Synergistic chemo-enzymatic hydrolysis of poly(ethylene terephthalate) from textile waste

Due to the rising global environment protection awareness, recycling strategies that comply with the circular economy principles are needed. Polyesters are among the most used materials in the textile industry, therefore achieving a complete poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) hydrolysis in an environmentally-friendly way is a current challenge. In this work a chemo-enzymatic treatment was developed in order to recover the PET building blocks, namely terephthalic acid (TA) and ethylene glycol. To monitor the monomer and oligomer content in solid samples, a Fourier-Transformed Raman method was successfully developed. A shift of the free carboxylic groups (1,632 cm-1) of TA into the deprotonated state (1,604 and 1,398 cm-1) was observed and bands at 1,728 and 1,398 cm-1 were used to assess purity of TA after the chemo-enzymatic PET hydrolysis. The chemical treatment, performed under neutral conditions (T=250 °C, P=40 bar) led to conversion of PET into 85% TA and small oligomers. The latter were hydrolysed in a second step by using the Humicola insolens cutinase (HiC) yielding 97% pure TA, therefore comparable with the commercial synthesis grade TA (98%)

Synergistic chemo-enzymatic hydrolysis of poly(ethylene terephthalate) from textile waste

Due to the rising global environment protection awareness, recycling strategies that comply with the circular economy principles are needed. Polyesters are among the most used materials in the textile industry, therefore achieving a complete poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) hydrolysis in an environmentally-friendly way is a current challenge. In this work a chemo-enzymatic treatment was developed in order to recover the PET building blocks, namely terephthalic acid (TA) and ethylene glycol. To monitor the monomer and oligomer content in solid samples, a Fourier-Transformed Raman method was successfully developed. A shift of the free carboxylic groups (1,632 cm-1) of TA into the deprotonated state (1,604 and 1,398 cm-1) was observed and bands at 1,728 and 1,398 cm-1 were used to assess purity of TA after the chemo-enzymatic PET hydrolysis. The chemical treatment, performed under neutral conditions (T=250 °C, P=40 bar) led to conversion of PET into 85% TA and small oligomers. The latter were hydrolysed in a second step by using the Humicola insolens cutinase (HiC) yielding 97% pure TA, therefore comparable with the commercial synthesis grade TA (98%)

Binder effectiveness of microcapsules applied onto cotton fabrics during laundry

[EN] Microcapsules can be added to fabric in industrial processes; however, they have not been widely spread among industrial companies. In this study, we suggest the possibility of reloading microcapsules onto a fabric while clothes are washed. The effectiveness of different resins when microcapsules are applied in washing machine during domestic laundry process has been studied. Microcapsules containing lavender fragrance and melamine formaldehyde shell were adhered to the fabric by means of one acrylic acid as a resin (RES) or some cross-linking agents, such as butanetetracarboxylic acid or succinic acid (SUC). In order to evaluate their behaviour, some laundering or ironing tests were conducted according to international standards (ISO). Every sample from the laboratory was studied with scanning electron microscopy and with a particle size counter. As a result, we could observe which was the most suitable auxiliary used to bind microcapsules to fabric, and conclude that the conditions in which we obtained the application with SUC as binder and cured at 150 °C for 2 min show the optimal results. It was demonstrated that domestic laundry is a suitable process to incorporate microcapsules to garments.Authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support received by this research project from the Spanish government in the programme 'Plan Nacional 2008-2011' reference Mat 2009-14210-C02-01.Bonet Aracil, MA.; Bou Belda, E.; Monllor Pérez, P.; Gisbert; Jaime (2016). Binder effectiveness of microcapsules applied onto cotton fabrics during laundry. The Journal of the Textile Institute. 107(3):300-306. https://doi.org/10.1080/00405000.2015.1029808S300306107

Mosquito Repellency of Polyester Nets Treated with Cyclodextrin/Repellent Complexes

Fabric treatments with β-Cyclodextrins (β-CD) have been studied for different applications as nanotechnologycal approaches to achieve functional textiles. In particular, repellents and insecticides have been incorporated in β-CD treated textiles to prolong their release. In this case, Citriodiol®, a naturally derived mosquito repellent, was incorporated to β-CD treated polyester (PET) nets. Two methods for citriodiol inclusion were studied; i) pipette dripping or ii) impregnation of fabric in a plastic bag, in order to increase the repellent activity of PET textile substrates. Release profiles were analyzed by gas chromatography and repellency was monitored by in vivo assays with Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Long lasting and reloadable mosquito repellent nets could be achieved by treating PET knits with citriodiol/β-CD complexes.Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectore

Mosquito Repellency of Polyester Nets Treated with Cyclodextrin/Repellent Complexes

