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With an intention to develop base oils with multi-functional properties, about 16 epoxy acyloxy castor polyol esters were prepared. Acyloxy castor polyols were prepared by the acylation of hydroxy functionality of castor fatty acids (acetylated, propionylated, butanoylated and hexanoylated) using kieselguhr-G method followed by reaction with polyols namely trimethylolpropane (TMP), neopentyl glycol (NPG), pentaerythritol (PE) and 2-ethyl hexanol (2-EtH) in 95–98% yields. Acyloxy castor polyol esters were epoxidized at the double bond to yield epoxy acyloxy castor polyol esters in 98–99% yields. The base stocks were characterized by 1H and 13C NMR, ESI–MS. When evaluated for base oil properties, exhibited high viscosity indices (86.27 to 427.01), very low pour points (–52 to –42°C) and high oxidative (30 to 50 min) and thermal (200 to 335°C) stabilities. These base stocks with good viscosity properties can withstand heavy loads, supported by low wear scar diameter. Overall the base stocks with superior properties can find applications right from aviation to marine engine formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Common lubricants used in water based drilling fluids have weak adsorption on the friction interfaces of metals, and therefore are difficult to form dense and shear-resistant lubricating films thereon, which leads to high friction and torque during drilling. High friction and torque generally result in pipe sticking and high overpull or resistance during tripping of drill string. To improve the adsorption of drilling fluid lubricants on the surfaces of drilling tools, a polyol ester bonded lubricant was developed with a polyol and a long-chain fatty acid through dehydration condensation reaction. This new lubricant worked better in extreme pressure friction test, filter cake adhesion test and “point-to-point” friction test than similar products both from China and abroad. It can be used at temperatures up to 150 ℃. The working mechanisms of the lubricant were studied through four-ball friction test, SEM observation and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy etc. It was concluded that the polyhydroxy structure of the lubricant can form bonded adsorption on the surface of Fe, which is stronger than the general physical adsorption, it thus can form a dense and shear-resistant lubricating film, having a thickness of about 45 nm, on the surfaces of drilling tools. The lubricant can also be adsorbed onto the surfaces of barite particles, thereby reducing the internal friction of a drilling fluid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Silver nanowires are 1D nanostructures, with diameter of 10 – 200 nm and length of 5-100 μm. Recently, polyol method has been known as a successful method for synthesis of silver nanowires. In the present work, silver nanowires were synthesized using Polyol method. A precise parametric study was performed to determine the effect of temperature, the injection rate of silver nitrate solution and PVP solution, stirring rate of solution and amount of copper chloride on the final morphology of synthesized silver nanowires.Methods: X-ray diffraction method was used to determine the crystal structure and phase purity of synthesized silver nanowire. The morphology and size of silver nanowires were obtained by Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscope. Electrical sheet resistance and visible light transparency of synthesized silver nanowires were measured by four-point probe test and UV-V spectrophotometer, respectively.Findings: According to the obtained results, the temperature of 158 ° C, the injection rate of 0.55 cc/min, the stirring rate of 300 rpm and the copper chloride solution of 0.08 cc were determined as the optimal conditions for synthesis of silver nanowire. The optimized Ag nanowire coating showed 60% light transmittance and sheet resistance of 28 Ω/sq.

Abstract The DHBD quantity represents the hydroxyl group density of alcoholic solvents or water. DHBD is purely physically defined by the product of molar concentration of the solvent (N) and the factor Σn=n×f which reflects the number n and position (f‐factor) of the alcoholic OH groups per molecule. Whether the hydroxyl group is either primary, secondary or tertiary is taken into account by f. Σn is clearly linearly correlated with the physical density or the refractive index of the alcohol derivative. Relationships of solvent‐dependent UV/Vis absorption energies as ET(30) values, 129Xe NMR shifts and kinetic data of 2‐chloro‐2‐methylpropane solvolysis with DHBD are demonstrated. It can be shown that the ET(30) solvent parameter reflects the global polarity of the hydrogen bond network rather than specific H‐bond acidity. Significant correlations of the log k1 rate constants of the solvolysis reaction of 2‐chloro‐2‐methylpropane with DHBD show the physical reasoning of the approach.

The development of functional oxide nanostructures with a controlled size and morphology is crucial for fine-tuning of the properties and their applications in diverse areas. Herein, a simple and facile, template-free synthetic approach has been adopted for the fabrication of hybrid ZnO-CuxO nanostructures with a flower-like morphology through a hydrothermal pathway using a polyethylene glycol–water mixture as a reaction medium in a single step. The ZnO-CuxO nanoflowers thus obtained were characterized using a variety of spectroscopic and electron microscopic techniques. The formation of flower-like superstructures with diameters in the range of 8–10 μm could be confirmed from the electron microscopic studies. A detailed analysis indicates the critical role of metal counterions as well as the amount of water in the reaction medium during the shape-controlled evolution of the flower-like structures. The nanoflowers could be successfully utilized for the electrochemical detection of p-nitrophenol as well as H2O2. The limits of detection for p-nitrophenol and H2O2 were calculated to be 15.7 and 7.3 μM, respectively. The excellent detection ability can be attributed to the synergistic effect between ZnO and CuxO in the hybrid composite. The template-free synthesis of ZnO-CuxO nanostructures might provide a simple method for the development of other mixed oxide nanostructures with application potential in sensing of environmental hazards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protein amyloid fibrils have widespread implications for human health. Over the last twenty years, fibrillation has been studied using a variety of crowding agents to mimic the packed interior of cells or to probe the mechanisms and pathways of the process. We tabulate and review these results by considering three classes of crowding agent: synthetic polymers, osmolytes and other small molecules, and globular proteins. While some patterns are observable for certain crowding agents, the results are highly variable and often depend on the specific pairing of crowder and fibrillating protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pest insects are often baited with poisoned feeding stimulants, the most common of which are sugars. However, sugars are attractive for most animal species, which makes it difficult to target only a specific pest insect species. Here, we assessed different sugar alcohols for their potential as more