1. |
- Corcoran, Angelica, 1988, et al.
(author)
-
Comparing the structural development of sand and rock ilmenite during long-term exposure in a biomass fired 12 MWth CFB-boiler
- 2018
-
In: Fuel Processing Technology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0378-3820. ; 171, s. 39-44
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Oxygen Carrier Aided Combustion (OCAC) is a novel combustion concept with the purpose to increase the overall efficiency in conventional circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boilers. By replacing the commonly used bed material with an oxygen carrier (OC), the conceptual idea is to utilize the fluid dynamics in a CFB and the inherent oxygen transport supported by the OC to increase the oxygen distribution within the furnace in time and space. The OCAC concept has been successfully validated and further reached long-term demonstration in full scale operation (75-MW th ). This work presents a first evaluation of how ilmenite particles are affected in regard to mechanical resistance during long-term exposure to OCAC conditions in Chalmers 12-MW th CFB-boiler. A sand and a rock ilmenite are evaluated with regard to their mechanical stability. For evaluation, samples of the fresh materials and samples collected during operation in the Chalmers boiler are investigated. The study shows that the two materials differ in how the mechanical degradation occurs with exposure time. The sand ilmenite form cavities which are held together by an ash layer before they are shattered into numerous pieces, whereas the rock ilmenite develops distinct cracks that cause splitting of the particles.
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2. |
- Jogi, Ramakrishna, et al.
(author)
-
Understanding the formation of phenolic monomers during fractionation of birch wood under supercritical ethanol over iron based catalysts
- 2020
-
In: Journal of the Energy Institute. - : Elsevier. - 1743-9671 .- 1746-0220. ; 93:5, s. 2055-2062
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The liquefaction of biomass in ethanol, at the critical point, has high potential due to low temperature and pressure (243 °C, 63 bar) when compared with water (374 °C, 220 bar). The current study deals with the fractionation of birch wood powder which was liquefied under supercritical ethanol over acidic or non-acidic catalysts, 5 wt % Fe-Beta-H-150 and 5 wt % Fe–SiO2, respectively. Based on the results, the reaction mechanism for the formation of lignin degradation products was proposed. The main phenolic product was isoeugenol over 5 wt % Fe-Beta-H-150 while intermediate products, i.e. such as coniferyl, and sinapyl alcohol, 4-propenyl syringol, syringaresinol, as well as syringyldehyde reacted rapidly further. The thermodynamic analysis was performed by Joback approach and using Gibbs-Helmholtz equation supporting the obtained results.
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3. |
- Maric, Jelena, 1983, et al.
(author)
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Valorization of Automobile Shredder Residue Using Indirect Gasification
- 2018
-
In: Energy & Fuels. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1520-5029 .- 0887-0624. ; 32:12, s. 12795-12804
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Dual fluidized bed (DFB) gasification offers the possibility to convert solid fuels into a valuable gas, comprised of syngas, and hydrocarbons that can be readily handled in petrochemical units. DFB gasifiers are especially suitable for nonhomogeneous fuels, such as waste fractions. In this work, the possibility to use DFB gasification as a recycling/valorization method of automobile shredder residue is investigated. The gasification tests were carried out in the Chalmers 2–4 MWth gasifier over 4 days. The effects of ash on the gas and tar compositions, as well as on the activity of the bed inventory, were evaluated. The results show that 60% of the total carbon in the fuel can be recovered in the form of a permanent gas, whereby the produced gas contains 12%mol of C2–3 hydrocarbons. The tar levels measured in the produced gas were high, although it was clear that decomposition into monomer-like compounds occurred in the reactor, which resulted in the production of valuable petrochemical compounds, corresponding to 8–9% of the carbon in the feed. Using a higher operating temperature was found to be beneficial in terms of obtaining a higher gas yield, regardless of the level of ash enrichment in the system. The high ash levels in the fuel feed did not negatively affect the technical operation of the fluidized bed. Possible routes of carbon recovery are discussed.
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4. |
- Mukesh, Chandrakant, et al.
(author)
-
Production of C-14 Levulinate Ester from Glucose Fermentation Liquors Catalyzed by Acidic Ionic Liquids in a Solvent-Free Self-Biphasic System
- 2020
-
In: ACS Omega. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 2470-1343. ; 5:10, s. 4828-4835
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Herein, we present the C-14 levulinate ester of 2,3-butanediol as the product of sugar fermentation liquors. The designed Brønsted acidic ionic liquid (BAIL) catalysts enable self-induced phase separation with ester products, and the role of anions has been investigated. Esterification reactions were carried out by 2,3-butanediol (2,3-BDO) and levulinic acid in solvent-free media and low temperatures (60–105 °C). For comparison, sulfuric acid, amberlite IR-120, and sulfonic acid-functionalized pyridinium ionic liquids with different anions were utilized as a catalyst upon esterification reaction. The diester product, namely, butane-2,3-diyl bis(4-oxopentanoate), was formed with a good yield (85%) and selectivity (85%) after complete conversion of 2,3-BDO in 24 h at 80 °C. The low yield (8%) of the monoester was observed. The monoester and diester were separated by a liquid–liquid extraction method. The ester products were characterized by various instrumental techniques such as 1H and 13C NMR, GC–FID, LC–MS, and FT-IR spectroscopy. The Hammett acidity functions of BAILs were determined from UV–vis spectroscopy. The catalyst was successfully recycled and reused in the processes. The spent BAILs were reused in six consecutive cycles with only a ∼7% diminished diester yield and selectivity. The produced levulinate ester will be useful as biofuel additives, solvents, plasticizers, and other applications.
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5. |
- Wang, Kai, et al.
(author)
-
A one-carbon chemicals conversion strategy to produce precursor of biofuels with Saccharomyces cerevisiae
- 2023
-
In: Renewable Energy. - : Elsevier BV. - 0960-1481 .- 1879-0682. ; 208, s. 331-340
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Utilization of one-carbon chemicals such as CO2, formate, and methanol by microorganisms can enable the sustainable production of fuels and chemicals. However, the low conversion efficiency of these chemicals by microorganisms is a major challenge. To address this, we designed a one-carbon strategy that can utilize CO2 and its derivative formate. Here, a platform yeast strain with improved formate utilization and NAD(P)H production was constructed and evaluated for its ability to produce free fatty acids (FFAs). Based on 13C-marked analysis, the one-carbon assimilation efficiency of the platform strain reached 11.24%. Through continuous optimization, under conditions of glucose feeding the formate utilization rate of the final strain reached 0.48 g/L/h, with the final titer of FFAs reached 10.1 g/L, which represented improvements of 21.8 times and 33.7 times, respectively. As such, the produced FFAs can be easily transformed into biodiesel by combining them with downstream technologies in future research.
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6. |
- Yahia, Mohamed, et al.
(author)
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Effect of incorporating different ZIF-8 crystal sizes in the polymer of intrinsic microporosity, PIM-1, for CO2/CH4 separation
- 2021
-
In: Microporous and Mesoporous Materials. - : Elsevier. - 1387-1811 .- 1873-3093. ; 312
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Effective and economical carbon dioxide-methane separation (CO2/CH4) is highly desirable in several industries such as sweetening natural gases and renewable natural gas (RNG) from biogas and landfills. Among the different separation technologies, membrane separation has been shown to have lower cost of production and lower CH4 losses. In this study, Zeolitic Imidazole Frameworks (ZIF-8) crystals with sizes varying from 45 nm to 450 nm were synthesized and incorporated in the polymer of intrinsic microporosity, PIM-1, to form mixed matrix membranes (MMMs). The structure, morphology, and physicochemical properties of the MMMs were characterized by 1H NMR, FTIR, XRD, TGA, and SEM. ZIF-8 crystal size was controlled using the concentration of sodium formate. The influence of the ZIF-8 crystal size on MMMs was studied by sorption, gas permeability, and aging of the membranes. The MMMs with ZIF-8 crystals of 120 nm particle diameter yielded the greatest improvement in gas transport properties; the CO2/CH4 selectivity-CO2 permeability was 11.4 and 9700 Barrer compared to PIM-1 with 6.4 and 9300 Barrer respectively. The former is near the Robeson 2008 upper bound, while PIM-1 is on the 1991 upper bound. After 40 days of aging, selectivity increased and permeability decreased; the changes were parallel to the Robeson upper bounds indicating increased polymer packing and diffusivity selectivity.
