Environment-friendly Polymer Research Articles

Nanofiberous composite with CuO-Ag0 supported on bamboo/lycra for protection against transmittable infectious diseases

The transmittable infectious diseases, detrimental environmental contaminants and harmful UV radiations remained constant threat to human civilization. Cold, pneumonia, tuberculosis bacteria, rubella virus, RSV and COVID19, then urban and industrial emissions, volcanic eruptions, pollen, aerosols on one hand and skin cancer, sunburn, premature ageing and skin tanning on the other hand are some of the examples of serious risks to health, safety and well-being. The WHO reported over 7million worldwide deaths due to hazardous air contaminants. Exploiting the tremendous features of nanofiberous structure and excellent microbiocidal properties of Ag0 and CuO nanoparticles, a sustainable and stable nanofiber based composite Bmb-nanoNP was developed. Utilization of biocompatible, biodegradable, nontoxic and environmental friendly polymers enabled the composite as sustainable source for protective clothing purposes. The microparticulate filtration of Bmb-nanoNP was 99.13 % and 96 % with and without air suction respectively. The microbiocidal affect against E. coli and S. aureus strains was excellent(5.9 % and 8.86 % cell viabilities respectively). Similarly, the Bmb-nanoNP showed calculated UV protection factor (UPF) of 7954 (50 + rating).These characteristics demonstrated potential candidacy of the Bmb-nanoNP composite for multi-functional safety clothing applications.

Innovative Poly(lactic Acid) Blends: Exploring the Impact of the Diverse Chemical Architectures from Itaconic Acid

Environment-friendly polymer blends of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and itaconic acid (IA), poly(itaconic acid) (PIA), poly(itaconic acid)-co-poly(methyl itaconate) (Cop-IA), and net-poly(itaconic acid)-ν-triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (Net-IA) were performed via melt blending. The compositions studied were 0.1, 1, 3, and 10 wt% of the diverse chemical architectures. The research aims to study and understand the effect of IA and its different architectures on the mechanical, rheological, and thermal properties of PLA. The PLA/IA, PLA/PIA, PLA/Cop-IA, and PLA/Net-IA blends were characterized by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, rotational rheometer (RR), thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. The complex viscosity, storage module, and loss module for the RR properties were observed in the following order: PLA/Cop-IA, PLA/Net-IA, and PLA/PIA > PLA > PLA/IA. Thermal stability improved with increasing concentrations of Cop-IA and Net-IA. In the same way, the mechanical properties were enhanced. In addition, the micrographs illustrated the formation of fibrillar structures for all blends. The crystallinity degree displayed higher values for the blends that contain Net-IA > Cop-IA than IA > PIA. Therefore, IA and its architectures can influence these studied properties, which have potential applications in disposable food packing.

Upcycling waste tempura flake-derived starch powder as an environment-friendly polymer matrix filler for thermoplastic starch compounds

Waste tempura flakes collected from local restaurants were upcycled to be utilized as a polymer filler material. The oil fraction in collected waste tempura flakes were extracted two times via centrifugal solid-liquid separation and organic solvent extraction. Then, oil-extracted residual starch was freeze-milled to produce fine powders. Waste tempura flake-derived starch powder was substituted with 1%, 3%, and 5% (wt%) of virgin starch powder to produce thermoplastic starch. Composition, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared analyses showed that the mixture was successfully thermally plasticized. Substitution of waste tempura flake-derived starch decreased tensile strength while increasing elongation at break of some samples. Produced thermoplastic starch samples again were compounded with polylactic acid (PLA) and poly-butylene adipate-co-terephthalate (PBAT) following a mixing ratio of 3:5:2. The analyses indicated that thermoplastic starch, PLA, and PBAT were successfully compounded. The compound containing 1 wt% substituted thermoplastic starch showed the minimal mechanical strength decrease. This study revealed the possibility of upcycling waste fried food into a valuable bioplastic material. Waste tempura flakes can be utilized as both bio-jet fuel and bioplastic filler material.

