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Article
Publication date: 21 March 2016

Martin Leary, Richard Piola, Jeff Shimeta, Steven Toppi, Scott Mayson, Matthew McMillan and Milan Brandt

Biofouling of marine vessels results in significant operational costs, as well as the bio-security risk associated with the transport of marine pests. Biofouling is particularly…

Abstract

Purpose

Biofouling of marine vessels results in significant operational costs, as well as the bio-security risk associated with the transport of marine pests. Biofouling is particularly rapid in sea-chest water intakes due to elevated temperatures and circulating flow. Inspection challenges are exacerbated, as sea chests are difficult to inspect and clean. This paper aims to present a method that utilises the flexibility and low-batch capabilities of additive manufacture to manufacture custom sea-chest inserts that eliminate circulating flow and increase the uniformity of shear stress distributions to enable more constant ablation of anti-biofouling coatings.

Design/methodology/approach

An automated design procedure has been developed to optimise sea-chest insert geometry to achieve desirable flow characteristics, while eliminating the necessity for support material in FDM manufacture – thereby significantly reducing build cost and time.

Findings

Numerical flow simulation confirms that the fluid-flow approximation is robust for optimising sea-chest insert geometry. Insert geometry can be manipulated to enable support-free additive manufacture; however, as the threshold angle for support-free manufacture increases, the set of feasible sea-chest aspect ratios decreases.

Research limitations/implications

The surface of revolution that defines the optimal insert geometry may result in features that are not compatible with additive manufacture constraints. An alternate geometry is proposed that may be more useful in practice without compromising anti-biofouling properties.

Practical implications

Marine sea-chest biofouling results in significant negative environmental and economic consequence. The method developed in this paper can reduce the negative impact of sea-chest biofouling.

Social implications

Marine sea-chest biofouling results in significant resource consumption and emissions. The method developed in this paper can reduce the negative impact of sea-chest biofouling.

Originality/value

The method presented in this paper provides an entirely original opportunity to utilise additive manufacture to mitigate the effects of marine biofouling.

Article
Publication date: 1 February 2021

Seyedeh Maryam Mousavi, Bita Archangi, Hosein Zolgharnein and Isaac Zamani

The purpose of this paper was to identify Serratia marcescens to extract and purify prodigiosin pigment to evaluate the antibacterial potential of the pigment.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper was to identify Serratia marcescens to extract and purify prodigiosin pigment to evaluate the antibacterial potential of the pigment.

Design/methodology/approach

Samples were collected from shrimp aquaculture ponds. Species identification was conducted using morphological, biochemical and molecular tests. Pigment extraction and purification were carried out using column chromatography. The antibacterial effect of crude and purified prodigiosin pigment was evaluated on Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus as biofouling bacteria. In addition, the interaction between prodigiosin and proteins involved in biofilm formation was evaluated using molecular docking.

Findings

The results of prodigiosin extraction with solvents showed the highest percentage of pigment presence with methanol solvent in the second day of culture. The chemical structure of pure prodigiosin obtained from the column chromatography was confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Both crude and purified pigments exhibited antibacterial effects against selected bacterial strains. The antibacterial effect of the purified pigment was higher, and the highest antibacterial effect was observed on B. subtilis. Prodigiosin docking was carried out with all target proteins, and the docked energy in all of them was at an acceptable level.

Originality/value

Prodigiosin extracted from S. marcescens can be used as a bioactive compound to design and manufacture of anti-biofouling and anti-biofilm formation products to use extensively for industrial applications as a natural color in marine industries, food industry, cosmetics and textile productions.

Details

Pigment & Resin Technology, vol. 51 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0369-9420

Keywords

Abstract

Purpose

In addition to agriculture, energy production, and industries, potable water plays a significant role in many fields, further increasing the demand for potable water. Purification and desalination play a major role in meeting the need for clean drinking water. Clean water is necessary in different areas, such as agriculture, industry, food industries, energy generation and in everyday chores.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors have used the different search engines like Google Scholar, Web of Science, Scopus and PubMed to find the relevant articles and prepared this mini review.

Findings

The various stages of water purification include coagulation and flocculation, coagulation, sedimentation and disinfection, which have been discussed in this mini review. Using nanotechnology in wastewater purification plants can minimize the cost of wastewater treatment plants by combining several conventional procedures into a single package.

Social implications

In society, we need to avail clean water to meet our everyday, industrial and agricultural needs. Purification of grey water can meet the clean water scarcity and make the environment sustainable.

Originality/value

This mini review will encourage the researchers to find out ways in water remediation to meet the need of pure water in our planet and maintain sustainability.

