Chemical Liquid Research Articles

Electronic cigarettes and their impact on oral health - review

Nowadays, the popularity of e-cigarettes is growing rapidly. Manufacturers of e-cigarettes advertise them as a less harmful option than traditional cigarettes, suggesting that their use can help reduce nicotine dependence and reduce the risk of smoking-related diseases. However, studies indicate that inhaling the chemicals in liquids can carry serious health consequences, particularly concerning the oral cavity Many of these preparations contain substances about whose effects we do not yet know enough, which raises concerns among public health professionals. The aim of this study was to provide an overview of e-cigarettes, including their popularity, the origins of their development, the substances they contain and the impact they have on oral health, which is most at risk from the harmful effects of e-cigarettes.

Highly para-selective alkylation of toluene by methyl mercaptan over silylated ZSM-5 zeolite

Friedel-Crafts alkylation of toluene with methyl mercaptan has been investigated in the presence of H-ZSM-5 and SiO2/H-ZSM-5 catalysts. The silica layers have been built on H-ZSM-5 zeolite by chemical liquid deposition of tetraethyl orthosilicate. The passivation with silica of the external surface of H-ZSM-5 zeolite has been confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy and mesitylene isomerization, used as a model reaction. All catalysts exhibited notable behavior in the alkylation of toluene to xylenes. Efficiencies higher than 98 % in alkylation for both toluene and methyl mercaptan were obtained at 375 °C. In terms of para-selectivity, outstanding performance was revealed by the silylated zeolites. Thus, over 12 % SiO2/H-ZSM-5, at 375 °C and WHSV = 9.4 gtoluene+CH3SH gcat-1h−1, the para-xylene selectivity was close to 100 %. The experimental apparent activation energy for the toluene alkylation with methyl mercaptan catalyzed by H-ZSM-5 was 80 kJ/mol.

Molecular Engineering of Poly(Ionic Liquid) for Direct and Continuous Production of Pure Formic Acid from Flue Gas.

Electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) offers a promising approach to close the carbon cycle and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. However, traditional decoupled CO2RR processes involve energy-intensive CO2 capture, conversion, and product separation, which increases operational costs. Here, we report the development of a bismuth-poly(ionic liquid) (Bi-PIL) hybrid catalyst that exhibits exceptional electrocatalytic performance for CO2 conversion to formate. The Bi-PIL catalyst achieves over 90% Faradaic efficiency for formate over a wide potential range, even at low 15% v/v CO2 concentrations typical of industrial flue gas. The biphenyl in PIL backbone affords hydrophobicity while maintaining high ionic conductivity, effectively mitigating the flooding issues. The PIL layer plays a crucial role as a CO2 concentrator and co-catalyst that accelerates the CO2RR kinetics. Furthermore, we demonstrate the potential of Bi-PIL catalysts in a solid-state electrolyte (SSE) electrolyzer for the continuous and direct production of pure formic acid solutions from flue gas. Techno-economic analysis suggests that this integrated process can produce formic acid at a significantly reduced cost compared to the traditional decoupled approaches. This work presents a promising strategy to overcome the challenges associated with low-concentration CO2 utilization and streamline the production of valuable liquid fuels and chemicals from CO2.

Effect of external surface barriers over hierarchical ZSM-5 zeolite on n-heptane catalytic cracking

To better understand external surface barriers on hierarchical ZSM-5 zeolite, SiO2 layers were constructed over zeolite nanocrystal by using chemical liquid depositions (CLD). Diffusion measurement showed that the apparent diffusion rate over the zeolite was increased by up to 142 % after SiO2 deposition, indicating that the external surface barriers had been significantly reduced. The performance of hierarchical ZSM-5 zeolite for n-heptane catalytic cracking indicated that the catalytic activity (TOF) was increased from 0.55 to 0.91 s−1 after 3 nm layer of SiO2 deposition, leading to a total yield increase of ethylene and propylene by up to 23 %. The strong positive correlation of catalytic activity with apparent diffusion rate suggests that reducing external surface barriers can improve the utilization efficiency of active sites in micropores and enhance the catalytic activity of the zeolite. These results demonstrate that CLD of SiO2 can reduce external surface barriers on hierarchical zeolite, thereby improving its cracking performance.

