The design and manufacturing of porous scaffolds for tissue engineering using rapid prototyping

This research paper addresses the issue of developing an efficient methodology to design and manufacture a complex scaffold structure of desired porosity required for tissue engineering applications using a novel approach based on fused deposition modelling (FDM) rapid prototyping (RP) technology. The scaffold provides a temporary biomechanical structure for cell growth and proliferation to produce the required body parts. Conventional techniques of scaffold fabrication (such as fibre bonding, solvent casting and melt moulding) generate scaffolds with unpredictable pore sizes due to their limitations in flexibility and control of pore volume and distribution. Moreover, such scaffolds have poor mechanical strength and structural stability. The paper describes an FDM pre-processor that ensures the fabrication of scaffolds of desired porosity and inter-connectivity on the FDM system.     

Micronization of polyethylene terephthalate via freezing of highly sheared emulsions of polyethylene terephthalate in saturated liquid tetrahydrofuran

A novel technique for micronizing polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin (∼ 3 mm) with saturated liquid tetrahydrofuran (THF) has been developed. PET pellets were introduced to a high-pressure vessel filled halfway with THF at loadings up to ∼ 7 wt % PET. When the vessel was closed and heated, the PET pellets exhibited significant melting point depression at 190°C in saturated liquid THF at 17.1 bar. Although other organic solvents were also able to depress the melting point of PET, only THF was able to facilitate the formation of an emulsion of PET-rich liquid droplets in the saturated liquid solvent when the mixture was agitated. In an attempt to generate the smallest possible PET droplets, a high-speed (5000 rpm), close-clearance, radial flow impeller was used to shear and disperse the droplets at ∼ 200°C and 20.1 bar. Emulsion was rapidly cooled while mixing. The PET droplets froze at ∼ 190°C, and the vessel was then cooled to ambient temperature. The excess liquid THF was decanted, and the PET particles were dried in a vacuum oven to remove residual THF. The PET particle sizes ranged between 2 and 70 μm, with number, area, and volume average diameters of 6, 20, and 30 μm, respectively. A comparison between the PET resin and PET powder properties indicated that the micronization reduced the M_w from 32,700 to 22,800. DSC results suggest that the rapid quench leads to a morphology different from equilibrium, with small somewhat imperfect crystallites, a lower overall degree of crystallinity, and a suppressed ΔC_p at the glass transition. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Chitosan based nanofibers,review

Chitin and chitosan are natural polymers with a huge potential in numerous fields, namely, biomedical, biological, and many industrial applications such as waste water treatment due to the fact that they can absorb and chelate many metal cations. Electrospinning is a growing field of research to produce submicron fibers with promising applications in biomedical fields like tissue engineering scaffolds and wound healing capabilities. Both chitin and chitosan polymers were found to be hard to electrospun, however, many researchers manage to produce nano-fibers using special solvents; for example, 90% acetic acid was found to reduce the surface tension making electrospinning feasible. Mixtures of organic acids were also experimented to produce homogenous and uniform fibers. Bigger attention was given to electrospinning of their soluble derivatives such as dibutyryl and carboxymethyl chitin. More derivatives of chitosan were investigated to produce nano-fibers such as hexanoyl, polyethyleneglycol, carboxymethyl, and a series of quaternized chitosan derivatives. The obtained nano-fibers were found to have much better qualities than normal chitosan fibers. Several polymer blends of chitin/chitosan with many commercial polymers were found to be amenable for electrospinning producing uniform beads free fibers. The review surveys the various approaches for successful electrospinning of chitin, chitosan, their derivatives, and blends with several other polymers.     

Study on the characteristics of palm oil–biodiesel–diesel fuel blend

Palm oil/palm oil methyl esters are blends with diesel fuel, the blends were characterized as an alternative fuels for diesel engines. Density, kinematic viscosity, and flash point were estimated according to ASTM as key fuel properties. Palm oil and palm oil biodiesel were blended with diesel. The properties of both blends were estimated. The results showed that the fuel properties of the blends were very close to that of diesel till 30% unless other characteristics are within the limits. The experimental data were correlated as a function of the volume fraction of oil/biodiesel in the blend. Different correlations were developed to predict the properties of the oil/bio-oil-diesel blends based on our experimental results. The developed correlations were validated by comparing the correlation prediction with experimental data in literature. A good agreement was found between modeled equations prediction and experimental data in literature. The developed equations can be used as a guide for determining the best blending mixture to be used for diesel engines.     

