Central Composite Design Approach Research Articles

Optimizing the efficient removal of ibuprofen from water environment by magnetic carbon aerogel: kinetics, isotherms, and thermodynamic studies

Ibuprofen (IBP) is a widely used analgesic and anti-inflammatory drug known to be a pollutant in aquatic environments. In the present work, Magnetic Carbon Aerogel (MCA) was synthesized to remove IBP. Central Composite Design (CCD) approach was applied to study the effect of critical variables, such as pH, contact time, and amount of adsorbent. X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption/desorption, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, emission scanning electron microscopy, and MCA surface charge with zeta-potential analysis were used to characterize the samples. Under optimal conditions (IBP concentration of 10 mg/L, pH 4, MCA dosage of 0.092 g, and contact time of 45 min), a removal efficiency of 98 % was achieved. The most influential parameter on the IBP adsorption was pH. The results showed that the adsorption capacity for MCA was 46.94 mg/g based on Langmuir isotherm (R2 = 0.9998). The kinetic data showed that the adsorption of IBP on MCA was second-order and exothermic (ΔH° = -44949 J/mol). The reusability of the adsorbent was examined through 5 cycles, and no significant loss in the removal efficiency of IBP by MCA was observed.

A Spherical Superhydrophobic Activated Carbon Catalyst for Biodiesel Production ‐Exploring Process Efficiency, Kinetics, Thermodynamics and Life Cycle Cost Analysis

AbstractEngineering the wettability of functional materials holds significant interest, focusing on the need for superhydrophobic catalysts, crucial for their ability to prevent the poisoning of active sites by water, produced in situ or as a by‐product. Herein, for the first time, a superhydrophobic spherical activated carbon (SSAC@PhSO3H) is engineered as a catalyst via a novel synthetic approach and tailored in Jatropha curcas oil (JCO) biodiesel synthesis. With a large surface area (1461 m2 g−1), high acid density (6.26 mmol g−1), and water contact angle (163.4°), the catalyst demonstrates superior performance and remarkable water repellency, firmly establishing its superhydrophobic characteristics. Response Surface Methodology based on the Central Composite Design (RSM‐CCD) approach predicted a maximal biodiesel yield of 98.8% (80 °C, 5 wt%, 15:1 methanol to oil molar ratio (MOMR), and 40 min). Life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) estimates biodiesel production cost of 0.37 USD ($) per kg emphasizing high commercial viability. Compared with H2SO4‐sulfonated biochar, SSAC@PhSO3H retains its inherent activity (86.8 ± 0.4% yield in 10th run) and spherical morphology even after nine successive reaction cycles indicating high stability. Nevertheless, JCO biodiesel's fuel properties met European Norm, EN 14 212 and American Society for Testing and Materials, ASTM D6757 standards, highlighting its potential for industrial biodiesel production.

Development and characterization of ferulic acid-loaded chitosan nanoparticle embedded- hydrogel for diabetic wound delivery

Diabetic wounds present a significant global health challenge exacerbated by chronic hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress, impeding the natural healing process. Despite various treatment strategies, diabetic foot ulceration lacks standardized therapy. Ferulic acid (FA), known for its potent antidiabetic and antioxidant properties, holds promise for diabetic wound management. However, oral administration of FA faces limitations due to rapid oxidation, stability issues, and low bioavailability. The topical application of FA-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (FA-CSNPs) has emerged as a promising approach to overcome these challenges. Here, we report the development of a sustained-release formulation of FA-CSNPs within a hydrogel matrix composed of Chitosan and gelatin. The FA-CSNPs were synthesized using the ionic gelation method andoptimized through a Central Composite Design (CCD) approach. Characterization of the optimized nanoparticles revealed spherical morphology, a particle size of 56.9 ± 2.5 nm, and an impressive entrapment efficiency of 90.3 ± 2.4 %. Subsequently, an FA-CSNPs-loaded hydrogel was formulated, incorporating chitosan as a gelling agent, gelatin to enhance mechanical properties and cell permeation, and glutaraldehyde as a cross-linker. Comprehensive characterization of the hydrogel included pH, moisture loss, porosity, swelling index, rheology, water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), SEM, TEM, invitro drug release studies, antioxidant activity, antibacterial efficacy, cell cytotoxicity, cell migration studies on L929 fibroblast cell line, and stability studies. The stability study demonstrated negligible variations in particle size, zeta potential, and entrapment efficiency over 60 days, ensuring the stable nature of nanoparticles and hydrogel. This innovative delivery approach embedded within a hydrogel matrix holds significant promise for enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of FA-CSNPs-hydrogel in diabetic wound healing applications.