Finite Element Analysis of 3D Printed Block Prepared of Sustainable Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)

ABS and chain-branched amylopectin exhibit poor processing capabilities, making them unsuitable for 3D printing utilizations. While ABS exhibits excellent mechanical properties with high processing costs, it lacks the practical requirements of PLA, an environment-friendly polymer with poor mechanical performances. Studying the toxicity of 3-D printer emissions and the causes of toxicity both in vivo and in vitro is necessary in light of the rapidly expanding applications of 3-D printing technological advances, the documented emissions, and the possible adverse reactions from exposed to those emissions. Despite these limitations, ABS and PLA continue to be developed for 3D printing applications. Several mechanical behaviors, including tensile strength, creep, and fatigue, are examined in the study to determine the structural integrity and durability of a 3D-printed ABS square block. The results of the safety factor analysis show a minimum value of 0.1823, indicating the presence of potential failure points and the need for design optimization. The material can last long under dynamic loads, as shown by the fatigue study. This study not only improves ABS parts in real-life uses but also helps grasp their strength better. It gives clues for their future design and making. Using experimental and simulation data, the study optimizes 3D printing parameters and improves ABS materials’ structural efficiency by integrating finite element methods with practical manufacturing outcomes.

The Functional and Biodegradation Characteristics of High-Density Poly-ethylene, Poly-caprolactone and Poly-ethylene Maleic Anhydride Composites

The goal of this research is to develop environmental friendly polymer composites in order to reduce the use of current polymers and promote global security. High density poly-ethylene (HDPE) and poly-caprolactone (PCL) composites were mixed with varying amounts of poly-ethylene joined maleic anhydride (PE-g-MA) as a strong compatibilizer. The different composites were prepared using the conventional infusion shaping approach. Mechanical properties were accounted for to have good increase for the diverse compositions and the strength and pliable strain% (stretching) rate at break were improved in comparison to unadulterated HDPE. Examining electron magnifying lens (SEM) morphology revealed that the expansion of PE-g-MA increased the compability and so aided in the achievement of a synergistic mix of superior qualities. The manure internment test yielded favorable bio-corruption results and demonstrated the fertilizer's ability to enable bio-debasement of various composites, allowing their utilization as key polymers in the assembly of single-use products and also protecting nature and acting as a decent waste administration of HDPE polymer.

Exploring the Role of Green Microbes in Sustainable Bioproduction of Biodegradable Polymers.

Research efforts have shifted to creating biodegradable polymers to offset the harmful environmental impacts associated with the accumulation of non-degradable synthetic polymers in the environment. This review presents a comprehensive examination of the role of green microbes in fostering sustainable bioproduction of these environment-friendly polymers. Green microbes, primarily algae and cyanobacteria, have emerged as promising bio-factories due to their ability to capture carbon dioxide and utilize solar energy efficiently. It further discusses the metabolic pathways harnessed for the synthesis of biopolymers such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) and the potential for genetic engineering to augment their production yields. Additionally, the techno-economic feasibility of using green microbes, challenges associated with the up-scaling of biopolymer production, and potential solutions are elaborated upon. With the twin goals of environmental protection and economic viability, green microbes pave the way for a sustainable polymer industry.

Biopolymer films incorporated with chlorogenic acid nanoparticles for active food packaging application

Food packaging is innovating towards more environmental-friendly polymers and broader applications of bioactive compounds. In this study, active packaging materials were successfully prepared by incorporating chlorogenic acid (CGA) nanoparticles into pullulan/gelatin polymer matrixes. The rhamnolipid (RL) and/or CGA were combined with chitosan (CS) to synthesize active nanoparticles by the ionic crosslinking method. The film containing CS/RL/CGA nanoparticles (F/CRC) exhibited both ultrahigh visible light (400–760 nm) transmittance (approximately 90%) and UVA (320–400 nm)-blocking efficiency (89.06%). Its fluorescent properties can be used for anti-counterfeiting. Significantly, the bacterial inhibition rates of F/CRC against E. coli and S. aureus were 92.14% and 98.72%. F/CRC also showed good antioxidant capability and biosafety. Finally, the packaging test further indicated that F/CRC could delay the browning of bananas and the bacteria growth of chicken samples. This work presents a green and feasible route to produce functional materials with UV-shielding properties for packaging applications.

