Iranian Journal of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Volume:43 Issue: 8, Aug 2024

Recently, researchers have investigated the utilization of nano-scale reinforcements in fabricating composites specifically intended for prosthetic applications. Incorporating nanoparticles into conventional two-phase composites represents a methodological approach for developing novel materials with desirable mechanical properties. This strategy enables the enhancement of composite characteristics through the manipulation of nanoscale reinforcements, thereby paving the way for the design and production of advanced materials suitable for prosthetic construction. In this work, the aim was to consider the effects of carbon nanotubes and alumina nanoparticles (Al2O3) on the bending stiffness properties of glass/epoxy composites. A laboratory method has been used to fabricate and test the sample. Composite samples were fabricated and reinforced, one with alumina nanoparticles and the other with carbon nanotubes. Also, the modeling method based on micromechanical equations and Molecular Dynamics (MD) has been developed. 10-layer composite samples have been constructed and tested to evaluate the bending stiffness. Analysis of Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images showed the effect of adding nanoparticles to the conventional composite structure. The modeling method can accurately predict the composite properties. SEM images revealed the distribution and structure of the reinforcements. Bending tests were conducted on simply supported beams to determine the effect of loading speed on bending stiffness. A 64% increase in loading speed led to a 25% increase in bending stiffness. Additionally, as loading increased, bending stiffness decreased indicating delamination and failure. A micromechanical estimation approach was proposed to predict mechanical properties by combining MD simulations and the Halpin-Tsai micromechanical method. The results provide insights into the effect of nano-reinforcement on the stiffness properties of conventional glass/epoxy and establish a reliable method for estimating the properties of multi-phasic composites.

Bi2WO6 synthesized by hydrothermal method and heterostructure 1-10wt% Pt/Bi2WO6 nanocomposites synthesized by Sono chemical-assisted deposition method were studied for photocatalysis. The as-synthesized samples were characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform InfraRed (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Raman spectrometry, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and UV-Visible Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (UV-Vis DRS). The analytical results certified that metallic Pt nanoparticles were loaded on orthorhombic Bi2WO6 thin nanoplates and the visible light absorption of the nanocomposites was improved. The photocatalytic activities of the as-synthesized samples in degrading Rhodamine B (RhB) were investigated under visible light for 180 min. The photodegradation efficiencies were 35.33%, 66.18%, 86.91%, and 94.58% for 0%, 1%, 5%, and 10% Pt/Bi2WO6 samples, respectively. The 10% Pt/Bi2WO6 nanocomposites have the highest photocatalytic activity because the Pt nanoparticles have the highest activity in harvesting visible light and the strongest Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) effect. A possible mechanism for photocatalysis, main active radicals of the photodegradation process, and recyclability of the heterostructure Pt/Bi2WO6 nanocomposites were also investigated in this research.

At present, the escalating magnitude of waste represents a formidable global concern, wherein paper waste alone constitutes approximately 26% of the overall waste deposited in landfills. Thus, the transformation of paper waste into viable products assumes paramount significance. In this study, paper waste was converted to CaCO3 using a thermal process and surface-modified with stearic acid. The effect of environmental pH and process temperature on the crystalline structure and morphology of the product was evaluated. The prepared CaCO3 was used to deactivate gram-negative agrobacterium tumefaciens and hydrophobicity's effect on the CaCO3 antibacterial activity was studied. XRD, SEM, FT-IR, BET/BJH, contact angle, and TEM characterization techniques were utilized to characterize the structure and physicochemical properties of prepared CaCO3. According to the XRD analysis, the optimal temperature for the conversion process was 500°C in an air environment without any changes in pH. SEM analysis confirmed that as the calcination temperature increased, the number of cracks and holes on the surface also increased. BET analysis confirmed this by showing a decrease in the specific surface area in the Ca-750 sample. TEM analysis revealed nanoparticles with spherical and irregular spherical geometries, ranging in size from 30 to 90 nm. According to the contact angle analysis, increasing the concentration of stearic acid led to an increase in the contact angle to 121.4°. This increase in contact angle indicates an enhancement in the hydrophobicity of the prepared nanoparticles, which had a synergistic effect on their antibacterial activity. The antibacterial activity test of both prepared hydrophilic and hydrophobic CaCO3 depicted the high antibacterial activity of both CaCO3 while the hydrophobic CaCO3 revealed higher antibacterial activity compared to hydrophilic CaCO3.

