Copolymers by Inverse Vulcanization of Sulfur with Pure or Technical-Grade Unsaturated Fatty Acids

Efforts to develop sustainable industrial processes have led to significant advances toward supplanting petrochemical-dependent technologies. Some of these otherwise sustainable processes, notably animal product rendering and biodiesel production, produce low value waste that is high in free fatty acids. Sulfur in turn is a primary waste product of fossil fuel refining. In the current contribution, copolymers are prepared by reaction of elemental sulfur with fatty acids in several monomer ratios. Both monounsaturated oleic acid and bis(unsaturated) linoleic acid were evaluated to assess the extent to which copolymer properties relate to the degree of unsaturation of the fatty acid comonomer. Furthermore, copolymers prepared from technical grade versus pure linoleic acid were compared to evaluate the viability of the considerably more affordable technical grade monomer. The thermal and mechanical properties of the copolymers were assessed by thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical analysis. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 58, 438–445     

Inverse Vulcanization of a Natural Monoene with Sulfur as Sustainable Electrochemically Active Materials for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

A novel soluble copolymer poly(S-MVT) was synthesized using a relatively quick one-pot solvent-free method, inverse vulcanization. Both of the two raw materials are sustainable, i.e., elemental sulfur is a by-product of the petroleum industry and 4-Methyl-5-vinylthiazole (MVT) is a natural monoene compound. The microstructure of poly(S-MVT) was characterized by FT-IR, ¹H NMR, XPS spectroscopy, XRD, DSC SEM, and TEM. Test results indicated that the copolymers possess protonated thiazole nitrogen atoms, meso/macroporous structure, and solubility in tetrahydrofuran and chloroform. Moreover, the improved electronic properties of poly(S-MVT) relative to elemental sulfur have also been investigated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The copolymers are utilized successfully as the cathode active material in Li-S batteries. Upon employment, the copolymer with 15% MVT content provided good cycling stability at a capacity of ∼514 mA h g⁻¹ (based on the mass of copolymer) and high Coulombic efficiencies (∼100%) over 100 cycles, as well as great rate performance.     

Renewable Copper and Silver Amalgam Film Electrodes of Prolonged Application for the Determination of Elemental Sulfur Using Stripping Voltammetry

New, renewable copper (Hg(Cu)FE) and silver (Hg(Ag)FE) based amalgam film electrodes applied for the determination of elemental sulfur using differential pulse cathodic stripping voltammetry are presented. With surface areas adjustable from 1 to 12 mm², both electrodes are characterized by very good surface reproducibility (≤2%) and long‐term stability (a few thousand measurement cycles). The mechanical refreshing of the amalgam film takes about 1–2 seconds. The effects of various factors such as instrumental parameters and the supporting electrolyte composition were optimized. Interferences from sulfides are easily removed by the addition of acid, and bubbling with argon, for Hg(Ag)FE. In the case of Hg(Cu)FE, sulfides did not interfere. The calibration graph is linear within the studied range from 16 ng L^?1 to 4.8 μg L^?1 for Hg(Cu)FE, and up to 6.4 μg L^?1 for Hg(Ag)FE (t_acc=15 s). The correlation coefficients for the two electrodes were at least 0.997. The detection limits for a low concentration of S(0) and t_acc=60 s are as low as 14 ng L^?1 for Hg(Cu)FE and 4 ng L^?1 for Hg(Ag)FE. The proposed method was successfully applied and validated by studying the recovery of S(0) from spiked river water.     

Method development for simultaneous analysis of HBCD,TBBPA, and dimethyl-TBBPA in marine biota from Greenland and the Faroe Islands

The brominated flame retardants hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) and tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) are high-production-volume chemicals. In recent years, their presence has been reported in sediment and biota from the marine environment. In this study, an analytical method was developed for the simultaneous determination of HBCD, TBBPA, and the possible metabolite dimethyl-TBBPA. The method was applied in a preliminary screening of egg, liver, and adipose tissue of marine biota from Greenland and the Faroe Islands. α-HBCD was detected in 35 of 36 analysed samples from the Arctic, indicating a ubiquitous presence of α-HBCD in the environment. β- and γ-HBCD were found in 10 and 14 samples, respectively. TBBPA and dimethyl-TBBPA were not detected in any of the samples indicating limited or no transport of these compounds to remote areas.     

含环氧基团的聚合物载体合成方法的改进及其固定化青霉素酰化酶

 以 Span-60 和 Tween-20 为复合分散剂, 以 N,N′-亚甲基双丙烯酰胺为交联剂, 以甲基丙烯酸缩水甘油酯和烯丙基缩水甘油醚为功能性单体, 用反相悬浮聚合技术成功制备了含环氧基团的聚合物载体, 并用红外光谱和低温氮吸附对聚合物载体进行了表征. 以 Span-60 和 Tween-20 为复合分散剂, 替代原有的 Span-60 和硬脂酸钙复合分散剂, 大幅度减少了后处理过程中所需的时间和溶剂用量, 使固定化青霉素酰化酶的活性从 215 U/g 提高到 320 U/g. 与游离酶相比, 该固定化酶具有较好的操作稳定性, 在 pH = 5~11 和不高于 50 oC 的环境中具有较好的稳定性. 固定化酶的水解反应动力学过程与游离酶相同, 均遵循米氏反应动力学, 而且活性与底物浓度密切相关. 当底物浓度为 6.5% 时, 固定化酶的活性最高, 达到 353 U/g.     

Tuning the Redox Chemistry of a Cr/SiO2 Phillips Catalyst for Controlling Activity,Induction Period and Polymer Properties

The Cr/SiO₂ Phillips catalyst has taken a central role in ethylene polymerization ever since its discovery in 1953. This catalyst is unique compared to other ethylene polymerization catalysts, since it is active without the addition of a metal-alkyl co-catalyst. However, metal-alkyls can be added for scavenging poisons, enhancing the catalyst activity, reducing the induction period and altering polymer characteristics. Despite extensive research into the working state of the catalyst, still no consensus has been reached. Here, we show that by varying the type of metal-alkyl co-catalyst and its amount, the Cr redox chemistry can be tailored, resulting in distinct catalyst activities, induction periods, and polymer characteristics. We have used in-situ UV-Vis-NIR diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) for studying the Cr oxidation state during the reduction by tri-ethyl borane (TEB) or tri-ethyl aluminum (TEAl) and during subsequent ethylene polymerization. The results show that TEB primarily acts as a reductant and reduces Cr⁶⁺ with subsequent ethylene polymerization resulting in rapid polyethylene formation. TEAl generated two types of Cr²⁺ sites, inaccessible Cr³⁺ sites and active Cr⁴⁺ sites. Subsequent addition of ethylene also revealed an increased reducibility of residual Cr⁶⁺ sites and resulted in rapid polyethylene formation. Our results demonstrate the possibility of controlling the reduction chemistry by adding the proper amount and type of metal-alkyl for obtaining desired catalyst activities and tailored polyethylene characteristics.     

On the Structure of Sulfur/1,3-Diisopropenylbenzene Co-Polymer Cathodes for Li-S Batteries: Insights from Density-Functional Theory Calculations

Sulfur co-polymers have recently drawn considerable attention as alternative cathode materials for lithium-sulfur batteries, thanks to their flexible atomic structure and the ability to provide high reversible capacity. Here, we report on the atomic structure of sulfur/1,3-diisopropenylbenzene co-polymers (poly(S-co-DIB)) based on the insights obtained from density-functional theory calculations. The focus is set on studying the local structural properties, namely the favorable sulfur chain length (S_n with ) connecting two DIBs. In order to investigate the effects of the organic groups and sulfur chains separately, we perform series of atomic structure optimizations. We start from simple organic groups connected via sulfur chains and gradually change the structure of the organic groups until we reach a structure in which two DIB molecules are attached via sulfur chains. Additionally, to increase the structural sampling, we perform temperature-assisted minimum-energy structure search on slightly simpler model systems. We find that in DIB-S_n-DIB co-polymers, shorter sulfur chains with are preferred, where the stabilization is mostly brought about by the sulfur chains rather than the organic groups. The presented results, corresponding to the fully charged state of the cathode in the thermodynamic limit, have direct applications in the field of lithium-sulfur batteries with sulfur-polymer cathodes.     

Model reaction for the synthesis of polyhydroxyurethanes from cyclic carbonates with amines: Substituent effect on the reactivity and selectivity of ring‐opening direction in the reaction of five‐membered cyclic carbonates with amine

This article focuses on the substituent effect on the reactivity and selectivity of the ring‐opening direction in the reaction of five‐membered cyclic carbonates with n‐hexylamine. The reactivity of the cyclic carbonate and the formation selectivity of the adduct with a secondary hydroxyl group increased as a stronger electron‐withdrawing group was introduced at the α‐methylene of the cyclic carbonate. These results are discussed on the basis of the stability of intermediates, primary and secondary alcoholate anions, Mulliken charges on carbonyl carbon, and the bond lengths and orders of the O? C?O single bond. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 3678–3685, 2001     

Development of a low‐density‐solvent dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry method for the quantitation of tetrabromobisphenol‐A from dust

The development of an alternative dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction protocol utilizing a low‐density extraction solvent, toluene, is described here for the extraction of the brominated flame retardant, tetrabromobisphenol‐A, from dust prior to selected ion monitoring analysis by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry. Method parameters of dispersive solvent type and extraction solvent type were optimized. Excellent recovery (88.9%; n = 5 spike replicates) with good precision was achieved in a spike and recovery study. This developed method was utilized to survey tetrabromobisphenol‐A concentrations in dust sampled from a local electronics recycling facility from the ambient environment and 20 computer towers undergoing recycling. Concentrations of tetrabromobisphenol‐A from dust in computer towers ranged from not detected (n = 2) up to 64 μg/g with a mean value of 11 μg/g and median of 4.1 μg/g tetrabromobisphenol‐A. A composite sample of dust collected from the ambient indoor environment was analyzed with a resulting concentration of 36 μg/g. This is the first application of this novel green method for pre‐concentrating flame retardants from dust and the first report of tetrabromobisphenol‐A concentrations at a U.S.‐based electronics recycling facility.     

工程教育认证视域下高分子材料与工程专业课程目标达成情况评价机制*——高分子化学课程目标达成情况评价

鲁东大学高分子材料与工程专业以推进新工科建设为契机、以工程教育认证为抓手,不断强化专业内涵建设和过程管理,建立了面向产出的课程目标达成情况评价机制,取得了良好效果。详述了课程目标达成情况评价机制的建立及实施方法,并以高分子化学课程目标达成情况评价为例进行阐释。     

从同课异构看化学教学设计的效果和发展

在同课异构的教学实践中,分别通过新授课、概念课和复习课的教学设计和实施,阐述如何遵循认识发展来突破学生的认知障碍,通过教学设计、教学实施、教学评价和教学反思诠释“为什么教”“教什么”“怎么教”“教得怎么样”和“教学发展”的问题,凸显教学的本质。