High performance plant-derived thermoplastic polyester elastomer foams achieved by manipulating charging order of mixed blowing agents

Plant-derived thermoplastic polyester elastomer (TPEE) is an environment friendly polymer known for its exceptional tear strength and mechanical properties, whose monomers are generated from crops. To prepare high-performance TPEE foams is still challenging due to the intrinsic shrinkage behavior. Herein, two microcellular foaming routes with different charging orders of mixed blowing agents, namely “CO2 firstly charging process (CO2-F-process)” and “N2 firstly charging process (N2-F-process)”, were developed to elucidate the effects of mixed blowing agents on foaming behavior. Compared with the case in N2-F-process, more carbon dioxide and less nitrogen were adsorbed in CO2-F-process. Thus, TPEE foams prepared by N2-F-process show less shrinkage and higher creep recovery ratio than those prepared by CO2-F-process. Thanks to better structural stability and smaller shrinkage, TPEE foams prepared by N2-F-process exhibited enhanced strength and resilience. For the foams with similar density, compression strength can be increased by 52 %, and energy loss coefficient can be reduced to 50 %, by using N2-F-process. Thus, not only biomass TPEE foams with enhanced mechanical performance shows promising prospects in those areas that needs lightweight, insulation and high resilience, but also novel microcellular foaming technique with mixed blowing agents opens a new way for developing high-performance polymeric foams.

Structure-tunable poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) foams with enhanced mechanical performance derived by microcellular foaming with carbon dioxide as blowing agents

Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) is an advanced environment-friendly polymer that exhibits excellent biodegradability and outstanding mechanical properties. Microcellular foaming can endow PBAT with many admirable properties, which is significant for broadening its applications. Nevertheless, it is still challenging to prepare high-performance PBAT foams with tailored structures due to poor foaming ability. Moreover, the unclear relationships between foaming process, cellular structure, and mechanical properties significantly limit its development and application. In this study, microcellular foaming with carbon dioxide as blowing agents was developed to prepare structure-tunable PBAT foams with enhanced mechanical performance. Firstly, microcellular foaming experiments were conducted under various foaming pressures and temperatures to investigate the dependence of cellular morphology on foaming conditions. Under the investigated foaming conditions, the cell diameter and expansion ratio of PBAT foams can be manipulated in the ranges of 10–100 µm and 1–20, respectively. Furtherly, the dependence of tensile properties and compressive properties on cellular morphology was clarified. Compared with cell diameter, expansion ratio exhibited a much more significant effect on both the tensile and compressive properties of foams. In particular, PBAT foams with a tensile property of 5 MPa and a compressive property of 0.5 MPa were prepared, which possessed a lower density of 0.15 g/cm3. The prepared structure-tunable PBAT foams showed much lower density but obviously enhanced mechanical properties than the PBAT foams reported in literature.

A review on characteristic variation in PLA material with a combination of various nano composites

In search of environmental friendly polymers, poly lactic acid (PLA) emerged as a best alternate to various chemical based polymers. It’s unique characteristics like degradability, eco-friendly, regenerative, easily available, versatile, biocompatibility and having good thermo mechanical properties. At the initial stage of PLA its applications are confined to biomedical sector and within a short period, its applications are widened and used such as packaging materials and especially used where ever the biodegradable properties required. Exhaustion of fossil resources is the world biggest problem, which is the major resource for the process of traditional polymers, in this scenario PLAs are exposed as alternative valuable biopolymer in the field of automation and mechatronics. However, to satisfy the requirements in its wide emerging scope of applications, the pure form of PLAs are facing some drawbacks, as its brittleness, slow rate of degradation, and delicacy, gas permeability, low thermal resistance and rate of crystallization. The negative performance of PLAs can be improved with blending of PLA with other polymers and another way is reinforcement of nanoparticles in to PLA matrix. Economic way of improving the properties is that blending of PLA with other polymers like ABS, Polypropline (PP),Polystyrene(PS) and incorporations of various nano particles such as TiO2, SiO2 etc. This article mainly focuses on the major developments and researches in PLA-based composites during the last decades.

