• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.197-206
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• 2012

Ambers are composed of polymer molecules which contain aromatic moieties such as benzene, naphthalene, phenanthrene and anthracene. They emit fluorescence when irradiated with ultraviolet light, which was used for confirming an amber. The fluorescence of amber, however, tends to decrease as the surface of amber is weathered with light, heat, oxygen for a long time. In this study, the reliability of confirming amber with its fluorescence by measuring the changes of fluorescence after artificial aging. Aging factors were UV light (${\lambda}$=340 nm), oxygen with heat (100%, $90^{\circ}C$) and heat ($90^{\circ}C$) and aging time was for 5, 15, 30 and 60 days, respectively. In the excitation and emission spectra of amber, the intensity decreased and the maximal wavelength was shifted to longer wavelength with artificial aging time. Especially, there was a drastic decrease in the intensity of spectra to 1.7% of initial value after 60 days aging under oxygen with heat. Only in Colombian amber there showed an increase of fluorescence intensity for a certain aging time, which could be explained by the production of aromatic ring in the presence of light and heat. Conclusively, the fluorescence can be lessened by the natural weathering with light, heat and oxygen and it is not accurate to recognize amber just with UV irradiation method.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.55-61
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• 2013

Heterogeneous metallocene catalysts supported on montmorillonite (MMT), [$Cp_2ZrCl_2$/MMT, $Cp_2ZrCl_2$/MAO/MMT, and $Cp_2ZrCl_2$ + MAO/MMT], were prepared with three different methods of immobilization and tested for ethylene polymerization. The heterogeneous catalysts immobilized on organo clay (30B-MMT) showed the higher metal loading and polymerization activity than those immobilized on natural clay $Na^+-MMT$. These results suggest that the hydroxyl groups of organo clay interlayers react with the MAO and catalyst through the chemical bond. The metallocene catalyst supported directly on MMT showed lower activity for ethylene polymerization compared to the homogeneous systems, while MMT/MAO/$Cp_2ZrCl_2$, catalysts treated with MAO before impregnation, showed a higher activity. The polymers obtained from MMT-supported catalysts have higher melting point, molecular weight and molecular weight distributions than those of homogeneous catalysts. The polymer particles with increasing significant size. Ethylene polymerization over 30B-MMT/MAO/$Cp_2ZrCl_2$ catalyst was also performed varying the process variables to optimize the process conditions.

• Carbon letters
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.279-284
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• 2010

Graphene is one of the most promising materials for many applications. It can be used in a variety of applications not only as a reinforcement material for polymer to obtain a combination of desirable mechanical, electrical, thermal, and barrier properties in the resulting nanocomposite but also as a component in energy storage, fuel cells, solar cells, sensors, and batteries. Recent research at Michigan State University has shown that it is possible to exfoliate natural graphite into graphite nanoplatelets composed entirely of stacks of graphene. The size of the platelets can be controlled from less than 10 nm in thickness and diameters of any size from sub-micron to 15 microns or greater. In this study we have investigated the influence of melt compounding processing on the physical properties of a polyamide 6 (PA6) nanocomposite reinforced with exfoliated graphite nanoplatelets (xGnP). The morphology, electrical conductivity, and mechanical properties of xGnP-PA6 nanocomposite were characterized with electrical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, AC impedance, and mechanical properties. It was found that counter rotation (CNR) twins crew processed xGnP/PA6 nanocomposite had similar mechanical properties with co-rotation (CoR) twin screw processed or with CoR conducted with a screw design modified for nanoparticles (MCoR). Microscopy showed that the CNR processed nanocomposite had better xGnP dispersion than the (CoR) twin screw processed and modified screw (MCoR) processed ones. It was also found that the CNR processed nanocomposite at a given xGnP content showed the lowest graphite X-ray diffraction peak at $26.5^{\circ}$ indicating better xGnP dispersion in the nanocomposite. In addition, it was also found that the electrical conductivity of the CNR processed 12 wt.% xGnP-PA6 nanocomposite is more than ten times higher than the CoR and MCoR processed ones. These results indicate that better dispersion of an xGnP-PA6 nanocomposite is attainable in CNR twins crew processing than conventional CoR processing.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.822-826
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• 2007

