A cerium-loaded poly(hydroxamic acid) chelating ion exchanger was used for fluoride ion removal from aqueous solution. The resin was effective in decreasing the fluoride concentration from 5 mM down to 0.001 mM in acidic pH between 3 and 6. The sorption followed a Langmuir model with a maximum capacity of 0.5 mmol/g. The removal is accomplished by an anion exchange mechanism. The rate constant for the sorption was found to be 9.6 x 10(-2) min-1. A column test shows that the fluoride ion was retained on the column until breakthrough point and the fluoride sorbed in the column can be eluted with 0.1 M NaOH. The column can be reused after being condition with hydrochloric acid at pH 4. The resin was tested and found to be effective for removal of fluoride from actual industrial wastewater.
A study was undertaken to determine the effect of polyethylene and polystyrene used in the manufacture of plastic items on colour perception. Colour vision was assessed using the Ishihara plates, panel 015 test and the Farnsworth Munsell 100-Hue test. Two factories were chosen at random. One factory (referred here as factory A) used virgin resin in pellet form (polyethylene) in the manufacturing of plastic containers to store consumer edible oil. The other factory (referred as factory B) used polystyrene to make plastic bags. A total of 39 healthy employees from factory A (mean age 26.4 :t 8.2 years) and 40 healthy employees from factory B (mean age 26.8 :t 9.6 years) were recruited in this study. A control group of 27 normal healthy subjects (mean age 27.4 :t 4.3 years) who were employees of UKM with no occupational involvement with petroleum derivatives were also recruited in this study and they performed the same colour vision tests. All subjects passed the Ishihara plates test showing that none of the subjects (employees of factory A and B, and control subjects) had a congenital red-green defect. All control subjects passed all of the colour vision tests whilst some employees of factories A and B failed the 015 and FM100 Hue tests. For employees from factory A results from the 015 test showed that 7 (17.9%) had a tritan (blue-yellow) type of defect and 1 (2.6%) had a complex type of defect. The FM 100 Hue results of factory A employees showed that 51.3% (n=20) had a complex type of defect. Total error scores (TES) calculated from the FM 100 Hue test revealed that employees from factory A had a statistically significant higher mean TES of 65.13:!: 48.31 compared to that of control subjects with a mean TES of 31.26:!: 14.93. For employees in factory B, 10 employees (25.0%) had a tritan (blue-yellow) type of defect and 2 (5.0%) had a complex type of defect. Results of the FM 100 Hue test showed that 4 employees (1.0%) had a tritan type of defect whereas 22 (55.0%) had a complex type of defect. Mean total error scores (TES) calculated from the FM 100 Hue test revealed that employees from factory B had a statistically significant higher mean TES of 71.54 :t 54.63 compared with that of control subjects with a mean TES of 31.26 :t. 14.93
The above results show that employees of the plastic factories studies are associated with a higher risk of acquiring colour vision defects as compared to normal subjects who are not engaged in the plastic manufacturing industry. This may have an implication towards the future retinal health of employees in petrod1emical-based industries.
Kajian ini dijalankan bagi mengenalpasti kepelbagaian nisbah 234U/238U yang wujud di dalam jumlah pepejal terampai (TSS) pada lapan stesen yang berbeza di Kuala Selangor, Selangor. Prosedur kajian ini melibatkan proses persampelan, pemendakan, resin penukaran anion, pemendakan elektrik dan teknik pengiraaan spektrometer alfa. Nisbah 234U/238U adalah paling tinggi di Stesen 8 (234U/238U = 2.98) dan Stesen 2 (234U/238U = 3.34) pada persampelan pertama. Manakala pada persampelan kedua julat nisbah 234U/238U adalah lebih luas iaitu antara 1.29 (Stesen 4) hingga 11.57 (Stesen 6). Ini disebabkan oleh berlakunya pergerakan 234U bersama-sama mikroorganisme di dalam fasa terampai dan berlaku proses penurunan U(VI) kepada U(IV) yang akan memendakkan uranium daripada air ke dalam sedimen.
