EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ON THE ADSORPTION OF METHYLENE BLUE DYE ONTO SULFURIC ACID–TREATED ORANGE PEEL

The present study explains the preparation and application of sulfuric acid–treated orange peel (STOP) as a new low-cost adsorbent in the removal of methylene blue (MB) dye from its aqueous solution. The effects of temperature on the operating parameters such as solution pH, adsorbent dose, initial MB dye concentration, and contact time were investigated for the removal of MB dye using STOP. The maximum adsorption of MB dye onto STOP took place in the following experimental conditions: pH of 8.0, adsorbent dose of 0.4 g, contact time of 45 min, and temperature of 30°C. The adsorption equilibrium data were tested by applying both the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. It is observed that the Freundlich isotherm model fitted better than the Langmuir isotherm model, indicating multilayer adsorption, at all studied temperatures. The adsorption kinetic results showed that the pseudo-second-order model was more suitable to explain the adsorption of MB dye onto STOP. The adsorption mechanism results showed that the adsorption process was controlled by both the internal and external diffusion of MB dye molecules. The values of free energy change (ΔG ^o) and enthalpy change (ΔH ^o) indicated the spontaneous, feasible, and exothermic nature of the adsorption process. The maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of STOP was also compared with other low-cost adsorbents, and it was found that STOP was a better adsorbent for MB dye removal.     

Effect of Casting Solvents and Compatibilizer Loading on the Morphology and Properties of Natural Rubber/Polystyrene Blends

Thermoplastic elastomers from blends of natural rubber (NR) and polystyrene (PS) have been prepared by the solution-casting technique. The blend of NR and PS is an incompatible one and can be made compatible by the addition of NR-g-PS. The compatibilizing action of NR-g-PS in NR/PS blends has been studied with special reference to the effect of the nature of the casting solvents and compatibilizer loading. Chloroform and carbon tetrachloride were selected as the casting solvents. The nature of the casting solvent has a profound influence on the compatibilizing action of the graft copolymer. This has been explained based on the preferential interaction of the solvent with one of the components in the mixture. The domain size of the dispersed polystyrene phase was decreased by the addition of a few percent of the compatibilizer, followed by a leveling off at higher concentrations. The leveling off is an indication of interfacial saturation. The mechanical properties of the blends were improved by the addition of the compatibilizer.     

Synthesis and characterization of liquid crystalline polymers containing aromatic ester mesogen and a nonmesogenic ferrocene unit in the spacer

A new series of liquid crystalline polymers containing aromatic triad ester mesogen and 1,1′‐disubstituted ferrocene as a nonmesogenic unit along with polymethylene spacer was synthesized. The polymer was synthesized by a room temperature polycondensation reaction between bis(4‐chloroformyl phenyloxy alkyl ferrocene dicarboxylate) and quinol. The alkyl groups have been varied by an even number of methylene groups with a range from two to ten groups. All the polymers were found to possess liquid crystalline properties. The identification of the mesophase is more transparent with an increase in the spacer. The thermal characteristics were studied using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results reveal that the thermal stability of the polymers was decreased with increasing spacer length. The T_g, T_m, and T_i of the polymers decreased with increasing methylene groups. The incorporation of the ferrocene moiety also has a considerable effect on the glass transition temperature. The char yield of the polymer decreases with an increasing methylene chain length. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 86: 3494–3501, 2002     

Optimization of Mixing Parameters in Nanosilica Toughened Cement Mortar Using Taguchi-Grey Relational Analysis

Silicon - In this research, multi response Taguchi-grey relational approach was employed to optimize the mixing parameters in cement mortar preparation. The main aim of this present investigation...     

Studies on Egg Shell and SiC Reinforced Hybrid Metal Matrix Composite for Tribological Applications

Silicon - The hybrid metal matrix composite is developed through stir casting process. In theAl7075 aluminium matrix material, two different combination of reinforcements are used to make hybrid...     

Aqueous Slip Casting of Transparent Aluminum Oxynitride

Highly transparent Aluminum oxynitride (AlON) body has been produced using aqueous slip casting technique. High‐purity alumina and AlN were used as raw materials for the synthesis of single‐phase AlON powder. As‐synthesized AlON powder was surface modified to enable the AlON powders resistant to hydrolysis in water during aqueous slip casting. High solid loaded aqueous AlON slip was prepared for casting followed by drying and sintering to produce transparent AlON. Phase formation and stability was characterized by XRD, pH, and viscosity measurements. AlON powders before and after surface treatments were characterized. Sintered transparent AlON samples were characterized for their mechanical, microstructural, and optical properties. Sintered and polished AlON produced in this study has shown inline transparency up to 80% between 0.22 and 6 μm wavelength region.     

