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Gdańsk University of Technology

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Publications from the year 2024

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  • Changes in evaporation patterns and their impact on Climatic Water Balance and river discharges in central Poland, 1961–2020
    • Arkadiusz Bartczak
    • Michał Krzemiński
    • Andrzej Araźny
    2024 Regional Environmental Change

    This study investigates the changes in precipitation and evaporation patterns and their impact on Climatic Water Balance and river discharges in central Poland from 1961 to 2020. The analysis focuses on two “normal” periods, 1961–1990 and 1991–2020 (according to the World Meteorological Organization). Bartlett’s test and the Kruskal–Wallis rank sum test were used to assess the homogeneity of variances and compare distributions of analyzed variables over two “normal” periods. The probability density functions were estimated using a kernel density estimator with a Gaussian kernel function. Significant findings indicate alterations in evaporation rates and shifts in water balance dynamics. Mean evaporation increased from 530.8 to 637.9 mm, leading to a notable decrease in the mean Climatic Water Balance from 1.1 to − 107.5 mm (in the periods 1961–1990 and 1991–2020, respectively). Additionally, rivers showed reduced mean annual discharges (from 4.28 to 3.01 m3·s−1 and 1.25 to 0.87 m3·s−1, for the Zgłowiączka and Skrwa Lewa rivers, respectively). These climatic changes in central Poland have substantial implications for regional water resources, especially in spring and summer and particularly in agricultural areas, potentially exacerbating drought conditions and impacting agricultural productivity mainly in the warm half-year.

  • Characteristics of Anthropogenic Pollution in the Atmospheric Air of South-Western Svalbard (Hornsund, Spring 2019)
    • Filip Pawlak
    • Kozioł Krystyna
    • Wanda Wilczyńska-Michalik
    • Mikołaj Worosz
    • Marek Michalik
    • Sara Lehmann-konera
    • Żaneta Polkowska
    2024 Water

    The character of atmospheric pollution and its impact on surface waters may vary substantially in space, and hence, we add a potentially important location for the studies of atmospheric air pollution to the map of the High Arctic. We have investigated the anthropogenic particle characteristics and selected persistent organic pollutant concentrations, in a priorly unmonitored location in the Arctic (Svalbard), exposed to a climatic gradient. Single-particle analysis of PM indicates that besides the prevailing natural aerosol particles, anthropogenic ones were present. The likely anthropogenic origin of some particles was established for spherical Fe-rich or aluminosilicate particles formed in high-temperature processes or metal-rich particles of the chemical composition corresponding to industrial products and atypical for natural minerals; soot, tar balls, and secondary sulfate were also likely of anthropogenic origin. Some of the observed anthropogenic particles could only come from remote industrial sources. POP concentrations indicated a background of LRAT, consistent with the ΣPCB concentrations and volatility profile. However, the ΣDDX composition indicating aged sources and an order of magnitude higher concentrations of both ΣDDXs and ΣHCHs than at other High Arctic monitoring stations indicate their potential source in two types of re-emission from secondary sources, i.e., from seawater and snowpack, respectively.

  • Characteristics of silver-dopped carbon nanotube coating destined for medical applications
    • Dorota Rogala-Wielgus
    • Beata Majkowska-Marzec
    • Andrzej Zieliński
    2024 Full text Materials Today Communications

    Carbon nanotubes are materials demonstrating outstanding mechanical, chemical, and physical properties and are considered coatings of titanium implants. The present research is aimed to characterize the microstructure and properties of the multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) layer decorated with silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) on the Ti13Nb13Zr alloy destined for long-term implants. The electrophoretic deposition of coatings was performed in a two-stage process, at first at 0.25 wt. pct. of MWCNTs, and next at 0.30 wt. pct. of Ag NPs content in the bath. The SEM, EDS, AFM, Raman spectroscopy, nanoindentation tests, nano-scratch test, wettability assessments, and corrosion tests were carried out. The effects of the presence of Ag NPs onto the MWCNTs coating were observed as the roughness increased to 0.380 µm and thickness to 5.26 µm, the improved adhesion and corrosion resistance, the water contact angle of 62.94◦, the decreased nanohardness, Young`s modulus and resistance to plastic deformation under load, and slightly improved adhesion. The obtained results can be explained by a specific two-layer structure of the coating, in which the Ag NPs agglomerates create the coating less porous and permeable, but softer structure. Future research will focus on the improvement of the adhesion of the component coatings in different ways.

