Biosynthesis techniques have a number of advantages over other methods for producing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), which provide a wide range of applications. The present work highlights the biosynthesis of AgNPs by mixing pear leaf aqueous extract with silver nitrate, and the formation of AgNPs was observed by the change of mixture color from yellow to dark brown and visible spectrophotometry. Moreover, the effect of pH, reaction time, AgNO3 concentration, extract volume and temperature on the suggested approach was also studied. The results showed that pear leaf aqueous extract is an excellent material for the biosynthesis of AgNPs, and by controlling the mentioned parameters that influence synthesis, a large number of AgNPs with small sizes may be produced. Keywords: silver nitrate, silver nanoparticles, pear leaves, biosynthesis 

Biosynthesis techniques have a number of advantages over other methods for producing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), which provide a wide range of applications. The present work highlights the biosynthesis of AgNPs by mixing pear leaf aqueous extract with silver nitrate, and the formation of AgNPs was observed by the change of mixture color from yellow to dark brown and visible spectrophotometry. Moreover, the effect of pH, reaction time, AgNO3 concentration, extract volume and temperature on the suggested approach was also studied. The results showed that pear leaf aqueous extract is an excellent material for the biosynthesis of AgNPs, and by controlling the mentioned parameters that influence synthesis, a large number of AgNPs with small sizes may be produced.

This study reports a rapid and eco-friendly green method for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles from silver nitrate solution using winter jasmine leaves extract as a reducing agent of Ag+ to Ag0. A visible Absorption Spectrophotometer was used to monitor the formation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The visible spectrum showed an absorption peak at 420 nm which reflects the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of AgNPs. In addition to that, the synthesis of AgNPs was confirmed by the color change of the solution. By studying the most important factors affecting the formation of AgNPs, it was noted that the productivity of AgNPs in the solution increased by increasing the pH of the solution, and the basic medium was the appropriate medium for the synthesis process. Also, the amount of produced AgNPs increased with the increase in temperature, volume of extract, reaction time, the extract volume ratio of the winter jasmine leaves, and silver nitrate concentration. In conclusion, the aqueous extract of winter jasmine leaves represents a suitable material for the biosynthesis of AgNPs, and large amounts of AgNPs with appropriate sizes may be obtained by controlling the parameters that affect the synthesis process.

Thyroid function is impaired by diabetes, resulting into thyroid disorders, accompanied by the alteration of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroxine (T4) levels. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of vitamin D supplementation on TSH and total T4 levels in serum of Libyan patients suffering from type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with thyroid disorders. A total of 180 subjects were recruited and distributed into two groups: 80 participants in control group (43 females and 37 males), with an age range of 26-72 years, and 100 participants in T2DM patient group (54 females and 46 males), with an age range of 26-63 years. Each T2DM patient received a monthly intramuscular injection of 200000 ng/ml vitamin D for three months. Glucose, vitamin D, total T4 and TSH levels were determined in serum samples of healthy subjects and of T2DM patients (pre- and post-administration of vitamin D). After the T2DM group received vitamin D supplementation, the mean of vitamin D level increased in the T2DM, while the mean of glucose level decreased. Most importantly, the mean of total T4 level for patients increased significantly (p ˂ 0.05) from 1.34 to 8.23 g/dL, both of which were lower than the control group mean 10.99 g/dL. In contrast, the mean of TSH level for patients decreased significantly (p ˂ 0.05) from 11.77 to 2.71 mU/L, and both values were greater than the control group mean 2.01 mU/L. ANOVA results showed that age, gender, and body mass index had no significant individual interactions (p > 0.05) with vitamin D supplementation on total T4 and TSH levels. Vitamin D supplementation had a beneficial role on total T4 and TSH levels in serum of Libyan T2DM patients with thyroid disorders.

The term “gel” is commonly used to refer to the defect that distorts a film product. Eliminating gel defects from polyolefin film products can be difficult, time-consuming, and expensive. The impact of crystallization in the blown film matrix of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) was investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Unmelted spots (gels) in the films for both compared HDPEs were tested. Tensile strength and elongation percentage of films made with hexene is higher than for the films made with butene. The gels were bigger in size and higher in density in Lanufene® than in the Equate product. It was found that this gel was affected the mechanical and physical properties of the locally produced HDPE film. The flow that takes place in a melt flow index (MFI) experiment has been simulated for Lanufene® and Equategrades. The high MI enables the grade to be fit into the injection molding process. The melt index and melt flow index of Lanufene® are higher than the Equate product, while the melt flow ratio and density are lower. The percentage of Nu, Si, Cr, Al, C, and Fe in the gels determined by SEM was found to be higher in Lanufene® than Equate, except for the carbon element. Keywords: gel, HDPE film, crystallization, Lanufene®, Equate, scanning microscope

