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A series of interesting core/shell silver/phenol formaldehyde resin (PFR) nano/microstructures were also synthesized through an efficient microwave process by self-assembly growth. Various morphologies, including monodispersed nanospheres, nanocables, and microcages were obtained by changing the fundamental experimental parameters, such as the reaction time and the surfactants (Pluronic P123 or CTAB). The results indicated that the presence of triblock copolymer Pluronic P123 would result in hollow silver/PFR microcages, while CTAB would prefer the formation of ultralong silver/PFR coaxial nanocables. In the absence of surfactants, monodispersed core/shell silver/PFR nanospheres could be obtained. The size of the nanospheres can be controlled in the range of 110 to 450 nm by changing the molar ratio of reagents (phenol:hexamine). The morphology and composition of the as-prepared products were characterized. The formation mechanism of the products was discussed based on the obtained results. / Bifunctional mesoporous core/shell Ag FeNi3 nanospheres were synthesized by reducing iron(III) chloride, nickel(II) chloride and silver nitrate with hydrazine in ethylene glycol under microwave irradiation. The efficient microwave-hydrothermal process significantly shortened the synthesis time to one minute. The toxicity of Ag FeNi3 nanospheres were tested by exposing to zebrafish, they were less toxic than silver nanoparticles. In vitro MRI confirmed the effectiveness of the Ag FeNi3 nanospheres as sensitive MRI probes. The interaction of Rhodamine Band nanospheres showed greatly enhanced fluorescence over the FeNi3 nanoparticles. / Finally, a series of ZnO microarchitectures including monodispersed spindles, branches, flowers, paddies, and sphere-like clusters were prepared by an efficient microwave-hydrothermal process. The ZnO mophologies could be effectively controlled by changing the reaction conditions such as the reaction temperature, the reactant concentrations and the solvent system. Simple microspindles, interesting flowers and paddies could be obtained in the presence of hexamine, and the more attractive sphere-like clusters could be synthesized by introducing phenol. The formation mechanisms of different morphologies are discussed in detail. These interesting ZnO structures may have potential applications in electronic and optoelectronic devices. / Inorganic nanostrucured materials have attracted much attention owing to their unique features and important applications in biomedicine. This thesis describes the development of rapid and efficient approaches to synthesize inorganic nanostructures, and introduces some potential applications. / Magnetic nanostructures, such as necklace-like FeNi3 magnetic nanochains and magnetite nanoclusters, were synthesized by an efficient microwave-hydrothermal process. They were used as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents. Magnetic FeNi3 nanochains were synthesized by reducing iron(III) acetylacetonate and nickel(II) acetylacetonate with hydrazine in ethylene glycol solution without any template under microwave irradiation. This was a rapid and economical route based on an efficient microwave-hydrothermal process which significantly shortened the synthesis time to mins. The morphologies and size of the materials could be effectively controlled by adjusting the reaction conditions, such as, the reaction time, temperature and concentrations of reactants. The morphology and composition of the as-prepared products were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The size of the aligned nanospheres in the magnetic FeNi 3 chains could be adjusted from 150nm to 550nm by increasing the amounts of the precursors. Magnetic measurements revealed that the FeNi3 nanochains showed enhanced coercivity and saturation magnetization. Toxicity tests by exposure of FeNi3 nanochains to the zebrafish larvae showed that the as-prepared nanochains were biocompatible. In vitro magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirms the effectiveness of the FeNi 3 nanochains as sensitive MRI probes. Magnetite nanoclusters were synthesized by reducing iron(III) acetylacetonate with hydrazine in ethylene glycol under microwave irradiation. The nanoclusters showed enhanced T2 relaxivity. In vitro and in vivo MRI confirmed the effectiveness of the magnetite nanoclusters as sensitive MRI probes. We also investigated the biodistribution of the nanoclusters in rat liver and spleen. / Jia, Juncai. / Adviser: Jimmy C. Yu. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 73-06, Section: B, page: . / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references. / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [201-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

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Microwave heating has unique advantages compared to convection-radiation heating methods including fast heating rate and selective heating of objects. This thesis studied two applications of microwave heating in the environmental field: adsorbent regeneration and oil sands coke activation. The thermal behavior during microwave heating of select adsorbents when dry or saturated with selected adsorbates was studied to assess the potential for using microwave heating to regenerate adsorbents. Strong microwave-absorbing adsorbents depicted faster heating rate when dry. Weakly microwave-absorbing adsorbents depicted faster heating rate when saturated with polar adsorbates. Fast activation of oil sands coke using microwave heating and KOH was successfully completed. The iodine number of the activated delayed coke obtained after 10 minutes of microwave activation was 1130 mg/g. The short activation time and simplicity of the process demonstrate that microwave-activation is a promising approach to convert oil sands coke into activated carbon adsorbent with high adsorption capacity. / Environmental Engineering

In recent years there has been considerable interest in the development of microwave-based food processing technologies. Microwave radiation is considered to have both thermal and non-thermal effects. The thermal effects are related to the heat generated by the absorption of microwave energy by water or by organic molecules, but very little is known about the mechanisms involved in the putative non-thermal effects. It has been postulated that the latter could involve a direct energy transfer from the electromagnetic field to the vibrational modes of macromolecules, altering their conformation. In the present study, the non-thermal effects induced upon irradiation of protein solutions with microwave energy were investigated by employing Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, circular dichroism, and fluorescence spectroscopy to elucidate the unfolding pathways of hemoglobin and beta-lactoglobulin (5% in D2O) subjected to either microwave irradiation (2450 MHz) or conventional heating. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

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A continuous flow microwave heating system was set up by using one domestic microwave oven (1000W nominal output at 2450MHz). Water was run through the coil centrally located inside the oven cavity for microwave heating. Microwave absorption efficiency was evaluated by measuring inlet and outlet temperatures of coil as a function of system variables. In order to optimize the coil configuration, the influence of tube diameter (6.4, 7.9 and 9.7mm); initial temperature (10, 20 and 30 ºC); number of turns (3.5, 4.5 and 5.5); coil diameter (61.5, 88, 102, 121 and 153 mm) and pitch (16, 18, 20, 22 and 24mm) were evaluated, respectively at different flow rates (240, 270, 300, 330 and 360ml/min). In helical systems, Dean number is used as a measure of secondary flow which enhances mixing of the fluid providing uniform heating even under laminar flow conditions. Results showed that microwave absorption efficiency was a compromise between coil volume and Dean number. Therefore, a helical coil (110 mm high) with a coil diameter of 108 mm, tube diameter of 8.2 mm, 5.5 turns demonstrated the highest efficiency, fast heating rate, more uniform heating and less temperature fluctuations. The optimized coil configuration parameters were used subsequently to set up continuous-flow microwave heating system.

Thermal kinetics of enzymatic time-temperature integrators (TTIs) were experimentally evaluated under both conventional and microwave heating systems in the pasteurization temperature range (50 to 90°C). Recent developments of process evaluation methodologies have Shown that standardized enzymatic time-temperature integrators (TTIs) could be successfully used for fast and correct quantification of thermal processes. Promising results have been reported for the alpha-amylase based TTI from Bacillus subtilis (BAA), which was chosen in this study as the TTI to compare the effectiveness of continuous-flow heating systems with microwave and conventional heating modes. Thermal inactivation kinetics of alpha-amylase was studied by measuring the residual activity of heat treated samples in isothermal conditions in a temperature range of 50 to 95°C and pH range, 5.0 to 6.9. Based on a first order rate of inactivation kinetics, kinetic parameters, decimal reduction time, D, and temperature sensitivity indicator, z, were calculated. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Washington State University, May 2008. / Includes bibliographical references.