From Natural Oils to Epoxy Resins: A New Paradigm in Renewable Performance Materials

The direct conversion of natural products to useful engineering materials is desirable from both economic and environmental considerations. We describe the synthesis and properties of 100?% oil-based epoxy resins generated from three epoxidized oils. The catalyst, tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane (B(C₆F₅)₃) in toluene, allowed for controlled cationic polymerization at a very low concentration. Epoxidized oils (derived from triolein, soybean, and linseed oil) had varying epoxy content, rendering resins of different cross-link density. The polymerization was carried out at room temperature followed by post-curing at elevated temperature to speed up conversion. Epoxy resins were amorphous transparent glasses below glass transitions and hard rubbers above. Despite their high cross-link density, these materials show relatively low T_g’s reflecting the aliphatic nature of fatty acids and the presence of plasticizing “dangling” chains. The structure of the triglyceride starting oils influenced the properties of the resulting materials: the more regular structure of triolein compared to the very heterogeneous structures of soybean and linseed oils seemed to have enhanced some properties of the polymer networks. These epoxy polymers are potentially useful as encapsulating and potting compounds for electronic applications.

     

Polyols and Rigid Polyurethane Foams from Cashew Nut Shell Liquid

Cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) is a natural aromatic oil consisting of a mixture of phenolic structures with a carboxyl group in ortho position and substituted in meta position with a hydrocarbon chain of 15 carbon atoms. The major component of CNSL is anacardic acid (90?%), which is easily decarboxylated to cardanol by distillation. The present work describes the synthesis of new biobased Mannich polyols for rigid polyurethane foams in two steps: synthesis of Mannich bases by reacting phenolic ring of cardanol with N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1,3-oxazolidine followed by alkoxylation reactions. The polyols were characterized by wet methods (hydroxyl numbers, viscosity, acid value, density, water content, iodine value etc.), spectroscopic methods (FT-IR, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR) and by Gel Permeation Chromatography. The Mannich polyols from cardanol are excellent replacements for petrochemical derived Mannich polyols based on nonyl phenol. Cardanol-based polyols were used successfully for the preparation of rigid polyurethane foams of good physical?Cmechanical and fireproofing properties.     

Biodegradation Behavior of Some Vegetable Oil-Based Polymers

The potential biodegradability of several vegetable oil-based polymers was assessed by respirometry in soil for 60–100 days at temperatures of 30–58°C. Films of soybean oil and linseed oil which were oxidatively polymerized (Co catalyst) on a kraft paper support were 90%–100% mineralized to CO₂ after 70 days at 30°C. Mineralization of polymerized tung oil to CO₂ was much slower than soy or linseed oils. Mineralization of epoxy resins made from epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) and aliphatic dicarboxylic acids was rapid while mineralization of similar resins made with a triacid (citric) was slower. There was no significant degradation of polyamine/ESO resins after 100 days at 58°C. Mineralization of the available carbon in vegetable oil polyurethanes and cationically polymerized ESO was less than 7.5% after 70 days at 30°C and 25 days at 55°C compared to 100% for soybean oil. From these results, it appears that triglycerides highly cross-linked with non-degradable linkages are not biodegradable to a significant extent while triglycerides cross-linked with hydrolysable bonds such as esters remain biodegradable.     

Fungal spore fragmentation as a function of airflow rates and fungal generation methods

The aim of this study was to characterise and quantify the fungal fragment propagules derived and released from several fungal species (Penicillium, Aspergillus niger and Cladosporium cladosporioides) using different generation methods and different air velocities over the colonies. Real time fungal spore fragmentation was investigated using an Ultraviolet Aerodynamic Particle Sizer (UVASP) and a Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS). The study showed that there were significant differences (p < 0.01) in the fragmentation percentage between different air velocities for the three generation methods, namely the direct, the fan and the fungal spore source strength tester (FSSST) methods. The percentage of fragmentation also proved to be dependent on fungal species. The study found that there was no fragmentation for any of the fungal species at an air velocity ≤0.4 m s^?1 for any method of generation. Fluorescent signals, as well as mathematical determination also showed that the fungal fragments were derived from spores. Correlation analysis showed that the number of released fragments measured by the UVAPS under controlled conditions can be predicted on the basis of the number of spores, for Penicillium and A. niger, but not for C. cladosporioides. The fluorescence percentage of fragment samples was found to be significantly different to that of non-fragment samples (p < 0.0001) and the fragment sample fluorescence was always less than that of the non-fragment samples. Size distribution and concentration of fungal fragment particles were investigated qualitatively and quantitatively, by both UVAPS and SMPS, and it was found that the UVAPS was more sensitive than the SMPS for measuring small sample concentrations, whilethe results obtained from the UVAPS and SMAS were not identical for the same samples.     

