Recycling of pharmaceutical waste gelatin for controlled‐release applications. I. A 2,4‐dicholorphenoxy acetic acid based system

Gelatin is a natural macromolecular protein. It contains a wide variety of amino acids in its polymer structure, and it is colorless to yellowish, water‐soluble, and tasteless. It is used as a dispersing agent, sizing medium, and coating for photographic films and in pharmaceutical formulations. In this study, biodegradable mulching, based on waste gelatin from pharmaceutical gelatin scraps (derived from pharmaceutical soft gelatin capsule production), was formulated via the casting of water solutions or suspensions into flexible and consistent films. Gelatin was blended with synthetic materials such as poly(vinyl alcohol) and other natural wastes such as sugar cane bagasse and sawdust. To all formulations, 2,4‐dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4‐D) was added as a herbicide. The morphology and mechanical properties of the samples were investigated with scanning electron microscopy and tensile testing, respectively. The results showed that the produced films had controlled‐release properties. The effects of various additives and crosslinking on the films and the release of the herbicide 2,4‐D from the films were also investigated. The introduction of synthetic and natural additives reduced the release rate of 2,4‐D. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 2313–2319, 2004     

Synthesis and characterization of polyurethane – Treated waste milled light bulbs composites

In this study, polyurethane (PU)-milled light bulbs glass composites were synthesized and characterized. The main interest in this study that the polyurethane derived from renewable resources and waste glass are used to form the composite constituents as an attempt towards environmental preservation. Castor oil and polymeric diphenyl methane di-isocyanates (PMDI) were used in NCO/OH ratio = 2 for polyurethane synthesis. Milled glass with average particles size less than 300 μm were prepared based on waste light bulbs. Silane A1100 (as a compatibilizer) was used in order to improve the value of recycled milled glass beads. The adhesion force between polyurethane matrix and milled glass beads was evaluated using mechanical and physical tests. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to investigate dispersion and fracture surfaces of the composites. Infrared spectrum (IR), Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) behavior, and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), were employed to characterize the developed composite materials in details. Chemical resistance (weight change, thickness swelling) was measured in oil, water and dilute acetic acid media. Furthermore, tensile strength and hardness were investigated using universal materials testing machines. A slight increase in the hardness values was reported along with the increasing in particulate fillers loading up to 10% as a considerable improvement has been detected when milled glass reached 20%. The DSC analysis showed the presence of treated milled glass beads influences the thermal behavior of pure PU and composites. This can be attributed to enhancing the physical bonding between PU and silica group. Waste milled glass showed a significant effect on the thermal degradation of the composites in the presence of coupling agent. Further analysis on the tensile strength of the composites indicated that such improved mechanical properties may be attributed to the presence of coupling agent.     

Ultra-high performance concrete and fiber reinforced concrete: achieving strength and ductility without heat curing

Ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) and ultra-high performance fiber reinforced concrete (UHP-FRC) were introduced in the mid 1990s. Special treatment, such as heat curing, pressure and/or extensive vibration, is often required in order to achieve compressive strengths in excess of 150 MPa (22 ksi). This study focuses on the development of UHP-FRCs without any special treatment and utilizing materials that are commercially available on the US market. Enhanced performance was accomplished by optimizing the packing density of the cementitious matrix, using very high strength steel fibers, tailoring the geometry of the fibers and optimizing the matrix-fiber interface properties. It is shown that addition of 1.5% deformed fibers by volume results in a direct tensile strength of 13 MPa, which is 60% higher than comparable UHP-FRC with smooth steel fibers, and a tensile strain at peak stress of 0.6%, which is about three times that for UHP-FRC with smooth fibers. Compressive strength up to 292 MPa (42 ksi), tensile strength up to 37 MPa (5.4 ksi) and strain at peak stress up to 1.1% were also attained 28 days after casting by using up to 8% volume fraction of high strength steel fibers and infiltrating them with the UHPC matrix.     

Digestive enzymes characterization of krill (Euphausia superba) residues deoiled by supercritical carbon dioxide and organic solvents

In this study, Enzyme activities of krill were characterized before and after lipid extraction by supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO₂) and organic solvent, n-hexane and acetone. Krill SC-CO₂ extraction was performed under the conditions of temperature range from 35 to 45 °C and pressure, 150–250 bar for 2.5 h with a constant flow rate of 22 g/min. Extraction yields of lipids increased with pressure and temperature. The digestive enzyme activities of protease, lipase and amylase of SC-CO₂ treated krill residues were slightly decreased comparing to organic solvent, n-hexane and acetone treated residues. In SC-CO₂ treated samples, all of the digestive enzymes showed slightly higher temperature stability. In the other hand the crude extracts of SC-CO₂ and n-hexane treated krill samples showed almost same optimum pH and pH stability for each of the digestive enzymes. It was also found in SDS-PAGE that there are no significant differences in protein patterns of the crude extracts of untreated, SC-CO₂, n-hexane and acetone treated krill indicating no denaturation of proteins.     

Linear model-based estimation of blood pressure and cardiac output for Normal and Paranoid cases

Provisioning a generic simple linear mathematical model for Paranoid and Healthy cases leading to auxiliary investigation of the neuroleptic drugs effect imposed on cardiac output (CO) and blood pressure (BP). Multi-input single output system identification in consistency with the Z-Transform is considered an essential role in the exploration of linear discrete system identification. Twenty Paranoid and 20 Healthy peer cases have been chosen to lie under study. The generated CO model forming two poles and two zeros produced a root–mean-squared error (RMSE) of 0.109 and an average RMSE of 1.39 due to Paranoid cases. On the other hand, Healthy cases obtained model held three poles and two zeros with RMSE equal to 0.17 and an average of 0.63. The BP model with four poles and two zeros showed a 2.15 and 21.69 for RMSE and an average RMSE, respectively, for Paranoid cases, whereas seven poles and two zeros provided an RMSE of 5.7 and an average RMSE of 17.19 for Healthy cases. The obtained results were provided a generic models of CO with promising outcomes for Paranoid and Healthy cases. Moreover, the BP model has less and yet acceptable results in both Paranoid and Healthy cases.     

