A simple microextraction and preconcentration approach based on a mixed matrix membrane

A simple adsorption/desorption procedure using a mixed matrix membrane (MMM) as extraction medium is demonstrated as a new miniaturized sample pretreatment and preconcentration technique. Reversed-phase particles namely polymeric bonded octadecyl (C₁₈) was incorporated through dispersion in a cellulose triacetate (CTA) polymer matrix to form a C₁₈-MMM. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) namely diclofenac, mefenamic acid and ibuprofen present in the environmental water samples were selected as targeted model analytes. The extraction setup is simple by dipping a small piece of C₁₈-MMM (7 mm × 7 mm) in a stirred 10 mL sample solution for analyte adsorption process. The entrapped analyte within the membrane was then desorbed into 100 μL of methanol by ultrasonication prior to high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. Each membrane was discarded after single use to avoid any analyte carry-over effect. Several important parameters, such as effect of sample pH, salting-out effect, sample volume, extraction time, desorption solvent and desorption time were comprehensively optimized. The C₁₈-MMM demonstrated high affinity for NSAIDs spiked in tap and river water with relative recoveries ranging from 92 to 100% and good reproducibility with relative standard deviations between 1.1 and 5.5% (n = 9). The overall results obtained were found comparable against conventional solid phase extraction (SPE) using cartridge packed with identical C₁₈ adsorbent.     

Modelling and measuring the thermal conductivity of multi-metallic Zn/Cu nanofluid

A metallic nanofluid is a suspension of metallic nanoparticles in a base fluid. Multi-metallic nanoparticles are a combination of two or more types of metallic particles. Such multi-metallic nanoparticles were suspended in water using an ultrasonic vibrator for different total volume fractions and different ratios of metallic/metallic nanoparticles. A transient hot wire setup was built to measure the thermal conductivity of the nanofluid at different temperatures. The experimental results were in good agreement with the results in the literature. Then, the experimental results were used as input data for an adaptive neural fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) to predict the thermal conductivity of the multi-metallic nanofluid. The maximum deviation between the ANFIS results and experimental measurements was 1 %. The predicted results and the experimental data were compared with other models. The ANFIS model was found to have good ability to predict the thermal conductivity of the multi-metallic nanofluid over the range of the experimental results.     

Combination of developed in-house method and application of Eichrom Sr resin to determine the radioactivity of <Superscript>90</Superscript>Sr in environmental sample

A method is described for the determination of ⁹⁰Sr in environmental samples using combination of developed in-house method, Eichrom Sr resin and Beta Counter. Strontium was efficiently, rapidly and simply separated from Ca and other interfering matrix components by Eichrom Sr resin. All the results in general showed good accuracy, high precision, reliable and in good agreement between these two measured and certified value of SRM (i.e. IAEA-375, IAEA-326, IAEA-152 and IAEA-414). As a whole, the procedure described in this work notably improves conventional methods in particular concerning the time needed, sample volume, safer and others. Thus, the introduced method was successfully performed and will be applied to actual sample for the determination of ⁹⁰Sr in different environmental materials such as soil, sediments, milk, biological sample, water etc.     

Thermodynamic analysis of new concepts for enhancing cooling of PV panels for grid-connected PV systems

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The temperature rise in photovoltaic cells causing drop in their open-circuit voltage is a serious issue to be dealt with. A wide range of cooling...     

Micro-extraction of Xenobiotics and Biomolecules from Different Matrices on Nanostructures

Sample preparation is the backbone of any analytical procedure; it involves extraction and pre-concentration of the desired analytes; often at trace levels. The present article describes the applications of nanomaterials (carbon-based inorganic and polymeric materials) in miniaturized extraction such as solid phase micro-extraction, stir-bar sorptive extraction, liquid phase micro-extraction, and dispersive liquid phase micro-extraction in the analyses of aqueous samples. The nanoparticles used for micro-extractions are discussed on the basis of their chemical natures. The synthetic route and the preparation of nanomaterials are described along with the optimization strategies for micro-extraction. A comparison between the conventional materials and nanomaterials for micro-extraction is proposed. The key roles of the nanomaterials for the micro-extraction of different analytes such as drugs, pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, proteins and peptides from aqueous samples are reported. The use of nanomaterials, combined with miniaturized micro-extraction techniques, proved to be highly promising for sample preparation of various matrices with analytes at trace levels.     

