Surface esterification of cellulose fibres: Processing and characterisation of low-density polyethylene/cellulose fibres composites

Low-density polyethylene was filled with cellulose fibres from sugar cane bagasse obtained from organosolv/supercritical carbon dioxide pulping process. The fibres were also used after chemical modification with octadecanoyl and dodecanoyl chloride acids. The morphology, thermal properties, mechanical properties in both the linear and nonlinear range, and the water absorption behaviour of ensuing composites were tested. The evidence of occurrence of the chemical modification was checked by X-ray photoelectron spectrometry. The degree of polymerisation of the fibres and their intrinsic properties (zero tensile strength) were determined. It clearly appeared that the surface chemical modification of cellulose fibres resulted in improved interfacial adhesion with the matrix and higher dispersion level. However, composites did not show improved mechanical performances when compared to unmodified fibres. This surprising result was ascribed to the strong lowering of the degree of polymerisation of cellulose fibres (as confirmed by the drastic decrease of their zero tensile strength) after chemical treatment despite the mild conditions used. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Novel catalyst systems based on Ni(II), Ti(IV), and Cr(III) complexes for oligo-and polymerization of ethylene

The complex of Brookhart Ni(α-diimine)Cl2 (1) (α-diimine = 1,4-bis(2,6- diisopropylphenyl)-acenaphthenediimine) has been characterized after impregnation on silica (S1) and MAO-modified silicas (4.0, 8.0 and 23.0 wts.% Al/SiO2 called S2, S3 and S4, respectively). The treatment of these heterogeneous systems with MAO produces some active catalysts for the polymerization of the ethylene. A high catalytic activity has been gotten while using the system supported 1/S3 (196 kg of PE/mol[Ni].h.atm; toluene, Al/Ni = 1000, 30ºC, 60 min and atmospheric pressure of ethylene). The effects of polymerization conditions have been tested with the catalyst supported in S2 and the best catalytic activity has been gotten with solvent hexane, MAO as cocatalyst, molar ratio Al/Ni of 1000 and to the temperature of 30°C (285 kg of PE/mol[Ni].h.atm). When the reaction has been driven according to the in situ methodology, the activity practically doubled and polymers showed some similar properties. Polymers products by the supported catalysts showed the absence of melting fusion, results similar to those gotten with the homogeneous systems by DSC analysis. But then, polymers gotten with the transplanted system present according to the GPC’s curves the polydispersity (MwD) varies between 1.7 and 7.0. A polyethylene blend (BPE/LPE) was prepared using the complex Ni(α-diimine)Cl2 (1) (α-diimine = 1,4-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-acenaphthenediimine) and {TpMs*}TiCl3 (2) (TpMs* = hydridobis(3-mesitylpyrazol-1-yl)(5-mesitylpyrazol-1-yl)) supported in situ on MAO-modified silica (4.0 wts. -% Al/SiO2, S2). Reactions of polymerization of ethylene have been executed in the toluene in two different temperatures (0 and 30°C), varying the molars fraction of nickel (xNi), and using MAO as external cocatalyst. To all temperatures, the activities show a linear variation tendency with xNi and indicate the absence of the effect synergic between the species of nickel and the titanium. The maximum of activity have been found at 0°C. The melting temperature for the blends of polyethylene produced at 0 °C decrease whereas xNi increases indicating a good compatibility between phases of the polyethylene gotten with the two catalysts. The melting temperature for the blends of polyethylene showed be depend on the order according to which catalysts have been supported on the MAO-modified silica. The initial immobilization of 1 on the support (2/1/S2) product of polymers with a melting temperature (Tm) lower to the one of the polymer gotten when the titanium has been supported inicially (1/2/S2). The observation of polyethylenes gotten with the two systems (2/1/S2 and 1/2/S2) by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed the spherical polymer formation showing that the spherical morphology of the support to been reproduced. Are described the synthesis, the characterization and the catalytic properties for the oligomerization of the ethylene of four organometallics compounds of CrIII with ligands ([bis[2-(3,5-dimethyl-1-pyrazolyl)ethyl]amine] chromium (III) chloride (3a), [bis[2-(3,5- dimethyl-l-pyrazolyl)ethyl]benzylamine] chromium (III) chloride (3b), [bis[2-(3,5-dimethyl-lpyrazolyl) ethyl]ether] chromiun(III)chloride (3c), [bis[2-(3-phenyl-lpyrazolyl) ethyl]ether]chromiun(III)chloride (3d)). In relation of the oligomerization, at exception made of the compounds 3a, all complex of the chromium showed be active after activation with MAO and the TOF gotten have one effect differentiated to those formed with CrCl3(thf)3. The coordination of a tridentate ligand on the metallic center doesn't provoke any considerable changes on the formation of the C4 and C6, but the amount of C8 are decrease and the C10 and C12+ have increased. The Polymers produced by the catalyst 3a to 3 and 20 bar of ethylene have, according to analyses by DSC, the temperatures of fusion of 133,8 and 136ºC respectively. It indicates that in the two cases the production of high density polyethylene. The molar mass, gotten by GPC, is 46647 g/mols with MwD = 2,4 (3 bar). The system 3c/MAO showed values of TOF, activity and selectivity to different α-olefins according to the pressure of ethylene uses. Himself that shown a big sensibility to the concentration of ethylene solubilized.

