Effect of monoacylglycerols on the stability of model cream using palm oil

In this study, the stability of a model cream was investigated using palm oil as sole fat source. It was found that the addition of monomyristoylglycerol (MM), monopalmitoylglycerol (MP), and monostearoylglycerol (MS) to palm oil promoted the solidification of the model cream while the addition of monolauroylglycerol (ML) and monobehenoylglycerol (MB) had no such effect. The solid fat content (SFC) values of pure palm oil cream and palm oil with the above‐mentioned additives were measured after cooling the cream from 60 °C to 5 °C. The SFC values in the cream with added MM, MP and MS were found to be lower than those of pure palm oil and palm oil with ML and MB. Fractionation of palm oil with the help of acetone resulted in a palm oil fraction containing a decreased amount of tripalmitin and 1, 3‐dipalmitoyl‐2‐oleoyl‐glycerol (POP). It was found that the model cream prepared with this fraction and the above‐mentioned monoacylglycerols remained stable even in the presence of MM, MP, and MS. From the above results, it was suggested that the agglomeration of tripalmitin and POP around MM, MP, and MS, which were preferentially adsorbed at the oil‐water interface of oil droplets in the model cream, led to a destabilization of the oil‐in‐water emulsion and to the solidification of the model cream. At the same time, it was suggested that the combination of the fatty acid moiety of monoacylglycerols with tripalmitin and POP played an important role in the destabilization of the model cream.     

Crystallization behavior of 1,3‐dipalmitoyl‐2‐oleoyl‐glycerol and 1‐palmitoyl‐2,3‐dioleoyl‐glycerol

A model margarine was stored under a temperature fluctuation cycle of 5—20 °C until granular crystals were observed. Using information obtained from the granular crystals, the crystallization behaviors of major triacylglycerols of palm oil, 1,3‐dipalmitoyl‐2‐oleoyl‐glycerol (POP), 1‐palmitoyl‐2,3‐dioleoyl‐glycerol (POO), and their mixtures were then investigated. It was shown that in the model margarine, the POP content in the granular crystals was higher than in their surrounding materials, and the X‐ray diffraction pattern of the granular crystals revealed that they were the most stable polymorph, β. 99% pure POP, POO, and their mixtures were then stored under the above‐mentioned temperature cycle. POP was found to form the unstable polymorph, α, when cooled rapidly from the melt. Within 24 hours transformation into the γ polymorph and then into the β polymorph was observed. POO was shown to transform into the β' polymorph from α. When POP and POO were mixed, the β polymorph did not emerge, instead it was shown that POP and POO were both agglomerated in the mixtures, giving rise to the formation of granular crystals.     

Effect of base‐deposited graphene oxide on the thermal stabilization of poly(vinyl chloride)

Graphene oxide was deposited in a base solution to form base‐deposited graphene oxide (bd‐GO) particles. The structure and properties of the bd‐GO particles were evaluated using transmission electron microscopy, powder X‐ray diffraction and X‐ray photoelectron, Fourier transform infrared, UV‐visible and fluorescence spectroscopies. The effect of the bd‐GO particles on the thermal stabilization of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) was investigated using the Congo red test and thermogravimetric analysis. The results showed that the thermal stability of PVC was greatly improved by the bd‐GO particles. Furthermore, this stabilization mechanism was investigated using UV‐visible spectroscopy and nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherm analysis. It was found that the improvement of thermal stability was mainly related to the deactivation of thermally labile structural defects in the PVC chains by the carboxylate and alkoxide moieties of the basic groups in the bd‐GO particles, and the highly efficient adsorption of the bd‐GO particles with hydrogen chloride produced during PVC degradation. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry     

Kinetics of photo-oxidative degradation and stabilization of poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) by metal dialkyl dithio phosphate

The kinetics of photo-oxidative degradation and stabilization of poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) have been studied in the temperature range 313-363 K using monochromatic light of 365 nm with a constant intensity flux of 8.7 × 10^?9 einstein s^?1 cm^?2 in the absence and presence of Ni(II) O,O′-diisopropyldithiophosphate. The course of degradation and stabilization was determined by means of light scattering and spectroscopic techniques. The extent of photodegradation was followed by carbonyl formation, gel content and activation energy. The incorporation of 1.2 wt% stabilizer in the matrix of the polymer films exercises the maximum protective influence on the photodegradation of the polymer.     

