Concentration Of TiO2 Nanoparticles Research Articles

The enhanced photocatalytic performance of CPAA doping with different concentrations of Titanium oxide nanocomposite against MB dyes under simulated sunlight irradiations

The pure conjugated polyarylene azomethine (CPAA) and its nanocomposites (CPAA-TiO2) with different concentrations of TiO2 nanoparticles were successfully prepared by in-situ technique and analyzed by different advanced techniques. XRD has confirmed the structural properties and crystallinity of (CPAA) and nanocomposites. The SEM clearly shows that the (CPAA) is uniform and homogeneous, with tightly connected aggregate layers in shape. However, the amount of TiO2 in the nanocomposites greatly affects their morphology, revealing structural differences and indicating a reaction between (CPAA) and TiO2, especially at a higher concentration of 5% TiO2. A new composite of (CPAA) was introduced and the photocatalytic effect for MB was studied. The removal efficiency of (pure-CPAA) over MB dye under simulated sunlight was 62%. However, (CPAA-TiO2 1%) destroyed 90% of MB dyes. It was discovered that the low band gap of (CPAA-TiO2 1% (2.84 eV)) accelerates high electron–hole recombination, increasing photocatalytic activity.

Study of Chlorella vulgaris from Different Growth Phases as Biosensor for Detection of Titanium and Silver Nanoparticles in Water

The increased use of metallic nanoparticles has led to concern for environmental contamination and disruption in water quality. Therefore, effective screening of metallic nanoparticles is important for detecting metallic nanoparticles in aquatic environments. Biosensors offer several advantages, including high sensitivity to pollutants, short response time, energy efficiency, and low waste generation. In this study, a whole-cell biosensor was developed using microalga Chlorella vulgaris as a recognition element, and its fluorescence response was used as a measuring parameter for detecting the presence of titanium dioxide (TiO2) and silver (Ag) nanoparticles in water. The responses of C. vulgaris at the lag, exponential, and stationary phases to different concentrations of TiO2 and Ag nanoparticles were studied. The results showed that in TiO2 and Ag nanoparticles exposures, the highest fluorescence change (50-150%) was observed at the lag phase, whereas the lowest fluorescence change (40-75%) was observed at the stationary phase. A significant fluorescence change was observed in 15 min. The immobilized C. vulgaris under TiO2 and Ag nanoparticles exposures showed 30-180% higher fluorescence change than the negative control, indicating the potential of C. vulgaris as a biosensor for rapid detection of TiO2 and Ag nanoparticles in water. The mathematical modeling of the responses of C. vulgaris to TiO2 and Ag nanoparticles at 15 min of exposure with high R2 indicated that this biosensor is sensitive to the concentration tested (0.010–10.000 mg.L-1). Taken together, these results reveal that, for the first time, it is possible to detect TiO2 and Ag nanoparticles in water within a very short time using a microalgae-based biosensor. Moreover, no genetic engineering requirement makes this biosensor simple, economical, and free from the restriction on genetically modified microorganisms for environmental applications.

First evidence of anthropogenic TiO2 nanoparticles occurrence in Chilean rivers

This study marks the first recorded case of TiO2 nanoparticle pollution in Chilean rivers, indicating significant progress in understanding the distribution of nanowaste and its effects on a global scale. By investigating four different locations, including the outlet of a wastewater treatment plant during summer, winter and spring, the research revealed varied concentrations of TiO2 nanoparticles, with a notable range between 17.6 µg L−1 during the summer and 22.9 µg L−1 in spring in downstream river sections. The study used transmission electron microscopy to characterize nanoparticles, observing sizes between 10 and 206 nm, and an EDS detector confirmed titanium proportions of 4.84 % to 20.35 % by dry weight. These TiO2 nanoparticles, predominantly in Rutile and Anatase forms, denote a significant environmental presence, especially considering the low population densities of the sampling areas. The findings highlight the urgent need for international awareness and routine monitoring of nanowaste, advocating for preventive actions in the production of nanomaterials and adaptive management strategies in tune with the dynamic nature of water systems and environmental changes, both for places densely and sparsely populated.

