Novel applications of cashew nut shell liquid in the polymer field

This research project aims at developing new applications for CNSL in the polymer field. Cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) is a cheap agro-byproduct and renewable resource which consists mainly of substituted phenols. By using CNSL in place of phenol, phenol derived from petrochemicals can be conserved and a cheap agro-byproduct utilized.In this study CNSL based resin is prepared by condensing a mixture of phenol and CNSL with hexamethylenetetramine and the effect of P: F ratio and CNSL: P ratio on the properties of synthesized resin is studied. The adhesive properties of CNSL based resin in combination with neoprene rubber are investigated. The effect of varying the stoichiometric ratios between total phenol and formaldehyde and CNSL and phenol of the resin, resin content, choice and extent of fillers and adhesion promoters in the adhesive formulation are studied. The effect of resin on the ageing properties of various elastomers is also studied by following changes in tensile strength, elongation at break, modulus, tear strength, swelling index and acetone soluble matter. Crude CNSL and resins with different P: F ratios and CNSL: P ratios are incorporated into elastomers. Lastly, utility of CNSL based resin as binder for making particleboard is investigated.The results show that CNSL based resin is an effective ingredient in adhesives for bonding aluminium to aluminium. The resin used for adhesive fonnulation gives the best performance at 45 to 55 phr resin and a total phenol: formaldehyde of l:2.9. The resin when added at a rate of l5 phr improves ageing characteristics of elastomers with respect to mechanical properties. The reaction mixture of CNSL and hexa and the resin resulting from the condensation of CN SL, phenol and hexa can be used as effective binders for moulding particleboard.

Bio-chemical changes associated with processing of shell fishes and flavour constituents of body meat and claw meat'of crab

In this thesis all these aspects are taken into consideration. Extensive studies were conducted on all aspects of processing of crabs, mussels and clams. The species taken for studies are commercially used ones namely Scylla sereta, perna viridis, and villorita cyprinoids. In Chapter 4.1 with regard to crab) the following aspects on their handling and processing are reported seasonal variation of chemical constituents, changes taking place during ice storage, freezing, canning etc. In Chapter 4._2 with regard to mussel, the relation between age (size) and chemical constituents, changes taking place during ice storage, freezing, canning etc. are reported and in Chapter 4.3 the changes taking place in clam muscle during icing and freezing are reported and the ame rebility of ice stored clams for canning purpose is reported.The interference of high concentration of glycogen in mussel and clam muscles during the colour development of ribose (Me-jbaum's method) is observed and remedial step are taken to minimise the interference.

Microscopic origin of exchange bias in core/shell nanoparticles

We report the results of Monte Carlo simulations with the aim to clarify the microscopic origin of exchange bias in the magnetization hysteresis loops of a model of individual core/shell nanoparticles. Increase of the exchange coupling across the core/shell interface leads to an enhancement of exchange bias and to an increasing asymmetry between the two branches of the loops which is due to different reversal mechanisms. A detailed study of the magnetic order of the interfacial spins shows compelling evidence that the existence of a net magnetization due to uncompensated spins at the shell interface is responsible for both phenomena and allows to quantify the loop shifts directly in terms of microscopic parameters with striking agreement with the macroscopic observed values.

A Comparative Study of The Muscle Proteins of Fishes and Shell Fishes of Tropical Waters

This thesis is an attempt to make a comparative study of the composition of the muscle proteins of some commercially important species of fishes and shell fishes of our coast and their changes during preservation and processing. As a part of this the distribution of the major protein nitrogen fractions in several species of fishes and shell fishes was studied in detail.