Study on synthesis of environmentally-friendly polymer dust suppressant based on graft modification

In order to solve the dust problem caused by coal accumulation in the coal yard, a novel environmentally-friendly polymer dust suppressant was synthesized by graft copolymerization using sodium alginate (SA) and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as raw materials. Single factor experiments were carried out to determine the optimal synthesis conditions of SA-CMC, taking the viscosity and surface tension as the performance indicators. Under the optimal formulation, the viscosity was 80 mPa·s and the surface tension was 36.541 mN/m. Aiming to optimize the wetting property and resistance to evaporation of SA-CMC, the SA-CMC was combined with the water retention agent CMCS and the surfactant SDBS to obtain the composite dust suppressant (SA-CMC/CMCS). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to analyze the reaction process. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to characterize the micro-structures of the cured layer on the coal dust surface after the dust suppressant spraying. The product performance test results showed that the dust suppressant had the characteristics of water absorption and water retention. The dust suppressant was sprayed on the surface of the coal dust to form a cured layer with high compressive strength, the bearing pressure of the cured layer was 43 N, and the dust suppression rate was as high as 99% under the strong wind (12 m/s) erosion conditions. Compared with water, the dust suppressant prepared in this paper has a better protection effect on coal dust and other forms of dust.

Improvement of Electrical and Mechanical Properties of PLA/PBAT Composites Using Coconut Shell Biochar for Antistatic Applications

Biochar-based environment-friendly polymer composites are suitable substitutes for conventional non-biodegradable polymer composites. In this work, we developed polylactic acid (PLA)/polybutylene adipate-co-terephthalate (PBAT)/biochar (BC) composites with improved mechanical and electrical properties for antistatic applications. Coconut shell biochar was obtained through the pyrolysis of coconut shell in an inert atmosphere, and characterised using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), to investigate the morphology and structural properties. The biochar was converted to powder form, sieved to reduce the particle size (≤30 μm diameters), and melt-mixed with PLA and PBAT to form composites. The composites were extruded to produce 3D printing filaments and, eventually, 3D-printed tensile specimens. The tensile strength and tensile modulus of the 3D-printed PLA/PBAT/BC (79/20/1) composite with 1 wt% of biochar improved by 45% and 18%, respectively, compared to those of PLA/PBAT (80/20). The interfacial interaction between the biochar and polymer matrix was strong, and the biochar particles improved the compatibility of the PLA and PBAT in the composites, improving the tensile strength. Additionally, the electrical resistivity of the composite did reduce with the addition of biochar, and PLA/PBAT/BC (70/20/10) showed the surface resistivity of ~1011 Ω/sq, making it a suitable material for antistatic applications.

Debris flow mitigation by using biopolymers as a soil stabilizer

Towards rising the attention to the use of green materials in geotechnical applications, this study aims to introduce carrageenan as a new environment-friendly polymer for slope surface stabilization. A set of experiments were conducted to evaluate the performance of the biopolymer-treated soil to form a resistant surface against the surface erosion and debris flow. samples were tested by changing a variety of effective parameters including biopolymer content, moisture content, curing time, soil type, and durability under wet- dry cycles. Kaolinite soil along with river sand in different combinations were employed and treated by various biopolymer proportions to optimize the biopolymer and soil parameters. Subsequently, the optimum mixture of each biopolymer-treated soil was subjected to 5 cycles of wetting and drying. A broad microstructural study by performing FTIR analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images was conducted and an analytical model was developed to clarify how biopolymer stabilize the slope surface. The results confirm the successful performance of carrageenan in connecting soil grains, increasing mechanical strength and durability of soil against surface erosion. It can be concluded that carrageenan can be considered as a sustainable alternative to conventional materials such as cement and lime.

