Alternative Materials Research Articles

Characterization and biological prospects of various calcined temperature-V2O5 nanoparticles synthesized by Citrus hystrix fruit extract

In this study, a simple green synthesis of vanadium pentoxide nanoparticles (VNPs) was prepared by the extract of Kaffir lime fruit (Citrus hystrix) as a green reducing and stabilizing agent, along with the investigation of calcination temperature was carried out at 450 and 550 °C. It was affirmed that, at higher temperature (550 °C), the VNPs possessed a high degree crystalline following the construction of (001) lattice diffraction within an increase in crystalline size from 47.12 to 53.51 nm, although the band gap of the materials at 450 °C was lower than that of the VNPs-550 (2.53 versus 2.66 eV, respectively). Besides, the materials were assessed for the potential bioactivities toward antibacterial, antifungal, DNA cleavage, anti-inflammatory, and hemolytic performances. As a result, the antibacterial activity, with minimal inhalation concentration (MIC) < 6.25 μg/mL for both strains, and fungicidal one of the materials depicted the dose-dependent effects. Once, both VNPs exhibited the noticeable efficacy of the DNA microbial damage, meanwhile, the outstanding anti-inflammatory agent was involved with the IC50 of 123.636 and 227.706 μg/mL, accounting for VNPs-450 and VNPs-550, respectively. Furthermore, this study also demonstrated the hemolytic potential of the VNPs materials. These consequences declare the prospects of the VNPs as the smart and alternative material from the green procedure in biomedicine.

Audio Recognition of the Percussion Sounds Generated by a 3D Auto-Drum Machine System via Machine Learning

Audio Recognition of the Percussion Sounds Generated by a 3D Auto-Drum Machine System via Machine Learning

Utilization of Blackmouth Catshark (Galeus melastomus) Skins as an Alternative Source of Gelatin: Extraction and Physicochemical Characterization in Comparison to Porcine Skin Gelatin

The present study investigated the potential use of blackmouth catshark (Galeus melastomus) skins for gelatin production by employing a combined alkaline and acidic process. The yield of dry gelatin was relatively high (13.95%), showing a high protein content (87.80%), but low moisture (10.64%), ash (1.34%) and lipid (0.03%) contents, on a wet weight basis. Fish skin gelatin showed better color properties (&gt;L*, &lt;+b* values) than porcine skin gelatin and exhibited similar gel strength (315.4 g) and higher viscosity (5.90 cP) than the latter (p &lt; 0.05). Although the electrophoretic study revealed that fish skin gelatin was degraded to a lesser extent than its mammalian counterpart, the resulting fish skin gelatin gels melted at a significantly lower temperature (Tm = 21.5 °C), whereas the reverse process (i.e., gelling) also occurred at a lower temperature (Ts = 10.6 °C) and required more time (ts = 29.5 min) compared to porcine skin gelatin gels (Tm = 30.4 °C, Ts = 19.4 °C and ts = 20.7 min). These differences were attributed to the different imino acid content, which was greater in mammalian gelatin (p &lt; 0.05). The results suggested that the skins from blackmouth catshark can be potentially used as an alternative raw material for gelatin production, which will fill the needs of more diverse cultures that do not consume pork- or cow-related products.

ADSORPTION OF CATION DYE USING ACTIVATED CARBON DERIVED FROM GOLDEN SHOWERSEED POD ( C ASSIA FISTULA)

This study investigated the use of Golden shower seed pod (cassia fistula) as an adsorbent for the removal of cationic dye in a batch system. The raw material was Carbonized at 600 oC for one hour to obtain a purely carbonized material; then impregnated with NaOH of 0.1M and allowed to stay for 24 hours to obtain the desired GS-AC activated carbon. The adsorbent was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) elemental composition analysis. The effects of adsorbent dosage and contact time on the adsorption process were studied in a batch system. The results revealed that, there was good enhancements in pores of the adsorbent GS-AC due to the chemical impregnation. The FTIR spectra showed the presence C-H, NH 2, C-O, and S=O functional groups indicating a favourable surface for adsorption. Batch studies indicated that, the methylene blue uptake decreased with increase in the GS-AC dosage. The amount of Methylene blue adsorbed onto GS-AC increased with time and subsequently remained constant at some point in time with maximum uptake at 500 mg/l. Thus, adsorption capacity of methylene blue increased with longer contact time, indicating a stronger interaction between the adsorbent and the dye. Based on the findings, Golden shower seed pod (cassia fistula) impregnated with NaOH can be used as an alternative and suitable material for cationic dye removal from liquid phase.

