Enzymatic Degradation of Poly(soybean oil-g-methyl methacrylate)

This study discusses grafting of methyl methacrylate units from thepolymeric soybean oil peroxide to produce poly(soybean oil-graft-methyl methacrylate) (PSO-g-PMMA). The degradation of this copolymer in solution was evaluated in the presence of different lipases, viz Candida rugosa (CR), Lipolase 100T (LP), Novozym 435 (N435) and Porcine pancreas (PP), at different temperatures The copolymer degraded by specific chain end scission and the mass fraction of the specific product evolved was determined The degradation was modeled using continuous distribution kinetics to determine the rate coefficients ofmenzymatic chain end scission and deactivation of the enzyme The enzymes, CR. LP and N435 exhibited maximum activity for the degradation of PSO-g-PMMA at 60 degrees C, while PP was most active at 50 degrees C. The thermal degradability of the copolymer, assessed by thermo-gravimetry, indicated that the activation energy of degradation of the copolymer was 154 kJ mol(-1), which was lesser than that of the PMMA homopolymer.

Studies in sesquiterpenes—XXVI : Synthesis of 2,2,6-trimethyl-3-oxo-1-carbomethoxybicyclo[0,3,3]octane, a degradation product of patchouli alcohol

The synthesis of the title compound is described and results of some experiments on the degradation of patchouli alcohol are reported.

Syntheses of the trans,meso- and racemic C11 acids, degradation products of diterpene acids

Syntheses of the isomers of the C11 acid, 1(a),3(a)- dimethylcyclohexane-1 (e),2(e),3(e)-tricarboxylic acid (A) and 1(a),3(e)-dimethylcyclohexane-1(e),2(e),3(a)-tricarboxylic acid (B), the latter by two different routes, are reported. Two of the four possible isomers of the precursor triester, trimethyl 1-methylcyclohexane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate, on individual methylation followed by hydrolysis, gave the trans,meso-acid (A), identified by comparison with an authentic sample, and the cis,trans-form (B) whose structure and configuration were proved by comparison with a specimen obtained by the unambiguous and highly stereoselective second synthesis. This demonstrated that methylation of the triester isomers occurs stereospecifically and exclusively at C-3. In the second sequence, it has been possible to assign definite conformations to four key intermediates and the final product, directly from n.m.r. spectra, from changes in these spectra accompanying specific steps, and from chemical evidence. Comparison of the n.m.r. spectra of the isomeric triesters (A) and (B) has provided unequivocal proof of the accepted trans,meso configuration for the abietic acid degradation product (A).

Synthetic investigations in the sesamin group - Part I. Synthesis of samin, a degradation product of sesamolin

Ethylα-bromovinylacetate (VII) was condensed with the sodio derivative of ethyl piperonoylacetate (VIII) to give diethylα-vinyl-α′-piperonoylsuccinate (IX). The latter on reduction with lithium aluminium hydride furnished the triol (X), which underwent smooth cyclisation with 1% ethanolic hydrogen chloride to 2-(3′, -methylenedioxyphenyl)-hydroxymethyl-4-vinyltetrahydrofuran (XIa). The structure of XIa was established by Oppenauer oxidation to an aldehyde. Ozonolysis of XIa afforded samin (I).

The Role of Interface Modification on Thermal Degradation and Crystallization Behavior of Composites from Commingled Polypropylene Fiber and Banana Fiber

The thermal degradation behavior of banana fiber and polypropylene/banana fiber composites has been studied by thermogravimetric analysis. Banana fiber was found to be decomposing in two stages, first one around 320 degrees C and the second one around 450 degrees C. For chemically treated banana fiber, the decomposition process has been at a higher temperature, indicating thermal stability for the treated fiber. Activation energies for thermal degradation were estimated using Coats and Redfern method. Calorific value of the banana fiber was measured using a constant volume isothermal bomb calorimeter. rystallization studies exhibited an increase in the crystallization temperature and crystallinity of polypropylene upon the addition of banana fiber. POLYM. COMPOS., 31:1113-1123, 2010. (C) 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers.

Synthesis of 1,3-dimethyl-1,3-dicarboxycyclohexane-2-acetic acid. An isomer of the degradation product of abietic acid

A synthesis of 1,3-dimethyl-1,3-dicarboxycyclohexane-2-acetic acid has been described, and proved to be an isomer of the C12-acid-an oxidative degradation product of abietic acid.

Ultrasonic degradation of poly (styrene-co-alkyl methacrylate) copolymers

The ultrasonic degradation of poly (styrene-co-methyl methacrylate) (SMMA), poly (styrene-co-ethyl methacrylate) (SEMA) and poly (styrene-co-butyl methacrylate) (SBMA) copolymers of different compositions was studied. The copolymers were synthesized and NMR spectroscopy was used to determine the composition, and the glass transition temperatures were determined by DSC. The reactivity ratios were determined by the Kelen-Tudos method and it indicated that the copolymers were random. The effect of solvent, temperature and copolymer composition on the ultrasonic degradation rate of these copolymers was investigated. A model based on continuous distribution kinetics was employed to study the degradation kinetics. The degradation rate coefficients of the copolymers decreased with an increase in the styrene content in the copolymer. At any particular copolymer composition the rate of degradation follows the order: SBMA >SEMA > SMMA. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of the copolymers was carried in order to assess their thermal stability. The same order of degradation was observed for the thermal degradation of the copolymers as that observed for ultrasonic degradation. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Diketopyrrolopyrrole-Based Donor-Acceptor Copolymers as Organic Sensitizers for Dye Sensitized Solar Cells

