Treatment of gray water using anaerobic biofilms created on synthetic and natural fibers

Gray water treatment and reuse is an immediate option to counter the upcoming water shortages in various parts of world, especially urban areas. Anaerobic treatment of gray water in houses is an alternative low cost, low energy and low sludge generating option that can meet this challenge. Typical problems of fluctuating VFA, low pH and sludge washout at low loading rates with gray water feedstock was overcome in two chambered anaerobic biofilm reactors using natural fibers as the biofilm support. The long term performance of using natural fiber based biofilms at moderate and low organic loading rates (OLR) have been examined. Biofilms raised on natural fibers (coir, ridge-gourd) were similar to that of synthetic media (PVC, polyethylene) at lower OLR when operated in pulse fed mode without effluent recirculation and achieved 80-90% COD removal at HRT of 2 d showing a small variability during start-up. Confocal microscopy of the biofilms on natural fibers indicated thinner biofilms, dense cell architecture and low extra cellular polymeric substances (EPS) compared to synthetic supports and this is believed to be key factor in high performance at low OLR and low strength gray water. Natural fibers are thus shown to be an effective biofilm support that withstand fluctuating characteristic of domestic gray water. (C) 2013 The Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Green colored nano-pigments derived from Y2BaCuO5: NIR reflective coatings

A green colored nano-pigment Y2BaCuO5 with impressive near infra-red (NIR) reflectance (61% at 1100 nm) was synthesized by a nano-emulsion method. The developed nano-crystalline powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-vis-NIR diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and CIE-L*a*b* 1976 color scales. The XRD and Rietveld analyses of the designed pigment powders reveal the orthorhombic crystal structure for Y2BaCuO5, where yttrium is coordinated by seven oxygen atoms with the local symmetry of a distorted trigonal prism, barium is coordinated by eleven oxygen atoms, and the coordination polyhedron of copper is a distorted square pyramid CuO5]. The UV-vis spectrum of the nano-pigment exhibits an intense d-d transition associated with CuO5 chromophore between 2.1 and 2.5 eV in the visible domain. Therefore, a green color has been displayed by the developed nano-pigment. The potential utility of the nano-pigments as ``Cool Pigments'' was demonstrated by coating on to a building roofing material like cement slab and PVC coatings. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Intermittent electrical stimuli for guidance of human mesenchymal stem cell lineage commitment towards neural-like cells on electroconductive substrates

In the context of the role of multiple physical factors in dictating stem cell fate, the present paper demonstrates the effectiveness of the intermittently delivered external electric field stimulation towards switching the stem cell fate to specific lineage, when cultured in the absence of biochemical growth factors. In particular, our findings present the ability of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) to respond to the electric stimuli by adopting extended neural-like morphology on conducting polymeric substrates. Polyaniline (PANI) is selected as the model system to demonstrate this effect, as the electrical conductivity of the polymeric substrates can be systematically tailored over a broad range (10(-9) to 10 S/cm) from highly insulating to conducting by doping with varying concentrations (10(-5) to 1 M) of HCl. On the basis of the culture protocol involving the systematic delivery of intermittent electric field (dc) stimulation, the parametric window of substrate conductivity and electric field strength was established to promote significant morphological extensions, with minimal cellular damage. A time dependent morphological change in hMSCs with significant filopodial elongation was observed after 7 days of electrically stimulated culture. Concomitant with morphological changes, a commensurate increase in the expression of neural lineage commitment markers such as nestin and PI tubulin was recorded from hMSCs grown on highly conducting substrates, as revealed from the mRNA expression analysis using Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) as well as by immune-fluorescence imaging. Therefore, the present work establishes the key role of intermittent and systematic delivery of electric stimuli as guidance cues in promoting neural-like differentiation of hMSCs, when grown on electroconductive substrates. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Low temperature magnetoresistance and magnetization studies of iron encapsulated multiwall carbon nanotube/polyvinyl chloride composites