Enhancing building energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions through sustainable cement block admixtures

ABSTRACT Buildings account for about 40% of total electricity use in the world for artificial cooling and artificial day lighting and they are also responsible for 40% CO2 emissions. The reduction of energy consumption in the building sector is a major challenge to cope with the scarcity of fossil energy resources and the problem of climate change. Hence, to decrease energy consumption and contribute to reducing CO2 emissions, different alternative building materials have been investigated. The aim of this paper is to study the effect of incorporation of fly ash, Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS), ceramic waste powder (silica and alumina rich) and barite powder (as partial replacement to cement) on the thermal properties and thermal performance of the resulting cement blocks. This study also investigates the thermo-economic performance of building walls constructed with blocks of various cement blocks in distinct climatic zones of India. The building concept with the wall configuration (CC 50) demonstrated the greatest yearly air conditioning savings (0.37 and 0.34 $/m2) and the greatest annual reduction in carbon emissions (7.21 and 6.37 kg/kWh) in both hot-arid (Madras) and composite (Jabalpur) climatic zones.

Investigation of red clay and waste glass composite bricks for ionizing radiation shielding

Ionizing radiation is valuable for healthcare, industry, and agriculture. However, excessive exposure to ionizing radiation is detrimental to humans and the environment. Radiation protection aims at protecting people and the environment from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation. This work aimed to study the effectiveness of composites of red clay and waste glass for ionizing radiation shielding. Five samples of different mix ratios of red clay to waste glass were fabricated into different dimensions using hand molding, dried, and burnt. The samples were characterized for ionizing radiation shielding. Monte-Carlo simulation was done using the GEANT4 toolkit and web-based NIST-XCOM photon attenuation database. The findings show that the measured half value layer (HVL) for the composite bricks showed a linear decrease from (6.13± 0.10) cm for the CNT sample that had 0 % waste glass to (4.62± 0.12) cm for the RCG11 sample that had 50 % waste glass. The GEANT4 simulated HVL values for CNT and RCG11 samples were (6.05±0.01) cm and (4.79±0.01) cm respectively. The NIST-XCOM values were (6.09±0.09) cm and (4.81± 0.01) cm for CNT and RCG11 respectively. The measured and simulated results were in good agreement. The findings of this study indicate an improvement in the shielding properties of red clay with the addition of waste glass and will promote radiation safety by providing an environmentally friendly alternative shielding material.•Proper shielding is key in promoting radiation safety and protection. There is a need for alternative shielding materials that can be used for walling during the construction of structures that house radioactive materials.•Red clay and waste glass composite bricks can provide alternative ionizing radiation shielding material.•This study will promote environmentally friendly practices in radiation safety and protection.

Assessment of perlite by-product as pozzolanic material in cement pastes

This research investigates the suitability of perlite by-product as a potential pozzolanic material in cement-based pastes and compares its performance with natural pozzolan. The study evaluates both the fresh and hardened properties of the pastes. The investigation involves analysis of hydration heat records, hydration formed products, water demand, and setting times, that preseted small deviations. The findings reveal that the perlite by-product exhibits promising characteristics, suggesting its viability as a pozzolanic material in cement pastes. Perlite specimens presented greater mass loss due to calcium-aluminum species, according to TG at early age, as well at later age as depicted in DSC curves. Diffraction patterns and IR assignments showed that waste-perlite systems formed carbonated species with different crystallinity at 180 days. Nevertheless, compressive strength and open porosity of those pastes exhibited behavior similar to the ones incorporating natural pozzolan, apart from 10 % to 20 % systems, where perlite seems to offer slightly greater strength at later age. This study sheds light on the potential benefits of utilizing perlite by-product as an alternative pozzolanic material, rather than depositing it and cause environmetanl problems. Based on its later age properties, perlite could enhance the performance and sustainability of cement-based products in various applications.

