Bulk production of porous TiO2 nanowires by unique solvo-plasma oxidation approach for combating biotic and abiotic water contaminants

Pure, porous titania nanowires (TiO₂-pNW) are produced in bulk amount (~?250 kg/day, reaction time scale?<?1 min) using a unique solvo-plasma oxidation method utilizing microwave plasma with the potential of easy scale up. The prepared nanowire is found to be efficient towards both biotic disinfection and destruction of various abiotic contaminants in wastewaters. In terms of organic contaminants, the TiO₂-pNW is tested for destruction of Rhodamine B (RhB) dye, tetracycline (TC) antibiotic, and diclofenac (DFC) and caffeine (CAF) drugs. In the case of biotic contaminants, the disinfection of E. coli bacteria is demonstrated. In all of the studies, the photocatalytic performance of anatase TiO₂-pNW is compared to that of commercially available P25 nanoparticles (TiO₂-P25), both in the presence and absence of ozone. The excellent photoactivity exhibited by TiO₂-pNW is a result of low recombination rate of electron–hole pair owing to the spatial separation of electrons and holes within the photoexcited nanowires. Moreover, the scavenger experiments and experiments involving ozone reveal that electron transfer and/or presence of dissolved oxygen are the major limiting factors for both porous titania nanowires and P25 spherical powder under UV exposure with photocatalytic activity towards pollutant degradation.

     

Chromosome aberration analysis in radiotherapy patients and simulated partial body exposures: biological dosimetry for non-uniform exposures

Chromosome aberration analysis was carried out in peripheral blood lymphocytes of cancer patients following radiotherapy of lungs, cervix and spine. Radiotherapy in the pelvic region involving large doses (6 Gy) showed an overdispersed distribution of dicentrics. However, when the doses were fractionated (three fractions of 2 Gy) distribution was found to be near Poisson. Spine irradiation covering almost all the lymphocytes pools, indicated a Poisson distribution. The data show that depending on the sites of exposure, the distribution of dicentrics in cells varies and hence there is a non-uniform distribution of lymphocytes in the body. The average dose to the lymphocytes was found to be one sixth of the partial body dose. Based on the non-Poisson distribution of aberrations, the fraction of lymphocytes irradiated, mean dose to the fraction and part of the body exposed was calculated in a case of acute 6 Gy pelvic irradiation. The fraction of cells irradiated was calculated to be 4.11% and the portion of the body exposed was approximately 16.8%. The dose to the irradiated fraction was found to be 5.4 Gy, which is in agreement with the given dose of 6 Gy. In simulated exposures the u values increased systematically with the decrease in fraction of irradiated cells and the calculated dose to the fraction was also in good agreement with the true dose.     

Nonresonant Microwave Absorption in Bi2212 Single Crystal: Second Peak and Microwave Power Dependence

Nonresonant microwave absorption (NMA) measurements were carried out at liquid-nitrogen temperature on a high quality Bi2212 single crystal, as a function of microwave power in three mutual orientations of crystal ab plane, dc field (H_dc), and microwave magnetic field (H_w). NMA line shapes in Bi2212 crystal are complicated with a narrow peak (P₁ peak) located near zero field, followed by a much broader second peak (P₂ peak) in the particular orientations. More excitingly, we show that the P₂ peak qualitatively evolves as a function of microwave power in the orientation of H_dc ab plane, plane, and H_dc H_w. In this configuration, as the microwave power is progressively increased, the broad P₂ peak first gets smeared off and then a multiple peak structure appears, which develops into another narrower second peak (P_s-peak) at high enough microwave powers. In the orientation of plane, H_w ab plane, and H_dc H_w, we report for the first time the appearance and disappearance of a new second peak (P₂-like peak) as a function of microwave power.     

Kinetic studies of sulfuric acid decomposition over Al–Fe2O3 catalyst in the sulfur-iodine cycle for hydrogen production

The decomposition of H₂SO₄ to produce SO₂ is the reaction with the highest energy demand in the sulfur-iodine cycle and it shows a large kinetic barrier. In the present study, alumina supported iron (III) oxide has been chosen for a detailed kinetic study. Experiments were carried out in the temperature range of 1023 K–1173 K using space hour velocities in the range of 0.146–0.731 kmol/kg-h in a quartz tube double stage continuous flow fixed bed reactor with 98% sulfuric acid feed over alumina supported Fe₂O₃ catalyst, nitrogen as inert carrier gas. From the homogeneous kinetic analysis, the apparent activation energy (E_A) was found to be 138.6 kJ/mol. This high activation energy indicates that the experiments were conducted in a kinetic controlled regime. The catalyst was well characterized by XRD, BET, TPR/TPO, SEM and FT-IR before and after reaction.     

Engineering and Durability Performances of Fly Ash Based Geopolymer Mortar Containing Aluminosilicate Rich Flood Soil Waste With and Without Lime Treatment

Silicon - The present study attempts to identify the potential of geopolymerization in developing a sustainable binding material using fly ash and flood soil waste as source material. The flood...     

Phase tuning of zirconia nanocrystals by varying the surfactant and alkaline mineralizer

The influence of cationic (CTAB)/neutral polymeric (PVP) surfactants and strong (NaOH)/weak (NH₄OH) alkaline mineralizers on phase stabilization of zirconia nanocrystals synthesized by chemical precipitation is investigated. X-ray diffraction and micro-Raman analysis of the as-prepared samples show that tetragonal zirconia is predominant as compared to monoclinic using PVP with NH₄OH. The phases are also evident from lattice fringes of TEM images and the corresponding SAED pattern. Photoluminescence spectra of samples reveal oxygen vacancies present in the zirconia nanocrystals. The group H Raman vibration modes identified are attributed to surface defects and quantum size effects of nanocrystals. The phase stabilization of zirconia nanocrystals is explained using the polymerization rate of tetramers during synthesis. The rate can be varied by proper selection of the surfactant and the mineralizer. A slow polymerization rate with PVP and NH₄OH favors the formation of tetragonal zirconia. Thus, a simple method for phase stabilization of zirconia nanocrystals at room temperature using chemical precipitation by varying the surfactant and the mineralizer is demonstrated.