We present the experimental results of temperature dependent magnetoresistance (MR) and the magnetization studies of iron encapsulated multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/polyvinyl chloride (PVC) composites with different wt% of MWCNTs. Transmission electron microscopy characterization shows that MWCNTs are encapsulated with rod-shaped iron nanoparticles of aspect ratio of similar to 3. The MR behavior of 1.9 wt% MWCNT/PVC sample shows dominance of forward scattering and wave function shrinkage whereas, weak localization and electron-electron interactions explain the MR data of higher wt% samples (9.1, 16.6 and 44.4 wt%). The composites of 4.7 and 9.1 wt% exhibit ferromagnetic behavior at all temperatures with room temperature coercivities of similar to 1036 and 628 Oe, respectively. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Synthesis, characterization and low temperature electrical conductivity of Polyaniline/NiFe2O4 nanocomposites

Conducting polymer/ferrite nanocomposites with an organized structure provide a new functional hybrid between organic and inorganic materials. The most popular among the conductive polymers is the polyaniline (PANI) due to its wide application in different fields. In the present work nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4) nanoparticles were prepared by sol-gel citrate-nitrate method with an average size of 21.6nm. PANI/NiFe2O4 nanoparticles were synthesized by a simple general and inexpensive in-situ polymerization in the presence of NiFe2O4 nanoparticles. The effects of NiFe2O4 nanoparticles on the dc-electrical properties of polyaniline were investigated. The structural components in the nanocomposites were identified from Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The crystalline phase of nanocomposites was characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). The Scanning Electron Micrograph (SEM) reveals that there was some interaction between the NiFe2O4 particles and polyaniline and the nanocomposites are composed of polycrystalline ferrite nanoparticles and PANI. The dc conductivity of polyaniline/NiFe2O4 nanocomposites have been measured as a function of temperature in the range of 80K to 300K. It is observed that the room temperature conductivity sigma(RT) decreases with increase in the relative content of NiFe2O4. The experimental data reveals that the resistivity increases for all composites with decrease of temperature exhibiting semiconductor behaviour.

Experimental and numerical studies on protection of buried pipelines and underground utilities using geocells

This paper presents the results of the laboratory model tests and the numerical studies conducted on small diameter PVC pipes, buried in geocell reinforced sand beds. The aim of the study was to evaluate the suitability of the geocell reinforcement in protecting the underground utilities and buried pipelines. In addition to geocells, the efficacy of only geogrid and geocell with additional basal geogrid cases were also studied. A PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride) pipe with external diameter 75 mm and thickness 1.4 mm was used in the experiments. The vehicle tire contact pressure was simulated by applying the pressure on the top of the bed with the help of a steel plate. Results suggest that the use of geocells with additional basal geogrid considerably reduces the deformation of the pipe as compared to other types of reinforcements. Further, the depth of placement of pipe was also varied between 1B to 2B (B is the width of loading plate) below the plate in the presence of geocell with additional basal geogrid. More than 50% reduction in the pressure and more than 40% reduction in the strain values were observed in the presence of reinforcements at different depths as compared to the unreinforced beds. Conversely, the performance of the subgrade soil was also found to be marginally influenced by the position of the pipe, even in the presence of the relatively stiff reinforcement system. Further, experimental results were validated with 3-dimensional numerical studies using FLAC(3D) (Fast Lagrangian Analysis of Continua in 3D). A good agreement in the measured pipe stain values were observed between the experimental and numerical studies. Numerical studies revealed that the geocells distribute the stresses in the lateral direction and thus reduce the pressure on the pipe. In addition, the results of the 1-g model tests were scaled up to the prototype case of the shallow buried pipeline below the pavement using the appropriate scaling laws. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Ultra-small sulphur nanoparticles configured inside a flexible organic mixed conducting network as a cathode for lithium-sulphur batteries