Orange juice decreases low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic subjects and improves lipid transfer to high-density lipoprotein in normal and hypercholesterolemic subjects

Orange juice (OJ) is regularly consumed worldwide, but its effects on plasma lipids have rarely been explored. This study hypothesized that consumption of OJ concentrate would improve lipid levels and lipid metabolism, which are important in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) function in normolipidemic (NC) and hypercholesterolemic (HCH) subjects. Fourteen HCH and 31 NC adults consumed 750 mL/day OJ concentrate (1:6 OJ/water) for 60 days. Eight control subjects did not consume OJ for 60 days. Plasma was collected before and on the last clay for biochemical analysis and an in vitro as

SURFACE MODIFICATION of SUGARCANE BAGASSE CELLULOSE and ITS EFFECT on MECHANICAL and WATER ABSORPTION PROPERTIES of SUGARCANE BAGASSE CELLULOSE HDPE COMPOSITES

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Síntese e caracterização de zeólita beta hierarquizada e materiais híbridos micro-mesoporosos aplicados no craqueamento de PEAD

A catalyst of great interest to the scientific community tries to unite the structure of ordered pore diameter from mesoporous materials with the properties of stability and acid activity to microporous zeolites. Thus a large number of materials was developed in the past decades, which although being reported as zeolites intrinsically they fail to comply with some relevant characteristics to zeolites, and recently were named zeolitic materials of high accessibility. Among the various synthesis strategies employed, the present research approaches the synthesis methods of crystallization of silanized protozeolitic units and the method of protozeolitic units molded around surfactant micelles, in order for get materials defined as hierarchical zeolites and micro-mesoporous hybrid materials, respectively. As goal BEA/MCM-41 hybrid catalysts with bimodal pore structure formed by nuclei of zeolite Beta and cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium were developed. As also was successfully synthesized the hierarchical Beta zeolite having a secondary porosity, in addition to the typical and uniform zeolite micropores. Both catalysts were applied in reactions of catalytic cracking of high density polyethylene (HDPE), to evaluate its properties in catalytic activity, aiming at the recycling of waste plastics to obtain high value-added raw materials and fuels. The BEA/MCM-41 hybrid materials with 0 days of pre-crystallization did not show enough properties for use in catalytic cracking reactions, but they showed superior catalytic properties compared to those ordered mesoporous materials of Al-MCM-41 type. The structure of Beta zeolite with hierarchical porosity leads the accessibility of HDPE bulky molecules to active centers, due to high external area. And provides higher conversion to hydrocarbons in the gasoline range, especially olefins which have great interest in the petrochemical industry

Coulomb gauge quark model, vacuum condensates and high density quark matter

We consider here a Coulomb gauge quark model which includes an explicit construct for a nontrivial vacuum structure in QCD at finite density. Non-perturbative renormalization of ultraviolet diverges is performed by adding counterterms. The equation of state for u and d quark matter at zero temperature is calculated in the Hartree-Fock approximation.

Quark condensates and high density quark matter

We consider a Coulomb gauge quark model which includes an explicit construct for a nontrivial vacuum structure in QCD. The dynamics is described by a Hamiltonain that contains a linearly rising confining potential and longitudinal and transverse Coulomb-type interactions. The Coulomb potential gives rise to ultraviolate divergences which are non-perturbatively renormalized by adding appropriate counter terms to the Hamiltonian. The equation of state for u and d quark matter at zero temperature is derived in the Hartree-Fock approximation.

