The physicochemical and fire extinguishing performance of aqueous film-forming foams based on a class of short-chain fluorinated surfactants

Aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) are an important for fire extinguishing, and their key ingredient is fluorinated surfactant. In recent years, traditional long-chain fluorinated surfactants have been banned by most countries because of their persistence, bio-accumulation and toxicity. Therefore, increased attention has been paid to the research and development of short-chain fluorinated surfactants. As is well known, the introduction of hydrophilic or hydrophobic groups in a surfactant affects its surface activity, and therefore, the fire extinguishing performance of AFFFs. In this work, a series of short-chain fluorosurfactant-based AFFFs with different hydrophobic chain lengths were prepared. The physicochemical performance of mixed systems (fluorinated surfactant plus sodium hexanesulfonate), including surface activity, spreading ability, foam expansion, drainage time, and the fire extinguishing and burn-back performance of AFFFs were studied. The results show that the critical micelle concentration (CMC) and the surface tension (γ_CMC) at the CMC of mixed systems at 25°C are lower than 7.68 mmol/L and 16.51 mN/m, respectively. For mixed systems, the average spreading rate is more than 1.09 cm/s, the foam expansion is over 7.1, and the drainage time is greater than 3.28 min. The fire extinguishing time of AFFFs on fuels is less than 51 s while the burn-back time is more than 15.18 min. The results imply a potential application prospect of the short-chain fluorinated surfactants in AFFFs.     

弱相互作用调控表面活性剂自组装(Ⅱ)——表面活性剂的结构与设计

介绍了表面活性剂的结构、性质以及分类,综述了阴离子表面活性剂、阳离子表面活性剂、两性离子表面活性剂、非离子表面活性剂的分子间弱相互作用。另外,简述了低聚型表面活性剂和其他新型表面活性剂的结构及应用。     

Isolation and identification of soil bacteria resistant to surfactants in washing detergents

Linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) and polyoxyethylene lauryl ether (POLE) are the major surfactants in washing detergents. In the present study, we isolated surfactant-resistant bacteria from soil samples collected from a sports ground and a farm field. The samples were treated with 2.0% LAS or POLE at 25°C for 30 min and cultivated on agar plates at 25°C for several days, after which manifold bacterial colonies were isolated. Thereafter, we tested the ability of each bacterial isolate to resist the antibacterial activity of the surfactant. Ten LAS-resistant strains were isolated, and all were found to be Gram-negative bacteria such as Enterobacter and Pseudomonas. On the other hand, 18 POLE-resistant strains were isolated, of which 14 were Gram-positive bacteria including Bacillus and Microbacterium. Notably, one POLE-resistant strain was identified as Bacillus cereus, a potential causative agent for foodborne illness. The genera of LAS- and POLE-resistant bacteria did not overlap. Therefore, the combination of LAS and POLE could be more effective to eliminate soil bacteria from clothes and/or daily necessities.     

Beyond “Big Eaters”: The Versatile Role of Alveolar Macrophages in Health and Disease

Macrophages act as immune scavengers and are important cell types in the homeostasis of various tissues. Given the multiple roles of macrophages, these cells can also be found as tissue resident macrophages tightly integrated into a variety of tissues in which they fulfill crucial and organ-specific functions. The lung harbors at least two macrophage populations: interstitial and alveolar macrophages, which occupy different niches and functions. In this review, we provide the latest insights into the multiple roles of alveolar macrophages while unraveling the distinct factors which can influence the ontogeny and function of these cells. Furthermore, we will highlight pulmonary diseases, which are associated with dysfunctional macrophages, concentrating on congenital diseases as well as pulmonary infections and impairment of immunological pathways. Moreover, we will provide an overview about different treatment approaches targeting macrophage dysfunction. Improved knowledge of the role of macrophages in the onset of pulmonary diseases may provide the basis for new pharmacological and/or cell-based immunotherapies and will extend our understanding to other macrophage-related disorders.     

New Approach to Structure–Property Correlations of Different Films of Sorbitan Esters and Their Self-Assembly into Viscoelastic Monolayers

This publication is focused on the structural origin of viscoelasticity in Langmuir monolayers. To improve the understanding of the structural origin of viscoelasticity of surfactant films, we systematically studied interfacial films of different sorbitan esters with saturated (Span 60 and 65) and unsaturated (Span 80 and 85) paraffin chains by means of surface rheology, Langmuir isotherms, X-ray reflectometry (XRR), and Brewster angle microscopy (BAM). The results of two-dimensional shear rheological measurements revealed the existence of temporarily cross-linked networks. In dynamic BAM experiments, we observed a swinging motion of the monolayers as a result of a sudden externally initiated mechanical perturbation. The viscoelastic film response, which relaxed with time as the external force vanished, could be traced back to the presence of foam-like supramolecular structures that interlinked solid-condensed domains. The temperature dependence of the elastic response implied that the solid domains decomposed at temperatures close to the bulk melting point of Span 60 and Span 65. We concluded that insoluble surfactants formed solid domains at the interface, which were linked with each other by nonsolid areas, giving viscoelastic films. These newly discovered insights into coherent film formations could provide new opportunities for designing mechanically stable surfactant interfaces.     

