Mixture Of Ether Research Articles

Experimental validation of RE170 / R600 (Dimethyl Ether / Butane) mixture as a superior refrigerant compared to R600a (Isobutane)

Isobutane (R600a) is the most used refrigerant for low-capacity refrigeration systems, as it combines excellent environmental properties and offers good energy performance. A real possibility to increase the efficiency of these systems is using new refrigerant mixtures offering energy improvements (being compatible with existing systems). This work, from an experimental perspective, proposes mixtures of dimethyl ether and butane (RE170/R600) as potential drop-in refrigerants of R600a systems. For a given operating condition, the energy performance of RE170/R600 mixtures with maximum proportion of 27.5 % of RE170 has been tested using a water-to-water single-stage compression cycle, measuring COP increments from 10.1 to 17.6 % in relation to R600a. Then, the blend RE170/R600 (15/85 %), considered as the potential drop-in fluid of R600a, has been tested in a wide range of operating conditions, concluding that it offers the same cooling capacity than R600a but with COP increments from 12.6 % to 17.6 %.

Study of sertraline solubility, solvent effect, and modeling in the aqueous mixtures of dimethyl sulfoxide or diethylene glycol monoethyl ether at several temperatures and its use in the formulation of nanosuspensions

The solubility profile of a weakly water-soluble drug of sertraline (SRT) at the temperature range of 298.2–318.2 K under atmospheric pressure, in the binary aqueous mixtures of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and diethylene glycol monoethyl ether (DEGMEE) was measured using a shake-flask method. As a result, SRT was discovered to have the maximum solubility in DMSO among investigated solvent systems. The obtained solubility values were correlated by utilizing cosolvency models, including the Jouyban-Acree-van't Hoff and Jouyban-Acree models, and the mean relative deviations were computed in order to evaluate the precision of these equations. Additionally, using the van't Hoff and Gibbs formulas at Thm, the parameters of apparent thermodynamics (Gibbs energy, entropy, and enthalpy) of SRT in the saturated mixtures were calculated. According to these solubility results, SRT nanosuspensions, which had a mean particle size of under 200 nm, were formulated in DMSO and water as a solvent combination. Therapeutic development could be significantly improved by implementing solubilization strategies for enhancing the bioavailability of medicines that are only weakly water-soluble, according to the results of the experimental and statistical assessment of solubility.

Total syntheses of borolithochromes H1, H2, I1, and I2.

Total syntheses of borolithochromes H1, H2, I1, and I2, the red pigments isolated from fossils of Jurassic putative red alga Solenopora jurassica, have been achieved. The naphthoquinone possessing a chiral sec-butyl side chain has been synthesized from (S)-2-methylbutanol. The Diels-Alder reaction of the chiral naphthoquinone and the previously reported diene was followed by one pot S-methylation/intramolecular Corey-Chaykovsky reaction/epoxide rearrangement to provide the benzo[gh]tetraphene skeleton. Complexation of the resulting ligand with trimethyl borate and the following O-demethylation furnished a 1:1 mixture of borolithochromes I1 and I2, which were separated by HPLC using CHIRALPAK IC® to afford optically pure borolithochromes I1 (6) and I2 (7). On the other hand, borolithochromes H1 and H2 were not separated by HPLC in our laboratory. Fortunately, the mixture of the methyl ethers of borolithochromes H1 and H2 were separated and O-demethylation with magnesium iodide furnished optically pure borolithochromes H1 (4) and H2 (5).