Establishing the Characteristic Compressive Strength Parallel to Fiber of Four Local Philippine Bamboo Species

Bamboo is considered a sustainable construction material due to its ability to grow quickly and its mechanical properties that are comparable to timber. Contributing to the current effort to establish structural bamboo standards in the National Structural Code of the Philippines (NSCP), this study establishes the characteristic compressive strength of four bamboo species: Bambusa vulgaris (36 samples), Dendrocalamus asper (36 samples), Bambusa blumeana (94 samples), and Guadua angustifolia Kunth (30 samples). The samples were subjected to compressive loading following ISO 22157-1 (2017). The characteristic compressive strength values obtained, according to ISO 12122-1 (2014), were 40.35 MPa for B. vulgaris, 40.21 MPa for D. asper, 46.63 MPa for B. blumeana, and 36.99 MPa for G. angustifolia Kunth. Simple linear analysis, one-way ANOVA, and Welch’s t-test were used to analyze the correlation models and establish a comparative analysis of the effects of nodes and geometric and physical properties on the compressive strength of bamboo samples. In comparisons of the characteristic compressive strengths obtained from this study to the strengths of unseasoned structural timber of Philippine woods, all bamboo species showed higher strength values than did other woods, and bamboos thus have great potential as an alternative construction material to timber.

Literature review of potential materials for the construction of an alternative flat-plate solar collector

Through systematic review method the article presents the potential of existing solar energy in Mozambique for use in water heating with the integration of thermal energy storage systems that are currently being investigated. It emphasizes the need for affordable materials in building solar collectors for Mozambique’s homes, leveraging the country’s solar potential to reduce electricity consumption and environmental impact for sustainable development. It explores current research on thermal energy storage systems for solar water heating and reviews alternative materials for solar collectors based on their properties, cost, and availability. The importance of thermal energy storage in solar collectors for efficiency and load balancing is highlighted., it discusses and list the potential alternative materials for the construction of flat plate solar thermal collectors from roofing material, frame, absorber, pipes, and heat storage material according to their thermophysical properties, costs, and availability in the Mozambican market in the context of industrialization.

Gamma ray Shielding Properties of the 57.6TeO2-38.4ZnO-4NiO system

The radiation shielding is important for human health as it is hazardous for cell. New material development is under research for alternative shielding materials. Thus 57.6TeO2–38.4ZnO–4NiO system was developed and its shielding capacity were inspected. The variation of the linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) and some other parameters such as half value length (HVL), mean free path (mfp), effective atomic number (Zeff) and Effective electron density (Neff) were studied. The Phy-X/PSD program was utilized for this purpose

Review on Aerated Lightweight Concrete Challenges and Application

This study explores the use of environmentally friendly Aerated Lightweight Concrete (ALC) in constructions, focusing on its versatility and adaptability to various densities. The growing demand for lightweight building materials with excellent strength-to-weight ratios has led to an expansion in the use of ALC over the past decade. The focus is on creating customized ALC for specific uses, rather than introducing novel materials. The article analyzes the primary variables affecting ALC use, such as raw materials, manufacturing processes, and anticipated density-based features. The review aims to demonstrate how ALC's physical and mechanical properties can be altered for building applications using new and alternative raw materials.

Investigating the effect of calcination temperature on the electrochemical properties of Na4MnV(PO4)3/NC@CNTs cathode materials for sodium ion batteries