LLDPE/TiO2 composites with high UV aging resistance and mechanical properties by controlling the alumina coating on TiO2

AbstractFor preparing high performance LLDPE film, the photocatalytic activity and the UV absorption capacity of TiO2 were regulated by the alumina coating content on the surface of TiO2. Alumina‐coated TiO2 was prepared by the chemical liquid deposition method, and characterized by element analysis, TGA, FTIR, and morphology observation. The alumina coating layer had been proven to covalently bind to the surface of TiO2 through AlOTi bonds, which formed a continuous and dense coating layer, followed by forming a loose flocculent coating layer with the increase of alumina content. The alumina coating layer could significantly reduce the formation of carbonyl group on the LLDPE chains, and enhance UV aging resistance of LLDPE by inhibiting the photocatalytic activity of TiO2. Moreover, the dispersion of alumina‐coated TiO2 in the LLDPE matrix was improved. Thus, the transmittance of LLDPE/alumina‐coated TiO2 composites was reduced and the whiteness was improved. Importantly, the continuous and dense alumina coating layer was enough to inhibit the photocatalysis effect of TiO2 on LLDPE. The further increase of alumina coating content reduced the UV absorption capacity of alumina‐coated TiO2 and its compatibility with the LLDPE matrix. Therefore, the best alumina coating content on the surface of TiO2 was 1.46 wt% for preparing high performance LLDPE/TiO2 composites.Highlights Alumina‐coated TiO2 with controllable coating thickness was successfully synthesized. LLDPE/alumina‐coated TiO2 has excellent UV aging resistance and mechanical properties. The photocatalytic activity and UV absorption capacity of TiO2 could be regulated. 1.46 wt% of alumina coating is the best content for high performance LLDPE/TiO2 composites.

Minitab 20 and Python based-the forecasting of demand and optimal inventory of liquid aluminum sulfate supplies

In a company, inventory management is crucial due to the significant impact on various aspects of the business. Similarly, the Indonesian water supply company (PDAM) requires effective inventory management to ensure the supply of liquid aluminum sulfate chemicals. The probabilistic statistical inventory control (SIC) model is commonly used for inventory management. However, previous research on chemical inventory models in PDAMs often relied on simple linear regression to forecast demand data, which fails to capture the inherent volatility in demand. Therefore, this research aimed to predict demand data using the seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) method and determine the optimal policy for supplying liquid aluminum sulfate chemicals. The results showed that the best demand forecasting model was SARIMA (2,1,2) (1,1,0)12 with a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) value of 8.19%. The finding of the optimal inventory policy showed a safety stock value of 11,922.35 kg, a reorder point value of 49,511.20 kg, and an order quantity of 21,526.59 kg, leading to a total cost of IDR 11,132,034,145.45. The sensitivity test also showed that variations in lead time, price, μ, and σ parameters directly influence changes in total cost, reorder point, and safety stock. These calculations were conducted using Minitab and Python software.

Non-thermal plasma-catalytic processes for CO2 conversion toward circular economy: fundamentals, current status, and future challenges.

Practical and energy-efficient carbon dioxide (CO2) conversion to value-added and fuel-graded products and transitioning from fossil fuels are promising ways to cope with climate change and to enable the circular economy. The carbon circular economy aims to capture, utilize, and minimize CO2 emissions as much as possible. To cope with the thermodynamic stability and highly endothermic nature of CO2 conversion via conventional thermochemical process, the potential application of non-thermal plasma (NTP) with the catalyst, i.e., the hybrid plasma catalysis process to achieve the synergistic effects, in most cases, seems to promise alternatives under non-equilibrium conditions. This review focuses on the NTP fundamentals and comparison with conventional technologies. A critical review has been conducted on the CO2 reduction with water (H2O), methane (CH4) reduction with CO2 to syngas (CO + H2), CO2 dissociation to carbon monoxide (CO), CO2 hydrogenation, CO2 conversion to organic acids, and one-step CO2-CH4 reforming to the liquid chemicals. Finally, future challenges are discussed comprehensively, indicating that plasma catalysis has immense investigative areas.

