Torrefied biomass‐polypropylene composites

Torrefied almond shells and wood chips were incorporated into polypropylene as fillers to produce torrefied biomass‐polymer composites. The composites were prepared by extrusion and injection molding. Response surface methodology was used to examine the effects of filler concentration, filler size, and lignin factor (relative lignin to cellulose concentration) on the material properties of the composites. The heat distortion temperatures, thermal properties, and tensile properties of the composites were characterized by thermomechanical analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and tensile tests, respectively. The torrefied biomass composites had heat distortion temperatures of 8–24°C higher than that of neat polypropylene. This was due to the torrefied biomass restricting mobility of polypropylene chains, leading to higher temperatures for deformation. The incorporation of torrefied biomass generally resulted in an increase in glass transition temperature, but did not affect melting temperature. Also, the composites had lower tensile strength and elongation at break values than those of neat polypropylene, indicating weak adhesion between torrefied biomass and polypropylene. However, scanning electron microscopy results did indicate some adhesion between torrefied biomass and polypropylene. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41582.     

Recovery and characterization of lignin from alkaline straw pulping black liquor: As feedstock for bio‐oil research

Conversion of lignin derived from lignocellulosic biomass to bio‐oil has the promising potential to significantly reduce petroleum dependence. For that purpose, it is necessary to search for a low‐cost lignin source. In this study, lignin sample was separated from straw pulping black liquor by HCl‐precipitation, followed by extraction with a mixture of dioxane and water. The content of lignin in the total black liquor solid reached up to 34.8%, determined by UV spectroscopy, and the yield could account for 74.4% of the total lignin composition. The structure of lignin was investigated by various spectroscopic techniques such as FTIR, ¹H‐NMR, XRD, and XPS. The structural analysis revealed that recovered lignin preserved basic lignin structure, but had relatively lower amount of β‐O‐4 linkages. The molecular weights were studied through THF‐eluted GPC showing that separated lignin had the low M_n, which was favorable for the full degradation process during conversion of lignin to bio‐oil. Therefore, a feasible solution for effective utilization of lignin in straw pulping black liquor as feedstock for bio‐oil was proposed in the study. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42057.     

木浆纤维素/NMMO·H_2O溶液的流变性能研究

以含水率13.7%的N-甲基吗啉-N-氧化物(NMMO)为溶剂溶解木浆纤维素形成溶液,采用红外光谱分析仪对木浆纤维素的溶解过程进行表征,并采用黏度计研究了木浆纤维素/NMMO·H2O溶液的流变性能。结果表明:木浆纤维素在NMMO中先溶胀后溶解,且可完全溶解;木浆纤维素/NMMO·H2O溶液的流动呈现切力变稀的假塑性流体特征;木浆纤维素质量分数为6%时,溶液的非牛顿流动特征明显,溶液的表观黏度(ηa)随木浆纤维素浓度的增加明显增加,随剪切速率(γ)及温度的上升而下降,当γ高于一定值即logγ大于1.3时,溶液的ηa不受温度的影响,只随γ的上升而下降,且剪切应力不随γ变化而变化,为恒定值。     

芬顿试剂降解羧甲基纤维素钠的定量分析

为制备低黏度的羧甲基纤维素钠(CMC),采用芬顿(Fenton)试剂对CMC进行降解,并对降解后的产物进行定量分析。在整个反应体系中,考查了反应时间、溶液浓度、温度、p H值以及V(H2O2)/V(Fe2+)的比值对CMC降解效果的影响。试验结果表明:Fenton试剂对CMC的降解效果非常显著。由正交试验得出最佳的降解工艺条件,即在3 g/L的CMC溶液2 L、反应温度50℃、p H值为3.5、V(H2O2)∶V(Fe2+)=3∶1(0.9 m L∶0.3 m L)、反应时间为30 min时,CMC降解率达到96.05%。对降解后产物的各项性能进行定量分析,结果均符合食品添加剂的各项理化指标。     

Starting to Gel: How Arabidopsis Seed Coat Epidermal Cells Produce Specialized Secondary Cell Walls

