Functionalization in solution of polypropylene with a maleinized hyperbranched polyol polyester: Structural,thermal, rheological,and mechanical properties

The functionalization of polypropylene (PP) with a maleinized hyperbranched polyester polyol (MHBP) was performed in solution to obtain PP-g-MHBPs. The degree of functionalization (FD) increased with MHBP and dicumyl peroxide (DCP) contents, but the contact angle followed an opposite behavior. The sample obtained with the proportion of 9.0 wt % MHBP and 2.0 wt % DCP and presented the highest FD value. An FD value of 2.4 wt %, produced a reduction of 19° on the contact angle. It was observed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) that the PP-g-MHBPs obtained by employing 3.0 wt % of MHBP, exhibited a slight reduction of the melting temperature (T_m) with the increase in the amounts of FD and DCP. Some FD values obtained in this study are higher than those obtained both commercial and noncommercial grades of PP functionalized with maleic anhydride. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 46932.     

The dietary fiber fraction in raw and processed foods

The purpose of the present study was to estimate dietary fiber components in raw vegetables and processed by different methods. Samples of 8 raw, 15 boiled, 5 fermented, 5 fried and 2 canned vegetables were analyzed. Results indicated the sample vegetables after being boiled, canned, fermented and fried, presented alterations in the dietary fiber insoluble and soluble components, e.i., by interaction or solubility tending to an increase or decrease of its components. Results obtained in the dietary fiber components of processed vegetables, in the sample analyzed, presented variations among them with the different processing techniques.     

Bio-hydrogen production based on catalytic reforming of volatiles generated by cellulose pyrolysis: An integrated process for ZnO reduction and zinc nanostructures fabrication

The paper presents a process of cellulose thermal degradation with bio-hydrogen generation and zinc nanostructures synthesis. Production of zinc nanowires and zinc nanoflowers was performed by a novel processes based on cellulose pyrolysis, volatiles reforming and direct reduction of ZnO. The bio-hydrogen generated in situ promoted the ZnO reduction with Zn nanostructures formation by vapor-solid (VS) route. The cellulose and cellulose/ZnO samples were characterized by thermal analyses (TG/DTG/DTA) and the gases evolved were analyzed by FTIR spectroscopy (TG/FTIR). The hydrogen was detected by TPR (Temperature Programmed Reaction) tests. The results showed that in the presence of ZnO the cellulose thermal degradation produced larger amounts of H₂ when compared to pure cellulose. The process was also carried out in a tubular furnace with N₂ atmosphere, at temperatures up to 900 °C, and different heating rates. The nanostructures growth was catalyst-free, without pressure reduction, at temperatures lower than those required in the carbothermal reduction of ZnO with fossil carbon. The nanostructures were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The optical properties were investigated by photoluminescence (PL). One mechanism was presented in an attempt to explain the synthesis of zinc nanostructures that are crystalline, were obtained without significant re-oxidation and whose morphologies are dependent on the heating rates of the process. This route presents a potential use as an industrial process taking into account the simple operational conditions, the low costs of cellulose and the importance of bio-hydrogen and nanostructured zinc.     

Reaction Pathways in the Reduction of NO x Species by CO over Pt–Ba/Al2O3: Lean NO x Trap Catalytic Systems

The reduction by CO of NO _x species stored over Pt–Ba/Al₂O₃ Lean NO _x Trap systems is analysed in this work. The reaction mechanisms and pathways leading to N₂ formation both under dry and wet conditions are investigated by complementary transient dynamic experiments and FTIR analyses.     

NH3–NO/NO2 SCR for Diesel Exhausts Aftertreatment: Reactivity, Mechanism and Kinetic Modelling of Commercial Fe- and Cu-Promoted Zeolite Catalysts

The activity and the mechanism of the main reactions in the NO/NO₂–NH₃ SCR reacting system were comparatively investigated over a Fe- and a Cu-promoted commercial zeolite catalyst for the aftertreatment of Diesel exhausts. A dynamic micro-kinetic model in close agreement with all the details of the SCR catalytic chemistry was also developed.     

The effects of mutual location-awareness on group coordination

The importance of space and place in collaborative practices has been strengthened with the ubiquitous computing paradigm, which aims at the integration of computation in physical objects and places. New location-based applications allow users to know where other individuals are in the physical world. New collaborative applications engage users in geographically dispersed and mobile activities. However, there is still a lack of information concerning how mutual location-awareness (i.e. knowing partners’ whereabouts) might influence socio-cognitive processes involved in coordination. To address this issue, we conducted field experiments with a mobile and collaborative game, running on Tablet PCs, and compared two interfaces. On the first interface, groups received automatic updates from teammates’ whereabouts, while this automatic MLA tool was not provided by the second interface. In addition, all users could use their Tablet PCs to communicate by annotating the map. We found no differences between the two conditions with regard to the task performance. However, contrary to our expectations, players without automatic MLA had a better representation of their partners’ paths, wrote more messages and provided more elaborate explanations of their strategies. Additionally, automatic location-awareness undermined the coordination process, leading participants to be less articulate about their strategy. The paper discusses these results and the implications of such results.     

Selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO by NH3 over TiO2-supported V2O5–WO3 and V2O5–MoO3 catalysts

A comparison between commercial and model WO₃–V₂O₅/TiO₂ and MoO₃–V₂O₅/TiO₂ SCR catalysts is considered in this study. The data indicate that WO₃ and MoO₃ behave as “structural” and “chemical” promoters for the catalysts. MoO₃-based catalysts are more active but less selective than WO₃–V₂O₅/TiO₂ catalysts in the SCR reaction, although in the presence of water the catalytic performances of the investigated samples are comparable. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.