Políticas de medio ambiente y participación ciudadana

Citizen participation is often presented as a necessary part of the process of defining and managing environmental policies. In fact, it is generally regulated in a variety of ways that affect people’s rights to enquire, request and receive information. This article examines three aspects of this issue within the context of Spain: the legal and political limits of citizen participation rights, showing their inferior position in relation to conventional political participation; specific examples of citizen involvement in environmental conflicts, which operates by means that are often outside the regulated channels; and the social functions of requests for regulated participation, which indicate a remarkably contradictory situation. In actual fact, this participation takes very different forms, sometimes going through the channels defined by governments, though often consciously ignoring or questioning them. To ensure a sufficiently comprehensive analytical approach, it should include a sociological view of the conflict.Citizen participation, environmental policies, ecological sociology, socio-ecological conflicts.

Development of Polylactic Acid Thermoplastic Starch Formulations Using Maleinized Hemp Oil as Biobased Plasticizer

[EN] In this study, hemp seed oil was reacted with maleic anhydride in an ene reaction to obtain maleinized hemp seed oil (MHO). The use of MHO as a plasticizer and compatibilizer has been studied for polylactic acid (PLA) and thermoplastic starch (TPS) blends (80/20, respectively). By mechanical, thermal and morphological characterizations, the addition of MHO provides a dual effect, acting as plasticizer and compatibilizer between these two partially miscible biopolymers. The addition of MHO up to 7.5 phr (parts by weight of MHO per hundred parts of PLA and TPS) revealed a noticeable increase in the ductile properties, reaching an elongation at break 155% higher than the PLA/TPS blend. Furthermore, contrary to what has been observed with maleinized oils such as linseed oil, the thermal properties do not decrease significantly as a result of the plasticizing effect, due to the compatibilizing behavior of the MHO and the natural antioxidants present in the oil. Finally, a disintegration test was carried out in aerobic conditions at 58 degrees C, for 24 days, to demonstrate that the incorporation of the MHO, although causing a slight delay, does not impair the biodegradability of the blend, obtaining total degradation in 24 days.M. Herrero-Herrero wishes to thank Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad for his grant, BES-2016-078024. J. Gomez-Caturla wish to thank Universitat Politecnica de Valencia for his FPI grant.Lerma-Canto, A.; Gómez-Caturla, J.; Herrero-Herrero, M.; Garcia-Garcia, D.; Fombuena, V. (2021). Development of Polylactic Acid Thermoplastic Starch Formulations Using Maleinized Hemp Oil as Biobased Plasticizer. Polymers. 13(9):1-17. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13091392S11713

Epoxidized and Maleinized Hemp Oil to Develop Fully Bio-Based Epoxy Resin Based on Anhydride Hardeners

[EN] The present work aims to develop thermosetting resins using epoxidized hemp oil (EHO) as a bio-based epoxy matrix and a mixture of methyl nadic anhydride (MNA) and maleinized hemp oil (MHO) in different ratios as hardeners. The results show that the mixture with only MNA as a hardener is characterized by high stiffness and brittleness. In addition, this material is characterized by a high curing time of around 170 min. On the other hand, as the MHO content in the resin increases, the mechanical strength properties decrease and the ductile properties increase. Therefore, it can be stated that the presence of MHO confers flexible properties to the mixtures. In this case, it was determined that the thermosetting resin with balanced properties and high bio-based content contains 25% MHO and 75% MNA. Specifically, this mixture obtained a 180% higher impact energy absorption and a 195% lower Young's modulus than the sample with 100% MNA. Also, it has been observed that this mixture has significantly shorter times than the mixture containing 100% MNA (around 78 min), which is of great concern at an industrial level. Therefore, thermosetting resins with different mechanical and thermal properties can be obtained by varying the MHO and MNA content.This research was funded by MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033 through the PID-AEI Project (grants PID2020-119142RA-I00 and PID2021-123753NA-C33) and the TED-AEI Project (grants TED2021-129920A-C43 and TED2021-131762A-100) and, as appropriate, by ¿ERDF A way of making Europe¿, by the ¿European Union¿ or by the ¿European Union NextGenerationEU/PRTR¿. Dominguez-Candela wants to thank Universitat Politècnica de València for his FPI grant (PAID-2019-SP20190013) and Generalitat Valenciana (GVA) for his FPI grant (ACIF/2020/233).Lerma-Canto, A.; Samper, M.; Domínguez-Candela, I.; Garcia-Garcia, D.; Fombuena, V. (2023). Epoxidized and Maleinized Hemp Oil to Develop Fully Bio-Based Epoxy Resin Based on Anhydride Hardeners. Polymers. 15(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/polym1506140415

