Thermally Pretreated 46% Pt/Vulcan XC72: Characterisation by TGA/DSC/TEM and Cyclic Voltammetry

We report a study of thermal stability and impact of thermal pretreatment procedures for 46% Pt/Vulcan XC72 (Tanaka) fuel cell catalyst. Stability in air and in inert gas (nitrogen, argon, helium) has been investigated by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), TGA‐mass spectrometry (TGA‐MS) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Two distinct low temperature mass loss processes (100–200 and 285–300 °C) were observed, each exhibiting unique pretreatment temperature dependencies. TGA‐MS data in helium show fragment ions that suggest the thermal degradation processes are associated with decomposition of materials such as processing aids. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) reveals a modest increase in average Pt nanoparticle size upon thermal pretreatment. After a pretreatment protocol based on TEM and thermal characterisation (300 °C/15 min, N₂), the electrochemically active surface area did not increase. At the kinetically controlled potential region (E >0.8 V) there was a small drop in current density for treated 46% Pt/C in comparison with as‐received catalyst. The slowing in ORR kinetics is significant. Apparently, the removal of organic components, which would improve mass transport, is negated by increased nanoparticle size.     

Leaching of blended copper slag in microwave oven

Leaching of blended slag (BS) was investigated in a microwave oven using hydrogen peroxide and acetic acid. The BS was a mixture of converter and flash furnace slag containing 51% Fe₂O₃, 3.8% CuO, and 3.2% ZnO. The important variables that influence the metal extraction yield were leaching time, liquid-solid ratio, H₂O₂ and CH₃COOH concentrations. The preferred leaching conditions were as follows: CH₃COOH concentration 4 mol/L; H₂O₂ concentration 4 mol/L; microwave power 900 W; leaching time 30 min; liquid-solid ratio 25 mL/g BS; leaching temperature 100 °C. Under these conditions, the metal extractions of 95% Cu, 1.6% Fe, and 30% Zn were obtained. The results were compared with the traditional leaching results. It is evident that microwave heating causes a reduction in the leaching time. Also, the extraction yield results indicate that selective leaching of BS can be achieved under the preferred conditions. The dissolution kinetic of BS in hydrogen peroxide with acetic acid is controlled by a shrinking unreacted core model equation. The apparent activation energy and reaction order were found to be 16.64 kJ/mol and 1.09, respectively.     

New quality criteria in wastewater reuse : The case of Gran Canaria

Wastewater reuse plays a key role in this vital cycle of water because it is able to reduce the wastewater spilled. Simultaneously, the supply of water for specific uses is increased. A new regulation (Royal Decree 1620/2007) came into force in Spain in December 2007 and regulates the basic conditions for the wastewater reuse and establishes the required criteria of quality to waters according to use.In the present paper, different kinds of tertiary treatments in reuse of wastewater are described. We focused on the applied tertiary treatments in most wastewater treatment plants of Gran Canaria Island. Particularly, we analysed Hoya del Pozo wastewater treatment plant due to its wide number of technologies and processes.Finally, we reviewed the quality criteria used in the regenerated waters, in agreement with the new regulations.     

A combo technology of autotrophic and heterotrophic denitrification processes for groundwater treatment

In this study,a sequential process (heterotrophic up-flow column and completely mixed membrane bioreactors) was proposed combining advantages of the both processes.The system was operated for 249 days with simulated and real groundwater for nitrate removal at concentrations varying from 25 to 145 mg·L-1 NO3-N.The contribution of heterotrophic process to total nitrate removal in the system was controlled by dozing the ethanol considering the nitrate concentration.By this way,sulfur based autotrophic denitrification rate was decreased and the effluent sulfate concentrations were controlled.The alkalinity requirement in the autotrophic process was produced in the heterotrophic reactor,and the system was operated without alkalinity supplementation.Throughout the study,the chemical oxygen demand in the heterotrophic reactor effluent was (23.7 ± 22) mg·L-1 and it was further decreased to(7.5 ± 7.2) mg·L-1 in the system effluent,corresponding to a 70％ reduction.In the last period of the study,the real groundwater containing 145 mg·L-1 NO3-N was completely removed.Membrane was operated without chemical washing in the first 114 days.Between days 115-249 weekly chemical washing was required.     

Effects of the Anti-Tumorigenic Agent AT101 on Human Glioblastoma Cells in the Microenvironmental Glioma Stem Cell Niche

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a barely treatable disease due to its profound chemoresistance. A distinct inter- and intratumoral heterogeneity reflected by specialized microenvironmental niches and different tumor cell subpopulations allows GBMs to evade therapy regimens. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop alternative treatment strategies. A promising candidate for the treatment of GBMs is AT101, the R(-) enantiomer of gossypol. The present study evaluates the effects of AT101, alone or in combination with temozolomide (TMZ), in a microenvironmental glioma stem cell niche model of two GBM cell lines (U251MG and U87MG). AT101 was found to induce strong cytotoxic effects on U251MG and U87MG stem-like cells in comparison to the respective native cells. Moreover, a higher sensitivity against treatment with AT101 was observed upon incubation of native cells with a stem-like cell-conditioned medium. This higher sensitivity was reflected by a specific inhibitory influence on the p-p42/44 signaling pathway. Further, the expression of CXCR7 and the interleukin-6 receptor was significantly regulated upon these stimulatory conditions. Since tumor stem-like cells are known to mediate the development of tumor recurrences and were observed to strongly respond to the AT101 treatment, this might represent a promising approach to prevent the development of GBM recurrences.     

