A green approach to the fabrication of titania–graphene nanocomposites: Insights relevant to efficient photodegradation of Acid Orange 7 dye under solar irradiation

Environment friendly and efficient strategy for the preparation of titanium dioxide (TiO₂)–graphene (GR) based hybrid nanocomposite has been demonstrated by simple chemical approach for the photodegradation of Acid Orange 7 (AO7) dye under solar irradiation. The resultant nanocomposite structure and composition has been characterized by Ultraviolet Diffusive Reflectance Spectroscopy (UV-DRS), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies. The incorporation of TiO₂ nanoparticles on the surface of GR was confirmed by High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM) and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) studies. Electrochemical Impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and Cyclicvoltammetry (CV) studies revealed that the incorporation of GR with TiO₂ nanoparticles significantly enhanced the redox property and electrical conductivity. During photocatalysis, the TiO₂–GR nanocomposites have high photocatalytic activity compared with that of TiO₂ towards AO7 dye degradation under solar light irradiation. The enhanced photocatalytic activity might be attributed to the role GR played as an electron acceptor and transporter in the composite film, which effectively suppressed the charge recombination and promoted the charge transfer within the composite.     

尾矿土变形的应力-渗流-化学耦合模型研究

基于孔隙变化的力学响应方程和尾矿土动态淋溶的实验结果,建立了尾矿沉积土变形的压力-孔隙度-浓度之间的关系,并在此基础上建立了考虑酸溶液作用下尾矿沉积土变形的应力-渗流-化学耦合数学模型。     

Do ozone and boric acid affect microleakage in class V composite restorations?

The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effects of chlorhexidine gluconate (2%), sodium hypochloride (2.5%), ozone gas, and boric acid at different concentrations (1%, 3%, 5%, and 7%) on microleakage from composite restorations.

In a total of 80 extracted human canine teeth, a class V cavity was opened on the buccal surface and the samples were separated into eight groups. In the control group, no procedure was applied for cavity disinfection, then composite restoration (Z250, 3M) was made using single-stage, self-etch adhesive (Single Bond 3M). In the other groups, seven different disinfectants were used, then the cavity was restored. The teeth were split into two in the buccolingual direction, parallel to the long axes. Stain penetration was examined under stereomicroscope and scored. Examination with SEM was made on one sample from each group, selected at random. Statistical evaluations were made using Dunnett C Post Hoc Comparison and Kruskal–Wallis H tests.

In the occlusal region evaluation, the groups with the lowest level of leakage were the 3% and 5% boric acid groups, and the highest levels of microleakage were determined in the chlorhexidine group and the 1% boric acid group. In the gingival region, the lowest level of microleakage was in the 5% boric acid group and the highest levels were determined in the 1% and 7% boric acid groups.

Boric acid disinfectants used at suitable concentrations were not seen to create a risk in respect of microleakage.     

Crucial Role of Weak Acid Sites for Catalytic Performance of Zeolites in Ethyl tert-butyl Ether Synthesis

Catalytic activity of different zeolites: H,NH₄-form of mordenite-containing rock (H-CMK) and H-Beta with a Si/Al ratio of 15–407 (H-ВЕА) in ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE) synthesis in a packed-bed flow reactor at 80–180°C and 1?MPa has been studied. Acid characteristics of zeolites were determined by stepwise (Quasi-Equilibrium) ammonia thermodesorption. Three types of acid sites of different strength has been found, which is marked as weak (E_NH3?=?60–75?kJ/mol), medium (E_NH3?=?86–123?kJ/mol), and strong (E_NH3?=?112–145?kJ/mol). The correlation between ETBE productivity and the concentration of weak acid sites has been found. Thereby, it was established that weak acid sites of zeolites are the active sites in ETBE synthesis.     