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7. |
- Balachandran, Srija, et al.
(author)
-
Comparative study for selective lithium recovery via chemical transformations during incineration and dynamic pyrolysis of EV li-ion batteries
- 2021
-
In: Metals. - : MDPI AG. - 2075-4701. ; 11:8
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Selective leaching of Li from spent LIBs thermally pretreated by pyrolysis and incineration between 400 and 700 °C for 30, 60, and 90 min followed by water leaching at high temperature and high L/S ratio was examined. During the thermal pretreatment Li2CO3 and LiF were leached. Along with Li salts, AlF3 was also found to be leached with an efficiency not higher than 3.5%. The time of thermal pretreatment did not have a significant effect on Li leaching efficiency. The leaching efficiency of Li was higher with a higher L/S ratio. At a higher leaching temperature (80 °C), the leaching of Li was higher due to an increase in the solubility of present Li salts. The highest Li leaching efficiency of nearly 60% was observed from the sample pyrolyzed at 700 °C for 60 min under the leaching condition L/S ratio of 20:1 mL g−1 at 80 °C for 3 h. Furthermore, the use of an excess of 10% of carbon in a form of graphite during the thermal treatment did not improve the leaching efficiency of Li.
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8. |
- Bylin, Susanne, 1982
(author)
-
Mechanisms of Biopolymer Solvation: Development of a two-component ionic liquid solvent system
- 2014
-
Licentiate thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Ionic liquids are of potential interest in the processing of lignocellulosic biomass, and/or its components, for the purpose of producing renewable and value-added biomaterials. An understanding of how solvation can be achieved and the way in which the feedstock biopolymers are affected, however, needs to be gained prior to a viable implementation. In this thesis, the solvation of the wood biopolymers cellulose, xylan and lignin in the ionic liquid (IL) 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate (EMIMAc) in a novel combination with the second system component 1-methylimidazole (MIM) have been investigated:The solvation of dissolving pulp, beech xylan and LignoBoost lignin model materials, was studied using FBRM (focused beam reflectance measurements) particle characterization in combination with microscopic analysis (cellulose and xylan), determination of molecular weights (xylan and lignin) and 13C- and 31P-NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy) of lignin.It was concluded that the most efficient solvation of cellulose and xylan occurred using 3-4% and 9% IL (n/n anhydroglucose units and n/n anhydroxylose Units), respectively, while polymer integrity was maintained. Cellulose solvation was found to be greatly dependent on the IL to AGU ratio whereas xylan solvation varied greatly with temperature. Moreover, a theoretical model was developed for the solvation of cellulose in the present system. The solvation of lignin was achieved at ~20% lignin loading (w/w), in any combination of MIM/EMIMAc. Regeneration of lignin resulted in two sets of fractions; one exhibiting a general and higher apparent molecular weight (Mw) along with an enrichment of condensed/aliphatic ether linkages and aliphatic hydroxyls, and the other exhibiting a lower apparent Mw and an enrichment of carboxylic and phenolic groups. The knowledge of biopolymer solvation gained in the present solvent system provides future opportunities of tuning extraction and/or fractionation processes to suite the specifications of a particular biomass-derived product.
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9. |
- Palme, Anna, 1986, et al.
(author)
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Development of an efficient route for combined recycling of PET and cotton from mixed fabrics
- 2017
-
In: Textiles and Clothing Sustainability. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2197-9936. ; 3:4
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Most textile waste is either incinerated or landfilled today, yet, the material could instead be recycled through chemical recycling to new high-quality textiles. A first important step is separation since chemical recycling of textiles requires pure streams. The focus of this paper is on the separation of cotton and PET (poly(ethylene terephthalate), polyester) from mixed textiles, so called polycotton. Polycotton is one of the most common materials in service textiles used in sheets and towels at hospitals and hotels. A straightforward process using 5–15 wt% NaOH in water and temperature in the range between 70 and 90 °C for the hydrolysis of PET was evaluated on the lab-scale. In the process, the PET was degraded to terephthalic acid (TPA) and ethylene glycol (EG). Three product streams were generated from the process. First is the cotton; second, the TPA; and, third, the filtrate containing EG and the process chemicals. The end products and the extent of PET degradation were characterized using light microscopy, UV-spectroscopy, and ATR FT-IR spectroscopy, as well as solution and solid-state NMR spectroscopy. Furthermore, the cotton cellulose degradation was evaluated by analyzing the intrinsic viscosity of the cotton cellulose. The findings show that with the addition of a phase transfer catalyst (benzyltributylammonium chloride (BTBAC)), PET hydrolysis in 10% NaOH solution at 90 °C can be completed within 40 min. Analysis of the degraded PET with NMR spectroscopy showed that no contaminants remained in the recovered TPA, and that the filtrate mainly contained EG and BTBAC (when added). The yield of the cotton cellulose was high, up to 97%, depending on how long the samples were treated. The findings also showed that the separation can be performed without the phase transfer catalyst; however, this requires longer treatment times, which results in more cellulose degradation.
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10. |
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11. |
- Ahlbom, Anders, 1993, et al.
(author)
-
Towards understanding kraft lignin depolymerisation under hydrothermal conditions
- 2021
-
In: Holzforschung. - : Walter de Gruyter GmbH. - 1437-434X .- 0018-3830. ; 76:1, s. 37-48
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Kraft lignin depolymerisation using hydrothermal liquefaction suffers from the formation of char, resulting in a decreased product yield as well as causing operational problems. While this may be mitigated by the addition of capping agents such as phenol and isopropanol, other reaction parameters, for example reaction time and temperature, are also important for the product yields. In this work, the effect of short reaction times on the hydrothermal liquefaction of kraft lignin in an alkaline water and isopropanol mixture was investigated at 1-12 min and 290 °C. The results show that there were swift initial reactions: the major ether bonds in the lignin were broken within the first minute of reaction, and the molecular weight of all product fractions was halved at the very least. Longer reaction times, however, do not cause as pronounced structural changes as the initial reaction, indicating that a recalcitrant carbon-carbon skeleton remained in the products. Nevertheless, the yields of both char and monomers increased slowly with increasing reaction time. The swift initial depolymerising reactions were therefore followed by slower repolymerisation as well as a slow formation of monomers and dimers, which calls for careful tuning of the reaction time.
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12. |
- B. Erdal, Nejla, et al.
(author)
-
Green Strategy to Reduced Nanographene Oxide through Microwave Assisted Transformation of Cellulose
- 2018
-
In: ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 2168-0485. ; 6:1, s. 1245-1255
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A green strategy for fabrication of biobased reduced nanographene oxide (r-nGO) was developed. Cellulose derived nanographene oxide (nGO) type carbon nanodots were reduced by microwave assisted hydrothermal treatment with superheated water alone or in the presence of caffeic acid (CA), a green reducing agent. The carbon nanodots, r-nGO and r-nGO-CA, obtained through the two different reaction routes without or with the added reducing agent, were characterized by multiple analytical techniques including FTIR, XPS, Raman, XRD, TGA, TEM, AFM, UV-vis, and DLS to confirm and evaluate the efficiency of the reduction reactions. A significant decrease in oxygen content accompanied by increased number of sp2 hybridized functional groups was confirmed in both cases. The synergistic effect of superheated water and reducing agent resulted in the highest C/O ratio and thermal stability, which also supported a more efficient reduction. Interesting optical properties were detected by fluorescence spectroscopy where nGO, r-nGO, and r-nGO-CA all displayed excitation dependent fluorescence behavior. r-nGO-CA and its precursor nGO were evaluated toward osteoblastic cells MG-63 and exhibited nontoxic behavior up to 200 μg mL-1, which gives promise for utilization in biomedical applications.