For more than a decade, the Arabidopsis seed coat epidermis (SCE) has been used as a model system to study the synthesis, secretion and modification of cell wall polysaccharides, particularly pectin. Our detailed re-evaluation of available biochemical data highlights that Arabidopsis seed mucilage is more than just pectin. Typical secondary wall polymers such as xylans and heteromannans are also present in mucilage. Despite their low abundance, these components appear to play essential roles in controlling mucilage properties, and should be further investigated. We also provide a comprehensive community resource by re-assessing the mucilage phenotypes of almost 20 mutants using the same conditions. We conduct an in-depth functional evaluation of all the SCE genes described in the literature and propose a revised model for mucilage production. Further investigation of SCE cells will improve our understanding of plant cell walls.     

Synthesis,Corrosion Inhibition Performance and Biodegradability of Novel Alkyl Hydroxyethyl Imidazoline Salts

New alkyl hydroxyethyl imidazoline salts were synthesized via a high pressure process with imidazoline and dimethyl carbonate, and their chemical structure were confirmed using mass spectral fragmentation and FTIR spectroscopic analysis. In addition, several quaternary ammonium salts with new counterions (formic acid, acetic acid and lactic acid) were also synthesized by ion exchange reaction of methyl carbonate quaternary ammoniums with the corresponding acids. These new compounds reduced the surface tension of water to a minimum value of approximately 27 mN m^?1 at a concentration of 8.72 × 10^?5 mol L^?1. They also show efficient corrosion inhibition performances and could significantly inhibit the corrosion of mild steel in acid solutions. It was also found that the biological degradation of these imidazoline surfactants was greater than 98 % after 7 days.     

Preparation and Reinforcement of Dual‐Porous Biocompatible Cellulose Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering

Biocompatible cellulose‐based aerogels composed of nanoporous struts, which embed interconnected voids of controlled micron‐size, have been prepared employing temporary templates of fused porogens, reinforcement by interpenetrating PMMA networks and supercritical carbon dioxide drying. Different combinations of cellulose solvent (Ca(SCN)₂/H₂O/LiCl or [EMIm][OAc]/DMSO) and anti‐solvent (EtOH), porogen type (paraffin wax or PMMA spheres) and porogen size (various fractions in the range of 100–500 μm) as well as intensity of PMMA reinforcement have been investigated to tailor the materials for cell scaffolding applications. All aerogels exhibited an open and dual porosity (micronporosity >100 μm and nanoporosity extending to the low micrometer range). Mechanical properties of the dual‐porous aerogels under compressive stress were considerably improved by introduction of interpenetrating PMMA networks. The effect of the reinforcing polymer on attachment, spreading, and proliferation of NIH 3T3 fibroblast cells, cultivated on selected dual‐porous aerogels to pre‐evaluate their biocompatibility was similarly positive.     

羟丙甲基纤维素的合成工艺的改进研究

基于现有羟丙基甲基纤维素合成方法的研究,采用氮气保护碱化和分步醚化方法,制得具有较高黏度的羟丙基甲基纤维素。该方法合成的羟丙基甲基纤维素(HPMC)具有在冷水中分散性能好、黏度高、增稠保水性能好的优点,适合建筑用的胶水的生产,可用于砌墙、抹灰、粉刷、嵌缝等施工中,同时也适合用于干混凝砂浆。     

纳米微晶纤维素增强改性聚脲/丙烯酸树脂复合涂膜的性能研究

对纳米微晶纤维素(NCC)增强改性聚脲/丙烯酸树脂(PUA)复合涂膜的性能进行了研究。通过掺入占PUA不同质量分数的NCC来研究其对复合涂膜整体性能的影响。结果表明,随着NCC用量的增大,复合涂膜的拉伸强度先增大后减小。当NCC用量为5%时对涂膜的增强效果最佳,抗拉强度达到12.91 MPa,较未改性的复合涂膜提高了54.98%。而改性复合涂膜的吸水率呈现先减小后增大的趋势,NCC用量为5%左右时吸水率达到最小。5%NCC的加入对复合涂膜的热性能及透光性能影响不大,但改善了复合涂膜的耐高温性能和耐磨性能。