Fractal character of the SAXS correlation volume in poly(ethylene glycol)/silica hybrid wet gels

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

Linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) from ethylene using Tp(Ms)NiCl (Tp(Ms) = hydridotris(3-mesitylpyrazol-1-yl)) and CP2ZrCl2 as a tandem catalyst system

Linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) with different branching contents were prepared from ethylene, without the addition of alpha-olefin comonomer, using a combination of catalyst precursors {Tp(Ms)}NiCl (1) (Tp(Ms) = hydridotris(3-mesitylpyrazol-1-yl)) and Cp2ZrCl2 (2) activated with MAO/TMA (1:1) in toluene at 0degreesC and by varying the nickel loading mole fraction (x(Ni)). The polymerization results showed that the turnover frequencies are strongly dependent on the x(Ni) varying from 6.6 x 10(3) to 32.1 x 10(3) mol[C2H4]/mol[Zr] h. The C-13 NMR spectra of the copolymers showed that the branch contents of the polymers increase as the x(Ni) increase in the medium promoting the production of polymers with a wide range of melting point (T-m) (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Gelation and drying of weakly bonded silica-PPO nanocomposites

Silica-poly(oxypropylene) (PPO) nanocomposites containing PPO with weak physical bonds between the organic (PPO) and inorganic (silica) phases were obtained by the sol-gel procedure. Three precursor sols containing silica and PPO with molecular weights of 1000, 2000 and 4000g/mol were prepared. The structure changes during the whole sol-gel process, i.e. sol formation, sol-gel transition and gel aging and drying were investigated in situ by small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The experimental SAXS curves corresponding to sols and wet gels containing PPO of molecular weight 1000g/mol indicate that the aggregates formed during the studied process are fractal objects. Close to the sol-gel transition and during gel aging the fractal dimension is D=2.5. A clearly different structure evolution occurs in samples prepared with PPO with molecular weights 2000 and 4000 g/mol. Our SAXS results indicate the presence of two coexisting and well-defined structure levels, one of them corresponding to small silica clusters and the other to large silica aggregates. These two levels remain along the whole transformation. The SAXS curves of all dry samples are similar to those of the corresponding wet gels suggesting that no significant changes at nanoscopic scale occur during the drying process.

Dietary, anthropometric, and biochemical determinants of plasma high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol in free-living adults

The level of high-density lipoprotein is thought to be critical in inhibiting lesion formation as well as reducing the lipid load of preexisting atherosclerotic lesions. With the aim of determining the main determinants of plasma HDL-cholesterol (HDL-c) in free-living adults, 997 individuals (52.3 10 years, 67 females) were selected for a descriptive cross-sectional study. The used data corresponded to the baseline obtained from participants clinically selected for a lifestyle modification program. Covariables of clinical, anthropometry, food intake, aerobic fitness, and plasma biochemistry were analyzed against plasma HDL-c either as continuous or categorized variables. After adjustments for age, gender, and BMI the excess of abdominal fat along with high carbohydrate-energy intake and altered plasma triglycerides were the stronger predictors of reduced plasma HDL-c. In conclusion lifestyle interventions aiming to normalize abdominal fatness and plasma triglycerides are recommended to restore normal levels of HDL-c in these free-living adults. Copyright © 2011 Erick Prado de Oliveira et al.

High-density nanoparticle ceramic bodies: A study of heating rates in the sinterization of Gadolinium-doped Ceria

An investigation on the sinterization of Gd:CeO2 (Ce 0.85Gd0.15O1.9-δ ceramic system) 3-10 nm nanoparticles in pressed bodies was done. The heating rate was taken as a key parameter and two competing sinterization processes were identified, associated with different diffusional mechanisms. Using heating rates of 113 C min -1, a high-final density (98 % of the theoretical) was obtained by superposing the two aforementioned mechanisms, resulting in a homogeneous microstructure at lower temperatures. © 2012 Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, Hungary.

Genomic divergence of zebu and taurine cattle identified through high-density SNP genotyping

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

Linkage disequilibrium levels in Bos indicus and Bos taurus cattle using medium and high density SNP chip data and different minor allele frequency distributions

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)