ESEM Microscopy Research Articles

Insight into Adsorption Kinetics of Cs+, Rb+, Co2+, and Sr2+ on a Zeolites-Based Composite: Comprehensive Diffusional Explanation and Modelling

Kaolinite-rich soils were used to prepare zeolite-based composites via alkaline activation. The porous material was characterized by conducting XRD and microporosity measurements, as well as ESEM microscopy. The Weber and Morris (W-M) model was used for studying adsorption kinetics of radioactive cations on synthesized alkali-activated material. These investigations evidenced the effects of pore structure and the importance of the intrinsic characteristics of hydrated cations (ionic potential; hydrated radius; B-viscosity parameter; molar Gibbs energy of hydration of cation) on W-M kinetic rate constants. The application of diffusion-based models permitted us to assess the key diffusion parameters controlling successive diffusion regimes, and to reveal strong contributions of surface diffusion to adsorption kinetics during the course of the second and third kinetics stages of the W-M model. The magnitude of the surface diffusion coefficient was related to the capacity of hydrated cationic species to lose water molecules when penetrating brick pores. The HSDM model were tested for predicting radionuclide adsorption in a fixed-bed column. A breakthrough curve simulation indicated the predominance of the surface diffusion regime, which was in agreement with mathematical analysis of (batch) adsorption kinetics data. Ionic diffusion was linked to the characteristics of capillary porosity and connectivity of capillary pores in the composite, suggesting the generation of hydrated nuclides and their immobilization in the form of outer-sphere complexes.

Targeting functionalised carbon nanotubes at the interphase of Textile Reinforced Mortar (TRM) composites

Tensile performance of textile reinforced inorganic matrix composites strongly depends on the matrix-to-fabric bond strength, that is the weak chain in the system. In this work, we investigate the role of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) dispersion in an amorphous silica nano-coating for AR-glass and carbon fabric Textile Reinforced Mortar (TRM) composites. Two lime mortars are considered at 56-day curing. Comparative mechanical testing in uni-axial tension show remarkable enhancements in terms of mean ductility, strength and energy dissipation capabilities. Besides, coating successfully hinders telescopic failure and delamination, which significantly narrows data scattering and benefits design limits. Crack pattern analysis reveals that coating promotes diffuse cracking in the specimen, with gradual and progressive damage buildup. Indeed, mean crack width and mean crack spacing are consistently reduced. BET, optical and E-SEM microscopy supports the action mechanism of the coating, that promotes wettability, surface roughening and imparts a remarkable increase in the specific surface area of the reinforcement.

Octocoral Tissue Provides Protection from Declining Oceanic pH

Increase in anthropogenic pCO2 alters seawater chemistry and could lead to reduced calcification or skeleton dissolution of calcifiers and thereby weaken coral-reef structure. Studies have suggested that the complex and diverse responses in stony coral growth and calcification, as a result of elevated pCO2, can be explained by the extent to which their soft tissues cover the underlying skeleton. This study compared the effects of decreased pH on the microstructural features of both in hospite (within the colony) and isolated sclerites (in the absence of tissue protection) of the zooxanthellate reef-dwelling octocoral Ovabunda macrospiculata. Colonies and isolated sclerites were maintained under normal (8.2) and reduced (7.6 and 7.3) pH conditions for up to 42 days. Both in hospite and isolated sclerites were then examined under SEM and ESEM microscopy in order to detect any microstructural changes. No differences were found in the microstructure of the in hospite sclerites between the control and the pH treatments. In stark contrast, the isolated sclerites revealed dissolution damage related to the acidity of the water. These findings suggest a protective role of the octocoral tissue against adverse pH conditions, thus maintaining them unharmed at high pCO2. In light of the competition for space with the less resilient reef calcifiers, octocorals may thus have a significant advantage under greater than normal acidic conditions.