This work reports the efficient synthesis of Pyrimido[2,1-b]benzothiazoles using a novel diethylenetriamine-functionalized graphene oxide and silica nanocomposite. Graphene oxide was first modified with diethylenetriamine followed by treatment with triethylortosilicate in acetic acid and water to achieve the final nanocomposite. The nanocomposite was characterized by FT-IR, XRD, FE-SEM, EDS, and TGA techniques. The synthesis of pyrimido[2,1-b]benzothiazoles proceeded through a one-pot three-component reaction under solvent-free conditions. Optimized conditions for 4-chlorobenzaldehyde derivative involves solvent-free medium, 0.02 g of catalyst at 80 °C for 30 min which resulted in 95% yield. The nanocomposite was found to be environmentally friendly, stable under the reaction conditions, easily recoverable, inexpensive, non-metal, safe handling, and reusable for the synthesis of the pyrimido[2,1-b]benzothiazoles at least five times. The presented procedure and nanocomposite were more sustainable and efficient than the previously published reports.

The study was carried out to investigate the chemical metal elements that existed in the algal biodiesel through transesterification bioprocess. The biodiesel conversion yield and the physical and chemical properties of the biodiesel produced were also investigated using GC-MS and multi-element oil analyzer. The highest biodiesel conversion yield of 99.1% was obtained in the mixture of catalyst and nano catalyst (NaOH +KOH + CaO nano catalyst) using 1:4 volumetric oil-to-methanol ratio, 1.0% of catalyst at 40°C reaction temperature and a stirring speed of 320 rpm. However, there was a significant difference in the viscosity and acid value of the biodiesel produced between a single catalyst and a mixture of catalysts. Moreover, the chemical metal elements (Na, Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe, Zn, Ag, Al, P, Pb, B, Cr, Mn, Sn, Mo, Si, Cr, Ba, Ni, Ti & V) were found lower in the mixture of nano catalyst and catalyst (NaOH +KOH +CaO nano catalyst) than the mixture of base catalyst (NaOH+ KOH) and single base catalyst (NaOH or KOH). Finally, it seemed that biodiesel obtained using the mixture of catalyst and nano catalyst had a lower chemical metal element value than the single catalyst, which was considered a better biodiesel yield.

Bi-functional and bi-metallic ZSM-5 catalysts with different noble metal mass ratios were prepared using the deposition-precipitation method and ionic exchange with NH4+. Systemic XRD, BET/BJH, STEM, and XPS spectroscopy investigations of the structural and electronic properties of these catalysts showed that 2⁓3-nm Pt and Pd metallic nanoparticles were highly dispersed over the ZSM-5 support, with strong interactions between Platinum and Palladium, and a good distribution of the acid sites on the surface of the catalysts which have been observed using the FTIR method by adsorption of pyridine. Considering optimized values of NO/C3H6 ratio=1 and GHSV= 22000 h-1, some parameters, acidity, temperature, surface morphology, and catalytic activity performance of Pd-Pt/HZSM-5 zeolites were investigated in the selective catalytic reduction of NO by C3H6, Pd-Pt/HZSM-5 bi-functional catalysts exhibited improved catalytic properties relative to their monometallic counterparts. The results show that the active components are uniformly dispersed and distribute well in the micro-porous support. For the Pt0.6Pd0.4/HZSM-5 catalyst, the maximum conversion of NO to N2 approached 63% at 450 ºC with 100% N2 selectivity. By contrast, for the 1%Pt/HZSM-5 catalyst, the maximum NO conversion to N2 reached 52% at 450 ºC and only 42% for 1%Pt/HZSM-5. The Pt0.6Pd0.4/ZSM-5 catalyst also exhibited high durability and catalytic activity at high reaction temperatures.

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries possess considerable potential for high theoretical energy density; however, their practical implementation has been impeded by the polysulfide shuttle effect, resulting in inadequate cycling stability. This study addresses this challenge by synthesizing and applying a boron-doped zinc cobalt sulfide catalyst (B-ZnCo2S4) as a separator coating. The investigation demonstrates that B-ZnCo2S4-modified separators significantly enhance the electrochemical characteristics of Li-S batteries. The B-ZnCo2S4 and pristine ZnCo2S4 catalysts were synthesized using a solvothermal method, and their morphological disparities were analyzed via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Characterization techniques affirm successful boron doping without altering the crystal structure. Batteries assembled with B-ZnCo2S4-modified separators exhibit superior electrochemical performance compared to those with ZnCo2S4-modified separators, as evidenced by Cyclic Voltammetry (CV), Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS), and Linear Sweep Voltammetry (LSV). The B-ZnCo2S4 battery demonstrates higher catalytic activity, resulting in lower polarization voltage and charge transfer impedance. Furthermore, UV-Vis analysis reveals enhanced adsorption capabilities of lithium polysulfides by B-ZnCo2S4. During rate testing, the B-ZnCo2S4 battery exhibits an impressive specific capacity exceeding 500 mAh/g at 4C, while sustaining capacities above 800 and 900 mAh/g at reduced rates of 0.5C and 0.2C, respectively, indicating excellent reversibility. In extended cycling tests of 200 and 500 cycles, the battery demonstrates exceptional cycling stability, with decay rates of only 0.16% and 0.07% at 0.5C and 1C, respectively. SEM analysis further confirms the effective inhibition of lithium dendrite formation by B-ZnCo2S4. Therefore, the utilization of B-ZnCo2S4 as a catalyst holds great promise in augmenting the operational efficiency and longevity of Li-S batteries. These discoveries present encouraging prospects for the advancement of Li-S batteries, enabling enhanced performance and improved practical feasibility.

Water pollution by azo dyes that are very toxic for living things is increasing rapidly. Thus, it is very important to eliminate these dyes from aqueous media. In this study, bimetallic nano zero-valent iron-nickel (nZVI-Ni) supported on biopolymer chitosan (CS-nZVI-Ni) were synthesized and characterized by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The synthesized nanocomposite was used as an adsorbent for the removal of Direct Red 16 (DR16) from the aqueous solution. The effect of pH (4-9), adsorbent dosage (0.08-0.3 g), contact time (5-30 min), and dye concentration (20-40 mg/L) revealed that the pH of 4, the adsorbent dosage of 0.2 g, contact time of 15 min, and initial concentration of 20 mg/L had maximum removal percentage (>96%). Two equilibrium models (Langmuir and Freundlich) were applied to calculate the adsorption parameters. The Langmuir model indicated the most suitable model that best fits the equilibrium data and the maximum adsorption capacity (qmax) was 84.74 mg/g with a coefficient of determination (R2) value of 0.9993. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model fitted well for the adsorption of DR16 with R2 of 0.9986. Thermodynamic parameters were calculated, and the results indicated that the adsorption was spontaneous and exothermic. The proposed adsorbent revealed excellent reusability with the removal efficiency from 88.32% to 60.28% after 5 cycles of adsorption experiments. Based on the results obtained from this work, the suggested adsorbent as a promising, simple, cost-effective, and efficient material could effectively be used for the elimination of various dyes from wastewater.

This research investigates the reduction of barium sulfate using methane under unsteady-state conditions employing the "modified grain model". This model incorporates diffusion resistance for each grain and alters pellet structure due to differences in molar volume between solid reactant and product components. Experimental validations were conducted at 915 and 1015 °C with 40% methane in a thermogravimetric apparatus. The reaction at 1015 °C was completed one hour earlier than at 915 °C. The model demonstrated high accuracy, with mean absolute errors of 5.2% at 915 °C and 9.7% at 1015 °C, compared to experimental data. After validation, the model predicted grain radius, porosity over time, and gas concentration distribution inside the pellet over time and height. The reaction resulted in a 9% decrease in grain radius and a 16% increase in pellet porosity.

This work aims to design layered double hydroxide (Ni-Fe-CO3) via a simple co-precipitation route for the elimination of Alizarin Red S (ARS) dye from water. The physicochemical properties of Ni-Fe-CO3 adsorbent were studied using different spectroscopic and analytical techniques. The adsorptive ability of Ni-Fe-CO3 was evaluated for the removal of ARS under different conditions in order to understand the mechanistic pathways. Ni-Fe-CO3 showed a high adsorption capacity of up to 454.45 mg/g within just 1 h. It was found that the rise in the medium temperature from 20°C to 40°C boosts the adsorption ability, while above this value, there was no change in the adsorption capacity. The capacity of adsorption was found to be 157.97 to 55.38 mg/g at pH 2 to 9, respectively. The surface chemistry of the adsorbent and the dye charge in the solution are significantly responsible for the pH dependency of dye adsorption. The analysis of adsorption data utilizing different isotherm models shows that Freundlich isotherm is the most pertinent to the adsorption process. By the kinetic studies, the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, which also takes into account intra-particle diffusion in the adsorption process, may adequately describe the behavior of adsorption. The thermodynamic characteristics, such as ΔH°, ΔS°, and ΔG°, were found to be endothermic, spontaneous, and practicable. Even though the synthesis process is simple via the use of low-cost elements, the adsorption ability was comparatively high compared to the previously reported materials. Bridging between the lost cost of the process and high effectiveness is the best way to transfer the use of emerging materials to real-world use.

