Improvement of Physico-mechanical Properties of Chitosan Films by Photocuring with Acrylic Monomers

Natural polymer, chitosan was obtained from dried prawn shell waste through the preparation of chitin and was characterized. Thin film of chitosan was prepared by casting method from its 2% chitosan solution. Mechanical properties like tensile strength (TS), elongation at break (Eb) of chitosan film were studied. Five formulations were developed with 2-ethyl-2-hydroxy methyl-1,3-propandiol trimethacrylate (EHMPTMA), a trifunctional monomer and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (EHA), a monofunctional monomer in the presence of photoinitiator Darocur-1664 (2%). The film was soaked in those monomer formulations in dissimilar soaking times and irradiated under UV-radiation at different radiation intensities for the improvement of the properties of chitosan film. The cured films were then subjected to various characterization tests like TS, Eb, polymer loading (PL), water absorbency, gel content etc. The formulation, containing 25% EHMPTMA and 73% EHA showed the best performance at 10th UV passes of UV radiation for 4 min soaking time.     

Characterization of Biodegradable Composite Films Prepared from Blends of Poly(Vinyl Alcohol), Cornstarch,and Lignocellulosic Fiber

Several composite blends of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and lignocellulosic fibers were prepared and characterized. Cohesive and flexible cast films were obtained by blending lignocellulosic fibers derived from orange waste and PVA with or without cornstarch. Films were evaluated for their thermal stability, water permeability and biodegradation properties. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) indicated the suitability of formulations for melt processing, and for application as mulch films in fields at much higher temperatures. Composite films were permeable to water, but at the same time able to maintain consistency and composition upon drying. Chemical crosslinking of starch, fiber and PVA, all hydroxyl functionalized polymers, by hexamethoxymethylmelamine (HMMM) improved water resistance in films. Films generally biodegraded within 30 days in soil, achieving between 50–80% mineralization. Both starch and lignocellulosic fiber degraded much more rapidly than PVA. Interestingly, addition of fiber to formulations enhanced the PVA degradation.     

Condensed atmospheric photooxidation mechanisms for isoprene

Two condensed mechanisms for the atmospheric reactions of isoprene, which differ in the number of species used to represent isoprene's reactive products, have been developed for use in ambient air quality modehng. They are based on a detailed isoprene mechanism that has recently been developed and extensively evaluated against environmental chamber data. The new condensed mechanisms give very close predictions to those of the detailed mechanism for ozone, OH radicals, nitric acid, H₂O₂, formaldehyde, total PANS, and for incremental effects of isoprene on ozone formation in one day simulations. The effects of the condensations become somewhat greater in multi-day simulations, particularly in cases where NO₃ reactions are important at nighttime, but the ozone predictions are still very close. On the other hand, the SAPRC-90, RADM-2, and Carbon Bond IV isoprene mechanisms give quite different predictions of these quantities. It is recommended that the new mechanisms replace those currently used in airshed simulations where isoprene emissions are important.     

氯乙烯储罐的事故后果分析

氯乙烯具有毒性和易燃易爆性,如果泄漏至空气中,可能产生中毒或爆炸事故。笔者以某化工厂氯乙烯储罐为例,分析氯乙烯储罐可能发生的事故;对其主要事故危害,即中毒、蒸气云爆炸、扩展气体沸腾蒸气爆炸3种事故进行后果模型分析;计算出发生3种事故对人员伤亡和设备损坏造成的危害区域,并提出建议和对策。该研究结果可为同类企业进行安全管理提供科学依据和参考,有助于企业制定防范措施以及事故应急救援预案,从而减少人员伤亡及财产损失。     

A Synthetic Filter Material Containing Nutrients for Biofilter

In this study, a synthetic filter material with nutrients (PVA/peat/KNO₃ composite bead) was developed for biofilteration. The optimal preparing condition was each of the peat and PVA aqueous solutions mixed with 6.4 g KNO_3, and the minimum nitrogen content in the boric and phosphate aqueous solutions was 3.94 and 1.52 g-N/l, respectively. The equilibrium amount of inorganic nitrogen extracted by leaching from the prepared composite bead was between 7.95 and 8.21 mg N/g dry solid. The path of inorganic nitrogen extracted by leaching was the inorganic nitrogen dispersed in the peat phase firstly diffused into the outer PVA phase and then it diffused out of the bead surface for the A-type bead; and that was the inorganic nitrogen dispersed in both the peat and PVA phases simultaneously diffuses into the outer PVA phase and out of the bead surface, respectively, for the H-type bead. The microbial growth rate k _g of the H-type composite bead was higher than that of the A-type composite bead about 1.09–1.58 times, and the maximum value of k _g was at the H-type composite bead immersed in 0.384 M KNO₃ aqueous solution. The percentage of removed VOCs retained at more than 98% during the biofilter operating 230 days as the composite bead immersed in KNO₃ aqueous solution before packing. This composite bead bed was without the further addition of nutrients during the operating period.     

Effect of Metal Compounds and Experimental Conditions on Distribution of Products from PVC Pyrolysis

Effects of heating rate, gas flow rate, and type of metal compounds on the amount of hydrogen chloride, liquid, gas, and solid pyrolyzate obtained from the pyrolysis of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) were investigated. The pyrolysis experiments were carried out in both a thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) instrument and a fixed-bed reactor. Products from the fixed-bed reactor were collected and analyzed by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS), titration technique, and gravimetry. It was found that heating rate in the TGA experiments did not affect the amount of released hydrogen chloride. However, the TGA profiles significantly changed with the rate. The onset of dehydrochlorination increased with the rate. In addition, as the heating rate was increased from 10 to 20°C/min, there was no solid residue left. The amount of liquid pyrolyzate obtained from the fixed-bed reactor can be either increased or decreased with the heating rate, depending on the gas flow rate and the actual residence time in the reactor. FTIR and GC-MS analysis indicated that the liquid pyrolyzates were mainly benzene, toluene, and styrene. By comparing the efficiency of various metal compounds in trapping the HCl, it was found that Ca(OH)₂ was more efficient than Mg(OH)₂, and that CaO was more efficient than MgO. These results are discussed in light of the reaction mechanism between HCl and the metal compounds.     

Novel malonate-type copolymers containing vinyl alcohol blocks as biodegradable segments and their builder performance in detergent formulations

Poly[(disodium methylene malonate)-co-(vinyl alcohol)] [P(DSMM-VA)] and poly[(disodium ethoxymethylene malonate)-co-(vinyl alcohol)] [P(DSEMM-VA)] containing a poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) block as a biodegradable segment were prepared and their biodegradability and functionality were evaluated and compared with those of the corresponding fumarate and maleate copolymers. It was found that the 1,1-dicarboxylate-type copolymers, P(DSMM-VA) and P(DSEMM-VA), showed better biodegradability than the corresponding 1,2-dicarboxylate-type copolymers, P(DSF-VA) and P(DSM-VA). This improved biodegradability of P(DSMM-VA) and P(DSEMM-VA) is probably attributable to their more expanded polymer chain in aqueous solution, which will be more accessible to the degrading enzymes. The minimum chain length of the PVA-block, which acts as a biodegradable segment in the polymer chain, is estimated to be 2–3 and 3–4 monomer units for P(DSMM-VA) and P(DSEMM-VA), respectively. On the other hand, the minimum PVA block is about 5 and 7 monomer units for the fumarate and maleate copolymers, respectively. It was confirmed that P(DSMM-VA) showed excellent builder performance compared to the corresponding fumarate copolymer.Paper presented at the Bio/Environmentally Degradable Polymer Society—Second National Meeting, August 19–21, 1993, Chicago, Illinois.     

Effect of Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) and Polyethylene on the Growth of Red Pepper and Tomato

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and polyethylene (PE) were blended with a soil for cultivation, and their effects were investigated on the growth behavior of red pepper and tomato by examining the stems, the leaves, and the roots. PVA retarded the growth of red pepper significantly even at a concentration as low as 0.05%. The roots were depauperated more than the stems and the leaves. Tomato was also affected by PVA but to a lesser extent than red pepper. In contrast, the presence of both round pieces (10 mm diameter) of PE film and powdery PE influenced negligibly the growth of red pepper as well as that of tomato up to 35 wt% in soil.     

基于RBI的苯乙烯/环氧丙烷装置压力管道在线检验研究

对苯乙烯／环氧丙烷装置进行腐蚀回路划分,并将腐蚀回路中的压力管道按照管径、材质及用途等因素划分为不同的组别后进行RBI分析。根据风险评估结果,结合压力管道的使用情况、失效机理及剩余使用寿命等确定下一个检验周期和检验策略。以腐蚀回路中的组别作为检验单元,根据其失效可能性及风险等级确定各检验单元的检验比例和检验方法进行在线检验。结果表明：基于RBI分析结果的压力管道在线抽检方法可以验证风险评估的结果,同时还可以满足使用单位对管道的风险控制要求。     

工业贮池防腐材料及其施工性能

总结了常用的工业贮池防腐蚀处理方法、防腐蚀材料的性能及施工过程和要点,比较了玻璃钢衬里、玻璃鳞片与乙烯基酯树脂混合衬里和耐酸块材砌筑等防腐蚀处理工艺的工艺条件,并介绍了玻璃钢衬里工艺中所用树脂的类型及性能.