Search results for "plastics"
showing 10 items of 2724 documents
Controlling Multicompartment Morphologies Using Solvent Conditions and Chemical Modification
2016
The solution self-assembly of amphiphilic diblock copolymers into spheres, cylinders, and vesicles (polymersomes) has been intensely studied over the past two decades, and their morphological behavior is well understood. Linear ABC triblock terpolymers with two insoluble blocks A/B, on the other hand, display a richer and more complex morphological spectrum that has been recently explored by synthetic block length variations. Here, we describe facile postpolymerization routes to tailor ABC triblock terpolymer solution morphologies by altering block solubility (solvent mixtures), blending with homopolymers, and block-selective chemical reactions. The feasibility of these processes is demonst…
2,9-Dimethylpicene: Synthesis, Mutagenic Activity, and Identification in Natural Samples
1990
Abstract 2,9-Dimethylpicene (2,9-DMPic) has been conveniently synthesized via a new route involving oxidative photocyclization of suitable substituted diarylethylenes and has been characterized by high-resolution 400-MHz 1H-NMR spectroscopy. Furthermore, 2,9-DMPic exhibits a typical line narrowed emission spectrum in n-decane matrix frozen at 15 K (Shpol'skii effect). Its unambiguous identification in a natural sample has been performed by this technique, providing strong evidence for the formation of this compound through aromatization of triterpenoid natural precursors. The mutagenicity of this naturally occurring methylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) has been examined in six h…
Dynamics of a Spreading Nanodroplet: A Molecular Dynamic Simulation
2003
The spreading of polymer nanodroplets upon a sudden change from partial to complete wetting on an ideally flat and structureless solid substrate has been studied by molecular dynamic simulations using a coarse-grained bead-spring model of flexible macromolecules. Tanner's law for the growth of the lateral droplet radius {R(f) t 0.1 } is found to hold as long as the droplet does not disintegrate into individually moving chains. The data for the contact angle θ following from Tanner's law correspond to a dependence on time {θ(t) t -0.3 }. Our analysis of the mean square displacements of the polymer centers of mass reveals several dynamic regimes during the process of spreading. PACS numbers: …
A comparison of the Raman LAM and electron microscopy in determining crystallite thickness distributions: Polyethylenes with narrow size distributions
1989
Bon accord entre les resultats obtenus pour des polyethylenes cristallises a 118 o C pendant 2 et 20 minutes lorsqu'on prend en compte l'inclinaison de la chaine et pour des polymeres a distribution etroite
Numerical analysis of lamellar thickness distributions
1989
Etude comparative des distributions d'epaisseur de cristallites dans des polyethylenes de masse molaire 10000-100000 cristallises presentant des distributions etroite, bimodale, asymetrique ou large, par microscopie electronique, diffusion RX centrale et spectroscopie Raman. Variations des resultats avec la morphologie des cristallites et surtout avec la nature de la distribution
Impact of hydrothermal ageing on the thermal stability, morphology and viscoelastic performance of PLA/sisal biocomposites
2016
The influence of the combined exposure to water and temperature on the behaviour of polylactide/sisal biocomposites coupled with maleic acid anhydride was assessed through accelerated hydrothermal ageing. The biocomposites were immersed in water at temperatures from 65 to 85 °C, between the glass transition and cold crystallisation of the PLA matrix. The results showed that the most influent factor for water absorption was the percentage of fibres, followed by the presence of coupling agent, whereas the effect of the temperature was not significant. Deep assessment was devoted to biocomposites subjected to hydrothermal ageing at 85 °C, since it represents the extreme degrading condition. Th…
Marine debris ingestion in loggerhead sea turtles, Caretta caretta, from the Western Mediterranean
2002
Marine debris represents an important threat for sea turtles, but information on this topic is scarce in some areas, such as the Mediterranean sea. This paper quantifies marine debris ingestion in 54 juvenile loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) illegally captured by fishermen in Spanish Mediterranean waters. Curved carapace length was measured, necropsies were performed and debris abundance and type was recorded. Different types of debris appeared in the gastrointestinal tract of 43 turtles (79.6%), being plastics the most frequent (75.9%). Tar, paper, Styrofoam, wood, reed, feathers, hooks, lines, and net fragments were also present. A regression analysis showed that the volume of deb…
Microplastics ingestion by the exotic fish Gambusia holbrooki in two Mediterranean coastal lagoons
2020
Gambusia holbrooki es un pequeño pez Poecílido, de origen norteamericano que fue introducido a principios del siglo XX en humedales de la Península Ibérica para el control biológico de los mosquitos. Actualmente presenta poblaciones en muchos humedales y está considerada como una de las principales especies invasoras en la península. Estos peces se alimentan principalmente de invertebrados, pero son también susceptibles de ingerir y acumular residuos de microplásticos que presentan tamaños similares al tamaño de algunas de sus presas habituales. En el presente estudio analizamos los contenidos del tracto gastrointestinal de ejemplares adultos de esta especie, procedentes de dos lagunas cost…
Spatio-temporal distribution of microplastics in a Mediterranean river catchment: The importance of wastewater as an environmental pathway.
2021
Abstract Microplastics (MPs) are considered to be ubiquitous contaminants in freshwater ecosystems, yet their sources and pathways at the river catchment scale need to be better determined. This study assessed MP (55–5000 µm) pollution in a Mediterranean river catchment (central Spain) and aimed to identify the importance of wastewater as an environmental pathway. We sampled treated and untreated wastewaters, and raw and digested sludge from five WWTPs during two seasons. River water and sediments were sampled at three locations with different anthropogenic influences during three seasons. On average, 93% (47–99%) of MPs were retained by WWTPs. Concentrations in river water and sediment ran…
Ion selectivity and water dissociation in polymer bipolar membranes studied by membrane potential and current–voltage measurements
2000
Abstract A polymer bipolar ion-exchange membrane consists of a layered structure involving one cation and one anion ion-exchange layer joined together in series. In this study, the ionic selectivity and water dissociation rate of six commercial bipolar membranes was evaluated from the measurements of the membrane potential in a concentration cell and the current–voltage curve in a four-point measuring cell. Bipolar membrane technology requires polymer membranes presenting high ion selectivities and water dissociation rates, and in this paper we have addressed the basic physico-chemical phenomena involved, both theoretically and experimentally. We have shown that the effects of the bipolar j…