Cymbopogon nardus Mediated Synthesis of Ag Nanoparticles for the Photocatalytic Degradation of 2,4-Dicholorophenoxyacetic Acid

Advanced extraction method such as simultaneous ultrasonic–hydrodistillation (UAE–HD) extraction method has been proved to increased extraction yield of plant material yet the application of this method in the preparation of metal nanoparticles has not been studied. In this study, Cymbopogon nardus (C.N) extracted via UAE-HD extraction method was used to synthesis silver (Ag) nanoparticles. XRD and TEM analysis confirms the formation of spherical shape Ag nanoparticles with size ranging between 10-50 nm. FTIR spectra suggest the presence of bioactive compounds in the C.N leaves extract that may responsible to the stabilization and reduction of Ag ions (Ag+) to metallic Ag nanoparticles (Ag0). The TPC analysis successfully proved that huge number of phenolic compound greatly involved in the nanoparticles synthesis process. Next, the catalytic activity of the synthesized Ag nanoparticles was tested towards the degradation of 2,4-Dicholorophenoxyacetic acid herbicide with remarkable degradation performance up to 98%. Kinetic study confirms that surface reaction was the controlling step of the catalytic process. Copyright © 2019 BCREC Group. All rights reserve

Fruits and vegetables preference among university students towards developing healthy food innovation products

No AbstractKeywords: fruits; vegetables; preference; university student

Dynamic Young's Modulus and Dimensional Stability of Batai Tropical Wood Impregnated with Polyvinyl Alcohol

Batai tropical wood (paraserianthes molllccana) was impregnated with three levels of poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) solutions (25%,50% and 75%) and the dynanlic Young's modulus, water absorption and dimensional stability of the manufactured wood polymer composites (WPC) were assessed. The modified wood polymer composites (WPC) were characterized by microstructural analysis (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy) and free-free vibration testing. The dynanllc Young's modulus (Ed) was calculated using the free-free flexural vibration method. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicated the absorption bands of raw wood to be 1627 cm,l due to carbonyl stretching and WPC show increased absorption band near 1733 cm'l. WPC of 75% PYA solution exhibited improved dimensional stability and lower water absorption. The manufactured WPC yielded a higher Young's modulus compared with the raw one

Density and viscosity of aqueous mixtures of N-Methyldiethanolamines (MDEA) and ionic liquids

The density and viscosity of aqueous mixtures of N-methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) and the ionic liquids (ILs) 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (bmimBF4), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide (bmimDCA), and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate (emimOTf) were determined. The measurements were carried out at 1 atm pressure and temperatures ranging from (303.15 to 363.15) K. The concentration of MDEA was fixed at (2.0 and 4.0) M, whereas the IL concentration was varied from (0.5 to 2.0) M. Both densities and viscosities were increased with increasing IL concentration. Correlation equations of density and viscosity for pure substances and for MDEA and ILs aqueous mixtures as a function of temperature and concentration of MDEA and ILs were also determined. The linear correlation for density had an excellent accuracy with less than 0.98 % deviation for all aqueous mixtures of MDEA and ILs. Meanwhile, the extended Arrhenius equation for viscosity achieved acceptable precision with less than 30 % of deviation from experimental data except for 2.0 M MDEA and 1.5 M bmimDCA mixtures