Additive manufacturing (AM) of co-fired low temperature ceramics offers a unique route for fabrication of novel 3D radio frequency (RF) and microwave communication components, embedded electronics and sensors. This paper describes the first-ever direct 3D printing of low temperature co-fired ceramics/floating electrode 3D structures. Slurry-based AM and selective laser burnout (SLB) were used to fabricate bulk dielectric, Bi 2 Mo 2 O 9 (BMO, sintering temperature = 620-650°C, ε r = 38) with silver (Ag) internal floating electrodes. A printable BMO slurry was developed and the SLB optimised to improve edge definition and burn out the binder without damaging the ceramic. The SLB increased the green strength needed for shape retention, produced crack-free parts and prevented Ag leaching into the ceramic during co-firing. The green parts were sintered after SLB in a conventional furnace at 645°C for 4 h and achieved 94.5% density, compressive strength of 4097 MPa, a relative permittivity (ε r) of 33.8 and a loss tangent (tan δ) of 0.0004 (8 GHz) for BMO. The feasibility of using SLB followed by a postprinting sintering step to create BMO/Ag 3D structures was thus demonstrated.

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The effectiveness, kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of maleic acid in solution using a novel modified polyacrylonitrile (PAN) catalyst/hydrogen peroxide system was studied. The modified PAN catalyst contains immobilised Fe

A kinetic model has been developed that expresses the oxidation of maleic acid in solution using a novel modified (polyacrylonitrile) PAN catalyst=hydrogen peroxide system. The novel modified PAN catalyst contains immobilised Fe 3 þ and its reaction with hydrogen peroxide is thought to generate reactive hydroxyl radicals according to Fenton's reaction as well as another active iron oxo species. The model takes into account the presence of both hydroxyl radicals and active iron oxo species as well as hydroperoxyl radical and hydrogen peroxide in the oxidation process. Kinetic constants for the modified PAN=H 2 O 2 system towards the decomposition of maleic acid were determined, and their sensitivity analysed. Predicted concentration profiles of the radical species ( ? OH, HO ? 2 , O ? À 2 ), as well as iron species (Fe(III), Fe(II) and FeO) helped in gaining a better understanding the oxidation process. This model, with the new set of kinetic parameters, provides a superior fit to the experimental data compared to kinetic constants from the literature.

This is a repository copy of Additively manufactured ultra-low sintering temperature, low loss Ag2Mo2O7 ceramic substrates.

bLegionnaires' disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by Legionella spp., organisms often isolated from environmental sources, including soil and water. Legionella spp. are capable of replicating intracellularly within free-living protozoa, and once this has occurred, Legionella is particularly resistant to disinfectants. Citrus essential oil (EO) vapors are effective antimicrobials against a range of microorganisms, with reductions of 5 log cells ml ؊1 on a variety of surfaces. The aim of this investigation was to assess the efficacy of a citrus EO vapor against Legionella spp. in water and in soil systems. Reductions of viable cells of Legionella pneumophila, Legionella longbeachae, Legionella bozemanii, and an intra-amoebal culture of Legionella pneumophila (water system only) were assessed in soil and in water after exposure to a citrus EO vapor at concentrations ranging from 3.75 mg/ liter air to 15g/liter air. Antimicrobial efficacy via different delivery systems (passive and active sintering of the vapor) was determined in water, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of the antimicrobial components (linalool, citral, and ␤-pinene) was conducted. There was up to a 5-log cells ml ؊1 reduction in Legionella spp. in soil after exposure to the citrus EO vapors (15 mg/liter air). The most susceptible strain in water was L. pneumophila, with a 4-log cells ml ؊1 reduction after 24 h via sintering (15 g/liter air). Sintering the vapor through water increased the presence of the antimicrobial components, with a 61% increase of linalool. Therefore, the appropriate method of delivery of an antimicrobial citrus EO vapor may go some way in controlling Legionella spp. from environmental sources.

The pollution of water sources by endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) and pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) is a growing concern, as conventional municipal wastewater treatment systems are not capable of completely removing these contaminants. A continuous stir tank reactor incorporating a modified polyacrylonitrile (PAN) catalyst and dosed with hydrogen peroxide in a heterogeneous Fenton’s process was used at pilot scale to remove these compounds from wastewater that has undergone previous treatment via a conventional wastewater treatment system. The treatment system was effective at ambient temperature and at the natural pH of the wastewater. High levels of both natural and synthetic hormones (EDCs) and PPCPs were found in the effluent after biological treatment of the wastewater. The treatment system incorporating the modified PAN catalyst/H2O2decomposed >90% of the EDCs and >40% of PPCPs using 200 mgL−1H2O2, 3 hr residence time. The estrogenic potency EE2-EQ was removed by 82.77%, 91.36%, and 96.13% from three different wastewater treatment plants. BOD was completely removed (below detection limits); 30%–40% mineralisation was achieved and turbidity reduced by more than 68%. There was a <4% loss in iron content on the catalyst over the study period, suggesting negligible leaching of the catalyst.