species‐selective feeding stimulants for pest insects. Results: We tested the attractiveness of the sugar alcohols sorbitol, xylitol and erythritol with a capillary feeder assay in wasps (as potential pest insects, because introduced wasps are a pest in many regions) and bees (as non‐target insects). For the common wasp (Vespula vulgaris), sorbitol and xylitol acted as nutritive feeding stimulants, and erythritol acted as a non‐nutritive feeding stimulant. For the buff‐tailed bumble bee (Bombus terrestris), sorbitol acted as a feeding stimulant, while for the honey bee (Apis mellifera), none of the sugar alcohols acted as feeding stimulant. Conclusion: The species‐specific preferences for sugar alcohols suggest their potential as species‐selective insect baits. The wasp‐specific preference for xylitol suggests its potential as a bee‐safe alternative to sugar‐containing bait for controlling the common wasp. © 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we proposed a short-term adaptation strategy to improve xylitol production on sugarcane bagasse hemicellulosic hydrolysate through the maximization of Candida guilliermondii FTI 20037 tolerance to inhibitors. Hemicellulosic hydrolysate obtained by diluted acid hydrolysis (1.0% (wv−1) H2SO4, 1:10 solid/liquid ratio, 121 °C, 10 min) was concentrated up to fivefold to obtain hydrolysates with different concentration factors. Yeast was cultivated in each hydrolysate for 24-h and consecutively transferred to the subsequent more concentrated hydrolysate to obtain different adaptation degrees. Adapted cells were used as inoculum in fermentations with the same hydrolysate in which they were adapted. The performance of adapted and non-adapted yeast was compared to validate the adaptation strategy employed. The beneficial effects of adaptation were more pronounced in the hydrolysates with higher inhibitor concentration (twofold concentrated and non-treated, H2N; and fivefold concentrated and treated, H5). It improved xylose assimilation and xylitol production as well as xylitol yield and xylitol volumetric productivity in both hydrolysates. A 62.5% increase in productivity (0.24 to 0.39 gL−1 h−1) and a 15.7% increase in yield (0.51 to 0.59 gg−1) were observed for H5 hydrolysate, while for H2N hydrolysate these increases were 54.5 and 29.6%, respectively. Yeast adaptation also improved arabinose consumption and reduced glycerol production. The reduction in glycerol production indicates a greater tolerance of adapted cells to the inhibitors present in hydrolysates. Short-term adaptation proved to be an efficient strategy to improve yeast tolerance as well as its fermentative performance on sugarcane bagasse hemicellulosic hydrolysate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• {111} faceted nanoparticles of Mn incorporated tungsten oxides (MnWO 4) with wolframite structure are formed by a polyol method. • MnWO 4 exhibited plentiful Mn3+ states towards ORR due to a transfer of electron from t 2g orbital of Mn 3d to the empty antibonding orbital of W 5d. • It showed a highest diffusion-limited current density (−4.2 mA cm-2), attributable to Mn3+ to Mn2+ reduction, and a stability of 96.6 % over 6 h. • The excellent catalytic performance of p-MnWO 4 is associated with optimal O 2 adsorption energies caused by metal to metal charge transfer and {111} faceted nanoparticles. Commercial interest in Pt and Pt-based catalysts is hindered by their high cost. Herein, we have synthesized {111} faceted rice-grain like nanoparticles of p -MnWO 4 with wolframite structure by a polyol method, and applied as catalysts for the ORR in alkaline electrolyte. It enabled a transfer of electron from t 2g orbital of Mn 3d to the empty antibonding orbital of W 5d, producing plentiful Mn3+ states towards ORR. Moreover, it showed superior ORR activity to CoWO 4 and FeWO 4 prepared similarly, and to a h -MnWO 4 prepared by a hydrothermal procedure. p -MnWO 4 exhibited lowest negative onset potential (0.92 V vs RHE) and smallest Tafel slope (50 mV dec‑1). Moreover, it achieved highest redox reaction mediated current density (-4.2 mA cm-2), attributable to Mn3+ to Mn2+ reduction and promising stability (96.6 %) over 6 h Excellent performance of p -MnWO 4 is associated with optimal O 2 adsorption energies caused by metal to metal charge transfer and {111} faceted rice-grain like p -MnWO 4 nanoparticles. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This report explores advancements in multi-step printing/electroplating technique for creating conductive patterns on flexible substrates, which serve as potential structures in wearable electronic devices. The study introduces a novel procedure that employs a sequential process involving polyol screen printing and electroplating, enabling the development of conductive nickel-coated patterns with a conductivity value of about 1123 S/cm on textiles. A significant innovation in this study is the use of a graphene oxide/ethylene glycol (GO/EG) ink, which can be converted into reduced graphene oxide (rGO) through in-situ polyol treatment on the surface of PET fabrics. The effectiveness of this treatment is evidenced by various analytical and microscopic techniques, which confirm the successful printing of conductive rGO patterns onto PET fabric at 220 ˚C. The printed rGO patterns on the fabric surface are then subjected to electroplating as a target substrate and cathode for varying durations, ranging from 5 to 30 minutes. The study thoroughly examines the influence of electroplating time on the microstructures and electrical conductivity of the resulting patterns, with nickel deposition reaching up to 50.8 mg/cm². [Display omitted] • A novel screen printing/electroplating of conductive patterns on textile surfaces. • Introduces polyol-mediated graphene oxide ink for textile application. • Electroplating nickel patterns on textiles surfaces. • Achieved high conductivity value of 1123 S/cm in the developed patterns. • Electroplating time's impacts the microstructure and conductivity of diverse patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silver nanowires (AgNWs) are considered as one-dimensional nanostructures, which have received much attention due to their nanoscale size, high aspect ratio, high electrical and thermal conductivity, optical transparency and high mechanical stability. Preparation of AgNWs by polyol process is remarkably sensitive to the interactions between synthesis parameters. In this study, the effect of the simultaneous change of four synthetic parameters, namely the reaction temperature, the molecular weight of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) stabilizer, the amount of sodium chloride, as well as, the solution mixing rate by the polyol process was reported. ­The results of field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed that the synthesized AgNWs were below 100 nm. X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), ­X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, as well as, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) confirmed that the formed AgNWs were free of impurities. It was also found that temperature, molecular weight of PVP, salt concentration and solution mixing rate caused a significant change in the morphology of AgNWs. More importantly, a strong interaction was created in the preparation process of AgNWs by adjusting the parameters.

