Separation of fluoride from aqueous solution by electrodialysis: effect of process parameters and other ionic species

Removal of fluoride from aqueous solution by electrodialysis was studied. Applied voltage, feed flow rate, fluoride concentration in the solution and effect of the other anions as sulfate, chloride were investigated as experimental parameters on fluoride removal from aqueous solution. The separation performance was evaluated in terms of mass transfer and energy consumption. It was obtained that the separation performance increased when the initial concentration of fluoride in the feed solution increased. Percent removal of fluoride increased as the applied potential increased. However, the effect of feed flow rate was not apparent in the range of applied feed flow rate. Separation of fluoride was influenced by chloride but not by sulfate ions.     

The effect of additives on the oxidation stability of biodiesel

In the present study, it was aimed to examine the degradation of biodiesel and the changes that occur in the cold flow characteristics of biodiesel obtained from safflower oil as a result of the modification of the production process steps that leads to a state in which the process is not realized completely despite the addition of antioxidant additives that stabilize the cold flow characteristics of the fuel and the effects of the modification of the production process steps on fuel characteristics. The study is focused on the modification of the production process. Some samples showed very rapid decomposition in the first 3 hours but the rest took nearly 3 days to reach 200 microsiemens. But then the derivative this value due to the rate of oxidation 0.04 h showed.     

pH‐sensitive uniform gel beads for DNA adsorption

Uniform gel beads 3 mm in diameter were obtained by the suspension polymerization of an amine functionalized monomer, N‐3‐(dimethyl amino)propylmethacrylamide (DMAPM). The polymerization of DMAPM in the form of uniform droplets could be achieved at room temperature in an aqueous dispersion medium by using Ca–alginate gel as the polymerization mold. In this preparation, potassium persulfate/tetramethyl ethylenediamine and sodium alginate/calcium chloride were used as the redox initiator and the stabilizer systems, respectively. The crosslinked DMAPM gel beads exhibited pH‐sensitive, reversible swelling–deswelling behavior. The uniform gel beads were also obtained by the copolymerization of DMAPM and acrylamide (AA) in the same polymerization system. Although copolymer gel beads with higher pH sensitivities were obtained with increasing feed concentration of DMAPM, the total monomer conversion decreased. Crosslinked DMAPM and DMAPM–AA copolymer gel beads were utilized as sorbents for DNA adsorption. The gel beads produced with higher DMAPM feed concentration exhibited higher equilibrium DNA adsorption capacity. The DNA equilibrium adsorption capacities up to 50 mg DNA/g dry gel could be achieved with the crosslinked DMAPM gel beads. This value was reasonably higher relative to the previously reported adsorption capacities of known sorbents. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 77: 3154–3161, 2000     

Thermoresponsive isopropylacrylamide-vinylpyrrolidone copolymer by radiation polymerization

In this study, a random copolymer of N-isopropylacrylamide and N-vinyl-pyrrolidone [poly(NIPAM-co-NVP)] having a thermoresponsive character was prepared by a radiation copolymerization method. Poly(ethylene glycol), PEG 4000, was included in the copolymerization recipe to increase the thermoresponsivity of the resultant copolymeric structures. NIPAM-co-NVP copolymers with different thermoresponsive properties were obtained by changing the initial NIPAM/NVP mol ratio, total monomer, and PEG 4000 concentrations. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 64: 1775–1784, 1997     

Separation of squalene from olive oil deodorizer distillate using supercritical fluids

In this study, an integrated strategy using supercritical fluids for extraction of squalene from olive oil deodorizer distillate (OODD), one of the most important by‐products of the olive oil refining process is presented. First, OODD was esterified in supercritical methanol, and then squalene was extracted from the sample consisting of 66% methyl ester using supercritical CO₂. The extraction conditions, i.e., pressure (88.2–121.8 bar), temperature (41.6–58.4°C) and extraction time (129.6–230.4 min), were optimized via RSM to achieve the highest squalene content. The optimal results were obtained at a temperature of 52.05°C, pressure of 104.8 bar and extraction time of 180 min. Consequently, two kinds of value‐added products such as biodiesel (up to 96% FAME, in extract) and olive squalene (up to 75%, in raffinate) were produced in shorter processing times when compared with distillation results of 70 h. Practical applications: Traditionally, squalene is extracted from liver oil of rare deep‐sea sharks. Here we present the recovery of vegetal squalene in high purity from OODD. Our approach also presents a simple, reliable, and mobile solution. Squalene is widely used in cosmetics as a protective agent and natural moisturizer and as an adjuvant in influenza vaccines.     

Poly(lactide)/cellulose nanocrystal nanocomposites by high-shear mixing

There is currently considerable interest in developing stiff, strong, tough, and heat resistant poly(lactide) (PLA) based materials with improved melt elasticity in response to the increasing demand for sustainable plastics. However, simultaneous optimization of stiffness, strength, and toughness is a challenge for any material, and commercial PLA is well-known to be inherently brittle and temperature-sensitive and to show poor melt elasticity. In this study, we report that high-shear mixing with cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) leads to significant improvements in the toughness, heat resistance, and melt elasticity of PLA while further enhancing its already outstanding room temperature stiffness and strength. This is evidenced by (i) one-fold increase in the elastic modulus (6.48 GPa), (ii) 43% increase in the tensile strength (87.1 MPa), (iii) one-fold increase in the strain at break (∼6%), (iv) two-fold increase in the impact strength (44.2 kJ/m²), (v) 113-fold increase in the storage modulus at 90°C (787.8 MPa), and (vi) 10³-fold increase in the melt elasticity at 190°C and 1 rad/s (∼10⁵ Pa) via the addition of 30 wt% CNC. It is hence possible to produce industrially viable, stiff, strong, tough, and heat resistant green materials with improved melt elasticity through high-shear mixing.     

