Recent Innovations in Chemical Engineering (Formerly Recent Patents on Chemical Engineering) - Volume 16, Issue 3, 2023

Background: The application of 3D printing technology in the field of education is mainly concentrated on the curriculum of primary and secondary schools and clinical PBL teaching, while the application of 3D printing technology as a teaching auxiliary means in higher medical education is less. Methods: The objective of this work is to demonstrate the use of 3D printing teaching aids to improve students' learning outcomes and guide more students to participate in learning 3D printing or biological 3D printing research. Based on 3D printing technology, data were collected through a network questionnaire to analyze the demand of medical students in Colleges and Universities in this paper for 3D printing teaching aids. Through the demand for 3D printing teaching aids, we have offered 3D courses and encouraged students to actively participate in model design. Results: Students can print some models using a 3D printer based on their knowledge and personal interests. It is found that universities can use virtual 3D printing technology to make up for the current shortage of 3D printers and high material consumption. Conclusion: 3D printing technology can also help biomedical engineering students better combine clinical knowledge to achieve better results. In addition, this study also analyzed the limitations of 3D printing development in China.

Background: The present study aims to understand the membrane interactions of three different antibiotics widely used for non-specific viral diseases. Methods: The dose-dependent membrane interactions of the selected antibiotics were elucidated using octanol: water partition coefficient and hemolysis assay. Results: Our octanol: water partition coefficient experiments indicated that among the three antibiotics (Azithromycin, Erythromycin, and Amoxicillin), azithromycin and erythromycin were more hydrophobic compared to amoxicillin. This finding also correlated with hypotonic hemolysis assay experiments where the membrane stabilization effects of both azithromycin and erythromycin were reduced in a dose-dependent manner compared to amoxicillin. Conclusion: This may be attributed to the hydrophobic nature of azithromycin, and erythromycin penetrates deeper into the RBC membrane to the extent of the hydrophobic core compared to amoxicillin. The result is also concurrent with the observations from the hemolysis assay in the isotonic conditions. To conclude, among the three antibiotics, azithromycin, erythromycin localized on the hydrophobic core of the lipid membrane, and amoxicillin localized on the outer surface and slight penetration to the outer leaflet of the membrane.

Background: Purple tea variety tea is a kind of special tea germplasm resource, which attracts attention due to its rich anthocyanins, unique leaf color and health care. Methods: This study clarified characteristic volatile components among different tea categories made from Kenya's purple tea variety. As raw materials, one bud and two or three leaves of Kenya purple tea variety (TRFK306/1) were utilized. Then, the fresh tea leaves were processed into green tea (PG), white tea (PW) and black tea (PB) based on different manufacturing processes. Volatile compounds in different categories of tea were detected and analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively by Head Space-Solid Phase Micro Extractions- Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (HS-SPEM-GC-MS), in combination with principal component analysis (PCA), partial least squares (PLS) analysis. Moreover, variance verification and tea sensory evaluation analysis were also conducted to explore characteristic metabolites. Results: The result showed that 45 kinds of volatile components were identified in green and black tea, and 38 kinds were identified in white tea. The volatile components could be divided into six categories, including alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, esters, hydrocarbons and nitrogen-containing compounds. The number of volatile components among teas is 5(PG_vs_PB), 6(PG_vs;_PW), and 9 (PW_vs_PB), respectively. There was a significant difference between PB and PW in the first principal component (R2X1=0.571), and PG was in between. It was found by PLS model analysis that there were 12 potential characteristic components with variable importance factor (VIP) greater than 1.0. Conclusion: The result showed that trans-β-Ocimene, nonanal and 6-Methyl-5-heptene-2- one as characteristic volatile components in PG, and β-ionone and trans-geraniol were characteristic aroma components of white tea and black tea, respectively.

Introduction: Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is the most mature technology to capture CO2 from flue gas stream through the adsorption process. The commercial adsorbent, though efficient, is cost-inhibitive. An alternative adsorption approach is by utilizing a palm kernel shell (PKS) as adsorbent. To enhance the adsorption capacity of CO2, impregnation with Tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA) and imidazoles (Ims) were introduced to increase the selectivity and capacity of CO2. The response surface methodology (RSM) technique was utilized to optimize the operating conditions for the preparation of modified AC-PKS for carbon capture applications. Method: The main process variables for this study were impregnation ratio (TEPA: Ims) and impregnation temperature. The 2 Factorial 1 model was developed for iodine number which was selected as the investigated response. The optimum conditions for modified AC-PKS had been identified to be an impregnation ratio 0.17 and a temperature of 90°C which gave a maximum of iodine number 1062.95 mg/g. Based on this optimum condition, the experimental value of iodine number is 1027.58 mg/g and is found to agree adequately with that (1062.95 mg/g) predicted from the model. The higher the iodine number, the greater the surface area available for adsorption. With the high surface area of activated carbon allows it to have more adsorption sites, increasing its capacity to remove contaminants from liquids or gases. According to Scanning electron microscope (SEM), TEPA and Ims molecules were attached to the surface of ACs and stimulated the chemisorption process for excellent adsorption process. Result: Two prominent adsorption peaks were also observed at 3100 cm^-1 and 2800 cm^-1, corresponding to the stretching of the N-H functional group and confirmed the successfulness of impregnation between TEPA and Ims. Based on elemental analysis (EA), the addition of TEPA and imidazole resulted in an increase in the number of amine groups on the surface of the adsorbent. Conclusion: Hence, this modified AC-PKS with optimum impregnation ratio and temperature increased the adsorption capacity and selectivity of CO2 adsorption from the simulated flue gas with 4.239 mol/kg AC compared to the previous study reported for unmodified ACPKS only 1.005 mol/kg AC.

Objective: A promising Zn-Ni-Co mixed transition metal oxide was successfully synthesized by means of the sol-gel route and its super capacitive behavior was studied. Methods: The structural, morphology, and functional groups were deduced via XRD, SEM, EDX, and FTIR analysis. The super capacitive performance of the hybrid and ternary mixed transition metal oxides was executed through a three-electrode system, in a 2M KOH electrolyte. Results: The specific capacitance of Zn-Ni-Co O was reckoned to be 415 Fg^-1 at 50 mVs^-1, thrice as much as the specific capacitance of ZnCo2O4 hybrid transition metal oxide (139 Fg^-1). The synergistic effects benefited from multiple metal constituents and low activation energy for electron transportation plays an important role in boosting the electrochemical performance. Conclusion: The obtained results proved that Zn-Ni-Co O ternary composite has a promising future as an alternative for supercapacitor electrodes.

Introduction: Electrowetting has become one of the most widely used phenomena for utilizing miniature contents of liquids on surfaces. Method: Electrowetting is an effective way to modify the droplet’s form with an electrical field. In this work, we will review some basics of electrowetting fundamentals and details of electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD) structures and materials. The principle of electrowetting liquid lenses and their particular configurations have been demonstrated. Result: It should be noted that electrowetting lenses are better for commercial use because they use an electrical drive instead of a mechanical approach. Conclusion: After a brief look at the simulation methods, the electrowetting lens and the COMSOL simulation of a model are focused for this sort of electrowetting application. Some crucial criteria are compared to distinguish the appropriate situation and materials.

Background: The welded joint loss of performance is largely determined by the heterogeneity of the structural state of the heat-affected zones. The basic materials from which the artificial heart valve welded frames are made are technically pure titanium grade VT1-OS and alloy grade 40 KHNM with the required biomedical properties. Objective: The study of the structural state, and changes in mechanical characteristics under static and cyclic loading of welded joints made of pure titanium grade VT1-OS and alloy grade 40 KHNM. Method: The paper investigates structural changes and mechanical characteristics under static and cyclic loading in Ringer-Locke saline solution of welded T-shaped joints made of pure titanium grade VT1-OS and alloy grade 40 KHNM, simulating the nodes of an artificial heart valve subject to maximum cyclic loads during operation. Result: It is revealed that the structural and mechanical heterogeneity along the length of the welded joints of the studied materials determines a loss of mechanical performance, both under static and cyclic loading. Conclusion: Experimental batches of welded elements of artificial heart valve assemblies made of VT1-OS titanium and 40 KHNM alloy according to the established optimal modes have successfully passed full-scale tests on physiological and biological stands in conditions as close as possible to the operational ones.