Land Degradation at the Stara Planina Ski Resort

The environmental impacts of ski resorts in the Balkan region are great and can lead to landscape degradation and loss of land functionality. In this study, we present an example of the negative effects of human activities at the Stara Planina ski resort in southeastern Serbia. The objective of this study is detailed analysis of the characteristics of environmental impacts at the Stara Planina. The management of the ski area and ski slope development caused severe degradation of topsoil and native vegetation. The morphological characteristics of the area, lithological properties of the exposed material and climate conditions resulted in various geomorphic impacts, including rills, deep gullies, solifluctions and debris from rock weathering. Significant changes in land usage altered hydrological conditions, resulting in more frequent torrential floods in the downstream sections of the Zubska River and increased the sediment yield. Environmental impacts were analyzed in the immediate and wider zones of the ski resort in accordance with the specific topography and visual exposure. The restoration and erosion control measures have stopped degradation processes and helped to rehabilitate the appearance and functions of the landscape. The results show the importance of considering lithological (the type and characteristics of minerals present) and hydrological (precipitation, water storage capacity of soil, runoff) factors under the conditions of significant changes in land usage. The results of this investigation can contribute to the improvement of planning processes and the implementation of development projects in ski areas.     

Cadmium and mercury accumulation in European hare (Lepus europaeus): age-dependent relationships in renal and hepatic tissue

A total of 63 European hares have been collected from five Serbian agricultural regions. The hares assayed were divided into four age groups (3–6 months, 12 months, 12–24 months, and 24–36 months) and investigated upon presence at cadmium (Cd) and mercury (Hg) in the kidney and liver. The positive significant correlation (Ps—Pearson’s coefficient) between Cd concentrations in the kidney and liver within age group the 3–6 months was found (Ps?=?0.81, p?p?p?>?0.05). Statistically significant differences were registered between Hg content in the liver of the hares aged 24–36 and 12 months (p?p?>?0.05). The strong statistically significant associations were registered between Cd and Hg content in the liver (Cd L/Hg L) in the age group 3–6 and 12–24 months (Cd L/Hg L, Ps?=?0.94; p?Ps?=?0.91; p?相似文献   

Effect of fuel composition and engine operating conditions on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon emissions from a fleet of heavy-duty diesel buses

Emissions from 12 in-service heavy-duty buses powered by low- (LSD) and ultra low-sulfur (ULSD) diesel fuels were measured with the aim to characterize the profile of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the exhaust and to identify the effect of different types of fuels on the emissions. To mimic on-road conditions as much as possible, sampling was conducted on a chassis dynamometer at four driving modes, namely: mode 7 or idle (0% power), mode 11 (25% power), mode 10 (50% power) and mode 8 (100% power). Irrespective of the type of fuel used, naphthalene, acenaphthene, acenaphthylene, anthracene, phenanthrene, fluorene, fluoranthene and pyrene were found to be the dominant PAHs in the exhaust emissions of the buses. However, the PAH composition in the exhausts of ULSD buses were up to 91±6% less than those in the LSD buses. In particular, three- and four-ringed PAHs were more abundant in the later than in the former. Lowering of fuel sulfur content not only reduced PAH emission, but also decreased the benzo(a)pyrene equivalent (BAP_eq) and hence the toxicity of the exhaust. Result from multicriteria decision-making and multivariate data analysis techniques showed that the use of ULSD afforded cleaner exhaust compositions and emissions with characteristics that are distinct from those obtained by the use of LSD.     

Parentage analyses suggest female promiscuity and a disadvantage for athletic males in the colour-polymorphic lizard Podarcis melisellensis

Although laboratory measurements of whole-animal performance have become a standard tool in evolutionary biology, if and how interindividual variation in performance translates into differential fitness remains poorly understood. Particularly rare are studies that have connected performance to mating and reproductive success in the field. In this study, we use DNA microsatellite parentage analyses to study the fitness gradient in a colour-polymorphic lizard, Podarcis melisellensis. We report on two surprising findings. First, contrary to our expectations, individual sprint speed and bite force capacity correlated negatively, not positively, with male mating and reproductive success. Second, we found an unexpected degree of promiscuity in females. Also, contrary to traditional parental investment theory, the variation in mating success and reproductive success was as high in females as in males. Our results call for a better integration of whole-animal performance and life history traits, and for a reconsideration of the ideas on the likeliness of sexual selection acting on female phenotypes.     

Economic,ecological, and health aspects of β-diketonate application in the process of water purification

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Water pollution is a constant challenge for humanity. Sustainable economic development and environmental protection through a green economy structure...     

Effect of OH/NCO Molar Ratio on Properties of Soy-Based Polyurethane Networks

Polyurethane networks from soybean oil have a number of valuable properties, which are determined by their chemical composition and cross-linking density. Changing the molar ratio of reacting groups can vary the latter. In this work we have varied the NCO/OH molar ratio (isocyanate index) from 1.05 to 0.40 in a soy polyol/MDI system, and tested physical and mechanical properties. The degree of swelling in toluene increased from 52–206% by decreasing isocyanate index from 1.05–0.4. The sol fractions and network densities determined from swelling in toluene were compared with ones obtained using the network formation theory based on branching processes. The comparison of experimental sol fractions and network densities with those predicted by theory of network formation suggest that 5–10% of bonds are lost in cycles and that high entanglement contributions increase the network densities. Polymers prepared with NCO/OH ratios from 1.05–0.8 were glassy while the others were rubbery, and that was reflected in their properties. Glass transition temperature (DSC) of the networks decreased from 64–7°C, tensile strength from 47–0.3 MPa, and elongation at break increased from 7–232%. The activation energy of the glass transition, determined from dielectric spectra, varied from 222–156 kJ/mol as the molar ratio of NCO to OH groups decreased from 1.05–0.4.