Functional copolymer/organo‐montmorillonite nanoarchitectures. IX. Synthesis and nanostructure–morphology–thermal behaviour relationships of poly[(maleic anhydride)‐alt‐(acrylic acid)]/organo‐ montmorillonite nanocomposites

Functional copolymer/clay hybrids were synthesized by radical‐initiated interlamellar copolymerization of maleic anhydride/maleic acid and acrylic acid with 2,2′‐azobis(2‐methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride as a water‐soluble ionizable radical initiator in the presence of reactive (octadecylamine‐montmorillonite (ODA‐MMT)) and non‐reactive (dimethyldodecylammonium‐montmorillonite) organoclays at 60 °C in aqueous medium under nitrogen atmosphere. The monomers were dissolved in aqueous medium, and the two types of clay particles used were easily dissolved and dispersed partially swollen, respectively, in deionized water. Structure, thermal behaviour and morphology of the synthesized nanocomposites were investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. It is demonstrated that intercalative copolymerization proceeds via ion exchange between organoclays and carboxylic groups of monomers/polymers, which essentially improves interfacial interactions of polymer matrix and clay layers through strong hydrogen bonding. In the case of intercalative copolymerization in the presence of ODA‐MMT clay, a similar improvement is provided by in situ hydrogen bonding and amidolysis of carboxylic/anhydride groups from copolymer chains with primary amine groups of ODA‐MMT. The nanocomposites exhibit higher degree of intercalation/exfoliation of copolymer chains, improved thermal properties and fine dispersed morphology. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

A comprehensive study on the size exclusion chromatography of kappa‐carrageenan for the identification of after‐peaks

Aqueous size exclusion chromatography (SEC) of polysaccharides in general and carrageenans in particular is complicated by a number of factors. The chromatograms of carrageenans which are sulfated anionic natural polymers contain a number of after‐peaks depending on the occlusion, adsorption, or association of various ionic species either naturally present or evolved during their processing. A systematic SEC analysis of after‐peaks appearing in the chromatograms was made to identify the species responsible for their formation. The five after‐peaks constantly appearing in the aqueous (0.1M NaNO₃) SEC of kappa‐carrageenan are attributed to sulfate, chloride, and nitrate anions whereas the first three and the fourth are due to divalent cations, mostly, and the fifth appears to result from the unknown impurities. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Electrochemical determination of anticancer drug fulvestrant at dsDNA modified pencil graphite electrode

The interaction of fulvestrant with double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) was studied by means of differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) at dsDNA modified pencil graphite electrode (PGE). The decrease in intensity of the guanine oxidation signals was used as an indicator for the interaction mechanism and sensitive determination of fulvestrant in pH 4.80 acetate buffer (30% ethanol). A linear dependence of the guanine oxidation signals was observed within the range of 1.00–20.00 μg/mL fulvestrant, with a detection limit of 0.41 μg/mL. The determination method was validated according to the standard validation procedure. The proposed method was applied to fulvestrant pharmaceutical dosage form.     

Operational Conditions of Activated Sludge: Influence on Flocculation and Dewaterability

Selected operational conditions of activated sludge are investigated in relation to their effect on flocculation and dewatering. Semi-continuous reactors with 2 -L volume were operated at different mean cell residence times, C/N ratios, and three different influent cations. Results show that MCRT, C/N ratio, and the cation type affect the bioflocculation capacity of activated sludge measured by the quantity of extracellular polymeric substances. As the MCRT value operated in the reactors and the C/N ratio of the influent wastewater increase, total amount of polymers produced increases. High MCRT values and low C/N values cause good dewatering of the sludge. All cations are shown to stimulate the EPS production in a way that the highest total EPS concentrations are observed at the highest cation dosages. The dewaterability of the sludges improves only with increasing calcium and magnesium concentrations and deteriorates with increasing potassium concentration.     