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13. |
- Ghaffari, Roujin, 1994, et al.
(author)
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Effect of alkalinity on the diffusion of solvent-fractionated lignin through cellulose membranes
- 2023
-
In: Cellulose. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0969-0239 .- 1572-882X. ; 30:6, s. 3685-3698
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Mass transport of liberated lignin fragments from pits and fiber walls into black liquor is considered a determining step in the delignification process. However, our current understanding of the diffusion of lignin through cellulose and the influential parameter on this process is very limited. A comprehensive and detailed study of lignin mass transport through cellulosic materials is, therefore, of great importance. In this study, diffusion cell methodology is implemented to systematically investigate the transport of fractionated kraft lignin molecules through model cellulose membranes. Pulping is a complex process and lignin is very heterogenous material therefore to perform a more detailed study on lignin diffusion, we included an additional solvent fractionation step. One of the benefits of this method is that the setup can be adjusted to various experimental conditions allowing the complex chemical reactions occurring during pulping, which would affect the mass transfer of lignin, to be avoided. Here, the effects of the alkalinity of the aqueous solution and molecular weight of the kraft lignin molecules on their diffusion were investigated. Additionally, NMR spectroscopy, size exclusion chromatography, and UV/Vis spectroscopy were used to characterize the starting material and the molecules that passed through the membrane. Lignin molecules detected in the acceptor chamber of the diffusion cells had lower molecular weights, indicating a size fractionation between the donor and acceptor chamber. UV/Vis showed higher concentrations of ionized conjugated kraft lignin molecules in the acceptor chamber, which is a sign of chemical fractionation. This study suggests that the diffusion of lignin through small cellulose pores can be enhanced by decreasing the average molecular weight of the diffusing kraft lignin molecules and increasing alkalinity.
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14. |
- Ghavidel, Amir, et al.
(author)
-
Comparison of chemical compositions in wood and bark of Persian silk tree (Albizia julibrissin Durazz)
- 2022
-
In: Wood Material Science & Engineering. - : Taylor & Francis. - 1748-0272 .- 1748-0280. ; 17:6, s. 759-770
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This research was conducted to identify and compare the chemical compositions in Persian silk tree(Albizia julibrissin Durazz.) from different parts of wood and bark, using Fourier Transform Infrared(FTIR) Spectroscopy, gas and liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS, LCMS),and elemental analysis. FTIR analysis showed significant differences in the chemical structureof bark and wood at peaks that belong to the cellulose and hemicelluloses. According to theresults, the C-O-C asymmetric stretch vibration in cellulose and hemicelluloses peak of Persian silktree was lower in the bark and ѵC=O in quinone or p-quinone peak was higher in the bark. Theresults of GC-MS showed 12 chemical constituents in the bark and 43 in the wood, respectively.Among these, hexadecanoic acid and inositol were in common. According to the LC-MS analyses,bark samples were rich in lignan compositions and triterpenoid saponins, whereas wood was poorin these compositions. Altogether 61 compositions have been tentatively identified and describedfrom bark and wood tissues; many of them were identified for the first time. Energy-dispersive Xray(EDX) spectrometry illustrated that the bark contained iron and aluminium, sodium,phosphorus, sulphur and chlorine, while these elements did not exist in wood.
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15. |
- Liu, Jun, et al.
(author)
-
FShrinkage behaviour, early hydration and hardened properties of sodium silicate activated slag incorporated with gypsum and cement
- 2020
-
In: Construction and Building Materials. - : Elsevier BV. - 0950-0618. ; 248
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- As a novel low carbon cementitious material, alkali-activated slag (AAS) attracted many researchers’ interests, not only because of its environmental benefits, but also some superior properties than Portland cement (PC). Due to different chemical reactions of AAS, gypsum, a commonly used expansive agent in PC, exhibits a different behaviour in AAS. This paper reports the investigation on the shrinkage behaviour of sodium silicate activated slag (SSAS) incorporated with gypsum and PC. In addition, the early properties, including setting time and early hydration products, were determined by Vicat apparatus, XRD and TG. The hardened properties, namely flexural and compressive strength, were investigated as well. The results showed that, by incorporating gypsum and PC, the drying shrinkage of SSAS could be significantly reduced because of the formation of expansive sulfate-rich and calcium-rich hydration products in terms of ettringite and Portlandite. The initial setting was delayed by blending PC, although adding gypsum accelerated the hydration of SSAS. The addition of gypsum and blend with 20% PC slightly increased flexural and compressive strengths of SSAS at 7 days and 28 days. © 2020 Elsevier Ltd
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16. |
- Martinsson, Axel, 1992, et al.
(author)
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The influence of transition metal ions on the oxidation of kraft pulp using hydrogen peroxide under mildly acidic conditions
- 2023
-
In: Holzforschung. - : Walter de Gruyter GmbH. - 1437-434X .- 0018-3830. ; 77:5, s. 318-325
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Oxidation of kraft pulp using hydrogen peroxide under mild acidic conditions can be applied in order to obtain new functionality of the fibres, in the form of carbonyl groups. The hydrogen peroxide concentration must, however, be higher than consumed by the oxidation reactions meaning that the liquid must be recirculated to fully utilize the hydrogen peroxide. This paper investigates the consequences of recirculation of the oxidation liquor. It was found that recirculation results in an accumulation of ions of transition metals (copper, iron and manganese) in the oxidation liquor. The transition metal ions are known for catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, producing radicals which may react with carbohydrates, forming carbonyl groups as well as causing carbohydrate degradation. This was confirmed through the recirculation of oxidation liquor as well as through controlled addition of transition metals. At high transition metal ion concentration the reactions were fast and a severe degradation of carbohydrates was observed, accompanied by a rapid hydrogen peroxide consumption. The consequence of this, in an industrial context, is that the concentration of metal ions must be carefully controlled in order to add functionality to the cellulose without causing excessive degradation of carbohydrates or consumption of hydrogen peroxide.
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17. |
- Vera, C. M., et al.
(author)
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A preliminary study on the selectivity of linear polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in SFC using phenyl-type stationary phases
- 2015
-
In: Microchemical journal (Print). - : Elsevier. - 0026-265X .- 1095-9149. ; 121, s. 136-140
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The retention behaviour of a homologous series of polyaromatic hydrocarbons was evaluated on two phenyl-type stationary phases in reversed phase supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC). These phases were the Synergi polar-RP phase and the Cosmosil 5PBB phase, both of which are polar end-capped and incorporate an ether in a propyl chain that tethers the phenyl ring to the silica surface. The Cosmosil 5PBB phase also has five bromine atoms on the phenyl ring. The retention capacity of the Cosmosil column was substantially greater than the Synergi column. However, selectivity on the Cosmosil column was effectively independent of the acetonitrile modifier composition in the CO2 mobile phase, whereas, selectivity on the Synergi column was greatly affected by the acetonitrile modifier in the CO2 mobile phase. The results from this study showed that selectivity and retention studies in HPLC cannot be used to predict selectivity and retention behaviour in SFC. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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18. |
- Wu, Haizhou, 1987, et al.
