Top News of Last Week with ANA
Azad News Agency (ANA) published a number of scientific and technological news during the past week whose top ones are as follows:
Nanotechnology Experts in Iran Make Antibacterial Polyethylene Masterbatch
Iranian specialists working for two nanotechnology companies succeeded in production of antibacterial polyethylene masterbatch used in different industries.
‘Parsa Polymer Sharif’ and ‘Taban Andish Berjis’ companies have made the product which is a ceramic nanoparticles-modified polyethylene masterbatch, in which oxide nanoparticles are added to the polyethylene matrix.
The addition of ZnO nanoparticles to the polyethylene masterbatch has resulted in emergence of antibacterial activities.
The special masterbatch can be applied in manufacturing automotive parts and accessories, home appliances, containers, electrical/electronic devices, packaging, and other industries.
Iranian Company Manufactures Antibacterial Polyester Masterbatch
An Iranian nanotechnology firm managed to utilize nanoparticles to produce polyester masterbatch with antibacterial properties.
‘Taban Andish Berjis’ company made the product which is a polyester-based masterbatch with a controlled concentration of inorganic nanoparticles as an antibacterial agent.
The addition of nanoparticles to the masterbatch has led to emergence of antibacterial activity.
The polyester masterbatch can be used in producing beverage bottles, yarn (textile industry), home furnishings, industrial fabrics, polymeric computer parts, recording tapes and electrical insulation, and packaging.
Trichoderma Bio-Fungicides Can Replace Pesticides, Fertilizers in Agriculture
Head of the Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran (ABRII) said that novel Trichoderma species is a biological control agent that plays an important role in controlling plant pathogens and can replace chemical pesticides and fertilizers.
“In order to control plant pathogens that cause about 35-50% damage to the producers (farmers and gardeners), about 25,000 tons of chemical pesticides and 3 million tons of chemical fertilizers are used on the farms, in greenhouses and orchards across the country. Considering the complications and problems of high consumption rate of poisons and chemical fertilizers, scientists are trying to replace them partly with biological control methods,” Gholamreza Salehi Jozani, the head of the Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran said.
“The biological control agents are not only healthier and safer than chemical methods, but also they are more durable and have very little impact on the ecological balance in the environment,” he added.
Highlighting the large and expanding market of biological control agents and bio-stimulants, the researcher said, “Trichoderma fungus is one of the most successful biological control agents of plant diseases. Having strong antifungal properties against many plant-pathogenic fungi, including Fusarium, Rhizoctonia, Phytophtera, Alternaria and Pythium, Trichoderma has taken about 60% of the global market of commercial fungal biocontrol products. By secreting antibiotics, enzymes, and parasitism, this fungus causes the disintegration of hyphae and physiological disorders in plant pathogenic fungi.”
A bio-stimulant is a product that promotes the increase of microorganism populations by enhancing the environment in which they live and/or by providing food for them to consume. Bio-stimulants do not contain living microorganisms.
“This fungus easily grows on waste plant residues and settles well in every soil after entering it. Suitability for industrial production, compatibility with the Industrial fermentation, and the possibility of application in integrated control are other advantages of this fungus species compared to other fungal antagonists,” Salehi Jozani explained more.
Iranian Company Builds Data Center to Provide Digital Services
A technology company in Iran has inaugurated its data center infrastructure and facilities to offer dedicated services to customers.
A technological company in Iran has designed and inaugurated the first phase of a data center called "Abar Rahbar" with a capacity of 100 racks along with own exclusive electrical substation.
A dedicated network, servers and storage are a few resources that this data center as a service (DCaaS) offers.
In line with the goal of strengthening the digital economy and also using the technical knowhow of domestic experts, this data center has 24-hour support and is ready to provide "colocation" and "dedication" services immediately after its inauguration.
Providing data center services and cloud processing is one of the main objective of the company in building the data center.
The data center created by this company is one of the most up-to-date data centers in the country, with features such as ensuring information security, service stability, 24-hour support system, using the latest technology in data center design and advanced NOC monitoring system.
This technology company also enjoys very high telecommunication capabilities including dark fiber and being connected to the infrastructure and telecommunication centers in the country such as mobile and landline telecommunication operators.
Ayat Satellite to Record Signals from Earth to Predict Earthquakes
Iranian researchers at Scientific and Industrial Research Organization are working on a project to complete a monitoring satellite called Ayat that could record signals from the Earth before an earthquake strikes.