The major challenges in Li-S batteries are the formation of soluble polysulphides during the reversible conversion of S-8 <-> Li2S, large changes in sulphur particle volume during lithiation and extremely poor charge transport in sulphur. We demonstrate here a novel and simple strategy to overcome these challenges towards practical realization of a stable high performance Li-S battery. For the first time, a strategy is developed which does away with the necessity of pre-fabricated high surface area hollow-structured adsorbates and also multiple nontrivial synthesis steps related to sulphur loading inside such adsorbates. A lithiated polyethylene glycol (PEG) based surfactant tethered on ultra-small sulphur nanoparticles and wrapped up with polyaniline (PAni) (abbreviated as S-MIEC) is demonstrated here as an exceptional cathode for Li-S batteries. The PEG and PAni network around the sulphur nanoparticles serves as an efficient flexible trap for sulphur and polysulphides and also provides distinct pathways for electrons (through PAni) and ions (through PEG) during battery operation. Contrary to the cathodes demonstrated based on various carbon-sulphur composites, the mixed conducting S-MIEC showed an extremely high loading of 75%. The S-MIEC exhibited a stable capacity of nearly 900 mA h g(-1) at the end of 100 cycles at a 1C current rate.

Attenuating microwave radiation by absorption through controlled nanoparticle localization in PC/PVDF blends

Nanoscale ordering in a polymer blend structure is indispensable to obtain materials with tailored properties. It was established here that controlling the arrangement of nanoparticles, with different characteristics, in co-continuous PC/PVDF (polycarbonate/poly(vinylidene fluoride)) blends can result in outstanding microwave absorption (ca. 90%). An excellent reflection loss (RL) of ca. -71 dB was obtained for a model blend structure wherein the conducting (multiwall carbon nanotubes, MWNTs) and the magnetic inclusions (Fe3O4) are localized in PVDF and the dielectric inclusion (barium titanate, BT) is in PC. The MWNTs were modified using polyaniline, which facilitates better charge transport in the blends. Furthermore, by introducing surface active groups on BT nanoparticles and changing the macroscopic processing conditions, the localization of BT nanoparticles can be tailored, otherwise BT nanoparticles would localize in the preferred phase (PVDF). In this study, we have shown that by ordered arrangement of nanoparticles, the incoming EM radiation can be attenuated. For instance, when PANI-MWNTs were localized in PVDF, the shielding was mainly through reflection. Now by localizing the conducting inclusion and the magnetic lossy materials in PVDF and the dielectric materials in PC, an outstanding shielding effectiveness of ca. -37 dB was achieved where shielding was mainly through absorption (ca. 90%). Thus, this study clearly demonstrates that lightweight microwave absorbers can be designed using polymer blends as a tool.

Interplay of Substrate Conductivity, Cellular Microenvironment, and Pulsatile Electrical Stimulation toward Osteogenesis of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Vitro

The influences of physical stimuli such as surface elasticity, topography, and chemistry over mesenchymal stem cell proliferation and differentiation are well investigated. In this context, a fundamentally different approach was adopted, and we have demonstrated the interplay of inherent substrate conductivity, defined chemical composition of cellular microenvironment, and intermittent delivery of electric pulses to drive mesenchymal stem cell differentiation toward osteogenesis. For this, conducting polyaniline (PANI) substrates were coated with collagen type 1 (Coll) alone or in association with sulfated hyaluronan (sHya) to form artificial extracellular matrix (aECM), which mimics the native microenvironment of bone tissue. Further, bone marrow derived human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) were cultured on these moderately conductive (10(-4)10(-3) S/cm) aECM coated PANI substrates and exposed intermittently to pulsed electric field (PEF) generated through transformer-like coupling (TLC) approach over 28 days. On the basis of critical analysis over an array of end points, it was inferred that Coll/sHya coated PANI (PANI/Coll/sHya) substrates had enhanced proliferative capacity of hMSCs up to 28 days in culture, even in the absence of PEF stimulation. On the contrary, the adopted PEF stimulation protocol (7 ms rectangular pulses, 3.6 mV/cm, 10 Hz) is shown to enhance osteogenic differentiation potential of hMSCs. Additionally, PEF stimulated hMSCs had also displayed different morphological characteristics as their nonstimulated counterparts. Concomitantly, earlier onset of ALP activity was also observed on PANI/Coll/sHya substrates and resulted in more calcium deposition. Moreover, real-time polymerase chain reaction results indicated higher mRNA levels of alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin, whereas the expression of other osteogenic markers such as Runt-related transcription factor 2, Col1A, and osteopontin exhibited a dynamic pattern similar to control cells that are cultured in osteogenic medium. Taken together, our experimental results illustrate the interplay of multiple parameters such as substrate conductivity, electric field stimulation, and aECM coating on the modulation of hMSC proliferation and differentiation in vitro.

