In this paper, the fabrication of the photocured materials which contained silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) was studied on the properties of materials such as physical, mechanical and thermal properties, especially antibacterial activity. Therefore, silver nanoparticles were prepared and added into the polyurethane based matrix. Chemical and morphological structures of the photocured materials were characterized by FTIR and SEM analysis. SEM images proved the size of the silver nanoparticles and their dispersion into polymer matrix. Thermal, mechanical and optical properties of photocured materials results showed that the prepared polymer compositions containing Ag-NPs exhibited high modulus and better thermal property. Moreover, the antibacterial properties of the polyurethane based materials and polymer material containing AgNPs were determined and these AgNPs containing photocured materials pointed out good antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.

In this paper, adsorption of gold from chloride media using commercial sorbent (Lewatit TP 214 (L-214)) and biomass residue (rice hull (RH)) were investigated. The different adsorption parameters, sorbent dosage, contact time, temperature and pH of solution on adsorption (%) were studied in detail on a batch sorption. Before the RH was activated, adsorption (%) was poor compared with L-214. However, after the RH was activated at 1000 °C under an argon atmosphere, the gold adsorption (%) increased four-fold. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) was used to explore the feasibility this material as an adsorbent for the removal of gold from aqueous solutions. The adsorption equilibrium data were best fitted with the Langmuir isotherm model. The maximum adsorption capacities, Qmax, at 25 °C were found to be 93.46 and 108.70 mg/g for the activated rice hull (ARH) and L-214, respectively. Thermodynamic calculations using ΔH°, ΔS°, ΔG° and Ea values indicate that the adsorption process was spontaneous and endothermic.

The present study investigated the possibility of preparing polyvinyl alcoholic (PVA) organic-inorganic hybrid nanofiber membranes by electrospinning with UV irradiation. To this end, PVA, PVA/SiO2 organic-inorganic hybrid obtained with Geniosil® XL 33 as a SiO2 source, and imidazole-functionalized mesoporous PVA/SiO2/N=N nanofiber membranes were synthesized. These membranes were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis, and Brunauer - Emmett - Teller analysis. According to results, fine polymeric nanofibers were obtained in the size range of 100-200 nm for pure PVA nanofibers and 150-250 nm for PVA/SiO2 hybrid nanofibers, while imidazole-functionalized PVA/SiO2 nanofibers were less than 100 nm. The membranes produced are suitable for use in various applications, including filtration and adsorption, in the biomedical and textile industries, among others.

Present work investigates platinum uptake from synthetically prepared, dilute platinum-bearing solutions using biomass residues, i.e. pistachio nut shell and rice husk, which are abundant in Turkey, and provides a comparison between these two biosorbents. Effects of the different uptake parameters, sorbent dosage, contact time, temperature and pH of solution on platinum uptake (%) were studied in detail on a batch sorption. Before the pistachio nut shell was activated, platinum uptake (%) was poor compared to the rice husk. However, after the pistachio nut shell was activated at 1000 °C under an argon atmosphere, the platinum uptake (%) increased two-fold. The pistachio nut shell (original and activated) and rice husk were shown to be better than commercially available activated carbon in terms of adsorption capacity. These two sorbents have also been characterized by FTIR and SEM. Adsorption equilibrium data best complied with the Langmuir isotherm model. Maximum adsorption capacities, Qmax, at 25 °C were found to be 38.31 and 42.02 mg.g- 1for the activated pistachio nut shell and rice husk, respectively. Thermodynamic calculations using the measured ∆H°, ∆S° and ∆G° values indicate that the uptake process was spontaneous and endothermic. The experimental data were shown to be fit the pseudo-second-order kinetic model.