Performance and emissions characteristics of C.I. engine fueled with palm oil/palm oil methyl ester blended with diesel fuel

The rapid increasing worldwide demand for energy, continuous increasing of fuel consumption and the progressive depletion of fossil fuels led to an intensive search for biodiesel as alternative fuel for diesel engine. Performance and emissions characteristics of C.I. engine fueled with palm oil/palm oil methyl ester blended with diesel fuel is investigated experimentally. Biodiesel was prepared from palm oil by transesterification process. Diesel, biodiesel and palm oil blends were prepared in volume percentages of 20 and 100% as B20, B100 and PO20. Physical and chemical properties of biodiesel blends were near to diesel fuel. The experimental study is conducted on a diesel engine at different engine loading from zero to full loads using palm oil and palm biodiesel and its blends with diesel fuel. Thermal efficiency of biodiesel and oil blends with diesel fuel was lower than diesel fuel. Specific fuel consumptions for biodiesel and oil blends were found to be higher than diesel oil. Unburned hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide emissions have been decreased for biodiesel blends but it increased for oil blends compared to diesel fuel. Nitrogen oxide emissions have slightly been increased for biodiesel and oil blends compared to diesel fuel. Blends of diesel – biodiesel up to 20% biodiesel percentage by volume are recommended because of the improvement in performance and emissions as compared to diesel fuel.     

Effect of waste cooking-oil biodiesel on performance and exhaust emissions of a diesel engine

The ever increase in global energy demand, consumption of depletable fossil fuels, exhaust emissions and global warming, all these led to search about alternative fuels. Biodiesel was produced from waste cooking-oil by transesterification process. Blends of waste cooking-oil biodiesel and diesel oil were prepared in volume percentages of 10, 20 and 30% as B10, B20 and B30. Biodiesel blends have ASTM standards of physical and chemical characterization near to diesel fuel. Diesel engine performance and exhaust emissions were studied experimentally for burning waste cooking-oil blend with diesel fuel. This experimental was applied on a diesel engine at different engine loads from zero to full load. Thermal efficiencies for waste cooking-oil biodiesel blends were lower than diesel oil. Specific fuel consumptions of biodieselblends were higher than diesel fuel. Higher exhaust gas temperatures were recorded for biodiesel blends compared to diesel oil. CO₂ emissions for waste cooking-oil biodiesel blends were higher than diesel oil. CO, smoke opacity and HC emissions for biodiesel blends were lower than diesel fuel. NO_x emissions for biodiesel blends were higher than diesel fuel.     

Effect of biodiesel fuels on diesel engine emissions

Energy production is heavily dependent on fossil fuels that are not only diminishing, but also are considered the main cause of harmful emissions and global warming. Therefore using vegetable oils such as Jatropha, palm, algae and waste cooking oils as alternative fuels in diesel engines has drawn a great attention. Biodiesel from Jatropha, palm, algae and waste cooking oils has been produced using the transesterification process. Biodiesel from different feedstock is mixed with diesel oil in different proportions e.g. B10 and B20. Biodiesel physical and chemical properties are measured according to ASTM standards. A “single cylinder diesel engine” is employed as the test engine in the present work. Exhaust emissions such as CO, CO₂, NO_x, HC, and smoke are measured and compared with diesel oil. CO, HC, CO₂ and smoke emissions are lower for biodiesel mixtures B10 and B20 (Jatropha, algae and palm) compared “to diesel fuel”. CO₂ emissions from biodiesel blends B10 and B20 produced from waste cooking oil are higher compared to diesel fuel. NO_X emissions from all biodiesel mixtures B10 and B20 increases than diesel fuel for all biodiesel blend B10 and B20.     

Reactive thermomechanical processing of intermetallic materials

Intermetallic materials have long attracted the serious attention of scientific and industrial organizations. This is primarily due to their attractive properties, which include high-temperature oxidation and corrosion resistance, low density, and high-temperature strength. Major drawbacks that have so far restricted the application of such materials include the high energy used in their synthesis and production in the final component shape. The thermomechanical processing of intermetallic materials often requires the heating of the work piece to temperatures in excess of 1000 °C. This paper presents results from recent research into new reactive thermomechanical approaches that can produce intermetallics at operating temperatures several hundred degrees lower than those currently used. The main findings suggest that these processes may provide benefits in terms of low energy, consolidation, microstructure refinement, and homogenization.     

Preparation and characterization of sulfonated polystyrene/magnetite nanocomposites for organic dye adsorption

Magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) were prepared by co-precipitation method and were found to have average size of 5 nm with spherical shape crystalline structure with super-magnetic properties. Commercial polystyrene (PS) was sulfonated through the reaction with freshly prepared acetyl sulfate. Three different degrees of sulfonation, based on the ratio of the acetyl sulfate to polystyrene, were prepared (1:1, 1:3 and 1:5). Nanocomposites of the prepared magnetite nanoparticles 1:3 sulfonated polystyrene were prepared at different magnetite content (1, 5 and 10%). The produced materials were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmittance electron microscope (TEM) X-ray diffraction (XRD) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). PS, MNPs and the prepared nanocomposites were investigated as adsorbents for Congo Red (CR). The variables influencing the adsorption capacity, such as solution pH, contact time and the initial dye concentration were systematically investigated. The adsorption for CR by the previous adsorbents show maximum experimental uptake capacity of 26.78, 33.15, 53.35, 64.73, and 76.29 mg/g for PS, MNPs, SPS/MNPs 1%, SPS/MNPs 5% and SPS/MNPs 10%, respectively. The adsorption process was found to follow the pseudo second order kinetic model and fit quite well with Langmuir adsorption isotherm.