(author)
-
Controlling hemoglobin-mediated lipid oxidation in herring (Clupea harengus) co-products via incubation or dipping in a recyclable antioxidant solution
- 2021
-
In: Food Control. - : Elsevier BV. - 0956-7135. ; 125
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Applying value-adding techniques to fish co-products is rendered difficult due to their high susceptibility to hemoglobin (Hb)-mediated lipid oxidation. In this study, we investigated a dipping technology with a solution containing Duralox MANC 213- a mixture of rosemary extract, ascorbic acid, tocopherols and citric acid – to control lipid oxidation during storage at 0 °C and 20 °C. The possibilities to re-use the antioxidant solution was also analyzed, along with studies on the link between Duralox MANC and Hb-form. Dipping in Duralox MANC largely increased the oxidation lag phase; from <0.5 to >3.5 d at 20 °C, and from <1 d to >11 d at 0 °C. Even after re-use of the solution up to 10 times, lipid oxidation was completely inhibited at 0 °C. Duralox MANC could prevent auto-oxidation and hemin loss of herring Hb; which are suggested as the main mechanisms behind the observed stabilization of herring co-products against lipid oxidation.
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19. |
- Zhao, Dan, et al.
(author)
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Mechanical, Morphological, and Charge Transport Properties of NDI Polymers with Variable Built-in Π-Conjugation Lengths Probed by Simulation and Experiment
- 2024
-
In: Advanced Functional Materials. - : WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH. - 1616-3028 .- 1616-301X. ; 34:4
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Mechanically deformable polymeric semiconductors are a key material for fabricating flexible organic thin-film transistors (FOTFTs)-the building block of electronic circuits and wearable electronic devices. However, for many pi-conjugated polymers achieving mechanical deformability and efficient charge transport remains challenging. Here the effects of polymer backbone bending stiffness and film microstructure on mechanical flexibility and charge transport are investigated via experimental and computational methods for a series of electron-transporting naphthalene diimide (NDI) polymers having differing extents of pi-conjugation. The results show that replacing increasing amounts of the pi-conjugated comonomer dithienylvinylene (TVT) with the pi-nonconjugated comonomer dithienylethane (TET) in the backbone of the fully pi-conjugated polymeric semiconductor, PNDI-TVT100 (yielding polymeric series PNDI-TVTx, 100 >= x >= 0), lowers backbone rigidity, degree of texturing, and pi-pi stacking interactions between NDI moieties. Importantly, this comonomer substitution increases the mechanical robustness of PNDI-TVTx while retaining efficient charge transport. Thus, reducing the TVT content of PNDI-TVTx suppresses film crack formation and dramatically stabilizes the field-effect electron mobility upon bending (e.g., 2 mm over 2000 bending cycles). This work provides a route to tune pi-pi stacking in pi-conjugated polymers while simultaneously promoting mechanical flexibility and retaining good carrier mobility in FOTFTs.
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20. |
- Adamopoulos, Stergios, et al.
(author)
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Acoustic properties of acetylated wood under different humid conditions and its relevance for musical instruments
- 2018
-
In: Proceedings of the 9th European Conference on Wood Modification 2018, Arnhem, The Netherlands. - The Netherlands : Practicum. ; , s. 236-243
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In musical instrument making, less expensive wood species and materials with good characteristics and acoustical properties can provide potentials to find alternatives to the traditional exotic wood species used today. Modified wood could be such a choice if shows similar sound characteristics to wood coming from endangered and expensive tropical species with problematic commercial availability. In musical instruments, the overall functionality depends on the contribution of wood to different material performance indexes like sound radiation coefficient (R), characteristic impedance (z) and acoustic conversion efficiency (ACE). In this study, the performance indexes were measured for acetylated beech, maple and radiata pine and compared with these obtained for the reference wood materials maple, mahogany, alder and ash. A non-destructive free-free flexural vibration test method was used at constant temperature (20oC) but in different humid conditions- dry (35% RH), standard (65% RH) and wet (85% RH). Dimensional changes in the different humid conditions were also taken in account. Acetylated wood showed lower EMC with higher dimensional stability at each humidity level as compared with the reference wood materials. These properties are considered important factors for making quality musical instruments. Based on the acoustical properties, acetylated wood materials, especially radiata pine, showed good potential for use for musical instruments where specific characteristics of sound are required. However, the other types of acetylated wood can also be used for specific musical instruments.
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21. |
- Al-Rudainy, Basel, et al.
(author)
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Impact of lignin content on the properties of hemicellulose hydrogels
- 2019
-
In: Polymers. - : MDPI AG. - 2073-4360. ; 11:1
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Hemicellulose is a promising renewable raw material for the production of hydrogels. This polysaccharide exists in large amounts in various waste streams, in which they are usually impure and heavily diluted. Several downstream processing methods can be combined to concentrate and purify the hemicellulose. However, such an approach can be costly; hence, the effect of impurities on the formation and properties of hydrogels must be determined. Lignin usually exists in these waste streams as a major impurity that is also difficult to separate. This compound can darken hydrogels and decrease their swellability and reactivity, as shown in many studies. Other properties and effects of lignin impurities are equally important for the end application of hydrogels and the overall process economy. In this work, we examined the feasibility of producing hydrogels from hemicelluloses that originated from sodium-based spent sulfite liquor. A combination of membrane filtration and anti-solvent precipitation was used to extract and purify various components. The influence of the purity of hemicellulose and the addition of lignosulfonates (emulated impurities in the downstream processing) to the crosslinking reaction mixture on the mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties of hydrogels was determined.
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22. |
- Andersson, Helene, 1983, et al.
(author)
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Effects of molecular weight on permeability and microstructure of mixed ethyl-hydroxypropyl-cellulose films
- 2013
-
In: European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. - : Elsevier BV. - 0928-0987 .- 1879-0720. ; 48:1-2, s. 240-248
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Films of ethyl cellulose (EC) and water-soluble hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) can be used for extended release coatings in oral formulations. The permeability and microstructure of free EC/HPC films with 30% w/w HPC were studied to investigate effects of EC molecular weight. Phase separation during film spraying and subsequent HPC leaching after immersion in aqueous media cause pore formation in such films. It was found that sprayed films were porous throughout the bulk of the films after water immersion. The molecular weight affected HPC leaching, pore morphology and film permeability; increasing the molecular weight resulted in decreasing permeability. A model to distinguish the major factors contributing to diffusion retardation in porous films showed that the trend in permeability was determined predominantly by factors associated with the geometry and arrangement of pores, independent of the diffusing species. The film with the highest molecular weight did, however, show an additional contribution from pore wall/permeant interactions. In addition, rapid drying and increasing molecular weight resulted in smaller pores, which suggest that phase separation kinetics affects the final microstructure of EC/HPC films. Thus, the molecular weight influences the microstructural features of pores, which are crucial for mass transport in EC/HPC films.
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23. |
- Asem, Heba, 1987-, et al.
(author)
-
Functional nano-carriers for drug delivery by surface engineering of polymeric nanoparticles post-PISA
-
Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Engineered polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) have been comprehensively explored as potential platforms for diagnosis and targeted therapy for several diseases including cancer. Herein, we designed functional poly(acrylic acid)-b-poly(butyl acrylate) (PAA-b-PBA) NPs using reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT)-mediated emulsion polymerization via polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA). The hydrophilic PAA-macroRAFT, forming a stabilizing shell (i.e. corona), was chain-extended using the hydrophobic monomer n-butyl acrylate (n-BA), resulting in stable, monodisperse and reproducible PAA-b-PBA NPs, typically having a diameter of 130 nm. Two approaches of surface engineering of the PAA-b-PBA NPs post-PISA were explored; a two-step and a one-step approach. In the two-step approach, the hydrophilic NP-shell corona was modified with allyl-groups under mild conditions using allylamine in water which resulted in stable allyl-functional NPs (allyl-NPs) suitable for further bio-conjugation. Their versatility was investigated by the subsequent conjugation of a thiol-functional fluorescent dye (BODIPY-SH) to the allyl-groups using click chemistry, in order to mimic the attachment of a thiol-functional target ligand. The average size and size distribution of the corresponding NPs did not change after BODIPY-conjugation. Neither the NPs nor allyl-NPs showed significant cytotoxicity towards RAW264.7 or MCF-7 cell lines, which indicates their desirable safety profile. A one-step approach to concurrently conjugate allyl-groups and a fluorescent dye (FITC) to the preformed PAA-b-PBA NPs was investigated. The cellular uptake of the FITC-NPs using J774A cells in vitro was found to be time- and concentration-dependent. The anti-cancer drug, doxorubicin, was efficiently (90%) encapsulated into the PAA-b-PBA NPs during NP formation. After a small burst release during the first two hours, a controlled release pattern over 7 days was observed. The present investigation demonstrates a potential method to functionalize polymeric NPs post-PISA to produce targeted drug delivery carriers.
