Characterization of Waste and Reclaimed Green Sand Used in Foundry Processing

Silicon - The aim of this study is to discuss the importance of characterization of green, waste green and reclaimed sand. The transformations and changes which take place in the green sand, are...     

The paraneuronal gill neuroendocrine system in ocellated puffer fish Leiodon cutcutia

Pseudobranchial neurosecretory system (PSNS) is the third Neuroendocrine (NE) system found in the gill region of fishes in close association with pseudobranch/carotid labyrinth/carotid gland and can suitably be placed under the category of “Diffused NE system (DNES).” The cells belonging to this system fall under the category of “Paraneurons,” a concept proposed by Fujita and coworkers. It is found uniformly in all the catfish species and some other noncatfish group of teleosts as Atheriniformes, Channiformes, Perciformes, and Clupeiformes. The fishes, in which the PSNS is present, belong to different breathing habits. Most of these have the capacity to tolerate low O₂ conditions. Leiodon cutcutia although not an air‐breathing fish, is known to retain air in its stomach for varied periods when threatened. In an attempt to verify the veracity of this system in a fish of another peculiar breathing habit, ocellated puffer fish L. cutcutia (order Tetradontiformes) was investigated. The histological observations undertaken on L. cutcutia revealed the presence of a well‐developed extrabranchial NE system. The findings are discussed in the light of the association of PSNS with chemosensory system and its evolution in fishes, especially in the view of the transition from aquatic to terrestrial life.     

Effect of zeolites on thermal decomposition of ammonia borane

Chemical hydrides due to their light weight and high storage capacity are considered to be promising hydrogen storage materials for both mobile and stationary applications. Ammonia Borane (AB) is a novel material with very high hydrogen content (19.6 wt %) per mass. The decomposition of AB takes place in three steps at desorption temperatures of about 100 °C, 140 °C and above 1000 °C respectively releasing 1 mol of hydrogen in each step. The major obstacle towards the use of AB as a hydrogen store is its irreversibility and slow kinetics. With the additives the decomposition temperature could be reduced and the kinetics can be improved. Effect of addition of Zeolites on decomposition of Ammonia Borane at different temperatures is reported in this paper. It was observed that the kinetics behaviour is greatly affected by addition of Zeolites with considerable reduction in the induction or warm-up period.     

The atmospheric signature of carbon capture and storage

Compared with other industrial processes, carbon capture and storage (CCS) will have an unusual impact on atmospheric composition by reducing the CO(2) released from fossil-fuel combustion plants, but not reducing the associated O(2) loss. CO(2) that leaks into the air from below-ground CCS sites will also be unusual in lacking the O(2) deficit normally associated with typical land CO(2) sources, such as from combustion or ecosystem exchanges. CCS may also produce distinct isotopic changes in atmospheric CO(2). Using simple models and calculations, we estimate the impact of CCS or leakage on regional atmospheric composition. We also estimate the possible impact on global atmospheric composition, assuming that the technology is widely adopted. Because of its unique signature, CCS may be especially amenable to monitoring, both regionally and globally, using atmospheric observing systems. Measurements of the O(2)/N(2) ratio and the CO(2) concentration in the proximity of a CCS site may allow detection of point leaks of the order of 1000 ton CO(2) yr(-1) from a CCS reservoir up to 1 km from the source. Measurements of O(2)/N(2) and CO(2) in background air from a global network may allow quantification of global and hemispheric capture rates from CCS to the order of ±0.4 Pg C yr(-1).     