In the present study, (Ni0.25Cu0.25Zn0.5) Fe2O4 nanocomposites were synthesized through a co-precipitation method. They were characterized by Fourier-Transform InfraRed (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis, and point of zero charge (pHPZC) techniques. XRD analysis revealed mixed cubic and orthorhombic crystal structures in the nanocomposites. Surface charge was determined by the pH drift method, and the pHPZC was determined to be 6.1. The Optimum Operating Parameters (OOPs) for the adsorptive removal of dye including adsorbent amount (40 mg), concentrations of Congo Red dye (16.0 mg/L), pH (4.5), temperature (25 oC), and time (8.0 min), were used to design a half-factorial, 5-level central composite design. The removal efficacy was observed to be 97.59%. Adsorption equilibrium was studied by various isotherm models, including Freundlich, Langmuir, Temkin, and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R), at temperatures ranging from 303 to 323 K. It was observed that the Langmuir model is well, with a maximum CR adsorption capacity of 55.19mg/g and a R2 value of 0.900. The kinetic study followed pseudo-first-order kinetics. It demonstrated that the sorption process followed the pseudo-first-order kinetics. A thermodynamic study was also performed. The recycling and regeneration of adsorbent was also carried out. Desorption experiments were also performed, and maximum desorption capacity was observed in the basic medium, and NaOH showed maximum desorption efficacy. Salt effects, including the matrix effect, were also observed, and maximum adsorption capacity was observed in the presence of a NaCl matrix. Conclusively, this study's results showed that the synthesized nanocomposite is efficacious for dye removal and might prove to be an efficient and eco-friendly method for dye treatment processes.

Currently, Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) is one of the largest and most important conversion technologies in the oil refinery industry. In this regard, cracking activity and selectivity are influenced by some factors like acid activation, surface area, and pore structure of Ultra-Stable Y (USY) zeolites. To achieve this goal, different chemical and hydrothermal treatments of zeolite were investigated to stabilize the catalyst and increase the conversion for the process of catalytic cracking. This work focused on the properties and expected behavior of two types of modified Y zeolite both of which are based on NaY zeolite. To improve the stability of zeolites and the selectivity of the catalyst, they were treated with different techniques such as chemical (adding Rare Earth Elements (REE) or boric acid), acidic (hexafluorosilicic acid), and hydrothermal techniques. Finally, they were used simultaneously in the formulation of the FCC to improve its performance which undoubtedly has a tremendous impact on FCC products as a major process in conversion. The characterization of the modified zeolites and the final product of the FCC catalyst was performed by X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) spectrometry, N2-porosimetry, Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Temperature Programmed Desorption (TPD). Accordingly, XRF showed a high silicate content level in synthesized zeolites, XRD indicates the appropriate Si/Al ratio value in the final product, N2-porosimetry revealed the formation of porous zeolite crystal in their sodalite cage, and the presence of micro-meso structure of USY samples with higher microporosity. ICP-OES was used to determine the percentage of boron. The obtained FCC catalyst was evaluated in a Micro-Activity Testing (MAT) unit, also Carbon-Hydrogen-Nitrogen (CHN) analysis, Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) were done to measure the coke content of spent FCC to prove the better performance of the FCC catalyst.

In the current study, the inabilities resulting from the interaction of two Newtonian immiscible fluids, including water and base oil, during transient consecutive injection-suction in a Hele-Shaw cell, was studied. For injection-suction purposes, base oils with viscosities of 150, 920, and 1506 cP were used. The highest continuous flow rates for three techniques including pseudo-sinusoidal, percussive time-dependent, and constant-flow rate were 10, 20, and 30 mL/min, respectively. The volume of fluid injected or extracted remained consistent across all three methods. The injection-suction process was repeated for five full cycles to analyze the impact of frequency on the outcome. The primary goal was to study how to eliminate interfacial instabilities and restore the circular shape of the fluid-fluid interface after each cycle. It was found that the percussive and constant-flow rate methods were unable to achieve this objective. Results showed that the growth rate of interfacial instabilities was slower with the pseudo-sinusoidal method compared to the other methods. Increasing the flow rate in the constant-flow rate method resulted in more oil packets being created. The pseudo-sinusoidal method did not show instabilities like water droplets, fingers, or oil packets, unlike the constant-flow rate and percussive methods. Overall, the pseudo-sinusoidal method was found to be the most suitable for restoring the fluid-fluid interface to its original stable state. However, increasing the number of cycles could lead to more instabilities, making it harder to return to the initial stable interface.

