A new crosslinkable polyphenol from a renewable resource

Cardanol, a major component obtained by thermal treatment of cashew nut shell liquid, is a phenol derivative mainly having a C15 unsaturated hydrocarbon chain with 1–3 double bonds at the m‐position. We polymerized cardanol using an Fe‐salen complex as the catalyst to give a soluble polyphenol containing the unsaturated alkyl group in the side chain. The polymer was subjected to hardening by a cobalt naphthenate catalyst or thermal treatment, yielding crosslinked film with high gloss surface.     

Chromatographic techniques for the determination of alkyl-phenols, tocopherols and other minor polar compounds in raw and roasted cold pressed cashew nut oils

Anacardium occidentale belongs to the family Anacardiaceae and is principally grown in tropical America (Mexico, Peru, Brazil, etc.) and India. Cashew nuts contain low amounts of hydroxy alkyl phenols that come from an oily liquid present in their shell and that is known as cashew-nut shell liquid. This paper reports the alkyl phenols composition of cold pressed raw and roasted cashew nut oil. First of all, cashew nut shell liquid was used for a basic fractionation of the alkyl phenol classes by preparative TLC and definitively identified by GC-MS and GC-FID. Anacardic acids were the major alkylphenols contained in both oils followed by cardol, cardanol and 2-methylcardol compounds, respectively. Raw and roasted oils did not show different compositions except for cardanols. The oil produced from roasted cashew nut reported a higher concentration of cardanols. Furthermore, tocopherols and other minor polar compounds were determined by HPLC-FLD and HPLC-DAD-MS, respectively. Tocopherol content varied in a range of 171.48-29.56mg/100g from raw to roasted cashew nut oil, being β-tocopherol the one which presented a higher decrease (93.68%). Also minor polar compounds in cashew oil decreased after roasting from 346.52 to 262.83mg/kg.     

Light scattering by helical fiber structures: Experimental models

Samples of two helically wound monofilaments were used as experimental models to check the theoretical expression for light scattering from helixes. A method of estimating the pitch and tilt of the helixes was outlined and the results were compared with measurements from microscopy. The agreement was satisfactory. Layer line streaking and splitting was observed and explained in terms of irregularity of the helical parameters. Samples of several helically wound monofilaments were also prepared and their scattering patterns were compared with those from native and regenerated cellulosic fibers.     

Simulation analysis of the temperature dependence of lignin structure and dynamics

Lignins are hydrophobic, branched polymers that regulate water conduction and provide protection against chemical and biological degradation in plant cell walls. Lignins also form a residual barrier to effective hydrolysis of plant biomass pretreated at elevated temperatures in cellulosic ethanol production. Here, the temperature-dependent structure and dynamics of individual softwood lignin polymers in aqueous solution are examined using extensive (17 μs) molecular dynamics simulations. With decreasing temperature the lignins are found to transition from mobile, extended to glassy, compact states. The polymers are composed of blobs, inside which the radius of gyration of a polymer segment is a power-law function of the number of monomers comprising it. In the low temperature states the blobs are interpermeable, the polymer does not conform to Zimm/Stockmayer theory, and branching does not lead to reduction of the polymer size, the radius of gyration being instead determined by shape anisotropy. At high temperatures the blobs become spatially separated leading to a fractal crumpled globule form. The low-temperature collapse is thermodynamically driven by the increase of the translational entropy and density fluctuations of water molecules removed from the hydration shell, thus distinguishing lignin collapse from enthalpically driven coil-globule polymer transitions and providing a thermodynamic role of hydration water density fluctuations in driving hydrophobic polymer collapse. Although hydrophobic, lignin is wetted, leading to locally enhanced chain dynamics of solvent-exposed monomers. The detailed characterization obtained here provides insight at atomic detail into processes relevant to biomass pretreatment for cellulosic ethanol production and general polymer coil-globule transition phenomena.     

