Magnetic nanoparticles incorporation into different substrates for dyes and heavy metals removal—A Review

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Substantial discharge of hazardous substances, especially dyes and heavy metal ions to the environment, has become a global concern due to...     

Modification of Thermo-Mechanical Properties of Recycled PET by Vinyl Acetate (VAc) Monomer Grafting Using Gamma Irradiation

Vinyl acetate (VAc) monomer of different percentage was grafted onto the recycled polyethylene terephthalate (r-PET) films using gamma irradiation. The properties of these modified films were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), mechanical properties testing (Tensile strength, Elongation at break), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA). The Tensile Strength (TS) of the modified PET film increased by 132.25?% to the highest value of 50.12 MPa at 15% VAc monomer concentration at 3 kGy gamma dose, while the elongation at break (EB) decreased by 31.83?%. FTIR was used to investigate the molecular interaction of the modified films. TGA revealed that curve of the modified PET film shifted toward higher temperature region by 95?°C, which is very close to that of PET film made from virgin flakes. The results indicate that modified PET films of better mechanical and thermal properties were successfully prepared using VAc monomer grafting by gamma irradiation technique.     

Effect of Surface Treatment on Betel Nut (Areca catechu) Fiber in Polypropylene Composite

Betel nut fiber (Bn)/polypropylene (PP) composites were prepared in the different ratio of 10:90, 20:80, 30:70, 40:60 (Bn wt%:PP wt%) using extruding and hot press moulding technique. From the results, it can be inferred that Bn30:PP70 mixture composite (BnPP) showed better performance among the composites prepared. For further improvement, betel nut fiber was subjected to detergent wash as well as alkali treatment for composite preparation. This work investigated the tensile strength, bending strength, tensile modulus, bending modulus, elongation at break and impact strength of the composites. Fracture morphology of the composite as well as the water absorption capacity has been monitored.     

Effect of Pretreatment with UV Radiation on Physical and Mechanical Properties of Photocured Jute Yarn with 1,6-Hexanediol Diacrylate (HDDA)

Jute yarns were grafted with a single impregnating monomer 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate (HDDA) in order to improve the physicomechanical properties. Jute yarns soaked for different soaking times (3, 5, 10, and 30 minutes) in HDDA+MeOH solutions at different proportions (1–10% HDDA in MeOH [v/v] along with photoinitiator Darocur-1664 [3%]) were cured under UV lamp at different UV radiation intensities (two, four, six, and eight passes). Concentration of monomer, soaking time, and intensity of UV radiation were optimized with extent of mechanical properties such as tensile strength, elongation at break, and modulus. Enhanced tensile strength (67%), modulus (108%), and polymer loading (11%) were achieved with 5% HDDA concentration, 5-minute soaking time, fourth pass of UV radiation. To further improve the mechanical properties, the jute yarns were pretreated with UV radiation (5, 10, 15, 30, and 50 passes) and treated with optimized monomer concentration (5%). UV-pretreated samples showed the enhanced properties. The tensile strength and modulus increase up to 84% and 132%, respectively, than that of virgin jute yarn. An experiment involving water absorption capacity shows that water uptake by treated samples was much lower than that of the untreated samples. During the weathering test, treated yarns exhibited less loss of mechanical properties than untreated yarns.     

Influences of Magnesium <Emphasis Type="Italic">tri-</Emphasis>Silicate on the Physical,Mechanical, and Degradable Properties of Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation Cured Plain Board Surface

A series of formulations were prepared with different percentages of oligomer, epoxy diacrylate (EA-1020 ), monomer, 1,6 Hexane diol diacrylate,(HDDA) and different percentages of filler (Magnesium tri-silicate, Mg₂Si₃O₈). Irgacure 369 [2-Benzyl-2-dimethyl-amine-1 (4-morpholinophenyl) butanone-1] was used in the formulations as photoinitiator. Ultraviolet (UV) cured thin polymer films were prepared from these formulating solutions on clean glass plates. Pendulum hardness (PH), gel content and macro scratch hardness (MSH) of the UV cured films were studied. One percent Mg₂Si₃O₈ containing formulation showed the premium properties. The substrates (plain board) were coated by these formulating solutions and cured under the same UV lamp at different intensities of radiation. Various properties of the coated surface such as PH, gloss, adhesion, abrasion and MSH were investigated. The base coat containing 1% Mg₂Si₃O₈ and top coat containing 48% HDDA produced the best performance among all the formulations inspected. The degradable properties in different weathering conditions on PH, gloss, adhesion, abrasion and MSH were measured. The surface cured with the optimized formulation (E) again yielded the minimum loss of the properties.     