The addition reaction of primary alcohols onto aromatic carbodiimides giving iso -ureas was studied in bulk at various temperatures. A side reaction at 60 °C was found to occur between carbodiimide and iso -urea yielding N,N′ -substituted polyguanidine oligomers. The occurrence of this side reaction coincides with a reduced conversion of the alcohol; the carbodiimide was always fully converted to either iso -urea or polyguanidine. The formation of the polyguanidine was reversible at higher temperatures to reform iso -urea and carbodiimide. The latter reaction was complete at about 130 °C. The thermo-reversibility of the guanidine bond was utilized to produce thermo-reversible self-healing polymer networks by reaction of polyether diol and a 1.5 to 2-fold molar excess of aromatic biscarbodiimide. The materials were soft and elastic and showed a glass transition at −60 °C. The guanidine linkages in the polymers started to unzip above 60 °C as was indicated by a drop in the E-modulus, at about 130 °C sufficient guanidine crosslinks had unzipped to provide the polymer liquid-like properties. The guanidine crosslinks were reformed after cooling to ambient temperature giving back the polymer network. [Display omitted] • The reaction of carbodiimide and hydroxyl gave stable isourea bonds. • Using excess carbodiimide yielded thermo-reversible guanidine linkages. • Reacting polyol with excess bis-carbodiimide provided crosslinked polymer. • The crosslinks were stable below 60 °C and unzipped above 130 °C. • The thermosetting polymers showed thermally self-healable properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable materials are materials that are replenished naturally and can be used again and again. These materials include things such as bamboo, cork, hemp, and recycled plastic. The use of renewable components helps to reduce the dependence on petrochemical resources and reduce waste. Adopting these materials in various industries such as construction, packaging, and textiles can lead to a more sustainable future and decrease the carbon footprint. The presented research describes new porous polyurethane biocomposites based on used cooking oil polyol (50 per hundred polyol—php) modified with cork (3, 6, 9, and 12 php). The research described here demonstrated that it is possible to replace some petrochemical raw materials with raw materials of renewable origin. This was achieved by replacing one of the petrochemical components used for the synthesis of the polyurethane matrix with a waste vegetable oil component. The modified foams were analyzed in terms of their apparent density, coefficient of thermal conductivity, compressive strength at 10% of deformation, brittleness, short-term water absorption, thermal stability, and water vapor permeability, while their morphology was examined using scanning electron microscopy and the content of closed cells. After the successful introduction of a bio-filler, it was found that the thermal insulation properties of the modified biomaterials were comparable to those of the reference material. It was concluded that it is possible to replace some petrochemical raw materials with raw materials of renewable origin.

This paper presents the experimental work undertaken to assess rigid palm oil-based polyurethane (PU) foam. The bio-composite foam was characterized to determine its foaming kinetics and morphology, as well as fire retardancy, thermal, and mechanical responses, which was later compared with its petrochemical-based counterpart. The palm oil-based foam displayed poor fire-retardancy performance based on Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI) and UL-94 Vertical Combustion Test. Although less char residue was produced, the palm oil-based PU foam exhibited higher onset degradation temperatures, indicating improved thermal stability. The Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) revealed finer cell sizes for the bio-based foam and a higher fraction of open cell structures, which affected its density and compressive properties. As a conclusion, the palm oil-based PU foam is a viable alternative to be utilized in low load-bearing and thermal environment applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) coated by an aqueous emulsion of copolymer were elaborated in a short time using polyol process and microwave (MW) heating. This approach is based on reducing AgNO3 powder in the presence of two main components; ethylene glycol as a dispersed medium and an industrial copolymer (latex) as protecting agent. The structural, morphological and optical properties of the prepared silver nanoparticles have been investigated by UV–Vis spectroscopy, Infrared Spectroscopy (IR), X Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). It was found that all these properties are strongly correlated to the latex copolymer concentration and the MW heating process. The absorption band was determined by UV Visible spectra, showing several bands (localized surface Plasmon band) in the visible region at wavelengths between 410 and 430 nm. The TEM analysis of the obtained products indicates the presence of straight nanowires and dispersed, spherical silver nanoparticles with well-controlled size ranging from 7 to 20 nm. The X Ray Diffraction showed that silver nanoparticles synthesized exhibit face centered cubic (fcc) structure. The infrared spectra show the strong coordination between the surface of silver particles and molecules of latex by O–H and C=O groups. Antimicrobial activity of latex/Ag NPs against E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been also demonstrated. The results indicated that latex/AgNPs may damage the structure of bacterial cell membrane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Density is an important parameter that influences the properties and performances of rigid polyurethane foam. In this study, a systematic engineering approach is presented for determining the effect of density on mechanical properties of rigid/crushable PU foam for design applications. To this end, several mechanical performance parameters, that is, mean load and strength, secant modulus, energy absorption efficiency and densification strain are at first identified for the PU foam. Foam samples of different densities are obtained by varying the amount of liquid polyol–isocyanate of a desired mixing ratio in a constant-volume cubical mould and letting the blow and gelation reactions progress to completion. By conducting compression tests on cubic specimens of foam obtained, it is shown that various mechanical parameters of interest increase monotonically with respect to density. An SEM-based study on the effect of density on foam microstructure has also been carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The novel renewable source precursors from hydroxyl liquid natural rubbers (HLNRs) with various secondary hydroxyl content of 22% (HLNR22), 35% (HLNR35), and 50% (HLNR50) (or naming macro-hydroxyl polyols) were used to prepare rigid polyurethane foam. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of hydroxyl content of HLNR precursors and the ratio of HLNRs and commercial polyols on physico-mechanical properties of rigid polyurethane foams in comparison to foams made from commercial polyols. The increase in hydroxyl content of HLNRs resulted in the foams with larger cell size while the increase in the HLNR portion caused a small and more uniform cell size, which is related to their density and compressive strength. Thermal stability of polyurethane foams was analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis and the results have demonstrated that the use of HLNR polyols improved thermal stability of polyurethane foams in comparison to commercial foam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The depletion of fossil fuels, high environmental pollution due to the release of toxic organic compounds, and high cost are some of the challenges regarding the reliance on petroleum-based resins. Natural polyhydroxy resins (from cashew nutshell liquid, castor oil, tannins, among others) are readily available, eco-friendly, low cost, and biodegradable, and offer enhanced properties when deployed on surface coatings. Accordingly, more attention has been paid to utilizing natural polyhydroxy compounds and bio-based polyurethane resins to replace synthetic resins in the last few decades. This review presents state-of-the-art natural polyhydroxy resins and their application as precursors in surface coatings. Bio-based resins from cashew nutshell liquid (cardanol), castor oil, and tannins employed as precursors in bio-based polyurethane coatings exhibit enhanced/excellent impact strength, adhesion, flexibility, water, and chemical resistance, to mention a few. Moreover, natural resins and eco-friendly polyurethane coatings, including their methods of modification, are also reviewed. This review article helps to promote natural polyhydroxy resins as sustainable and promising green materials for the coatings industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In this study, nineteen unmodified lignins from various sources (hardwood, softwood, wheat straw, and corn stover) and isolation processes (kraft, soda, organosolv, sulfite, and enzymatic hydrolysis) were used to replace 30 wt.% of petroleum-based polyol in rigid polyurethane/polyisocyanurate (PUR/PIR) foam formulations. Lignin samples were characterized by measuring their ash content, hydroxyl content (Phosphorus Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy), impurities (Inductively Coupled Plasma), and pH. After foam formulation, properties of lignin-based foams were evaluated and compared with a control foam (with no lignin) via cell morphology, closed-cell content, compression strength, apparent density, thermal conductivity, and color analysis. Lignin-based foams passed all measured standard specifications required by ASTM International C1029-15 for type 1 rigid insulation foams, except for three foams. These three foams had poor compressive strengths, significantly larger cell sizes, darker color, lower closed-cell contents, and slower foaming times. The foam made with corn stover enzymatic hydrolysis lignin showed no significant difference from the control foam in terms of compressive strength and outperformed all other lignin-based foams due to its higher aliphatic and p-hydroxyphenyl hydroxyl contents. Lignin-based foams that passed all required performance testing were made with lignins having higher pH, potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, and aliphatic/p-hydroxyphenyl hydroxyl group contents than those that failed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Softwood kraft lignin is a major bioresource relevant to the production of sustainable bio-based products. Continued challenges to lignin valorization, however, include poor solubility in organic solvents and in aqueous solutions at neutral pH. Herein, an alkaline tolerant laccase was used to graft acrylate functionalities onto softwood kraft lignin, which is expected to enhance the reactivity of lignin with isocyanate when producing bio-based polyurethanes. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and high-performance liquid chromatography were used to confirm successful grafting of the acrylate monomer onto lignin and verify the importance of including tert-butyl hydroperoxide as an initiator in the grafting reaction. Laccase-mediated grafting of softwood kraft lignin under alkaline conditions produced lignin products with approximately 30% higher hydroxyl value and higher reactivity toward isocyanate. The reported enzymatic and aqueous process presents an opportunity for the sustainable valorization of softwood kraft lignin. Key points: • Softwood kraft lignin displayed high phenolic hydroxyl content, polydispersity index and average molecular weight • Grafting hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA) monomer onto kraft lignin by laccase was successful at 60 °C and alkaline conditions • Lignin-HEA grafted copolymer showed an increase in total OH value and an increase in average molecular weight [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microwave-assisted synthesis of functional metal nanoparticles (NPs) has gained considerable interest because of the shorter reaction period, significantly reduced energy consumption, and lower environmental impact compared to conventional heating. Herein, we elucidate the microwave-assisted synthesis of Pt NPs via liquid-phase polyol reaction based on a detailed investigation of the reaction dynamics during synthesis and its correlation with NP growth and crystallinity formation. The reduction behavior of Pt precursor under temperature scale is initially clarified, whose results suggest that precursor reduction plays an important role in deciding the crystallinity of Pt NPs core-state, that is polycrystalline Pt NPs with twinned crystal planes in microwave-assisted fast heating, and single crystalline Pt NPs in microwave-assisted slow heating. In addition, through a systematic comparison with oil-bath-induced conventional heating under identically controlled experimental conditions, the effect of microwave irradiation on the synthesis of the Pt NPs is also clarified. We also study the volatile oxidation products generated in polyol processes and derived a reaction mechanism distinct from the existing theory. By loading structurally controlled Pt NPs on hydroxyapatite, we successfully develop a high-performance catalyst for the elimination of VOC. Despite the 100-fold lower loading amount of Pt NPs herein compared with previous studies, the developed catalyst exhibits a superior CO2 selectivity of 100% in the oxidative decomposition of VOC under entire low-temperature regions (200-400°C). The excellent catalytic activity of Pt NPs originating from the unique surface/interface structure tailored by microwave-assisted fast heating is elucidated. The insights from this work not only provide important information on nanomaterial chemistry, but also offer guidance on the design and development of functional nanoparticle catalyst for environmental cleaning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal–organic framework membranes are frequently used in gas separations, but rare in pervaporation for liquid chemical upgrading, especially for separating water from polyols, due to lack of highly compact and robust micro‐architecture. Here, we report hetero‐lattice intergrown membranes in which amino‐MIL‐101 (Cr) particles embedded into the micro‐gaps of MIL‐53 (Al) rod arrays after secondary growth. By means of high‐resolution TEM and two‐dimensional topologic simulation, the connection between these two distinct MOF lattices at the molecular‐level and their crystallographic geometry harmony is identified, which leads to a close‐knit structure at the crystal boundaries of membranes. Typically, the membrane shows a separation factor as high as 13 000 for a 90/10 ethanediol/water solution in pervaporation, yields polymer‐grade ethanediol, and saves ca. 32 % of energy consumption vs. vacuum distillation. It has a highly robust micro‐architecture, with great tolerance to high pressure, durability against ultrasonic therapy and long‐term separation stability over 600 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waterborne polyurethane (WPU) with different polyols (polyester diol and polyether diol, different crystalline degree) as soft segments was synthesized using carboxylic acid/sulfonic acid as mixed hydrophilic monomer by the acetone dilution method. The solid content and the particle size of WPU were measured. And the structure, the thermal behavior, the mechanical properties, and the water absorption value of WPU films were detected. It is found that the structure of polyester and low crystalline degree is convenient to obtain high solid content. The polyether diol structure has better thermal stability. The structure of polyester and high crystalline degree has lower water absorption value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, ternary Au-ZnO/rGO nanocomposite was prepared using a modified polyol protocol. The ternary structure was attained by deposition of both gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and ZnO NPs on the rGO surface. No surfactants or ligands are used in this chemical process. On the other hand, 1,3-propanediol was used as