Effect of various shapes of ZnO nanoparticles on cotton fabric via electrospinning for UV-blocking

Various shapes of ZnO; multi-petals, rod and spherical were prepared and then applied on cotton fabric for UV-blocking. The ZnO particles were investigated by XRD and SEM. The mixture solution of ZnO with polyvinyl alcohol was applied onto cotton fabrics via electrospinning. The characteristics of the fabric coating were investigated by SEM, XRD, Tensile testing and Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). UV-blocking property was determined by UV-vis spectrophotometer. The results of XRD and SEM on the ZnO powders show that we can produce various shape of ZnO. The investigation by SEM and AAS clearly revealed that ZnO in polyvinyl alcohol nanofibers was effectively deposited on the cotton surface. The sphericals-shaped ZnO coated fabrics show excellent UV-blocking properties. The shape of ZnO shows no considerable effect on the tensile strength of the samples.     

Ethylene and mixed 2-butene cis/trans isomers metathesis: Influence of lanthanum as a second metal on the WO3/SiO2 catalysts

Lanthanum (0.5, 0.6, 0.75, 0.9 and 1 wt%) was added as a second metal on the 9 wt% WO₃/SiO₂ catalysts by the incipient wetness impregnation method. The catalysts were tested in the metathesis reaction of ethylene and 2-butene using either pure 2% trans-2-butene and the mixture of 1% cis- and 1% trans-2-butene as the reaction feed and were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen physisorption (BET), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), scanning electron microscopy, ion-exchange titration, FT-Raman, ammonia temperature programmed desorption (NH₃-TPD) and reactant temperature programmed desorption (reactant-TPD). An optimum lanthanum loading at 0.5 wt% could improve dispersion of tungsten active phase and adsorption properties of the reactants on the catalysts. The adsorption of the mixed cis/trans-2-butene isomer was much improved on the La-WO₃/SiO₂ catalysts with 0.5 wt% La.     

Preparation of cellulose–tungsten carbide composite beads with ionic liquid for expanded bed application

Expanded bed adsorption (EBA) is an integrated technology for capturing target biomolecules directly from unclarified feedstock. The adsorbents should be designed specially to ensure the perfect performance of the expanded bed. In this study, an ionic liquid (IL), 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride, was used to dissolve cellulose directly to prepare cellulose–tungsten carbide composite beads with water‐in‐oil suspension and cooling/ethanol regeneration. The preparation conditions were optimized, especially for four key factors, the cellulose concentration, ratio of the oil phase to the cellulose solution, stirring speed, and addition of tungsten carbide powder. The results showed that the tungsten carbide powder emerged well in the cellulose matrix as an inert densifier. The composite beads had a spherical appearance, a suitable size and size distribution, an appropriate wet density of 1.32–1.68 g/mL, a porosity of 90–96%, a pore radius of 45–65 nm, and a specific surface area of 30–42 m²/mL. These results show the potential application for this EBA process. Compared to the traditional technology with cellulose xanthate viscose, the new method with the IL as the nonderivatizing dissolution solvent is technically feasible, has concise processing, and is environmentally friendly. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Preparation of activated carbon derived from Jatropha curcas fruit shell by simple thermo-chemical activation and characterization of their physico-chemical properties

High surface area activated carbons were prepared by simple thermo-chemical activation of Jatropha curcas fruit shell with NaOH as a chemical activating agent. The effects of the preparation variables, which were impregnation ratio (NaOH:char), activation temperature and activation time, on the adsorption capacity of iodine and methylene blue solution were investigated. The activated carbon which had the highest iodine and methylene blue numbers was obtained by these conditions as follows: 4:1 (w/w) NaOH to char ratio, 800 °C activation temperature and 120 min activation time. Characterization of the activated carbon obtained was performed by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and nitrogen adsorption isotherm as BET. The results present that the activated carbon possesses a large apparent surface area (S_BET = 1873 m²/g) and high total pore volume (1.312 cm³/g) with average pore size diameter of 28.0 Å.     

Uremia-Induced Gut Barrier Defect in 5/6 Nephrectomized Mice Is Worsened by Candida Administration through a Synergy of Uremic Toxin,Lipopolysaccharide, and (1➔3)-β-D-Glucan,but Is Attenuated by Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus L34

A chronic kidney disease (CKD) causes uremic toxin accumulation and gut dysbiosis, which further induces gut leakage and worsening CKD. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Gram-negative bacteria and (1➔3)-β-D-glucan (BG) of fungi are the two most abundant gut microbial molecules. Due to limited data on the impact of intestinal fungi in CKD mouse models, the influences of gut fungi and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus L34 (L34) on CKD were investigated using oral C. albicans-administered 5/6 nephrectomy (5/6Nx) mice. At 16 weeks post-5/6Nx, Candida-5/6Nx mice demonstrated an increase in proteinuria, serum BG, serum cytokines (tumor necrotic factor-α; TNF-α and interleukin-6), alanine transaminase (ALT), and level of fecal dysbiosis (Proteobacteria on fecal microbiome) when compared to non-Candida-5/6Nx. However, serum creatinine, renal fibrosis, or gut barrier defect (FITC-dextran assay and endotoxemia) remained comparable between Candida- versus non-Candida-5/6Nx. The probiotics L34 attenuated several parameters in Candida-5/6Nx mice, including fecal dysbiosis (Proteobacteria and Bacteroides), gut leakage (fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran), gut-derived uremic toxin (trimethylamine-N-oxide; TMAO) and indoxyl sulfate; IS), cytokines, and ALT. In vitro, IS combined with LPS with or without BG enhanced the injury on Caco-2 enterocytes (transepithelial electrical resistance and FITC-dextran permeability) and bone marrow-derived macrophages (supernatant cytokines (TNF-α and interleukin-1 β; IL-1β) and inflammatory genes (TNF-α, IL-1β, aryl hydrocarbon receptor, and nuclear factor-κB)), compared with non-IS activation. These injuries were attenuated by the probiotics condition media. In conclusion, Candida administration worsens kidney damage in 5/6Nx mice through systemic inflammation, partly from gut dysbiosis-induced uremic toxins, which were attenuated by the probiotics. The additive effects on cell injury from uremic toxin (IS) and microbial molecules (LPS and BG) on enterocytes and macrophages might be an important underlying mechanism.     

Bioaccumulation of arsenic in aquatic plants and animals near a municipal landfill

This study was conducted to assess the water quality and arsenic (As) concentrations in water, sediment, aquatic plants and animals near a municipal landfill. The As concentration in the samples was analysed using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Thirty-six aquatic plants of four species were collected. The highest As concentration was found in Limnocharis flava (0.78 ± 0.31 mg/kg). The aquatic animals included 31 fish of four species and 27 freshwater snails of three species. The highest As concentrations in the fish and freshwater snails were found in Oreochromis niloticus (0.16 ± 0.16 mg/kg) and Filopaludina sumatrensis (0.18 ± 0.06 mg/kg), respectively. The highest bioaccumulation factor of As in the aquatic plants, fish and freshwater snails were found in L. flava (131.30 ± 15.35), O. niloticus (228.21 ± 26.99) and F. sumatrensis (33.04 ± 10.58), respectively. Since the accumulation of As was higher in the sediment than in the water, aquatic plants and animals took up As directly from the environment, resulting in As accumulation in the aquatic food web.     

直接溶解法制备纤维素/碳化钨复合扩张床基质

以精制棉为原料,采用N-甲基吗啉-N-氧化物(NMMO)直接溶解纤维素,制备纤维素/NMMO/H2O溶液,添加碳化钨作为惰性增重剂,通过反相悬浮和程序降温制备成纤维素/碳化钨复合微球.结果表明,NMMO溶解法制备的纤维素/碳化钨复合微球球形度好,在介质中的密度达到1.6～2.4g/mL,孔度约为70%,平均孔径为25nm,比表面积为60～70m2/mL,微球粒径具有明显的对数正态分布.扩张床内扩张性能良好,Bo准数大于40,轴向扩散系数处于10-6数量级,床层稳定,可以作为扩张床吸附剂(EBA)的基质.与商业介质Streamline相比,在相同扩张率下,本文制备的扩张床基质可以用于较高的流速,满足扩张床吸附的高处理量要求.