Blends of Carboxymethyl Cellulose and Cottonseed Protein as Biodegradable Films.

With the increasing awareness of plastic pollution in the environment and the accumulation of microplastics in water, a significant amount of research and development is ongoing to replace the synthetic plastics in packaging and coatings. In this work, we explored the blends of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and washed cottonseed meal (CSM, consisting mostly of cottonseed protein) as agro-based, biodegradable, and sustainable alternatives to plastics. Glycerol was found to be a suitable plasticizer for these blends.

Glycerol Monooleate (GMO): A Valuable Biobased Lubricity and Pour Point Enhancer Blend Component for the ULSD Fuel.

Novel value-added usage of glycerol (biodiesel coproduct) derivatives has been indispensable due to the extensive production of biodiesel. The physical properties of ultralow-sulfur diesel (ULSD) improved with the addition of technical-grade glycerol monooleate (TGGMO) with increasing concentration from 0.01 to 5 wt %.

Proof-of-Concept study of ion-exchange method for the recycling of LiFePO cathode.

Recycling spent lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathodes in an economically sustainable way remains a great challenge due to their low-value elemental composition. Thus, both low-cost technology together with a high-value product are critical for the recovery of the LFP materials. In this study, the commercially mature ion-exchange (IX) method was explored to recover Li from LFP material for the first time.

Ultrasonic-promoted enzymatic preparation, identification and multi-active studies of nature-identical phenolic acid glycerol derivatives.

Phenolic acid glycerols (PAGs) are a group of rare phytochemicals found from potato periderm, which show great potential in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. In this study, seven PAGs were enzymatically synthesized transesterification of ethyl phenates (EPs) with glycerol by ultrasonic promotion. The conversions of 88.

A renewable tung oil-derived nitrile rubber and its potential use in epoxy-toughening modifiers.

In this study, a modifier (CTMA) prepared by emulsion copolymerization of tung oil fatty acid, methyl esters of tung oil fatty acid and acrylonitrile was used to toughen epoxy resins. The structural characterization of the copolymer was carried out by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, H NMR spectroscopy and high-temperature gel permeation chromatography. Mechanical testing, thermal characterization and scanning electron microscopy were conducted to investigate the properties of epoxy resin modified by the copolymer and further reveal its toughening mechanism.

High-Performance Biobased Unsaturated Polyester Nanocomposites with Very Low Loadings of Graphene.

Graphene-reinforced tung oil (TO)-based unsaturated polyester nanocomposites were prepared via in situ melt polycondensation intergrated with Diels⁻Alder addition. Functionalized graphene sheets derived from graphene oxide (GO) were then extracted from the obtained nanocomposites and carefully characterized. Furthermore, dispersion state of the graphene nanosheets in the cured polymer composites and ultimate properties of the resultant biobased nanocomposites were investigated.

Developing acrylated epoxidized soybean oil coating for improving moisture sensitivity and permeability of starch-based film.

Acrylated epoxidized soybean oil (AESO)-based coatings were developed to reduce moisture sensitivity and permeability of starch-based materials. The coating was applied on starch based films by dipping the samples on AESO-based coating solutions, followed by crosslinking with ultraviolet (UV) light. Effect of AESO concentration, photoinitiator content and processing conditions on the performance of coated starch-based film was systematically investigated, in particular the effect of coating on moisture absorption, permeability and mechanical properties.

Glycidyl Fatty Acid Esters in Refined Edible Oils: A Review on Formation, Occurrence, Analysis, and Elimination Methods.

Glycidyl fatty acid esters (GEs), one of the main contaminants in processed oils, are mainly formed during the deodorization step in the refining process of edible oils and therefore occur in almost all refined edible oils. GEs are potential carcinogens, due to the fact that they readily hydrolyze into the free form glycidol in the gastrointestinal tract, which has been found to induce tumors in various rat tissues. Furthermore, glycidol has already been identified as a "possible human carcinogen'' (group 2A) by the Intl.

Microwave-assisted synthesis of cyclodextrin polyurethanes.

Cyclodextrin (CD) has often been incorporated into polyurethanes in order to facilitate its use in encapsulation or removal of organic species for various applications. In this work a microwave-assisted method has been developed to produce polyurethanes consisting of α-, β-, and γ-CD and three common diisocyanates. As compared to conventional heating, this new synthetic method saves energy, significantly reduces reaction time, and gets similar or improved yield.