  • Characterization of corrosion in reinforced concrete beams using destructive and non-destructive tests
    • Tomasz Ferenc
    • Erwin Wojtczak
    • Błażej Meronk
    • Magdalena Rucka
    2024 Full text Case Studies in Construction Materials

    The paper presents both non-destructive and destructive experimental tests on steel-reinforced concrete beams subjected to electrochemical corrosion. To examine the condition and behavior of the specimens, destructive tests were carried out, i.e., a three-point bending together with a modulated ultrasonic wave test. In addition, a series of non-destructive experiments were conducted, such as the potential measurement method, low-frequency vibrations, and ultrasonic wave propagation. A three-point bending test was conducted to examine the behavior of specimens under applied quasi-static force, together with a modulated ultrasonic wave test. The force-displacement relation, capacity, failure displacement, flexural stiffness, and failure mode were determined for each specimen. A modulated ultrasonic wave test was also performed during the flexural test. Prior to this, the specimens were visually inspected to check if any cracks occurred and a series of non-destructive tests such as potential measurement, low-frequency vibrations, and ultrasonic wave propagation were then performed.

  • Characterization of Corrosion-Induced Fracture in Reinforced Concrete Beams Using Electrical Potential, Ultrasound and Low-Frequency Vibration
    • Tomasz Ferenc
    • Erwin Wojtczak
    • Błażej Meronk
    • Jacek Ryl
    • Krzysztof Wilde
    • Magdalena Rucka
    2024 Full text JOURNAL OF NONDESTRUCTIVE EVALUATION

    The paper deals with the non-destructive experimental testing of the reinforced concrete beams under progressive corrosion. A series of experiments using electrical potential, ultrasound and low-frequency vibrations techniques are reported. Electrical potential and natural frequencies were used to characterise and monitor the corrosion process at its initial state. The P-wave velocity measurements were proved to be effective in quantitative assessment of the level of corrosion as it progresses. The possibility of early detection of damage using a proposed damage index and diagnostic framework is promising for possible applications in the non-invasive diagnostics of reinforced concrete elements.

  • Characterizing Interactions Between Small Peptides and Dimethyl Sulfoxide Using Infrared Spectroscopy and Computational Methods
    • Aneta Panuszko
    • Przemysław Pastwa
    • Jacek Gajewski
    • Piotr Bruździak
    2024 MOLECULES

    This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the interactions between dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and two small peptides, diglycine and N-acetyl-glycine-methylamide (NAGMA), in aqueous solutions using FTIR spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and DFT results revealed that DMSO does not form direct bonds with the peptides, suggesting that DMSO indirectly influences both peptides by modifying the surrounding water molecules. The analysis of HDO spectra allowed for the isolation of the contribution of water molecules that were simultaneously altered by the peptide and DMSO, and it also explained the changes in the hydration shells of the peptides in the presence of DMSO. In the DMSO–diglycine system, DMSO contributes to the additional strengthening of water hydrogen bonds in the reinforced hydration sphere of diglycine. In contrast, DMSO has a more moderate effect on the water molecules surrounding NAGMA due to the similarity of their hydration shells, leading to a slight weakening of the hydrogen bonds in the NAGMA hydration sphere. DFT/ONIOM calculations confirmed these observations. These findings demonstrated that DMSO influences peptide stability differentially based on their structural characteristics.