Lightweight, low-shrinkage and high elastic poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) foams achieved by microcellular foaming using N2 & CO2 as co-blowing agents

Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) is considered one of the most promising environment-friendly polymers due to its recognized biodegradability and irreplaceable mechanical properties. Microcellular foaming can further endow PBAT with more functional performance, such as high elasticity, sound and thermal insulation. However, the preparation of PBAT foams generally exhibits serious shrinkage problems, which results in a low and unstable expansion ratio, poor performance, and dramatically limits its wide applications. In this work, the microcellular foaming with N2 & CO2 as co-blowing agents was designed to address the shrinkage problem effectively. Thanks to the N2 & CO2 co-blowing agents, PBAT foams with a high expansion ratio of 14.9-fold and a restricted shrinkage of less than 6% were produced by using microcellular foaming. The results indicate that introducing N2 & CO2 as co-blowing agents can not only stabilize the cellular structure but also restrict the shrinkage of cell walls. More importantly, the prepared PBAT foams exhibited outstanding compressive properties with a strength of 0.17 MPa, and superior resilience with an energy loss coefficient of 12%. Therefore, it is demonstrated that the microcellular foaming with mixed blowing agents provides a suitable strategy to solve the shrinkage of foams, thus exhibiting admirable prospects for the mass production of biodegradable polyester foams.

Effect of Preparation Conditions on Application Properties of Environment Friendly Polymer Soil Consolidation Agent.

In order to improve the survival rate of transplanted seedlings and improve the efficiency of seedling transplantation, we developed an environmental friendly polymer konjac glucomannan (KGM)/chitosan (CA)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) ternary blend soil consolidation agent to consolidate the soil ball at the root of transplanted seedlings. In the previous research, we found that although the prepared KGM/CA/PVA ternary blend soil consolidation agent can consolidate the soil ball at the root of the seedling, the medium solid content of the adhesive was high, which affects its spraying at the root of the seedling. At the same time, the preparation temperature of the KGM/CA/PVA ternary blend was also high. Therefore, to reduce the energy consumption and the cost of the KGM/CA/PVA ternary blend soil consolidation agent in the preparation process, this paper studied the influence of preparation conditions on the application performance of the environmental friendly polymer soil consolidation agent. We aimed to reduce the highest value CA content and preparation temperature of the KGM/CA/PVA ternary blend adhesive on the premise of ensuring the consolidation performance of the KGM/CA/PVA ternary blend adhesive on soil balls. It was prepared for the popularization and application of the environmental friendly polymer KGM/CA/PVA ternary blend soil consolidation agent in seedling transplanting. Through this study, it was found that the film-forming performance of the adhesive was better when the KGM content was 4.5%, the CA content was in the range of 2–3%, the PVA content was in the range of 3–4%, and the preparation temperature was higher than 50 °C. The polymer soil consolidation agent prepared under this condition has a good application prospect in seedling transplanting.

Environmentally Safe Technology to Increase Efficiency of High-Viscosity Oil Production for the Objects with Advanced Water Cut

The depletion of conventional oil reserves creates a significant demand for the development and improvement of methods and technologies for the production of hard-to-recover oil. A huge potential for hard-to-recover oil in Western Siberia lies in the Pokur suite (PK). These deposits are characterized by high oil viscosity and, accordingly, early water breakthrough. This study identifies and substantiates an effective technology for oil production from such and similar deposits using polymer flooding. The obtained data are based on research of the geological structure, the main reservoir properties and those of its fluids, chemical and laboratory methods of analysis, and the results of mathematical and hydrodynamic modeling. According to the results of hydrodynamic modeling, the greatest technological effect of polymeric water flooding is observed in the model of collector permeability at 70 mD and above 1000 mD, but this technology is not recommended for reservoirs with an average permeability of less than 10 mD. Implementation of the best practices through the prism of the resource nexus allows sustainable water management by applying environment-friendly polymers for enhanced oil recovery and contributes to the UN Goal 6 of clean water and sanitation.

