@article { ISI:000226756100018, title = {Preparation, characterization, and water-sorption study of polyvinyl alcohol based hydrogels with grafted hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments}, journal = {Journal of Applied Polymer Science}, volume = {95}, number = {5}, year = {2005}, month = {MAR}, pages = {1129-1142}, publisher = {JOHN WILEY \& SONS INC}, type = {Article}, address = {111 RIVER ST, HOBOKEN, NJ 07030 USA}, abstract = {

The interpenetrating polymer network hydrogels based on poly(vinyl alcohol) were obtained by graft copolymerization of acrylamide and styrene onto polyvinyl alcohol in the presence of N,N{\textquoteright}-methylene bisacrylamide as a crosslinking agent. The hydrogels were characterized by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectral analysis, differential scanning calorimeter, and thermogravimetric analysis. The hydrogels showed enormous swelling in aqueous medium and displayed swelling characteristics, which were highly dependent on the chemical composition of the hydrogels and pH of the swelling medium. The kinetics of water uptake and the mechanisms of water transport were studied as a function of composition of the hydrogel and pH of the swelling medium. (C) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

}, keywords = {Characterization, equilibrium swelling, grafting, IPN hydrogels, polyvinyl alcohol}, issn = {0021-8995}, doi = {10.1002/app.21344}, author = {Shukla, S. and Bajpai, A. K. and Kulkarni, R. A.} } @article { ISI:000255190300006, title = {Hexavalent chromate reduction by immobilized streptomyces griseus}, journal = {Biotechnology Letters}, volume = {30}, number = {6}, year = {2008}, month = {JUN}, pages = {1005-1010}, publisher = {SPRINGER}, type = {Article}, address = {VAN GODEWIJCKSTRAAT 30, 3311 GZ DORDRECHT, NETHERLANDS}, abstract = {

Hexavalent chromium, which is a mutagen and carcinogen, was efficiently reduced by Streptomyces griseus. This activity was associated with the cell. Cr6+ reduction by free as well as immobilized cells was studied: cells in PVA- alginate had the highest ( 100\%) Cr6+ removal efficiency in 24 h with reduction rates similar to free cells. Immobilized cells completely reduced 25 mg Cr6+ l(-1) in 24 h. PVA- alginate immobilized cells could be reused four times to completely reduce 25 mg Cr6+ l(-1) in 24 h each time. Chromate in a simulated effluent containing Cu2+, Mg2+, Mn2+ and Zn2+ was completely reduced by PVA- alginate immobilized cells within 9 h.

}, keywords = {Chromate reduction, Immobilized cells, polyvinyl alcohol, Streptomyces griseus}, issn = {0141-5492}, doi = {10.1007/s10529-008-9662-0}, author = {Poopal, Ashwini C. and Laxman, Ryali Seeta} } @article { ISI:000329137400081, title = {Design of a high performance thin all-solid-state supercapacitor mimicking the active interface of its liquid-state counterpart}, journal = {ACS Applied Materials \& Interfaces}, volume = {5}, number = {24}, year = {2013}, month = {DEC}, pages = {13397-13404}, publisher = {AMER CHEMICAL SOC}, address = {1155 16TH ST, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20036 USA}, abstract = {

Here we report an all-solid-state supercapacitor (ASSP) which closely mimics the electrode-electrolyte interface of its liquid-state counterpart by impregnating polyaniline (PANO-coated carbon paper with polyvinyl alcohol-H2SO4 (PVA-H2SO4) gel/plasticized polymer electrolyte. The well penetrated PVA-H2SO4 network along the porous carbon matrix essentially enhanced the electrode-electrolyte interface of the resulting device with a very low equivalent series resistance (ESR) of 1 Omega/cm(2) and established an interfacial structure very similar to a liquid electrolyte. The designed interface of the device was confirmed by cross-sectional elemental mapping and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. The PANI in the device displayed a specific capacitance of 647 F/g with an areal capacitance of 1 F/cm(2) at 0.5 A/g and a capacitance retention of 62\% at 20 A/g. The above values are the highest among those reported for any solid-state-supercapacitor. The whole device, including the electrolyte, shows a capacitance of 12 F/g with a significantly low leakage current of 16 mu A(2). Apart from this, the device showed excellent stability for 10000 cycles with a coulombic efficiency of 100\%. Energy density of the PANI in the device is 14.3 Wh/kg.

}, keywords = {all-solid-state, cyclic voltametry, impedance analysis, polyaniline, polyvinyl alcohol, supercapacitor}, issn = {1944-8244}, doi = {10.1021/am404320e}, author = {Anothumakkool, Bihag and Torris, Arun A. T. and Bhange, Siddheshwar N. and Unni, SreeKuttan M. and Badiger, Manohar V. and Kurungot, Sreekumar} }