Effective electrodeposition of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-based organic coating on metallic food packaging for active corrosion protection

Journal of Applied Electrochemistry - Modern technologies continuously need special materials with specific properties to adopt the desired application. Recently, numerous researches have been...     

Microstructural and phase transformations during sintering of a phillipsite rich zeolitic tuff

Microstructural and phase transformations during sintering of a Phillipsite rich zeolitic tuff, from Tenerife, Canary Islands, was investigated in order to their utilization in ceramic manufacturing industries. Green samples were obtained from powders and pressed at 150 MPa and heat-treated for 1 hour in the temperature range between 900-1080 °C. The zeolitic tuffs show endothermic peaks at about 100 °C and 200 °C, corresponding to dehydration of zeolitic water observed in the thermo- gravimetric curves and at ∼700 °C a small endothermic peak was identified corresponding to the structural breakdown of Phillipsite. According to the dilatometric traces, at about 870 °C, sintering of solid particles starts and a linear shrinkage of about 6% is reached at about 1050 °C. The maximum absolute and apparent densities were obtained after sintering at 1040 °C (absolute density = 2.59 g/cm³; apparent density = 2.33 g/cm³). Over this temperature, the sample heat-treated at 1060 °C, density results show a decreasing trend. The chemical composition of studied zeolitic tuffs make possible the liquid phase formation during heat-treatment, through the supplement of alkaline oxides. SEM image of the sample obtained at 1040 °C shows a zone with micro-crystallinity around the boundary of Sanidine grain highlighting the beginning of the phase transition from Sanidine, to Microcline. Heat-treatment effect of zeolitic tuff leads to the decomposition of Phillipsite and Sanidine and the formation of a new crystal phase of Hematite.     

Characterization of Terebinth Fruit Oil and Optimization of Acidolysis Reaction with Caprylic and Stearic Acids

Characterization of the fatty acid and triacylglycerol composition of terebinth fruit oil and the synthesis of structured lipids (SL) were performed in this study. Interesterification reaction of terebinth fruits oil (Pistacia terebinthus L.) with caprylic acid (CA) and stearic acid (SA) to produce a SL was performed in n-hexane using immobilized sn-1,3 specific lipase from Mucor miehei. The effect of reaction conditions and relationship among them were analyzed by response surface methodology (RSM) with a four-factors five-level central composite rotatable experimental design. The four major factors chosen were enzyme load (10–30 wt% based on substrates), reaction time (7–18 h), reaction temperature (40–60 °C) and substrate mole ratio (terebinth oil:SA:CA 1:1:1–1:1:3). The best fitting quadratic model was determined by regression and backward elimination. Based on the fitted model, the optimal reaction conditions for the incorporation of CA and SA were found to be temperature 50 °C; time 18 h; enzyme load 30 wt%; substrate ratio 1:1:3. Under these optimum conditions, the incorporation of SA and CA could be obtained as 19 and 14%, respectively.     

The effects of achromatic and chromatic color schemes on participants' task performance in and appraisals of an office environment

This study explores the effects of chroma on participants' performance and environmental appraisal of an office. The research was conducted in a full‐scale experimental room designed as a private office where achromatic and chromatic color schemes with coequal values were applied. Sixty participants were assigned tasks and given a questionnaire to appraise the spatial color schemes. The findings show that chroma significantly affects performance and space appraisal. In terms of accuracy and time spent performance scores measured significantly better in the room with the chromatic scheme than those in the room with the achromatic scheme. The office with the chromatic scheme was found to be more pleasant, attractive, satisfying and dynamic than the one with the achromatic scheme, whereas the achromatic scheme was thought to be more formal and harmonious. Categorization of pleasantness, harmony, dynamism and spaciousness by factor analysis also showed differences between the achromatic and chromatic schemes. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 2012     

Natural-based polymers for antibacterial treatment of absorbent materials

In this study, polypropylene (PP) nonwoven fabric which can be used as topsheet layer of an absorbent hygienic product was modified by natural based antibacterial agents. Antibacterial herbal agents (cinnamaldehyde, geraniol, phenylethyl alcohol) were sprayed by ethanol or applied by means of polylactic acid (PLA) and polycyclohexene oxide (PCHO) based polymers prepared by three different chemical methods. Characterization of synthesized materials was conducted via thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential thermal analysis (DTA), and scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive X–ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). Besides characterization, antibacterial and pH buffering performances of antibacterial polymers alone and on PP fabric were tested by antibacterial and pH tests. Effects of antibacterial treatments on air permeability and absorption period of nonwoven fabrics were also analyzed. According to the results, biopolymers changed the thermal stability of PP nonwoven fabric. Antibacterial performances can be ranked as cinnamaldehyde, geraniol, and phenylethyl alcohol from the best. Besides a slight decrease about liquid absorption performance, all of the treated topsheet fabrics are sufficient for an absorbent hygienic product. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137, 48302.     

