Mechanochemical Degradation and Recycling of Synthetic Polymers

The accumulation of plastic waste, due to lack of recycling, has led to serious environmental pollution. Although mechanical recycling can alleviate this issue, it inevitably reduces the molecular weight and weakens the mechanical properties of materials and is not suitable for mixed materials. Chemical recycling, on the other hand, breaks the polymer into monomers or small-molecule constituents, allowing for the preparation of materials of quality comparable to that of the virgin polymers and can be applied to mixed materials. Mechanochemical degradation and recycling leverages the advantages of mechanical techniques, such as scalability and efficient energy use, to achieve chemical recycling. We summarize recent progress in mechanochemical degradation and recycling of synthetic polymers, including both commercial polymers and those designed for more efficient mechanochemical degradation. We also point out the limitations of mechanochemical degradation and present our perspectives on how the challenges can be mitigated for a circular polymer economy.     

固相萃取吸附材料在植物激素样品前处理中的应用新进展

植物激素在植物生长过程中具有重要作用,调节植物生长、发育及抗逆的各个过程。植物激素超微精准定量分析一直是植物生理学研究的瓶颈问题。植物激素的准确、高效检测目前大多是基于液相色谱-串联质谱联用技术。样品前处理是植物激素色谱-质谱分析中必不可少的一个步骤,直接影响后续检测方法的灵敏度和准确性。在植物激素各种前处理方法中,固相萃取(SPE)技术应用非常广泛。在萃取小柱基础上发展了多种新形式(分散固相萃取、磁性固相萃取、固相微萃取等,称之为SPE相关方法)。在上述SPE相关方法中,吸附材料的选择均是关键因素,决定了样品前处理过程的目标物提取、净化和富集效果。碳基材料(包括碳纳米管、石墨烯、碳氮化合物等)和有机骨架材料(包括金属有机骨架、共价有机材料)拥有结构可设计、比表面积大、稳定性良好等特性,非常适合作为吸附材料。分子印迹聚合物和超分子化合物依靠主-客体特异性分子识别作用,能显著提高样品前处理方法的选择性。本文重点针对植物激素样品前处理中的SPE技术,综述了近5年来上述几类功能化吸附材料的最新应用进展,并对其发展趋势进行展望。     

Mechanochemistry of Gaseous Reactants

In recent years, the application of mechanical energy to chemical systems has repeatedly proven beneficial to facilitate chemical transformations in various areas in chemistry. Today, a systematic body of evidence indicates that mechanochemistry holds great promise to become a game‐changer in chemical synthesis. Not only does mechanochemistry permit access to products that are inaccessible by established means (e.g. purely thermal activation), mechanochemical reactions often outperform their solution‐based counterparts in terms of sustainability. Most mechanochemical reactions carried out by ball milling techniques involve transformations of solids and liquids, but the number of mechanochemical reactions with gaseous reactants is increasing. The aim of this Minireview is to provide an overview of recent chemical reactions involving gaseous samples by ball milling techniques and to highlight advances in ball milling technology for the safe handling of gaseous reagents. Examples of reactions proceeding at the interface of solid–/liquid–/gas–gas systems that led to significant improvements in reactivity or selectivity will also be highlighted.     

Tinkering with Mechanochemical Tools for Scale Up

Mechanochemistry provides an environmentally benign platform to develop more sustainable chemical processes by limiting raw materials, energy use, and waste generation while using physically smaller equipment. A continuously growing research community has steadily showcased examples of beneficial mechanochemistry applications at both the laboratory and the preparative scale. In contrast to solution-based chemistry, mechanochemical processes have not yet been standardized, and thus scaling up is still a nascent discipline. The purpose of this Minireview is to highlight similarities, differences and challenges of the various approaches that have been successfully applied for a range of chemical applications at various scales. We hope to provide a discussion starting point for those interested in further developing mechanochemical processes for commercial use and/or industrialisation.     

A modular approach to mechanically gated photoswitching with color-tunable molecular force probes

Molecular force probes conveniently report on mechanical stress and/or strain in polymers through straightforward visual cues. Unlike conventional mechanochromic mechanophores, the mechanically gated photoswitching strategy decouples mechanochemical activation from the ultimate chromogenic response, enabling the mechanical history of a material to be recorded and read on-demand using light. Here we report a completely redesigned, highly modular mechanophore platform for mechanically gated photoswitching that offers a robust, accessible synthesis and late stage diversification through Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions to precisely tune the photophysical properties of the masked diarylethene (DAE) photoswitch. Using solution-phase ultrasonication, the reactivity of a small library of functionally diverse mechanophores is demonstrated to be exceptionally selective, producing a chromogenic response under UV irradiation only after mechanochemical activation, revealing colored DAE isomers with absorption spectra that span the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Notably, mechanically gated photoswitching is successfully translated to solid polymeric materials for the first time, demonstrating the potential of the masked diarylethene mechanophore for a variety of applications in force-responsive polymeric materials.