  • Charakterystyka i zastosowanie związków powierzchniowo czynnych w produktach detergentowych. Skrypt do ćwiczeń
    • Patrycja Szumała
    2024

    Niniejszy skrypt zawiera podstawy teoretyczne wprowadzające w tematykę związków powierzchniowo czynnych znajdujących zastosowanie w produktach detergentowych. Ponadto przedstawiono charakterystykę innych, dodatkowych składników takich produktów, jak również opis specjalistycznych detergentów przemysłowych. Opracowanie jest przeznaczone przede wszystkim dla studentów technologii chemicznej, realizujących zajęcia z przedmiotu technologia związków powierzchniowo czynnych, w ramach którego prowadzone są też ujęte w skrypcie zajęcia laboratoryjne. Jednak zawarte treści mogą się stać użyteczne dla wszystkich osób zainteresowanych produktami detergentowymi, także ze środowiska przemysłowego.

  • Charakterystyka pracy instalacji fotowoltaicznej trójpłaszczyznowej małej mocy – studium przypadku
    • Robert Kowalak
    2024 Full text Przegląd Elektrotechniczny

    W artykule zaprezentowano specyfikę pracy instalacji fotowoltaicznej zainstalowanej na dachu budynku jednorodzinnego, która charakteryzuje się ułożeniem paneli fotowoltaicznych w trzech grupach, przy czym każda z tych grup ma inną orientację kierunkową. Przedstawiono kształtowanie się krzywej generacji tej instalacji oraz osiągane wartości generowanej energii elektrycznej. Wybrane aspekty pracy tej instalacji porównano z innymi instalacjami, w tym charakteryzującymi się jedną płaszczyzną ułożenia paneli.

  • Charge density wave, enhanced mobility, and large nonsaturating magnetoresistance across the magnetic states of HoNiC2 and ErNiC2
    • Kamil Kolincio
    • Marta Roman
    • Fabian Garmroudi
    • Michael Parzer
    • Ernst Bauer
    • Herwig Michor
    2024 Full text PHYSICAL REVIEW B

    We report on magnetotransport and thermoelectric properties of two ternary carbides HoNiC2 and ErNiC2 hosting both charge density wave and long-range magnetic order. In the charge density wave state, both compounds show relatively large magnetoresistance MR ≈ 150% in HoNiC2 and ≈ 70%in ErNiC2 at a magnetic field of 9 T and temperature as low as 2 K. This positive field-linear magnetoresistance shows no signatures of saturation. Our combined analysis of diagonal and off-diagonal transport responses reveals electronic mobility values on the order of 103 cm2 V−1 s−1 at 2 K. Both the elevated mobility and related enhanced magnetoresistance persist in the zero-field antiferromagnetic ground state and survive the field-induced crossovers through metamagnetic to field-aligned ferromagnetic states. The robustness of the high-mobility Fermi surface pockets across the magnetically ordered states suggests that the charge density wave is not suppressed but coexists with long-range magnetism in the entire dome of the magnetically ordered states.

  • Chat GPT Wrote It: What HCI Educators Can Learn from their Students?
    • Marcin Sikorski
    2024

    Recently students, teachers, and researchers equally have become impressed by Generative AI (GenAI) tools, with ChatGPT at the top. However, numerous concerns about the GenAI-related threats to academic integrity and the validity of learning outcomes are emerging. This problem is also vivid in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) education since students can use GenAI tools to rapidly generate ideas, user interface templates, screen graphics and mock-ups, or entire user research programmes. This paper presents the results of a small-scale survey performed with a group of HCI students regarding their experiences and expectations regarding the use of GenAI tools in their current HCI course, as well as expected GenAI-relevant university policies. Conclusions from this study can be informative for HCI teachers considering the potential use of GenAI tools in their classes and for university managers in the broader context of engineering university education, regarding computer science in particular. Also, results of this study can be useful for the educational management involving students as the teaching process stakeholders in the context of developing institutional policies as to the allowed use of GenAI tools.

