Zeolites: An Emerging Material for Gas Storage and Separation Applications

Zeolites are one of the amazing materials available in nature because of their structural pores. Interestingly, these god-gifted properties of zeolite can be used in gas separation and storage application. Actually, hydrogen separation and its storage are now a thrust research area. Hydrogen is considered as a ‘clean energy,’ which is indispensable for global affluence and alternative energy for future. But hydrogen is not accessible in its pure form during the industrial synthesis process and comes out with some other impurities like CO2 (GHG) and other gases. So, the production of carbon-free hydrogen and its storage is so much vital. In conventional technologies, few concerns are always existed during gas separation and also in storage process. Recently, membrane-based separation process is a highly demanding technology in the industry and shows some advantages as compared to conventional process. Based on this concept, in this chapter, three different types of zeolites, that is, DDR, SAPO 34, and Bikitaite are highlighted. Here, we described the advanced synthesis process and the mechanism towards the development of high-quality nearly defect-free membranes on cheaper support. Finally, the evaluation of membranes is described through gas permeation and selectivity results of different single gas and mixture gas composition. In addition, storage capacity of H2 by zeolite/surface-modified zeolites is included in this chapter

An Ontology for Transportation System

In this work, we present a domain ontology for Transportation System. We have developed an ontology for a semantics-aware transportation system from the perspective of a traveler user, capable of answering general competence queries like the nearest bus stop to a particular place, the nearest parking slots available, etc. We have studied the transportation system of some of the big cities of the world and have tried to come up with a vocabulary that can be applied to any city with little modifications. This vocabulary is further aligned with an upper-level ontology to have a common starting point

Estimation of serum cortisol levels and its correlation with salivary cortisol levels in coronary artery disease patients with and without periodontitis: a cross sectional study

Background: Atherosclerosis refers to combination of changes in the intima of arteries, consisting of focal accumulation of lipids, complex carbohydrates, blood and blood products, fibrous tissue, calcium deposits and associated medical changes. Ischemic heart disease (IHD) refers to a group of closely related syndromes that is caused by an imbalance between myocardial oxygen demand and blood supply.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 63 patients, aged 30-65 years, with known coronary artery disease. Estimation of serum and salivary cortisol levels were assessed with specific ELISA kit for cortisol (R&D Systems) and their comparison was performed in patients with and without periodontitis. Statistical analysis was done using Mann-Whitney U test and Pearson Correlation test.Results: The clinical parameters showed statistically significant association (p<0.001) between coronary artery disease and periodontitis and comparative levels of serum and salivary cortisol displayed varying degrees of positive correlation.Conclusions:Saliva along with serum has great potential as a diagnostic fluid and it showed good correlation with cortisol levels in coronary artery disease patients with and without periodontitis.

Benefits of improved rice husk combustion, Bangladesh (NRI report no. 2764)

The report is structured as follows. Chapter 2 presents the background to this study. Based on secondary data, it first describes the rice milling sector to illustrate the characteristics of the sector and to establish the importance of small scale parboiling rice mills. No secondary data were available either on the socio-economic characteristics of the user group or on the attitudes to technological change among owners and operators of rice mills. This information was important to the design of the project methodology; for indicating the nature of technological improvements acceptable to user groups; for issues of affordability and for subsequent dissemination activities. Section 2.3, draws on the baseline survey carried out in Phase 1, to analyse these characteristics. Chapter 3 first analyses the characteristics of the traditional furnace design and then demonstrates how the new design of furnace-boiler unit has increased combustion efficiency by more than the project objective; improved the working conditions of the workers and increased profitability of the owners. It also sets out the potentials and limitations for wider replications. Chapter 4 focuses on enhancing the production of briquettes using husk from parboiled rice. It describes the current procedures used for briquette production, the difficulties of using husk of parboiled rice, and the improvements developed by this project to address these constraints. Chapter 5 discusses the wider socio-economic benefits that could be generated by the rice husk and bran saved by improved combustion efficiency. It also shows that briquettes, where available, have become the poor man's fuel. Chapter 6 initially set out the characteristics of the rice husk ash in Bangladesh. It then describes the current uses in other countries and identifies potential alternative uses in Bangladesh. Chapter 7 describes the dissemination activities already undertaken and their outcomes and then outlines further dissemination activities that could potentially enhance uptake. Chapter 8 will conclude the report with recommendations and identify further research needs in biomass fuel use

