Determining the structure and stability of essential oil-sunflower wax and beeswax oleogels

In this study, essential oil oleogels were produced using eucalyptus, lavender, lemon peel and tea tree oils with sunflower and beeswax. The physicochemical, thermal, textural, and structural features of the oleogels were determined. For the essential oils used, an addition level of less than 15% of beeswax (BW) was insufficient to form stable oleogels, whereas an addition level of 10% of sunflower wax (SW) was sufficient to form stable oleogels. The acid and peroxide values of the gels were higher than those of the oils. All of the oleogels exhibited peaks around 3.70 and 4.10, indicating the presence of β' polymorphic forms. The hardness and stickiness values of the oleogels were influenced by the type and level of wax addition, as well as the viscosity of the oil used. Based on the thermal analysis results, the oleogels based on beeswax exhibited lower melting properties compared to those based on sunflower wax. The thermogravimetric data indicated that the polymeric matrices formed by the waxes, which depended on the type and level of wax addition, affected the vaporization of the volatiles. In conclusion, oleogels represent a green and sustainable approach for reducing the loss of volatile or bioactive compounds from various essential oils, which are widely used in the food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries.     

Solution behavior of Na sulfonated polystyrene: Dipole moment determinations

Solution behavior of Na sulfonated polystyrene (NaSPS) ionomers with different percentages of sulfonate was studied by viscosity and dipole moment measurements. Two solvents of different character were chosen, i.e. dioxane (? = 2.22) and dimethyl formamide (DMF, ? = 36) and their mixtures. The reduced viscosity as a function of concentration in polar solvents reflects the ‘polyelectrolyte’ behaviour of the ionomers. Mean-squared dipole moment (<μ²>/x) values were calculated over a temperature range of 20–100°C, in dioxane and in a mixture of 4% DMF in dioxane. The results confirm the ‘polyelectrolyte’ behavior of ionomers by the addition of a small amount of polar cosolvent. The effect of increasing temperature on <μ²>/x in the DMF-dioxane mixture is attributed to the formation of a coordination complex.     

Biological denitrification of drinking water in a slow sand filter

Biological removal of nitrate from drinking water was studied in a slow sand filter. Optimum carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N) was found to be 1.8 when using acetic acid in batch tests. The filtration rates impact on NO(3)-N removal through the sand filter was assessed for 22.6 mgNO(3)-N/l concentrations while keeping C/N ratio as 1.8 for acetic acid. The filtration rates varied from 0.015, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, and 0.06 m/h, respectively, corresponding to an overall average NO(3)-N removal efficiency of 94%. Although increasing filtration rates decreased NO(3)-N removal, effluent NO(3)-N concentrations at the effluent port were lower than the limit value. The slow sand filter process was unable to provide NO(3)-N removal rate more than 27.1 gN/(m(2)day) (0.05 m/h flow rate). The NO(3)-N removal efficiency slightly dropped from 99% to 94% when the loading rate increased from 27.1 to 32.5 g/(m(2)day), but the effluent water contained higher concentration of NO(2)-N than the standard value.     

Effect of processing techniques on antioxidative enzyme activities, antioxidant capacity, phenolic compounds, and fatty acids of table olives

In this study, olive fruits (Olea europeae cv. Gemlik) of the most common sources of table olives in Turkey were used. Total polyphenol content (TPC), antioxidant capacity (AC), and antioxidant enzymes (catalase, CAT; ascorbate peroxidase, APX; and glutathione reductase, GR) of table olives were compared by 4 different methods of ripe table olive processing. Results revealed that TPC of the processed olives ranged from 117.44 to 418.69 mg gallic acid equivalents/g fresh weight (f.w.). The highest AC as mg Trolox equivalents of 189.58/g f.w. was obtained from unprocessed black olives. CAT, APX, and GR activities of unprocessed olives were higher than those obtained in all processed olives. In conclusion, TPC, AC, and antioxidant enzyme activities are strongly affected by fruit ripening and processing in table olives of ‘Gemlik’ cultivar. In addition, the best processing technique is untreated black olives in brine for antioxidant properties.     

The Effects of Mg Substitution in Bi-2223 Superconductors

The effects of Mg substitution in Bi-2223 superconductor system has been studied for the Bi_1.7Pb_0.3Sr₂Ca₂Cu_3−x Mg _x O _y nominal composition (x=0.00, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15 and 0.20) which was prepared by the conventional solid-state reaction. The properties of these compounds have been investigated by measuring the electrical resistivity, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and density. Also, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to investigate the surface microstructure of the samples. It has been found that the effects of Mg substitution support the development of both the Bi-2212 and Bi-2223 phases. These measurements and analyses enable us to discuss the effects of Mg dopant on superconducting properties. We found that onset critical temperatures (T _c, onset) decrease with addition x>0.10 in resistivity measurements. The presence of Mg influenced the microstructure of the samples and decreased the mean grain size of Bi-2223 grains up to x=0.10.     

Optical dispersion and dielectric properties of rubrene organic semiconductor thin film

Rubrene thin film has been fabricated on a glass substrate by spin-coating at 300 K. The optical dispersion and dielectric properties of the film have been determined from the analysis of transmittance and reflectance measurements at normal incident of light between 200 and 700 nm. The optical transmittance of the film was estimated as of 80–85 % in the visible range. Optical absorption characteristics show that the absorption mechanism is due to the indirect transition. The transport and onset optical energy gaps were determined as 2.93 and 2.31 eV, respectively. Single term Sellmeier dispersion relation and Wemple–DiDomenico single oscillator model were used to determine the optical dispersion parameters. Several dispersion parameters such as lattice dielectric constant, optical dielectric constant at higher frequency, dispersion energy, oscillator energy, the ratio of carrier concentration to the effective mass, the average oscillator wavelength, and average oscillator strength were determined by analysis of refractive index dispersion. The loss factor, the electric modulus, the optical conductivity, the volume and surface energy loss functions, and the relaxation time were also evaluated from the optical dielectric constants analysis.     

A Center for Teaching Design in Electrical and Computer Engineering

We describe a new approach which is currently being used in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at North Carolina State University to provide engineering design education for our undergraduate students. We have formed an Undergraduate Design Center which closely interacts with local industry to attract real-life design projects. Students work on these projects with faculty and industry mentors to fulfill the requirements of a one-semester design course. The center makes use of a networked computer environment which facilitates preliminary design.