Research on Surface Protection Technology of Aluminum Alloy Heat Sinks in Lithium Battery with Composite Anodic Oxide Film

Aluminum alloy sheets are immersed in a mixed acid electrolyte for anodic oxidation to prepare different types of anodic oxide films. The mass concentration of TiO2 nanoparticles in the electrolyte is appropriately increased, and under the action of liquid flow disturbance, the number of nanoparticles adsorbed on the surface of aluminum alloy specimens increases, which plays a good role in homogenizing current and filling, promoting more uniform film formation and inhibiting local excessive corrosion and dissolution of the anodic oxide film, Gradually generate a composite anodized film with good density. The composite anodized film constructs a protective barrier on the surface of the aluminum alloy heat sink in lithium batteries, which can effectively block corrosive media and has a better protective effect on the heat sink than conventional anodized film and mixed acid anodized film, thereby significantly improving the corrosion resistance of the heat sink.

Unravelling the role of TiO2 nanoparticles on the optical performance of dark colourants for coatings

The growing concern on energy savings in buildings, particularly related with cooling needs, has led to the search of new constructive solutions. Frequently, darker colour coatings are used in buildings for aesthetics purposes. However, such coatings have low reflectance, absorbing a large portion of the solar radiation. The associated heat gains enhance the building cooling demand and may reduce the service life of renderings owing to the increased thermal stresses in comparison to light colour coatings. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of size (30–5000 nm), optical band gap energy and concentration (0–20%) of TiO2 nanoparticles in a conventional black colourant for building applications. We confirm that the use of TiO2 nanoparticles increases the reflectance of the colourant and demonstrate that 50 nm is the most adequate nanoparticle size for reflectance enhancement. Furthermore, the colourimetric parameters are also affected by TiO2 incorporation, with the colour difference becoming increasingly noticeable to the human eye with increasing TiO2 concentration. Such results can lead to new formulations of solar reflective coatings are able to reduce the overall cooling load, particularly in warm climates with high cooling demands.

Doping zinc oxide and titanium dioxide nanoparticles with gold induces additional oxidative stress, membrane damage, and neurotoxicity in Mytilus galloprovincialis: Results from a laboratory bioassay

BackgroundWhile previous studies have provided insights into the effects of zinc oxide (ZnO) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) on aquatic organisms, there is still a substantial amount of information lacking about the possible effects of their doped counterparts. The goal of the current work was to address this gap by examining Mytilus galloprovincialis reaction to exposure to doped and undoped nanoparticles. MethodsTwo concentrations (50 or 100 µg/L) of undoped ZnO and TiO2 NPs, as well as their gold (Au) doped counterparts, were applied on mussels for 14 days, and the effects on biomarkers activities in digestive glands and gills were assessed by spectrophotometry. ResultsThe NPs were quasi-spherical in shape (below 100 nm), stable in seawater, and with no aggregation for both doped and undoped forms. Analytical results using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy indicated the uptake of NPs in mussels. Furthermore, it was found that biometal dyshomeostasis could occur following NP treatment and that doping the NPs aggravated this response. At the biochemical level, exposure to undoped NPs caused membrane damage, neurotoxic effect, and changes in the activities in the gills and digestive glands of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione-S-transferase, in a concentration and organ-dependent manner. ConclusionDoping ZnO NPs and TiO2NPs with Au induced additional oxidative stress, membrane damage, and neurotoxicity in mussels.

Spreading dynamics of a droplet upon impact with a liquid film containing solid particles.

