Electrochemical inspection of polypyrrole/chitosan/zinc oxide hybrid composites

Polymer nanocomposite composed of polypyrrole, chitosan, and zinc oxide nanoparticles has been synthesized and it has been evaluated for various electrochemical aspects of the current electrochemical industry. The polypyrrole (PPy) was synthesized by the chemical oxidative polymerization reaction by employing ammonium persulfate as oxidizing agent. Composites of polypyrrole/chitosan (PPy/Chy) and polypyrrole/chitosan/ZnO (PCZ) composites were synthesized by the solution blending method. Detailed structural, morphological, thermal characterization of PPy, PPy/Chy, and PCZ were performed to characterize the specific features of the systems. The composites exhibit better thermal stability and high surface area and the addition of ZnO nanoparticle increase the crystallinity of the composite. Electrochemical characterization of the ITO electrodes modified with PPy, PPy/Chy, and PCZ were performed using cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and amperometry techniques. The present study highlights the role of a bio-compatible material with high surface area and conductive constituent for designing of various high performing electronic noninvasive sensors, biosensors, and so forth.     

A New Approach to Supertough Poly(lactic acid): A High Temperature Reactive Blending

A novel approach to PLA toughening is proposed in this study. Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is toughened using poly(ethylene‐n‐butylene‐acrylate‐co‐glycydyl methacrylate) (EBA‐GMA) as a reactive compatibilizer with the aid of an epoxy‐based chain extender. It is found that the toughening effect of EBA‐GMA in the binary blend investigated is strongly influenced by blending temperature. Blending at high temperatures which are non‐typical for PLA processing (over 250 °C) allows toughness to be increased by an order of magnitude when compared to the toughness of blends prepared at low temperatures (below 200 °C). This effect is attributed to a combination of factors, namely an increasing rate of reactive bonding between PLA and EBA‐GMA at elevated temperatures and enhanced interfacial adhesion between PLA and EBA‐GMA phases. DSC studies show that PLA/EBA‐GMA bonding on the interface acts as an efficient nucleator for PLA. The nucleation ability of the PLA/EBA‐GMA interface strongly depends on blend processing temperature and gradually increases with increasing blending temperature. The PLA/EBA‐GMA interface shows its highest nucleation ability at 250 °C.

     

Influence of organically modified nanoclay on the performance of pineapple leaf fiber‐reinforced polypropylene nanocomposites

Polypropylene/Pine apple leaf fiber (PP/PALF)‐reinforced nanocomposites were fabricated using melt blending technique in a twin‐screw extruder (Haake Rheocord 9000). Variation in mechanical properties, crystallization behavior, water absorption, and thermal stability with the addition of nanoclay in PP/PALF composites were investigated. It was observed that the tensile, flexural, and impact properties of PP increase with the increase in fiber loading from 10 to 30 wt %. Composites prepared using 30 wt % PALF and 5 wt % MA‐g‐PP exhibited optimum mechanical performance with an increase in tensile strength to 31%, flexural strength to 45% when compared with virgin PP. Addition of nanoclay results in a further increase in tensile and flexural strength of PP/PALF composites to 20 and 24.3%, which shows intercalated morphology. However, addition of nanoclay does not show any substantial increase in impact strength when compared with PP/PALF composites. Dynamic mechanical analysis tests revealed an increase in storage modulus (E′) and damping factor (tan δ), confirming a strong influence between the fiber/nanoclay and MA‐g‐PP. Differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis thermograms also showed improved thermal properties when compared with the virgin matrix. TEM micrographs also showed few layers of agglomerated clay galleries along with mixed nanomorphology in the nanocomposites. Wide angle X‐ray diffraction studies indicated an increase in d‐spacing from 22.4 Å in Cloisite 20A to 40.1 Å in PP/PALF nanocomposite because of improved intercalated morphology. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Microstructural investigation on mechanical behavior of soil-geosynthetic interface in direct shear test

Interface shear strength between soil and geosynthetics mainly depends on the mechanical and physical properties of soil, geosynthetics and the normal stress acting at the interface. This paper presents results of an extensive experimental investigation carried out on sand-geosynthetic interface using modified large direct shear box. The study focusses on the shearing mechanism at the sand-geosynthetic interface and the effect of different parameters on the shearing mechanism. Smooth HDPE geomembrane, nonwoven needle punched geotextile and two types of sand having different mean particle size, have been used in the present study. Microstructural investigation of deformed specimen through Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) reveals the shearing mechanism which includes interlocking and fiber stretching for sand-geotextile while sliding, indentation and plowing for sand-geomembrane interface. The shearing mechanism for sand-geomembrane interface highly depends on the normal stress and degree of saturation of sand. The critical normal stress that demarcates the sliding and plowing mechanism for sand-geomembrane interface is different for dry and wet sand. The amount of scouring (or plowing) of the geomembrane surface reduces with increase in the mean particle size of sand. FESEM images revealed that the sand particles get adhered to the geotextile fibers for tests involving wet sands. The present microstructural study aided in understanding the shearing mechanism at sand-geosynthetic interface to a large extent.     

Application of molecular identification tools for Lactobacillus, with a focus on discrimination between closely related species: A review

Lactobacillus is among the most important GRAS food lactic acid bacteria, with nearly 140 species at present, mostly of industrial importance. Being part of the natural flora of a range of food products like raw milk, fermented dairy products, fruits, vegetables, meat products they also serve as starters for a number of fermented food products either to enhance the quality or to add health benefits. These groups of economically important species are often alike in phenotypic and physiological characteristics, probably due to their co-evolution in the same ecological niches; hence they are difficult to be differentiated. This demands advanced methods for their proper identification and characterization. With the advancement of molecular biology, a range of DNA-based molecular techniques has replaced the largely cumbersome phenotypic methods. This review summarizes the various molecular techniques available for detection and identification within the genus Lactobacillus, with special emphasis on the four groups of closely resembling species: L. casei group, L. acidophilus group, L. delbrueckii subspecies, and L. plantarum group. This review also provides insights into current trends for alternative molecular markers other than 16S rRNA to resolve the ambiguity within phylogenetically close species in the genus Lactobacillus.     

Energy reduction schemes for multiple effect evaporator systems

In the present work different energy reduction schemes (ERSs), used to reduce the consumption of steam for a multiple effect evaporator (MEE) system, are developed. These ERSs are condensate-, feed- and product-flashing and vapor bleeding. Further, a new scheme is proposed where condensate of vapor chest of an effect is used to preheat the liquor, which is entering into that effect using a counter current heat exchanger. This work also presents a comparative study between existing ERSs and selects the best ERS amongst these based on steam consumption as well as number of units involved. Further, in the present paper a simple graphical approach named “modified temperature path (MTP)” is developed for the analysis of different feed flow sequences of a MEE system to screen best possible feed flow sequence. To study the effect of different ERSs on steam consumption and MTP analysis an example of septuple effect flat falling film evaporator (SEFFFE) system, employed for concentrating weak black liquor in an Indian Kraft Paper Mill, is considered. The results show that ERSs reduce the steam consumption up to 24.6%.     

Continuous cooling transformation diagrams applicable to the heat-affected zone of HSLA-80 and HSLA-100 steels

Continuous cooling transformation (CCT) diagrams for HSLA-80 and HSLA-100 steels pertaining to fusion welding with heat inputs of 10 to 40 kJ/cm, and peak temperatures of 1000 °C to 1400 °C have been developed. The corresponding nonlinear cooling profiles and related γ → α phase transformation start and finish temperatures for various peak temperature conditions have been taken into account. The martensite start (M _s ) temperature for each of the grades and ambient temperature microstructures were considered for mapping the CCT diagrams. The austenite condition and cooling rate are found to influence the phase transformation temperatures, transformation kinetics, and morphology of the transformed products. In the fine-grain heat-affected zone (FGHAZ) of HSLA-80 steel, the transformation during cooling begins at temperatures of 550 °C to 560 °C, and in the HSLA-100 steel at 470 °C to 490 °C. In comparison, the transformation temperature is lower by 120 °C and 30 °C in the coarse-grain heat-affected zone (CGHAZ) of HSLA-80 steel and HSLA-100 steel, respectively. At these temperatures, acicular ferrite (AF) and lath martensite (LM) phases are formed. While the FGHAZ contains a greater proportion of acicular ferrite, the CGHAZ has a higher volume fraction of LM. Cooling profiles from the same peak temperature influence the transformation kinetics with slower cooling rates producing a higher volume fraction of acicular ferrite at the expense of LM. The CCT diagrams produced can predict the microstructure of the entire HAZ and have overcome the limitations of the conventional CCT diagrams, primarily with respect to the CGHAZ.     