Manganese-based NASICON-type Na4MnV(PO4)3 (NVMP) is used as an alternative material to the cathode materials (Na3V2(PO4)3) for sodium-ion battery (SIBs). By selecting the cheap and easily available and environmentally non-polluting Mn element to replace part of the highly toxic and expensive V element, it has the advantages of higher voltage platform, lower cost and weaker toxicity. However, the low intrinsic conductivity and poor cycling stability of NVMP severely limit its application in SIBs. In this paper, N-doped double carbon layer-coated NVMP composites (NVMP/NC@CNTs) are prepared by adding additional urea as a nitrogen source and CNTs as a carbon source using a simple and feasible sol-gel synthesis method, which improves their electronic conductivity and structural stability. On this basis, the effects of calcination temperature on the lattice structure, specific surface area, carbon disorder, Na+ diffusion coefficient (DNa+) and electrochemical properties of NVMP/NC@CNTs composites are mainly investigated. The results show that the optimal annealing temperature is 650 °C, and the NVMP/NC@CNTs material has the highest discharge capacity (105.6 mAh g−1 at 0.1C), the best rate performance (75.7 mAh g−1 at 5C), and the most stable cycling stability (79.4 %/89.3 % for 500 cycles at 1C / 5C, respectively). Even at high rate of 10C, an impressive cycling stability (77.5 % capacity retention over 1500 cycles). The sodium storage mechanism, electrochemical performance and pseudo-capacitance contribution of NVMP/NC@CNTs-650 are further investigated by kinetic analysis, GITT test, ex-situ XPS, XRD and EIS characterization. Finally, the assembled NVMP/NC@CNTs-650 || hard carbon (HC) full cell manifests a high capacity of 87.2 mAh g−1 with capacity retention of 92.5 % over 50 cycles at 1C. The results reveal that the appropriate annealing temperature can help to prepare electrochemically excellent and structurally stable NVMP composites, while the co-modification of N-doped dual-nanocarbon can produce a large number of defects and active sites, which is expected to facilitate the commercialization of SIBs.

Comparative analysis of polyacrylate latex modified cement grout for water blocking and rock reinforcement with six alternative materials

Grouting plays a crucial role in mitigating water inrush disasters and reinforcing weak surrounding rock formations, and the effectiveness of grouting operations is heavily dependent on the choice of grouting materials. This study undertakes an assessment of the feasibility of deploying polyacrylate latex modified cement grouting material (PLMC) for the purposes of water obstruction and surrounding rock reinforcement, achieved through a comparative analysis against six alternative grouting materials, each of which has been applied in practical engineering. The experimental results demonstrate that the initial setting time and fluidity of PLMC fall within the range of other grouting materials, meeting the project requirements. PLMC achieves the highest filling rate at 77.42%, while the filling rates of other grouting materials range from 39.69% to 74.13%. PLMC exhibits good performance in bleeding ratio (2.77%) and resilience against dynamic scouring (retention rate is 72.95%), ranking as the third highest among the seven compared materials for both indexes. Additionally, the uniaxial compressive strengths of PLMC grout stone body and grouting-reinforced body reached 11.94 MPa and 22.74 MPa, respectively, representing the best performances. In comparison, the highest levels of these two indexes for other grouting materials are 8.78 MPa and 21.46 MPa, respectively. Compared with other grouting materials, the porosity of PLMC grout stone body is the lowest, and the interface between rock and grout in PLMC-reinforced body exhibits no significant gaps. The findings suggest that polyacrylate latex modified cement grouting material exhibits exceptional workability characteristics, positioning it as a promising candidate for practical applications.

Analysis of potential incorporation of waste into asphalt pavements

The incorporation of waste materials into asphalt pavements has gained increasing attention as a sustainable and environmentally responsible approach to road construction and maintenance. This study examines the performance of asphalt mixtures incorporating foliated quartzite waste and rubber asphalt for road pavements. Despite deviations in certain parameters from recommended standards, such as sand equivalent and Los Angeles abrasion, alternative materials like quartzite waste can still be viable for asphalt mixtures if they ensure structural integrity. Mechanical tests reveal that the asphalt rubber and quartzite waste mixture exhibit superior tensile strength and resilience modulus compared to reference mixtures, suggesting enhanced load-bearing capacity and resistance to deformation. This study underscores the versatility of utilizing materials like quartzite waste and rubber from scrap tires in road pavement applications, advocating for further exploration of their suitability, particularly in regions with extensive road networks and diverse environmental conditions. Furthermore, the adoption of these materials promotes environmental sustainability by mitigating environmental damage and reducing the consumption of conventional aggregates in pavement construction, thereby fostering a more sustainable approach to infrastructure development.