solvent, reducing agent and surfactant to ensure the formation of NPs and inhibit particles accumulation. The XRD data confirm the successful formation of the three materials and the high crystallinity of the as-prepared sample. Moreover, the XPS measurements confirmed the high purity of the nanocomposite. TEM images show the formation of ternary Au/ZnO/rGO nanostructure. However, Au and ZnO NPs exhibited spherical shape with an average size of 20 nm and homogeneously distribution onto the rGO surface. The ternary Au-ZnO/rGO nanocomposite exhibited optical response in both UV and visible region due to the plasmonic properties of AuNPs. The BET data revealed an increase of the surface area of Au-ZnO/rGO nanocomposite compared to bare ZnO and hybrid Au-ZnO NPs which render it a promising system for high photocatalytic activity. The preliminary photodegradation measurements against MB molecules prove the high performance of the ternary Au-ZnO/rGO nanocomposite to decompose pollutant molecules compared to bare ZnO. The observed photocatalytic activity enhancement could be attributed to the apport given by both plasmonic properties of AuNPs and the high surface area of rGO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present work was to study the physicochemical, textural and sensory properties of biscuits prepared by replacing sucrose with rare sugar (D-psicose) and/or polyols (sorbitol, xylitol) at 25% or 50%. The results showed that increasing D-psicose replacement resulted in lower moisture content, darker and less yellow, and thicker biscuits. However, opposite effects were observed in polyol substitute biscuits. The texture of the biscuits was also significantly affected by the sweeteners. After two months of storage, the hardness values had significantly decreased in the samples with 50% alternative sweeteners (P<0.05). The sensory evaluation of the biscuits containing natural sweeteners was close to that of sucrose (100%). In conclusion, D-psicose and polyols generally had opposite effects on biscuit characteristics. Therefore, it was found that the samples with similar/better properties to/than the control could be prepared by replacing sucrose with D-psicose (25%) and polyol(s) (25%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Preventing spontaneous crystallization of supersaturated solutions by additives is of critical interest to successful process design and implementation, with numerous applications in chemical, pharmaceutical, medical, pigment, and food industries, but challenges remain in laboratory and industry settings and fundamental understanding is lacking. When copresented with antifreeze proteins (AFPs), otherwise spontaneously crystallizing osmolytes are maintained at high supersaturations for months in over-wintering organisms. Thus, we here explore the inhibition phenomenon by AFPs, using persistent crystallization of a common sugar alcohol, D-mannitol, as a case study. We report experimentally that DAFP1, an insect AFP, completely inhibits D-mannitol nucleation. Computer simulations reveal a new mechanism for crystallization inhibition where the population of the crystal-forming conformers are selectively bound and randomized in solution by hydrogen bonding to the protein surface. These results highlight the advantages of using natural polymers to address crystallization inhibition challenges and suggest new strategies in controlling the nucleation processes.

To simultaneously improve the strength and hydrophobicity of alginate-based fibers, a new wet spinning strategy for preparing alginate ester fibers (AE) based on esterification reaction with polyols as in-situ crosslinking agents through acid catalysis is proposed. The esterification was confirmed by FTIR and NMR. XRD analysis showed that the crystallinity of AE fiber increased by 235%. The test results of mechanical properties showed that the modulus has seen an increase of 41.18% and strength an increase of 78.4%. Interestingly, the contact angle was found to increase from 54.6° to 121.9°. Moreover, the influences of polyol types (Ethylene glycol, Glycerol, Pentaerythritol) on the properties of AE fiber are also investigated, the types of polyol have obvious influences on the mechanical properties, crystallinity, and hydrophobicity in AE fibers. These results indicate that this strategy provides a broad application space for alginate-based materials.

The compatibility between isocyanate and polyol plays an important role in determining a polyurethane product’s performance. This study aims to evaluate the effect of varying the ratios between polymeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (pMDI) and Acacia mangium liquefied wood polyol on the polyurethane film properties. A. mangium wood sawdust was liquefied in polyethylene glycol/glycerol co-solvent with H2SO4 as a catalyst at 150 °C for 150 min. The A. mangium liquefied wood was mixed with pMDI with difference NCO/OH ratios to produce film through the casting method. The effects of the NCO/OH ratios on the molecular structure of the PU film were examined. The formation of urethane, which was located at 1730 cm−1, was confirmed via FTIR spectroscopy. The TGA and DMA results indicated that high NCO/OH ratios increased the degradation temperature and glass transition from 275 °C to 286 °C and 50 °C to 84 °C, respectively. The prolonged heat appeared to boost the crosslinking density of the A. mangium polyurethane films, which finally resulted in a low sol fraction. From the 2D-COS analysis, the hydrogen-bonded carbonyl (1710 cm−1) had the most significant intensity changes with the increasing NCO/OH ratios. The occurrence of the peak after 1730 cm−1 revealed that there was substantial formation of urethane hydrogen bonding between the hard (PMDI) and soft (polyol) segments as the NCO/OH ratios increased, which gave higher rigidity to the film.

l-arabitol is an intermediate of the pentose catabolic pathway in fungi but can also be used as a carbon source by many fungi, suggesting the presence of transporters for this polyol. In this study, an l-arabitol transporter, LatA, was identified in Aspergillus niger. Growth and expression profiles as well as sugar consumption analysis indicated that LatA only imports l-arabitol and is regulated by the arabinanolytic transcriptional activator AraR. Moreover, l-arabitol production from wheat bran was increased in a metabolically engineered A. niger mutant by the deletion of latA, indicating its potential for improving l-arabitol-producing cell factories. Phylogenetic analysis showed that homologs of LatA are widely conserved in fungi.

The sugar alcohol erythritol is a relatively new food ingredient. It is naturally occurring in plants, however, produced commercially by fermentation. It is also produced endogenously via the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP). Consumers perceive erythritol as less healthy than sweeteners extracted from plants, including sucrose. This review evaluates that perspective by summarizing current literature regarding erythritol’s safety, production, metabolism, and health effects. Dietary erythritol is 30% less sweet than sucrose, but contains negligible energy. Because it is almost fully absorbed and excreted in urine, it is better tolerated than other sugar alcohols. Evidence shows erythritol has potential as a beneficial replacement for sugar in healthy and diabetic subjects as it exerts no effects on glucose or insulin and induces gut hormone secretions that modulate satiety to promote weight loss. Long-term rodent studies show erythritol consumption lowers body weight or adiposity. However, observational studies indicate positive association between plasma erythritol and obesity and cardiometabolic disease. It is unlikely that dietary erythritol is mediating these associations, rather they reflect dysregulated PPP due to impaired glycemia or glucose-rich diet. However, long-term clinical trials investigating the effects of chronic erythritol consumption on body weight and risk for metabolic diseases are needed. Current evidence suggests these studies will document beneficial effects of dietary erythritol compared to caloric sugars and allay consumer misperceptions.

