Nanocomposite PAAm/methyl cellulose/montmorillonite hydrogel: Evidence of synergistic effects for the slow release of fertilizers

In this work, we synthesized a novel series of hydrogels composed of polyacrylamide (PAAm), methylcellulose (MC), and calcic montmorillonite (MMt) appropriate for the controlled release of fertilizers, where the components presented a synergistic effect, giving very high fertilizer loading in their structure. The synthesized hydrogel was characterized in relation to morphological, hydrophilic, spectroscopic, structural, thermal, and kinetic properties. After those characterizations, the application potential was verified through sorption and desorption studies of a nitrogenated fertilizer, urea (CO(NH2)2). The swelling degree results showed that the clay loading considerably reduces the water absorption capability; however, the hydrolysis process favored the urea adsorption in the hydrogel nanocomposites, increasing the load content according to the increase of the clay mass. The FTIR spectra indicated that there was incorporation of the clay with the polymeric matrix of the hydrogel and that incorporation increased the water absorption speed (indicated by the kinetic constant k). By an X-ray diffraction technique, good nanodispersion (intercalation) and exfoliation of the clay platelets in the hydrogel matrix were observed. Furthermore, the presence of the montmorillonite in the hydrogel caused the system to liberate the nutrient in a more controlled manner than that with the neat hydrogel in different pH ranges. In conclusion, excellent results were obtained for the controlled desorption of urea, highlighting the hydrolyzed hydrogels containing 50% calcic montmorillonite. This system presented the best desorption results, releasing larger amounts of nutrient and almost 200 times slower than pure urea, i.e., without hydrogel. The total values of nutrients present in the system show that this material is potentially viable for application in agriculture as a nutrient carrier vehicle. © 2013 American Chemical Society.

Simple green approach to reinforce natural rubber with bacterial cellulose nanofibers

Natural rubber (NR) is a renewable polymer with a wide range of applications, which is constantly tailored, further increasing its utilizations. The tensile strength is one of its most important properties susceptible of being enhanced by the simple incorporation of nanofibers. The preparation and characterization of natural-rubber based nanocomposites reinforced with bacterial cellulose (BC) and bacterial cellulose coated with polystyrene (BCPS), yielded high performance materials. The nanocomposites were prepared by a simple and green process, and characterized by tensile tests, dynamical mechanical analysis (DMA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and swelling experiments. The effect of the nanofiber content on morphology, static, and dynamic mechanical properties was also investigated. The results showed an increase in the mechanical properties, such as Young's modulus and tensile strength, even with modest nanofiber loadings. © 2013 American Chemical Society.

Microwave hydrothermal synthesis, characterisation, and catalytic performance of Zn1-xMnxO in cellulose conversion

Wurtzite-type Zn1-xMnxO (x = 0, 0.03, 0.05, 0.07) nanostructures were successfully synthesised using a simple microwave-assisted hydrothermal route and their catalytic properties were investigated in the cellulose conversion. The morphology of the nanocatalysts is dopant-dependent. Pure ZnO presented multi-plate morphology with a flower-like shape of nanometric sizes, while the Zn0.97Mn0.03O sample is formed by nanoplates with the presence of spherical nanoparticles; the Zn0.95Mn0.05O and Zn0.93Mn0.07O samples are mainly formed by nanorods with the presence of a small quantity of spherical nanoparticles. The catalyst without Mn did not show any catalytic activity in the cellulose conversion. The Mn doping promoted an increase in the density of weak acid sites which, according to the catalytic results, favoured promotion of the reaction. © 2013 Institute of Chemistry, Slovak Academy of Sciences.

ZnO nanostructures directly grown on paper and bacterial cellulose substrates without any surface modification layer

In this report, hierarchical ZnO nano- and microstructures were directly grown for the first time on a bacterial cellulose substrate and on two additional different papers by hydrothermal synthesis without any surface modification layer. Compactness and smoothness of the substrates are two important parameters that allow the growth of oriented structures. © 2013 The Royal Society of Chemistry.

Flexible magnetic membranes based on bacterial cellulose and its evaluation as electromagnetic interference shielding material

Flexible magnetic membranes with high proportion of magnetite were successfully prepared by previous impregnation of the never dried bacterial cellulose pellicles with ferric chloride followed by reduction with sodium bisulfite and alkaline treatment for magnetite precipitation. Membranes were characterized by Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), vibrating magnetometer, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM) and impedance spectroscopy. Microwave properties of these membranes were investigated in the X-band (8.2 to 12.4 GHz). FEG-SEM micrographs show an effective coverage of the BC nanofibers by Fe 3O4 nanoparticles. Membranes with up to 75% in weight of particles have been prepared after 60 min of reaction. Magnetite nanoparticles in the form of aggregates well adhered to the BC fibers were observed by SEM. The average crystal sizes of the magnetic particles were in the range of 10 ± 1 to 13 ± 1 nm (estimated by XRD). The magnetic particles in the BC pellicles presented superparamagnetic behavior with a saturation magnetization in the range of 60 emu g- 1 and coercive force around 15 Oe. These magnetic pellicles also displayed high electrical permittivity and a potential application as microwave absorber materials. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Caracterização de compositos de matrizes poliméricas reforçadas com fibra de sisal e de vidro