Fabric treatments with β-Cyclodextrins (β-CD) have been studied for different applications as nanotechnologycal approaches to achieve functional textiles. In particular, repellents and insecticides have been incorporated in β-CD treated textiles to prolong their release. In this case, Citriodiol®, a naturally derived mosquito repellent, was incorporated to β-CD treated polyester (PET) nets. Two methods for citriodiol inclusion were studied; i) pipette dripping or ii) impregnation of fabric in a plastic bag, in order to increase the repellent activity of PET textile substrates. Release profiles were analyzed by gas chromatography and repellency was monitored by in vivo assays with Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Long lasting and reloadable mosquito repellent nets could be achieved by treating PET knits with citriodiol/β-CD complexes.Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectore

The Implementation of Managed Entry Agreements in Central and Eastern Europe : Findings and Implications

Funding Information: In Bosnia and Herzegovina, both The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Srpska, also have special funds and budgets in place for the financing of expensive medicines, which are innovative and under patent. Similar earmarked funds are available in Scotland (the New Medicines Fund funded by the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme [PPRS] rebates) [35] and England (the Cancer Drugs Fund) [36]. However, support for such earmarked funds is mixed. While they facilitate access, critics raised issues about fairness towards other disease areas and patient groups that are not eligible for special funding [3, 39]. Further, the views of a Patient and Clinician Engagement meeting in Scotland [37] and the end-of-life criteria in England [38] offer opportunities for special considerations affecting medicines for end-of-life and very rare conditions to be taken into account in the health technology assessment process. Funding Information: The authors would like to acknowledge Dr. Jan Jones from the Scottish Medicines Consortium, Scotland, for contributing to the discussion with information on Scotland, Drs. Lyudmila Bezmelnitsyna and Anastasia Isaeva for contributing to data collection in Russia and Dr. Kate?ina Podrazilov? from SZP ?R for providing information on the Czech Republic. Alessandra Ferrario was a Research Officer at the LSE Health at the time this research was conducted. She is now a postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, USA. Email: [email protected] No sources of funding were used for this study. The authors declare they have no conflicts of interest. However, Di?na Ar?ja, Maria Dimitrova, Jurij F?rst, Ieva Grei?i?t?-Kuprijanov, Iris Hoxha, Arianit Jakupi, Erki Laidm?e, Vanda Markovic-Pekovic, Dmitry Meshkov, Guenka Petrova, Maciej Pomorski and Patricia Vella Bonanno work directly for national health authorities or are advisers to them. Alessandra Ferrario, Tomasz Bochenek, Ileana Mardare, Dominik Tomek, Luka Voncina, Alan Haycox, Panos Kanavos,?Olga L?blov?, and Brian Godman are academics and independent researchers also working with national and regional health authorities and others to improve the quality and efficiency of prescribing, and Tarik Catic, D?vid Dank?,and Tanja Novakovic are involved with pharmaceutical, pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research groups in their countries. Olga L?blov? has also carried out remunerated consultancy activities for A&R Partners, Baxter AG and Instytut Arcana and Ileana Mardare has signed a consulting contract with Ewopharma A.G. Romania. The content of the paper and the conclusions are those of each author and may not necessarily reflect those of any organisation that employs them. Publisher Copyright: © 2017, The Author(s).Background: Managed entry agreements (MEAs) are a set of instruments to facilitate access to new medicines. This study surveyed the implementation of MEAs in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) where limited comparative information is currently available. Method: We conducted a survey on the implementation of MEAs in CEE between January and March 2017. Results: Sixteen countries participated in this study. Across five countries with available data on the number of different MEA instruments implemented, the most common MEAs implemented were confidential discounts (n = 495, 73%), followed by paybacks (n = 92, 14%), price-volume agreements (n = 37, 5%), free doses (n = 25, 4%), bundle and other agreements (n = 19, 3%), and payment by result (n = 10, >1%). Across seven countries with data on MEAs by therapeutic group, the highest number of brand names associated with one or more MEA instruments belonged to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC)-L group, antineoplastic and immunomodulating agents (n = 201, 31%). The second most frequent therapeutic group for MEA implementation was ATC-A, alimentary tract and metabolism (n = 87, 13%), followed by medicines for neurological conditions (n = 83, 13%). Conclusions: Experience in implementing MEAs varied substantially across the region and there is considerable scope for greater transparency, sharing experiences and mutual learning. European citizens, authorities and industry should ask themselves whether, within publicly funded health systems, confidential discounts can still be tolerated, particularly when it is not clear which country and party they are really benefiting. Furthermore, if MEAs are to improve access, countries should establish clear objectives for their implementation and a monitoring framework to measure their performance, as well as the burden of implementation.publishersversionPeer reviewe