Mechanical Property and Biodegradability of Cast Films Prepared from Blends of Oppositely Charged Biopolymers

Biodegradable cast films of about 50 m thickness were fabricated by blending oppositely charged biopolymers such as anionic starch–chitosan, and cationic starch–pectin. The tensile strength and elongation at break (%) of films were evaluated as well as their capacity to degrade in compost. Films recovered from soil every 48 h showed consistent degradation (weight loss), diminution of the polymers characteristic peak absorbance in the carbohydrate fingerprint region of the FTIR, and changes in the surface morphology via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Anionic starch–chitosan films had much superior tensile strength and elongation compared to cationic starch–pectin, suggesting that the ionic bonds formed between anionic-starch and positively charged groups in chitosan polymer were much more stable and stronger. Initially, both films lost about 36% weight within 96 h, which also correlated well with the loss in the characteristic absorption peaks in the region of the infrared spectrum typical of biopolymers. The total mineralization of films by microorganisms in compost soil was also measured using respirometric techniques. Though the rate of mineralization differed for two formulations, total mineralization (extent) for both films were achieved within 45 days.     

Waterproof and translucent wings at the same time: problems and solutions in butterflies

Although the colour of butterflies attracts the most attention, the waterproofing properties of their wings are also extremely interesting. Most butterfly wings are considered “super-hydrophobic” because the contact angle (CA) with a water drop exceeds 150°. Usually, butterfly wings are covered with strongly overlapping scales; however, in the case of transparent or translucent wings, scale cover is reduced; thus, the hydrophobicity could be affected. Here, we present a comparative analysis of wing hydrophobicity and its dependence on morphology for two species with translucent wings Parantica sita (Nymphalidae) and Parnassius glacialis (Papilionidae). These species have very different life histories: P. sita lives for up to 6 months as an adult and migrates over long distance, whereas P. glacialis lives for less than 1 month and does not migrate. We measured the water CA and analysed wing morphology with scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. P. sita has super-hydrophobic wing surfaces, with CA > 160°, whereas P. glacialis did not (CA = 100–135°). Specialised scales were found on the translucent portions of P. sita wings. These scales were ovoid and much thinner than common scales, erect at about 30°, and leaving up to 80% of the wing surface uncovered. The underlying bare wing surface had a remarkable pattern of ridges and knobs. P. glacialis also had over 80% of the wing surface uncovered, but the scales were either setae-like or spade-like. The bare surface of the wing had an irregular wavy smooth pattern. We suggest a mode of action that allows this super-hydrophobic effect with an incompletely covered wing surface. The scales bend, but do not collapse, under the pressure of a water droplet, and the elastic recovery of the structure at the borders of the droplet allows a high apparent CA. Thus, P. sita can be translucent without losing its waterproof properties. This characteristic is likely necessary for the long life and migration of this species. This is the first study of some of the effects on the hydrophobicity of translucency through scales’ cover reduction in butterfly wings and on the morphology associated with improved waterproofing. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

不同来源的疏水性有机酸的光谱学研究

选取2个地表水体水样、2个城市污水处理厂二级处理出水水样和2个土样,从中提取出疏水性有机酸(HPO-A).采用紫外-可见光谱、红外光谱和荧光光谱技术,对不同来源的HPO-A的特性进行了比较和表征.结果表明,这6种HPO-A的吸光度均是随着波长的增加而下降.280nm处的吸收系数(A280)和600nm处的吸收系数(A600)均可排序为:土壤HPO-A地表水体HPO-A二级处理出水HPO-A.HPO-A的E253/E203(波长在253nm处的吸光度与波长在203nm处的吸光度的比值)与A600之间缺乏必然的联系.土壤HPO-A中不含有—CH3官能团.C=O官能团在地表水体HPO-A和土壤HPO-A中的含量较高,而脂族化合物在二级处理出水HPO-A中的含量较高.二级处理出水HPO-A中含有酰胺类化合物.类富里酸和类腐殖酸物质是HPO-A中主要的荧光物质.在地表水体HPO-A和二级处理出水HPO-A中,类富里酸荧光物质的相对含量较高.类溶解性微生物代谢产物荧光物质的存在与否与HPO-A的来源无关.     

表面活性剂对受污染环境修复作用研究进展

综述了９０年代后国外利用表面活性剂对受有机物污染有地下水和土壤进行修复的最新研究进展，介绍了表面活性剂对憎水性有机物污染物增溶作用的规律，表面活性剂－增强修复技术的原理，以及表面活性剂存在时对污染物降解作用的影响。     

P123对rGO/m-TiO2薄膜微观结构及光催化性能的影响

以自制氧化石墨烯（GO）分散液和加入一定量三嵌段共聚物PEO₂₀-PPO₇₀-PEO₂₀（P123）模板剂的TiO₂前驱体溶胶为原料,用交替浸渍-提拉结合热处理和紫外灯辐照还原法在玻璃基底上制备还原氧化石墨烯/介孔TiO₂（rGO/m-TiO₂）多层膜.通过X-射线衍射（XRD）、拉曼光谱（Raman）、扫描电子显微镜（SEM）、比表面积（BET）对多层膜进行表征分析.研究了模板剂P123加入量对多层膜的晶体结构、比表面积、形貌、孔径分布情况、吸附性能、光催化性能的影响.分别在紫外光及太阳光下评价rGO/m-TiO₂多层膜对土霉素（OTC）的光催化降解效果;在紫外光条件下,研究了多层膜对OTC的光催化降解机理.结果表明：P123的引入不会引起TiO₂晶体结构的变化;适量P123的引入可以优化多层膜的孔结构,增大比表面积、提高其吸附性能,进而提高薄膜的光催化性能;rGO/TiO₂（5wt% P123）薄膜60min对OTC的吸附率达51.2%,紫外光照射135min,降解率达到90.9%;太阳光照射50min,降解率达到91.5%.在降解OTC过程中,羟基自由基（·OH）起主要作用,路径以与·OH相关的羟基化反应和仲羟基氧化反应为主.     

Biodegradation of Agricultural Plastic Films: A Critical Review

The growing use of plastics in agriculture has enabled farmers to increase their crop production. One major drawback of most polymers used in agriculture is the problem with their disposal, following their useful life-time. Non-degradable polymers, being resistive to degradation (depending on the polymer, additives, conditions etc) tend to accumulate as plastic waste, creating a serious problem of plastic waste management. In cases such plastic waste ends-up in landfills or it is buried in soil, questions are raised about their possible effects on the environment, whether they biodegrade at all, and if they do, what is the rate of (bio?)degradation and what effect the products of (bio?)degradation have on the environment, including the effects of the additives used. Possible degradation of agricultural plastic waste should not result in contamination of the soil and pollution of the environment (including aesthetic pollution or problems with the agricultural products safety). Ideally, a degradable polymer should be fully biodegradable leaving no harmful substances in the environment. Most experts and acceptable standards define a fully biodegradable polymer as a polymer that is completely converted by microorganisms to carbon dioxide, water, mineral and biomass, with no negative environmental impact or ecotoxicity. However, part of the ongoing debate concerns the question of what is an acceptable period of time for the biodegradation to occur and how this is measured. Many polymers that are claimed to be ‘biodegradable’ are in fact ‘bioerodable’, ‘hydrobiodegradable’, ‘photodegradable’, controlled degradable or just partially biodegradable. This review paper attempts to delineate the definition of degradability of polymers used in agriculture. Emphasis is placed on the controversial issues regarding biodegradability of some of these polymers.