Synthesis and testing of cellulose acetate nicotinate as adsorbent for rhodamine B dye

The esterification of cellulose hydroxyl groups with natural carboxylic acids in mild conditions represents an adequate pathway in obtaining cellulose derivatives with different useful properties. In this article, authors report the synthesis of new mixed ester of cellulose and cellulose acetate nicotinate (CAN) , in a homogenous medium using DMF as solvent, cellulose acetate (CA) as starting cellulosic material, and nicotinic acid as an esterification agent in the presence of p-toluenesulfonyl chloride and pyridine. FTIR and NMR techniques were used to prove the binding of nicotinoyl group at free hydroxyl groups of CA. The obtained CAN was electrospun by electrospinning technique to obtain adsorbent ultrafine fibers, evidenced by SEM images, with high specific surface area. Monolayer Langmuir and empirical Leundrich isotherms were used to assess the adsorption capacity for rhodamine B dye of electrospun CAN in comparison with that of electrospun CA used as starting material. Langmuir isotherm led to a better assessment of experimental data suggesting that the adsorption is mainly determined by hydrogen bonds formed between carboxylic OH hydrogen bonding donor and pyridine N hydrogen bonding acceptor. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47772.     

Unconventional method used in synthesis of polyphosphoesters

Polyphosphonates, polyphosphates, polyarylazophosphonates and polyarylazophosphates were synthesized by a new alternative to the classical phase transfer catalysis, respectively, the modified inverse phase transfer catalysis (IPTC) polycondensation of various phenylphosphonic (phosphoric) dichlorides (phenylphosphonic dichloride, phenylphosphoric dichloride, p-chlorophenylphosphoric dichloride) with bisphenols: bisphenol A, tetrabromobisphenol A, bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl)methane (bisphenol F), 4,4′-dihydroxyazobenzene. The polymers were characterized by infrared spectroscopy and magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR, ³¹P-NMR, ¹³C-NMR) spectroscopy. Yields in the range of 63.5–85% and molecular weights (M _w) of ~2,000–8,200 g mol^?1 were obtained. Polyphosphonates were stable up 210–270 °C and polyphosphates up 190–220 °C in air atmosphere. For a correct estimation of the thermal behavior of similar compounds, a kinetic analysis using a modified version of Non Parametric Kinetic method for representative polyphosphonate and polyphosphate was realized. The studies made on the hydrolytic degradation of the synthesized polyphosphates show that the most stable polymer under alkali-catalyzed degradation is the polyphosphate obtained by IPTC of phenylphosphoric dichloride and bisphenol A.     

Biodegradation of pyridine‐based polyether polyurethanes by the Alternaria tenuissima fungus

The scope of the present work is to study the biodegradability behavior of several novel heterocyclic poly(ether urethanes) when their hard segments are subjected to exposure to the Alternaria tenuissima fungus. The heterocyclic poly(ether urethanes) were chain‐extended with various pyridine derivatives that had different functional groups placed in different positions on the pyridine rings. Different ratios of the reactive components were also used. The measurements obtained by the use of the attenuated total reflectance–Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed the different structural changes that occurred after exposure to fungi. The degradation process was analyzed through measurement of the mechanical properties and surface morphology evolution by scanning electron microscopy. The obtained results show that the nature and design of the functional groups on the pyridine ring determine the strength of the cohesion linkages that in turn influence different degradation behaviors under exposure to fungi. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 46096.     

Biocompatible and biodegradable alginate/poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) hydrogels for sustained theophylline release

Mixed‐interpenetrated polymeric networks based on sodium alginate (ALG) and poly(N‐isopropylacryl amide) (PNIPAAm) covalently cross‐linked with N,N'‐methylenebisacrylamide are studied for their biocompatibility, nontoxicity, and biodegradability aiming their application in drug delivery. The presence of drug‐polymeric matrix interactions and the distribution of the drug in the polymeric network for theophylline‐loaded ALG/PNIPAAm hydrogels are also investigated by spectroscopic and microscopic methods. The quantitative evaluation of theophylline loaded hydrogels performed by NIR‐CI technique shows a better drug entrapment and a higher homogeneity of the samples with increased alginate content. The thermal behavior of the hydrogels is significantly modified by theophylline presence. The application of the ALG/PNIPAAm hydrogels as carriers for sustained drug release formulations was assessed by the theophylline release tests performed both by in vitro and in vivo studies. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40733.     

