures yielded chars with greater order, similar in composition to coke. These coal and coke-like products are called “lignin-based carbon” (LBC). The polyaromatic nature of the LBC after high temperature pyrolysis was perceived as the result of radical formation and recombination, leading to fused aromatic structures, which occurs more readily at higher temperatures.