Quantification of online removal of refractory black carbon using laser-induced incandescence in the single particle soot photometer

Refractory black carbon (rBC) is an aerosol that has important impacts on climate and human health. rBC is often mixed with other species, making it difficult to isolate and quantify its important effects on physical and optical properties of ambient aerosol. To solve this measurement challenge, a new method to remove rBC was developed using laser-induced incandescence (LII) by Levin et al. in 2014. Application of the method with the Single Particle Soot Photometer (SP2) is used to determine the effects of rBC on ice nucleating particles (INP). Here, we quantify the efficacy of the method in the laboratory using the rBC surrogate Aquadag. Polydisperse and mobility-selected samples (100–500 nm diameter, 0.44–36.05 fg), are quantified by a second SP2. Removal rates are reported by mass and number. For the mobility-selected samples, the average percentages removed by mass and number of the original size are 88.9 ± 18.6% and 87.3 ± 21.9%, respectively. Removal of Aquadag is efficient for particles >100 nm mass-equivalent diameter (d_me), enabling application for microphysical studies. However, the removal of particles ≤100 nm d_me is less efficient. Absorption and scattering measurements are reported to assess its use to isolate brown carbon (BrC) absorption. Scattering removal rates for the mobility-selected samples are >90% on average, yet absorption rates are 53% on average across all wavelengths. Therefore, application to isolate effects of microphysical properties determined by larger sizes is promising, but will be challenging for optical properties. The results reported also have implications for other instruments employing internal LII, e.g., the Soot Particle Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (SP-AMS).

© 2016 American Association for Aerosol Research     

One‐pot green synthesis and structural characterisation of silver nanoparticles using aqueous leaves extract of Carissa carandas : antioxidant,anticancer and antibacterial activities

Facile green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using an aqueous extract of Carissa carandas (C. carandas) leaves was studied. Fabrication of AgNPs was confirmed by the UV–visible spectroscopy which gives absorption maxima at 420 nm. C. carandas leaves are the rich source of the bioactive molecules, acts as a reducing and stabilising agent in AgNPs, confirmed by Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy. The field emission scanning electron microscope revealed the spherical shape of biosynthesised AgNPs. A distinctive peak of silver at 3 keV was determined by energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy. X‐ray diffraction showed the facecentred cubic structure of biosynthesised AgNPs and thermal stability was confirmed by the thermogravimetric analysis. Total flavonoid and total phenolic contents were evaluated in biosynthesised AgNPs. Biosynthesised AgNPs showed free radical scavenging activities against 2, 2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl test and ferric reducing antioxidant power assay. In vitro cytotoxicity against hepatic cell lines (HUH‐7) and renal cell lines (HEK‐293) were also assessed. Finally, biosynthesised AgNPs were scrutinised for their antibacterial activity against methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella sonnei, Shigella boydii and Salmonella typhimurium. This study demonstrated the biofabrication of AgNPs by using C. carandas leaves extract and a potential in vitro biological application as antioxidant, anticancer and antibacterial agents.Inspec keywords: antibacterial activity, biomedical materials, cancer, tumours, nanomedicine, silver, nanoparticles, reduction (chemical), nanofabrication, ultraviolet spectra, visible spectra, field emission scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectra, X‐ray chemical analysis, X‐ray diffraction, thermal stability, thermal analysis, free radical reactions, toxicology, cellular biophysics, microorganismsOther keywords: total phenolic contents, free radical scavenging activities, 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl test, ferric reducing antioxidant power assay, in vitro cytotoxicity, hepatic cell lines HUH‐7, renal cell lines HEK‐293, antibacterial activity, methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella sonnei, Shigella boydii, Salmonella typhimurium, biofabrication, in vitro biological application, Ag, total flavonoid contents, thermogravimetric analysis, thermal stability, face‐centred cubic structure, X‐ray diffraction, energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, distinctive peak, spherical shape, field emission scanning electron microscope, Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy, stabilising agent, reducing agent, bioactive molecules, absorption maxima, UV‐visible spectroscopy, plant extract colour, antibacterial activities, anticancer activities, antioxidant activities, Carissa carandas, aqueous leaves extract, silver nanoparticles, structural characterisation, one‐pot green synthesis     

Insight into the Growth Reaction Mechanism of Ceramic Co3TeO6: Synchrotron Structural and Thermal Analysis