Facile Fabrication of PBS/CNTs Nanocomposite Foam for Electromagnetic Interference Shielding.

In order to reduce the pollutants of environment and electromagnetic waves, environment friendly polymer foams with outstanding electromagnetic interference shielding are imminently required. In this paper, a kind of electromagnetic shielding, biodegradable nanocomposite foam was fabricated by blending poly (butylene succinate) (PBS) with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) followed by foaming with supercritical CO2 . The crystallization temperature and melting temperature of PBS/CNTs nanocomposites with 4 wt % of CNTs increased remarkably by 6 °C and 3.1 °C compared with that of pure PBS and a double crystal melting peak of various PBS samples appeared in DSC curves. Increasing the CNT content from 0 to 4 wt % leads to an increase of approximately 3 orders of magnitude in storage modulus and nearly 9 orders of magnitude in enhancement of electrical properties. Furthermore, CNTs endowed PBS nanocomposite foam with adjustable electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding property, giving a specific EMI shielding effectiveness of 28.5 dB cm3 /g. This study provides a promising methodology for preparing biodegradable, lightweight PBS/CNTs foam with outstanding electromagnetic shielding properties.

Developments of environment-friendly polymer nanocomposites and high-performance adsorption materials by designing functional clay materials

Developments of environment-friendly polymer nanocomposites and high-performance adsorption materials by designing functional clay materials

The Water-Soluble Chitosan Derivative, N-Methylene Phosphonic Chitosan, Is an Effective Fungicide against the Phytopathogen Fusarium eumartii.

Chitosan has been considered an environmental-friendly polymer. However, its use in agriculture has not been extended yet due to its relatively low solubility in water. N-Methylene phosphonic chitosan (NMPC) is a water-soluble derivative prepared by adding a phosphonic group to chitosan. This study demonstrates that NMPC has a fungicidal effect on the phytopathogenic fungus Fusarium solani f. sp. eumartii (F. eumartii) judged by the inhibition of F. eumartti mycelial growth and spore germination. NMPC affected fungal membrane permeability, reactive oxygen species production, and cell death. Also, this chitosan-derivative exerted antifungal effects against two other phytopathogens, Botrytis cinerea, and Phytophthora infestans. NMPC did not affect tomato cell viability at the same doses applied to these phytopathogens to exert fungicide action. In addition to water solubility, the selective biological cytotoxicity of NMPC adds value in its application as an antimicrobial agent in agriculture.

In vitro biocompatibility study of microwave absorbing conducting polymer blend films for biomedical applications

Abstract In the present communication, microwave absorbing property in the frequency range of 12.4–18 GHz and in vitro biocompatibility studies of light weight, flexible, biocompatible, and environment friendly polymer blend films of polyvinylchloride (PVC)-polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) (taken in ratio 1:1) and doped with various percentage weight concentration of polypyrrole (PPy) are reported. Addition of PPy in the PVC-PVP matrix exhibited a synergetic effect in improving microwave absorbing property. PVC-PVP blend film with 40 and 50% concentrations of PPy were seen to absorb microwaves of the order of 28–50 dB in ku band of microwave region indicating that this composition can suitably find application as microwave absorbing material. In vitro biocompatibility skin irritation study of PVC-PVP (taken in ratio 1:1) with 50% weight concentration of PPy indicated that the prepared film did not have any irritation upon administration and hence is safe for topical application. Moreover, the blood compatibility study of this film exhibited compatibility with blood and can safely be used in any blood contacting mask/device. Hence, this biocompatible film can potentially be used as microwave absorbing material for masking some parts of human body or can be interfaced to biological systems or devices.