Bioaccumulation and biosorption of copper(II) and chromium(III) from aqueous solutions by Pichia stipitis yeast

BACKGROUND: Bioaccumulation and biosorption by Pichia stipitis yeast has not yet been explored. This paper evaluates, for the first time, the use of both viable and nonviable P. stipitis yeast to eliminate Cu(II) and Cr(III) from aqueous solutions. The effect of Cu(II) and Cr(III) ions on the growth and bioaccumulation properties of adapted and nonadapted biomass is investigated as a function of initial metal concentration. Binding capacity experiments using nonviable biomass are also performed as a function of temperature. RESULTS: The addition of Cu(II) and Cr(III) had a significant negative effect on the growth of yeast. Nonadapted cells could tolerate Cu(II) and Cr(III) ions up to a concentration of 75 ppm. The growth rate of nonadapted and adapted cells decreased with the increase in Cu(II) and Cr(III) concentration. Adapted P. stipitis biomass was capable of removing Cu(II) and Cr(III) with a maximum specific uptake capacity of 15.85 and 9.10 mg g⁻¹, respectively, at 100 ppm initial Cu(II) and Cr(III) concentration at pH 4.5. Adsorption data on nonviable cells were found to be well modeled by the Langmuir and Temkin isotherms. The maximum loading capacity of dry biomass predicted from Langmuir isotherm for Cu(II) and Cr(III) at 20 °C were 16.89 and 19.2 mg g⁻¹, respectively, at pH 4.5. Biosorptive capacities were dependent on temperature for Cu(II) and Cr(III) solutions. CONCLUSION: Cu(II)‐ and Cr(III)‐adapted cells grow and accumulate these ions at high ratios. On the other hand, nonviable P. stipitis was found to be an effective biosorbent for Cu(II) and Cr(III) biosorption. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Reactive extrusion of poly(ethylene terephthalate)–(ethylene/methyl acrylate/glycidyl methacrylate)–organoclay nanocomposites

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of component concentrations and addition order of the components on the final properties of ternary nanocomposites composed of poly(ethylene terephthalate), organoclay, and an ethylene–methyl acrylate–glycidyl methacrylate (E‐MA‐GMA) terpolymer acting as an impact modifier for PET. In this context, first, the optimum amount of the impact modifier was determined by melt compounding binary PET‐terpolymer blends in a corotating twin‐screw extruder. The amount of the impact modifier (5 wt%) resulting in the highest Young's modulus and moderate elongation at break was selected owing to its balanced mechanical properties. Thereafter, by using 5 wt% terpolymer content, the effects of organically modified clay concentration and addition order of the components on the properties of ternary nanocomposites were systematically investigated. Mechanical testing revealed that different addition orders of the materials significantly affected the mechanical properties. Among the investigated addition orders, the best sequence of component addition (PI‐C) was the one in which poly(ethylene terephthalate) was first compounded with E‐MA‐GMA. Later, this mixture was compounded with the organoclay in the subsequent run. In X‐ray diffraction analysis, extensive layer separation associated with delamination of the original clay structure occurred in PI‐C and CI‐P (Clay + Impact Modifier followed by PET) sequences with both 1 and 3 wt% clay contents. X‐ray diffraction patterns showed that at these conditions exfoliated structures resulted as indicated by the disappearance of any peaks due to the diffraction within the consecutive clay layers. POLYM. COMPOS., 28:251–258, 2007. © Society of Plastic Engineers     

An intrinsic time to fracture criterion for amorphous polymers

An energy probability theory of global fracture is formulated using the notion of intrinsic time starting with first principles. Comparisons are made between the theory and experiments on Styrene-Butadiene Rubber, thus explaining various aspects of failure.It is proposed that fracture occurs as a result of accumulation of broken carbon-carbon bonds. When a critical concentration of broken bonds is reached, catastrophic failure begins and the specimen fractures. It is assumed that the probability of fracture of a single carbon-carbon bond is determined by the energy content of the bond. Non-uniform distribution of the free energy of the specimen among bonds is taken into account by means of an exponential distribution function. The intrinsic time measure pertinent to the constitutive equation of the material is used as the time measure of fracture. This allows use of the time-temperature shift principle, applicable to fracture of polymers, and enables the prediction of lifetimes in high strain rate conditions.Finally the theory predicts correctly that, at constant amplitudes, the number of cycles to failure at low frequencies is directly proportional to the frequency and is independent of the latter at high frequencies.     

Effects of mixing protocols on impact modified poly(lactic acid) layered silicate nanocomposites

Poly(lactic acid)/2 wt % organomodified montmorillonite (PLA/OMMT) was toughened by an ethylene‐methyl acrylate‐glycidyl methacrylate (E‐MA‐GMA) rubber. The ternary nanocomposites were prepared by melt compounding in a twin screw extruder using four different addition protocols of the components of the nanocomposite and varying the rubber content in the range of 5–20 wt %. It was found that both clay dispersion and morphology were influenced by the blending method as detected by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and observed by TEM and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The XRD results, which were also confirmed by TEM observations, demonstrated that the OMMT dispersed better in PLA than in E‐MA‐GMA. All formulations exhibited intercalated/partially exfoliated structure with the best clay dispersion achieved when the clay was first mixed with PLA before the rubber was added. According to SEM, the blends were immiscible and exhibited fine dispersion of the rubber in the PLA with differences in the mean particle sizes that depended on the addition order. Balanced stiffness‐toughness was observed at 10 wt % rubber content in the compounds without significant sacrifice of the strength. High impact toughness was attained when PLA was first mixed with the clay before the rubber was added, and the highest tensile toughness was obtained when PLA was first compounded with the rubber, and then clay was incorporated into the mixture. Thermal characterization by DSC confirmed the immiscibility of the blends, but in general, the thermal parameters and the degree of crystallinity of the PLA were not affected by the preparation procedure. Both the clay and the rubber decreased the crystallization temperature of the PLA by acting as nucleating agents. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41518.