The aim of this study is the numerical investigation of liquid-liquid extraction inside a spiral T-microreactor integrated with ultrasonic waves. The influence of low-frequency ultrasound (20.3, 42.3, and 61.61 kHz) and high-frequency one (1.7 MHz) on extraction efficiency is evaluated by CFD modeling. The organic-aqueous phase flow patterns inside the microreactor are graphically analyzed. The organic phase is regarded as a dispersed phase and the aqueous phase as a continuous fluid using the two-phase VOF. In addition, the SIMPLE algorithm is used for pressure and velocity coupling. The results obtained from the CFD simulation of aqueous-organic phase flow patterns are compared with the experimental results. The application of both types of ultrasounds showed a higher extraction efficiency compared to the condition of not applying it. The decreasing trend for extraction efficiency and ultrasound effect was observed for increasing flow rate. The extraction efficiency is less affected by increasing the power of low-frequency ultrasound up to the range of 600 mV, after which a sharp increase is observed up to 840 mV. In addition, in the range above 600 mV, the increase in extraction efficiency can be attributed to the formation of emulsion, which leads to a higher surface per unit volume and higher extraction efficiency. The results indicated that for low-frequency ultrasound, 20.3 kHz resulted in higher extraction efficiency rather than the other one. Comparing the extraction efficiency for applying high (1.7 MHz) and low-frequency ultrasound (20.3, 42.3, and 61.61 kHz) showed that 1.7 MHz has a considerable positive effect on its increase. Indeed, 1.7 MHz ultrasound resulted in the highest extraction efficiency compared to low frequencies, due to the ability of high-frequency ultrasound to induce micro-jets and micro-streams into the microreactor.

The most important intrinsic limitation of conventional coolant fluids is their relatively low thermal conductivity. In this regard, in the last two decades, by introducing a new concept called nanofluid, researchers have improved the thermal conductivity of conventional coolants; furthermore, thermal efficiency, as well as convection heat transfer of the thermal-hydraulic cycles, is increased by applying coolants at supercritical pressures. A supercritical water reactor is one of the generation IV reactors, which is a creative mixture of conventional pressurized water reactors and supercritical pressure steam boilers. In the present study, by applying the concept of nanofluid coolants in a typical supercritical pressure water reactor, the thermo-neutronic behavior of the reactor core was investigated. In this manner, thermodynamic properties of the applied coolant were evaluated by adding numerical models of nanofluid properties to the IAPWS-IF97, and for simulation of the thermal-hydraulic behavior of the coolant, a modular computer code has been developed using the C# programming language based on the porous media approach, and neutronic simulation was performed by the MCNP code. Final results showed that application of a water-based Al2O3 nanofluid with ~11% mass fraction (~2% volume fraction at the core inlet) as coolant without any violation of neutronic characteristics of the core is achievable and the criticality of the core would be sustained. Calculations indicate that applying nanofluids to the core will flatten the radial neutron flux in the reactor core, and the convection heat transfer coefficient will improve by 2%.

In this research, a novel geometry consisting of a converging-diverging channel with three tilted obstacles is proposed to enhance the heat transfer of water-Al2O3 nanofluid in internal flow. Grid independence and validation have also been performed. The range of nanofluid volume fraction and Reynolds number are 0≤φ≤4% and 2≤Re≤300 respectively. Also, the range of the obstacle length and obstacle angle are 0.1≤L/Din≤0.5 and 5o≤θ≤45o respectively. The effect of the Re, nanofluid volume fraction, length, and angle of obstacle is studied. Flow streamlines and contours of temperature, velocity, and pressure are also presented under different conditions. The results demonstrate that as the angle of the obstacle increases, the average Nusselt number increases linearly, and the highest friction factor of the system is 1.55 and occurs at the location of the last obstacle. Also, the highest Nusselt number in the system is Nu=21.8, which occurs for φ=4% at the first obstacle location. Additionally, the Nusselt number and friction factor show very little dependence on nanofluid volume fraction, with an approximately 6% difference in the average Nusselt number between φ=%4 and φ=%1. The most significant pressure drop occurs at the location of the last obstacle, where the fluid pressure decreases by 15%, 26%, and 59% for the first, second, and third obstacles, respectively. By defining the ratios of the average Nusselt number of the novel geometry to that of a plain tube (NNR) and the ratios of the friction factor of the novel geometry to that of a plain tube (FFR), it was revealed that for Re=5 and Re=100 a doubling of Reynolds number, increases NNR by %1.6 and %0.8, respectively. Also, with an increase in Reynolds number, NNR and FFR increase, and their rate of increase is much higher for Re≤50 than for Re>50.

