Electrical and magnetic properties of 0–3 Ba(Fe1∕2Nb1∕2)O3/PVDF composites

Lead-free Ba(Fe1∕2Nb1∕2)O3/PVDF 0–3 composites were fabricated using melt-mixing technique. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, dielectric, impedance, ac conductivity, magnetic force microscopy (MFM) and vibrating sample magnetometer studies were undertaken to characterize the samples. Average crystallite size of the Ba(Fe1∕2Nb1∕2)O3 powder, estimated using Williamson–Hall approach, was found to be ∼42nm. The filler particles of ∼0.5–1μm were found to disperse in the polymer matrix of all the composites. Filler concentration-dependent values of real and imaginary parts of complex permittivity showed increasing trend and were seen to follow Bruggeman and Furukawa equations. The data for ac conductivity exhibited negative temperature coefficient of resistance character of the test materials and were found to obey Jonscher’s power law. The correlated barrier hopping model was found to explain satisfactorily the mechanism of charge transport occurring in the system. MFM confirmed the presence of magnetic phases in the composites. Typical magnetization versus applied field curves indicated the possibility of magnetoelectric coupling in the system. Hence, the present composites have shown themselves as potential multi-functional candidate materials for use in high density data storage applications

Sustainable Water Reclamation from Different Feed Streams by Forward Osmosis Process Using Deep Eutectic Solvents as Reusable Draw Solution

A sustainable and low-cost reusable water recovery process from industrial wastewater may have potential positive impact toward the potable water crisis in several industrial processes. Quite a number of approaches such as chemical processes, biological treatment, and high-pressure membrane based processes have been developed to address this crucial issue but most of them suffer from several discrepancies. Due to the suitability of deep eutectic solvents (DESs) as promising draw solution (DS) for forward osmosis (FO) processes, herein the potential of DESs for the recovery of reusable water from seawater, dye contaminated wastewater, and tannery wastewater by continuous FO process is demonstrated. Under optimized process conditions, >90% reusable water was recovered from different feed solutions with an average water flux of 5 L m^–2 h^–1. Due to the high freezing point (<i>T</i>_f) difference between water and DES, phase separation of the DES and water mixture obtained at the end of the process was achieved at a temperature ca. −5 °C, and DSs thus recovered were reused in subsequent batch experiments (three cycles), where minimal loss of water flux was observed. The recovered water was found to have low contamination making it suitable for different purposes

Carbon sequestration and credit potential of gamhar (Gmelina arborea Roxb.) based agroforestry system for zero carbon emission of India

Abstract The agroforestry system is the best option to achieve the net zero carbon emissions target for India. Keeping this view, carbon sequestration and credit potential of gamhar based agroforestry system has been assessed. The experiment was carried out in randomized block design in seven different treatments with five replications. Gamhar tree biomass accumulation was higher in gamhar based agroforestry system compared to sole gamhar. Among different tree components, stem contributed a maximum to total gamhar tree biomass followed by roots, leaves and branches. The average contributions of stems, roots, leaves and branches in total tree biomass in two annual cycles (2016–17 and 2017–18) varied between 50 and 60, 19.8 and 20, 19.2 and 20, and 10.7 and 12.7 percent, respectively. In case of crops, above ground, below ground and total biomass was significantly higher in sole intercrops than gamhar based agroforestry system. Total (Tree + interrops + Soil) carbon stock, carbon sequestration, carbon credit and carbon price were significantly affected by treatments, and was maximum in Sole Greengram-Mustard. Net carbon emission was also recorded lowest in Sole Greengram-Mustard for which the values were 811.55% and 725.24% and 760.69% lower than Sole Gamhar in 2016–17, 2017–18 and in pooled data, respectively