Addition Of Polyethylene Glycol Research Articles

Cysteine-Silver-Polymer Systems for the Preparation of Hydrogels and Films with Potential Applications in Regenerative Medicine.

Herein, the problem concerning the poorer mechanical properties of gels based on low molecular weight gelators (LMWGs)-L-cysteine and silver nitrate-was solved by the addition of various polymers-polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and polyethylene glycol (PEG)-to the initial cysteine-silver sol (CSS). The physicochemical methods of analysis-viscosimetry, UV spectroscopy, DLS, and SEM-identified that cysteine-silver hydrogels (CSG) based on PVA possess the best rheological properties and porous microstructure (the average pore size is 2-10 µm) compared to gels without the polymer or with PVP or PEG. Such gels are able to form cysteine-silver cryogels (CSC) and then porous cysteine-silver films (CSF) with an average pore size of 10-20 µm and good mechanical, swelling, and adhesion to skin characteristics as long as the structure of CSS particles remains stable. In vitro experiments have shown that hydrogels are non-toxic to normal human fibroblast cells. The obtained materials could potentially be applied to regenerative medicine.

Development, performance research and shape memory multifunctional exploration of epoxy/PEG shape memory nanofibers

To improve the spinnability of thermoplastic epoxy resin and develop epoxy resin-based shape memory nanofiber materials, polyethylene glycol (PEG) was utilized to regulate the properties of thermoplastic epoxy. The process involved the preparation of thermoplastic epoxy/PEG nanofibers using melt-dispersion and electrospinning techniques. The addition of PEG has enabled the electrospinning of the thermoplastic epoxy, with EPP-5 having the smallest average diameter (227 nm) and EPP-10 showing the most uniform morphology. FTIR analysis confirmed sufficient polymerization of epoxy resin. The water contact angle analysis revealed that an appropriate amount of PEG reduced the hydrophilicity of the nanofiber membranes, with the EPP-10 showing a 14.9 ° increase in water contact angle compared to the EPP-5. The mechanical analysis demonstrated that an appropriate amount of PEG improved the nanofibers’ yield stress, breaking strain, and maximum tensile stress. The EPP-10 exhibited a 3.27 MPa increase in yield stress, a 19.54 % increase in breaking strain, and a 1.17 MPa increase in maximum tensile stress compared to the EPP-5. Thermal analysis showed that epoxy/PEG nanofibers decomposed mainly between 400 ℃ and 500 ℃. Thermomechanical analysis revealed a reduction in the Tg of epoxy/PEG films with the addition of PEG, among which the Tg of EPP-25 was 55.1 ℃ lower than that of EPP-0. The epoxy/PEG nanofiber membrane exhibits excellent shape memory performance, among which the EPP-10 exhibits the best shape recovery effect. In addition, the EPP-10 yarn stretched to 160 % of original length recovered within 25 s, and EPP-10 yarn tied in a temporary shape recovered to original shape within 15 s. In conclusion, by modulating the properties of thermoplastic epoxy through PEG, the spinnability of thermoplastic epoxy was achieved, and shape memory epoxy/PEG nanofibers with potential applications in the field of smart textiles were developed.

Robust hierarchical porous Polycaprolactone/nano-Hydroxyapatite/Polyethylene glycol scaffolds with boosted in vitro osteogenic ability

The reconstruction of bone defects is an important challenge in tissue engineering. Nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA) and polycaprolactone (PCL) composite scaffolds play an important role in bone tissue engineering due to their excellent biological activity, mechanical properties, and osteogenic properties. However, multi-dimensional voids are required during cell infiltration and growth, and the HA and PCL composite scaffold cannot meet the conditions well. In this work, polyethylene glycol (PEG) with hydrophilic and rapid degradation characteristics was introduced into the PCL/nHA system to form porous scaffold. Meanwhile, the physicochemical properties, biological safety, and biological activity of the scaffold were evaluated. It was found that the composite scaffolds with the addition of PEG were safe and non-toxic, which not only improved the hydrophilicity, porosity and degradation rate of the scaffolds, but also formed 20 nm to 4 µm microscopic pores after hydrolysis, together with the large pores of 100–200 µm prepared by Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM), which jointly endowed the scaffolds with a rich multilevel pore structure. Moreover, this micropore can be adjusted by modulating the content of the added PEG, which is beneficial to cell adhesion, enhance the in vitro osteogenic ability, and expect to become future bone tissue engineering scaffolds.