Role of Amino Acids on <Emphasis Type="Italic">In Situ</Emphasis> Photografting of Jute Yarn with 3-(Trimethoxysilyl) Propylmethacrylate

To improve the mechanical performance of natural lignocellulosic jute yarn, grafting with [3-(trimethoxysilyl) propylmethacrylate] (TMSPM) monomer has been performed on in situ UV radiation and optimized the monomer concentration (30%) and irradiation time (30 min). Effect of various amino acids (1%) as additives in TMSPM with photografted jute yarn at optimized system has been studied. The polymer loading (PL) and tensile properties like tensile strength (TS) and elongation at break (Eb) of treated samples were enhanced by incorporation of amino acids and the highest properties (TS = 300% and Eb = 386%) achieved by the sample treated with l-Arginine (Arg) with 32.5% PL value. Weak acid like 3% acetic acid and inorganic acid like 1% sulfuric acid were also incorporated in the optimized system of TMSPM grafting and compared their effect on the tensile properties with amino acid treated samples. Water absorption and weathering resistance of treated and untreated samples were also performed and treated sample showed lesser water uptake as well as less weight loss and mechanical properties as compared to untreated samples.     

Conservation resource allocation,small population resiliency,and the fallacy of conservation triage

Some conservation prioritization methods are based on the assumption that conservation needs overwhelm current resources and not all species can be conserved; therefore, a conservation triage scheme (i.e., when the system is overwhelmed, species should be divided into three groups based on likelihood of survival, and efforts should be focused on those species in the group with the best survival prospects and reduced or denied to those in the group with no survival prospects and to those in the group not needing special efforts for their conservation) is necessary to guide resource allocation. We argue that this decision-making strategy is not appropriate because resources are not as limited as often assumed, and it is not evident that there are species that cannot be conserved. Small population size alone, for example, does not doom a species to extinction; plants, reptiles, birds, and mammals offer examples. Although resources dedicated to conserving all threatened species are insufficient at present, the world's economic resources are vast, and greater resources could be dedicated toward species conservation. The political framework for species conservation has improved, with initiatives such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals and other international agreements, funding mechanisms such as The Global Environment Facility, and the rise of many nongovernmental organizations with nimble, rapid-response small grants programs. For a prioritization system to allow no extinctions, zero extinctions must be an explicit goal of the system. Extinction is not inevitable, and should not be acceptable. A goal of no human-induced extinctions is imperative given the irreversibility of species loss.     

Advanced microbial fuel cell for waste water treatment—a review

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Petroleum, coal, and natural gas reservoir were depleting continuously due to an increase in industrialization, which enforced study to identify...     

Removal of dye using peroxidase-immobilized Buckypaper/polyvinyl alcohol membrane in a multi-stage filtration column via RSM and ANFIS

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The feasibility and performance of Jicama peroxidase (JP) immobilized Buckypaper/polyvinyl alcohol (BP/PVA) membrane for methylene blue (MB) dye...     

Antimony (Sb) – pollution and removal techniques – critical assessment of technologies

In view of increasing emissions of antimony (Sb) into the environment due to industrialization and consequent carcinogenicity, it is essential to remove this metal from the ecosystem. Antimony and arsenic (As) are analogs. Although numerous studies examined arsenic removal, few reports are available on Sb removal. In this review, various Sb removal techniques are described to understand how this process occurs and what research gaps are needed to improve efficiency. At present, surface adsorption technique is the most widely used for Sb removal. Biological treatment namely phytoremediation is also a promising method and more investigations are required in this regard. The selection of a suitable technique for a given area depends on the conditions including economic, environmental, and social conditions.