Studies on Polybenzimidazole and Methanesulfonate Protic-Ionic-Liquids-Based Composite Polymer Electrolyte Membranes

Funding Information: This project was funded by the National Plan for Science, Technology and Innovation (MAARIFAH), King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Award Number (2-17-01-001-0042). Publisher Copyright: © 2023 by the authors.In the present work, different methanesulfonate-based protic ionic liquids (PILs) were synthesized and their structural characterization was performed using FTIR, 1H, and 13C NMR spectroscopy. Their thermal behavior and stability were studied using DSC and TGA, respectively, and EIS was used to study the ionic conductivity of these PILs. The PIL, which was diethanolammonium-methanesulfonate-based due to its compatibility with polybenzimidazole (PBI) to form composite membranes, was used to prepare proton-conducting polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) for prospective high-temperature fuel cell application. The prepared PEMs were further characterized using FTIR, DSC, TGA, SEM, and EIS. The FTIR results indicated good interaction among the PEM components and the DSC results suggested good miscibility and a plasticizing effect of the incorporated PIL in the PBI polymer matrix. All the PEMs showed good thermal stability and good proton conductivity for prospective high-temperature fuel cell application.publishersversionpublishe

Mechanical, thermal and morphological studies of microfibrillated jute/PLA biocomposites

In the present study, biocomposites based on microfibrillated jute (MFJ) fibre and polylactic acid (PLA) have been prepared by solvent-assisted compression moulding techniques. The MFJ is obtained by a sequence of alkali, chlorite and acid treatments of jute fibre. The biocomposites are fabricated by loading of 10, 20 and 30 wt% of MFJ fibre into the PLA matrix. The effect of MFJ fibre loading on the mechanical, thermal, and morphological properties of the composites is also studied. Among these composites, it is observed that 10 wt% fibre-filled biocomposite shows improved tensile strength andtensile modulus compared to virgin PLA film. Similarly, storage modulus and loss modulus are also found improved for the composites. These composites exhibit higher water absorption capacity and lower thermal stability than virgin PLA. The fibre-matrix adhesion is evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. The results are attributed to the improved interfacial adhesion between MFJ and PLA matrix for 10 wt% fibre-filled biocomposites

Characterization of Thermal, Ionic Conductivity and Electrochemical Properties of Some p-Tosylate Anions-Based Protic Ionic Compounds

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Award Number (2-17-01-001-0042In the present work, six protic ionic liquid (PIL) compounds based on p-toluene sulfonic acid [PTSA] anion along with different cations viz. tetraethylenepentammonium [TEPA], triethy-lammonium [TEA], pyridinium [Py], N-methylpiperidinium [Pip], 1-methylimidazolium [Im], and N-methylpyrrolidinium [Pyrr] were synthesized using the standard neutralization reaction method. The structural characterization of these compounds was achieved using FTIR,1H and13C NMR spectroscopies. Thermal behavior was studied using differential scanning calorimetry to determine the melting point (Tm) and crystallization (Tc ) temperatures. Thermogravimetric analysis was carried out to determine the thermal stability and degradation temperatures (Tdec) and to ascertain the hygroscopic or hydrophobic nature of the synthesized compounds. Structural effects on the outcome of various properties were witnessed and discussed in detail. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was utilized to study the electrical transport properties of the PILs at different temperatures. Cyclic voltammetry was performed to analyze the electrochemical stability of these PILs. Low values of activation energy indicating easy proton transportation along with good electrochemical stability make the PILs a potential candidate for use in the preparation of polymer electrolytes membranes for fuel cell applications.publishersversionpublishe

Neuroprotective effect of ranolazine improves behavioral discrepancies in a rat model of scopolamine-induced dementia

BackgroundRanolazine (Rn), an antianginal agent, acts in the central nervous system and has been used as a potential treatment agent for pain and epileptic disorders. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is one of the most prevalent neurodegenerative diseases and the leading factor in dementia in the elderly.AimWe examined the impact of Rn on scopolamine (Sco)-induced dementia in rats.MethodsThirty-two albino male rats were divided into four groups: control, Rn, Sco, and Rn + Sco.ResultsA significant decrease in the escape latency in the Morris water maze test after pre-treatment with Rn explained better learning and memory in rats. Additionally, Rn significantly upregulated the activities of the antioxidant enzymes in the treated group compared to the Sco group but substantially reduced acetylcholinesterase activity levels in the hippocampus. Moreover, Rn dramatically reduced interleukin-1 β (IL-1β) and IL-6 and upregulated the gene expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Furthermore, in the Sco group, the hippocampal tissue’s immunohistochemical reaction of Tau and glial factor activating protein (GFAP) was significantly increased in addition to the upregulation of the Caspase-3 gene expression, which was markedly improved by pre-treatment with Rn. The majority of pyramidal neurons had large vesicular nuclei with prominent nucleoli and appeared to be more or less normal, reflecting the all-beneficial effects of Rn when the hippocampal tissue was examined under a microscope.ConclusionOur findings indicated that Rn, through its antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects, as well as the control of the expression of GFAP, BDNF, and Tau proteins, has a novel neuroprotective impact against scopolamine-induced dementia in rats

