Toward the prediction of porous membrane permeability from morphological data

One of the challenges in membrane technology is predicting permeability in porous membranes for liquid applications in an easy and inexpensive way. This is the aim of this work. To achieve this objective, several techniques can be considered. In this study, a morphological approach from two‐dimensional scanning electron micrographs is proposed. First, numerical membrane morphological parameters have been determined from micrographs by using the QUANTS tool, which applies a texture recognition process. Second, the obtained data have been fit to the Darcy's and Hagen–Poiseuille models to calculate permeations. The QUANTS results have also been compared with the ones obtained through a mercury porosimeter, which is a classic and well‐known methodology. Each parameter of the Hagen–Poiseuille model has been analyzed. A comparison between experimentally measured permeations and calculated ones has been performed. An even easier approach is proposed to predict flow rate with the only knowledge of membrane surface mean pore size. This method is based on cross‐section pore size interpolation by using function fits from surface mean pore sizes. The obtained results show a reasonable agreement between measured and computed results, making this technique a valid approach for predicting membrane permeability. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 56:118–124, 2016. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Alkaline Hydration Of C2S and C3S

This study analyzed the behavior of two laboratory‐synthesized calcium silicates, C₃S and C₂S, after hydration in 8‐M NaOH and in water as a control. Two‐ and 28‐d mechanical strength values were determined and the products were characterized with XRD, TEM, and ²⁹Si and ²³Na MAS NMR. The results showed that hydrating C₃S in a highly alkaline medium had no significant effect on the mechanical development of the material, whereas in C₂S hydration, that medium hastened hydration substantially, impacting setting and hardening times. This finding has technological implications, given the low early‐age reactivity of dicalcium silicate under normal hydration conditions.     

Polymeric Nanoparticle-Based Photodynamic Therapy for Chronic Periodontitis in Vivo

Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) is increasingly being explored for treatment of periodontitis. Here, we investigated the effect of aPDT on human dental plaque bacteria in suspensions and biofilms in vitro using methylene blue (MB)-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic) (PLGA) nanoparticles (MB-NP) and red light at 660 nm. The effect of MB-NP-based aPDT was also evaluated in a clinical pilot study with 10 adult human subjects with chronic periodontitis. Dental plaque samples from human subjects were exposed to aPDT—in planktonic and biofilm phases—with MB or MB-NP (25 µg/mL) at 20 J/cm² in vitro. Patients were treated either with ultrasonic scaling and scaling and root planing (US + SRP) or ultrasonic scaling + SRP + aPDT with MB-NP (25 µg/mL and 20 J/cm²) in a split-mouth design. In biofilms, MB-NP eliminated approximately 25% more bacteria than free MB. The clinical study demonstrated the safety of aPDT. Both groups showed similar improvements of clinical parameters one month following treatments. However, at three months ultrasonic SRP + aPDT showed a greater effect (28.82%) on gingival bleeding index (GBI) compared to ultrasonic SRP. The utilization of PLGA nanoparticles encapsulated with MB may be a promising adjunct in antimicrobial periodontal treatment.     

Removal of heavy metals from wastewater using magnetic nanocomposites: Analysis of the experimental conditions

This contribution provides insight on the elimination of heavy metals from water resources using magnetic separation. Nanocomposites based on magnetite and chitosan were prepared. An exhaustive characterization of the magnetic adsorbents was developed. Adsorption assays were performed in batch using Cu, Zn, Cd, and Cr as model heavy metals. The efficiency of magnetic adsorbents followed the order: Cu > Cd > Zn > Cr, with maximum values of 188, 159, 72, and 46 mg of Me/g of nanocomposite, respectively. Kinetics and mechanistic issues were studied. The magnetic materials were efficient for five to eight cycles using Cu(II),Cd(II), and Cr(VI).     

Biodegradable composites with improved barrier properties and transparency from the impregnation of PLA to bacterial cellulose membranes

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) was impregnated in bacterial cellulose (BC) membranes. BC/PLA films were prepared by solvent casting and mechanical, optical and barrier properties, and biodegradation process were investigated. The transparency of processed films was higher than that of neat BC and increased with PLA content. Moreover, the incorporation of PLA to BC enhanced significantly the water vapor barrier properties of the BC membranes. The bionanocomposites contained a high percentage of cellulose due to the impregnation method that leads to the film with a BC content of 94%, which practically maintains the excellent mechanical properties of BC. However, when increasing the PLA content in the bionanocomposites the mechanical properties decreased slightly with respect to BC. Biodegradation under real soil conditions was determined indirectly through the study of the visual degradation and disintegration, demonstrating that the bionanocomposites were degraded faster than the neat PLA. The successful production of BC/PLA bionanocomposites suggested the possible application of them for active food packaging. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43669.     

Solvent and relative humidity effect on highly ordered polystyrene honeycomb patterns analyzed by Voronoi tesselation

Highly ordered honeycomb‐patterned polystyrene surfaces are efficiently prepared by static breath figure method. The structured arrays can be obtained by casting a dilute solution polymer on glass substrates under various conditions. Tetrahydrofuran and chloroform are used as solvent to form cavities of several micrometers. The analysis of the surfaces indicates nonlinear relation between concentration and pore size in this system. Voronoi tessellations of the polystyrene surfaces at different relative humidity (RH) are achieved, and each conformational entropy determined. Optimum parameters of concentration and RH are obtained for both solvents. Analysis of hole size distribution and conformational entropy demonstrates the high order of the films obtained. This is a promising method for the fabrication of homogeneous and highly porous films from polystyrene. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 44004.     

Stabilized electrospinning of heat stimuli/in situ crosslinkable nanofibers and their self‐same nanocomposites

We present a strategy for stabilizing the morphological integrity of electrospun polymeric nanofibers by heat stimuli in situ crosslinking. Amorphous polymer nanofibers, such as polystyrene (PS) and its co‐polymers tend to lose their fiber morphology during processing at temperatures above their glass transition temperature (T_g) typically bound to happen in nanocomposite/structural composite applications. As an answer to this problem, incorporation of the crosslinking agents, phthalic anhydride (PA) and tributylamine (TBA), into the electrospinning polymer solution functionalized by glycidylmethacrylate (GMA) copolymerization, namely P(St‐co‐GMA), is demonstrated. Despite the presence of the crosslinker molecules, the electrospinning polymer solution is stable and its viscosity remains unaffected below 60 °C. Crosslinking reaction stands‐by and can be thermally stimulated during post‐processing of the electrospun P(St‐co‐GMA)/PA‐TBA fiber mat at intermediate temperatures (below the T_g). This strategy enables the preservation of the nanofiber morphology during subsequent high temperature processing. The crosslinking event leads to an increase in T_g of the base polymer by 30 °C depending on degree of crosslinking. Crosslinked nanofibers are able to maintain their nanofibrous morphology above the T_g and upon exposure to organic solvents. In situ crosslinking in epoxy matrix is also reported as an example of high temperature demanding application/processing. Finally, a self‐same fibrous nanocomposite is demonstrated by dual electrospinning of P(St‐co‐GMA) and stabilized P(St‐co‐GMA)/PA‐TBA, forming an intermingled nanofibrous mat, followed by a heating cycle. The product is a composite of crosslinked P(St‐co‐GMA)/PA‐TBA fibers fused by P(St‐co‐GMA) matrix. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 44090.     

Utilization of ramon seeds (Brosimum alicastrum swarts) as a new source material for thermoplastic starch production

The development and characterization of biodegradable polymers deriving from renewable natural sources has attracted much attention. The aim of this work was to partially characterize a thermoplastic starch obtained from the starch of seeds from the ramon tree (TPS‐RS) as an option to substitute thermoplastic starch from corn (TPS‐CS), in some of its applications. At 55% of relative humidity (RH), TPS‐RS had higher tensile strength and deformation than TPS‐CS. X‐ray diffraction analysis showed similar values in residual crystallinity (percentage of crystallinity that remains after plasticization process) in both TPS. The SEM micrographs showed a few remnant granular structures in the TPS‐RS. The FTIR showed a greater intensity in band at 1016 cm^?1 in the TPS‐CS and TPS‐RS in comparison with their corresponding native starch, indicating an increase in the amorphous region after plasticization. The TGA analysis showed greater thermal stability in TPS‐CS (340 °C) compared with TPS‐RS (327 °C). In addition, the glass transition temperature in both TPS was 24 °C. The results obtained represent a starting point to potentialize the use of TPS‐RS instead of TPS‐CS for the development of new biodegradable materials for practical applications in different areas. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 44235.     

Production of Methyl Oleate in Reactive‐Separation Systems

The esterification of oleic acid and methanol using sulfuric acid as a homogeneous catalyst is studied in reactive‐separation systems. The conversion of the free fatty acid was investigated in two different experiments with the molar ratio of methanol/oleic acid, amount of catalyst, temperature, and reaction time as variables. The conversion of the free fatty acid was found to depend strongly on the molar ratio of methanol/oleic acid. The reaction time had a direct effect on the conversion of the free fatty acid, and this conversion decreased with higher temperature. These results were valuable for a preliminary study on biodiesel production, using an acid homogeneous catalyst in a reactive dividing‐wall distillation column.