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Ação antifúngica do resíduo líquido integral e fracionado do desfibramento da folha do sisal (Agave sisalana) sobre Malassezia pachydermatis, Tricophyton mentagrophytes e Candida albicans

Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Microbiologia Aplicada) - IBRC

The forestry and cellulose sector in the Province of Concepción, Chile: Production linkages between the Secano Interior and industry in Greater Concepción, or an enclave economy?

Includes bibliography.

Compósito de argamassa de cimento reforçada por fibra de sisal com entalhe definidos: caracterização mecânica e mecanismo de falha

Neste trabalho, foi desenvolvido um novo material compósito utilizando-se como matriz a argamassa de cimento reforçado com fibra de sisal a 1% em peso, que foram cortadas manualmente nos comprimentos de 15 mm e 25 mm utilizadas sem tratamento superficial utilizando-se o menor nível possível de processamento tecnológico nas etapas de fabricação. A pesquisa foi direcionada para estudar os mecanismos de falha desse novo material. Os compósitos foram produzidos com moldagem manual utilizando-se vibrador de imersão para melhor adensamento. Foram confeccionados corpos de prova da matriz pura e do compósito com fibra de sisal, com entalhes pré definidos, de 1,7 mm, 3,0 mm e 5,0 mm. As propriedades mecânicas foram avaliadas por ensaio de flexão em três pontos e correlacionadas com o aspecto fractográfico realizados no Microscópio Eletrônico de Varredura. Os resultados mostraram que a presença das fibras de sisal, inseridas na pasta de cimento, provocou restrição à retração plástica da mistura fresca, possivelmente pela elevada capacidade de absorção de água do reforço fibroso, um incremento na resistência mecânica e aumento da tenacidade do compósito em relação a matriz entre as séries de entalhes, diminuindo a tendência de fratura brusca.

Material compósito de matriz frágil reforçado com fibras naturais de sisal e malva: caracterização e correlações das propriedades e mecânicas

Este estudo propõe avaliar o comportamento mecânico dos compósitos de matriz cimentícia reforçados com fibras de sisal e malva. Correlacionar o comportamento dos materiais com variação do tipo e do comprimento das fibras. O material base utilizado na fabricação do compósito foi cimento, areia, água e fibra de sisal e malva. Usou-se u traço 1 : 2 : 0,5 (cimento, areia e água), com adição de 1% de fibras em relação ao peso da mistura. As fibras foram previamente cortadas no comprimento de 15 mm e 25 mm e adicionadas manualmente à mistura. As correlações dos compósitos foram obtidos através do ensaio de flexão em três pontos, seguindo norma RILEM 49. As características micro-estruturais foram avaliadas através do uso do microscópio eletrônico de varredura.Os resultados obtidos indicam que a inserção de fibras na matriz cimentícia diminui a força máxima aplicada no corpo de prova, porém houve um ganho na tenacidade e na pseudo ductilidade do material após o aparecimento da 1ª trinca. As fibras mais longas mostraram melhor desempenho com um pequeno destaque às fibras de MALVA.

Bacterial cellulose/triethanolamine based ion-conducting membranes

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

New biphasic mono-component composite material obtained by partial oxypropylation of bacterial cellulose

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Bacterial Cellulose/Chondroitin Sulfate for Dental Materials Scaffolds

Bacterial cellulose (BC) has become established as a remarkably versatile biomaterial and can be used in a wide variety of scientific applications, especially for medical devices. In this work, the bacterial cellulose fermentation process is modified by the addition of chondroitin sulfate (1% w/w) to the culture medium before the bacteria are inoculated. Besides, biomimetic precipitation of calcium phosphate of biological interest from simulated body fluid on bacterial cellulose was studied. Chondroitin sulfate influences in bacterial cellulose were analyzed using transmission infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), XRD (X-ray diffraction) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). FTIR analysis showed interaction between chondroitin sulfate, bacterial cellulose and calcium phosphate and XRD demonstrated amorphous calcium phosphate and carbonated apatite on bacterial cellulose nanocomposites. SEM images confirmed incorporation of calcium phosphate in bacterial celluloe nanocomposite surface and uniform spherical calcium phosphate particles. Future experiments with cells adhesion and viability are in course.