Nature of disorder in synthetic hectorite

The disorder of synthetic Na-hectorite was investigated using structural simulation of X-ray powder patterns.The method used to characterize this clay mineral was based on the comparison between experimental and calculated X-ray diffraction profiles. The study was achieved in two steps: (i) the quantitative interpretation of 00l reflections enabled the determination of the number of intercalated water molecules, their positions and the stacking mode of the clay mineral layers along the normal to the (a, b) plane; and (ii) the study of the hkl reflections with h and/or k ≠ 0 enabled the characterization of the structural evolution in the (a, b) plane of synthetic hectorite. Many models of disorder with random shifts of ± a/3, a/3 + b/3, 80% of a/3 + b/3 and 20% of a/3 with a total density of defects of 80%, gave the best fit to the observed data at the level of (02, 11), (20, 13), (04, 22), (15, 24, 31) and (06, 33) bands with 5° of tetrahedral cavity distortion (the rotation angle of the tetrahedra).     

Effect of pH on Aerobic Granulation and Treatment Performance in Sequencing Batch Reactors

Two sequencing batch reactors were operated to investigate the effect of influent alkalinity and reactor pH on aerobic granulation. In the first reactor R1 with high influent alkalinity the pH was adjusted in the neutral range, and in the second reactor R2 with low alkalinity the pH was held within the acidic range. The R1‐dominating species were bacteria and the appearance time of granules was three weeks after reactor start‐up. On the other hand, the acidic environment of R2 provided favorable conditions for fungal growth, and rapid granule formation occurred within the first week of operation. The varying microbial structure of granules resulted in different reactor performance in terms of evolution time and morphology of granules, suspended solids in the reactors, settling ability of granules, effluent quality of treated wastewater, and physical strength of the granules.     

Anchoring of Copper(II) Schiff Base Complex into Aminopropyl-Functionalised MCM-41: A Novel,Efficient and Reusable Catalyst for Selective Oxidation of Alcohols

A copper(II) complex containing tetradentate N₂O₂ Schiff base ligand immobilized into aminopropyl-functionalised MCM-41 (mobile crystalline material number 41), was prepared and characterized by Fourier-transform infrared, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, N₂ adsorption–desorption and inductively coupled plasma analysis techniques. The novel heterogeneous catalyst, MCM-41-pr-NH₂-CuL, can be successfully applied for efficient and selective oxidation of different primary and secondary alcohols to the corresponding carbonyl compounds using hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant in acetonitrile at 60 °C. The effect of reaction parameters such as solvent, amount of catalyst, temperature and kind of oxidant on the oxidation of benzyl alcohol was also studied. The prepared catalyst could be recovered and reused four times without important loss of its catalytic performance. The heterogeneous MCM-41-pr-NH₂-CuL catalyst was found to be catalytically more active in the oxidation of alcohols compared to the similar type of copper(II) Schiff base complex in homogeneous media under the same reaction conditions.     

Nanotechnology-based combinational drug delivery systems for breast cancer treatment

Modern chemotherapeutic anticancer treatments have come a long way in the fight against breast cancer, thus bringing science closer to a cure. However, the nature of these drugs is to attack both cancerous and non-cancerous cells at the same time. In our studies, we synthesized Magnetic Cyclodextrin-polyurethane based nano-composite (Fe₃O₄-ECA-PU-CD) which is a drug delivery system using a biocompatible magnetic polymer that directs chemotherapeutic drugs to cancerous regions in the body with an external magnet. This nano-composite was able to facilitate the loading and simultaneous release of the hydrophilic antitumor drug Doxorubicin (DOX) along with the hydrophobic antitumor drug docetaxel. The composite was made using a simple co-precipitation method with magnetic nano-particles (MNPs) followed by a silica coating process and an in situ polymerization process. Verification of synthesis for the drug carrier was carried out using techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), and a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) to measure magnetic properties. Drug loading and release efficiencies were monitored using an HPLC-UV detector. Finally, an MTT assay was performed in order to evaluate the biocompatibility and toxicity of the synthetic nano-composite on MCF7 cell lines. Our findings present a new biocompatible drug delivery system with a high capacity for loading and directing two different chemotherapeutic drugs simultaneously to cancer sites with little to no toxicity to the surrounding non-cancerous cells. These studies present a viable tool for cancer treatment and research where the cancer is efficiently removed while the patient remains healthy.     

Well‐functioned photovoltaics based on nanofibers composed of PBDT‐TIPS‐DTNT‐DT and graphenic precursors thermally modified by polythiophene,polyaniline and polypyrrole

Reduced graphene oxide nanosheets modified by conductive polymers including polythiophene (GPTh), polyaniline (GPANI) and polypyrrole (GPPy) were prepared using the graphene oxide as both substrate and chemical oxidant. UV–visible and Raman analyses confirmed that the graphene oxide simultaneously produced the reduced graphene oxide and polymerized the conjugated polymers. The prepared nanostructures were subsequently electrospun in mixing with poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT)/phenyl‐C71‐butyric acid methyl ester (PC₇₁BM) and poly[bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)benzodithiophene‐bis(decyltetradecylthien)naphthobisthiadiazole] (PBDT‐TIPS‐DTNT‐DT)/PC₇₁BM components and embedded in the active layers of photovoltaic devices to improve the charge mobility and efficiency. The GPTh/PBDT‐TIPS‐DTNT‐DT/PC₇₁BM devices demonstrated better photovoltaic features (J_sc = 11.72 mA cm^?2, FF = 61%, V_oc = 0.68 V, PCE = 4.86%, μ_h = 8.7 × 10^?3 cm² V^–1 s^?1 and μ_e = 1.3 × 10^?2 cm² V^–1 s^?1) than the GPPy/PBDT‐TIPS‐DTNT‐DT/PC₇₁BM (J_sc = 10.30 mA cm^?2, FF = 60%, V_oc = 0.66 V, PCE = 4.08%, μ_h = 1.4 × 10^?3 cm² V^–1 s^?1 and μ_e = 8.9 × 10^?3 cm² V^–1 s^?1) and GPANI/PBDT‐TIPS‐DTNT‐DT/PC₇₁BM (J_sc = 10.48 mA cm^?2, FF = 59%, V_oc = 0.65 V, PCE = 4.02%, μ_h = 8.6 × 10^?4 cm² V^–1 s^?1 and μ_e = 7.8 × 10^?3 cm² V^–1 s^?1) systems, assigned to the greater compatibility of PTh in the nano‐hybrids and the thiophenic conjugated polymers in the bulk of the nanofibers and active thin films. Furthermore, the PBDT‐TIPS‐DTNT‐DT polymer chains (3.35%–5.04%) acted better than the P3HT chains (2.01%–3.76%) because of more complicated conductive structures. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry     

Disperse-within-disperse patterning on ternary/binary mixed-brush single crystals using polyaniline,polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate) grafts

Novel binary rod-coil and ternary rod-coil-coil mixed-brushes were designed using poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-b-poly(styrene) (PS), PEG-b-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), and PEG-b-polyaniline (PANI) block copolymers. In the current rod-coil mixed-brushes, the brush osmotic pressure did not absolutely affect the surface morphology, instead, the rigidity or flexibility of brushes was a dominant factor. The flexibility of coily PS brushes caused them to be easily entered into the system compared to the rod brushes with higher osmotic pressure, thereby they composed the matrix phase. In a similar growth condition but with packed pancake PMMA brushes, a more faise osmotic pressure was detected for PANI nanorods in the vicinity of PMMA brushes compared to PS ones. A higher faise osmotic pressure for PANI nanorods reflected the lower diameter dispersity and population of PANI nanorods in PEG-b-PMMA/PEG-b-PANI compared to PEG-b-PS/PEG-b-PANI. Via enhancing the amorphous brushes molecular weight, in a constant PANI nanorods molecular weight, the diameter dispersity and population of PANI nanorods increased. The PANI nanorods diameter in binary PS/PANI and PMMA/PANI mixed-brushes ranged in 6–10 nm. With elevating the crystallization temperature, no changes were detected in the morphology of rod-coil mixed-brush single crystals. In the novel ternary mixed-brushes with the amorphous PS and PMMA brushes and the PANI nanorods, the PANI nanorods were dispersed within both matrix (PS) and disperse (PMMA) phases. In these systems, the PANI diameters were 6 and 7 nm in PMMA disperses and 6–9 nm in PS matrix phase. The overall PANI nanorods population was in the range of 594–1392 for binary mixed-brushes. Furthermore, in ternary structures, the PANI overall populations were about 222 and 316 in PMMA and PS phases, respectively. Generally, in all binary and ternary mixed-brush systems, the amorphous brushes (PS and PMMA), due to their flexibility could be arranged in the vicinity of each other in a more facile manner compared to the PANI nanorods, they thus developed matrix phase.