This study examines how a deionized water droplet behaves when it centrally collides with a liquid film containing TiO2 nanoparticles at low impact velocities, aiming to understand how nanoparticles affect droplet spreading, in particular its maximum spreading diameter. Typically, we found that both the spreading velocity and dynamic contact angle of the droplet would be similarly affected by increasing TiO2 nanoparticle concentration. During retraction, the droplet's dimensionless spreading diameter oscillates, with more pronounced oscillations at higher nanoparticle concentrations. Moreover, both the droplet's maximum dimensionless rebound height and dynamic contact angle show similar trends with increasing TiO2 nanoparticle concentration. Interestingly, we proved that the influence of the solid-liquid interaction (Stokes force) on the fluid during the spreading process accounts for less than 2% of the surface energy when the droplet reaches its maximum spreading diameter, indicating a negligible effect on droplet spreading. We hypothesize that the droplet's initial energy is fully converted into surface energy and viscous dissipation at maximum spreading diameter, which involves viscous dissipation both between the fluid and the solid wall surface and the fluid and solid particle surface. Based on this, we developed a model for predicting the droplet's maximum spreading diameter that includes parameters associated with the solid particles. Compared to models in the literature that do not consider the effect of solid particles, our model aligns more closely with experimental data. The results indicate that adding solid particles leads to increased viscous dissipation, which in turn reduces the droplet's maximum spreading diameter.

Titanium Dioxide Promotes the Growth and Aggregation of Calcium Phosphate and Monosodium Urate Mixed Crystals.

The increased utilization of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (TNPs) in various industrial and consumer products has raised concerns regarding its harmful effect due to its accumulation within the different systems of the human body. Here, we focused on the influence of TNPs on the growth and aggregation of two crucial crystalline substances, calcium phosphate (CaP) and monosodium urate (MSU), particularly its implications in gout disease. In this study, we adopted microscopic techniques and generated kinetic models to examine the interactions between TNPs, CaP and MSU, and crystallization, under controlled laboratory conditions. Our findings reveal that TNPs not only facilitate the growth of these crystals but also promote their co-aggregations. Crystal dissolution kinetics also exhibit that an increase in TNPs concentration corresponds to a reduction in the dissolution rate of CaP and MSU crystals in presence of the dissoluting agent hydroxycitrate (Hcit). These observations suggest that TNPs can stabilize CaP+MSU mixed crystals, which underscores the significance of TNPs' exposure in the pathogenesis of gout disease.

Comparative Evaluation of TiO2 Nanoparticle Addition and Postcuring Time on the Flexural Properties and Hardness of Additively Fabricated Denture Base Resins

Three-dimensionally (3D)-printed fabricated denture bases have shown inferior strength to conventional and subtractively fabricated ones. Several factors could significantly improve the strength of 3D-printed denture base resin, including the addition of nanoparticles and post-curing factors. This study evaluated the effect of TiO2 nanoparticle (TNP) addition and the post-curing time (PCT) on the flexural properties and hardness of three-dimensionally (3D)-printed denture base resins. A total of 360 specimens were fabricated, with 180 specimens from each type of resin. For evaluating the flexural properties, bar-shaped specimens measuring 64 × 10 × 3.3 mm were used, while, for the hardness testing, disc-shaped specimens measuring 15 × 2 mm were employed. The two 3D-printed resins utilized in this study were Asiga (DentaBASE) and NextDent (Vertex Dental B.V). Each resin was modified by adding TNPs at 1% and 2% concentrations, forming two groups and an additional unmodified group. Each group was divided into three subgroups according to the PCT (15, 60, and 90 min). All the specimens were subjected to artificial aging (5000 cycles), followed by testing of the flexural strength and elastic modulus using a universal testing machine, and the hardness using the Vickers hardness test. A three-way ANOVA was used for the data analysis, and a post hoc Tukey’s test was used for the pairwise comparisons (α = 0.05). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used for the fracture surface analysis. The addition of the TNPs increased the flexural strength in comparison to the unmodified groups (p < 0.001), while there was no significant difference in the elastic modulus and hardness with the 1% TNP concentration. Among the TNP groups, the 2% TNP concentration significantly decreased the elastic modulus and hardness (p < 0.001). The SEM showed a homogenous distribution of the TNPs, and the more irregular fracture surface displayed ductile fractures. The PCT significantly increased the flexural strength, elastic modulus, and hardness (p < 0.001), and this increase was time-dependent. The three-way ANOVA results revealed a significant difference between the material types, TNP concentrations, and PCT interactions (p < 0.001). Both concentrations of the TNPs increased the flexural strength, while the 2% TNP concentration decreased the elastic modulus and hardness of the 3D-printed nanocomposites. The flexural strength and hardness increased as the PCT increased. The material type, TNP concentration, and PCT are important factors that affect the strength of 3D-printed nanocomposites and could improve their mechanical performance.