Control of the agglomeration of crystals in the reactive crystallization of 5-(difluoromethoxy)-2-mercapto-1H-benzimidazole

5-(Difluoromethoxy)-2-mercapto-1H-benzimidazole (DMB) was precipitated by adding acetic acid to the DMB sodium salt solution. The spherical agglomeration of DMB during the reactive crystallization in a batch crystallizer was monitored by real-time Particle Video Microscope (PVM). We found that the low feeding rate of acetic acid, high crystallization temperature, low agitation rate or adding seed crystal can facilitate the formation of spherical agglomerates. By using a simple model, the mean crystal agglomerate size of DMB thus predicted is generally in agreement with the experimental data. In addition, the crystallization process of DMB was optimized by a new control strategy of supersaturation to avoid disadvantages brought by agglomeration.     

Bi_(1/2)Na_(1/2)TiO_3-BaTiO_3系无铅压电陶瓷制备工艺的优化及其结构分析

借助正交试验设计,通过对无铅压电陶瓷压电、介电性能的测试,研究了BaTiO3含量、预烧温度、烧结温度及保温时间对(1-x)(B i1/2Na1/2)TiO3xBaTiO3(简写为BNBT 100x)陶瓷性能的影响。研究结果表明制备BNBT系陶瓷的最优化工艺条件为:BaTiO3摩尔分数x=0.06、预烧温度850℃、烧结温度1 130℃、保温时间2 h。通过XRD分析了BNBT系压电陶瓷的晶体结构类型、晶胞参数及晶格畸变随着BaTiO3摩尔分数的变化,确定了该体系的三方四方的准同型相界在x=0.06~0.08之间。     

Optimization of the process variables for the synthesis of starch‐based biodegradable resin using response surface methodology

Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to analyze the effect of different additives glycerol level (X1) and plasticizer level (X2) on the objective (water solubility index, water absorption index, and Max. loading) attributes of a cornstarch/PHBV blended composite. A rotatable central‐composite design (CCD) was used to develop models for the objective responses. The experiments were run at barrels temperatures 160, 160, 165, and 165°C, respectively, with screw speed 40 rpm and complete feeding (filling ratio = 1). Responses were most affected by changes in plasticizer level (X2) and to a lesser extent by glycerol level (X1). Individual contour plots of the different responses were overlaid, and regions meeting the predicted optimum water solubility index of 4.34%, water absorption index of 4.55 g gel/g dry wt, and Max. loading of 370.06 N were identified at the plasticizer level of 21.06 g, and the glycerol level of 96.11 mL, respectively. These predicted values for optimum process conditions were in good agreement with experimental data. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Effect of thermal aging on the biodegradation of PCL,PHB‐V,and their blends with starch in soil compost

Different proportions of starch were blended with poly(β‐hydroxybutyrate)‐co‐poly(β‐hydroxyvalerate) (PHB‐V) or poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) by extrusion, and the mechanical (maximum tensile strength, elongation at break and Young's modulus) and thermal properties (by differential scanning calorimetry) were determined. The biodegradability of the blends in soil compost was also assessed after thermal aging for 192, 425, and 600 h at different temperatures. The maximum tensile strength of the PCL50 blend (containing 50% starch) was 35% lower than that of PCL and that of the PHB‐V50 blend was 60% lower than that of PHB‐V without thermal aging. PHB‐V blends were more biodegradable than PCL blends. For the blends prepared, only the biodegradation of PHB‐V25 was affected by thermal aging. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 3539–3546, 2003     

Effect of bitumen composition and process water chemistry on model oilsands separation using a warm slurry extraction process simulation

Variability in ore composition and process parameters is known to affect bitumen recovery from natural oilsands. In this work, we extend our earlier studies with model oilsands (MOS) systems to investigate the effects caused by the presence of asphaltene and divalent cations on the interaction between bitumen and silica particles. The absence of both asphaltene and fines was found to have significant effects on bitumen recovery. With a typical oilsands, addition of small amounts of caustic improves recovery but overdosing causes a drastic loss of yield through bitumen emulsification. Without asphaltene and in the presence of fines, the typical drop in bitumen recovery above pH 10 did not occur, indicating that the source of emulsifying agents had been eliminated. With deasphalted bitumen, recovery in the absence of silica fines was very poor at all NaOH dosages. The strong, negative effect of divalent cations on “normal” bitumen recovery was almost completely eliminated when asphaltene was absent.     

