.pl , Phone: þ48 22 822 02 11, Fax: þ48 22 822 59 96Nanocomposites are nowadays one of the most promising materials. Among different fillers, e.g. carbon nanotubes and silicon carbide nanowires (NWSiC), already used with epoxy resin matrices, graphene exfoliated graphite (EG) and graphene nanoplates have some characteristics that make them unique for electromagnetic shielding materials. However, there is still an unresolved problem of proper dispersion that will ensure the homogeneity of samples. To overcome this drawback, inorganic fibres were proposed. An amount of 0.25 phr (parts per hundred; filler content presented as wt.% of the whole polymeric matrix) NWSiC, added to the EG 1 phr/epoxy resin sample, efficiently prevents filler agglomeration. NWSiC were obtained in combustion synthesis and EG was produced from intercalated graphite using microwaves. Finally, nanocomposites with EG from self-propagating high-temperature synthesis were also tested. The properties of the samples have been characterized, revealing an observable improvement of pure resin features.Raw products of combustion synthesis of Si/polytetra-fluoroethylene (PTFE) stoichiometric mixture, carried out in the larger of the presented reactors.

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The silicon carbide (SiC) nanofibers (0.1, 0.25, and 0.5 phr), produced by self‐propagating high‐temperature synthesis (SHS), are used to reinforce the epoxy matrix cured with an anhydride hardener. Morphological studies reveal a better dispersion of SiC nanofibers and a good level of adhesion between nanofiber and the matrix in composites with lower (0.1 and 0.25 phr) nanofiber loading. The flexural studies show that a maximum increase in flexural properties is obtained for composites with 0.25 phr SiC nanofiber. The fracture toughness of epoxy is found to increase with the incorporation of SiC nanofibers, and 0.25 phr SiC nanofiber loading shows maximum fracture toughness value. The possible fracture mechanisms that exist in epoxy/SiC nanofiber composites have been investigated in detail. Thermogravimetric analysis reveals that SiC nanofibers are effective fillers to improve the thermal stability of epoxy matrix. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) can be regarded as an efficient method to obtain new nanomaterials. Different starting mixtures of magnesium powder with various carbonates (Li 2 CO 3 , Na 2 CO 3 , CaCO 3 , FeCO 3 , (NH 4 ) 2 CO 3 ) were tried and the auto-thermal reactions were carried out under both reactive (air) and neutral atmosphere (argon) with an initial pressure of 1 or 10 atm to yield novel nanomaterials. Both SiC nanofibres and novel branched SiC nanostructures were also obtained from Si/polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) mixtures and their synthesis and purification have been optimized. The application of those one-dimensional (1-D) SiC nanostructures as a composite filler is presented.

Partial nitritation and anaerobic ammonium oxidation (PNA) is a useful process for the treatment of nitrogen-rich centrate from the dewatering of anaerobically digested sludge. A one-stage PNA moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) was started up without inoculum at Klagshamn wastewater treatment plant, southern Sweden. The reactor was designed to treat up to 200 kgN d−1, and heated dilution water was used during start-up. The nitrogen removal was >80% after 111 days of operation, and the nitrogen removal rate reached 1.8 gN m−2 d1 at 35 °C. The start-up period of the reactor was comparable to that of inoculated full-scale systems. The operating conditions of the system were found to be important, and online control of the free ammonia concentration played a crucial role. Ex situ batch activity tests were performed to evaluate process performance.