Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Dingquan Song, Bin Wang, Wencan Tao, Xi Wang, Wei Zhang, Mingfeng Dai, Jinyang Li, Zhuowan Zhou
Summary: In this article, novel basalt fiber reinforced polypropylene composites were prepared using the synergistic reinforcement of cellulose nanocrystals. The results showed that the combination of cellulose nanocrystals and basalt fibers can significantly enhance the mechanical properties of the composites. The highest mechanical strength was achieved when the mass percentage of cellulose nanocrystals and basalt fibers were 1% and 30%, respectively.
NANOTECHNOLOGY REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Francesca Cicogna, Serena Coiai, Stefano Javarone, Massimo Onor, Claudio Bernacchi, Antonella Manariti, Elisa Passaglia
Summary: The study successfully functionalized polypropylene spheres to remove heavy metal ions and toxic dyes from water, potentially serving as a water disinfectant.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Andre Ruland, Saskia Schenker, Lucas Schirmer, Jens Friedrichs, Andrea Meinhardt, Veronique B. Schwartz, Nadine Kaiser, Rupert Konradi, William MacDonald, Tina Helmecke, Melissa K. L. N. Sikosana, Juliane Valtin, Dominik Hahn, Lars D. Renner, Carsten Werner, Uwe Freudenberg
Summary: Precision surface engineering is essential for advanced biomaterials, with a new platform of PEGylated styrene-maleic acid copolymers reported for adsorptive surface biofunctionalization. These copolymers, known as anchor polymers (APs), can be conjugated with various bioactives for customized materials in biotechnologies. The fine-tuning of their molecular architecture provides control over adsorptive anchorage onto specific materials, showcasing versatility, simplicity, and robustness in their applications.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
James K. Johnson, K. Michael Salerno, Danielle R. Schlesinger, Nam Q. Le, Jesse S. Ko, Zhiyong Xia
Summary: An amphiphilic coating was developed to functionalize an aluminum oxide hydroxide membrane for efficient removal of PFAS contaminants in drinking water. The new coated filters outperformed the commonly used granular activated carbon technology in PFAS removal. Molecular dynamics simulations were used to predict the interaction between coatings and contaminants, providing a potential for future design.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Mengbo Cao, Xun Liu, Wei Wang, Ming Gao, Yongsheng Li, Hongbing Yang
Summary: Efficient combustion technology was used to design Zn/Al-NCs as adsorbents for TC, showing excellent adsorption performance and increased capacity in the presence of humic acid. Adsorption mechanisms include pore-filling, electrostatic interactions, complexation, and H-bonds.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Dong Woo Kim, Seongsoo Han, Hyunho Lee, Jihoon Shin, Siyoung Q. Choi
Summary: Dispersion of nanofillers in a polymer matrix is essential in preparing polymer nanocomposites. This study introduces a simple method called the swelling-based particle adsorption (SPA) for dispersing cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) in incompatible polypropylene (PP) matrix without surface functionalization of CNFs. The SPA method allows CNFs to adsorb onto the surface of PP particles using a small amount of solvent. The resulting PP/CNFs composite films exhibit significantly improved Young's modulus and further enhancement can be achieved by adding polypropylene-graft-maleic anhydride.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Zhihang Wang, Xiaolei Wang, Xuexi Li, Huan Zhang, Junfu Wei, Yingshan Zhou
Summary: This study developed a functionalized polypropylene nonwoven fabric with alkylbenzene groups for selectively removing nonylphenol from complex aqueous solution. The fabric exhibited superior selective adsorption properties towards nonylphenol, and the adsorption mechanism was investigated through adsorption isotherms, kinetics, and thermodynamics. The results indicated synergistic effects of 7C-7C interplay, hydrophobic interplay, and hydrogen bonding in the adsorption process.
REACTIVE & FUNCTIONAL POLYMERS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Wei Liu, Yaofeng Zhu, Chen Qian, Hongbo Dai, Yaqin Fu, Yubing Dong
Summary: This paper reports on the use of a polyacrylate-based sizing agent for interfacial modification in glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene composites. The sizing agent reduces the surface energy of the glass fiber, improving the compatibility with polypropylene. The interfacial shear strength of the GF-PP composites is increased, and the mechanical properties of the sized GF/PP composites are improved.
COMPOSITES PART B-ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jun Cai, Ehsan Estakhrianhaghighi, Abdolhamid Akbarzadeh
Summary: Graphene with tunable thermo-mechanical property is of great importance for next-generation thermal management devices. Non-porous hydrogenated graphene origami metamaterial exhibits a unique combination of tunable thermal conductivity, high strength, and enhanced stretchability. The effect of length scale on the thermal property of graphene origami metamaterials is explored, and the heat conduction mechanism is illustrated. The introduced strategy for controlling the thermo-mechanical properties of graphene metamaterials can open up new avenues for developing thermoelectric devices, heat management systems, and flexible nanoelectronics.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Kazuki Kino, Tomoyoshi Sakamoto, Jinghan Yuan, Yoshimasa Amano, Motoi Machida
Summary: Quaternary nitrogen functionalized porous carbon derived from thermally stabilized polyacrylonitrile fiber showed excellent performance in removing nitrate anion from water, with an adsorption capacity of 0.6 mmol/g or more in the pH range of 3-8. The presence of equivalent N-Q sites on the carbon surface contributed to the adsorption performance, which was comparable to ion-exchange resin.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tyler J. Durkin, Baishali Barua, Jamie J. Holmstrom, Vasiliki Karanikola, Suchol Savagatrup
Summary: The increasing contamination in potable water supplies requires the development of sensing methods that provide speed and selectivity for safety. One promising method relies on recognition and detection at the liquid-liquid interface of dynamic complex emulsions. By modifying the liquid-liquid interface, the synthesis and characterization of block copolymers have been reported, which can selectively measure the concentrations of dissolved metal ions, thus providing a platform for detecting safety in a complex environment.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tyler J. Durkin, Baishali Barua, Jamie J. Holmstrom, Vasiliki Karanikola, Suchol Savagatrup
Summary: The development of sensing methods that provide speed and selectivity is necessary to address the increasing contamination in potable water supplies. One promising method involves recognition and detection at the liquid-liquid interface. This method transduces changes in interfacial tensions into optical signals, providing selectivity. In this study, amphiphilic block copolymers modified with metal chelators were synthesized and characterized for the selective measurement of dissolved metal ions. Significant reduction in interfacial tensions and increased surface excess and surfactant effectiveness were observed when the block copolymers were complexed with metal ions. The researchers also demonstrated selective detection of iron(III) cations in complex matrices of synthetic groundwater, even in the presence of interference from other cations.
Article
Polymer Science
Zhou Lu, Hui Wang, Shuaikang Li, Shengyu Dai
Summary: Polar functionalized polypropylene materials with tunable molecular weights and high incorporation ratios were synthesized using elaborate iminopyridyl Pd(ii) catalysts. The structure of the Pd(ii) catalysts directly influenced the polymerization reaction, leading to differences in molecular weight and incorporation ratios. These catalysts showed higher molecular weights and incorporation ratios compared to classical alpha-diimine palladium catalysts, making them effective for producing polar functionalized polypropylene materials.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Peng Hong, Limin Wang, Linsheng Bai, Zhongqiu Liu, Yujing Liu, Jianguo Yang, Anguo Ying
Summary: In this study, SPA and 1-vinyl-3-ethylimidazole were grafted onto Polyacrylonitrile fiber using RAFT, forming an intelligent photo-responsive catalyst for efficient water oxidation of benzyl alcohol. The reversible light-responsive property of SPA allows for recycling of the catalyst without the need for volatile organic solvents, demonstrating potential for scalable production.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Gokhan Acik, Burcu Acik, Esra Agel
Summary: In this study, hybrid fiber mat HFPP-CS was prepared for the first time by layer-by-layer assembly using electrospinning, showing higher thermal properties and good antibacterial activity.
JOURNAL OF POLYMERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