Evaluating the energy consumption, structural, and corrosion resistance properties of photocatalytic TiO2-based PEO coatings on pre-anodized AA2024-Al

In this work, a thorough investigation is carried out to develop plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) coatings on pre-anodized AA2024-Al at various concentrations of TiO2 dispersed in a water base electrolyte of sodium silicate, sodium phosphate dodecahydrate, and potassium hydroxide in order to determine the effect of TiO2 incorporation on energy consumption, coating growth, surface morphology, photocatalytic behavior, and associated long-term corrosion resistance properties. The pre-anodization time is controlled to develop a 20.0 ± 1.6 µm thick anodic film, where a reduction of ∼66 % in the energy consumption (kW h m2 µm−1) is observed compared to the PEO developed without pre-anodic precursors, while the addition of TiO2 nanoparticles (Degusa-P25) into the base electrolyte results in reductions of ∼68 %, 64 %, and 51 % for the PEO coatings developed at 2, 5 and 10 g/L TiO2-based electrolyte, respectively. TiO2-based PEO process is found to improve growth rate, coating microstructure with lower porosity and defects, and reduce energy consumption (for a coating of a given thickness). The photocatalytic activity of TiO2 was investigated by photodegrading phenol under simulated sunlight conditions, where the higher concentration of TiO2 nanoparticles affected the phenol photodegradation efficiency, whereas the effectiveness of TiO2 concentration on the corrosion resistance properties of PEO coatings was observed with nearly one-order higher impedance magnitude (after 336 h) than the PEO layer without TiO2.

Efficiency Improvement of Double Pipe Heat Exchanger by using TiO2/water Nanofluid

Heat exchangers are commonly utilized to transfer heat between two fluids in a number of industries. However, parameters such as fluid flow velocity, temperature difference, and thermal conductivity limit their efficiency. Researchers have investigated the use of nanofluids - fluids containing nanoparticles that boost thermal characteristics - to improve the performance of heat exchangers. The use of nanofluids can improve the efficiency of double-pipe heat exchangers. However, research on the influence of TiO2/water nanofluid on the performance of double-pipe heat exchangers is insufficient. The purpose of this research is to investigate the impact of TiO2/water nanofluid on the efficiency of a double-pipe copper counter-flow heat exchanger. A double-pipe copper counter-flow heat exchanger using cold (room temperature) and hot (70°C) water as working fluids was used in an experimental investigation. They created nanofluids by adding varying concentrations (0.1%, 0.3%, and 0.5%) of TiO2 nanoparticles to water and measuring their heat conductivity and viscosity. They then calculated the overall heat transfer coefficient and efficacy by measuring the input and outlet temperatures as well as the flow rates of both fluids. It was discovered that adding TiO2 nanoparticles to water enhanced its heat conductivity and viscosity substantially. The overall heat transfer coefficient increased up to 0.3% but declined at 0.5% nanoparticle concentration. At a nanoparticle concentration of 0.3%, the maximum effectiveness was attained, with a corresponding increase in efficiency of up to 23%. The scientists found that using TiO2/water nanofluid to improve the efficiency of double-pipe heat exchangers is a viable option.

Effect of TiO2 nanoparticles on the corrosion resistance, wear, and antibacterial properties of microarc oxidation coatings applied on AZ31 magnesium alloy