Structural elucidation of tramadol, its derivatives, and metabolites using chemical derivatization and liquid chromatography-high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry.

Tramadol (T) is a strong painkiller drug that belongs to the opioid analgesic group. Several accidental intoxication cases after oral administration of T have been reported in the past decade. Tramadol, its derivatives, and metabolites present information-limited mass spectra with one prominent peak representing the amine-containing residue; therefore, their structural determination based on both electron impact mass spectrometry (EI-MS) and ESI-MS/MS spectra could be misleading. A novel analytical method for the structural elucidation of tramadol, its four homologs, and its two main phase I metabolites (N-desmethyltramadol and O-desmethyltramadol) was developed using chemical modification and liquid chromatography-high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (LC-HR-MS/MS) with Orbitrap technology. After chemical derivatization, each of the investigated T series exhibited informative mass spectra that enabled better exposition of their structures. The developed method was successfully implemented to explicitly identify the structures of tramadol and its N-desmethyltramadol metabolite in urine samples at low ng/mL levels. An efficient derivatization-aided strategy was developed for rapidly elucidating the structure of tramadol-like compounds. The method is intended to assist forensic chemists in better diagnosing T and its analogs and metabolites in clinical or forensic toxicology laboratories.

Evaluation of the Impact of Parylene C Deposition Method on the Functional Properties of Fabrics.

The article presents the results of research on the impact of the use of an original, innovative method of deposition of Parylene C on the functional properties of fabrics with various potential applications (e.g., thermal and chemical protective clothing, packaging, covers and others). Verification of the effects of the method used was based on interdisciplinary research taking into account the impact of coating fabrics on changes in their structure (micro-CT), surface properties (contact angle), barrier properties (water and chemical liquid wetting), electrostatic properties (charge decay), biophysical properties describing heat and mass transfer (by the Alambeta system and thermal imaging) and flammable properties. Four fabrics made of synthetic organic fibres (meta-aramid, para-aramid) and natural inorganic fibres (basalt) were selected for testing. Given the complex structure of textile substrates, the results confirmed that the two assumed thicknesses of the Parylene C coating were consistent with the actual measurements. The findings indicated that the coatings significantly reduced water and acid absorption in the fabrics compared to unmodified ones. Thermal insulation property tests revealed that coated fabrics exhibited higher thermal conductivity than unmodified fabrics. Additionally, the presence of Parylene C on aramid fabrics resulted in a modest increase in their ignition resistance.

Aerodynamically Levitated Droplets as Small-Scale Chemical Reactors and Liquid Microprinters.

A thin liquid film spread over the inner surface of a rapidly rotating vial creates an aerodynamic cushion on which one or multiple droplets of various liquids can levitate stably for days or even weeks. These levitating droplets can serve as wall-less ("airware") chemical reactors that can be merged without touching-by remote impulses-to initiate reactions or sequences of reactions at scales down to hundreds of nanomoles. Moreover, under external electric fields, the droplets can act as the world's smallest chemical printers, shedding regular trains of pL or even fL microdrops. In one modality, the levitating droplets operate as completely wireless aliquoting/titrating systems delivering pg quantities of reagents into the liquid in the rotating vial; in another modality, they print microdroplet arrays onto target surfaces. The "airware", levitated reactors are inexpensive to set up, remarkably stable to external disturbances and, for printing applications, require operating voltages much lower than in electrospray, electrowetting, or ink jet systems.

Aerodynamically Levitated Droplets as Small‐Scale Chemical Reactors and Liquid Microprinters

AbstractA thin liquid film spread over the inner surface of a rapidly rotating vial creates an aerodynamic cushion on which one or multiple droplets of various liquids can levitate stably for days or even weeks. These levitating droplets can serve as wall‐less (“airware”) chemical reactors that can be merged without touching—by remote impulses—to initiate reactions or sequences of reactions at scales down to hundreds of nanomoles. Moreover, under external electric fields, the droplets can act as the world's smallest chemical printers, shedding regular trains of pL or even fL microdrops. In one modality, the levitating droplets operate as completely wireless aliquoting/titrating systems delivering pg quantities of reagents into the liquid in the rotating vial; in another modality, they print microdroplet arrays onto target surfaces. The “airware”, levitated reactors are inexpensive to set up, remarkably stable to external disturbances and, for printing applications, require operating voltages much lower than in electrospray, electrowetting, or ink jet systems.