ETHYLENE CONVERSION IN A BARRIER DISCHARGE: EXPERIMENT AND MODELING

The selective conversion of ethylene and its mixtures with argon and air in a barrier discharge has been studied. Plasma chemical transformation proceeds without the formation of polymer-like substances or products of deep oxidation to oxygen-containing compounds and various saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons. Synthesis is carried out on a set-up with a gas-liquid reactor in the presence of water, which ensures the elimination of formed substances from the discharge area and prevents repeated exposure to barrier discharge plasma. The treatment of ethylene in a barrier discharge leads to the formation of saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons C1–C5+ with a predominance of compounds with four carbon atoms in the molecule, the total content of which in the reaction products reaches 58.4 wt.%. The addition of argon to ethylene does not significantly affect the set and content of substances in the reaction products, an increase in ethylene conversion is observed, the maximum value of which reaches 58.9 wt.%. The treatment of a mixture of ethylene with air additives leads to the formation of hydroxyl and carboxyl compounds with a total content of ~29 wt.% in the products, and saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons C1–C4 with a predominant acetylene content up to ~47 wt.%. The conversion of ethylene in one pass of the reaction mixture through the reactor under these conditions is 12.8 wt.%. When evaluating the energy losses of barrier discharge electrons in electron-molecular interactions during the conversion of ethylene, it was found that 78% of the energy of barrier discharge electrons is spent mainly on excitation of the electronic states of ethylene molecules, and argon additives can increase it to 86%. In the case of conversion of ethylene mixtures with air additives, it is shown that only ~14% of the discharge energy is spent on the excitation of the electronic states of the ethylene molecule, and the main amount (65%) is spent on the excitation of various different states of nitrogen molecules. The data obtained were used to develop a model of the chemical kinetics of ethylene conversion in a barrier discharge. The proposed model contains more than 280 reactions and is in good agreement with experimental data. As a result of the simulation, new data were obtained on the behavior of an ethylene molecule in a barrier discharge plasma with an average electron energy of 4-5 eV. The results obtained will be useful in the development of modern ethylene processing methods focused on the technological simplicity and compactness of the chemical process that meets the principles of "green chemistry" and low carbon footprint in the environment. For citation: Ryabov A.Yu., Kydryashov S.V. Ethylene conversion in a barrier discharge: experiment and modeling. ChemChemTech [Izv. Vyssh. Uchebn. Zaved. Khim. Khim. Tekhnol.]. 2024. V. 67. N 8. P. 6-14. DOI: 10.6060/ivkkt.20246708.12t.

Equilibrium solubility and mathematical modelling of glibenclamide in cosolvent mixtures of glycols and alcohols

ABSTRACT Glibenclamide (GBN) is a commonly used oral medication for treating type-II diabetes that acts by reducing high blood sugar levels. The effectiveness of GBN depends on the quality of the product. The quality is influenced by the solubility properties of a drug. This study aimed to measure the solubility of GBN in various solvent mixtures including some glycols and alcohols. The solubility was determined using a shake-flask method at 298.2 K under atmospheric pressure. The results showed that GBN had the highest solubility in ethylene glycol monomethyl ether and alcohol mixtures compared to the other tested glycols.

The influence of structure of carbon nanofibers on their interaction with polyethylene matrix

The development of methods for purposeful modification of the polyethylene matrix with carbon nanostructures to create stronger and more durable pipe composites is an important direction in polymer science. Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) of three types, obtained via catalytic chemical vapor deposition of ethylene (Type I), trichloroethylene (Type II), and a mixture of ethylene and acetonitrile (Type III), were applied as modifying additives to improve the physical and mechanical characteristics of polyethylene. The polyethylene/CNF composites were prepared using a laboratory plasticizer. The introduction of CNFs (Type I) with a densely packed structure into the polymer matrix was found to provide the formation of a uniform fine-spherulitic structure that results in increased tensile strength, yield strength, elastic modulus, and abrasive wear. Such a positive effect is observed when the CNF content in the composite does not exceed 1.0 wt%. An increase in the abrasion resistance by a factor of 1.6 was observed.

Direct Ethylene Purification from a Four-Component Gas Mixture by a Microporous MOF with Aromatic Pore Surface and Carboxylates.

The single-step purification of ethylene (C2H4) from a mixture of carbon dioxide (CO2), acetylene (C2H2), ethylene (C2H4), and ethane (C2H6) was achieved through MOF Compound-1, where the aromatic pore surface and carboxylates selectively recognized C2H6 and CO2, respectively, resulting in a reversal of the adsorption orders for both gases (C2H6 > C2H4 and CO2 > C2H4). Breakthrough testing verified that the C2H4 purification ability could be enhanced 2.6 times after adding impure CO2. Grand Canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulations demonstrate that there are interactions between CO2 and C2H6 molecules as well as between CO2 molecules themselves. These interactions contribute to the enhancement of the C2H4 purification ability upon the addition of CO2 and the increased adsorption of CO2.

