Non-Fluorinated Polymer Composite Proton Exchange Membranes for Fuel Cell Applications – A Review

The critical component of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) system is the proton exchange membrane (PEM). Perfluorosulfonic acid membranes such as Nafion are currently used for PEMFCs in industry, despite suffering from reduced proton conductivity due to dehydration at higher temperatures. However, operating at temperatures below 100 °C leads to cathode flooding, catalyst poisoning by CO, and complex system design with higher cost. Research has concentrated on the membrane material and on preparation methods to achieve high proton conductivity, thermal, mechanical and chemical stability, low fuel crossover and lower cost at high temperatures. Non-fluorinated polymers are a promising alternative. However, improving the efficiency at higher temperatures has necessitated modifications and the inclusion of inorganic materials in a polymer matrix to form a composite membrane can be an approach to reach the target performance, while still reducing costs. This review focuses on recent research in composite PEMs based on non-fluorinated polymers. Various inorganic fillers incorporated in the PEM structure are reviewed in terms of their properties and the effect on PEM fuel cell performance. The most reliable polymers and fillers with potential for high temperature proton exchange membranes (HTPEMs) are also discussed.     

Cytotoxic and spectroscopic studies on binding of a new synthesized bipyridine ethyl dithiocarbamate Pt(II) nitrate complex to the milk carrier protein of BLG

In the present investigation, we have decided to study the interaction between the bovine whey carrier protein of β-lactoglobulin (BLG) with a newly synthesized Pt(II) complex (bipyridine ethyl dithiocarbamate Pt(II) nitrate), as an anti-cancer compound using fluorescence and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopic methods at two different temperatures of 25 and 37 °C. Also, cytotoxicity and apoptotic activity of this complex have studied against cancer model cell line of K562. Results of intrinsic fluorescence of BLG represent that Pt(II) complex has strong ability to quench the intrinsic fluorescence of protein through dynamic quenching procedure. The values of binding constant (0.21 and 0.27 μM^?1 at 25 and 37 °C, respectively) and number of binding site calculated according to the quenching methods at different temperatures. Also, thermodynamic parameters data suggested that hydrophobic interaction plays a major role in the interaction of complex with BLG. In addition, far-UV-CD results show that Pt(II) complex did not induce any significant changes in the secondary structure of BLG. Cytotoxicity and apoptotic effects of the complex toward the cancer cell line of K562 were measured using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay and 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining methods. From above results, it can be concluded that the bovine whey carrier protein of BLG could bind to be a suitable transfer for this new anti-cancer compound and may be suggested that the anti-tumor activity of this complex reveals typical morphological features of apoptotic death.     

Facile Synthesis of Tris(alkoxydimethylsilyl)methane Derivatives via Alcoholysis Under Open-Flask and Mild Conditions

The reactions between a variety of functionalized alcohols and tris(dimethylsilyl)methane, (HMe₂Si)₃CH, are described. Alcohols such as ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, triethylene glycol monomethyl ether, 2-chloroethanol, 1-octanol, benzyl alcohol, glycidol, and allyl alcohol were converted in the presence of Karstedt's catalyst into the corresponding tris(alkoxydimethylsilyl)methanes, (ROMe₂Si)₃CH, in a convenient one-pot operation under aerobic conditions. The appearance of the products coincides with the generation of colloidal Pt(0) species. Moreover, poly(4-chloromethyl)styrene containing tris(dimethylsilyl)methyl groups reacts with benzyl alcohol or 2-chloroethanol in the presence of Karstedt's catalyst to give new macromolecules bearing tris(alkoxydimethylsilyl)methyl groups. The reaction rate is greatly influenced by the concentration of catalyst.     

Poly(lactic acid)/coplasticized thermoplastic starch blend: Effect of plasticizer migration on rheological and mechanical properties

Polylactic acid (PLA) and thermoplastic starch (TPS) are known as bio‐based and biodegradable thermoplastic polymers that can be used in different applications owing to their inherent physical and mechanical properties. In order to reduce the higher costs of PLA and tuning its physical and mechanical properties suitable for short life packaging applications, blending of PLA with the TPS, more economical biodegradable polymer, has been considered in academic and industrial researches. However, melt blending of PLA with TPS without compatibilization process caused some drawbacks such as coarsening morphology and declining mechanical properties and ductility because of thermodynamic immiscibility, which may restrict its usage in packaging applications. Subsequently, our approach in this research is compatibilization of PLA/TPS blends by utilization of primary well tuning of TPS formulation with a combination of sorbitol and glycerol plasticizers. In this work, the wide composition range of melt mixed PLA/TPS blends was prepared using a laboratory twin screw extruder. The effects of microstructure on the rheological and mechanical properties of PLA/TPS blends were studied using different methods such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images, contact angle, oscillatory shear rheological measurements, and tensile and impact strength mechanical tests. The rheological and mechanical properties were interpreted according to the morphological features and considering the possibility of plasticizer migration from TPS to PLA phase during melt blending. Reduction in complex viscosity and storage modulus of PLA matrix samples indicates the improved melt processability of blends. Finally, in comparison with mechanical results reported in literature, our simple approach yielded the blends with elastic modulus and ductility comparable with those of chemically compatibilized PLA/TPS blends.     

