Processable Thermally Conductive Polyurethane Composite Fibers

The demand for wearable electronics has resulted in an increasing interest in the development of functional fibers, with a specific focus upon the development of electrically conductive fibers incorporable into garments. However, the production of thermally conductive fibers for heat dissipation has been largely neglected. Owing to the very rapid development of miniaturized wearable electronics, there is an increasing need for the development of thermally conductive fibers as heat sinks and thermal management processes. In this study, thermally conductive but electrically insulating boron nitride nanopowder (BNNP) fillers are used to effectively enhance the thermal conductivity and mechanical properties of elastomeric polyurethane fibers. Thermal conductivity enhancement of more than 160% is achieved at very low loadings of BNNP (less than 5 wt%) with an improvement in the mechanical properties of the unmodified fiber. These thermally conductive fibers are also incorporated into 3D textile structures as a proof of processability.     

Optimal distribution function determination for plus fraction splitting

Reservoir fluid modelling is one of the most important steps in reservoir simulation and modelling of flow lines as well as surface facilities. One of the most uncertain parameters of the reservoir fluids is the plus fraction. An accurate and consistent splitting scheme can reduce this uncertainty and as a result, enhance the modelling of reservoir fluids. The existing schemes for splitting plus fractions are all based on assuming a specific mole fraction‐molecular weight distribution with predefined constant values that may yield inaccurate and inconsistent results. In this study, an optimization‐based algorithm was developed to determine the aforementioned controlling parameters of the plus fraction distribution function, enforcing the relationship between specific gravity and molecular weight of the single carbon numbers (SCNs). The introduced optimization‐based splitting technique was applied to different samples, covering a wide range of reservoir fluids, including gas condensates, volatile oils, black oils, and heavy oils. The results showed that the proposed technique yielded a more consistent molecular weight‐mole fraction distribution concerning the experimental extended analysis of plus fractions, yielding an average relative error of 25.8 % compared to 76, 33.6, and 45.9 % for the Katz, Ahmed, and Whitson methods, respectively. It was also shown that the proposed method results in more accurate and more consistent phase behaviour predictions than the existing methods concerning the experimental data. Furthermore, the results showed that the introduced optimization‐based method yields monotonic split samples regarding specific gravity and molecular weight, while the conventional techniques do not guarantee to preserve the monotonicity.     

Potential visible WO3/GO composite photocatalyst

Graphene oxide (GO) was synthesized by Hummers method. GO and tungsten oxide (WO₃) composites were successfully prepared by deposition of WO₃ on GO surface to make efficient visible light catalyst. Scanning electron microscopy of pure GO revealed that GO films are folded with kinked and wrinkled edges. The interspaces layers are partially filled by WO₃ nanoparticles with their less wrinkled edges and smooth surface of composite. Moreover, composite sheets are thin and transparent which allow easy penetration of light. EDS showed the presence of C, O, and W in GO/WO₃ composites with no impurity. UV-Vis diffused reflectance spectra showed red shift with the increase in WO₃ contents. Raman spectra of GO and GO/WO₃ composite show G and D bands. These bands reduced in intensity in composite sample due to removal of oxygenated functional groups with some new peaks of WO₃. FT-IR confirmed successful oxidation of graphite into GO with reduction in GO because oxide-related bond groups decrease after reduction. The transmittance peaks of WO₃ in composite sample are appeared indicating W-O-C linkages. The highest visible light activity of the composite is due to easy penetration of light with deposition of WO₃, low band gap, and new linkages.     

ZnO/WO3 nanostructure as an efficient visible light catalyst

Highly photosensitive ZnO/WO₃ photocatalysts were fabricated by wet impregnation of zinc oxide (ZnO) in different contents. Tungsten trioxide (WO₃) was synthesized by hydrothermal route. The presence of ZnO inhibited the crystallization of WO₃ and caused agglomeration of WO₃ nanoparticles surface. The formation of Zn-O-W linkage was studied by X-ray photoelectron emission (XPS) and Fourier transforms Infra-red spectra (FTIR). These linkages were responsible for red shift of absorption peak of composites as compared to individual ZnO and WO₃. The band gap was decreased due to incorporation of ZnO in WO₃ which promoted the separation of photo-generated carriers. As a result, ZnO/WO₃ composite showed extremely high efficiency for MO degradation in comparison with Degussa P25, pure ZnO and WO₃. 2.0% ZnO/WO₃ composite displayed the highest activity in photocatalytic decomposition of methyl orange (MO) dye.     

Thermodynamical and catalytic aspects of zinc separation from aqueous solution

The present research work examines extraction mechanism of zinc by D2EHPA (Di-2-ethyl hexyl phosphoric acid) and comprehensively studies the main effective parameters on the process. Results of thermodynamic experiments showed that zinc extraction by D2EHPA was endothermic and spontaneous, and thermodynamic parameters including entropy and enthalpy were+27.37 J·mol^-1·K^-1 and 25.21 kJ·mol^-1, respectively. Gibbs free energy was varied between -7.21 kJ·mol^-1 and -8.41 kJ·mol^-1 with the variation of temperature from 20℃ to 70℃. Solution ionic strength was increased by addition of potassium and lithium sulfate solution while addition of calcium sulfate decreased ionic strength whereby zinc extraction efficiency was also decreased. TBP showed positive synergism at concentration of 5% (v/v) and negative synergism effect at concentrations of 2% and 10%. Simultaneous addition of both TBP and salt caused extraction efficiency to drop significantly and lower both TBP and ionic strength efficiency. Results showed that a continuous addition of TBP tends to effectively improve the zinc extraction efficiency. Experiments in the presence of catalyst Ni-Raney demonstrated that zinc extraction kinetic increases remarkably and due to easy recycling of the catalyst, we can propose a novel idea in solvent extraction field.     

Effect of surface properties of polysulfone support on the performance of thin film composite polyamide reverse osmosis membranes

In this work, influence of initial conditions and surface characteristics of porous support layer on structure and performance of a thin film composite (TFC) polyamide reverse osmosis (RO) membrane was investigated. The phase inversion method was used for casting of polysulfone (PSf) supports and interfacial polymerization was used for coating of polyamide layer over the substrates. The effect of PSf concentrations that varied between 16 wt % and 21 wt %, and kind of the solvent (DMF and NMP) used for preparation of initial casting solution were investigated on the properties of the final RO membranes. SEM imaging, surface porosity, mean pore radius, and pure water flux analysis were applied for characterization of the supports. The substrate of the membrane, which synthesized with 18 wt % of PSf showed the most porosity and the synthesized RO membrane had the lowest salt rejection. In case of the solvents, the membranes synthesized with DMF presented better separation performance that can be attributed to their lower thickness and sponge‐like structure. The best composition of support for TFC RO membranes reached 16 wt % PSf in DMF solvent. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134, 44444.     

Optimization of mechanical properties of in situ polymerized poly(methyl methacrylate)/alumina nanoparticles nanocomposites using Taguchi approach

Polymer Bulletin - Alumina nanoparticles are among important metal oxides with specific properties but chemically incompatible with an organic matrix such as poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). In...     

Green bio-synthesis of Ni/montmorillonite nanocomposite using extract of Allium jesdianum as the nano-catalyst for electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol

In this work, synthesis of Ni nanoparticles was carried out successfully by water extract of Allium jesdianum as a biochemical reducing agent in the presence of montmorillonite clay (MMT) as a natural solid support for the first time. Then the electrochemical activity of the synthesized nanocomposite was investigated in methanol electrocatalytic oxidation. MMT with high cation exchange capacity and nano layer structure was exposed to ion exchange conditions in nickel solution. Then Ni²⁺ ion exchanged form was used in this process as a source of ions and also capping agent. Water extract of Allium jesdianum used as a reducing agent due to abundant availability of phenolic and flavonoid contents. The synthesized Ni/MMT nanocomposite was characterized using UV–Vis spectroscopy (UV–Vis), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The surface of prepared modified electrode has been characterized using SEM to evaluate the morphology, showing uniform dispersion of Ni nanoparticles with mean diameter of 12 to 20 nm. The modified carbon paste electrode was then used in methanol electrocatalytic oxidation reaction. Methanol oxidation on the proposed modified electrode surface occurs at 0.6 V and 0.3 V in alkaline and acidic medium respectively. Also, the results showed the better performance of modified electrode toward methanol electrocatalytic oxidation in comparison with carbon paste electrode that is modified by ion exchanged MMT. Charge transfer coefficients and apparent charge transfer rate constant for the modified electrode in the absence of methanol in alkaline medium were respectively found as: α_a = 0.53, α_c = 0.37 and k_s = 1.6 × 10⁻¹ s⁻¹. Also, the average value of catalytic rate constant for the electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol by the prepared nano-catalyst was estimated to be about 0.9 L·mol^-1·s^-1 by chronoamperometry technique. The prepared electrode was also effective for electrocatalytic oxidation of ethanol and formaldehyde in alkaline medium.     

Glass transition behaviors of interfacially polymerized polyamide barrier layers on thin film composite membranes via nano-thermal analysis

Thin film composite (TFC) reverse osmosis (RO) membranes enjoy widespread use in desalination, but their sensitivity to oxidizing agents such as chlorine remains a continuing challenge. In contrast to many reports on the chemical aspects associated with decreased membrane performance after chlorine exposure, studies on the fundamental physical properties of the polyamide barrier layer (PBL) of TFC membranes are scarce. This omission is mostly due to the lack of techniques capable of characterizing such interfacially polymerized PBLs, which are ultrathin and insoluble. The focus of this study is the development of an AFM-based nano-thermal analysis technique that provides the first-ever result for the direct measurement of the glass transition temperature (T_g) of the PBL on several commercial TFC RO membranes. Moreover, the technique is utilized to study the changes in T_g of the PBL after exposure to chlorine solutions as a function of concentration and duration at constant pH. Results indicate significant and systematic reduction in T_g of the PBL with increasing chlorine concentration and exposure time.     

Adsorption of bromo-phenol blue from an aqueous solution onto thermally modified granular charcoal

The adsorption phenomenon of bromo-phenol blue onto pristine and thermally evacuated granular charcoal (GC) was studied via a batch technique at 25 °C. The effect of evacuation temperature on the GC surface and pore structure (e.g. pore volume and diameter) was studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), point of zero charge (PZC), proximate analysis, Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET) method and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The FT-IR spectra of the samples after evacuation showed considerable decrease in the acidic functional groups. PZC showed that the surface of the evacuated charcoal became basic as the evacuation temperature was increased from 300 to 800 °C. Volatile matter decreased while ash and fixed carbon contents increased during evacuation, which led to an increase in the micro-pore volume from 0.25 to 0.42 cm³ g⁻¹, meso-pore volume from 0.04 to 0.13 cm³ g⁻¹, pore diameter from 5.01 to 6.21 nm, and specific surface from 150.32 to 254.70 m² g⁻¹. Adsorption of the bromo-phenol blue onto charcoal, increased as the evacuation temperature was increased from 300 to 800 °C. The interaction of bromo-phenol blue with charcoal was proposed to have occurred via hydrogen bonding. The adsorption data fitted well with the Langmuir equation, which indicated that the monolayer adsorption has occurred at specific sites within the adsorbent.