Hazard evaluation of ignition sensitivity and explosion severity for aluminum and aluminum powder-petroleum ether mixtures

The safety implications of aluminum powder and petroleum ether have garnered significant attention as two typical materials in the production process of energetic materials. To investigate the effect of the common solvent petroleum ether on the ignition and explosion characteristics of aluminum powder, ignition energy, flame propagation characteristics, and explosion pressure of three aluminum powder sizes and their mixtures with petroleum ether through a Hartmann tube test device and a 20 L spherical explosion vessel test system. Findings show that the ignition energy of aluminum powder initially decreases and then increases with the increase of petroleum ether content. At the petroleum ether concentration of 5.5 % and 11 %, the minimum ignition energies of the mixed systems of Al-Flake, Al-T4, and Al-T2 are 1–20 mJ, 5–30 mJ, 450–485 mJ, and 1–20 mJ, 5–25 mJ, 440–480 mJ, respectively. Lower than the minimum ignition energy of the original sample (1–30 mJ, 10–40 mJ, 470–510 mJ), indicating that the aluminum powder dust containing low concentration solvent (5.5%, 11 %) is more sensitive to an electric spark. The ignition energy of the mixed system is rather increased when the content of petroleum ether is further increased to 16.5 %. On the contrary, the probability of ignition and the electric spark sensitivity are decreased. With the addition of petroleum ether to Al-Flake and Al-T4, the flame propagation speed slightly decreases and the phase duration lengthens. The flame propagation characteristics and combustion state of Al-T2 with large particles remained largely unchanged after the addition of petroleum ether. During the 20 L spherical explosion vessel test, the maximum explosion pressure and explosion index of the mixed samples initially increase and then decrease with the increase in petroleum ether concentration. A small quantity of petroleum ether intensifies the reaction intensity of aluminum dust. At an aluminum powder dust concentration of 250 g m-3, the explosion pressure and explosion index of Al-Flake and Al-T4 peak at a petroleum ether content of 5.5 %, while Al-T2 reaches its peak at 11 %.

Unraveling the thermodynamic and clouding interactions of non-ionic micelles of polyethylene glycol tert-octylphenyl ether in water-ethanolamine mixtures: Effect of temperature and composition

The amines are potentially used as co-surfactants in an emulsion. The formation of mixed–micelle in the mixture of non-ionic surfactant polyethylene glycol tert-octyl phenyl ether (TX-114) in the water-ethanolamine mixed solvent system has been studied by the cloud point method at variable concentrations. In absence of any added compound, CP shows concentration-dependent variation. The values of CP in an aqueous medium are found to increase by enhancing their concentration range. The CP values of 1 % TX-114 solutions were found to either remain steady at lower concentrations and elevated at higher concentrations in the presence of secondary and tertiary ethanolamine. The CP decreases with an increasing number of ethanolic groups, while CP increases with alkyl branching. The ethanolamine's amines show CP variation by insinuating between the head part with proton rich amine groups at the micelle layer. The outcomes are examined within the light of a specific additive's capacity to evacuate water from the head gathering of the surfactant micelles. The stability of mixed micelle system has also been evaluated by foam ability and foam stability data.

Effect of imine-containing phenolic hardeners with different chain lengths and epoxy functionalities on thermal, mechanical, and healing properties of bio-based epoxy vitrimers

Mixtures of polyglycerol polyglycidyl ether (PGPE) and poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PEGDGE) with different molar ratios were cured with imine-containing phenolic hardeners prepared by the reactions of vanillin with ethylene glycol bis(3-aminopropyl) ether, diethylene glycol bis(3-aminopropyl) ether, and a polyetheramine (JEFFAMINE® ED-600) to produce bio-based epoxy cured products. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) of the cured products revealed that the curing reaction of the epoxy and phenolic hydroxy groups was almost complete. The cross-linking density, glass transition temperature, and mechanical strength of the cured products decreased with decreasing the PGPE/PEGDGE ratio and increasing the oligoalkyleneoxy chain length of the phenolic hardeners. All cured products were healed three times at 100 °C under 2 MPa for 2 h. The healing efficiency, in terms of tensile strength, increased with decreasing PGPE/PEGDGE ratio and increasing oligoalkyleneoxy chain length. The polyetheramine-based cured product with the lowest PGPE/PEGDGE ratio exhibited the highest healing efficiency (94–97%), which only slightly decreased following repeated healing treatments.