The utilization of vast coal deposits around the globe as an energy source is significantly limited in scope owing to environmental risks. In this context, ionic liquids (ILs) provide a novel solution as eco-friendly pretreatment agents. This work examined the effects of IL pretreatment on the gasification of low-grade coal using a simulation model in Aspen Plus®. Four ILs, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride [Bmim][Cl], 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride [Emim][Cl], trihexyltetradecylphosphonium chloride [P66614] [Cl], and tributylmethylammonium chloride [N1444] [Cl], were employed in this study. A comparative and sensitivity analysis was conducted on untreated and IL-pretreated coal samples using an equilibrium-based steam-O2 gasification model designed in Aspen Plus®. The model was validated and utilized to vary the oxygen/fuel (O2/F) ratio, steam/fuel (S/F) ratio, and temperature within the specified ranges (700-950°C, 0.1-0.6, and 2-4, respectively). The results showed that all the ILs increased CO and H2, and decreased CO2 and CH4, in the syngas produced by coal gasification. The biggest change was affected by [P66614] [Cl], which increased CO and H2 from 12 mol% and 42 mol % to 16 mol% and 50 mol %, respectively, and reduced CO2 and CH4 from 35 mol% and 3.5 mol% to 29 mol% and 2 mol%, respectively. The lower heating value (LHV) of syngas was increased from 7.37 MJ/Nm3 for untreated coal to 7.61, 7.56, 8.1, and 7.56 MJ/Nm3 for coal treated by [Bmim][Cl], [Emim][Cl], [P66614] [Cl], and [N1444] [Cl], respectively. As opposed to raw coal, [Bmim][Cl] and [P66614] [Cl] generated more CGE, ENE, and EXE. The highest CGE, ENE, and EXE of 19, 13.3, and 38.3% were achieved by [P66614] [Cl] treated coal. Syngas having higher H2/CO ratio and LHV were produced at low temperatures, low O2/F ratio, and high S/F ratio. The results of this investigation demonstrated that ILs composed of ammonium and phosphonium might be useful coal pretreatment agents in thermochemical conversion processes.

In arid regions grappling with severe water scarcity, seawater desalination emerges as a pivotal solution. This research focuses on Bandar Abbas, Iran, specifically chosen for its arid climate, residents' water consumption patterns contributing to municipal solid waste (MSW), and the associated environmental concerns linked to MSW disposal. The study explores Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF), derived from MSW, as a potential energy source for a Multi-Effect Desalination with Thermal Vapor Compression (MED–TVC) system. The feasibility of RDF production in Bandar Abbas is rigorously assessed through seven distinct cases. Within the examination of these cases, the most favorable outcome highlights the optimal performance of RDF integration, demonstrating its potential to effectively alleviate water scarcity, address environmental issues, and yield economic advantages in arid regions. The findings indicate that 40 tons of RDF can efficiently generate motive steam, resulting in a maximum distillate output of 3,721 m³/d. Projections suggest annual benefits reaching up to 3,352,854 USD/year, coupled with a significant 24% reduction in landfill utilization and the separation of metals for reuse. These outcomes underscore the notable environmental benefits of the integrated system.

Thymol and resveratrol are organic, phenolic compounds with wide-ranging potential applications in the food industry, mainly use as an anti-oxidation and antibacterial additives. However, their weak stability, low water solubility, and bioavailability have severely limited their industrial applications. Herein, zein-casein nanoparticles loaded with thymol and resveratrol have been successfully prepared using the liquid-liquid dispersion method to empower their stability, solubility, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. As a result, formulation of 75% thymol with 25% resveratrol mixing ratio 1:20 (75T25R20) was the most stable nanoparticle with zeta potential of -19.54 compared to only thymol or resveratrol nanocapsules (100T0R20 and 0T100R20) with zeta potential of -1.22 and -4.12 respectively.  In addition, scavenging of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical activity increased to 58.77% in 75T25R10 nanocapsule compared to the antioxidant activity of nanocapsule of only thymol or resveratrol with DPPH of 20.33% and 13.67% respectively. The synergic effect of the thymol and resveratrol also improved the antimicrobial activity. For example, Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) against e.coli bacteria in culture medium, drops from 300-350 for sole thymol/resveratrol nanocampule (100T0R10, 0T100R10) to 100 for 75T25R10. Finally, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Fourier Transforms InfraRed (FT-IR) spectroscopy have been used for the physical characterization of the resultant NanoParticles (NPs). It is worth mentioning that formed zein-casein nanoparticles loaded with thymol and resveratrol have good redispersibility and physical stability stored at -20 0C. Therefore, this investigation introduces an excellent organic candidate for delivering hydrophobic active compounds, which is of significance in the cosmetics and especially food industries.