  • Chemical and biological characterization of Ocimum basilicum L. phenolic extract and essential oil derived through ultrasound and microwave-assisted extraction techniques
    • Sarah Hamid
    • Naima Fadloun Oukil
    • Hamza Moussa
    • Nadjet Djihad
    • Marika Mróz
    • Barbara Kusznierewicz
    • Amel Attia
    • Katia Djenadi
    • Malik Mohamed Mahdjoub
    • Mustapha Mounir Bouhenna
    • Farid Chebrouk
    2024 Food Bioscience

    Plant-derived bioactive molecules are increasingly utilized in food processing as natural additives, driven by a growing interest in healthier lifestyles. This trend has spurred industries to reformulate products to meet the demands of health-conscious consumers. This study investigates the phenolic extract and essential oil of O. basilicum L. obtained via ultrasound-assisted extraction and microwave-assisted extraction, respectively. Characterization using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) for the basil phenolic extract (BPE) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) for the basil essential oil (BEO) identified 82 compounds in BPE and 51 compounds, with rosmarinic acid and estragole as the main constituents, respectively. Both BPE and BEO exhibited significant antioxidant capacity. BPE showed higher antioxidant activity, with IC50 values of 0.740 ± 0.023 mg/mL against DPPH•, 0.408 ± 0.02 mg/mL for ABTS+•, and 0.289 ± 0.02 mg/mL for iron chelation. Conversely, BEO demonstrated IC50 values of 16.296 ± 0.394 mg/mL, 0.6870 ± 0.0203 mg/mL, and 3.9 ± 0.12 mg/mL for DPPH•, ABTS+• scavenging assays, and iron chelation, respectively. The growth inhibitory effect of BEO surpassed that of BPE against microbial strains, achieving total growth inhibition against C. albicans with a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 0.04 mg/mL. BPE exhibited inhibitory effects against MRSA with a zone of inhibition of 19 ± 1.15 mm, while the lowest MIC value was observed against E. coli at 0.38 ± 0.03 mg/mL. These findings underling basil’s potential health-boosting, emphasizing its abundance in phenolic and volatile compounds.

  • Chemical investigation on the mechanism and kinetics of the atmospheric degradation reaction of Trichlorofluoroethene by OH⋅ and Its subsequent fate in the presence of O2/NOx
    • Abolfazl Shiroudi
    • Jacek Czub
    • Mohammednoor Altarawneh
    2024 Full text CHEMPHYSCHEM

    The M06-2X/6-311++G(d,p) level of theory was used to examine the degradation of Trichlorofluoroethene (TCFE) initiated by OH⋅ radicals. Additionally, the coupled-cluster single-double with triple perturbative [CCSD(T)] method was employed to refine the single-point energies using the complete basis set extrapolation approach. The results indicated that OH-addition is the dominant pathway. OH⋅ adds to both the C1 and C2 carbons, resulting in the formation of the C(OH)Cl2−⋅CClF and ⋅CCl2−C(OH)ClF species. The associated barrier heights were determined to be 1.11 and −0.99 kcal mol−1, respectively. Furthermore, the energetic and thermodynamic parameters show that pathway 1 exhibits greater exothermicity and exergonicity compared to pathway 2, with differences of 8.11 and 8.21 kcal mol−1, correspondingly. The primary pathway involves OH addition to the C2 position, with a rate constant of 6.2×10−13 cm3 molecule−1 sec−1 at 298 K. This analysis served to estimate the atmospheric lifetime, along with the photochemical ozone creation potential (POCP) and ozone depletion potential (ODP). It yielded an atmospheric lifetime of 8.49 days, an ODP of 4.8×10−4, and a POCP value of 2.99, respectively. Radiative forcing efficiencies were also estimated at the M06-2X/6-311++G(d,p) level. Global warming potentials (GWPs) were calculated for 20, 100, and 500 years, resulting in values of 9.61, 2.61, and 0.74, respectively. TCFE is not expected to make a significant contribution to the radiative forcing of climate change. The results obtained from the time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) indicated that TCFE and its energized adducts are unable to photolysis under sunlight in the UV and visible spectrum. Secondary reactions involve the [TCFE-OH−O2]⋅ peroxy radical, leading subsequently to the [TCFE−OH−O]⋅ alkoxy radical. It was found that the alkoxy radical resulting from the peroxy radical can lead to the formation of phosgene (COCl2) and carbonyl chloride fluoride (CClFO), with phosgene being the primary product.