Selective Isotropic Dry Etching of SiO2 Using F/H-Based Pulsed Remote Plasma and a Vapor Phase Solvent

Isotropic etching generally employs liquid-based wet etching techniques. However, due to the high integration of devices, conformal etching is challenging in patterns with a high aspect ratio because liquid chemicals struggle to penetrate inside the pattern. Additionally, during the drying process after chemical treatment, pattern collapse is observed due to surface tension. Therefore, there is a need for dry isotropic etching techniques to replace wet etching techniques in next-generation device manufacturing processes.Typically, when high selectivity SiO2 isotropic dry etching is required, F-base/H-based gas mixtures are utilized to form HF, which serves as an etchant for SiO2. SiO2 can be dry etched through two different mechanisms. First, HF reacts directly with H2O or alcohol, etching SiO2. The other way is to produce (NH4)2SiF6 salt from the reaction of NH3, which can be formed in a plasma containing NH3 and NF3. This (NH4)2SiF6 salt is sublimated and removed by a following heating process at a temperature over 100ºC.The process above has some disadvantages, such as lowering the etch selectivity of SiO2 over Si and Si3N4 because Si and Si3N4 can be etched by F radicals remaining in the plasma. This study aimed to overcome these disadvantages by controlling the F radical through pulsing the remote plasma during the discharging of F-based/H-based gas mixtures for the formation of HF. By pulsing the remote plasma, SiO2 could be selectively etched at a higher etch rate relative to those of Si and Si3N4. Additionally, various types of H/F-based gas mixtures that do not contain nitrogen while producing HF were investigated to prevent the formation of ammonium powders, which can be a source of contamination in the chamber. Futhermore, the etching mechanisms were identified through gas phase anlysis and surface analysis. Also, any possible surface damage during the etching process was investigated.

Investigation of the impact of non-magnetic Si element addition and heat treatment on the electromagnetic wave absorption properties of medium entropy FeCoNiSi alloy particles

Based on chemical liquid phase reduction and high temperature annealing, the effects of non-magnetic Si element addition and heat treatment regime on the microstructure, magnetic properties, and electromagnetic wave absorption properties of medium entropy alloy particles FeCoNiSi were studied. The results show that the prepared Fe1Co0.8Ni1Six alloy particles have a spherical structure, and with the increase of Si content, the particle size continuously decreases, with the average particle size decreasing from 150 to 200 nm to 20-50 nm. After high temperature annealing, the alloy particles undergo some agglomeration and growth. The as-prepared Fe1Co0.8Ni1Six alloy particles exhibit an amorphous state, and crystallization occurs during high temperature annealing, but the increase in Si element content has a certain inhibitory effect on the crystallization of the alloy particles. With the increase of Si element content and annealing temperature, the specific saturation magnetization intensity of the material shows a decreasing trend, while the residual magnetism and coercivity show an increasing trend. With the increase of Si element content, the real and imaginary parts of the permeability change alternately in different frequency ranges. The magnetic loss mechanism for the three alloy particles was eddy current loss in the frequency ranges of 10-14GHz and 16.5-18GHz. With the increase of Si element content, the magnetic loss shows an increasing trend, and the impedance matching shows a decreasing trend. The Fe1Co0.8Ni1Si0.5 alloy particle sample has the maximum reflection loss |RLmax| of 28.2 dB at thickness of 2.3 mm, and the Fe1Co0.8Ni1Si0.7 alloy particle sample has an effective absorption bandwidth of 1.7GHz at thickness of 1.9 mm. Eddy current loss was the main magnetic loss mechanism for Fe1Co0.8Ni1Si0.6 alloy particles under 400 °C and 600 °C annealing conditions, and for Fe1Co0.8Ni1Si0.7 alloy particles under 600 °C annealing conditions. With the increase of annealing temperature, the fluctuation of dielectric loss with frequency decreases in the low frequency range, and increases in the high frequency range, while annealing reduces the fluctuation of magnetic loss with frequency. Under 400 °C annealing conditions, the attenuation constant of the three alloy particles was lower than that of the unannealed alloy particles, and under 600 °C annealing conditions, the attenuation constant of Fe1Co0.8Ni1Si0.5 alloy particles in the frequency range of 6-15GHz was higher than that of unannealed and 400 °C annealed alloy particles, and that of Fe1Co0.8Ni1Si0.6 alloy particles in the frequency range of 7-14GHz was higher than that of unannealed and 400 °C annealed alloy particles. High temperature annealing was not able to effectively improve the impedance matching performance of Fe1Co0.8Ni1Six alloy particles. The maximum reflection loss |RLmax| of Fe1Co0.8Ni1Si0.6 alloy particles under 600 °C annealing conditions was 37.8 dB.

