Formation of cellulose acetate membranes using a supercritical fluid assisted process

Microporous cellulose acetate membranes have been prepared from polymer–acetone solutions using a supercritical fluid phase inversion process in which CO₂ acts as the non-solvent. Series of experiments were performed at various polymer concentrations, temperatures and pressures. The structure of the resulting membranes was analysed using scanning electron microscopy. We operated with polymer concentrations ranging between 5 and 40% (w/w) in acetone obtaining different pore dimensions and membrane structures. Increasing the percentage of polymer in the solution, the structure of the membranes changed from beads-like structure to cellular structure. Polymer concentration also influenced the mean diameter of the pores that ranged from 2 to 50 μm for polymer concentrations from 40 to 5% (w/w). We also tested membrane formation pressures between 100 and 200 bar and at temperature between 45 and 65 °C. Pressure influences the change in membrane structure from cellular to beads-like, whereas temperature has a minor influence on pore size: both the effects can be partially related to CO₂ density. Cellulose acetate membrane formation mechanisms have also been discussed.     

The effect of melt-processing on the degradation of selected polyhydroxyacids: polylactides, polyhydroxybutyrate, and polyhydroxybutyrate-co-valerates

A series of resorbable polyhydroxyacids were studied by size exclusion chromatography (SEC), viscosity measurements, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) for the effect of the injection moulding process on the molecular weight and thermal properties of the polymers. The polymers studied were polylactides (PLA), polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and polyhydroxybutyrate-co-valerate (PHB/VA) (5–22% VA content). All polylactides underwent extensive degradation, in the range of 50–88%, and an increase in molecular weight distribution (MWD) following injection moulding at temperatures ranging from 130 to 215°C. In contrast to the polylactides, the decrease in molecular weight of the PHB and PHB/VA polymers after injection moulding at temperatures from 135 to 160°C was less dramatic, in the range of 4–53%. This was accompanied by a decrease of the MWD. No evidence for low molecular weight non-volatile degradation products was observed. Injection moulding led to a decrease in the melting temperature (T_m) and the heat of melting (ΔH_m) of PLA. Conversely, the moulding process did not significantly affect the melting temperature and heat of melting of polyhydroxybutyrate/valerates.     

Off-line coupling of pressurized liquid extraction and LC/ED for the determination of retinyl acetate and tocopherols in infant formulas

An analytical methodology including pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) as sample treatment to isolate retinyl acetate and tocopherols from infant formulas has been developed. The milk extracts were kept at −18 °C for 30 min and after filtration could be injected directly into the chromatographic system. Thus, a rapid and simple routine control method of these products is possible.

The parameters affecting both the extraction process and the liquid chromatography (LC) system were optimized. PLE was performed using one cycle of extraction during a static time of 5 min. Methanol was chosen as the extraction solvent for a temperature of 50 °C. Chromatographic separation was accomplished using a RP-18 column; the mobile phase used was methanol–water (94:6, v/v) containing 2.5 mM acetic acid/sodium acetate buffer. Electrochemical detection in amperometric mode with a glassy carbon electrode at +1100 mV was applied. The proposed methodology was successfully used for the determination of retinyl acetate, δ-tocopherol, (β + γ)-tocopherol and -tocopherol in different infant formulas. The analytes were evaluated in the same chemical form present in the samples. Recoveries were between 92 and 106%. A certified reference material of milk powder was also analyzed.     

Effect of solute hydrophobicity on phase behaviour in solutions of thermoseparating polymers

 Two-phase systems consisting of a polymer rich phase and polymer depleted phase, where the polymer is either ethyl(hydroxy ethyl)cellulose (EHEC) or Ucon (a random copolymer of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide), have been studied. Both of these polymers can be separated from an aqueous solution by either temperature increase or addition of cosolutes. The polymers are thermoseparating and phase separate in water solutions at the cloud point temperature. Two types of EHEC have been studied: one with a cloud point at 60 °C and the other at 37 °C. The Ucon polymer used in this study has a cloud point at 50 °C. Ternary phase diagrams of polymer/water/cosolute systems have been investigated. When a strongly hydrophilic or hydrophobic cosolute is added to an EHEC- or Ucon–water solution, a phase separation occurs already at, or below, room temperature. As cosolutes, hydrophobic molecules like phenol, butyric and propionic acid, and hydrophilic molecules like glycine, ammonium acetate, sodium carboxylates (acetate to valerate), were studied. The polymer rich phase formed when mixing polymer, water and cosolute was strongly enriched or depleted with hydrophobic or hydrophilic cosolutes, respectively. The two phase region increased for propionic acid, butyric acid and phenol as a result of increased cosolute hydrophobicity. The opposite occurred in the series sodium acetate, sodium butyrate and sodium valerate. The effect of temperature on the phase behaviour has also been investigated. Model calculations based on Flory–Huggins theory of polymer solutions are presented, in form of a phase diagram, which semiquantitatively reproduce some experimental results. Received: 5 July 1996 Accepted: 4 November 1996     

Solubility of methane in cellulose acetate — conditioning effect of carbon dioxide

The solubility of CH₄ and CO₂ in cellulose 2.4-acetate membranes was measured at temperatures between —10° and 30°C, and at pressures of up to 40 atm. Pre-exposure of the membrane samples to high-pressure CO₂ caused an increase in the solubility of CH₄, as well as of CO₂ [2]. In contrast, pre-exposure of the samples to high-pressure CH₄ did not alter the solubility of either CH₄ or CO₂. A similar “conditioning effect” by high-pressure CO₂ was also observed with other glassy polymers by Paul et al. [9-11], who reasonably attributed it to the non-equilibrium nature of the glassy state. The solubility isotherms for CH₄ and CO₂ in cellulose 2.4-acetate can be fitted to the “dual-mode” sorption model [1], but a consideration of the heats of solution suggests that a “two Langmuir sites” model [16] may offer a more satisfactory representation of the data. The cellulose acetate samples employed in this study were prepared by drying reverse osmosis membranes and are believed to have contained a large amount of free volume.     

Comparative study of the separation of methanol–methyl acetate mixtures by pervaporation and vapor permeation using a commercial membrane

In the present study, the permeation behavior of methanol and methyl acetate in the pervaporation (PV) experiments are compared with those in vapor permeation (VP) experiments using a PVA-based composite membrane. Experiments have been carried out to study the selectivity and mass transport flux of the systems under varying operations conditions of feed temperature (40–60 °C) and feed methanol concentrations (2–34 wt%). The selected membrane was found to be methanol selective. Results show higher permeation flux but a similar separation factor for methanol in PV than in VP. For PV operation, the resulting separation factor at 60 °C shows a monotonous decrease (6.4–4.1) as the alcohol concentration in the feed mixture increases (2.3–34 wt%), whereas the total flux increases from 0.97 to 7.9 kg m⁻² h⁻¹. Based on the solution-diffusion theory, a mathematical model that describes satisfactorily the permeation fluxes of methanol and methyl acetate in both the PV and VP processes has been applied. The fluxes of both permeants can be explained by the solution-diffusion model with variable diffusion coefficients dependent on MeOH concentration in the membrane. Both PV and VP processes can be described with the same model but using different fitting parameters.     

Purification and characterization of acetate kinase from Clostridium thermocellum

Acetate kinase (EC 2.7.2.1), an enzyme involved in the wasteful production of acetate during conversion of cellulose to ethanol by Clostridium thermocellum, was purified 144-fold. The enzyme has an Mr of 84 kD by non-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, and an Mr of 46 kD when estimated with a denaturing gel; thus it appears to be a homodimer. Optimum enzyme activity occurs at 50°C and between pH 7.2 and 8.0. Acetate kinase is stable to temperatures up to 60°C, but is completely inactivated at 80°C after two h. The enzyme is stable between pH 7.0 and 9.0 when incubated at 50°C for two h. Optimum acetate kinase activity occurs at a MgCl₂:ATP ratio of 2:1, which indicates an interaction between Mg²⁺ and ATP and that between Mg²⁺ and acetate kinase. Enzyme activity is partially inhibited by KCl, an inorganic salt frequently used in chromatography and fermentation media, losing 60% activity in the presence of 0.2 M KCl. Sigmoidal enzyme kinetics were observed from the velocity plot of acetate kinase when either the acetate (S_0.5 = 285 mM) or ATP (S_0.5 = 11 mM) concentration was varied, suggesting cooperative binding of the two substrates.     

Cholesteryl acetate as a stationary phase for the gas chromatography of some volatile oil constituents

Cholesteryl acetate provides a useful low-polarity stationary phase in packed columns for the gas chromatography of some volatile oil constituents like terpene hydrocarbons, certain terpenoids and some aromatics. With a high mobile phase flow-rate, it is best used above its melting point as a normal liquid (115°C and more) although it has a narrow mesomeric temperature range below this as a chiral nematic liquid crystal. It can be used to resolve racemic linalol, but not carvone.     