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24. |
- Bashir, Tariq
(author)
-
Conjugated Polymer-based Conductive Fibers for Smart Textile Applications
- 2013
-
Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Electrically conductive or electro-active fibers are the key components of smart and interactive textiles, which could be used in medical, sports, energy, and military applications in the near future. The functionalization of high-performance textile yarns/fibers with conjugated polymers can produce conductive fibers with better electro-mechanical properties, which is difficult with commonly used spinning techniques. In this thesis work, textile-based conductive yarns/fibers were prepared by coating viscose and polyester (PET) yarns with the conjugated polymer PEDOT. For coating purposes, an efficient technique called chemical vapor deposition (CVD) was used, which is a solventless technique and can produce PEDOT polymer layers with high conductivity values. The polymerization of EDOT monomer vapors and coating of oxidant (FeCl3 or FepTS) enriched viscose and PET yarns took place simultaneously. The PEDOT-coated viscose and polyester yarns showed relatively high conductivity values, which could be sufficient for many electronic applications. The polymerization process and the quality of PEDOT polymer strongly depends on different reaction conditions. In this research work, the impact of most of these reaction parameters on the electrical, mechanical, and thermal properties of PEDOT-coated conductive yarns was considered separately. Under specific reaction conditions, it was found that viscose fibers were successfully coated with PEDOT polymer and showed rather high electrical conductivity (≥ 15 S/cm). However, due to the acid hydrolysis of viscose fibers in FeCl3 solutions, the mechanical properties were drastically reduced. In order to improve the mechanical properties of conductive yarns, a relatively stable and chemical-resistant substrate (PET) was coated with PEDOT polymer. Comparative studies between PEDOT-coated viscose and PET conductive yarns showed that the electrical and mechanical properties were enhanced by changing the substrate material. Later on, PEDOT-coated conductive fibers were treated with silicone elastomer solution and due to the thin silicone layers, the hydrophobic properties, flexibility, and durability of coated yarns was improved. Furthermore, a novel electrical resistance-measuring setup was developed, which can be used not only for fibers but also for fabric structures. The electrical characterization of PEDOT-coated conductive yarns showed that it can be used effectively for sensitive fibers without damaging their surface morphology. Finally, the use of conductive yarns as stretch sensors was evaluated. For this purpose, small rectangular knitted patches of conductive yarns were prepared and then the change in electrical resistance values at different extension percentages (5–50%) was investigated. The constant variations in electrical resistance values at different extension and relaxation cycles for longer periods of time revealed that the conductive yarns produced have the potential to be used as stretch sensors for monitoring of vital signs in medical and sports applications.
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25. |
- Benavente, Veronica, et al.
(author)
-
Influence of lipid extraction and processing conditions on hydrothermal conversion of microalgae feedstocks – Effect on hydrochar composition, secondary char formation and phytotoxicity
- 2022
-
In: Chemical Engineering Journal. - : Elsevier. - 1385-8947 .- 1873-3212. ; 428
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This study investigated the effect of lipid extraction of microalgae feedstocks subjected to hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) with regard to the carbonization degree, chemical composition and phytotoxicity of hydrochars produced under different reaction temperatures and residence times. Special attention was given to the formation and composition of secondary char, as this part of the hydrochar may be of particular importance for environmental and technical applications. A microalgae polyculture grown in municipal wastewater was extracted to retrieve lipids, and both unextracted (MA) and extracted microalgae (EMA) were used to produce hydrochars at 180–240 °C for 1–4 h. The composition of the hydrochars was thoroughly characterized by elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis and pyrolysis–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis. MA exhibited a greater carbonization degree than EMA and contained higher amounts of secondary char under the same processing conditions. During the carbonization of EMA, more decomposition products remained in the liquid phase and less polymerization occurred than for MA, which explained the lower solid yield of EMA-derived hydrochars in comparison to MA hydrochars. Consequently, although they contained potentially toxic substances (i.e., carboxylic acids, aldehydes and ketones), the EMA-derived hydrochars exhibited a lower phytotoxic potential. This indicates that low-temperature hydrochars containing less than 10% of extractives might be suitable as soil amendments, whereas extractive-rich hydrochars would be more appropriate for other long-term applications, such as adsorbents for contaminant removal, energy storage and composite materials. Detailed characterization of microalgae-derived hydrochars is required to enable the most suitable application areas to be identified for these materials, and thereby make full use of their function as carbon sinks.
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26. |
- Bosmans, Toon, 1988, et al.
(author)
-
Assembly of Debranched Xylan from Solution and on Nanocellulosic Surfaces
- 2014
-
In: Biomacromolecules. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1525-7797 .- 1526-4602. ; 15:3, s. 924-930
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This study focused on the assembly characteristics of debranched xylan onto cellulose surfaces. A rye arabinoxylan polymer with an initial arabinose/xylose ratio of 0.53 was debranched with an oxalic acid treatment as a function of time. The resulting samples contained reduced arabinose/xylose ratios significantly affecting the molecular architecture and solution behavior of the biopolymer. With this treatment, an almost linear xylan with arabinose DS of only 0.04 was obtained. The removal of arabinose units resulted in the self-assembly of the debranched polymer in water into stable nanoparticle aggregates with a size around 300 nm with a gradual increase in crystallinity of the isolated xylan. Using quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring, the adsorption of xylan onto model cellulose surfaces was quantified. Compared to the nonmodified xylan, the adsorption of debranched xylan increased from 0.6 to 5.5 mg m(-2). Additionally, adsorption kinetics suggest that the nanoparticles rapidly adsorbed to the cellulose surfaces compared to the arabinoxylan. In summary, a control of the molecular structure of xylan influences its ability to form a new class of polysaccharide nanoparticles in aqueous suspensions and its interaction with nanocellulose surfaces.
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27. |
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28. |
- Danish, Muhammad, et al.
(author)
-
Effect of solution matrix and pH in Z-nZVI-catalyzed percarbonate system on the generation of reactive oxygen species and degradation of 1,1,1-trichloroethane
- 2017
-
In: Water Science and Technology. - London, UK : IWA PUBLISHING. - 1606-9749 .- 1607-0798. ; 17:6, s. 1568-1578
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This study primarily focuses on evaluating the effects of solution matrix and pH for the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROSs) in a Z-nZVI-catalyzed sodium percarbonate (SPC) system to degrade 1,1,1-trichloroethane (1,1,1-TCA) in the absence and presence of a reducing agent (RA), i.e. hydroxylamine. Degradation of 1,1,1-TCA was 49.5% and 95% in the absence and presence of RA. Probe tests confirmed the generation of major hydroxyl radicals (OH center dot) and minor superoxide species (O-2(-center dot)), and scavenger tests verified the key role of OH center dot and less of O-2(-center dot) radicals. Degradation of 1,1,1-TCA decreased significantly in the presence of Cl- and HCO3-, while NO3- and SO42- had negligible effects in the absence of RA. Addition of RA significantly enhanced 1,1,1-TCA degradation by generating more OH center dot and O-2(-center dot) radicals in the presence of anions. Degradation of 1,1,1-TCA increased in the acidic range (1-5), while an inhibitive trend from neutral to basic (7-9) was observed. In contrast, a significant increase in 1,1,1-TCA degradation was observed with the addition of RA at all pH values (1-9). In conclusion, the anions and pH significantly influenced the generation and intensity of ROSs and 1,1,1-TCA was effectively degraded in the Z-nZVI-catalyzed SPC system in the presence of RA.