INTERACTION BETWEEN GEOGRID REINFORCEMENT AND STONE AGGREGATES MIXED WITH TIRE-DERIVED AGGREGATES

The disposal of discarded tires creates a major problem, as they are non-biodegradable and occupy huge landfill space. The scrap tires can be utilized in civil engineering applications as an alternative material by partial or complete substitution of conventional materials. In many of these applications, scrap tires are not utilized directly; instead, they are shredded to produce a material known as tire-derived aggregate (TDA). In this study, an attempt is made to understand the interaction between geogrid reinforcement and stone aggregates mixed with TDA using a large-scale triaxial test with a specimen diameter of 150 mm and height (Hs) of 300. The geogrid reinforcement is placed at a spacing of Hs/2, Hs/3, Hs/4, and Hs/5 along the length of the sample. The results are analyzed to understand the effect of geogrid reinforcement on stone aggregate mixed with TDA, and it is noticed that the deviatoric stress increases with the inclusion of geogrid reinforcement in the mix proportion.

Impact of Food Packaging Materials on the Shelf-Life and Quality of Packaged Food Products

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the impact of food packaging materials on the shelf-life and quality of packaged food products. Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library. Findings: The findings reveal that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to food packaging materials on the shelf-life and quality of packaged food products. Preliminary empirical review revealed that the choice of packaging material significantly influenced the preservation and quality of food items. Various studies demonstrated that different materials, such as plastics, biodegradable polymers, and paper-based materials, offered distinct advantages depending on the specific food product. While plastics provided excellent barrier properties, concerns over environmental sustainability led to increasing interest in alternative materials. The study emphasized the importance of balancing functional requirements with environmental considerations and highlighted the need for ongoing research and innovation in developing sustainable packaging solutions. Overall, the findings underscored the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration to ensure the safety, freshness, and sustainability of packaged food products. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Diffusion theory, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Conservation of Resources theory may be used to anchor future studies on food packaging materials on the shelf-life and quality of packaged food products. The study provided several recommendations that contributed to theory, practice, and policy in the field of food packaging. It recommended further exploration into theoretical frameworks surrounding consumer behavior and perception, as well as the adoption of a holistic approach to packaging design and optimization. Additionally, the study advocated for the development of evidence-based guidelines and regulations, implementation of supply chain traceability initiatives, and labeling regulations to enhance consumer trust and encourage the use of sustainable packaging materials. These recommendations aimed to foster innovation, transparency, and accountability throughout the food packaging value chain to ensure the safety, quality, and sustainability of packaged food products.

Theoretical investigations of structural, electronic, magnetic, and optical properties of group V (X = V, Nb, Ta) added CeO2-X materials for optoelectronic applications.

Depletion of natural resources, responsible for energy production, is a serious concern for researchers to develop alternate energy resources or materials. Scientists have proposed various energy materials which are based on semiconductors and their underlying physics. Cerium oxide (CeO2) is a versatile energy material which receives much attention owing to excellent photocatalytic, photonic, thermal stability, and optoelectronic applications. Even though CeO2 exhibited remarkable physical properties, but yet, they can be enhanced upon suitable doping. Focus on current research is to dope group V elements into CeO2 in order to enhance its electronic and optical response. The density of states (DOS) and band gaps of proposed materials are calculated, and significant improvement is noted after applying TB-mbj method. Optical absorption spectra of V/Nb/Ta-doped CeO2 show blueshift and decrease in reflectivity along with the presence of magnetism illustrate potential uses of these materials in future UV optoelectronics, spintronics, sensing, and energy harvesting devices. This research is based on computational work carried using Wien2k code where PBE-GGA approximation is used to approximate exchange and correlation potentials. Supercells of vanadium/niobium/tantalum-doped CeO2 are constructed, and spin-polarized density of states (DOS) along with optical constant are calculated. TB-mbj method is used to bring improvements in DOS and band gaps of proposed materials. Iterations are conducted using convergence criterion, and non-relativistic calculations are performed.