  • Chemical Structure and Thermal Properties versus Accelerated Aging of Bio-Based Poly(ether-urethanes) with Modified Hard Segments
    • Julia Godlewska
    • Joanna Smorawska
    • Ewa Głowińska
    2024 MOLECULES

    Aging of polymers is a natural process that occurs during their usage and storage. Predicting the lifetime of polymers is a crucial aspect that should be considered at the design stage. In this paper, a series of bio-based thermoplastic poly(ether-urethane) elastomers (bio-TPUs) with modified hard segments were synthesized and investigated to understand the structural and property changes triggered by accelerated aging. The bio-TPUs were synthesized at an equimolar ratio of reagents using the prepolymer method with the use of bio-based poly(trimethylene ether) glycol, bio-based 1,3-propanediol, and hexamethylene diisocyanate or hexamethylene diisocyanate/partially bio-based diisocyanate mixtures. The polymerization reaction was catalyzed by dibutyltin dilaurate (DBTDL). The structural and property changes after accelerated aging under thermal and hydrothermal conditions were determined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA). Among other findings, it was observed that both the reference and aged bio-TPUs decomposed in two main stages and exhibited thermal stability up to approximately 300 °C. Based on the research conducted, it was found that accelerated aging impacts the supramolecular structure of TPUs.

  • CHEMOTHERAPY-MEDIATED COMPLICATIONS OF WOUND HEALING. AN UNDERSTUDIED SIDE EFFECT
    • Paulina Słonimska
    • Paweł Sachadyn
    • Jacek Zieliński
    • Marcin Skrzypski
    • Michał Pikuła
    2024 Full text Advances in Wound Care

    Significance: Chemotherapy is a primary method to treat cancer, but while cytotoxic drugs are designed to target rapidly dividing cancer cells, they can also affect other cell types, including dermal cells and macrophages involved in wound healing, which often leads to the development of chronic wounds. The situation becomes even more severe when chemotherapy is combined with surgical tumor excision. Recent advances: Despite its significant impact on patients' recovery from surgery, the issue of delayed wound healing in individuals undergoing chemotherapy remains inadequately explored. Critical Issues: This review aims to analyze the harmful impact of chemotherapy on wound healing. The analysis showed that chemotherapy drugs could inhibit cellular metabolism, cell division, and angiogenesis and lead to nerve damage. They impede the migration of cells into the wound and reduce the production of extracellular matrix. At the molecular level, they interfere with replication, transcription, translation, and cell signaling. This work reviews skin problems that patients may experience during and after chemotherapy and demonstrates insights into the cellular and molecular mechanisms of these pathologies. Future directions: In the future, the problem of impaired wound healing in patients treated with chemotherapy may be addressed by cell therapies like autologous keratinocyte transplantation, which has already proved effective in this case. Epigenetic intervention to mitigate the side effects of chemotherapy is also worth considering, but epigenetic consequences of chemotherapy on skin cells are largely unknown and should be investigated.

  • Chiral-based optical and electrochemical biosensors: Synthesis, classification, mechanisms, nanostructures, and applications
    • Homa Beyrami
    • Marzieh Golshan
    • Justyna Kucińska-Lipka
    • Mohammad Saeb
    • Mehdi Salami-Kalajahi
    2024 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL

    This review seeks to collect, summarize, classify and discuss the latest advances in chiral-based optical biosensors. Starting from the identification of chiral molecules, photoluminescence, and electrochemical sensors, applications of chiral structures in biosensing molecules are reviewed. Then, biosensors working on the basis of chirality are classified, followed by summarizing the outcomes of research works on design, synthesis, and mechanisms of performances of chiral-based optical biosensors. Electrochemically active molecules are subsequently reviewed, emphasizing molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP), doped electrodeposited conducting polymers, enzymatic chiral sensors, and metal–organic framework (MOF) based chiral molecules applied in biosensing applications.