A highly modular and synthetically accessible mechanophore platform enables mechanically gated photoswitching in solution and in solid polymeric materials.     

Comparison of nano- and microfibrillated cellulose films

Nanocellulose is an interesting building block for functional materials and has gained considerable interest due to its mechanical robustness, large surface area and biodegradability. It can be formed into various structures such as solids, films and gels such as hydrogels and aerogels and combined with polymers or other materials to form composites. Mechanical, optical and barrier properties of nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) and microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) films were studied in order to understand their potential for packaging and functional printing applications. Impact of raw material choice and nanocellulose production process on these properties was evaluated. MFC and NFC were produced following two different routes. NFC was produced using a chemical pretreatment followed by a high pressure homogenization, whereas MFC was produced using a mechanical treatment only. TEMPO-mediated oxidation followed by one step of high pressure (2,000 bar) homogenization seems to produce a similar type of NFC from both hardwood and softwood. NFC films showed superior mechanical and optical properties compared with MFC films; however, MFC films demonstrated better barrier properties against oxygen and water vapor. Both the MFC and NFC films were excellent barriers against mineral oil used in ordinary printing inks and dichlorobenzene, a common solvent used in functional printing inks. Barrier properties against vegetable oil were also found to be exceptionally good for both the NFC and MFC films.     

Plant oil renewable resources as green alternatives in polymer science

The utilization of plant oil renewable resources as raw materials for monomers and polymers is discussed and reviewed. In an age of increasing oil prices, global warming and other environmental problems (e.g. waste) the change from fossil feedstock to renewable resources can considerably contribute to a sustainable development in the future. Especially plant derived fats and oils bear a large potential for the substitution of currently used petrochemicals, since monomers, fine chemicals and polymers can be derived from these resources in a straightforward fashion. The synthesis of monomers as well as polymers from plant fats and oils has already found some industrial application and recent developments in this field offer promising new opportunities, as is shown within this contribution. (138 references.)     

Effect of Mechanical Activation on the Reaction of Magnesium Hydride with Water

The effect of the parameters of mechanochemical activation of magnesium hydride and MgH₂-graphite binary compositions on the parameters of materials and their hydrolytic activity has been studied. It is concluded that mechanochemical treatment increases the reactivity of magnesium hydride in its reaction with water. Graphite provides an additional activating effect during the mechanochemical treatment of MgH₂. A deformation dose of 20 kJ/g was determined to be the optimum one for achieving the highest reactivity in the hydrolysis reaction with the formation of MgH₂-graphite composites. As a result of the hydrolysis of such materials, up to 970–1280 mL hydrogen per composite gram is evolved in 40 min of the reaction with water without an additional change in the solution acidity.     

Mechanochromism and Mechanical‐Force‐Triggered Cross‐Linking from a Single Reactive Moiety Incorporated into Polymer Chains

Incorporation of small reactive moieties, the reactivity of which depends on externally imposed load (so‐called mechanophores) into polymer chains offers access to a broad range of stress‐responsive materials. Here, we report that polymers incorporating spirothiopyran (STP) manifest both green mechanochromism and load‐induced addition reactions in solution and solid. Stretching a macromolecule containing colorless STP converts it into green thiomerocyanine (TMC), the mechanically activated thiolate moiety of which undergoes rapid thiol–ene click reactions with certain reactive C=C bonds to form a graft or a cross‐link. The unique dual mechanochemical response of STP makes it of potentially great utility both for the design of new stress‐responsive materials and for fundamental studies in polymer physics, for example, the dynamics of physical and mechanochemical remodeling of loaded materials.     

多力响应基团聚合物合成的研究进展

多力响应基团聚合物(MMPs)的设计与合成为高灵敏地观察和定量力化学转变及高效利用机械能提供了新机遇,推动了聚合物力化学的发展.本文主要介绍了后聚合改性、逐步聚合、开环易位聚合和活性/可控自由基聚合等4种MMPs的合成方法,分别对这些方法的特点、优势和适用体系进行了论述,期望为新型机械力响应性聚合物的制备和应用提供新思路.     

由苯-1，2，4-三羧酸-1，2—酐和羟乙基哌嗪合成酰胺键、叔氨和酯键交替排列的水溶性超支化聚合物

基于官能团非等活性原理，由商品化多组分单体一步法合成了超支化聚合物． 用苯—1，2，4-三羧酸—1，2酐(BTAA)与羟乙基哌嗪(HEPZ)为原料，利用氨基和羟 基反应活性不同，制备了结构非对称超支化聚酰胺—酯．分别用红外、核磁共振确 定了所得聚合物的结构．该聚合物分子骨架中含有交替排列的酰胺键、叔氨和酯键 ，易溶于水．本合成方法原料易得、工艺简单，适合大量制备超支化聚合物．     

Extraction of hidden information of ToF‐SIMS data using different multivariate analyses

Time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF‐SIMS) is a powerful tool for determining surface information of complex systems such as polymers and biological materials. However, the interpretation of ToF‐SIMS raw data is often difficult. Multivariate analysis has become effective methods for the interpretation of ToF‐SIMS data. Some of multivariate analysis methods such as principal component analysis and multivariate curve resolution are useful for simplifying ToF‐SIMS data consisting of many components to that explained by a smaller number of components. In this study, the ToF‐SIMS data of four layers of three polymers was analyzed using these analysis methods. The information acquired by using each method was compared in terms of the spatial distribution of the polymers and identification. Moreover, in order to investigate the influence of surface contamination, the ToF‐SIMS data before and after Ar cluster ion beam sputtering was compared. As a result, materials in the sample of multiple components, including unknown contaminants, were distinguished. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

新型样品前处理材料在环境污染物分析检测中的研究进展

针对复杂样品的分析和痕量目标物的检测,样品前处理是必不可少的,高效的样品前处理技术不仅可以去除或减小样品基质干扰而且能够实现分析物的富集,提高分析检测的准确性和灵敏度.近年来,固相萃取、磁分散固相萃取、枪头固相萃取、搅拌棒萃取、固相微萃取等高效的样品前处理技术已在环境污染物分析检测中获得广泛关注,萃取效率主要取决于萃取...     

Highly efficient mechanochemical scission of silver-carbene coordination polymers

The ultrasound-induced scission of silver carbene coordination complexes with polytetrahydrofuran-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene ligands is reported. In solution, scission is very efficient, with complete conversion within 10 min when the polymers have a molecular weight of 6.7 kDa. The mechanochemical origin of the scission is supported by the molecular weight dependence of the scission rate and by the low reactivity of the silver complex with low molecular weight ligands. The mechanochemical process at room temperature is much faster than thermal scission at 60 degreesC, which has a conversion of 30% in 18 h.     

Morphological and structural development of hardwood cellulose during mechanochemical pretreatment in solid state through pan-milling

Mechanochemical pretreatment of hardwood cellulose was conducted by our self-designed pan-mill equipment which has an unique and smart structure and can exert strong shear forces and pressure on materials in between and break them down. The structure transformations, including particle size, powder morphology, molecular structure, crystalline structure during milling were investigated by Laser Diffraction Particle Size Analyzer, SEM, FT-IR and WAXD, respectively. Compared with standard method of ball-milling, the pan-mill shows a much higher efficiency in mechanochemical pretreatment of hardwood cellulose. The average particle size reduced to 21 μm and the specific surface area increased to 0.8 m²/g after 40 milling cycles. Mechanical milling also led to collapse of hydrogen bonds and reduction of crystallinity. The crystallinity index of cellulose powder decreased from its original 65 to 22, after milling for 40 cycles. Thermal analysis and solubility testing illustrated that pan-milled cellulose has lower thermal stability and higher solubility in aqueous alkali.     

Raw Materials and Energy: A Challenge for Polymer Research

The substantial rapid growth of synthetic polymers—plastics, man-made fibers, films, rubbers, and coatings—which continued unabated over many years, suffered a severe setback for the first time in 1973–1974 followed by another in 1980. A major cause of these reverses was the changed situation with respect to raw materials and energy. For industrial polymer research, in particular, this presents a fresh challenge with considerably changed priorities. The individual ways of meeting this challenge are highlighted and illustrated by examples: the search for alternative raw material sources for monomers; the development of economic methods for production and processing of polymers; the recycling of polymers; and finally the development of new raw material-saving and energy-saving technologies based on the use of polymers. In the future, the applications of polymers to new technologies such as communication- and information-systems or biotechnology will join the traditional uses. But the efforts required in research and development to achieve this demand wide-ranging interdisciplinary cooperation on an even greater scale than hitherto.     

Mechanochemical Reactions from Individual Impacts to Global Transformation Kinetics

Typically induced by the mechanical processing of powders in ball mills, mechanochemical transformations are considered to result from the application of mechanical force to solid reactants. However, the undeniable deep connection between the dynamic compaction of powders during impacts and the overall transformation degree has yet to be disclosed. In the present work, we show that the square planar bis(dibenzoylmethanato)Ni^II coordination compound undergoes trimerization when its powder experiences even a single ball impact. Based on systematic experiments with individual ball impacts and analysis by Raman spectroscopy, we provide here quantitative mapping of the transformation in the powder compact and deduce bulk reaction kinetics from multiple individual impacts.     

用于食品安全分析样品前处理的共价有机聚合物的制备及应用进展

食品安全关系身体健康和生命安全,是全球关注的热点之一。食品基质复杂,痕量有毒有害物质分析之前必须经过有效的前处理。目前发展的前处理技术如固相萃取、磁固相萃取、固相微萃取等,其关键是吸附介质。共价有机聚合物是一类通过共价键连接而成的有机多孔材料,具有质轻、稳定性好、比表面积大、结构可控、易于修饰等特性,是一类优异的新型吸附材料。该文综述了近年来共价有机聚合物(COPs)在食品安全分析前处理中的应用进展。共价有机聚合物及其功能化复合材料通过简单的装填、聚合反应或化学键合固定到小柱或毛细管柱中用作固相萃取的吸附介质;通过一锅法、原位还原法、原位生长法或共沉淀法生成具有磁性的固相萃取吸附介质;或者通过物理涂覆、化学键合、溶胶凝胶法及原位生长法制备固相微萃取纤维。基于以上高吸附容量共价有机聚合物的样品前处理技术,食品中农残兽残、添加剂、环境污染物及生物毒素等得到了有效富集。最后,展望了COPs在食品分析样品前处理应用中的发展方向:简单高效绿色制备方法的开发,功能化COPs的设计合成;萃取机理的研究;高通量、高灵敏度分析方法研究。这些研究将促进COPs在样品前处理领域获得更广泛的应用。     

27Al NMR MAS Spectral Studies Inferring the Initiation of Geopolymerization Reaction on Together Mechanochemical Grinding of Raw Materials

Chemical shifts and intensities of the ²⁷Al NMR signals provide structural information about the environment of Al nuclei in presence of an external magnetic field. This paper analyzes the structural information of the aluminum nuclei present in the precursor material after mechanochemical co‐grinding of the raw materials, namely fly ash, NaOH, and amorphous tricalcium phosphate [Ca₃(PO₄)₂], with the help of ²⁷Al MAS NMR spectral studies. The results indicate transformation of the sixfold coordination Al ions with oxygen AlQ6 present in aluminosilicate material fly ash to fourfold AlQ4 and fivefold AlQ5 in the precursor material. The variation in chemical shift is between δ 64 and 65 ppm. This indicates that, in addition to direct bonding to the oxygen atom, the Al tetrahedron is also bonded to Si as [AlQ4(4Si)]. Thus, the mechanochemical co‐grinding of the raw materials initiates a solid‐state chemical reaction among them. The addition of water alone to this precursor material results in the formation of the geopolymeric material unlike the conventional geopolymeric system which requires the addition of a highly alkaline aqueous solution to fly ash. This study helps in the determination of the reaction mechanism during the mechanochemical transformation of raw materials into the geopolymeric product by a novel process.     

Effect of soy protein isolate on the thermal, mechanical and morphological properties of poly (-caprolactone) and corn starch blends

The development of biodegradable polymers is considered to be a good alternative to decrease the volume of the plastic waste disposed into the environment every year. The use of natural polymers as raw materials to develop polymer blends and composites has increased the demand for renewable sources such as starch and soy protein.In this work, the authors prepared and characterized the thermal, mechanical and morphological properties of blends based on poly (-caprolactone) and modified corn starch, with added soy protein isolate (SPI) and sorbitol. All samples were processed by extrusion in a single-screw extruder and hot pressing. It was observed that the addition of modified corn starch and SPI were responsible for the reduction of thermal and mechanical properties of the materials, compared to pristine PCL. However, with increasing amounts of SPI and the reduction of starch incorporated into the samples, their properties tend to recover. The insertion of soy protein isolate in the formulations was done with the aim of balancing the C/N ratio of the blend, which plays a key role in the biodegradation process of these materials.