Trigonopleura malayana L. (Euphorbiaceae) resin, locally known as Gambir Sarawak, has been used traditionally to alleviate pain associated with insect bites, muscle ache, toothache and minor injuries. The present study was carried out using various animal models to determine the antinociceptive and antiinflammatory activities of the T. malayana resin aqueous extract. Antinociceptive activity was measured using the abdominal constriction, hot plate and formalin tests, while antiinflammatory activity was measured using the carrageenan-induced paw edema test. The extract, obtained after 24 h of soaking the dried resin in distilled water, was prepared in doses of 0.3, 3 and 10 mg/kg and administered subcutaneously 30 min prior to the assays. The mechanism of action was also determined by prechallenging with naloxone (10 mg/kg), a nonselective opioid antagonist. The extract was found to exhibit significant (P < 0.05) and dose-dependent antinociceptive and antiinflammatory activities; naloxone failed to inhibit the former activity. In conclusion, the aqueous extract of T. malayana resin possesses nonopioid antinociceptive and antiinflammatory activities, thus supporting previous claims regarding its traditional use by the Malays to treat various ailments, particularly those related to pain.
Plant resins, and particularly dammars from the Dipterocarpaceae family, were widely used in the past, notably as part of caulking material. The organic composition of resins, already complicated, is not always preserved over time and can be considerably affected by ageing. Hence, their occurrence in archaeological items leads to the necessity to identify them taxonomically with precision. Resinous organic materials collected near and/or on wrecks discovered in South China Sea, supposed to contain dammar resins because of their geographical excavation context, were investigated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), together with freshly collected dammars, to establish taxonomic and alteration parameters allowing to identify dammar even in very altered samples or in mixtures together with other organic materials. This study specially focuses on three samples collected within or close to the M1J wreck, a Portuguese wreck lost in the Straight of Malacca during the 16th century. Our analyses establish that all three are made of dammar, two of them in association with pitch and bitumen. In addition, biodegradation biomarkers were detected in all these three samples, indicating that they were submitted to microbial degradation processes during their ageing.
The objective of the present study was to develop a rapid, reliable and yet inexpensive protocol for genomic DNA extraction from frozen and ethanol-preserved Asian green-lipped mussels for random amplified microsatelite (RAM) analysis. The procedure comprised of three major steps: (1) Tissue degradation by boiling in 6% Chelex 100 resin in TE buffer; (2) Protein digestion by Proteinase K; and (3) DNA precipitation by adding 2 volumes of cold absolute ethanol. The entire procedure can be completed within two hours. The resulting RAM profiles were clear and reproducible. Our results demonstrate that the combined protocol of Chelex 100-Proteinase K-ethanol precipitation is a powerful yet economical DNA isolation method for population genetic studies involving a large sample size.
The widespread use of aesthetic fillings has highlighted their advantages and disadvantages. One
of the most troublesome features of earlier aesthetic materials was the difficulty of finishing the restoration surface to decrease adherence of food debris. The rougher the finished surface, the greater the possibility of bacterial accumulation and discolouration of restoration along the restoration margin with secondary caries formation. Aside from these clinical implications, patients are highly discerning and could detect roughness of 0.30 μm with their tongue. The aesthetic restoration should mimic the appearance of natural dentition and should have an enamel-like appearance. An increased demand for superior aesthetics from composite resin has increased the
demand for more eff icient and simple polishing techniques. The development of nanocomposites has given a new perspective to the polishing of composite resins. Nanocomposites claim the advantage of improved gloss, optical characteristics and reduced wear. To date, results of in vitro studies have been equivocal regarding the most efficient and effective polishing system. There is variation in the effects of different finishing and polishing instruments on the surface roughness due to great diversity in size, shape, composition and distribution of the filler particles of composite resins, type of resin and a wide variety of finishing and polishing instruments. This paper will
review the different factors that affect polishing techniques used in achieving the desired polish on
composite resin restorations.
Fire-retarding polyurethane (PU) composite was produced by adding 2,4-ditert-butylphenyl phosphite (FR) to palm-based monoester resin with loading percentage of 0, 2, 4, and 6 wt%. The Shore D hardness index increased marginally with increasing FR content. However, the impact and flexural strengths decreased with increasing FR loading attributed to the weak interfacial bonding between FR and PU matrix. The fire test indicated lowering of burning rate (from 5.30 mm.s-1 to 2.80 mm.s-1) as the loading percentage of FR increased. The combustion enthalpy of the composites also decreased with higher loading percentage of FR.