Green synthesis, characterization and thermophysical properties of diverse molar Ag decorated GO hybrid nanofluids

The present work critically analyses the thermal characteristics of diverse molar (0.03, 0.06, and 0.09 M) Ag decorated GO hybrid nanofluids at constant 0.05 wt.%. The study broadly encompassed the synthesis, characterization, stability, thermophysical properties, reactivity, and contact angle measurements on copper substrates using varied molar Ag-GO hybrid nanofluids. The thermal impact of these hybrid nanofluids was evaluated across a temperature range of 293–333 K, encompassing thermal conductivity, specific heat, viscosity, surface tension, and density. The results illustrate that increasing the molarity of Ag over GO significantly influenced the thermal properties of the hybrid nanofluids. Notably, the most substantial improvements in thermal conductivity are observed at 333 K, reaching 30.12, 22.63, and 17.13% for 0.09, 0.06, and 0.03 M Ag-GO, respectively, compared to the base fluid. Furthermore, central composite design approach (CCD) was employed to establish correlations between the experimental and predicted thermal conductivity enhancement ratio (K-ratio) results. In conclusion, these studies underscore a promising insight that the optimizing of Ag molarity in GO hybrid nanofluids holds substantial potential for enhancing heat transfer performance across diverse heat transfer applications.

An artificial neural network (ANN) modelling approach for evaluating turbidity properties of paper recycling wastewater

A pre-treatment process was evaluated in this work for wastewater from paper recycling using microwave technology followed by rapid precipitation of contaminants through centrifugation. Artificial neural networks (ANNs) were used to analyze and optimize the turbidity values. Thirty experimental runs were utilized including microwave (MW) power, duration, centrifuge time, and centrifuge speed as input variables, generated by the Central Composite Full Design (CCFD) approach. The experimental turbidity ranged from 8.1 to 19.7 NTU, while predicted values ranged from 8.4 to 19.7 NTU by ANN. The ANN model showed a robust prediction performance with low mean squared error values during training and testing. Moreover, high R2 values showed a remarkable agreement between the experimental observations and ANN predictions. The results obtained from the input values (A:150.00, B:60.00, C:15.00, D:30.00) of sample 2, which gave the lowest turbidity value, showed the most removal of pollution. The results obtained from the input values (A:250.00, B:60.00, C:7.00, D:20.00) of sample 30, which gave the highest turbidity value, showed the least removal of pollution. The results showed that increasing RPM and time of the centrifugation process significantly affected the removal of pollution in wastewater.

Central composite design-assisted visual and non-invasive detection of sertraline by sweet lemon waste-derived core-shell AuNPs@CDs

This study reports a fast and visual detection method of antidepressant sertraline (SRT) drug by the core-shell AuNPs@CDs as the nanoprobes. The CDs has been eco-friendly synthesized from sweet lemon wastes to directly reduce Au+ to AuNPs without any external photoirradiation process or additional reductants. Optimizing key variables that impact the sensing process has been done using the central composite design (CCD) approach to simulate the assay condition before the analysis. Adding SRT with different concentrations to the nanoprobes under mildly acidic conditions presents an absorbance peak at 560 nm with purple color tonalities that differ from the behavior of alone nanoprobes (530 nm, pink color). The obtained absorption change is linearly proportional to the increase of SRT concentration from 1 μM to 35 μM with a limit of detection (LOD) value of 100 nM. The color changes with a vivid tonality from pink and purple to violet as the colorful fingerprint patterns are readily traceable by the naked eye, allowing the visual assay of SRT. The greenness of the developed approach is well evaluated by some international indexes including the complimentary green analytical procedure (ComplexGAPI) and also, the analytical greenness (AGREE) indexes. The proposed waste-derived nanoprobes based on the eco-friendly procedure not only conduct quantitative and qualitative non-invasive analysis of SRT by the naked eye but also, may widen for other applications in various fields.