  • Chitosan pyrolysis in the presence of a ZnCl2/NaCl salts for carbons with electrocatalytic activity in oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline solutions
    • Maria K. Kochaniec
    • Marek Lieder
    2024 Full text Scientific Reports

    The one-step carbonization of low cost and abundant chitosan biopolymer in the presence of salt eutectics ­ZnCl2/NaCl results in nitrogen-doped carbon nanostructures (8.5 wt.% total nitrogen content). NaCl yields the spacious 3D structure, which allows external oxygen to easily reach the active sites for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) distinguished by their high onset potential and the maximum turnover frequency of 0.132 e site−1 s− 1. Data show that the presence of NaCl during the synthesis exhibits the formation of pores having large specific volumes and surface (specific surface area of 1217 ­m2 ­g−1), and holds advantage by their pores characteristics such as their micro-size part, which provides a platform for mass transport distribution in three-dimensional N-doped catalysts for ORR. It holds benefit over sample pre-treated with LiCl in terms of the micropores specific volume and area, seen as their percentage rate, measured in the BET. Therefore, the average concentration of the active site on the surface is larger.

  • Chitosan-Based Material and a Copine-7 Peptide Derivative as a Chondrogenesis Stimulator in Adipose-Derived Stromal Cells
    • Agata Tymińska
    • Natalia Karska
    • Aneta Skoniecka
    • Małgorzata Zawrzykraj
    • Adrianna Banach-Kopeć
    • Szymon Mania
    • Zieliński Jacek
    • Karolina Kondej
    • Katarzyna Gurzawska-Comis
    • Piotr Skowron
    • Robert Tylingo
    • Sylwia Rodziewicz-Motowidło
    • Michał Pikuła
    2024 Full text BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY

    The natural healing process of cartilage injuries often fails to fully restore the tissue’s biological and mechanical functions. Cartilage grafts are costly and require surgical intervention, often associated with complications such as intraoperative infection and rejection by the recipient due to ischemia. Novel tissue engineering technologies aim to ideally fill the cartilage defect to prevent disease progression or regenerate damaged tissue. Despite many studies on designing biocompatible composites to stimulate chondrogenesis, only few focus on peptides and carriers that promote stem cell proliferation or differentiation to promote healing. Our research aimed to design a carbohydrate chitosan-based biomaterial to stimulate stem cells into the chondrogenesis pathway. Our strategy was to combine chitosan with a novel peptide (UG28) that sequence was based on the copin protein. The construct stimulated human adipose-derived stem cells (AD-SCs) cells to undergo chondrogenic differentiation. Chitosan 75/500 allows AD-SCs to grow and has no harmful effects on the cells. The combination of UG28 peptide with the chitosan composite offers promising properties for cell differentiation, indicating its potential for clinical applications in cartilage regeneration.

  • Chitosan-based nanomaterials for removal of water pollutants
    • Mehvish Mumtaz
    • Nazim Hussain
    • Sidra Salam
    • Hafiz Muhammad Azam Husnain
    • Natalia Łukasik
    • Tak H. Kim
    • Jose Cleiton Sousa dos Santos
    • Jens Ejbye Schmidt
    2024

    The rise of micropollutants presents a significant threat to both the environment and human well-being, requiring effective strategies for their mitigation. Chitin serves as the precursor for chitosan, composed of two monomers featuring acetamido and amino groups. Chitosan possesses several noteworthy attributes, including its ability to bind water and fat, humidity content, solubility, consistent molecular weight, and various degrees of deacetylation, all of which facilitate surface functionalization. To enhance quality and effectiveness, chitosan can be combined with other adsorbent and/or functional nanomaterials to produce chitosan-based nanocomposites with distinct functionalities for various applications. These nanocomposites offer unique advantages in combating environmental issues. Examples of such nanocomposites include chitosan-grafted carbon nanoonions, polymer–chitosan blends, chitosan–clay mineral composites, chitosan–graphene oxide nanocomposites, magnetic chitosan, chitosan-based foams and sponges, and chitosan/activated carbon composites. Each of these nanohybrid materials plays a crucial role in selectively removing specific types of environmental contaminants. This chapter provides a recent perspective on innovative chitosan-based nanohybrids designed for the elimination of impurities from the environment. These nanohybrids exhibit diverse functions, including adsorption of contaminants, humus removal, extraction of heavy metals and metal ions, and reduction of inanimate impurities such as nitrate, borate, and phosphate. The adsorption kinetics of these chitosan-based nanocomposites have also been thoroughly reviewed, offering valuable insights for further research. Additionally, a comparative analysis of different chitosan-supported composites is conducted to provide potential methodologies for enhancing efficacy and fostering the development of novel compounds for environmental remediation.