Effect of the regioregularity of poly(3‐hexylthiophene) on the performances of organic photovoltaic devices

BACKGROUND: The highest efficiencies of bulk‐heterojunction solar cells from poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and [6,6]‐phenyl C₆₁‐butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) reported so far are close to 6%. Phenomena occurring during the photovoltaic process, such as the creation, diffusion and separation of excitons, as well as charge carrier transport, are governed by the active layer morphology. The latter phenomenon, which depends on the self‐organization of P3HT, can be influenced by its degree of regioregularity. The aim of this work is to clarify the relationship between the regioregularity of P3HT, the composition of P3HT/PCBM blends and the performances of photovoltaic devices. RESULTS: Two types of P3HTs with different degrees of regioregularity have been synthesized and used as active layers with PCBM in photovoltaic cells. The higher performances in photovoltaic devices are obtained for high‐regioregular P3HT and can be explained considering the self‐organizing properties of high‐regioregular P3HT, leading to higher sunlight absorption and higher hole mobilities. In addition, this report demonstrates the importance of the ratio of P3HT versus PCBM in correlation with the regioregularity of P3HT on the optical properties, charge transport and characteristics of photovoltaic cells. CONCLUSION: We have investigated the dependence of the photovoltaic properties of P3HT/PCBM blend‐based photovoltaic devices on the degree of regioregularity of P3HT. We find that the best performance is exhibited by devices based on highly regioregular P3HT. Also, the best performances are not obtained for the same P3HT:PCBM weight ratios for high‐regioregular P3HT (1:0.8) and low‐regioregular P3HT (1:3). Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Selenium Flux Effect on Cu(In,Ga)Se2 Thin Films Grown by a 3-stage Co-evaporation Process

An investigation into the effects of Se flux on absorber thin film growth at each step of a 3-stage co-evaporation process was conducted to further optimize the performance of CIGS solar cells. In ‘step I’ forming an In-Ga-Se precursor thin film during the 3-stage process, Se flux affected the preferred orientation of the CIGS crystal structure, but not the film morphology. In ‘step II’, no correlation was found between Se flux and the crystal structure, although excessively high Se flux employed throughout the 3-stage process degraded the solar cell performance. A CIGS thin film, with a (220/204) crystal orientation, minor physical surface defects and ∼20 nm thick MoSe₂ at CIGS/Mo interface, was obtained by fine control of Se flux conditions (high Se flux at ‘step I’ and low Se flux at ‘step II’) at optimum substrate temperatures. The solar cell fabricated using the aforementioned CIGS thin film showed the highest conversion efficiency of 20.02 %.     

氟磷石灰石对熟料硅酸盐相形成过程的影响

利用XRD和化学分析方法研究了Ca5(PO4)3F的稳定性和石灰石中的Ca5(PO4)3F对C3S和C2S形成过程的影响.结果表明,Ca5(PO4)3F在1450℃下能稳定存在,1450℃时SiO2和C2S能使Ca5(PO4)3F分解;用含磷石灰石制备C2S和C3S时,1100℃和1200℃煅烧时生成β-C2S,1300 ℃煅烧时Ca5(PO4)3F分解形成的PO;-与β-C2S生成α:C2 S-xC3P,β-C2S与CaO生成C3S.在1450℃保温4h,用含磷石灰石制备的C2S全部转换为α:C2S-xC3P的固溶体.当煅烧温度由1100℃逐渐升至1450℃时,含磷石灰石中的氟随着煅烧温度的升高逐渐减少,Ca5(PO4)3F随着煅烧温度的升高逐渐分解,含磷石灰石-SiO2体系(C/S =2:1)和含磷石灰石-SiO2体系(C/s=3:1)在1450 ℃煅烧0.5h后Ca5(PO4)3F分别分解了94.00％和81.25％.     

