The composite of MgH2/K2NiF6/carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is prepared by ball milling, and its hydrogenation properties are studied for the first time. MgH2 co-catalyzed with K2NiF6 and CNTs exhibited an improvement in the onset dehydrogenation temperature and isothermal de/rehydrogenation kinetics compared with the MgH2-K2NiF6 composite. The onset dehydrogenation temperature of MgH2 doped with 10 wt% K2NiF6 and 5 wt% CNTs is 245 °C, which demonstrated a reduction of 25 °C compared with the MgH2 + 10 wt% K2NiF6 composite. In terms of rehydrogenation kinetics, MgH2 doped with 10 wt% K2NiF6 and 5 wt% CNTs samples absorbed 3.4 wt% of hydrogen in 1 min at 320 °C, whereas the MgH2 + 10 wt% K2NiF6 sample absorbed 2.6 wt% of hydrogen under the same conditions. For dehydrogenation kinetics at 320 °C, the MgH2 + 10 wt% K2NiF6 + 5 wt% CNTs sample released 3.3 wt% hydrogen after 5 min of dehydrogenation. By contrast, MgH2 doped with 10 wt% K2NiF6 released 3.0 wt% hydrogen in the same time period. The apparent activation energy, Ea, for the dehydrogenation of MgH2 doped with 10 wt% K2NiF6 reduced from 100.0 kJ mol-1 to 70.0 kJ mol-1 after MgH2 was co-doped with 10 wt% K2NiF6 and 5 wt% CNTs. Based on the experimental results, the hydrogen storage properties of the MgH2/K2NiF6/CNTs composite is enhanced because of the catalytic effects of the active species of KF, KH and Mg2Ni that are formed in situ during dehydrogenation, as well as the unique structure of CNTs.
The effects of Na3FeF6 catalyst on the hydrogen storage properties of MgH2 have been studied for the first time. The results showed that for the MgH2 sample doped with 10 wt% Na3FeF6, the onset dehydrogenation temperature decreased to 255 °C, which was 100 °C and 162 °C lower than those of the as-milled and as-received MgH2 sample, respectively. The re/dehydrogenation kinetics were also significantly enhanced compared to the un-doped MgH2. The absorption kinetics showed that the as-milled MgH2 only absorbed 3.0 wt% of hydrogen at 320 °C in 2 min of rehydrogenation, but about 3.6 wt% of hydrogen was absorbed within the same period of time after 10 wt% Na3FeF6 was added to MgH2. The desorption kinetics showed that the MgH2 + 10 wt% Na3FeF6 sample could desorb about 3.8 wt% of hydrogen in 10 min at 320 °C. In contrast, the un-doped MgH2 sample desorbed only 0.2 wt% of hydrogen in the same period of time. The activation energy for the decomposition of the as-milled MgH2 was 167.0 kJ mol(-1), and this value decreased to 75.0 kJ mol(-1) after the addition of 10 wt% Na3FeF6 (a reduction by about 92.0 kJ mol(-1)). It is believed that the in situ formation of the active species of NaMgF3, NaF and Fe during the heating process could enhance the hydrogen storage properties of MgH2, due to the catalytic effects of these new species.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Welding fume exposure has led to the respiratory problems among welders including cough, phlegm, chest illnesses, nausea and fatigue. Inadequate ventilation during welding works causes the situation to worsen. Welding fumes can cause a decrease in lung function among welders. Chronic exposure will lead to other health effects especially COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). The objective of this study is to determine the exposure of welding fumes (Cd, Fe, Pb and Zn) towards respiratory health including lung function test (FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC, PEFR) of workers in Lumut shipyard, Perak.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: This research study the relationship between exposures of welding fumes towards lung function test among workers in Lumut shipyard, Perak. Lung function test was measured by spirometry among 30 welders and 31 non-welders. The concentration welding fume exposure was measured using OSHA ID-121 method. Sociodemographic data, respiratory symptoms and smoking habit data was analyzed based on the ATS 1987 questionnaire.
RESULTS: The mean concentration for Pb in welding fumes was 2.752 mg m-3 which is above 0.5 mg m-3 PEL-TWA. The FEV1 and FVC readings showed significant different between welders and non-welders (p = 0.001). Cough and phlegm symptoms showed significant different between welders and non-welders (p = 0.001). Welders had higher prevalence in smoking habit than the non-welders. Chest illnesses symptom showed an association with the smoking habit (p = 0.01).
CONCLUSION: There is relationship between welding fumes exposure on lung function test of workers in Lumut shipyard. Pb in welding fumes has high concentration and exceeded PEL-TWA level. The FEV1 and FVC in welders are lower than non-welder due to the fumes exposure. Welders showed higher respiratory symptoms than non-welders. Smoking habit is a contributing factor towards respiratory problem.
In this work, the catalytic effects of FeCl3 toward the hydrogen storage properties of the MgH2-Na3AlH6 composite were investigated for the first time. The temperature-programed desorption results indicated that the onset temperature of the hydrogen release of a 10 wt % FeCl3-doped MgH2-Na3AlH6 composite was ∼30 °C lower than that of the undoped MgH2-Na3AlH6 composite. The addition of FeCl3 into the MgH2-Na3AlH6 composite resulted in improved absorption and desorption kinetics performance. The absorption/desorption kinetics measurements at 320 °C (under 33 and 1 atm hydrogen pressure, respectively) indicated that within 10 min, the doped sample absorbed ∼4.0 wt % and desorbed ∼1.5 wt % hydrogen. By comparison, the undoped sample absorbed only ∼2.1 wt % and desorbed only ∼0.6 wt % hydrogen under the same conditions and time. Comparably, the apparent activation energy value of the doped composite is 128 kJ/mol, which is 12 kJ/mol lower than that of the undoped composite (140 kJ/mol). The formation of the new species of MgCl2 and Fe in the doped composite was detected from X-ray diffraction analysis after heating and absorption processes. These two components were believed to play a vital role in reducing the decomposition temperature and kinetics enhancement of the MgH2-Na3AlH6 composite.
Grafting is regarded as an integral component of sustainable vegetable production. It is important in the management of soil-borne diseases, and reports suggest that grafting with viable rootstocks can enhance crop growth and yield. This research was conducted using splices and cleft grafting techniques to investigate graft compatibility among varieties of high yielding eggplant scion (MCV1, MCV2, CCV1, CCV2, CCV3, NCV, and TCV) grafted onto wild rootstocks (MWR, BWR, and TWR) to study their morphophysiological and yield characteristics. High yielding scions grafted onto wild relative rootstocks were compared with two controls including self-grafted and non-grafted. All the scion had a high rate of germination (≥95%) and remarkable graft success (100%) was recorded in MCV1, MCV2, and TCV using the cleft techniques. Generally, the use of rootstocks resulted in higher total and marketable fruit yield compared to the non-grafted and self-grafted scion plants, respectively. In particular, MWR and TWR rootstock conferred the highest vigour to the scion, resulting in the highest values recorded for total and marketable fruit yield, number of fruits per plant and average fruit weight. A similar result was obtained in fruit length and diameter, where long and wide fruits were observed in scions grafted onto MWR and TWR rootstocks, respectively. Grafting of high yielding eggplant scion onto resistant MWR, BWR and TWR eggplant rootstock was found to be beneficial for eggplant cultivation. The remarkable compatibility and vigour of the rootstock with scion led to the improvement in total and marketable yield of the fruits. As such, it can be concluded that the use of wild relative rootstocks of eggplant species can be a valuable method of improving eggplant production.