Contribution to a Circular Economy Model: From LignocellulosicWastes from the Extraction of Vegetable Oils to the Development of a New Composite

[EN] The present works focuses on the development of a novel fully bio-based composite using a bio-based high-density polyethylene (Bio-HDPE) obtained from sugar cane as matrix and a by-product of extraction of chia seed oil (CO) as filler, with the objective of achieving a circular economy model. The research aims to revalorize an ever-increasing waste stream produced by the growing interest in vegetable oils. From the technical point of view, the chia seed flour (CSF) was chemically modified using a silane treatment. This treatment provides a better interfacial adhesion as was evidenced by the mechanical and thermal properties as well as field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The effect of silane treatment on water uptake and disintegration rate was also studied. On the other hand, in a second stage, an optimization of the percentage of treated CSF used as filler was carried out by a complete series of mechanical, thermal, morphological, colour, water absorption and disintegration tests with the aim to evaluate the new composite developed using chia by-products. It is noteworthy as the disintegration rate increased with the addition of CSF filler, which leads to obtain a partially biodegradable wood plastic composite (WPC) and therefore, becoming more environmentally friendly.I. D-C wants to thank Universitat Politecnica de Valencia for his FPI grant (PAID-2019-SP20190013) and Generalitat Valenciana (GVA) for his FPI grant (ACIF/2020/233).Domínguez-Candela, I.; Garcia-Garcia, D.; A. Perez-Nakai; Lerma-Cantó, A.; Lora-García, J.; Fombuena, V. (2021). Contribution to a Circular Economy Model: From LignocellulosicWastes from the Extraction of Vegetable Oils to the Development of a New Composite. Polymers. 13(14):1-26. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13142269S126131

Comparative Study of the Properties of Plasticized Polylactic Acid with Maleinized Hemp Seed Oil and a Novel Maleinized Brazil Nut Seed Oil

[EN] In this study, for the first time, Brazil nut seed oil was chemically modified with maleic anhydride to obtain maleinized Brazil nut seed oil (MBNO). The same process was developed to obtain maleinized hemp seed oil (MHO). The use of MBNO and MHO was studied as bio-based plasticizers by incorporating them with different contents ranging from 0 to 10 phr in a polylactic acid (PLA) matrix. By means of mechanical, thermal and thermomechanical characterization techniques, the properties of the different formulations were studied to evaluate the plasticizing effect of the MBNO and MHO. With the addition of both plasticizers, a significant increase in ductile properties was observed, reaching an increase in elongation at break of 643% with 7.5 phr MBNO and 771% with 10 phr MHO compared to neat PLA. In addition, it has been observed that the mechanical resistant properties do not decrease, since the oils enhance the crystallization of PLA by increasing the free volume between its chains and counteracting the effect. Finally, a disintegration test was carried out under thermophilic conditions at 58 degrees C for 27 days, demonstrating that the incorporation of MHO and MBNO does not significantly affect the biodegradability of neat PLA.I.D.-C. wants to thank Universitat Politecnica de Valencia for his FPI grant (PAID-2019SP20190013) and Generalitat Valenciana (GVA) for his FPI grant (ACIF/2020/233). J.M.F. thanks the postdoc contract (APOSTD/2019/122) Generalitat Valenciana (2019-2021).Perez-Nakai, A.; Lerma-Cantó, A.; Domínguez-Candela, I.; Garcia-Garcia, D.; Ferri Azor, JM.; Fombuena, V. (2021). Comparative Study of the Properties of Plasticized Polylactic Acid with Maleinized Hemp Seed Oil and a Novel Maleinized Brazil Nut Seed Oil. Polymers. 13(14):1-17. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13142376S117131