Epoxy monomers derived from tung oil fatty acids and its regulable thermosets cured in two synergistic ways.

A novel biobased epoxy monomer with conjugated double bonds, glycidyl ester of eleostearic acid (GEEA) was synthesized from tung oil fatty acids and characterized by (1)H and (13)C NMR. Differential scanning calorimeter analysis (DSC) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) were utilized to investigate the curing process of GEEA with dienophiles and anhydrides. DSC indicated that GEEA could cross-link with both dienophiles and anhydrides through Diels-Alder reaction and epoxy/anhydride ring-opening reaction.

Biosurfactants for microbubble preparation and application.

Biosurfactants can be classified by their chemical composition and their origin. This review briefly describes various classes of biosurfactants based on their origin and introduces a few of the most widely used biosurfactants. The current status and future trends in biosurfactant production are discussed, with an emphasis on those derived from plants.

Synthesis of soybean oil-based polymeric surfactants in supercritical carbon dioxide and investigation of their surface properties.

This paper reports the preparation of polymeric surfactants (HPSO) via a two-step synthetic procedure: polymerization of soybean oil (PSO) in supercritical carbon dioxide followed by hydrolysis of PSO (HPSO) with a base. HPSO was characterized and identified by using a combination of FTIR, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, and GPC methods. The effects of HPSO polysoaps on the surface tension of water and interfacial tension of water-hexadecane were investigated as a function of concentration of HPSO and counterion chemistry.

Characterization of a soybean oil-based biosurfactant and evaluation of its ability to form microbubbles.

This paper characterizes the physico-chemical properties of the soybean oil-based polymeric surfactant, Palozengs R-004 (hereafter referred to as R-004). The surface activity of R-004 is comparable to the reported activities of biosurfactants produced by microorganisms and higher than some of the conventional synthetic surfactants. The surface tension of Milli-Q water was reduced to a minimum value of roughly 30mN/m at a concentration of about 0.

Lubricant base stock potential of chemically modified vegetable oils.

The environment must be protected against pollution caused by lubricants based on petroleum oils. The pollution problem is so severe that approximately 50% of all lubricants sold worldwide end up in the environment via volatility, spills, or total loss applications. This threat to the environment can be avoided by either preventing undesirable losses, reclaiming and recycling mineral oil lubricants, or using environmentally friendly lubricants.

One-pot synthesis of chemically modified vegetable oils.

Vegetable oils are promising candidates as substitutes for petroleum base oils in lubricant applications, such as total loss lubrication, military applications, and outdoor activities. Although vegetable oils have some advantages, they also have poor oxidation and low temperature stability. One of the ways to address these issues is chemical modification of fatty acid chain of triglyceride.

From oligomers to molecular giants of soybean oil in supercritical carbon dioxide medium: 1. Preparation of polymers with lower molecular weight from soybean oil.

Polymers with a low molecular weight derived from soybean oil have been prepared in a supercritical carbon dioxide medium by cationic polymerization. Boron trifluoride diethyl etherate was used as an initiator. Influences of polymerization temperature, amount of initiator, and carbon dioxide pressure on the molecular weight were investigated.

A new polymer-lipid hybrid nanoparticle system increases cytotoxicity of doxorubicin against multidrug-resistant human breast cancer cells.

Purpose: This work is intended to develop and evaluate a new polymer-lipid hybrid nanoparticle system that can efficiently load and release water-soluble anticancer drug doxorubicin hydrochloride (Dox) and enhance Dox toxicity against multidrug-resistant (MDR) cancer cells.

Methods: Cationic Dox was complexed with a new soybean-oil-based anionic polymer and dispersed together with a lipid in water to form Dox-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (Dox-SLNs). Drug loading and release properties were measured spectrophotometrically.

"Green" composites from renewable resources: preparation of epoxidized soybean oil and flax fiber composites.

In recent years there has been considerable interest in using natural plant fibers as reinforcements for plastics. The motivation includes cost, performance enhancement, weight reduction, and environment concerns. High performance flax fiber could potentially substitute for glass or carbon fibers as reinforcements for plastics.