Incorporating rice husk fibres (RHF) into glass systems has shown promise in improving optical and mechanical properties. This study investigated the optimal RHF size for radiation shielding in tellurite glass samples upon exposure to a 3 MeV electron beam. Tellurite glasses with a composition of 69.5TeO(2)-20ZnO-10Na(2)O-0.5Er(2)O(3) reinforced with 0.4 wt% rice husk fibres of different particle sizes (63, 125, and 250 mu m) were fabricated using the melt-quenching technique. The results indicate that the density of the samples increases with smaller rice husk fibres, particularly with a size of 63 mu m, showing a 28% and 41% increase after 10 kGy and 50 kGy radiation doses. Smaller fibres have been discovered to enhance the mechanical properties of the material. The amorphous nature of the glass was maintained even after exposure to high doses of radiation, as verified by X-ray diffraction analysis. Furthermore, the surface roughness of the glass samples increased significantly when comparing the results of the rice husk sizes, which were 63 mu m and 125 mu m. The order of transmission percentage of the samples after radiation was TZNERHF63>TZNERHF250>TZNERHF125. The optical transmission spectra of all samples decreased after 50 kGy electron beam irradiation. The investigated glass has a higher effective atomic number (Zeff) than other materials. Overall, the tellurite glass samples with 63 mu m rice husk fibres exhibited the highest interfacial bond strength, transparency, and considerable shielding properties among all the fabricated tellurite samples. These findings provide valuable insights into the development of radiation shielding materials with enhanced mechanical and optical properties. The novelty of this work lies in identifying the rice husk fibre particle size as a key microstructural control parameter for electron beam shielding efficiency in tellurite glass systems, while simultaneously influencing mechanical stability and optical transparency, thereby demonstrating a sustainable and low-cost strategy for advanced radiation shielding materials.

Electron beam irradiation has emerged as a powerful technique for modifying material properties at the atomic level, offering vast potential for advanced applications in nanotechnology and material science. This study investigates the impact of electron beam irradiation on graphene oxide (GO) thin films, focusing on structural, chemical, and electrical modifications. GO was synthesized using Hummer’s method. GO solution was drop-casted onto ITO substrate and dried. The GO thin film was then irradiated at varying doses (25 kGy to 200 kGy) using 3 MeV electron beam. Characterization was made using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray (SEM EDX), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and conductive atomic force microscopy (C-AFM). XRD analysis indicated notable changes in crystallinity, pointing to structural rearrangements induced by irradiation. At the 175 kGy dose, the irradiated graphene oxide achieved the best conductivity, and the C-AFM analysis showed a particle size of approximately 9.5 nm. The XPS and EDX analyses revealed a 0.81

The study introduces a novel electrochemical sensor for paracetamol (PCM) determination based on a nanocomposite composed of zinc layered hydroxide (ZLH) intercalated with sodium dodecyl sulphate and thiacloprid (SDS-THI), integrated with multiwalled carbon nano­tubes (MWCNTs). The sensor aims to address limitations of conventional analytical techniques and improve sensitivity, detection limits, and portability. Electrochemical techniques, including electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, square wave voltammetry and cyclic voltammetry, were employed to characterize the sensor performance. The ZLH-SDS-THI/MWCNTs sensor showed superior electrocatalytic activity, with a wide linear range (0.7 to 30 mM) and a low detection limit (LOD = 0.33 mM), outperforming several previously reported sensors. The enhanced performance is attributed to the synergistic properties of the composite materials, which offer improved electron transfer, a high surface area, and effective analyte interaction. Importantly, the sensor demonstrated excellent selectivity, as interference studies revealed that common biological and ionic species such as ascorbic acid, glucose, fructose, lysine, chloride, magnesium, and sulphate ions, even when present at 10-, 20-, and 50-fold excess concentrations relative to PCM, caused less than 10 % signal variation. This confirms the sensor’s robustness and reliability in complex sample matrices. Overall, this work highlights the potential of incorporating unconventional organic dopants, such as thiacloprid, into layered nanostructures to enhance the performance of electrochemical sensors, offering a promising platform for the selective and sensitive determination of pharmaceutical compounds in environmental and clinical applications.

