Inelastic Neutron Scattering of Hydrogen and Butyronitrile Adsorbed on Raney-Co Catalysts

Inelastic Neutron Scattering (INS) spectroscopy was used to characterize the catalytic hydrogenation of butyronitrile on the surface of parent and LiOH-modified Raney-Co. At low pressure hydrogen is mainly adsorbed on 3-fold sites. Co-adsorbed butyronitrile and hydrogen react on the unmodified Raney-Co sample to several partially hydrogenated products that contain N-H bonds. The nature of the species suggests that bi-molecular condensation leading to N-Butylidene-1-butanamine is feasible.     

Dielectric behavior of PVDF/POMA blends that have a low doped POMA content

The real (ε′) and imaginary (ε″) components of the complex permittivity of blends of PVDF [poly(vinylidene fluoride)] with POMA [poly(o‐methoxyaniline)] doped with toluenosulfonic acid (TSA) containing 1, 2.5, and 5 wt % POMA–TSA were determined in the frequency interval between 10² and 3 × 10⁶ Hz and in the temperature range from ?120 up to 120°C. It was observed that the values of ε′ and ε″ had a greater increase with the POMA–TSA content and with a temperature in the region of frequencies below 10 kHz. This effect decreased with frequency and it was attributed to interfacial polarization. This polarization was caused by the blend heterogeneity, formed by conductive POMA–TSA agglomerates dispersed in an insulating matrix of PVDF. The equation of Maxwell–Garnett, modified by Cohen, was used to evaluate the permittivity and conductivity behavior of POMA–TSA in the blends. A strong decrease was observed in POMA–TSA conductivity in the blend, which was bigger the lower the POMA–TSA content in the blend. This decrease could have been caused either by the POMA dedoping during the blend preparation process or by its dispersion into the insulating matrix. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 87: 752–758, 2003     

Use of annatto dye extraction residue as additive in the cassava starch composite foam tray

Pigment extraction from annatto seed results in large amounts of by-products (~97%) and residual carotenoid content. In this work, composite foam trays containing 90:10 (10AR), 80:20 (20AR), and 70:30 (30AR) cassava starch: annatto residue (AR) ratios were prepared by thermopressing. The physical–chemical properties, thermal stability, antioxidant activity, and biodegradability of the composite foam trays and cassava starch foam tray (control) were measured and compared. High AR ratio (20AR and 30AR) yielded thicker (2.1–2.3 mm), denser (0.72–0.74 g/cm³), and less porous (32.5–33%) composite foam trays than the control due to incomplete cassava starch gelatinization and the presence of fibers, lipids, and proteins in AR. Thus, the composite foam trays had lower mechanical resistance (0.4–0.8 MPa) and elongation (0.4%–0.7%) than the control (2.9 MPa and 1.5%). However, addition of high AR ratio increased the foam tray resistance to water and yielded colorful foam trays with antioxidant property as measured by DPPH^• (0.11 to 0.52 μM TE/100 g) and ABTS^•+ (7.86–53.77 μM TE/100 g). Increasing the AR ratio in the composite foam tray delayed the biodegradation time by 17 days as compared to the control, but all the foam trays were more biodegradable than EPS. Therefore, AR has potential use in the production of bioactive composite foam trays.     

Influence of Drying Techniques on the Characteristics of Chitosan and the Quality of Biopolymer Films

In this work, spouted bed and tray-drying techniques were employed at different drying air temperatures to produce dried chitosan, and the chitosan powder was used to produce biofilms. The products obtained from each drying technique were compared in relation to quality aspects (molecular weight, lightness, and hue angle). The results found for chitosan in spouted bed drying (90°C) showed lower alteration and best quality aspects in relation to the chitosan powder. However, in tray drying under the best condition (60°C) the chitosan molecular weight increased about 50% in relation to the initial value and browning was observed. The biofilms produced from chitosan dried in the spouted bed showed the best mechanical properties (tensile strength of 42 MPa and elongation of 29%) and lower water vapor permeability (3.95 g mm m^?2 kPa^?1 day^?1).     

Electrical,rheological and electromagnetic interference shielding properties of thermoplastic polyurethane/carbon nanotube composites

Electrically conducting rubbery composites based on thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were prepared through melt blending using a torque rheometer equipped with a mixing chamber. The electrical conductivity, morphology, rheological properties and electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) of the TPU/CNT composites were evaluated and also compared with those of carbon black (CB)‐filled TPU composites prepared under the same processing conditions. For both polymer systems, the insulator–conductor transition was very sharp and the electrical percolation threshold at room temperature was at CNT and CB contents of about 1.0 and 1.7 wt%, respectively. The EMI SE over the X‐band frequency range (8–12 GHz) for TPU/CNT and TPU/CB composites was investigated as a function of filler content. EMI SE and electrical conductivity increased with increasing amount of conductive filler, due to the formation of conductive pathways in the TPU matrix. TPU/CNT composites displayed higher electrical conductivity and EMI SE than TPU/CB composites with similar conductive filler content. EMI SE values found for TPU/CNT and TPU/CB composites containing 10 and 15 wt% conductive fillers, respectively, were in the range ?22 to ?20 dB, indicating that these composites are promising candidates for shielding applications. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry     

Texturation of model clay materials using tape casting and freezing

The present work aimed to investigate the processing of textural clay based materials using tape casting together with freezing. Two model raw materials were used, namely: BIP kaolin from France and ABM montmorillonite from Mediterranean region. The mixtures of both clays were studied, whereby, the amount of montmorillonite was 0, 5, 10, 20 or 50 mass%. After tape casting, the as-obtained green bands were frozen into liquid nitrogen, lyophilized and then fired at 1050 °C or 1200 °C.The amount of montmorillonite appeared as a critical parameter that controls the cohesion of the dry products. For montmorillonite content ≥20 mass%, the products exhibited multiple cracks after lyophilisation. With lower montmorillonite content, the cohesion of the dry products was satisfactorily and a macroscopic cross-linked surface texturation was observed. After calcination at 1050 °C or 1200 °C, the texturation appeared well defined. Moreover, calcination at 1200 °C increased the densification of products and the occurrence of a glassy phase was noted.The combination of both tape casting and freezing (freeze tape casting) is a promising way to develop various clay-based and composites materials exhibiting unique microstructure organization and characteristics with potential application in the field sustainable and environmentally friendly filtration, adsorption or catalysis.     

Sustained release of potassium diclofenac from a pH‐responsive hydrogel based on gum arabic conjugates into simulated intestinal fluid

This work describes the preparation, the swelling properties and the potassium diclofenac (KDF) release profile of hydrogels of gum arabic (GA), N′,N′‐dimethylacrylamide, and methacrylic acid. In order to convert GA into a hydrogel, the polysaccharide was vinyl‐modified with glycidyl methacrylate. The hydrogels showed pH‐responsive swelling changes, which were more expressive in the basic environment. Release data of KDF were adjusted to a diffusion‐based kinetic model that provides an important insight on affinity of the drug for hydrogel and solvent, which may be the leading parameter for release of guest molecules from polymers. The KDF release from the hydrogels into simulated intestinal fluid decreases when the amount of modified GA increases. This was demonstrated to be due to the higher affinity of KDF for GA‐richer hydrogel, which makes the anti‐inflammatory release less favorable. The analysis of released drug half‐time (t_1/2 = 16.10 and 21.51 h) indicated sustained release characteristics. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43319.     

Treatment of Chronic Kidney Disease with Extracellular Vesicles from Mesenchymal Stem Cells and CD133+ Expanded Cells: A Comparative Preclinical Analysis

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by structural abnormalities and the progressive loss of kidney function. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) from human umbilical cord tissue (hUCT)-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and expanded human umbilical cord blood (hUCB)-derived CD133⁺ cells (eCD133⁺) maintain the characteristics of the parent cells, providing a new form of cell-free treatment. We evaluated the effects of EVs from hUCT-derived MSCs and hUCB-derived CD133⁺ cells on rats with CDK induced by an adenine-enriched diet. EVs were isolated by ultracentrifugation and characterized by nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) and electron microscopy. The animals were randomized and divided into the MSC-EV group, eEPC-EV group and control group. Infusions occurred on the seventh and 14th days after CKD induction. Evaluations of kidney function were carried out by biochemical and histological analyses. Intense labeling of the α-SMA protein was observed when comparing the control with MSC-EVs. In both groups treated with EVs, a significant increase in serum albumin was observed, and the increase in cystatin C was inhibited. The results indicated improvements in renal function in CKD, demonstrating the therapeutic potential of EVs derived from MSCs and eCD133⁺ cells and suggesting the possibility that in the future, more than one type of EV will be used concurrently.     

Pore Analysis and the Behaviour of the Unreacted Metakaolin Particles in the Networks of Geopolymer Cements Using Metakaolins From Kaolinitic and Halloysitic Clays

Silicon - This work aims to study the pore analysis and the behaviour of the unreacted metakaolin particles in the geopolymer cements from halloysitic and kaolinitic clays. The XRD patterns of the...     

Electrical and rheological percolation in poly(vinylidene fluoride)/multi‐walled carbon nanotube nanocomposites

Nanocomposites of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were prepared through melt blending in a batch mixer (torque rheometer equipped with a mixing chamber). The morphology, rheological behavior and electrical conductivity were investigated through transmission electron microscopy, dynamic oscillatory rheometry and the two‐probe method. The nanocomposite with 0.5 wt% MWCNT content presented a uniform dispersion through the PVDF matrix, whereas that with 1 wt% started to present a percolated network. For the nanocomposites with 2 and 5 wt% MWCNTs the formation of this nanotube network was clearly evident. The electrical percolation threshold at room temperature found for this system was about 1.2 wt% MWCNTs. The rheological percolation threshold fitted from viscosity was about 1 wt%, while the threshold fitted from storage modulus was 0.9 wt%. Thus fewer nanotubes are needed to approach the rheological percolation threshold than the electrical percolation threshold. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry