Localized corrosion of (lean) duplex stainless steels in immersion units of urban wastewater treatment plants

With lower alloying cost and higher mechanical properties, lean duplex stainless steels can be an alternative to the more commonly used austenitic stainless steels. However, these alloys are still not the preferred choice, probably due to a lack of field experience. A study was thus initiated in view of defining the limits of use of selected (lean) duplexes for urban wastewater treatment units. The present paper shows the localized corrosion performance of selected lean duplexes in chloride contaminated solutions. The results are compared with austenitic S30403 and S31603 and with the more standard duplexes S82441 and S32205. The effect of welding was also investigated. Exposures in field municipal wastewater plants were conducted for 1 year in low and high chloride content units. The results show that lean duplexes S32101 and S32202 can be used as alternatives to S30403 and S31603 in low chloride electrolytes. At 500 ppm of chloride content, duplex stainless steel S32304 showed better corrosion resistance than S30403 and S31603. For higher chloride contents (1000 ppm and above) the standard duplexes S82441 and S32205 shall be preferred.     

Molecular structure and granule morphology of native and heat‐moisture‐treated pinhão starch

Pinhão seed is an unconventional source of starch and the pines grow up in native forests of southern Latin America. In this study, pinhão starch was adjusted at 15, 20 and 25% moisture content and heated to 100, 110 and 120 °C for 1 h. A decrease in λ max (starch/iodine complex) was observed as a result of increase in temperature and moisture content of HMT. The ratio of crystalline to amorphous phase in pinhão starch was determined via Fourier transform infra red by taking 1045/1022 band ratio. A decrease in crystallinity occurred as a result of HMT. Polarised light microscopy indicated a loss of birefringence of starch granules under 120 °C at 25% moisture content. Granule size distribution was further confirmed via scanning electron microscopy which showed the HMT effects. These results increased the understanding on molecular and structural properties of HMT pinhão starch and broadened its food and nonfood industrial applications.     

Potential Anti-Cancer Activities and Mechanisms of Costunolide and Dehydrocostuslactone

Costunolide (CE) and dehydrocostuslactone (DE) are derived from many species of medicinal plants, such as Saussurea lappa Decne and Laurus nobilis L. They have been reported for their wide spectrum of biological effects, including anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antiviral, antimicrobial, antifungal, antioxidant, antidiabetic, antiulcer, and anthelmintic activities. In recent years, they have caused extensive interest in researchers due to their potential anti-cancer activities for various types of cancer, and their anti-cancer mechanisms, including causing cell cycle arrest, inducing apoptosis and differentiation, promoting the aggregation of microtubule protein, inhibiting the activity of telomerase, inhibiting metastasis and invasion, reversing multidrug resistance, restraining angiogenesis has been studied. This review will summarize anti-cancer activities and associated molecular mechanisms of these two compounds for the purpose of promoting their research and application.     

Amination of biochar surface from watermelon peel for toxic chromium removal enhancement

Watermelon peel residues were used to produce a new biochar by dehydration method. The new biochar has undergone two methods of chemical modification and the effect of this chemical modification on its ability to adsorb Cr(VI) ions from aqueous solution has been investigated. Three biochars, Melon-B, Melon-BO-NH_2 and Melon-BO-TETA, were made from watermelon peel via dehydration with 50% sulfuric acid to give Melon-B followed by oxidation with ozone and amination using ammonium hydroxide to give Melon-BO-NH_2 or Triethylenetetramine(TETA) to give Melon-BO-TETA. The prepared biochars were characterized by BET, BJH,SEM, FT-IR, TGA, DSC and EDAX analyses. The highest removal percentage of Cr(VI) ions was 69% for Melon-B,98% for Melon-BO-NH_2 and 99% for Melon-BO-TETA biochars of 100 mg·L~(-1) Cr(VI) ions initial concentration and 1.0 g·L~(-1) adsorbents dose. The unmodified biochar(Melon-B) and modified biochars(Melon-BO-NH_2 and Melon-BO-TETA) had maximum adsorption capacities(Qm) of 72.46, 123.46, and 333.33 mg·g~(-1), respectively.The amination of biochar reduced the pore size of modified biochar, whereas the surface area was enhanced.The obtained data of isotherm models were tested using different error function equations. The Freundlich,Tempkin and Langmuir isotherm models were best fitted to the experimental data of Melon-B, Melon-BO-NH_2 and Melon-BO-TETA, respectively. The adsorption rate was primarily controlled by pseudo-second–order rate model. Conclusively, the functional groups interactions are important for adsorption mechanisms and expected to control the adsorption process. The adsorption for the Melon-B, Melon-BO-NH_2 and Melon-BO-TETA could be explained for acid–base interaction and hydrogen bonding interaction.     

Combination of heat treatment and chitosan coating to improve postharvest quality of wolfberry (Lycium barbarum)

The synergistic application of hot water dip at 42 °C for 30 min and 1% chitosan coating on differentiation in postharvest quality traits, microstructure as well as microbiological evolution of wolfberry fruits was investigated. Fresh wolfberry fruits were stored at 2 ± 0.5 °C and 90% relative humidity (RH) for 28 days. Results indicated the combination of prestorage heat treatment and chitosan coating maintained higher levels of ascorbic acid, total phenolic contents and antioxidant capacity as well as lower decay, compared with untreated wolfberry fruits. The possible mechanism was that the heat treatment almost sealed open stomata to limit the sites of pathogen penetration into fruits independently, followed by the biofilm formed by chitosan which controlled secondary infections as well as slowed changes in fruit respiration and metabolic activity in wolfberries. The synergistically treated fruit also exhibited a higher acceptability obtained by sensory analysis after cold storage. In this sense, the integrated application of heat treatment and chitosan coating could be regarded as an effective strategy to extend storage life and maintain the postharvest quality of wolfberry fruits.     

Efficacy of alpha-cypermethrin and thiamethoxam against Trogoderma granarium Everts (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) and Tenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) on concrete

Laboratory bioassays were conducted to evaluate alpha-cypermethrin and thiamethoxam for the control of adults, small larvae and large larvae of the khapra beetle Trogoderma granarium, and the yellow mealworm beetle Tenebrio molitor, on concrete. Factors such as dose (0.025 and 0.1 mg alpha-cypermethrin or thiamethoxam/cm²), exposure interval (1, 3 and 7 d), and formulation (alpha-cypermethrin SC and thiamethoxam WG) were evaluated. Apart from immediate assessment at end of exposure, an assessment of delayed mortality was performed with the survivors of the 7-d exposure by removing them from the treated substrate and keeping them on untreated surfaces for 7 more days. After the 7-d exposure, more T. granarium adults were dead on dishes treated with alpha-cypermethrin than with thiamethoxam. Small larvae were generally less susceptible than adults. After 7 d, small larval mortality reached 64.4% for alpha-cypermethrin, while for thiamethoxam it was <6%. Large T. granarium larvae were more tolerant than the small ones. Delayed mortality of T. granarium adults was generally high for both insecticides and doses, and ranged between 43.3 and 63.3% of those that were still alive immediately after the 7-d treatment. For both larval categories, delayed mortality was higher for larvae that had been previously exposed to alpha-cypermethrin, than with thiamethoxam. For T. molitor, after the 7-d exposure, significantly more adults were dead on dishes treated with alpha-cypermethrin than with thiamethoxam. For small larvae mortality was 38.9% at the lowest thiamethoxam dose, but in the other cases ranged between 88.9 and 95.6%. In the case of large larvae, the overall mortality was low in all tested combinations. Regarding delayed mortality of this species, it remained at low levels, for both adults and small larvae. Our results indicate that T. molitor was more susceptible than T. granarium in both insecticides tested, but alpha-cypermethrin was more effective than thiamethoxam.     

Seawater-softening process through formation of calcite ooids

Conventional water-softening processes usually involve the exchange of Na⁺ ions for Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ using commercial or synthesized ion exchangers. The differences in chemical compositions of the ooids can be attributed to the formation in different environments. In this paper, ooid grains form inside assembled semi-pilot softening unit through a continuous chemical process involving reaction between bicarbonate ions and added lime using natural seawater. Our sample of Mediterranean seawater has low Mg²⁺/Ca²⁺ ratio (1.98%) within the range chemically favorable for precipitation of low-Mg calcite ooids. Precipitation of calcite occurs around pure quartz sand grains which act as nucleation points (the bed required for sand vessel is 1.65 l). The shape of the sand grains controls the overall external morphology of the resulting ooids; they vary in size from 0.5 to 3.0 mm and have a high degree of polish due to surface abrasion caused by continuous agitation inside the softening system. Calcite ooid grains (1.53 kg) formed within the seawater-softening unit every 18 days have many of the ooid features formed in marine environments. Ooids grow to a significant size, at a rate of about 0.17 mm of one layer thickness per day inside the softening unit. The average weight percent of calcite precipitate is 35.48% after 18 days, at 10 °C, 60 l/min and pH 9.0. The pellets comprise mainly CaCO₃ and SiO₂ and some metal ions which may substitute for calcium ions in calcite are present only in trace amounts of the total composition.     

Improvement of adhesion and paint ability of EVA copolymers with different vinyl acetate contents by treatment with UV-ozone

The surface modifications produced by UV-ozone treatment of two ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymers containing 12 and 20 wt% vinyl acetate (EVA12 and EVA20 respectively) were studied. The treatment with UV-ozone improved the wettability of both EVAs due to the creation of new carbon–oxygen moieties. The extent of these modifications increased with increasing length of the treatment and the modifications produced in EVA20 were produced for shorter lengths of treatment. The UV-ozone treatment also created roughness and heterogeneities on the EVA surfaces. Whereas roughness formation prevailed on the UV-ozone treated EVA12, important ablation was dominant on the treated EVA20. T-peel strength values in joints made with polychloroprene adhesive increased when the EVAs were treated with UV-ozone. Short length of UV-ozone treatment (1 min) produced higher T-peel strength in joints made with EVA20 whereas higher T-peel strength values in joints made with EVA12 were obtained after treatment for 5–7.5 min in which a cohesive failure into a weak boundary layer on the treated EVA surface was found. Furthermore, the adhesion of UV-ozone treated EVA20 to acrylic paint increased. Finally, the ageing resistance of the treated EVA/polychloroprene adhesive joints was good and the surface modifications on the UV-ozone treated EVAs lasted for 24 h after treatment at least.