Iraqi Journal of Industrial Research

In recent years, there is a great interest in many countries to use the limestone powder in produce concrete by the replacing it as a proportion of cement weight able to improving the properties of the concrete as well as this type of powder lead to the reducing concrete cost and the CO2 emissions through the process of cement industry. This study examined of the effect of the limestone powder indifferent proportion (5, 10, 15, and 20) % replaced by the weight of cement on the properties of Ultra High Performance Concrete). Where it included five tests consisted of workability of fresh concrete (slump test method), compressive strength, tensile strength, water absorption, and density. The Results show the possibility of replacing 15% of the cement weight with limestone powder lead to improving of concrete strength but negative effects on the properties observed as the amount of limestone powder exceeds this ratio.

Polyethersulfone/zinc oxide mixed matrix hollow fiber membrane was fabricated using dry/wet phase inversion method. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (2 wt.%) were dispersed in N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) solvent in the present of polyvinylepyrrolidene. The dope solution speed and take up speed was similar with performing the spinning process at room temperature. The produced membranes were characterized using scanning electron microscope (SEM), atomic force microscope (AFM), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis. Membrane performance was evaluated using pure water flux (PWF), relative flux ration (RFR), and total organic carbon (TOC) removal efficiency. From SEM analysis, it was found that the nanoparticles were well dispersed in the polymeric matrix. From AFM results, it was observed that the modified membrane has higher surface roughness. The PWF of the modified membrane was enhanced, while the RFR showed to increase due to rougher membrane surface. The NOM remaoval of PES/ZnO membrane was higher than that of PES membrane and reached to 27% compared to only 16.9 % for pristine PES.

In this research, preparation of titanium dioxide nanomaterial (TiO2) using sol-gel method was achieved. 2.5 g weight of the titanium dioxide nanoparticles were added to the local paint using the casting method. Thin films were prepared by drop casting the paint onto the surface of pre-prepared samples, then several tests were carried out including adhesion test, hardness test (Shore B), brightness and whiteness, friction test, contact angle, and antibacterial activity. The nanomaterial at a percentage of 12% showed the best results when it was added to the paint. These results include adhesion strength, hardness strength, and exposing to weather conditions of temperature, and humidity. The adhesive strength increased when adding the nanomaterial from 112 to 139 before exposure to the weather and from 58 to 108 after exposure. The hardness also increased from 77.9 to 86.5 before exposure to the surrounding environment and from 94.2 to 96.8 after exposure. In addition, the paint with TiO2 nanoparticles exhibited antibacterial activity against two types of bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli), staphylococcus aurous (S. aurous) and antifungal candida. Paint with TiO2 nanoparticles is more efficient as antibacterial agents with E. coli as compared with S. aurous and candida.

In this study, pure SnO2 nanocrystalline films were doped with copper using the spray pyrolysis technique. SnCl2.2H2O, CuCl2.2H2O were used as precursors. The preparation was done in the form of nanoparticles by chemical precipitation method. The prepared materials were annealed at 300°C and 500°C for 1 h to improve crystallization. XRD results of the samples prepared by spray pyrolysis of a solution containing nanoparticles showed that the samples were crystallized in the rutile tetragonal phase. The average crystal size of SnO2 annealed at 300°C is 3.36 and 3.37 nm for pure and doped samples, respectively, and it is 4.1 nm and 9.75 nm for pure and doped annealed at 500°C, respectively. It is noticed that the crystal structure of SnO2 does not change with the addition of copper, and the studies of Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy confirmed the results where the grain size was within the range (20-50) nm, and the thickness of the films obtained from this assay was in the range (0.9-1.15) µm, with the thickness of doped films at 500°C are higher than those at 300°C. The Atomic Force Microscopy results showed that the roughness rate of the pure films annealed at 300°C and 500°C is 7.99 and 17.4 nm, respectively, while roughness for doped annealed samples were 9.09 and 7.12 nm, respectively. The optical results obtained from UV-Vis analysis showed that the optical bandgap at 300°C for pure and doped samples was (3.40 and 2.8) eV, respectively, while it was (3.75 and 2.59) eV at 500°C for pure and doped samples, respectively. The transmittance decreases with increasing annealing temperature, because the absorbance increases. The extinction coefficient increases, while refractive index decreases with increasing annealing temperature. The absorbance was 0.94 and 1.17 for pure and doped samples at 300°C, and was 1.16 and 1.46 at 500°C.

A thin film of SnSe were deposited by thermal evaporation technique on 400 ±20 nm thick glass substrates of these films were annealed at different temperatures (100,150,200 ⁰C), The effect of annealing on the characteristics of the nano crystalline SnSe thin films was investigated using XRD, UV-VIS absorption spectroscopy, Atomic Force Microscope (AFM), and Hall effect measurements. The results of X-ray displayed that all the thin films have polycrystalline and orthorhombic structure in nature, while UV-VIS study showed that the SnSe has direct band gap of nano crystalline and it is changed from 60.12 to 94.70 nm with increasing annealing temperature. Hall effect measurements showed that all the films have a positive Hall coefficient, which means that the conductivity of the films is p-type. The conductivity of SnSe films was increased with increasing annealing temperatures (except that at 200⁰C). The I-V characteristics under illumination for the \\"p-SnSe/n-Si” solar cell displayed an increase in conversion efficiency with increasing annealing temperature from R.T to 150⁰C, while at 200⁰C, this efficiency was decreased. The measurements of the C-V characteristics displayed that all junctions were abrupt type. It is clear from C-V measurements that the capacitance decreased with increasing reverse bias voltage which leads to an increase in the depletion width.