Microarc oxidation (MAO) is a surface modification process that is often adopted to produce a hard oxide layer on magnesium alloys to improve their corrosion resistance and wear resistance. However, under continual corrosion, the characteristic porous microstructure of MAO coatings provides diffusion paths that allow corrosive species to penetrate the coatings and react with the substrate underneath. Therefore, the present study investigated the modification of the microstructure of MAO coatings when adding TiO2 nanoparticles to a fluoride-containing silicate electrolyte system under the bipolar current mode. The results indicate that as the concentration of TiO2 nanoparticles increased, the quantity of rutile (TiO2) incorporated in the MAO coating increased, which led to the coating exhibiting an elevated hardness and a color change from white to gray-black. When the TiO2 concentration in the electrolyte was increased from 2.5 to 7.5 g/L, the total impedance of the MAO coating in electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis increased from 107 to >600 kΩcm2, which indicates that the corrosion resistance of the coating increased with the number of defects on it decreased. The addition of TiO2 enhances the photocatalytic properties of MAO coatings. However, excessive addition of TiO2 can lead to an adverse effect on the wear resistance of MAO coatings.

Diffuser optimization for enhancing light extraction from light-emitting electrochemical cells

Light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs) have enabled many novel solution-processable, low-cost, and flexible emission applications. Nevertheless, relatively inferior device efficiencies render LECs less competitive with other emission technologies. Light extraction would be a promising approach to enhance the device efficiencies of LECs. The diffuser film composed of a transparent photoresist layer doped with large and small TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) embedded between the indium-tin-oxide layer and the glass substrate has shown superior light extraction performance (>2.5X). However, the physical insight of optimization, e.g., adjusting the concentration of small TiO2 NPs in diffuser film, has not been explored yet. In this work, increasing the concentration of small TiO2 NPs is found to increase the thickness, roughness, and refractive index of the diffuser film. The optical simulation indicates that the thickness of the diffuser film has little effect on the light extraction. However, a higher roughness but a lower refractive index is preferred for the diffuser film to achieve better light extraction. As such, it is rational to expect that a proper concentration of small TiO2 NPs to reach a high enough roughness but still keep a relatively low refractive index is required for diffuser optimization. This study clarifies the physical mechanism responsible for diffuser optimization and thus shows a high potential for lighting applications of LECs.

Influence of TiO2 and Al2O3 Nanoparticles Addition on Thermal, Wettability and IMC Growth of Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu Lead-Free Solder at Different Reflow Temperature

This study investigated the influence of adding 0.50 wt% and 1.0 wt% titanium dioxide (TiO2) and aluminium oxide (Al2O3) nanoparticles on the properties of Sn3.0Ag0.5Cu (SAC305) lead-free solder alloy. In terms of thermal properties, SAC305 lead-free solder with or without addition of TiO2 and Al2O3 nanoparticles, the melting temperature is very similar and comparable. The wetting performance of the SAC305 nanocomposite solder was determined by the contact angle. The best contact angle recorded is 31.65° at reflow temperature of 250°C for 0.50 wt% addition of TiO2 and Al2O3 nanoparticles. The thickness of the IMC layer was observed using an Optical Microscope and measured. Results show that the thickness of the IMC layer decreased when TiO2 and Al2O3 nanoparticles were reinforced into the SAC305 solder system, which shows significant decrease when 0.50wt% of TiO2 and Al2O3 nanoparticles were added. However, beyond 0.50 wt% the thickness of IMC layer increases along with increasing reflow temperature. The results reveal that the adsorption effect of TiO2 and Al2O3 nanoparticles will restrict the growth of the IMC layer under controlled concentration of the nanoparticles and reflow temperature. The optimal parameters to enhance the performance of SAC305 solder by reinforcing TiO2 and Al2O3 nanoparticles are reflowed at 250°C at 0.50 wt% concentration of TiO2 and Al2O3 nanoparticles.

Fabrication and Characterization of Semi-refined Carrageenan Films Incorporated with TiO2 Nanoparticles

In this study, a packaging film was developed using semi-refined carrageenan, incorporating varying concentrations of TiO2 nanoparticles. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of TiO2 nanoparticles on the properties of the SRC-based film. The films were prepared through a casting method, and the resulting samples were characterized in terms of their functional, mechanical, and physical properties. The SRC film containing 1 wt% of TiO2 nanoparticles demonstrated the highest tensile strength. However, with the addition of TiO2 nanoparticles at any concentrations (1, 3, 5, and 7 wt%), the elongation at break of the SRC film decreased in comparison to the SRC film without TiO2 nanoparticles. Moreover, as the concentration of TiO2 nanoparticles increased from 1 to 7 wt%, the moisture content, and water solubility of the SRC films decreased. The FTIR spectra analysis provided valuable information on the interaction between SRC and TiO2 nanoparticles. The results suggest that incorporating TiO2 nanoparticles into semi-refined carrageenan films shows promise for developing packaging materials with improved mechanical strength and physical performance.

