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| 2. |
- Che, Jing, et al.
(författare)
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Unravelling the dominant role of phosphorylation degree in governing the functionality of reassembled casein micelles: Implications for future dairy production through precision fermentation
- 2025
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Ingår i: Food Hydrocolloids. - 0268-005X. ; 159
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study investigated the effect of bovine casein (CN) phosphorylation degree on micelle reassembly, stability, calcium-binding, and acid-induced gelation or precipitation, with the aim of assessing the feasibility of utilising microbial CNs in future dairy production. The four CNs (αS1-, αS2-, β-, and κ-CN) were purified from bovine milk and subjected to enzymatic dephosphorylation, resulting in three pools – fully and partially phosphorylated and fully dephosphorylated. Nine reassembled CN micelle solutions (RCMS) were investigated, consisting of three systems (two of four-CN, and one of β/κ-CN) and three phosphorylation degrees of the corresponding CNs. The distribution of different components (protein, calcium, and phosphorus) into micellar, serum, and insoluble fractions after two centrifugation steps was studied. The pH stability relative to acid-gelation or precipitation of the formed RCMS was further investigated. Results showed that the micelle reassembly ability of RCMS containing all four CNs was proportional to the phosphorylation degree; CNs with higher phosphorylation degrees contained a higher proportion of micelles and exhibited greater calcium-binding ability, whereas fully dephosphorylated CNs hardly formed CN micelle structures. The gelation pH of RCMS increased with decreasing phosphorylation degree, whereas the fully dephosphorylated CNs completely failed in gelation but precipitated when reaching their isoelectric point at pH 5.5. Moreover, RCMS containing only β/κ-CN at their native full phosphorylation were unstable at the salt concentrations applied, with more than half of the CNs self-associating to flocculate. Our study confirms the essential role of phosphorylation degree in micelle reassembly and stability, providing important information for potential future applications of microbial CNs that are expected to exhibit non-native phosphorylation levels.
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| 3. |
- Orzan, Eliott, 1995, et al.
(författare)
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Foaming and cross-linking of cellulose fibers using phytic acid
- 2025
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Ingår i: Carbohydrate Polymers. - 0144-8617. ; 347
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Bio-based compounds have become the focus in the development of next-generation materials. The polyphosphated structure and availability of phytic acid has sparked an interest to understand its properties and apply it to making fire-retardant fabrics. However, its degradative effect on natural fibers sets limitations to its potential uses. In this study, we unveiled a new dimension to explore with phytic acid: cellulose fiber foams. Phytic acid enabled synergistic foaming with carboxymethyl cellulose albeit causing issues in long-term wet foam stability. Adding cellulose fibers to this mixture and drying at 160 °C produced solid foams with increased compressive strength and stiffness; comparable to foams cross-linked with the commonly used citric acid. The reduced contact area in low-density fiber networks allowed the cross-linking between phytic acid and the fiber network to mitigate structural weakening due to fiber degradation. Imaging also revealed the formation of a film encompassing fiber bonds; attributed to the strong interaction between phytic acid and carboxymethyl cellulose. Furthermore, phytic acid imparted self-extinguishing fire-retardant properties to the cellulose fiber foams measured using thermogravimetric analysis and cone calorimetry. This work showcases a simple new application for phytic acid without the use of catalysts or solvents. It serves to encourage further development of green practices to continuously challenge the industrial landscape.
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| 4. |
- Ouchn, Rachid, et al.
(författare)
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Advancing Sustainable Direct Contact Membrane Distillation : Performance and Stability of Novel Polymer Inclusion Membranes
- 2025
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Ingår i: Separation and Purification Technology. - 1383-5866. ; 354
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Novel hydrophobic membranes for direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) were developed using poly(1,1-difluoroethylene) (PVDF) loaded with the ionic liquid methyltrioctylammonium bis(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (MTOA-DEHP). These polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs) were fabricated via non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS). Detailed characterization revealed that MTOA-DEHP significantly enhances the morphological and physicochemical properties of the PIMs. Through a series of DCMD experiments, the membrane's flux, salt rejection, and stability under varying conditions, including different feed solutions (i.e., synthetic NaCl solution and real seawater from the Atlantic Ocean), were assessed. Our results demonstrate that the PVDF/20 %MTOA-DEHP membrane exhibits superior performance, maintaining consistent transmembrane flux values (8.98 ± 0.61 kg·m−2·h−1) over multiple cycles and achieving high salt rejection rates (>99.9 %). Furthermore, the membrane demonstrates excellent stability, with minimal degradation observed even after prolonged operation. The results affirm the viability of PIMs as a promising avenue for achieving sustainable and efficient desalination via DCMD, particularly in real-world operational scenarios.