Effect of PVP Intermediate Layer on the Properties of SAPO 34 Membrane

SAPO 34 zeolite membranes were prepared on a tubular mullite support. Before membrane preparation, the support surfaces were coated with seed crystals. Seeds particles were prepared by hydrothermal synthesis. Before seeding, the substrates were treated with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) to orient the seeds. Both the treated and untreated supports were seeded, and membranes were synthesized on those support tubes by ex situ hydrothermal method. The PVP molecule exists in the two resonance structures. Hence the acylamino bond -N+ = C-O--acts as intermediate linker between support surface and seed surface. Due to charge interaction, the seed crystals were anchored strongly to support surface. The synthesized membranes along with seed crystals were characterized by XRD, FESEM, and EDAX analysis. The single-gas permeation with CO2 and H-2 was investigated. Up to 5 bar of feed pressure, the permselectivity of CO2 and H-2 was as high as 4.2

Pore modification of deca-dodecasil-rhombohedral zeolite membrane by carbon loading from in situ decomposition of 1-adamantanamine for improved gas separation

A simple method of pore modification coupled with the removal of surface defects of a deca-dodecasil-rhombohedral (DDR) zeolite membrane has been developed via carbon (C) deposition. Carbon deposition was achieved by controlled decomposition of the structure-directing agent (SDA), 1-adamantanamine (1-ADA), into the membrane pore surface. Membranes that were synthesized with and without pore modification were characterized by thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction analysis, infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. Finally, the performance of the membranes was evaluated by permeance studies. The non-wetting characteristics of C had imparted hydrophobicity to the membrane pores, leading to enhanced permeability of the gas mixture. Modified membranes were shown to offer a relatively high hydrogen permeance of 13.47 x 10(-7) mol m(-2) s(-1) Pa-1. The selectivity of H-2/CO2 was 4.9 based on single gas permeation and the separation factor increased to 8.5 for a H-2-CO2 gas mixture at room temperature. In the light of these findings, the current technique is proposed to be useful for making a defect-free C-loaded membrane in a single step with high separation selectivity and permeability in tandem. This is the novelty that was achieved

Estimation of salivary glycoconjugates and salivary ros levels in chronic periodontitis: a clinico-biochemical study

Background: Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of periodontal tissue, characterized by persistent inflammation of the connective tissue and alveolar bone destruction. Patients with periodontal disease show the differences in the composition of saliva. Newer diagnostic tools based on analysis of body fluids such as saliva, GCF and serum are found to be useful for diagnosis as well as monitoring the disease activity. Thus, aim of the study was to estimate the concentration of salivary glycoconjugates (sialic acid, total protein) and salivary ROS in unstimulated whole saliva of subjects with chronic periodontitis and to compare the concentration with healthy/gingivitis subjects.Methods: The study sample consisted of 60 subjects (33 males and 27 females) with age ranging from 30-60 years. A detailed case history was taken from all the subjects and periodontal disease parameters (bleeding on probing, probing pocket depth and clinical attachment levels) were recorded at baseline and subjects were divided into 2 groups. Group I- control group (healthy/gingivitis subjects) and Group II -test group (chronic periodontitis). Saliva samples were collected from the subjects and stored at -700 ºC.  Periodate Resorcinol Assay was done to estimate the levels of sialic acid, Biuret test was done to assess the levels of total protein and  d-ROMs test was done to assess the level of ROS. Statistical analysis was done using students unpaired ‘t’ test and Pearsons correlation test. Results: It was found that the levels of salivary glycoconjugates and ROS are increased in subjects with chronic periodontitis when compared to healthy/gingivitis subjects. Thus it can reflect the clinical status of gingival and periodontal tissues.Conclusions: Estimation of the levels of glycoconjugates and ROS may be used as one of the reliable biomarkers to assess the severity of periodontal disease and to monitor the disease progression