Estudio sobre la conservación del subproducto del camarón con dos niveles de inclusión [5 10] de ácido sulfúrico

Nicaragua produce 147,000 lb/mes de subproducto de la pesca del camarón y del pescado los cuales son destinados a la basura. Con e l objetivo de proporcionar un método de conservación que conlleve a utilizar estos desperdicios en la alimentación animal se realizó el presente estudio que consistió camarón, en elaborar tratados microensilajes con subproducto con ácido sulfúrico (5%, del 10%) volumen/peso utilizando de 2 Kg cada uno. 20 microsilos de PVC con capacidad se dividieron en 2 tratamientos evaluándolos a diferentes periodos de tiempo (7, 15, 30, 45 y 60 días), realizándose un DCA con arreglo unifactorial, análisis bromatológicos, determinación de AGV y pH. Todos los ensilados presentaron predominancia de la fermentación láctica, los contenidos de proteína bruta variaron en un rango de 40.70 a 50.20% según los tratamientos. Todos los ensilajes se pueden utilizar a los 7 días después de ensilarse. El tratamiento de menor costo resulto ser el T1 (5% H2so4 ) con 0.56 USA/Kg.

Template-free electrochemical nanofabrication of polyaniline nanobrush and hybrid polyaniline with carbon nanohorns for supercapacitors.

Polyaniline (PANI) nanobrushes were synthesized by template-free electrochemical galvanostatic methods. When the same method was applied to the carbon nanohorn (CNH) solution containing aniline monomers, a hybrid nanostructure containing PANI and CNHs was enabled after electropolymerization. This is the first report on the template-free method to make PANI nanobrushes and homogeneous hybrid soft matter (PANI) with carbon nanoparticles. Raman spectroscopy was used to analyze the interaction between CNH and PANI. Electrochemical nanofabrication offers simplicity and good control when used to make electronic devices. Both of these materials were applied in supercapacitors and an improvement capacitive current by using the hybrid material was observed.

Tasa de mineralización del nitrógeno en el suelo bajo diferentes manejos agroforestales con café (Coffea arabica L.) realizado 2002 y 2006 en el Pacífico Sur de Nicaragua

La presente investigación se realizo en sistemas agroforestales con café (Coffea arábica L.) en el Municipio de Masatepe, Departamento de Masaya, Nicaragua, con el propósito de determinar las tasas de mineralización del nitrógeno en el suelo entre los años 2002 y 2006 a la profundidad de 0 a 10 cm, y se correlacionaron con la producción de grano oro del ciclo 2005–2006, el total de la producción de cuatro ciclos y los aportes de nitrógeno hechos por fertilización y residuos vegetales. Se estableció en un diseño de BCA en parcela dividida en tres repeticiones y distribuido los 14 tratamientos. Se evaluaron el factor A. -Tipo de sombra: Combinando especies de árboles leguminosas y/o maderables para sombra de café (Inga laurina, Simarouba glauca, Samanea samma, Tabebuia rocea) y una parcela a pleno sol; el factor B.-Niveles de insumos (Moderado y alto convencional, Intensivos y Extensivo Orgánico) y el factor C.-Sitio de muestreo (muestreo en calle e hilera de los cafetos). Se ubicaron 6 puntos de muestreo de 60 x 60 cm en el área útil de la subparcela. Se extrajeron tres submuestras por punto de muestreo utilizando tubos pvc (1/2 pulgs de diámetro); se obtuvo una muestra compuesta por subparcela homogenizada de 0.5 kg. de suelo fresco. Sedeterminó el contenido deamonio mineralizado a los 0 y 7 días después de la incubación anaeróbica a partir de una solución extraída. Los datos se les sometieron un ANDEVA y separación de medias por Diferencia Mínimas Significativas (LSD). Los resultados obtenidos en el 2006 mostraron un incremento en la tasas de mineralización del Ncon respecto al año 2002. En 2006, el nivel de sombra no afecto significativamente la mineralización de N. Con respecto al nivel de insumos, el MO (Intensivo orgánico) proporciono la mayor tasa de nitrógeno mineralizado con 27.06 mg Nkg-1 por día, que AC (Alto convencional) y MC (Moderado convencional). No hubo interacción significativa en sombra e insumos. Cabe destacar que en sitio calle, se obtuvo una mayor tasa de mineralización del N en el suelo con 24.22 mg N kg-1 contra hilera. No hubo regresión y correlación positiva con respecto a las variables de producción de grano, residuos vegetales y las adiciones de fertilizantes.