Synthesis of polyurethane from cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL), a renewable resource

A novel thermoplastic polyurethane was prepared from cardanol, a renewable resource and a waste of the cashew industry. Cardanol was recovered from cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) by double vacuum distillation. It was characterized by CHN analysis and IR, ¹H-NMR, and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy techniques. Cardanol is a meta-substituted long chain phenol. The long aliphatic chain unit substituent was found to be a monoene. The monomer, 4-[(4-hydroxy-2-pentadecenylphenyl)diazenyl]phenol was prepared from cardanol. It was a dihydroxy compound as characterized by CHN analyzer, UV, and ¹H-NMR spectroscopy. The polyurethane was synthesized from this dihydroxy compound by the treatment with 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) in dimethylformamide (DMF) solvent at 80–90°C under nitrogen atmosphere. The polymer was characterized by ¹H-NMR, FTIR, and UV spectroscopy. The elemental analysis was done for determining the percentage content of C, H, and N, and the intrinsic viscosity [η] of polymer showed 1.85 dL/gm. Thermogravimetric investigations (TGA) of the cardanol, the dihydroxy compound, and the polyurethane were performed to study their decomposition. The semicrystalline nature of the PU was confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical thermal analyzer (DMTA). The wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXS) study of PU shew a broad amorphous halo indicative of absence of crystallinity in the polymer, which has been explained as due to strong hydrogen bonding in the hard phase. PU may possibly be useful as a telecommunication and as a nonlinear optical material. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36 : 391–400, 1998     

Charge reversal system with cationized cellulose nanocrystals to promote dewatering of a cellulosic fiber suspension

A surface-modified form of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) was employed to explore mechanisms related to the release of water from cellulosic fiber suspensions during papermaking. The CNC surface was rendered partly cationic (forming CCNC) by adsorption of poly-(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (poly-DADMAC), a high charge density cationic polymer. Meanwhile, a suspension of cellulosic fibers and calcium carbonate particles was prepared from recycled copy paper, which was treated sequentially with poly-DADMAC and a very-high-mass anionic acrylamide copolymer (aPAM). Subsequent addition of CCNC strongly promoted water release, whereas ordinary CNC had the opposite effect. The effect of the CCNC was achieved with ten times less poly-DADMAC, as the final additive, compared to when adding the polymer alone. Results were consistent with a model of nanoparticle-enabled bridging, based on an assumption of non-equilibrium or slowly equilibrating processes of adsorption.     

Synthesis and characterization of photosensitive cinnamate-modified cellulose acetate butyrate spin-coated or network derivatives

The photochemical behavior of photosensitive materials obtained by spin-coating or network synthesis of a cellulosic polymer bearing photo-cross-linkable cinnamate groups was investigated. First, cinnamate groups were grafted on a cellulose acetate butyrate polymer, with different grafting densities. The photochemical properties of the polymers were studied in solution by UV–visible and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Then spin-coated films and networks were prepared and characterized as a function of the number of cinnamate groups per cellulosic unit. The water-wetting properties of both surfaces were studied by dynamic contact angle measurements, before and after photoirradiation, and subsequent heating. The surfaces obtained by the two methods have significantly different behaviors that can be assigned to the distinct photochemical pathways of the cinnamate groups upon irradiation depending on the sample preparation. Indeed, dimerization reaction is evidenced as the main process in the spin-coated films while the expected isomerization is predominant at the surface of the polymer networks.     

天然生物质腰果壳液的分离研究进展

天然生物质腰果壳液中的主要组分腰果酚可替代石油酚,广泛应用于油田、涂料等领域;腰果酸和强心酚具有较高的反应活性,通过化学改性,可广泛应用于医药和材料领域,且各组分均具有很好的生物降解性。然而,各组分的精确分离成为腰果壳液广泛应用的关键。本文通过对国内外腰果壳液的分离方法的系统总结,综述了腰果酚、腰果酸、强心酚的精细分离方法以及其优缺点,并对各组分的应用前景进行了简单的介绍和展望,为这类来源广泛的生物质的应用提供理论支持。     

Enzymatic Polymerization of Natural Anacardic Acid and Antibiofouling Effects of Polyanacardic Acid Coatings

