Preparation of MgO nano-rods with strong catalytic activity via hydrated basic magnesium carbonates

MgO nano-rods of several microns in length and 50–100 nm in width were prepared by calcining nesquehonite phase, obtained by simple precipitation using (NH₄)₂CO₃ under ambient condition. The MgO nano-rod with reasonably high surface area (75–120 m² g⁻¹) exhibits strong activity in solvent-free base catalyzed Claisen-Schmidt condensation giving 99% conversion in 2 h and is easily recyclable with no significant change in catalytic activity. Presence of numerous basic sites of different strengths (surface hydroxyl groups, low coordinate O²⁻ sites) is attributed to the observed effect.     

Coupling of various methods for the investigation of the morphology of blends of natural rubber and polybutadiene

The aim of this work is to develop a set of experimental methods to investigate the morphology of blends of two immiscible elastomers, namely natural rubber (NR) and polybutadiene (PB). Selective extraction, dynamic mechanical spectroscopy in the melt, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to get information on the structure of unfilled and uncured blends. 1,2‐dichloroethane and 4‐methyl‐2‐pentanone (MIBK) were employed to dissolve selectively NR and PB in specific conditions to assess the continuity of the phases. In oscillatory shear flow at low frequencies and low volume fractions of the minor phase, the storage modulus shows an excess of elasticity that increases with the dispersed phase content. At higher concentration of the minor phase, the elasticity decreases in relation to the morphology. Samples were also ultra cryo‐microtomed and then analyzed by TEM. The superposition of the three methods highlights the existence of a phase‐inversion point for these systems. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Effect of ultrasound,centrifugation, and enzymatic pretreatments on phytochemical properties and membrane fouling during microfiltration of Sohiong (Prunus nepalensis L.) juice

Food Science and Biotechnology - The study aimed to investigate the effects of various pretreatment methods on sohiong fruit juice during the microfiltration process. The ultrasound,...     

The effect of nitrogen flow rate on TiBN coatings deposited on cold work tool steel

TiBN coatings have high hardness and high adhesion. Due to these excellent properties there has been increasing interest in TiBN coatings. In this study, TiBN coatings were deposited on AISI D2 cold work tool steel and silicon wafers by closed field unbalanced magnetron sputtering (CFUBMS). The structural, mechanical and adhesion properties of these coatings were analysed by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, microhardness test, indentation test and scratch tests. TiBN coatings produced by magnetron sputtering exhibited a dense and columnar structure. These results indicate that TiB₂, TiN and h-BN exist in crystalline forms at all coatings. The highest hardness was obtained at the lowest nitrogen flow rate. Very few cracks were observed at the edge of the indentation marks at the highest nitrogen flow rate. The highest critical load obtained with scratch test was identified as 102?N.     

Effect of metal content on the structure and phase composition of Fullerite-Sn films

This paper reports a study of fullerite-Sn films containing 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, or 20 at % Sn grown by thermal evaporation in vacuum using a combined atomic-molecular flow. The influence of metal content and thermal annealing on the surface topography, structure, and elemental and phase compositions of the fullerite-Sn films has been studied by atomic force microscopy, X-ray and electron diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray microanalysis. The results demonstrate that films grown by codeposition of Sn atoms and fullerene molecules on oxidized single-crystal silicon substrates have a granular structure. The phase composition of the fullerite-Sn films varies widely, depending on the percentage of Sn: from an intercalated structure to a mixed-phase composite containing a hexagonal fullerite phase, tetragonal Sn, and fullerite-like structures containing Sn nanoparticles. Thermal annealing of the fullerite-Sn films leads to the formation of a new phase.     

Poly‐2‐[(4‐methylbenzylidene)amino]phenol: Investigation of thermal degradation and antimicrobial properties

A new polyphenol (poly‐2‐[(4‐methylbenzylidene)amino]phenol) (P(2‐MBAP)) containing an azomethine group was synthesized by oxidative polycondensation reaction of 2‐[(4‐methylbenzylidene)amino]phenol (2‐MBAP) with NaOCl, H₂O₂, and O₂ oxidants in an aqueous alkaline medium. The structures of 2‐MBAP and P(2‐MBAP) were characterized by UV‐vis, FT‐IR, and ¹H NMR spectra. While the monomer decomposed completely up to 350°C and 57.2% of the polymer decomposed up to 1000°C. The thermal degradation of P(2‐MBAP) was also supported by the Thermo‐IR spectra recorded in the temperature range of 25–800°C. Electrical conductivity of the polymer was observed to increase 10⁸ fold after doping with I₂. Antimicrobial activities of the P(2‐MBAP) and 2‐MBAP against Sarcina lutea, Enterobacter aerogenes, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus feacalis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Bacillus subtilis, Candida albicans, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were also investigated. The number average molecular weight (M_n), weight average molecular weight (M_w) and polydispersity index (PDI) of the polymers were determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41758.     

Ionomer covalent functionalization of single‐walled carbon nanotubes by radical polymerization of zirconium acrylate

A facile and efficient covalent functionalization of single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) via peroxide‐mediated free radical covalent attachment and polymerization of zirconium acrylate is reported. The resulting covalently functionalized SWCNTs exhibit improved solubility in organic solvents. The covalently functionalized SWCNTs are characterized by cross polarization magic angle spinning ¹³C NMR, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, x‐ray diffraction, Raman, and infrared spectroscopy. Infrared spectroscopy reveals that carboxylate groups of covalently attached ionomers chelate with zirconium ions and the participating carboxylate groups may be from different ionomer chains leading to cross‐linking the chains. The SWCNT topology, ionic clustering, and π‐electron clouds were explored by transmission electron microscopy. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 60: 820–828, 2014     

Microbial mediated dimerization of fattyacids of sunflower oil: An effective role of lipase and biosurfactant

This study emphasizes microbial mediated transformation of sunflower oil to an adhesive product and characterization in detail. Marine bacterial isolates Bacillus (MTCC 5514), when grown in mineral medium, releases both hydrolytic enzymes and surface‐active components during the log phase of growth. When this species was grown in the presence of sunflower oil at an optimized concentration of 5% (w/v) under room temperature, enzymatic hydrolysis of oil proceeds with the release of fatty acids and glycerol. Further, on increasing the incubation period, the presence of surface‐active components, lipase and glycerol, influence the dimerization of the fatty acids, which further, transformed to a polymerized product sunflower oil‐based adhesive product with adhesive nature. Liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry (electrospray ionization) analysis further authenticates the presence of dimeracids. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40555.     

On thermodynamics of methane + carbonaceous materials adsorption

This study presents the theoretical frameworks for the thermodynamic quantities namely the heat of adsorption, specific heat capacity, entropy, and enthalpy for the adsorption of methane onto various carbonaceous materials. The proposed theoretical frameworks are developed from the rigor of thermodynamic property surfaces of a single component adsorbate–adsorbent system and by incorporating the micropore filling theory approach, where the effect of adsorbed phase volume is considered. The abovementioned thermodynamic properties are quantitatively evaluated from the experimental uptake data for methane adsorption onto activated carbons such as Maxsorb III at temperatures ranging from 120 to 350 K and pressures up to 25 bar. Employing the proposed thermodynamic approaches, this paper shows the thermodynamic maps of the charge and discharge processes of adsorbed natural gas (ANG) storage system for understanding the behaviors of natural gas in ANG vessel.