PVA/starch/propolis/anthocyanins rosemary extract composite films as active and intelligent food packaging materials

Active and intelligent food packaging films has taken more importance over conventional packaging. The aim of this study was to develop active and intelligent food packaging films based on bio-degradable polymers like polyvinyl alcohol and starch, incorporated with natural additives, that is, propolis extract (PE) and Anthocyanin. Boric acid was used as a cross-linker. The results proved the compatibility of films mixture. The mechanical strength was also measured and highest value was achieved 6.1 MPa for films containing 20% PE. Moreover, the maximum zone of inhabitation, that is, 21 and 15 mm, was also achieved at same composition against Escherichia coli and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. Furthermore, all films had shown great color response against different pH ranging from 2 to 14. Finally, food spoilage test was performed using pasteurized milk. Films responded visibly by changing color and protected milk from spoilage. Hence, formulated bio-degradable active and intelligent films can be used as food packaging material.     

Model for the oxide thickness dependence of SILC generation based on anode hole injection process

A new model for the oxide thickness dependence of the SILC generation has been proposed on the basis of defects created by anode hole injection. This model which has been validated on oxides with thickness down to ≈3nm, allows the explanation of the bell-shaped behavior of the SILC variation with oxide thickness and predicts a strong reduction of the SILC intensity for ultra thin oxides operated in the direct tunneling regime.     

Phosphorylated nanocellulose fibrils/PVA nanocomposite membranes for biogas upgrading at higher pressure

ABSTRACT

High moisture uptake and excellent mechanical properties of cellulose nano-fibril (CNF) make it an interesting material to use as an additive in facilitated transport membranes. The objective of this work is to develop novel phosphorylated nanocellulose fibrils (PCNF)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanocomposite membranes for biogas upgrading. Results showed that the thickness of membrane increases with increasing concentration of PCNF. The addition of PCNF to pristine PVA membranes has beneficial effect for CO₂/CH₄ separation. However, maximum performance was achieved with 1 wt.% PCNF in 2% PVA at pH 12. Furthermore, increasing feed pressure caused a decrease in both permeability and selectivity.     

NiFe2O4/SiO2 nanostructures as a potential electrode material for high rated supercapacitors

Engineered materials are crucial for the higher efficiency of supercapacitors. Current work presents roughly shaped spherical NiFe₂O₄ nanoparticles dispersed in the SiO₂ matrix NiFe₂O₄/SiO₂ as a newfangled electrode material for supercapacitors with remarkable performance. Designing the NiFe₂O₄/SiO₂ nanostructure with a sol-gel method followed by the Stober method to grow silica has instigated NiFe₂O₄/SiO₂ as dynamic material with higher electrochemical activity. Physicochemical aspects of NiFe₂O₄/SiO₂ nanostructures are evaluated using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy analysis. The electrochemical activity is evaluated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD) representing the comparable efficiency and reversibility of the electrode materials. The prepared electrode shows a capacitance of 925 F/g (154.1 mAh/g or 555 C/g) at 1 A/g, with 95.5% capacitance retention after 5000 cycles at 20 mA/cm². The improved electrochemical performance of the NiFe₂O₄/SiO₂ electrode can be subjected to prompt diffusion process provided by NiFe₂O₄/SiO₂ and enhanced redox reactions owing to the high surface area. The mentioned features decrease the total impedance of the electrodes as suggested by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS).     

A Graphene Oxide and Copper‐Centered Metal Organic Framework Composite as a Tri‐Functional Catalyst for HER,OER, and ORR

A composite made from the assembly of graphene oxide (GO) and copper‐centered metal organic framework (MOF) shows good performance as a tri‐functional catalyst in three important electrocatalysis reactions, namely: the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). One of the challenges in the area of electrocatalysis is to find an effective catalyst that will reduce, as well as generate, oxygen at moderate temperatures. The enhanced electrocatalytic properties and stability in acid of the GO‐MOF composite is due to the unqiue porous scaffold structure, improved charge transport and synergistic interactions between the GO and MOF. In polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell testing, the GO‐incorporated Cu‐MOF composite delivers a power density that is 76% that of the commercial Pt catalyst.     

A framework for weighting of criteria in ranking stage of material selection process

Material selection is an onerous process of design activities which needs to be carefully carried out in order to increase the probability of success. A lot of multi-criteria decision-making methods have been proposed in material selection, many of which require quantitative weights for the attributes. Since weights play a very significant role in the ranking results of the materials, this paper presents a framework for determining importance degree of criteria to overcome the shortcomings of this subject in material selection. Furthermore, the suggested framework covers the situation of interdependent relationship between the criteria which has not been surveyed in material selection yet. An example was considered to illustrate how this framework is conducted. On the basis of the numerical results, it can be concluded that the proposed method can soundly deal with the material selection problems.     

The effect of 2 liquid feeds and 2 sources of protein in starter on performance and blood metabolites in Holstein neonatal calves

The aim of present study was to investigate the effect of 2 liquid feeds and 2 protein sources in starter on the performance and blood metabolite responses of Holstein neonatal calves from birth to 6 wk of age. Calves (20 males and 20 females) based on sex were randomly assigned to 4 treatments in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, including soybean meal (SBM) and meat and bone meal (MB) with either fermented colostrum (or fresh milk. Although sex and liquid feed had no significant effect on feed intake, calves consumed more feed intake on the diet containing SBM (15 ± 0.2 kg) than MB (13 ± 0.2 kg) during the experimental period; also, weight gain was affected by both liquid feed and starter. Liquid feed and starter had significant effects on calf body size, including pin width, hip width, withers height, hip height, and stomach size, but no significant effects were observed on calf body size between the sexes. Plasma glucose concentration was not affected by sex, liquid feed, or starter. Plasma urea nitrogen concentration decreased in the first 3 wk and then started to increase during the last 3 wk, but it was only affected by starter and calves receiving SBM (10.18 mg/dL) had a higher concentration of plasma urea nitrogen than calves receiving MB (9.6 mg/dL) at the end of the experiment. Plasma growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor I concentrations decreased in all treatment groups from d 0 to the end of the study. No significant effects were observed on plasma growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor I concentrations between the 2 sexes, but they were significantly affected by both liquid feed and starter. Results of the present study provide useful information to apply to Holstein neonatal calves during the first 6 wk of life when liquid feed and 2 sources of protein in starter are considered.     

ZnO Nanoparticle Ionic Liquids Carbon Paste Electrode as a Voltammetric Sensor for Determination of Sudan I in the Presence of Vitamin B<Subscript>6</Subscript> in Food Samples

Room-temperature ionic liquid n-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluoro phosphate as a binder and ZnO nanoparticle (ZnO/NPs) as a sensor were used to construct a new ZnO/NPs carbon ionic liquid paste electrode (ZnO/NPs/IL/CPE), which exhibited enhanced electrochemical behavior as compared with the traditional carbon paste electrode with paraffin for electrooxidation of Sudan I. This modified electrode exhibited a potent and persistent electron mediating behavior followed by well separated oxidation peaks of Sudan I and vitamin B₆. The peaks current of square wave voltammograms (SWV) of Sudan I and vitamin B₆ increased linearly with their concentration in the ranges of 0.01–400 μM Sudan I and 0.5–800 μM vitamin B₆. The detection limits for Sudan I and vitamin B₆ were 0.008–0.2 μM, respectively. The modified electrode has been successfully applied for the assay of Sudan I and vitamin B₆ in food samples.