Square wave voltammetry, cyclic voltammetry, chronocoulometry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were employed to assess ascorbic acid's electrochemical behavior in multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)/carbon paste electrode (CPE) modified by 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-metafluorobenzoyl-5-pyrazolone (HPMmFBP). The ascorbic acid's irreversible oxidation peak appeared at approximately 0.5 V. The shifting of the peak potential at the pH range of 6.0-8.4 showed the involvement of protons in the ascorbic acid oxidation. Moreover, the shifting of the peak potential with scan rate in the range of 0.07-0.4 V/s confirmed that the oxidation reaction was irreversible. Under optimized conditions, the oxidative peak current showed linear dependence on the ascorbic acid's concentration between 1 and 1000 mu M with limit of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) at 0.1 and 0.34 mu M, respectively. HPMmFBP/MWCNT/CPE exhibit good antiinterference ability, reproducibility, repeatability, and stability and was utilized for the accurate and rapid ascorbic acid detection in commercial tablets. Therefore, it has good potential for practical application.

This study investigates the effect of electron beam irradiation on the structural and optical properties of Poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulphonate (PEDOT: PSS) semiconductor films. PEDOT: PSS was deposited on thin films using spin coating technique at varying speeds of 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 rpm. Based on the pre-characterisation analysis, the thin film fabricated at 4000 rpm is identified as optimal. The fabricated PEDOT: PSS thin films were irradiated at doses of 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 kGy at an energy of 1 MeV. The films were characterised using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Ultraviolet-visible Spectroscopy (UV-Vis), X-ray diffractometer and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The optical properties of PEDOT:PSS thin film show that the transmittance was decreased after exposure to electron beam radiation, indicating a degradation with increasing total ionising dose (TID). The bandgap of irradiated PEDOT: PSS thin film shows a decreasing trend from 3.36 eV (unirradiated) to 3.30 eV (50 kGy) after the thin film was exposed to electron beam radiation at a maximum dose of 50 kGy. On the aspect of surface morphology, the AFM results show that the surface roughness of the PEDOT: PSS decreased with increasing TID, resulting in a smoother surface from 1.84 to 1.28 nm. Based on the XRD result obtained, the crystalline phase of the PEDOT: PSS thin film was maintained while the grain size improved from 264.87 nm (unirradiated) to 377.45 nm after exposure to electron beam radiation mainly at 30 and 40 kGy, indicating an optimised threshold exposure within the range. The findings provide valuable insight for developing organic semiconductors with enhanced structural, morphological and optical band gap properties after electron beam radiation exposure.

Numerous analytical approaches have been developed to determine histamine levels in food samples due to its health consequences. Consuming histamine over the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-regulated 50 mg kg-1 limit would result in chronic toxicity. Consequently, the present study discusses a novel electrochemical approach to evaluate histamine levels in fish products via a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) on an electrode surface. The film was produced with electropolymerized polyurethane (PU), which maintained the histamine compound. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was applied to verify the MIP manufactured in this study. The capability of the polymer was measured by assessing its electron shifts with cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was also employed to validate the sensing method. The MIP/screen-printed electrode (SPE) and non-imprinted polymer (NIP)/SPE recorded a linear response ranging from 1 to 1000 nmol L-1 at the 1.765 and 709 nmol L-1 detection limits. The sensing technique was subsequently utilized to determine the histamine levels in selected samples at room temperature (25 °C). Generally, the sensor allowed the accurate and precise detection of histamine in the fish samples. Furthermore, the approach could be categorized as a simple technique that is low-cost and suitable for on-site detections.

The toxicity of histamine has attracted numerous researchers to develop a method for histamine determination purposes. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) unequivocally prohibits the consumption of histamine above 50 mg·kg −1 . Thus, an innovation in histamine detection in fish has been developed in this research. The investigation of the histamine level in fish has been conducted by using an electrochemical sensor approach and producing a polymer via molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) on a screen-printed electrode. The technique was validated by assessing the shifts in electron shifting using the cyclic voltammetry (CV) approach and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), whereas differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was applied to validate the sensor method. The instruments showed a linear response ranging from 1–1000 nmol·L −1 , with a detection limit of MIP/SPE at 1.765 nmol·L −1 and 709 nmol·L −1 for the NIP/SPE, respectively. The sensing technique was employed to determine the histamine level in selected samples at room temperature (25°C). The outcomes of this study indicated that the validated chemical sensor allowed accurate and precise detection of fish samples and can be categorized as a simple approach. The instrument is inexpensive and suitable for on-site detection.

