Improvement in enzyme activity and stability by addition of low molecular weight polyethylene glycol to sodium bis(2-ethyl-L-hexyl)sulfosuccinate/isooctane reverse micellar system

The activity and stability of Chromobacterium viscosum lipase (glycerolester hydrolase, EC 3.1.1.3)-catalyzed olive oil hydrolysis in sodium bis (2-ethyl-1-hexyl)sulfosuccinate (AOT)/isooctane reverse micelles is increased appreciably when low molecular weight polyethylene glycol (PEG 400) is added to the reverse micelles. To understand the effect of PEG 400 on the phase behavior of the reverse micellar system, the phase diagram of AOT/PEG 400/water/isooctane system was studied. The influences of relevant parameters on the catalytic activity in AOT/PEG 400 reverse micelles were investigated and compared with the results in the simple AOT reverse micelles. In the presence of PEG 400, the linear decreasing trend of the lipase activity with AOT concentration, which is observed in the simple AOT reverse micelles, disappeared. Enzyme entrapped in AOT/PEG reverse micelles was very stable, retaining>75% of its initial activity after 60 d, whereas the half-life in simple AOT reverse micelles was 38 d. The kinetics parameter maximum velocity (V _max)exhibiting the temperature dependence and the activation energy obtained by Arrhenius plot was suppressed significantly by the addition of PEG 400.     

Degradation-fragmentation of marine plastic waste and their environmental implications: A critical review

This review critically evaluates the plastic accumulation challenges and their environmental (primarily) and human (secondarily) impacts. It also emphasizes on their degradation and fragmentation phenomena under marine conditions. In addition, it takes into account the leachability of the various chemical substances (additives) embedded in plastic products to improve their polymeric properties and extend their life. Regardless of their effectiveness in enhancing the polymeric function of plastic products, these additives can potentially contaminate air, soil, food, and water. Several findings have shown that, regardless of their types and sizes, plastics can be degraded and/or fragmented under marine conditions. Therefore, the estimation of fragmentation and degradation rates via a reliable developed model is required to better understand the marine environmental status. The main parameter, which is responsible for initiating the fragmentation of plastics, is sunlight/UV radiation. Yet, UV- radiation alone is not enough to fragment some plastic polymer types under marine conditions, additional factors are needed such as mechanical abrasion. It should be also mentioned that most current studies on plastic degradation and fragmentation centered on the primary stages of degradation. Thus, further studies are needed to better understand these phenomena and to identify their fate and environmental effects.     

Manufacturing of pH sensitive PVA/PVP/MWCNT and PVA/PEG/MWCNT nanocomposites: an approach for significant drug release

The purpose of this paper is studying the effect of incorporation of Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNT) into two different nanocomposites in poly vinyl alcohol (PVA)/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and PVA/Polyethylene glycol (PEG). MWCNT were synthesized by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method using acetylene and Fe/Co/Al₂O₃ as carbon precursor and catalyst, respectively. Nitric acid and sulfuric acid were used for purification and functionalization of MWCNT. Afterward, highly pure and functionalized MWCNT (0, 0.02, and 0.05% w/w) were incorporated in PVA/PVP and PVA/PEG to synthesize PVA/PVP/MWCNT and PVA/PEG/MWCNT nanocomposites hydrogel membranes that cross-linked by freezing–thawing. PEG and PVP were selected in these nanocomposites as dispersion matrix for MWCNT as well as for increasing the elasticity of the nanocomposites membranes. The morphology of the hydrogels was characterized by SEM, FTIR, XRD, TGA, and the mechanical properties of the hydrogel membranes were investigated. The swelling behavior in different pH-buffer solutions was studied as well as studying weight loss percentage and swelling kinetic. The drug releasing process of the hydrogel membranes was investigated using salicylic acid as a model drug. It was found that MWCNT are dispersed well into the polymers and crystallinity, mechanical properties and thermal stability of the hydrogels contain MWCNT are better than that without MWCNT. Maximum degree of swelling was observed at pH 7 and swelling degree increases with increasing the ratio of MWCNT in the hydrogels from 0.02 to 0.05%. All hydrogel membranes followed non-Fickian mechanism and drug releasing were controlled by varying the pH and amount of MWCNT.     

Fluorination of polymers by sulfur hexafluoride gas under electric discharge

Fluorination of low-density polyethylene, polyacetylene, and poly(vinyl alcohol) was carried out using SF₆ gas under electric discharge. The polymers were partially fluorinated and the extent of fluorination was more in the case of poly (vinyl alcohol) than the other two polymers. The fluorinated polymers were characterized by elemental analysis (Fluorine), IR, and x-ray diffraction. Optical transparency of the films was also measured. The fluorinated polymers show better solvent resistance and decreased transparency than the virgin polymer. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Study and characterization of virgin and recycled LDPE/PP blends

Recycling of mixed plastic wastes composed of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) matrix and polypropylene (PP) was carried out by compounding using single-screw or twin-screw extruders. Blends of virgin polymers have been prepared to compare mechanical properties of both virgin and regenerated materials. First, a model composition of virgin LDPE/PP blend was prepared to study the effect of process parameters and that of different types of compatibilizers. Second, the results were applied to plastic wastes coming from industrial post-consumer plastic wastes. By adding compatibilizing agents such as ethylene-propylene-diene monomer, ethylene-propylene monomer, or PE-g-(2-methyl-1,3-butadiene) graft copolymer, elongation at break and impact strength were improved for all blends. The effect of these various copolymers is quite different and is in relation with their chemical structure. The recycled blends exhibit suitable properties leading to applications that require good mechanical properties.     

Synthesis and Catalytic Application of Homo-bimetallic Metallocene Complexes as Ethylene Polymerization Catalysts

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Rheological investigation of the influence of molecular structure on natural and accelerated UV degradation of linear low density polyethylene

Metallocene and Ziegler-Natta (ZN) linear low density polyethylenes (LLDPEs) of different branch types and contents as well as linear high density polyethylene (HDPE) were exposed to natural and accelerated weather conditions. The degree of UV degradation of exposed samples was measured by rheological techniques and results were compared with unexposed polymers. Dynamic shear measurements were performed in an ARES rheometer in the linear viscoelastic range. The degree of enhancement or reduction in viscosity and elasticity was used as a measure of the degree of cross-linking or chain scission, respectively. The degradation results of LLDPE suggest that both cross-linking and chain scission are taking place. Chain scission dominated the degradation at high levels of short chain branching (SCB) and long exposure times. The degradation mechanism of m-LLDPE and ZN-LLDPE is similar; however, m-LLDPE showed a higher degradation rate than ZN-LLDPE of similar M_w and average SCB. ZN-LLDPE was found to be more stable than a similar m-LLDPE. Comonomer type had little influence on degradation. Dynamic shear rheology was very useful in revealing the influence of different molecular parameters and it exposed the degradation mechanism.     

Reversible Melting of Thermally Fractionated Polyethylene

Different grades of linear low density polyethylenes (LLDPEs) have been quenched cooled step-wise and crystallised isothermally at (a series of increasing) temperatures in a DSC (thermal fractionated samples). These samples have been investigated by temperature modulated DSC (MDSC). The heat flow curves of the thermal fractionated materials were compared with those obtained from samples crystallised at a relatively slow cooling rate of 2 K min^-1(standard samples). The melting enthalpy obtained from the total heat flow of the thermal fractionated samples was 0-10 J g^-1higher than those of standard samples. The melting enthalpy obtained from the reversing heat flows was 13-31 J g^-1lower in the thermal fractionated samples than in the standard samples. The ratio of the reversing melting enthalpy to the total melting enthalpy increased with decreasing density of the PE. The melting temperature of the endotherms formed by the step-wise cooling was 9 K higher than the crystallisation temperature. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

极性和非极性溶剂在聚乙烯中的无限稀释扩散系数的测定

 气相法研究小分子溶剂与高分子聚合物材料之间的相互作用是一个快速、准确、方便的方法 ,可以测量多种小分子溶剂在聚合物中的溶解、扩散参数。通过气相法测定了 5种小分子溶剂 (正己烷、正庚烷、正癸烷、乙醇和水 )在固定液聚乙烯中的保留时间和半峰宽 ,运用vanDeemter模型进行数据处理 ,得到上述 5种小分子在聚乙烯中的无限稀释扩散系数 ,获得了十分有意义的结果。     

Mechanical properties of fiber reinforced styrene-butadiene rubbers using surface-modified UHMWPE fibers under EB irradiation

Aiming to develop a high performance fiber reinforced rubber of SBR, a special technique using electron beam (EB) irradiation-induced graft-polymerization was applied to ultra-high molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers. Although UHMWPE is chemically inert, N-vinyl formamide (NVF) could be graft-polymerized onto the UHMWPE fiber surface with this special technique. A maximum grafting percentage of 23.6% was achieved. The composite of SBR and grafted UHMWPE fibers with maximum grafting indicated a linear increase in the initial modulus and strength with the fiber content. At the fiber content of 10%, the initial modulus was improved about five times with respect to that of the pure SBR, while the strength was done about twice. At this moment, only a small reduction could be observed in the strain compared with that of pure SBR. The fiber reinforced rubber with a good performance was obtained in the system of SBR and grafted UHMWPE fibers.