Anti-inflammatory activity and neutrophil reductions mediated by the JAK1/JAK3 inhibitor, CP-690,550, in rat adjuvant-induced arthritis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The Janus kinase (JAK) family of tyrosine kinases includes JAK1, JAK2, JAK3 and TYK2, and is required for signaling through Type I and Type II cytokine receptors. CP-690,550 is a potent and selective JAK inhibitor currently in clinical trials for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other autoimmune disease indications. In RA trials, dose-dependent decreases in neutrophil counts (PBNC) were observed with CP-690,550 treatment. These studies were undertaken to better understand the relationship between JAK selectivity and PBNC decreases observed with CP-690,550 treatment.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Potency and selectivity of CP-690,550 for mouse, rat and human JAKs was evaluated in a panel of <it>in vitro </it>assays. The effect of CP-690,550 on granulopoiesis from progenitor cells was also assessed <it>in vitro </it>using colony forming assays. <it>In vivo </it>the potency of orally administered CP-690,550 on arthritis (paw edema), plasma cytokines, PBNC and bone marrow differentials were evaluated in the rat adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) model.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>CP-690,550 potently inhibited signaling through JAK1 and JAK3 with 5-100 fold selectivity over JAK2 in cellular assays, despite inhibiting all four JAK isoforms with nM potency in <it>in vitro </it>enzyme assays. Dose-dependent inhibition of paw edema was observed <it>in vivo </it>with CP-690,550 treatment. Plasma cytokines (IL-6 and IL-17), PBNC, and bone marrow myeloid progenitor cells were elevated in the context of AIA disease. At efficacious exposures, CP-690,550 returned all of these parameters to pre-disease levels. The plasma concentration of CP-690,550 at efficacious doses was above the <it>in vitro </it>whole blood IC50 of JAK1 and JAK3 inhibition, but not that of JAK2.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Results from this investigation suggest that CP-690,550 is a potent inhibitor of JAK1 and JAK3 with potentially reduced cellular potency for JAK2. In rat AIA, as in the case of human RA, PBNC were decreased at efficacious exposures of CP-690,550. Inflammatory end points were similarly reduced, as judged by attenuation of paw edema and cytokines IL-6 and IL-17. Plasma concentration at these exposures was consistent with inhibition of JAK1 and JAK3 but not JAK2. Decreases in PBNC following CP-690,550 treatment may thus be related to attenuation of inflammation and are likely not due to suppression of granulopoiesis through JAK2 inhibition.</p

Mercaptoundecanoic Acid Capped Palladium Nanoparticles in a SAPO 34 Membrane: A Solution for Enhancement of H-2/CO2 Separation Efficiency

In this work, the high quality Pd/SAPO 34 membranes were grown on the support using a secondary (seeded) growth hydrothermal technique followed by insertion of 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid capped palladium (MUA-Pd) nanoparticles (NPs) to the membrane surface. For this, first, the indigenous low cost clayalumina support was treated with poly diallyldimethylammonium chloride (PolyDADMAC) polymer, and subsequently, a seed layer of SAPO 34 crystals was deposited homogeneously in a regular orientation. Since PolyDADMAC is a high charge density cationic polymer, it assisted in reversing the charge of the support surface and produced an attractive electrostatic interaction between the support and zeolite crystals. This may facilitate the zeolite grain orientation in the synthesized membrane layer. Here, the Pd NPs were deposited in the membrane matrix by a simple dip-coating method. After thermal treatment of the Pd/SAPO 34 membrane, the defects were formed because of the removal of the structure-directing agent (SDA) from the zeolite pores but the presence of Pd NPs, which were entrapped inside the nonzeolitic pores and clogged the defects of the membrane. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and elemental mapping of the membrane cross-section confirmed that most of the Pd NPs were deposited at the interface of the membrane and the support layer which may increase the membrane efficiency, i.e., separation factor, as well as permeability of H-2 through the membrane. As the membrane structure was associated with the oriented crystal, the pores were more aligned and permeation adequacy of H-2 through the membrane enhanced. These membranes have a relative hydrogen permeance of 14.8 x 10(-7) mol.m(-2).s(-1).Pa-1. The selectivity of H-2/CO2 based on single gas permeation was 10.6, but for the mixture gas (H-2/CO2 55:45), the H-2/CO2 mixture separation factor increased up to 20.8 at room temperature. It is anticipated that this technique may be useful for making a defect free membrane and also a hydrogen selective Pd loaded membrane with lower cost (as the quantity of Pd is low) which can be utilized for a clean energy related application