Designing carbon-supported Fe2O3 anodes for lithium ion batteries

Journal of Applied Electrochemistry - In this study, within the defined orthogonal array of Taguchi design, the hydrothermal process parameters have been optimized for fabricating the smallest...     

A comparative study for synthesis methods of nano-structured (9Ni–2Mg–Y) alloy catalysts and effect of the produced alloy on hydrogen desorption properties of MgH2

9Ni–2Mg–Y alloy powders were prepared by arc melting, induction melting, mechanical alloying, solid state reaction and subsequent ball milling processes. The results showed that melting processes are not suitable for preparation of 9Ni–2Mg–Y alloy due to high losses of Mg and Y. Therefore, 9Ni–2Mg–Y alloy powder was prepared by three methods including: 1) mechanical alloying, 2) mechanical alloying + solid state reaction + ball milling, and 3) mixing + solid state reaction + ball milling. The prepared 9Ni–2Mg–Y alloy powders were compared for their catalytic effects on hydrogen desorption of MgH₂. It is found that 9Ni–2Mg–Y alloy powder prepared by mechanical alloying + solid state reaction + ball milling method has a smaller particle size (1–5 μm) and higher surface area (1.7 m² g⁻¹) than that of other methods. H₂ desorption tests revealed that addition of 9Ni–2Mg–Y alloy prepared by mechanical alloying + solid state reaction + ball milling to MgH₂ decreases the hydrogen desorption temperature of MgH₂ from 425 to 210 °C and improves the hydrogen desorption capacity from 0 to 3.5 wt.% at 350 °C during 8 min.     

Thermodynamic analysis of the interaction between 3-aminophenylboronic acid and monosaccharides for development of biosensor

The special interaction between 3-aminophenylboronic acid and monosaccharides, particularly glucose, fructose and galactose, has been investigated and used for the development of electrochemical and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) based saccharide sensors. The binding constants and thermodynamic parameters of interaction such as free energy of binding (ΔG), enthalpy (ΔH) and entropy (ΔS) were determined for the first time using isothermal titration calorimetry revealed the enthalpic and entropic contributions to the free energies of binding. Effects of pH and buffer on the binding constants (k) between 3-aminophenylboronic acid and monosaccharides were also examined. The binding constant of fructose was found to be six times higher than glucose and four times higher than galactose at pH 11, leading the specific detection of fructose. SPR and potentiometric calibration for fructose were linear in the concentration range of 10–120 mM and 8–84 mM, respectively. Limit of detection of the SPR and potentiometric method were found to be as 8.9 mM and 1.4 mM, respectively.     

Magnetic hydrophobic affinity nanobeads for lysozyme separation

N-Methacryloyl-l-phenylalanine (MAPA) containing poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate) based magnetic [mag-poly(HEMA–MAPA)] nanobeads was prepared for lysozyme purification form chicken egg white. MAPA was synthesized by reacting methacryloyl chloride with l-phenylalanine methyl ester and provided hydrophobic functionality to the nanobeads. Size of mag-poly(HEMA–MAPA) nanobeads was 386 nm and obtained by surfactant free emulsion polymerization of HEMA and MAPA having a specific surface area of 580 m²/g. Mag-poly(HEMA–MAPA) nanobeads were characterized by FTIR, AFM, TEM, ESR, and elemental analysis. Lysozyme adsorption experiments were investigated under different conditions in batch system (i.e., medium pH, protein concentration, temperature, salt type). Lysozyme adsorption capacity of mag-poly(HEMA) and mag-poly(HEMA–MAPA) nanobeads from aqueous solutions was estimated as 24 and 517 mg/g, respectively. Lysozyme molecules were desorbed with 50% ethylene glycol solution with 98% recovery. It was observed that mag-poly(HEMA–MAPA) nanobeads can be used without significant decrease in lysozyme adsorption capacity after ten adsorption–desorption cycles. Mag-poly(HEMA–MAPA) nanobeads was used for the purification of lysozyme from chicken egg white. Purity of lysozyme was estimated by SDS-PAGE.     

Failure Analysis of a Location Axle in Tracked Tractor

In this study, a failure analysis was performed on the location axle (brace axle) of a blade on a tracked tractor used in agricultural areas. The analysis included evaluation of the macrostructure of the damage and the microstructure of the material, as well as a chemical analysis of the material. A commercial finite element method software package was used to determine the behavior of the location axle under the defined boundary conditions. After all the examination steps were completed, the main reason for the damage was determined to be manufacture and material error despite the presence of fatigue tracks in the damaged area. In addition, a heat treatment was carried out with the specimens taken from the damaged area and microstructure was re-examined. The experimental and simulation evaluation results provide a technical basis for suggestions to prevent future damage to the location axle.