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- Artículo de Publicación PeriódicaComparative assessment of oxygen uptake rate of activated sludge and Escherichia coli exposed to nanomaterials(2022-08)"The adverse effects of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) on bacterial populations found in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) or natural systems have been studied for more than a decade, but conflicting evidence on the matter still makes it a subject of considerable concern. In this paper, the short-term exposure impact of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nTiO2), carboxyl-functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes (f-MWCNT), and zero-valent iron nanoparticles (nZVI) toward activated sludge and Escherichia coli (E. coli) was investigated through respiration inhibition experiments. Microorganisms were exposed to nanoparticle concentrations of 50, 100 and 200 mg/L (nTiO2, f-MWCNT) and 20, 50 and 100 mg/L (nZVI). The experiments showed that nTiO2 produced no inhibition in activated sludge or E. coli; up to 100 mg/L of nZVI did not inhibit the activated sludge respiration but 50 mg/L inhibited 24 ± 3% the respiration of E. coli and damaged its cell membrane. Activated sludge respiration was inhibited 17 ± 3% with 200 mg/L of f-MWCNT while for E. coli the inhibition was 36 ± 15% and the cell membrane was damaged with a 100 mg/L dose. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed nTiO2-bacteria and nZVI-bacteria surface interaction while bacteria appeared punctured by f-MWCNT. E. coli was more susceptible than activated sludge to the nanomaterials and nZVI was more toxic than f-MWCNT for E. coli. These results demonstrated the absence of acute toxicity effects of the studied nanomaterials at those concentrations expected to occur in activated sludge facilities, and it would only be a concern in case of extremely high inputs, underscoring the resilience of WWTPs biological treatment."
- Artículo de Publicación PeriódicaOn the use of espina corona gum as a polymeric additive in water-based drilling fluid(2022-10)"The aim of this work is to evaluate the espina corona gum (ECG) as a sustainable viscosifier or filtration reducer additive in water-based drilling fluids (WBMs) as a potential replacement of guar gum (GG). ECG is a galactomannan isolated from leguminous seeds of Gleditsia amorphoides, trees that grow in South America with viscosifier properties and applications in the food area. ECG was characterized by FTIR, Z potential, intrinsic viscometry, TGA, and steady and oscillatory shear rheological analysis. Moreover, its effect on the main functional properties of WBMs was studied. Fluids containing bentonite (BT), polyanionic cellulose (PAC), GG or ECG were prepared, and rheological, filtration, thermal and structural properties were determined. In order to study the theoretical rheological behavior, several models such as power law, Sisko and Herschel-Bulkley were evaluated. The rheological studies revealed that WBMs containing ECG exhibit higher viscosities in comparison with those with GG. Herschel-Bulkley parameters indicated that the WBMs with high ECG concentration showed higher yield stress. In addition, the presence of ECG improves the thermal stability and filtration properties. The results indicate that ECG can be considered as an innovative, renewable and non-toxic alternative to partially or totally replace GG in WBMs."
- Artículo de Publicación PeriódicaCarbohydrate-derived polytriazole nanoparticles enhance the antiInflammatory activity of cilostazol(2022-11-30)"Poly(amide-triazole) and poly(ester-triazole) synthesized from d-galactose as a renewable resource were applied for the synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) by the emulsification/solvent evaporation method. The NPs were characterized as stable, spherical particles, and none of their components, including the stabilizer poly(vinyl alcohol), were cytotoxic for normal rat kidney cells. These NPs proved to be useful for the efficient encapsulation of cilostazol (CLZ), an antiplatelet and vasodilator drug currently used for the treatment of intermittent claudication, which is associated with undesired side-effects. In this context, the nanoencapsulation of CLZ was expected to improve its therapeutic administration. The carbohydrate-derived polymeric NPs were designed taking into account that the triazole rings of the polymer backbone could have attractive interactions with the tetrazole ring of CLZ. The activity of the nanoencapsulated CLZ was measured using a matrix metalloproteinase model in a lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation system. Interestingly, the encapsulated drug exhibited enhanced anti-inflammatory activity in comparison with the free drug. The results are very promising since the stable, noncytotoxic NP systems efficiently reduced the inflammation response at low CLZ doses. In summary, the NPs were obtained through an innovative methodology that combines a carbohydrate-derived synthetic polymer, designed to interact with the drug, ease of preparation, adequate biological performance, and environmentally friendly production."
- Artículo de Publicación PeriódicaThe organic chemistry behind the recycling of poly(bisphenol-A carbonate) for the preparation of chemical precursors: A review(2022-07)"Production and consumption of poly(bisphenol-A carbonate) resins are seeing a worldwide increase. However, their usage lifetimes are short and their final disposition as landfills pose environmental and health risks, due to the release of toxic bisphenol-A (BPA). The development of alternative recycling routes is thus becoming subject of increasing interest. In this review, the main recycling processes of poly(bisphenol-A carbonate) are described and critically compared, with special focus on the chemical mechanisms. While mechanical recycling is possible, the end products are restricted only to polymer blends, whose main mechanical properties decrease with each compounding cycle. In turn, chemical recycling can produce BPA monomer and a variety of byproducts that can be used in different industries, including the polymeric field, as synthesis reagents and precursors. The operation conditions of each method are reviewed, as well as the different results obtained in terms of product yield, composition, selectivity and reaction times. Reaction mechanisms are described in detail and a view on the usability of each end product is offered."
- Artículo de Publicación PeriódicaKinetic and chemorheological modeling of thermosetting polyurethanes obtained from an epoxidized soybean oil polyol crosslinked with glycerin(2022-10)"Thermosetting polyurethanes were obtained using an aromatic isocyanate and a hydrophobic polyol formulation obtained from epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) crosslinked with glycerin. A systematic DSC analysis of the effect of catalyst type, crosslinker concentration, isocyanate index and ESO crystallization on cure kinetics was conducted. The combination of a stannic catalyst at 0.2 wt% and glycerin at 20 wt% produced a cure kinetics governed by an autocatalytic heat flow where vitrification played a key role in the formation of chemical bonds. The evolution of Tg as a function of conversion, which followed Di-Benedetto's predictions, supported the hypothesis that vitrification was a preponderant phenomenon during cure. Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) of a post-cured sample revealed a Tg centered at 220°C, whereas quasi-static flexural mechanical tests shown a flexural modulus of 2.14 GPa and a flexural strength of 99.4 MPa. Rheological experiments at isothermal conditions supported the hypothesis that vitrification played a key role in the evolution of apparent viscosity. A master model using Kim-Macosko equations was obtained for the proposed formulation. The results presented in this work will serve to further extend the use of biobased polymers applied in the polymer composite industry."