Microstructure,Magnetic and Magnetoresistance Properties of Electrodeposited [Co/Zn]<Subscript>50</Subscript> Multilayers

In this work, we report experimental results concerning the giant magnetoresistance effect and the magnetic properties of [Co/Zn] _n and [Zn/Co] _n electrodeposited multilayers. Two series of multilayers starting with Co and Zn layers, respectively, were grown onto Cu (100) substrate under identical conditions. We investigated the effect of the seed layer (Co or Zn) and Zn layer’s thicknesses on the magnetic and magnetoresistant properties of electrodeposited multilayers. We found out that the magnetic anisotropy and the shape of the hysteresis cycle are strongly influenced by the multilayer features. The magnetic properties of the [Co/Zn] _n and [Zn/Co] _n strongly depend on the Zn thickness and on the seed layer (the first layer deposited onto the Cu substrate). The coercivity fields varied between (145 Oe–208 Oe) as a function of the Zn layer’s thicknesses. [Co/Zn] _n and [Zn/Co] _n electrodeposited multilayers display magnetoresistance (14%) effect which can be explained mainly by the exchange interaction among neighboring layers and by the spatially inhomogeneous magnetic structure of the nanostructured multilayer; in addition, the thickness of the Zn interlayer has an important role on the transportation and diffusion processes.     

Evolution of the properties of ZnO thin films subjected to heating treatments

Structural and optical properties of ZnO thin films (200 nm thickness) deposited using magnetron sputtering technique are influenced by structural defects. Therefore, we applied various heating treatments in order to control and improve the crystallinity of the samples. These treatments were realized in air at temperatures of 350 °C, 550 °C and 700 °C respectively, each for a duration of 1 h. The properties of the samples were investigated both before and after the heating treatment. Modern methods like X-ray Diffraction, Atomic Force Microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy were used to analyze the structure and morphology of the heated ZnO thin films. These heating treatments may be held responsible for rearrangements in the morphology of the thin films. Thus, it was observed that an increase of porosity and agglomeration of the crystallites is followed by an increase in the size of the crystallites. Inter-crystalline borders will migrate determining a coalescence of several crystallites during the heating process, as well. As a consequence, an increase of the band gap width from 3.26 eV to 3.30 eV (at 350 °C) and 3.32 eV (at 550 °C) respectively, occurred.     

Wittig-Horner reactions on styrene-divinylbenzene supports with benzaldehyde side-groups

Summary A styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer functionalized with aldehyde was prepared under phase transfer catalyzed (PTC) conditions. A statistical method for the calculation of the degree of functionalization with aldehyde groups is proposed. The degree of functionalization with aldehyde groups is relatively high. Styrene-divinylbenzene polymers functionalized with benzaldehyde groups were used in Wittig-Horner reaction, in order to introduce double bonds on polymers. The reactions were carried out using PTC method, solid-liquid-solid (s-l-s) (K₂CO₃, tetrahydrofuran, tetraethylammonium iodide) system. Phase transfer catalyzed reactions are often more easily and cheaply carried out than conventional method and they are therefore of particular interest.     

Electron transport properties of some new 4-tert-butylcalix[4]arene derivatives in thin films

Temperature dependences of electric conductivity and thermoelectric power of some recently synthesized organic compounds, 4-tert-butylcalix[4]arene derivatives, are studied. Thin-film samples (d = 0.10–0.40 μm) spin-coated from chloroform solutions onto glass substrates were used. Organic films with reproducible electron transport properties can be obtained if, after deposition, they are submitted to a heat treatment within temperature range of 295–575 K.     

Heterogeneous catalysts obtained by incorporation of polymer-supported phosphonates into silica used in oxidation reactions

Summary The synthesis of copolymers functionalized with phosphonate groups, incorporation of them into ordered meso-macroporous silica, characterization and evaluation of the obtained materials as catalysts in oxidation of cyclohexene are presented. The catalysts obtained are very active and selective in epoxidation of cyclohexene using hydrogen peroxide as an environmentally friendly oxidant.