An eco-friendly process: Predictive modelling of copper adsorption from aqueous solution on Spirulina platensis

The adsorption of copper ions on Spirulina platensis was studied as a function of contact time, initial metal ion concentration, and initial pH regimes. Characterization of this adsorbent was confirmed by FTIR spectrum. Modified Gompertz and Logistic models have not been previously applied for the adsorption of copper. Logistic was the best model to describe experimental kinetic data. This adsorption could be explained by the intra-particle diffusion, which was composed of more than one sorption processes. Langmuir, Freundlich, and Redlich–Peterson were fitted to equilibrium data models. According to values of error functions and correlation coefficient, the Langmuir and Redlich–Peterson models were more appropriate to describe the adsorption of copper ions on S. platensis. The monolayer maximum adsorption capacity of copper ions was determined as 67.93 mg g^?1. Results indicated that this adsorbent had a great potential for removing of copper as an eco-friendly process.     

Catalytic effect of potassium carbonate on carbothermic production of hexagonal boron nitride

Effect of potassium carbonate addition on the carbothermic formation of hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) was investigated by keeping the K₂CO₃ added B₂O₃+C mixtures in nitrogen atmosphere at 1400 °C for 40–160 min. K₂CO₃ amount was varied in the range of 10–60 wt% of the B₂O₃+C mixture. Products were subjected to XRD and quantitative analyses, SEM and TEM observations, and particle size measurement. Amount of hBN increased considerably with K₂CO₃ addition; also particle size and crystallinity improved. Catalytic role of K₂CO₃ was suggested as forming a potassium borate melt in which hBN particles form, in addition to carbothermic formation reaction. Effect of K₂CO₃ on increasing the hBN amount decreased when it was used over 40%. This was attributed to the rapid evaporation of the formed potassium borate liquid.     

Spectrum of a frequency modulated pulse width modulation signal

In power electronics, the switching elements are controlled by pulse width modulated (PWM) signals making their currents on and off repeatedly. This might cause electromagnetic interference (EMI) problems especially in switched mode power supplies. One method for mitigating the EMI is to use the frequency modulation technique in the control signal of the switching metal–oxide–semiconductor field‐effect transistor. According to this approach, frequency of the PWM signal is modulated in order to spread its spectrum and hence reduce the EMI levels. This paper presents the theoretical analysis for the spectrum of a frequency modulated PWM signal. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ring Opening of Epoxidized Soybean Oil with Compounds Containing Two Different Functional Groups

Epoxidized vegetable oils are desirable chemicals due to their eco‐friendly characteristics and their being a major source of many green products. Ring opening is one of the ways to convert these epoxidized oils to some new intermediates. The use of mono‐functional amines, alcohols, acid anhydrides and thioethers for epoxy ring opening has been reported in the literature. In this study, thioglycolic acid (TGA) bearing thiol and carboxylic acid as two different functional groups and methyl ester of thioglycolic acid (TGAME) were used. Currently, there is no reported literature describing epoxy ring opening using chemicals bearing two different functional groups simultaneously. In this way, two new polyols were synthesized, one with TGA (polyol 1) and one with TGAME (polyol 2). FTIR and ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopy confirmed that the ring was opened by the carboxylic acid group of TGA, and the thiol group was not involved in the ring opening whereas the ring was opened by the thiol group in the case of TGAME.     

Development of topical hydrogels of terbinafine hydrochloride and evaluation of their antifungal activity

The purpose of this study was to prepare hydrogels and microemulsion (ME)-based gel formulations containing 1% terbinafine hydrochloride (TER-HCL) and to evaluate the use of these formulations for the antifungal treatment of fungal infections. Three different hydrogel formulations were prepared using chitosan, Carbopol® 974 and Natrosol® 250 polymers. A pseudo-ternary phase diagram was constructed, and starting from ME formulation, a ME gel form containing 1% Carbopol 974 was prepared. We also examined the characteristic properties of the prepared hyrogels. The physical stability of hydrogels and the ME -based gels were evaluated after storage at different temperatures for a period of 3 months. The release of TER-HCL from the gels and the commercial product (Lamisil®) was carried out by using a standard dialysis membrane in phosphate buffer (pH 5.2) at 32?°C. The results of the in vitro release study showed that the Natrosol gel released the highest amount of drug, followed by Carbopol gel, chitosan gel, commercial product, and the microoemulsion-based gel in that order. In vitro examination of antifungal activity revealed that all the prepared and commercial products were effective against Candida parapsilosis, Penicillium, Aspergillus niger and Microsporum. These results indicate that the Natrosol®-based hydrogel is a good candidate for the topical delivery of TER-HCL.     

The TeO2-Na2O System: Thermal Behavior,Structural Properties,and Phase Equilibria

Thermal behavior, structural properties, and phase equilibria of the (100−x)TeO₂-xNa₂O system were studied in the 5 ≤ x ≤ 50 mol% composition range. Investigation of glass formation behavior in the binary system was realized, and the glass formation range was determined as 7.5 ≤ x ≤ 40 mol%. Differential thermal analysis (DTA) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy techniques were used for thermal and structural characterization of the glasses. Influence of Na₂O content on glass transition temperature (T_g), glass stability (∆T), density (ρ), molar volume (V_M), oxygen molar volume (V_O), and oxygen packing density (OPD) values of sodium tellurite glasses was evaluated considering the structural transformations in the glass network. For the phase equilibria studies, DTA, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray (SEM/EDS) techniques were utilized to characterize the heat-treated samples. According to the phase equilibria studies, three eutectic regions were detected in the 0 < x < 50 mol% composition range of the (100−x)TeO₂-xNa₂O system. A new invariant endothermic reaction was detected for the compositions between 40 ≤ x ≤ 45 mol%. Na₂O.8TeO₂ (11.11 mol% Na₂O) compound that was claimed to exist in the binary system in the literature was found to be the metastable δ-TeO₂ phase.     

An Examination of Tabriz Gardens in Iranian Garden Art

This study was conducted to determine the place of historic gardens in the city of Tabriz vis-a-vis Iranian garden arts. It provides information on the historic gardens of Tabriz, which are no longer in existence, for example, ‘Saheb Abad’ Garden, ‘North’ Garden, ‘Sefa’ Garden, ‘Amir Kabir’ Garden, ‘Saheb Divan’Garden and ‘Fath Abad’ Garden, as well as four historical maps belonging to the Qajar era in the city of Tabriz. In this research, the factors influencing the design of El-Goli Garden were studied, which can be grouped into three major categories: physical, biological and cultural. After a brief study of the above factors in the city of Tabriz and its different microclimates, the types of similarities that exist relating to Iranian garden art were determined.     

Effect of desensitizers on the microleakage of previously restored Class V resin composite restorations

Objectives: The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of different desensitizers’ application on the microleakage of previously restored Class V composite resin restorations.

Materials and methods: Class V cavities were prepared on the buccal surfaces of 40 extracted human third molars. Forty box-shaped cavities were divided into four groups, based on the desensitizers used (n = 10). All teeth were restored with the same bonding agent and composite material. No desensitizer was applied in the control group. In the experimental groups, BisBlock, Gluma and Universal bonding agents were the desensitizers. The desensitizers were applied after completion of composite restorations according to manufacturers’ instructions. All specimens were then thermocycled at 5–55 °C, with a 10-s dwell time for 500 cycles. The samples were then immersed in 0.5% methylene blue dye for 24 h, sectioned into two equal halves, evaluated for microleakage using a stereomicroscope at 30× magnification and scored on a scale of 0–3. The data were analysed using the Kruskal–Wallis test at the significance level p < 0.05.

Results: There were no significant differences in microleakage after desensitizer application (p > 0.05). However, based on the obtained numerical values in our study, while the BisBlock and bonding groups showed lower microleakage at the occlusal margin, BisBlock, Gluma and bonding group showed lower microleakage at the gingival margin compared to the control group.

Conclusions: The application of desensitizers as a post-treatment option could be considered an advisable procedure to minimize microleakage.