Preparation of 3D printed silicon nitride bioceramics by microwave sintering.

Silicon nitride (SiN) is a bioceramic material with potential applications. Customization and high reliability are the foundation for the widespread application of SiN bioceramics. This study constructed a new microwave heating structure and successfully prepared 3D printed dense SiN materials, overcoming the adverse effects of a large amount of 3D printed organic forming agents on degreasing and sintering processes, further improving the comprehensive performance of SiN materials.

Synthesis of Jatropha-Oil-Based Polyester Polyol as Sustainable Biobased Material for Waterborne Polyurethane Dispersion.

The utilization of vegetable oil in the production of polymeric material has gained interest due to its proven ability to replace nonrenewable petroleum sources, as it is readily modified via chemical reaction to produce polyol and subsequently for polyurethane production. Jatropha oil (JO), a second-generation feedstock, is one of the suitable candidates for polyester polyol synthesis because it contains a high percentage of unsaturated fatty acids. In this study, jatropha-based polyester polyols (JOLs) with different hydroxyl values were successfully synthesized via a two-step method: epoxidation followed by oxirane ring-opening reaction.

Valorization of discarded face mask for bioactive compound synthesis and photodegradation of dye.

To keep COVID-19 at bay, most countries have mandated the use of face masks in public places and imposed heavy penalties for those who fail to do so. This has inadvertently created a huge demand for disposable face masks and worsened the problem of littering, where a large number of used masks are constantly discarded into the environment. As such, an efficient and innovative waste management strategy for the discarded face mask is urgently needed.

Confounding Effect of Wetting, Compaction, and Fouling in an Ultra-Low-Pressure Membrane Filtration: A Review.

Ultra-low-pressure membrane (ULPM) filtration has emerged as a promising decentralized water and wastewater treatment method. It has been proven effective in long-term filtration under stable flux without requiring physical or chemical cleaning, despite operating at considerably lower flux. The use of ultra-low pressure, often simply by hydrostatic force (often called gravity-driven membrane (GDM) filtration), makes it fall into the uncharted territory of common pressure-driven membrane filtration.

Fabrication of Polyvinylidene Difluoride Membrane with Enhanced Pore and Filtration Properties by Using Tannic Acid as an Additive.

Potential use of tannic acid (TA) as an additive for fabrication of polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membrane was investigated. The TA was introduced by blending into the dope solution with varying concentrations of 0, 1, 1.5, and 2 wt%.

Improvement of Properties and Performances of Polyethersulfone Ultrafiltration Membrane by Blending with Bio-Based Dragonbloodin Resin.

Polyethersulfone (PES) is the most commonly used polymer for membrane ultrafiltration because of its superior properties. However, it is hydrophobic, as such susceptible to fouling and low permeation rate. This study proposes a novel bio-based additive of dragonbloodin resin (DBR) for improving the properties and performance of PES-based membranes.

Polymer Film Blend of Polyvinyl Alcohol, Trichloroethylene and Cresol Red for Gamma Radiation Dosimetry.

This study investigated the polymer film composite of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), trichlorethylene (TCE) and cresol red (CR) dye irradiated with gamma (γ) rays for potential application as radiation dosimetry. The film was prepared via the solvent-casting method with varying concentrations of TCE. Film samples were exposed to radiation from a γ-rays radiation source of Cobalt isotope.

Optical Properties and Conductivity of PVA-HPO (Polyvinyl Alcohol-Phosphoric Acid) Film Blend Irradiated by γ-Rays.

This study assesses the optical properties and conductivity of PVA-HPO (polyvinyl alcohol-phosphoric acid) polymer film blend irradiated by gamma (γ) rays. The PVA-HPO polymer film blend was prepared by the solvent-casting method at HPO concentrations of 75 v% and 85 v%, and then irradiated up to 25 kGy using γ-rays from the Cobalt-60 isotope source. The optical absorption spectrum was measured using an ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer over a wavelength range of 200 to 700 nm.

Development of Hybrid and Templated Silica-P123 Membranes for Brackish Water Desalination.

Water scarcity is still a pressing issue in many regions. The application of membrane technology through water desalination to convert brackish to potable water is a promising technology to solve this issue. This study compared the performance of templated TEOS-P123 and ES40-P123 hybrid membranes for brackish water desalination.