Proses pencecairan lignin soda telah dilakukan dengan menggunakan fenol dengan nisbah 1:3. Proses dilakukan selama 90 minit pada suhu 130oC dalam keadaan refluk. Hasil pencecairan iaitu pemfenolan lignin (PL) telah dianalisis dengan Spektrometer Inframerah Transformasi Fourier (FTIR), reometer dan analisis termogravimetri (TGA). Sampel yang disintesis dengan menggunakan asid hidroklorik sebagai mangkin memberikan keputusan yang terbaik. Analisis FTIR menunjukkan kehadiran kumpulan berfungsi yang signifikan seperti gelang aromatik, alkohol dan karbonil. Kesemua sampel PL mematuhi persamaan Arhenius dan bersifat pseudo-plastik. Peratus kehilangan berat sampel dan kadar penguraian sampel PL dipengaruhi oleh jenis mangkin yang digunakan. Sampel PL yang disintesis dikelaskan sebagai biopolimer resin fenolik.
The effect of adding aluminum hydroxide (ATH) in the palm-based polyurethane hybrid composite was studied. The compression stress and modulus, thermal conductivity and acoustic property were determined. The hybrid composite was prepared by adding 10 wt% of oil palm empty fruit bunch fibre (EFB) followed by ATH at varying amount of 2, 4 and 6 wt% of the overall mass of the resin. The compression stress and modulus gave the highest values of 575 kPa and 2301 kPa, respectively at 2 wt% ATH. At 4 wt% ATH, the compression stress and modulus decreased to 431 kPa and 1659 kPa, respectively and further decreased at 6 wt% ATH to 339 kPa and 1468 kPa respectively. The k-value increased with the increment of the ATH loading exhibited a poor thermal conductivity. Sound absorption analysis indicated that the absorption coefficient was higher at higher frequency (4000 Hz) for all samples with PU-EFB/ATH with 4% ATH showed the highest absorption coefficient.
In this study, poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) wastes bottle was recycled by glycolysis process using ethylene glycol. The unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) was then prepared by reacting the glycolysed product with maleic anhydride. The blend of UPR based on recycled PET wastes with liquid natural rubber (LNR) was carried out by varying the amount of LNR from 0 to 7.5 wt%. Mechanical tests such as tensile and impact were conducted to investigate the effects of LNR on the mechanical properties. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to analyze the morphology of the breaking area resulted from the tensile tests on the UPR and blend samples. From the results, the blend of 2.5 wt% LNR in UPR based recycled PET wastes achieved the highest strength in the mechanical properties and showed a well dispersed of elastomer particles in the sample morphology compared to other blends concentrations. This blend sample was then compared to the optimum blend of LNR with commercial resin through the glass transition temperature value Tg, mechanical strength and morphology properties. The comparison study showed that the Tg for UPR based recycled PET was higher than the value represented from commercial resin due to the degree of crystalinity in the molecular structure of the materials. LNR was found to be an effective impact modifier which gave a greater improvement in UPR from recycled PET wastes structure but not to the commercial one which needs 5% LNR to achieve the optimum properties. Thus, the compatibility between the UP resin based recycled PET and LNR was much better than with the commercial resin.
Effects of aluminium hydroxide (ATH) addition on the properties of palm-based polyurethane composites were investigated. The hybrid composites were prepared by mixing 10 wt% of oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber (EFB) with ATH at varying amount of 2, 4 and 6 wt% of the overall mass of the resin. The compression stress and modulus gave the highest values of 575 and 2301 kPa, respectively at 2 wt% loading of ATH. The compression stress and modulus decreased drastically at 4 wt% (431 kPa and 1659 kPa, respectively) and further decreased at 6 wt% ATH (339 and 1468 kPa, respectively). However, the burning rate is inversely proportional to the loading percentage where the highest burning rate was observed at 2 wt% ATH. Sound absorption analysis indicated a large absorption coefficient at high frequency (4000 Hz) for all samples. The highest absorption coefficient was obtained from PU-EFB/ATH with 4 wt% ATH.