Well-to-Tank environmental analysis of a renewable diesel fuel from vegetable oil through co-processing in a hydrotreatment unit

A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study of HidroBioDiésel (HBD) was carried out. This partly renewable diesel fuel is obtained from the co-processing of soybean vegetable oil with conventional fossil fuel in hydrotreating facilities of crude oil refineries. The environmental profile of HBD was assessed for the fossil energy use and climate change impact categories. The production systems of equivalent fuels -blends of Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME, a biofuel obtained by means of transesterification of vegetable oil) and mineral diesel with sulphur content below 10 ppm were also assessed for comparison purposes. The environmental performance of HBD systems compares favourably to those of FAME and diesel blends for the selected impact categories. The estimated environmental benefits of HBD (assuming a 13% renewable blend) include reductions of up to 2% in fossil energy use and 9% in climate change impacts.     

Remediation of acid mine drainage using metallurgical slags

In this study basic oxygen and stainless steel slag were both assessed for potential use in treating acid mine drainage. The stainless steel slag was able to effect some pH change but was found to not be suitable. Basic oxygen slag was found to have a significant potential as a remediating agent. For a model acid mine water with a pH of 2.5, sulfate concentration of 5000 mg/L and iron concentration of 1000 mg/L, the slag was able to increase pH to 12.1, reduce the soluble iron by 99.7% and reduce sulfate by 75% in batch experiments. In these batch reactors most reaction was completed within 30 min indicating that this is a rapid process. Additional experiments were conducted with continuous flow reactors to assess the maximum treatment capacity of the slag. These experiments indicated that slag replacement strategies are wholly dependent on the strength of the acid mine drainage, the required residence time and the specified residual concentrations of iron or sulfate and the pH. The data indicate that in particular, basic oxygen furnace slag has significant potential as a replacement reagent for lime in treating acid mine drainage.     

Cooperative enhancement of deoxyribozyme activity by chemical modification and added cationic copolymer

Deoxyribozymes (DNAzymes) having RNA-cleaving activity have widely been explored as tools for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. Both the chemical cleaving step and the turnover step should be improved for enhancing overall activity of DNAzymes. We have shown that cationic copolymer enhanced DNAzyme activity by increasing turnover efficacy. In this paper, effectｓ of the copolymer on DNAzymes modified with locked nucleic acids (LNA) or 2′-O-methylated (2′-OMe) nucleic acids were studied. The copolymer increased activity of these chemically modified DNAzymes. More than 30-fold enhancement in multiple-turnover catalytic activity was observed with 2′-OMe-modified DNAzyme in the presence of the copolymer. DNAzyme catalytic activity was successfully enhanced by cooperation of the added copolymer and chemical modification of DNAzyme.     

不同的配比对LiCoO_2和NaHSO_4·H_2O混合物在酸性焙烧产物中元素赋存状态的研究

了解废旧锂离子电池回收利用的现状和存在的问题对回收金属元素具有非常重要的意义。将LiCoO_2与NaHSO_4·H_2O按照摩尔比1∶1、1∶2、1∶3、1∶4进行混合,混合均匀后进行酸性焙烧,采用TG-DSC-MS、XRD和SEM研究了焙烧产物中元素的存在形式和赋存状态,研究结果表明:Na元素是以LiNa(SO_4)和Na_2Co(SO_4)_2的形式存在,Li元素的赋存形式是LiNa(SO_4),Co元素的赋存形式是Co_3O_4和Na_2Co(SO_4)_2,焙烧产物致密,形状不规则。     

Effects of N/C,P/C and Fe/C ratios on dark fermentative hydrogen gas production from waste paper towel hydrolysate

The effects of N/C, P/C and Fe/C ratios on dark fermentative hydrogen gas production from activated carbon treated WPT hydrolysate were investigated using Box–Behnken statistical experiment design. N/C, P/C and Fe/C ratios were chosen as independent variables while the H₂ yield and SHPR were set as the objective functions. H₂ yield and SHPR functions were described by two quadratic model functions. The addition of a proper amount of N, P and Fe to the fermentation media was found to be essential to enhance the H₂ production performance. Linear and interaction terms of N/C and Fe/C did have a significant effect on the H₂ yield in the model function. However, the SHPR was significantly affected by the linear and interaction terms of N/C and P/C. The most convenient N/C, P/C and Fe/C ratios resulting maximum H₂ yield (0.656 mol H₂/mol glucose) and SHPR (241.64 mL H₂/g biomass.h) were determined as 0.05, 0.09 and 0.003 (w/w), respectively.