Limitations to the Use of Woven Roving Glass Fibers in Plastic Composites,or the Case Against Woven Roving

Composite materials consist of at least two chemically distinct phases basically having a reinforcing material supported in a matrix material with a distinct reinforcement/matrix (R/M) interface separating the components; the components must be combined three-dimensionally. The composite has properties distinctly different from the properties of any constituents, which generally would not be achieved in any of the constituents acting alone. The principle is to use the plastic flow in the matrix to load the reinforcement in the direction of the applied load. To do this it is necessary to transfer and share the externally applied service loads of the composite through the weak matrix to the stronger reinforcement by a shear loading action. The job of the matrix is to transmit and distribute the stresses onto the individual fibers and to maintain the separation and orientation of the fibers. The interface is the critical factor that determines to what extent the potential properties of the composite will be achieved and maintained during usage. The interface must have the appropriate chemical and physical features in order to provide the necessary load transfer from the matrix to the reinforcement [1]. While the strain at the point of service loading is not uniformly distributed over the composite cross section, a finite distance away it does assume a uniform distribution. At this area the shear stress at the component interfaces is zero in the direction of the applied load [2].     

Detection of Mercapturic Acids and Nucleoside Adducts in Blood,Urine and Feces of Rats Treated with Metabolites of Methylpyrene

The carcinogen 1-methylpyrene (MP) is metabolized via 1-hydroxymethylpyrene (HMP) to a sulfuric acid ester (SMP), which can covalently bind to nucleophiles such as glutathione and DNA. These primary reaction products may be processed to 1-methylpyrenyl mercapturic acid (MPMA) and free nucleoside adducts [e.g. N ²?(1-methylpyrenyl)-deoxyguanosine, MPdG], and then be excreted. MPMA may be considered as a marker for the amount of SMP which was detoxified, whereas MPdG represents that part which underwent uncontrolled reactions with tissue constituents. We have designed sensitive HPLC-MS/MS methods to determine levels of MPMA and MPdG in biological samples. Shortly after administration of HMP to rats, MPMA was detected in blood and was then excreted in urine (> 70 %) and feces (> 30 %), chiefly within 24 h. The level of urinary MPMA was higher in females than in males. MPdG was detected in urine of rat treated with SMP. Future investigations will focus on factors which modify the ratio of the excreted amounts of MPdG and MPMA in animals treated with MP or its metabolites.     

Use of Difunctional Compounds During Rapid Steam Hydrolysis (Rash) Pretreatment

Mixed hardwood chips were treated with difunctional compounds as catalysts to study the reaction of wood with steam. The Rapid Steam Hydrolysis (RASH) pretreatment process was used for steam treatment. The difunctional compounds studied were maleic anhydride, phthalic anhydride, isophthalic acid, and terephthalic acid at 1.5% concentration based on dry wood weight. RASH pretreatment was performed for one minute at 180°C, 200°, 220°C, 230°C, 240°C, and 260°C. These compounds strongly modified the RASH pretreated material, especially the physical structure. Overall recovery of the pretreated catalyzed and uncatalyzed solids decreased with an increase in RASH temperatures. Catalyst addition did not make a difference on the recovery of pretreated solids. Cellulose degradation increased with temperature for catalyzed systems. Hemicellulose solubilization and degradation were extremely sensitive to the type of catalyst and RASH temperatures. Almost all of the hemicellulose was lost at higher temperatures. Lignin losses did not appear to be affected by the addition of catalyst except at 260°C. Enzymatic rates were improved by addition of the catalysts, especially at the lower temperatures. The maleic anhydride gave the highest enzymatic rates at all temperatures, and phthalic anhydride gave the second highest. The water solubles generally followed the same trends as the enzymatic hydrolysis rates and increased with the addition of catalysts, especially maleic anhydride.     

Preparation of a Chemical Polyblend Sizing Agent via Polymerization of Acrylic Acid with Polyvinyl Alcohol

A polyblend sizing agent was prepared by free radical polymerization of partially neutralized acrylic acid (AA) in the presence of polyvinyl alcohol, (PVOH) (Vinarol®DV of Clariant), using ammonium persulfate (AP) initiator. Polymerization was conducted under different conditions including AP concentration (0.025–0.125 mol/L), degree of neutralization (3–50%), time (0–60 min), temperature (50–80°C), AA/PVOH ratio (0.2:1.2), type of neutralizing agent (NaOH or NH₄OH), and PVOH concentration (50–150 g/L). At optimum polymerization conditions, 100 g/L PVOH, 75 g/L AA (3% neutralized using NH₄OH), 0.1 mol/L AP, at 70°C for 25 min, a polyblend was prepared with a percent total conversion of 94%. It was then neutralized with NaOH to a pH of 7. Rheological properties of 10% aqueous solution of the polyblend or PVOH at 80°C revealed that the first was of a non-Newtonian pseudoplastic flow and the latter is of a non-Newtonian thixotropic flow. Solubility time of the polyblend film was shorter than that of PVOH, either after thermal treatment (120°C/15 min)or without thermal treatment. Sized gauzy fabric samples using the polyblend were of higher tensile strength and extent of size removal than those sized with PVOH.     

