Functional assessment of biodegradable cotton nonwoven substrates permeated with spatial insect repellants for disposable applications

2021 ◽  
pp. 004051752098721
Author(s):  
Rebecca J. Hron ◽  
Doug J. Hinchliffe ◽  
Michael Santiago Cintrón ◽  
Kenneth J. Linthicum ◽  
Brian D. Condon
Keyword(s):  
Value Added ◽  
Environmentally Friendly ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Array Detector ◽  
Scanning Calorimetry ◽  
Modulated Differential Scanning Calorimetry ◽  
Insect Repellents ◽  
Nonwoven Fabrics ◽  
Preventative Measures ◽  
Spatial Repellents

Arboviral diseases and malaria transmitted by mosquitoes are major health concerns worldwide responsible for millions of deaths annually. Spatial repellents have been used as preventative measures via direct application to the skin or disposable devices worn outside of clothing. Naturally derived, plant-based repellents are safe, effective alternatives to synthetic repellents and may be applied to disposable substrates including adhesive patches. Many disposables are composed of synthetic petrochemical-based polyester and polypropylene nonwoven fabrics, contributing to growing concern surrounding microplastic pollution. Sustainable and biodegradable substrates including those made from cotton are cost effective and environmentally friendly. Therefore, we explored the utilization of cotton-based substrates for the application of natural spatial and synthetic contact insect repellents. Cotton fibers used in the study were commercially available greige cotton, scoured and bleached greige cotton and reginned greige cotton motes, a value-added byproduct of the ginning process. Synthetic polyester and polypropylene were used for comparison. Thermogravimetric/derivative thermogravimetric analysis (TG/DTG) in combination with modulated differential scanning calorimetry (mDSC) were used to discern vaporization properties of repellents from the substrates. Retention times of repellents on the substrates were analyzed using a Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy–focal plane array detector and compared with the TG/DTG and mDSC data. Mosquito landing assays confirmed the feasibility of using cotton-based substrates treated with plant-based spatial repellents as an effective and environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic materials.

Boosting photocatalytic performance for selective oxidation of biomass-derived pentoses and hexoses to lactic acid using hierarchically porous Cu/Cu2O/CuO@CA

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dongnv Jin ◽  
Gaojie Jiao ◽  
Wenfeng Ren ◽  
Jinghui Zhou ◽  
Jiliang Ma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lactic Acid ◽  
Selective Oxidation ◽  
Photocatalytic Performance ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Environmentally Friendly ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Hierarchically Porous ◽  
Limited Success

Photocatalytic-reforming of biomass-derived feedstocks to high-value added chemicals is highly desired, yet limited success has been achieved. To this aim, the development of an efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly photocatalyst...

Preparation and characterisation of water soluble polyester coatings based on waste materials

2017 ◽  
Vol 46 (5) ◽  
pp. 408-422 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soheir Youssef Tawfik ◽  
Magdy Wadid Sabaa ◽  
Ramzy Takawy Botros
Keyword(s):  
Value Added ◽  
Environmentally Friendly ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Resonance Spectroscopy ◽  
Scanning Calorimetry ◽  
Waste Products ◽  
Pet Waste ◽  
Content Type

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to prepare cheap and environmentally friendly water soluble polyester coatings through the glycolysis of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) waste. Design/methodology/approach A secondary value-added polyester coatings were prepared from PET waste. The first step was the de-polymerisation of PET waste by 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol with different molar ratios in the presence of different concentrations of zinc acetate as trans-esterification catalyst. The de-polymerised product was characterised by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1HNMR), differential scanning calorimetry and hydroxyl values. The polyesters were successfully synthesised by esterification of the glycolysed product with adipic acid, isophthalic acid, 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol and trimellitic anhydride in different ratios. FTIR and 1HNMR were used qualitatively and quantitatively to elucidate the structure of the prepared polyesters. Hydroxyl value and the physical properties of the prepared polyesters were also investigated. Two different curing agents were used to prepare the coatings based on the prepared polyesters. Findings Useful coating products were obtained by chemical (glycolysis) of post consumed PET wastes. The 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol was found to be good glycol in the glycolysis of PET. It was noticed that the rate of glycolysis increases with increasing the amount of catalyst, time of glycolysis and amount of 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol. N,N-Dimethylethanol amine was a good neutralising agent used for the preparation of water soluble coatings based on glycolysed product of PET. Practical implications The use of waste products like PET waste in water soluble coating systems will bring down the costs of the coatings and will also open a new market of recycled plastic materials and, hence, may provide a potential solution to the problems of solid waste management. It is an attractive option for environmentally friendly and efficient disposal of plastic waste. Originality/value The paper provides a potential way to use undesirable PET waste as industrial raw material. The coatings prepared are eco-friendly, soluble in water that can replace other expensive polyester coatings that are soluble in organic solvents and not environmentally coatings.

Exploration of benign deep eutectic solvent–water system for the high-efficient production of furfurylamine from sugarcane bagasse via chemoenzymatic cascade catalysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qing Li ◽  
Junhua Di ◽  
Xiaolong Liao ◽  
Jiacheng Ni ◽  
Qi Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sugarcane Bagasse ◽  
Deep Eutectic Solvent ◽  
Reaction System ◽  
Water System ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Environmentally Friendly ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Efficient Production ◽  
Solvent Water ◽  
High Efficient

Recently, cost-effective production of highly value-added furan chemicals from abundant and renewable bioresources has gained much attentions via chemoenzymatic approach in environmentally-friendly reaction system. In this work, chemoenzymatic cascade reaction...

scholarly journals Multi-Country Scale Assessment of Available Energy Recovery Potential Using Micro-Hydropower in Drinking, Pressurised Irrigation and Wastewater Networks, Covering Part of the EU

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 899
Author(s):  
Djordje Mitrovic ◽  
Miguel Crespo Chacón ◽  
Aida Mérida García ◽  
Jorge García Morillo ◽  
Juan Antonio Rodríguez Diaz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Northern Ireland ◽  
Energy Recovery ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Net Energy ◽  
Water Networks ◽  
Scale Assessment

Studies have shown micro-hydropower (MHP) opportunities for energy recovery and CO2 reductions in the water sector. This paper conducts a large-scale assessment of this potential using a dataset amassed across six EU countries (Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Spain, and Portugal) for the drinking water, irrigation, and wastewater sectors. Extrapolating the collected data, the total annual MHP potential was estimated between 482.3 and 821.6 GWh, depending on the assumptions, divided among Ireland (15.5–32.2 GWh), Scotland (17.8–139.7 GWh), Northern Ireland (5.9–8.2 GWh), Wales (10.2–8.1 GWh), Spain (375.3–539.9 GWh), and Portugal (57.6–93.5 GWh) and distributed across the drinking water (43–67%), irrigation (51–30%), and wastewater (6–3%) sectors. The findings demonstrated reductions in energy consumption in water networks between 1.7 and 13.0%. Forty-five percent of the energy estimated from the analysed sites was associated with just 3% of their number, having a power output capacity >15 kW. This demonstrated that a significant proportion of energy could be exploited at a small number of sites, with a valuable contribution to net energy efficiency gains and CO2 emission reductions. This also demonstrates cost-effective, value-added, multi-country benefits to policy makers, establishing the case to incentivise MHP in water networks to help achieve the desired CO2 emissions reductions targets.

scholarly journals Synthesis and Polymerization Kinetics of Rigid Tricyanate Ester

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 1686
Author(s):  
Andrey Galukhin ◽  
Roman Nosov ◽  
Ilya Nikolaev ◽  
Elena Melnikova ◽  
Daut Islamov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Kinetic Analysis ◽  
Single Step ◽  
Polymerization Kinetics ◽  
Scanning Calorimetry ◽  
Modulated Differential Scanning Calorimetry ◽  
Diffusion Controlled ◽  
Polymerization Product ◽  
The One ◽  
Kinetics Of

A new rigid tricyanate ester consisting of seven conjugated aromatic units is synthesized, and its structure is confirmed by X-ray analysis. This ester undergoes thermally stimulated polymerization in a liquid state. Conventional and temperature-modulated differential scanning calorimetry techniques are employed to study the polymerization kinetics. A transition of polymerization from a kinetic- to a diffusion-controlled regime is detected. Kinetic analysis is performed by combining isoconversional and model-based computations. It demonstrates that polymerization in the kinetically controlled regime of the present monomer can be described as a quasi-single-step, auto-catalytic, process. The diffusion contribution is parameterized by the Fournier model. Kinetic analysis is complemented by characterization of thermal properties of the corresponding polymerization product by means of thermogravimetric and thermomechanical analyses. Overall, the obtained experimental results are consistent with our hypothesis about the relation between the rigidity and functionality of the cyanate ester monomer, on the one hand, and its reactivity and glass transition temperature of the corresponding polymer, on the other hand.

scholarly journals Recycling Waste Cotton Cloths for the Isolation of Cellulose Nanocrystals: A Sustainable Approach

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 626
Author(s):  
Siti Hajar Mohamed ◽  
Md. Sohrab Hossain ◽  
Mohamad Haafiz Mohamad Kassim ◽  
Mardiana Idayu Ahmad ◽  
Fatehah Mohd Omar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Cellulose Nanocrystals ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Crystallinity Index ◽  
Attenuated Total Reflection ◽  
Cellulose Content ◽  
Scanning Calorimetry ◽  
Good Thermal Stability ◽  
Alkaline Pulping ◽  
Hydrolysis Of Cellulose

