Solid-phase synthesis of ytterbium zirconate using mechanical activation

Nanocrystalline ytterbium zirconate Yb4Zr3O12 was prepared by the solid-phase method using mechanical activation of stoichiometric mixture of zirconium and ytterbium oxides. Mechanical activation was carried out in an AGO-2 centrifugal-planetary mill at a centrifugal factor of 40 g for 10 min. The processes occurring during the calcination of the mechanically activated mixture of ytterbium and zirconium oxides in the range from 600 to 1300 °C were investigated using X-ray phase analysis, IR spectroscopy, and complex thermal analysis.

Structural properties of TiO2-SnO2 thin films prepared by new pyrolysis solid-phase method

Nanoscale TiO2-SnO2 films with the Ti:Sn ratio 1:99, 3:97 and 5:95 mol%, respectively, were obtained by solid-phase low-temperature pyrolysis method. The synthesized materials were studied by X-ray phase analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. Regardless of the modified agents’ concentration, the structure of cassiterite was observed for all synthesized materials. When studying the effect of synthesis parameters on the materials properties, it was shown that both an increase in the Ti4+ concentration and in the calcination temperature leads to an increase in the particle size.

Facile Synthesis of Mn0.68Bi0.32OCl Mix-Crystals And Its Supercapacitive Behavior

Mn0.68Bi0.32OCl mix-crystals for supercapacitor were successfully synthesized via a facile solid-phase method using Bi(NO3)3 and MnCl2 with molar ratio of 1:1 as precursors. The Mn0.68Bi0.32OCl mix-crystals were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area measurements and thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry, respectively. Cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge/discharge technique were performed for the Mn0.68Bi0.32OCl mix-crystals in 1 M Na2SO4 aqueous solutions; the specific capacitance of Mn0.68Bi0.32OCl was about 203 F.g-1 at the current density of 3 A. g-1 with a long life time, owing to the high power density of Mn0.68Bi0.32OCl mix-crystals and the higher surface area, good conductivity, and high stability of the Mn0.68Bi0.32OCl mix-crystals.

Activated Carbon (AC) Supported Nickel-Nanoparticles Prepared By Solid-Phase Method For Dry Reforming of Methane--Effect of Different Activated Carbons (ACs)

In order to inhibit the apparent metal agglomeration and carbon deposition of the catalysts during the dry reforming of methane (DRM), the nickel nanoparticles supported over different types of activated carbon (AC) are synthesized by the solid-phase method. The main purpose of the work is to reveal the correlation of the support properties on the catalyst activity, and explore the effect of the support properties on the enhancem;ent of catalyst performance in the reforming process. The results show that the catalyst using AC1 as the support has the more uniform metal dispersion and form the least nickel nanoparticles of 4.11 nm, due to higher carbon content and the more developed surface area of AC1. It is also found that the catalyst prepared using AC1 shows high catalytic activity and long-term stability. Moreover, the catalyst of Ni/AC1 presents a self-enhancement of catalytic activity in the reforming process and promotes the conversion rates of CH4 and CO2 to 94.1% and 96.5%, respectively over 12 h. No obvious metal agglomeration is existed on the catalyst of Ni/AC1 after the reforming testing of 12 h. Meanwhile, the carbon deposit has little effect on catalytic performance, and metal agglomeration is the main affecting catalytic performance. In addition, the syngas generated using Ni/AC1 has a favorable H2/CO ratio of 1.

A PCR Referenced Comparative Study for Evaluation of Different Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA Extraction Methods Directly from Sputum and from LJ Culture Isolates in Egypt

Background: Tuberculosis is a critical infectious disease primarily affecting the lungs and is more common in developing countries. In the 21st century, it forms a significant problem for world public health especially with the emergence and rising of drug resistant TB. Microbiological methods are the clue for the laboratory diagnosis. The ordinary methods for TB identification showed either weak sensitivity as in microscopy or lateness for many weeks as in culture. The evolution in molecular biology gives a chance for fast diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis helping start proper treatment early and holding its spread. The initial critical step in PCR is DNA extraction. Objective: The aim to evaluate different extraction methods of Mycobacterium tuberculosis retrieved directly from sputum samples and from LJ isolates from same patients and comparing DNA yield using conventional PCR. Methodology: DNA from 32 sputum samples from TB patients extracted by solid, digestion and phenol extraction methods, DNA from 40 LJ isolates extracted by solid, boiling and Cetyl trimethylammonium bromide methods. Extracted DNA was evaluated by conventional PCR. Results: Among 32 sputum samples, the extracted DNA by phenol method was 21/32 (65.62%) with highest DNA yield, digestion method 14/32 (43.75%) and solid phase method 1/32 (2.5%) with least DNA yield. From 40 MTB LJ culture isolates, the extracted DNA by boiling method was 28/40 (70%), CTAB method 18/40 (45%) and solid phase method 2/40 (5%). Conclusion: Phenol method was the best method (mean rank 2.34) for DNA extraction from sputum samples, while the easy and economic boiling method was the best method (mean rank 2.45) for DNA extraction from LJ culture isolates. The worst method of DNA extraction from both sputum and culture was phase solid method. A greater and easier yield of DNA was obtained from MTB LJ Culture than sputum.