Multifunctional Polyurethane Composites with Coffee Grounds and Wood Sawdust.

Currently, the fundamental activity that will allow for the development of an economy with closed circulation is the management of food waste and production waste for the preparation of biocomposites. The use of waste materials of natural origin allows for the creation of innovative composites with improved physicochemical and functional properties. The present investigation concerns the use of coffee grounds (2.

Ionic liquid-assisted synthesis of chitin-ethylene glycol hydrogels as electrolyte membranes for sustainable electrochemical capacitors.

A novel chitin-ethylene glycol hybrid gel was prepared as a hydrogel electrolyte for electrical double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) using 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate [Bmim][Ac] as a chitin solvent. Examination of the morphology and topography of the chitin-EG membrane showed a homogeneous and smooth surface, while the thickness of the membrane obtained was 27 µm. The electrochemical performance of the chitin-EG hydrogel electrolyte was investigated by cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge/discharge measurements.

Highly Insulative PEG-Grafted Cellulose Polyurethane Foams-From Synthesis to Application Properties.

In this paper, native cellulose I was subjected to alkaline treatment. As a result, cellulose I was transformed to cellulose II and some nanometric particles were formed. Both polymorphic forms of cellulose were modified with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and then used as fillers for polyurethane.

Treatment of model solutions and wastewater containing selected hazardous metal ions using a chitin/lignin hybrid material as an effective sorbent.

A chitin/lignin material with defined physicochemical and morphological properties was used as an effective adsorbent of environmentally toxic metals from model systems. Particularly significant is its use in the neutralization of real industrial wastes. The ions Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb were adsorbed on the functional sorbent, confirming the high sorption capacity of the newly obtained product, primarily due to the presence on its surface of numerous active functional groups from the component biopolymers.

Removal of hazardous non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs from aqueous solutions by biosorbent based on chitin and lignin.

The use of chitin modified with kraft lignin as an effective sorbent of ibuprofen and acetaminophen is described for the first time. It was determined how the parameters (contact time, pH, mass of sorbent and temperature) influence the effectiveness of the adsorption process. The adsorption kinetics were calculated using pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order (types 1-4) and intra-particle diffusion models, and thermodynamic parameters were determined.

Active MgO-SiO hybrid material for organic dye removal: A mechanism and interaction study of the adsorption of C.I. Acid Blue 29 and C.I. Basic Blue 9.

A comparative analysis was performed concerning the removal of two different organic dyes from model aqueous solution using an inorganic oxide adsorbent. The key element of the study concerns evaluation of the influence of the dyes' structure and their acid-base character on the efficiency of the adsorption process. The selection of sorbent material for this research - an MgO-SiO oxide system synthesized via a modified sol-gel route - is also not without significance.

Enhanced removal of hazardous dye form aqueous solutions and real textile wastewater using bifunctional chitin/lignin biosorbent.

A new biomaterial based on chitin and lignin was prepared and applied for the removal of hazardous dye C.I. Direct Blue 71 (DB71) from aqueous solutions and wastewaters.

Treatment of model and galvanic waste solutions of copper(II) ions using a lignin/inorganic oxide hybrid as an effective sorbent.

A study was made concerning the removal of copper(II) ions from model and galvanic waste solutions using a new sorption material consisting of lignin in combination with an inorganic oxide system. Specific physicochemical properties of the material resulted from combining the activity of the functional groups present in the structure of lignin with the high surface area of the synthesized oxide system (585m/g). Analysis of the porous structure parameters, particle size and morphology, elemental composition and characteristic functional groups confirmed the effective synthesis of the new type of sorbent.

Sodium Copper Chlorophyllin Immobilization onto Hippospongia communis Marine Demosponge Skeleton and Its Antibacterial Activity.

In this study, marine demosponge skeleton was used as an adsorbent for sodium copper chlorophyllin (SCC). Obtained results indicate the high sorption capacity of this biomaterial with respect to SCC. Batch experiments were performed under different conditions and kinetic and isotherms properties were investigated.

Adsorption of C.I. Natural Red 4 onto Spongin Skeleton of Marine Demosponge.

C.I. Natural Red 4 dye, also known as carmine or cochineal, was adsorbed onto the surface of spongin-based fibrous skeleton of marine demosponge for the first time.

Modification of chitin with kraft lignin and development of new biosorbents for removal of cadmium(II) and nickel(II) ions.

Novel, functional materials based on chitin of marine origin and lignin were prepared. The synthesized materials were subjected to physicochemical, dispersive-morphological and electrokinetic analysis. The results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method of synthesis of functional chitin/lignin materials.

2012 QG42: A SLOW ROTATOR NEA.

CCD photometric observations of the near-Earth asteroid 2012 QG42 were made by a collaboration of observers in the U.S. and Europe.