Evaluación del suministro de agua de la red hidráulica del parque de ciencias Estelí Mar - Estelí, 2008

El estudio surge como respuesta a la escasa información sobre abastecimientos de agua cuando se utilizan pozos y equipos de bombeo, además tiene la finalidad de generar los elementos necesarios al parque de ciencias Estelimar e interesa dos en este tipo de investigación para que pueda aprovecharse sosteniblemente el recurso agua, usar eficientemente el equipo de bombeo al mismo tiempo reducir los costos de energía que se generan con el abastecimiento de agua en estas condiciones. Los objetivos de la investigación fueron: caracterizar el acuífero existente, describir las red hidráulica, conocer el punto de operación de la bomba así mismo de terminar los costos de energía generados en el abastecimiento de los deposito demandantes. Para caracterizar el acuífero existente se realizó una prueba de bombeo a caudal constante en el pozo Estelimar que comprendió 7 horas de extracción y 8 de recuperación también se analizó el perfil estratigráfico de un pozo situado a 100m del sitio en estudio. La red hidráulica se describió con el apoyo de un mapa elaborado por técnicos de Estelimar acompañados de observaciones directas en las instalaciones de la red. En el caso del punto de operación de la bomba fue necesario aforar todas las salidas hacia los de pósitos demandantes, mediciones de voltaje e intensidad de corriente y un levantamiento topográfico por taquimetría. Los costo de energía fueron determinados utilizando además de las descarga de agua obtenidas del aforo las capacidades de cada depósito. Finalmente se concluye que el acuífero afectado por el pozo estelimar presenta características de semiconfinado estimándose su transmisividad en 423.36 m2/día, el nivel estático registrado fue de 26.60m produciéndose un rebajamiento de 27.30m, se identificaron tres codos de 90º, seis tee, tres válvulas de compuertas y un codo de 45º, la tubería de succión es de hierro y el de descarga PVC, ambos de 2 pulg de diámetro, el punto en que opera la bomba con un 63% de eficiencia es de 1.03l/s venciendo una carga de trabajo de 45.50m, los costos de energía registrados para los meses de abril,mayo, junio y julio del 2008 están alrededor de C$8233.54 (Còrdobas).

半焦在流化床燃烧中Cl元素影响CO氧化的试验

在非均匀布风的流化床燃烧系统中进行了半焦中添加PVC/NaCl的混烧试验,研究了Cl元素对燃烧中CO氧化的影响以及混烧时SO_x等污染物的生成规律.试验结果表明,半焦与PVC/NaCl混烧在技术上可行,添加Cl元素抑制CO氧化,加入PVC增加SO_2排放,而加入NaCl则减少SO_2排放.

大管桩受力特性的物理模型试验研究

采用物理模型试验的方法,用PVC管代替大管桩进行了物理模型试验,通过调整有关主要参数,获得不同工况下大管桩受力的分布形式、大小以及挠度的变化规律,可为在实际应用中对大管桩工程进行健康诊断提供借鉴。