Stabilization Of The CN35− Anion In Recoverable High-pressure Ln3O2(CN3) (Ln=La,Eu, Gd,Tb, Ho,Yb) Oxoguanidinates

A series of isostructural Ln₃O₂(CN₃) (Ln=La, Eu, Gd, Tb, Ho, Yb) oxoguanidinates was synthesized under high-pressure (25–54 GPa) high-temperature (2000–3000 K) conditions in laser-heated diamond anvil cells. The crystal structure of this novel class of compounds was determined via synchrotron single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) as well as corroborated by X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) measurements and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The Ln₃O₂(CN₃) solids are composed of the hitherto unknown CN₃⁵⁻ guanidinate anion—deprotonated guanidine. Changes in unit cell volumes and compressibility of Ln₃O₂(CN₃) (Ln=La, Eu, Gd, Tb, Ho, Yb) compounds are found to be dictated by the lanthanide contraction phenomenon. Decompression experiments show that Ln₃O₂(CN₃) compounds are recoverable to ambient conditions. The stabilization of the CN₃⁵⁻ guanidinate anion at ambient conditions provides new opportunities in inorganic and organic synthetic chemistry.     

因子分析-氢化物发生原子吸收法分析砷的形态

报道了用流动注射氢化物发生原子吸收法（ＦＩ－ＨＧＡＡＳ）对砷４种形态,Ａｓ,ＤＭＡ,ＭＭＡ）的混合体系进行测量后,根据吸光度加和性原则,用因子分析法（ＴＦＡ）对测定值进行解析,从而测定了混合体系中砷存在形态的数目、种类和含量。实验结果表明,不同酸度介质中不同形态砷校正曲线的斜率可作为相应的目标检测向量,应用于μｇ／Ｌ级低浓度砷的形态分析,平均回收率为９３．９％,结果令人满意。     

Zinc Oxide-Based Acetone Gas Sensors for Breath Analysis: A Review

Acetone is one of the toxic, explosive, and harmful gases. It may cause several health hazard issues such as narcosis and headache. Acetone is also regarded as a key biomarker to diagnose several diseases as well as monitor the disorders in human health. Based on clinical findings, acetone concentration in human breath is correlated with many diseases such as asthma, halitosis, lung cancer, and diabetes. Thus, its investigation can become a new approach for health monitoring. Better management at the early stages of such diseases has the potential not only to reduce deaths associated with the disease but also to reduce medical costs. ZnO−based sensors show great potential for acetone gas due to their high chemical stability, simple synthesis process, and low cost. The findings suggested that the acetone sensing performance of such sensors can be significantly improved by manipulating the microstructure (surface area, porosity, etc.), composition, and morphology of ZnO nanomaterials. This article provides a comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art research activities, published during the last five years (2016 to 2020), related to acetone gas sensing using nanostructured ZnO (nanowires, nanoparticles, nanorods, thin films, etc). It focuses on different types of nanostructured ZnO-based acetone gas sensors. Furthermore, several factors such as relative humidity, acetone concentrations, and operating temperature that affects the acetone gas sensing properties- sensitivity, long-term stability, selectivity as well as response and recovery time are discussed in this review. We hope that this work will inspire the development of high-performance acetone gas sensors using nanostructured materials.     

Saffron and Its Major Ingredients’ Effect on Colon Cancer Cells with Mismatch Repair Deficiency and Microsatellite Instability

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. One of its subtypes is associated with defective mismatch repair (dMMR) genes. Saffron has many potentially protective roles against colon malignancy. However, these roles in the context of dMMR tumors have not been explored. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of saffron and its constituents in CRC cell lines with dMMR. Methods: Saffron crude extracts and specific compounds (safranal and crocin) were used in the human colorectal cancer cell lines HCT116, HCT116+3 (inserted MLH1), HCT116+5 (inserted MSH3), and HCT116+3+5 (inserted MLH1 and MSH3). CDC25b, p-H2AX, TPDP1, and GAPDH were analyzed by Western blot. Proliferation and cytotoxicity were analyzed by MTT. The scratch wound assay was also performed. Results: Saffron crude extracts restricted (up to 70%) the proliferation in colon cells with deficient MMR (HCT116) compared to proficient MMR. The wound healing assay indicates that deficient MMR cells are doing better (up to 90%) than proficient MMR cells when treated with saffron. CDC25b and TDP1 downregulated (up to 20-fold) in proficient MMR cells compared to deficient MMR cells, while p.H2AX was significantly upregulated in both cell types, particularly at >10 mg/mL saffron in a concentration-dependent manner. The reduction in cellular proliferation was accompanied with upregulation of caspase 3 and 7. The major active saffron compounds, safranal and crocin reproduced most of the saffron crude extracts’ effects. Conclusions: Saffron’s anti-proliferative effect is significant in cells with deficient MMR. This novel effect may have therapeutic implications and benefits for MSI CRC patients who are generally not recommended for the 5-fluorouracil-based treatment.     

Combined effects of heat and chemical reactions on the peristaltic flow of carreau fluid model in a diverging tube

The study of peristaltic flow of a Carreau fluid in a non‐uniform tube under the consideration of long wavelength in the presence of heat and mass transfer is presented. The flow is investigated in a wave frame of reference moving with velocity of the wave c. Two types of analytical solutions have been evaluated (i) perturbation method (ii) homotopy analysis method for velocity, temperature and concentration field. Numerical integration have been used to obtain the graphical results for pressure rise and frictional forces. The effects of various emerging parameters are investigated for five different peristaltic waves. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.