Copolymerization of lactic acid for cost-effective PLA synthesis and studies on its improved characteristics

The present study involves synthesis of polylactic acid (PLA) using purified lactic acid from fermented broth of Jackal jujube (Zizyphus oenophlia). A polyphenolic compound, humic acid (HA) of biological origin was incorporated to the PLA in order to reinforce the PLA chain without compromising its biodegradability and biocompatibility. Under optimized conditions of polymerization, modified L-PLA yield improved up to 93%. The molecular weight was found to be 6.4×10⁵. Different physicochemical properties of the polymer were explored for its further application in different fields. Incorporation of intermolecular bond between PLA and HA was confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy technique. Addition of HA not only reduced the crystallinity of PLA, but also had increased flexibility and elasticity to much greater extent. The results showed that, apart from enhancing the physicochemical properties of PLA, the process also had reduced the production cost of the polymer, while mitigating the demands of environmental protection agencies.     

Biomass-based energy fuel through biochemical routes: A review

Energy demand is increasing continuously due to rapid growth in population and industrialization development. The development of energy sources is not keeping pace with spiraling consumption. Even developed countries are not able to compensate even after increasing the energy production multifold. The major energy demand is provided from the conventional energy sources such as coal, oil, natural gas, etc. Two major problems, which every country is facing with these conventional fuels, are depletion of fossil fuels and deterioration of environment.The present review article aims to highlight various biochemical processes for conversion of biomass into biological hydrogen gas and ethanol. The present discussion focuses on hydrogen production through various routes viz. fermentative, photosynthesis and biological water gas shift reaction. In addition, emphasis has been laid on ethanol as biomass-based energy fuel. The discussion has been focused on the technology for ethanol production from various biomass sources such as molasses, lignocellulosic feedstock and starch. Various biochemical processes and their major steps involved during the ethanol production from biomass have been discussed in detail.     

Synthesis and nonlinear optical characterization of new poly{2,2′-(3,4-didodecyloxythiophene-2,5-diyl)bis[5-(2-thienyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole]}

A new donor–acceptor type poly{2,2′-(3,4-didodecyloxythiophene-2,5-diyl)bis[5-(2-thienyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole]} (P) was synthesized starting from thiodiglycolic acid and diethyl oxalate through multistep reactions. The polymerization was carried out using chemical polymerization technique. The optical and charge-transporting property of the copolymer was investigated by UV–vis, fluorescence emission spectroscopic and cyclic voltammetric studies. The copolymer shows UV absorption maxima at 375 nm and displays bluish-green fluorescence in DMF solution. Its electrochemical band gap was determined to be 2.07 eV. The nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of the copolymer was investigated at 532 nm using single beam Z-scan and degenerate four-wave mixing (DFWM) techniques with nanosecond laser pulses. The copolymer exhibits strong optical limiting behavior due to effective three-photon absorption (3PA). Values of the effective 3PA coefficient (γ), third-order nonlinear susceptibility (χ⁽³⁾) and figure of merit (F) have been calculated.     

Evaluation of in situ curable biodegradable polyurethanes containing zwitterion components

Porous polyurethane networks containing covalently attached zwitterionic compounds dihydroxypolycaprolactone phosphorylcholine and 1,2-dihydroxy-N,N-dimethylamino-propane sulfonate have been prepared and characterised. Three polymers were prepared by reacting methyl 2,6-diisocyanato hexanoate functionalised d-glucose as prepolymer A with either polycaprolactone triol alone or with addition of 10 mol% zwitterion as prepolymer B. All polymer compositions were mixed with 10 wt% hydrated gelatin beads. The cured polymers with the gelatin beads showed compression strengths that were still suitable for use in articular cartilage repair. The incorporation of zwitterions yielded more hydrophilic polymers that showed increased water absorption and increased porosity. After four months degradation in phosphate buffered saline, the polymers containing zwitterions had approximately 50% mass loss compared with 30% mass loss for that with polycaprolactone triol alone. All polymers were non-toxic in chondrocyte-based assays. Subcutaneous implantation of these polymers into rats confirmed that the polymers degraded slowly. Only a very mild inflammatory response was observed and the polymers were able to support new, well vascularised tissue formation.     

Evaluation of energy policies for promotion and dissemination of photovoltaic technology in Italy

The present paper describes three case studies of photovoltaic installation integrated in shelters and realised between 2003 and 2005 under the Italian national financing programme Tetti Fotovoltaici (PV Roofs) based on Subsidy Grant Scheme. These multifunctional shelters, located near to school buildings, offer a suitable protection for bicycles and motorbikes of the students and the employees of the schools and, at the same time, produce electric energy from photovoltaic modules integrated in the roof of the structure. Based on net present value (NPV) calculations, an economical feasibility analysis is carried out for these three PV installations. Further, for a comparison purpose, the calculations have also been made considering (hypothetically) if these systems were realised under the new Italian financing programme Conto Energia, based on Feed in Tariffs Scheme, recently launched in Italy and substitutive of the previous one. For the environmental benefits derived from these plants, also the preliminary results are presented on the avoided GHG emission to the atmosphere. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Optical characterization of a new donor–acceptor type conjugated polymer derived from 3,4-diphenylthiophene

A new donor–acceptor type poly{2-(3,4-didecyloxythiophen-2-yl)-5-[3,4-diphenyl-5-(1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)thiophen-2-yl]-1,3,4-oxadiazole} (P1) has been designed and synthesized starting from thiodiglycolic acid, 1,2-diphenylethane-1,2-dione, and diethyl oxalate through multi-step reactions using precursor polyhydrazide route. The charge-transporting and linear optical property of the polymer has been investigated by cyclic voltammetric, UV–visible, and fluorescence emission spectroscopic studies. The UV–visible absorption spectrum of polymer in thin film form showed maxima at 420 nm. The polymer displayed bluish-green fluorescence both in solution and thin film form. The optical band gap is determined to be 2.27 eV. Third-order nonlinear optical property of the new polymer has been investigated at 532 nm using single beam Z-scan and degenerate four wave mixing (DFWM) techniques with nanosecond laser pulses. The absorptive nonlinearity observed for the polymer P1 is of optical limiting type, which arises due to an “effective” three-photon absorption (3PA) process. The third-order nonlinear optical susceptibility (χ⁽³⁾) of the polymer is found to be 0.831 × 10^–12 esu. Both linear and nonlinear optical studies revealed that the new polymer (P1) is a promising material for applications in photonic devices.     

Poly (vinyl alcohol) hydrogels for pH dependent colon targeted drug delivery

Oral drug administration is convenient with pH dependent drug delivery system since the drug has to pass through different pH environments in gastro intestinal (GI) tract. The pH dependent swelling/shrinking behavior of hydrogel drug carrier controls the drug release without affecting the function of drug. pH dependent hydrogels of poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) were prepared by cross linking with maleic acid (MA). The hydrogels were characterized by attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, DSC, porosimetry, SEM, TEM, biocompatibility study and by measuring their swelling behavior in water, simulated gastric fluid (SGF) and intestinal fluid (SIF). Swelling of the hydrogels was found to be highest in SIF (pH: 7.5) and lowest in SGF (pH: 1.2) resembling that required in colon targeted drug delivery systems. Since the swelling behavior of the gel is pH dependent, these hydrogels were studied for colon targeted drug delivery in an in-vitro set-up resembling the condition of GI tract. The ratio of PVA and MA in the hydrogel was varied to study the effect on the drug diffusion rate. For drug delivery study, vitamin B₁₂ and salicylic acid were used as model drugs. The hydrogel, loaded with model drugs vitamin B₁₂ and salicylic acid also demonstrated colon specific drug release with a relatively higher drug release in SIF (pH: 7.5) than that in SGF (pH: 1.2).     

Calculation of derivative of complex modes using classical normal modes

In this paper, a method to calculate derivatives of eigenvectors of damped discrete linear dynamic system with respect to the system parameter is presented. Due to the non-proportional nature of the damping, the eigenvectors become complex, and as a consequence, the derivatives also become complex. The derivatives are calculated using small damping assumption, and the method avoids using the state-space approach. The results are obtained in terms of complex modes and frequencies of the second-order system, which in turn are related to the eigensolutions of the undamped system using perturbation method. Based on the derivatives, an expression for total change of the complex eigenvectors is obtained for a more general case when all the elements of mass, stiffness and damping matrices are varying. Application and accuracy of the derived expressions are demonstrated by considering numerical examples.     

Use of a novel set of features based on texture anisotropy for identification of liver steatosis from ultrasound images: a simple method

Multimedia Tools and Applications - Detection of fatty liver disease (steatosis) from the ultra sound (US) images using pattern recognition techniques is attempted by many authors. Different...