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:
Iranian Researchers Produce Conductive Bone Scaffolds
Researchers at the Medical Engineering Faculty of Tehran-based Amirkabir University of Technology (AUT) successfully designed and produced a conductive ion exchange scaffold for tissue engineering applications.
Zohreh Daraeinejad was a student of Amirkabir University of Technology and the executive director of the project "Designing and manufacturing of conductive scaffolds based on polyaniline/ion exchange polymer for tissue engineering applications" that was carried out under the supervision of Iman Shabani, the AUT professor.
“One of the new approaches in tissue engineering is the transmission of electrical signals to cells and the adjustment of cell behaviors,” she said.
Saying that electrical signal transmission to cells is done through conductive substrates, she added, “But since conductive scaffolds based on polyaniline come generally with the problems of conductivity instability and a little toxicity, they create problems for cell studies.”
“Therefore, in this project, a scaffold with excellent biocompatibility and special conductive properties was designed to lay a suitable substrate for conveying of electrical signals to cells,” the AUT researcher said.
“In this project, by using an ion exchange polymer as a carrier in the production of polyaniline conductive nanofibers and using lithium ion, we prepared a biocompatible scaffold with stable conductivity and energy storage capability,” she continued.
“This scaffold maintains its conductivity for a long period of time in the cell culture environment, does not have toxicity caused by toxic dopant, and improves cell behaviors such as proliferation and differentiation by releasing lithium ions,” Daraeinejad continued.
Iranian Company Produces Stationary Air Pollution Analyzer Device
A knowledge-based company has managed to produce a stationary air pollution analyzer device at a much lower price than similar foreign models, a report said, adding the firm is going to export the product to Turkey and Iraq.
The knowledge-based company “Fan Paya” was established in 2013 firstly named "Air Pollution Control Technologies Research Group" at the University of Tehran’s Science and Technology Park. Considering the previous records and the initial potential, it was able to mass produce its knowledge-based products in the field of monitoring (measurement) of environmental pollutants, especially in the air in a short period of time. Now, it currently produces 11 commercialized knowledge-based products.
Fan Paya's main field of work is the production of environmental pollutant sampling and measurement equipment, and other activities of the firm include conducting research and engineering work in the maintenance and management of treatment plants, controlling the release of air pollutants, and producing biogas from waste.
Among the products of this company are industrial smoke detectors, portable smoke detectors, portable environmental dust monitors, portable environmental gas monitors, car exhaust turbidity meters, automotive exhaust gas analyzers, environmental sound level meters, particles in air measurement devices, and stationary air pollution analyzer device, air purifier, pH meter and a number of other professional health measuring devices.
Stationary air pollution analyzer (SAPA) device is a one of the latest products of the company. This product is used to measure air pollutants, including particles in the air with a diameter of less than 10 micrometers (PM10) and less than 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5), as well as ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur polluting gases.
“SAPA has the ability to send measured data from where it is installed (by means of GPRS system) to the Internet, which can be accessed graphically and completely regularly through a web browser. This product works completely solar and without the need of city electricity, there are solar panels on this device and it can measure some environmental parameters such as temperature and humidity, and it it rarely needs checking, maintenance and repair,” Sepehr Heidar Arabi, CEO of Fan Paya Company said.
Iran Successfully Launches Sorayya Satellite
Iran successfully launched its new satellite named 'Sorayya' into a 750 kilometer orbit.
It was the first time that Iran set a new space launch record by sending a satellite to an altitude of 750 kilometers above the earth's surface.
Iran announced that the launch of Sorayya satellite, made by the Iranian Space Research Center, into orbit was carried out by its home-made Qa’em 100 satellite carrier which is the country’s first three-stage solid-fueled rocket with the capability to carry loads up to 100 kilos.
In its third launch, it placed a research payload with an approximate mass of 50 kg in the orbit.
According to the media reports, the satellite has started sending telemetry data.
Iranian Knowledge-Based Firm Produces Activated Carbon for Water Treatment, Petrochemicals
Specialists at an Iranian knowledge-based company succeeded in producing activated carbon with applications in water treatment and petrochemical industries.