Electrocrystallization and Morphology of Copper Coatings in the Presence of Organic Additives

Copper coatings with refined grains and smooth surface morphology were electrodeposited from electrolytes comprising a novel accelerator, the disodium salt of 4,4-dithiobenzene disulfonic acid (DBDA), with sodium chloride and polyethylene glycol (PEG) as inhibitors and 2-aminobenzothiazole (ABT) as a leveler. It was found that the morphology of the coatings strongly depends on the presence and type of additives. In the presence of only DBDA and NaCl, large crystallites are formed, whereas the addition of PEG and ABT significantly decreases their size, and the most fine-grained, smooth, and defect-free copper coating is formed with the combined use of all additives. To establish the correlation between the observed morphology and the kinetics of the additive-assisted copper electrocrystallization in the proposed electrolytes, the nucleation mechanism and its parameters were determined by transient electrochemical characterization. The extended nucleation model, which takes into account not only the copper deposition but also the electric double-layer charging and hydrogen reduction process, was used to establish the electrocrystallization kinetics in the presence of the additives. The results of such kinetic analyses can help to explain the morphological effect. By using the chronopotentiometry method, it was found that the addition of the disodium salt of 4,4-dithiobenzene disulfonic acid with chloride ions gives a catalytic effect, while the sequential introduction of polyethylene glycol and 2-aminobenzothiazole provides an increasing inhibitory effect. Voltamperometry and chronoamperometry tests showed that the process is controlled by the diffusion of ions to the growing three-dimensional cluster of a new phase. The introduction of additives into the electrolyte slows down the copper electroplating process at comparatively negative potentials and increases the probability of transition from instantaneous to progressive nucleation. Moreover, the rate of the process and the density of nucleation active sites increase (up to 2–3 times) with the addition of DBDA but decrease significantly (up to 5–8 times) in the presence of PEG and ABT, which additionally confirms their catalytic and inhibitory effects, respectively, and explains the significant smoothing effect on the morphology of the Cu-coatings.

Sustainable Concrete Produced with Petroleum Catalyst waste and Polyethylene Glycol as a Self-Healing Agent

Purpose: To evaluate the production of concrete from the partial replacement of Portland cement with petroleum catalyst residue (RC), generated in large quantities by the petrochemical industries, and the addition of polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG 400), with an emphasis on investigating its mechanical properties and durability, considering the technological, scientific and environmental aspects. Theoretical framework: Oil catalyst waste is generated in significant quantities and is classified as non-inert due to its metal ion content, so there is a need to investigate new disposal methods. The use of RC as partial substitute for Portland cement, with the addition of PEG 400 (self-curing agent), was investigated for the production of non-conventional concrete. The waste has pozzolanic activity, enabling improvements in mechanical properties when added to the cement matrix. PEG 400 has properties that can make concrete more effective in terms of water absorption, hydration heat and workability. The search for sustainability leads to research into new construction materials in order to preserve natural resources and reduce environmental impact. The concrete developed can be lower cost and more durable, without any loss of structural strength. Method/design/approach: The use of RC was investigated with partial substitutions of 2%, 5%, 10% and 20% in relation to the total mass of Portland cement for the manufacture of concrete and the addition of polyethylene glycol (PEG 400) as a self-curing agent. The void ratio, water absorption by capillarity and immersion, specific masses and pozzolanicity index of the waste were investigated. Mechanical and morphological characterization tests were also carried out on the concretes developed. Results and conclution: The compressive strength of concrete produced with 2% RC in relation to the total mass of cement and 1.5% PEG 400 increased by 18.3% compared to conventional concrete. An increase in the amount of residue caused a reduction in concrete strength. The sample with 1.5% PEG 400 obtained better workability in the fresh state, which may be due to the polymer acting as a self-healing agent. The images obtained by scanning electron microscopy showed that the samples containing 2% added RC had lower porosity. The study showed that the waste can be used satisfactorily in civil construction and the implementation of this new process can reduce global warming and the scarcity of mineral resources, taking sustainability into account. Research implications: This work contributes to a sustainable circular economy with a new process for using petroleum catalyst waste, with pozzolanic characteristics, in cementitious materials. Originality/value: The results will be promising for the use of petroleum catalyst waste and polyethylene glycol in the production of environmentally sustainable concrete.