A comparative study of tunable Ba1−x Sr x TiO3 thin film capacitors prepared by rf-sputtering and liquid-phase deposition

Abstract

Ba_1?x Sr _x TiO₃ thin film capacitors have been successfully prepared using rf-sputtering and a metal organic deposition (MOD) method. The structure, microstructure and composition of the BSTO films are presented. Films grown on lanthanum aluminate LAO(100) showed c-axis preferred growth orientation. Broad paraelectric-to-ferroelectric transitions were observed in films prepared by both methods. The tunability of the capacitance by means of an appplied electric field is examined using various capacitor geometries. A decrease in the capacitance exceeding 75% at 77 K was obtained from the MOD deposited films under an electric field strength of 0.3 MV/cm. On the other hand, the tunability of the capacitance in the rf-sputtered films ranged from 5 to 10% at 77 K and at 20 kV/cm, while it exceeds 50% in some films. The results are compared with the predictions of Devonshire's phenomenological theory.     

Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of the Flexible Iron-based MIL-88B Metal–Organic Framework for Advanced Energetic Systems

The 3D metal–organic framework (MOF), MIL-88B, built from the trivalent metal ions and the ditopic 1,4-Benzene dicarboxylic acid linker (H₂BDC), distinguishes itself from the other MOFs for its flexibility and high thermal stability. MIL-88B was synthesized by a rapid microwave-assisted solvothermal method at high power (850 W). The iron-based MIL-88B [Fe₃.O.Cl.(O₂C–C₆H₄–CO₂)₃] exposed oxygen and iron content of 29% and 24%, respectively, which offers unique properties as an oxygen-rich catalyst for energetic systems. Upon dispersion in an organic solvent and integration into ammonium perchlorate (AP) (the universal oxidizer for energetic systems), the dispersion of the MOF particles into the AP energetic matrix was uniform (investigated via elemental mapping using an EDX detector). Therefore, MIL-88B(Fe) could probe AP decomposition with the exclusive formation of mono-dispersed Fe₂O₃ nanocatalyst during the AP decomposition. The evolved nanocatalyst can offer superior combustion characteristics. XRD pattern for the MIL-88B(Fe) framework TGA residuals confirmed the formation of α-Fe₂O₃ nanocatalyst as a final product. The catalytic efficiency of MIL-88B(Fe) on AP thermal behavior was assessed via DSC and TGA. AP solely demonstrated a decomposition enthalpy of 733 J g^?1, while AP/MIL-88B(Fe) showed a 66% higher decomposition enthalpy of 1218 J g^?1; the main exothermic decomposition temperature was decreased by 71 °C. Besides, MIL-88B(Fe) resulted in a decrease in AP decomposition activation energy by 23% and 25% using Kissinger and Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose (KAS) models, respectively.

     

Electrically and thermally conductive elastomer/graphene nanocomposites by solution mixing

The greatest challenge in developing polymer/graphene nanocomposites is to prevent graphene layers stacking; in this respect, we found effective solution-mixing polymers with cost-effective graphene of hydrophobic surface. Since graphene oxide is hydrophilic and in need of reduction, highly conducing graphene platelets (GnPs) of ∼3 nm in thickness were selected to solution-mix with a commonly used elastomer – styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR). A percolation threshold of electrical conductivity was observed at 5.3 vol% of GnPs, and the SBR thermal conductivity enhanced three times at 24 vol%. Tensile strength, Young's modulus and tear strength were improved by 413%, 782% and 709%, respectively, at 16.7 vol%. Payne effect, an important design criteria for elastomers used in dynamic loading environment, was also investigated. The comparison of solution mixing with melt compounding, where the same starting materials were used, demonstrated that solution mixing is more effective in promoting the reinforcing effect of GnPs, since it provides more interlayer spacing for elastomer molecules intercalating and retains the high aspect ratio of GnPs leading to filler–filler network at a low volume fraction. We also compared the reinforcing effect of GnPs with those of carbon black and carbon nanotubes.     

Iterative Methods for Solving the Neutron Transport Equation in 1-D Spherical Geometry

In this note, we propose an iterative methods technique for solving the neutron transport equation in 1-D spherical geometry. More precisely we analyze the theoretical and numerical aspect of Jacobi and Gauss-Siedel algorithms in an infinite dimension, and compare there with the classical method. These algorithms are based on a splitting of the collision operator taking into account the characteristics of the transport operator. One of the advantages of these algorithms is that give a good rate of convergence, and they are independent of the discretization chosen for the neutron transport equation.     

Surface damage of poly(methylmethacrylate) under fretting loading

The initial fretting damage in a glass/PMMA contact was investigated by means of experiments and numerical (F.E.M.) simulations. Both micro-crack nucleation at the contact edges and particle detachment were identified on the PMMA's surface. Micro-crack initiation was related to the combination of high tensile stresses and positive hydrostatic pressures which are known to enhance crazing. During the early stages of the fretting tests, the distribution of the detached particles within the contact was correlated to the spatial distribution of the cumulative interfacial energy dissipated by friction. As the number of cycles was increased, it was observed that detached particles moved toward the middle of the contact. On the basis of FEM simulations, this particle displacement within the contact was attributed to the existence of differential micro-displacements during the fretting cycle.