The effect of PVP and PVA on hydrate formation kinetics of ethane and propane mixture in the presence of kaolin nanoparticles

AbstractThe blockage of gas transmission pipelines due to gas hydrates poses a significant challenge for the gas industry. Low‐dosage hydrate inhibitors (LDHI) are utilized to influence the kinetics of hydrate formation, including nucleation, growth, and/or agglomeration. In the current study, a series of batch, isochoric, and isothermal tests were carried out to investigate the impacts of two LDHIs, poly N‐vinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and polyvinyl alcohols (PVA). This study examined the influence of these inhibitors on nucleation and growth of ethane+propane mixture in the presence of kaolin nanoparticles. In laboratory studies and using pure constituents, the rate of hydrate formation is low to investigate the inhibitors effect. To enhance the rate of hydrate formation, kaolin nanoparticles were utilized as they serve as a suitable representative for solid minerals commonly found in pipelines. The gas phase's compositional change were measured using a gas chromatograph. The results revealed that the growth stage of mixed‐gas exhibited two distinct steps, attributed to the formation of two different structures known as structure II and structure I. During the first step, structure II was formed, and the cavities were occupied by both gas components. In the second stage, structure I was formed by ethane. The effect of temperature on the induction time (nucleation rate) and the growth rate during the second stage was lower than that at the first stage. The increase in PVA concentration resulted in an increase in the induction time and a decrease in the rate of growth during the first stage. The performance of PVA was found to be affected by temperature. Lower temperatures resulted in the formation of less foam, providing improved performance for PVA at −0.5°C. PVP had a stronger impact on induction time and both growth steps compared to PVA, indicating stronger inhibitory impact of PVP on nucleation of hydrates initiated by propane and the growth of both propane and ethane hydrates.

Shock tube and comprehensive kinetic modeling study of ammonia/diethyl ether (DEE) mixtures

Ammonia (NH3) is a promising alternative clean fuel due to its carbon-free and high hydrogen content, along with the well-established infrastructure for storage and distribution. To overcome the issue of the low reactivity of NH3, a feasible strategy is co-burning ammonia with highly reactive fuels. Diethyl ether (DEE) is considered a promising alternative and biomass-oxygenated clean diesel substitute. Therefore, the NH3/DEE blend is also a promising carbon neutral alternative fuel. In this work, we measured the ignition delay times (IDTs) of NH3/DEE mixtures with DEE fractions (XDEE) of 0.05, 0.10, 0.30, and 1.00 at equivalence ratios of 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0, pressures of 1.75 and 10 bar, and temperature ranges from 1102 K to 1673 K in a shock tube. The DEE-NH3 model was proposed in this work, which included the DEE sub-model, NH3 sub-model, and some new cross-reactions between N-containing species and C-containing species. The DEE sub-model from Shrestha et al. (Fuel Communications, 2022) was modified in this work, NH3 sub-model was from our previous work (Reaction Chemistry & Engineering, 2023). The DEE-NH3 model was extensively validated by the IDTs, laminar flame speeds (LFSs), and species profiles (SPs) of NH3/DEE mixtures as well as pure DEE and NH3. The comparison of the prediction performance between the DEE-NH3 model and the Shrestha model was conducted for the ignition, flame propagation, and NH3 consumption. The effects of the cross-reactions on the NH3/DEE ignition and combustion were studied in detail.