There is an interest in the sustainable utilization of waste cotton cloths because of their enormous volume of generation and high cellulose content. Waste cotton cloths generated are disposed of in a landfill, which causes environmental pollution and leads to the waste of useful resources. In the present study, cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were isolated from waste cotton cloths collected from a landfill. The waste cotton cloths collected from the landfill were sterilized and cleaned using supercritical CO2 (scCO2) technology. The cellulose was extracted from scCO2-treated waste cotton cloths using alkaline pulping and bleaching processes. Subsequently, the CNCs were isolated using the H2SO4 hydrolysis of cellulose. The isolated CNCs were analyzed to determine the morphological, chemical, thermal, and physical properties with various analytical methods, including attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy (EF-TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results showed that the isolated CNCs had a needle-like structure with a length and diameter of 10–30 and 2–6 nm, respectively, and an aspect ratio of 5–15, respectively. Additionally, the isolated CNCs had a high crystallinity index with a good thermal stability. The findings of the present study revealed the potential of recycling waste cotton cloths to produce a value-added product.

scholarly journals UK Consumers’ Preferences for Ethical Attributes of Floating Rice: Implications for Environmentally Friendly Agriculture in Vietnam

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 8354
Author(s):  
Vo Hong Tu ◽  
Steven W. Kopp ◽  
Nguyen Thuy Trang ◽  
Andreas Kontoleon ◽  
Mitsuyasu Yabe
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide Emissions ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Environmentally Friendly ◽  
Trade Agreement ◽  
Co2 Emission Reduction ◽  
Global Food Security ◽  
Rice Farmers ◽  
Floating Rice ◽  
The Uk

Vietnam plays an important role in bearing global food security. However, Vietnamese rice farmers face several challenges, including pressures to develop sustainable livelihoods while reducing the environmental impacts of their production activities. Various Vietnamese agricultural restructuring policies were promulgated to promote the adoption of environmentally friendly practices to generate high value added for rice farmers, but the farmers are reluctant to adopt them because of perceived lack of demand. Decreasing consumption of rice in Asia and increasing demands in Europe shaped Vietnamese rice exporting policies. New trade agreements, such as the UK–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, offer new target markets for Vietnamese rice farmers. This research provides empirical evidence related to the preferences of UK consumers for ethical attributes for floating rice imported from Vietnam. Floating rice represents a traditional method of rice cultivation that relies on the natural flooding cycle. Its cultivation uses very few agrochemical inputs and provides several other environmental, economic, and social benefits. In an online survey, the study used a choice experiment that asked 306 UK consumers to report their preferences for one kilo of floating rice with three non-market attributes: reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, allocation of profits to the farmers, and restitution of biodiversity. Overall, study participants favored the attributes of floating rice, but reported utility for only the “fair trade” attribute and for a marginal willingness to pay premiums for profit allocations to farmers. Consumers did not find value in either CO2 emission reduction or biodiversity improvement. Results from the study provide recommendations to develop agricultural programs, distribution strategies, and informational methods to encourage floating rice consumption in the UK.

scholarly journals Manipulation of the Glass Transition Properties of a High-Solid System Made of Acrylic Acid-N,N′-Methylenebisacrylamide Copolymer Grafted on Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 2682
Author(s):  
Nazim Nassar ◽  
Felicity Whitehead ◽  
Taghrid Istivan ◽  
Robert Shanks ◽  
Stefan Kasapis
Keyword(s):  
Glass Transition ◽  
Acrylic Acid ◽  
Methyl Cellulose ◽  
Small Deformation ◽  
Polymerization Reaction ◽  
Solid Matrix ◽  
Scanning Calorimetry ◽  
Modulated Differential Scanning Calorimetry ◽  
High Solid ◽  
Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose

Crosslinking of hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) and acrylic acid (AAc) was carried out at various compositions to develop a high-solid matrix with variable glass transition properties. The matrix was synthesized by the copolymerisation of two monomers, AAc and N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) and their grafting onto HMPC. Potassium persulfate (K2S2O8) was used to initiate the free radical polymerization reaction and tetramethylethylenediamine (TEMED) to accelerate radical polymerisation. Structural properties of the network were investigated with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC), small-deformation dynamic oscillation in-shear, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results show the formation of a cohesive macromolecular entity that is highly amorphous. There is a considerable manipulation of the rheological and calorimetric glass transition temperatures as a function of the amount of added acrylic acid, which is followed upon heating by an extensive rubbery plateau. Complementary TGA work demonstrates that the initial composition of all the HPMC-AAc networks is maintained up to 200 °C, an outcome that bodes well for applications of targeted bioactive compound delivery.

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