Water has been acknowledged as one of the key issues of humanity in modern society and worldwide economic advancements, especially with the continuing reductions in fresh-water supply. Solar energy, which is abundant as well as widely available in various fields, has the potential to solve the global challenges of long-term freshwater and energy reduction. Researchers are attempting to address the problem in a variety of methods. Due to the fact that solar energy is the foundation for freshwater, several researches have applied it for improving the effectiveness of solar desalination, evaporation, and wastewater treatment. One of the novel methods used for achieving this is known as “hydrogel,” which comes in a variety of forms. As a unique light-absorbing material, hydro-gel can improve photo-thermal solar efficiency conversions through reducing heat loss in the process of heat transfer caused by heat localization at air–water interface. Hydrogel has a large number of pores structures allow for efficient water transportation from bottom to water–air interface. In addition, hydro-gels are durable, floatable, recycling and anti-fouling materials that are energy efficient for steam generation harvesting and amplification. The aim of the current review paper was to review relevant published studies in order to investigate the current knowledge and background information regarding thermal desalination in general and solar distillation in particular.
To evaluate the bioactivity and the cytocompatibility of experimental Bioglass-reinforced polyethylene-based root-canal filling materials. The thermal properties of the experimental materials were also evaluated using differential scanning calorimetry, while their radiopacity was assessed using a grey-scale value (GSV) aluminium step wedge and a phosphor plate digital system. Bioglass 45S5 (BAG), polyethylene and Strontium oxide (SrO) were used to create tailored composite fibres. The filler distribution within the composites was assessed using SEM, while their bioactivity was evaluated through infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) after storage in simulated body fluid (SBF). The radiopacity of the composite fibres and their thermal properties were
... Show MoreIn this study, a new type of circulating three-phase fluidized bed reactor was conducted by adding a spiral path and was named as spiral three-phase fluidized bed reactor (TPFB-S) to investigate the possibility for removing engine oil (virgin and waste form) from synthetic wastewater by using Ricinus communis (RC) leaves natural and activated by KOH. The biosorption process was conducted by changing particle diameter in the range 150–300 and 300–600 µm, liquid flow rate in the range 2.5–4.5 L/min and gas flow rate in range of 0–1 L/min, while other parameters initial oil emulsion concentration, pH, adsorbent concentration, agitation speed and contact time were kept constant at 2000 mg/L, 2,
Background: The main drawback of soft lining materials was that they debonded from the denture base after a certain period of usage. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to determine the impact of oxygen and argon plasma treatment on the shear bonding strength of soft liners to two different kinds of denture base materials: conventional acrylic resin and high impact acrylic resin. Materials and Methods: Heat cure conventional and high impact acrylic blocks (40 for each group) were prepared. A soft liner connected the final test specimen of two blocks of each acrylic material. Shear bond strength (SBS) was assessed using universal testing machine. Additional blocks were also prepared for analyzing Vickers microhardness, contact ang
... Show MoreBackground: Polymeric composites have been widely used as dental restorative materials. A fundamental knowledge and understanding of the behavior of these materials in the oral cavity is essential to improve their properties and performance. The goal of this study was to measure water sorption of four composite resins containing different filler and resin matrix contents. Materials and method: Resin composite specimens giomer (Beautifil II) Filtek™ P90, Filtek™ Z350 XT, and Tetric N Ceram were prepared in a cylindrical mould of 3mm thickness and 6mm diameter (n=10) and light cured . All specimens placed in silica-gel desiccators at 37˚C for seven days, a constant weight was obtained. All samples were immersed in deionized distill
... Show MoreAn experimental study was conducted with low cost natural waste adsorbent materials, barley husks and eggshells, for the removal of Levofloxacine (LEVX) antibacterial from synthetic waste water. Batch sorption tests were conducted to study their isothermal adsorption capacity and compared with conventional activated carbon which were, activated carbon > barley husks > eggshells with removal efficiencies 74, 71 and 42 % with adsorbents doses of 5, 5 and 50 g/L of activated carbon, barley husks, and eggshells respectively. The equilibrium sorption isotherms had been analyzed by Langmuir, Freundlich, and Sips models, and their parameters were evaluated. The experimental data were correlated well with the Langmuir model which gives the
... Show MoreRecently, many materials have shown that they can be used as alternatives to chemicals materials in order to be used to improve the properties of drilling fluids. Some of these materials are banana peels and corn cobs which both are considered environmentally- friendly materials. The results of the X-ray diffraction examination have proved that the main components of these materials are cellulose and hemicellulose, which contribute greatly to the increasing of the effectiveness of these two materials. Due to their distinct composition, these two materials have improved the rheological properties (plastic viscosity and yield point) and reduced the filtration of the drilling fluids to a large extent. The addition rates used for each o
... Show MoreSpray pyrolysis technique was used to make Carbon60-Zinc oxide (C60-ZnO) thin films, and chemical, structural, antibacterial, and optical characterizations regarding such nanocomposite have been done prior to and following treatment. Fullerene peaks in C60-ZnO thin films are identical and appear at the same angles. Following the treatment of the plasma, the existence regarding fullerene peaks in the thin films investigated suggests that the crystallographic quality related to C60-ZnO thin films has enhanced. Following plasma treatment, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) images regarding a C60-ZnO thin film indicate that both zinc oxide and fullerene particles had shrunk in the size and have an even distribution. In addition
... Show MoreUsing zooplankton as bioindicators, this study evaluates the ecological condition of the Euphrates River in Iraq's Babylon Province. Site 1 (North Hillah, next to the old Babylon ruins), Site 2 (Hillah city center), Site 3 (South Hillah, close to Al-Mahaweel), and Site 4 (near Al-Kifl town) were the four monitoring locations chosen along the river. The highest and lowest averages of the measured physical and chemical factors indicate temperature (25.1°-29.4°), pH (7.2-7.9), electrical conductivity (EC) (940 µS/cm-1241µS/cm), total dissolved solids TDS (591 mg/L-789mg/L), dissolved oxygen (DO) (5.6 mg/ l-7.1 mg/L), biological oxygen demand (BOD5) (2.4mg/L-4.2 mg/L), nitrate (1.3 mg/L–3.2 mg/L), nitrite (0.04 mg/L–0.13 mg/L),
... Show More: Clobetasol propionate (CP) is a potent corticosteroid used for skin conditions but often causes side effects due its systemic absorption. To improve its solubility and reduce it side effects (like skin irritation, skin atrophy, hypopigmentation and steroidal acne), Microsponge (Msg) has been employed as a unique three-dimensional particle that can encapsulate hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs. This study aims to develop and evaluate CP Msg-loaded hydrogels. Two Clobetasol-loaded ethylcellulose-based Msg formulas were prepared using the quasi-emulsion solvent diffusion method, then they were incorporated into Carbopol hydrogel. Two ratios of Carbopol 940 (1% and 1.5% w/w) were used. The prepared hydrogel were assessed for appearance, pH, dr
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