Essential Oil-Containing Polysaccharide-Based Edible Films and Coatings for Food Security Applications

The wastage of food products is a major challenge for the food industry. In this regard, the use of edible films and coatings have gained much attention due to their ability to prevent the spoilage of the food products during handling, transport, and storage. This has effectively helped in extending the shelf-life of the food products. Among the various polymers, polysaccharides have been explored to develop edible films and coatings in the last decade. Such polymeric systems have shown great promise in microbial food safety applications. The inclusion of essential oils (EOs) within the polysaccharide matrices has further improved the functional properties of the edible films and coatings. The current review will discuss the different types of polysaccharides, EOs, methods of preparing edible films and coatings, and the characterization methods for the EO-loaded polysaccharide films. The mechanism of the antimicrobial activity of the EOs has also been discussed in brief

Liquid-Phase Oxidation of p-Xylene using N-Hydroxyimides

In this communication, we describe p-xylene oxidation with molecular oxygen at 373 K and atmospheric pressure using N-hydroximide catalysts. p-Xylene conversion was rather high over the first 2 h of reaction and complete by the end of the experiment. The product distribution curves versus reaction time are typical of consecutive reactions. The main intermediate product is p-toluic acid. Peak concentration and the shape of its concentration profile depend heavily on the N-hydroxyimide catalyst used. This effect seems to be related to the NO–H bond dissociation energy (BDE) of the N-hydroxyimides employed.We thank our research sponsor, The King Saud University, Riyadh (Saudi Arabia).Peer reviewe

Portable solar desalination system using membrane distillation

This paper presents the development of a portable solar desalination system using membrane distillation (MD) for processing seawater for drinking in remote areas and for emergency situations such as natural disasters. The portable system uses the vacuum MD to desalinate the seawater. Solar energy is being harvested to provide the energy input for the MD. The portable system should be scalable so that numerous systems can be deployed in case of emergency. The system is self-contained and draws all its energy needs from solar energy. A combination of solar PV and solar thermal collectors are being exploited to harness the energy from the sun to power the portable system. The development work focuses on the engineering design of the MD system to optimize the water production within a given frame size for portability and energy availability. The challenge lies in the engineering of an efficient self-contained system that is reliable and ease of maintenance that will provide drinking water for all where clean drinking water is not readily available

The Influence of Emulsifiers on the Physiochemical Behavior of Soy Wax/Rice Bran Oil-Based Oleogels and Their Application in Nutraceutical Delivery

This research evaluated the influence of stearic acid, sunflower lecithin, and sorbitan monooleate on soy wax (SYW)/rice bran oil (RBO)-based oleogels. The physiochemical behavior of oleogel samples was evaluated using colorimetry, microscopy, FTIR, mechanical, crystallization kinetics, X-ray diffraction, and a drug release investigation. The prepared oleogels were light yellow, and adding emulsifiers did not change their appearance. All oleogels showed an oil binding capacity of >98%, independent of emulsifier treatment. The surface topography revealed that emulsifiers smoothed the surface of the oleogels. Bright-field and polarized micrographs showed the presence of wax grains and needles. FTIR spectra indicated that oleogel samples had the same functional group diversity as the raw materials. The oleogel samples lacked a hydrogen-bonding peak. Hence, we postulated that non-covalent interactions were involved in the oleogel preparation. According to stress relaxation studies, the firmness and elastic component of oleogels were unaffected by emulsifiers. However, EML3 (oleogel containing sorbitan monooleate) showed lower relaxing characteristics than the others. EML3 exhibited the slowest crystallization profile. Due to its low d-spacing, EML3 was found to have densely packed crystal molecules and the largest crystallite size. The in vitro drug release studies showed that emulsifier-containing oleogels dramatically affected curcumin release. These results may help customize oleogels properties to adjust bioactive component release in the food and pharmaceutical industries