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This paper presents the preparation and thermal/physical characterization of phase change materials (PCMs) based on poly(ethylene glycol) 400 g·mol−1 and nano-enhanced by either carbon black (CB), a raw graphite/diamond nanomixture (G/D-r), a purified graphite/diamond nanomixture (G/D-p) or nano-Diamond nanopowders with purity grades of 87% or 97% (nD87 and nD97, respectively). Differential scanning calorimetry and oscillatory rheology experiments were used to provide an insight into the thermal and mechanical changes taking place during solid-liquid phase transitions of the carbon-based suspensions. PEG400-based samples loaded with 1.0 wt.% of raw graphite/diamond nanomixture (G/D-r) exhibited the lowest sub-cooling effect (with a reduction of ~2 K regarding neat PEG400). The influences that the type of carbon-based nanoadditive and nanoparticle loading (0.50 and 1.0 wt.%) have on dynamic viscosity, thermal conductivity, density and surface tension were also investigated in the temperature range from 288 to 318 K. Non-linear rheological experiments showed that all dispersions exhibited a non-Newtonian pseudo-plastic behavior, which was more noticeable in the case of carbon black nanofluids at low shear rates. The highest enhancements in thermal conductivity were observed for graphite/diamond nanomixtures (3.3–3.6%), while nano-diamond suspensions showed the largest modifications in density (0.64–0.66%). Reductions in surface tension were measured for the two nano-diamond nanopowders (nD87 and nD97), while slight increases (within experimental uncertainties) were observed for dispersions prepared using the other three carbon-based nanopowders. Finally, a good agreement was observed between the experimental surface tension measurements performed using a Du Noüy ring tensiometer and a drop-shape analyzer.

This work analyzes the dynamic viscosity, surface tension and wetting behavior of phase change material nano–emulsions (PCMEs) formulated at dispersed phase concentrations of 2, 4 and 10 wt.%. Paraffin–in–water samples were produced using a solvent–assisted route, starting from RT21HC technical grade paraffin with a nominal melting point at ~293–294 K. In order to evaluate the possible effect of paraffinic nucleating agents on those three properties, a nano–emulsion with 3.6% of RT21HC and 0.4% of RT55 (a paraffin wax with melting temperature at ~328 K) was also investigated. Dynamic viscosity strongly rose with increasing dispersed phase concentration, showing a maximum increase of 151% for the sample containing 10 wt.% of paraffin at 278 K. For that same nano–emulsion, a melting temperature of ~292.4 K and a recrystallization temperature of ~283.7 K (which agree with previous calorimetric results of that emulsion) were determined from rheological temperature sweeps. Nano–emulsions exhibited surface tensions considerably lower than those of water. Nevertheless, at some concentrations and temperatures, PCME values are slightly higher than surface tensions obtained for the corresponding water+SDS mixtures used to produce the nano–emulsions. This may be attributed to the fact that a portion of the surfactant is taking part of the interface between dispersed and continuous phase. Finally, although RT21HC–emulsions exhibited contact angles considerably inferior than those of distilled water, PCME sessile droplets did not rapidly spread as it happened for water+SDS with similar surfactant contents or for bulk–RT21HC.

High-quality graphene is an especially promising carbon nanomaterial for developing nanofluids for enhancing heat transfer in fluid circulation systems. We report a complete study on few layer graphene (FLG) based nanofluids, including FLG synthesis, FLG-based nanofluid preparation, and their thermal conductivity. The FLG sample is synthesized by an original mechanical exfoliation method. The morphological and structural characterization are investigated by both scanning and transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The chosen two-step method involves the use of thee nonionic surfactants (Triton X-100, Pluronic® P123, and Gum Arabic), a commercial mixture of water and propylene glycol and a mass content in FLG from 0.05 to 0.5%. The thermal conductivity measurements of the three FLG-based nanofluid series are carried out in the temperature range 283.15–323.15 K by the transient hot-wire method. From a modeling analysis of the nanofluid thermal conductivity behavior, it is finally shown that synergetic effects of FLG nanosheet size and thermal resistance at the FLG interface both have significant impact on the evidenced thermal conductivity enhancement.

Volumetric properties such as density and isobaric thermal expansivity, and surface tension are of paramount importance for nanofluids to evaluate their ability to be used as efficient heat transfer fluids. In this work, the nanofluids are prepared by dispersing few-layer graphene in a commercial heat transfer fluid Tyfocor® LS (40:60 wt.% propylene-glycol/water) with the aid of three different nonionic surfactants: Triton X-100, Pluronic® P-123 and Gum Arabic. The density, isobaric thermal expansivity and surface tension of each of the base fluids and nanofluids are evaluated between 283.15 and 323.15 K. The influence of the mass content in few-layer graphene from 0.05 to 0.5% on these nanofluid properties was studied. The density behavior of the different proposed nanofluids is slightly affected by the presence of graphene, and its evolution is well predicted by the weight-average equation depending on the density of each component of the nanofluids. For all the analyzed samples, the isobaric thermal expansivity increases with temperature which can be explained by a weaker degree of cohesion within the fluids. The surface tension evolution of the graphene-based nanofluids is found to be sensitive to the used surfactant, its content and the few-layer graphene concentration.

