Contribution of Supercritical Fluid Chromatography coupled to High Resolution Mass Spectrometry and UV detections for the analysis of a complex vegetable oil – Application for characterization of a Kniphofia uvaria extract

Lipids are an important and diverse group of naturally occurring organic compounds present in all biological entities. They play many essential roles in the survival of the organisms. Analysis of lipids is extremely complex due to their large variety of chemistries. In this work, we describe an innovative method for the characterization of the lipid composition in a complex and unknown vegetable oil: an extract of Kniphofia uvaria seeds; using Supercritical Fluid Chromatography (SFC) coupled to Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization (APCI), High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRMS) and UV detections. Thanks to the properties of supercritical CO₂ allowing the use of a large number of chromatographic columns, an effective separation for this complex matrix was obtained.     

Synthesis and properties of polyhydroxyurethane bearing silicone backbone

Polyhydroxyurethane bearing silicone backbone was prepared by polyaddition of silicone diamines with a bifunctional five‐membered cyclic carbonate prepared from the corresponding diepoxide and CO₂. Polymerization in propylene glycol methyl ether acetate proceeded smoothly, and polymers could be obtained in high yields under appropriate conditions. The introduced silicone moieties improved the hydrophobicity and lowered the glass transition temperature keeping thermal stability. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 1113–1118     

Synthesis of nanocomposites from cationic polyacrylamide and modified carbon black: Application as flocculants for oily sludge suspension

Carbon black was modified using various liquid‐phase oxidation methods (modified carbon black = m‐CB, m = (1, 2, 3): 1, sulfuric acid/potassium permanganate method; 2, nitric acid method; 3, hydrogen peroxide method). With acetone–ethylene glycol as initiator, dimethyldiallylammonium chloride (DMDAAC) and acrylamide (AM) as monomer, cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM) was prepared by UV excitation of the monomer. The m‐CB/CPAM nanocomposites were synthesized using a hydrothermal method. The factors that affected the molecular weight of CPAM were investigated, including the total monomer concentration, the dosage of the complex initiator, the mass ratio of m_AM:m_DMDAAC and the UV irradiation time. The chemical structures and morphologies of the samples were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, elemental composition, X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. 1‐CB/CPAM was utilized to flocculate oil sludge suspension, and the effects of 1‐CB quality, 1‐CB/CPAM dosage, temperature and pH value on the flocculation performance of 1‐CB/CPAM were investigated. The flocculation mechanism of 1‐CB/CPAM was also analyzed. The results show that 1‐CB/CPAM has an outstanding flocculation effect, and it flocculates oil sludge particles by adsorption bridging and charge neutralization in acidic and alkaline conditions.     

Surface modification for nano‐lignocellulose fiber through vapor‐phase‐assisted surface polymerization

This study addresses the inherent issues surrounding surface modification methods of nanofibers and proposes an environmentally friendly and less toxic strategy for the surface modification of hydrophilic nanofiber. From the continuation of our previous work, which discussed the easy production of nanofiber (average size: 127 nm) from oil palm mesocarp fiber (OPMF), in this work, the surface of nanofibers (M‐IL‐OPMF) were modified through vapor‐phase‐assisted surface polymerization (VASP) to improve the affinity of interface between the polymer grafted M‐IL‐OPMF and non‐polar matrix. VASP of ε‐caprolactone was successfully proceeded from the [M‐IL‐OPMF] at 70 °C for 24 h and 72 h, and compositions were estimated to be 35.7% fiber/64.3% polymer and 27.8% fiber/72.2% polymer. To confirm the grafting of PCL, size‐exclusion chromatography (SEC) and Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetry (TG), and dispersibility test in hydrophobic solvent were carried out. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 2575–2580     

MANUFACTURING OF LOW-PHOSPHORUS-DETERGENTS

Changes in composition of household washing detergents are reviewed, with emphasis on the importance of STPP

As by law or voluntary agreement the STPP content in detergents has dropped during the last years in some countries, it will be shown that the quality of the used phosphates is of great influence on the quality of the final product

In manufacturing detergents with low phosphate content it is important to use special STPP-types for every process

The process technology of the manufacture of phosphate-containing powdered detergents can be divided into processes in which the individual components are worked up Into agglomeration products (spray mixing plants) and processes In which the individual components are combined to form a slurry of several substances (spray drying plants).     

Preparation and Tribological Behaviors of Lubricants—Oil Based on Modified Microbial Oil with Nano-Schiff Base Copper Complex

A W/O microemulsion reactor was used to prepare four kinds of modified lubricants: (i) modified lubricant 1, modified epoxidized microbial oil + rape oil in volume ratio of 1:1; (ii) modified lubricant 2, modified esterified microbial oil + rape oil in volume ratio of 1:3; (iii) modified lubricant 3, modified epoxidized rape oil; and (iv) modified lubricant 4, modified PAO. The individual modified lubricants were further modified with 0%, 0.5%, 1%, and 2% content of nano-Schiff base copper complex (nano-SBCC). A microtribometer was used to evaluate the friction coefficient between ball/flat point contacts immersed in the modified lubricants and operated in reciprocating and linear sliding mode. A comparison of the values of the friction coefficient with the lubricants further modified with nano-SBCC with those of their individual 0% nano-SBCC counterparts indicated significant decrease: (i) almost 19.18% was obtainable for the modified lubricant 1 with 2% of nano-Schiff base copper complex, (ii) almost 16.5% was obtainable for the modified lubricant 2 with 0.5% of nano-Schiff base copper complex; (iii) almost 7.42% was obtainable for the modified lubricant 3 with 1% of nano-SBCC; and (iv) almost 7.01% was obtainable for the modified lubricant 4 with 0.5% of nano-SBCC. These suggested that the addition of nano-Schiff base copper complex can efficiently decrease the friction coefficient of epoxidized or esterified microbial oil. Analyses of two-dimensional images, average profiles (across the mid-section y = 0 of the reciprocating sliding path), and three-dimensional topographies by confocal white light microscope for the worn surfaces of flats immersed in modified lubricant 1 and modified lubricant 2 suggested better wear-resistance of the modified lubricant 2 than that of the modified lubricant 1. The ability of wear resistance for the modified lubricant became better with the increasing content of nano-Schiff base copper complex from 0% to 2%. The study revealed the modification of epoxidized microbial oil + rape oil (1:1 volume ratio) and esterified microbial oil + rape oil (1:3 volume ratio) with Cu(II) chelate of bis(salicylaldehyde)ethylenediamine, reducing the magnitude of friction and wear because of their respective wear self-repairing ability. Such self-repairing ability furnishes the suitability of epoxidized microbial oil or esterified microbial oil to be effectively modified by nano-Schiff base copper complex and to substitute ordinary base oil as a mixture with rape oil.     

Synthesis and design of polyurethane and its nanocomposites derived from canola-castor oil: Mechanical,thermal and shape memory properties

The recent global pandemic and its tremendous effect on the price fluctuations of crude oil illustrates the side effects of petroleum dependency more evident than ever. Over the past decades, both academic and industrial communities spared endless efforts in order to replace petroleum-based materials with bio-derived resources. In the current study, a series of shape memory polymer composites (SMPC's) was synthesized from epoxidized vegetable oils, namely canola oil and castor oil fatty acids (COFA's) as a 100% bio-based polyol and isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) as an isocyanate using a solvent/catalyst-free method in order to eventuate polyurethanes (PU's). Thereafter, graphene oxide (GO) nanoplatelets were synthesized and embedded in the neat PU in order to overcome the thermomechanical drawbacks of the neat matrix. The chemical structure of the synthesized components, as well as the dispersion and distribution levels of the nanoparticles, was characterized. In the following, thermal and mechanical properties as well as shape memory behavior of the specimens were comprehensively investigated. Likewise, the thermal conductivity was determined. This study proves that synthesized PU's based on vegetable oil polyols, including graphene nanoparticles, exhibit proper thermal and mechanical properties, which make them stand as a potential candidate to compete with traditional petroleum-based SMPC's.     

Permanent antimicrobial silicone rubber based on bonding guanidine polymers

Recently, silicone rubber (VMQ) was extensively used in household articles and medical devices. To develop a kind of safe and long‐term antimicrobial VMQ was of great significance. In this work, a kind of vinyl‐contained polyhexamethylene guanidine hydrochloride (VPHMG) was synthesized and used as antimicrobial additive for VMQ. With the increasing of VPHMG addition, the mechanical properties and antimicrobial properties of VMQ‐VPHMG were significantly improved. In particular, the antimicrobial rates against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were higher than 99.99% as for 4 wt% of VPHMG addition. Moreover, the surface concentration of VPHMG as well as the antimicrobial rates revealed almost unchanged after being extracted by water and methanol. All the results indicated the vinyl‐contained VPHMG vulcanization and therefore provided the permanent antimicrobial performance for VMQ.     

High-Throughput Synthesis and Characterization of Aryl Silicones by Using the Piers–Rubinsztajn Reaction

Arylsilicones are widely exploited for their thermal and optical properties. The creation of phenylsilicone elastomers with specific physical properties is typically done by a “one-off” formulation and test process. Herein, it is demonstrated that high-throughput synthesis methods can be used to rapidly prepare a series of arylsilicone elastomers and then the relative impact of different aryl groups on their physical properties is assessed. Aromatic groups were incorporated into polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) elastomers by exploiting the relative reactivity of different functional groups in the Piers–Rubinsztajn reaction. To analyze trends in the silicone mechanical properties as a function of increasing aryl concentration—structure/property relationships—libraries of elastomers were both quickly synthesized and characterized by using high-throughput suites starting from low viscosity silicone oils/monomers in 96-well plates. Liquid handling parameters were optimized to effectively work with the silicones. Incorporating aryl instead of alkyl crosslinkers into the PDMS backbone increased the silicone elastomer modulus by approximately 50 % (at a crosslink density of 6 %); elastomers prepared with an aromatic crosslinker with three contact points led to much higher moduli compared with those with one contact point at the same crosslink density. When located at precise rather than random points on the silicone chains, diphenylsilicones had lower moduli than analogous monophenylsilicones.     

Determination of phenolic compounds by MALDI–TOF and essential oil composition by GC–MS during three development stages of Origanum majorana L.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of the maturation process of sweet marjoram (Origanum majorana L.) on essential oil composition, the phenolic profile of ethanolic extract and their antioxidant capacities. The essential oil composition was studied at three stages of maturity by GC–MS. Thirty compounds were detected representing 100% of the total essential oil. p‐Menth‐1‐en‐4‐ol was the major compound (37.15–76.94%) followed by cyclohexanol‐3,3,5 trimethyl (5.41–15.99%) and α‐terpineol (0.94–11.34%). During the maturation process, an accumulation of oxygenated monoterpenes was observed. The phenolic composition was studied using matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight. The analysis showed the presence of short flavonoid monomers at all stages of maturation. The antioxidant capacity of ethanolic extracts and essential oils was evaluated using the DPPH assay, iron chelating power and reducing power assay. The highest phenolic content and antioxidant capacity were found at flowering stage. These findings on essential oil composition, phenolic profile and antioxidant capacity of O. majorana at three different stages of development provide more information on how these secondary metabolites are accumulated.