Highly sensitive photonic crystal fiber chemical sensor for detecting carbon disulfide and bromoform in the THz regime

In this study, an innovative photonic crystal fiber (PCF) designed specifically for the detection of carbon disulfide and bromoform liquid chemicals within the THz frequency range was introduced. The PCF’s structural design was achieved using the Finite Element Method (FEM) and Perfectly Matched Layer (PML) boundary conditions within COMSOL Multiphysics, ensuring precision through appropriate numerical parameters. Six distinct configurations were developed, incorporating circular, square, rectangular slotted, benzene-shaped circular, and two elliptical core designs, as well as an eight-elliptical core design. The PCF models were constructed utilizing the dielectric material TOPAS for accurate simulation and analysis. Various crucial parameters of the proposed PCF were examined across a wide THz spectrum spanning from 0.2 to 1.2 THz. The PCF model exhibited a peak output at the operating frequency of 0.8 THz for the square-shaped core design, achieving a relative sensitivity of 96.891% for bromoform and 95.603% for carbon disulfide. Remarkably low material losses of 0.0081104 cm−1 for bromoform and 0.006703 cm−1 for carbon disulfide were observed, along with a core power fraction of 93.107% for bromoform and 94.263% for carbon disulfide. The effective area was determined to be 1.77 × 10−07 μm2 for bromoform and 1.70 × 10−07 μm2 for carbon disulfide, while the confinement loss measured 2.25 × 10−17 dB/cm for bromoform and 4.76 × 10−17 dB/cm for carbon disulfide. These superior attributes strongly suggest that this model will be crucial in applications like supercontinuum generation, sensing, and biomedical imaging.

Novel insights from agricultural waste to acetic acid through regulated high-solids anaerobic digestion: Focus on the key microbial communities

Acetic acid (HAc) is an essential intermediate for improving the efficiency of biogas production in anaerobic digestion (AD) or for the production of liquid chemicals. The relationships between the mechanisms and microbial contributions of targeted regulation of HAc production in high-solids AD remains unclear. This study represents a breakthrough in revealing the mechanism of pH directed regulation of HAc production and microbial interactions. The regulation of the initial spray pH effectively improved the substrate hydrolysis rate and increased the concentration of HAc, with an average HAc percentage of total organic acids was 66.20 %. Microecological analysis revealed that rare species played a vital role in acidification, with all key acetogenic microbes identified as rare species. Additionally, the construction of a bacterial–environmental factor co-occurrence network revealed that lowering the initial spray pH enhanced the synergistic interactions among bacterial communities, and proportion of positive interactions among bacteria was 82.23 %. The gene abundance of key enzymes in the acetate-type metabolic pathway dominated in the acidogenesis phase. Furthermore, a regression model was established between the HAc indicator microbe (Acinetobacter) and HAc yields. Overall, the results of this study indicate that pH regulation plays an important role in strengthening the production of HAc and rare species significantly contributed to HAc production.

Electronic cigarettes - harmful substances contained in e-cigarette liquids and smoke

Electronic cigarettes and electronic cigarette liquids are increasingly popular in society, especially among young people. However, despite the widespread belief that they are a safe alternative to traditional cigarettes, many scientific studies confirm that electronic cigarettes can be equally, if not more, harmful to health. There are many chemicals in electronic cigarette liquids, such as nicotine, propylene glycol, glycerol, flavors and fragrances. Some of these substances are toxic and can cause a number of negative health effects, such as irritation of the respiratory tract, the onset of lung disease, neurological disorders and increased risk of cardiovascular disease. In addition, electronic cigarettes can be harmful to the environment due to the emission of toxic substances into the air and improper disposal of used batteries. Therefore, an informed approach to the use of electronic cigarettes and an understanding of the potential health risks associated with them is necessary. Further scientific research and education of the public about the harms of electronic cigarettes are key to preventing the negative consequences associated with their use.