In this work diketopyrrolopyrrole based copolymers (PDPP-BBT and TDPP-BBT) containing a donor-acceptor structural unit have been explored as organic Sensitizers for quasi-solid state dye Sensitized solar cells. Polymer-sensitized solar cells (PSSC) fabricated utilizing PDPP-BBT and TDPP-BBT as the active layer resulted in a typical power conversion efficiency of 1.43% and 2.41%, respectively. The power conversion efficiency of PSSCs based on TDPP-BBT With use of TiCl4-modified TiO2 photoanode was about 3.06%, attributed to the reduced back recombination reaction and more charge carriers in the external Circuit.

Degradation Kinetics of Poly(HDDA-co-MMA)

1,6-hexanediol diacrylate (HDDA) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) were copolymerized in different weight ratios using UV light induced photo-polymerization to give poly(HDDA-co-MMA). Differential scanning calorimetry shows that copolymer was formed. The thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetric studies with different heating rates were carried out on these copolymers to understand the nature of degradation and to determine its kinetics. Different kinetic models were adopted to evaluate various parameters like the activation energy, the order, and the frequency factor. These analyses are important to study the binder removal from 3D-shaped ceramic objects made by techniques like Solid free form fabrication. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 117: 2444-2453, 2010.

Photocatalytic degradation of phenol by base metal-substituted orthovanadates

Base metal (Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu) substituted CeVO4 compounds were synthesized by the solution combustion technique. These compounds were characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and BET surface area analyzer. The characterization indicated that the base metals were substituted in the ionic state in all the compounds. These compounds were used for the photocatalytic degradation of phenol and the degradation rates obtained in the presence of these compounds werecompared against that obtained with the commercial Degussa P-25 TiO2 catalyst. Fe and Cr substituted CeVO4 showed photocatalytic activity that was comparable with that of Degussa P-25 TiO2. The concentration of toxic intermediates was high when the reaction was carried out in presence of Degussa P-25 TiO2 but it was found to be insignificant when the reaction was carried out in presence of base metal-substituted CeVO4. The effect of % Fe-substitution (varied from 1 to 5 at%) in CeVO4 on the photocatalytic activity was also investigated and it was observed that 1 at% Fe-substituted compound showed the highest activity. A mathematical model describing the kinetics of the photocatalytic degradation of phenol was developed on the basis of the catalyst structure and taking into account the formation of all the possible intermediates. The variation of the concentration of phenol and the intermediates was described by the model and the reaction rateconstants were determined. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Photocatalytic degradation of nitrobenzenes with combustion synthesized nano-TiO2

The photocatalytic degradation of nitrobenzene and substituted nitrobenzenes under UV exposure was investigated with combustion synthesized nano-TiO2 and commercial TiO2 catalyst, Degussa P-25. The experimental data indicated that the photodegradation kinetics was first order. The photocatalytic degradation rates were considerably higher when catalyzed with combustion synthesized TiO2 compared to that of Degussa P-25. The degradation rate coefficients followed the order: 1-chloro,14-dinitrobenzene similar or equal to 4-nitrophenot > 2-nitrophenol > 1-chloro.4-nitrobenzene > 3-niti-ophenol > 2,4-dinitrophenol > 1-chloro,2-nitrobenzene > nitrobenzene > 1,3-dinitrobenzene. Plausible mechanisms and reasons for the observation of the above order are discussed.

Kinetics of TiO2-catalyzed ultrasonic degradation of rhodamine dyes

The ultrasonic degradation of two dyes, Rhodamine B (C28H31ClN2O3) and Rhodamine Blue (C28H32N2O3), were studied in the absence of catalyst and in the presence of two catalysts (combustion-synthesized anatase TiO2 and commercial Degussa P-25 TiO2. The rate of degradation of catalyzed reaction was higher than that obtained with in the absence of the catalysts. Among the catalysts, combustion-synthesized anatase TiO2 degraded the dyes faster when compared to the degradation with commercial Degussa P-25 catalyst. A Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetic model was developed and the kinetic rate parameters were determined. The effect of other operating parameters, such as initial concentration, pH, temperature, and power intensity, was also investigated. The degradation rate increased with decreasing pH, increasing temperature, and higher intensity.

Kinetics of TiO2-catalyzed ultrasonic degradation of rhodamine dyes

The ultrasonic degradation of two dyes, Rhodamine B (C28H31ClN2O3) and Rhodamine Blue (C28H32N2O3), were studied in the absence of catalyst and in the presence of two catalysts (combustion-synthesized anatase TiO2 and commercial Degussa P-25 TiO2. The rate of degradation of catalyzed reaction was higher than that obtained with in the absence of the catalysts. Among the catalysts, combustion-synthesized anatase TiO2 degraded the dyes faster when compared to the degradation with commercial Degussa P-25 catalyst. A Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetic model was developed and the kinetic rate parameters were determined. The effect of other operating parameters, such as initial concentration, pH, temperature, and power intensity, was also investigated. The degradation rate increased with decreasing pH, increasing temperature, and higher intensity.