LateSearching for the most energy-efficient composition of a mixture of dimethyl ether and carbon dioxide as an air conditioning system refrigerantr

BACKGROUND: Carbon dioxide can be an alternative refrigerant for vapor compression refrigeration systems, particularly air conditioning systems (ACSs). However, its use suffers from the increased pressure in the refrigeration circuit. To solve this, for its reduction, a mixture of CO2 with a substance that has significantly lower pressures under the same conditions can be developed, for example, dimethyl ether (DME), which has zero GWP and ODP, is inexpensive and readily available. The study of DME, in particular, was conducted by the Department E4 “Refrigeration and Cryogenic Engineering, Air Conditioning and Life Support Systems” of N.E. Bauman Moscow State Technical University. DME is moderately toxic and flammable.
 AIM: This study aims to investigate the possible use of a mixture of DME and carbon dioxide for energy-efficient application in ACSs using commercially available compressors for R410A.
 METHODS: Comparative calculation analysis of the characteristics of a simple one-stage vapor compression cycle was performed using R410A and a mixture of DME and CO2 using the calculation packages Mathcad 15, Aspen HYSYS v. 10, SOLKANE8, and REFPROP.
 RESULTS: 1. The cycle on pure DME is the most effective in terms of the coefficient of performance: ε = 5.63 at an ambient air temperature of 26°C, ε = 3.07 at 40°C. 2. It is necessary to consider the influence of temperature glides, the average value of which ranges from 10°C to 30°C depending on the concentration of components. 3. At DME/CO2 ratios of 40/60% and 60/40% (in mole fraction), the discharge pressure corresponds to the discharge pressure in the R410A cycle, with 39.62 bar at an ambient temperature of 26°C and 37 bar at 40°C, respectively.
 CONCLUSIONS: An environmentally friendly mixture of DME and CO2 with low GWP and zero ODP is developed. An increase in the percentage of DME in the mixture increases the coefficient of performance and reduces the pressure range, and at the same time, significant temperature glides arise, which affects the installation efficiency, namely, the transition to a cycle with a receiver tank, i.e., with a recuperative heat exchanger between the fluorinated refrigerant flow leaving the evaporator and the fluorinated refrigerant flow leaving the condenser. The developed mixture is less efficient than the R410A refrigerant in terms of the coefficient of performance and discharge pressure. However, it is possible to further consider a mixture of DME and CO2 with concentrations of 40% and 60%, respectively, as a replacement for the R410 refrigerant because there is a correspondence of discharge pressures for serial compressors (about 40 bar); however, it is necessary to keep in mind the flammability risk of the mixture.

Experimental study of gas composition in the equilibrium state of a light alkane combustion reaction

Oil field-associated gas is typically a mixture of light alkanes. To ensure production safety, it is essential to investigate the combustion characteristics and the reaction mechanism of light alkane gas mixtures to uncover the underlying mechanisms of the combustion reaction. This paper investigates the equilibrium gas component concentrations resulting from the reaction of a gas mixture of methane, ethane, and propane at specific ratios through experimental tests. The study's results demonstrate that the equilibrium concentrations of methane, ethane, and propane initially decrease and then increase with the rise of the equivalence ratio under the same initial pressure conditions. In oxygen-poor conditions, the equilibrium concentration ratio of methane gradually increases in proportion to the equilibrium ratio, confirming that ethane and propane are the preferred participants in the reaction. Furthermore, a study of the equilibrium concentration of the critical intermediate product, ethylene, revealed that it does not completely oxidize in the combustion reaction. It can persist under both oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor conditions, with an equilibrium concentration of approximately 0.02%. The findings of this paper can serve as a theoretical supplement to the research on explosive gas combustion and explosions.

Enhancing the Viability of a Promising E-Fuel: Oxymethylene Ether–Decanol Mixtures

Achieving sustainable mobility is a crucial factor in maintaining long-term economic growth without adverse effects on human health and the environment. E-fuels, such as the promising oxymethylene ether (OME), can contribute to sustainable road transport. However, this compound does not meet the requirements of EN590; thus, it is unsuitable for unmodified diesel engines. This work aims to improve the applicability of OME by blending it with n-decanol, which can also be produced sustainably. Combustion and emissions were investigated in a medium-duty commercial diesel engine with different binary and ternary mixtures of oxymethylene ether, n-decanol, and B7 diesel. Laboratory analysis of six key mixture parameters revealed that the formulated blends met the EN590 requirements, with the exception of that of density. The results demonstrated that the created mixtures, including one without any diesel fuel, can be efficiently utilized in unmodified diesel engines. OME’s beneficial effects on combustion and emission were preserved while its viability was improved; a maximum increase of 7.6% in brake thermal efficiency was observed, alongside a potential decrease of nearly 70% in PM emissions at unaltered NOx levels.

