Improving the functionality of biodegradable food packaging materials via porous nanomaterials

Non-biodegradability and disposal problems are the major challenges associated with synthetic plastic packaging. This review article discusses a new generation of biodegradable active and smart packaging based on porous nanomaterials (PNMs), which maintains the quality and freshness of food products while meeting biodegradability requirements. PNMs have recently gained significant attention in the field of food packaging due to their large surface area, peculiar structures, functional flexibility, and thermal stability. We present for the first time the recently published literature on the incorporation of various PNMs into renewable materials to develop advanced, environmentally friendly, and high-quality packaging technology. Various emerging packaging technologies are discussed in this review, along with their advantages and disadvantages. Moreover, it provides general information about PNMs, their characterization, and fabrication methods. It also briefly describes the effects of different PNMs on the functionality of biopolymeric films. Furthermore, we examined how smart packaging loaded with PNMs can improve food shelf life and reduce food waste. The results indicate that PNMs play a critical role in improving the antimicrobial, thermal, physicochemical, and mechanical properties of natural packaging materials. These tailor-made materials can simultaneously extend the shelf life of food while reducing plastic usage and food waste.     

Regenerable Sorbents for High-Temperature Desulfurization of Syngas from Biomass Gasification

Single-metal high-temperature solid sorbents for syngas cleaning using Mn, Ca, Fe, Cu, or Mo supported on γ-Al₂O₃ were synthesized, characterized, and tested in a fixed-bed reactor. H₂S and SO₂ concentrations in the gas after treatment at T = 400 to 700 °C were compared with thermodynamic calculations. The Mn-based sorbent showed the best ability to achieve a low sulfur residual in the gas, especially at temperatures above 600 °C. Sorbents with Fe, Cu, and Mo gave SO₂ formation in the initial phase, but this could be avoided by a pre-reduction treatment of the sorbent material.     

Toward a better understanding of multifunctional cement-based materials: The impact of graphite nanoplatelets (GNPs)

The impact of graphite nanoplatelets (GNPs) on the physical and mechanical properties of cementitious nanocomposites was investigated. A market-available premixed mortar was modified with 0.01% by weight of cement of commercial GNPs characterized by two distinctively different aspect ratios.The rheological behavior of the GNP-modified fresh admixtures was thoroughly evaluated. Hardened cementitious nanocomposites were investigated in terms of density, microstructure (Scanning Electron Microscopy, SEM and micro–Computed Tomography, μ-CT), mechanical properties (three-point bending and compression tests), and physical properties (electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, EIS and thermal conductivity measurements). At 28 days, all GNP-modified mortars showed about 12% increased density. Mortars reinforced with high aspect ratio GNPs exhibited the highest compressive and flexural strength: about 14% and 4% improvements compared to control sample, respectively. Conversely, low aspect ratio GNPs led to cementitious nanocomposites characterized by 36% decreased electrical resistivity combined with 60% increased thermal conductivity with respect to the control sample.     

Co-precipitation synthesis of CeVO4 nanoparticles for electrochemical hydrogen storage

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics - In this study, cerium vanadate (CeVO4) nanoparticles were synthesized using ammonium metavanadate and cerium (III) nitrate hexahydrate as...     

Synthesis of Poly (Vinylidene Fluoride)/Modified SBA-15 Nanoparticles Composite Membrane for Water Purification

One of the methods of pollution separating from urban and industrial wastewater is the use of composite membranes based on polymer. The modified composite     

Densification improvement of spark plasma sintered TiB2-based composites with micron-, submicron- and nano-sized SiC particulates

Taguchi design of experiments methodology was used to determine the most influential spark plasma sintering (SPS) parameters on densification of TiB₂–SiC ceramic composites. In this case, four processing factors (SPS temperature, soaking time, applied external pressure and SiC particle size) at three levels were examined in order to acquire the optimum conditions. The statistical analysis identified the sintering temperature as the most effective factor influencing the relative density of TiB₂–SiC ceramics. A relative density of 99.5% was achieved at the optimal SPS conditions; i.e. temperature of 1800?°C, soaking time of 15?min and pressure of 30?MPa by adding 200-nm SiC particulates to the TiB₂ matrix. The experimental measurements and predicted values for the relative density of composite fabricated at the optimum SPS conditions and reinforced with the proper SiC particle size were almost similar. The mechanisms of sintering and densification of spark plasma sintered TiB₂–SiC composites were discussed in details.     

Theoretical Study of the Doping Effects of n-type and p-type Silicon on the Surface Plasmon Resonance Using a 2D Grating

Silicon - A theoretical study on the excitation of surface plasmon (SP) through a 2D doping silicon gratingis present. Both n- and p-type doping silicon were used. The doping effects of n -type and...     

Methacrylate-functionalized POSS as an efficient adhesion promoter in olefin-based adhesives

This study aims to investigate the effects of methacrylate-functionalized polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (MA-POSS) on polyolefin-based adhesives. The so called adhesive was synthesized by the cooligomerization of 1-decene/9-decene-1-ol monomers using a Ti amine bis-phenolate catalyst, [Ti{2,2′-(OC₆H₂-4,6-^tBu₂)₂NHC₂H₄NH(OⁱPr)₂], which was subsequentlyacrylated via a simple reaction with methacryloyl chloride. Different weight fractions of MA-POSS nanoparticles were solution blended with synthesized adhesive and undergone curing reaction with blue light. Observation of a unique tan δ peak in dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) curve was clear evidence that two employed moieties were miscible and only one hybrid polymeric phase was created. Most noticeably, significant increase in mechanical parameters was detected in the lower inclusion compositions, 0.2-1 wt% of MA-POSS, where flexural strength and flexural modulus were increased up to 99 and 110%, respectively. Furthermore, thermal stability of the synthesized nanocomposite enhanced dramatically by increasing MA-POSS weight fraction. Influence of employed nanoparticles on adhesion properties of synthesized nanocomposites was evaluated with tensile shear bond strength and pull off analysis. According to the adhesion results, the MA-POSS causes an adhesion promotion on the fabricated adhesive/POSS nanocomposites.     

Evaluation of the localized corrosion on Mg electrode surface by electrochemical noise technique

The symmetrical and asymmetrical electrodes made of Mg were studied in 0.1-M NaCl electrolyte adjusted at pH 12. The statistical and wavelet methods were employed for analyzing the electrochemical current noise (ECN) signals. The asymmetric configuration was used for electrochemical detection of filiform corrosion on Mg electrode. The real time scale of the dominant transients of the asymmetric electrodes was detected on the basis of the maximum peak in the SDPS plots. The SDPS values of the real time scale crystals of the ECN signals resulting from asymmetrical electrodes increased with the increase in immersion time due to the onset of filiform corrosion.