Anacardic acid, separated from cashew nut shell liquid, is well known for its strong antibiotic and antioxidant activities. Recent findings indicate that phenolic compounds from plant sources have an effect on Gram-negative bacteria biofilm formation. In this work, a polyphenolic coating was prepared from anacardic acid using enzymatic synthesis and tested for its effects on biofilm formation of both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Natural anacardic acid was enzymatically polymerized using soybean peroxidase. Hydrogen peroxide and phenothiazine-10-propionic acid were used as an oxidizing agent and redox mediator, respectively. Nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analyses showed the formation of oxyphenylene and phenylene units through the phenol rings. No linkage through the alkyl chain was observed, which proved a high chemo-selectivity of the enzyme. Aqueous solvents turned out to play an important role in the polymer production yield and molecular weight. With 2-propanol, the highest production yield (61%) of polymer (molecular weight = 3,900) was observed, and with methanol, higher-molecular-weight polymers (5,000) were produced with lower production yields (43%). The resulting polyanacardic acid was cross-linked on a solid surface to form a permanent natural polymer coating. The FTIR analysis indicates that the cross-linking between the polymers took place through the unsaturated alkyl side chains. The polyanacardic acid coating was then tested for its antibiofouling effect against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and compared with the antibiofouling effects of polycardanol coatings reported in the literature. The polyanacardic acid coating showed more reduction in biofilm formation on its surface than polycardanol coatings in the case of Gram-positive bacteria, while in the case of Gram-negative bacteria, it showed a similar reduction in biofilm formation as polycardanol.     

Synthesis of Tri‐functional Core‐shell CuO@carbon Quantum Dots@carbon Hollow Nanospheres Heterostructure for Non‐enzymatic H2O2 Sensing and Overall Water Splitting Applications

A core‐shell structure with CuO core and carbon quantum dots (CQDs) and carbon hollow nanospheres (CHNS) shell was prepared through facile in‐situ hydrothermal process. The composite was used for non‐enzymatic hydrogen peroxide sensing and electrochemical overall water splitting. The core‐shell structure was established from the transmission electron microscopy image analysis. Raman and UV‐Vis spectroscopy analysis confirmed the interaction between CuO and CQDs. The electrochemical studies showed the limit of detection and sensitivity of the prepared composite as 2.4 nM and 56.72 μA μM^?1 cm^?2, respectively. The core‐shell structure facilitated better charge transportation which in turn exhibited elevated electro‐catalysis towards hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and overall water splitting. The overpotential of 159 mV was required to achieve 10 mA cm^?2 current density for HER and an overpotential of 322 mV was required to achieve 10 mA cm^?2 current density for OER in 1.0 M KOH. A two‐electrode system was constructed for overall water splitting reaction, which showed 10 and 50 mA cm^?2 current density at 1.83 and 1.96 V, respectively. The prepared CuO@CQDs@CHNS catalyst demonstrated excellent robustness in HER and OER catalyzing condition along with overall water splitting reaction. Therefore, the CuO@CQDs@CHNS could be considered as promising electro‐catalyst for H₂O₂ sensing, HER, OER and overall water splitting.     

核-壳结构壳聚糖/聚乙烯醇-聚碳酸亚丙酯超细纤维的制备

利用同轴电纺丝技术制备出具有核-壳结构的壳聚糖/聚乙烯醇-聚碳酸亚丙酯电纺丝纤维,考察了溶剂复配对成纤的影响,采用扫描电镜和透射电镜对纤维的形貌、结构、直径分布等进行了探索,并在优化的工艺条件下,将羟基磷灰石负载在内层结构中.研究表明,采用氯仿/N,N-二甲基甲酰胺(1/1)复配溶剂可有效避免聚合物溶液在喷丝口处的凝结现象.同单纺纤维相比,核壳结构的纤维直径分布较宽,纤维壳层和核层界限清晰;红外谱图分析证明羟基磷灰石可负载在纤维的核结构中.     

Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (CNSL) as a Source of Drugs for Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder with a multifaceted pathogenesis. This fact has long halted the development of effective anti-AD drugs. Recently, a therapeutic strategy based on the exploitation of Brazilian biodiversity was set with the aim of discovering new disease-modifying and safe drugs for AD. In this review, we will illustrate our efforts in developing new molecules derived from Brazilian cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL), a natural oil and a byproduct of cashew nut food processing, with a high content of phenolic lipids. The rational modification of their structures has emerged as a successful medicinal chemistry approach to the development of novel anti-AD lead candidates. The biological profile of the newly developed CNSL derivatives towards validated AD targets will be discussed together with the role of these molecular targets in the context of AD pathogenesis.     