Antioxidants and mitochondrial/lysosomal protective agents reverse toxicity induced by titanium dioxide nanoparticles on human lymphocytes.

Most of the literature has focused on titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) toxicity, showing the importance of oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and cell death in TiO2-induced toxicity. For this purpose, in the current study, we investigated the protective role of antioxidant and mitochondrial/lysosomal protective agents to minimize TiO2 NPs-induced toxicity in human lymphocytes. Human lymphocytes were obtained from heathy individuals and treated with different concentrations (80, 160, and 320µg/mL) of TiO2 NPs, and then human lymphocytes preincubated with butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), cyclosporin A (CsA), and chloroquine separately were exposed to TiO2 NPs for 6h. In all the above-mentioned treated groups, adverse parameters such as cytotoxicity, reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), lysosomal membrane destabilization, the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH) were measured. The results showed that TiO2 nanoparticles induced cytotoxicity through ROS formation, MMP collapse, lysosomal damages, depletion of GSH, and lipid peroxidation. However, BHT as an antioxidant, CsA as a mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) pore sealing agent, and chloroquine as a lysosomotropic agent, significantly inhibited all the TiO2 NPs-induced cellular and organelle toxicities. Thus, it seems that antioxidant and mitochondrial/lysosomal protective agents are promising preventive strategies against TiO2 NPs-induced toxicity.

Enhanced luminescence and electrical conductivity of polymer ultrathin films doped with TiO2 nanoparticles

The chemical polymerization method was used to prepare nanocomposite materials of polyaniline (PANi) and Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles. Ultrathin films were deposited by using the Langmuir Blodgett (LB) Technique. Surface Pressure vs mean molecular area isotherms of nanocomposite materials showed an increase in maximum attained surface pressure with variation in nanoparticle doping concentration. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra were taken for LB multilayers deposited on a quartz substrate, an increase in the intensity of PL peaks with increasing doping concentration of TiO2 nanoparticles. The topography of LB monolayer film under atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed that films were uniformly and densely deposited on the substrate. Phase imaging ensured the presence of nanoparticles in the polymer matrix. Conductive atomic force microscopy (C-AFM) was used to investigate the local electrical properties of nanocomposite LB films. Current-voltage characteristics showed variation in current with changing doping concentrations of TiO2 nanocomposite in PANi matrix. The work presents new insights in analyzing uniformly deposited ultrathin films of the composites which can be probed by C-AFM to reveal local electric properties by understanding topography-current correlation at the nanoscale. The conductive data analysis could be useful for understanding the current flow through the nanostructure surface.

Experimental Study on the Effect of TiO2–Water Nanofluid on Heat Transfer and Pressure Drop in Heat Exchanger with Varying Helical Coil Diameter

The growing demand for efficient heat exchangers has promoted extensive research in exploring advanced heat transfer fluids and novel geometries. This paper investigates the heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics in helical coil heat exchanger employing water-based TiO2 as nanofluid. The utilization of nanofluids offers promising enhancements in thermal conductivity and convective heat transfer in heat exchanger applications. The effect of nanofluid concentration and flow rate on heat transfer and pressure drop with varying helical coil diameter performance is investigated. Experimental tests were conducted using a heat exchanger with different helical coil pipe diameters of 9.53mm, 12.7mm and 15.88mm with constant pitch of 30mm and varying concentrations of TiO2 nanoparticles in water (ranging from 0.1% to 0.5% by volume). The heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop were measured at different operating conditions. The results shows that the addition of TiO2 nanoparticles to water significantly enhanced the heat transfer performance in the helical coil heat exchanger. There is an enhancement in heat transfer coefficient with increasing nanofluid concentration and with increase in pipe diameter. The maximum enhancement in heat transfer coefficient is observed at nanofluid concentration of 0.5% and for pipe diameter of 15.88 mm. However, there is increase in pressure drop with increase in nanofluid concentration and with decreasing pipe diameter. The pressure drop found to be higher for nanofluids compared to pure water. The maximum pressure drop is observed at a concentration of 0.5% and for pipe diameter 9.53mm. In conclusion, the use of a water-based TiO2 nanofluid in a helical coil heat exchanger offers improved heat transfer performance compared to pure water. However, the pressure drop also increases with nanofluid concentration and decreasing pipe diameter. Therefore, a trade-off between heat transfer enhancement and pressure drop should be considered in the design and operation of such heat exchangers.