Radiation shielding incorporates material between the radioactive source and environment to decrease exposure to hazardous radiation. It remains to be seen whether the addition of nanoparticles effectively increases the protection of tellurite glass system from further degradation under irradiation conditions. This study revealed the gamma radiation effects on tellurite glass. The tellurite glass samples were irradiated with 50 kGy and 100 kGy gamma ray, and subsequently analysed using X-ray diffractometer (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis). Gamma radiation increased the creation of non-bridging oxygen (NBO) and caused colour change on TZNETi and TZNETiAl glasses. Consequently, the addition of aluminium oxides (Al2O3) was found to lower the density of glass systems. The glass samples surface roughness increased, while the optical transmission spectra decreased after 50 kGy of gamma ray irradiation. Nevertheless, the glass system maintained its transparency even after irradiation. The mass attenuation coefficient (MAC) values represented the shielding effectiveness demonstrated by the investigated glass with the addition of Al2O3. The physical, structural, optical, and radiation shielding properties showed that 69.1TeO2–20ZnO–9Na2O–1Er2O3–0.3TiO2–0.6Al2O3 (TZNETiAl) sample exhibited strong shielding properties amongst the fabricated tellurite samples.

In recent years, the incorporation of rice husk fibres in glass systems has emerged as a promising strategy to enhance the optical and mechanical properties of glasses. However, a comprehensive investigation is required to determine the optimal size of rice husk fibres. In this study, we evaluate the mechanical, structural, and optical changes in tellurite glass samples with varying sizes of rice husk fibres upon exposure to a 3 MeV electron beam. The findings reveal that the density of the samples increases after irradiation. Furthermore, the surface roughness of the glass samples increased significantly of the rice husk size of 63µm. Also, for rice husk fibres with a size of 63µm, the optical transmission spectra of all samples decreased after the 50 kGy dose of electron irradiation. Overall, the tellurite glass samples with 63µm rice husk fibres exhibited the highest interfacial bond strength, transparency, and considerable shielding properties.

Objective: This study aimed to verify the paracetamol level in some fabricated tablets and syrups in Indonesian pharmacies. Methods: The fabricated tablets and syrups were analyzed using a spectrophotometer UV that was assisted by the chemometric approach. Partial least squares (PLS) and principal component regression (PCR) were the chemometric methods employed to verify the paracetamol level in pharmaceutical products. There were 25 different samples (tablets and syrups) applied in this study. The validation study was employed in this study to verify the approach according to the ICH guidelines. The double-distilled water was applied as a solvent before the samples were analyzed using a spectrophotometer. Results: This technique was efficient and require double-distilled water only as a solvent. The results of this study reveal that there was a deviation in absorbance of the samples with RSD ranging from (0.15-0.45). The technique was linear, ranging from 1.0–6.0 µg·ml-1, with an R2 (0.9991) obtained at 242 nm. The percentage recovery was applied to study the accuracy of the technique and was acquired at 99.18%. The results have shown that the approach was the potential to be applied in estimating the level of paracetamol in tablets and syrups. Conclusion: The detection of paracetamol levels in tablets and syrups using UV spectrophotometric showed satisfactory outcomes. The application of the chemometric approach by using PLC and PCR as the statistical assessment indicated that there was no significant distinction among the validated methods. Furthermore, the method can be used by industries particularly small industries to secure medicines that comply with Indonesian rules.

Considerable research has been conducted in the past decade and a half regarding the bio-lubricants potential to replace mineral-based lubricants as mainstream lubricants such as engine oil, hydraulic oil, compressor oil, and metalworking oil. This study studied several bio-lubricants (rapeseed oil, palm olein, and soybean oil) and a mineral-based lubricant, SAE40. The bio-lubricants have better physiochemical, tribological characteristics and environmental friendly nature, and are promising to replace mineral-based lubricants. In this study, a journal bearing test rig (JBTR) was developed in order to investigate the effect of journal speed on the temperature of oil film with time. Additionally, the load-carrying capacity of bio-oils was tested against the mineral-based lubricant SAE40 by adding a load on the journal. For all three speeds, i.e., 1000, 1500, and 2000 rpm, the bio-lubricants recorded minimum temperature. At 1000 rpm, rapeseed oil recorded a 9.2% lower temperature than SAE40. Similarly, at 2000 rpm, rapeseed oil recorded a minimum temperature that was 2.5% lower than SAE40; in comparison, at 1500 rpm, palm olein recorded a minimum temperature that was 1.8% less than SAE40. Overall, the results of this study revealed that bio-oils recorded a lower temperature rise than mineral oil. These results are very encouraging for further research in this area.