Detection and analysis of resin is particularly significant since the commercial value of agarwood is related to the quantity of resins that are present. This article explores the potential of a scanning electron microscope in combination with new non-destructive 3D visualization technique, X-ray micro-computed tomography, as imaging tools to visualize micro-structure resin in agarwood. These techniques were used to compare two samples of agarwood chips: high grade and low grade. From the results, it can be concluded that a wood cell filled with resin deposit have a higher attenuation. It can be shown that the combination of scanning electron microscopy and micro-CT can offer high resolution images concerning the localization and structure of resin inside Agarwood. While the second allows the 3D investigation of internal structure of agarwood, the first technique can provide details 2D morphological information. These imaging techniques, although sophisticated can be used for standard development especially in grading of agarwoodlbr commercial activities.
Feasibility studies on the vitrification of spent ion exchange resins combined with glass cullet powder have been conducted using a High Temperature Test Furnace. Bottle glass cullet powder was used as matrix material to convert the ash of the spent resins into a glass. Vitrificat ion of spent ion exchange resins presents a reasonable disposal alternative, because of its inherent organic destruction capabilities, the volume reduction levels obtainable, and the durable product that it yields. In this study, the spent ion exchange resin from the PUSPATI TRIGA reactor of Nuclear Malaysia was combusted in a lab scale combustor and the resulting ash was vitrified together with glass cullet powder in a high temperature furnace to produce a stable spent resin ash embedded in glass. The factors affecting this immobilized waste, such as thermal stability, radiological stability and leachability have all been investigated. However, the outcome of these tests, which include the radionuclide activity concentration in the slag, the optimum conditioning temperature - in relation with volume reduction during vitrification - and the volume mixing ratio of matrix material were reported. It was found that the radionuclides present in spent resins were 54 Mn, 60 Co and 152Eu. The elementary chemical composition (carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and sulphur) of spent resins was 27.6% C, 5.68% H, 2.04% N and 4.20% S, respectively. The maximum calorific value of spent resins was 1735 kJ/kg. The average activity concentrations of 54 Mn and 60Co in ash at 200oC were 9,411 ± 243 Bq/Kg and 12,637± 201 Bq/Kg. flue gases containing CO2, CO, SO2 and NO started to be emitted above 200oC. The optimum conditioning temperature was also the highest tested, i.e. 900oC in 45 minutes, and the best mixing ratio ash to matrix material was also the highest, ie 1:9. Finally, the leaching analysis of slag at 900oC in 45 minutes showed that the leaching activity of 60Co was below 0.5 Bq/mL.
Agarwood is a priceless non-timber forest product from Aquilaria species belonging to the Thymelaeaceae family. As a result of a defence mechanism to fend off pathogens, Aquilaria species develop agarwood or resin which can be used for incense, perfumery, and traditional medicines. Evidences from ethnopharmacological practices showed that Aquilaria spp. have been traditionally used in the Ayurvedic practice and Chinese medicine to treat various diseases particularly the inflammatory-associated diseases. There have been no reports on traditional use of agarwood towards cancer treatment. However, this is most probably due to the fact that cancer nomenclature is used in modern medicine to describe the diseases associated with unregulated cell growth in which inflammation and body pain are involved.
Komposit epoksi berpengisi hibrid OMMT (organ-monmorilonit) dan getah asli terepoksida (ENR) telah dihasilkan dengan menggunakan kaedah penyemperitan berskru kembar pusingan searah. Ujian regangan ke atas sistem epoksi yang dihasilkan menunjukkan modulus Young bagi komposit hibrid epoksi adalah lebih tinggi daripada resin tanpa pengisi dan nilai modulus didapati meningkat dengan peningkatan komposisi OMMT dalam matriks (setinggi 40% peningkatan). Hal ini dipercayai adalah disebabkan oleh sifat tegar lapisan MMT. Sementara itu, peningkatan luas permukaan kawasan antara fasa ekoran kehadiran fasa penambah didapati telah mengurangkan tegasan alah dan terikan akhir komposit hibrid yang dihasilkan. Pemeriksaan mikrostruktur komposit hibrid epoksi melalui TEM dan xRD mendedahkan taburan OMMT dalam matriks epoksi dengan susunan interkalasi dan pengelupasan. Analisis DSC ke atas sampel yang termatang menunjukkan bahawa T g sistem komposit hibrid adalah rendah berbanding dengan sistem perduaan (ESB dan ESLE). Pengurangan ketumpatan taut silang disyaki merupakan punca penyusutan T g ini.
