Synthesis and characterization of NaNbO3 mesostructure by a microwave-assisted hydrothermal method

In the present work, we report the synthesis and characterization of NaNbO3 particles obtained by microwave-assisted hydrothermal method from Nb2O5 and NaOH. The synthesis was made at different periods at 180 °C and 300W. The crystallization of NaNbO3 structures produced Na2Nb2O6.H2O in the intermediate phase with fiber-like morphology, and this is associated with the synthesis time. Pure orthorhombic NaNbO3 with cube-like morphology originates after synthesizing for 240 minutes. To verify the remnant polarization of particles, films were obtained by electrophoresis process and sintered at 800°C for 10 minutes in a microwave furnace. The films characterization indicated that films of niobate with fiber-like morphology present remaining polarization, and the morphology of cubes did not show remaining polarization. Considering these results, it can be concluded that the morphology implemented ferroelectric property of NaNbO3.

Ethyl biodiesel: Microwave irradiation aiding ethanolysis of waste cooking oil.

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Microwave interferometric technique for characterizing few mode fibers

We propose and experimentally demonstrate a simple and accurate technique for measuring differential mode group delay (DMGD) in few mode fibers (FMF). A frequency-swept microwave signal is modulated on a filtered optical incoherent source. The microwave signals carried on different fiber modes experience different time delays and interfere with each other in the photodetector. Optical interference between propagating fiber modes is avoided by the use of an incoherent optical source. A mathematical model is established to analyze the interference pattern and extract the DMGD values. A 456-m two-mode fiber and a 981-m FMF, which supports four LP modes, are measured. The measurement covers the whole C-band and the results coincide well with those obtained by the time-of-flight method and the numerical simulations. A precision of ±0.002 ps/m is achieved.

Cell membrane integrity of candida albicans after different protocols of microwave irradiation

To evaluate the ability of low time microwaveexposureto inactivate and damage cell membrane integrity of C. albicans. Materials and Methods: Two 200ml C. albicans suspensions were obtained. Sterile dentures were placed in a beaker containing Experimental (ES) or Control suspensions (CS). ES was microwaved at 650 W for 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 min. Suspensions were optically counted using Methylene blue dye as indicative of membrane-damaged cells; spread on Agar Sabouraud dextrose (ASD) for viability assay; or spectrophotometrically measured at 550nm. Cell-free solutions were submitted to content analyses of protein (Bradford and Pyrogallol red methods); Ca++ (Cresolphthalein Complexone method); DNA (spectrophotometer measurements at 260nm) and K+ (selective electrode technique). Data were analyzed by Student-t test and linear regression (α=0.05). In addition, flowcytometry analysis of Candida cells in suspensionwas performed using propidium iodide. Results: All ES cells demonstrated cell membrane damage at 3, 4 and 5 min,viable cells were nonexistent at 3, 4 and 5 min ES ASD plates and optical density of ES and CS was not significantly differentfor all exposition times. ES cells released highcontents of protein, K+ , Ca++ and DNA after 2 min exposition when compared to that of the CSs. Similar results were observed with flow cytometry analysiswith regard to the periodsof microwave exposure. Conclusions: Microwave irradiation inactivated C. albicansafter 3min and damaged cell membrane integrity after 2 min exposition.

Evaluation of microwave-assisted pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass immersed in alkaline glycerol for fermentable sugars production

A pretreatment with microwave irradiation was applied to enhance enzyme hydrolysis of corn straw and rice husk immersed in water, aqueous glycerol or alkaline glycerol. Native and pretreated solids underwent enzyme hydrolysis using the extract obtained from the fermentation of Myceliophthora heterothallica, comparing its efficiency with that of the commercial cellulose cocktail Celluclast (R). The highest saccharification yields, for both corn straw and rice husk, were attained when biomass was pretreated in alkaline glycerol, method that has not been previously reported in literature. Moreover, FTIR, TG and SEM analysis revealed a more significant modification in the structure of corn straw subjected to this pretreatment.Highest global yields were attained with the crude enzyme extract, which might be the result of its content in a great variety of hydrolytic enzymes, as revealed zymogram analysis. Moreover, its hydrolysis efficiency can be improved by its supplementation with commercial beta-glucosidase.

