Enhanced degradation of phototreated recycled and unused low-density polyethylene films by Pleurotus ostreatus.

Polyethylene, one of the most used petroleum-derived polymers, causes serious environmental pollution. The ability of Pleurotus ostreatus to degrade UV-treated and untreated recycled and unused (new) low-density polyethylene (LDPE) films was studied. We determined the fungal biomass production, enzyme production, and enzyme yield.

Optical method to characterize and assess setting evolution of cement pastes.

In this work, a nondestructive and noninvasive technique, based on laser technology and the use of the Kubelka-Munk model to calculate the dynamic behavior of the cement paste from the diffuse reflection properties of both cement components and hydration products, is proposed. Also, the Powers-Brunauer model is used to explain this behavior during the first 9 h of the hydration process. This method allows us to obtain the initial and final cement setting times from the diffuse reflection measurements.

Optical method to characterize and assess setting evolution of cement pastes: publisher's note.

This publisher's note amends the author affiliations in Appl. Opt.59, D1 (2020)APOPAI0003-693510.

Multiwavelength Raman Spectroscopic Analysis of Superficial Iron-Chromium Oxides Generated Using Laser Irradiation.

In order to characterize iron-chromium oxides generated by laser irradiation on the surface of stainless steel plates, an ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) near-infrared (NIR) multiwavelength excitation Raman analysis has been performed using both austenitic SS304 and ferritic SS430 stainless steel samples. Raman spectra were obtained using five different excitation wavelengths from blue (455 nm) to NIR (830 nm). These measurements have allowed us to observe and identify four Raman bands, among which two have not been previously observed for iron-chromium oxides, and characterize the existence of different resonant excitation conditions for the different excitation wavelengths.