Recent concerns have been raised about the health and nutrition implications of jelly snacks. This study aimed to create enriched vegan kiwi jellies by adding 0% to 3% Spirulina extract and assessing their nutritional, textural, and sensory qualities. The addition of Spirulina to the Carrageenan-Kiwi jelly resulted in increased protein content (0.26 to 1.95 g/100g), mineral levels (0.33 to 1.74 g/100g), and antioxidant capacity (11.55 to 32.35 and 6.97 to 19.46 for DPPH and ABST+, respectively). However, the color variables L*, b*, and C* decreased significantly with increasing microalgae levels (from 82.00 to 26.32, 76.00 to 32, and 86.42 to 39.4, respectively), resulting in a darker jelly sample. The incorporation of Spirulina extracts also influenced the behavior of the Carrageenan-Kiwi jelly, as evidenced by the investigation of rheological parameters such as storage modulus (G'), loss modulus (G″), complex modulus (G*), loss tangent (tanδ), and dynamic viscosity (η) versus frequencies. All samples showed a consistent gel-like structure as the prevalent behavior, with a dominant difference of about one logarithmic unit between G' and G″, indicating a consistent gel-like structure as the prevalent behavior. The calculated Tanδ (G″/G') for all samples was found to be less than one, indicating the viscoelastic solid nature of the samples. The curves of η and G* versus frequency did not exhibit any significant transition or frequency dependency. The most consistent behavior was observed in the more fortified S2 and S3 samples, confirming the positive role of Spirulina in strengthening the Kiwi gel structure. The textural data obtained from the force-time curve (hardness, adhesiveness, springiness, and chewiness) were measured in the ranges of 2.6-4.75 N, 0.0029-0.002 N.m, 21.91-19.62 mm×10-1, 0.14-0.19 N, 0.5-0.5 N, and 9.9-17 mJ, respectively. The best textural parameters were observed in the sample S2 and S3, which contained more Spirulina, supporting the rheological data. However, the sensory evaluation of the enriched jelly indicated a negative effect on sensory attributes such as flavor, texture, taste, color, and overall acceptability index. The most appreciated jelly was the control sample, with an acceptability index of 92%, while the most enriched jelly sample (S3), containing 3% microalgae, was also within the approving range with an acceptability index of 72%. Despite these observations, Spirulina could be a viable option for developing healthier Carrageenan-Kiwi jelly. Further research is necessary to understand the gel formation mechanism in Spirulina's presence and improve sensory attributes.

Using alternatives to unauthorized additives is crucial for preventing doogh spoilage as a fermented beverage. The purpose for present research is to investigate the influence of cinnamon essential oil loaded into nano emulsion (CEON), Lactobacillus acidophilus (L. acidophilus) and Lactobacillus casei (L. casei) compared to natamycin in doogh. Initially, phytochemical components were identified for CEO by gas chromatography, and qualitative characteristics after CEON production. Then, minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration of ten different L. casei and L. acidophilus species were investigated. In the next step, samples of doogh were prepared using CEON (1.5 and 3 %), natamycin (1 and also 2 %), L. acidophilus, and L. casei (at levels of 0.001 %), which evaluated physicochemical, microbial and sensory assessments on 1st, 30th and 60th days. The particle size (101 ± 2.1 nm) and polydispersity index (around 2.1) for CEON were calculated, and trans-cinnamaldehyde (80.5 %) was detected as the main component. The probiotic bacteria and CEON caused acidity improvement and pH reduction of treatments compared to control, respectively. The highest survival and hydrophobic percentages were observed in doogh containing L. acidophilus with 1.5 % and 3 % CEON during the shelf life; however, a negative effect was indicated by 2 % natamycin on these features. Doogh containing 2 % natamycin and L. acidophilus with 3 % CEON (0.9 Log CFU/mL) had the minimum levels of yeast and mold, respectively; however, control sample indicated the maximum value. Samples with a concentration of 3 % CEON indicated a negative influence on sensory evaluation. The treatments containing CEON and control had more a* and b*, which became darker (lower L*) during the shelf life. Generally, doogh containing L. acidophilus and 1.5 % CEON is a suitable product for industrial scale and public consumption.

