Reactive Extrusion of Maleic-Anhydride-Grafted Polypropylene by Torque Rheometer and Its Application as Compatibilizer

This study is based upon the functionalization of polypropylene (PP) by radical polymerization to optimize its properties by influencing its molecular weight. Grafting of PP was done at different concentrations of maleic anhydride (MAH) and benzoyl peroxide (BPO). The effect on viscosity during and after the reaction was studied by torque rheometer and melt flow index. Results showed that a higher concentration of BPO led to excessive side-chain reactions. At a high percentage of grafting, lower molecular weight product was produced, which was analyzed by viscosity change during and after the reaction. Percentage crystallinity increased by grafting due to the shorter chains, which consequently led to an improvement in the chain’s packing. Prepared Maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MAH-g-PP) enhanced interactions in PP-PET blends caused a partially homogeneous blend with less voids.

Study of The Reaction Mechanism to Produce Nanocellulose-Graft-Chitosan Polymer

Cellulose and chitin are the most abundant polymeric materials in nature, capable of replacing conventional synthetic polymers. From them, cellulose nano/microfibers (CNFs/CMFs) and chitosan are obtained. Both polymers have been used separately in graft copolymerization but there are not many studies on the use of cellulose and chitosan together as copolymers and the reaction mechanism is unknown. In this work, the reaction mechanism to produce nano/microcellulose-graft-chitosan polymer has been studied. Recycled cellulose pulp was used, with and without a 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-oxyl-radical (TEMPO)-mediated oxidation pretreatment, to produce CNFs and CMFs, respectively. For chitosan, a low-molecular weight product dissolved in an acetic acid solution was prepared. Grafted polymers were synthesized using a microwave digester. Results showed that TEMPO-mediated oxidation as the cellulose pretreatment is a key factor to obtain the grafted polymer CNF-g-CH. A reaction mechanism has been proposed where the amino group of chitosan attacks the carboxylic group of oxidized cellulose, since non-oxidized CMFs do not achieve the desired grafting. 13C NMR spectra, elemental analysis and SEM images validated the proposed mechanism. Finally, CNF-g-CH was used as a promising material to remove water-based inks and dyes from wastewater.

Identification of a Distinct, Cryptic Heparosan Synthase from Pasteurella multocida Types A, D, and F

ABSTRACT The extracellular polysaccharide capsules of Pasteurella multocida types A, D, and F are composed of hyaluronan, N-acetylheparosan (heparosan or unsulfated, unepimerized heparin), and unsulfated chondroitin, respectively. Previously, a type D heparosan synthase, a glycosyltransferase that forms the repeating disaccharide heparosan backbone, was identified. Here, a ∼73% identical gene product that is encoded outside of the capsule biosynthesis locus was also shown to be a functional heparosan synthase. Unlike PmHS1, the PmHS2 enzyme was not stimulated greatly by the addition of an exogenous polymer acceptor and yielded smaller- molecular-weight-product size distributions. Virtually identical hssB genes are found in most type A, D, and F isolates. The occurrence of multiple polysaccharide synthases in a single strain invokes the potential for capsular variation.

Lignin-Carbohydrate Condensation Product Formation in a Biomimetic Model Pulp Bleaching System

Three biomimetic compounds were evaluated for their ability to preferentially degrade lignin in the presence of carbohydrate using two water-soluble polymeric model compounds: lignosulfonate and hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC). The three biomimetic systems studied were FeSO4, Fe-EDTA and hemoglobin, each in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. When both polymeric substrates were present, a high molecular weight product was observed to form upon addition of H2O2. This high molecular weight product is believed to be the result of a condensation reaction between lignosulfonate and HEC. The condensation product was also observed to form in the absence of biomimetic catalyst. For all reactions, the molecular weight of the condensation product was observed to decrease with increasing reaction time. By altering the ratio of lignosulfonate to HEC, a limit was observed in the relative amount of condensation product formed. The formation of this condensation product is believed to limit the effectiveness of acidic bleaching systems.

Organic and inorganic templates bearing CCo3(CO)9 cluster fragments: X-ray crystal structures of C(CH2OCOCCl3)4 and of CH3C(O)CHC(OH)MLn where MLn = CCo3(CO)9 or (C6H5)Cr(CO)3

Pentaerythritol and trichloroacetyl chloride react to yield the tetrakis-trichloroacetate ester C(CH2-O2C-CCl3)4, 5, which crystallizes in the triclinic space group [Formula: see text] with a = 9.874(2) Å, b = 11.811(2) Å, c = 12.858(3) Å, α = 114.35(3)°, β = 95.63(3)°, γ = 99.11 (3)°, and V = 1326.5(5) Å3 for Z = 2. The molecule adopts a geometry in which the trichloroacetate chains fold to produce a flattened tetrahedron, giving a molecule of approximate D2d symmetry. Treatment of 5 with CO2(CO)8 gave, as the highest molecular weight product, the tris-cluster complex C[CH2-O2C-CCo3(CO)9]3(CH2-O2C-CCl3), 6, rather than the tetra-cluster C[CH2-O2C-CCo3(CO)9]4, 7. A space-filling model of 7, derived by replacing the CCl3 groups in 5 by CCo3(CO)9 moieties, exhibited considerable molecular crowding. Reaction of several 1,1,1-trichloroacetylacetonate salts with Co2(CO)8 gave the corresponding cluster complexes of Co(II), Co(III), or Al(III). The uncomplexed cluster ligand CH3C(O)CHC(OH)CCo3(CO)9, 9, crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pna21 with a = 16.226(2) Å, b = 11.6300(10) Å, c = 9.919(2) Å, V = 1871.7(4) Å3 for Z = 4. The direction of enolization of 9 has been studied by EHMO calculations. The tendency to enolize is also found in (benzoylacetone)Cr(CO)3, 17, which crystallizes in the tetragonal space group P43212 with a = 10.0840(10) Å, b = 10.0840(10) Å, c = 25.387(5) Å, V = 2581.5(6) Å3 for Z = 8. Keywords: inorganometallic clusters.

Zinc Oxide Crosslinking Chemistry of Halobutyl Elastomers—A Model Compound Approach

The study of the crosslinking reactions of halobutyl rubbers with zinc oxide, conducted on low molecular weight model compounds, has brought about a thorough understanding of the chemistry of this process. It has been shown that there are two competitive processes taking place, with the major one generating the catalyst for the oligomerization reaction and producing a substantial amount of a monomeric diene. The actual crosslinking process is a cationically induced oligomerization based on carbon-carbon bond formation. The major high molecular weight product is the dimeric hydrocarbon with a small amount of trimeric product also being formed. Both the direct elimination reaction and the crosslinking process lead to the formation of dienic functional groups.