Biodegradability of commercial and weathered diesel oils

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Morphological, mechanical properties and biodegradability of biocomposite thermoplastic starch and polycaprolactone reinforced with sisal fibers

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Biodegradability of diesel and biodiesel blends

The biodegradability of pure diesel and biodiesel and blends with different proportions of biodiesel (2% (commercial); 5% and 20%) was evaluated employing the respirometric method and the redox indicator 2,6-dichlorophenol indophenol (DCPIP) test. In the former, experiments simulating the contamination of natural environments (soil from a petrol station or water from a river) were carried out in Bartha biometer flasks (250 ml), and used to measure the microbial CO 2 production. With the DCPIP test, the capability of three inocula to biodegrade the blends was tested. Results show that although biodiesel is more easily and faster biodegraded than diesel oil, among the blends evaluated (2%, 5% and 20%), only the blend with higher concentration of biodiesel presented biodegradability significantly different from diesel and it was not verified an improvement on the biodegradation of the diesel by means of co-metabolism. © 2008 Academic Journals.

Biodegradability of PP/PHBV (70/30) blend films

This study aimed to investigate the biodegradation of polypropylene/ poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PP/PHBV) blend (70/30, w/w) films in soil, monitoring the evolution of CO2 using the respirometric method. The polymeric films were incubated at 28°C ± 2°C for 180 days in biometer flasks, and the sequence of biodegradation percentage was PP/PHBV (70/30) > PP, that is, 15% and 0%, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction measurements showed that biodegradation occurs in the blend PP/PHBV interphases. Preferentially, the microbial action occurs in the fraction of the biodegradable polymer (PHBV), and it influences the PP fraction morphology, which showed some significant changes in the monomer unit sequences and the organization of the chains. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Screening the toxicity and biodegradability of petroleum hydrocarbons by a rapid colorimetric method

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Foaming of EVA/starch blends: Characterization of the structure, physical properties, and biodegradability

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Biodegradation of Coir and Sisal Applied in the Automotive Industry

This paper discusses the results of biodegradability tests of natural fibers used by the automotive industry, namely: coir, coir with latex, and sisal. The biodegradation of coir, coir with latex, and of sisal fibers was determined by monitoring the production of carbon dioxide (CO(2)) (IBAMA-E.1.1.2, 1988) and fungal growth (DIN 53739, 1984). The contents of total extractives, lignin, holocellulose, ashes, carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen of the fibers under study were determined in order to ascertain their actual content and to understand the results of the biodegradation tests. The production of CO(2) indicated low biodegradation, i.e., about 10% in mass, for all the materials after 45 days of testing; in other words, no material inhibited glucose degradation. However, the percentage of sisal fiber degradation was fourfold higher than that of coir with latex in the same period of aging. The fungal growth test showed a higher growth rate on sisal fibers, followed by coir without latex. In the case of coir with latex, we believe the fungal growth was not intense, because natural latex produces a bactericide or fungicide for its preservation during bleeding [1]. An evaluation of the materials after 90 days of aging tests revealed breaking of the fibers, particularly sisal and coir without latex, indicating fungal attack and biodegradation processes.

Cellulose-Based Bio- and Nanocomposites: A Review

Cellulose macro- and nanofibers have gained increasing attention due to the high strength and stiffness, biodegradability and renewability, and their production and application in development of composites. Application of cellulose nanofibers for the development of composites is a relatively new research area. Cellulose macro- and nanofibers can be used as reinforcement in composite materials because of enhanced mechanical, thermal, and biodegradation properties of composites. Cellulose fibers are hydrophilic in nature, so it becomes necessary to increase their surface roughness for the development of composites with enhanced properties. In the present paper, we have reviewed the surface modification of cellulose fibers by various methods. Processing methods, properties, and various applications of nanocellulose and cellulosic composites are also discussed in this paper.