Phase-field investigation of multicomponent diffusion in single-phase and two-phase diffusion couples

Interdiffusion in hypothetical ternary single-phase and two-phase diffusion couples are examined using a phase-field model by numerically solving the nonlinear Cahn-Hilliard and Ginzburg-Landau equations. For diffusion couples assembled with a regular single-phase solution, constant chemical mobilities were used to examine the development of concentration profiles including uphill diffusion and zero-flux plane. Zero-flux plane for a component was observed to develop for a diffusion couple at the composition that corresponds to the activity of that component in one of the terminal alloys. Experimental thermodynamic parameters and composition-dependent chemical mobilities were used to examine the morphological evolution of the interphase boundary in solid-to-solid, two-phase diffusion couples. Instability at the interphase boundary was introduced initially (t=0) by a small compositional fluctuation at the diffuse interface, and its evolution varied largely as a function of terminal alloys and related composition-dependent chemical mobility. This article was presented at the Multicomponent-Multiphase Diffusion Symposium in Honor of Mysore A. Dayananda, which was held during TMS 2006, the 135th Annual Meeting and Exhibition, March 12–16, 2006, in San Antonio, TX. The symposium was organized by Yongho Sohn of University of Central Florida, Carelyn E. Campbell of National Institute of Standards and Technology, Richard D. Sisson, Jr., of Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and John E. Morral of Ohio State University.     

Differential sensitivity of Desi (small‐seeded) and Kabuli (large‐seeded) chickpea genotypes to water stress during seed filling: effects on accumulation of seed reserves and yield

Water stress during the reproductive phase, especially during seed development, is considered detrimental for chickpea yield. In the present study, the relative sensitivity of Desi and Kabuli chickpea types to water stress during seed filling was assessed in terms of effects on quantitative and qualitative aspects of seed yield. Leaves of both types experienced stress injury (evaluated as electrolyte leakage) to the same extent and possessed almost similar values of water potential at the end of 14 days of water stress. The stressed plants of Kabuli type lost more chlorophyll and had less photosynthesis than Desi type. At maturity, Desi type showed more diminution of vegetative dry matter due to stress over control than Kabuli type. On the other hand, Kabuli type showed a proportionally greater reduction in seed weight per plant, average seed weight, average seed size, number of pods (single‐ and double‐seeded) and harvest index. The stressed seeds of Kabuli type showed 48 and 46% reduction over control in starch and protein content compared with 25 and 40%, respectively in Desi type. The accumulation of soluble sugars was relatively greater due to stress in Kabuli (47%) than Desi type (23%). Fat and fiber content declined by 39 and 35% over control in Desi seeds because of stress whereas Kabuli type showed 46 and 67% decreases, respectively. Protein fractions, namely albumins, globulins, glutelins and prolamins, decreased in stressed seeds of Kabuli by 32, 40, 16 and 15% over control relative to 40, 48, 30 and 28%, respectively, in Kabuli type. The activities of sucrose synthase, invertase and soluble starch synthase were inhibited to a higher extent in Kabuli seeds than Desi seeds under stress. Kabuli seeds showed significantly more reduction in the accumulation of amino acids such as phenylalanine + tyrosine, tryptophan, valine, alanine and histidine and minerals (Ca, P, Fe) due to stress compared with Desi type. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry