Polyacrylamide Hydrogel Containing Starch and Sugarcane Bagasse Ash: Synthesis, Characterisation, and Application in Cement Pastes and Mortars.

Internal curing is a process based on the addition of materials that function as water reservoirs in cementitious media. Superabsorbent hydrogels are an alternative that can be used as an internal curing agent, as they have the ability to absorb and release water in a controlled manner. In the present work, superabsorbent hydrogels based on crosslinked polyacrylamide in the presence of starch and sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) were developed and applied to mortars as an internal curing agent.

Hydrogels Based on Polyacrylamide and Pectin Containing Rice Husk Ash: Preparation, Characterization and Application in Formulation of Cementitious Materials.

Superabsorbent polymers (PSAs) have been extensively studied to act as internal curing agents in cementitious materials, as they have the characteristic of absorbing and releasing water in a controlled manner, which can contribute to the hydration process of a cementitious medium during its consolidation. Thus, hydrogels consisting of polyacrylamide (PAAm), pectin (Pec) and rice husk ash (RHA) were synthesized to be applied in cementitious matrices. In addition, the PSAs were characterized by FTIR, SEM, and XRD.

Synthesis of a Bioactive Nitric Oxide-Releasing Polymer from S-Nitrosated Starch.

The incorporation of nitric oxide (NO) into polymeric matrices minimizes degradation and facilitates controlled release. This optimization increases the field of application of NO, in dressings, food protective films, and implant devices, among others. This work presents an economical and easy way to manufacture bioactive nitric oxide-releasing polymer (BioNOR-P) and evaluates its bactericidal and antioxidant activity (AA), mechanical behavior, cytotoxicity, and genotoxicity, seeking future use in different applications.

Toxicity of the emerging pollutants propylparaben and dichloropropylparaben to terrestrial plants.

Propylparaben (PrP) and dichloropropylparaben (diClPrP) are found in soil worldwide, mainly due to the incorporation of urban sludge in crop soils and the use of non-raw wastewater for irrigation. Studies on the adverse effects of PrP on plants are incipient and not found for diClPrP. PrP and diClPrP were evaluated at concentrations 4, 40, and 400 µg/L for their phytotoxic potential to seeds of Allium cepa (onion), Cucumis sativus (cucumber), Lycopersicum sculentum (tomato), and Lactuca sativa (lettuce), and cytotoxic, genotoxic potential, and for generating oxygen-reactive substances in root meristems of A.

Prospecting toxicity of the avobenzone sunscreen in plants.

Avobenzone (AVO) is a sunscreen with high global production and is constantly released into the environment. Incorporating sewage biosolids for fertilization purposes, the leaching from cultivated soils, and the use of wastewater for irrigation explain its presence in the soil. There is a lack of information about the impact of this sunscreen on plants.

Production of bioactive and functional frozen yogurt through easy-to-make microspheres incorporation.

In the food industry, the microencapsulation process is important to control the release of active encapsulated ingredients, mask unwanted flavors, colors, and unpleasant smells, increase shelf life, and protect encapsulated components from light, moisture, and nutritional loss. In this process, microspheres are formed using cross-linked polymer, which can incorporate aqueous or oily ingredients, using simple physicochemical methods of phase separation by coacervation, without the need for organic solvents. In this context, this study aimed to develop bioactive, functional frozen yogurt through the incorporation of microspheres loaded with ascorbic acid or omega 3.