Oxygen Barrier LDPE/LLDPE/Organoclay Nano-Composite Films for Food Packaging

Summary: This study intends to replace polyethylene multi-layer films used in food packaging industry with single-layer polyethylene nanocomposites films. Nanocomposites of LDPE/LLDPE/ montmorillonite organoclay were prepared by melt compounding in a twin extruder and then film blown to prepare thin films. LLDPE-g-MA was used as compatibilizer to achieve better interaction between the blend and organoclay. Various compositions of organoclay and compatibilizer were prepared. The structure of nanocomposites was characterized by XRD and TEM. Permeability properties were measured using a permeability measuring set-up and aspect ratio of the particles was evaluated using permeability data. The results showed that addition of organoclay even at low level (below 5 phr) had significant effect on barrier properties of the nanocomposites. Oxygen permeability decreased by 50% by adding only 3 phr of nanoclay into the blend. Crystalline structure of the nanocomposites was studied by DSC. Addition of clay also led to increase in melting point and somewhat decrease in the crystalline level. Given the fact that crystals are effectively non-permeable, the concomitant reduction in crystallinity of the blend with decrease in permeability suggests that barrier properties arise from tortuousity of nanoparticles in the blend.     

On the Second Iterate for Critically Diffusive Active Scalar Equations

We consider an iterative resolution scheme for a class of active scalar equations with a fractional power γ of the Laplacian and focus our attention on the second iterate. In the case of critical diffusivity, we extract information relevant to Well-posedness questions in scale-invariant spaces. Our results are Two-fold: we prove continuity of the bilinear operator in ${\dot{B}^{0}_{\infty,1}}$ ; for equations with an even symbol we show that the ${B^{-1/2}_{\infty,q}}$ -regularity, where q > 2, is in a sense a minimal necessary requirement on the solution.     

High performance two-color one megapixel CMOS ROIC for QWIP detectors

FLIR Systems, Inc. has designed and fabricated the ISC0501 CMOS readout integrated circuit (ROIC) for quantum well infrared photodetectors (QWIPs). The ISC0501 is a two-color 1024 × 1024 format array with a 30 μm pixel pitch. The ROIC contains a separate analog signal path for each wavelength band. Separate signal paths allow the two-colors to have optimized detector biases, integration times, offsets and gains. This architecture also allows both colors to simultaneously sample a scene and readout the pixel data. This paper will describe the interface, design and features of the ROIC as well as a summary of the characterization test results. A sample image is included from a focal plane array (FPA) built by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) using the ISC0501 ROIC with QWIP detectors designed by JPL.     

Highly Water‐Soluble,Fluorescent, Conjugated Fluorene‐Based Glycopolymers with Poly(ethylene glycol)‐Tethered Spacers for Sensitive Detection of Escherichia coli

Know your bacteria! Two fluorene‐based, conjugated polymers with oligo(ethylene glycol)‐ and poly(ethylene glycol)‐tethered spacers have been prepared by the Suzuki coupling polymerization reactions. β‐Glucose and α‐mannose residues were covalently attached to the conjugated polymers by post‐polymerization functionalization with thiol‐functionalized carbohydrates under basic conditions. Investigations on their use as biosensing materials for the detection of Escherichia coli are reported (see figure).

     

Headspace solid-phase microextraction–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry for profiling free volatile compounds in Cabernet Sauvignon grapes and wines

The complex aroma of wine is derived from many sources, with grape-derived components being responsible for the varietal character. The ability to monitor grape aroma compounds would allow for better understanding of how vineyard practices and winemaking processes influence the final volatile composition of the wine. Here, we describe a procedure using GC–MS combined with headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) for profiling the free volatile compounds in Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. Different sample preparation (SPME fiber type, extraction time, extraction temperature and dilution solvent) and GC–MS conditions were evaluated to optimize the method. For the final method, grape skins were homogenized with water and 8 ml of sample were placed in a 20 ml headspace vial with addition of NaCl; a polydimethylsiloxane SPME fiber was used for extraction at 40 °C for 30 min with continuous stirring. Using this method, 27 flavor compounds were monitored and used to profile the free volatile components in Cabernet Sauvignon grapes at different maturity levels. Ten compounds from the grapes, including 2-phenylethanol and β-damascenone, were also identified in the corresponding wines. Using this procedure it is possible to follow selected volatiles through the winemaking process.     

Reversible Control of Third-Order Optical Nonlinearity of DNA Decorated Carbon Nanotube Hybrids

Positive and negative third-order optical nonlinearities have been investigated in single-stranded DNA wrapped semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes. It is found that the redox reactions of hydrogen peroxide can reverse the sign of the third-order nonlinearity. The observation proves that the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital has a lower density of electronic states than that of the highest occupied molecular orbital. A three-energy-level model is used to explain the effect of the redox reactions. Raman spectroscopy has also been used to investigate the interaction between single-walled carbon nanotubes and single-stranded DNA.     

Examination of the translocation of sulfonylurea herbicides in sunflower plants by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry imaging

Pesticides are widely used in agriculture to control weeds, pests and diseases. Successful control is dependent on the compound reaching the target site within the organism after spray or soil application. Conventional methods for determining uptake and movement of herbicides and pesticides include autoradiography, liquid scintillation and chromatographic techniques such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Autoradiography using radiolabelled compounds provides the best indication of a compound's movement within the plant system. Autoradiography is an established technique but it relies on the synthesis of radiolabelled compounds. The distribution of four sulfonylurea herbicides in sunflower plants has been studied 24 h after foliar application. The use of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) images of protonated molecules and fragment ions (resulting from fragmentation at the urea bond within the sulfonylurea herbicides) has provided evidence for translocation above and below the application point. The translocation of nicosulfuron and azoxystrobin within the same plant system has also been demonstrated following their application to the plant stem. This study provides evidence that MALDI-MSI has great potential as an analytical technique to detect and assess the foliar, root and stem uptake of agrochemicals, and to reveal their distribution through the plant once absorbed and translocated.     

Organic‐Inorganic Hybrid Materials: Syntheses,X‐ray Diffraction Study,and Characterisations of Manganese,Cobalt, and Copper Complexes of Modified Bis(phosphonates)

Four new cobalt, manganese, and copper bis(phosphonates), [Co₂{Cl₂C(PO₃)₂}(H₂O)₇ · 4H₂O] ( 1 ), [Co{Cl₂C(PO₂O(C(O)C₆H₅))₂(H₂O)₅} · 2H₂O{Cl₂C(PO₂O(C(O)C₆H₅))₂}{Co(H₂O)₆}] ( 2 ), [Mn{[Cl₂C(PO₂O(C(O)C₆H₅))₂](H₂O)₃}] ( 3 ), and [Cu{(CH₂C₅H₅N)C(OH)(PO₃H)₂}₂ · 4H₂O] ( 4 ), were prepared by gel, liquid, and evaporation crystallisation methods. Compounds 1 – 4 were characterised by X‐ray single‐crystal diffraction, elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The effects of metal and various substituted groups in bis(phosphonate) ligands on the structure formation of bis(phosphonates) were studied. In the structure of 1 , the clodronic acid ligand ( L1 ) is in bischelating bonding mode, and the dinuclear units of 1 are surrounded by two‐dimensional water cluster patterns. The hydrogen bond network of compound 1 is extended to a three‐dimensional framework when the phosphonate oxygen atoms serve as hydrogen‐bond acceptors. In complex 2 , the CoO₆ octahedron shares a corner of one PCO₃ tetrahedron of the dibenzoyl derivative of clodronic acid ligand ( L2 ), and forms a two‐dimensional hydrogen bonding network, which consists of [Co(H₂O)₆}]²⁺ cations, lattice water molecules and L2 ligand molecules. Compound 3 , in turn, consists of dimeric building blocks built up of PCO₃ tetrahedra of the ligand L2 , which connect the corner‐sharing MnO₆ octahedra and form an overall 2D structure through hydrogen bonds of coordinated and crystal water molecules and phosphonate oxygen atoms. Complex 4 is among the first metal complexes of risedronic acid ( L3 ). In compound 4 , two L3 ligand molecules chelate tridentately the Cu^II atom at the center of symmetry, and the monomeric units of 4 are connected to a 3D structure through hydrogen bonding of coordinated and lattice water molecules to both protonated and deprotonated phosphonate oxygen atoms and protonated nitrogen atoms in the pyridine ring.     

Effects of synthetic and natural zeolites on morphology and thermal degradation of poly(lactic acid) composites

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) composites containing 5 wt% synthetic (type 4A) and natural (chabazite) zeolites were prepared using extrusion/injection molding. Morphological, structural, and thermal properties of composites were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). DSC results revealed that the glass transition and melting temperatures were not significantly changed; however, the incorporation of both type 4A and chabazite zeolites enhanced the nucleation of PLA crystallites as well as increased the percent crystallinity. Thermal degradation properties of PLA and PLA/zeolite composites were studied by non-isothermal thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) in nitrogen atmosphere. TGA results showed that at temperatures above 300 °C, PLA/type 4A synthetic zeolite composites were thermally decomposed more easily than the PLA and PLA/chabazite natural zeolite composites. The apparent activation energies of thermal degradation of PLA and PLA/zeolites composites estimated using both the Flynn-Wall-Ozawa and Kissinger methods followed the same order: PLA/type 4A < PLA/chabazite < PLA.