Enhancing pseudocapacitive intercalation in Ti3C2T x MXene with molecular crowding electrolytes

The growing demand for safe, cost-efficient, high-energy and high-power electrochemical energy storage devices has stimulated the development of aqueous-based supercapacitors with high capacitance, high rate capability, and high voltage. 2D titanium carbide MXene-based electrodes have shown excellent rate capability in various dilute aqueous electrolytes, yet their potential window is usually narrower than 1.2 V. In this study, we show that the potential window of Ti3C2T x MXene can be efficiently widened to 1.5 V in a cost-effective and environmentally benign polyethylene glycol (PEG) containing molecular crowding electrolyte. Additionally, a pair of redox peaks at −0.25 V/−0.05 V vs. Ag (cathodic/anodic) emerged in cyclic voltammetry after the addition of PEG, yielding an additional 25% capacitance. Interestingly, we observed the co-insertion of the molecular crowding agent PEG-400 during the Li+ intercalation process based on in-situ x-ray diffraction analysis. As a result, Ti3C2T x electrodes presented an interlayer space change of 4.7 Å during a complete charge/discharge cycle, which is the largest reversible interlayer space change reported so far for MXene-based electrodes. This work demonstrates the potential of adding molecular crowding agents to improve the performance of MXene electrodes in aqueous electrolytes and to enlarge the change of the interlayer spacing.

Porous Mn-doped Fe3O4 as lithium-ion battery anode via low-temperature combustion synthesis

The preparation of Mn-doped Fe3O4 was carried out using the low-temperature combustion synthesis (LCS) method through the addition of Mn2+ to the ferric nitrate-glycine system. Here, we investigate the mechanism of the redox reaction involving Fe3+ and Mn2+ ions, and the results reveal that for the synthesis of porous Mn-doped Fe3O4, the presence of Mn2+ in the raw material is necessary. The carbon source, such as ethylene glycol, glucose, and polyethylene glycol-4000, serves as both reducing and complexing agent, leading to the formation of more pores during the combustion reaction. Increased specific surface area of combustion products. By conducting a LCS reaction in a solution with added ethylene glycol, Mn-doped Fe3O4 was obtained for lithium ions batteries as anode material, at current density of 5 A g−1, it demonstrates an impressive capacity retention rate of 90% with a high capacity of 452.5 mA h g−1 after 650 cycles. Similarly, Mn-doped Fe3O4 obtained with the addition of polyethylene glycol shows a capacity retention rate of 89.7% after 1500 cycles. Our findings provide a new and innovative method for the preparation of manganese ferrites with a porous structure and a new research approach for developing metal oxide anode materials.

Highly conductive and stretchable filament for flexible electronics

Conductive and stretchable filaments are crucial for advancing additive manufacturing, particularly in flexible electronics. However, existing conductive filaments suffer from limitations in conductivity and stretchability. To overcome these challenges, this study presents a highly conductive and stretchable filament for material extrusion type 3D printing. The developed filament achieves an initial electrical conductivity of 558 S/cm and maintains low resistance up to 60 % strain with 10 vol% silver loading. This significantly surpasses the performance of commercial filaments and previous literature reports. The addition of polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a plasticizer for the silver filled thermoplastic polyurethane (Ag-TPU) composite enhances extrusion and improves filament surface quality. The printability of the filament in material extrusion 3D printing was evaluated, and the electrical conductivity of the printed objects was assessed. Two demonstrator structures, an electrical interconnection and a capacitive strain sensor, were successfully prototyped, showcasing the potential applications of this filament in stretchable electronics. The developed filament paves the way for creating intricate and stretchable electronic devices using material extrusion printing techniques. These advancements contribute to the field of additive manufacturing and enable the fabrication of flexible electronic components with enhanced conductivity and stretchability.

