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In this study, erucamide as a non‐toxic and tasteless lubricant was melt blended with thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) to reduce the coefficient of friction (COF) of TPU and thus to improve the wearing comfort of intelligent wearable devices. The results show that when the content of erucamide reaches percolation, erucamide can migrate to the TPU surface, forming a layer of lubrication film, and thus significantly reduces the COF of TPU. In addition, erucamide with amide groups can form hydrogen bonds with carbamate groups from TPU chains and thus can disrupt the hydrogen bonds between two amide groups of TPU chains. With the introduction of erucamide, the chain mobility of TPU increases, the partial phase mixing of soft phase and hard phase of TPU occurs, and the interchain interaction between TPU chains decreases. Under the appropriate content of erucamide (0.5 wt%), both the elasticity and processability of TPU are also significantly improved, whereas the high tensile strength, tear strength and elongation at break of the TPU blend is still obtained, facilitating its practical application in intelligent wearable devices. © 2022 Society of Industrial Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concern regarding increasing oil consumption that originates from the high rolling resistance of automobiles has led to the development of green tires. The key enabling technique for preparing green tires involves the utilization of elastomer–silica nanocomposites. Elastomer–silica nanocomposites usually show low rolling resistance because of the intrinsic lubrication characteristics of siloxane and the excellent elastomer‐modified silica interfacial interaction, making them ideal raw materials for a green tire. It is supposed that the comprehensive properties of rolling resistance can be further improved via continually optimizing the microstructures of elastomer–silica nanocomposites. Regulating silica dispersion, understanding the interface between elastomer and silica and building the quantitative correlation between the microstructure and the static/dynamic macro‐mechanical properties are crucial in designing high‐performance elastomer–silica nanocomposites. This review aims to summarize the recent progress of elastomer–silica nanocomposites from the point of view of silica dispersion, the elastomer–silica interface and the microstructure–mechanical connection, combining simulation and actual experimental findings. A short conclusion and an outlook on the current limitations and possible future research directions for constructing high‐performance elastomer–silica nanocomposites for low‐energy green tires are also presented. © 2022 Society of Industrial Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Clean Coal Technology is the property of Clean Coal Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Inorganic Chemicals Industry is the property of Editorial Office of Inorganic Chemicals Industry and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The objective of the current research was to study the effect of different alcohol reduction technologies on the chemical aromatic composition of La Mancha Tempranillo rosé wines. Volatile compounds were analysed using Gas Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), with previous isolation by solid phase extraction (SPE). C6 compounds were the only group of varietal compounds that was modified when the total dealcoholizing process was used. According to their odor descriptor, the volatile compounds were grouped into six odorant series. The total intensity of each aromatic series was calculated by adding the OAVs of the compounds appointed to this series. All wines showed the same sequence, only modified the intensity of the principal aromatic series, mainly in total dealcoholized wines. These studied wines maintain the aromatic typicality independently from ethanol concentration, which highlights the viability of these techniques as an alternative to the traditional winemaking process, which will allow diversifying wine's actual market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent decades have seen substantial changes to the innovation systems of major economies, not least due to a paradigm shift caused by the digital revolution. Whether smaller advanced economies such as Australia have undergone a similar shift or moved to fill the void left by other countries is unclear. This issue is important as it sets the long‐term growth path of these economies. I use Australian patent data and show that there has been a similar surge in Australia in patenting, mainly driven by medical and digital technologies. Australia, however, is showing more strength in a few niche areas. At the same time, the scope of patents, as one measure of basicness, narrowed over the years. This has been driven by private companies opting for applied research and also refocusing their innovation efforts away from chemical and material technologies and onto digital technologies and other applied areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existing possibilities for modeling the kinetics of supercritical processes at the molecular level are considered from the point of view that the Second Law of thermodynamics must be fulfilled. The only approach that ensures the fulfillment of the Second Law of thermodynamics is the molecular theory based on the discrete–continuous lattice gas model. Expressions for the rates of the elementary stage on its basis give a self-consistent description of the equilibrium states of the mixtures under consideration. The common usage today of ideal kinetic models in SC processes in modeling industrial chemistry contradicts the non-ideal equation of states. The used molecular theory is the theory of absolute reaction rates for non-ideal reaction systems, which takes into account intermolecular interactions that change the effective activation energies of elementary stages. This allows the theory to describe the rates of elementary stages of chemical transformations and molecular transport at arbitrary temperatures and reagent densities in different phases. The application of this theory in a wide range of state parameters (pressure and temperature) is considered when calculating the rates of elementary bimolecular reactions and dissipative coefficients under supercritical conditions. Generalized dependencies are calculated within the framework of the law of the corresponding states for the coefficients of compressibility, shear viscosity, and thermal conductivity of pure substances, and for the coefficients of compressibility, self- and mutual diffusion, and shear viscosity of binary mixtures. The effect of density and temperature on the rates of elementary stages under supercritical conditions has been demonstrated for a reaction's effective energies of activation, diffusion and share viscosity coefficients, and equilibrium constants of adsorption. Differences between models with effective parameters and the prospects for developing them by allowing for differences in size and contributions from the vibrational motions of components are described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Industrial Minerals & Processing / Huagong Kuangwu yu Jiagong is the property of Industrial Minerals & Processing Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Biosurfactants are promising additives for gas hydrate technology applications. They are believed to have better eco properties than conventional kinetic hydrate promoters such as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). In this article, the research advances on the use of biosurfactants for gas hydrate formation enhancement have been reviewed and discussed in detail to provide current knowledge on their progress in green chemistry technologies. Specifically, the use of bio promoters in carbon capture, gas storage and transportation are discussed. By far, biosurfactants seem to perform better than conventional hydrate promoters and have the potential to lead to the commercialization of gas hydrate-based technologies in terms of improving hydrate kinetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Epichlorohydrin (ECH) production is an important industrial process, owing to its importance in windmill blade manufacture, but it suffers from several drawbacks such as high energy use, large wastewater production and low atom efficiency. This original study investigates a novel chlorohydrin‐free technology with an enhanced separation system for ECH production. Rigorous process simulations were performed in Aspen Plus for the classic and novel processes, and a fair techno‐economic and sustainability comparison was made between the new catalytic oxidation route and the classic chlorohydrin process. RESULTS: For the hydrogen peroxide (HP) process route, a novel separation system was developed using methanol as solvent, which enables high purity of ECH. Moreover, allyl chloride (ACH) purification was optimized using thermally coupled distillation to improve the energy efficiency of ACH production. The novel HP process provides 88% higher atom efficiency, about 10% higher yield and a smaller amount of by‐products, as well as a 13% increase in production capacity and major savings of 98% in wastewater production, while also achieving lower energy use (<40 MJ kg−1 ECH) and reduced carbon dioxide emission (1.13 kg kg−1 ECH). CONCLUSION: The developed HP process route is feasible and economically viable. Also, it can be partly retrofitted to existing ECH plants based on the chlorohydrin route. As both processes use the same intermediate product, only the ECH part of a classic process would be replaced by the novel route, while keeping the common ACH part. This approach is the most profitable, as only 55% of capital expenditure is required for this modification, while the plant would benefit from all the improvements provided by the novel process. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry (SCI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Microalgal–bacterial systems work on the principle of the symbiotic relationship between algae and bacteria. The ability of algal–bacterial photobioreactors for the treatment of wastewater containing ammonia and phenol has been poorly addressed. In this work a self‐sustaining synergetic microalgal–bacterial granular sludge process was thus developed to treatment of industrial wastewater based upon the low cost of photosynthetic oxygenation and the simultaneous phenol and nitrogen removal. The performance of a conventional sequential batch reactor (SBR) based on aerobic bacterial communities (SBRB) and a microalgal–bacterial granular SBR (SBRMB) were comparatively assessed. The major challenges associated with microalgal–bacterial systems were discussed. RESULTS: A complete removal of phenol (100 mg L−1) was achieved in both reactors. The reactors SBRB and SBRMB showed similar performance in term of removal of inorganic nitrogen. Nitrogen mass balances estimated nitrogen assimilation, nitrification and denitrification. Higher simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (70% SND) occurred in SBRB as determined by mass balances. The higher nitrogen assimilation (17.9%) by the microalgal–bacterial biomass compensated the lower denitrifying activity in SBRMB (54% SND), resulting in a removal of inorganic nitrogen (61%) similar to that obtained in SBRB (66%). N2O was not detected in the headspace of any system. CONCLUSION: Granular microalgal–bacterial consortia implemented in SBR constitute an efficient method for industrial wastewater treatment achieving complete removal of ammonia and phenol. The application of SBRMB would be more cost effective than SBRB mainly due to the significant energy savings in SBRMB resulting in a sustainable system that contributes to the circular bioeconomy. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry (SCI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Treatment of liquid hazardous medical wastewater produced by healthcare laboratories is a global matter that has been inadequately addressed. In this study, the potential of heterogeneous and homogeneous photocatalytic oxidation to detoxify and disinfect such effluents was investigated. Experiments were performed using two toxic effluents and one of simultaneous toxic and infectious composition in pilot scale, in a novel photocatalytic inactivation system. RESULTS: Photocatalytic experimental runs performed with both toxic effluents showed that photo‐Fenton‐assisted TiO2 photocatalytic oxidation under optimal conditions was the most efficient process among the tested ones, when the initial dissolved organic carbon values (DOC0) ranged from 100 to 1000 mg L−1. Furthermore, the potential of catalyst reuse was examined and verified for five sequential runs. Moreover, phytotoxicity was either eliminated or significantly reduced after photocatalytic processing under optimal conditions in the case of the second wastewater of toxic composition, while ecotoxicity showed a similar trend, highlighting the importance of extended mineralization for the removal of toxicity. The performance of the pilot photocatalytic inactivation system concerning the inactivation of bio‐pollutants was tested on five different types of microbes. Four of them were completely inactivated in relatively short periods, while survival of the more resistant bacterial endospores was found to be decreased to >99% after 5 h of treatment. CONCLUSION: Toxic and infectious hazardous medical effluents are highly recalcitrant targets in terms of mineralization, detoxification and inactivation. However, photocatalytic oxidation may serve as an efficient processing tool, providing alternative or complementary solutions to this highly challenging issue. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry (SCI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Antimony (Sb) is considered a priority pollutant and its removal from the environment is of great importance. Among the various treatments, phytoremediation is considered an efficient method when the accumulation of this metalloid in plant tissues is sufficiently high. This work focused on removal of Sb(III) from aqueous solution at two Sb concentrations (5 and 10 ppm) and using salt as stressor (100 mmol L−1) only at the lowest Sb concentration (5 ppm). The response of two salt‐tolerant plant species – Tamarix smyrnensis and Nerium oleander – was monitored when subjected to Sb‐contaminated hydroponic solutions. Results: Plant growth and water content remained unaltered within the 15‐day experimental period, while the chlorophyll content declined significantly at the higher Sb level (10 ppm) only for N. oleander. The antioxidant enzymatic activity in T. smyrnensis with respect to guaiacol peroxidase (GPOD) and catalase (CAT) was significantly increased in the treatment under Sb and salt stress. In N. oleander there was a strong increase in GPOD activity by the exposure to Sb, whereas the CAT activity was increased considerably with the presence of salinity. Sb concentration was detected on the surface of the leaves, indicating that excretion occurred in both plants. Increased accumulation was observed in N. oleander in the absence of salinity whereas, under salt stress, Sb accumulation was considerably higher (60%) in T. smyrnensis. Notably, both plants could accumulate a high amount of Sb, preferentially in the roots, with the concentrations in the leaves being significantly lower. Conclusion: The experimental results from this study demonstrate that both plants are suitable for phytoremediation due to substantial Sb accumulation without visible Sb toxicity. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry (SCI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioethanol, synthesized through the valorization of biomass resources, is of great importance to many industries. As bioethanol has become more abundant and its price has decreased, it has become an attractive candidate for application as a base material for the synthesis of a variety of petrochemicals and fuel through catalysis. In this article, a comprehensive review of the catalytic conversion of bioethanol into hydrocarbons, including olefins and gasoline, is presented. In addition, developments and potential research opportunities in the field of bioethanol catalysis are provided to enhance bioethanol conversion. According to the findings of the study, despite significant progress in bioethanol conversion, further research is needed to address several challenges that will enable improved biofuel and chemical production. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry (SCI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single‐atom catalysts hold the potential to significantly impact the chemical sector, pushing the boundaries of catalysis in new, uncharted directions. These materials, featuring isolated metal species ligated on solid supports, can exist in many coordination environments, all of which have shown important functions in specific transformations. Their emergence has also provided exciting opportunities for mimicking metalloenzymes and bridging the gap between homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis. This Review outlines the impressive progress made in recent years regarding the use of single‐atom catalysts in organic synthesis. We also illustrate potential knowledge gaps in the search for more sustainable, earth‐abundant single‐atom catalysts for synthetic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient strategy for the chemical degradation of polyurethane materials to recover polymerizable polyols has long been sought as a means of achieving green chemistry and circular resource utilization. However, this remains a major challenge. The present investigation endeavors to address this conundrum by delving into the intricacies of the multi-stage degradation (MSD) mechanism and successfully executing a gradient deconstruction of PUFs at low temperatures with minimal energy consumption. This approach involves a preliminary deconstruction of PUFs via ammonolysis, followed by deep depolymerization through acidolysis. The resulting recycled polyols (RPs) have high reactivity and can be used as a partial substitute for virgin polyol (up to 30 wt%) without purification treatment in the production of flexible PUFs. Furthermore, the MSD approach exhibits good adaptability and can be employed for the recycling of other types of PUFs, with the obtained RP being capable of up to 25 wt% VP substitution in the synthesis of new PUFs. Our research represents a significant advance in the development of efficient chemical degradation technologies for PUFs, which can support the transition to green chemistry and resource circularity. It provides valuable theoretical support for the industrialization of PUF degradation and upcycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exceptional low permeability to oxygen and water of PVDC and the retention of barrier properties to oxygen even in humid conditions explain its success for packaging in food industry as barrier layer in Polyolefins (PO) multilayer films, whose contribution to the reduction of food waste is largely recognized. Several chemical recycling technologies have emerged in the recent years that, together with methodologies based on separation of layers by the use of solvents, will strongly increase in a near future the extent of recycling of multilayer films, including the PVDC-containing ones. At the same time, it is generally accepted that for several years these technologies will be complemented by the now dominating mechanical recycling. A lack of detailed study in the literature and a general confusion between very different PVDC grades, with and without internal stabilization, led to the idea that the dehydrochlorination of PVDC would cause a low quality of the recyclate obtained by mechanical recycling of PO in presence of PVDC and a corrosion risk for the equipment. In this study, the effect of a stabilized PVDC grade developed for coextrusion, at concentration typical of real life PO mix for mechanical recycling and in suitable condition, has been investigated in a pilot scale extruder and corrosion tests were performed. In conclusion, quantities of PVDC to be found in PO streams for mechanical recycling are compatible with a PO recyclate of excellent characteristics, even at extrusion temperatures as high as 220°C, with no damage to the PO structure, with only minimum discoloration, that can be mitigated by relatively low quantities of additives of general use in PO extrusion, and with no risk of corrosion of the equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical recycling offers the opportunity to foster the transition towards a circular economy for plastics as a complementary strategy for mechanical recycling. For the implementation of chemical recycling technologies, there are still significant challenges ahead that – besides the definition of binding legal frameworks – need for intensified research: knowledge‐based methods for both the identification of suitable process technologies considering decentralized waste conditions and the design of conversion steps and downstream processing are strongly needed for process development and process evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of chemical recycling (CR) as a valuable complementary strategy to mechanical recycling in closing the carbon cycle for carbon‐containing waste is currently being discussed in political, economic, and social spheres. However, CR deployment is hindered by uncertainties regarding its environmental impacts and costs compared to conventional waste treatment and chemical production routes. While methods for assessing CR's environmental impacts are the focus of socio‐political debates and investigations, techno‐economic analyses (TEA) to evaluate costs of CR remain scarce. To contribute to a standardized framework for assessing the economic viability of CR technologies, this article draws on life cycle assessment and TEA literature to develop a six‐stage TEA process for CR. A checklist is also presented to support transparent and comprehensive analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By consulting ancient Tibetan medical literature such as books of materia medica, medical works, and prescription books, as well as modern and contemporary literature and materials, and in combination with the interview and investigation of clinical use and expert consultation, we collated and verified the name, variety classification, plant origin, application and other recorded information of Tibetan herb "Azhong", and summarized and analyzed the phenomenon of mixed use or substitution of medicinal plants. According to textual research, it first appeared in the Four Medical Tantras. The Tibetan herb "Azhong" is simply recorded in the ancient books and Materia Medica, which are collectively called "Azhong". Since the 15A century, there have been varieties such as Za Azhong, Kan Azhong, Xing Azhong, Pumou Azhong, Zha Azhong, Bang Azhong, and the top grade is called Azhong Nabu and Nacang Azhong, and the bottom grade is Azhong