2025, Volume 71(75), Issue 2 (JUNE)

Contents

pages 1- 8   Download  

Application of Thermogravimetric Analysis in the Investigation of the Sublimation Process

CERASELA-IONELA CLEMINTE, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iaşi, “Cristofor Simionescu” Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection, Iaşi, Romania
GABRIELA LISA, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iaşi, “Cristofor Simionescu” Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection, Iaşi, Romania, gabriela.lisa@academic.tuiasi.ro

pages 9 - 17   Download
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.15617712
Abstract
Sublimation is essential in chemical vapor deposition (CVD), which is used to obtain thin material layers with applications in semiconductor manufacturing, integrated circuits, or photovoltaic panels. By optimizing the sublimation process, advanced materials with unique properties can be obtained, revolutionizing fields such as electronics, optics, and the aerospace industry. This study evaluates the influence of temperature on the sublimation rate of naphthalene, frequently used as a standard for studying the sublimation of aromatic hydrocarbons. For this purpose, thermogravimetric analysis was applied under isothermal conditions, using air as a carrier gas at temperatures of 40, 50, 60, and 70°C, with different naphthalene layer thicknesses. The processing of thermogravimetric curves allowed the determination of the mass loss percentage over time. The sublimation rate was determined from the slope of these curves. The mass loss rate of naphthalene followed zero-order kinetics. The study demonstrated that isothermal thermogravimetric analysis provides a simple method for determining kinetic parameters such as activation energy and pre-exponential factor.
Keywords: naphthalene, activation energy, sublimation process, thermogravimetric analysis

Combined Use of Solid and Liquid Foaming Agents for Making Cellular Glass Aggregate-Microwave Assisted

LUCIAN PĂUNESCU, Daily Sourcing & Research SRL Bucharest, Romania, lucianpaunescu16@gmail.com
SORIN MIRCEA AXINTE, Daily Sourcing & Research SRL Bucharest, Romania; Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Materials Science, National University of Science and Technology “Politehnica” of Bucharest, Romania

pages 19 - 32   Download
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.15617730  
Abstract
A cellular glass aggregate with excellent heat insulation properties and mechanical strength was designed and tested under conditions of using unconventional microwave heating method. Sodium carbonate and glycerol were utilized as simultaneous expanding agents. Green post-consumer drinking glass was the predominant raw material in the mixture that contained also kaolin and water glass. The optimal cellular glass product had bulk density of 0.22 g·cm-3, heat conductivity of 0.062 W·m-1·K-1, and compression strength of 6.9 MPa. The process energy efficiency was excellent, the specific energy consumption being of 0.86 kWh·kg-1. The originality of the work consists in choosing sodium carbonate as a foaming agent together with glycerol and applying the own technique of mixed heating (direct and indirect) with microwaves.
Keywords: cellular glass, microwave, glycerol, sodium carbonate, water glass   

Sustainable Utilization of Steel Slag: Global Production, Applications, and Economic Benefits

ANDREEA MONORANU, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iaşi, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Iași, Romania, andreea.monoranu@student.tuiasi.ro
GHEORGHE GUGIUMAN, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iaşi, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Iași, Romania

pages 33 - 42   Download
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.15617748  
Abstract
In recent years, we hear more and more talk about pollution, but especially about what it produces on the environment and implicitly on people's health. All the states of the world, especially the developed ones, are taking increasingly drastic measures to protect the environment. The world's population has grown, its needs have grown, industry has tried to keep up and has also developed to produce much more than 100 years ago, but what do we do with the waste that results from the production process? Industry is the biggest polluter today, waste from the metallurgical industry has multiplied at an accelerated rate lately and has come to represent a real problem. What would it be like if this problem disappeared and also generated a significant economy of other materials? The article shows how an industrial waste, steel slag, can be used in several fields, especially in the construction of roads which is a big consumer of resources, both reducing costs for them and solving the problem of occupying ever larger spaces for slag storage. The study shows the amount of steel slag produced by several countries in the world, how much of it is recycled by each mentioned country and for what purpose, also giving some examples of roads where this waste was used.
Keywords: recycling, secondary product, steel, crushed steel slag, road construction

Making Fine-Porosity Thermal Insulation-Microwave Assisted

LUCIAN PĂUNESCU, Daily Sourcing & Research SRL Bucharest, Romania, lucianpaunescu16@gmail.com
SORIN MIRCEA AXINTE, Daily Sourcing & Research SRL Bucharest, Romania; Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Materials Science, National University of Science and Technology “Politehnica” of Bucharest, Romania

pages 43 - 54   Download
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.15617754  
Abstract
Fine-porosity glass foam was made from ground recycled waste glass, using sodium hydroxide dissolved in distilled water, borax, and titanium dioxide as additives. The dry mixture was heated for sintering at 810-825°C in a constructively and operationally adapted microwave oven, heating times being varied between 27-60 min. The proportion of NaOH was increased from 4.5 to 9%, so that the NaOH/borax ratio had values between 0.75-1.50. The experiments allowed the identification of the optimal NaOH/borax ratio (1.25), so that the characteristics of the appropriate specimen were: density of 0.14 g·cm-3, porosity of 89.6%, heat conductivity of 0.042 W·m-1·K-1, and compression strength of 1.2 MPa. The pore size was very low (between 40-80 µm), obtaining a structure with predominant closed-porosity.
Keywords: glass foam, fine-porosity, microwave, NaOH, borax