A surfactant modified solid amine adsorbent to enhance CO2 adsorption performance

Solid-amine adsorbents are promising CO2 post-combustion adsorption materials to mitigate global warming. As one of the most important evaluation criteria, the CO2 adsorption capacity of the adsorbent was determined by both kinetic and thermodynamic factors, while high temperature is good for mass transfer and low temperature is advantageous for equilibrium to move towards adsorption. In this study, surfactants were added into polyethylenimine (PEI) cryogel to enhance mass transfer and reduce the adsorption temperature, thereby promoting its adsorption capacity. With the addition of polyethylene glycol (PEG200), the CO2 adsorption capacity reached a maximum value of 6.48 mmol/g at 65 °C, and the amine efficiency reached a maximum value of 0.52 mol C/mol N at 45 °C. Further characterization revealed that the addition of PEG not only enhanced the mass transfer, but also changed the chemisorption mechanisms, which were very similar to the effects of water. Besides, PEG would form hydrogen bonds with the PEI polymer network and showed stable regeneration capacity, thereby exhibiting a greater application potential.

Bio-larvicidal Potential of Betel Leaves (Piper betle L) Ethanolic Extract in Addition of PEG 400 Diluent on Aedes aegypti Larvae

Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) is a kind of vector transmitted disease, by Aedes aegypti. It is one of major public health problem around the world, including Indonesia, because it may lead to epidemics and death in a short time. The use of plant extracts as bio-larvicidal is thought to be a promising solution, and one of them is the betel leaves (Piper betle L). The addition of polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a diluent is thought may increase the dispersity of plant extract in the water which is larval medium of growth. Objectives: To determine the bio-larvicidal potential of 95% ethanolic extract of betel leaves (EEBL) in addition of PEG 400 diluent on the Aedes aegypti larval mortality. Material and Method: Betel leaves were extracted by maceration using 95% of ethanol. There are two kinds of EEBL concentration used, 0.2% dan 0.4%. PEG 400 was also added as diluent. The samples in this study were Aedes aegypti larvae at instar III-IV, with a total of 400 larvae. Evaluation was performed at 6, 12, 18, and 24 hours. The data obtained was then analyzed by Kruskall Wallis test and post-hoc Mann Whitney test. Result: In all of treatment groups, larval mortality was reached 100% at 24 hours. From the Kruskall Wallis test, p-value obtained was <0.05. From post-hoc Mann Whitney test, the p-value obtained in the comparation between treatment groups and positive control group was >0.05, and the p-value obtained in the comparation between treatment groups and negative control group was <0.05. Conclusion: EEBL in addition of PEG 400 diluent is potential as bio-larvicidal on Aedes aegypti larvae. It is also known that EEBL at concentration of 0.2% and 0.4% in addition of PEG 400 are as effective as temephos as larvicides on Aedes aegypti larvae.

Effect of Condensed Tannins on Nitrogen Distribution and Metabolome after Aerobic Exposure of Sainfoin Silage

(1) Background: Previous studies have indicated that proteolysis is inhibited by the condensed tannins (CTs) that are present during sainfoin ensiling. Whether inhibiting this effect of CTs on proteolysis is functional during aerobic exposure is still unclear. (2) Methods: the present study investigated the effect of CTs on metabolite composition during the aerobic exposure of sainfoin silage via the use of polyethylene glycol (PEG), leading to the inactivation of CTs. (3) Results: The neutral detergent-insoluble protein (NDIP) and acid detergent-insoluble protein concentrations were both more concentrated in the control group than in the PEG-treated group. There were 587 and 651 different metabolites present in the control and PEG-treated groups after 3 and 7 days, respectively, of aerobic exposure of silage. Flavonoids (72 metabolites) were the most abundant among these different metabolites. The addition of PEG upregulated histidine, threonine, asparagine, tryptophan, and glutamine, but downregulated phenylalanine. The relative abundances of Lactococcus, Fructobacillus, Enterobacter, Cutibacterium, Citrobacter, and Rosenbergiella differed significantly between the control and PEG-treated groups (p < 0.05); all of these bacteria showed significant correlation with some of the 50 most abundant metabolites. (4) Conclusions: the results suggest that the antioxidant status of the silage increased and inhibited the activity of a variety of bacteria that coexist with CTs, and decreased the production of certain amino acids after the aerobic exposure of silage.

The effect of sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) drying temperature and pelleting on in vitro fermentation characteristics using equine faecal inocula

This study was conducted to determine the effects of drying temperature and pelleting of the tanniniferous forage legume sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) on the in vitro fermentation characteristics by equine faecal inocula. The sainfoin used for the experiment was air dried on the land and oven dried at 30, 70 and 130 °C for 2.5 h. Part of the dried sainfoin samples was left as dried hay, another part was pelleted, resulting in 6 different samples. The hay and pellets were tested for particle size distribution and pellets were tested for their pellet quality in terms of hardness, durability and bulk density. The gas production technique was used to simulate fermentation and faecal samples of eight randomly selected horses were used to create four independent inocula mixtures that were examined in two subsequent gas production runs. Per inocula mixture, the hay and pellet samples were incubated in triplicate as is, or in combination with polyethylene glycol to inactivate the tannins. Cumulative gas production, a proxy for the organic matter (OM) fermentation, was measured for 72 h, whereafter fermentation fluids were sampled and analysed for volatile fatty acids (VFA) and pH. The results of the pellet quality measurements showed that the particle sizes of the sainfoin particles in the pellets were decreased by a higher drying temperature or by the pelleting process, indicating a loss of fibre physical effectiveness, a factor that may be indicative for chewing activity and hence saliva production. The gas production results showed a significant (P < 0.05) effect of drying temperature and the addition of polyethylene glycol on the cumulative gas production, the VFA production and the percentage of branched chain VFA produced. Hay dried at 130 °C had a lower (P < 0.05) gas production compared to hay dried at 30 and 70 °C, which indicates a lower OM fermentability. The addition of polyethylene glycol increased the gas and total VFA production, which indicates that tannins in sainfoin decrease the production of gas and VFA in hay pellets compared to the hay product. The pelleting process had no effect on the fermentation characteristics, but pelleting conditions strongly decreased the level of the amino acid lysine and its reactivity. The results indicate the increase in drying temperature to cause a decrease in the OM hindgut fermentation and the total and reactive lysine contents of sainfoin. The positive effects of the tannins (a higher proportion of propionic acid relative to acetic acid and a lower protein fermentation) remain, despite of technological treatments.

Reversible halochromic PLA film for naked-eye detection at the extreme base condition

ABSTRACT Exposure to extreme base conditions in indoor environments may lead to adverse health effects on living beings. Proper ventilation and real-time detection are very important upon exposure. A simple and highly sensitive reversible base sensor is successfully prepared for real-time detection of the extreme base condition of aqueous base analytes. Halochromic poly lactid acid (PLA) pH film sensor containing thymolphthalein (THY) dye and polyethylene glycol (PEG) was developed by solution casting method. To increase the effectiveness of PLA pH film capabilities as a base sensor, the impact of altering the concentration of THY and PEG substrate was explored. The interactions between PLA, THY, and PEG were observed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and the intensity of color changes was measured using UV-VIS spectroscopy. It was found that the PLA pH film has a clear color response from colorless to blue at pH 11–13 with a rapid response time within a minute. The results also revealed that varying PEG content showed a significant effect on response time compared to varying the THY content. Real-time visual color changes of the PLA pH film with different THY content and PEG content on total color difference, (∆E) values over pH and time were observed. Color changes after immersion in buffer solutions with different pH values were evaluated spectrophotometrically using CIELAB color space. The results indicated that varying the PEG content in the film leads to a faster and more distinct reversible color change. This outcome can be attributed to PEG ability to augment the free volume within the PLA material and enabling PEG and the dye and become trapped between PLA chain. The addition of PEG and THY has improved the flexibility of PLA film, which enables great potential in many applications such as medical, textile, and packaging in base environments.

Green synthesis of polyvinylidene fluoride ultrafiltration membrane with upgraded hydrophilicity

The use of Cyrene™ as an alternative non-toxic solvent to produce a PVDF-based ultrafiltration membrane was investigated in this study. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) were used as organic additives to explore its ability to improve membrane hydrophilicity. The additives were introduced into the casting solution via phase inversion with a combined non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) and evaporation-induced phase separation (EIPS) technique. The prepared membranes were characterized to examine its morphology, mechanical properties, and filtration performance. The results show that the addition of PEG and PVP has proven able to improve the membrane hydrophilicity with the lowest contact angle of 76.81° achieved from the addition of PEG with concentration 3 wt%. However, the nascent membranes were not adequate enough, in terms of its mechanical properties, to undergo performance tests due to its very brittle nature. The overall results from this study demonstrate a great potential as a proposed method of utilizing Cyrene™ as a choice of green solvent to fabricate PVDF-based ultrafiltration membrane with the incorporation of PEG and PVP as organic additives.