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29. |
- Fatarella, Enrico, et al.
(author)
-
Polymeric composition comprising functionalized PEEK
- 2014
-
Patent (pop. science, debate, etc.)abstract
- The present invention relates to a polymeric composition comprising functionalized polyetheretherketone (PEEK) of formula (II), in admixture with a co-polymer having a melting point lower than the melting point of the non-functionalized PEEK of formula (I). The invention further relates to the use of said composition for the preparation of fibers having antibacterial, decontaminant and self-cleaning properties, useful, for example, for making sanitary garments, such as sanitary coats and masks and for making, for example, filters for ventilation systems and filters for kitchen hoods.
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30. |
- Feng, S. Z., et al.
(author)
-
Siloxane-Terminated Side Chain Engineering of Acceptor Polymers Leading to Over 7% Power Conversion Efficiencies in All-Polymer Solar Cells
- 2017
-
In: ACS Macro Letters. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 2161-1653. ; 6:11, s. 1310-1314
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- To investigate the influence of functional pendent groups on acceptor polymers and photovoltaic properties of all-polymer solar cells (all-PSCs), two novel acceptor polymers containing siloxane-terminated side chains are synthesized and characterized. Increasing the content of siloxane-terminated side chains can reduce pi-pi stacking distance and improve crystalline behavior, yet lead to poorer solubility of the acceptor polymers. By modulating the proper loadings of siloxane-terminated side chains on the acceptor polymers, the PBDB-T:PNDI-Si25 all-PSC attains a maximal power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 7.4% with an outstanding fill factor of 0.68. The results provide, new insights for developing high-performance all-PSCs through functional group engineering on the acceptor polymers, to achieve good solubility, polymer miscibility, and blend morphology.
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31. |
- Gedde, Ulf W, et al.
(author)
-
Mass and charge transport in polyethylene – Structure, morphology and properties
- 2023
-
In: Polymer. - : Elsevier BV. - 0032-3861 .- 1873-2291. ; 266
-
Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Polyethylene is a model for semicrystalline polymers that provides the option to vary crystallinity within wide ranges and then to establish relationships between structure and mass and charge transport properties. Three different topics are covered: diffusion of n-hexane in polyethylene, extensive penetrant uptake kinetics, swelling and the design of a novel sensor, and finally electrical conduction in polyethylene, a field important to modern distribution of electric power (HVDC). This feature article presents past and ongoing studies at KTH Royal Institute of Technology using a variety of experimental methods and computer-aided simulation and modelling.
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32. |
- George, Zandra, 1985, et al.
(author)
-
Two-in-one : Cathode modification and improved solar cell blend stability through addition of modified fullerenes
- 2016
-
In: Journal of Materials Chemistry A. - : Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). - 2050-7488 .- 2050-7496. ; 4:7, s. 2663-2669
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The synthesis of dual purpose modified fullerenes with pyridine-as well as amine-functional groups is reported. Addition of these fullerenes to a polymer : fullerene bulk-heterojunction blend based on a thiophene-quinoxaline donor polymer is found to modify the active layer/cathode interface of inverted solar cells (glass/ITO/active layer/MoO3/Al). In particular the open-circuit voltage of devices is increased from 0.1 V to about 0.7 V, which results in a drastic rise in photovoltaic performance with a power conversion efficiency of up to 3%. At the same time, presence of the functionalised fullerene additives prevents the detrimental formation of micrometre-sized fullerene crystals upon annealing at 140 degrees C. As a result, the device performance is retained, which promises significantly increased thermal stability of the bulk-heterojunction blend nanostructure.
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33. |
- Gonska, Nathalie, et al.
(author)
-
Structure-Function Relationship of Artificial Spider Silk Fibers Produced by Straining Flow Spinning
- 2020
-
In: Biomacromolecules. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1525-7797 .- 1526-4602. ; 21:6, s. 2116-2124
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The production of large quantities of artificial spider silk fibers that match the mechanical properties of the native material has turned out to be challenging. Recent advancements in the field make biomimetic spinning approaches an attractive way forward since they allow the spider silk proteins to assemble into the secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures that are characteristic of the native silk fiber. Straining flow spinning (SFS) is a newly developed and versatile method that allows production under a wide range of processing conditions. Here, we use a recombinant spider silk protein that shows unprecedented water solubility and that is capable of native-like assembly, and we spin it into fibers by the SFS technique. We show that fibers may be spun using different hydrodynamical and chemical conditions and conclude that these spinning conditions affect fiber mechanics. In particular, it was found that the addition of acetonitrile and polyethylene glycol to the collection bath results in fibers with increased beta-sheet content and improved mechanical properties.
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34. |
- Gårdebjer, Sofie, 1985, et al.
(author)
-
Using Hansen solubility parameters to predict the dispersion of nano-particles in polymeric films
- 2016
-
In: Polymer Chemistry. - : Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). - 1759-9954 .- 1759-9962. ; 7:9, s. 1756-1764
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We suggest a rough and straightforward method to predict the dispersibility of modified cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) in nanocomposites using Hansen solubility parameters (HSP). The surface of CNC was modified using a novel approach where Y-shaped substituents with two different carbon chain lengths were attached to the surface. Approximate HSP values were calculated for the modified CNC, and dispersions of unmodified and modified CNC in solvents with varying HSPs were studied. The best dispersibility was observed in dichloromethane, when the CNC surface was modified with longer carbon chains. Dichloromethane has HSP similar to low-density polyethylene (LDPE). Nanocomposites with both unmodified and modified CNC were produced. The materials with modified CNC showed increased adhesion between the filler and the matrix, followed by a decreased water permeability compared to unmodified CNC, suggesting a better dispersibility of modified CNC in LDPE and confirming the usefulness of this approach.
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35. |
- Hui, I. S. B., et al.
(author)
-
Biocomposites containing poly(lactic acid) and chitosan for 3D printing - Assessment of mechanical, antibacterial and in vitro biodegradability properties
- 2023
-
In: Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials. - : Elsevier Ltd. - 1751-6161 .- 1878-0180. ; 147
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- New bone repair materials are needed for treatment of trauma-and disease-related skeletal defects as they still represent a major challenge in clinical practice. Additionally, new strategies are required to combat orthopedic device-related infections (ODRI), given the rising incidence of total joint replacement and fracture fixation surgeries in increasingly elderly populations. Recently, the convergence of additive manufacturing (AM) and bone tissue engineering (BTE) has facilitated the development of bone healthcare to achieve personalized three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds. This study focused on the development of a 3D printable bone repair material, based on the biopolymers poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and chitosan. Two different types of PLA and chitosan differing in their molecular weight (MW) were explored. The novel feature of this research was the successful 3D printing using biocomposite filaments composed of PLA and 10 wt% chitosan, with clear chitosan entrapment within the PLA matrix confirmed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images. Tensile testing of injection molded samples indicated an increase in stiffness, compared to pure PLA scaffolds, suggesting potential for improved load-bearing characteristics in bone scaffolds. However, the potential benefit of chitosan on the biocomposite stiffness could not be reproduced in compression testing of 3D printed cylinders. The antibacterial assays confirmed antibacterial activity of chitosan when dissolved in acetic acid. The study also verified the biodegradability of the scaffolds, with a process producing an acidic environment that could potentially be neutralized by chitosan. In conclusion, the study indicated the feasibility of the proposed PLA/chitosan biocomposite for 3D printing, demonstrating adequate mechanical strength, antibacterial properties and biodegradability, which could serve as a new material for bone repair.
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36. |
- Hynynen, Jonna, 1987
(author)
-
Thermoelectric plastics: Structure-property relationships of P3HT
- 2018
-
Licentiate thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The advancing development of inter-connected small devices, so-called Internet of Things is increasing the demand for independent power sources. Heat is an abundant and often wasted source of energy, thermoelectric generators could be used to harvest this waste energy. Small devices such as heart-rate monitors or gas sensors etc. could potentially be powered by the heat dissipated from the human body using flexible plastic thermoelectric generators.This thesis discusses thermoelectric plastics and in particular the semiconducting polymer P3HT. P3HT is a model conjugated polymer that is commercially available and has become an important reference material for the study of optoelectronic processes in organic semiconductors.At first, we investigated doping from the vapor phase, which permits us to disentangle the influence of polymer processing and doping. We demonstrate that improving the degree of solid-state order of P3HT strongly increased the electrical conductivity.Secondly we studied how the increased solid-state order of P3HT influenced the Seebeck coefficient and the power factor of vapor doped P3HT. Overall, the Seebeck coefficient did not vary to a larger extent whilst the power factor increased by one order of magnitude, to a value of about 3 µW m-1 K-2. This increase was attributed to the improved mobility of charge carriers in the more ordered P3HT.
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37. |
- Javed, Asif, 1982-, et al.
(author)
-
Lignin-containing coatings for packaging materials—pilot trials
- 2021
-
In: Polymers. - : MDPI AG. - 2073-4360. ; 13:10
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- One severe weakness of most biopolymers, in terms of their use as packaging materials, is their relatively high solubility in water. The addition of kraft lignin to starch coating formulations has been shown to reduce the water solubility of starch in dry coatings. However, lignin may also migrate into aqueous solutions. For this paper, kraft lignin isolated using the LignoBoost process was used in order to examine the effect of pH level on the solubility of lignin with and without ammonium zirconium carbonate (AZC). Machine-glazed (MG) paper was coated in a pilot coating machine, with the moving substrate at high speed, and laboratory-coated samples were used as a reference when measuring defects (number of pinholes). Kraft lignin became soluble in water at lower pH levels when starch was added to the solution, due to the interactions between starch and lignin. This made it possible to lower the pH of the coating solutions, resulting in increased water stability of the dry samples; that is, the migration of lignin to the model liquids decreased when the pH of the coating solutions was reduced. No significant difference was observed in the water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) between high and low pH for the pilot-coated samples. The addition of AZC to the formulation reduced the migration of lignin from the coatings to the model liquids and led to an increase in the water contact angle, but also increased the number of pinholes in the pilot-coated samples. © 2021 by the authors
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38. |
- Javed, Asif, 1982-, et al.
(author)
-
Study of starch and starch-PVOH blends and effects of plasticizers on mechanical and barrier properties of coated paperboard
- 2016
-
In: Nordic Pulp & Paper Research Journal. - : Swedish Association of Pulp and Paper Engineers. - 0283-2631 .- 2000-0669. ; 31:3, s. 499-510
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The mechanical properties of self-supporting films based on starch-plasticizer and starch-PVOH-plasticizer and the barrier properties of paperboard coated with solutions of these polymers have been studied. The plasticizers used were glycerol, polyethylene glycol and citric acid. It was shown that the addition of a plasticizer and PVOH to starch substantially increases the flexibility of starch films. It was seen that curing the self-supporting films led to a decrease in flexibility. After heat-treatment, a substantial increase in storage modulus was observed only in the starch-PVOH-citric-acid blend films. Tensile tests on the films indicate that citric acid did not cause any noticeable phase separation. Citric acid acted as a compatibilizer for starch-PVOH blends even though a similar enrichment of PVOH at the air-solid interface was observed with both citric acid and polyethylene glycol as plasticizer. The properties of barrier coatings greatly reflected the compatibility of starch-PVOH blends containing citric acid. The only plasticizer that resulted in a lower water vapour transmission rate through the starch and starch-PVOH coatings was citric acid, which suggests that cross-linking took place. With four layers, coatings based of starch-PVOH possessed the same oxygen- transmission rate with citric acid as without citric acid.
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39. |
- Khataee, Amirreza, et al.
(author)
-
Asymmetric cycling of vanadium redox flow batteries with a poly(arylene piperidinium)-based anion exchange membrane
- 2021
-
In: Journal of Power Sources. - : Elsevier BV. - 0378-7753 .- 1873-2755. ; 483
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The potential application of a 50 μm thick anion exchange membrane prepared based on poly(terphenyl piperidinium-co-trifluoroacetophenone) (PTPT) is investigated for vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs). The PTPT exhibits a considerably lower vanadium permeation than Nafion 212. Therefore, the self-discharge duration of the VRFB based on PTPT is much longer than the VRFB based on Nafion 212. Besides, PTPT shows oxidative stability almost as good as Nafion 212 during immersion in an ex-situ immersion test for more than 400 h. Comparing the VRFB performance when symmetric and asymmetric electrolyte volumes are used yields interesting results. The results show that asymmetric cycling is more effective and efficient for the VRFB assembled with PTPT than Nafion 212 as the capacity fade of 0.03% cycle−1, and the highest coulombic efficiency of 98.8% is attained. Furthermore, the color change of the membrane during cycling can be reversed using a straightforward post-treatment method.
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40. |
- Letoffe, Adrien, et al.
(author)
-
Effect of Fenton reaction parameters on the structure and properties of oxidized wheat starch
- 2024
-
In: Carbohydrate Research. - : Elsevier. - 0008-6215 .- 1873-426X. ; 542
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Wheat starch was oxidized through a Fenton reaction by hydrogen peroxide and Iron II sulfate as a catalyst at various concentrations and reaction duration. The formation of carbonyl and carboxyl groups confirmed the starch oxidation as determined with Fourier -transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The degree of oxidation was estimated by carbonyl and carboxyl titration. The various oxidized wheat starches presented considerable variations in their oxidation level as a function of the catalyst concentration and oxidative process duration. The effect of the Fenton reaction parameters on the starch macromolecular chains and microstructure was evaluated by X-ray diffraction and amylose content estimation. Significant depolymerization of the starch macromolecules was observed, mainly in the starch amorphous phase, followed by a degradation of the crystalline phase at a higher oxidation level. SEM observations revealed changes in starch structure, which ranged from minor degradation of the starch granules to a more crosslinked morphology.
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41. |
- Mendoza, Ana, et al.
(author)
-
Image analysis of PDMS/ZnO nanocomposite surfaces for optimized superhydrophobic and self-cleaning surface design
- 2023
-
In: Surfaces and Interfaces. - : Elsevier B.V.. - 2468-0230. ; 37
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Optimized superhydrophobic and self-cleaning nanocomposite surfaces were obtained by spraying surface modified ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) onto PDMS, using octadecylphosphonic acid and octadecanethiol as hydrophobic modifiers. In this study, it is the first time to our knowledge that surface parameters such as topography, morphology, superhydrophobicity, and self-cleaning are correlated to particle surface distribution and agglomeration parameters obtained by image analysis. The topography, morphology, and wettability of the surfaces were analyzed using atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, static contact angle (SCA), and contact angle hysteresis measurements. Image analysis was performed using the new enhanced graphical user interface of a previously self-developed Matlab® algorithm. Both hydrophobization methodologies increased the NPs’ surface coverage and the hierarchical rough structure formation on the substrates, resulting in more homogenous superhydrophobic self-cleaning surfaces. A higher coated fraction and lower degree of interconnected uncoated PDMS paths are correlated to an increase in SCA. The combination of a higher agglomerates fraction, lower agglomerate radius, and lower distance between agglomerates obtained for the surfaces with hydrophobized ZnO-NPs rendered self-cleaning surfaces. The observed correlations increase the understanding of the design and modelling of superhydrophobic self-cleaning PDMS/ZnO nanocomposite surfaces for use in high voltage outdoor insulators.
