Functional Properties and Molecular Degradation of Schizostachyum Brachycladum Bamboo Cellulose Nanofibre in PLA-Chitosan Bionanocomposites

The degradation and mechanical properties of potential polymeric materials used for green manufacturing are significant determinants. In this study, cellulose nanofibre was prepared from Schizostachyum brachycladum bamboo and used as reinforcement in the PLA/chitosan matrix using melt extrusion and compression moulding method. The cellulose nanofibre(CNF) was isolated using supercritical carbon dioxide and high-pressure homogenisation. The isolated CNF was characterised with transmission electron microscopy (TEM), FT-IR, zeta potential and particle size analysis. The mechanical, physical, and degradation properties of the resulting biocomposite were studied with moisture content, density, thickness swelling, tensile, flexural, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetry, and biodegradability analysis. The TEM, FT-IR, and particle size results showed successful isolation of cellulose nanofibre using this method. The result showed that the physical, mechanical, and degradation properties of PLA/chitosan/CNF biocomposite were significantly enhanced with cellulose nanofibre. The density, thickness swelling, and moisture content increased with the addition of CNF. Also, tensile strength and modulus; flexural strength and modulus increased; while the elongation reduced. The carbon residue from the thermal degradation and the glass transition temperature of the PLA/chitosan/CNF biocomposite was observed to increase with the addition of CNF. The result showed that the biocomposite has potential for green and sustainable industrial application.     

Evidence for symplectic symmetry in Ab initio no-core shell model results for light nuclei

Clear evidence for symplectic symmetry in low-lying states of 12C and 16O is reported. Eigenstates of 12C and 16O, determined within the framework of the no-core shell model using the J-matrix inverse scattering potential with A相似文献   

Convergent synthesis of carbonic anhydrase inhibiting bi-heterocyclic benzamides: Structure–activity relationship and mechanistic explorations through enzyme inhibition,kinetics, and computational studies

By using a convergent methodology, a novel series of N-arylated 4-yl-benzamides containing a bi-heterocyclic thiazole–triazole core was synthesized, and the structures of these hybrid molecules, 9a–k , were corroborated through spectral analyses. The in vitro studies of these multifunctional molecules demonstrated their potent carbonic anhydrase inhibition relative to the standard used. The kinetics mechanism was exposed by Lineweaver–Burk plots, which revealed that 9j inhibited carbonic anhydrase non-competitively by forming an enzyme-inhibitor complex. The inhibition constants K_i calculated from Dixon plots for this compound was 1.2 μM. The computational study was also persuasive with the experimental results, and these molecules disclosed good results of all scoring functions and interactions, which suggested a good binding to carbonic anhydrase. So, it was predicted from the inferred results that these molecules might be considered as promising medicinal scaffolds for various diseases related to the uncontrolled production of this enzyme.     

Nanotextured multicrystalline Al‐BSF solar cells reaching 18% conversion efficiency using industrially viable solar cell processes

We report recent achievements in adapting industrially used solar cell processes on nanotextured surfaces. Nanostructures were etched into c‐Si surfaces by dry exothermic plasma‐less reaction of F species with Si in atmospheric pressure conditions and then modified using a short post‐etching process. Nanotextured multicrystalline wafers are used to prepare Al‐BSF solar cells using industrially feasible solar cell proc‐ essing steps. In comparison to the reference acidic textured solar cells, the nanostructured cells showed gain in short circuit current (J_sc) of up to 0.8 mA/cm² and absolute gain in conversion efficiency of up to 0.3%. The best nanotextured solar cell was independently certified to reach the conversion efficiency of 18.0%. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Aggregation and microenvironmental properties of gemini and conventional mixed surfactants systems: A fluorometric study

Aggregation behavior of cationic gemini (hexanediyl-1,5-bis(dimethylcettylammonium bromide) (16-5-16)) surfactant with conventional single chain surfactants cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTAB) were studied with the help of fluorescence measurements. Fluorescence probe is a proficient technique for examining the surfactant-surfactant interaction and aggregation. The micelle aggregation number (N _agg) was measured using steady-state fluorescence quenching method. The micelle aggregation numbers of binary combinations fall between those of constituent surfactants. The micropolarity (I ₁/I ₃), binding constant (K _sv) and dielectric constant (D _exp) of mixed systems were determined from the ratio of peaks intensity in the pyrene fluorescence spectrum. The I ₁/I ₃ values were found to be more than >1, showing more polar environment around pyrene in the mixed micelle as compared to the pure micelles.     

Effect of Oil Palm and Jute Fiber Treatment on Mechanical Performance of Epoxy Hybrid Composites

In this work, oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) and jute fibers were treated with 2-hydroxy ethyl acrylate (2-HEA) to improve interfacial bonding of oil palm EFB and jute fibers with epoxy matrix. Hybrid composites were fabricated by incorporation of modified oil palm EFB and jute fibers into an epoxy matrix by the hand lay-up technique. Mechanical (flexural and impact) and morphological properties of modified hybrid composites were measured. Results indicated that flexural and impact properties of modified fiber–reinforced hybrid composites improved as compared to untreated hybrid composites due to better fiber/matrix interfacial bonding, which was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. We confirmed that treated oil palm/jute hybrid composite may be fabricated by advanced techniques such as resin transfer molding, extrusion, and injection molding for industrial applications in the automotive sector.     

Ethyl Acetate—Propionic Acid as Green Mobile Phase System for Selective Densitometric Identification of Maltose with Preliminary Separation on Silica High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatographic Plates

JPC – Journal of Planar Chromatography – Modern TLC - A mobile phase system comprising of ethyl acetate and propionic acid in 1:1 (v/v) ratio was identified as the most suitable green...