In Situ Monitoring of Curing Reaction in Solid Composite Propellant with Fiber-Optic Sensors.

Curing activity in the preparation of solid composite propellants determines the performance of solid rocket motors in operation. Limited by the lack of effective monitoring tools, the complete curing behavior and thermal-induced curing kinetics are rarely disclosed. It is still a challenge to monitor in situ and in real-time the physical and chemical cross-linking reaction during the curing of propellant. Herein, we demonstrate a promising approach based on optical fiber capable of being implanted inside the propellant to monitor the internal stress evolution during the curing process, by taking hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene propellant as an example. Attributed to the strain and temperature sensitivity of a pair of optical fiber gratings, the thermal-assisted physico-chemical cross-linking states of curing process have been demonstrated in detail. By tracking the stress-induced wavelength shifts of fiber gratings and calculating the curing mechanism function, the complete curing roadmap, including the viscous flow stage, gel stage, hardening stage can be clearly revealed, and the curing completion times are obtained as 154, 81, and 40 h, at the curing temperatures of 60, 70, and 80 °C, respectively. The apparent activation energy of this curing system obtained by calculation is 73.88 kJ/mol. This flexible fiber-based sensor provides an effective tool for unraveling the cure kinetic mechanism, and paves a universal pathway to guide the preparation and applications of versatile composite materials for solid rocket motors.

Enhanced elimination of non-digestible oligosaccharides from soy milk by immobilized α-galactosidase: A comparative analysis.

This study compared two immobilization matrices like calcium-alginate and chitosan for immobilization of α-galactosidase and evaluated their potential for the removal of non-digestible raffinose family oligosaccharides from soy milk which cause abdominal discomfort. The pH optima of the free and immobilized enzymes were found to be similar at pH 4.0. The chitosan-immobilized α-galactosidase displayed higher optimal temperature (60°C) compared to alginate-immobilized enzyme (45°C) and free enzyme (50°C). The chitosan-immobilized and alginate-immobilized α-galactosidases displayed 93.7% and 97.6% hydrolysis of raffinose family oligosaccharides, respectively, while the free enzyme hydrolyzed only 30.3% oligosaccharides present in soy milk in 4 hr. Remarkably, both the immobilized enzymes showed complete removal of raffinose family oligosaccharides in 8 hr. Moreover, reusability studies indicate that even after five cycles of reuse, the chitosan and alginate-immobilized enzymes displayed 99% and 60% hydrolysis, respectively. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: In this study, we have used two inexpensive and non-toxic matrices for immobilizing α-galactosidase. We report that entrapment of α-galactosidase with chitosan significantly improved the optimal temperature of α-galactosidase, which is advantageous in food industry. The hydrolysis of raffinose family oligosaccharides in soy milk was also greatly enhanced after immobilization with chitosan and alginate. Thus, the results described in this study have relevance for development of safe, cost-effective and efficient method for removal of non-digestible soy oligosaccharides in food industry.

Evaluation of AISI Type 304 stainless steel as a suitable surface material for evaluating the efficacy of peracetic acid-based disinfectants against Clostridium difficile spores.

Disinfectants play an important role in controlling microbial contamination on hard surfaces in hospitals. The effectiveness of disinfectants in real life can be predicted by laboratory tests that measure killing of microbes on carriers. The modified Quantitative Disk Carrier Test (QCT-2) is a standard laboratory method that employs American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) Type 430 stainless steel carriers to measure hospital disinfectant efficacy against Clostridium difficile spores. The formation of a rust-colored precipitate was observed on Type 430 carriers when testing a peracetic acid (PAA)-based disinfectant with the QCT-2 method. It was hypothesized that the precipitate was indicative of corrosion of the Type 430 carrier, and that corrosion could impact efficacy results. The objective of this study was to compare the suitability of AISI Type 430 to Type 304 stainless steel carriers for evaluating PAA-based disinfectants using the QCT-2 method. Type 304 is more corrosion-resistant than Type 430, is ubiquitous in healthcare environments, and is used in other standard methods. Suitability of the carriers was evaluated by comparing their impacts on efficacy results and PAA degradation rates. In efficacy tests with 1376 ppm PAA, reductions of C. difficile spores after 5, 7 and 10 minutes on Type 430 carriers were at least about 1.5 log10 lower than reductions on Type 304 carriers. In conditions simulating a QCT-2 test, PAA concentration with Type 430 carriers was reduced by approximately 80% in 10 minutes, whereas PAA concentration in the presence of Type 304 carriers remained stable. Elemental analyses of residues on each carrier type after efficacy testing were indicative of corrosion on the Type 430 carrier. Use of Type 430 stainless steel carriers for measuring the efficacy of PAA-based disinfectants should be avoided as it can lead to an underestimation of real life sporicidal efficacy. Type 304 stainless steel carriers are recommended as a suitable alternative.

Synthesis and characterization of bis(S-acetylthio)-derivatized europium triple-decker monomers and oligomers.

We report the synthesis of monomers, dimers, trimers, and oligomers of triple-decker (TD) complexes bearing S-acetylthio groups at the termini: AcS-(TD)(n)()-SAc. Each TD was of type (Pc)Eu(Pc)Eu(Por), where H(2)Pc = tetra-tert-butylphthalocyanine and H(2)Por is a meso-tetraarylporphyrin bearing functional groups at the 4-aryl position such as ethynyl, TMS-ethynyl, TIPS-ethynyl, or iodo. The TD arrays were prepared by Sonogashira- and Glaser-type coupling reactions, affording 1,4-diphenylethyne or 1,4-diphenylbutadiyne linkers joining the TDs. Each TD array exhibited high solubility in organic solvents such as CHCl(3) or CH(2)Cl(2). Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of all the TDs were prepared on Au substrates and investigated via a variety of electrochemical techniques aimed at determining redox potentials, rates of electron transfer under applied potential, and rates of charge retention in the absence of applied potential. The electrochemical measurements were accompanied by ellipsometric studies aimed at determining SAM thickness and, hence, the orientation of the complexes with respect to the surface plane. All of the TD SAMs exhibit robust, reversible voltammetry yielding four well-resolved waves in the potential range of 0 to +1.6 V (corresponding to the mono-, di-, tri-, and tetracations). The electron-transfer rates for the various oxidation states of all of the TD SAMS are similar and in the 10(4)-10(5) s(-)(1) range. The charge-dissipation rates (measured in terms of a charge-retention half-life) are also similar and are in the 10-60 s range. These rates are influenced by both the packing density of the molecules and the orientation of the molecules on the surface. The full body of data supports the view that all of the dithio-derivatized TD complexes assume a similar geometry on the surface. In particular, the complexes are oriented with their linkers/macrocycle planes generally parallel with the surface, unlike monothio-derivatized analogues, which are in a more perpendicular geometry. The parallel geometry of the dithio-derivatized TDs is qualitatively consistent with covalent attachment to Au via both thiols.