GPP-TSAIII nanocomposite hydrogel-based photothermal ablation facilitates melanoma therapy

ABSTRACT Background Photothermal therapy (PTT) is a promising cancer treatment, but its application is limited by low photoconversion efficiency. In this study, we aimed to develop a novel graphene oxide (GO)-based nanocomposite hydrogel to improve the bioavailability of timosaponin AIII (TSAIII) while maximizing PTT efficacy and enhancing the antitumor effect. Methods GO was modified via physical cross-linking with polyvinyl alcohol. The pore structure of the gel was adjusted by repeated freeze-thawing and the addition of polyethylene glycol 2000 to obtain a nanocomposite hydrogel (GPP). The GPP loaded with TSAIII constituted a GPP-TSAIII drug delivery system, and its efficacy was evaluated by in vitro cytotoxicity, apoptosis, migration, and uptake analyses, and in vivo antitumor studies. Results The encapsulation rate of GPP-TSAIII was 66.36 ± 3.97%, with slower in vitro release and higher tumor cell uptake (6.4-fold) compared to TSAIII. GPP-TSAIII in combination with PTT showed better bioavailability and antitumor effects in vivo than did TSAIII, with a 1.9-fold higher tumor suppression rate than the TSAIII group. Conclusions GPP is a potential vehicle for delivery of TSAIII-like poor water-soluble anticancer drugs. The innovative PTT co-delivery system may serve as a safe and effective melanoma treatment platform for further anticancer translational purposes.

Evaluation of Thermal and Rheological Properties of Phase Change Material-Incorporated Asphalt Mastic with Porous Fillers

Incorporating phase change material (PCM) into paving materials can regulate the pavement temperature, improve the pavement durability, and mitigate the heat-island effects. In this research, porous fillers were used as the PCM carrier, and the thermal and rheological behaviors of the asphalt mastic with the PCM were evaluated. Two different carrier materials (diatomite and expanded perlite) and four types of PCMs were used in the study. The candidate filler, PCM, and proper blending ratios were determined based on the results of scanning electron microscope image analysis, the filter paper test, and the temperature sweep test. The thermal and rheological behaviors of the mastics with PCMs were further evaluated with different filler replacement ratios. Thermal analysis through a differential scanning calorimetry test, thermal conductivity and volumetric heat capacity test, and real-time temperature performance test were performed on the asphalt mastics. Rheological tests, including the complex shear modulus test, the bending beam rheometer test, and the linear amplitude sweep test, were also conducted. The modified mastics were found to have high heat capacity with the latent heat storage ability. The rheological analyses showed that with the addition of polyethylene glycol, while the low-temperature performance of the asphalt mastics was improved, the performance at intermediate and high temperatures was not adversely affected by the PCM.

Polylactic acid biocomposites with high loadings of melt-flowable organosolv lignin

Polylactic acid (PLA) was blended with a new type of organosolv lignin, called Bioleum (BL) using a melt extrusion method to obtain biocomposites with BL loadings as high as 40 wt%. Two plasticizers, namely polyethylene glycol (PEG) and triethyl citrate (TEC) were also introduced to the material system. Gel permeation chromatography, rheological analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and tensile testing were performed to characterize the biocomposites. The results revealed that BL exhibits a melt-flowable characteristic. The biocomposites' tensile strength was found to be higher than most of the previously reported cases. Overall, the BL domain size increased as the BL content was increased, causing a drop in the strength and ductility. Even though the addition of both PEG and TEC improved the ductility, PEG proved to significantly outperform TEC. With the introduction of 5 wt% PEG, the elongation at break of PLA_BL20 was increased >9 times, even exceeding that of the neat PLA by several folds. Consequently, PLA_BL20_PEG5 produced a toughness that is twice as the of the neat PLA. The findings suggest a great promise of BL to develop scalable and melt processable composites.