Characterization of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) adsorption on cellulosic materials

The interaction between poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene) doped with poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) and cellulosic fibers was characterized in order to obtain further understanding of the conductivity properties of the modified cellulosic fiber material. Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) was used as a model surface to study the adsorption behavior at various pH and salt concentrations, while samples of low-conductivity paper, normally used for the production of electrical insulation papers, were dipped into PEDOT:PSS dispersion and air-dried for X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) studies. The results showed a strong interaction between the MCC and PEDOT:PSS, which implied a broad molecular distribution of the conducting polymer. With increasing pH, less amount of the conducting polymer was adsorbed whereas the amount adsorbed passed through a maximum value with varying salt concentration. Zeta potential measurement and polyelectrolyte titration were used to determine the surface charge of both suspended MCC particles and dispersed PEDOT:PSS at various pH levels and salt concentrations. Dip-coated paper samples exhibited two peaks in the S(2p) XPS spectra at 168–169 and 164–165 eV which correspond to the sulfur signals of sulfonate (in PSS) and in thiophene (in PEDOT), respectively. It was found that the PEDOT:PSS with a ratio of 1:2.5 was adsorbed more in the base paper than that with a ratio of 1:6. The PEDOT:PSS ratio on the surface of the cellulosic material was higher than that in the bulk liquid for all samples. The results indicated that PEDOT was preferentially adsorbed rather than PSS. The degree of washing of the conducting polymer did not significantly affect the PEDOT enhancement on the surface.     

Correlations between the free-volume properties and the miscibility of chitosan/polar polymers blend membranes

The miscibility of chitosan (CS)/polar polymer blend membranes has been studied by positron annihilation and other methods. The miscibility of these two blend systems (CS/polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and CS/polyethylene glycol (PEG)) is good in the solution state due to the hydrogen interaction between the functional groups of the studied polymers. However, the miscibility of these two blend systems in the solid state is better in the CS/PVP system than in the CS/PEG system. The differences in miscibility of such two blend systems in the solid state were powerfully demonstrated with positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) methods. The CS/PEG blend system had much larger free-volume size and lower free-volume concentration. For their poorer interaction and phase separation fact, the molecules in the interfacial zone of the CS/PEG blend are less compact than the CS matrix. Therefore, the free-volume size in the interfacial zone was much larger than it in the CS matrix.     

Amphiphilic antioxidants from "cashew nut shell liquid" (CNSL) waste

Hydrogenated cardanol and cardols, contained in industrial grade cardanol oil and obtained by distillation of the raw "cashew nut shell liquid" (CNSL), are easily transformed into efficient 4-thiaflavane antioxidants bearing a long alkyl chain on A ring and a catechol group on B ring.     

Low Cost Layer by Layer Construction of CNT/Chitosan Flexible Paper‐based Electrodes: A Versatile Electrochemical Platform for Point of Care and Point of Need Testing

Modification of cellulosic paper with carbon nanotubes (CNT) was studied for the development of electronic and analytical devices. Interesting results were published by using a CNT aqueous solution and the capillary forces of filter paper to make conductive tracks, supercapacitors, potentiometric electrodes and chemometric sensors. In this report, we show for the first time an electrochemical characterization of CNT‐CS‐SDS paper electrodes constructed with an ink containing optimized proportions of multi‐wall CNT, chitosan (CS) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and we compared our data with CNT‐SDS paper electrodes constructed with a previously reported ink. We achieved better reversibility (ΔE=131±14 mV, CVs) and reproducibility (RSD=3.63 %) with CNT‐CS‐SDS paper electrodes, when compared to CNT‐SDS paper electrodes (ΔE=249±7 mV; RSD=6.8 %) used as controls. When electrodes were fold at 90° angle, CNT‐CS‐SDS paper electrodes showed lower RSD than CNT‐SDS paper electrodes, 8.43 % and 21.5 % respectively. These results are in concordance with SEM analysis indicating a dense CS film in CNT‐CS‐SDS paper electrodes. As a proof of concept, we determine dopamine concentration by DPV in the presence of ascorbic and uric acids, the limit of detection calculated was 6.32 μM. Moreover, a bismuth‐film was prepared by in situ plating of Bi into CNT‐CS‐SDS paper electrodes. ASV allowed us to detect Pb in the presence of Bi (10–200 ppb) with a limit of detection of 6.74 ppb.     

An experimental investigation on the conductive behavior of carbon nanotube-reinforced natural polymer nanocomposites

It is well known that carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have excellent electrical properties and can be used as the nanofiller in natural polymers to produce conductive CNT/polymer nanocomposites. In this study, the conductive behavior of CNT-reinforced natural polymer nanocomposites was investigated. The effect of CNT concentration on the conductivity of CNT/natural polymer nanocomposites was also investigated. The natural polymers used were plasticized starch (PS) and chitosan (CS). FTIR spectroscopy was used to examine the interactions between PS, CS, and CNTs. TEM analysis on both nanocomposites were made to study the dispersion states of CNTs in both polymers. The results showed that the surface resistivities of both CNT/PS and CNT/CS nanocomposites decreased steeply with increasing CNT concentration. Particularly, the CNT/CS nanocomposites showed a better conductivity than the CNT/PS composites at the same CNT concentration. The TEM result showed that CNT/CS nanocomposites had better dispersibility and formation of fully connected, three-dimensional network structures between the CNTs than the CNT/PS nanocomposites, which results in the superior conductive property of CNT/CS nanocomposites compared to the CNT/PS nanocomposites.     

Photooxidative degradation of cellulose: Reactions of the cellulosic free radicals with oxygen

Photooxidative degradation of cellulose resulted in decreases of degree of polymerization (DP) and α-cellulose content, concurrently producing chromophoric groups; namely, carbonyl, carboxyl, and hydroperoxide groups within the polymer. Electron spin resonance (ESR) studies revealed that cellulosic carbon free radicals readily reacted with oxygen molecules at 143–160 K to produce peroxy radicals, whereas cellulosic oxygen free radicals were inert toward oxygen molecules throughout the photooxygenation reactions. At 77 K it is feasible that only photoexcited oxygen molecules reacted with cellulosic carbon free radicals to produce peroxide radicals. These radicals were themselves stabilized at 273 K by abstraction of hydrogen atoms from cellulose to produce polymer hydroperoxides. Simultaneously, new radical sites, which exhibited three-line ESR spectra, were generated in cellulose.     

Cellulose reinforced polymer composites and nanocomposites: a critical review

This review provides a critical assessment of the use of cellulosic materials for reinforcement in polymer composites. The review focuses on structure–property interrelationships and the compatibilization of cellulosic materials for optimal performance of the resulting composite materials. Optimal material and physical properties are characterized on the basis of the reinforcement’s physical dimension and the nature of the interface between reinforcement and matrix. We explore how very different cellulosic materials—bacterial, microcrystalline, microfibrillated or nanocrystalline—can cause distinctly different reinforcment.     

A review on flammability of epoxy polymer,cellulosic and non‐cellulosic fiber reinforced epoxy composites

Natural fiber is well‐known reinforcement filler in polymer‐matrix composites. Composite components like organic polymers and natural fibers are natural fire conductors as the natural fiber consists of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, and hence are as highly flammable as wood. Natural fiber reinforced composite materials are progressively being used in a variety of applications where their fire response is a hazardous consideration, for example, in the automotive (transportation) and building‐construction industries. As a result, an awareness of their performance or response during a fire and the use of conventional fire retardants are of great importance, as they are subject to thermal decomposition when exposed to intensive high heat or fire sources. In this review paper, fire flammability is the main concern for cellulosic and non‐cellulosic fiber‐reinforced polymer composites, especially epoxy composites. This paper reviews the literature on the recent developments in flammability studies concerning polymers, epoxy polymers, cellulosic‐fibers, and non‐cellulosic fiber‐reinforced epoxy bio‐composites. The prime objective of this review is to expand the reach of “fire retardants for polymer materials and composites” to the science community, including physicists, chemists, and engineers in order to broaden the range of their applications. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.