Polymer-Biologically Active Principle Conjugates Obtained by Esterification of Poly(Vinyl Alcohol)

The paper deals with the study of some polymer-biologically active principle systems characterized by the controlled release of the bioactive component by hydrolyze followed by diffusion. The systems were obtained by coupling the 2-mercapto-benzotiazolyl-acetic acid and N-(m-nitrobenzoyl)-L-methionine on poly(vinyl alcohol) by means of esteric bonds in the presence of diciclohexylcarbodiimide as an activator. The influence of some coupling process parameters on the reaction efficiency was studied, such as the drug/support and activator/support ratios. The coupling products with a maximum content of biologically active compound were characterized by spectral measurements, also as regards the capacity of bioactive compound release under the conditions simulating those within the gastro-intestinal tract. The antibacterial activity of the conjugates against Staphylococcus aureus, Eschrichia coli, Sarcina lutea, and Bacillus subtilis was determined.     

EXTRACTION OF NITRIC AND PHOSPHORIC ACIDS WITH TRIBUTYL PHOSPHATE

The extraction of nitric acid and phosphoric acid by tributyl phosphate (TBP), from solutions containing acid mixture and in the presence of nitrate salts, has been studied. The effect of the temperature on acid extraction has been also investigated. It is found that TBP extracts nitric acid preferentially to phosphoric acid, especially in the presence of nitrate salts. The coextraction of nitric acid suppresses the extraction of phosphoric acid. These results were interpreted in terms of common ion effect and variation of the activity coefficients variation in both phases. The simultaneous effects of the salts and acids on the extraction of both acids is also studied

Some tests were carried out, using process solution, to evaluate the extraction of acids. Both batch experiments and continuous tests (using mixer settler) were performed. Some flowsheets were tested in order to improve the extractivity and the selectivity of phosphoric acid. The results show the limitation of TBP for the extraction of phosphoric acid. TBP can be used to selectively extract nitric acid.     

THE EXTRACTION OF NEPTUNIUM(V) BY METHYLTRIOCTYLAMMONIUM CHLORIDE AND 1-PHENYL-3-METHYL-4-BENZOYL-5-PYRAZOLONE

The synergistic effect of methyltrioctylammonium chloride (QCI) on the extraction of Np(V) by 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-benzoyl-pyrazolone(HP) in benzene is studied over the pH range 2-6. This system extracts Np(V) better than any previously reported. The interaction of the extractants and monomer-dimer equilibria affect the distribution behavior of Np(V) in a complicated manner. Analysis of the results suggests that NpO₂ ⁺ (M⁺) is extracted as mixed dimers, (QMP₂QCl)_o and (QMP₂QP)_o.     

REACTIVE EXTRACTION OF LEVULINIC ACID FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS WITH TRI-n-OCTYLAMINE (TOA) IN 1-OCTANOL: EQUILIBRIA,KINETICS, AND MODEL DEVELOPMENT

Levulinic acid, a carboxylic acid containing a ketone structure, can be used as an acidulant in foods and beverages. Reactive extraction is a promising alternative for the recovery of carboxylic acids from aqueous streams. The design of an amine extraction process requires kinetic data for the acid-amine + solvent system used. In this study, equilibrium and kinetic data on the extraction of levulinic acid from aqueous solutions using tri-n-octylamine (TOA) in 1-octanol have been determined. The mass transfer coefficients of levulinic acid, TOA, and 2:1 levulinic acid-amine complex in 1-octanol were calculated from the acetic acid mass transfer coefficient, which was determined by measuring its fluxes of simple diffusion from kerosene to water. Based on the Hatta number and the criterion given by Doraiswamy and Sharma, the reaction regime has been found to be instantaneous reaction regime occurring at the interface on the organic phase side. An extraction model comprising equilibrium complexation constant w.r.t 2:1 levulinic acid-TOA complex formation, K_E2i (14.794 (m³ kmol^?1)²), and complex mass transfer coefficient, k_B2A (2.193 × 10^?6 m s^?1), has been developed.     

OPTIMAL KINETIC PARAMETERS AND BATCH MODELING FOR PECTIN HYDROLYSIS TO GALACTURONIC ACID WITH PECTINEX ULTRA SP-L ENZYME

Galacturonic acid is a monosaccharide obtained by pectin hydrolysis and a suitable substrate to produce bioethanol by fermentation. This article focuses on quantification of citrus pectin hydrolysis to galacturonic acid and provides new, reliable kinetic parameters for the Michaelis-Menten equation when the well-known commercial Pectinex Ultra SP-L is employed as enzyme. They are: r _max  = 1.10 g/(L min), K _m  = 10.42 g/L, and K _IGA  = 10.05 g/L, as obtained with a great accuracy by a nonlinear regression method and confirmed by the three classical linearization procedures (Lineweaver-Burk, Langmuir, and Eadie-Hofstee). The quantification of product inhibition has been achieved, with its inclusion in the rate equation. A batch reactor model yields perfect agreement between predictions and experiments, even under conditions different from those on which the parameters had been determined by regression.     

SIMULTANEOUS EXTRACTION AND QUANTITATION OF OLEANOLIC ACID AND URSOLIC ACID FROM SCUTELLARIA BARBATA D. DON BY ULTRASOUND-ASSISTED EXTRACTION AND HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY

A modified ultrasound-assisted extraction (MUAE) method and an HPLC technique were developed to identify and quantify simultaneously the amount of oleanolic acid (OA) and ursolic acid (UA) in Scutellaria barbata D. Don. The optimal conditions for MUAE were observed when the particle size was 0.2–0.5 mm, the duty cycle was 75%, the extraction temperature was 55°C, the ratio of solvent to raw material was 12.0:1 (mL:g), the ethanol concentration was 60%, and the extraction time was 25 min. Compared to the traditional extraction method, MUAE reduced the extraction time, extraction temperature, and solvent consumption and achieved superior yields of OA and UA. Furthermore, the combined MUAE-HPLC method was successfully applied for the first time to investigate and compare the amounts of OA and UA in samples obtained from different geographical regions.