Effect of Lithium Salts on the Properties of Cassava Starch Solid Biopolymer Electrolytes.

This study evaluates the effect of lithium salts on the structural, electrochemical, and thermal properties of cassava starch solid biopolymer electrolytes (SBPEs). Films of SBPEs were synthesized using plasticizing agents and lithium salts (LiCl, Li2SO4, and CF3LiSO3) via thermochemical method. The SBPEs with lithium salts exhibited characteristic FTIR bands starch, with slight variations in the vibration oxygen-related functional groups compared to salt-free biopolymer spectra. The RCOH/COC index (short-range crystallinity) was higher in the films synthesized without lithium salt and the lowest value was established in the films synthesized with Li2SO4. Thermal degradation involved dehydration between 40 to 110 °C and molecular decomposition between 245 to 335 °C. Degradation temperatures were close when synthesized with salts but differed in films without lithium salt. DSC revealed two endothermic processes: one around 65 °C linked to crystalline structure changes and the second at approximately 271 °C associated with glucose ring decomposition. The electrochemical behavior of the SBPEs varied with the salts used, resulting in differences in the potential and current of peaks from the redox processes and its conductivity, presenting the lowest value (8.42 × 10-5 S cm-1) in the SBPE films without salt and highest value (9.54 × 10-3 S cm-1) in the films with Li2SO4. It was concluded that the type of lithium salt used in SBPEs synthesis affected their properties. SBPEs with lithium triflate showed higher molecular ordering, thermal stability, and lower redox potentials in electrochemical processes.

Electrochemistry Study of Bio-Based Composite Biopolymer Electrolyte-Starch/Cardol.

The environmental problems generated by pollution due to polymers of petrochemical origin have led to the search for eco-friendly alternatives such as the development of biopolymers or bio-based polymers. The aim of this work was to evaluate the electrochemical behavior of a biopolymer composite made from cassava starch and cardol extracted from cashew nut shell liquid. The biopolymers were prepared using the thermochemical method, varying the synthesis pH and the cardol amounts. The biopolymers were synthesized in the form of films and characterized by cyclic voltamperometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The biopolymers showed a rich electroactivity, with three oxidation-reduction processes evidenced in the voltamperograms. On the other hand, the equivalent circuit corresponding to the impedance behavior of biopolymers integrated the processes of electron transfer resistance, electric double layer, redox reaction process, and resistance of the biopolymeric matrix. The results allowed us to conclude that the cardol content and the synthesis pH were factors that affect the electrochemical behavior of biopolymer composite films. Electrochemical processes in biopolymers were reversible and involved two-electron transfer and were diffusion-controlled processes.

Analysis of coffee adulterated with roasted corn and roasted soybean using voltammetric electronic tongue.

BACKGROUND: Coffee samples adulterated with roasted corn and roasted soybean were analyzed using a voltammetric electronic tongue equipped with a polypyrrole sensor array. METHODS: Coffee samples were adulterated in concentrations of 2%, 5%, 10% and 20% of roasted corn and roasted soybean; 5 replicates of each were used. The discrimination capacity of a voltammetric electronic tongue elaborated with a polypyrrole sensor array, was evaluated by principal component analysis and cluster analysis, while the capacity to perform quantitative determinations was carried out by partial least squares. RESULTS: The results obtained by the application of principal component analysis showed an excellent ability to discriminate adulterated samples. Additionally, the classifications obtained by cluster analysis was concordant with those obtained by principal component analysis. On the other hand, the evaluation of the ability to quantitatively analyze the adulterated samples showed that the polypyrrole sensor array provides sufficient information to allow quantitative determinations by partial least squares regression. CONCLUSIONS: It could be concluded that the voltammetric electronic tongue used in this work allows the suf- ficient analysis of coffee samples adulterated with roasted corn and roasted soybean.