A comparative evaluation of physicochemical properties and photocatalytic efficiencies of cerium oxide and copper oxide nanofluids

Copper oxide (CuO) and cerium oxide (CeO2) of various concentrations have been prepared through an ultrasonically assisted dispersion of CuO and CeO2 nanoparticles (NPs) in which water and nanofluids (NFs) were formulated. The morphological properties of the CuO and CeO2 NPs are reported. Few of the physicochemical properties that can influence the photocatalytic activities of the NFs are evaluated, such as viscosity, activation energy, density, thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, alternating current (AC) conductivity, pH, stability, refractive index and optical band gap of the CuO and CeO2 NFs. Viscosity studies have been made at four different temperatures (303 K, 308 K, 313 K and 318 K) and the activation energy is calculated and compared between the CuO and CeO2 NFs. The thermal conductivity of the two NFs is calculated and compared. Electrical conductivity is measured for CuO and CeO2 NFs using an impedance analyzer at different frequencies at 303 K. The dielectric constant and AC conductivity were studied. The electrical conductivity and pH of the prepared NFs are measured and the results are compared. The stability of the NFs is determined from Zeta potential values obtained from dynamic light scattering measurements. UV-Visible diffuse reflectance measurements were used to deduce the optical bandgap of the respective metal oxide NPs in the NFs. The photocatalytic efficiencies of the CuO NFs and CeO2 NFs were evaluated using methylene blue (MB) as the model dye. The rate constant for the photodegradation of MB was higher for CuO NF as compared CeO2 NF and also higher than simple NPs-based photocatalysts. A plausible explanation for the role of NFs over the simple NPs-based photocatalytic solution is presented

Baseline Assessment of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Assay Performance: A Vitamin D Standardization Program (VDSP) Interlaboratory Comparison Study.

The Vitamin D Standardization Program (VDSP) coordinated an interlaboratory study to assess the comparability of measurements of total 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] in human serum, which is the primary marker of vitamin D status. A set of 50 individual donor samples were analyzed by 15 different laboratories representing national nutrition surveys, assay manufacturers, and clinical and/or research laboratories to provide results for total 25(OH)D using both immunoassays (IAs) and LC tandem MS (MS/MS). The results were evaluated relative to bias compared with the target values assigned based on a combination of measurements at Ghent University (Belgium) and the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology using reference measurement procedures for the determination of 25(OH)D2 and 25(OH)D3. CV and mean bias for each laboratory and assay platform were assessed and compared with previously established VDSP performance criteria, namely CV </= 10% and mean bias </= 5%. Nearly all LC-MS/MS results achieved VDSP criteria, whereas only 50% of IAs met the criterion for a </=10% CV and only three of eight IAs achieved the </=5% bias. These results establish a benchmark for the evaluation of 25(OH)D assay performance and standardization activities in the future