“Our company is engaged in production of water and wastewater treatment materials to help the country deal with the drought crisis based on the latest technology in the world and has made a rotary vacuum furnace with the ability to continuously produce tons of activated carbon,” said Mehdi Rahpeyma, the managing director of the knowledge-based company.
He added that the activated carbon produced in the company's research and development (R&D) department is supplied to different industries, mines and petrochemicals in both powdered and granular forms and with different degrees.
“Production of advanced materials like block copolymers, polymer nanopatterns, nanolithography materials and thin films, biodegradable flocculants, superhydrophobic sheets, modified silica nanoparticles, graphene, graphene oxide, construction and design of semi-industrial and laboratory reactors, construction of FRP enrichment composites made with graphene are parts of research activities of our knowledge-based company,” Rahpeyma said.
Iranian Researchers Produce Intelligent Chart Recorder for Horizontal Oil Wells
A team of Iranian researchers at Sharif University of Technology (SUT) have managed to design and build an instrument for charting in horizontal oil wells for the first time in Iran.
With the construction of the chart recorder for horizontal oil wells in Sharif University of Technology (SUT), Iran joined the few countries with the technology and technical know-how to manufacture such intelligent measuring instruments.
“In horizontal wells, if the fluid flow velocity is low, different fluid phases (oil, water, and gas) are separated. In these wells, due to the separation of the fluids, the flow velocity in different parts of the pipe can not only be different, but sometimes they are in the opposite direction. Therefore, it is necessary to use instruments equipped with several sensors to measure the flow rate and other parameters of each fluid inside the well,” Hamid Movahedian, a Professor of Electronics Research Institute at the SUT said.
“The device for charting in deviated wells is more complicated than the charting tools for vertical wells. Due to the fact that horizontal or deviated wells can have much higher efficiency than vertical wells, the construction, use and finally the data analysis of this tool will be very useful and effective for the country's oil industry, which is a strategic industry,” the SUT professor added.
“In this instrument, 6 small rotators are used to measure the speed of flow fluids at 6 points. Also, 6 to 12 small sensors are used to measure the parameters and the type of fluid in different parts of the device, and compared to different sensors, optical sensors are found to be more suitable for this purpose," he added.
Iran Exports Medicinal Herbs, Extracts to Various European Countries
A member of the Iranian Medicinal Herbs Exporters Union said that Iran has exported millions of dollars worth of medicinal herbs and extracts to different European countries.
“In 2018, with an investment of 25 million Euros, the largest factory and refinery of medicinal plants in the Middle East was inaugurated in Central city of Kashmar for the extraction of essential oils, extracts and high quality medicinal herbs. The products of the company are exported to the European Union including Germany, France, Spain, Holland, America, India and China,” Qassem Shakeri said.
“This essential oil and extracts of medicinal plants obtained with the latest technology are used in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, health, perfume and cologne industries as well as food industry,” he added.
“Essential oils and extracts are obtained from medicinal plants such as licorice, rose tea, green tea, black tea, ivy, echinacea angustifolia, saffron etc., and even in some cases, some non-native Iranian medicinal plants that are also imported from African countries, Japan and India and their obtained products are exported to destination countries after processing,” he added.
Stating that Iran has very good potential and capabilities in producing and exporting medicinal plants, the member of the Iranian Medicinal Herbs Exporters Union added, “In recent years, the inclination of people to live a healthier life with natural plants has been growing not only in Iran but also in other parts of world.”
Iranian Company Manufactures Special Condenser for All Types of Gases
Specialists of an Iranian knowledge-based company succeeded in finding an economic and easy way to achieve the liquid state of various gases by producing a special condensing device.
“This device is able to produce ultra-cold temperature up to -200 centigrade and can condense all gases whose condensing temperature is higher than this temperature,” said Meysam Farajollahi, the head of the Center for the Management of Macro and Progressive Projects of the Iranian Vice-Presidency for Science, Technology and Knowledge-Based Economy.
“The condensing capacity of the condenser is different based on the condensation temperature and phase change enthalpy of the gases. The higher the temperature of the gas condensate or the lower its internal energy, the condensing capacity of the device increases,” he added.
Noting that the condensing capacity of the device is equal to 25 liters of liquid nitrogen (LN2) per day for nitrogen gas with a boiling point of -196 degrees Celsius and 50 liters per day for argon gas with a boiling point of -186 degrees Celsius, Farajollahi said, “This condenser is proper for all types of industrial, medical and laboratory applications.”
“Easy installation and use, small and convenient dimensions, full automaticity and low energy consumption are among the features of the device,” he added.
New Irrigation System Developed in Iran to Save Water Up to 80%
A technological company in Iran succeeded in implementing a pressurized subsurface irrigation system in two cities of the country by using discarded soda plastic bottles.
“This project was implemented by using discarded soda bottles which are often thrown away with the garbage,” Bohloul Khalili, the managing director of ‘Farazandishan Faraz Gouni’ company, told ANA.
“The subsurface pressurized irrigation project was implemented for the first time in East Azerbaijan province (Northwestern Iran), and interestingly, it was implemented by using soda plastic bottles,” he added.
“This system saves 80% of water consumption and reduces consumption of agricultural pesticides by 90%,” Khalili said.
“The subsurface pressurized irrigation system does not depend on pools and it can be implemented in deep wells, rivers, water streams and even by tankers,” he added.
Iran to Create Largest Dates Orchard in Qasreshirin
The director of Bistun Pars Qasreshirin Plantation and Industry Complex said that Iran’s largest dates orchard will be put into operation by 2025 in the western Iranian county in Kermanshah province.
Ali Adibnia, the director of Bistun Pars Complex made the remarks while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a visit by Deputy Iranian Interior Minister for Economic Affairs to a massive agricultural project in Qasreshirin County where he also said, “This agricultural and industrial complex has been implemented over an area more than 4,000 hectares and is divided in three main sections.”
He pointed out that more than 700 hectares of the project has been allocated for the creation of the dates orchards.
Adibnia further told the journalists there that the dates orchard in Qasreshirin will be the biggest in country and will be put into operation by 2025.
“In the long term, the main priority of this [Bistun Pars] Complex will be the production of dates, not ordinary varieties, but two varieties, Majul and Pyaram, and we are going to implement the largest date sorting and packaging system,” he went on to say.
Domestic Company Meets Iran’s Needs for Cycle Refrigerator Cryostat
One of the companies based in Qom Science and Technology Park has managed to design and manufacture a cycle refrigerator cryostat for use in MRI and accelerator devices, which can reach a temperature of 4 K in 45 minutes.
Cryostat is a device used to maintain low cryogenic temperatures of samples or devices mounted within the cryostat. It is a vacuum insulated sample environment that uses liquid cryogens, such as nitrogen or helium, or a mechanical cooler to cool the temperature of a sample.
"Our research field is in the field of ultra-cold temperature instruments and equipment,” Yasser Mahdizadeh, the managing director of the knowledge-based company said in an interview with Iranian media.
“Among our activities are employing the knowledge of ultra-low temperature physics, doing research in the field of manufacturing laboratory instruments and their design and construction, linking the industry sector and the research sector by meeting the needs of the industry sector,” he added.
He pointed to 20 K, 10 K and 4 K cycle refrigerator cryostat as one of the products of the company, adding, “The application of this device is mostly for MRI and NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) systems. 4K cryostats are used in every sector where there are superconducting magnets.”
“This system works with a helium gas cycle, as this device has a helium compressor, and after compressing the helium gas, it sends it to the cryocooler and cools the temperature of the sample to a temperature of 4 K in 45 minutes,” the researcher added.
Iran-Made Tracheal Tube Pressure Controller Facilitates Breathing for Pulmonary Patients
Specialists of an Iranian knowledge-based company succeeded in producing and commercializing a smart tracheal tube pressure controller for application in the respiratory equipment.