An Organoid for Woven Bone

Bone formation (osteogenesis) is a complex process in which cellular differentiation and the generation of a mineralized organic matrix are synchronized to produce a hybrid hierarchical architecture. To study the mechanisms of osteogenesis in health and disease, there is a great need for functional model systems that capture in parallel, both cellular and matrix formation processes. Stem cell-based organoids are promising as functional, self-organizing 3D in vitro models for studying the physiology and pathology of various tissues. However, for human bone, no such functional model system is yet available. This study reports the in vitro differentiation of human bone marrow stromal cells into a functional 3D self-organizing co-culture of osteoblasts and osteocytes, creating an organoid for early stage bone (woven bone) formation. It demonstrates the formation of an organoid where osteocytes are embedded within the collagen matrix that is produced by the osteoblasts and mineralized under biological control. Alike in in vivo osteocytes, the embedded osteocytes show network formation and communication via expression of sclerostin. The current system forms the most complete 3D living in vitro model system to investigate osteogenesis, both in physiological and pathological situations, as well as under the influence of external triggers (mechanical stimulation, drug administration).     

The synthesis of covalent bonded single‐walled carbon nanotube/polyvinylimidazole composites by in situ polymerization and their physical characterization

Single‐walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) polyvinylimidazole (PVI) composites have been prepared by in situ emulsion polymerization. Dispersion of raw SWCNTs in the PVI matrix was improved by surface modification of the SWCNTs using nitric acid treatment and air oxidation. The carbonyl‐terminated SWCNTs were covalently bonded to PVI by in situ polymerization and the SWCNT/PVI composite was thus obtained. The morphological and structural characterizations of the surface‐functionalized SWCNTs and SWCNT/PVI composites were carried out by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, conductivity measurements, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy. Thermograms of the materials were determined by the differential scanning calorimetry technique. The characterization results indicate that PVI was covalently bonded to SWCNTs and a new material was then obtained. The functionalized SWCNTs showed homogenous dispersion in the composites, whereas purified SWCNT resulted in poor dispersion and nanotube agglomeration. SWCNT/PVI composites exhibited chemical stability enhancement in many common solvents. I–V curves of the samples exhibit an ohmic character. Conductivity values for pure SWCNTs, pure PVI and SWCNT/PVI composite were measured to be 3.47, 2.11 × 10⁻⁹, and 2.3 × 10⁻³ S/m, respectively. Because of resonance, a large dielectric constant is obtained for SWCNT/PVI composite, which is not observed for ordinary materials. POLYM. COMPOS., 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Improving the accuracy of contact-type drawbead elements in panel stamping analysis

A finite element modeling technique is proposed to improve the accuracy of contact-type drawbead elements in panel forming analyses, and a performance assessment in terms of part border and thickness predictions is presented in conjunction with panel stamping experiments of two automotive sheets. Inherent model limitations causing incorrect part geometry and thickness predictions are, firstly, evaluated considering blank deformations on a plain–strain section of a stamping die. The influence of omitted drawbead geometry and overestimated drawbead exit thickness are described analytically, and a closed form expression is obtained to correct draw-in model error. Then a sectional deformation model is used to calculate restraint force and drawbead exit thickness for a particular blank and drawbead design. The proposed technique is applied in process modeling of polygon shaped panels made of draw-quality and bake-hardenable steels. Three bead penetrations were investigated in process simulations as well as in stamping experiments. The same blankholder force was applied in all process conditions. Computed draw-in and thickness distributions were compared with on-part measurements using an experimental panel-draw die. It was determined that drawbead models based on force parameters only resulted in remarkably high thickness values at the die entry and mostly overestimated draw-in along panel border lines. An evaluation of thickness distributions computed with proposed technique showed an improved correlation with experiment results of both blank materials and confirmed the use of the drawbead exit thickness as a drawbead modeling parameter. Effects of bead penetration on panel border lines were also simulated in accord with stamping experiments.     

Effect of Deep Cryogenic Treatment on Wear Resistance of AISI 52100 Bearing Steel

In this study, the effects of deep cryogenic treatment (DCT) on the wear resistance of AISI 52100 bearing steel were investigated. For this purpose, a number of bearing steel samples were held for different times (12, 24, 36, 48, 60 h) at deep cryogenic temperatures (?145 °C). The wear experiments were carried out in a ball–disk arrangement, by applying loads of 10 and 20 N and a sliding velocity of 0.15 m/s. After conducting the experimental studies, 36 h was found to be the optimal holding time. At this holding time, the wear rate and friction coefficient were decreased, while the hardness reached to maximum values. It was observed that DCT led to significant microstructural changes, which resulted in improved tribological properties.