Hypothesis: As compared to common aliphatic surfactants, increasing the number of pendant or incorporated aromatic groups in a surfactant is expected to offer significant enhancement in the affinity for graphene surfaces. The basis for enhanced graphene-philicity of aromatic surfactants is that they can develop appreciable pi - pi interactions with graphene. Furthermore, charged (anionic) surfactants are expected to confer electrostatic stabilization on surfactant-graphene composites. Hence, it is expected that anionic aromatic surfactants combine these two properties for effective stabilization of graphene dispersions in water.& nbsp;Experimental: The properties of two custom made graphene-compatible surfactants carrying two and three aromatic moieties in the hydrophobic tails, namely DC3Ph2 (sodium 1,4-dioxo-1,4-bis(3-phenylpro poxy)butane-2-sulfonate) and TC3Ph3 (sodium 1,5-dioxo-1,5-bis(3-phenylpropoxy)-3-((3-phenylpro poxy)carbonyl) pentane-2-sulfonate) were compared with other common ionic commercial surfactants. Air-water (a/w) surface tension measurements were used to assess the surfactant adsorption and interfacial packing in the absence and presence of graphene. The surfactant coverage index for graphene (Phi) was calculated using surfactant headgroup areas derived from a/w surface tension data, chain volumes, and molecular fragment volumes from literature.& nbsp;Findings: Increasing the number of aromatic groups and tails per surfactant was shown to increase the ability of surfactants to pack and fill space, as expressed by Phi. Comparison between the values of Phi for surfactants of different chain structure and architecture showed that the affinity for graphene increased with Phi. Hence, there is an implicit link between surfactant-graphene compatibility and the identity, chemical composition and architecture of the surfactant chains. (C)& nbsp;& nbsp;2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The radiation and peroxide vulcanizations of natural rubber latex are sharing the same problem which is low mechanical properties on their latex. This makes it unsuitable to be use in the production of premium latex products such as surgical glove. Moreover, there are some cases where the use of sensitizers in radiation vulcanization and activators in peroxide vulcanization tends to produced latex film with unpleasant smell and darken color respectively during the drying process. For this study, radiation of latex formulations based on 0.1 pphr of tert-butyl hydroperoxide and 0.06 pphr of potassium laurate at various radiation doses showed increment of tensile strength with increasing of radiation doses; radiation at 25 kGy produced rubber film with tensile strength of 20.7 MPa which is almost 7 times higher than control.

In space, geostationary electronics located within the outer van Allen radiation belt are vulnerable to gamma radiation exposure. In terms of application, implementing an electronic system in a high radiation environment is impossible via conventional engineering materials such as metal alloys as they are prone to radiation damage. Exposure to such radiation causes degradation and structural defects within the semiconductor component, significantly changing their overall density. The changes in the density will then cause electronic failure, known as the single event phenomena. Thus, the radiation response of material must be thoroughly investigated before the material is applied in a harsh radiation environment, specifically for flexible space borne electronic application. In this work, potential candidates for space-borne application devices: zinc oxide (ZnO) and Mg-doped ZnO thin film with a film thickness of 300 nm, were deposited onto an indium tin oxide (ITO) substrate via radio frequency (RF) sputtering method. The fabricated films were then irradiated by Co-60 gamma ray at a dose rate of 2 kGy/hr. The total ionizing dose (TID) effect of ZnO and Mg-doped ZnO thin films were then studied. From the results obtained, degradation towards the surface morphology, optical properties, and lattice parameters caused by increasing TID, ranging from 10 kGy–300 kGy, were evaluated. The alteration can be observed on the morphological changes due to the change in the roughness root mean square (RMS) with TID, while structural changes show increased strain and decreased crystallite size. For the optical properties, band gap tends to decrease with increased dose in response to colour centre (Farbe centre) effects resulting in a decrease in transmittance spectra of the fabricated films.

