Nanocrystalline Hydroxyapatite/Si Coating by Mechanical Alloying Technique

A novel approach for depositing hydroxyapatite (HA) films on titanium substrates by using mechanical alloying (MA) technique has been developed. However, it was shown that one-hour heat treatment at 800°C of such mechanically coated HA layer leads to partial transformation of desired HA phase to beta-tri-calcium phosphate (β-TCP) phase. It appears that the grain boundary and interface defects formed during MA promote this transformation. It was discovered that doping HA by silicon results in hindering this phase transformation process. The Si-doped HA does not show phase transition to β-TCP or decomposition after heat treatment even at 900°C

Синтез слоев графена из рисовой шелухи и их характеристики

In this work, a method of obtaining graphene layers from natural source specifically from rice husk was developed. A rice husk (RH) was used as a raw material, and potassium hydroxide was used as activation agent. The graphene layers were obtained after four successive stages: pre-carbonization, desilication in 1M NaOH solution, chemical activation and exfoliation of the carbonized rice husk (CRH). The obtained samples were studied using Raman spectroscopy, TEM and SEM; the Raman peaks evidenced the presence of graphene multilayers in the sample. A detailed observation of Raman spectroscopy showed that the obtained samples with ratio of 1/4 and 1/5 (RH/KOH) consisted of graphene layers with a high content of amorphous component. The yield of the product was ~ 3% by weight. This study can provide a new way to the large-scale synthesis of low-cost single and multi-layered graphene using rice husk or other renewable resources

Finite element modeling of slow water filtering

Slow sand filtration is most appropriate where there is funding to subsidize the initial cost of the filter, available training for use and maintenance, locally available sand, and a transportation network capable of moving the filter. Since the experimental study of slow filtration is taking a long time, theoretical analysis, modelling and simulation studies become important. Theoretical models of slow filtration are not yet sufficiently developed. Several reasons are hindering modelling and simulation: due to the complexity of the interaction of water and pollution with filters and the lack of detailed values for the kinetic coefficients in elementary processes. Multiphysics modelling using Comsol, where a complex set of Navier-Stokes equations is numerically solved together, with the molecular awareness for the kinetic coefficients, was used to studying various geometries and construction types of slow filtration.Comment: 14 pages, 7 Figure

Investigation of rice husk derived activated carbon for removal of nitrate contamination from water

Development of porous carbons with high specific surface area (>1200mg−1) targeted at nitrate removal from aqueous solutions is investigated by chemical activation of carbonized rice husk. Potassium carbonate is used as activating and desilicating agent. The effect of post-synthetic treatment by gas phase ammoxidation with ozone/ammonia or oxidation with concentrated nitric acid followed by nitrification with urea on main physicochemical properties and on the effectiveness of the activated carbons in nitrate removal is compared with those determined for a pristine activated carbonized rice husk sample. The two-fold enhancement of nitrate removal by the urea-modified activated carbon in comparison with pristine and ammoxidated sample is in direct correlation with the development of surface basic groups

Nanofibrous biologically soluble scaffolds as an effective drug delivery system

In this article, the synthesis of biocompatible fibrous scaffolds with antimicrobial properties based on polycaprolactone/hydroxyapatite/amoxicillin and study of their surface morphology, antimicrobial effect, and drug release are discussed. Hydroxyapatite (1–2 $\mu$m, 97%) synthesized from biologically waste material (eggshell) was added to the composite scaffolds as a bone-replacement material. The scaffolds’ antimicrobial properties were evaluated against S. aureus and E. faecalis. The scaffolds possessed a sustained drug release from the scaffolds amounted to about 94% of the antibiotic’s total weight over a 4-week observation period. Agar diffusion confirmed the antimicrobial properties of the scaffolds against specific bacteria

Nanofibrous biologically soluble scaffolds as an effective drug delivery system

In this article, the synthesis of biocompatible fibrous scaffolds with antimicrobial properties based on polycaprolactone/hydroxyapatite/amoxicillin and study of their surface morphology, antimicrobial effect, and drug release are discussed. Hydroxyapatite (1–2 $\mu$m, 97%) synthesized from biologically waste material (eggshell) was added to the composite scaffolds as a bone-replacement material. The scaffolds’ antimicrobial properties were evaluated against S. aureus and E. faecalis. The scaffolds possessed a sustained drug release from the scaffolds amounted to about 94% of the antibiotic’s total weight over a 4-week observation period. Agar diffusion confirmed the antimicrobial properties of the scaffolds against specific bacteria

EFFECTIVENESS OF BIO-WASTE-DERIVED CARBON DOPING ON DE-ICING PERFORMANCE OF AN ELECTRICALLY RESISTANT CONCRETE

This paper proposes a modified carbon-based concrete filler composition, which can potentially be used as a self-de-icing pavement. Carbon fibers (CNFs), graphene-like porous carbon (GLC), and a CNF/GLC composite were developed to reinforce concrete with the aim to improve its electrical conductivity and mechanical properties. The effect of the CNF and GLC loadings on the electrical conductivity of the filled concrete was evaluated in a climatic chamber at temperatures simulating water-freezing conditions on a concrete road. The results show that even a negligible loading (0.2 wt.%) of concrete with CNF/GLC results in a dramatic decrease in its resistance when compared to the same loadings for CNF and GLC added separately. Depending on the number of fillers, the temperature of the modified concrete samples reached up to +19.8 °C at low voltage (10 V) at −10 °C, demonstrating the perspective of their heat output for anti-icing applications. Additionally, this study shows that adding 2.0 wt.% of the CNF/GLC composite to the concrete improves its compressive strength by 33.93% compared to the unmodified concrete

Морфологические и физико-химические свойства наноструктурированной целлюлозы, полученной химическим и биологическим способами

The authors obtained samples of chemically pure, crystalline, microand nanostructured cellulose of various modifications using two approaches – biological and chemical. They studied these cellulose samples via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis, and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. To prepare cellulose microcrystals, they used the mild acid treatment method based on glycerolacid mixtures for treating cotton fibers. They showed that the chemical processing of cotton fiber ensured its dispersion with generation of microcrystals surrounded by a partially preserved amorphous shell. The authors produced bacterial cellulose (BC) films using the Komagataeibacter xylinus C3 strain in surface cultivation conditions. With a view of obtaining higher-quality SEM images, they applied chemical fixation of lipids and proteins with critical drying to fix the process of nanofiber synthesis by bacterial cells. The two-step fixation method helped find the fibrillar structure of a cellulose film, while the morphology of bacterial cells was not deformed. The authors made a comparative analysis of the IR spectroscopy results between chemically synthesized cellulose microcrystals and BC. The obtained cellulose samples do not contain lignin and hemicellulose, both samples are highly crystalline. The BC has an ordered structure, higher crystallinity and gets carbonized when exposed to air pyrolysis. A thermogravimetric analysis of the samples shows the absence of thermally stable impurities. Both cellulose samples of biological and chemical origin are thermally stable, and the initial decomposition temperature is high enough for cellulose materials. These results show that the authors have managed to create nanocellulose materials that might be potentially applied in various industries, such as pharmaceuticals, functional composites, engineering, etc