RESEARCH PROJECTS
Green Synthesis of Boron Doped 3D Printable Microcomposites from Plastic Wastes for Solar and Nuclear Absorption Applications
Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issues in the world due to low-recycling rates. In this study, I developed a general recycling method, Liquid Floating Process or LFP, to apply to many polymer types, through which applicability of sustainable energy storage systems was examined.
The process of creating a qualified end-product examined in two stages. In Stage I, with the LFP, boron-doped polymers were produced and collected by electrodeposition. The polymeric structures formed were used to create a 3D printable, rBDPE/B4C micro composite to be used as a solar and nuclear absorbent. LFP will be the first thermocatalic and solvent-free general recycling process in commercial methods with high-yielded, sustainable and cost-effective benefits. In Stage II, micro-unit structures of the boron were used to create a macro level surface by the micro-inspired technique, aiming to increase the surface area per unit volume to be used in smart materials. The microcomposites created were characterized by FT-IR, DSC, and TGA techniques. In addition, qualitative and quantitative examination of cobalt color change test and preliminary titrations were also used in the calculation of the yield. UV-Vis DRS, NAA and UV-Solar Simulator were used in the solar and nuclear absorbent capacity of microcomposites.
The performance of the rBDPE/B4C microcomposites in these tests was also an increased neutron attenuation coefficients (u) in samples and showed the PV effect in the simulator. Economical and theoretical analysis showed that yield for the plastic wastes is 45% higher than the commercial methods. These properties can be exploited in future studies to develop an effective polymeric space-based solar power absorber and energy storage systems.
Credit : 2020 Virtual REGENERON ISEF - International Finalists Abstracts Book - Chemistry
REGENERON
ISEF 2020
TUBITAK
AWARD
EHOC 2018
TUBITAK
AWARD
Investıgatıng The Effect of The Low Concentrated Betalaıne Derıved Extract of Celosıa argentea Plant on The Apoptotıc Behavıor of Neuroblastoma (SH - SY5Y) Cells
Neuroblastoma is the fourth cancer type in the world and in Turkey by 7-8% in children. It is a malignant tumor, often seen in early childhood, originating from the sympathetic nervous system. As in every cancer cell, DNA can not repair itself in neuroblastoma, and the cells multiply uncontrollably. Over-proliferating cells form cell masses, called tumors. Today, the recovery rate of neuroblastoma cancer is 50%. High-dose chemotherapy or surgical methods are used in treatment. The aim of our project is to investigate the effect of betalain on neuroblastoma cancer cells, the cell code SH-SY5Y, to decrease the minimum level of DNA damage, causing the cancer formation, with low-concentrated betalaine pigment extract.
Betalain is a group of water-soluble pigment in yellow-violet tones found in plants such as red beet, in some fungi and in bougainvillea, in the family Centrospermeae. The antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of betalaines are known in the last twenty years. In our project, amaranth (Celosia argentea) flower, known to contain betalaine, was extracted with Soxhlet apparatus. During the experiments, the extract was stored in permanent ideal degree (4°C), air contact was interrupted. Chromatogrophy purification technique was used to determine the solvent to be used in the extraction process and betalain was separated according to the solid-liquid extraction method. Cell cultures were treated with the extract at different doses at the same concentration.
According to the results obtained, the neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cells in the cell sets in which the high dose effect was investigated died on the DMEM at a dose of 1000 μl. However, at a dose of 500 μl, no cell death was observed at the dose of 1000 μl. Cell deaths did not occur with the apoptosis phase and no normal cell cycle was observed. Since the apoptosis phase is not visible, the cause of the death is due to the high amount of water in the low concentrated extract.
My hypothesis was confirmed as a result of the low concentration extract, but at 1000µl (high-dose) the cells died. For this reason, the concentration of the extract to be applied to the cells is high molarity and purified pigment will be applied at the appropriate doses to solve in the beginning of the application on neuroblastoma cells. Since apoptosis is seen within a certain range, we used mathematical truth tables to indicate the amount of apoptosis.
Credit : IXth International Hematology and Oncology Congress from Abstracts Book