Contribution of green roofs to energy savings in building renovations

[EN] Reversing the consequences of climate change and achieving more resilient societies involves reducing CO2 emissions and energy consumption, especially in sectors as important as construction. Green roofs, due to their particularities, imply a series of benefits, among which energy saving stands out. This implies a reduction in the consumption of resources and in CO2 emissions, more evident in the case of the refurbishment of buildings. A comparison is proposed between the energy savings obtained by renovating only the roof and renovating the entire thermal envelope. This is done with three roof construction systems (including two green roofs) and in 6 Spanish cities that represent different climatic zones. The novelties provided by this research are based on the comparison of both renovation cases to obtain the influence of the roof with respect to the thermal improvement of the envelope. The energy savings obtained by renovating the roof are very similar in all cities, but after renovating the entire envelope, the savings increase as the climate gets colder.Determining themost influential variables in these savings, as well as the influence of the roof, allows choosing the most appropriate construction techniques to optimize the energy renovation of existing buildings.Fundingforopenaccesscharge:CRUE-UniversitatPolitècnicadeValència.Garcia-Borràs, J.; Lerma Elvira, C.; Mas Tomas, MDLA.; Vercher Sanchis, J.; Gil Benso, E. (2022). Contribution of green roofs to energy savings in building renovations. Energy for Sustainable Development. 71:212-221. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esd.2022.09.0202122217

Measuring Enzymatic HIV-1 Susceptibility to Two Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors as a Rapid and Simple Approach to HIV-1 Drug-Resistance Testing

Simple and cost-effective approaches for HIV drug-resistance testing are highly desirable for managing increasingly expanding HIV-1 infected populations who initiate antiretroviral therapy (ART), particularly in resource-limited settings. Non-nucleoside reverse trancriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)-based regimens with an NRTI backbone containing lamivudine (3TC) or emtricitabine (FTC) are preferred first ART regimens. Failure with these drug combinations typically involves the selection of NNRTI- and/or 3TC/FTC- resistant viruses. Therefore, the availability of simple assays to measure both types of drug resistance is critical. We have developed a high throughput screening test for assessing enzymatic resistance of the HIV-1 RT in plasma to 3TC/FTC and NNRTIs. The test uses the sensitive “Amp-RT” assay with a newly-developed real-time PCR format to screen biochemically for drug resistance in single reactions containing either 3TC-triphosphate (3TC-TP) or nevirapine (NVP). Assay cut-offs were defined based on testing a large panel of subtype B and non-subtype B clinical samples with known genotypic profiles. Enzymatic 3TC resistance correlated well with the presence of M184I/V, and reduced NVP susceptibility was strongly associated with the presence of K103N, Y181C/I, Y188L, and G190A/Q. The sensitivity and specificity for detecting resistance were 97.0% and 96.0% in samples with M184V, and 97.4% and 96.2% for samples with NNRTI mutations, respectively. We further demonstrate the utility of an HIV capture method in plasma by using magnetic beads coated with CD44 antibody that eliminates the need for ultracentifugation. Thus our results support the use of this simple approach for distinguishing WT from NNRTI- or 3TC/FTC-resistant viruses in clinical samples. This enzymatic testing is subtype-independent and can assist in the clinical management of diverse populations particularly in resource-limited settings

Monitoring of virgin coconut oil (VCO) adulteration with palm oil using fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.

Virgin coconut oil (VCO) may be adulterated with cheaper oils, such as palm oil (PO). Thus, the detection and quantification of VCO adulteration with PO was monitored using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, combined with chemometrics of partial least square (PLS) and discriminant analysis at frequency regions of 3,010–3,000, 1,660–1,650 and 1,120–1,105/cm. Attenuated total reflectance (ATR) measurements were made on pure VCO and that adulterated with varying concentrations of PO (0.5–50% w/w in VCO). PLS calibration exhibited a good relationship between actual and FTIR-predicted values with coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.999 and standard error of calibration of 0.533. The cross validation was performed by removing one standard at a time, and the final R2 value of 0.996 and standard error of prediction of 0.953 were obtained. The discriminant analysis using seven principal components was able to classify pure VCO and that adulterated with PO