Fouling and protein adsorption effect of low-temperature plasma treatment of membrane surfaces

Adsorption of proteins and the effect of the chemical nature of membrane surfaces on protein adsorption were investigated using¹⁴C-tagged albumin and several microporous membranes (polyvinilydene fluoride, PVDF; nylon; polypropylene, PP; and polycarbonate, PC). The membrane surfaces were modified by exposing them to low-temperature plasma of several different monomers (n-butane, oxygen, nitrogen alone or as mixtures) in a radiofrequency plasma reactor. Transients in the permeability of albumin solutions through the membranes and changes in flux of distilled water through the membranes before and after adsorption of albumin were used to investigate the role of protein adsorption on membrane fouling. The results show that the extent of adsorption of albumin on hydrophobic membranes was considerably more than that on hydrophilic membranes. The hydrophilic membranes were susceptible to electrostatic interactions and less prone to fouling. A pore-blocking model was successfully used to correlate the loss of water flux through pores of defined geometry     

Extraction of U(VI) by cyanex-272

Extraction of U(VI) from HNO₃, HCl and HClO₄ media using cyanex-272 (bis[2,4,4 trimethyl pentyl] phosphinic acid)/n-dodecane has been carried out. In the case of HNO₃ and HClO₄ media, the distribution ratio (D) value first decreases and then increases, whereas from HCl medium it first decreases and then remains constant with increase in H⁺ ion concentration. At lower acidities, U(VI) was extracted as UO₂(HA₂)₂ by an ion exchange mechanism, whereas at higher acidities as UO₂(NO₃)₂ ^.2(H₂A₂) following a solvation mechanism. The D for U(VI) by cyanex-272, PC-88A and DEHPA at low acidities follows the order cyanex-272 > PC-88A > DEHPA. Also, cyanex-272 was found to extract U(VI) more efficiently than TBP at 2M HNO₃. The effect of diluents on the extraction of U(VI) by cyanex-272 followed the order cyclohexane > n-dodecane > CCl₄ > benzene. The loading of U(VI) into cyanex-272/n-dodecane from 2M HNO₃ has shown that at saturation point, cyanex-272 was 78% loaded. No third phase was observed at the saturation level. The stripping of U(VI) from the loaded organic phase was not possible with water, it was poor with acetic acid and sodium acetate but quantitative with oxalic acid, ammonium carbonate and sodium carbonate.     

Tamarindus indica mucilage and its acrylamide-grafted copolymer as flocculants for removal of dyes

The application of Tamarindus indica seed mucilage (Tam), a food grade polysaccharide, and its acrylamide grafted copolymer as flocculants was assessed for the first time for removal of various types of dyes from model textile wastewater containing azo, basic, and reactive dyes. Acrylamide grafted T. indica mucilage (Tam-g-PAM) was obtained by ceric ion initiated polymerization technique. A series of contact time experiments were conducted to assess the system variables such as concentrations of mucilage and dyes and pH. These flocculants reduce the dye concentration by flocculation and settling. The grafted copolymer, Tam-g-PAM showed better results for dye removal. The optimal flocculant concentration, which was required to effect flocculation, was independent of dye concentration within the range examined. Both the flocculants performed better for removal of azo dyes than for reactive and basic dyes.     

Microhardness measurements of poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(vinylidene fluoride) polyblends

The preparation of polymer blends of poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(vinylidene fluoride) in different weight percentages is described. Vickers microhardness measurements have been made to study the effects of load and compositional ratio of the two polymers in polyblend. It is observed that poly(vinylidene fluoride) acts as a plasticizer for poly(methyl methacrylate). Evidence of increasing and decreasing strength of polyblends has been obtained for different compositional ratios of the two polymers.     

Permanganate-Pyruvic Acid Initiated Polymerization of Methacrylamide

A combined system of potassium permanganate and pyruvic acid was found to initiate radical polymerization of vinyl monomers, especially acrylamides. From kinetic investigations of the polymerization of methacrylamide, it was found that this initiator induced a radical polymerization which proceeded with an overall activation energy of 15.7 kcal/mol. The rate is given by

R_p=K[methacrylamide] ¹ [pyruvic acid]° [KMnO₄]¹ in aqueous and water-DMF mediums. In the presence of DMF the initial rate was found to decrease but the kinetic equation remained the same. The investigations were done at 35 ± 0.2°C in nitrogen.

Besides the clinical importance of pyruvic acid found in blood, urine, muscles, etc., it is a good initiator in conjunction with KMnO₄ for vinyl polymerization. It is therefore interesting to study the polymerization of methacrylamide using the KMnO₄-pyruvic acid redox couple in aqueous systems in order to find whether this system follows the same kinetic features of vinyl polymerization by a radical mechanism.     

