Novel Tough Crystalline Blends of Polylactide with Ethylene Glycol Derivative of POSS

Blending of polylactide (PLA) with low stereoregularity and polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane grafted with arms of poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether, acting as a plasticizer, allowed us previously to obtain a novel stable elastomeric-like material. The present contribution focuses on the properties of semi-crystalline PLA plasticized with this compound. Melt blends of PLA with 5–15 wt% of the plasticizer, were compression molded, quenched and annealed, which enabled cold-crystallization. The glass transition temperature of the blends and their drawability depended on their crystallinity and plasticizer content. The best ductility was reached at the plasticizer content of 15 wt%; the achieved strain at break was 6.5 (650%) and 1.3 (130%), for the quenched and annealed material, respectively. The latter value exceeded 20 times the strain at break of neat crystalline PLA. The tensile toughness of the annealed 15 wt% blend was 12 times larger than that of crystalline PLA. Moreover, annealing of 15 wt% blend improved its yield strength by 40%. Despite the two peaks of the loss modulus, indicating the two glass transitions in this blend, no heterogeneities were found by scanning electron microscopy, indicating that the plasticizer enriched phase formed instead of distinct inclusions of the plasticizer.     

An integrated approach for assessing the migration behavior of chlorpyrifos and carbaryl in the unsaturated soil zone

Chlorpyrifos (O, O-diethyl O-3,5,6-trichloropyridin-2-yl phosphorothioate) and carbaryl (1-naphthyl methylcarbamate) are often applied concurrently as insecticides in food production. The aim of this study was to research their migration behavior in a real environment. We researched the leaching of both pesticides by setting up field lysimeters on a farm with the typical soil used in fruit production today. In order to analyze the variables involved in this process, we performed complementary adsorption studies, we performed complementary adsorption studies using batches and undisturbed soil laboratory columns for both compounds. The results for pesticide transport through the lysimeters showed that less than 1% of chlorpyrifos was recovered in the leachates, while almost 17% was recovered for carbaryl. Having completed the experiment in undisturbed laboratory columns, soil analysis showed that chlorpyrifos mainly remained in the first 5 cm, while carbaryl moved down to the lower sections. These results can be explained in view of the sorption coefficient values (K_D) obtained in horizons A and B for chlorpyrifos (393 and 184 L kg^?1) and carbaryl (3.1 and 4.2 L kg^?1), respectively. By integrating the results obtained in the different approaches, we were able to characterize the percolation modes of these pesticides in the soil matrix, thus contributing to the sustainable use of resources.     

Production of Curdlan Grown on Cassava Starch Waste Hydrolysates

Cassava starch waste hydrolysates (CSWHs) with different degrees of polymerisation, i.e., CSWHs-1, CSWHs-2 and CSWHs-3, were prepared through the hydrolysis of cassava starch waste with thermostable a-amylase from Thermococcus sp. HJ21. The prepared CSWHs were then used as a carbon source for curdlan production with Alcaligenes faecalis ATCC 31749. The amount of curdlan produced and the glucosyltransferase activity during curdlan synthesis increased more obviously when CSWHs-2 was used as the carbon source than when glucose was used. Using both carbon sources, the maximum curdlan production was observed at day 5, and the maximum glucosyltransferase activity was observed at day 4. Glucosyltransferase activity decreased thereafter, and biomass continued to increase until the end of the experiment (day 6). Results indicated that the enhanced curdlan production with CSWHs as the carbon source was highly correlated with glucosyltransferase activity.     

Promoting e-mobility in India: challenges,framework, and future roadmap

The purpose of the research is to identify the critical challenges that are impeding the adoption of e-mobility in India. It also aims to give a roadmap how to address these challenges while taking into considerations concerns of all the relevant stakeholders. Based on an in-depth literature review, an exploratory research design is employed to delve deep into various aspects of e-mobility. This is followed by a three-phase Delphi technique to identify and rate the e-mobility challenges in the Indian context. The study successfully identifies four different categories of challenges and proposes integrative framework for e-mobility. Further, the research goes on to lay out the future roadmap for mass adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in India. The research is novel in terms of presenting a holistic viewpoint on e-mobility in India. Its originality lies in identifying the major inhibitors obstructing EVs adoption in India and then suggesting the roadmap how to overcome these impediments for mass adoption of e-mobility.     

One-Component Spray Polyurethane Foam from Liquefied Pinewood Polyols: Pursuing Eco-Friendly Materials

The use of petroleum-derived products should be avoided regarding the principles of green and sustainable chemistry. The work reported herein, is aimed at the liquefaction of pine shavings for the production of an environmentally-friendly polyol suitable to be used in the formulations of sprayable polyurethane foams. The biopolyols were obtained in high yield and were used to replace those derived from fossil sources, to produce more “greener” polyurethane foams and therefore, less dependent on petroleum sources, since the polyol component was substituted by products resulting from biomass liquefaction. The partial and fully exchange of the polyols was accomplished, and the results compared with a reference foam. The foams were afterward, chemical, physical, morphological, and mechanically characterized. The complete replacement of polyether polyol and polyol polyester has presented some similar characteristics as that used as a reference, validating that the path chosen for the development of more sustainable materials is on the right track for the contribution to a cleaner world.     

Mechanical Properties of Layered Laminated Woven Bamboo <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gigantochloa Scortechinii</Emphasis>/Epoxy Composites

This study investigated the application of bamboo as a natural composite, in which its potential as a composite material had been examined for 2–6 layers. In precise, the woven bamboo (BW) formed the culm fiber composite with an average of 0.5 mm thickness and 5.0 mm width strip. In addition, this study looked into a specific type of bamboo species known as Gigantochloa Scortechinii (Buluh Semantan), which can be found in Malaysia. This laminated plain BW, which had been reinforced with epoxy (EP), was developed by applying the hand lay-up technique. After that, the specimens were characterized via mechanical analyses, for instance, tensile, flexural, hardness, and impact tests. As a result, the 2-layer BW had displayed rather excellent results chiefly due to the incorporation of epoxy composite, although this is exceptional hardness value.