Effects of plasma treatment on biocompatibility of poly[(L‐lactide)‐co‐(ϵ‐caprolactone)] and poly[(L‐lactide)‐co‐glycolide] electrospun nanofibrous membranes

Poly[(l ‐lactide)‐co ‐(? ‐caprolactone)] (PLCL) and poly[(l ‐lactide)‐co ‐glycolide] (PLGA) copolymers are widely used in neural guide tissue regeneration. In this research, the surface modification of their hydrophilicity was achieved using plasma treatment. Attachment and proliferation of olfactory ensheathing cells on treated electrospun membranes increased by 26 and 32%, respectively, compared to the untreated PLCL and PLGA counterparts. Cells cultivated on both the PLCL and PLGA membranes showed high viability (>95%) and healthy morphologies with no evidence of cytotoxic effects. Cells grown on treated electrospun fibres displayed significant increases in mitochondrial activity and reductions in membrane leakage when compared to untreated samples. The results suggested that plasma treatment of the surface of the polymers enhanced both cell viability and growth without incurring any cytotoxic effects. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry     

Biodiesel Synthesis from Palm Fatty Acid Distillate Using Tungstophosphoric Acid Supported on Cesium-Containing Niobia

Tungstophosphoric acid supported on cesium-containing niobia (TPA/Cs _x /Nb₂O₅, x = 1.0–2.5) catalysts were prepared by a two-step impregnation method, and their physico-chemical properties were investigated. The initial studies on the esterification of oleic acid with methanol revealed that TPA/Cs ratio affected the acidity as well as the activity of the catalysts. Among the catalysts tested, TPA/Cs_1.0/Nb₂O₅ exhibited the best performance. In addition, the efficiency of TPA/Cs_1.0/Nb₂O₅ for biodiesel synthesis from palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD), a by-product from palm oil industry, was demonstrated, and the reaction parameters were also evaluated. Over 90% yield of FAME was achieved, and the properties of the biodiesel obtained from PFAD met the standard requirements for biodiesel fuel. However, deactivation of the catalysts was observed, possibly due to structural transformation or organic residues blocking the active sites.     

Biodiesel production over Ca-based solid catalysts derived from industrial wastes

The solid oxide catalysts derived from the industrial waste shells of egg, golden apple snail, and meretrix venus were used as biodiesel production catalysts. Their catalytic activity in transesterification of palm olein oils and their physicochemical properties (by TG/DTA, EDX, SEM, N₂ sorption, CO₂-TPD, and XRD) were systematically investigated. The waste materials calcined in air with optimum conditions (temperature of 800 °C, time of 2–4 h) transformed calcium species in the shells into active CaO catalysts. The activity of the catalysts was in line with the basic amount of the strong base sites, surface area, and crystalline phase in the catalysts. All catalysts derived from egg and mollusk shells at 800 °C provided high activity (>90% fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) in 2 h). These abundant wastes showed good potential to be used as biodiesel production catalysts.     

Polyisoprene modified poly(alkyl acrylate) foam as oil sorbent material

Biorenewable polyisoprene latex obtained from natural rubber, Hevea brasiliensis, was used to prepare the reusable polyisoprene–poly(alkyl acrylate) foam for petroleum‐based liquid absorption. The foam was produced via latex vulcanization and cured by steaming. The effect of various types of poly(alkyl acrylate) such as poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), poly(butyl methacrylate) (PBMA), and poly(butyl acrylate) (PBA) on oil sorption capacity of the foam were studied. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images showed interconnected open‐cell macrostructure with the foam porosity greater than 75% and good compression set. The oil sorption capacity of the foam was in the range of 2.0–16.6 g g^?1. The addition of poly(alkyl acrylate) enhanced hydrophobicity and oil sorption capacity of the foam. The absorbed oil was easily recovered by squeezing and the foam can be reused up to 30 sorption–desorption cycles and still preserve high quality sorption. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42688.     

Amorphous unsupported Ni–Mo sulfide prepared by one step hydrothermal method for phenol hydrodeoxygenation

Unsupported sulfide catalysts are a potentially promising approach towards furthering the understanding and development of a better heterogeneous catalytic system capable of performing the hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of bio-oil proficiently under mild and short reaction conditions and times, respectively. Amorphous unsupported Ni–Mo sulfide, prepared from ammonium tetrathiomolybdate (ATTM) by a one step hydrothermal method, is already sulfided and so does not need a sulfidation step. The addition of the Ni promoter prevents the growth of Mo sulfide particles and causes a reduction in the surface area and a change in the pore characteristics as the amount of added Ni was increased. Ni sulfide alone (no Mo) showed a completely different morphology and properties compared to those of the Mo-containing sulfides, with or without the copresence of Ni. The activity and selectivity of catalysts was investigated using phenol as a model substrate in the direct-deoxygenation (DDO) and hydrogenation (HYD) reactions in a HDO system. The Ni–Mo sulfide catalyst with optimal Ni amount had a significantly higher phenol conversion efficiency (96.2 mol%), and favored a HYD pathway, than that seen for the Mo sulfide one (71.0 mol%) that favored a DDO pathway. H₂-temperature programmed desorption (TPD) suggested that this synergy was mainly derived from a change in the quality and not the number of the active sites. The synergetic effect was a function of the stoichiometric composition with the maximum synergetic effect being obtained at a Ni/(Mo + Ni) ratio of 0.3. This could result from the high dispersion of the active species and the generation of a more active Ni–Mo–S phase.     