Effects of ultraviolet light and ultrasound on microbial quality and aroma-active components of milk

BACKGROUND: Heat treatment is the most common way to extend the shelf life of milk. However, alternative technologies such as ultraviolet (UV) light and ultrasound (US), which are non‐thermal methods for processing milk, have been developed to replace heat treatment. These technologies do not have any adverse effects on the quality of milk. The major purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of UV and US on different micro‐organism groups and aroma compounds in milk. RESULTS: Heat pasteurisation at 65 °C for 30 min was used as thermal control treatment. The growth of total coliform group bacteria, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus spp. was completely reduced by UV treatment. Application of US was not sufficient to reduce the numbers of yeasts and moulds. In neutral/basic fractions, 3‐methylthiophene (plastic), hexanal (grass) and 1‐hexen‐3‐one (floral) were major volatiles in milk samples. CONCLUSION: UV had a major effect on total coliforms, E. coli and Staphylococcus spp., but US was not as effective as UV and heat treatment in reducing certain groups of micro‐organisms. No major differences were observed in terms of aroma‐active compounds and flavour of milk following the different treatments. However, some new volatiles and change in rheological properties were generated by UV and US treatments. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Operational Conditions of Activated Sludge: Influence on Flocculation and Dewaterability

Selected operational conditions of activated sludge are investigated in relation to their effect on flocculation and dewatering. Semi-continuous reactors with 2 -L volume were operated at different mean cell residence times, C/N ratios, and three different influent cations. Results show that MCRT, C/N ratio, and the cation type affect the bioflocculation capacity of activated sludge measured by the quantity of extracellular polymeric substances. As the MCRT value operated in the reactors and the C/N ratio of the influent wastewater increase, total amount of polymers produced increases. High MCRT values and low C/N values cause good dewatering of the sludge. All cations are shown to stimulate the EPS production in a way that the highest total EPS concentrations are observed at the highest cation dosages. The dewaterability of the sludges improves only with increasing calcium and magnesium concentrations and deteriorates with increasing potassium concentration.     

Acrylonitrile/vinyl acetate copolymer nanofibers with different vinylacetate content

In this study, free radical copolymerization of acrylonitrile (AN)–vinyl acetate (VAc) was performed for five different feed ratio of VAc (wt %) by using ammonium persulfate (APS) in the aqueous medium. The effect of VAc content on the spectrophotometric and thermal properties of AN–VAc copolymers was investigated by Fourier Transform Infrared–Attenuated Total Reflectance spectrophotometer (FTIR–ATR), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), and thermal gravimetric analyzer (TGA). Thermal stability of homopolymer of AN is improved after being copolymerized. The electrospun P(AN‐co‐VAc) nanofibers were fabricated and the effect of VAc content on the morphologic properties of nanofibers was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The viscosity of the solution had a significant effect on P(AN‐co‐VAc) electrospinning and the nanofiber morphology. The average diameters of P(AN‐co‐VAc) nanofibers decreased 3.4 times with increasing feed ratio of VAc wt %. The P(AN‐co‐VAc) electrospun nanofiber mats, with the feed ratio of 30 wt % VAc, can be used as a nanofiber membrane in filtration and as a carbon nanofiber precursor for energy storage applications due to high surface to volume ratio, high thermal stability, homogeneous, and thinner nanofiber distribution. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Selecting Occupational Safety Equipment by MCDM Approach Considering Universal Design Principles

Occupational safety concept, which has become a major subject in all industries, has a vital importance in preventing accidents and ensuring a safe working environment. This study proposes an integrated approach to evaluate occupational safety equipment by considering universal design (UD) and technical requirements, both separately and simultaneously. UD principles are concerned with making things usable for anyone, whatever their conditions may be, without any requirements for rearrangement. Two robust multicriteria decision making (MCDM) aid methods, AHP and fuzzy PROMETHEE, are employed to handle the evaluation process in the presented study. The study also includes a demonstration of the proposed approach on a real MCDM problem. The study findings indicate that the proposed approach is valid and accurate, and the inclusion of UD principles has a positive and comprehensive effect on the selection process.     

Discharge formula for rectangular sharp-crested weirs

Sharp-crested rectangular weirs used for discharge measurement in channels and laboratories are experimentally investigated. Height and width of weir plate are the two parameters characterizing the head-discharge relationship. Laboratory experiments are conducted by measuring the discharge and the head over the weir for variable weir heights and widths. Applicability of various formulations for the discharge coefficient are investigated. Experiments indicate that discharge is independent of weir height, when the weir is operated within an appropriate discharge range. Average velocity over the weir plotted against the weir head displays universal characteristics such that it can be used in the expression of discharge over the weir, eliminating the need for a discharge coefficient. The head-discharge relationship for a rectangular weir has distinct features for the partially contracted weirs and for the fully contracted slit weirs.