Optimizing product design and development of engine carbon cleaning maintenance tools using reverse engineering and VDI 2222 methods

This research article explains the product design and development optimization of multi feature engine carbon cleaning maintenance tools. The implementation of the Reverse Engineering method was integrated with VDI 2222 in the research process. The results of the optimal design and development of this tool obtained a component structure that was able to meet 14 types of consumer needs with a total tool cost of IDR 1.137.900 with a total tool weight of 6.9 kg. The results of the load test simulation concluded that the housing case was able to withstand the overall weight of the components that make up the tool. Depending on the liquid chemical used, the results of tool tests on a limited scale have proven to be able in save fuel consumption by ±12.5% per hour with engine workload which can also be reduced by 3,14%.

Conversion of C8 aromatics over a dual-bed catalyst.

A dual-bed catalyst was prepared for the conversion of C8 aromatics. The upper bed layer consisted of ZSM-5 covered with SiO2, primarily utilized for ethylbenzene dealkylation. By employing tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) as a deposition agent through the chemical liquid deposition (CLD) method, the modified ZSM-5 catalyst exhibited optimal catalytic performance at a TEOS addition of 0.6 g per gram of catalyst. The lower bed layer contained ZSM-39 catalyst, mainly employed for xylene isomerization reaction. ZSM-39 was synthesized using pyrrolidine as the template, and the best catalytic performance was achieved when the OH-/SiO2 molar ratio in the synthesis system was 0.05. The mass ratio between the upper and lower agents was maintained at 1 : 1. Compared to traditional single-bed ZSM-5 catalysts, the dual-bed catalyst demonstrated enhanced activity and selectivity.

Solid Electrolytes for Low-Temperature Carbon Dioxide Valorization: A Review.

One of the most promising approaches to address the global challenge of climate change is electrochemical carbon capture and utilization. Solid electrolytes can play a crucial role in establishing a chemical-free pathway for the electrochemical capture of CO2. Furthermore, they can be applied in electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reactions (CO2RR) to increase carbon utilization, produce high-purity liquid chemicals, and advance hybrid electro-biosystems. This review article begins by covering the fundamentals and processes of electrochemical CO2 capture, emphasizing the advantages of utilizing solid electrolytes. Additionally, it highlights recent advancements in the use of the solid polymer electrolyte or solid electrolyte layer for the CO2RR with multiple functions. The review also explores avenues for future research to fully harness the potential of solid electrolytes, including the integration of CO2 capture and the CO2RR and performance assessment under realistic conditions. Finally, this review discusses future opportunities and challenges, aiming to contribute to the establishment of a green and sustainable society through electrochemical CO2 valorization.

Design and Fabrication of a Bicycle Sprayer

The bicycle sprayer designed for crop spraying is a pragmatic and environmentally friendly choice for small-scale farmers, providing both effectiveness and long-term viability. Engineered to be attached on a regular bicycle, this device enables farmers to easily traverse fields and agricultural area with minimal physical effort. The sprayer features a 20-liter tank, suitable for small-scale farms, equipped with a slide-crank pumping system and a precision nozzle assembly to ensure efficient spraying. Made from lightweight and sturdy materials, it is both cost-efficient and highly portable. The rear wheel's rotation is converted into translation motion of the rod and pump by the use of a slider-crank reciprocating mechanism. The bicycle sprayer doubles as a mode of transportation for farmers or users traveling to and from the farm, enhancing its utility. The bicycle sprayer provides an environmentally-friendly option for small-scale farmers, enhancing crop productivity and minimizing the risks associated with liquid chemicals for farmers or operators. Based on the performance outcome, the recently created sprayer is capable of covering an area of one hectare in one hour. It demonstrates improved spray consistency and achieves a 75% efficiency rate, as confirmed through a sequence of tests conducted on specific farms.