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Biodiesel is a promising green substitute for petroleum diesel fuel because it is nontoxic, biodegradable, and a cleaner burning fuel derived from renewable resources. Currently, the most common way to produce biodiesel is through the transesterification of triglycerides with alcohol over a catalyst. Homogeneous base catalysts (e.g. NaOH and KOH) are usually employed commercially for their high activities and low costs. However, they promote the formation of an unwanted soap by-product in the presence of water and free fatty acids (FFA), which are usually abundant in low-grade, unrefined oils and greases. This not only creates serious problems of product separation, ultimately decreasing the yield and generating a large amount of wastewater; but it also prevents the utilization of cheap, non-edible feedstock oils, which is crucial to the economization and commercialization of biodiesel production. To overcome such problems associated with homogeneous catalysis, this thesis aims to develop an effective heterogeneous base catalyst that can be recycled and reused to simplify the product separation and purification steps. Functionalized mesporous silica and mixed oxides derived from layered double hydroxide (LDH) have uniform structures and high surface areas, which are ideal as catalysts for large organic molecules. Their chemical and physical properties can be easily controlled through modification of their surface groups or composition, and thus they are investigated as heterogeneous base catalysts for the triglyceride transesterification in this thesis. The first part of this study compares the catalytic activity of MgO-functionalized mesoporous silica in the transesterification of vegetable oil with ethanol at 473 K by varying the following parameters of the catalyst: • Type of silica support; • Catalyst loading method; • Type of precursor salt used; and • The amount of MgO loading. Then in the second part of the study, mixed oxide catalysts derived from Mg-Co-Al-La LDH of various Mg:Co:Al:La ratios are ...

Background: Minimizing raw salt and increasing fruit consumption are important factors for controlling blood pressure. The study aimed to investigate the following associations: (i) the association between socio-demographic characteristics and awareness of, and attitudes towards, raw salt and fruit consumption and (ii) the association between salt and fruit consumption and blood pressure. Methods: In a cluster-RCT, 307 adults, aged 30 to 75 years, with hypertension were recruited in 2021. Blood pressure was the primary outcome, and knowledge, attitudes and intakes of raw salt and fruit were secondary outcomes. Results: Of the participants, 271 (78.5%) consumed raw salt. More than 80% of the participants knew that reduced raw salt was good for controlling blood pressure and almost everyone knew that fruits and vegetables were good for health. Despite this, 95% of the participants had a habit of eating fruit irregularly. A lower proportion (64%) of the participants having at least a secondary school certificate (SSC) consumed raw salt, compared with those having an education level SSC (82%), p = 0.002. Blood pressure was not significantly different for participants, irrespective of raw salt or fruit consumption. Conclusions: Raw salt consumption among rural people was high and regular fruit consumption was deficient. They intended to reduce raw salt consumption. Appropriate intervention programs should be implemented to reduce salt consumption and increase fruit consumption.

AbstractNiFe2O4/polythiophene nanocomposite was synthesized by in situ chemical oxidative polymerization of thiophene in NiFe2O4 nanoparticles presence, whereas NiFe2O4 nanoparticles were prepared via coprecipitation method. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), UV–Visible, and SEM, EDX techniques were used for characterization of the nanocomposite. The effect of various parameters such as adsorbent dose, contact time, initial dye concentration, and initial pH of solution on the adsorption of Janus green B (JG) and Fuchsin basic (FB) onto the nanocomposite was optimized by batch studies. The equilibrium uptake data ascribed well to the Langmuir model with maximum adsorption capacity of 143 and 498 mg/g at 303 K for JG and FB, respectively. The exceptional high adsorption capacity of NiFe2O4/polythiophene nanocomposite for JG and FB was ascribed to π‐π and electrostatic interactions. Kinetics studies pointed out that JG and FB removal followed pseudo‐second order model. The negative values of ΔH° (JG: –47.28; FB: −38.00 kJ/mol) and ΔG° (JG: −9.347 to −6.442; FB: −14.16 to – 12.85 kJ/mol) pointed out the feasibility, spontaneity, and exothermic nature of removal process. Negative value of ΔS° (JG: –0.125; FB: –0.078 kJ/mol) suggested decrease in randomness at the solid/liquid interface. The results showed that NiFe2O4/polythiophene is an appealing adsorbent for the uptake of JG and FB dyes from aquatic environment.