Associations of cord serum polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) mixture with birth outcomes and mediating role of thyroid function: Evidence from the Sheyang Mini Birth Cohort Study

BackgroundPolybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), a series of worldwide applied flame retardants, may influence fetal growth and interfere with thyroid function. The study intended to explore the relationship between in-utero exposure to PBDE mixture and newborn anthropometric indexes and to further examine the potential mediating role of thyroid function. MethodsDemographics and laboratory measures of 924 mother-infant pairs were obtained from the database of the Sheyang Mini Birth Cohort Study. We applied gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and electrochemiluminescence immunoassay to measure nine PBDE congeners and seven thyroid function parameters in umbilical cord serum samples, respectively. We fitted generalized linear models and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) to evaluate associations of lipid-adjusted cord serum PBDEs, as individuals and as a mixture, with newborn anthropometric and cord serum thyroid function parameters. We applied causal mediation analysis to test our hypothesis that thyroid function parameters act as a mediator between PBDEs and birth outcomes. ResultsThe molarity of cord serum ∑9PBDE had a median value of 31.23 nmol/g lipid (IQR 19.14 nmol/g lipid, 54.77 nmol/g lipid). BDE-209 was the most dominant congener. Birth length was positively associated with both single exposure to BDE-28 and cumulative exposure to PBDEs. Correspondingly, ponderal index (PI) was negatively associated with BDE-28 and the total effects of PBDE mixture. Free triiodothyronine had a negative trend with BDE-209 and PBDE mixture. In the sex-stratified analysis, BDE-153 concentrations were positively correlated with PI among males (β = 0.03; 95%CI: 0.01, 0.05; P = 0.01) but not among females. Cord serum thyrotropin mediated 14.92% of the estimated effect of BDE-153 on PI. ConclusionsIn-utero mixture exposure to PBDEs was associated with birth outcomes and thyroid function. Thyroid function might act as a mediator in the process in which PBDEs impact the growth of the fetus.

Extraction and characterization of glycerides from oilseed of Pongamia pinnata plant found in Manipur

The extraction of Pongamia pinnata seed oil was accomplished through the solvent extraction technique, employing petroleum ether as the solvent on the crushed kernel. Subsequent to extraction, the oil underwent purification for further analysis via column chromatography over silica gel (60-120 mesh), utilizing a mixture of petroleum ether and ethyl acetate (20:1) as the eluent. The resulting purified oil was then subjected to transesterification, producing the final product recognized as biodiesel, characterized by its composition of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME). The FAME composition of Pongamia pinnata seed oil was meticulously determined through NMR, IR, and GC-MS analyses. The transesterified oil of Pongamia pinnata revealed a FAME composition consisting of 10.53 wt% of methyl palmitate (C16:0), 68.05 wt% of methyl oleate (C18:1), 12.58 wt% of methyl stearate (C18:0), 3.65 wt% of methyl arachidate (C20:0), and 5.22 wt% of methyl behenate (C22:0).

Copolyimide molecular brushes with poly(methacrylic acid) side chains as additive to polyphthalamide membrane: Organization, physical, and transport properties

AbstractMacromolecules of complex architecture find application as modifiers of commercial polymeric membrane materials. In this work, copolyimide molecular brushes (coPI) composed of polyimide backbone and poly(methacrylic acid) side chains were used to modify poly(m‐phenylene iso‐phthalamide) (PPA). Structure, physical, mechanical, and transport properties of dense nonporous PPA/coPI membranes containing up to 10 wt% coPI were studied. The effect of included coPI on the membrane structure was estimated using atomic force microscopy and mechanical tests. The coPI modifier contributes to the additional formation of free volume elements evenly distributed throughout the membrane. Transport properties of PPA/coPI membranes were investigated via sorption tests and pervaporation separation of methanol (MeOH) and methyl tert‐butyl ether (MTBE) mixtures. The inclusion of coPI modifier in the PPA membrane leads to an increase in the total flux of the membrane. The highest separation factor was found for the PPA/coPI membrane containing 10 wt% coPI; transport properties of the best membrane were compared with the literature data on separation of the azeotropic MeOH–MTBE mixture.

