Researchers at University of Turin have developed cross-linked bio-derived cationic polymers from maltodextrin product to measure their water absorption capacity and water remediation capability as gel formation and nitrate, sulfate, and phosphate removal tests.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

These polymers were comprehensively characterized via FTIR-ATR, TGA, DSC, XRD, SEM, elemental analysis, and zeta-potential measurements, to investigate their composition, and structure, along with other mechanical and chemical properties. For SEM imaging of the polymers, they were coated with a gold thin film of 12 nm with Vac Coat Desk Sputter Coater\u00a0DSR1<\/a><\/strong>, and the SEM imaging of the polymers before and after the water adsorption are as follows:<\/p>\n

$\"The$ <\/p>\n

$\"\"$ <\/p>\n

Subsequently, the water absorption capacity of the cross-linked polymers was measured ranging from 800% to 1500%, and water remediation tests for removal of common pollutants like nitrate, sulfate, and phosphate showed high sorption rates, with 80% of nitrates, over 90% of sulfates, and total phosphates removal.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Vac Coat offers various SEM coaters for deposition of metals or carbon for\u00a0SEM sample preparation<\/strong>\u00a0working at low or high vacuum conditions. DSR1 is a low-vacuum desk sputter coater commonly used for noble metal\u00a0sputtering deposition<\/strong>\u00a0to make the surface of SEM samples conductive.\u00a0DST1\u00a0with a turbomolecular pump, is capable of deposition of noble and oxidizing metals. Moreover, low and high-vacuum\u00a0DCR\u00a0and\u00a0DCT\u00a0carbon coaters can evaporate carbon fiber (thread) and carbon rods in a full\/semi-automatic deposition process to prepare samples for SEM analysis. DSCR<\/a> and\u00a0 DSCT<\/a>\u00a0hybrid coating systems merge the benefits of the sputter coaters and carbon coaters in one compact device, while\u00a0DSCT-T\u00a0adds the merit of\u00a0thermal evaporation<\/strong>\u00a0to the system.\u00a0DTE\u00a0and\u00a0DTT<\/a>\u00a0coating models are ideal for the thermal evaporation of metals in a small or large chamber device, respectively.<\/p>\n

Vac Coat also produces precise advanced research coating systems, such as triple target sputter coaters,\u00a0DST3\u00a0and\u00a0 DST3-T<\/a>, suitable for the deposition of multi-layers and alloys via co-sputtering.\u00a0DST2-TG\u00a0is another innovative Vac Coat product with double sputtering targets and a thermal source that can be fitted into a glove box through special feed-throughs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n