Activated carbons and carbon nanotube were synthesized with chemical and microwave processes of olive leaf in media with and without ultrasonic waves, and chemical vapor deposition method, respectively. The samples were characterized by x-ray diffraction, calorimetry, Brunauer, Emmett and Teller method, scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray, and zetasizer nano S90 instruments. The activated carbon synthesized in the ultrasonic bath had a higher surface area. The hydrogen adsorption capacity of carbon structures including activated carbons and carbon nanotube was measured as a function of pressure at 77 K. The hydrogen storage capacity of the carbon nanotube is 300% and 265% higher than the hydrogen storage capacity of activated carbons synthesized in medium without and with ultrasonic waves, respectively. Results showed the correlation between hydrogen storage capacity and specific surface area. The highest H2 storage value was obtained with carbon nanotube at 77 K. As a result, activated carbon and carbon nanotube can be used in hydrogen storage and therefore, the olive leaf can be converted into a high added value product in the energy field.

The nanocomposite hydrogels were prepared by dispersing of the nanopomegranate seed particles into poly(vinyl alcohol)/poly(acrylic acid) blend matrix in an aqueous medium by the solvent casting method. These hydrogels were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectra, differential scanning calorimetry, and optical contact angle instruments. The nanopomegranate seed, blend, and hydrogel nanocomposites were tested for microbial activity. In addition, cytocompatibilities of these blend and hydrogel nanocomposites/composites were tested on human lymphocyte with in vitro MTS cell viability assays. Fourier transform infrared spectra revealed that esterification reaction took place among functional groups in the structure of poly(vinyl alcohol) and poly(acrylic acid). The hydrophilic properties of all hydrogels decreased with increasing nanopomegranate seed content. The mean diameters of the nanopomegranate seed particles were about 88 nm. Nanopomegranate seed particles demonstrated antibacterial properties against gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, and gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli. The lymphocyte viabilities increased after addition of nanopomegranate seeds into the polymer blend. The swelling behavior of blend and hydrogels was dependent on the cross-linking density created by the reaction between poly(vinyl alcohol)/poly(acrylic acid) blend and nanopomegranate seed. Scanning electron microscopy images were highly consistent with Fourier transform infrared spectra, differential scanning calorimetry, and antibacterial activity results.

In this study, it was aimed to synthesize hydrogel based antibacterial, biocompatible and non-toxic wound dressing materials by solvent removal method usingpoly(vinylalcohol) (PVA), poly(vinylpyrolidone) (PVP) and nano pomegranate seed (PN).The morphology, swelling capacity, contact angle, antibacterial activity, biocompatibility and cytotoxicity of the synthesized films were determined. From the experimental findings, it was found that the PN particles were nano-sized, showed homogeneous and spherical distribution and improved the hydrophobic properties of the materials obtained by the addition of PN. And also, their swelling capacities were decreased with increased PN amount and all of the materials showed similar antibacterial activity, hemocompatibility and cytotoxicity.

AbstractThe aim of this study is to increase the energy efficiency of the solar panel, to make the waste heat generated under the panel efficient and to store the electrical energy produced from solar panels in the form of hydrogen in boron nitride and boron carbide. Characterization of boron nitride and boron carbide was carried out with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy-attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR), differential thermal and thermogravimetric analysis (DTA/TG), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX). The specific surface areas and pore sizes of the boron nitride and boron carbide were determined as 78 and 20 m2/g; and 3.8 and 11.1 nm, respectively. DTA/TG thermograms showed that boron nitride degraded in one step in the temperature range of 30-550°C and boron carbide degraded in two steps. From experimental studies, approximately 8.7% energy efficiency was achieved and hydrogen energy was costless produced from a renewable energy source excluding system costs. Moreover, it was found that 276% and 208% more hydrogen could be stored in the boron compounds, the boron nitride had more hydrogen storage capacity, and the electrical efficiency of the panel was increased.