Characterization and properties of blended cement matrices containing activated bamboo leaf wastes

The worldwide production of bamboo generates large volumes of leaf wastes, which are deposited in landfills or burned in an uncontrolled manner, with negative effects in the environment. The ash obtained by calcining of the bamboo leaf waste, shows good qualities as supplementary cementing material for the production of blended cements. The current paper shows a detailed scientific study of a Brazilian bamboo leaf ash (BLA) calcined at 600 degrees C in small scale condition, by using different techniques (XRF, XRD, SEM/EDX, FT-IR, TG/DTG) and technical study in order. to analyse the behaviour of this ash in blended cements elaborated with 10% and 20% by mass of BLA. The results stated that this ash shows a very high pozzolanic activity, with a reaction rate constant K of the order of 10(-1)/h and type I CSH gel was the main hydrated phase obtained from pozzolanic reaction. The BLA blended cements (10% and 20%) complied with the physical and mechanical requirements of the existing European standards. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Interaction of p-cymene with beta-cyclodextrin

In this investigation, the study of inclusion complexes formation between p-cymene and beta-cyclodextrin using the methods of physical mixture, paste (PC) and slurry (SC), was evaluated. The results of DSC and TG/DTG showed that the products prepared by PC and SC methods were able to incorporate greater amounts of p-cymene, as evidenced by the weight loss of 7.15 and 3.97%, respectively, which occurred between 120 and 270 A degrees C. SEM images showed decreased size of the household, especially in the SC product. The absorption bands in the IR spectrum, characteristic of p-cymene, were also identified in the preparations, indicating the presence of the compound in the complex.

Thermal studies on protein isolates of white lupin seeds (Lupinus albus)

This study used TG, DSC, and SDS-PAGE techniques to study protein isolates (PIs) in the powder form obtained from lupin seeds flour Lupinus albus. Different methods of preparing PIs were tested, resulting in final products that were different only in relation to the yield and protein content. The results of the protein analysis by SDS-PAGE showed that the same protein fractions were present in the lupin seeds and in the obtained PIs. This result shows that the process of extraction was not damaging to the composition of the original protein. On the other hand, the results of the thermal analysis (DSC and TG-DTG curves) obtained for the different PIs, led to the detection of changes in the protein conformation through the Delta H values, which in general decreased with increasing values of pH and ionic strength in the experimental conditions of extraction.

Synthesis and characterization of CeO2-graphene composite

The synthesis and characterization of graphite oxide (GO), graphene (GS), and the composites: GS-CeO2 and GO-CeO2 are reported. This synthesis was carried out by mixing aqueous solutions of CeCl3 center dot 7H(2)O and GO, which yields the oxidized composite GO-CeO2. GO-CeO2 was hydrothermally reduced with ethylene glycol, at 120 A degrees C, yielding the reduced composite GS-CeO2. GO, GS ,and the composites with CeO2 were characterized by CHN, TG/DTG, BET, XRD, SEM microscopy, FTIR, and Raman spectroscopy. The estimation of crystallite size of CeO2 anchored on GO and on GS by Raman, XRD, and SEM agreed very well showing diameters about 5 nm. The role of particles of CeO2 coating carbon sheets of GO and GS was discussed.

Formation of oxysulfide LnO(2)S(2) and oxysulfate LnO(2)SO(4) phases in the thermal decomposition process of lanthanide sulfonates (Ln = La, Sm)

This study investigates two lanthanide compounds (La(3+) and Sm(3+)) obtained in water/ethyl alcohol solutions employing the anionic surfactant diphenyl-4-amine sulfonate (DAS) as ligand. Both sulfonates were characterized through IR, TG/DTG (O(2) and N(2)). The thermal treatment of both compounds at 1273 K under air leaves residues containing variable percentages of lanthanide oxysulfide/oxysulfate phases shown by synchrotron high-resolution XRD pattern including the Rietveld analysis. The phase distributions found in the residues evidence the differences in the relative stability of the precursors.

Preparação e caracterização de materiais híbridos celulose/NbOPO4.nH2O a partir de celulose branqueada de bagaço de cana-de-açúcar

Este trabalho descreve a preparação e caracterização do híbrido celulose/fosfato de nióbio hidratado (Cel/NbOPO4.nH2O) utilizando como material de partida a celulose branqueada de bagaço de cana-de-açúcar e o nióbio metálico. O híbrido foi preparado por dois métodos: denominados métodos I e II. O método I consistiu na dissolução do nióbio metálico em solução de ácido fluorídrico/nítrico (100:10), com tempo de contato de 16 horas entre a celulose branqueada do bagaço de cana-de-açúcar e a solução ácida. Adicionou-se a essa solução ácido fosfórico para precipitação do material. O método II foi semelhante, com proporções diferentes da solução ácida fluorídrico/nítrico (160/100), sem tempo de contato da celulose com a solução ácida. Os métodos I e II utilizaram as seguintes proporções de cel/ Nb2O5.nH2O: (10:10);(10:6) e (10:2). Os materiais preparados pelos métodos I e II foram caracterizados por difração de raios X (DRX), termogravimetria (TG/DTG) e microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV). Observou-se aumento do índice do grau de cristalinidade e mudanças na morfologia dos materiais preparados.