Effect of Titanium dioxide nanoparticles in Enzymatic Activity of Epigeic Earthworm species “Eudrilus eugenia”

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) are commonly used in different industries because of their physico-chemical properties. They are widely used and their environmental occurrence has raised concerns about the potential toxicity as the release of nanoparticles to the soil directly or indirectly through air and water is gradually increasing. The soil is contaminated with nanoparticles in the long term and soil microorganisms can adversely be affected by these accumulated nanoparticles. Studies show that nanoparticles can have a lethal effect on soil microorganisms by causing the production of reactive oxygen species, by damaging the membrane permeability, cell signaling processes and the stability of enzymes and protein structures. In this study, Eudrilus eugenia earthworms were exposed to varying concentrations of TiO2 nanoparticles for a specified duration. Enzymatic activity assays were performed to evaluate the impact of nanoparticle exposure on key enzymes involved in antioxidant defense systems such as glutathione peroxidase (GPx) superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GR) detoxification enzymes and glutathione S-transferases (GSTs). The activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), an enzyme involved in neurotransmission, was also assessed. The results demonstrated the exposure to TiO2 nanoparticles significantly altered the enzymatic activity of Eudrilus eugenia earthworms. The activity of GPx and GR enzymes exhibited a concentration-dependent decrease (0, 5, 50 and 500 mg/kg), indicating a disruption in antioxidant defense mechanisms. This disruption suggests a potential imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant capacity, leading to oxidative stress. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and the reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) ratio significantly decreased under the 500 mg/kg nTiO2 treatment. Also, the activity of AChE was found to be significantly affected by TiO2 nanoparticle exposure, suggesting potential disruption in neurotransmission processes.

Thermal properties investigation of paraffin wax/titania nanocomposites as phase change materials

The use of phase change materials (PCMs) for thermal storage, thermal management, and thermal insulation has been widespread for many years. Thermal storage systems (TES) based on PCMs can be improved and optimized by adding nanoparticles (NPs) to them. Throughout this study, PCM nanocomposites (NCs) based on paraffin wax (PW) loaded by anatase titania (TiO2) NPs were fabricated and characterized to examine their thermal performance as phase change materials. The as-synthesized TiO2 NPs were obtained by hydrolysis technique and showed a well-defined spherical shape with a diameter in the nanoscale range and a crystallite size ~ 22.75 nm. Throughout the used concentrations of TiO2 NPs, 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, and 0.5%, the morphological feature for the PW/TiO2 NCs revealed a good dispersion of NPs in PW. The non-isothermal differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements at a constant heating rate of 10 °C min−1 were used in order to get the melting point (Tm), latent heat of fusion (LH), and latent heat rate (LHR) as a function of TiO2 NP concentrations for the investigated PW/TiO2 NCs. Both LH and LHR values for PW/TiO2 NCs are higher than those obtained for a pure PW sample. The significant enhancement in LH and LHR values for PW/TiO2 NCs was found to be 21.2% and 134.3% in comparison with the pure PW sample, respectively. The thermal stability of the investigated PW/TiO2 NCs was examined using thermal gravimetric (TG) scans. It is found that the thermal stability varies with TiO2 NP concentrations with a non-monotonic trend. At concentrations up to 0.25 mass%, the thermal stability improved. For concentrations over 0.25 mass%, the degradation process became rapid.