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| 5. |
- Sarmad, Shokat, et al.
(författare)
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Innovative CO2 capture technologies: Exploring the potential of porous liquids containing deep eutectic solvents and hypercrosslinked polymers
- 2025
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Ingår i: Separation and Purification Technology. - : Elsevier B.V.. - 1383-5866 .- 1873-3794. ; 352
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The current study presented a porous liquid (PL) prepared from propylene glycol-based deep eutectic solvent (DES) and hyper-crosslinked polymers (HCP) that are liquids over wide temperature ranges, including ambient temperature. It was shown that the solvent molecules are too large to penetrate the pores of HCP, so the PL is maintained as a suspension with permanent free volume for several months and can absorb large amounts of gases. This study marks the pioneering use of DESs as the liquid medium, replacing ionic liquids due to their closely matched properties. The structural features of both DES and HCP are retained; the increase in CO2 absorption capacity compared to pure DES is due to the presence of a porous solid and is proportional to the amount of solid. The absorbed CO2 amount rises from 1.0105 mmol·g−1 in pure DES to 1.3232, 1.6027, and 1.2168 mmol·g−1 in PL-1, PL-2, and PL-3, respectively. Thermodynamic analysis revealed that the enthalpy of gas absorption allows straightforward regeneration of the PLs in the studied cases. The investigated PLs show great potential as gas absorbents, with the incorporation of just 0.5 wt% of porous polymer material leading to an impressive increase in solvent absorption capacity, up to 59 %.
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| 6. |
- Wang, Xinran, et al.
(författare)
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Fluorescent cellulose nanofibrils hydrogels for sensitive detection and efficient adsorption of Cu 2+ and Cr 6
- 2025
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Ingår i: Carbohydrate Polymers. - 0144-8617. ; 347
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Increasing chromium and copper pollution poses a significant threat to the global environment and human health. It is crucial to detect and remove Cu (II) and Cr (VI) from water. Cellulose nanofibrils (CNF)-based hydrogels were a natural, abundant, and biocompatible material that has attracted great attention for bio adsorption applications. In this work, a new fluorescent CNF-based hydrogel (PAA-CNF-W) was prepared for the high-efficiency adsorption and sensitive detection of Cu (II) and Cr (VI). CNF was introduced as a natural backbone to construct a three-dimensional porous structure, which increased the specific surface area and provided additional active sites, exhibiting excellent adsorption properties for Cu (II) (159.24 mg/g) and Cr (VI) (173.87 mg/g). Moreover, the synthesized dansyl chloride derivatives with fluorescent properties were introduced to the hydrogel and formed chelates with the metals leading to fluorescence quenching. PAA-CNF-W hydrogels showed high sensitivity to the detection limit (LOD) of Cu (II) (28.70 mg/L) and Cr (VI) (1.45 mg/L). The kinetic study revealed that pseudo-second order kinetics was the best-fitting model. The Langmuir isotherm was the best adjustment model. The study provides a new idea for efficient detection and removal of Cu (II) and Cr (VI) from wastewater by cellulose materials.
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| 7. |
- Yue, Xiaoqi, et al.
(författare)
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Unveiling nano-scale chemical inhomogeneity in surface oxide films formed on V- and N-containing martensite stainless steel by synchrotron X-ray photoelectron emission spectroscopy/microscopy and microscopic X-ray absorption spectroscopy
- 2025
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Ingår i: Journal of Materials Science & Technology. - : Chinese Society of Metals. - 1005-0302. ; 205, s. 191-203
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Nano-scale chemical inhomogeneity in surface oxide films formed on a V- and N-containing martensite stainless steel and tempering heating induced changes are investigated by a combination of synchrotron- based hard X-ray Photoelectron emission spectroscopy (HAXPES) and microscopy (HAXPEEM) as well as microscopic X-ray absorption spectroscopy (μ-XAS) techniques. The results reveal the inhomogeneity in the oxide films on the micron-sized Cr2N- and VN-type particles, while the inhomogeneity on the martensite matrix phase exists due to localised formation of nano-sized tempering nitride particles at 600 °C. The oxide film formed on Cr2N-type particles is rich in Cr2O3 compared with that on the martensite matrix and VN-type particles. With the increase of tempering temperature, Cr2O3 formation is faster for the oxidation of Cr in the martensite matrix than the oxidation of Cr nitride-rich particles.