Rapid preparation of (BiO)(2)CO3 nanosheets by microwave-assisted hydrothermal method with promising photocatalytic activity under UV-Vis light

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Crystal growth and photoluminescence of europium-doped strontium titanate prepared by a microwave hydrothermal method

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Synthesis of Bi-based superconductor by microwave-assisted hydrothermal method

In this work we studied the synthesis of BSCCO-2212 superconducting phase associating a quite similar method developed by Pechini with the microwave-assisted hydrothermal method. To study the influence of the microwaves on the properties of BSCCO system, we synthesized two samples by such method. For one sample we used carbonates and for the other one we used nitrates as chemical reagents. We also produced a reference sample just using carbonates by Pechini's method to compare their morphological and superconducting properties. The structural properties of the samples were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The Bi-2212 phase is predominant in all samples and despites the nitrates-like sample has a broader distribution of grain size in comparison with the reference sample, its magnetic behaviour is closer to that presented by the reference one.

Optical characterization of europium-doped indium hydroxide nanocubes obtained by Microwave-Assisted Hydrothermal method

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Structural, optical, and magnetic properties of NiMoO4 nanorods prepared by microwave sintering

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Bond strength of artificial teeth attached to a microwave-polymerized denture base resin after immersion in disinfectant solutions

To evaluate the bond strength between two types of acrylic resin teeth and a microwave denture base resin after immersion in disinfectant solutions for 180 days. Eighty specimens made of acrylic resin teeth (Biotone and Biotone IPN) attached to a microwave polymerized denture base resin (Nature-Cryl MC) were divided into eight groups (n = 10) according to the treatment (distilled water-control, 2% chlorhexidine digluconate, 1% sodium hypochlorite and sodium perborate solution-Corega Tabs). The shear strength tests (MPa) were carried out using a universal testing machine with a 0.5 mm/min speed. Data analysis was performed using ANOVA and multiple comparison Student-Newman-Keuls post hoc test (α = 0.05). Biotone IPN showed similar results among the groups (distilled water, 8.25 ± 1.81 MPa; chlorhexidine, 7.81 ± 3.34 MPa; hypochlorite, 7.75 ± 3.72 MPa; and Corega Tabs, 7.58 ± 2.27 MPa, whereas Biotone showed significantly lower shear bond strength values for the groups immersed in Corega Tabs (5.25 ± 3.27 MPa) and chlorhexidine (6.08 ± 2.35 MPa). Soaking the dentures in 1% sodium hypochlorite could be recommended as a disinfectant solution for dentures fabricated with conventional acrylic resin denture teeth and microwave denture base resin. For dentures fabricated with IPN teeth and microwave denture base resin, all the soaking solutions evaluated in this study could be suggested to denture wearers.

Morphology and properties of (Ba, Sr, Ca) titanates synthesized by microwave-assisted hydrothermal method

Ba1-xCaxTiO3, Ba1-xSrxTiO3 and Sr1-xCaxTiO3 (x = 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1) nanoparticles were synthesized using the microwave-assisted hydrothermal method. Samples were prepared for 40 minutes at 140°C under a pressure of 3 MPa using an adapted domestic microwave oven. The samples were characterized by X-Ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and Raman, photoluminescence (PL) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopies. XRD data show that ceramic powders have crystalline phases associated with a short-range structural disorder. This structural disorder is confirmed by Raman spectral bands indicating multi-phonon processes and the presence of defects or impurities. Such defects account for a broad band in the photoluminescence spectrum in the green light (460 nm) region for all samples. Gap energy variation, obtained from UV-Vis spectra, suggest a non-uniform band structure of these titanates in accordance with the PL results. The morphology of each sample is changed with doping and varies from a spherical to cubic appearance for energy minimization.