Chitosan/CNTs nanocomposite as green carrier material for pesticides controlled release

Chitosan-based nanocomposites containing gamma-treated carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were developed for controlled release of pesticide. The CNTs were irradiated under gamma irradiation in air at different doses. The transmission electron microscopic images of gamma-treated CNTs showed disentanglement of the tubes without distorting their tubular structure which effectively increased the dispersion properties of CNTs in nanocomposites. X-ray diffraction analysis of CNTs showed some structural changes, and an irradiation dose of 150 kGy is the most effective. Azinphos methyl (AZM) was selected as a model drug, and its release was studied using HPLC technique. Controlled release response of CNTs-based nanocomposites opens a new avenue for pesticides applications because it requires less quantity of pesticides. As a result, the side effects of pesticide in our environment are minimized.     

Synthesis,Characterization and Surface Properties of Amidosulfobetaine Surfactants Bearing Odd-Number Hydrophobic Tail

Three amidosulfobetaine surfactants were synthesized namely: 3-(N-pentadecanamidopropyl-N,N-dimethyl ammonium) propanesulfonate (2a); 3-(N-heptadecanamidopropyl-N,N-dimethyl ammonium) propanesulfonate (2b), and 3-(N-nonadecanamidopropyl-N,N-dimethyl ammonium) propanesulfonate (2c). These surfactants were prepared by direct amidation of commercially available fatty acids with 3-(dimethylamino)-1-propylamine and subsequent reaction with 1,3-propanesultone to obtain quaternary ammonium salts. The synthesized surfactants were characterized by IR, NMR and mass spectrometry. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results showed that the synthesized surfactants have excellent thermal stability with no major thermal degradation below 300 °C. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) values of the surfactants 2a and 2b were found to be 2.2 × 10^?4 and 1.04 × 10^?4 mol/L, and the corresponding surface tension (γ_CMC) values were 33.14 and 34.89 mN m^?1, respectively. The surfactants exhibit excellent surface properties, which are comparable with conventional surfactants. The intrinsic viscosity of surfactant (2b) was studied at various temperatures and concentrations of multi-component brine solution. The plot of natural logarithm of relative viscosity versus surfactant concentration obtained from Higiro et al. model best fit the surfactant behavior. Due to good salt resistance, excellent surface properties and thermal stability, the synthesized surfactant has potential to be used in various oil field applications such as enhanced oil recovery, fracturing, acid diversion, and well stimulation.     

Development,In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation of pH Responsive β-CD-Comethacrylic Acid-Crosslinked Polymeric Microparticulate System for Solubility Enhancement of Rosuvastatin Calcium

Current research work was conducted for enhancing solubility of rosuvastatin calcium. A highly stable, biocompatible, and nontoxic β-cyclodextrin-g-poly(methacrylic acid) graft polymeric network was developed. Formulations proved entrapment efficacy (%) in between 82.30?±?0.25 and 89.00?±?0.25 and gel fraction between 90.34?±?1.012 and 95.25?±?1.331. Formulation HM2 had shown optimum swelling and drug release, i.e., 85.74% at pH 6.8. The best-fit model was first-order kinetics with anomalous diffusion as release mechanism. Likewise, solubility enhancement, i.e., 9.59-folds was determined at pH 6.8. It was concluded that hydrogel microparticles are the promising tools for improving solubility and bioavailability of hydrophobic drugs.     

An investigation of sound absorption coefficient on sisal fiber poly lactic acid bio‐composites

In this research, the mechanical, acoustical, thermal, morphological, and infrared spectral properties of untreated, heat and alkaline‐treated sisal fiber‐reinforced poly‐lactic‐acid bio‐composites were analyzed. The bio‐composite samples were fabricated using a hot press molding machine. The properties mentioned above were evaluated and compared with heat‐treated and alkaline‐treated sisal fibers. Composites with heat‐treated sisal fibers were found to exhibit the best mechanical properties. Thermo‐gravimetric analysis (TGA) was conducted to study the thermal degradation of the bio‐composite samples. It was discovered that the PLA‐sisal composites with optimal heat‐treated at 160°C and alkaline‐treated fibers possess good thermal stability as compared with untreated fiber. The results indicated that the composites prepared with 30wt % of sisal had the highest sound absorption as compared with other composites. Evidence of the successful reaction of sodium hydroxide and heat treatment of the sisal fibers was provided by the infrared spectrum and implied by decreased bands at certain wavenumbers. Observations based on scanning electron microscopy of the fracture surface of the composites showed the effect of alkaline and heat treatment on the fiber surface and improved fiber‐matrix adhesion. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42470.     

Synthesis and properties of cross‐linked polymers from epoxidized rubber seed oil and triethylenetetramine

A series of epoxidized oils were prepared from rubber seed, soybean, jatropha, palm, and coconut oils. The epoxy content varied from 0.03 to 7.4 wt %, in accordance with the degree of unsaturation of the oils (lowest for coconut, highest for rubber seed oil). Bulk polymerization/curing of the epoxidized oils with triethylenetetramine (in the absence of a catalyst) was carried out in a batch setup (1 : 1 molar ratio of epoxide to primary amine groups, 100°C, 100 rpm, 30 min) followed by casting of the mixture in a steel mold (180°C, 200 bar, 21 h) and this resulted in cross‐linked resins. The effect of relevant pressing conditions such as time, temperature, pressure, and molar ratio of the epoxide and primary amine groups was investigated and modeled using multivariable nonlinear regression. Good agreement between experimental data and model were obtained. The rubber seed oil‐derived polymer has a T_g of 11.1°C, a tensile strength of 1.72 MPa, and strain at break of 182%. These values are slightly higher than for commercial epoxidized soybean oil (T_g of 6.9°C, tensile strength of 1.11 MPa, and strain at break of 145.7%). However, the comparison highlights the potential for these novel resins to be used at industrial/commercial level. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42591.     

Deoxycholate‐Based Glycosides (DCGs) for Membrane Protein Stabilisation

Detergents are an absolute requirement for studying the structure of membrane proteins. However, many conventional detergents fail to stabilise denaturation‐sensitive membrane proteins, such as eukaryotic proteins and membrane protein complexes. New amphipathic agents with enhanced efficacy in stabilising membrane proteins will be helpful in overcoming the barriers to studying membrane protein structures. We have prepared a number of deoxycholate‐based amphiphiles with carbohydrate head groups, designated deoxycholate‐based glycosides (DCGs). These DCGs are the hydrophilic variants of previously reported deoxycholate‐based N‐oxides (DCAOs). Membrane proteins in these agents, particularly the branched diglucoside‐bearing amphiphiles DCG‐1 and DCG‐2, displayed favourable behaviour compared to previously reported parent compounds (DCAOs) and conventional detergents (LDAO and DDM). Given their excellent properties, these agents should have significant potential for membrane protein studies.     

Effect of N‐isopropyl‐N′‐phenyl‐p‐phenylenediamine antioxidant on the adhesion properties of (zinc oxide)‐filled (epoxidized natural rubber 25)‐based pressure‐sensitive adhesives

The effect of antioxidant, namely, N‐isopropyl‐N′‐phenyl‐p‐phenylenediamine (IPPD), on the adhesion properties of epoxidized natural rubber (ENR 25)‐based pressure‐sensitive adhesive was investigated. The concentration of the IPPD was varied from 0 to 5 parts by weight per hundred parts of rubber (phr). Coumarone‐indene resin, zinc oxide, toluene, and polyethylene terephthalate were used as the tackifier, filler, solvent, and substrate, respectively. A Lloyd Adhesion Tester operating at different testing rates (10–60 cm/min) was used to determine the loop tack, peel strength, and shear strength at 60‐µm and 120‐µm coating thicknesses. Results indicate that adhesion properties increase with IPPD up to 2 phr of content, after which it decreases with further addition of the antioxidant. This observation is attributed to the culmination of wettability and compatibility at the optimum IPPD concentration. The 60‐µm coated sample consistently shows higher adhesion strength than that of 120‐µm coated sample. Loop tack and peel strength increase with testing rate up to 30 cm/min. However, shear strength increases with increasing testing rate in the testing rate investigated in this study. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 21:111–115, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Enhancement of Thermoelectric Performance in Hierarchical Mesoscopic Oxide Composites of Ca3Co4O9 and La0.8Sr0.2CoO3

The natural contradiction in enhancing electrical conductivity and thermopower in thermoelectric oxides makes it hard to improve the performance of a single thermoelectric oxide material. We report a facile method to construct a unique architecture of thermoelectric oxides that is promising to realize a simultaneous improvement of overall electrical conductivity and thermopower. Here, a series of two‐phase nanocomposites comprising of Ca₃Co₄O₉ (CCO) and La_0.8Sr_0.2CoO₃ (LSCO) has been synthesized through ball milling followed by spark plasma sintering (SPS) method. The electron microscope images reveal that the two constituents form the unique composites while retaining their individual crystalline and morphological identities. Owing to the hierarchical mesoscopic structure with nanoscale particles and submicrometer scale grain boundaries, an external strain is induced into the CCO grains by the LSCO nanoparticles to enhance the thermopower. The mesoscopic structure is also favorable for improving the electrical conductivity. Moreover, the long‐wavelength phonons can be scattered effectively from LSCO nanoparticles and the thermal conductivity is further suppressed. With compromises between power factor and thermal conductivity, the largest ZT achieved is up to 0.41 at 1000 K for the composites with 25 wt% of LSCO.