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| 8. |
- A. B. Marçal, L., et al.
(författare)
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Spatially resolved structural and chemical properties of the white layer in machined Inconel 718 super alloy
- 2024
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Ingår i: Materials and Design. - 0264-1275. ; 239
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Inconel 718 is one type of nickel-based alloy used for a large range of applications, including gas turbines and aeroengines components. Although mechanical and thermodynamic properties of this material have been deeply studied in the past years, a method able to investigate local properties of the thin white layer formed on the alloy surface after machining remains challenging. Here, a 90 nm X-ray beam is used to probe the local strain, crystal orientation, and chemical composition of grains in the white layer. Data reveals mosaicity induced by the tool during machining. The high spatial resolution, combined with crystal lattice sensitivity, shows that the average grain size is around 30 nm throughout the white layer, while the strain is anisotropic nearest to the surface. Results provide new insights on the basic properties of the white layer in super alloys, revealing important information about the impact of finish machining which might help to explain fatigue and cracking formation on these materials during their usage phase.
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| 9. |
- Abbas, Ghulam, et al.
(författare)
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First principles insights into triboelectrification during solid-solid contact: The curious case of 2D MXenes and aluminum
- 2024
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Ingår i: Nano Energy. - : Elsevier. - 2211-2855 .- 2211-3282. ; 129:Part B
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Recently, triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have been widely used for energy harvesting and self-powered sensing due to their significant and unique advantages. However, the intrinsic mechanisms that contribute to tribo-electricification (TE) between two materials remain as a subject of rigorous debate. In addition to predicting the qualitative charge transfer in solid-solid contacts based on the difference in the work functions of the two moieties constituting the interface, we argue that it is essential to obtain atomic-level, first principles, insights into the bonding properties, quantitative charge transfer, and the possible presence of a electrostatic potential barrier at the interface to fully understand the TE mechanism of a system. We have utilized dispersion-corrected density functional theory (DFT) calculations in this study to systematically investigate the TE potential of bare surface Ti3C2 and Ti3N2 2D MXene monolayers and their surface functionalized modifications Ti3C2R2 and Ti3N2R2 (where R = -O, -OH, or -F) in contact with Al(111). For these heterostructures, we have analyzed the adhesive energy of the interfaces, the nature of interaction through the electron localization function (ELF), and the charge distribution, which have revealed distinct characteristics of MXene/Al contacts for these monolayer/metal interfaces at their equilibrium distance and the changes in their properties under uniaxial pressure. Among all the metallic 2D MXene variants investigated in this study, we have determined that Ti3C2F2/Al and Ti3N2F2/Al interfaces show exceptional potential for TE.
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| 10. |
- Abbondanza, Giuseppe, 1991, et al.
(författare)
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Au-Pd Barcode Nanowires with Tailored Lattice Parameters and Segment Lengths for Catalytic Applications
- 2024
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Ingår i: ACS Applied Nano Materials. - 2574-0970. ; 7:4, s. 3861-3874
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this study, we present a systematic investigation of the controlled fabrication of Au-Pd barcode nanowires within nanoporous anodic aluminum oxide (NP-AAO) templates. By using a combination of in situ X-ray diffraction (XRD), focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), we elucidate the influence of template preparation methods on the resulting nanowire properties. The template treatment, involving either pore widening or barrier layer thinning, significantly impacts nanowire growth. Through the analysis of the XRD data, we observe sequential deposition of Au and Pd segments with lattice parameter variations and strain effects. Particularly, the lattice parameters of Au and Pd segments display intricate temporal dependencies, influenced by interfacial effects and strain caused by growth under confinement. FIB-SEM imaging reveals uniform and reproducible nanowire lengths in the template treated with pore widening. Furthermore, TEM analysis confirms the presence of distinct Au and Pd segments, while scanning TEM-energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy revealed minor evidence of interdiffusion between the first and the second electrodeposited segments. Our findings emphasize the potential of the electrodeposition process within nanoporous templates for producing barcode nanowires with precise segmental properties. The combination of in situ XRD and electron microscopy offers valuable insights into the growth dynamics and structural characteristics of the fabricated Au-Pd barcode nanowires. This controlled fabrication strategy opens doors to tailoring nanowire properties for diverse applications, particularly in catalysis.
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