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

Obtención de productos bioactivos de la semilla de cannabis sativa en el sector de los biopolímeros

[ES] El objetivo principal del presente trabajo es la optimización del ratio molar para la modificación química del aceite de cáñamo mediante la maleinización para la posterior introducción al sector de los polímeros. Realizando un estudio bibliográfico previo, se decidió mantener constantes las variables de agitación y el rango de temperatura, y modificar los ratios molares del anhídrido maleico respecto al aceite de semilla de cáñamo con el objetivo de introducir los máximos grupos anhídridos posibles[EN] The main objective of the present work is the optimization of the molar ratio for the chemical modification of hemp oil by maleinization for subsequent addition to the polymer sector. After a previous bibliographic study, it was decided to keep the agitation variables and the temperature range constant and to modify the molar ratios of maleic anhydride with respect to hemp seed oil in order to introduce the maximum possible anhydride groups.[VA] L'objectiu principal del present treball és l'optimització del ràtio molar per a la modificació química de l'oli de cànem mitjançant la maleinització per a la posterior introducció al sector dels polímers. Realitzant un estudi bibliogràfic previ, es va decidir mantindre constants les variables d'agitació i el rang de temperatura i modificar els ràtios molars de l'anhídrid maleic respecte a l'oli de llavor de cànem amb l'objectiu d'introduir els màxims grups anhídrids possibles.Lerma Cantó, A. (2021). Obtención de productos bioactivos de la semilla de cannabis sativa en el sector de los biopolímeros. Universitat Politècnica de València. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/170634TFG

Ecología de las aguas residuales de un centro sanitario

[ES] La terapia más habitual que encontramos en un centro sanitario es la prescripción de fármacos de mano del personal médico, algunos de estos fármacos se eliminan del cuerpo humano manteniendo su actividad farmacológica siendo un riesgo para el medio ambiente. Normalmente estos compuestos no se eliminan por los métodos convencionales y es necesario aplicar métodos alternativos de depuración. Los procesos de oxidación avanzada se presentan como una alternativa eficiente para la eliminación. En el presente trabajo se ha llevado a cabo un estudio previo de caracterización ecológica mediante diferentes técnicas de análisis (COD, DQO, respirometría, fluorimetría, pH, espectofotometría, conductividad y DBO5) de las aguas que se vierten a la red pública de alcantarillado. Para llevar a cabo esta caracterización se han tomado muestras a diferentes horas de actividad, alta, media y baja a lo largo de todas las semanas, con el objetivo final de obtener muestras que sean representativas relacionadas con la afluencia médica de los pacientes al centro de salud. Estas aguas se han tratado con un método de oxidación avanzada que es el foto-Fenton, con el fin de eliminar los compuestos que son poco amigables con el medio ambiente. La utilización de la técnica analítica de fluorimetría es la novedad en este trabajo, la cual se ha utilizado para la detección de los compuestos y seguimiento de las reacciones de degradación después de los tratamientos.[EN] The most como therapy that we find in health center is the prescription of drugs from the medical staff, some of these drugs are eliminated from the human body maintaining their pharmacological activity being a risk to the environment, these can be reduced if they are applied a advanced oxidation process. In the present work, a previous study of ecological characterization has been carried out by means of different analysis techniques (DOC, DQO, respirometry, fluorimetry, pH, spectrophotometry, conductivity and DBO5) of the waters that are discharged into de public swerage network. To carry out this characterization, samples were taken at different hours of activity, high, médium and low throughout the weeks, the objective of ogtaining representative samples related to the medical flux of patients to the health center. These waters have been trated with an advanced oxidation method, it´s photo-Fenton method, in order to eliminated compounds that aren´t ecofriendly. The use of the analytical technique of fluorimetry is the novelty in this work, which has been used for the detection of compounds and monitoring of degradation reactions after tratments.Lerma Cantó, A. (2018). Ecología de las aguas residuales de un centro sanitario. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/112542TFG