Biosynthesis of the metallic nanoparticle is gaining importance because it’s a single-step process, nontoxic, environmentally acceptable, and easily scaled up. The present study investigated the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) via reacting olive wastewater filtrate (OWF) with silver nitrate, and the formation of AgNPs was confirmed by a color change of the reaction mixture and visible spectrophotometry. Additionally, the influence of pH, reaction time, AgNO₃ concentration, temperature, and OWF volume on the proposed method was investigated. It was found that with increasing the previously mentioned parameters, the formation of the AgNPs was increased under the experimental conditions. The results showed that OWF represented a promising material for the biosynthesis of AgNPs.      

A convenient method of preparing ultrafine polystyrene latex nano-particles with chlorine groups on the surface is developed. Polystyrene latexes in the size range 50–400 nm were prepared via emulsion polymerization, using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as surfactant. The poly styrene with chlorine groups on the surface will be fine to use as organic filler to modify rubber. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to observe the morphology of silicon dioxide and functionalized polystyrene nanoparticles. The nature of bonding between the polymer and the reactive groups on the filler surfaces was analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to examine the filler surface.

ABSTRACT

Natural polymers with improved structure have been securing increasing value in the industry as they

are abundant, cheap, and biodegradable. Graft copolymerization is one of the effective ways to

enhance the properties of natural polymers. Starch based graft copolymers are becoming increasingly

important due to their remarkable adhesion, high water absorbency, and biodegradability. Methyl

methacrylate (MMA) grafted onto starch by using the ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) as a redox

initiator in the presence of nitric acid in aqueous medium to form grafted copolymer (Starch-g-

PMMA) was investigated. The grafting reaction was carried out under stream of nitrogen gas. The

impact of different reaction parameters to achieve the highest percent grafting (%G) has been studied

by determining the initiator concentration, monomer concentration, time (hours), nitric acid

concentration, and polymerization temperature. The % G was found to be 97%. Evidence of grafting

was characterized and confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The peaks at

1736.70 cm-1 and 3449.78 cm-1 indicates that MMA has been successfully grafted to starch. %G was

found to be decreased at higher than 70°C, after 2 hours of reaction time, with an increase of MMA

monomer concentration, initiator concentration, and with HNO3 concentration. The highest percent

grafting was obtained at the parameters of 1 g starch, 70°C, 2 hours, 2 mmol CAN, 140 mmol MMA

and 0.4 mmol HNO3

Abstract:

This study investigated the potential use of olive pomace (OP) as an adsorbent to

reduce the concentration of methyl orange (MO) in aqueous solutions. The effect of

some important parameters on the process of adsorption was examined, including

pH, adsorbent weight, temperature, contact time, agitation speed, and the initial

concentration of MO. The results showed that the optimum concentration of MO was

10 ppm and the optimum pH = 2, indicating that the process of MO adsorption on the

surface of the OP was better in acidic medium. The equilibrium time was 80 min at a

speed of 100 rpm. The results of the study showed the significant role of OP weight,

agitation speed, temperature and the contact time in increasing the adsorption

efficiency. On comparing the pseudo first order and pseudo second order models, the

results showed that the pseudo second order model fitted the experimental data well.

The study also included testing of Langmuir and Freundlich models on the

adsorption isotherm data, and it was found that experimental data obey the

Freundlich isotherm. To sum up, the study showed that OP has high adsorption

efficiency to remove MO by applying a simple, inexpensive method.

This study investigate the removal efficiency of chromium (VI) from water by using (R-AgCl) Silver chloride resin (SCR) as selective sorbent material for removal chromium (VI) from aqueous solution; the study was carried out by sorption batch experiments at room temperature(25°C). Efficiency of Cr(VI) removal was determined by measuring the chromium concentration before and after the sorption process. Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) method has been applied as analytical method for determination of Cr concentration in water. Governing factors for removal efficiency were proposed, analyzed and compared. It was conducted that the process is mostly affected by pH value of solution, mass of sorbent and concentration of Cr(VI) , which was the most efficient sorbent showed maximal efficiency and maximal sorption capacity, 1.5g of SCR after 60 min at 25 °C and pH 6.5 recovered 98% of Cr(VI) from 100 mL of water polluted with 20 mg of Cr(VI).