Food waste contains complex nutrients such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins which could be broken down into simpler substrates such as sugars (e.g., glucose), lipids and proteins (e.g., free amino nitrogen). These components can be used for conversion into useful bio-based products such as chemicals, materials and fuels. This research aimed at the development of bio-based polyurethane (PU) materials using food waste-derived lipids. Since the quality of lipid plays an important role in polyol synthesis, optimal extraction procedures were developed to select the most appropriate method for polyol synthesis. From obtained lipids, two polyol synthesis methods were used, lipid transamidation with diethanolamine (DEOA or DEA) and lipid epoxidation and subsequent epoxy ring opening with trimethylolpropane. Bio-polyol obtained in transamidation reaction was used to obtain rigid PU foams with three different isocyanate indices of 130; 150 and 200 while bio-polyol form epoxy ring opening was used to obtain rigid PU foams with an isocyanate index of 150. The initial formulations were suitable to produce good quality rigid PU foam samples at a laboratory scale. The resultant rigid PU foams are promising for further studies and development of thermal insulation materials.

Silver doped zinc sulphide nanoparticles were synthesised by a microwave-assisted polyol method. Characterisation of nanoparticles was performed using XRD, FESEM-EDXand UV-visible spectroscopy to investigate chemical structure, crystalline phase, particle size and surface morphology. Antibacterial properties of synthesised nanoparticles were investigated by determining their MIC and MBC values and kinetic of bactericidal activity against Staphylococcus aureus(ATCC 6538) and Escherichia coli(ATCC 25922). Characterisation of the synthesised nanoparticles showed formation of single phase of hexagonal wurtzite ZnS structure with Ag+ substitution at 1.6% Zn/Ag molar ratio. MIC values were determined as 250 and 500 µg/ml against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, respectively and time kill profiles showed efficient and rapid bactericidal activity of the synthesised Ag-doped ZnS nanoparticles. Results of this study suggest a synthesis strategy for Ag-doped ZnS nanoparticles with potent and broad spectrum antibacterial properties that can widen the range of applications of these nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work reports a straightforward and selective method for the preparation of a polyol that can be used in the manufacture of polyurethane (PU) films. The polyol, from the N‐hydroxyalkylamides family, is obtained from the selective amidation and oxirane ring opening of epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) with the amino alcohol N‐methylethanolamine (N‐MEA). The reaction is carried out under mild conditions and in the absence of solvents and catalysts. Other similar amino alcohols (namely monoethanolamine (ETA), 5‐amino‐1‐pentanol (PEA), and 2‐(2‐aminoethoxy)ethanol (AEE)) are also used to carried out the amidation of ESO. However, for these amines, the amidation and/or oxirane ring opening of ESO is not complete. Therefore, the N‐hydroxyalkylamide obtained from the amidation of ESO with N‐MEA is chosen as the polyol for the preparation of PU films. The PU films are obtained from the reaction with a trimer of hexamethylene diisocyanate (Tolonate) and hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI). Curing proceeds at room temperature, without catalyst. It is shown that the properties of the resulting PU films are dependent on the amount of Tolonate in the formulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZnO and halide (Cl, Br, and I) enriched ZnO samples have been synthesized by polyol method. Halide enriched zinc oxide (ZnO‐X) were obtained when synthesis was carried out in the presence of tetrabutylammonium halide (X‐Cl, Br, and I) salts. X‐ray results reveal that the halide ions seem to occupy the oxygen vacancy sites as well as interstitial sites of the ZnO lattice increasing the cell volume and strain along the c‐axis. Microspheres are observed in the scanning electron micrographs with the size ranging between 170 and 385 nm. Photocatalytic activity of the synthesized samples was tested under UV light irradiation for the decomposition of Rhodamine‐6G dye. The halide enriched ZnO samples show higher rate of dye degradation compared to pristine ZnO attributable to their higher bandgap leading to a decrease in the recombination reactions of the electron–hole pair and higher light absorbing ability. ZnO‐Br is seen to exhibit the highest rate of degradation due to higher bandgap, light absorbing ability and predominance of (101) facet in the lattice. Further, ZnO‐Br appears to undergo negligible change after 3 cycles of catalysis proving its reusability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyol sweeteners, including erythritol and xylitol, have been investigated for their potential in insect control against a number of pests including mosquitoes, fruit flies, ants, and filth flies. Several insecticidal modes of action for the polyols have been proposed in non‐biting flies and include: (1) dehydration from excessive regurgitation, (2) arrestment of physiological processes due to abnormally high hemolymph osmolality or osmotic diarrhea, and (3) alteration of the gut microbiome. Here, we explored the proposed modes of action in the house fly, Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae), a non‐biting fly of medical and veterinary importance. House flies fed erythritol or xylitol regurgitated at a significantly higher rate when compared to flies that ingested sucrose. Flies that ingested sucrose solutions had higher hemolymph osmolality than erythritol but not xylitol, and deposited significantly more fecal spots than flies fed polyol solutions. Cultivable bacteria were least abundant in flies fed solutions of either sucrose or xylitol and most abundant in control flies provided water only. Of the potential modes of action tested, physiological stress from excessive post‐feeding regurgitation seems the likeliest cause of death related to polyol consumption. However, we cannot rule out a classical toxicological or biochemical mode of action from these results. Although the efficacy of polyols as active ingredients is still under debate, their use as other components in fly control products may be beneficial. Due to widespread resistance to a limited number of insecticidal