Effects of block shape and inclination on the stability of melange bimrocks

Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment - A wide range of heterogeneous geological units composed of strong rock blocks enclosed in a bonded matrix of fine texture exists worldwide....     

Gluten-free cakes with walnut flour: a technological,sensory, and microstructural approach

Walnut flour (WF), a by-product of walnut oil production, is characterised by high polyunsaturated fatty acids, proteins, and fibre contents and presents suitability for bakery products. However, when using non-traditional ingredients, it is essential to evaluate the effect on the quality properties of the final product. So, this work aimed to assess the impact of WF on the technological, physicochemical, and sensory properties of gluten-free (GF) cakes. WF was added at a flour blend (cassava (CS) and maize (MS) starches and rice flour) at 0, 10%, 15%, and 20%. The results showed that WF modified starch gelatinisation, increased amylose–lipid complex (ALC) content, and made crumbs easier to chew. Besides, the total dietary fibre (TDF) and protein content significantly increased. Cakes with 15% WF presented the highest specific volume (SV) and no differences in overall acceptability with respect to control. Hence, WF is a suitable ingredient for gluten-free bakery products.     

Development of low-alcohol isotonic beer by interrupted fermentation

Alcohol-free beer with isotonic properties is getting more popular and its production can be carried out by different production strategies; however, interrupted fermentation is still a challenge. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop a low-alcohol isotonic beer (<0.5% v/v) by interrupted fermentation. Moreover, the major objective is to compare the developed product to commercial beverages (sports drinks, ‘Pilsen' regular beer, alcohol-free beers and low-alcohol isotonic beer). The beverages were evaluated based on pH, alcohol content (% v/v), total titratable acidity (mEq L⁻¹), osmolality (mOsmol kg⁻¹), bitterness International Bitterness Units, colour European Brewery Convention, total phenolic compounds (mg L⁻¹ gallic acid), reducing and total sugars (%) and Na and K contents (mg L⁻¹). The developed low-alcohol isotonic beer presented characteristics similar to sports drinks, with the advantage of being richer in phenolic compounds and suitable osmolality. Despite salts were added in its formulation, the grades attributed to all beers employed in the sensory evaluation, as well as the purchase intention did not present significant differences.     

Barium titanate‐based nanodielectrics of two chemically recyclable thermosets

In this work was investigated the effect of the addition of barium titanate (BaTiO₃) on electrical properties of two chemically recyclable thermosets, polyhemiaminal (PHA) and polyhexahydro‐s‐triazine (PHT), both fabricated from 4,4′‐oxydianiline (ODA), an ether derivative of aniline and paraformaldehyde. Thermal and mechanical properties as well as chemical recyclability of the two polymers and their nanocomposites/nanodielectrics were also investigated. In addition, a quantitative analysis was conducted of the nanoparticle dispersion in the PHA‐/PHT‐based BaTiO₃‐containing nanocomposites using transmission electron microscopy imaging and the nearest‐neighbor distance index and this index was used to analyze the investigated properties in connection with the proper mechanisms. Regarding the electrical properties for both neat polymers, conductivity values of the order of 10^?8 S m^?1 at 100 Hz were observed and dielectric constant values close to 2.80 for both polymers at 1 kHz. The addition of 0.5 wt% of BaTiO₃ ferroelectric nanoparticles increased by about 44% the dielectric constant (1 kHz) and conductivity (10² Hz) of the PHA‐based nanocomposite. PHA and PHT exhibited glass transition temperature (T_g) values in the range 125–180 °C. An increase of 7 °C in T_g was observed after the incorporation of 0.5 wt% of BaTiO₃ into PHA. Concerning the mechanical properties, values in the range 4.00–4.45 GPa for reduced modulus and 0.30–0.43 GPa for nanohardness for PHA and PHT polymers were observed. Independently of filler content or polymer matrix, both mechanical properties were enhanced after the addition of BaTiO₃. The chemical recycling of PHA/PHT and all nanocomposites in the initial ODA reagent after sulfuric acid treatment was successfully characterized using the NMR and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic techniques. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry     

Biodegradation of poly(lactic acid)—cassava bagasse composites produced by injection molding

Neat poly (lactic acid) (PLA) and PLA/cassava bagasse (CB) composites were used to produce seedling tubes by extrusion and injection molding. The tubes were buried in simulated soil, and their biodegradation was investigated by weight loss, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). After 180 days, the composites' biodegradation was higher than neat PLA material, and the higher the CB content, the higher the biodegradation, which caused fissures and voids in the material. The biodegradation of PLA/CB composites increased the phosphorus content in the soil after 180 days. Composites of PLA with CB, an abundant agro-industrial residue in Brazil, are promising because they can reduce the environmental impact due to CB's proper destination, and the composites' costs and biodegradation are faster than pure PLA material. Both the faster biodegradation of the tube and the higher P content are advantageous for seedling tubes.     

Polyetherimide-LaNi5 composite films for hydrogen storage applications

This study investigates the preparation of polyetherimide (PEI) – LaNi₅ composites films for hydrogen storage. Prior to the polymer addition, LaNi₅ was ball-milled at different conditions (250, 350, and 450 RPM) and annealed at 500 °C for 1 h under vacuum. The composites were produced with BM-LaNi₅-350 (PEI/LaNi₅-350) and annealed BM-LaNi₅-350 (PEI/LaNi₅-350-TT). Membranes were successfully produced through solvent casting assisted by an ultrasonic bath. The particles dispersion and the film morphology did not change after hydrogenation cycles. In the H₂ sorption experiments at 43 °C and 20 bar, the films stored H₂ without incubation time; both samples reached a capacity of ~0.6 wt%. The H₂ sorption kinetics of PEI/LaNi₅-350 was comparable to that of BM-LaNi₅-350, whereas PEI/LaNi₅-350-TT presented significantly slower kinetics. LaNi₅ oxidation was hindered by PEI, showing that it can be explored to improve metal hydrides air resistance. The results demonstrated that PEI films filled with LaNi₅ are promising materials for hydrogen storage.