Synthesis and proton conductivity studies of 5‐aminotetrazole‐doped sulfonated polymer electrolyte membranes

This work reports the preparation and characterization of a new anhydrous proton conducting membrane based on poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), sulfosuccinic acid (SSA), and 5‐aminotetrazole (ATet) at various stoichiometric ratios. The proton conductivities of membranes were investigated as a function of ATet composition, SSA composition, and temperature. New anhydrous proton conducting membranes were characterized by infrared spectra, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), methanol permeability, and impedance measurements for proton conductivity. TGA showed that the samples were thermally stable up to 150°C. DSC results illustrated the homogeneity of the materials. Mechanical analysis showed that the storage modulus of the PVA–SSA–ATet blend polymer membranes decreased with increasing ATet content. The membranes with higher tetrazole content, or higher acid doping level presented the higher proton conductivity. PVA–SSA–ATet4 can exhibit an anhydrous proton conductivity of 1.7 × 10⁻³ S/cm at 130°C and the proton conductivity increased with increasing temperature and acid doping level. POLYM. COMPOS., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers     

KCNQ1 Haplotypes Associate with Type 2 Diabetes in Malaysian Chinese Subjects

The aim of this study was to investigate the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and haplotypes of potassium voltage-gated channel, KQT-like subfamily, member 1 (KCNQ1) with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Malaysian Chinese subjects. The KCNQ1 SNPs rs2237892, rs2283228 and rs2237895 were genotyped in 300 T2D patients and 230 control subjects without diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Two logistic regression models of analysis were applied, the first adjusted for age and gender while the second adjusted for age, gender and body mass index. The additive genetic analysis showed that adjusting for body mass index (BMI) even strengthened association of rs2237892, rs2283228 and rs2237895 with T2D (OR = 2.0, P = 5.1 × 10(-5); OR = 1.9, P = 5.2 × 10(-5); OR = 1.9, P = 7.8 × 10(-5), respectively). The haplotype TCA containing the allele of rs2237892 (T), rs2283228 (C) and rs2237895 (A) was highly protective against T2D (Second model; OR = 0.17, P = 3.7 × 10(-11)). The KCNQ1 rs2237892 (TT), and the protective haplotype (TCA) were associated with higher beta-cell function (HOMA-B) in normal subjects (P = 0.0002; 0.014, respectively). This study found that KCNQ1 SNPs was associated with T2D susceptibility in Malaysian Chinese subjects. In addition, certain KCNQ1 haplotypes were strongly associated with T2D.     

Al2O3/Yttria‐Stabilized Zirconia Hollow‐Fiber Membrane Incorporated with Iron Oxide for Pb(II) Removal

Removal by absorptive ceramic membranes can simultaneously absorb and separate metal ions from water. Alumina/yttria‐stabilized zirconia (Al₂O₃/YSZ) hollow‐fiber membranes, fabricated using phase inversion and sintering process, were deposited with iron oxide by an in‐situ hydrothermal process. The results showed that α‐Fe₂O₃ was produced and incorporated across the membranes. A reduction in flux was recorded with the deposition of α‐Fe₂O_3. However, it improved the adsorption capacity for heavy metal adsorption. The adsorption‐separation test demonstrated that the optimized membrane is able to completely remove Pb(II) ions after two hours.     

Lipase‐catalyzed production of medium‐chain triacylglycerols from palm kernel oil distillate: Optimization using response surface methodology

Optimization of lipase‐catalyzed esterification for the production of medium‐chain triacylglycerols (MCT) from palm kernel oil distillate and glycerol was carried out in order to determine the factors that have significant effects on the reaction system and MCT yield. Novozyme 435 from Candida antarctica lipase was found to have the highest activity at 52.87 ± 0.03 U/g. This lipase also produced the highest MCT yield, which is 56.67%. The effect of different variables on MCT synthesis was studied with a two‐level five‐factor fractional factorial design. The various variables include (1) reaction temperature, (2) enzyme load, (3) molecular sieves concentration, (4) reaction time and (5) molar substrate ratio. Reaction temperature, reaction time and molar substrate ratio strongly affect MCT synthesis (p <0.05). However, enzyme load and molecular sieve concentration did not have a significant (p >0.05) influence on MCT yield. Therefore, the significant variables such as reaction temperature, reaction time and molar substrate ratio were further optimized through central composite rotatable design (CCRD). Comparisons between predicted and experimental values from the CCRD optimization procedures revealed good correlation, implying that the quadric response model satisfactorily expressed the percentage yield of MCT in the lipase‐catalyzed esterification. The optimum MCT yield is 73.3% by using 2 wt‐% enzyme dosage, a molecular sieves concentration of 1 wt‐%, a reaction temperature of 90 °C, a reaction time of 10 h and a molar substrate ratio of 4 : 1 (medium‐chain fatty acid/glycerol). Experiments to confirm the predicted results using the optimal parameters were conducted and an MCT yield of 70.21 ± 0.18% (n = 3) was obtained.     

Effects of partial replacement of commercial fillers by recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) powder on the properties of natural rubber composites

Commercial fillers, including carbon black (N550), halloysite nanotubes (HNTs), and precipitated silica, were replaced by recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) powder (R‐PET) in natural rubber (NR) composites. Five different compositions of NR/N550/R‐PET, NR/HNTs/R‐PET, and NR/silica/R‐PET compounds, i.e., 100/20/0, 100/15/5, 100/10/10, 100/5/15, and 100/0/20 parts per hundred rubber (phr), were prepared on a two‐roll mill. The curing behavior, tensile properties, and morphological characteristics of the natural rubber composites were investigated. The results indicated that the replacement of carbon black, HNTs, and silica by R‐PET decreased the tensile strength and tensile modulus, such that NR/silica/R‐PET composites showed the lowest effect, followed by NR/HNTs/R‐PET and NR/N550/R‐PET composites. The negative effect on these properties can be explained by the decrease of crosslink density. The curing results revealed that with the replacement of carbon black by R‐PET, the scorch time and cure time decreased, but that the NR/HNTs/R‐PET and NR/silica/R‐PET composites exhibited the opposite trend. Scanning electron microscopy investigation of tensile fracture surfaces confirmed that the co‐incorporation of N550/R‐PET improved the dispersion of R‐PET and enhanced the interaction between the fillers and NR matrix more than R‐PET and silica/R‐PET hybrid fillers. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Polyphenol-rich seaweed (Eucheuma cottonii) extract suppresses breast tumour via hormone modulation and apoptosis induction

The edible red seaweed Eucheuma cottonii is abundantly cultivated for carrageenan production. This study investigated the effects of dietary E. cottonii polyphenol-rich extract (ECME) on breast cancer. In vitro assays showed that ECME was antiproliferative against oestrogen-dependent MCF-7 and oestrogen-independent MB-MDA-231 human breast-cancer cells (IC₅₀ values of 20 and 42 μg/ml, respectively) but was non-toxic to normal cell lines. The ECME (150 and 300 mg/kg BW) was fed to female rats and, after 4 weeks, rat mammary tumour was induced using LA7 cells (inoculated subcutaneously). The ECME inhibited tumour development and erythrocyte lipid peroxidation in the cancer-induced rats, dose-dependently. It showed anti-oestrogenic effects on the rat estrous cycle and serum hormone levels. Electron microscopy and histopathology observations confirmed apoptosis in the rat mammary tumours. The polyphenol-rich ECME was tumour-suppressive via apoptosis induction, downregulating the endogenous oestrogen biosynthesis, and improving antioxidative status in the rats.     

