X-ray fluorescence spectrometric determination of germanium after extraction with polyurethane foam

Germanium is extracted onto polyurethane foam as molybdogermanate, and determined by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry in the dried foam. The extraction is effective between pH 0.5 and 3.7 and as little as 7 μg of germanium can be detected in 100 ml of aqueous solution.     

Immobilization of cellulase using polyurethane foam

Cellulase was covalently immobilized using a hydrophilic polyurethane foam (Hypol®FHP 2002). Compared to the free enzyme, immobilized cellulase showed a dramatic decrease (7.5-fold) in the Michaelis constant for carboxymethylcellulose. The immobilized enzyme also had a broader and more basic pH optimum (pH 5.5–6.0), a greater stability under heat-denaturing or liquid nitrogen-freezing conditions, and was relatively more efficient in utilizing insoluble cellulose substrates. High molecular weight compounds (Blue Dextran) could move throughout the foam matrix, indicating permeability to insoluble celluloses; activity could be further improved 2.4-fold after powdering, foams under liquid nitrogen. The improved kinetic and stability features of the immobilized cellulase combined with advantageous properties of the polyurethane foam (resistance to enzymatic degradation, plasticity of shape and size) suggest that this mechanism of cellulase immobilization has high potential for application in the industrial degradation of celluloses.     

Luminescence determination of europium microquantities after its preconcentration on polyurethane foam

Sorption of the mixed-ligand complexes of europium(III) with thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTA) and 1,10-phenanthroline (Phen) on polyurethane foam (PUF) has been studied by a luminescence method. The optimum conditions of sorption have been found. The sorbate composition on PUF has been determined (the Eu:TTA:Phen ratio was 1:3:1). Luminescence spectra of the europium complexes in solution and on PUF at 77 K have been investigated. It was concluded that the character of the Eu³⁺ coordination both in solution and on the sorbent is the same. Stability constants for the complexes in solution (lg K = 8.4) and on the sorbent (lg K = 5.5) have been calculated. The decrease of the stability of the complex on PUF is explained by the deformation of the complex molecule in the sorbent phase. Sorption coefficients for europium (245) and scandium (2.35) and the coefficient of selectivity for europium in Sc₂O₃ (102.3) have been determined. A method for the sorption-luminescence determination of europium in Sc₂O₃ with a lower limit of contents determined of 1 × 10⁻⁶⁰% has been developed.     

Preconcentration and separation of acaricides by polyether based polyurethane foam

This paper reports the preconcentration of some dissolved organic phosphorous and chlorinated acaricides in water by porous polyether based polyurethane foam. Preliminary screening tests on the retention of the tested compounds, i.e., dicofol and bromopropylate, by polyether foams indicated that a very high percent removal of the tested species was obtained. The retention rate was found fast and reaches equilibrium in a few minutes. The various parameters, e.g., pH, extraction media, shaking time, salt effect, temperature and sample volumes affecting the preconcentration of the tested species by the unloaded foam, trioctylamine and trimethylphosphate treated foam have been optimized via batch modes of separation. The unloaded foams were employed in column modes for the retention and recovery of the tested species. The sorption efficiency and recovery of the compounds by the unloaded foams column were found to be up to 97.5%. The height equivalent to a theoretical plate (HETP) obtained by the unloaded foam was found to be in the range 1.1-1.3 ± 0.2 mm. The sorption mechanism of the tested compounds by the foams was discussed.     

Facile fabrication of hydrophobic octadecylamine-functionalized polyurethane foam for oil spill cleanup

To improve the hydrophobic property of polyurethane foam for oil spill cleanup, the polyurethane foam with nitrile groups is modified by grafting with oleophilic octadecylamine. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical contact angle measuring device are used to characterize the modified polyurethane foam. The results show that the octadecylamine has been successfully grafted onto the polyurethane foam and improved the foam hydrophobicity. The modified foam exhibits higher contact angle (146.3 ± 2.8°) compared to the unmodified foam (121.4 ± 3.2°). Moreover, the water sorption of the modified foam is 0.11g/g, which is much lower than that of the unmodified foam (0.84g/g). On the other hand, the sorption capacity of the modified foam for toluene, gasoline and diesel sorption is increased by 20?40%. Therefore, the polyurethane foam prepared by us can be effectively used in oil/solvent spill cleanup.     

Preparation and properties of negative ion/polyurethane flexible foam composites

Abstract

In this study, negative ionpowder was modified with a silane coupling agent and then added to the polyurethane flexible foam to prepare NI/PU flexible foam composites by the one-step foaming method. The effects of the amount of negative ion powder on the mechanical properties, thermal properties and release of negative ions were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and negative ion detectors. The SEM results showed that modified negative ion powder could be more uniformly distributed around the cell walls of the polyurethane flexible foam. The thermal stability, tensile strength and resilience of the NI/PU flexible foam composite were improved with the increase of the amount of modified negative ion powder. Increasing the amount of modified negative ion powder could also result in an increase in the release of negative ions, and it reached 5500/cm³ or higher at a negative ion content of 3%.     

Fabrication and characterization of functional graded polyurethane foam (FGPUF)

In this study, functionally graded polyurethane foams (FGPUFs) were produced using a layer‐by‐layer casting technique. Discontinuous FGPUFs were fabricated by this method. The scanning electron microscopy was used to study the morphology of all specimens. The mechanical properties of the polyurethane foams (PUFs) were evaluated by compression, indentation force deflection, drop weight tests, and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. Scanning electron microscopy micrographs taken from different zones of functionally graded material showed the variation of the morphology of cells as well as the suitable interfaces between the layers of PUF. Investigation of mechanical properties suggested that FGPUF specimens have an optimum behavior between other specimens in compression and indentation force deflection tests. The results of drop weight test showed that FGPUF samples behaved like an energy absorber (14.31 KN) in comparison to other PUFs. The results of dynamic mechanical thermal analysis data showed an improvement in glass transition temperature (T_g) to −47.2°C and stability of modulus of FGPUFs as temperature increases.     

Gallium trace on-line preconcentration/separation and determination using a polyurethane foam mini-column and flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Application in aluminum alloys, natural waters and urine

A sensitive and selective flow injection time-based method for on-line preconcentration/separation and determination of gallium by flame atomic absorption spectrometry at trace levels was developed. The on-line formed gallium chloride complex is sorbed onto a polyether-type polyurethane foam mini-column, followed by on-line quantitative elution with isobutyl methyl ketone and direct introduction into the flame pneumatic nebulizer of the atomic absorption spectrometer. All chemical and flow variables of the system as well as the possible interferences were studied. The manner of strong HCl solutions propulsion was investigated and established using a combination of two displacement bottles. For 90 s preconcentration time, a sample frequency of 28 h⁻¹, an enhancement factor of 40, a detection limit of 6 μg l⁻¹ and a precision expressed as relative standard deviation (s_r) of 3.3% (at 1.00 mg l⁻¹) were achieved. The calibration curve is linear over the concentration range 0.02-3.00 mg l⁻¹. The accuracy of the developed method was sufficient and evaluated by the analysis of a silicon-aluminum alloy standard reference material. Finally, it was successfully applied to gallium determination in commercial aluminum alloys, natural waters and urine.     

Microstructural and Compressive Deformation Behavior of Aluminum-Foam-Filled Sections

The present research was performed to study the compressive deformation behavior and the energy absorption quantity of aluminum-foam-filled sections. Empty and foam-filled sections were compressed at different strain rates to ascertain the effect to energy absorption. Results show that plateau stress and energy absorption were enhanced due to increase in strain rate. In the case of Al-foam-filled square section, energy absorption was increased up to 26%. Similarly, the plateau stress of mild steel empty section was also found to be increased. Moreover, the energy absorption capacity of mild steel section was enhanced by 25% due to being filled with Al foam. It was noted that square section always absorbs (25–30% depending upon the strain rate) more energy compared to the round sample.     

Effect of surface modification of montmorillonite on the properties of rigid polyurethane foam composites

<正>This study investigated the influence of various organically modified montmorillonites(organoclays) on the structure and properties of rigid polyurethane foam(RPUF) nanocomposites.The organoclays were modified with cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide(CTAB),methyl tallow bis(2-hydroxyethyl) quaternary ammonium chloride (MT2ETOH) and tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane(THMA) and denoted as CMMT,Cloisite 30B and OMMT, respectively.MT2ETOH and THMA contain hydroxyl groups,while THMA does not have long aliphatic tail in its molecule. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy show that OMMT and Cloisite 30B can be partially exfoliated in the RPUF nanocomposites because their intercalating agents MT2ETOH and THMA can react with isocyanate.However, CMMT modified with nonreactive CTAB is mainly intercalated in the RPUF matrices.At a relatively low filler content,the RPUF/CMMT composite foam has a higher specific compressive strength(the ratio of compressive strength against the apparent density of the foams),while at relatively high filler contents,RPUF/Cloisite 30B and RPUF/OMMT composites have higher specific compressive strengths,higher modulus and more uniform pore size than the RPUF/CMMT composite.     

Thermal properties of polyurethanes synthesized using waste polyurethane foam glycolysates

In this work thermal transitions and thermal stability of polyurethane intermediates and polyurethanes were investigated. The intermediates were obtained by glycolysis of waste polyurethane (PUR) in the reaction with hexamethylene glycol (HDO). The excess of HDO was not separated from the product after the glycolysis process was finished. The effects of different mass ratio of HDO to PUR foam on selected physicochemical properties (hydroxyl number, Brookfield viscosity and density) were also determined. The polyurethanes were synthesized from the obtained intermediates by the prepolymer method using diisocyanate (MDI) and glycolysis product of molecular mass in range 700/1000 g mol^–1. Hexamethylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol and ethylene glycol were used as chain extender agents. Influence of NCO groups concentration in prepolymer on glass transition temperature (T _g) and storage and loss modulus (E’, E’’) of polyurethanes were investigated by the DMTA method. Thermal decomposition of obtained glycolysates and polyurethanes was followed by thermogravimetry coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Main products of thermal decomposition were identified.     

Preconcentration and separation of some organic water pollutants with polyurethane foam and activated carbon

Summary Although pesticides and phenols, cause reproductive failure in many areas of the world, there is a no effective means of treating waste water containing these compounds. This work deals with the adsorption of insecticides and phenols from aqueous solution by untreated porous polyurethane foam and activated carbon. Static experiments showed that in comparison with activated carbon a reasonable percentage of the compounds was adsorbed by the foam. Attempts were therefore made to extract these species from aqueous solution by foam column chromatography.The results showed that the adsorption of the compounds was brought about by a mechanism similar to that of solvent extraction. The effect of various experimental conditions such as temperature, extracting medium, pH, contact time, volume of sample flow rate, compound concentration, and eluting solvents on the retention and separation of the compounds has been determined. The height equivalent to a theoretical plate (HETP) was calculated from breakthrough capacity curves and from chromatograms obtained from polyurethane foam columns for the insecticide Dyfonate; values were in the range 2.1–2.3 mm at 10–15 ml min^–1. Extraction of the compounds from natural water, and subsequent recovery, were both found to be complete. The high capacity of polyurethane provides advantages over activated carbon; in particular, large sample volumes can be analyzed at high flow rates.     

Determination of Hg from Cu concentrates by X-ray fluorescence through preconcentration on polyurethane foam

A methodology was developed for the separation and determination of microamounts of mercury from copper concentrate samples by wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) after solid-phase extraction of mercury from iodide medium using polyurethane foam (PUF). The best sorption conditions for the Hg-KI-PUF system were settled using X-ray fluorescence technique after collection of ground PUF on a filter paper by vacuum filtration and direct measurement of the intensity signal of the sorbed mercury on PUF. The main parameters of sorption such as iodide concentration, pH, shaking time and sample dilution effect were studied. The system shows rapid kinetic sorption and maximum X-ray intensity signal was achieved after shaking for 2 min a 0.01 mol l⁻¹ iodide solution containing microamounts of mercury in the pH range from 1.0 to 9.0. Effective sorption up to a volume of 0.9 l allows preconcentration of mercury. A linear fit up to 50 μg mercury was obtained by the plot of the initial mercury mass in the bulk solution (0.5 l) vs. its respective XRF intensity signal measurement on ground PUF after the sorption process. The calibration sensitivity, quantification and detection limits found were 9.09 CPS μg⁻¹, 9.0 and 2.7 μg, respectively. The sorption of many elements was also evaluated under the best conditions. High concentrations of Cu(II) and Fe(III) interfere seriously. Mercury-selective separation could be achieved using citrate or EDTA as masking agent; no interference due to copper matrix samples was observed in citrate medium. This methodology was evaluated by recovery for mercury determination in copper concentrate ore samples supplied by a mining industry and copper sulfate salts; the results were between 98% and 106%.     

Characterizing the constitutive response and energy absorption of rigid polymeric foams subjected to intermediate-velocity impact

As an optimum energy-absorbing material system, polymeric foams are needed to dissipate the kinetic energy of an impact, while maintaining the impact force transferred to the protected object at a low level. Therefore, it is crucial to accurately characterize the load bearing and energy dissipation performance of foams at high strain rate loading conditions. There are certain challenges faced in the accurate measurement of the deformation response of foams due to their low mechanical impedance. In the present work, a non-parametric method is successfully implemented to enable the accurate assessment of the compressive constitutive response of rigid polymeric foams subjected to impact loading conditions. The method is based on stereovision high speed photography in conjunction with 3D digital image correlation, and allows for accurate evaluation of inertia stresses developed within the specimen during deformation time. Full-field distributions of stress, strain and strain rate are used to extract the local constitutive response of the material at any given location along the specimen axis. In addition, the effective energy absorbed by the material is calculated. Finally, results obtained from the proposed non-parametric analysis are compared with data obtained from conventional test procedures.     

Quantitative separation of zinc traces from cadmium matrices by solid-phase extraction with polyurethane foam

A system for separation of zinc traces from large amounts of cadmium is proposed in this paper. It is based on the solid-phase extraction of the zinc in the form of thiocyanate complexes by the polyurethane foam. The following parameters were studied: effect of pH and of the thiocyanate concentration on the zinc extraction, shaking time required for quantitative extraction, amount of PU foam necessary for complete extraction, conditions for the separation of zinc from cadmium, influence of other cations and anions on the zinc sorption by PU foam, and required conditions for back extraction of zinc from the PU foam. The results show that zinc traces can be separated from large amounts of cadmium at pH 3.0±0.50, with the range of thiocyanate concentration from 0.15 to 0.20 mol l⁻¹, and the shaking time of 5 min. The back extraction of zinc can be done by shaking it with water for 10 min. Calcium, barium, strontium, magnesium, aluminum, nickel and iron(II) are efficiently separated. Iron(III), copper(II) and cobalt(II) are extracted simultaneously with zinc, but the iron reduction with ascorbic acid and the use of citrate to mask copper(II) and cobalt(II) increase the selectivity of the zinc extraction. The anions nitrate, chloride, sulfate, acetate, thiosulphate, tartarate, oxalate, fluoride, citrate, and carbonate do not affect the zinc extraction. Phosphate and EDTA must be absent. The method proposed was applied to determine zinc in cadmium salts using 4-(2-pyridylazo)-resorcinol (PAR) as a spectrophotometric reagent. The result achieved did not show significant difference in the accuracy and precision (95% confidence level) with those obtained by ICP–AES analysis.     

Study on fire performance and pyrolysis of polyurethane foam material containing DMMP/TCPP

In this paper, an efficient flame retardant polyurethane foam (PUF) material consisting of phosphorus-halogen flame retardants has been prepared by adding dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP) and tris(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TCPP). The limiting oxygen index measurement and thermal analysis have been used for accessing the flame retardancy and thermal properties of the PUF sample. Thermal decomposition process of the sample and its evolved gaseous products at different temperatures during pyrolyzing have been investigated and identified via thermogravimetric analysis by coupling with Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. Influence of DMMP and TCPP on the evolved gaseous products during pyrolysis has been discussed here.     

Separation and determination of some trivalent metal ions using rhodamine B grafted polyurethane foam

The incorporation of rhodamine B into polyurethane foam matrix was prepared by mixing the rhodamine B with polyol (polyether) prior to the addition of diisocyanate reagent to form the polyurethane foam material. Rhodamine B grafted polyurethane foam (Rod.B-PUF) was found to be very suitable for the separation and preconcentration of trivalent metal ions e.g. bismuth (III), antimony (III) and iron (III) from thiocyanate solutions. Bismuth and antimony were separated from concentrated acid medium (1–6 M H₂SO₄). Iron (III) was separated from pH 1 to 3. The kinetics of sorption of the Bi (III), Sb (III) and Fe (III) onto the Rod.B-PUF was found to be fast, the extraction is accomplished from 5 to 10 min with average values of half-life of sorption (t_1/2) of 2.9 min. The average values of the Gibbs free energy (ΔG) for the sorption of metal ions onto Rod.B-PUF are ?6.6 kJ mol^?1, which reflect the spontaneous nature of sorption process. The sorption mechanism of the metal ion onto Rod.B-PUF was also discussed.     

Application of polyurethane foam as a sorbent for trace metal pre-concentration — A review

The first publication on the use of polyurethane foam (PUF) for sorption processes dates back to 1970, and soon after the material was applied for separation processes. The application of PUF as a sorbent for solid phase extraction of inorganic analytes for separation and pre-concentration purposes is reviewed. The physical and chemical characteristics of PUF (polyether and polyester type) are discussed and an introduction to the characterization of these sorption processes using different types of isotherms is given. Separation and pre-concentration methods using unloaded and loaded PUF in batch and on-line procedures with continuous flow and flow injection systems are presented. Methods for the direct solid sampling analysis of the PUF after pre-concentration are discussed as well as approaches for speciation analysis. Thermodynamic proprieties of some extraction processes are evaluated and the interpretation of determined parameters, such as enthalpy, entropy and Gibbs free energy in light of the physico-chemical processes is explained.     

空心玻璃微珠对聚氨酯泡沫燃烧和力学性能的影响

通过向聚氨酯发泡体系中添加空心玻璃微珠,制备出空心玻璃微珠聚氨酯三相泡沫.研究了空心玻璃微珠添加量、聚磷酸铵(APP)用量、膨胀阻燃体系(IFR)浓度等因素对聚氨酯泡沫燃烧和力学性能的影响.结果表明,单独添加空心玻璃微珠对聚氨酯泡沫的氧指数和水平燃烧速度影响不大.添加APP或IFR后,空心玻璃微珠聚氨酯三相泡沫的阻燃效...     

Sound absorption and compressive property of PU foam‐filled composite sandwiches: Effects of needle‐punched fabric structure,porous structure,and fabric‐foam interface

The flexible polyurethane (PU) foam‐filled composite sandwiches are constructed using three types of needle‐punched fabrics (upper layer), PU foam (core layer), and nylon (bottom layer). Different contents of deionized water were used to adjust the pore size and bulk density of PU foam by free‐foaming. Effects of needle‐punched fabric components, cell structure, and fabric‐foam interface on sound absorption and compressive property of the composite sandwiches were investigated. Fabric‐foam interface contributes to improve high‐frequency sound absorption efficiency. When containing 0.5 wt% water in the core and nylon‐glass grid needle‐punched composite fabric (NPUN‐G) in the upper face, the composite sandwiches exhibited optimal sound absorption of 0.78 at low frequency of 450 Hz, and optimal compressive strength of 14.4 kPa. Combination of needle‐punched composite fabric improved the sound absorption coefficient and compressive strength, as high as 223% and 121%, respectively, compared with pure PU foam. This study provided an important basis for the preparation of high‐strength composite sandwiches with low‐frequency sound absorption.