Coordination ability of free or silica immobilized Schiff bases towards Hg(II), Cd(II) and Pb(II) ions

A series of ligands, consisting of Schiff bases and their reduced amine derivatives, was prepared by [2+1] condensation of 3-methoxy (or 3-ethoxy)-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde or 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde with 3,4-diaminobenzoic acid or 1,2-diaminobenzene, and by subsequent reduction with hydrogen or NaBH4. The complexation behavior of these ligands towards Cd(II), Pb(II) and Hg(II) salts was tested and the resulting complexes characterized by elemental analysis, IR and NMR spectroscopy, ESI-MS mass spectrometry and SEM–ESEM microscopy. Ligand-bearing silicas were prepared by the reaction of a carboxylic group at the periphery of the coordinating moiety of the Schiff bases or amine derivatives with functionalized silicas bearing NH2 or Cl groups. Ligand-bearing silicas were characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy and SEM–ESEM microscopy. Finally, the capability of these materials to sequestrate the above mentioned metal ions from water solutions was studied. Preliminary data on the selective recognition of mercury ions from cadmium and lead ions are reported.

Preparation and Characterization of Light-Sensitive Microcapsules Based on a Liquid Crystalline Polyester

Photosensitive microcapsules and membranes based on poly(α-methylstilbenesebacoate-co-α-methylstilbeneisophthalate), containing the photosensitive α-methylstilbene moiety, were prepared by a phase-inversion precipitation process. In order to simulate the morphology and behavior of the microcapsule shell under UV irradiation, an exhaustive characterization of a membrane was first performed by ESEM, POM, AFM, and contact angle measurements. The prepared microcapsules contained either chloroform or a concentrated solution of vanillin in chloroform as the core; in all cases, before UV irradiation, their outer surface appeared smooth and dense. The influence of vanillin on microcapsule cross-section morphology was observed by ESEM microscopy. Release of vanillin in water, at room temperature, was markedly influenced by UV irradiation: in the absence of irradiation, it was practically negligible, while when microcapsules were submitted to continuous irradiation with UV light, the surface morphology of the capsules changed drastically and vanillin started to be released after ca. 20 min of irradiation.

Microstructure and olfactory quality of apples de-hydrated by innovative technologies

The purpose of this study was to investigate of structural changes induced in apple texture upon dehydration with classical methods, as freeze-drying and convective-air drying, compared to apples dried by packaging in innovative films based on natural polysaccharides. ESEM microscopy was used to detect structural changes. Our studies has shown that apples obtained by freeze-drying had a more broken tissue texture, and that the composition of the films has an effect both on structure and re-hydration kinetics. Olfactory characteristics of the different dried apples were also investigated by using an electronic nose device and compared with tissue texture properties. Apples that have shown the most intact cell walls are those that better retain olfactory properties.

Preparation and characterization of scleroglucan drug delivery films: The effect of freeze‐thaw cycling

AbstractThis study examined the effect of the freeze‐thaw process on the physical properties of films prepared from scleroglucan (Scl) hydrogels, suitable for drug delivery applications. Films made from Scl, using glycerol as plasticizer, were prepared from hydrogels by two procedures: a room temperature drying (RTD) method and a freeze‐thaw cyclic process, before the application of RTD, which results in a reinforced physically cross‐linked network. Films were characterized by studies of water vapor transmission (WVT), swelling, tensile tests, ESEM microscopy, FTIR, and drug release measurements. These determinations showed significant differences between films obtained by both treatments. The films prepared through freeze‐thaw cycles showed an important increase of the tensile strength with respect to those corresponding to films only air dried and a decreasing swelling degree in direct relationship to the number of freeze‐thaw cycles. A model drug, Theophylline, was included in these biocompatible films for in vitro drug release measurements, using a flat Franz cell. The physical differences observed between Scl films prepared with both methods can be explained proposing that the number of crosslinking points by hydrogen bonding increase when increasing the number of freezing and thawing cycles used for film preparation. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009