After a halt of four years, the n TOF spallation neutron facility at CERN has resumed operation in November 2008 with a new spallation target characterized by an improved safety and engineering design, resulting in a more robust overall performance and e cient cooling. The rst measurement during the 2009 run has aimed at the full characterization of the neutron beam. Several detectors, such as calibrated ssion chambers, the n TOF Silicon Monitor, a Mi- croMegas detector with 10B and 235U samples, as well as liquid and solid scintillators have been used in order to characterize the properties of the neutron uence. The spatial pro le of the beam has been studied with a specially designed \X-Y

Abstract Nanofluids have been introduced for the enhancement in the heat transfer phenomena in the last few years. In this paper a corrugated bottom triangular solar collector has been studied introducing water based nanofluids inside the enclosure. The corrugated bottom is kept at a constant high temperature whereas the side walls of the triangular enclosure are kept at a low temperature. Three types of nanoparticles are taken into consideration: Cu, Al2O3, and TiO2. The effect of solid volume fraction (ϕ) of the nanoparticle of nanofluid has been studied numerically by Galerkin weighted residual method of finite element for a wide range of Grashof number (Gr) 104–106. Calculations are carried out for ϕ = 0, 0.05, 0.08, and 0.1 and dimensionless time, τ = 0.1, 0.5, and 1. For the specified conditions streamlines and isotherm contours are obtained and detailed results of the interaction between different parameters are studied using overall Nusselt number. It has been found that both Grashof number and solid volume fraction have significant influence on streamlines and isotherms in the enclosure. It is also found that heat transfer increased by 24.28% from the heated surface as volume fraction ϕ increases from 0% to 10% at Gr = 106 and τ = 1 for copper water nanofluid.

The development of efficient, low‐cost, non‐noble metal‐oxide‐based nanohybrid materials for overall water splitting is a critical strategy for enhancing clean energy use and addressing environmental issues. In this study, an interfacial engineering strategy for the development of bimetallic Co–Ni nanoparticles on graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C3N4) using ultrasonication followed by coprecipitation is conveyed. These nanoparticles demonstrate high efficacy as bifunctional electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline conditions. Co–Ni nanoparticles on graphitic carbon nitride demonstrate an increased surface area via ultrasonication and subsequent coprecipitation. The g‐C3N4 combined with Co–Ni nanoparticles leads to the development of bifunctional catalysts that exhibit significant efficiency in both HER and OER, and their interfacial properties are investigated for the first time. The chemical composition and morphology of g‐C3N4 integrated with Co–Ni nanoparticles significantly influence the modulation of redox‐active sites and the facilitation of electron transfer, resulting in improved splitting efficiency. The interactions between the Co–Ni bimetal and g‐C3N4 demonstrate exceptional electrochemical performance for water splitting. Consequently, the 20% 20–Co–Ni–graphitic carbon nitride electrode demonstrated superior HER performance, comparable to the other electrodes. In the results, it is indicated that an increased molar ratio of Co and Ni incorporated in graphitic carbon nitride significantly improves HER performance.

In a study of the electrochemical behavior of low-cyanide silver plating baths and of the properties of the deposits obtained, it was found that the current-potential curve obtained with a solid electrode showed a two-step reduction wave, the height of the first being 1/5 that of the second. Analysis of the results of polarographic and rotating disk electrode measurmenents sugests that the rate-controlling steps wereAgCN+e-_??_Ag+CN-……(1)Ag(CN)2-+e-_??_Ag+2CN-……(2)for the first and second waves respectively. The Tafel plots of the two waves showed linear relationships at their rising portions, and the reactions are accordingly concluded to be slow chargetransfer controlled.In baths to which selenocyanate ion was added, the increase in current was markedly greater for the second wave than for the first, and the wave was shifted to the positive side. Potential decay curves for the baths containing selenocyanate ion obtained by the current interrupter method showed lower differential capacities than those for baths that were free of selenocyanate ion. This indicates that the selenocyanate ions were adsorbed preferentially at the electrode, suppress the adsorption of cyanide ions and enhancing the silver deposition reaction.Deposits obtained by jet plating were matt at current densities lower than 50A/dm2, and their appearance was not affected by the addition of selenocyanate ion. At above 50A/dm2, deposits obtained from selenocyanate-free baths were burnt, but deposits obtained from baths with selenocyanate ion added were mirror-bright with a strong (200) orientation up to around 150A/dm2.

This study highlights how Chinese economic development detrimentally impacted water quality in recent decades and how this has been improved by enormous investment in environmental remediation funded by the Chinese government. To our knowledge, this study is the first to describe the variability of surface water quality in inland waters in China, the affecting drivers behind the changes, and how the government-financed conservation actions have impacted water quality. Water quality was found to be poorest in the North and the Northeast China Plain where there is greater coverage of developed land (cities + cropland), a higher gross domestic product (GDP), and higher population density. There are significant positive relationships between the concentration of the annual mean chemical oxygen demand (COD) and the percentage of developed land use (cities + cropland), GDP, and population density in the individual watersheds (p < 0.001). During the past decade, following Chinese government-financed investments in environmental restoration and reforestation, the water quality of Chinese inland waters has improved markedly, which is particularly evident from the significant and exponentially decreasing GDP-normalized COD and ammonium (NH4+-N) concentrations. It is evident that the increasing GDP in China over the past decade did not occur at the continued expense of its inland water ecosystems. This offers hope for the future, also for other industrializing countries, that with appropriate environmental investments a high GDP can be reached and maintained, while simultaneously preserving inland aquatic ecosystems, particularly through management of sewage discharge.