A solid state Marx generator with a novel configuration

The new configuration proposed in this paper for Marx Generator (MG.) aims to generate high voltage for pulsed power applications through reduced number of semiconductor components with a more efficient load supplying process. The main idea is to charge two groups of capacitors in parallel through an inductor and take the advantage of resonant phenomenon in charging each capacitor up to a double input voltage level. In each resonant half a cycle, one of those capacitor groups are charged, and eventually the charged capacitors will be connected in series and the summation of the capacitor voltages can be appeared at the output of the topology. This topology can be considered as a modified Marx generator which works based on the resonant concept. Simulated models of this converter have been investigated in Matlab/SIMULINK platform and the acquired results fully satisfy the anticipations in proper operation of the converter

Current Air Quality Issues

Air pollution is thus far one of the key environmental issues in urban areas. Comprehensive air quality plans are required to manage air pollution for a particular area. Consequently, air should be continuously sampled, monitored, and modeled to examine different action plans. Reviews and research papers describe air pollution in five main contexts: Monitoring, Modeling, Risk Assessment, Health, and Indoor Air Pollution. The book is recommended to experts interested in health and air pollution issues

Enhancement of Percutaneous Absorption on Skin by Plasma Drug Delivery Method

Transdermal drug delivery (TDD) is a painless method of low-dose drug delivery. The advantages and disadvantages of transdermal drug delivery methods are named and basic methods such as using chemical enhancers, iontophoresis and electrophoresis are introduced. One of the promising methods make use of plasma which is generated in atmospheric pressure mostly in volume or on surface dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) or in plasma jet. As the plasma produces various particles according to the used gas, UV radiation and heat, their effects on skin and barrier function are described. Improvement of transdermal drug delivery of hydrophilic drug galantamine hydrobromide (GaHBr) using microplasma electrode is introduced

TiO2-Ag-NP adhesive photocatalytic films able to disinfect living indoor spaces with a straightforward approach

TiO2-Ag doped nanoparticulate (TiO2-Ag-NP) adhesive photocatalytic films were used to assess the ability in dropping down the burden of indoor microbial particles. The application of an easy-to use photocatalytic adhesive film to cleanse indoor living spaces from microbial pollution, represents a novelty in the field of photocatalytic devices. Reduction was attained by photocatalysis in selected spaces, usually with overcrowding (≥ 3 individuals) in the common working daily hours, and upon indoor microclimate monitoring. TiO2-Ag doped nanoparticulate (TiO2-Ag-NP) adhesive photocatalytic films were applied within five types of living spaces, including schools and job places. The microbial pollution was assessed at time 0 (far from routine clean, ≥ 9 h) and throughout 2-4 weeks following the photocatalyst application by relative light unit (RLU) luminometry and microbial indirect assessment (colony forming units per cubic meter, CFU/m3). TiO2-Ag-NP photocatalyst reduced RLU and CFU/m3 by rates higher than 70% leading to RLU ≤ 20 and microbial presence ≤ 35 CFU/m3. The described TiO2-Ag-NP is able to reduce microbial pollution to the lowest RLU threshold (≤ 20) within 60 min in open daylight in a standardized test room of 100 m2. The correlation between RLU and CFU/m3 was positive (r = 0.5545, p < 0.05), assessing that the microbial reduction of indoor areas by the TiO2-Ag-NP adhesive film was real. Titania photocatalysts represent promising tools to ensure air cleaning and sanitization in living indoor microclimates with a low cost, feasible and straightforward approach. This approach represents an easy to handle, cost effective, feasible and efficacious approach to reduce microbial pollution in indoor spaces, by simply attaching a TiO2-Ag-NP adhesive film on the wall

Plasma for Energy and Catalytic Nanomaterials

The Special Issue “Plasma for Energy and Catalytic Nanomaterials” highlights the recent progress and advancements in the synthesis and applications of energy and catalytic nanomaterials by plasma. Compared with conventional preparation methods, plasma provides a fast, facile, and environmentally friendly method for synthesizing highly efficient nanomaterials. The synthesized nanomaterials generally show enhanced metal–support interactions, small-sized metal nanoparticles, specific metal structures, and abundant oxygen vacancies. The plasma method allows thermodynamically and dynamically difficult reactions to proceed at low temperatures due to the activation of energetic electrons. Despite the growing interest in plasma for energy and catalytic nanomaterials, the synthesis mechanisms of nanomaterials using plasma still remain obscure due to the complicated physical and chemical reactions that occur during plasma preparation. The Guest Editors and the MDPI staff are therefore pleased to offer this Special Issue to interested reader, including graduate and Ph.D. students, postdoctoral researchers, and the entire community interested in the field of nanomaterials. We share the conviction that the Issue can serve as a useful tool for updating the literature and to aid with the conception of new production and/or research programs. Further dedicated R&D advances are possible based on new instruments and materials under development

Studio di adsorbenti innovativi finalizzati alla determinazione di microinquinanti organici in matrici ambientali. Study of innovative adsorbents aimed at investigating organic micropollutants in environmental matrices.