  • Chitosan-coated coconut shell composite: A solution for treatment of Cr(III)-contaminated tannery wastewater
    • Tonni Agustiono Kurniawan
    • Fatima Batool
    • Ayesha Mohyuddin
    • Hui Hwang Goh
    • Mohd Hafiz Dzarfan Othman
    • Faissal Aziz
    • Abdelkader Anouzla
    • Hussein Al-Hazmi
    • Kit Wayne Chew
    2024 Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers

    Tannery industry generates a large amount of Cr(III)-contaminated wastewater daily. Unless properly treated, not only this effluent contaminates the water body, but also damages the environment and threatens public health. This batch study investigates the feasibility of chitosan-coated coconut shells as a low-cost material for removing Cr(III) from tannery wastewater. Both chitosan and coconut shell (CS) waste are abundantly available from local agricultural and fishery industries. To enhance its treatment performance for Cr(III) removal, the CS was coated with chitosan as a composite. To sustain its cost-effectiveness, the saturated composite was regenerated with HNO3. Its performance for Cr(III) removal was evaluated and compared to other low-cost adsorbents in previous work. At the same initial concentration of 20 mg/L, it was found that the composite had a higher Cr(III) removal (97%) than the chitosan alone under the optimized conditions of 4 g/L of dose, pH 6.5, 200 rpm of agitation speed, and 1 h of reaction time. The isotherm of Cr(III) removal by the adsorbents followed the Langmuir model, while the pseudo-second order reaction was representative to simulate the adsorption data. The Cr(III) removal by the composite was based on attractive columbic forces between the negative charge of the adsorbent's surface and the positive charge of the metal cation. The negative value of ΔG thermodynamic parameter suggests the spontaneous nature of adsorption. The efficiency of machine learning regression (MLR) model was assessed in predicting the experimental data of adsorption. In spite of promising results, treated effluents still could not comply with the required limit of discharge standards of less than 0.5 mg/L mandated by local legislation. Therefore, a subsequent treatment using activated sludge is required. Overall, this work reveals a contribution of unused resources from the coconut and shrimp industries in the form of composite for protecting the aquatic environment.

  • Chromogeniczne pochodne azoli jako składniki warstw receptorowych czujników optycznych
    • Błażej Galiński
    2024 Full text

    Głównym celem badań prowadzonych w ramach studium doktoranckiego była synteza oraz badanie właściwości chromogenicznych pochodnych azoli, makrocyklicznych i acyklicznych, jako składników warstw receptorowych czujników optycznych. Otrzymane związki zawierają w swojej strukturze resztę heterocykliczną – azol, który może uczestniczyć w tworzeniu kompleksów z jonami metali ciężkich oraz co najmniej jedno ugrupowanie azowe. Obecność grupy azowej zapewnia właściwości chromoforowe, ale także stanowi dodatkowe centrum koordynacji jonów metali poprzez jeden z dwóch atomów azotu tej grupy. Wybrane chromojonofory przetestowano pod kątem unieruchomienia ich na podłożach o różnych właściwościach hydrofobowo-lipofilowych, w celu uzyskania warstw receptorowych. Zbadana została odpowiedź spektralna i kolorymetryczna, przy zastosowaniu cyfrowej analizy obrazu, poszczególnych warstw receptorowych na obecność kationów metali ciężkich w funkcji składu warstwy receptorowej. Oczekiwanym efektem końcowym przeprowadzonych badań było określenie zależności pomiędzy właściwościami proponowanych układów gość-gospodarz w roztworze, a ich charakterystyką po unieruchomieniu na stałym podłożu. Zdefiniowanie tej zależności przyczyniło się do opracowania szybkich i niedrogich warstw receptorowych, wykorzystujących metody optyczne do oznaczania jonów metali ciężkich w próbkach wodnych.