One‐step latex compounding method for producing composites of natural rubber/epoxidized natural rubber/aminosilane‐functionalized montmorillonite: enhancement of tensile strength and oil resistance

Montmorillonite (Mt) was intercalated with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and functionalized with three types of aminosilane (3‐aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, n‐(2‐aminoethyl)‐3‐aminopropyltrimethoxysilane and 3‐[2‐(2‐aminoethylamino)ethylamino]propyltrimethoxysilane). The modified Mt was compounded with natural rubber (NR)/epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) via one‐step latex compounding. The effect of the modified Mt content on the oil resistance and mechanical properties of the NR/ENR/modified Mt composites was investigated. The X‐ray diffraction patterns of the composites showed partial intercalation/exfoliation of the modified Mt in the rubber matrix. Cryogenic fracture and X‐ray fluorescence results revealed highly dispersed modified Mt in the composites in the presence of 10 phr ENR. All three aminosilane groups slightly improved the oil resistance, with the long‐alkyl‐length group producing the greatest improvement. The addition of a small amount of modified Mt improved both oil resistance and tensile strength by increasing in the average diffusion path length in the NR matrix and enhancing the interaction between the modified Mt and the epoxide groups in ENR. The addition of 1.0 phr of modified Mt increased the tensile strength by 18% and decreased the elongation at break by 12% compared with a neat NR/ENR blend. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effects of preparation conditions in hydrothermal synthesis of highly active unsupported NiMo sulfide catalysts for simultaneous hydrodesulfurization of dibenzothiophene and 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene

Unsupported NiMo sulfide catalysts were prepared from ammonium tetrathiomolybdate (ATTM) and nickel nitrate by using a hydrothermal synthesis method involving water, organic solvent and hydrogen. The activity of these catalysts in the simultaneous hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of dibenzothiophene (DBT) and 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene (4,6-DMDBT) was much higher than that of the commercial NiMo/Al₂O₃ sulfide catalysts. Interestingly, the unsupported NiMo sulfide catalysts showed higher activity for hydrogenation (HYD) pathway than the direct desulfurization (DDS) pathway in the HDS of DBT. The same trends were observed for the HDS of 4,6-DMDBT. Morphology, surface area, pore volume and the HDS activity of unsupported NiMo sulfide catalyst depended on the catalyst preparation conditions. Higher temperature and higher H₂ pressure and addition of an organic solvent were found to increase the HDS activity of unsupported NiMo sulfide catalysts for both DBT and 4,6-DMDBT HDS. Higher preparation temperature increased HYD selectivity but decreased DDS selectivity. High-resolution TEM images revealed that unsupported NiMo sulfide prepared at 375 °C shows lower number of layers in the stacks of catalyst with more curvature and shorter length of slabs compared to that prepared at 300 °C. On the other hand, higher preparation pressure increased DDS selectivity but decreased HYD selectivity for HDS of 4,6-DMDBT. HRTEM images showed higher number of layers in the stack for the NiMo sulfide prepared under an initial H₂ pressure of 3.4 MPa compared to that under 2.1 MPa. The optimal Ni/(Mo + Ni) ratio for the NiMo sulfide catalyst was 0.5, higher than that for the conventional Al₂O₃-supported NiMo sulfide catalysts. This was attributed to the high dispersion of the active species and more active NiMoS generated. The present study also provides new insight for controlling the catalyst selectivity as well as activity by tailoring the hydrothermal preparation conditions.     

Effects of Treatment Time by Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6) Plasma on Barrier and Mechanical Properties of Paperboard

Sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆) plasma, using inductively coupled plasma technique, was applied on paperboard surfaces. Effects of different treatment times on water and oil resistances, mechanical properties (through tensile, compression and folding endurance tests) and barrier properties [through water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) and oxygen transmission rate (OTR)] were determined. Results showed that SF₆ plasma treatment can improve water resistance properties of paperboard significantly, beginning with only a 2 s treatment time (p ≤ 0.05), whereas oil resistance properties can be improved over a longer time period. Plasma treatment had no effect on tensile strength of treated paperboard; however, machine direction (MD) compression strength, as well as MD and CD folding endurance, of treated paperboard was significantly lower than that for an untreated sample (p ≤ 0.05). WVTR and OTR of treated paperboard were higher with increasing treatment time, because of fluorine atoms and electron bombardment causing etching of cellulose fibres. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.