Exploration of a Library of 3,4‐(Methylenedioxy)aniline‐Derived Semicarbazones as Dual Inhibitors of Monoamine Oxidase and Acetylcholinesterase: Design,Synthesis, and Evaluation

A library of 3,4‐(methylenedioxy)aniline‐derived semicarbazones was designed, synthesized, and evaluated as monoamine oxidase (MAO) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Most of the new compounds selectively inhibited MAO‐B and AChE, with IC₅₀ values in the micro‐ or nanomolar ranges. Compound 16 , 1‐(2,6‐dichlorobenzylidene)‐4‐(benzo[1,3]dioxol‐5‐yl)semicarbazide presented a balanced multifunctional profile of MAO‐A (IC₅₀=4.52±0.032 μm ), MAO‐B (IC₅₀=0.059±0.002 μm ), and AChE (IC₅₀=0.0087±0.0002 μm ) inhibition without neurotoxicity. Kinetic studies revealed that compound 16 exhibits competitive and reversible inhibition against MAO‐A and MAO‐B, and mixed‐type inhibition against AChE. Molecular docking studies further revealed insight into the possible interactions within the enzyme–inhibitor complexes. The most active compounds were found to interact with the enzymes through hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions. Additionally, in silico molecular properties and ADME properties of the synthesized compounds were calculated to explore their drug‐like characteristics.     

Nanoenergetic Composites of CuO Nanorods,Nanowires, and Al‐Nanoparticles

This paper reports on the synthesis of the nanoenergetic composites containing CuO nanorods and nanowires, and Al‐nanoparticles. Nanorods and nanowires were synthesized using poly(ethylene glycol) templating method and combined with Al‐nanoparticles using ultrasonic mixing and self‐assembly methods. Poly(4‐vinylpyridine) was used for the self‐assembly of Al‐nanoparticles around the nanorods. At the optimized values of equivalence ratio, sonication time, and Al‐particle size, the combustion wave speed of 1650 m s⁻¹ was obtained for the nanorods‐based energetics. For the composite of nanowires and Al‐nanoparticles the speed was increased to 1900 m s⁻¹. The maximum combustion wave speed of 2400 m s⁻¹ was achieved for the self‐assembled composite, which is the highest known so far among the nanoenergetic materials. It is possible that in the self‐assembled composites, the interfacial contact between the oxidizer and fuel is higher and resistance to overall diffusional process is lower, thus enhancing the performance.     

Enhanced electron harvesting in next generation solar cells by employing TiO2 nanoparticles prepared through hydrolysis catalytic process

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized through solvothermal route by changing the rate of hydrolysis in the catalytic process. In order to change the hydrolysis rate, the concentration of acetic acid, as additive, was varied as 2 M, 3 M and 4 M. The synthesized NPs were examined by various physico-chemical characterization techniques. The powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis of the NPs reveals only the anatase phase of TiO_2. The spherical shaped morphology of the NPs was observed in the high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) analysis. The optical behaviour such as absorption, bandgap, diffuse reflectance and photoluminescence (PL) emission of the NPs were studied. The material's nature and behaviors were scrutinized and they were employed as photoanode in dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) and as electron transport layer (ETL) in carbon-based perovskite solar cell (C-PSC). The charge transfer at the interface of the devices was studied with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The fabricated DSSC and C-PSC show highest power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 6.1% and 10.6%, respectively. The highest current collection was detected in C-PSC and the results are discussed in detail.     

Anomalous Dielectric Behaviour in Melt Quenched Lithium Borate Glasses

Transparent glasses of lithium tetraborate (Li₂B₄O₇) were prepared by a splat quenching technique. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and high resolution transmission electron microscopic studies revealed the amorphous nature of the as-quenched samples. The glassy nature of these samples was confirmed by differential thermal analysis. Physical properties such as density, dielectric and ac conductivity have been studied. Glasses of Li₂B₄O₇ exhibit a dielectric anomaly close to the crystallization temperature which is attributed to the interfacial polarization caused by Li⁺ ion motion within the borate network.