Effect of polycarbonate–poly(methyl methacrylate) graft copolymer as a modifier improving the surface hardness of polycarbonate

In this study, poly(2‐acrylamido‐2‐methyl‐1‐propane sulfonic acid) (PAMPS) was synthesized using potassium persulfate (K₂S₂O₈) as initiator. PAMPS (M _n = 36,000 g/mol) was partially converted to a lithium salt (PAMPS–Li), and particle size was determined to be 40 μm. Suspensions of PAMPS–Li at various concentrations were prepared in silicone oil, mineral oil, dioctylphthalate (DOP), and trioctyltrimellitate (TOTM) insulating oils. Colloidal stabilities of these suspensions were determined at 20 and 80°C. The PAMPS–Li suspensions were observed to provide an electrorheological (ER) response upon the application of an external dc electric field. ER properties of these suspensions were investigated at various shear rates (γ˙) and electric field strengths (E). Further, effects of polar promoters and high temperature on ER activity were determined, and excess shear stresses (Δτ) were calculated. A shear‐thinning non‐Newtonian viscoelastic behavior was observed for the PAMPS–Li suspensions. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 86: 1106–1112, 2002     

Kinetics of methylamine conversion on a Pd catalyst in the presence of H2

The kinetics of disproportionation of methylamine to dimethylamine and ammonia in the presence of hydrogen have been investigated over a silica-supported palladium catalyst. At a fixed partial pressure of methylamine, the reaction rate generally increases with decreasing hydrogen partial pressure, approaching a limiting or maximum value at sufficiently low pressures of hydrogen. The existence of a maximum is supported by the observation that the presence of some hydrogen appears to be necessary for the reaction to proceed at a conveniently measurable rate. At a fixed hydrogen partial pressure, the reaction rate increases with increasing methylamine partial pressure. When the methylamine partial pressure is sufficiently low or the hydrogen partial pressure is sufficiently high, the reaction order with respect to methylamine can be somewhat higher than one. At such conditions, a mechanism involving a bimolecular reaction between two partially dehydrogenated methylamine molecules on the surface appears to make a significant contribution to the overall catalytic reaction.     

Anti-Inflammatory Effect of an O-2-Substituted (1-3)-β-D-Glucan Produced by Pediococcus parvulus 2.6 in a Caco-2 PMA-THP-1 Co-Culture Model

Bacterial β-glucans are exopolysaccharides (EPSs), which can protect bacteria or cooperate in biofilm formation or in bacterial cell adhesion. Pediococcus parvulus 2.6 is a lactic acid bacterium that produces an O-2-substituted (1-3)-β-D-glucan. The structural similarity of this EPS to active compounds such as laminarin, together with its ability to modulate the immune system and to adhere in vitro to human enterocytes, led us to investigate, in comparison with laminarin, its potential as an immunomodulator of in vitro co-cultured Caco-2 and PMA-THP-1 cells. O-2-substituted (1-3)-β-D-glucan synthesized by the GTF glycosyl transferase of Pediococcus parvulus 2.6 or that by Lactococcus lactis NZ9000[pGTF] were purified and used in this study. The XTT tests revealed that all β-glucans were non-toxic for both cell lines and activated PMA-THP-1 cells’ metabolisms. The O-2-substituted (1-3)-β-D-glucan modulated production and expression of IL-8 and the IL-10 in Caco-2 and PMA-THP-1 cells. Laminarin also modulated cytokine production by diminishing TNF-α in Caco-2 cells and IL-8 in PMA-THP-1. All these features could be considered with the aim to produce function foods, supplemented with laminarin or with another novel β-glucan-producing strain, in order to ameliorate an individual’s immune system response toward pathogens or to control mild side effects in remission patients affected by inflammatory bowel diseases.     

