Effect of Varying Amount of Polyethylene Glycol (PEG-600) and 3-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane on the Properties of Chitosan based Reverse Osmosis Membranes

Chitosan and polyethylene glycol (PEG-600) membranes were synthesized and crosslinked with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES). The main purpose of this research work is to synthesize RO membranes which can be used to provide desalinated water for drinking, industrial and agricultural purposes. Hydrogen bonding between chitosan and PEG was confirmed by displacement of the hydroxyl absorption peak at 3237 cm⁻¹ in pure chitosan to lower values in crosslinked membranes by using FTIR. Dynamic mechanical analysis revealed that PEG lowers Tg of the modified membranes vs. pure chitosan from 128.5 °C in control to 120 °C in CS-PEG5. SEM results highlighted porous and anisotropic structure of crosslinked membranes. As the amount of PEG was increased, hydrophilicity of membranes was increased and water absorption increased up to a maximum of 67.34%. Permeation data showed that flux and salt rejection value of the modified membranes was increased up to a maximum of 80% and 40.4%, respectively. Modified films have antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli as compared to control membranes.     

A review of hashing based image authentication techniques

Multimedia Tools and Applications - In the recent digitization era, image hashing is a key technology, including image recognition, authentication and manipulation detection, among many multimedia...     

Thin-film iron-oxide nanobeads as bifunctional electrocatalyst for high activity overall water splitting

Developing only Fe derived bifunctional overall water splitting electrocatalyst both for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) while performing at low onset overpotential and with high catalytic stability is a rare instance. We present here the first demonstration of unique iron-oxide nanobeads (FeO_x-NBs) based electrocatalyst executing both OER and HER with high activity. Thin-film electrocatalytic FeO_x-NBs assembly is surface grown via simple spray coating (SC). The unique SC/FeO_x-NBs propels OER initiating water oxidation just at 1.49 V_RHE (η = 260 mV) that is the lowest observable onset potential for OER on simple Fe-oxide based catalytic films reported so far. Catalyst also reveals decently high HER activity and competent overall water splitting performance in the FeO_x-NBs two-electrode system as well. Catalyst also presents stable kinetics, with promising high electrochemically active surface area (ECSA) of 1765 cm², notable Tafel slopes of just 54 mV dec^1? (OER) and 85 mV dec^1? (HER), high exchange current density of 1.10 mA cm^2? (OER), 0.58 mA cm^2? (HER) and TOF of 74.29s^1?@1.58V_RHE, 262s^1?@1.62V_RHE (OER) and 82.5s^1?@-0.45V_RHE, 681s^1?@-0.56V_RHE (HER).     

Coherent control of symmetric and asymmetric diffraction grating via relative phase

ABSTRACT

We present a theoretical model to realize the symmetric and asymmetric diffraction grating in a four-level atomic medium. The proposed atomic medium follows a double lambda configuration where four fields interact with it. We get control over symmetric and asymmetric behavior of the diffraction grating by manipulating the relative phase of the fields. Interestingly, the symmetric and asymmetric diffraction grating become prominent when the vortex beam is used instead of the plane wave. Enhanced first, second, and third-order diffraction gratings are achieved via the vortex beam. Further, we find control over asymmetric diffraction gratings by the relative phase of the fields. Coherent control of asymmetric diffraction grating in negative and positive diffracted angles is also achieved via the relative phase.     

Investigation of Dissipation,Adsorption, Degradation,and Leaching of Triazophos Pesticide in Various Soils

This study concerns the investigation of dissipation, adsorption, and degradation of triazophos in different soils from Pakistan. These processes help in the disappearance of pesticide from the environment. Gas chromatography was used for dissipation and adsorption analysis while for degradation study mass spectrometer was used in addition of gas chromatography (GC-MS). The dissipation rate of triazophos in three different soils was 90% over 30 days with average half-life of 9.059 days. From dissipation study it was inferred that rate is variable in each soil due to climatic changes, soil nature and soil-pesticide interactions. Adsorption experiment has revealed that the adsorption of this pesticide to soil follows the pseudo first order kinetic model with rate constant value of 0.479/h and Freundlich isotherm with adsorption capacity of 1.832 mol/g. Degradation study has displayed two major metabolites, one is phosphorothioic acid, S-[2-[(1-cyano-1-methylethyl) amino]-2-oxoethyl] O,O-diethyl ester at retention time of 9.136 and the other is sulfotep at 14.304 min. The leaching potential of triazophos was also calculated from its half-life and organic carbon content present in soil which was 1.688 representing it as non leacher pesticide.