New and Sustainable Coal Char-Based Paving Blocks for Roadway Applications

Paving blocks are widely used in engineering construction for durable pavement surfaces characterized by their interlocking capability to enhance structural integrity. This study explores the potential use of char as a byproduct from coal pyrolysis and an alternative raw material to natural aggregates in developing paving blocks, aiming to reduce the associated environmental issues associated with the uncontrolled and excessive mining of natural resources. This study finds the paving blocks made from char to have the required engineering properties as mentioned by ASTM standard C936. Trass and trass-lime are added as supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) to enhance the performance of char-based paving blocks. The incorporation of SCMs as a cement replacement also aims to reduce the carbon footprint arising from increased cement use. The compressive strength increased from 55.7 MPa to 65.71 MPa at 12.5% cement replacement with trass-lime. The water absorption is reduced to 4.63% from 4.95%. Beneficial effects towards freeze–thaw durability and abrasion resistance are also observed on trass-lime-incorporated paving blocks. This study signifies the remarkable potential use of coal-derived char and SCMs in developing light, high-strength, and durable paving blocks, showcasing their competitive engineering performance. These new char-based paving blocks will contribute towards a more sustainable construction environment and advance the current construction and engineering practices.

Assessment of Changes in the Outcome of Autogenous Tooth Grafts Over Time: A Clinical Study Evaluating Periodontal Healing in Bone Defects After Lower Third Molar Removal

BackgroundThe removal of impacted lower third molars (ILTM) is associated with bone defects in the distal area of second molars. Different methods have been described to minimize these defects. PurposeThe primary objective was to assess changes in probing depth (PD) over time (up to 36 months) between test (grafted) and control (ungrafted) groups; the graft was obtained from the extracted ILTM. Study design, setting, sampleThis split-mouth randomized clinical trial was conducted at the Postgraduate Course in Oral Surgery of the Faculty of Dentistry of the Complutense University of Madrid. Adult patients requiring bilateral ILTM extraction with adjacent second molars were recruited, excluding pregnant/lactating women, patients in treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and patients with periodontal diseases. Predictor/exposure/independent variableThe predictor variable was the graft technique. The bone defect after ILTM removal was treated with autogenous tooth graft (ATG) in the test group, leaving the control group ungrafted. Main outcome variablePD on the distobuccal, distomedial and distolingual surfaces was recorded in both groups and averaged at baseline (T0), 3 (T1), 6 (T2) and 36 months (T3) postoperatively. CovariatesSex, age, surgical time, ILTM situation and position between groups were assessed. AnalysesANOVA repeated measures for comparisons between groups and the Friedman test for comparisons within the groups over time were applied. Statistical significance was established with a confidence interval (CI) of 95% (p<0.05). ResultsThe sample comprised 22 patients (6 males, 16 females) with a mean age of 21.68±2.19 years; 44 ILTM extractions were performed. Statistically significant differences in PD average were found between groups (p<0.001, 95% CI) at 3 (1.63 ± 0.29), 6 (1.76 ± 0.3) and 36 months (1.74 ± 0.36). Reductions from T0 to T3 of 2.74±0.28 (p<0.001) and 0.54 ± 0.3 (p=0.43) were observed in test and control groups, respectively. Conclusions and relevanceATG placed on the distal surface of lower second molars and almost completely filling the extraction socket improved PD 3, 6 and 36 months after ILTM. Furthermore, no significant changes in PD were observed over time; no major complications occurred. ATG appears to be a viable alternative graft material for this procedure.

Comparison of deodorized post-fermentation corn oil to commercial corn germ oil.

Due to the distinct production method, post-fermentation corn oil is considered a non-standard corn oil. This study investigates deodorisation as the last refining step of the process. The resulting deodorised post-fermentation oil was tested and its quality was compared with commercially available corn oils. In was found that the quality of the obtained oil was similar to corn germ oil in terms of such parameters as iodine value, acid value and oxidative stability. Interestingly, despite the high-temperature of the refining process, it retained a significant content of bioactive compounds such as phytosterols (above 900 mg/100g). Sensory analysis revealed that, the oil possessed an acceptable flavour and aroma, suggesting its potential as an alternative raw material for the production of edible oil in the future.