Search results for " Solubilization"

Halloysite Nanotube with Fluorinated Lumen: Non-Foaming Nanocontainer for Storage and Controlled Release of Oxygen in Aqueous Media

2014

Halloysite clay nanotubes were selectivity modified by adsorbing perfluoroalkylated anionic surfactants at the inner surface. The modified nanotubes formed kinetically stable dispersions due to the enhanced electrostatic repulsions exercised between the particles. We proved that the modified nanotubes can be used as non-foaming oxygen nanocontainers in aqueous media. The gas release from supersaturated dispersions can be controlled by external stimuli and system composition. In conclusion, we managed to put forward an easy strategy to develop smart materials from natural nanoclays, which can endow important applications like the storage and delivery of gas.

Unveiling the distinctive role of titanium dioxide nanoparticles in aerobic sludge digestion.

2022

Abstract Aerobic digestion is considered to be a common process for the stabilization of waste activated sludge (WAS) in the small-sized wastewater treatment systems, while the broad application of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) results in their unavoidable existence in WAS aerobic digestion, with its role in aerobic sludge digestion being never documented. This study set up a series of aerobic sludge digesters to evaluate the previously unknown role of TiO2 NPs on the performance of the digesters. The volatile solids (VS) degradation percentage increased from 21.9 ± 0.6% to 26.9 ± 0.1% − 30.0 ± 0.3% with the different contents of TiO2 NPs (0, 1, 20 and 50 mg/L). Similarly, the t…

Halloysite based material for enhanced solubilization

2014

Copolymers sensitive to temperature and pH in water and in water+oil mixtures: A DSC, ITC and volumetric study

2011

Block copolymer micelles are receiving an increasing interest because of the variety of structures and the possibilities to tune them by changing external and internal parameters achieving the desired properties for a specific purpose. We have investigated the acid/base behavior, self-assembling and solubilization ability towards polar oils of star-like copolymers named Tetronics. They are composed of branched four-arms each one consisting of two blocks made of EO and PO units linked to the diethylenediamine group, which confers pH response ability. The copolymers T1107 and T90R4 were studied with a sequential and reverse architecture. The thermodynamics of the acid/base equilibrium was stu…

The endophytic microbiota of Citrus limon is transmitted from seed to shoot highlighting differences of bacterial and fungal community structures

2021

AbstractCitrus limon (L.) Burm. F. is an important evergreen fruit crop whose rhizosphere and phyllosphere microbiota  have been characterized, while seed microbiota is still unknown. Bacterial and fungal endophytes were isolated from C. limon surface-sterilized seeds. The isolated fungi—belonging to Aspergillus, Quambalaria and Bjerkandera genera—and bacteria—belonging to Staphylococcus genus—were characterized for indoleacetic acid production and phosphate solubilization. Next Generation Sequencing based approaches were then used to characterize the endophytic bacterial and fungal microbiota structures of surface-sterilized C. limon seeds and of shoots obtained under aseptic conditions fr…

Modified Halloysite Nanotubes: Nanoarchitectures for Enhancing the Capture of Oils from Vapor and Liquid Phases

2013

We prepared hybrid halloysite nanotubes (HNT/sodium alkanoates) in which the inner cavity of the nanoclay was selectively modified. Physicochemical studies evidenced the interactions between HNT and sodium alkanoates, ruled out clay exfoliation, quantified the amount of the loaded substance, and showed an increase of the total net negative charge, allowing us to obtain rather stable aqueous nanoclay dispersions. These dispersions were exploited as inorganic micelles to capture hydrocarbon and aromatic oils in the vapor and liquid states and were revealed to be nonfoaming but very efficient in encapsulating oils. Here, we have fabricated biocompatibile and low-cost inorganic micelles that ca…

Amphiphilic derivatives of a polyaspartamide: their aggregation and solubilization ability.Tensiometric and spectrophotometric studies

2006

The self-aggregation and solubilization capability of a series of amphiphilic copolymers obtained by derivatisation of polymeric chain of α,β-poly(N-2-hydroxyethyl)-dl-aspartamide (PHEA) with polyethylene glycols (PEG, being different molecular weight 2000 or 5000 Da, PEG2000 and PEG5000, respectively) and/or hexadecylamine alkyl chain (C16), namely PHEA–PEG2000, PHEA–PEG5000, PHEA–C16, PHEA–PEG2000–C16 and PHEA–PEG5000–C16, have been evidenced by performing systematic tensiometric and spectrophotometric studies. All measurements have been performed at 25.0 °C over a wide copolymer concentration range. The tensiometric results have shown that, for all copolymers studied, the surface tension…