Adsorptive polyHIPE composites based on biosorbent immobilized nanoclay: Effects of immobilization techniques

Styrene/divinyl benzene‐based macroporous polyHIPE composites were prepared from water‐in‐oil (w/o) high internal phase emulsion (HIPE) templates by using both organo‐modified montmorillonite (MMT) and a nonionic surfactant. For this purpose, Spirulina (Sp) microalgae was immobilized onto Na‐MMT clay by using two different modification techniques. They are based on conventional adsorption in solution (SOL) and novel cryoscopic expansion (C‐XP) assisted adsorption. Highly porous nanocomposites were prepared by using different percentages of modified nanoclays (SpSOLM/SpXPM) with a constant internal phase volume of 80%. The emulsion stability, morphology, and dye adsorption capacities were discussed by paying attention to nanoclay immobilization techniques, clay loading degree and surfactant concentration. The critical amount of nonionic surfactant for formation of the stable neat HIPE template was found to be only 5 vol% with respect to volume of organic phase. However, this amount was further reduced to much less value (2 vol%) with Sp immobilized nanoclays via help of cooperative interactions of Sp and MMT nanoclay. The C‐XP assisted modification of clay led to nanocomposites with 580% higher adsorption capacity for cationic dye. This remarkable benefit was obtained with even 0.5% clay loading and only 2% surfactant concentration. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 58:1229–1240, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers     

LDPE/Bi2O3 nanocomposites: Enhanced mechanical,dielectric, and optical properties

This study is focused on investigating the role of bismuth oxide (Bi₂O₃) nanoparticles to improve structural, optical, electrical, and mechanical properties of low-density polyethylene (LDPE). For this purpose, Bi₂O₃ nanoparticles were synthesized by using the solvothermal method and examined by transmission electron microscopes (TEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) light absorption methods. LDPE-based nanocomposites were prepared by changing the nanoparticle additive ratio in the composite from 0% to 2% by weight. The composites were analyzed in the context of their FTIR spectra, atomic force microscope (AFM) images, UV–Vis light absorption spectra, stress–strain curves, and energy storage abilities. While the AFM findings indicate a smoother surface for the composites, the optical band gap analysis reveals a slightly decreased direct optical band gap energy. The analyses based on dielectric spectroscopy also highlight the LDPE/0.5% n-Bi₂O₃ composite in terms of the best energy storage capability. Additionally, the highest Young's modulus, toughness, stress at break, and percentage of strain at break were also recorded for the LDPE/0.5% n-Bi₂O₃ composite. In this context, the LDPE/0.5% n-Bi₂O₃ composite with improved dielectric and mechanical properties can be suggested as a new promising LDPE-based nanocomposite with better properties for industrial purposes.     

Fruit juice–alcohol mixture analysis using machine learning and electronic nose

The aim of this study is to analyze the raw data collected from a fruit juice–alcohol mixture (a fruit juice–alcohol mixture and a fruit juice–multiple alcohol mixture) and the Halal authentication of a fruit juice–alcohol mixture with electronic nose. Machine learning techniques such as naïve Bayesian classifier, K‐nearest neighbors (K‐NN), linear discriminant analysis (LDA), decision tree, artificial neural network (ANN), and support vector machine (SVM) were used to classify the feature of these collected raw data. There are three types of classification: the first one is a fruit juice and an alcohol mixture type; the second is a fruit juice and multiple alcohol mixture types, and the third is a Halal authentication of a fruit juice and alcohol mixture. We aimed at making cocktails with more successful results on the first two types of classification in the work. Also, we focused on Halal authentication of fruit juice–alcohol mixture in the third classification. © 2016 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.