Details

Arab Gulf Journal of Scientific Research, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1985-9899

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 29 April 2022

Shuaijie Zhai, Qiaogao Feng, Hui Yang, Lijie Ma and Minghua Pang

The purpose of this paper is to study a new liquid-phase assisted texture treatment method to improve the tribological properties of 304 stainless steel.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study a new liquid-phase assisted texture treatment method to improve the tribological properties of 304 stainless steel.

Design/methodology/approach

Three groups of textured type (KY, KJ and YJ) were prepared on 304 stainless steel surface using laser circular and cross scanning method in air and liquid assisted condition. The surface morphology and element content of test samples were measured with scanning electron microscope, energy spectrum. Then, the tribological test was carried out using MWF-500 reciprocating friction and wear testing machine under dry and oil lubrication condition.

Findings

The experimental results showed that the textured surface of laser processing in air was obviously blackened, and the oxygen content was increased from 16.9% to 24%. These cases did not occur on liquid-assisted laser textured surface, which induced a better wettability and surface texture processing quality. For friction test, the friction coefficient of cross-scanning textured surface prepared in assisted liquid (YJ) was the smallest. It is reduced by 55% in oil lubrication case compared to the original surface (YS). The cross-scanning textured surface prepared in air (KJ) was a little worse in friction coefficient and a little better in wear quantity than the cross-scanning textured surface prepared in assisted liquid (YJ). It is indicated that the laser processing surface with assisted liquid has obvious advantages in surface texture quality and interfacial tribological property. The main reason is that the assisted liquid plays a role in cooling and protecting action of the machined surface. The bubbles, generated at the solid–liquid interface because of the laser heat effect, scatter the laser beam and carry out the processed melt meanwhile. The lubricating medium is easier to penetrate and store in the contact interfaces because of the higher surface textured performance and wettability.

Originality/value

The main contribution of this work is in providing a new surface texture processing method that has a better surface micropits quality and interfacial tribology regulation ability.

Details

Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, vol. 74 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0036-8792

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 15 October 2019

Hamid Javaherian Naghash and Ali Amiri

This paper aims to improve some properties of poly (methyl methacrylate) by copolymerization with butyl acrylate (BA) monomer along with the incorporation of the stable and…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to improve some properties of poly (methyl methacrylate) by copolymerization with butyl acrylate (BA) monomer along with the incorporation of the stable and economical synthesized silicone-containing monomer hexamethyldisilazanomethacryloxyphenyl ketone (HDMK) into the copolymer matrix.

Design/methodology/approach

For this target solution copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA), BA and HDMK were carried out using a 250 mL four-necked round-bottom flask. Before solution polymerization start-up, the reaction vessel was first charged with 34.8 mL toluene and heated to 170 °C with stirring and reflux cooling. A monomer mixture of 25.86 g (260 mmol) MMA, 26.40 g (200 mmol) BA, 3.00 g (8.60 mmol) HDMK and 0.45 g (2.00 mmol) dibenzoyl peroxide was added continuously from the dropping funnel over a period of 4 h.

Findings

The HDMK was successfully synthesized and the water resistance of acrylic resins was improved because of the existence of HDMK.

Research limitations/implications

The materials that were used in this research paper had a reasonably low cost. Also, the procedures for synthesis of monomers and polymers were extremely easy because there was no need for high pressure or temperature and no dangerous solvents were used.

Practical implications

The acrylic resin that contained HDMK was used to synthesis a white architectural paint for exterior coating. Examining the paint characteristics has shown acceptable washing and abrasion resistance, good brushing, excellent storage stability and great surface coating.

Originality/value

HDMK was synthesized for the first time.

Article
Publication date: 2 January 2018

Fengling Xu, Zhenghui Qiu, Ri Qiu, Jiadong Yang and Cunguo Lin

For mitigating biocorrosion induced by sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) in seawater, the zwitterionic molecule layer (ZML) of poly (sulfobetaine methacrylate) is grafted onto B10…

Abstract

Purpose

For mitigating biocorrosion induced by sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) in seawater, the zwitterionic molecule layer (ZML) of poly (sulfobetaine methacrylate) is grafted onto B10 surface by chemical vapor deposition and surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization.

Design/methodology/approach

Energy-dispersive spectroscopy-attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and static contact angle measurements are used to characterize the as-formed layer.

Findings

After surface modification, B10 can significantly reduce SRB adhesion, demonstrating the good antifouling property. Further, the biocorrosion inhibition is investigated by potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, indicating that ZML exhibits high resistance to biocorrosion with inhibition efficiency of approximately 90 per cent.

Originality/value

ZML performs a dual feature, i.e. antifouling film and corrosion inhibitor, for the biocorrosion inhibition.

Details

Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, vol. 65 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0003-5599

Keywords

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