Hydrophobic surface modification and characterization of melamine foam.

Superhydrophobic and oleophilic modification of commercial acoustic melamine foam (MF) was made in this study. The modification was carried out with chitosan (CHI) and silica particles (SiO), by using both a layer-by-layer-like approach (LbL) and dip coating technique. Subsequently, 1-octadecanethiol was used as a secondary modification agent.

Synthesis optimization of ZrO nanostructures for photocatalytic applications.

This study aims to optimize the synthesis of semiconductor zirconia (ZrO) nanoparticles for future photocatalytic applications in degradation of pollutants in wastewater under ultraviolet (UV) light. The synthesis procedure of ZrO nanoparticles was optimized by examining the effects of synthesis methods (ultrasound-assisted, hydrothermal method in an autoclave and conventional precipitation), reaction time (2, 6, 10, and 18 h), ambient pH (3, 7, 10, 13), and surfactant type (anionic, cationic, and non-ionic), on the particle size and crystal phase of the nanomaterial. The characterization of the synthesized samples was performed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), high-contrast transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis.

Enhancement of dispersion stability of inorganic additives via poly(sodium-4-styrenesulfonate) treatment geared to hydrogel applications.

This study reports the preparation of poly(sodium-4-styrene sulfonate) (PSS) treated bentonite and clinoptilolite to prevent the agglomeration and sedimentation of these inorganic fillers during the preparation of hydrogel. For this purpose PSS treated fillers were prepared by using various techniques (dip and dry, hydrothermal, one-step ball milling and ultrasonication methods). The most suitable technique for preparing these PSS treated inorganic fillers (abbreviated as BP-dip and CP-dip) was the dip and dry method.