The following PhD study is aim to understand how the Activated Carbon Fiber adsorbent ca be used in analytical chemistry world for the study of Persistent Organic Pollutants. After a deep bibliography research, comes to light the importance of choosing an ACF typology depending on its raw material, industrial process and chemical physical properties. This was the starting point for establish the suitability of ACF-F-2000 as the best adsorbent for this purpose after physical chemical characterization and extraction tests. For a study of POPs in the atmosphere, due to their persistence, is mandatory to consider their distribution in both the gaseous phase and the depositions, dry and wet (rain and snow). For this reason, the study took into consideration both the air and water matrix, the latter as rain and snow. Thanks to its versatility, the ACF is well suited to be used in several currently existing sampling methods. The work presents the validation tests of ACF-F-2000 through isotopically labelled standards for the sampling in air of PeCB, HCB according to the criteria of the EPA TO4A reference standard method. The material was also validated as a passive adsorbent in water for PCDD / Fs and PCBs according to EPA standard methods 1613B and 1668B. The work led to the definition of a sampling method for snow and the extraction of POPs from melted snow. This extraction method, which uses ACF-F-2000 as the adsorbent, has been validated for PCDD/Fs, PCB, PeCB, HCB, α-BHC, γ-BHC, p,p'-DDE, o,p-DDT, according to EPA 1668B, 1613B, TO-4A, 1699. Both the sampling and extraction systems were applied in the field on real samples carried out in the Svalbard Islands, in the Arctic region. The ACF-F-2000 was finally used for the simultaneous and parallel sampling of ambient air and snow of PCDD / F, PCB, α-BHC, γ-BHC, p, p'-DDE, o, p-DDT, HCB and PeCB, sampling at Terminillo Mount, Italy. The real samples allowed to perform analyses by GC-Orbitrap for the determination of the above analytes and for the study of the scavenged effect. Furthermore, it allowed to start a research on non-target compounds to understand to which classes of environmental interest to extend the use of ACF-F-2000 in the future

Studio di adsorbenti innovativi finalizzati alla determinazione di microinquinanti organici in matrici ambientali. Study of innovative adsorbents aimed at investigating organic micropollutants in atmospheric matrices

The following PhD study is aim to understand how the Activated Carbon Fiber adsorbent ca be used in analytical chemistry world for the study of Persistent Organic Pollutants. After a deep bibliography research, comes to light the importance of choosing an ACF typology depending on its raw material, industrial process and chemical physical properties. This was the starting point for establish the suitability of ACF-F-2000 as the best adsorbent for this purpose after physical chemical characterization and extraction tests. For a study of POPs in the atmosphere, due to their persistence, is mandatory to consider their distribution in both the gaseous phase and the depositions, dry and wet (rain and snow). For this reason, the study took into consideration both the air and water matrix, the latter as rain and snow. Thanks to its versatility, the ACF is well suited to be used in several currently existing sampling methods. The work presents the validation tests of ACF-F-2000 through isotopically labelled standards for the sampling in air of PeCB, HCB according to the criteria of the EPA TO4A reference standard method. The material was also validated as a passive adsorbent in water for PCDD / Fs and PCBs according to EPA standard methods 1613B and 1668B. The work led to the definition of a sampling method for snow and the extraction of POPs from melted snow. This extraction method, which uses ACF-F-2000 as the adsorbent, has been validated for PCDD/Fs, PCB, PeCB, HCB, α-BHC, γ-BHC, p,p'-DDE, o,p-DDT, according to EPA 1668B, 1613B, TO-4A, 1699. Both the sampling and extraction systems were applied in the field on real samples carried out in the Svalbard Islands, in the Arctic region. The ACF-F-2000 was finally used for the simultaneous and parallel sampling of ambient air and snow of PCDD / F, PCB, α-BHC, γ-BHC, p, p'-DDE, o, p-DDT, HCB and PeCB, sampling at Terminillo Mount, Italy. The real samples allowed to perform analyses by GC-Orbitrap for the determination of the above analytes and for the study of the scavenged effect. Furthermore, it allowed to start a research on non-target compounds to understand to which classes of environmental interest to extend the use of ACF-F-2000 in the future

Estudio y caracterización de un plasma de microondas a presión atmosférica para su aplicación en la destrucción de residuos

Las líneas espectrales que son emitidas por el propio plasma y que caen a estos niveles (que a presión atmosférica se ajustan a un perfil Voigt) pueden verse afectadas por el fenómeno de autoabsorción, ya que la radiación va encontrandos a su paso por la descarga partículas de la misma naturaleza que aquellas que han emitido la radiación. Esta autoabsorción, que puede ser cuantificada experimentalmente, y unida al valor de determinados parámetros estudiados, tales como el coeficiente de amortiguamiento de las líneas espectrales, nos llevan directamente a la densidad de los átomos responsables de la autoabs