In an interview with Iranian media, Hassan Zamaniyan, the chairman of Scientific and Industrial Research Organization of Iran said that earthquakes cannot be predicted for the time being but the reason why the space project is being implemented in their organization is that no one can claim that earthquake prediction would remain impossible in the future.
“Ayat satellite is a cutting edge scientific project, and we are among the first in the world… as our previous satellite, Masbah was a pioneering satellite in the country,” he added.
“The United States Geological Survey has announced that there are signals before an earthquake strikes, on which studies can be conducted in order to predict earthquakes, and we have implemented its conceptual design and sub-project, and currently 12 sub-projects have been defined for it,” Zamaniyan said.
Noting that Ayat satellite operates based on the electromagnetic signals that appear abnormally in the Earth before an earthquake hits, he explained more, “Before an earthquake strikes, there is a tension in the earth, which causes changes in some minerals, such as quartz mineral which has pyroelectric properties; hence, when it is compressed, it will become charged. Such mechanisms exist underground, and with the tension that is created, these minerals emit electromagnetic changes and push them towards the surface of the earth, and if these anomalies are accurately measured, it can help predictions.”
He said that their research organization will grant necessary funds for the project to produce Ayat, adding, “The construction phase of Ayat satellite requires $2 million, and if this fund is provided, we can advance the project well.”
According to preliminary studies, Ayat will weigh between 50 and 70 kg.
Nano-Based Air Filters for Power Plants Produced in Iran
Iranian nanotechnology experts managed to manufacture special air filters for power plants by using nanofibers.
Specialists at ‘Nano Fanavaran Khavar’, ‘Azad Filter’, and ‘Behran Filter’ companies have made the electrospun nanofibers-containing filters used in power plants to protect equipment against the contaminants.
The nanofibers can entirely cover the surface of the filter, leading to a longer filter service lifetime.
The incorporation of nanofibers into the filters has resulted in improved filtering efficiency and prolonged service time.
Earlier this year, an Iranian knowledge-based company had also used nanofibers to make filters for industrial units, specially power plants, last longer.
Nanofiber filters possess a handful of advantages over conventional fibers.
Nanofiber filters tend to have very high filtration efficiency. They require less energy for the air to ventilate through them.
Moreover, they are cost-efficient as they last longer and do not need higher-powered ventilation systems for circulating air.
The industrial and power plant filters produced in an Iranian knowledge-based company have features such as better protection of turbine parts, reduction of downtime costs, an increase of power generation capacity, and an increase of filter life to at least 1.5 times.
The company has been exporting the filters to Iraq and Afghanistan over the past two years.
Scientists in Iran Apply Electrospin Nanofibers on Filter Papers
Researchers at an Iranian nanotechnology company used electrospin nanofibers on filter papers to separate particles from liquid.
Specialists at ‘Fanavaran Nano Meqyas’ company applied a thin layer of electrospun nanofibrous polymeric web which can be produced in the form of a nanoporous filter. It results in production of a superior filtration capacity, lowest pressure drop in the passing air/liquid flow and long lifespan.
Covering the surface of conventional air filters with a thin layer of the nanofibers improves filter efficiency and increases dust absorption capacity.
The product can be used in making respiratory face masks, air filter papers, and separation of compounds from liquids.
Knowledge-Based Firm in Iran Produces Light Industrial Pumice Stone for Making Bricks
Researchers of a knowledge-based company succeeded in making light industrial pumice stone for production of construction bricks which can also be used as sound and thermal insulator.
“The product is used in making light bricks and working with it is so easy that the traditional brick-making workshops can also utilize the product without any need to change the procedures,” Jafar Taheri, the managing director of the knowledge-based company, told ANA.
“These types of pumice stones can also be used in agriculture, collecting oil stains, thin asphalt coating in hot areas, etc.,” he added.
Teheri noted that the salient feature of the light industrial pumice is that it weighs less than one gram per cubic centimeter, and can be used for sound and thermal insulation, improving aeration of agricultural soil, low water absorption and high shear resistance.
Iranian Scientists Design Control Algorithms of Rehabilitation Exoskeletons for Disabled People
Iranian researchers at University of Tehran succeeded in designing control algorithms for lower body rehabilitation exoskeletons for disabled people.
“I have designed one of the most up-to-date control algorithms for this category of external skeletons called Virtual Energy Regulator,” said Rezvan Nasiri, a member of the Faculty of Machine Intelligence and Robotics Department of the University of Tehran.
“This algorithm can coordinate with the user's performance and therefore has the best performance compared to other control algorithms developed so far,” she underlined.
Noting that most of the physically disabled people need lower body rehabilitation to walk or are unable to walk at all, Nasiri said that these people are the elderly, people with spinal cord injury, stroke-hit people, Parkinson's patients, etc.
“Our research group was able to propose, for the first time at the international level, a model of force distribution among muscles with 75% accuracy, and this is a big step in the direction of reducing research costs and accelerating research in the field of rehabilitation robots,” she added.
Smart Management of Municipal Services with Iran-Made Software
Researchers of a knowledge-based company in Iran designed and developed a smart system for management and providing municipal services.
“In a bid to make municipal services smarter, the company has designed an integrated and centralized system so that citizens can easily use municipal services,” Mohammad Shahab Sharifzadeh, the managing director of the knowledge-based company, told ANA.
He explained that in this platform, all municipal services are provided to the citizens in an integrated manner, which include the municipality’s phone services, cultural and sports systems, public meetings, tourism, education, virtual booth, payment of tolls, treatment services (smart doctor), system warning (weather), urban development, transportation services, etc.
“All services provided on this platform are integrated and citizens are facing a super application that has been developed to cover all the urban needs of citizens,” Sharifzadeh said.
Noting that big steps can be taken to make the city smarter by using the application, he said, “Our suggestion for cities that have moved towards e-citizen is to use the basic services of this platform and then they can provide more services and training to citizens by identifying the needs of their city via updating this platform.”
Iran Producing Spirulina Algae as Superfood for Astronauts
Director of Bushehr province’s Science and Technology Park's incubator center said that several companies in the Southern Iranian province are producing spirulina algae as a superfood included in the diet of astronauts.
“There is potential for growing this type of algae in Bushehr province and several companies have embarked on growing the spirunila algae which can bring wealth to the villages with salty water in this province,” said Mohammad Mohammadi.
“Today, we have created the largest production center of spirulina algae in the country which can be produced in food, human, livestock, cosmetic and health grades,” he added.
Mohammadi explained that the nutritional value of spirulina is so high that it was included in the diet of astronauts to provide a lot of energy at a very low volume.
“Spirulina algae is used as a superfood and since in the future, food resources will be greatly reduced, therefore, this algae can be used to compensate for this deficiency,” he said.
Anti-Corrosion Paint for Power Stations Produced in Iran
Scientists at an Iranian nanotechnology company succeeded in making anti-corrosion paint with application in oil and gas industries and power stations.
‘Fam Gostar Mahan’ company has produced the anti-corrosion paint filled with oxide nanoparticles. It is proved that the additive has no obvious counterproductive effect on the visual color of the paint, making it suitable for various industrial fields.
The addition of the oxide nanoparticles to the paint has led to enhanced corrosion resistance.
The nano-based paint can be used in oil and gas industries, power stations, bridges, building structures, fish factories and cellulose mills.
Anti-Corrosion Epoxy, Alkyd Paint Produced by Iranian Company
An Iranian nanotechnology firm managed to make epoxy and alkyd paint resistant to corrosion.
‘Nanoarisa Pooshesh’ company produced the alkyd paint by using graphene oxide and some other carbon structures, including graphene, graphite, and amorphous carbon.
The second product is a nanoparticle-containing polymeric paint in which the incorporated particles serve as the filler to promote the mechano-corrosion performance.
The inclusion of the nanostructured additives has resulted in higher corrosion resistance (according to ASTM B117-16 and ASTM D1654-16) Long-time durability and improved adhesion to the underlying substrate.
The products can be used to protect metallic components from the corrosive and chemical agents.
Nano-Based Flux-Cored Wire Produced in Iran
Nanostructured flux-cored wire (FCW) was manufactured by an Iranian company to improve wear resistance in industrial devices.
‘Nanostructured Advanced Materials Technologies Development (Namad Co.)’ company produced the flux-cored wire which can deposit a thin film of hard alloying materials with nanometric phases on the external surfaces of steel instruments requiring high wear resistance.
While fabricated in the form of a cylindrical metal sheath and filled with different alloying elements, the formation of oxide nanoparticles in this product has resulted in improved wear resistance of formed coating.
The product can be used for deposition of a hard coating on instruments, reconstruction or repairing of hard coatings on instruments and deposition of a hard coating on the devices which require high wear resistance in mining industry.
4155
