A biopolymer-based composite hydrogel for rhodamine 6G dye removal: its synthesis,adsorption isotherms and kinetics

The present study reports the preparation and application of a novel biopolymer-based composite hydrogel (BCH) for removal of synthetic dye rhodamine 6G (Rh6G). BCH was prepared from biopolymer chitosan and acrylic acid monomer, in the presence of initiator (K₂S₂O₈) and cross-linker thiourea using microwave irradiation. Synthesized chitosan-based composite hydrogel was characterized by using analytical techniques including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), derivative thermogravimetric analysis (DTA) and differential thermal analysis (DTG). The stability of the adsorbent was demonstrated from its water uptake capacity. The dynamics of water sorption study showed the Fickian behavior. The investigations were continued to assess the adsorption potential of BCH for removal of Rh6G from aqueous solution. The effect of process parameters affecting the adsorption of rhodamine 6G (Rh6G), such as adsorbent dose, initial concentration of pollutant, contact time and pH of the solution was evaluated. Removal efficiency of chitosan-based composite hydrogel (BCH) was found to be 87.31% at pH 7 for BCH dose of 1 g/L after 8 h. The obtained data were fitted to adsorption isotherms and kinetics models. The adsorption equilibrium isotherm and kinetics studies indicated that the pseudo-second-order model and the Freundlich model well described the adsorption equilibrium of Rh6G on BCH.     

Genotoxicity of silver nanoparticles in Allium cepa

Potential health and environmental effects of nanoparticles need to be thoroughly assessed before their widespread commercialization. Though there are few studies on cytotoxicity of nanoparticles on mammalian and human cell lines, there are hardly any reports on genotoxic and cytotoxic behavior of nanoparticles in plant cells. This study aims to investigate cytotoxic and genotoxic impacts of silver nanoparticles using root tip cells of Allium cepa as an indicator organism. A.cepa root tip cells were treated with four different concentrations (25, 20, 75, and 100 ppm) of engineered silver nanoparticles (below 100 nm size) dispersion, to study endpoints like mitotic index, distribution of cells in mitotic phases, different types of chromosomal aberrations, disturbed metaphase, sticky chromosome, cell wall disintegration, and breaks. For each concentration five sets of microscopic observations were carried out. No chromosomal aberration was observed in the control (untreated onion root tips) and the mitotic index (MI) value was 60.3%. With increasing concentration of the nanoparticles decrease in the mitotic index was noticed (60.30% to 27.62%). The different cytological effects including the chromosomal aberrations were studied in detail for the treated cells as well as control. We infer from this study that silver nanoparticles could penetrate plant system and may impair stages of cell division causing chromatin bridge, stickiness, disturbed metaphase, multiple chromosomal breaks and cell disintegration. The findings also suggest that plants as an important component of the ecosystems need to be included when evaluating the overall toxicological impact of the nanoparticles in the environment.     

Lattice and grain boundary diffusion of cerium and neodymium in nickel

Diffusion of cerium and neodymium in nickel has been studied by the serial sectioning technique using radioactive tracers¹⁴¹Ce and¹⁴⁷Nd, in the temperature ranges 700° to 1100°C for volume and 500° to 875°C for grain boundary diffusion respectively. Volume diffusivities can be expressed as: $$\begin{gathered} D_{Ce/Ni} = (0.66 \pm 0.18)\exp \left( { - \frac{{60,800 \pm 810}}{{RT}}} \right)cm^2 /\sec \hfill \\ D_{Nd/Ni} = (0.44 \pm 0.13)\exp \left( { - \frac{{59,820 \pm 830}}{{RT}}} \right)cm^2 /\sec \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ and grain boundary diffusivities by: $$\begin{gathered} Dg_{Ce/Ni} = 0.11\exp \left( { - \frac{{29,550}}{{RT}}} \right)cm^2 /\sec \hfill \\ Dg_{Nd/Ni} = 0.07\exp \left( { - \frac{{28,580}}{{RT}}} \right)cm^2 /\sec \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ Results of volume diffusion have been compared with those calculated from the theories of diffusion based on size and charge difference between the solute and the solvent atoms. Whipple and Suzuoka methods have been used to evaluate the grain boundary diffusion coefficients. Both the methods give similar results.     

On some transport properties of strontium-doped lanthanum chromite ceramics

D.C. Electrical conductivity, Hall mobility and magnetic susceptibility measurements on La_1?x Sr _x CrO₃ (0?x?0.25) perovskite ceramic system, and their temperature dependence, have been carried out to understand the nature of the transport mechanism in them. The electrical conductivity and Hall mobility displayed thermally activated temperature dependence with activation energies that varied from 0.13 to 0.23 ev. The variation of the d.c. conductivity of the polycrystalline La_1?x Sr _x CrO₃ with strontium content (X) has been found to be strongly affected by the changes in microstructure. Magnetic susceptibility data indicate that the electronic transport is due to the presence of Cr⁴⁺ ions in the lattice, and that the localized level of hopping is associated with the chromium 3d band.     

