Recycling of both resin and fibre from wind turbine blade waste via small molecule-assisted dissolution.

Wind energy has significant growth potential and applicability on a global scale, but approximately 2.4% of wind turbine blades must be decommissioned annually. The majority of blade components can be recycled; however, wind blades are rarely recycled. In the present study, an alternative method was presented involving a small molecule-assisted technique based on a dynamic reaction that dissolves waste composite materials containing ester groups to recycle end-of-life wind turbine blades. This effective process requires temperatures below 200 °C, and the major component, i.e., resin, can be easily dissolved. This method can be applied to recycle composite materials, such as wind turbine blades and carbon fibre composites comprising fibres and resins. Depending on the waste, up to 100% of the resin degradation yield can be achieved. The solution used for the recycling process may be reused multiple times and can be reused to obtain resin-based components and create a closed loop for this type of material.

Stimuli-Responsive Star Polymer as an Admixture for Crystallization of Hollow Crystals.

Polymers are becoming a very popular tool in the crystallization of different compounds. In this work, a new method of crystallization is proposed using stimuli-responsive star polymer in order to obtain hollow structure crystals. In these experiments, amphiphilic copolymer of acrylic acid (AA) and methyl acrylate (MA) were used for isohydric crystallization via they cooling of KCl in deionized water solution. The experiments were realized in quartz cuvette with a magnetic stirrer using a specialized spectrometer with precise temperature control. The crystallization course was monitored by the absorbance readings and analysis of the nucleation energetic effect. It was proved that the moment of the polymer's phase transition occurrence had an important role in the crystal growth process. On the other hand, the occurrence of phase transition did not trigger the nucleation. The supercoolings achieved in the presence of the polymer were significantly higher compared to pure salt crystallization. On the basis of analysis of Particle Size Distribution (PSD) and Critical Aggregation Concentration (CAC) of the polymer, it was proposed that the hydrophobic particles of macromolecules created from polymeric aggregates served as templates for the formation of hollow crystals. Their purity was verified using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), 1H NMR, and XRD. Only trace amounts of polymer were found in the crystalline product.

Yttrium Trifluoride as a Marker of Infiltration Rate of Decalcified Root Cementum: An In Vitro Study.

Research related to the development of a dental infiltrant for minimally invasive treatment of initial caries of hard dental tissues is presented. The formulation of the developed infiltrant material includes typical methacrylate monomers used in dentistry, an author's adhesion monomer containing metronidazole, a photoinitiating system and yttrium trifluoride (YF3). The main objective of the study was to evaluate penetration into decalcified root cementum using scanning electron microscope of an experimental preparation with the characteristics of a dental infiltrant compared to a commercial preparation with the addition of YF3 as a contrast agent. Microscopic observations showed that YF3 particles virtually did not penetrate deep into the root cementum-this was mainly due to the particle size of YF3. Observations of cementum and root dentin tissue infiltration: resin tissue infiltration was visible to a depth of about 80 to 120 µm without the use of a tracer, which, due to agglomeration and particle size, remained on the cementum surface or in the resin used for inlaying. There were no differences between the degree of penetration of an experimental preparation with the characteristics of a dental infiltrant, as compared to a commercial preparation.

Assessment of the Potential Ability to Penetrate into the Hard Tissues of the Root of an Experimental Preparation with the Characteristics of a Dental Infiltratant, Enriched with an Antimicrobial Component-Preliminary Study.

Infiltration is a method of penetration with a low viscosity resin that penetrates deep into demineralised tooth tissue and fills the intergranular spaces, hence reducing porosity. Carious lesions initially located at the enamel-cement junction are usually found in elderly patients. Those spots are predisposed to bacterial adhesion originating both from biofilm and from gingival pocket bacteria. The aim of this study was to evaluate the penetration of an experimental preparation, which has the characteristics of a dental infiltrant, enriched with an antibacterial component, into the decalcified root cement tissues of extracted human teeth in elderly patients. An experimental preparation with the characteristics of a dental infiltrant was prepared, applied, and polymerised on the surface of extracted, previously decalcified human teeth. The control sample was Icon (DMG, Hamburg, Germany). The ability of the preparations to penetrate deep into the root cement was evaluated using scanning electron and light microscopy. The study showed that an experimental preparation could potentially be used for treatment of early carious lesions within the tooth root in elderly patients, among others, as it penetrates deep into demineralised tissues. More research is needed.

ß-Cyclodextrin Derivative Grafted on Silica Gel Represents a New Polymeric Sorbent for Extracting Nitisinone from Model Physiological Fluids.