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Graphical abstract The mixed-brush single crystals were carefully patterned with double rod-coil and triple rod-coil-coil grafted polymer chains

     

Bio‐inspired cationic polymerization of isoprene and analogues: state‐of‐the‐art

Natural rubber (NR), which is polyisoprene about 100% 1,4‐cis of high molar mass, > 10⁶ g mol^?1, is mainly produced in southeast Asia and represents around 40%–45% of total worldwide elastomer consumption. Whereas more than 2500 plant species are able to produce polyisoprenoids, the only established commercial source of NR is Hevea braziliensis. NR presents high performance properties that are so far not matched by synthetic rubbers. As a consequence, NR is irreplaceable in many applications (aircraft tires, surgery gloves etc.). Nature and synthetic polymer chemists start from different substrates to synthesize polyisoprenes, i.e. isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP), which is a universal building brick utilized by plants and animals, and isoprene monomer, respectively. Nevertheless, we proposed that the elementary processes involved in the biosynthesis of NR are very similar to those of cationic polymerization. In the course of a study on bio‐inspired cationic polymerization of isoprene and IPP analogues, it appeared that cationic polymerization of isoprene proceeds readily and leads mainly to its 1,4‐trans addition; such a process nevertheless remains difficult to control due to the occurrence of many side reactions (transfer, protic initiation, branching, cyclization). The present paper describes our understanding of the cationic polymerization of isoprene and its analogues catalyzed by different Lewis acids, in solution and aqueous dispersions. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

A probe into the status quo of interfacial adhesion in the compatibilized ternary blends with core/shell droplets: Selective versus dictated compatibilization

A simple approach was applied to probe into the situation of interfacial adhesion in the compatibilized ternary polymer blends with core/shell morphology. The performance of compatibilization was discussed in terms of thermal, rheological, and mechanical properties analyses for blends prepared through different mixing strategies for which maleic anhydride‐grafted high‐density polyethylene (HDPE‐g‐MAH) could be localized at the interface of HDPE/poly(ethylene‐co‐vinyl alcohol) copolymer (EVOH) or HDPE/polyamide 6 (PA‐6) in their ternary blends. Two mixing strategies, one simultaneously (one‐step or selective) and two sequentially (two‐step or dictated), were performed, compared, and discussed. It was found that mixing policy (dictated or selective) significantly changes the interfacial adhesion, as signaled by variations in rheological and thermal properties. In the case of mechanical properties, facilitation of stress transfer across the matrix/shell/core interfaces was detected by calculation of semi‐experimental models' coefficients. It was found that one‐step mixing or selective localization of HDPE‐g‐MAH helps in accumulation of more compatibilizer molecules at the interface HDPE/EVOH or EVOH/PA‐6. By contrast, addition of compatibilizer to minor phase (masterbatch of EVOH and PA‐6) or to HDPE matrix alone in case of two‐step blending causes imperfect stress transfer. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134, 45503.     

Adsorption of Cr(VI) on Stipa tenacissima L (Alfa): Characteristics,kinetics and thermodynamic studies

This study aims to remove ionic Cr(IV) from aqueous solution using Stipa tenacissima L as a biomass source. The Arabic name for the plant Stipa tenacissima L is HALFA (ALFA) ; it belongs to the category of biosorbents agro-industrial origin. Stipa tenacissima L is from the center of the province of Djelfa Algeria. This biomass was characterized by various analytical techniques such as scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. In order to optimize the operating conditions for the determination of ions of Cr(VI), the initial concentration of Cr(VI) ions, temperature, pH of the solution and the solid/liquid ratio were individually studied. According to the results, a fix rate of about 90% was recorded. Optimum biosorption conditions were found to be pH ~1, C_o = 50 mg/L, R = 5 g/L and T = 296 K. It was found that biosorption of Cr(VI) ions onto biomass of Stipa tenacissima L was better suitable to Langmuir model. The correlation coefficients for the second-order kinetic model obtained were found to be 0.996 for all concentrations. These indicate that the biosorption system studied belongs to the second-order kinetic model. Thermodynamics parameters as enthalpy, entropy of system and free energy were evaluated, which confirms the feasibility of the process. An empirical modeling was performed by using a 2⁴ full factorial design, and the regression equation for adsorption chromium (VI) was determined from the data. The initial metal ion concentration has the most positive pronounced effect in increasing the chromium (VI) adsorption, whereas the pH and adsorbent dosage have the most negative effect on the process.     

Soy protein isolate nanocomposite film enriched with eugenol,an antimicrobial agent: Interactions and properties

Nanocomposites films were designed from soy protein isolates (SPI), clays (Na⁺‐MMT), and eugenol an antimicrobial agent. Interactions between Na⁺‐MMT and eugenol were evidenced by a shift of the d‐spacing by X‐ray diffraction analysis. The addition of Na⁺‐MMT (5 and 7.5% w/w) in SPI solution increased its shear thinning behavior and its consistency. Accordingly, a good exfoliation of clays in SPI films was observed. The glass transition temperature of SPI films was impacted by the clays addition but not the water vapor permeability. In contrast, the addition of eugenol in SPI solution did not affected the consistency but induced a decrease of the SPI film T_g and an increase of the water vapor permeability. The presence of eugenol counterbalanced the effect of clays on consistency of film‐forming solution. The clay intercalation process was facilitated and the water vapor permeability and active agent release were modified. The presence of clay did not affect the antibacterial effect of eugenol/SPI films. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 45941.