Catalytic degradation of polyethylene evaluated by TG

HZSM-5 zeolite was screened as catalyst for high density polyethylene degradation at 450C, under nitrogen static atmosphere. Two different samples were studied in this condition: HDPE alone and mixed with HZSM-5. The reactor was connected on line to an HP 5890-II gas Chromatograph. Sample degradation was investigated using a Perkin-Elmer Delta 7 Thermobalance, from room temperature to 800C, with heating rates of 5.0, 10.0 and 20.0C min^–1. From TG curves, the activation energies, calculated using an integral kinetic method, decreased 60.6% in the presence of the zeolite.This work was supported by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnológico (CNPq) and CoordenaÇÃo de Apoio ao Pessoal de Ensino Superior (CAPES).     

中空花状可见光响应催化剂g-C_3N_4@BiOCl的制备及其光催化活性

以g-C_3N_4/H_2SO_4溶液和硝酸铋为前驱体,采用自组装法制备了中空花状且具有可见光响应能力的异质结光催化剂gC_3N_4@BiOCl。利用X射线衍射、电子扫描显微镜、高分辨透射电镜、X射线能谱、紫外可见漫反射光谱及X射线光电子能谱等表征手段确证了催化剂的结构。该催化剂能够有效地实现光生电子-空穴的分离,表现出优异的可见光催化活性。通过对50 mg·L~(-1)罗丹明B的降解实验验证了g-C_3N_4@BiOCl的光催化活性,在可见光条件下(λ≥420 nm)的降解效率优良,12 min即可达到99%。     

一种生态友好粉煤灰基地质聚合物的合成及光催化性能

以乌洛托品为孔形成剂,制备出孔结构可调控的粉煤灰基地质聚合物;通过半导体耦合设计,合成出In_2O_3和NiO双负载粉煤灰基地质聚合物催化剂;采用XRF、TGA/DSC、FESEM、XRD、FT-IR、UV-Vis等对催化剂的组成、结构及性能进行表征,考查了该催化剂体系对模拟印染废水的光催化降解活性、降解机理及反应动力学。结果表明:孔形成剂的掺入能够显著地改善地质聚合物的孔结构,调变BET比表面积及介孔体积;双负载5%In_2O_3及1%NiO的粉煤灰基地质聚合物催化剂对碱性品绿染料的最高降解率(95.65%),归因于In_2O_3与NiO形成的p-n结半导体耦合体系以及In_2O_3与PAFAG载体之间产生强相互作用,改善了光生电子-空穴对的分离效率,从而提高了光催化染料降解活性。     

Controlled Synthesis and Degradation of Poly(N‐(isobutoxymethyl) acrylamide) Homopolymers and Block Copolymers

The homopolymerization of the water‐insoluble N‐(isobutoxymethyl)acrylamide (IBMA) is investigated for the first time by nitroxide‐mediated polymerization. The homopolymerization is characterized by a linear increase in number average molecular weight (M_n) versus conversion (X) to X > 0.80 while maintaining dispersities of M_w/M_n < 1.30. A strong Arrhenius relationship correlates the apparent rate constants and the homopolymerization temperatures between 105 and 120 °C. All poly(IBMA) homopolymers are then successfully chain‐extended with styrene (S) to form well‐defined block copolymers of poly(IBMA)‐b‐poly(S) suggesting a high degree of livingness of the poly(IBMA) macroinitiators. Thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry are both used to characterize the thermal properties of the homopolymers and block copolymers and identify possible unique degradation of the poly(IBMA) block through imide formation at elevated temperatures.

     

In situ forming PLGA implant for 90 days controlled release of leuprolide acetate for treatment of prostate cancer

In prostate cancer, hormone therapy via leuprolide acetate drug (LUP) is used to lower the level of testosterone down to castration level to effectively control the development of prostate cancer. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effective parameters in degradation and controlled release of an injectable in situ formed polymeric implant, loaded with leuprolide acetate, in order to achieve an optimum formulation for sustained drug release for 90 days with minimum burst release. The main problem associating with such implants is their high burst release. Designing an injectable implant with sustained and minimum burst release has thus become an attractive challenge in drug delivery field. Effects of type of poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) 75:25 copolymers (RG752, RG756) and addition of nano‐hydroxyapatite (HA) particles on degradation rates of the implants and release profiles were examined in vitro and in vivo in a rabbit animal model. Results showed that implants containing polymers with higher molecular weights had significantly lower weight loss and molecular weight reduction. Adding nanoparticles of hydroxyapatite into poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) implants caused further reduction in degradation rates, leading to a more sustained drug release in vivo, with reduced burst release. Different conventional kinetic models were applied to drug release and degradation data. The degradation data fit well to the first‐order degradation model. Higuchi model was the best kinetic release model fitted to the experimental in vitro release data. This study led to an optimum formulation (RG756:RG752 3:1 + 5% HA) with sustained leuprolide release and testosterone suppression over a 90‐day period with significant decrease of burst release phase (50%, p < 0.001) compared with the conventional Eligard formulation. The histopathology test showed that the formulated implant had no effects of toxicity or tissue necrosis in organs of the animal model. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Modeling mechanical properties of polyhydroxyalkanoate during degradation in animal tissue

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are a family of biodegradable and biocompatible polymers produced by several species microorganisms that possess favorable mechanical properties (e.g. strength and elongation properties). Different types of PHA polymers have been used in medical applications. However, in order to better understand the use of this polymer in the different applications, a thorough understanding of the kinetics of in vivo degradation is one of the major requirements. In this study, poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) was subcutaneously implanted in mice and incubated for 2, 4, 8, or 16 weeks. After removal from the animal, the strength, elongation, mass loss, and enthalpy of the PHB were tested for each time point. From these data, a mathematical model was generated by Rayleigh's method of dimensional analysis, where polymer strength over tissue contact time could be predicted. To prove the model, previous data obtained by our group were used: poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyhexanoate) [P(HB‐co‐HHx)] incubation in the presence of human embryonic kidney cells (HEK). It was found that the developed model was aligned with experimental results, could predict the strength of the polymer when in contact with cells, and the predicted strength follows the trend of the experimental data. Also, the dimensionless constant (K) value associated with the model is different for both experiments, where this constant, produced via experimental data, is used for construction of a homogeneous equation. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Acetic acid permeation through photovoltaic backsheets: Influence of the composition on the permeation rate

Acetic acid, which is formed during degradation of the most frequently used photovoltaic (PV) encapsulant ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), is linked to several PV module failure mechanisms like corrosion of interconnectors, cells or potential induced degradation (PID). An evaluation of a new measurement technique and data analysis for acetic acid permeation through photovoltaic backsheet films is described. The influence of the layer composition of the multilayer backsheets on the acetic acid permeation rates (AATR) was determined by investigating the permeation properties of the individual layers as well as the whole polymeric multilayer composites. Various polymeric backsheet types based on PET-core layers showing a very high barrier for acetic acid permeation were compared to fully polyamide material stacks which allow for a much higher transmission of acetic acid through the backsheet out of the module. Incorporated Al-layers were found to not affect the AATRs of PET based backsheets.