Preparation and Characterization of Styrene/Butyl Acrylate Emulsifier-Free Latex with 2-Acrylamido-2-Methyl Propane Sulfonic Acid as a Reactive Emulsifier

A kind of emulsifier-free latex (FL) was successfully synthesized from styrene (St) and butyl acrylate (BA) with 2-acrylamido-2-methyl propane sulfonic acid (AMPS) as a reactive emulsifier. The particle size of latex particles, stability against electrolytes, minimum film forming temperature (MFT) and water contact angle (CA) were evaluated and compared with a conventional latex (CL). Test results show that FL has larger particle size, better stability against electrolytes and lower MFT value compared with CL; higher AMPS content leads to smaller particle size and smaller water CA.     

Effect of Emulsification Method on the Properties of Lecithin‐ and PGPR‐Stabilized Water‐in‐Oil‐Emulsions

Water‐in‐oil (w/o) emulsions were prepared with phosphatidylcholine‐depleted lecithin or polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR) as emulsifying agents. The effect of different laboratory emulsification devices and the effect of sodium chloride on particle size distribution, coalescence stability, and water droplet sedimentation were investigated. The properties of lecithin‐stabilized w/o emulsions were found to depend more strongly on the emulsifying method than those prepared with PGPR. The rotor‐stator system was not suitable for preparing stable w/o emulsions with lecithin. Whereas the addition of salt was essential to achieve coalescence‐stable emulsions prepared with PGPR, the presence of NaCl favored the coalescence of water droplets and phase separation in emulsions containing lecithin.     

Continuous Spectroscopy Characterization of Emulsions

In emulsion polymerization, the formation of particles has an important effect on the rate of reaction and on the final properties of the latex. To investigate particle nucleation mechanisms in emulsion polymerization it is necessary to establish the initial conditions of the emulsified system before the reaction takes place. This research reports on a technique to continuously monitor the droplet size distribution of liquid-liquid emulsions using spectroscopy. The on-line particle characterization methodology is based on an integrated sampling and dilution strategy combined with spectroscopy methods. It is shown that the sampling system integrated with a multiwavelength turbidity detector provides reliable estimates of droplet populations as function of the dispersed phase concentration in emulsions of saturated hydrocarbons. The results provide not only the groundwork necessary for the elucidation of particle nucleation during emulsion polymerization process but also suggests the potential of this combined technology to further our understanding of liquid-liquid emulsions.     

Characterization of Colloidal Gas Aphron-Fluids Produced from a New Plant-Based Surfactant

Colloidal gas aphrons (CGAs) are gas bubbles with diameters ranging from 10 to 100 microns, generated by intense stirring of a surfactant solution at high speed. The surface activity and aggregation behavior of the surfactant affects the size/size distribution, stability, and other physicochemical properties of generated aphrons. Therefore, selection of a suitable surfactant is important for the generation of microbubbles with the desired properties. The goal of this articleis to investigate the potential use of a new plant-derived surfactant as an aphronizer surfactant in preparation of CGA-based drilling fluids for accomplishing desirable rheological and filtration properties. For this purpose, natural surfactant obtained from leaves of special tree, namely, Zizyphusspina Christi and used for preparation of aphron-based fluids. To achieve the research objectives, laboratory tests of suspension generation, microscopic visualization, initial yield, filtration loss, and rheological characterization with varying concentrations of surfactant and polymer were performed. Experimental results demonstrate that newly proposed biosurfactant has a great potential for application in preparation of CGA-based drilling fluids for implementation in petroleum drilling industry.      

INDUSTRIAL NEWS

Interactions between monolayers of trilaurylamine (TLA) and various water-soluble corrosion, hydrate and scale inhibitors, as well as acetic acid and FeCl₂, have been studied by means of the Langmuir technique, The water-soluble compounds were present in the subphase before TLA was spread. Their influence on the monolayer properties were measured by means of surface pressure-area ( k-A) isotherms and constant surface pressure-area relaxation measurements. All the added water soluble species gave rise to monolayer expansion. The monolayer expansion observed for TLA at pH 1, increased when FeCl₂ was added to the subphase at the same pH. Polyethyleneglycols with molecular weight higher than 200 destabilized totally the TLA-monolayer, probably due to bending and folding into multilayers. Monolayer expansion and film instability increased with increased acetic acid concentrations. The destabilization mechanism in this case was most likely due to a combination of nucleation and dissolution of film components into the subphase. The corrosion inhibitor Dyno KI 384 had a higher surface activity than TLA. Hence the monolayer     

Acyclovir-Loaded Chitosan Microspheres for Gastroretention: Development and Evaluation

Mucoadhesive chitosan microspheres of acyclovir were prepared to prolong the gastric residence time using simple emulsification phase separation technique. The particle morphology of drug-loaded formulations was measured by SEM and the particle size distribution was determined using an optical microscope. The release profile of acyclovir from microspheres was examined in simulated gastric fluid (SGF pH 1.2). The particles were found to be discreet and spherical with the maximum particles of an average size (31.62 ± 4.64). The entrapment efficiency was found to be in the range of 40.24 to 67.29%. The concentration of the glutaraldehyde (25%v/v) as a cross-linker 2 ml and drug polymer ratio of 1:2 caused an increase in the entrapment efficiency and the extent of drug release. The optimized chitosan microspheres were found to possess good bioadhesion (79.89 ± 1.01%). The gamma-scintigraphy study showed the gastric residence time of more than 6 hours which revealed that optimized formulation could be a good choice for gastroretentive systems.     

Morphology and Size Distribution Characterization of Precipitated Asphaltene from Live Oil During Pressure Depletion

The size and morphology of asphaltene aggregates, precipitated from live oil by pressure depletion at the reservoir temperature was studied using scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The experimental studies showed that the mean size of aggregates increased when pressure decreased. The results indicate that the morphology of aggregates was changed from amorphous spherical and elliptical shapes to irregular. A bimodal distribution function was able to describe the size distribution in pressure range of 500 to 3500 psi. At higher pressure, the unimodel was able to represent the size distribution. The results showed reduction in live oil stability and asphaltene aggregation with pressure drop.     

Ultra Moisturizing Anti-Wrinkle Lotion Enriched with Tocotrienols

A stable palm-based anti-wrinkle lotion enriched with tocotrienols was successfully prepared. The stability of the product was due to the presence of liquid crystalline structure in the emulsion system. It helps in bringing the active to the dermis layer. Functionality active ingredients such as tocotrienols and anti-wrinkle were added in the formulation. A commercial plant extract was used to strengthen the collagen seated at the dermis layer. The product was formulated to pH 5.5 which is suitable for the skin. The mean droplet size is 10.2 µm with a monomodal distribution pattern which prevents agglomeration. This will decrease Brownian motion, thus prolonging its stability. Long-term acute moisturizing tests show a significant increase of between 24% and 17% hydration for five and six weeks respectively. The efficacy testing on 12 subjects confirmed a reduction in natural fine wrinkles on faces during aging or premature aging at ?7.6%.     

微米及纳米丝光沸石分子筛上二甲醚羰基化反应的积碳分析

对比研究了在传统微米尺寸和新结构纳米丝光沸石催化剂上二甲醚羰基化合成乙酸甲酯的反应行为.结果表明,通过减小分子筛的尺寸到纳米水平,可以有效提高反应物和产物到达或者脱离反应活性位的效率,从而提高了二甲醚的转化率;更重要的是,抑制了硬积碳的生成,使催化剂保持了更高的稳定性.     

Copper-containing dendromesogens: the influence of the metal on the mesomorphism

The synthesis and liquid crystalline behaviour of the first and second generations of a dendrimeric structure based on poly(propyleneimine)(DAB-dendr(NH₂)_x) are reported. 4-(4-n-Alkoxybenzoyloxy)salicylaldehydes are used as mesogenic moieties attached at the peripheral amino groups of the dendrimers giving rise to dendromesogens with four and eight mesogenic branches. From these dendromesogens, considered as organic ligands, were prepared six metal-containing dendrimers which incorporate two or four copper atoms in their structures. All the dendrimeric ligands and three of the metal-containing dendrimers exhibit liquid crystalline properties which were studied by optical microscopy, DSC, X-ray diffraction and EPR spectroscopy.