Growth costs
The southern Indian city of Bengaluru is celebrated as the "Silicon Valley of India" and the "Biotech Capital of India". With an attractive climate and decades of high-tech industry (aircraft manufacturing, electronics, watches and more) and research institutes, Bengaluru continues to attract global companies. The start-up climate for new companies is also seen as positive.
Percentage representation of patterns across (a) EU limits and (b) IS limits in vegetables irrigated with lake water from various lakesThepopulation has tripled in three decades from around 4 million people in 1990 to 12.3 million people in 2020. The fact that the infrastructure has not been able to keep pace is evident everywhere - whether it is electricity, housing, transportation or drinking water supply or waste and wastewater processing.
An earlier report described how the city of some 285 lakes a few decades ago is now struggling to save the threatened 17 lakes that remain. In a study, scientists from the University of Agricultural Sciences in Bengaluru analyzed samples of soils and vegetable varieties from around six of Bengaluru's lakes, where water from the lakes was used, for metal contamination. It is not only known to the city fathers that the lakes of Bengaluru have become a part of the drainage system and untreated or partially treated effluents from industries (textile, electroplating, distilleries) enter into it. Therefore, the results of this study are not surprising at all, as regrettable as it is.
The concentration of heavy metals in the soil was in the order Cr > Ni > Pb/Cd. The concentration of heavy metals in the vegetables examined was in the order Cr > Ni > Cd > Pb. In both cases, the concentrations were significantly higher than the limits permitted in the EU or IS.
Curr. Sci. 2020, 119 (11), pp. 1849-1854
Antibacterial effect of copper-containing alloys
Surface topography 420-Cu SS with different surface roughness (scanned area: 145 μm x 145 μm)Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, interest in antibacterial surfaces has increased. Scientists in Shenyang, China have studied the antibacterial effect of copper-containing stainless steel alloys on the surface. The topography of the surface has a direct influence on the degree of exposure and contact kill. In this study, the surface
surface roughness was correlated with the anti-bacterial effect.
Compared to polishing the surface with silicon carbide (P150 and P1000), polishing with diamonds was significantly more effective. The diamond polished surface caused very rapid and maximum mechanical and physical damage when E. coli bacteria were brought into contact with the surface.
Diamond polishing increased both hydrophobicity and surface potential. This weakened the electrostatic barrier between the bacterium and the surface and increased the Lewis acid-
base attraction was strengthened.
ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2021, 13 (2), pp. 2303-2315
Interaction of E. coli with different surface types
Organic semiconductor films by dip coating
Microstructured Ultrathin Organic Semiconductor FilmOrganicsemiconductors (OSCs) have become increasingly relevant in industry because they offer many advantages. They are flexible and can be produced cheaply. The chemical structures and functionalities can be varied. The opto-electronic properties of OSCs depend on the state of aggregation in molecular assemblies. The development and application of ultra-thin OSCs, also called microstructured ultra-thin OSFs (MUOSFs), are currently a research area.
Scientists from Tinjian and Soochow Universities in China have discussed the status of research, mechanism, dip-coating structure and application examples in a paper.
Acc. Mater. Res. 2020, 1, pp. 201-212
Electroless nickel plating in Texas
The company Houston Plating and Coatings in Texas, USA has developed a process for electroless nickel plating of high-pressure gas cylinders. The surface is coated up to 99.99 % or more uniformly. Electroless nickel plating does not produce hydrogen embrittlement, which is critical for this particular application.
The process and the equipment for it are marketed under the brand name Ni-Side. Several gas cylinders can be electroless nickel-plated at the same time. This increases production capacity and reduces costs. According to a press release, a patent application has been filed.
ADDRESS OF THE AUTHOR
Dr. Nagaraj N. Rao, RRR Labs Pvt. Ltd, RRR House,
Plot 80, Sector 23, Turbhe, CIDCO Industrial Area,
Navi Mumbai - 400 705 India;
E-mail:
