2 research outputs found
High-Performing Biodegradable Waterborne Polyester/Functionalized Graphene Oxide Nanocomposites as an Eco-Friendly Material
The development of
high-performing nanocomposites of homogeneously
dispersed graphene oxide in a waterborne polyester matrix with controlled
interfacial interactions is a daunting challenge owing to the presence
of strong cohesive energy in both. Thus, in this study, graphene oxide
was functionalized with toluene diisocyanate and butane diol through
a simple method and incorporated into the waterborne polyester matrix
through a facile in situ bulk polymerization technique without using
any compatibilizing agent or organic solvent for the first time. The
thermoset of the nanocomposite was formed by curing it with hyperbranched
epoxy of glycerol and polyÂ(amido amine). The resultant thermosetting
nanocomposites with 0.1–1 wt % functionalized graphene oxide
exhibited significant enhancement in mechanical properties such as
elongation at break (245–360%), tensile strength (7.8–39.4
MPa), scratch hardness (4 to >10 kg), toughness (17.18–86.35
MJ/m<sup>3</sup>), Young’s modulus (243–358 MPa), impact
resistance (8.3 to >9.3 kJ/m), and thermostability. Further, the
Halpin–Tsai
model was used to predict the alignment of graphene oxide. The nanocomposite
was also biodegradable against the Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacterial strain. Furthermore, this nanocomposite exhibited strong
catalytic activity for the aza-Michael addition reaction. Thus, the
nanocomposite can be utilized as a high-performing sustainable material
in different potential applications including as heterogeneous catalysts
Antioxidative, Hemocompatible, Fluorescent Carbon Nanodots from an “End-of-Pipe” Agricultural Waste: Exploring Its New Horizon in the Food-Packaging Domain
The attention of researchers is burgeoning
toward oilseed press-cake
valorization for its high protein content. Protein removal from oil-cakes
generates large quantities of fibrous residue (oil-and-protein spent
meal) as a byproduct, which currently has very limited practical utility.
In the wake of increasing awareness in waste recycling, a simple environmentally
benign hydrothermal carbonization process to convert this “end-of-pipe”
waste (spent meal) into antioxidative, hemocompatible, fluorescent
carbonaceous nanoparticles (FCDs) has been described. In the present
investigation, an interesting application of FCDs in fabricating low-cost
rapeseed protein-based fluorescent film, with improved antioxidant
potential (17.5–19.3-fold) and thermal stability has been demonstrated.
The nanocomposite film could also be used as forgery-proof packaging
due to its photoluminescence property. For assessing the feasibility
of antioxidative FCDs in real food systems, a comparative investigation
was further undertaken to examine the effect of such nanocarbon-loaded
composite film on the oxidative shelf life of rapeseed oil. Oil samples
packed in nanocomposite film sachets showed significant delay in oxidative
rancidity compared to those packed in pristine protein-film sachet
(free fatty acids, peroxide value, and thiobarbituric acid-reactive
substances reduced up to 1.4-, 2-, and 1.2-fold, respectively). The
work presents a new concept of biobased fluorescent packaging and
avenues for harnessing this potent waste