Optoelectronic and morphology properties of perovskite/silicon interface layer for tandem solar cell application

Silicon (Si) solar cell has low optical absorption because of the low and indirect bandgap of Si, and the efficiency was trapped at 25% for 15 years. Si solar cell is able to achieve efficiency up to 30% by adding perovskite as multiple bandgap material through tandem formation. In this paper, the Si/perovskite interface layer was characterized to study the compatibility of perovskite on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass and p-type Si wafer (p-Si). The single solution deposition step of methyl ammonium lead iodide, CH₃NH₃PbI₃ (MAPbI₃) perovskite film, was spin-coated at different concentration. The physical properties of the MAPbI₃/FTO and MAPbI₃/p-Si were obtained by profilometer, atomic force microscope, X-ray diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy. The optical properties were analyzed by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, photoluminescence, and infrared transmission. Then the electrical properties were measured by Hall effect. From the measurement, it is observed that 1.2M concentration of MAPbI₃ thin film has the highest thickness, smoothest film surface, and largest crystallite size compared with 0.8M and 1.0M. It is found that there is an interaction in perovskite/Si interface and caused in a low-wavelength shift, and the increase in concentration of MAPbI₃ helped in intensifying the Raman signal produced. 1.2M MAPbI₃ thin film had the highest enhancement in light trapping property rather than 0.8M and 1.0M. The bulk concentration and conductivity of 1.2M perovskite were higher, but the resistivity was lower than 0.8M MAPbI₃ because of more CH₃NH₃I and PbI₂ concentration within MAPbI₃ perovskite compound.     

NORM activity concentration in sediment cores from the Peninsular Malaysia East Coast Exclusive Economic Zone

Study for distribution of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) i.e. ²²⁶Ra, ²²⁸Ra and ⁴⁰K in the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) was carried out as part of the national marine environment project. Sixteen marine sediment cores from selected locations within the EEZ were collected for determination of NORM activity concentrations using high-purity germanium (HPGe) gamma spectrometer. From the measurement, the activity concentration of ²²⁶Ra, ²²⁸Ra and ⁴⁰K is ranged from 16 ± 4 Bq/kg to 46 ± 6 Bq/kg (total mean 30), 28 ± 7 Bq/kg to 87 ± 11 Bq/kg (total mean 56) and 171 ± 33 Bq/kg to 690 ± 89 Bq/kg (total mean 420), dry wt., respectively. The activity concentrations of radionuclides in most of the core were quite uniform suggesting that there were thorough vertical mixed of sediment throughout the core. The results obtained were also in good agreement with those previous reported from other countries in the region and therefore can be used to enhance present radioactivity database. The calculated external hazard values were ranged from 0.25 to 0.51 with the mean of 0.38 (less than unity) showed little risk of external hazard to the workers handling the sediments and it was likely low level of the mainland natural gamma-radiation in the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia.     

Fabrication of NiO photoelectrodes by aerosol‐assisted chemical vapour deposition (AACVD)

Nanostructured nickel oxide (NiO) photoelectrodes were fabricated with controlled morphology and texture using single‐step aerosol‐assisted chemical vapour deposition (AACVD). The durable one‐step film fabrication process resulted in highly crystalline columnar structure. Texture controlled films were also fabricated from granular to crystalline columnar morphology by controlling the deposition temperature. The thin film electrodes are highly reproducible and possess an optical bandgap of ～3.7 eV and exhibit cathodic photocurrent. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Photocatalytic degradation of chlorophenols under direct solar radiation in the presence of ZnO catalyst

The photocatalytic degradation of chlorophenols was evaluated under direct solar radiation using commercial ZnO catalyst. Effects of several parameters such as a catalyst loading, pH of solution and initial concentration on the degradation process have been investigated. The photocatalytic degradation efficiency of chlorophenols at the optimum value of the parameters was compared under similar experimental conditions. The results of efficiency and mineralization showed the degradation of 2-chlorophenol and 2,4-dichlorophenol compound with the first order kinetic rate and the rate constant decreases as the initial concentration of the chlorophenols increase. However, the rate constant was strongly affected by type of chlorophenols compound present either 2-chlorophenol or 2,4-dichlorophenol. The highest removal of chlorophenols was obtained after 120 min and the final intermediate compounds of chlorophenols degradation are lower molecular weight compound consisting of acetic acid which was analyzed through the HPLC.