The formation of oxide nanoparticles on the surface of natural clinoptilolite

Nanoparticles of NiO, ZnO and Cu₂O crystallize when the Ni-, Zn- and Cu-exchanged natural clinoptilolite, respectively, are dehydrated by heating in air at 550 °C. The dehydration of Mn-exchanged clinoptilolite does not lead to the crystallization of manganese oxide but affects the crystallinity of the host clinoptilolite lattice, which becomes amorphous. The NiO, ZnO and Cu₂O nanoparticles are found to be randomly dispersed in the clinoptilolite matrix. The particle size varies from 2 to 5 nm and exceeds the aperture of the clinoptilolite channel (approximately 0.4 nm), suggesting that the crystallization of the oxide phases takes place on the surfaces of clinoptilolite microcrystals.     

Removal of nickel(II) ions from aqueous solutions using the natural clinoptilolite and preparation of nano-NiO on the exhausted clinoptilolite

The natural zeolite tuff (clinoptilolite) from a Serbian deposit has been studied as adsorbent for Ni(II) ions from aqueous solutions. Its sorption capacity at 298 K varies from 1.9 mg Ni g⁻¹ (for the initial solution concentration of 100 mg Ni dm⁻³) to 3.8 mg Ni g⁻¹ (for C₀ = 600 mg Ni dm⁻³) and it increases 3 times at 338 K. The sorption is best described by the Sips isotherm model. The sorption kinetics follows the pseudo-second-order model, the activation energies being 7.44, 5.86, 6.62 and 6.63 kJ mol⁻¹ for C₀ = 100, 200, 300 and 400 mg Ni dm⁻³, respectively. The sorption involves a film diffusion, an intra-particle diffusion, and a chemical cation-exchange between the Na⁺ ions of clinoptilolite and the Ni²⁺ ions. The sorption is endothermic (ΔH° being 37.9, 33.4, 30.0, 27.7 and 24.3 kJ mol⁻¹ for C₀ = 100, 200, 300, 400 and 600 mg Ni dm⁻³, respectively) and spontaneous in the 298-338 K temperature range. Thermal treatment of the Ni(II)-loaded clinoptilolite results in the formation of spherical nano-NiO particles of approx. 5 nm in diameter which are randomly dispersed in the clinoptilolite lattice.     

Dimension Functions of Orthonormal Wavelets

The article is devoted to dimension functions of orthonormal wavelets on the real line with dyadic dilations. We describe properties of dimension functions and prove several characterization theorems. In addition, we provide a method of construction of dimension functions. Various new examples of dimension functions and orthonormal wavelets are included.     

Optimal placement of sensors for sub-surface fatigue crack monitoring

This paper discusses the scattering of stress waves by defects in representative aircraft structures with multi-layered construction and geometry variation. The approaches for determining and enhancing the probability of detection of non-surface-penetrating defects in such structures as well as minimising the contributions of multi-layered construction and geometry variation to false indications are presented. The results demonstrate the importance of selecting the appropriate frequency and location of the sensor in monitoring sub-surface defects on these structures. The findings suggested that a computer solution of the problem may be required to determine the optimal combination of frequency and sensor location. This study suggests the possibility of incorporating structural health monitoring into the design of future structures which will constitute a significant leap in the current knowledge base of structural health monitoring.     

Entrapment of ethyl vanillin in calcium alginate and calcium alginate/poly(vinyl alcohol) beads

Electrostatic extrusion was applied to the encapsulation of 3-ethoxy-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (ethyl vanillin) in calcium alginate and calcium alginate/poly(vinyl alcohol) beads. The calcium alginate/poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogel spheres were formed after contact with the cross-linker solution of calcium chloride, followed by the freeze-thaw method for poly(vinyl alcohol) gel formation. The entrapment of aroma in beads was investigated by FTIR and thermal analysis (thermogravimetry/differential thermal gravimetry; TGA/DTG). The mass loss in the temperature range of 150?C300°C is related to degradation of the matrix and the release of ethyl vanillin. According to the DTG curve, the release of ethyl vanillin occurs at about 260°C. TGA measurements of the stored samples confirmed that formulations were stable for a period of one month. FTIR analysis provides no evidence for chemical interactions between flavour and alginate that would alter the nature of the functional groups in the flavour compound.     

Antibacterial Properties of Non-Modified Wool,Determined and Discussed in Relation to ISO 20645:2004 Standard

Wool is considered to possibly exhibit antibacterial properties due to the ability of wool clothing to reduce the build-up of odor, which arises from the microbial activity of skin microbiota. Indeed, when tested with a widely used agar diffusion plate test method, even wool or other textiles not treated with any antimicrobial agent can be interpreted to show certain antibacterial effects due to the lack of growth under the specimen, as instructed in ISO 20645:2004 standard. Therefore, we analyzed in detail what happens to bacterial cells in contact with untreated wool and cotton fabric placed on inoculated agar plates by counting viable cells attached to the specimens after 1 and 24 h of contact. All wool and several cotton samples showed no growth under the specimen. Nevertheless, it was shown without a doubt that neither textile material kills bacteria or inhibits cell multiplication. A reasonable explanation is that bacterial cells firmly attach to wool fibers forming a biofilm during multiplication. When the specimen was lifted off the nutrient agar surface, the cells in the form of biofilm remained attached to the wool fibers, removing the biomass and resulting in a clear, no growth zone underneath it. By imaging the textile specimens with X-ray microtomography, we concluded that the degree of attachment could be dependent on surface topography. The results indicate that certain textiles, in this case, wool, could exhibit antibacterial properties by removing excess bacteria that grow on the textile/skin interface when taken off the body.     

A kinetic study of the thermal degradation of 3-methylaminopropylamine inside AlPO<Subscript>4</Subscript>-21

Kinetics of the thermal decomposition of 3-methylaminopropylamine which was used as a structure-directing agent in the synthesis of AlPO₄-21 has been studied under isothermal and non-isothermal conditions. The decomposition is a single-step reaction occurring in the 573–663 K range. It is a phase-boundary-controlled process, described by the ‘F2/3, R3’ kinetic model. The activation energy values obtained under the non-isothermal and isothermal conditions lie in the 173–151 kJ mol^–1 range.     

A dimeric copper complex with phthalic acid and 2,2′-bipyridine

A preliminary X-ray single crystal analysis shows that [Cu(phthalate)(2,2-bipyridine)] · 2H₂O is dimeric in structure, which is usually not encountered in Cu-phthalate complexes.

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Ein dimerer Kupferkomplex mit Phthalsäure und 2,2-Bipyridyl (Kurze Mitteilung)

Zusammenfassung Eine vorläufige Röntgen-Einkristallanalyse zeigt, daß [Cu(Phthalat)(2,2-Bipyridyl)] · 2H₂O dimer vorliegt, was bei Cu-Phthalatkomplexen gewöhnlich nicht der Fall ist.