Trends in flame retardant levels in upholstered furniture and children's consumer products after regulatory action in California

In 2013, California revised its upholstered furniture flammability standard TB 117–2013 to improve fire safety without the need for flame retardant (FR) chemicals. Subsequent legislation (SB 1019) required disclosure of FR content. In 2020 California expanded restriction on FR chemicals to include juvenile products and upholstered furniture (AB 2998). To monitor trends in FR use, and assess the effectiveness of the new regulations, we analyzed 346 samples from upholstered furniture (n = 270) and children's consumer products (n = 76), collected pre- and post-regulatory intervention for added FR chemicals (i.e., ∑FR > 1000 mg/kg). Upholstered furniture samples, collected from products before enactment of the new regulations, had a median FR concentration of 41,600 mg/kg (range: 1360–92,900 mg/kg), with 100% of the foam samples and 13.7% of the textile samples containing ∑FR > 1000 mg/kg. Firemaster formulations (FM 550 and FM 600), a mixture of triphenyl phosphate (TPHP), 2-ethylhexyl-2,3,4,5-tetrabromobenzoate (EH-TBB), bis(2-ethylhexyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrabromophthalate (BEH-TEBP) and a mixture of isopropyl- or tert-butyl-triphenyl phosphates (ITPs or TBPPs), were the most frequently detected FR (34%), followed by tris(1,3-dichloroisopropyl) phosphate (TDCIPP; 25%), TPHP with a mixture of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (BDE-47, 99, 100, 153 and 154; 20%) and tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP; 11%). Upholstered furniture components collected after enactment of the new legislation had a median FR concentration of 2600 mg/kg (range: 1160–49,800 mg/kg, outlier sample 282,200 mg/kg), with 11.9% of the foam samples and no textile samples containing ∑FR > 1000 mg/kg. Of these samples, tris(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TCIPP) was the most frequently detected FR (55%), followed by TDCIPP (30%) and Firemaster (FM 550, 15%). No PBDEs were detected in the post-regulatory intervention products. Our initial work on children's products showed 15% of the samples contained ∑FR > 1000 mg/kg. In our post- AB 2998 work, no regulated children's product components failed compliance (i.e., ∑FR > 1000 mg/kg).The data confirm successful adoption of the new regulations with most samples in compliance, demonstrating the efficacy of regulatory intervention. Given these results, environmental FR exposure is expected to decrease as older FR treated consumer products are replaced with FR free products.

Hydrochar-based facile and greenwood bio-adhesives production from distilled spent grain

The use of urea-, melamine-, and phenol–formaldehyde resin adhesives is endangering human health and damaging the environment. Developing formaldehyde-free plywood bio-adhesive is becoming a hot spot, and this study, for the first time, reports the preparation of facile and green wood bio-adhesives using hydrochar derived from distilled spent grain (DSG) by hydrothermal carbonization (HTC), which is promising for treating and valorizing high-moisture bio-waste such as DSG. HTC contributed to the dewatering, screening, and activation of active components in DSG, benefiting their interactions with cross-linkers and wood panels. The results show that the HTC temperature can significantly affect the reaction activity of hydrochar, thus influencing bonding strength. BD-180 bio-adhesive (mixture of cross-linkers glycerol triglycidyl ether/polyvinyl alcohol and hydrochar from HTC of DSG at 180 °C) had an excellent wet shear strength (1.24 MP), meeting the Chinese national standard GB/T 9846–2015 (≥0.7 MPa). Maillard reaction was a key reaction during HTC to destroy the secondary structure of proteins, resulting in the release of abundant –OH and –NH2. These functional groups in hydrochar were the major active sites available for the formation of covalent bonds (e.g., C–N and C–O–C) between bio-adhesive and wood panels, promoting the improvement in wet shear strength of bio-adhesives. This work provides a new method for the valorization of DSG and contributes to the development of green wood bio-adhesives without formaldehyde problems.