Methylene Blue Dye Removal from Aqueous Media Using Activated Carbon Prepared by Lotus Leaves: Kinetic, Equilibrium and Thermodynamic Study.

In the present work, methylene blue was eliminated from aqueous solution using activated carbon prepared by lotus leaves. To perform the experiments, batch method was applied. Also, several analyses such as SEM, FTIR, EDAX and BET were done to determine the surface properties of the activated carbon. The results showed that the maximum sorption efficiency of 97.59% was obtained in initial dye concentration of 10 mg/L, pH of 9, adsorbent dosage of 4 g/L, temperature of 25 °C, contact time of 60 min and mixture speed of 400 rpm. Furthermore, the maximum adsorption capacity was determined 80 mg/g, which was a significant value. The experimental data was analyzed using pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order and intra-particle diffusion kinetic models, which the results showed that the pseudo-second order kinetic model could better describe the kinetic behavior of the sorption process. Also, the constant rate of the pseudo-second order kinetic model was obtained in the range of 0.0218-0.0345 g/mg.min. Moreover, the adsorption equilibrium was well described using Freundlich isotherm model. Furthermore, the thermodynamic studies indicated that the sorption process of methylene blue dye using the activated carbon was spontaneous and exothermic.

Comparison between Nucleate Pool Boiling Heat Transfer of Graphene Nanoplatelet- and Carbon Nanotube- Based Aqueous Nanofluids.

An increase of nucleate pool boiling with the use of different fluid properties has received much attention. In particular, the presence of nanostructures in fluids to enhance boiling was given special consideration. This study compares the effects of graphene nanoplatelet (GNP), functionalized GNP with polyethylene glycol (PEG), and multiwalled carbon nanotube (CNT) nanofluids on the pool boiling heat transfer coefficient and the critical heat flux (CHF). Our findings showed that at the same concentration, CHF for functionalized GNP with PEG (GNP-PEG)/deionized water (DW) nanofluids was higher in comparison with GNP- and CNT-based nanofluids. The CHF of the GNP/DW nanofluids was also higher than that of CNT/DW nanofluids. The CHF of GNP-PEG was 72% greater than that of DW at the concentration of 0.1 wt %. There is good agreement between measured critical heat fluxes and the Kandlikar correlation. In addition, the current results proved that the GNP-PEG/DW nanofluids are highly stable over 3 months at a concentration of 0.1 wt %.

Natural Convection from the Outside Surface of an Inclined Cylinder in Pure Liquids at Low Flux.

Many studies have investigated natural convection heat transfer from the outside surface of horizontal and vertical cylinders in both constant heat flux and temperature conditions. However, there are poor studies in natural convection from inclined cylinders. In this study, free convection heat transfer was examined experimentally from the outside surface of a cylinder for glycerol and water at various heat fluxes. The tests were performed at 10 different inclination angles of the cylinder, namely, φ = 0°, 10°, 20°, 30°, 40°, 50°, 60°, 70°, 80°, and 90°, measured from the horizon. Our results indicated that the average Nusselt number reduces with the growth in the inclination of the cylinder to the horizon at the same heat flux, and the average Nusselt number enhanced with the growth in heat flux at the same angle. Also, the average Nusselt number of water is greater than that of glycerol. A new experimental model for predicting the average Nusselt number is suggested, which has a satisfactory accuracy for experimental data.

Mass production of highly-porous graphene for high-performance supercapacitors.

This study reports on a facile and economical method for the scalable synthesis of few-layered graphene sheets by the microwave-assisted functionalization. Herein, single-layered and few-layered graphene sheets were produced by dispersion and exfoliation of functionalized graphite in ethylene glycol. Thermal treatment was used to prepare pure graphene without functional groups, and the pure graphene was labeled as thermally-treated graphene (T-GR). The morphological and statistical studies about the distribution of the number of layers showed that more than 90% of the flakes of T-GR had less than two layers and about 84% of T-GR were single-layered. The microwave-assisted exfoliation approach presents us with a possibility for a mass production of graphene at low cost and great potentials in energy storage applications of graphene-based materials. Owing to unique surface chemistry, the T-GR demonstrates an excellent energy storage performance, and the electrochemical capacitance is much higher than that of the other carbon-based nanostructures. The nanoscopic porous morphology of the T-GR-based electrodes made a significant contribution in increasing the BET surface as well as the specific capacitance of graphene. T-GR, with a capacitance of 354.1 Fg(-1) at 5 mVs(-1) and 264 Fg(-1) at 100 mVs(-1), exhibits excellent performance as a supercapacitor.

Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Highly-Crumpled, Few-Layered Graphene and Nitrogen-Doped Graphene for Use as High-Performance Electrodes in Capacitive Deionization.

