Biography:

Yoshiharu Mitoma, PhD in Chemical Engineering (1997, Kyushu University), is now full Professor and Dean of Graduate School of Comprehensive Scientific Research, Prefectural University of Hiroshima. Dr. Mitoma was awarded the Young Chemist Award in Asian Chemical Congress (Federation of Asian Chemical Societies) in 2005 in Seoul, Korea, and the Young Chemist Award at the International Conference on Environmental Science and Technology, in Houston, Texas, USA. He was a peer in the jury for different projects of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and for the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) in Japan. 

Abstract:

The remediation of heavy metals (HMs) and radioactive cesium-contaminated soils followed a rapid upward trend in Japan, especially after the consequently to the tragic events that occurred at the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP), provoked by the massive quake and subsequent tsunami, on March 11, 2011. HMs and radioactive cesium-contaminated sites pose a serious hazard to public health and the environment. Therefore, many researchers had focused their research on the development of separation and solidification techniques for pollutants in polluted soils. We have recently shown that nano-sized metallic calcium/calcium oxide (nCa) and/or nano-size iron dispersing (Fe-nCa) mixtures are most effective for HMs immobilization and volume reduction method under dry condition. The efficiencies can be enhanced further to 98-100 wt% by using additional nCa. Moreover, due to the magnetic behavior of the soil treated with the Fe-nCa system, two soil fractions can be easily separated: 36-45 wt% of magnetic soil (with 85-95 % HMs concentration) and 64-55 wt% of non-magnetic soil fraction (presenting lower HMs concentration – only 10-20 %). Further, we also reported that Fe-nCa could easily coat and separate the immobilized pollutants. In the present study we have also used the lighter weighted functional magnetite (Fe₃O₄). Mixing 2% Fe₃O₄ to about 2.8kg of dry (14,300 Bq/kg initial radioactive concentration), contaminated soil afforded subsequently to a strong magnetic separation (two soil fractions: 1.1 kg of magnetic and 1.7 kg of non-magnetic soil). The magnetic part’s radioactive concentration was 23,600 Bq/kg, while the non-magnetic part presented only 7,660 Bq/kg, lower than the 8,000 Bq/kg allowed regulatory threshold.

Biography:

Elisa Ang is a PhD student in the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. She received her Master’s degree in Applied Mathematics from Delft University of Technology and Computer Engineering from the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg in 2015. Her current research topic is on the analysis of one- or -two dimensional materials in desalination processes. In this topic of 2D materials membrane design, she has published 6 papers in reputed journals and presented in 3 conferences over the past 3 years.

Abstract:

The transverse flow carbon nanotube (CNT) membrane (TFCM) is a membrane design based on CNTs stacked horizontally one on top of another, forming hourglass slits that allow fast water passage while blocking solutes. Using molecular dynamics, we show that TFCM offers permeability a few orders of magnitude larger than conventional polymeric membrane, and even more than twice that of two-dimensional graphene slit membranes. In this presentation, we will delve into the reasons why this simple design enables such high permeability and good rejection performance. We will also look at the TFCM’s performance with variation in CNT size and CNT layers. Though our simulations, we show that the TFCM design has much advantage over its axial flow CNT membrane counterpart. Our computational work provides evidence that transverse or outer flow CNT membrane is a simple and innovative design that could significantly improve future membranes’ performance, reducing the energy cost of membrane separation process like desalination.

Biography:

Hana Abdali is currently a PhD candidate fellow in chemical engineering, Polytechnique de Montréal, Quebec, Canada. She received her BE degree in Chemistry from the University of Dammam, Saudi Arabia and MS Ac degree from Polytechnique de Montréal, Canada in 2007 and 2015, respectively. She is now engaged in research and development of resistive type CO₂ gas sensors.

Abstract:

Nanomaterial have become more relevant because of their widespread and common applications in the several areas including industrial production, environmental studies, medical applications, etc.. Among these nanomaterial, graphene has attracted particular interest due to its exceptional chemical and excellent electronic properties, optimal mechanical stiffness, and electrical conductivity, which are desirable properties in fabrication of gas sensors. Bacterial cellulose (BC) has many structural aspects favourable for several applications, among which high surface area, a large number of mesopores and macropores and nanoscale fibers in three dimensional (3D) structure. These advantages have led to successful covalent intercalation of amino-functionalized graphene (AG) with BC fibres via a one-step esterification.

Conducting polymers including polyaniline (PANI) is easily synthesized and its molecular chain structure can be modified conveniently by copolymerization or structural derivations. Its unique electrical, electrochemical, and optical properties can also be utilized as efficient sensors for

monitoring organic and inorganic compounds. Therefore, it is expected that the AG/BC/PANI nanocomposite can enhance the sensitivity and selectivity of sensors, through the combination of these excellent sensing materials.

In this study, we designed and synthesized a AG/BC/PANI flexible nanocomposite gas sensor. The crosslinking was carried out by using a one-step esterification process to construct crosslinked BC/AG (CLBC/AG) and followed by the growth of PANI chains on the CLBC/AG substrate. The morphology of the samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the electrical conductivity variation of the AG/BC/PANI with different reaction times at room temperature was investigated.

Biography:

Amira Mohsen received  her PhD degree in pharmaceutical sciences from Cairo university in 2012. She has her expertise in pharmaceutics and pharmaceutical technology. Her professional interests focus on drug formulation and drug delivery systems. She is currently working as associate professor in pharmaceutical technology department, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt. Moreover, she is a member of several projects and has a lot of scientific activities.

Abstract:

Acetazolamide (ACZ), a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, is used to reduce the eye pressure in people suffering from glaucoma. ACZ has limited aqueous solubility and poor corneal permeation. The objective of the present study was to attain enhanced ocular delivery of ACZ via its incorporation into bilosomes. ACZ loaded bilosomes were prepared by the thin film hydration technique employing Span 60, cholesterol and different bile salts (sodium cholate, sodium deoxycholate, sodium taurocholate and sodium tauroglycocholate). They were further characterized via particle size and zeta potential analysis in addition to transmission electron microscopy. In vitro release studies were performed using diffusion bag technique. The developed formulations exhibited high entrapment efficiencies up to 74.23. They were spherical in shape and their sizes were in the nanometric dimensions ranging from 349.8 nm to 734.6 nm with negatively charged zeta potential values (<-43.4 mV). In vitro drug release profiles revealed sustained release of the drug up to 8 hours. In vivo pharmacodynamic assessment of the optimized ACZ bilosomal formulation, employing male albino rabbits, revealed enhanced and prolonged intraocular pressure lowering effect compared to plain ACZ suspension, marketed ACZ oral tablets as well as marketed dorzolamide eye drops. Furthermore, in vivo ocular irritancy test proved the safety of the optimized bilosomal formulation after ocular application.