A two‐step solid‐state reaction is proposed to synthesize monophasic cobalt tellurate Co₃TeO₆ (CTO), a type II multiferroic, using Co₃O₄ and TeO₂ as the starting reagents. First step of the reaction results in the secondary monoclinic (P2₁/c) CoTeO₄ compound, which on further calcination (second step) leads to the primary monoclinic (C2/c) Co₃TeO₆ phase. High‐resolution synchrotron X‐ray diffraction and the subsequent Rietveld analysis are used to probe different phases present in the synthesized CTO and to achieve its single phase. X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure studies at Co K and Te L edges reveal mixed oxidation states (Co^2+/3+) of Co and hexavalent Te, respectively. Charge imbalance due to mixed valence Co ions has been attributed to cations vacancies. Enhanced multiferroic properties, such as effective magnetic moment, spin phonon coupling, etc., have been attributed to the aforementioned observations in grown ceramic CTO via proposed synthesis route.     

Study of coupled heat and mass transfer during absorption of hydrogen in MmNi<Subscript>4·6</Subscript>Al<Subscript>0·4</Subscript> based hydrogen storage device

A two-dimensional numerical analysis of coupled heat and mass transfer processes in a cylindrical metal hydride reactor containing MmNi_4·6Al_0·4 is presented. To understand the hydrogen absorption mechanism the governing equations for energy, momentum and mass conservation and reaction kinetic equations are solved simultaneously using the finite volume method (FVM). Performance studies on MmNi_4·6Al_0·4 based hydrogen storage device are carried out by varying the hydrogen supply pressure, absorption (cooling fluid) temperature, overall heat transfer coefficient and hydride bed thickness. Effect of convection terms in the energy equation on hydrogen storage performance is found to be negligible. The results obtained from the computer simulation showed good agreement with the available experimental data. At the supply conditions of 30 bar and 298 K, MmNi_4·6Al_0·4 stores about 1·28 wt%, which is very close to the experimental value of 1·3 wt%. Overall high heat transfer coefficients are found to reduce the absorption time significantly.     

Proteinaceous Inhibitors of Trypsin and of Amylases in Developing and Germinating Seeds of Pigeon Pea ( Cajanus cajan(L) Millsp)

Inhibitors of trypsin and amylase in the extracts of developing seeds of 12 pigeon pea cultivars were analysed using a gel-X-ray film contact print technique and an enzyme-inhibitor assay, respectively. The inhibitors of amylase and trypsin in the extracts of germinating seeds of a pigeon pea cultivar (BDN2) were also studied. Nine trypsin inhibitor bands were detected in mature seeds of all the 12 cultivars. Inhibitory activities against amylase and trypsin were not detected in the extracts of seeds collected 11 and 27 days after flowering (DAF) by the enzyme-inhibitor assay. However, up to three trypsin inhibitor bands could be detected in the extracts of seeds collected 27 DAF by the gel-X-ray film contact technique. Two new slow-moving trypsin inhibitor bands were detected in the extracts of germinating seeds of BDN2 cultivar. These bands were prominent in extracts of seeds 10 days after germination (DAG). The amylase inhibitors and trypsin inhibitors in pigeon pea seeds are late synthesised proteins, their highest levels were observed in mature seeds and they were found to be slowly degraded during germination. Significant inhibitor activities were observed even 15 DAG. The amylases in developing seeds are insensitive to endogenous inhibitors.     

Chemical and Microstructural Analysis of a Tin Coin of Sangam Period

An ancient coin from the Tamirabharani river bed was analysed for microstructure and chemical composition with an objective of understanding the nature of manufacture, and for corroborating information on the trade routes between Rome and South India. Advanced synchrotron X-ray and electron microscopy techniques were employed to evaluate the phases and their crystal structures, microstructure and chemistry. The study helped to identify the process route for the manufacture of the coin.