Epoxidation reaction of trimethylolpropane with epichlorohydrin: Kinetic study of chlorohydrin formation

The kinetics of the reaction between trimethylolpropane (TMP) and epichlorohydrin (ECH) were studied. A mechanism is proposed which involves the synthesis of chlorohydrins, a previous stage which then leads to epoxy resin formation. From this mechanism a set of three coupled non-linear differential equations, (each equation corresponds to each chlorohydrin) was derived and numerical solutions were obtained using a Monte-Carlo method. The concentrations of chlorohydrins determined by this method (41.7, 35.7, and 22.5%) compare well with the experimental GPC results (42.7, 34.7, and 22.6%). The corresponding rate constants for the formation of the chlorohydrins were obtained.     

Deciphering the Complex Molecular Pathogenesis of Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 through Omics Studies

Omics studies are crucial to improve our understanding of myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), the most common muscular dystrophy in adults. Employing tissue samples and cell lines derived from patients and animal models, omics approaches have revealed the myriad alterations in gene and microRNA expression, alternative splicing, 3′ polyadenylation, CpG methylation, and proteins levels, among others, that contribute to this complex multisystem disease. In addition, omics characterization of drug candidate treatment experiments provides crucial insight into the degree of therapeutic rescue and off-target effects that can be achieved. Finally, several innovative technologies such as single-cell sequencing and artificial intelligence will have a significant impact on future DM1 research.     

Reactive Processing of a ZrB2 / ZrC / Zr–Si Ceramic Composite with a Controlled Oxygen Potential

A Zr–Si liquid reacted with B₄C in a graphite enclosure was configured to control the oxygen potential (10^?45 kPa) to form a ZrB₂ / ZrC / Zr – Si ceramic composite. The graphite enclosure was placed in a temperature gradient with the hot zone at >2133 K to react Zr – Si with B₄C and with the opposite end approximating 933–1000 K at the position of an aluminum melt. A ZrB₂ / ZrC / Zr – Si composite forms with the scanning‐electron microscope (SEM), microstructures showing rectangular ZrB₂ precipitates and hexagonally shaped ZrC precipitates embedded in a Zr – Si matrix.     

Model selection, identification and validation in anaerobic digestion: a review

Anaerobic digestion enables waste (water) treatment and energy production in the form of biogas. The successful implementation of this process has lead to an increasing interest worldwide. However, anaerobic digestion is a complex biological process, where hundreds of microbial populations are involved, and whose start-up and operation are delicate issues. In order to better understand the process dynamics and to optimize the operating conditions, the availability of dynamic models is of paramount importance. Such models have to be inferred from prior knowledge and experimental data collected from real plants. Modeling and parameter identification are vast subjects, offering a realm of approaches and methods, which can be difficult to fully understand by scientists and engineers dedicated to the plant operation and improvements. This review article discusses existing modeling frameworks and methodologies for parameter estimation and model validation in the field of anaerobic digestion processes. The point of view is pragmatic, intentionally focusing on simple but efficient methods.     

Colloidal synthesis of Au nanoparticles using polyelectrolytes with 1,3,4-thiadiazole as reducing agents

Heterocyclic compounds are well known for their biological activity and coordination properties. Some heterocyclic compounds have been employed in the stabilization against coalescence of metallic nanoparticles in colloidal solutions, for example, tetrazole, triazole, and pyrazole. The aim of this work is to design new polyelectrolytes with heterocyclic pendant groups useful as reducing agents of Au³⁺ and as stabilizing agents for the synthesis of colloidal Au nanoparticles. Thus, polyelectrolytes with thiosemicarbazone and 1,3,4-thiadiazole pendant groups were used as reducing agents of Au³⁺ ions and stabilizing agents of Au nanoparticles. The voltammetry study of the polyelectrolytes showed that one with thiosemicarbazone pendant groups is the better reducing agent than polyelectrolytes with heterocyclic pendant groups. The polyelectrolytes can control the growth of the nanoparticles, obtaining structures with an average size of 9 nm. In this study, it was concluded that the nature of the heterocyclic group does not have an effect on the shape of nanoparticles and quasi-spherical nanoparticles were obtained with all polyelectrolytes. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47790.     