Gamma irradiation is a particularly effective method for inducing crosslinking, which leads to improved composite characteristics. The effects of gamma irradiation on swelling percentage, flammability and morphological analysis were investigated. Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) rubber composites were prepared with various amounts from 10-60 phr (part per hundred part of rubber) of the sepiolite particles using a two-roll mill machine. The composites were subjected to 50 kGy of gamma irradiation and compared with unirradiated composites. The results demonstrate a reduced in swelling percentage at all sepiolite loadings. The crosslinks of rubber chains into sepiolite/EPDM composites generated by gamma rays resulted in improvements in the swelling resistance. The irradiation composites, however showed lower flammability resistance to the non-irradiated composites.

Radiation vulcanization of natural rubber latex (RVNRL) is an alternative technology to conventional sulphur vulcanization. To eliminate some public members sceptical view toward the radioactivity of the prevulcanized latex produced using gamma radiation, RVNRL was prepared at several radiation doses and then their radioactivity concentration were measured using gamma counting technique. The activity concentration level of Ra-226, Th-232, and K-40 in RVNRL found to be not significantly different from non-vulcanized natural rubber latex (NRL). The reported radioactivity proved that using gamma radiation in the RVNRL preparation could not ionized and produce radioactive materials from NRL minerals. Hence, it is concluded that RVNRL is safe to be used as the main raw material in latex dipped products industry.

In order to improve the viscoelastic property of the Radiation Prevulcanized of Natural Rubber Latex (RVNRL), an attempt has been made onto the processing method by combining both radiation and peroxide vulcanizations. In this study, hexanediol diacrylate (HDDA) played a major role as a sensitizer during the gamma radiation vulcanization and tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHPO) acted as the co-sensitizer in the peroxide vulcanization. The rubber film obtained from irradiation at 6 kGy had modulus at 500%, modulus at 700% and tensile strength of 3.0, 11.0 and 27.0MPa respectively, which is more than 37% increment compared to control film. Besides, the crosslink percentage of the rubber film showed 4% increment from 90% to 94%. The utilization of HDDA and t-BHPO during the hybrid vulcanization process was analysed using FTIR spectroscopy. The FTIR spectrum confirmed the absence of C-O and C=O from HDDA and t-BHPO in the hybrid RVNRL-peroxide samples. It is suggested that all the compounds are fully utilized during the radiation vulcanization.

Natural rubber (NR) latex was modified by in situ gamma radiation-induced grafting copolymerization of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA). NR latex to GMA emulsion ratio of 100:0, 50:50, 40:60, 30:70 and 20:80 have been investigated at the absorbed dose of 150kGy. The grafted GMA natural rubber-based follow the subsequent chemical modification to anchor phosphate group by open up the epoxy ring. The modified NR was characterized by Fourier transform infrared. Demonstration of modified NR on Th4+ and UO22+ ions adsorption in 25ml of lOppm standard solution gave 95% and 28% percentage removal respectively.

Natural rubber (NR) latex was modified by in situ gamma radiation-induced grafting copolymerization of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA). NR latex to GMA emulsion ratio of 100:0, 50:50, 40:60, 30:70 and 20:80 have been investigated at the absorbed dose of 150kGy. The grafted GMA natural rubber-based follow the subsequent chemical modification to anchor phosphate group by open up the epoxy ring. The modified NR was characterized by Fourier transform infrared. Demonstration of modified NR on Th4+ and UO2 2+ ions adsorption in 25ml of 10ppm standard solution gave 95% and 28% percentage removal respectively.

Oxidative aging of a rubber-based product occurs stepwise throughout its operating life; during the manufacturing processes and even during storage. Exposure to oxidation causes chemical, mechanical and physical changes resulting in declining functional performance. In order to inhibit the oxidation rate, this study is looking at the usage of antioxidant which was added into the radiation-peroxide vulcanized latex to trap or deactivate the free radicals. All the physical properties of the latex films were in compliance to the standard specifications. The addition indicated that 2.5 pphr of Aquanox Lp antioxidant offered superior effect compared to Irganox 1520 in slowing down the oxidative aging process of the hybrid RVNRL-peroxide latex films. The values of tensile stress, modulus at 500% and modulus at 700% were compared before and after accelerated aging test for 22 hours at 100oC and showed major drop of 1.3%, 42.2% and 46.3% respectively. Prolong aging via 7 days accelerated aging test at 70oC also showed that the values of the tensile stress, modulus at 500% and modulus at 700% dropped at 6.8%, 33.4% and 41.9%, respectively.