Nitisinone (NTBC) is used in the treatment of disorders affecting the tyrosine pathway, including hereditary tyrosinemia type I, alkaptonuria, and neuroblastoma. An inappropriate dosage of this therapeutic drug causes side effects; therefore, it is necessary to develop a rapid and sensitive method to monitor the content of NTBC in patients' blood. This study aimed to develop anew polymeric sorbent containing ß-cyclodextrin (ß-CD) derivatives grafted on silica gel to effectively extract NTBC from model physiological fluids. The inclusion complex formed between ß-CD and NTBC was examined by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The novel sorbents with derivatives of ß-CD were prepared on modified silica gel using styrene as a comonomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as a crosslinking agent, and 2,2'-azo-bis-isobutyronitrile as a polymerization initiator. The obtained products were characterized via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and then used as sorbents as part of a solid phase extraction technique. High NTBC recovery (70%indicated that the developed polymeric sorbent may be suitable for extracting this compound from patients' blood samples.

Determination of silyl peroxides by ultra-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry.

RATIONALE: Residual initiators in polymers are a concern in the case of products that come directly into contact with the human body or food. Due to low concentrations and difficulties in the sample preparation, highly sensitive and selective methods are required. METHODS: A series of bis-silyl- and alkyl-silyl peroxides were analysed by electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) on an ultra-performance liquid chromatography/time-of-flight (UPLC/TOF) instrument. Li, Na, K, and NH4 acetates were used to promote the formation of [M + Me]+ ions. The sample preparation involved only dissolution of the polymer sample in 0.1 mL of acetonitrile, followed by precipitation with 1 mL of water. A portion of 0.1-1 µL of the solution was then analysed without further treatment by UPLC/ESI-MS. RESULTS: Limits of detection (LODs) were in the range of 0.06-9 pmol, depending on the peroxide structure. On average, the signal intensity increased with the number of phenyl groups in a peroxide and decreased in the order Na > Li > K > NH4 . Peroxides that did not contain phenyl groups could not be detected. Collision-induced dissociation experiments can be used for structural investigations of alkyl-silyl peroxides. It was possible to detect 2 × 10-4 % (LOD = 7 × 10-5 %) of unreacted Ph3 SiOOt-Bu in the poly(methyl methacrylate) sample. CONCLUSIONS: The method is suitable for the analysis of trace peroxide initiators in polymers and for other purposes where LODs in the pmol range are required.

Poly(isosorbide succinate)-based in situ forming implants as potential systems for local drug delivery: Preliminary studies.

In situ forming implants (ISFI) are proved to be effective drug delivery systems in various local therapies. This research focuses on preliminary characteristics of a new biodegradable ISFI formulation based on poly(isosorbide succinate) (PISU) for modulated, over 3-week, release of doxycycline hyclate (DOXY). The Alamar Blue cytotoxicity assay was carried out for PISU using FK-1 and AoSMC cell lines. PISU resin was found to be non-toxic in wide range of concentrations. The formulation viscosity, dependent on shear rate, facilitates its easy injection into required site where solid depot is formed immediately after injection. DOXY, incorporated into this formulation, was released in vitro within 21 days, during which collected solutions exhibited antibacterial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, respectively. The morphology of the precipitated depots was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The obtained results suggest potential applicability of this new PISU-based formulation as injectable drug delivery system forming implant at an injection site by phase separation and precipitation of the polymer.

DMA analysis of the structure of crosslinked poly(methyl methacrylate)s.

PURPOSE: This paper presents the study aimed at the development of crosslinked poly(methyl methacrylate)s (X-PMMA) of varied crosslink density and the investigation of the relationships between the polymer network structure and dynamic mechanical properties. METHODS: A series of model X-PMMA networks were crosslinked by the introduction of: 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20% of triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA). The copolymerizations led to various glass-rubber relaxation properties of the polymer networks, as revealed by dynamic-mechanical analysis (DMA). Glass temperature (Tg) and storage modulus above the Tg (Erubbery ) were a sensitive function of network architecture. DMA data were used for calculating the network parameter (Mc), crosslink density (q) and its alternative measure - the degree of crosslinking (DX). RESULTS: The viscoelastic properties as well as structural parameters calculated from those showed correlation with the amount of the crosslinker. The increase in TEGDMA content resulted in the Tg, q and DX increases, whereas Mc decrease. The possible incomplete conversion of double bonds was detected in the DMA analysis, which was confirmed by the degree of conversion (DC), measured by FTIR spectroscopy. Additionally, some amount of sol fraction was found by 1H NMR experiments. CONCLUSIONS: The structure-property relationships developed for the system presented in this work could be useful in tissue engineering, where X-PMMA is applied. The direct measure of storage modulus values before and above glass transition may serve as a simple and fast indicator of the X-PMMA crosslink density.

Electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric characterization of the new functional oligo(ether-ester)s structure.

The oligomeric products obtained by the polymerization of monomethacrylates of oligoethylene glycols possessing up to four oxyethylene units were examined by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The oligomerization initiated by sodium and potassium hydrides proceeded via Michael-type addition of hydroxyl groups to carbon-carbon double bonds. Extended reaction time caused gelation, especially in the case of the more reactive potassium hydride. This study was focused on the structural assignments of the oligomeric products by use of ion trap multistage mass spectrometry (ESI-MS(2)). Precise structural characterization of the individual oligomers was based on fragmentation data.