Capacitive deionization (CDI) is a promising procedure for removing various charged ionic species from brackish water. The performance of graphene-based material in capacitive deionization is lower than the expectation of the industry, so highly-crumpled, few-layered graphene (HCG) and highly-crumpled nitrogen-doped graphene (HCNDG) with high surface area have been introduced as promising candidates for CDI electrodes. Thus, HCG and HCNDG were prepared by exfoliation of graphite in the presence of liquid-phase, microwave-assisted methods. An industrially-scalable, cost-effective, and simple approach was employed to synthesize HCG and HCNDG, resulting in few-layered graphene and nitrogen-doped graphene with large specific surface area. Then, HCG and HCNDG were utilized for manufacturing a new class of carbon nanostructure-based electrodes for use in large-scale CDI equipment. The electrosorption results indicated that both the HCG and HCNDG have fairly large specific surface areas, indicating their huge potential for capacitive deionization applications.

In vitro and in vivo study of hazardous effects of Ag nanoparticles and Arginine-treated multi walled carbon nanotubes on blood cells: application in hemodialysis membranes.

One of the novel applications of the nanostructures is the modification and development of membranes for hemocompatibility of hemodialysis. The toxicity and hemocompatibility of Ag nanoparticles and arginine-treated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNT-Arg) and possibility of their application in membrane technology are investigated here. MWNT-Arg is prepared by amidation reactions, followed by characterization by FTIR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The results showed a good hemocompatibility and the hemolytic rates in the presence of both MWNT-Arg and Ag nanoparticles. The hemolytic rate of Ag nanoparticles was lower than that of MWNT-Arg. In vivo study revealed that Ag nanoparticle and MWNT-Arg decreased Hematocrit and mean number of red blood cells (RBC) statistically at concentration of 100 µg mL(-1) . The mean decrease of RBC and Hematocrit for Ag nanoparticles (18% for Hematocrit and 5.8 × 1,000,000/µL) was more than MWNT-Arg (20% for Hematocrit and 6 × 1000000/µL). In addition, MWNT-Arg and Ag nanoparticles had a direct influence on the White Blood Cell (WBC) drop. Regarding both nanostructures, although the number of WBC increased in initial concentration, it decreased significantly at the concentration of 100 µg mL(-1) . It is worth mentioning that the toxicity of Ag nanoparticle on WBC was higher than that of MWNT-Arg. Because of potent antimicrobial activity and relative hemocompatibility, MWNT-Arg could be considered as a new candidate for biomedical applications in the future especially for hemodialysis membranes.

Microbial toxicity of ethanolamines--multiwalled carbon nanotubes.

In the present study, antimicrobial activities of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) functionalized with ethanolamine (EA) groups were investigated. Therefore, MWCNT were first functionalized with mono-, di-, and triethanolamine (MEA, DEA, and TEA) under microwave technique. Development of functional groups on the MWCNT surface was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared and thermogravimetric analysis. Morphological variation was investigated by transmission electron microscopy. Then, antimicrobial activities of pristine and functionalized MWCNT (MWCNT-MEA, -DEA, and -TEA) were tested against different bacteria species. The studies have been done on four Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, and Salmonella typhimurium) as well as four Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, and Streptococcus pneumonia). The results based on minimal inhibitory concentration and radial diffusion assay were shown that the antimicrobial activity of MWCNT-TEA > MWCNT-DEA > MWCNT-MEA > pristine MWCNT. Based on the results, it seems that EA groups could play an important role in antimicrobial activity of MWCNT.

Influence of different amino acid groups on the free radical scavenging capability of multi walled carbon nanotubes.

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were functionalized with a series of amino acids (lysine, arginine, cysteine, histidine, and aspartic acid) by sonication. Surface functional groups of the treated MWCNTs were investigated by infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The results indicated the formation of various amino acid functionalities on the MWCNT surface, as well as the improved dispersion of MWCNTs in water. After functionalization, the antioxidant activity of all treated samples was analyzed using 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and hydroxyl radical scavenging, metal ion chelating, and reducing power assays. The antioxidant activity of the functionalized MWCNTs was 2-2.5 times greater than that of reduced glutathione (GSH) in ABTS radical scavenging, 1.5-5 times greater than that of GSH in reducing power, 1.3-1.8 times greater than that of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) in DPPH scavenging, and 3-10 times greater than that of GSH in hydroxyl radical scavenging. Accordingly, the amino acid-functionalized MWCNTs were appeared to be more potent than BHA and GSH synthetic antioxidants, and can thus be considered as excellent antioxidants to scavenge free radicals.

Enhanced antibacterial activity of amino acids-functionalized multi walled carbon nanotubes by a simple method.

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were first functionalized by arginine and lysine under microwave radiation. Surface functionalization was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). After the MWCNTs were functionalized by arginine and lysine, the antibacterial activity of all treated samples was increased significantly against all bacteria that were tested. Based on the observed minimum inhibitory concentration and radial diffusion assay, the sequence of antibacterial activity was MWCNTs-arginine>MWCNTs-lysine>pristine MWCNTs. The functionalized MWCNTs were especially effective against gram-negative bacteria (e.g., Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium). Interestingly, the MWCNT samples were effective against the resistant strain Staphylococcos aureus. The enhanced antibacterial activity was attributed to electrostatic adsorption of bacteria membrane due to positive charges of the functional groups on MWCNTs surface. Since MWCNTs have lower cytotoxicity than single-walled carbon nanotubes, their functionalization with cationic amino acids could be a beneficial approach in the disinfection industry.