Cure characteristics,swelling behaviors,and mechanical properties of carbon black filler reinforced EPDM/NBR blend system

The effect of carbon black fillers viz. semireinforcing furnace (SRF), high abrasion furnace (HAF) and intermediate super abrasion furnace (ISAF) carbon blacks on the cure, swelling and mechanical properties of 70/30 EPDM/NBR blend have been investigated. The maximum torque values have been found to be increased with increase in filler loading. Filledsystems have been found to exhibit a reduced solvent uptake tendency compared to the unfilled sample. Blends loaded with ISAF exhibited the lowest toluene uptake among the carbon black filled systems due to the better filler reinforcement. A more uniform morphology has been observed for ISAF‐filled samples compared to the other filler loaded systems. The improvement in the mechanical properties has been observed to be the highest for ISAF‐filled samples followed by HAF and SRF filled systems. This has been attributed to the smaller particle size of ISAF black. The experimental results of mechanical testing have been compared with various theoretical models. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Microwave-assisted synthesis and characterization of tin oxide nanoparticles

Tin oxide nanoplatelets (SnO) and nanoparticles (SnO₂) were prepared by microwave assisted technique with an operating frequency of 2.45 GHz. This technique permits to produce gram quantity of homogeneous nanoparticles in just 10 min. The crystalline size was evaluated from XRD and found to range from 26 to 34 nm. SEM and TEM analyses showed that the nanoparticles present a platelet-like shaped particle or, a pseudo spherical morphology, after calcination at moderate temperature during which the phase transformation from SnO to SnO₂ takes place. Additional FT-IR, density and resistivity measurements were also presented.     

Dyeing studies with hydroxyanthraquinones extracted from Indian madder. Part 1: Dyeing of nylon with purpurin†

Purpurin (1,2,4‐trihydroxyanthraquinone) is the major colorant present in the roots of Indian madder (Rubia cordifolia). Its structure is similar to that of disperse dyes. To gain an understanding of the dyefibre interactions involved, kinetic and thermodynamic studies have been conducted with purpurin on nylon fibre. Dyeing corresponds to the Nernst isotherm as linear isotherms were obtained. The dye is found to be sensitive to pH and high temperature. The rate of dye uptake, diffusion coefficient, standard affinity, heat of dyeing and entropy have been calculated and discussed.     

Studies on the development of aluminium alloy–mild steel reinforced composite

With a view to developing a new metal–metal cast composite material as a possible substitute for ferrous materials in wear resistant applications, Al alloy (LM11) is reinforced with mild steel (ms) wires and it is heat treated to get ‘reaction interface’ (RI). Microhardness, tensile properties and wear characteristics of the matrix, as-cast and heat treated composites have been determined. While microhardness of the composite showed variation from 150 to 45 VHN across the interface in the as-cast composite, annealed (500–525°C) composite showed a microhardness of 350–420 VHN at the interface indicating the effectiveness of the heat treatment. It is seen that the % improvement in wear resistance increased with increase in number of wires when embedded in the aluminium alloy matrix. Further imrpovement of about 30% was observed when heat treated at 500°C for 15 h. These results have been discussed in terms of wetting between ms wires and the matrix, particularly the increase of hardness and tensile strength to the formation of ‘reaction interface’ due to annealing. The width of the interface increased with annealing time and temperature and the kinetics of reaction followed logarithmic and parabolic growth rate. The activation energy for the formation of intermetallics constituting the reaction interface is found to be 20.7 KJ mol⁻¹. From the measured hardness and ultimate tensile strength of the constituents and composites an empirical relation was deduced.     

Analysis of evaporating mist flow for enhanced convective heat transfer

Enhancement of forced convective heat transport through the use of evaporating mist flow is investigated analytically and by numerical simulation. A two-phase mist, consisting of finely dispersed water droplets in an airstream, is introduced at the inlet of a longitudinally-finned heat sink. The latent heat absorbed by the evaporating droplets significantly reduces the sensible heating of the air inside the heat sink which translates into higher heat-dissipation capacities. The flow and heat transfer characteristics of mist flows are studied through a detailed numerical analysis of the mass, momentum and energy transport equations for the mist droplets and the airstream, which are treated as two separate phases. The coupling between the two phases is modeled through interaction terms in the transport equations. The effects of inlet mist droplet size and concentration on the thermal performance of the heat sink are analyzed parametrically. The results provide insight into the complex transport processes associated with mist flows. The simulations indicate that significantly higher heat transfer coefficients are obtained with mist flows as compared to air flows, highlighting the potential for the use of mist flows for enhanced thermal management applications.