This study was conducted to determine the effects of a 0.5% sodium alginate eggshell coating, that was applied at two temperatures, 5 and $25^{\circ}C$, by examining the degree of microbial inhibition on the eggshell surface as well as the coating's effects on egg quality during storage. A significant portion of human Salmonella enteritidis infection is traced to food contamination, and eggs are often highly exposed to this type of contamination. The 0.5% sodium alginate coating's effect for inhibiting microbial growth on the eggs, at $25^{\circ}C$ for 7 days, was one hundred thousand times more effective than that of the uncoated eggs. The pH level in eggs increases as the eggs lose $CO_2$ and as the storage temperature increases. We found that the pH of the coated eggs was lower than that of the uncoated eggs. The pH for the uncoated eggs changed from 7.72 to 7.94 over 30 days of storage at $5^{\circ}C$. However, when the eggs were coated with 0.5% sodium alginate, the pH changed from 7.72 to 7.85 over 30 days of storage at $5^{\circ}C$. The Haugh unit was 66.02 for the uncoated eggs and 70.37 for the 0.5% sodium alginate coated eggs after 30 days of storage. The yolk index of the eggs coated with sodium alginate was higher than that of the uncoated eggs after 30 days. These results indicate that a sodium alginate coating on eggs can serve as protection from microbes and is effective in preserving the interior quality of eggs.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2007

Geotextile is one of the most useful and effective polymer material in civil construction works and the main function of geotextile is separation, reinforcement, filtering and drainage. Recently, because of the shortage of natural rock, traditional forms of river and coastal structures have become very expensive to build and maintain. Therefore, the materials used in hydraulic and coastal structures are changing from the traditional rubble and concrete systems to the cheaper materials and systems. One of these alternatives employs geotextile tube technology in the construction of coastal and shore protection structures, such as embankment, see dyke, groins, jetties, detached breakwaters and so on. Geotextile tube technology has changed from being an alternative construction technique and, in fact, has advanced to become the most effective solution of choice. This paper presents case history of sea dyke filter construction using geotextile tube mattress and also, various issues related to the tube mattress design and construction technology.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.475-479
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• 2011

Chitosan is a natural polymer that has many physicochemical(polycationic, reactive OH and $NH_2$ groups) and biological(bioactive, biocompatible, and biodegradable) properties. In this study, chitosan nanoparticles were prepared using poly-${\gamma}$-glutamic acid(${\gamma}$-PGA) as gelling agent. Nanoparticles were formed by ionic interaction between carboxylic groups in ${\gamma}$-PGA and amino groups in chitosan. Chitosan(0.1~1 g) was dissolved in 100 ml of acetic acid (1% v/v) at room temperature and stirred overnight to ensure a complete solubility. An amount of 0.1 g of ${\gamma}$-PGA was dissolved in 90 ml of distilled water at room temperature. Chitosan solution was dropped through needle into beaker containing ${\gamma}$-PGA solution under gentle stirring at room temperature. The average particle sizes were in the range of 80~300 nm. The prepared chitosan/${\gamma}$-PGA nanoparticles were used to examine their removal of several heavy metal ions($Cd^{2+}$, $Pb^{2+}$, $Zn^{2+}$, $Cu^{2+}$, and $Ni^{2+}$) as adsorbents in aqueous solution. The heavy metal removal capacity of the nanoparticles was in the order of $Cu^{2+}$ > $Pb^{2+}$ > $Cd^{2+}$ > $Ni^{2+}$ > $Zn^{2+}$.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.499-505
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• 2017

The increasing number of natural disasters resulting from anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions has prompted the development of a gas separation membrane. Carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) is the main cause of global warming. Organic polymeric membranes with inherent flexibility are good candidates for use in gas separation membranes and poly(dimethyl siloxane)(PDMS) specifically is a promising material due to its inherently high $CO_2$ diffusivity. In addition, poly(vinyl pyrrolidine)(PVP) is a polymer with high $CO_2$ solubility that could be incorporated into a gas separation membrane. In this study, poly(dimethyl siloxane)-poly(vinyl pyrrolidine)(PDMS-PVP) comb copolymers with different compositions were synthesized under mild conditions via a simple one step free radical polymerization. The copolymerization of PDMS and PVP was characterized by FTIR. The morphology and thermal behavior of the produced polymers were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Composite membranes composed of PDMS-PVP on a microporous polysulfone substrate layer were prepared and their $CO_2$ separation properties were subsequently studied. The $CO_2$ permeance and $CO_2/N_2$ selectivity through the PDMS-PVP composite membrane reached 140.6 GPU and 12.0, respectively.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.388-393
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• 2013

The study was focused to evaluate the possibility for combination membrane of bacterial cellulose (BC) and graphene with high electrical properties. BC with natural polymer matrix was known to have strong physical strength. For the combination of graphene with BC, the surface of graphene was modified with oxygen plasma by changing strength and time of radio waves in room temperature. Water contact angle of modified graphene grew smaller from $130^{\circ}$ to $12^{\circ}$. XPS analysis showed that oxygen content after treatment increased from 2.99 to 10.98%. Damage degree of graphene was examined from $I_D/I_G$ ratio of Raman analysis. $I_D/I_G$ ratio of non-treated graphene (NTG) was 0.11, and 0.36 to 0.43 in plasma treated graphene (PTG), increasing structural defects of PTG. XRD analysis of PTG membrane with BC was $2{\theta}$ same to BC only, indicating chemically combined membrane. In FT-IR analysis, 1,000 to 1,300 $cm^{-1}$ (C=O) peak indicating oxygen radicals in PTG membrane had formed was larger than NTG membrane. The results suggest that BC as an alternation of plastic material for graphene combination has a possibility in some degree on the part like transparent conductive films.

• The Journal of Engineering Research
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 1997

Energy transfer by free convection arises in many engineering applications, such as a hot steam radiator for heating a room, refrigeration coils, electric transformers, heating elements and electronic equipments. Generally unsteady natural convection flow in a horizontal channel with arbitrary wall temperatures and the mathematical and physical basis of convection transport has been considered in general. A physically meaningful exact solution of the problem has been obtained in a closed form by the application of the standard finite sine transform technique. Influences of the governing parameters, the Prandtl number and the Rayleigh number, to bring the flow and heat transfer to final steady states have been discussed separately. For constant values of the arbitray wall temperatures and of the function, determining the average axial velocity, the final steady state is approached in different times respectively for the cases when the Prandtl number Pr>1 and Pr<1. It is also seen that the function, representing the axial temperature gradient, is influenced by none of the governing parameters : but the steady state flow is influenced only by the Rayleigh number. There are, of course, many applications. Free convection strongly influences heat transfer from pipes and transmission lines, as well as from various electronic devices. It is also relevant to the environmental sciences, where it is responsible for oceanic and atmospheric motions, as well as related heat transfer processes.

• Biomaterials Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.328-336
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• 2018

Background: Biogenic fabrication of silver nanoparticles from naturally occurring biomaterials provides an alternative, eco-friendly and cost-effective means of obtaining nanoparticles. It is a favourite pursuit of all scientists and has gained popularity because it prevents the environment from pollution. Our main objective to take up this project is to fabricate silver nanoparticles from lichen, Usnea longissima and explore their properties. In the present study, we report a benign method of biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles from aqueous-ethanolic extract of Usnea longissima and their characterization by ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses. Silver nanoparticles thus obtained were tested for antimicrobial activity against gram positive bacteria and gram negative bacteria. Results: Formation of silver nanoparticles was confirmed by the appearance of an absorption band at 400 nm in the UV-vis spectrum of the colloidal solution containing both the nanoparticles and U. longissima extract. Poly(ethylene glycol) coated silver nanoparticles showed additional absorption peaks at 424 and 450 nm. FTIR spectrum showed the involvement of amines, usnic acids, phenols, aldehydes and ketones in the reduction of silver ions to silver nanoparticles. Morphological studies showed three types of nanoparticles with an abundance of spherical shaped silver nanoparticles of 9.40-11.23 nm. Their average hydrodynamic diameter is 437.1 nm. Results of in vitro antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus pyrogenes, Streptococcus viridans, Corynebacterium xerosis, Corynebacterium diphtheriae (gram positive bacteria) and Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneuomoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (gram negative bacteria) showed that it was effective against tested bacterial strains. However, S. mutans, C. diphtheriae and P. aeruginosa were resistant to silver nanoparticles. Conclusion: Lichens are rarely exploited for the fabrication of silver nanoparticles. In the present work the lichen acts as reducing as well as capping agent. They can therefore, be used to synthesize metal nanoparticles and their size may be controlled by monitoring the concentration of extract and metal ions. Since they are antibacterial they may be used for the treatment of bacterial infections in man and animal. They can also be used in purification of water, in soaps and medicine. Their sustained release may be achieved by coating them with a suitable polymer. Silver nanoparticles fabricated from edible U. longissima are free from toxic chemicals and therefore they can be safely used in medicine and medical devices. These silver nanoparticles were stable for weeks therefore they can be stored for longer duration of time without decomposition.