Chitosan-pectin multiparticulate systems associated with enteric polymers for colonic drug delivery

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

AC Biosusceptometry as a Tool for Monitoring the Gastrointestinal Transit of Multiparticulate Drug Delivery System

Drug delivery systems based on natural polysaccharides, such as chitosan (CS) and pectin (PC), rather than on synthetic polymers, have been widely studied. Some reasons for that are low toxicity and costs and high biodegradability of the formers. A multiparticulate system based on CS and PC was developed in our laboratories, including the addition of an enteric polymer, cellulose acetate phtalate (CAP). Such improvement promoted stronger gastric and enteric resistances, as assessed in vitro, making the systems more selective to enzymatic degradation in the colon. Although in vitro dissolution tests can simulate some properties concerning the gastrointestinal transit (GT), collaborating to characterize the systems behavior in the biological fluids, frequently they do not result in satisfactory in vitro/in vivo correlations. The objective of this work was to follow in vivo the GT of the particles developed by means of AC biosusceptometry (ACB), a non-invasive and of low cost methodology. The particles containing ferrite in powder form were prepared by complex coacervation using an ideal 3:1:1 mass ratio for PC:CS:CAP. The magnetic particles were administered to healthy volunteers by oral route. The GT was monitored by using multi-sensor ACB system and the signal acquisition was performed every IS min until the colonic region was reached. By means of ACB technique, it was possible to acquiring images generated by the magnetic particles within the whole gastrointestinal tract including the colonic region. Variable particles transit times were observed among the volunteers, but without interference on the mapping of the particles until the colonic region. The particles were able to produce magnetic field strong enough to generate signals adequate for mapping the particles. The results suggest that integral particles reached the colon, after they resisted against gastric and enteric media. Studies associating transit time and in vivo drug release are in development in order to confirm the efficiency of the systems.

Surface energy increase of oxygen-plasma-treated PET

Prosthetic composite is a widely used biomaterial that satisfies the criteria for application as an organic implant without adverse reactions. Polyethylene therephthalate (PET) fiber-reinforced composites have been used because of the excellent cell adhesion, biodegradability and biocompatibility. The chemical inertness and low surface energy of PET in general are associated with inadequate bonds for polymer reinforcements. It is recognized that the high strength of composites, which results from the interaction between the constituents, is directly related to the interfacial condition or to the interphase. A radio frequency plasma reactor using oxygen was used to treat PET fibers for 5, 20, 30 and 100 s. The treatment conditions were 13.56 MHz, 50 W, 40 Pa and 3.33 x 10(-7) m(3)/s. A Rame-Hart goniometer was used to measure the contact angle and surface energy variation of fibers treated for different times. The experimental results showed contact angle values from 47degrees to 13degrees and surface energies from 6.4 x 10(-6) to 8.3 x 10(-6) J for the range of 5 to 100 s, respectively. These results were confirmed by the average ultimate tensile strength of the PET fiber/polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) matrix composite tested in tensile mode and by scanning electron microscopy. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Thermal and mechanical behaviour of sisal/phenolic composites

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Flexural behavior of Sisal/Castor oil-Based Polyurethane and Sisal/Phenolic Composites

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Biocompatibilidade e biodegradabilidade de micropartículas de poli-lactato-co-glicolato na ceratite infecciosa em coelhos

Avaliaram-se a biocompatibilidade e a biodegradabilidade do sistema de liberação controlada de poli-lactato-co-glicolato (PLGA) no tratamento com ciprofloxacina das ceratites por Staphylococcus aureus em coelhos. Foram utilizados 20 coelhos, distribuídos em quatro grupos (G). Os animais dos G1, G3 e G4 foram inoculados com 2,5µL da bactéria - 108UFC, no estroma corneano. Os do G2 não receberam a aplicação do inóculo. O tratamento foi realizado com solução salina básica para os animais do G1, micropartículas de PLGA contendo ciprofloxacina nos animais dos G2 e G4 e colírio de ciprofloxacina naqueles do G3. Suabe e biópsia da superfície ocular foram coletados para cultura. Apenas um animal do G1 apresentou cultura positiva para S. aureus. Exame histológico revelou a presença bacteriana em todos os animais do G1 e em dois animais do G3. Também foi constatada reação inflamatória no local da aplicação do sistema de liberação controlada. O tratamento com micropartículas de PLGA foi eficiente no tratamento de ceratites bacterianas, ao eliminar por completo a presença do S. aureus, mas entretanto não foi completamente biocompatível e biodegradável após cinco dias.

An overview of biodiesel soil pollution: Data based on cytotoxicity and genotoxicity assessments

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)