Biosynthesis of Gold Nanoparticles Using Averrhoa bilimbi for Chromium Detection in Wastewater

ALFIAN FADHILAH ALMINDA, Department of Food Nanotechnology, Politeknik AKA Bogor, Indonesia
ANISSYA DWI KUSUMANINGRUM WIBISONO, Department of Food Nanotechnology, Politeknik AKA Bogor, Indonesia
AQILAH NURSAKHA, Department of Food Nanotechnology, Politeknik AKA Bogor, Indonesia
MITHA YUSTIKA SYARI, Department of Food Nanotechnology, Politeknik AKA Bogor, Indonesia
SYIFA NUR’AFIYAH, Department of Food Nanotechnology, Politeknik AKA Bogor, Indonesia
YUDHISTIRA DIMAS NUGROHO, Department of Food Nanotechnology, Politeknik AKA Bogor, Indonesia
ZALFA JAWZA KAMILA, Department of Food Nanotechnology, Politeknik AKA Bogor, Indonesia
MOHAMMAD JIHAD MADIABU, Department of Analytical Chemistry, Politeknik AKA Bogor, Indonesia
ACHMAD NANDANG ROZIAFANTO, Department of Food Nanotechnology, Politeknik AKA Bogor, Indonesia, anandangr@yahoo.com

pages 55-72   Download
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.15617768
Abstract
Heavy metal chromium (Cr) is one of the substances that can cause water pollution. Although chromium is highly useful in various aspects of life, including in the industrial sector, its excessive use also generates waste that has the potential to damage the environment and pose risks to human health. The analysis of chromium (Cr) presence in water was conducted using the biosynthesis method of gold nanoparticles with Averrhoa bilimbi as a bioreductant. Chromium, as one of the heavy metals, has many industrial applications; however, its excessive use can pollute the environment and endanger human health. The method used in this study is colorimetry, which is known to be simple, effective, economical, and accurate. The analysis results showed that gold nanoparticles synthesized from Averrhoa bilimbi could detect chromium at a concentration of 10 mM under optimal conditions at pH 5, temperature 75°C, and incubation time of 5 minutes. The synthesized gold nanoparticles proved to be selective and sensitive in detecting the presence of chromium, thus offering a potential solution for monitoring chromium pollution in aquatic environments.
Keywords: Chromium, Heavy metal, Bioreductant, Gold nanoparticles, Averrhoa bilimbi, Sensitivity and selectivity, Biosynthesis

Formulation and Microbiological Evaluation of a Cosmetic Cream with Sea Buckthorn Extract and Without Preservatives

CLAUDIA COBZARU, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iaşi, “Cristofor Simionescu” Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection, Iaşi, Romania
OANA-NICOLETA ȘCHIOPU, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iaşi, “Cristofor Simionescu” Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection, Iaşi, Romania
MĂLINA-MARIA CERNĂTESCU, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iași, Romania
NICOLAE APOSTOLESCU, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iaşi, “Cristofor Simionescu” Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection, Iaşi, Romania
CORINA CERNĂTESCU, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iaşi, “Cristofor Simionescu” Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection, Iaşi, Romania, corina.cernatescu@academic.tuiasi.ro

pages 73 - 81   Download
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.15617918  
Abstract
The study focus on the formulation and microbiological evaluation of a cosmetic cream with sea buckthorn extract and without preservatives. The microbiological evaluation was carried out by determining the total number of viable microorganisms (aerobic bacteria, yeasts and filamentous fungi) and identifying pathogenic microorganisms such as: Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. The results obtained showed that from a microbiological point of view, the product corresponds since after the incubation period no microbial growth was observed.
Keywords: cosmetic cream, sea buckthorn extract, preservatives, microbiological evaluation

Rheological Behaviour of Some Gels Based on Diclofenac

LOREDANA CHELEA, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iaşi, “Cristofor Simionescu” Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection, Iaşi, Romania
CONSTANȚA IBĂNESCU, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iaşi, “Cristofor Simionescu” Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection, Iaşi, Romania
MARICEL DANU, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iaşi, “Cristofor Simionescu” Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection, Iaşi, Romania; “Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of Iaşi, Romania, maricel.danu@academic.tuiasi.ro

pages 83 - 94   Download
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.15617924
Abstract
The delivery of pharmaceuticals to the skin is possible using two methods: topical and transdermal. In the context of topical administration, the drug is intended to act at the skin level, and it is commonly employed in the treatment of skin diseases. Transdermal administration achieves systemic delivery, when the skin is a barrier, not a target. The objective of the present study is to characterize the rheological behavior of drug carriers in topical administration. To this aim, the rheological measurements of several commercial diclofenac containing gels were performed. The present study demonstrates the application of rheological measurements in the characterization of pharmaceutical products. The viscoelastic properties could be successfully correlated with the end-use properties, such as applicability, processing behavior, storage, and thermal stability.
Keywords: viscoelastic properties, structural stability, gel strength, diclofenac, rheology