Synthesis and characterization of a novel functional monomer containing cyano and propenylphenoxy groups and the properties of its copolymer with bismaleimide (BMI)

A novel functional monomer containing cyano and propenylphenoxy groups, 2,6‐di{2‐[(E)‐l‐propenyl]phenoxy}benzonitrile (DPPB) was prepared with high stereospecificity by the reaction of 2,6‐dichlorobenzonitrile and 2‐allylphenol in a mixed solvent system of N‐methylpyrrolidone (NMP)/toluene in the presence of anhydrous potassium carbonate. The chemical structure of the product was characterized by FTIR, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR. The monomer was then used to modify a popular commercial bismaleimide, 4,4‐bismaleimidodiphenylmethane (BMDPM), for improving the shear strength of the resin. The results showed that the modified resin could attain 4.7 times the shear strength of neat BMDPM and good heat resistance when the composition of DPPB in the modified resin was 45% (by weight). © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of feed composition on PHB production from methanol by HCDC of Methylobacterium extorquens (DSMZ 1340)

BACKGROUND: Poly‐β‐hydroxybutyrate (PHB), produced by several species of bacteria, has attracted great attention as a biodegradable and biocompatible compound with similar properties to polypropylene. Unfortunately, its use is currently limited due to high production costs. One of the most common methods for overcoming this constraint is the use of inexpensive substrates, like methanol, in high cell density cultivations (HCDC). RESULTS: Fermentation was carried out with optimized feed composition (639 g l^?1 methanol, 4 g l^?1 MgSO₄.7H₂O, 41 mL L^?1 trace elements, 5.6 g L^?1 NaH₂PO₄.H₂O and 24.3 g L^?1 K₂HPO₄) and a feeding strategy based on the detection of substrate limitation by dissolved oxygen (DO). After 35 h, at which dry cell weight (DCW) reached a value of 70 g L^?1, PHB production was stimulated, and biomass and PHB productivities of 2.8 and 0.98 g L^?1 h^?1 were obtained, respectively. These results surpassed those reported in the literature for PHB production from methanol by Methylobacterium species. CONCLUSION: The proposed feed composition and feeding strategy for PHB production from methanol by Methylobacterium extorquens 1340 in fed‐batch cultivation resulted in high biomass and PHB productivity. They can be implemented for recombinant bioproducts (proteins) produced by M. extorquens due to the lack of PHB accumulation in the growth phase. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of macromer synthesis time on the properties of the resulting poly(β‐amino ester) degradable hydrogel

Poly(β‐amino ester) biodegradable hydrogels are common in biomedical applications because of their tunable properties and similarities to natural soft tissue. Previous work has shown property adjustments through the choice of monomers, the ratio between monomers and the addition of a crosslinking component. Here, we show that the reaction time for the creation of the macromer can affect the resulting hydrogel properties, and thus provides another method of tuning properties. Macromer was created through the reaction of isobutylamine with poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (n = 400). The reaction progress was analyzed using IR and GPC analysis. Hydrogels were created through UV photopolymerization from macromers synthesized for 24, 36, and 48 h. The degradation, compressive moduli, and swelling were measured in an aqueous solution. All showed significant differences between hydrogels of different macromer synthesis times. These differences likely stem from the incomplete macromer synthesis reaction and resulting PEG‐rich regions in hydrogels from shorter synthesis times. These regions will not readily degrade, but do increase the mechanical properties and extent of swelling. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Effect of orotic acid as a nucleating agent on the crystallization of bacterial poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyhexanoate) copolymers

The kinetics of crystallization induced by orotic acid (OA) and boron nitride (BN) as nucleating agents were investigated for bacterial poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyhexanoate)s (P(HB‐co‐HH)s) containing from 0 to 18% HH monomer units. The nucleation efficiency of these two chemicals was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarized optical microscopy (POM). It was found that both orotic acid and boron nitride are able to nucleate the crystallization of PHB. In the case of P(HB‐co‐HH) copolymers, orotic acid showed an outstanding nucleating effect. The comparison of half‐crystallization times shows that for P(HB‐co‐10% HH), the crystallization initiated by orotic acid is more than three time faster than the one induced by boron nitride (t_1/2BN/t_1/2OA(60°C) = 3.7 and t_1/2BN/t_1/2OA(90°C) = 4.5). According to the fact that orotic acid is a biodegradable, biocompatible and a nontoxic chemical, this nucleating agent is a promising solution for PHAs used in medical applications such as implants. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009