Efficacy of fermented prawn shell waste as a feed ingredient for Indian white prawn, Fenneropenaeus indicus

Prawn shell waste collected from shrimp-processing plants in Cochin, India, was subjected to fermentation using 20 chitinoclastic and proteolytic/non-proteolytic bacterial strains. The products generated were analysed for protein, lipid, total sugars, N-acetyl glucosamine, free amino acids and ash. Shrimp diets were prepared using these 20 fermented products and a control diet using raw prawn shell waste. Feeding experiment was conducted with postlarvae (PL21) of Indian white prawn, Fenneropenaeus indicus for a period of 21 days. Biogrowth parameters such as mean weight gain, feed conversion ratio, specific growth rate and protein efficiency ratio were estimated and the animals were challenged with white spot virus orally via diet. Enhanced growth could be observed in prawns fed F134 and F124, incorporated with the fermentation products generated using Bacillus spp., C134 and C124 respectively. The percentage survival of prawns after 7 days of challenge was found to be highest for groups fed diet F111 incorporated with fermentation product generated using Bacillus sp. These products of bacterial fermentation hold promise as growth enhancers and immunostimulants in aquaculture. KEY WORDS: biogrowth parameters, feed

Large enhanced dielectric permittivity in polyaniline passivated core-shell nano magnetic iron oxide by plasma polymerization

Commercial samples of Magnetite with size ranging from 25–30nm were coated with polyaniline by using radio frequency plasma polymerization to achieve a core shell structure of magnetic nanoparticle (core)–Polyaniline (shell). High resolution transmission electron microscopy images confirm the core shell architecture of polyaniline coated iron oxide. The dielectric properties of the material were studied before and after plasma treatment. The polymer coated magnetite particles exhibited a large dielectric permittivity with respect to uncoated samples. The dielectric behavior was modeled using a Maxwell–Wagner capacitor model. A plausible mechanism for the enhancement of dielectric permittivity is proposed

Selection of Marine Yeasts for the Generation of Single Cell Protein from Prawn-shell Waste

Marine yeasts (33 strains) were isolated from the coastal and offshore waters off Cochin. The isolates were identified and then characterized for the utilization of starch, gelatin, lipid, cellulose, urea, pectin, lignin, chitin and prawn-shell waste. Most of the isolates were Candida species. Based on the biochemical characterization, four potential strains were selected and their optimum pH and NaCI concentration for growth were determined. These strains were then inoculated into prawn-shell waste and SCP (single cell protein) generation was noted in terms of the increase in protein content of the final product.

State-selective study of the direct double photoionization of the Ne valence shell

Cross sections for double photoionization of the Ne L shell into the 2s2p{^5 3}P^0} and ^1P^0 and the 2s^02p^6 ^1S^e states were measured for energies from threshold up to 150 eV, using photon induced fluorescence spectroscopy. Both 2s2p^5 channels were observed with comparable magnitude in contradiction to a propensity rule based on the Wannier-Peterkop-Rau theory. A comparison of the summed ^3P^0 and ^1P^0 cross sections with MBPT calculations results in a deviation of 50%.

Influence of the electronic shell structure on the elastic scattering of heavy ions

The interatomic potential of the system I - I at intermediate and small distances is calculated from atomic DFS electron densities within a statistical model. Structures in the potential, due to the electronic shells, are investigated. Calculations of the elastic differential scattering cross section for small angles and several keV impact energies show a detailed peak pattern which can be correlated to individual electronic shell interaction.

Equilibrium K-shell excitation of highly ionized neon

Augerelectron emission from foil-excited Ne-ions (6 to 10 MeV beam energy) has been measured. The beam-foil time-of-flight technique has been applied to study electronic transitions of metastable states (delayed spectra) and to determine their lifetimes. To achieve a line identification for the complex structure observed in the prompt spectrum, the spectrum is separated into its isoelectronic parts by an Augerelectron-ion coincidence correlating the emitted electrons and the emitting projectiles of well defined final charge states q_f. Well resolved spectra were obtained and the lines could be identified using intermediate coupling Dirac-Fock multiconfiguration calculations. From the total KLL-Augerelectron transition probabilities observed in the electronion coincidence experiment for Ne (10 MeV) the amount of projectiles with one K-hole just behind a C-target can be estimated. For foil-excited Ne-projectiles in contrast to single collision results the comparison of transition intensities for individual lines with calculated transition probabilities yields a statistical population of Li- and Be-like configurations.