Biosorption of a reactive textile dye from aqueous solutions utilizing an agro-waste

In the present study a low-cost waste biomass derived from canned food plant, was tested for its ability to remove reactive textile dye from aqueous solutions. The batch biosorption experiments were carried out at various pH, biosorbent dosage, contact time and temperature. Optimum decolorization was observed at pH 2.0 and 1.6 g dm^− 3 of biomass dosage within 20 min. The first-order and the pseudo-second-order kinetics were investigated for the biosorption system. The applicability of the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models was examined. The thermodynamic parameters for the biosorption were also calculated. The experimental results in this study indicated that this low-cost biomaterial was an attractive candidate for the removal of textile dye Reactive Red 198 (RR198) from aqueous solutions.     

Antibacterial oil‐based polyurethane films for wound dressing applications

As an alternative to petroleum‐based polyol, hydroxyl containing material was prepared from linseed oil for polyurethane synthesis. Hexamethylene di‐isocyanate (HMDI) and/or 4, 4′‐methylene diphenyl di‐isocyanate (MDI) were used as isocyanate source. The polymerization reaction was carried out without catalyst. Polymer films were prepared by casting‐evaporation technique. The MDI/HMDI‐based polyurethane and its films had higher T_g and better thermal property than that of the HMDI‐based one because of the existence of benzene ring in the polymer chain. Static water contact angle was determined to be 74° and 77.5° for HMDI and MDI/HMDI‐based films, respectively. Water adsorption was found to be around 2.6–3.6% for both films. In vitro degradation of polyurethanes in phosphate buffered saline at 37°C was investigated by gravimetric method. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used for confirmation of degradation on the polymer surface. The degradation rate of the HMDI‐based polyurethane film was found higher than that of the MDI/HMDI‐based film. Both the direct contact method and the MMT test were applied for determination of cytotoxicity of polymer films, and the polyurethane films investigated here was not cytotoxic. Silver‐containing films were prepared using Biocera A® as filler and were screened for their antibacterial performance against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and/or Bacillus subtilis. The films prepared with and without Biocera A® exhibited antibacterial activity. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Effect of tempering temperature and microstructure on the corrosion behavior of a tempered steel

In this study, a tempered martensitic matrix was obtained in a low carbon steel, by applying austenization, quenching and tempering heat treatments. After austenization at 1000°C for 30 minutes, steel samples were quenched in water and then tempered at 200, 540 and 600°C for 30 minutes. Hardness measurements were done and then immersion tests were carried out in a 3.5 wt % NaCl solution for periods ranging between 1–7 days. Weight losses of the samples were determined after each immersion period and microstructural studies were performed on the corroded surfaces. Corrosion rates were calculated using weight loss data and verified by potentiodynamic tests. Results revealed that corrosion behavior of the experimental steels was directly affected by tempering temperature, hardness and microstructure.     

Continuous dense‐phase CO2 processing of a coconut water beverage

Effects of dense‐phase CO₂ (DPCD) on microbial, physical, chemical and sensorial quality of coconut water (CW) beverage were evaluated. Pressure during DPCD treatment was not significant in microbial reduction whereas temperature and % CO₂ levels were significant. DPCD‐treated (34.5 MPa, 25 °C, 13% CO₂, 6 min), heat‐pasteurised (74 °C, 15 s) and untreated CW beverages were evaluated during 9 weeks of refrigerated storage (4 °C). Total aerobic bacteria of DPCD and heat‐treated samples decreased whereas that of untreated samples increased to >10⁵ CFU mL^?1 after 9 weeks. DPCD increased titratable acidity but did not change pH (4.20) and °Brix (6.0). Likeability of DPCD‐treated CW was similar to untreated. Heat‐treated samples were less liked (α = 0.05) at the beginning of storage. Off flavour and taste‐difference‐from‐control scores of heated samples were higher than DPCD during the first two weeks. DPCD extended shelf life of acidified, sweetened and carbonated CW over 9 weeks at 4 °C.     

HPLC-DAD Analysis to Identify the Phenolic Profile of Rhododendron Honeys Collected from Different Regions in Turkey

In this study, phenolic compounds of Rhododendron honey (also known as mad honey) samples collected from the Black Sea Region were identified using high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector system. The major phenolic substances in Rhododendron honeys were found to be chlorogenic and coumaric acids with the amounts of 0.11–191.54 mg/kg and 0–82.83 mg/kg, respectively. Gallic and ferulic acids were detected in the most honey samples. Additionally, significant correlations were determined between the phenolic substances. The present study showed that Rhododendron honeys contained higher quantities of phenolic acids than flavonoids. Chlorogenic and coumaric acids were the dominant phenolic substances detected in honey samples.