Formation of Hydroperoxy-, Keto- and Hydroxy-Dienes in FAME from Oils: Influence of Temperature and Addition of α-Tocopherol

The influence of temperature (40, 60 and 80 °C) and addition of α-tocopherol (0, 500 mg/kg) on the formation and distribution of the main oxidation products of linoleic acid, i.e. hydroperoxy-, keto- and hydroxy-dienes, were studied in samples of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) derived from high-linoleic (HL) and high-oleic (HO) sunflower oils. In the range of temperatures studied, the formation of hydroperoxydienes showed monomolecular and bimolecular rate constants that ranged from 0.01 to 1 mmol^1/2kg^−1/2h⁻¹ and from 0.02 to 0.9 h⁻¹, respectively. The overall activation energies involved were similar for both samples and for the monomolecular and bimolecular periods (63–68 kJ/mol). The relative oxidation of methyl linoleate, which depended on the fatty acid composition of the FAME sample, was unaffected by temperature. At the three temperatures assayed, hydroperoxydienes constituted approximately 90 and 50% of total hydroperoxides in the HL and HO samples, respectively. Formation of keto- and hydroxy-dienes was influenced by temperature in a similar way to hydroperoxydienes and, consequently, changes in the distribution of compounds were not observed. The addition of α-tocopherol not only decreased the overall oxidation rate, but also affected the distribution of compounds. The content of hydroperoxydienes relative to that of total hydroperoxides was not affected by the presence of the antioxidant in the HL sample, whereas a significant increase (75%) was found in the HO sample compared with the control (50%). The addition of α-tocopherol in both samples also resulted in a slight increase of keto- and hydroxy-dienes in relation to hydroperoxydienes.     

Plastic deformation of dense nanocrystalline yttrium oxide at elevated temperatures

Nanocrystalline yttrium oxide, Y₂O₃ with 110 nm average grain size was plastically deformed between 800 °C and 1100 °C by compression at different strain rates and by creep at different stresses. The onset temperature for plasticity was at 1000 °C. Yield stress was strongly temperature dependent and the strain hardening disappeared at 1100 °C. The polyhedral and equiaxed grain morphology were preserved in the deformed specimens. The experimentally measured and theoretically calculated stress exponent n = 2 was consistent with the plastic deformation by grain boundary sliding. Decrease in the grain size was consistent with decrease in the brittle to ductile transition temperature.     

Statistical design of sustainable composites from poly(lactic acid) and grape pomace

Biocomposites from poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and grape pomace (GP) were created via injection molding to examine the effects of GP in a PLA matrix. To optimize the mechanical performance the biocomposites were compatibilized with maleic anhydride grafted PLA (MA-g-PLA). The objective of this work was to create a model that could accurately predict the mechanical properties of GP/PLA biocomposites. A region of feasibility for the biocomposites was determined using a statistical design of experiments. Linear regression was used to model the mechanical performance and predicted results with an error of 10% for both tensile and flexural strength and 16% for impact strength. The model was verified with a biocomposite of PLA/GP/MA-g-PLA with a ratio of 62/36/2. This biocomposite had a tensile strength, flexural modulus, and impact strength of 25.8 MPa, 40.0 MPa, and 18.4 J/m, respectively. It was found that a linear model can accurately predict the mechanical properties of PLA/GP/MA-g-PLA biocomposites.     

Phenylvinilbisquinolines as fluorescent markers in functionalized polypropylene films

Polymer Bulletin - In this work, polypropylene films (PP) and maleic anhydride graft polypropylene (PPgMA) at different concentrations of a photoluminescent dye 2,2′-(1,4-phenylenedivinylene)...     

Mechanical and thermal characterization of as-received recycled polyethylene filled with rice husk and their relationship to the end use of these composites

ABSTRACT

Waste can be considered a crisis across the world, especially in the Global South where landfills are collapsing and vector-borne illnesses are increasing. Due to the increase in the amount of waste plastic in the environment, different uses of recycled plastics are being investigated. One such use is roofing tiles. This has been put in place in Sri Lanka through the Waste for Life organization. Here, recycled polyethylene is filled with rice husk particles. Due to the hydrophilic nature of the rice husk, the strength of the polyethylene composites decreased with increasing rice husk filler. Since the roofing tiles do not need to support a large load, the loss in strength should not be too detrimental. However, the creep behavior was improved with 10% and 20% filler. This is important in that the temperature on the roof can reach high temperatures.