In view of green developments in water treatment, plant-based flocculants have become the focus due to their safety, degradation and renewable properties. In addition, cost and energy-saving processes are preferable. In this study, malva nut gum (MNG), a new plant-based flocculant, and its composite with Fe in water treatment using single mode mixing are demonstrated. The result presents a simplified extraction of the MNG process. MNG has a high molecular weight of 2.3 × 10⁵ kDa and a high negative charge of -58.7 mV. From the results, it is a strong anionic flocculant. Moreover, it is observed to have a branch-like surface structure. Therefore, it conforms to the surface of particles well and exhibits good performance in water treatment. In water treatment, the Fe-MNG composite treats water at pH 3.01 and requires a low concentration of Fe and MNG of 0.08 and 0.06 mg/L, respectively, when added to the system. It is concluded that for a single-stage flocculation process, physico-chemical properties such as molecular weight, charge of polymer, surface morphology, pH, concentration of cation and concentration of biopolymeric flocculant affect the flocculating performance.
A clear understanding on the fundamental mechanism in solid state self-healing resin system might significantly improve the optimization of healing performance. The focus of this study was to prove the diffusion (through thermal inter-diffusion) of a linear healing agent within the network matrix resin. The results had demonstrated that 45 to 21 percentage recoveries in fracture toughness (K1C) were observed within the third healing cycles of the healable resin. Based on the optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIM) analyst; the diffusion of healing agent was also demonstrated by the change in the morphology and chemical images of the healing agent on the fracture surface specimen, before and after healing process.
used with bonded retainers. Setting: Department of Orthodontics, UCL Eastman Dental Institute, United Kingdom. Methods: Flowable composite resins (Transbond TM Supreme LV, StarFlowTM and Tetric EvoFlow®) and non -flowable control resin (TransbondTM LR) were made into cylinders prior to bonding to hydoxyapatite discs. They were then mounted into jigs and tested in the InstronTM Universal Testing Machine in both shear and tensile modes. Results: The highest mean shear bond strength was seen with StarFlow TM (14.09 MPa), which was significantly higher than both TransbondTM LR (9.48 MPa) and TransbondTM Supreme LV (8.20 MPa). The mean shear bond strength of Tetric EvoFlow® (11.86 MPa) was also significantly higher than TransbondTM Supreme LV. The highest mean tensile bond strength was seen with Tetric EvoFlow® (2.14 MPa), which was significantly higher than TransbondTM LR (1.15 MPa) and TransbondTM Supreme LV (0.61 MPa) but not significantly different to StarFlowTM (1.47 MPa). For shear loading, StarFlowTM had the highest 50th percentile survival estimate at 15.10 MPa, followed by Tetric EvoFlow® (13.00 MPa) and TransbondTM Supreme LV (7.50 MPa). TransbondTM LR had a 50th percentile estimate at 9.00 MPa. For tensile loading, Tetric EvoFlow® had the highest 50th percentile survival estimate at 2.50 MPa, followed by StarFlowTM (1.30 MPa) and TransbondTM Supreme LV (0.50 MPa). TransbondTM LR had a 50th percentile estimate at 1.00 MPa. Conclusions: Mean shear bond strengths for all of the resins were significantly higher than the mean tensile bond strengths. StarFlowTM and Tetric EvoFlow® could potentially be suitable clinical alternatives to TransbondTM LR due to its low viscosity flow characteristics and adequate shear and tensile bond strengths.
Bio-novolac fibre made from phenol-formaldehyde derived oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) was produced using electrospinning method. The bio-novolac phenol-formaldehyde was prepared via liquefaction and resinification at two different molar ratios of formaldehyde to liquefied EFB (LEFB) (F:LEFB = 0.5:1 and 0.8:1). Electrospinning was applied to the bio-novolac phenol-formaldehyde (BPF) in order to form smooth and thin as-spun fibre. The BPF was electrospun at 15 kV and 15 cm distance between needle and collector at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/h. At lower molecular weight of BPF resin, beads formation was observed. The addition of poly(vinyl) butyral (Mw = 175,000 - 250,000) has improved the fibre formation with lesser beads hence produced more fibre. Polymer solution with higher molecular weight produced better quality fibre.