Isothermal kinetic analysis of the thermal decomposition of magnesium hydroxide using thermogravimetric data

In the present study, the kinetics of the thermal decomposition of magnesium hydroxide is investigated, using isothermal methods of kinetic analysis. For this purpose, experiments in thermogravimetric analyser were carried out in standard values of temperature (350°, 400°, 450° and 500°C) which resulted in weight loss percent as a function of time. The data were further modified to give fraction reacted ‘' versus time to be tested in various forms of ‘' functions. In order to determine the mechanism of the magnesium hydroxide decomposition and the form of the conversion function which governs the dehydroxylation of Mg(OH)₂, four different methods of isothermal kinetic analysis were used. Applying each of these methods to the data, it was concluded that the nucleation mechanism predominates the Mg(OH)₂, decomposition for all values of temperature tested; at 350°C the kinetic model which represents the experimental data is that of reaction at phase boundaries (random nucleation), F₁: ln(1−)=kt) while for the higher temperatures 400°, 450° and 500°C the kinetic equation of nucleation and development in two dimensions, A₂: [−ln (1−)]^1/2=kt was found to fit better the experimental results. The activation energy was evaluated applying two alternative methods; the Arrhenius plot, using maximum rates of reaction, from which the activation energy was evaluated to be 20.54 kcal/mol. An alternative method based on plots of ln t versus 1/T corresponding to the same value of ‘' gave values of 10.72, 13.82 and 16.31 kcal/mol for ‘' values of 0.25, 0.50 and 0.75, respectively.     

The effect of humidity on thermal process of zinc acetate

The thermal decomposition of zinc acetate dihydrate Zn(CH₃CO₂)₂·2H₂O in some humidity-controlled atmospheres has been successfully investigated by novel thermal analyses, which are sample-controlled thermogravimetry (SCTG), thermogravimety combined with evolved gas analysis using mass spectrometry (TG–MS) and simultaneous measurement of differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffractometry (XRD–DSC). The thermal processes of anhydrous zinc acetate in dry gas atmosphere by conventional linear heating experiment initiated with the sublimation around 180 °C, followed by the fusion and the decomposition over 250 °C. SCTG was useful to interpret clearly the successive reaction because the high-temperature parallel decompositions were effectively inhibited. The thermal behavior changed dramatically by introducing water vapor in the atmosphere and the thermal process was quite different from that in dry gas atmosphere. Zinc oxide (ZnO) was formed only in a humidity-controlled atmosphere, and could be easily synthesized at temperatures below 300 °C. XRD–DSC equipped with a humidity generator revealed directly the crystalline change from Zn(CH₃CO₂)₂ to ZnO. A detailed thermal process of Zn(CH₃CO₂)₂·2H₂O and the effect of water vapor are discussed.     

H NMR Spectra and electronic structure of binuclear niobocene and titanocene containing fulvalene ligands

¹H NMR spectra of binuclear metallocene hydride complexes, (η⁵ : η⁵-C₁₀H₈)(C₅H₅)₂M₂(μ-H)₂ (M = Nb, 20°C and Ti, (−60 to +25°C), were studied. The Nb complex is diamagnetic and gives a high resolution spectrum. The coordination of bridging hydride H atoms provides Nb atoms with complete 18 electron configuration. In its ground state, the Ti complex is also diamagnetic (the spectrum at −60°C agrees to that) in spite of only 17 electron configuration of each Ti atom. However, the population of the excited triplet state in the case of the Ti complex is appreciable at temperatures higher than −30°C, the proton resonance lines being shifted downfield and significantly broadened as compared with the spectrum at −60°C.     

Upper and lower critical solution temperatures in polybutadiene-alkane systems : Effect of the surface-to-volume ratio of the polymer

Cloud point curves (CPC) have been measured for 1–4 cis polybutadiene (M_r = 40,000–830,000) in n-hexane, 2-methyl-hexane, 2,2,3 trimethylbutane and 2,2,4 trimethylpentane. These four systems show upper and lower critical solubility temperatures which approach one another as the molecular weight increases. An hourglass-shaped CPC is found for two systems. The CPC are found to be much more dependent on polymer concentration than is usual. Calculated (Prigogine, Patterson, Flory theories) and experimental critical temperatures, critical volumes and shapes of the CPC are in much better agreement for these systems than for other systems involving polystyrene, polyisobutylene or polybutene-1. Analysis of these results with those for other systems in the literature indicates the importance of the surface-to-volume ratio s of the polymers. A small value of s = s₂/s₁ (0·5–0·8) for thick polymer chains improves the calculated value of the critical temperature while s = 1 is quite good for thin polymer chains such as polybutadiene and polyethylene.     

Gelation of β-lactoglobulin in the presence of propylene glycol alginate: kinetics and gel properties

The role of the non-gelling polysaccharide, propyleneglycol alginate (PGA), on the dynamics of gelation and gel properties of β-lactoglobulin (β-lg) under conditions where the protein alone does not gel (6%) was analyzed. To this end, the kinetics of gelation, aggregation and denaturation of β-lg in the mixed systems (pH 7) were studied at different temperatures (64–88 °C). The presence of PGA increased thermal stability of β-lg. The rate of β-lg denaturation was decreased and the onset and peak denaturation temperatures increased by 2.2–2.4 °C. PGA promoted the formation of larger aggregates that continued to grow in time. An average aggregate diameter of approximately 300 nm is reached at the gel point in the mixed β-lg+PGA systems, irrespective of the heating temperature. Comparing the activation energies for the aggregation (193 kJ/mol), denaturation (422 kJ/mol) and formation of the primary gel structure (1/t_gel) (256 kJ/mol) processes in the mixed protein–polysaccharide system, it can be concluded that the rate determining step in the formation of the primary gel structure would be the aggregation of protein. E_a values for the processes after the gel point (solid phase gelation) suggest a diffusion limited process because of the high viscosity of the solid gelling matrix. The characteristics of the mixed β-lg+PGA gels in terms of rheological and textural parameters, water loss and microstructure were studied as a function of heating temperature and time. The extent of aggregation and the type of interactions involved, prior to denaturation seem to be very important in determining the gel structure and its properties.     

Calorimetric studies of poly (2-phenoxyethylacrylate)/5CB mixtures

The thermophysical properties of mixtures of poly (2-phenoxyethylacrylate) and 4-cyano-4'-pentyl-biphenyl, 5CB, are investigated using polarizing optical microscopy (POM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The polymer has a molar mass M w = 181 000 g mol -1 ; the low molecular mass liquid crystal exhibits a nematic to isotropic transition at 35.3°C and crystallizes below 23°C. The phase diagram exhibits miscibility gaps in certain regions of temperature and composition where coexisting nematic and isotropic phases are found. From a practical point of view when considering the electro-optical applications of these systems, it proves to be useful to know precisely the amount of small liquid crystal molecules dissolved in the polymer matrix and the concentration of polymer in the nematic phase. The former quantity has a mechanical impact due to a plasticizing effect, an optical impact since it changes the polymer refractive index, while the polymer in the nematic phase shifts the transition temperatures influencing the electro-optical response of the liquid crystal. The present work addresses these important aspects using POM and DSC.     

Influence of trans-cis photoisomerizations of solubilized compounds on transition temperatures in the system cetyltrimethylammonium bromide-water: Light-induced phase transitions

Transition temperatures (TN1) from the nematic lyotropic liquid-crystalline phase to the isotropic phase were measured for the system cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) water in the presence of small amounts of 3-stilbene carboxylic acid (3SC), 4-stilbene carboxylic acid (4SC) and Δ2/2'-bi-(2H-l,4-benzothiazine) (BT). TNI, increases as a function of trans-3SC or trans-4SC concentration, ranging from 01 to 08 wt %, by up to 12°C. A further increase in TNI between 2 and 5°C can be achieved by photochemically converting the solubilized trans stilbene derivatives to the cis isomers. Irradiation of a trans-3SC containing sample at a temperature just above TNl leads to a light-induced phase transition to the lyotropic liquid-crystalline phase. Solubilization of trans-BT causes a slight decrease of TNI while photoisomerization to cis-BT increases T_NI by 1°C.     

Solution behavior of a surfactant aldehyde–the oxidation product of an alcohol ethoxylate

It has previously been shown that alcohol ethoxylates readily undergo autoxidation and that one of the major oxidation products is the surfactant aldehyde, i.e. an ethoxylate carrying a –CH₂CHO group at the terminal end of the polyoxyethylene chain. In this work the cloud point, phase behavior and aggregation characteristics of the surfactant aldehyde produced by oxidation of C₁₂H₂₅(OCH₂CH₂)₅OH (C₁₂E₅) are determined and compared with the values obtained with the parent surfactant. It was found that the physico–chemical behavior of the two species was very similar, which indicates that a considerable portion of the aldehyde group is in hydrated state, i.e. the surfactant aldehyde consists of a mixture of aldehyde in carbonyl form and the corresponding geminal diol. The cloud point of the surfactant aldehyde decreased rapidly with time, even when it was stored at low temperature. Also the parent surfactant and its homologue C₁₂E₆ exhibited a decrease in cloud point during storage. For instance, a 1% aqueous solution of C₁₂E₆ showed a cloud point decrease from 62 to 32°C after 4 months storage at 40°C. Such a change in solution behavior can have important practical implications.     

Use of a MDI-functionalized reactive polymer for the manufacture of modified bitumen with enhanced properties for roofing applications

In this study, the suitability of a reactive polymer, synthesized by reaction of 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) with a low molecular weight polyethylene-glycol (PEG), as a modifying agent for the manufacture of bitumen-based waterproof membranes, was evaluated. With that purpose, rheological and thermal analysis tests, and microstructural observations by AFM were carried out on different samples of modified bitumen having a MDI–PEG content ranging from 0 to 10 wt.%, cured at room temperature for a period of time within 0–30 days. The results obtained demonstrate that the addition of the reactive polymer proposed in this work to bitumen is very suitable at high in-service temperatures, because a noticeable increase in the values of viscosity, at 60 °C, of the resulting modified bitumen samples is observed on a time-scale of days. AFM observations, carried out at 50 °C, evidenced that the reactive polymer MDI–PEG leads to a new microstructure, displaying a higher level of stiffness. Therefore, this polymer should be seriously taken into consideration as a modifier of bituminous coatings for the waterproofing industry.     

A comparison of pressure induced and concentration induced smectic A-nematic-isotropic triple points

Optical microscopy in mixtures of di-octylazoxybenzene (8AB) and di-nonylazoxybenzene (9AB) reveals that a smectic A-nematic-isotropic triple point occurs at 71·5±0·5°C and 38±2wt% 8AB. Although this concentration induced triple point is different from the pressure induced triple point known to exist in pure 9AB at elevated pressure, analysis of the data from both the mixing and pressure experiments reveals that the phase transition surfaces in temperature-pressure-concentration space for this system are nearly planar.     

Interaction of water with poly(vinyl methyl ether) in aqueous solution

Near-infrared, viscometric, and calorimetric measurements were made on aqueous poly(vinyl methyl ether) (PVME) solutions at temperatures between 15 and 43°C. We found a hydrogen-bonded structure of water around the polymer chain (a polymer-water complex), which is characterized by two distinct hydration numbers (i.e., 2.7 and 5.0 water molecules on each monomer unit of the chain) by analyzing the concentration dependence of endothermic enthalpies at a cloud point temperature, ca. 35°C. In particular, the 2.7 water-polymer complex has been suggested to be cooperatively formed by using data of the near-infrared (nir) absorption spectrum around 1930 nm. Furthermore, the peak-wavelength of the nir spectrum has been observed to change drastically at the cloud point when the temperature is raised. This can be interpreted as a cooperative collapse of the hydrogen-bonded water structure to free water, resulting in the aggregation of the polymer chains due to the exposure of their hydrophobic groups at the cloud point. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Microstructure and dynamics of a mesogenic diol

A number of techniques have been used to elucidate the structure and dynamics of 4,4'-bis(6-hydroxyhexyloxy)biphenyl (BHHBP) in its various phases. X-ray diffraction studies indicate that the molecules pack in a crystalline phase which melts to produce a highly ordered smectic/disordered crystal mesophase. Based on molecular models and the infrared results, the all trans conformation requires a 45°-55° tilt of the molecules in the smectic layers. Infrared spectroscopic results indicate that a predominantly trans chain conformation and hydrogen bonding of the layered crystal structure persists through the mesophase. Additionally, rotational freedom about the biphenyl linkage appears to occur only in the isotropic phase. NMR data indicate that the alkoxy chain is at or near co-planarity with the respect to the phenyl ring in the crystalline phase, with reorientational motion of the biphenyl group becoming allowed in the mesophase in the form of rapid (τ_c ∼ 3 μs at 100°C) small angle liberations and, perhaps, slower (τ_c ∼ 0·5 ms at 100°C) 180° ring flips. The alkyl chains exhibit a progressive increase in mobility with distance from the biphenyl core and achieve considerable mobility at the hydroxy end of the chain despite the fact that hydrogen bonding still occurs in the mesophase.