“The device is used for special care units, patients in operating room with long operating time, and ventilator-dependent patients at home, and it obviates one of the main concerns of nurses and doctors which is monitoring and controlling the pressure of these tracheal tubes,” said Moslem Begol, the managing director of the knowledge-based company.
Noting that the device is highly precise in pressure measurement and is equipped with accurate micropumps to control the pressure of the tracheal tubes, he added, “It prevents possible leakages in the tracheal tubes and facilitates the process of intubation in patients for the nurses.
Begol said that the device prevents excessive reduction of pressure and creates a leakage path of incoming gases at the point of contact of tracheal tube air cushion with tracheal wall.
Iranian Official: 80% of Water Industry Equipment Produced Inside Country
The CEO of Iran’s Water and Wastewater Company Hashem Amini said 80% of water industry equipment is produced by domestic companies.
Hashem Amini made the remarks at the Water Industry Exhibition in Tehran where he said, “Now, with the efforts of experts, 80% of the needs are met by domestic suppliers. This is while in the past, even the hoses needed by the industry were imported.”
He pointed to the capabilities and potentials of knowledge-based companies and said, “Using these capabilities and potential is needed to advance a knowledge-based water industry.”
The CEO of Iran’s Water and Wastewater Company emphasized the need to develop the wastewater recycling system in the country, saying, “This new potential has been used for the development of industries.”
Amini further considered the Water Industry Exhibition to be a good opportunity for experts and consumers to take into consideration the consumption management more seriously than before.
Iran-Made Nanocatalysts Widely Used in Different Industries
Tens of Iran-made nanocatalysts are used in different industries for gasoline reforming, production of chemicals like urea, ammonia, ethylene oxide, hydrogen treatment of distillation tower residue and sulfur removal from petroleum products.
At present, the names of over 80 nanocatalysts can be seen in the list of nanoscale certified products in Iran, many of which are used in the oil, gas, and petrochemical industries, and some are applied in the auto-making industry.
Exir Novin Farayand Asia is an Iranian company which produces ethylene oxide for ethylene glycol production units.
The company also makes catalyst for converting acetylene to ethylene (used in Gachsaran, Morvarid and Amirkabir petrochemicals), the isomerization catalyst of xylenes (used in Bou Ali Sina petrochemicals), ethylbenzene and paraxylene.
Gostaresh Fanavari Kharazmi is another Iranian company which produces desulfurization nanocatalysts, natural gas reforming catalysts and natural gas reforming catalyst.
Iran Launches 3 Home-Made Satellites Simultaneously into Space
Mahda, Keyhan-2 and Hatef-1 are three home-made satellites that Iran successfully put into orbit on the back of a single launcher dubbed Simorq (Phoenix).
The three satellites were launched from Imam Khomeini Space Launch Terminal in Semnan province in Northeastern Iran with a minimum altitude of 450 kilometers and a maximum of 1,100 kilometers above the Earth's surface.
Weighing 32 kilograms, Mahda is a research satellite designed and manufactured at the Iranian Space Research Center. It is a lightweight satellite developed to test advanced satellite subsystems.
The performance of Simorq launcher, manufactured by the Iranian Defense Ministry, is assessed by Mahda in multiple injections of space cargo in low altitudes, and the satellite also evaluate new designs and the reliability of indigenous technologies in space.
Hatef-1and Keyhan-2 are two cubic nanosatellites weighing less than 10 kilograms which have been developed by Iran Electronics Industries, a state-owned subsidiary of the Defense Ministry.
Hatef-1 seeks proving the use of narrowband communication technology in the internet of things (IoT).
Keyhan-2 has been made for space-based positioning. It has status determination and control subsystems to aim stably and precisely towards the Earth.
Iran’s Telecoms Minister Issa Zarepour said that for the first time, Simorq simultaneously put Mahda satellite and two other research payloads into orbit, adding that Mahda's signal was received.
“I congratulate this important achievement to the beloved people and space experts, specially my colleagues at the Iranian Space Research Center and the Defense Ministry,” he said.
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