The electrochemical method is efficient, cost effective, and environmentally friendly process. Copper nanopowder has been known, as a nontoxic, inexpensive, highly conductive, excellent microbial agent, catalytic, and sensors applicable. Copper nanopowder was prepared by an electrochemical method under various conditions. The effect of type and concentration of electrolyte solution, and the sample treated with thiourea and ascorbic acid on the size and purity of copper nanopowder was investigated. Two different salts copper: sulfate and nitrate aqueous solutions (CuSO4.5H2O), Cu(NO3)2.5H2O were used to produce copper nanopowder. The synthesized copper nanopowder was identified using X-ray diffraction (XRD), the scanning electron microscope (SEM), and Energy Dispersive Spectrum (EDS). The results of XRD patterns revealed a high degree of crystallinity, monophasic nature, and pure copper powder with no impurities or oxides observed for both electrolyte solutions after treated with 2 percent of ascorbic acid. It was confirmed that particle size at room temperature was as small as 25nm when the copper nitrate is used as an electrolyte solution compared to copper sulfate (41nm).

In current research, the synthesis of gold nanoparticles was achieved via reducing of gold ions in aqueous solution with Garcinia mangostana (G. mangostana) peel extract. The optimum concentration of gold (Au) solution, concentration ratio of Au solution and extract, temperature, time and pH, the synthesized AuNPs (G. mangostana-gold nanoparticles) were studied by using UV-Vis, FT-IR, AAS, AFM, SEM and Zitasizer. The absorbance peak is noticed between 535-550 nm via UV-Vis spectroscopic method. The SEM, AFM analysis were proofed the particle as spherical in structure and their size between 15-100nm. Therefore, mechanism of AuNPs synthesis had been suggested. Also, the antibacterial activity was examined using different bacteria as well as free radical scavenging activity was tested using 1, 1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The AuNPs produced through biosynthesized method indicated a much elevated antioxidant activity as compared to peel extract of G. mangostana. Toxicity of the NPs and extract were tested via giving orally dose 50 mg/b.w. to mice. Diagnosis of the data (pathological changes) indicated that the AuNPs was non-toxic. The G. mangostana peel extract and AuNPs synthesized by this extract were converted to a cream and used as a wound healing cream. As a results, the AuNPs exhibited important role in wound healing progression compared to control, which may be attributed to their anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antioxidant activities. Therefore, this research confirms its important use of AuNPs and can be utilized as promising agents for in the development of new drugs.

This study is conducted to evaluate the effect of Lycium barbarum extract (Goji berries), Chitosan nanoparticle (ChNPs), titanium dioxide nanoparticle (TiO2 NPs) loaded on Gelatin films in terms of the chemical composition of labneh during different storage periods. The samples were divided into seven treatment procedures, include (T1) non-coated labneh, (T2) labneh coated with Gelatin membranes, (T3) labneh coated with Gelatin membranes and Lycium barbarum extract, (T4) labneh coated with Gelatin films and ChNPs, (T5) labneh coated with Gelatin films treated TiO2 NPs, (T6) Labneh coated with Gelatin films, Lycium barbarum, ChNPs, (T7) Labneh coated with Gelatin films, Lycium barbarum, TiO2 NPs. The results showed that the moisture percentage decreased significantly (p <0.05) untilthe end of the storage period, and treatment T6 was less in the rate of moisture loss (72.35%). It was also found that the ratios of protein, fat, ash, did not show significant differences at the time of one day compared with the two control samples T1 and T2, These percentages increased gradually as the duration of preservation was prolonged and reached their highest values at the time of 14 days. The pH values decreased significantly between (4.36-4.32) at the end of the storage period, compared with the two control samples T1 and T2, which were at 4.16 and 4.23, respectively. It was found that the fatty acid values of all treatments were significantly low compared with the control treatment T1 at the time of one dayThe free fatty acid ratios increased and reached their highest values between (0.29 - 0.32) for all treatments compared with the two control treatments T1 and T2 at the end of the storage period which amounted to (0.39 and 0.35) %.

Gentamycin is a broad-spectrum antibacterial against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Gentamycin Sulfate is a white powder that is freely soluble in water and insoluble in alcohol, acetone, chloroform and ether. The study aims to determine the characterization and the biological activity of gentamicin in the Nano-form prepared by Sol-gel application using an ultrasound device by aqueous solution at temperature of 80°. Nano gentamycin examined by Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission (TEM) and the antibacterial effect test of both Nano and stander gentamycin were analyzed. The results showing that the average size of gentamycin nanoparticles is 68.51 nanometers with homogeneous distribution. The antibacterial effect of Nano gentamycin take a wide inhibition range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria compared to the standard substance, the inhibition diameters are for E. coli (29 mm) and for St. epidermidis (27 mm). In the other side the inhibitory ability for standard gentamicin for St. epidrmidis and E. coli were 18 mm and 20 mm, respectively.

This study was conducted to synthesize bentonite nanoparticles and load them on different antibiotics to increase the effectiveness of the antibiotics or treat the resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to some types of antibiotics in the laboratory. The biosynthesized bentonite nanoparticles were characterized by spectrophotometry and scanning electron microscopy. Their antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa was determined by the (muller-hinton) method of diffusion in plates compared with antibiotics using different concentrations of each ranging from 12.5-200 µg/ml. The results of this study showed that it is possible to synthesize bentonite nanoparticles in an easy and environmentally friendly manner, and the maximum absorption spectra of these nanoparticles were at 420 and 430 nm using a spectrophotometer. The scanning electron microscope analysis also showed that the average diameter of these particles was 26 nanometers, in addition to their high activity against bacteria.