Influence of kenaf form and loading on the properties of kenaf‐filled polypropylene/waste tire dust composites: A comparison study

Kenaf (KNF)‐filled polypropylene/waste tire dust (PP/WTD) composites containing different KNF loadings (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 parts per hundred parts of resin (phr)) were prepared using a Thermo Haake Polydrive internal mixer. The influence of the KNF form (KNF short fiber (KNFs) and KNF powder (KNFp)) at different KNF loadings on properties of the composites was studied. Results showed that with increasing KNF loading, the stabilization torque, tensile modulus, water absorption, and thermal properties increased for both KNFp‐ and KNFs‐filled PP/WTD composites. However, the tensile strength and elongation at break decreased by 29.2% and 53.9%, respectively, for KNFp‐filled PP/WTD composites, whereas KNFs‐filled PP/WTD composites showed a decrement of 24.5% and 63.5%, respectively. The stabilization torque, tensile strength, and tensile modulus increased by 22.4%, 6.7%, and 2.6%, respectively, for KNFs‐filled PP/WTD composites at 20 phr KNF loading. The scanning electron microscopy morphological studies on the tensile fractured surfaces revealed poor adhesion between KNFp and PP/WTD matrices as compared to KNFs and PP/WTD matrices. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40877.     

Effect of Vinyl Alcohol-Phthalic Anhydride on Properties of Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE)/Tyre Dust (TD) Composites

The effect of vinyl alcohol-phthalic anhydride as a coupling agent on the tensile properties, morphology, and thermal degradation of low density polyethylene/tyre dust (LDPE/TD) composites was studied. LDPE/TD composites with different tyre dust loading and the addition of vinyl alcohol-phthalic anhydride were prepared with Z-blade mixer at 180°C and rotor speed of 50 rpm. The result indicated that LDPE/TD_M composites with vinyl alcohol-phthalic anhydride show higher values of tensile strength, Young's modulus and mass swell, but lower elongation at break than LDPE/TD composites without vinyl alcohol-phthalic anhydride. The SEM micrographs showed that the tyre dust was more widely dispersed in the LDPE matrix with the addition of vinyl alcohol-phthalic anhydride as a coupling agent. It was also found that the addition of vinyl alcohol-phthalic anhydride offers better thermal stability in the LDPE/TD_M composites than LDPE/TD composites.     

One Step Synthesis of NiO Nanoparticles via Solid-State Thermal Decomposition at Low-Temperature of Novel Aqua(2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline)NiCl2 Complex

[NiCl₂(C₁₄H₁₂N₂)(H₂O)] complex has been synthesized from nickel chloride hexahydrate (NiCl₂·6H₂O) and 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (dmphen) as N,N-bidentate ligand. The synthesized complex was characterized by elemental analysis, infrared (IR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy and differential thermal/thermogravimetric analysis (TG/DTA). The complex was further confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD) as triclinic with space group P-1. The desired complex, subjected to thermal decomposition at low temperature of 400 ºC in an open atmosphere, revealed a novel and facile synthesis of pure NiO nanoparticles with uniform spherical particle; the structure of the NiO nanoparticles product was elucidated on the basis of Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), UV-vis spectroscopy, TG/DTA, XRD, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDXS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).     

Energy storage capacity investigation of pulsed current formed nano-structured lead dioxide

An electro-deposition method was used for the preparation of nano-structured lead dioxide. The lead dioxide films prepared were used as positive electrodes of lead acid batteries. Different parameters such as pulse time (t_on), pulse height, and relaxation time (t_off) were optimized to obtain higher capacity. Depend on the pulse conditions, a range of different morphologies of various porosities and connectivity was obtained. The resulting batteries were discharged to a cut off voltage of 1.75 V by a pulsed current method. The energy storage ability of the prepared lead acid batteries shows a close relation with the morphology of cathode materials. Maximum capacity was observed when pulse and relaxation time was equal to 0.1 and 5 s, respectively, at a current density of 25 mA cm⁻². A change in morphology of lead dioxide from aggregated globular structure to nanofiber was occurred. It was found that the high surface area as well as high connectivity between particles resulted in increased discharge capacity. Analysis of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) data revealed that the charge transfer resistance is decreased by a change in morphology from bulk globular to nanofiber as the energy storage test showed. The time dependence of impedance behavior of a sample prepared at t_on = 0.1 s and t_off = 5 s at 25 mA cm⁻² was investigated and the results are discussed.