Flow Through Diffusion Cell Method: A Better Approach to Study Drug Release Behavior as Compared to Traditional Dissolution Test Method

Co‐polymeric hydrogels consisting of N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NVP) and acrylic acid (AAc) were synthesized and evaluated for release of a model drug, i.e., vitamin B₁₂. Release studies in simulated gastric fluid (pH 1.2) and intestinal fluid (pH 7.4), at 37°C, showed the hydrogels to be pH sensitive. An in vitro release study by ‘traditional dissolution test’ (TDT) showed that percent drug released from the hydrogel was nearly 8.6±2.1 and 83.2±4.8 in the media of pH 1.2 and 6.8, respectively. However, in order to incorporate in vivo GI conditions such as acidic pH and high water content in the stomach, low water content and the presence of a semi–solid mass in the large intestine, a new test model, called flow through diffusion cell (FTDC) was also used. The two approaches yielded almost different release profiles. The gels were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis and FTIR spectroscopy.     

Cryogenic Designing of Biocompatible Blends of Polyvinyl alcohol and Starch with Macroporous Architecture

The present paper discusses synthesis, characterization, and blood compatibility studies of macroporous cryogels of PVA and starch. Biocompatible spongy porous hydrogels of polyvinyl alcohol–starch have been synthesized by repeated freezing–thawing methods and characterized by Infra red (FTIR) and environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) techniques, respectively, to gain insights for structural and morphological features. The FTIR analysis of prepared cryogels indicated that starch was introduced into the network of cryogel possibly via formation of hydrogen bonds between the PVA and starch clusters. The “cryogels” were evaluated for their water uptake potentials and influence of various factors such as chemical architecture of the spongy hydrogels, pH and temperature of the swelling bath were investigated on the degree of water sorption by the cryogels. The hydrogels were also swollen in salt solutions and various simulated biological fluids. The biocompatibility of the prepared cryogels was judged by in vitro methods of blood–clot formation viz. percent haemolysis and protein (BSA) adsorption. The cryogels were also studied for their pores morphology and percent porosity and the effect of chemical composition on the extent of porosity was also investigated.     

Selective Removal of Amikacin From Simulated Polluted Water Using Molecularly Imprinting Polymer (MIP)

In the present study, the antibiotic drug Amikacin has been used as template molecule to prepare poly(methacrylic acid) based molecularly imprinting polymer using acetonitrile (Acn) as a porogenic solvent. The polymer has been characterized by FTIR, SEM analysis. The poly(MAAc) MIP has been used for effective and selective removal of Amikacin (Amk) in batch mode process. The equilibrium uptake data was fitted to various isotherm models namely, Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and Dubinin-Redushkevich (RD). Based on the regression values obtained, the order of fitness was DR>Freundlich>Temkin>Langmuir. The maximum adsorption capacity (Q_o), as determined using Langmuir plot was 60.60 mg/g at 30°C. The presence of the drugs Streptomycin and Gentamycin in the solution did not affect the adsorption capacity of MIP. Finally, the adsorption capacity was found to be independent of the temperature of the adsorption system.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Amphiphilic Block Copolymer by Block Copolymerization of Butadiene and Acrylamide using Macroazoinitiator

Abstract

Macroazoinitiator (MAI) was prepared from hydroxyl‐terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) and 4,4′‐azobis‐4‐cyanopentanoic acid by direct polycondensation in the presence of 1‐methyl‐2‐chloropyridinium iodide at room temperature. This MAI used for block copolymerization of AAm at 60°C gave the best results in chloroform but the formation of a crosslinked product could not be ruled out in dioxane. It was inferred that for production of a linear block copolymer, homogeneous reaction mixture was required.

The resulting products were characterized by spectral studies IR and NMR, viscosity measurements. Distinct phase segregation of hydrophobic and hydrophilic blocks was evident through DSC analysis.     

Dynamic and Equilibrium Studies on Adsorption of Cu(II) Ions onto Biopolymeric Cross-Linked Pectin and Alginate Beads

Binary biopolymeric beads of alginate and pectin were prepared and characterized by FTIR spectra. On to the surfaces of the prepared beads were performed static and dynamic adsorption studies of Cu(II) ions at fixed pH and ionic strength of the aqueous metal ion solutions. The adsorption data were applied to Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm equations and various adsorption parameters were calculated. The influence of various experimental parameters such as effect of time, pH, temperature, solid to liquid ratio, and the presence of salts were investigated on the adsorption of copper ions.