ABSTRACT
Currently, petroleum-derived plastics are widely used despite the disadvantage of their long degradation time. Natural polymers, however, can be used as alternatives to overcome this obstacle, particularly cornstarch. The tensile properties of cornstarch films can be improved by adding plant-derived nanofibers. Sisal (Agave sisalana), a very common low-cost species in Brazil, can be used to obtain plant nanofibers. The goal of this study was to obtain sisal nanofibers using low concentrations of sulfuric acid to produce thermoplastic starch nanocomposite films. The films were produced by a casting technique using commercial corn starch, glycerol, and sisal nanofibers, accomplished by acid hydrolysis. The effects of glycerol and sisal nanofiber content on the tensile mechanical properties of the nanocomposites were investigated. Transmission electron microscopy findings demonstrated that the lowest concentration of sulfuric acid produced fibers with nanometric dimensions related to the concentrations used. X-ray diffraction revealed that the untreated fibers and fibers subjected to acid hydrolysis exhibited a crystallinity index of 61.06 and 84.44%, respectively. When the glycerol and nanofiber contents were 28 and 1%, respectively, the tensile stress and elongation were 8.02 MPa and 3.4%. In general, nanocomposites reinforced with sisal nanofibers showed lower tensile stress and higher elongation than matrices without nanofibers did. These results were attributed to the inefficient dispersion of the nanofibers in the polymer matrix. Our findings demonstrate the potential of corn starch nanocomposite films in the packaging industry.
ABSTRACT
RESUMO A cinza volante é o principal resíduo industrial do uso de carvão mineral na geração de vapor e energia. No Brasil, são produzidas 1,4 milhão toneladas ao ano. Essas cinzas podem ser convertidas em produtos zeolíticos por tratamento hidrotérmico alcalino. Este trabalho teve como objetivo principal realizar essa conversão hidrotérmica, a fim de obter unicamente fases cristalinas zeolíticas para a adsorção de íon amônio. Realizaram-se diversas sínteses alterando o método utilizado (clássico ou de duas fases), o tempo de reação (24 ou 30 h) e a massa de NaOH. A caracterização dos produtos e da cinza (in natura e calcinada) foi realizada por difratometria de raios X, microscopia eletrônica de varredura e, em alguns casos, análises térmica diferencial e gravimétrica (ATD-TG). Os resultados demonstraram que é possível sintetizar as zeólitas hidroxissodalita e cancrinita a partir da cinza estudada. O produto obtido pelo método de duas etapas foi utilizado na adsorção de íon amônio em solução, sendo, neste processo, o modelo isotérmico de Sips o mais adequado; alcançando um valor de capacidade máxima de adsorção de 2,71 mg.g-1.
ABSTRACT Fly ash is the main industrial waste generated by coal in steam and power plans. In Brazil, 1,4 million tons are produced every year. These ashes can be converted into zeolite products by alkaline hydrothermal treatment. The main objective of this paper was to induce this reaction which produces only zeolitic crystalline phases for ammonium ion absorption. So, some syntheses were done by different hydrothermal method (classical or two stages), work time (24 or 30 h) and many NaOH bulks. The characterization of ash (in natura and calcined) and products was performed by X-ray diffraction method, scanning electron microscopy and, in some cases, differential thermal and thermogravimetric analysis The product by two stages method was used in ammonium ion absorption in solution at Sips Mathematic Model: the highest capacity of 2,71 mg.g-1.