Improving the flame retardancy of polypropylene foam with piperazine pyrophosphate via multilayering coextrusion of film/foam composites

A series of 16-layer polypropylene/flame retardant (PP/FR) film/foam composite structures were produced by microlayer coextrusion. A highly branched PP was used in the foam layers to increase strain hardening and cell stability, while the PP used in the film layers was a high shear viscosity grade to confine bubble growth. In addition to improved tensile properties, the PP/FR composite film/foams exhibited five times the compression modulus of PP/FR composite foams at each FR loading level. The thermal stabilities of the composites were investigated, exhibiting three step decompositions. The FR particles were effective in decreasing flammability by forming intumescent char. The PP/FR-film/foam-20 showed self-extinguishing behavior in a modified vertical burn test, while the PP/FR-foam-20 sample continued to burn. Cone calorimetry demonstrated that PP/FR film/foams had lower heat release than PP/FR foams due to the unique alternating film/foam structure of PP/FR film/foams. Scanning electron microscopy imaging of the residual chars from fire testing that the PP/FR composite film/foams showed a more continuous protective char surface when compared with PP/FR composite foams at each FR concentration. The combined data indicate that the formation of a surface film on top of a foam ensures a robust intumescent fire protective barrier for partly foamed materials and shows a new way toward lightweight materials with improved fire safety performance. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137, 48552.     

Synthesis and Anticancer Properties of Oxazepines Related to Azaisoerianin and IsoCoQuines

In this article, we report the synthesis and biological properties of a series of novel oxazepines related to isoCA-4 having significant antitumor properties. Among them, three oxazepin-9-ol derivatives display a nanomolar or a sub-nanomolar cytotoxicity level against five human cancer cell lines (HCT116, U87, A549, MCF7, and K562). It was demonstrated that the lead compound in this series inhibits tubulin assembly with an IC₅₀ value of 1 μM and totally arrests the cellular cycle in the G2/M phase at the low concentration of 5 nM in HCT116 and K562 cells. Molecular modeling studies perfectly corroborates these promising results.     

Dispersant‐free dyeing of poly(lactic acid) fabric with temporarily solubilised disperse dyes from azopyridone derivatives

Poly(lactic acid) fibre is derived from annually renewable crops and known to be 100% compostable. In order to extend its environmental friendliness into the dyeing process, dispersant‐free dyeing of poly(lactic acid) fabric with three temporarily solubilised azo disperse dyes based on hydroxypyridone moiety containing a β‐sulphatoethylsulphonyl group was investigated. The dyes were successfully applied to poly(lactic acid) fabric without the use of dispersants. The colour yields of the dyes on poly(lactic acid) fabric were observed to be dependent on dyebath pH and dyeing temperature. The optimum results were obtained at pH 4–5 and 110 °C. One of the dyes showed a colour yield as good as that of a commercial disperse dye and good build‐up on poly(lactic acid) fabric. All of the dyes could be alkali cleared owing to ionisation of the dye under mild alkaline conditions. Wash fastness was good to very good, and light fastness was good. The chemical oxygen demand levels of the poly(lactic acid) dyeing effluent from the dyes were considerably lower than those from a commercial disperse dye.     

Decision support systems in water resources in the demarcated region of Douro – case study in Pinhão river basin,Portugal

This paper puts forward the importance of decision support systems (DSS) for the planning and management of water resources. A case study of the Pinhão river basin, in Portugal, is presented. Given the importance of vineyards in the Douro region, it is important to determine if water availability will be enough to meet present and future water demands. In order to answer this question, DSS tools were used to assess different scenarios. The MIKE BASIN software was used in the hydrographical basin of Pinhão river, assisted by a geographic information system, GIS, which allowed the modelling of the basin, both temporally and spatially, facilitating the visualisation and interpretation of results. According to the attained results, it was verified that, at present, the hydrographical basin meets the considered water needs. The DSS proved to be an important tool to assist the decision‐making process in the studied river basin.     

Fabrication of a pilot scale module of thin film composite hollow fiber membrane for osmotic pressure‐driven processes

Polyamide thin film composite hollow fiber membranes have advantages in their unique structure compared to flat sheet membranes. This study examined interfacial polymerization methods for fabricating pilot scale hollow fiber membranes (membrane area: 1.2 m², number of hollow fiber strands: 1200). For use in osmotic pressure‐driven processes, a one‐pot hydrophilic interfacial polymerization procedure was developed simultaneously to modify the surface property and synthesize polyamide thin film. With the procedure, a pilot scale module has a water flux of 13 LMH using a draw solution of 0.6M NaCl and a feed solution of distilled water through the design of the module configuration. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 46110.     

Continuous operation of membrane bioreactor treating toluene vapors by Burkholderia vietnamiensis G4

A laboratory-scale biofilm membrane bioreactor inoculated with Burkholderia vietnamiensis G4 was examined to treat toluene vapors in a waste gas stream. The gas feed side and nutrient solution were separated by a composite membrane consisting of a porous polyacrylonitrile (PAN) support layer coated with a very thin (0.3 μm) dense polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) top layer. After inoculation, a biofilm developed on the dense layer. The biofilm membrane bioreactor was operated continuously at different residence times (28–2 s) and loading rates (1.2–26.7 kg m⁻³ d⁻¹), with inlet toluene concentrations ranging from 0.21 to 4.1 g m⁻³. The overall performance of the membrane bioreactor was evaluated over a period of 165 days. Removal efficiencies ranging from 78% to 99% and elimination capacities from 4.2 to 14.4 kg m⁻³ d⁻¹ were observed after start-up period depending on the mode of operation. A maximum elimination capacity of 14.4 kg m⁻³ d⁻¹ was observed at a loading rate of 17.4 kg m⁻³ d⁻¹. Overall, the results illustrate that biofilm membrane reactors can potentially be more effective than conventional biofilters and biotrickling filters for the treatment of air pollutants such as toluene.     

Simvastatin Attenuates the Oxidative Stress,Endothelial Thrombogenicity and the Inducibility of Atrial Fibrillation in a Rat Model of Ischemic Heart Failure

Increased atrial oxidative stress has an important role in inducing and maintaining atrial fibrillation (AF), and the activation of the small GTPase Rac1 contributes to the oxidative stress. We investigated the relationship of Rac1, atrial endothelial thromboprotective markers and AF inducibility and if simvastatin has a potential beneficial effect on a myocardial infarction (MI)-induced heart failure (HF) rat model. Rats were randomized into three groups (shams, MI group and simvastatin treatment group) and underwent echocardiography, AF induction studies and left atrial (LA) fibrosis analysis. Atrial Rac 1, sodium calcium exchanger (I_NCX), sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase (SERCA), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and induced nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were measured. AF inducibility, AF duration and LA fibrosis were significantly higher in the MI group (p < 0.001 vs. sham), which were significantly reduced by simvastatin (p < 0.05 vs. MI). The reduced expressions of atrial eNOS, SERCA, thrombomodulin, tissue factor pathway inhibitor and tissue plasminogen activator in the MI group were significantly improved by simvastatin. Furthermore, the increased expression of atrial iNOS, I_NCX and Rac1 activity were significantly decreased by the simvastatin. Oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction and thrombogenicity are associated with the promotion of AF in a rat model of ischemic HF. These were associated with increased Rac1 activity, and simvastatin treatment prevents these changes.     

Melt processing and characterization of polyvinyl alcohol and polyhydroxyalkanoate multilayer films

Multilayer films for food packaging applications composed of polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) as the core layer and polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) as the outer skin layers were produced by the co‐extrusion process. Rheological properties of PVOH and PHA were performed and analyzed before co‐extruding into a cast film. Analysis of the rheological data indicated the processing temperatures and grades of the PVOH and PHA polymers that would produce similar viscosity and melt flow properties. To improve adhesion of the layers, PHA was grafted with maleic anhydride using a dicumyl peroxide initiator to provide a tie layer material, which improved the peel strength of the PHA and PVOH layers by over 2×. Oxygen transmission rate (OTR) testing showed that the multilayer sample provided an OTR of 27 cc/m²‐day at 0% relative humidity (RH) and rates of 41 and 52 cc/m²‐day at relative humidity values of 60% and 90% RH, respectively. This indicates significant barrier performance enhancement over monolayer PVOH that provided an OTR of 60 cc/m²‐day at 0% RH and 999 cc/m²‐day at 60% RH. Biodegradation testing of the films in the marine environment showed that both the unmodified and maleated PHA polymers displayed high levels of mineralization, whereas the PVOH material did not. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Comparative Analysis of Single‐Cascade Five‐Zone and Two‐Zone SMB Systems for the Separation of a Ternary Amino Acid Mixture

A ternary separation usually requires the use of two simulated moving bed (SMB) units in series. Since an increase in the number of SMB units leads to a significant increase in capital and operational costs, the use of a single SMB unit is preferred if its structure can be modified to treat a ternary separation. Such a modified single SMB unit has been typified by a five‐zone SMB or a two‐zone SMB so far. The separation performances‐of a five‐zone SMB and a two‐zone SMB are compared in this paper by using the ternary amino acid mixture as a model system. A five‐zone SMB is designed with the safety margin method while a two‐zone SMB is optimized using genetic algorithm. A five‐zone SMB based on the maximum allowable safety margin, although it may not guarantee the global optimum solution, results in much better separation performance than a two‐zone SMB at its global optimum state.