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42. |
- Menzel, Carolin, et al.
(author)
-
Improved material properties of solution-cast starch films : Effect of varying amylopectin structure and amylose content of starch from genetically modified potatoes
- 2015
-
In: Carbohydrate Polymers. - : Elsevier BV. - 0144-8617 .- 1879-1344. ; 130, s. 388-397
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- High-amylose potato starches were produced through genetic modification resulting in changed granule morphology and composition, with higher amylose content and increased chain length of amylopectin. The increased amylose content and structural changes in amylopectin enhanced film-forming behavior and improved barrier and tensile properties in starch films. The molecular structure in these starches was related to film-forming properties. Solution-cast films of high-amylose starch revealed a homogeneous structure with increasing surface roughness at higher amylose content, possibly due to amylose aggregation. Films exhibited significantly higher stress and strain at break compared with films of wild-type starch, which could be attributable to the longer chains of amylopectin being involved in the interconnected network and more interaction between chains, as shown using transmission electron microscopy. The oxygen permeability of high-amylose starch films was significantly decreased compared with wild-type starch. The nature of the modified starches makes them an interesting candidate for replacement of non-renewable oxygen and grease barrier polymers used today.
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43. |
- Moriana, Rosana, et al.
(author)
-
Assessing the influence of cotton fibers on the degradation in soil of a thermoplastic starch-based biopolymer
- 2010
-
In: Polymer Composites. - : Wiley. - 0272-8397 .- 1548-0569. ; 31:12, s. 2102-2111
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Biocomposites consisting of cotton fibers and a commercial starch-based thermoplastic were subjected to accelerated soil burial test. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry analysis was carried out to provide chemical-structural information of the polymeric matrix and its reinforced biocomposites. The effects that take place as a consequence of the degradation in soil of both materials were studied by FTIR-ATR, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). When the polymeric matrix and the reinforced biocomposite are submitted to soil burial test, the infrared studies display a decrease in the C=O band associated to the ester group of the synthetic component as a consequence of its degradation. The crystalline index of both materials decreased as a function of the degradation process, where the crystalline structure of the reinforced biocomposite was the most affected. In accordance, the degraded reinforced biocomposite micrographs displayed a more damaged morphology and fracture surface than the degraded polymeric matrix micrographs. On the other hand, the same thermal decomposition regions were assessed for both materials, regardless of the degradation time. Kissinger, Criado, and Coats-Redfern methods were applied to analyze the thermogravimetric results. The kinetic triplet of each thermal decomposition process was determined for monitoring the degradation test. The thermal study confirms that starch was the most biodegradable polymeric matrix component in soil. However, the presence of cotton fiber modified the degradation rate of both matrix components; the degradability in soil of the synthetic component was slightly enhanced, whereas the biodegradation rate of the starch slowed down as a function of the soil exposure time. © 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers.
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44. |
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45. |
- Nyflött, Åsa, 1986-
(author)
-
Structural Studies and Modelling of Oxygen Transport in Barrier Materials for Food Packaging
- 2014
-
Licentiate thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The requirements of food packages are to ensure food safety and quality, to minimize spoilage, and to provide an easy way to store and handle food. To meet these demands for fibre-based food packages, barrier coatings are generally used to regulate the amount of gases entering a package, as some gases are detrimental to food quality. Oxygen, for example, initiates lipid oxidation in fatty foods. Bakery products may also be sensitive to oxygen.This thesis focused on mass transport of oxygen in order to gain deeper knowledge in the performance of barrier coatings and to develop means to optimize the performance of barrier coatings. This experimental study along with computer modelling characterized the structure of barrier materials with respect to the mass transport process.This project was performed as part of the multidisciplinary industrial graduate school VIPP (www.kau.se/en/vipp) - Values Created in Fibre Based Processes and Products – at Karlstad University, with the financial support from the Knowledge Foundation, Sweden, and Stora Enso.
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46. |
- Olsson, Carina, 1982, et al.
(author)
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Dissolution and regeneration of wood saccharides in ionic liquids
- 2010
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In: Proceedings, 11th European Workshop of Lignicellulosics and Pulp. ; , s. 411-414
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Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Cellulose is one of the most important sources of renewable biomaterials, but the number of solvents that are capable of dissolving cellulose is still today very limited. Among non-derivatizing solvents, there are even fewer alternatives. Imidazolium based ionic liquids make up a well studied group of solvents for cellulose that have many advantages such as being considered environmentally friendly, and relatively easy to recycle. Here a model substance of native cellulose, namely oligomeric cellulose with DP = 4.33 is used to study the interactions between cellulose and ionic liquid in solution using 1H NMR spectroscopy. It can be concluded that the oligocellulose is a suitable model substance, with a higher resemblance to polymeric cellulose than for example cellobiose that have previously been used but with maintained possibilities to give high resolution in 1H NMR spectres.
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47. |
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48. |
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49. |
- Wahlström, Niklas, 1990-, et al.
(author)
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Cellulose from the green macroalgae Ulva lactuca: isolation, characterization, optotracing, and production of cellulose nanofibrils
- 2020
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In: Cellulose. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0969-0239 .- 1572-882X.
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We report (1) successful extraction and characterization of cellulose from northern hemisphere green macroalgae Ulva lactuca (Ulva fenestrata) collected along the Swedish west coast and cultivated indoors under controlled conditions, followed by (2) its utilization in the production of lignin-free cellulose nanofibrils (CNF). Cellulose was extracted by sequential treatment with ethanol, hydrogen peroxide, sodium hydroxide, and hydrochloric acid, yielding a cellulose-rich insoluble fraction. The extracted cellulose was disintegrated into CNF using a mechanical homogenization process without any further enzymatic pre-treatments. In addition, regenerated cellulose was prepared. XRD characterization of the CNF showed characteristic peaks for the cellulose I allomorph and confirmed that the nanofibrils were semicrystalline with a crystallinity index of 48%. Regenerated cellulose was mostly amorphous with an XRD pattern indicating the presence of the cellulose II allomorph. The cellulose fractions were essentially free from inorganic substances and thermally stable up to around 260 degrees C. Structural mapping with CP-MAS C-13-NMR sustains the cellulose content of CNF and regenerated cellulose, respectively, yet ion chromatography identified the presence of 10-15% xylose in the fractions. Optotracing was used as a novel and non-disruptive tool to selectively assess the polysaccharide composition of the cellulose fractions and produced CNF aiming to shed light on this hitherto non-resolved origin of xylose in Ulva cell wall matter. Fluorescence excitation and emission spectra of a panel of 4 oligothiophenes identified and verified the presence of cellulose and sustain the conclusion that the isolated fractions consist of cellulose intertwined with a small amount of a xylose-containing glucan copolymer. [GRAPHICS] .
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50. |
- Kharazmi, Parastou, 1977-
(author)
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Durability study of reinforced polyester composite used as pipe lining under artificial aging conditions
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The aging of sewer infrastructure is an ongoing problem. As a result, different materials and methods are being used in alternative sewer rehabilitation approaches. This work was conducted to study one pipe lining, namely the reinforced polyester composite, under artificial aging; this was done to provide a better understanding of the material’s performance under operating conditions, where it is regularly exposed to degrading factors such as heat and water. Aging of the material was monitored by means of several tests, including thermal and mechanical analyses, water absorption and microscopy. The results showed that the combination of aging in water and at high temperatures resulted in greater effects on the material compared to aging at high temperatures in dry conditions. Although the measured properties were affected significantly when immersed in water at high temperatures, the material showed acceptable properties at lower exposure temperatures close to the expected temperature inside sewer systems.
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