Water treatment facilities play a pivotal role in ensuring access to safe drinking water, yet their operation with hazardous substances, notably chlorine gas, demands stringent safety measures. This study employs comprehensive consequence modeling via the PHAST (Process Hazard Analysis Software Tool) software to investigate potential chlorine gas leaks in Gilan's crucial water treatment facility. With millions relying on water supply systems, the proximity of these facilities to urban areas heightens the urgency for safety. The investigation explores diverse scenarios, simulating chlorine gas releases from a one-ton cylinder with 2, 5, or 4.25 mm holes, focusing on dispersion near the treatment facility. Leveraging Meteorological Organization data, the study evaluates impacts on the population based on ERPG (Emergency Response Planning Guidelines) values, considering concentrations of 1, 3, and 20 ppm. Chlorine gas, widely used for water purification due to its effectiveness in disinfection, poses inherent risks. The study's findings delineate crucial aspects of chlorine gas dispersion, highlighting its ground-level dispersal due to density. Gas discharge rates vary from 0.54 to 14 kg/s based on hole sizes, while affected distances extend from 81 to 86,420 meters under differing weather conditions, revealing potential hazard zones. Understanding these specific concentrations and distances holds paramount significance for public safety and environmental impact. Higher concentrations near densely populated areas signify elevated risks, emphasizing the urgent need to strengthen safety measures and emergency response strategies. Mitigating potential impacts on public health and the surrounding ecosystem becomes imperative in addressing these identified risks. In conclusion, this study underscores the urgent necessity to reinforce safety protocols, enhance emergency response plans, and advocate for stricter regulations governing hazardous chemical handling within water treatment facilities. These measures are indispensable to mitigate the risks associated with chlorine gas leaks, safeguarding the well-being of both industrial workers and the neighboring community.

Electrical fires occur in electrical power lines, wires, circuit breakers, and on other electrical components. The electrical wiring is the core area in power transmission and is of great importance. The carbonates of alkali and alkaline earth metals to combat the circumstances of an electrical fire with a single standalone metal carbonate or as a combination of two or more carbonate mixtures for determining the ideal mixture combination along with % increase in the temperature at which the electrical cables fires started as well as the % increase in theprolongation time of the electrical cables to catch the fire is studied in this work. The carbonate materials were applied in the inner covering of the electrical cables. Application of these self-extinguishing chemicals as fire retardants produces carbon dioxide emissions as a gas blanket on heating. This CO2 release from wire cables increases its ignition temperature and further helps to prolong the time for the cables to catch fire. The study optimal results for 3/29 wire gauge with an applied combination mixture of sodium carbonate and calcium carbonate in a 1:1 ratio by weight revealed a % increase in the ignition temperature and the % increase in time to ignite the electrical cables as 38.39±0.48% and 21.86±8.0% respectively. In addition, for the 7/29 wire gauge cable in a similar ratio, the mixture combination of sodium carbonate and magnesium carbonate shows respective results as 13.02±1.7% and 54.5±1.10% increased.

The current research used Bilobol to determine the cytotoxicity and anti-human breast cancer properties with molecular docking studies. The properties of Bilobol against breast cell lines i.e. Hs578T, MDA-MB-231, SkBr3, BT-549, MCF-7, AU565, 600MPE, and Evsa-T were evaluated in the in vitro condition. The IC50 of the Bilobol was 258, 236, 161, 265, 250, 183, 256, and 233 µM against MDA-MB-231, Hs578T, SkBr3, BT-549, MCF-7, AU565, Evsa-T, and 600MPE, respectively. The molecular modeling evaluation analyzed the chemical effects of bilobol against alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase. The anti-cancer activities of the molecules were examined against MDA-MB-231, Hs578T, SkBr3, BT-549, MCF-7, AU565, Evsa-T, and 600MPE cell lines. Following completion of clinical trial research, the novel compound may find application in human supplementation against breast cancer. Bilobol's IC50 values for the enzymes α-amylase and α-glucosidase were found to be 45.13 and 11.82 µM, respectively. In the aforementioned cell lines, bilobol's chemical interactions with a few expressed surface receptor proteins (EGFR, CD47, androgen receptor, folate receptor, HER2, CD44, progesterone receptor, and estrogen receptor) were determined using molecular modeling calculations. The outcomes displayed the likely atomic-level interactions and their properties. According to the docking scores, this chemical has a high affinity for certain proteins and enzymes. Additionally, this substance made strong contact with the receptors and enzymes. As a result, both enzymes and cancer cells may be inhibited by this chemical molecule.

The study investigated the efficiency of biodiesel conversion from jatropha oil-based free fatty acid using an acid-based catalyzed transesterification bioprocess. The maximum Jatropha biodiesel yield was 80% in a 1-hour reaction using a 0.03:1 acid catalyst to oil and a 2:1 alcohol-to-oil ratio. At the same time, the optimum biodiesel yield was in a 2-hour reaction for step 2 by using a 0.03:1 ratio of base catalyst to oil and a 5:1 ratio of alcohol to oil. The Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer analysis of Jatropha Biodiesel (JB) revealed a methyl peak (O-CH3) at 1436.07 cm-1, indicating compatibility with pure mineral diesel, high speed (1295.67rpm), brake horsepower(30.6906KW), mechanical efficiency (53.10%), and lower specific fuel consumption (15.5879 mL/KW. compared with other Jatropha biodiesel blends.