Core-Shell Assisted Bimetallic Assembly of Pt and Ru Nanoparticles by DNA Hybridization

We have discovered that the current protocols to assemble Au nanoparticles based on DNA hybridization do not work well with the small metal nanoparticles (e.g. 5 nm Au, 3.6 nm Pt and 3.2 nm Ru particles). Further investigations revealed the presence of strong interaction between the oligonucleotide backbone and the surface of the small metal nanoparticles. The oligonucleotides in this case are recumbent on the particle surface and are therefore not optimally oriented for hybridization. The nonspecific adsorption of oligonucleotides on small metal nanoparticles must be overcome before DNA hybridization can be accepted as a general assembly method. Two methods have been suggested as possible solutions to this problem. One is based on the use of stabilizer molecules which compete with the oligonucleotides for adsorption on the metal nanoparticle surface. Unfortunately, the reported success of this approach in small Au nanoparticles (using K₂BSPP) and Au films (using 6-mercapto-1-hexanol) could not be extended to the assembly of Pt and Ru nanoparticles by DNA hybridization. The second approach is to simply use larger metal particles. Indeed most reports on the DNA hybridization induced assembly of Au nanoparticles have made use of relatively large particles (>10 nm), hinting at a weaker non-specific interaction between the oligonucleotides and large Au nanoparticles. However, most current methods of nanoparticle synthesis are optimized to produce metal nanoparticles only within a narrow size range. We find that core-shell nanoparticles formed by the seeded growth method may be used to artificially enlarge the size of the metal particles to reduce the nonspecific binding of oligonucleotides. We demonstrate herein a core-shell assisted growth method to assemble Pt and Ru nanoparticles by DNA hybridization. This method involves firstly synthesizing approximately 16 nm core-shell Ag-Pt and 21 nm core-shell Au-Ru nanoparticles from 9.6 nm Ag seeds and 17.2 nm Au seeds respectively by the seed-mediated growth method. The core-shell nanoparticles were then functionalized by complementary thiolated oligonucleotides followed by aging in 0.2 M PBS buffer for 6 hours. The DNA hybridization induced bimetallic assembly of Pt and Ru nanoparticles could then be carried out in 0.3 M PBS buffer for 10 hours.

Análisis de la presencia de petroleras occidentales y la agudización de conflictos político-económicos en el Delta del Níger. Caso: la Royal Dutch Shell y el Movimiento para la Emancipación del Delta del Níger (MEND) 2006-2010

La región del Delta del Níger es uno de los territorios, sino el principal, en otorgarle a Nigeria numerosas regalías por la exportación de petróleo, sin embargo el escaso beneficio que recibe su población genera conflicto en la región. La alta contaminación provocada por empresas petroleras como la Royal Dutch Shell (RDS), la violación de Derechos Humanos y la estrecha relación que mantiene la multinacional con el Gobierno, se han convertido en los motores del conflicto. Es debido a esto que grupos armados como el Movimiento para la Emancipación del Delta del Níger (MEND), han emprendido acciones con el fin de controlar los recursos, cometiendo robos de petróleo y actos de violencia que constituyen represalias por el trato que la industria petrolera ha dado a la población del Delta. No obstante, el conflicto se ha ido alejando de sus objetivos iniciales en tanto que se ha convertido en un negocio lucrativo, ha producido mayores índices de pobreza y se ha generado un círculo de violencia entre las empresas petroleras, el gobierno nigeriano y los grupos armados. De ahí que el Delta del Níger constituya una región importante no sólo debido a sus altas producciones de petróleo, sino porque además representa una zona altamente compleja que envuelve a ciudadanos, gobiernos y petroleras.