Effect of Additional Polyethylene Glycol and Citric Acid on Characteristics of NiMo/g-Al2O3 Catalyst in Light Cycle Gas Oil Hydrodesulfurisation

Sulfur is an impurity in diesel that causes low product quality and environmental pollution. Therefore, a catalyst is needed in the profound hydrodesulfurization (HDS) reaction to produce diesel fuel with low sulfur content. The catalyst synthesized in this work was NiMo/g-Al2O3 with the addition of PEG (2%, 4%, 6%) (w/w) and CA (1%, 2%, and 4%) (w/w). The catalyst was synthesized using the dry impregnation method with a metal concentration of 3% NiO and 15% MoO3. The obtained catalysts were characterized using X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), and Surface Area Analyzer (SAA). This work acquired the best catalyst characteristics for the HDS process by adding 2% PEG and 1% CA with a concentration of 3.19% NiO and 13.98% MoO3. The surface area, pore volume, and diameter are 181.655 m2/g, 0.50 cm3/g, and 110.51 Å, respectively. The catalyst activity satisfies Euro V standards at 345 ℃ with a sulfur content of 9.55 ppm, and the sulfur conversion (HDS) is 98.75%. The density and cetane index of the obtained diesel fuel was 0.798 g/mL and 53.6, respectively. Copyright © 2023 by Authors, Published by BCREC Group. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).

Exploring the effect of surfactants on the interaction between laccase and bisphenol A by molecular docking, molecular dynamics, and energy calculations

Bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine disruptor, has potential threat to human health due to its widespread use as a plasticizer in many industrial products. Laccase (Lac) can degrade BPA well and the intervention of some surfactants can further improve the degradation of BPA by Lac, but the exact details are not known. In this paper, focused on the Lac and BPA, as well as the surfactants rhamnolipid (RL) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) as research objects, we construct nine research systems by molecular docking, and study the effect of these two surfactants on the interaction of Lac-BPA at the molecular level through molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and MM-PBSA prediction. The results showed that these two surfactants aggregated and encapsulated the enzyme in different degrees during the MD simulations, which separated the surface part of the enzyme from the solvent, thereby weakening the environmental influence on Lac activity and changing the local residues conformation of Lac, leading to the reduction of polar solvation free energy and changing the binding state of Lac-BPA. RL promotes the binding of Lac-BPA primarily by influencing the free energy of polar solvents, while PEG weakens the binding free energy of Lac-BPA complex. These results explain the reason for the lower degradation rate of BPA with the addition of PEG than with the addition of RL in the same system under the appropriate conditions. Our work elucidates the mechanism of action by which two surfactants RL and PEG affect the Lac-BPA interaction which will provide a strong basis for improving the degradation of BPA by Lac at the molecular level.

Effects of Ammonium Polyphosphate and Organic Modified Montmorillonite on Flame Retardancy of Polyethylene Glycol/Wood-Flour-Based Phase Change Composites.

With the depletion of fossil fuel energy and both the slow development and low utilization rate of new eco-friendly energy, finding new ways to efficiently store energy has become a research hotspot. Presently, polyethylene glycol (PEG) is an excellent heat storage material, but it is a typical solid-liquid phase change material (PCM) with a risk of leakage during phase transition. A combination of wood flour (WF) and PEG can effectively eliminate the risk of leakage after the melting of PEG. However, WF and PEG are both flammable materials, which impedes their application. Therefore, it is of great significance to expand their application by forming composites from among PEG, supporting mediums, and flame-retardant additives. This will improve both their flame retardancy and phase change energy storage performance, and will also lead to the preparation of excellent flame-retardant phase change composite materials with solid-solid phase change characteristics. To address this issue, ammonium polyphosphate (APP), organic modified montmorillonite (OMMT), and WF were blended into PEG in specific proportions to prepare a series of PEG/WF-based composites. Both thermal cycling tests and thermogravimetric analysis results demonstrated that the as-prepared composites had good thermal reliability and chemical stability. In addition, during differential scanning calorimetry tests, the PEG/WF/8.0APP@2.0OMMT composite presented the highest melting latent heat (176.6 J/g), and its enthalpy efficiency reached more than 98.3%. The PEG/WF/8.0APP@2.0OMMT composite also exhibited superior thermal insulation performance when compared to the pure PEG/WF composite. Furthermore, the PEG/WF/8.0APP@2.0OMMT composite exhibited a significant 50% reduction in peak heat release rate as a result of the synergistic effect between OMMT and APP in the gas and condensed phases. This work offers a useful strategy for the fabrication of multifunctional phase-change material, which is expected to broaden its industrial applications.