Optimization of Ammonia Nitrogen Removal and Recovery from Raw Liquid Dairy Manure Using Vacuum Thermal Stripping and Acid Absorption Process: A Modeling Approach Using Response Surface Methodology

Dairy manure adds a substantial amount of nitrogen to wastewater due to its high levels of associated nutrients. Removal and recovery of ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) from raw liquid dairy manure (RLDM) is greatly valued. This study was focused on the vacuum thermal stripping–acid absorption (VTS-AA) process for NH3-N from RLDM, followed by modeling and optimization. Using the response surface methodology (RSM)-based central composite design (CCD) approach, the critical operational parameters of the vacuum thermal stripping process, including temperature (50–70 °C), pH (9–11), vacuum pressure (35–55 kPa), and treatment time (60–90 min), were optimized. With the specified parameters set at temperature 69.9 °C, pH 10.5, vacuum pressure 53.5 kPa, and treatment time 64.2 min, the NH3-N removal efficiency attained was 98.58 ± 1.05%, aligning closely with the model prediction. Furthermore, the recovered ammonium sulfate ((NH4)2SO4) closely matched their commercial counterparts, confirming the effectiveness of the VTS-AA process in recovering NH3-N from RLDM. The distinct advantage of the employed technology lies in the concurrent energy demand reduction achieved by introducing a vacuum system. These findings contribute valuable insights into the practical implementation of the VTS-AA process for treating raw dairy manure, particularly in large-scale operational contexts.

Assessment of chromite ore wastes for methylene blue adsorption: Isotherm, kinetic, thermodynamic studies, ANN, and statistical physics modeling

This research investigates the adsorption potential of chrysotile and lizardite, two minerals derived from chromite ore wastes, for the uptake of Methylene Blue (MB) dye from waste streams. The characterization of these minerals involves XRD, XRF, FTIR, and SEM. Results confirm the dominance of polymorphic magnesium silicate minerals, specifically chrysotile and lizardite, in the samples. The FTIR spectra reveal characteristic vibration bands confirming the presence of these minerals. The SEM analysis depicts irregular surfaces with broken and bent edges, suggesting favorable morphologies for adsorption. N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms indicate mesoporous structures with Type IV pores in both adsorbents. The Central Composite Design approach is employed to optimize MB adsorption conditions, revealing the significance of contact time, adsorbent mass, and initial MB concentration. The proposed models exhibit high significance, with F-values and low p-values indicating the importance of the studied factors. Experimental validation confirms the accuracy of the models, and the optimum conditions for MB adsorption are determined. The influence of solution acidity on MB uptake is investigated, showing a significant enhancement at higher pH values. Isothermal studies indicate Langmuir and Freundlich models as suitable descriptions for MB adsorption onto chrysotile and lizardite. The maximum adsorption capacities of MB for chrysotile and lizardite were found to be 352.97 and 254.85, respectively. Kinetic studies reveal that the pseudo-first-order model best describes the adsorption process. Thermodynamic analysis suggests an exothermic and spontaneous process. Statistical physics models further elucidate the monolayer nature of adsorption. Additionally, an artificial neural network is developed, exhibiting high predictive capability during training and testing stages. The reusability of chrysotile and lizardite is demonstrated through multiple regeneration cycles, maintaining substantial adsorption potential. Therefore, this research provides comprehensive insights into the adsorption characteristics of chrysotile and lizardite, emphasizing their potential as effiective and reusable sorbents for MB uptake from wastewater.

Optimizing clozapine-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers through central composite design for enhance bioavailability in antipsychotic therapy

Clozapine (CLZ), a tricyclic dibenzodiazepine antipsychotic drug employed for the treatment of Schizophrenia. However, CLZ's significant first-pass effect, poor water solubility, and low oral bioavailability (27%) limit its potential for therapeutic use. The present investigation aimed to prepare CLZ-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) to improve its solubility, bioavailability, and therapeutic efficacy. The NLCs were prepared using an ultrasonic probe sonication technique using selected solid lipids (Gelucire 44/14), liquid lipids (Labrafil M 1944), and surfactants (Monoemul 80). A central composite design approach was adopted to optimize the NLCs. The optimized CLZ-loaded NLCs were evaluated in terms of particle size, zeta potential, surface morphology, crystallinity, drug loading, and in-vitro CLZ release studies. The optimized CLZ-loaded NLCs showed a particle size, zeta potential, and entrapment efficiency of 115.1 ± 2.48 nm, −17 mV and 96.74 ±1.82%, respectively. The morphology revealed the coarsely spherical shape of NLCs. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicated the physical interaction between the CLZ and lipids rather than chemical interaction. The results of powder X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry showed the conversion of crystalline to amorphous form of CLZ and distributed molecular level in lipid matrix. In the in-vitro release study, pure CLZ showed 14±1.86% release, whereas CLZ-loaded NLC showed initial burst release (20.0±0.56%) followed by sustained release (69.0±1.03%) up to 24 hours. Collectively, results revealed that the developed novel CLZ-loaded NLCs could be a potential formulation to improve efficacy by increasing solubility and prolonging CLZ release and bioavailability with enhanced patient compliance and reduced side effects.

Structured porous 17-PH stainless steel layer fabrication through laser powder bed fusion

ABSTRACT This study aimed to fabricate thin, porous layers of 17-4 PH stainless steel with a defined porosity using laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). The central composite design (CCD) approach was utilized to examine the effect of process parameters on porosity. Three different methods were employed to measure the porosity of 17-4 PH stainless steel samples, i.e. theoretical analysis, buoyancy, and X-ray computed tomography (X-CT). A statistical quadratic regression model is generated that correlates with LPBF parameters to forecast porosity with high prediction accuracy. The maximum obtained porosity is 51.25% ± 0.33% with a laser power of 60 W, a scanning speed of 1800 mm/s, and a hatch spacing of 0.115 mm, which resulted in an average pore size of 24.8 ± 0.38 µm. Permeability was also analysed, as the volume energy density decrease ranges from 19.30 to 14.22 J/mm3, the permeability coefficient increases from 1.39 to 9.41 × 10−11 m2. In addition, it is observed that the minimum energy density to fabricate the 17-4 PH SS with the highest porosity and free of defects and fragmentation is 14.2 J/mm3.

Modeling the adsorption of ibuprofen on the Zn-decorated S,P,B co-doped C2N nanosheet: Machine learning and central composite design approaches

The ibuprofen (IB) residuals in water resources are classified as toxic and non-biodegradable contaminants. In the previous study, the Zn-decorated S,P,B co-doped C2N (Zn-SPB@C2N) nanosheet exhibited significant effectiveness in adsorbing IB from aqueous solutions. However, the operating conditions were not optimized for the adsorption process. The current study modeled the adsorption of IB onto Zn-SPB@C2N nanosheets employing central composite design (CCD) and machine learning (ML) methods under various operating conditions. The operating conditions included adsorbent mass, initial IB concentration, and pH. The CCD model revealed a mean squared error (MSE) value of 36.56. The ML investigations showed MSE values of 28.12 for the artificial neural network (ANN), 10.12 for the decision tree (DT), 8.68 for the linear regression (LR), and 3.70 for the random forest (RF) models. The RF model demonstrated high reliability in predicting IB removal across various conditions compared to other methods. Using the RF model, a maximum removal efficiency of 98 % was achieved under the optimized operating conditions, containing a pH of 7, an initial concentration of 59 mg/L, and an adsorbent mass of 0.020 g.

Eco-friendly and high-performance extraction of flavonoids from lemon peel wastes by applying ultrasound-assisted extraction and eutectic solvents

This work aimed to develop an optimized extraction process to achieve an environmentally friendly proposal to recover flavonoids from lemon peel wastes using ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and eutectic mixtures as solvents. The eutectic mixture choline chloride:acetic acid (ChCL:AA; 1:2 mol/mol) displayed the best extraction performance of the target compounds, here represented by hesperidin and narirutin. In Central Composite Rotatable Design (CCRD) approach, we identified the ideal conditions for flavonoid recovery: a solvent-to-feed ratio (R(S/F)) of 30 (v/m), 40% water content (m/m), and a static time of 40 min. Combined with a dynamic extraction time of 6 min (under cavitation), those parameters yielded optimal results in flavonoid recovery. The 320 W ultrasound power achieved the maximum yield of the target compounds (5.25 mghesperidin/gbiomass and 0.21 mgnarirutin/gbiomass). Besides, our results showed that the ChCL:AA solvent enhanced the thermal stability of flavonoids, showcasing remarkable potential as a stabilizing agent for various applications. Ultrasound-assisted extractions were superior in extraction performance compared to conventional techniques, namely maceration and magnetic stirring.

Effect of TiO2 Nano-Filler with Jute/Kenaf/Glass in Tensile and Impact Properties on Fiber Stacking Sequence

Objective: The prime goal of this study is to conduct a comprehensive analysis, modelling, and optimization of various independent factors and coming up with a material that suits in structural application in automobile. Method: Composite is prepared using hand lay-up technique. The analysis is carried out through the utilization of the Central Composite Design (CCD) approach. Mathematical models are formulated for ultimate tensile strength and impact resistance, employing the RSM. These factors include fiber orientation, fiber sequence, and filler percentage, with a focus on their influence on mechanical properties. Finding: These models act as valuable tools for the selection of the most favourable independent variables to maximize the mechanical properties related to tensile strength and impact resistance. In conclusion, the experimental findings emphasize that the inclusion of Nano-filler results in an enhancement of 20% and 36% on tensile strength and impact properties respectively. Novelty: TiO2-infused polymers exhibit unparalleled strength and flexibility, promising transformative advancements in this work that can be implemented in aerospace, indoor, automobile, and medical industries. Keywords: Titanium dioxide, Nano­filler, Hybrid composite, Response surface methodology, Epoxy

Influence of Novel Al-Ni Electrodes on Roughness and Machining Time in Inconel 625 EDM Machining: A Comprehensive RSM Performance Analysis

In the context of Inconel 625 machining, this study explores the effects of novel Al-Ni nano electrodes on surface roughness and machining time. Thorough performance study was undertaken to clarify the complex connections between the machining settings, electrode composition, and final surface quality. Important insights were obtained via methodical experimentation and data analysis, which helps optimize the machining procedures for improved productivity and surface quality when milling Inconel 625. This research presents an experimental investigation of the effects of the Electric Discharge Machining (EDM) input parameters, namely current, pulse-on time, and pulse-off time, on the surface roughness and machining time output parameters. Inconel 625 was the material of choice for the work piece. Electric discharge machining oil was used as the dielectric fluid and aluminium nanocomposite as the tool electrode. Response surface methodology (RSM) approach was employed in the experimentation. ANOVA was used to optimize the parameters and obtain the lowest possible surface roughness (SR) and machining time. The findings show that pulse-off time is the most significant motivating factor for SR. The current is the main determining factor for machining time. The Central Composite Design approach was used for optimization.

Early properties of magnesium phosphate cement repairing material used in slab track

Magnesium phosphate cement (MPC) is a high-performance repairing material suitable for the interfacial disease of slab track. In this study, the early properties of MPC were optimized using central composite design (CCD) approach based on response surface methodology (RSM). Three factors with five levels and three responses were considered. The significance of the factors and their interactions were verified by using analysis of variance (ANOVA). The result show that the mass ratio of water-to-binder (W/b) affects fluidity, while the mass ratio of magnesia-to-phosphate (M/P) and borax-to-magnesia (B/M) impact the setting time of MPC. Higher W/b results in higher fluidity, while an increase in M/P reduces the setting time by increasing the neutralization reaction. Borax addition retards the reaction, prolonging the setting time. The three factors significantly affect the early compressive strength of MPC. At M/P = 3.5, the interweaving of MgO and K-struvite (MKP) forms a dense network structure, enhancing the strength. Borax and W/b interact to affect compressive strength, with borax retarding MKP crystal growth and higher W/b reducing compactness. Combined with microscopic property test, the strength generation mechanism of MPC with optimized mixing ratio was revealed, And the feasibility of field application of MPC was verified by strength test.

Sustainable energy enhancement strategy from Chlorella vulgaris microalgae biomass resource

ABSTRACT Growing demand for renewable and sustainable energy sources has prompted research into bioethanol production as a viable alternative to hydrocarbon fuel for automobile engines. Based on their high carbohydrate content, Chlorella vulgaris microalgae were chosen for this study as a feasible biomass for bioethanol synthesis. After conducting microwave-based acid hydrolysis with varying acid concentrations of sulfuric acid (H2SO4) for 1–15 min, this study found that 3% H2SO4 for 5 min yielded the highest yield of reducing sugar (6.77 g/L). In this work, the RSM approach of central composite design (CCD) was utilized for modeling and optimization of ethanol fermentation and the MATLAB Simulink approach was employed for the simulation of ethanol fermentation. This study compared the effects of using Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast for fermentation at different fermentation times (12 to 48 h), temperatures (28 to 32°C), and size of inoculum (0.5–1.5 g/L). Based on the actual and predicted results, the best conditions for fermentation were 36 h of time, 30°C of temperature, and 1.5 g/L of inoculum size. This gave the maximum ethanol concentration of 3.31 g/L. Furthermore, the RSM method provides minimum error and maximum R2 value results for ethanol production compared to MATLAB simulation prediction (MSP). In addition, residue biomass from biofuel production is evaluated for its suitability for a further form of biofuel production. This research explores the opportunities for zero-waste biomass utilization in the development of biofuels.

Effective parameters on fabrication and performance of superhydrophobic/superoleophilic polyurethane sponge: Design of experiment approach

Referring to importance of the oil/water separation as one of the main challenges in the environmental conditions, numerous researches in the superhydrophobic/superoleophilic materials especially in the industrial oily wastewater treatment have been focused. In this study, the commercial polyurethane (PU) sponge was dip-coated by zinc stearate (Zn(St)2) particles and a novel adhesive of hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA) cured phenol-formaldehyde resin (PFR). For this purpose, a design of experiment (DOE) was applied to statistically specify the effect of important process variables on the final product properties. The second-order central composite design (CCD) approach based on the response surface methodology (RSM) analysis was conducted by changing namely the Zn(St)2 suspension concentration (2–4 wt%), PFR concentration (10–30 wt%), HMTA/PFR weight ratio (10–20 wt%), and sponge density (12, 15 and 17 kg∙m−3) on the key response output variables including oil and water absorption capacity of the Zn(St)2/HMTA cured PFR-coated PU. The optimal predicted results were experimentally verified and matched well to achieve the modified superhydrophobic PU sponge for the oil/water separation. The characterizations of the modified PU sponge by SEM, EDX mapping, FTIR, XRD, UV-Vis, BET, and TGA results confirmed that the Zn(St)2 uniformly covered the entire PU sponge. In addition, it showed a high demulsification capacity, the absorption capacity of various oil and solvents, and a water contact angle as high as 165° which was further approved to be oil wet in less than <10 millisecond. More importantly, the prepared modified superhydrophobic PU sponge presented an excellent reusability performance and chemical, thermal and mechanical stability in harsh conditions. This stable superhydrophobic PU sponge with the aforementioned outstanding properties is expected to be widely used for the practical oil/water separation.

Green synthesis of metal oxides (CaO-K2O) catalyst using golden apple snail shell and cultivated banana peel for production of biofuel from non-edible Jatropha Curcas oil (JCO) via a central composite design (CCD)

The use of biomass as a renewable, sustainable, and eco-friendly energy source is now widely recognized as a potential solution for a variety of environmental problems. To develop biodiesel production, cost-effective feedstocks such as agricultural waste, food waste, and non-edible/waste cooking oil were utilized. A heterogeneous solid base catalyst was synthesized by calcining a mixture of waste golden apple snail shell (Pomacea canaliculata) and cultivated (Musa sapientum) banana peel. In transesterification process, potassium oxide (K2O) derived from banana peel is used as a cocatalyst to improve the catalytic activity of calcium oxide (CaO) catalyst derived from waste shell. The innovative CaO-K2O catalyst was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) technique. The morphology and elemental composition of calcium (Ca), potassium (K), and oxygen (O) in the catalyst were validated by field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The CaO catalyst exhibited a BET surface area of 10.88 m2/g, which was enhanced to 14.62 m2/g upon combination with K2O. The Hammett indicator of CaO catalyst fell between 7.2 < H_< 9.8. However, the CaO-K2O catalyst exhibited a higher value of 15.0 < H_< 18.4, which could be attributed to the phase transition from CaO to CaO-K2O. To investigate the effects of catalyst concentration, ethanol/oil molar ratio, and transesterification time on the yield of fatty acid ethyl ester (FAEE). The optimal conditions for FAEE synthesis were determined using a central composite design (CCD) approach with response surface methodology (RSM). The regression equation obtained for the CCD model has a determination coefficient (R2) of 0.9921, indicating that this model is well-fitted. At 3.69 wt% catalyst concentration, 19.48:1 ethanol/oil molar ratio, and 1.80 h transesterification time, the highest FAEE yield from Jatropha Curcas oil (JCO) of 97.06 % was obtained. The novel catalyst has a strong yield and can be utilized for up to 6 cycles. It was found that the corresponding yield was 90 % when employing the same process parameters, demonstrating the high reusability of this catalyst. The biodiesel produced from non-edible JCO meets the criteria for standard biodiesel (ASTM D-6751 and EN 14214). The CaO-K2O catalyst is inexpensive, easy to make, biodegradable, recyclable, and environmentally friendly because it is derived from a biological residue. Because of these characteristics, it may be an appropriate candidate for the role of “green catalyst” in sustainable energy production.

DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF NANOBIOCOMPOSITE TOPICAL FORMULATION

Objective: The proposed research involving transferosomes within a hydrogel matrix offers a promising approach for enhanced wound healing. This system aims to facilitate the dermal delivery of nanosized curcumin while incorporating Ascorbic acid and Salicylic acid. The integration of these components holds the potential for advancing chronic wound therapy. Methods: Curcumin transferosomes were formulated by the lipid thin film hydration method and further optimization was carried out using 32 full factorial design. The transferosome formulation, prepared using phospholipon 90G, involved selecting specific variables: the quantity of edge activator and sonication duration as independent factors, while the optimization process considered particle size and entrapment efficiency as dependent variables. Following the optimization of the transferosomes, a hydrogel formulation was developed using the central composite design approach. Results: Optimized transferosome (Batch F8) showed 87.75±3.74 nm (nanometer) particle size and 91.18±2.71% entrapment efficiency. Hydrogel was formulated by Central composite design, selecting pH and spreadability as dependent factors, to which was added curcumin transferosomes, Ascorbic acid and Salicylic acid. The data was analyzed using Stat-ease Design-Expert v7.0.0 software. The optimized batch F3 showed a pH of 6.84, spreadability of 12.89 gm. cm/sec and Curcumin release of 87.47%. Drug release from nanobiocomposite hydrogel was evaluated using the in vitro study of the formulation. The various kinetic models were applied to in vitro release data for the prediction of the drug release kinetic mechanism. The release constants were calculated from the slope of appropriate plots, and the regression coefficient (R2) was determined. It was found that the in vitro drug release of the formulation was best explained by Higuchi as the plots show the highest linearity. The regression coefficient (R2) was found to be 0.907, 0.9266 and 0.9536 for Ascorbic acid, Salicylic acid and Curcumin, respectively. Conclusion: The nanobiocomposite topical formulation was thus prepared, tested and for skin irritancy study. There is no noticeable signs of erythema, edema, or inflammation were observed on the skin. These results indicate that the developed transdermal formulation does not cause skin irritation and can be considered non-irritating.

Interactions between chloride-based salts (CaCl2 and MgCl2), ionic liquids, pH, and titanium oxide nanoparticles under low and high salinity conditions, and synthetic resinous crude oil: dorud oilfield

AbstractUnfortunately, oil reservoirs are complex considering the fluids (e.g., crude oil composition) and rock properties making it hard to propose a simple enhanced oil recovery (EOR) method for higher oil production. Besides, most of the investigations had focused on crude oil which is a complex mixture of thousands of components making it hard to extract any reliable conclusions with respect to the crude oil type. So, the current study is focused on the application of ionic liquids from different families of pyridinium and imidazolium, titanium oxide nanoparticles, and salts (MgCl2 and CaCl2) in the presence of resinous synthetic oil for the first time. The obtained results using the central composite design (CCD) approach revealed the positive effect of resin fraction on the IFT reduction by 27% considering the initial value (34.9%). Using the CCD approach revealed that using pH = 7, MgCl2 concentration = 21,000 ppm, CaCl2 concentration = 21,000 ppm, resin fraction of 9wt%t and 500 ppm of [C12mim][Cl] concentration reduces the IFT to minimum value of 0.62 mN/m while the minimum IFT value for optimum conditions of solution includes [C12py][Cl] led to minimum IFT value of 2.2 mN/m. But, the contact angle measurements revealed better synergy between [C12py][Cl] and TiO2-NPs (0–200 ppm) for better wettability alteration toward water-wet condition (27.3°) than [C12mim][Cl] (33.2°). Moreover, the IFT measurements revealed that the presence of TiO2-NPs is effective in reducing the IFT of the optimum formulations to 0.55 and 0.84 mN/m for [C12mim][Cl], and [C12py][Cl], respectively. According to the results, it seems that the obtained optimum formulations for [C12mim][Cl], and [C12py][Cl] are applicable for EOR purposes as new hybrid solutions.