chemicals registered for house fly control, it is important that new control chemicals be thoroughly assessed for usefulness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Tri- and tetra-functional polycarbonate polyols are synthesized using double metal cyanide (DMC) catalysts. • DMC catalysts bearing various dicarbonyls as complexing agents (CAs) are intensively characterized. • CAs coordinated in keto form exhibit higher efficacy than those in enol and carboxylate form. • Polycarbonate polyol with carbonate/ether ratio up to 88 % is achieved. Functional polycarbonate polyols have been synthesized by CO 2 /propylene oxide (PO) copolymerizations using various Zn(II)-Co(III) double metal cyanide (DMC) catalysts bearing α-, β-, γ-, and δ-dicarbonyl complexing agents (CAs) including dicarboxylic acids, diesters, ketoester, and diketones. The resultant heterogeneous catalysts are intensively characterized by infrared, absorption and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies, X-ray powder diffraction, and elemental analysis. The produced polycarbonate polyols are characterized using infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies, gel permeation chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis measurements. The catalysts bearing β-, γ-, and δ-dicarbonyl CAs exhibit high activity towards CO 2 /PO copolymerization and produce polycarbonate polyols with high carbonate content, wide range of molecular weight and narrow polydispersity. The functionality of the resultant polycarbonate polyols varies depending on the type of CAs and the functionality of initiators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Various dicarbonyl compounds are used for complexing agents (CAs) for double metal cyanide (DMC) catalysts. • Coordination mode and content of the CAs located within the catalyst deeply influence the catalytic activity. • Most of the catalysts show excellent catalytic activity towards propylene oxide polymerization. • The molecular weight and its distribution, and functionality of the resultant polyols can be controlled. Organic complexing agent (CA) plays a crucial role in generating active sites of double metal cyanide (DMC) catalyst in the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of epoxides. Considering dicarbonyl compounds are versatile and present a great variety of coordination modes besides the usual bidentate behavior of monoanions, the usefulness of the dicarbonyl compounds as CAs for Zn(II)-Co(III) DMC catalysts is investigated. The structural properties of the catalysts were defined by X-ray powder diffraction patterns, elemental analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis. The interaction of the dicarbonyl ligand on the catalyst surface is evaluated by integrating infrared, UV–vis absorption and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies. The turnover frequencies (calculated by mol-PO per mol-Zn per minute) of the DMC catalysts bearing β-, γ-, and δ-diesters are significantly higher than those of conventional catalysts specifically bearing tert -butyl alcohol as a CA. The resultant polyols exhibit very low levels of unsaturation and narrow polydispersity indexes. The molecular weight and functionality of the resultant polyols can be tuned by modifying the polymerization parameters. Systematic studies on the effect of the new CAs on the catalytic behavior offer great potential for the synthesis of high quality polyols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the influence of polyol compounds (sorbitol and erythritol) on the osmotic dehydration process of pomegranate seeds. The efficacy of the osmotic dehydration process was estimated based on the determination of water loss, weight reduction, solid gain, and effective diffusivity and also through a comparison of the results obtained between sucrose and polyol osmotic solutions. Response surface methodology was used to optimize the osmotic process. Quality attributes of pomegranate seeds were determined through the assessment of physical (texture and color) characteristics. This innovative research applies alternative solutions in the osmotic process, which until now, have not been commonly used in the osmotic dehydration of pomegranate seeds processing by researchers worldwide. Results revealed the excellent correlation of experimental values with the model. Erythritol and sorbitol exhibit stronger efficiency than sucrose. However, erythritol was not satisfactory due to the high solid gain. Therefore, the sorbitol osmotic agent seems to be the most suitable for the osmotic dehydration of pomegranate seeds. The optimal condition for maximum water loss (38.61%), weight reduction (37.77%), and effective diffusivity (4.01 × 10-8 m2/s) and minimum solid gain (-0.37%) were 13.03 min, 27.77 °Brix, and 37.7°C, using a sorbitol solution. Results of texture and color revealed the major impact of erythritol and sorbitol osmotic agents on seed characteristics during the osmotic dehydration process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydroxyalkylation of the mixture of metasilicic acid and cellulose with glycidol and ethylene carbonate leads to a polyol suitable to obtain rigid polyurethane foams. The composition, structure, and physical properties of the polyol were studied in detail. The obtained foams have apparent density, water absorption, and polymerization shrinkage, as well as heat conduction coefficients similar to conventional, rigid polyurethane foams. The polyols and foams obtained from environmentally unobtrusive substrates are easily biodegradable. Additionally, the obtained foams have high thermal resistance and are self-extinguishing. Thermal exposure of the foams leads to an increase of the compressive strength of the material and further reduces their flammability, which renders them suitable for use as heat insulating materials.

The method of polyol synthesis from cellulose, glycidol, and ethylene carbonate in water was elaborated. The obtained polyol was characterized by IR, 1H NMR and MALDI ToF spectroscopy. The polyol was then used to obtain rigid polyurethane foam. That foam have apparent density, water uptake, and polymerization shrinkage similar to conventional rigid polyurethane foams. The foam showed advantageous thermal resistance in comparison with classic ones. After thermal exposure its compressive strength was improved. The polyol is totally biodegradable in soil. The polyurethane foam obtained from this polyol was 70–80% biodegraded in soil within 28 days.

[Display omitted] • Sustainable and eco-friendly method for synthesizing castor oil-based fillers is explored. • The castor oil-based fillers exhibit promising properties for toughening PHB. • The resultant PHB composites have improved mechanical properties. • Fibrillation and shear yielding are the proposed toughening mechanisms for the resultant PHB composites. Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) faces a significant challenge of intrinsic brittleness, thus limiting its widespread applicability. This challenge can be surmounted by incorporating various nanofillers into the PHB matrix to tune the mechanical performance. However, many of these fillers are produced using unsustainable, non-environmentally friendly methods. Herein, we employed a green process to develop castor-oil-based fillers, CO- g -DLA, and CO-P(CL- co -DLA)-PDLA (CO- r -DLA), for the toughening of the PHB matrix. Impressively, the addition of 20% of these fillers increases the elongation at the break by 13-fold through forming elongated fibril structures and enhanced interfacial interactions between fillers and the matrix, accompanying by a substantial reduction on the PHB's brittleness through shear yielding and fibrillation. These are confirmed by Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) results, showing significant copolymer-induced microstructural changes in the matrix. The biodegradable PHB biocomposite developed in this study offers a promising green alternative to conventional plastics, especially in sustainable packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The isothermal crystallization behavior and kinetics of poly(l -lactic acid) (PLLA) melt-blended small amounts (0.7%–1%) of polyols (D-mannitol, D-sorbitol, and xylitol) were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and the interaction between polyols and PLLA was clarified via multiscale theoretical simulations. The decreased peak crystallization time and full width at half peak maximum (FWHM) of polyol-modified PLLA indicates that the crystallization capability of PLLA was improved, and the process was accelerated. The crystallinity remains unchanged before and after modification at the same temperature. The Avrami exponent (n) is largely unaffected, indicating that polyols as nucleation accelerants hardly alter the nucleation and growth mechanisms of PLLA crystallization. The outputs of long-term molecular dynamics simulations were fulfilled toward large-scale periodic models for three polyol-PLLA models that involved over 20,000 atoms. Therein, the interaction energies and the derived radial distribution function (RDF) implied the hydrogen bonding occurred between polyol and PLLA. To visualize the interaction sites between the polyol and PLLA, the frontier orbital distributions of the polyols were further calculated according to density functional theory (DFT). Theoretical evidence suggests that polyols improve the crystallization capability of PLLA by hydrogen bonding between the terminal hydroxyl group and the carbonyl oxygen of PLLA. [Display omitted] • Polyols significantly enhanced the isothermal crystallization of PLLA. • Molecular dynamics simulations reveal the hydrogen bonding between polyols and PLLA. • The hydrogen bonding sites of polyols are the terminal hydroxyl groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The molecular structure of the polyurethane soft segment has significant influence on the performance of polyurethane modified asphalt (PUMA). To investigate the effect of soft segment length on the performance of PUMA, three kinds of polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMEG) with different molar masses were selected to synthesize three polyurethane prepolymers (PUP) with various soft segment lengths. As a result, modifying asphalt with these PUPs lead to three PUMAs. Research showed that the initial decomposition temperature of the PUP rised with the increment of soft segment length and eventually above the base asphalt. The high and low temperature properties of PUMA were enhanced with increasing the soft segment length. However, the dispersion of modifier in the asphalt became worse with higher soft segment length. It should be attributed to the interaction between PUP and asphalt molecules and the crystallization of soft segments. This study provides a good reference for the selection of materials for PUMA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rigid polyurethane (PU) foam has been widely used for a multitude of applications, primarily as thermal insulation materials. With the exhortation of "green chemistry" and sustainable development, bio-based polyols are being introduced to replace the conventional petrochemical-based polyols. Hence, the use of 9, 10-dihydroxystearic acid (DHSA), derived from palm oil-based oleic acid, as a feedstock for rigid PU foam production was explored. In this study, the effects of the weight ratio percentage of DHSA on the characteristics of the resulting PU foams were investigated. The DHSA was utilized as a co-polyol to synthesize rigid PU foams by reacting with the diisocyanate compound, blowing agent and additives. In general, the effects of DHSA in the formulations on the quality of the foams were relatively similar to PU formulation without the addition of DHSA, particularly in terms of density, compressive strength, thermal conductivity, cell structure and dimensional stability. The remarkable effect of DHSA addition in the PU formulations was observed through the open PU cell content using a pycnometer and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The addition of DHSA has the ability to open the cell structure of the resulting rigid PU foams. The open cell content increased notably from 6.83% to 90.99% when the DHSA content was increased from 0% to 50%. The ability of DHSA to produce open-cell rigid PU foam widens up the potential applications of rigid PU foams as sound absorption materials. • Incorporation of DHSA as a co-polyol significantly affects the PU cell matrix. • DHSA has a remarkable effect on enhancing water blown rigid PU cell content. • Open cell content of rigid PU foam notably increased from 6.83% to 90.99%. • No substantial changes to other thermal and structural properties. • Expands DHSA's potential as a sound absorption material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Oral microbiome has significant impact on both oral and general health. Polyols have been promoted as sugar substitutes in prevention of oral diseases. We aimed to reveal the effect of candies containing erythritol, xylitol or control (sorbitol) on salivary microbiome. Methods Ninety children (11.3 ± 0.6 years) consumed candies during 3 years. Microbial communities were profiled using Illumina HiSeq 2000 sequencing and real-time PCR. Results The dominant phyla in saliva were Firmicutes (39.1%), Proteobacteria (26.1%), Bacteroidetes (14.7%), Actinobacteria (12%) and Fusobacteria (6%). The microbiome of erythritol group significantly differed from that of the other groups. Both erythritol and xylitol reduced the number of observed bacterial phylotypes in comparison to the control group. The relative abundance of the genera Veillonella, Streptococcus and Fusobacterium were higher while that of Bergeyella lower after erythritol intervention when comparing with control. The lowest prevalence of caries-related mutans streptococci corresponded with the lowest clinical caries markers in the erythritol group. Conclusions Daily consumption of erythritol, xylitol or control candies has a specific influence on the salivary microbiome composition in schoolchildren. Erythritol is associated with the lowest prevalence of caries-related mutans streptococci and the lowest levels of clinical caries experience. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT01062633.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of replacing glycerol with erythritol on cryopreservation of ram spermatozoa. Semen samples (n=24) were collected from four rams in six times. In each session, the collected ejaculates (n=4) were pooled and split into 12 equal parts. The amount of 0.032 M glycerol (G32E0, equal to 3% glycerol), 0.016 M glycerol and 0.016 M erythritol (G16E16), 0.008 M glycerol and 0.024 M erythritol (G8E24), 0.032 M erythritol (G0E32), 0.054 M glycerol (G54E0, equal to 5% glycerol), 0.027 M glycerol and 0.027 M erythritol (G27E27), 0.013 M glycerol and 0.041 M erythritol (G13E41), 0.054 M erythritol (G0E54), 0.076 M glycerol (G76E0, equal to 7% glycerol ), 0.038 M glycerol and 0.038 M erythritol (G38E38), 0.019 M glycerol and 0.057 M erythritol (G19E57) and 0.076 M erythritol (G0E76) were added. The diluted samples were frozen using standard protocol. After thawing, the samples were incubated at 37°C for 6 h. Results showed that progressive sperm motility and acrosome integrity were higher in G13E41 (18.85 % and 27.41 %, respectively) than treatments that contained only glycerol at 6 h (p < 0.05). At the level of 0.032 and 0.054 M cryoprotectant, the highest of total sperm motility was observed in G8E24 (19.16 %) and G13E41 (18.85 %) at 6 h, respectively (p < 0.05). Therefore, the quality of frozen-thawed ram spermatozoa can be improved by using the mixture of 0.013 M glycerol plus 0.041 M erythritol or 0.008 M glycerol plus 0.024 M erythritol.