Highly efficient supported AlCl3-based cationic catalysts to produce polyα-olefin oil base stocks

The main aim of this research is to decrease the amount of AlCl₃ content that is very corrosive and hazardous in the catalytic system, required for the α-olefin oligomerization without substantial change of final oil features. This was successfully achieved by supporting AlCl₃ on different carriers. More precisely, a series of supported bimetallic catalysts was synthesized by immobilization of AlCl₃ and TiCl₄ onto Al₂O₃, SiO₂, and mixed supports, that is, Al₂O₃/FeCl₃ and SiO₂/FeCl₃. It was found that silica and alumina-based catalysts had higher catalytic activities compared to support free AlCl₃; however, this enhancement for silica-based supports was more significant. According to gel permeation chromatography (GPC) results, the use of single supports, that is, Al₂O₃ and SiO₂, increased oligomer's molecular weight, while the application of mixed supports resulted in the decrease of molecular weight of the oligomers. Viscosity characteristics of the synthesized oligomers have also been studied at two different temperatures of 40 and 100°C (KV⁴⁰ and KV¹⁰⁰). The viscosity index (VI) values, derived from KV⁴⁰ and KV¹⁰⁰, of the prepared oligomers were in the range of 126–145. The molecular weight and termination mechanisms of the oligomers were studied by ¹H-NMR spectroscopy. The obtained results disclosed that the employed reaction conditions led to the production of oligomer chains with various structures including vinylidene (Vd), and di and three-substituted vinylene (2Vn, 3Vn) structures.     

适用于“一步酸溶法”生产氧化铝工艺中稀释料浆的高分子絮凝剂的合成

为达到"一步酸溶法"生产氧化铝工艺中稀释料浆在高温、高酸度工况下进行固液高效分离的目的,以丙烯酰胺(AM)与阳离子(DMDAAC)为共聚单体,通过水溶液聚合法合成了阳离子聚丙烯酰胺(CPAM)絮凝剂。以转化率和相对分子质量为目标,通过单因素分析法确定了最优的合成工艺条件,即反应温度30℃,单体总质量分数为30%,阳离子度5%,K2S2O8和NaHSO3质量分数均为0.005%,2,2′-偶氮二(2-脒基丙烷盐酸盐)(V50)质量分数为0.0025%,乙二胺四乙酸(EDTA)质量分数为0.05%的条件下,反应时间为6 h,获得相对分子质量为1.2×107溶解性能较好的阳离子型聚丙烯酰胺(CPAM)。     

MES表面活性剂的工业化精制工艺

将α-磺基脂肪酸甲酯钠盐（MES）产品（含活性物质70%）在加热熔融的状态下滴加到50~55℃低沸点水溶性有机溶剂中，经冷却、结晶、过滤和干燥，得到高纯MES粉剂产品。考察了低沸点水溶性有机溶剂种类、原料与溶剂的投料质量比、冷却温度和结晶时间等工艺条件对产品回收率、活性物质量分数和过筛率的影响，得到了最佳纯化精制工艺：以甲醇为溶剂，5 kg MES，MES与溶剂的投料质量比为1：3，冷却温度为5℃，结晶时间为120 min，干燥时间60 min，干燥温度45℃，溶剂使用3次。本工艺条件下，所制得MES粉剂产品回收率大于98%，含活性物质量分数大于93.0%，产品在40℃密封保存12 h后，过0.850 mm筛孔的筛，过筛率达100%。     

Excellent Mechanical and Transparency Properties of Cationic Waterborne Polyurethane Films Modified by Boehmite Sol

The strategies for nanosol from metal alkoxide have enabled production of ultratransparent and mechanically robust polymer nanocomposites at extremely high loading. Herein, a simple approach to fabricate high‐performance polyurethane‐based nanocomposites via unmodified boehmite nanoparticles is reported. Evaluating their physical properties, the uniform dispersion of boehmite in the matrix caused nanocomposites retains ultrahigh transparency. Hydrogen bonding and intermolecular entanglement between boehmite and polyurethane brings about the mechanical properties of the nanocomposites material enhanced, i.e., strength, stiffness, and toughness. Optimized strength, stiffness, and toughness of Boehmite/Cationic waterborne polyurethane at 40 wt% (BNC40) are up to 58.1 MPa, 1096.7 MPa, 249.5 MJ m^?3, respectively. Furthermore, the feasibility and mechanism of polymer strengthening and toughening by inorganic rigid nanoparticles is explored from the aspects of crystallinity and micromorphology.