The main objective of this study is to design and characterize silver suspensions based on poly(ethylene glycol) PEG400, Ag/PEG400, as energy storage media for low-temperature applications. A polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) treatment was applied to ~22 nm silver nanoparticles to ensure good stability in poly(ethylene glycol). An array of different experimental techniques was utilized to analyze the molecular mass and purity of base poly(ethylene glycol), morphology of dry PVP-capped Ag nanoparticles, hydrodynamic average size of dispersed Ag particles, as well as thermal stability of PEG400 and Ag/PEG400 dispersions. Samples exhibited good temporal stabilities with average hydrodynamic diameter around 50 nm according to dynamic light scattering analyses. Melting and solidification transitions were investigated in terms of temperature and enthalpy from differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) thermograms. The thermophysical characterization was completed with thermal conductivity (k), dynamic viscosity (η), isobaric heat capacity (Cp), density (ρ), and surface tension (σ) measurements of designed materials using a Hot Disk thermal conductivimeter, a rotational rheometer, a DSC calorimeter working with a quasi-isothermal modulated method, a U-tube densimeter and a drop shape analyzer, respectively. For a nanoparticle loading of only 1.1% in mass, sub-cooling reduced by 7.1% and thermal conductive improved by 3.9%, with almost no penalization in dynamic viscosity (less than 5.4% of increase). Maximum modifications in Cp, ρ, and σ were 0.9%, 2.2%, and 2.2%, respectively. Experimental results were compared with the values provided by using different theoretical or semi-empirical equations. In particular, good descriptions of dynamic viscosity as functions of temperature and nanoparticle volume concentration were obtained by using the Vogel–Fulcher–Tammann equation and a first-order polynomial η( ϕ v , n p ) correlation, with absolute average deviations of 2.2% and 0.55%, respectively.

Biofilms consist of microbial communities enclosed in a self-produced extracellular matrix which is mainly responsible of biofilm virulence. Targeting this matrix could be an effective strategy to control biofilms. In this work, we examined the efficacy of two proteolytic enzymes, pepsin and trypsin, to degrade P. aeruginosa and E. faecalis biofilms and their synergistic effect when combined with carvacrol. The minimum dispersive concentrations (MDCs) and the contact times of enzymes, as well as the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and contact times of carvacrol, were determined against biofilms grown on polystyrene surfaces. For biofilms grown on stainless steel surfaces, the combined pepsin or trypsin with carvacrol treatment showed more significant reduction of both biofilms compared with carvacrol treatment alone. This reduction was more substantial after sequential treatment of both enzymes, followed by carvacrol with the greatest reduction of 4.7 log CFU mL−1 (p < 0.05) for P. aeruginosa biofilm and 3.3 log CFU mL−1 (p < 0.05) for E. faecalis biofilm. Such improved efficiency was also obvious in the epifluorescence microscopy analysis. These findings demonstrate that the combined effect of the protease-dispersing activity and the carvacrol antimicrobial activity could be a prospective approach for controlling P. aeruginosa and E. faecalis biofilms.

Biofilm formation on abiotic surfaces has become a major public health concern because of the serious problems they can cause in various fields. Biofilm cells are extremely resistant to stressful conditions, because of their complex structure impedes antimicrobial penetration to deep-seated cells. The increased resistance of biofilm to currently applied control strategies underscores the urgent need for new alternative and/or supplemental eradication approaches. The combination of two or more methods, known as Hurdle technology, offers an excellent option for the highly effective control of biofilms. In this perspective, the use of functional enzymes combined with biosourced antimicrobial such as essential oil (EO) is a promising alternative anti-biofilm approach. However, these natural antibiofilm agents can be damaged by severe environmental conditions and lose their activity. The microencapsulation of enzymes and EOs is a promising new technology for enhancing their stability and improving their biological activity. This review article highlights the problems related to biofilm in various fields, and the use of encapsulated enzymes with essential oils as antibiofilm agents. Key points• Problems associated with biofilms in the food and medical sectors and their subsequent risks on health and food quality.• Hurdle technology using enzymes and essential oils is a promising strategy for an efficient biofilms control.• The microencapsulation of enzymes and essential oils ensures their stability and improves their biological activities.

Biofilm formation on abiotic surfaces has become a major public health concern because of the serious problems they can cause in various fields. Biofilm cells are extremely resistant to stressful conditions, because of their complex structure impedes antimicrobial penetration to deep-seated cells. The increased resistance of biofilm to currently applied control strategies underscores the urgent need for new alternative and/or supplemental eradication approaches. The combination of two or more methods, known as Hurdle technology, offers an excellent option for the highly effective control of biofilms. In this perspective, the use of functional enzymes combined with biosourced antimicrobial such as essential oil (EO) is a promising alternative anti-biofilm approach. However, these natural antibiofilm agents can be damaged by severe environmental conditions and lose their activity. The microencapsulation of enzymes and EOs is a promising new technology for enhancing their stability and improving their biological activity. This review article highlights the problems related to biofilm in various fields, and the use of encapsulated enzymes with essential oils as antibiofilm agents.

Biofilms are involved in serious problems in medical and food sectors due to their contribution to numerous severe chronic infections and foodborne diseases. The high resistance of biofilms to antimicrobial agents makes their removal as a big challenge. In this study, spray-drying was used to develop microcapsules containing carvacrol, a natural antimicrobial agent, to enhance its activity againstP.aeruginosaandE.faecalisbiofilms. The physicochemical properties and microscopic morphology of the realized capsules and cells were characterized. The minimum inhibitory concentration of encapsulated carvacrol (E-CARV) (1.25 mg mL-1) was 4-times lower than that of free carvacrol (F-CARV) (5 mg mL-1) againstP.aeruginosa, while it remained the same againstE.faecalis(0.625 mg mL-1). E-CARV was able to reduce biofilm below the detection limit forP.aeruginosaand by 5.5 log CFU ml-1forE.faecalisafter 15 min of treatment. Results also showed that F-CARV and E-CARV destabilize the bacterial cell membrane leading to cell death. These results indicate that carvacrol exhibited a strong antimicrobial effect against both bacterial biofilms. In addition, spray-drying could be used as an effective tool to enhance the antibiofilm activity of carvacrol, while reducing the concentrations required for disinfection of abiotic surfaces.