Gabu. According to modern literature, the origin of "Azhong" involves 12 species of plants belonging to 8 genera, 5 families. At present, Arenaria kan-suensis Maxim, Ajania purpurea Shih, and Thalictrum squamiferum Lecoy are the mainstream medicinal materials of "Azhong". There is a certain basis for clinical application and theoretical records in the literature in terms of the mutual alternative use of Tibetan medicinal materials such as "Azhong" and traditional medicinal materials in different regions. Therefore, it is necessary to use modern chemical technology and pharmacological experiments to conduct a comparative study on the material basis and biological activity of different varieties of medicinal materials, and carry out a survey on resources and use status, so as to standardize the use of their varieties and origins and improve the safety of clinical medication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports a one‐pot process used to synthesize poly[(linoleic acid)‐g‐(styrene)‐g‐(ε‐caprolactone)] (PLina‐g‐PSt‐g‐PCL) graft copolymers. The process was carried out by combining the atom transfer radical polymerization of styrene with the ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone from polymeric linoleic acid having hydroxyl groups and bromine groups in the main chain. The characterization of the products was achieved using proton nuclear magnetic resonance, size‐exclusion chromatography, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry techniques. Subsequently, an organic field effect transistor (OFET) was fabricated with PLina‐g‐PSt‐g‐PCL graft copolymers as the insulator layer. Poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT) was used as the active layer and prepatterned OFET substrates were used as the welding/discharge electrodes. To measure capacitance, an ITO/P3HT/PLina‐g‐PSt‐g‐PCL/Al structure was prepared using the same method. To obtain output and transfer current–voltage characteristics, electrical characterizations of OFET devices were conducted in darkness and an atmosphere of air. From a capacitance–frequency plot, the key characteristics of the devices, including the threshold voltage (VTh), field effect mobility, and current on/off ratio (Ion/off), were derived. The fundamental electrical parameters in the fabricated OFET devices based on styrene concentration were thoroughly examined. It was observed that the produced PLina‐g‐PSt‐g‐PCL OFETs display positive device characteristics such as low VTh, exceptional mobility, and Ion/off values. © 2023 The Authors. Polymer International published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Industrial Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is renewed interest in polymers of 1,3‐dioxolane (DXL), especially as components of degradable polymer networks. DXL, a five‐membered cyclic acetal, is easily available on a commercial scale. Due to the relatively low strain of the five‐membered ring, its polymerization proceeding by a cationic mechanism is reversible. Above the ceiling temperature in the presence of an acid catalyst, it therefore undergoes depolymerization and this is one of the possible ways of degradation. On the other hand, monomeric units within the poly(1,3‐dioxolane) (PDXL) chain are connected by acetal bonds that are susceptible to acid‐catalyzed hydrolysis and this offers an alternative route for PDXL chain degradation. Polymer networks with connecting PDXL blocks are designed as commodity plastic materials but also as gels intended for biomedical applications. In both applications the possibility of gel disintegration by controlled degradation of connecting PDXL blocks is advantageous. The degradation in the two instances should proceed under different conditions, however. Degradation of commodity plastic material may proceed at higher temperatures in 'dry' conditions while biomaterials should degrade at mild physiological temperatures in an aqueous environment. In published papers, the distinction between the two routes of degradation is not always considered. In the present mini‐review, both mechanisms of degradation are presented and the available information on PDXL bloc degradation is critically evaluated. © 2023 Society of Industrial Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer electrolytes are being considered as an effective solution for electrochemical devices to replace currently used organic liquid electrolytes due to their excellent mechanical properties and security. Herein, we prepared stretchable polymer electrolytes (SPEs) doped with poly[(2‐acrylamido‐2‐methylpropanesulfonic acid)‐co‐poly(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate] (P(AMPS‐co‐PEGMA)) and enhanced with poly[(vinylidene fluoride)‐co‐hexafluoropropylene] (PVDF‐HFP), through UV in situ polymerization. The SPEs showed good mechanical performance with an elongation of more than 40% and ionic conductivity reaching the order of 10−3 S cm−1. In terms of application, flexible electrochromic devices based on the UV in situ‐prepared SPEs were assembled, the color switching performance being still good even after 400 switching cycles and 1000 bending cycles, which indicated that the SPEs could have excellent prospects in application for flexible devices. © 2023 Society of Industrial Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melt polycondensation of dimethyl 3,3′‐bibenzoate (3,3'BB) with various linear and cycloaliphatic diols enabled the synthesis of a series of semi‐aromatic polyesters. Size exclusion chromatography analysis confirmed high molecular weight (Mn > 20 kg mol−1). Compression molding resulted in ductile films and further established molecular weights desirable for mechanical performance. 1H NMR spectroscopy confirmed polymer structure and retainment of the cis/trans ratios for the cyclohexyldimethylene‐based polyesters before and after polymerization. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed high onset of weight loss temperatures for the novel semi‐aromatic polymers (Td,5% > 380 °C). Differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical analysis were used to determine glass transition temperatures and melting temperatures. Further evaluation of these thermal transitions against previously synthesized 4,4'BB, 3,4'BB, and isophthalate‐based polymers elucidated the structure–property relationships of these systems. © 2023 Society of Industrial Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The binding of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes is a well‐known gel strategy, and pH is an important factor affecting the gel properties. In this work, the influence of pH (3, 5, 7, 9, 11) on the rheological and textural properties, molecular structure and micromorphology of binary mixed gels of ι‐carrageenan (IC) and ε‐polylysine (PLL) or ε‐polylysine hydrochloride (PLH) was investigated. The results showed that a change in pH led to a change in the properties of binary mixed gels. The lower the pH, the higher were G′, G″, complex viscosity and gel transition temperature. At the same time, the water holding capacity and gel strength of IC/PLL (IP) and IC/PLH (IPH) were also improved accordingly, and the gel properties of IPH were always better than those of IP. As the pH increased to alkalinity, the density of the gel network structure decreased, the pore size decreased, the pore wall became thinner and the surface smoothed. When the pH dropped into the acidic range, there was a red shift of the hydroxyl group and the sulfate group bands, an enhancement of the hydrogen bonding interaction and a blue shift of the methyl band and the amide I band. At pH 3, the microscopic network structure of IP and IPH were dense and uniform with small pore size, rough surface and thick pore wall. These results showed that the binary mixed gels had better gel properties at pH 3. The results provided a theoretical basis for the preparation of IP and IPH gels, and also enabled a deeper understanding of the mechanism of interaction between polypeptides and carrageenan. © 2023 Society of Industrial Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to advantages of low cost and intrinsic flame retardancy, urea−formaldehyde (UF) foams with electromagnetic shielding function present a promising application prospect in the fields of construction, transportation and electronics. In this study, by using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as conductive filler and thermo‐expandable microspheres (EMs) as physical foaming agent, a series of UF/CNT composite foams with perfect and polygonal closed cellular structure were prepared for electromagnetic shielding. By adding 6 wt% EMs, the composite foam exhibited a uniform cell wall thickness, while the local accumulation of CNTs was inhibited and CNTs were distributed evenly within the cell walls. With increasing CNT content the dispersion of CNTs transformed from a scattered and 'island‐like' structure to an interconnected structure, and for samples with CNT content higher than 1.34 vol% a continuous conductive network was constructed within the cell walls, thus significantly improving the electrical conductivity and electromagnetic shielding effectiveness for the foams, which reached 34.5 dB and satisfied the requirement of commercial applications. Moreover, the contribution of absorption to the electromagnetic shielding effectiveness was much larger than that of reflection for composite foams, indicating that absorption was the dominant shielding mechanism. © 2023 Society of Industrial Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Injectable hydrogels are alternative materials for drug delivery in biomedical applications. Most injectable hydrogels are derived from stimuli‐responsive polymers that can respond to the changes of physical and/or chemical properties of the environment, such as temperature and pH variation. In this study, chitosan‐graft‐(methoxy poly (ethylene glycol)‐block‐polycaprolactone) injectable hydrogels were loaded with curcumin in different concentrations. The loading capacity and encapsulation efficiency of curcumin in such hydrogels were increased and decreased respectively with increasing curcumin concentrations. The encapsulation efficiency, however, was more than 90% for all formulations. Such hydrogels demonstrated curcumin release that proceeded in a sustained manner. The release profiles followed Korsmeyer‐Peppas and zero‐order kinetic release models which suggested that the release was facilitated by drug diffusion and the erosion of the self‐assembled polymeric networks. The curcumin released from the hydrogels was found as encapsulated core‐shell nanoparticles, the size of which depended on the loading concentration. A combination of fluorescence spectroscopy and thermodynamics analysis showed that van der Waals interactions and hydrogen bonds were major binding forces between curcumin and the copolymers. In addition, the curcumin‐encapsulated nanoparticles showed a progressive reduction in survival of the cervical cancer HeLa cell line, as shown in in vitro cytotoxicity experiments. © 2023 Society of Industrial Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocellulose (NC) is an emerging natural material that offers great potential for various applications due to its unique properties and renewable character. Nowadays, as NC production technologies are advancing, it is essential to evaluate their economic feasibility, technological maturity and commercialization potential using systematic techno-economic analysis (TEA). The present study considers both technical and economic aspects of NC production and analyzes them in two ways: first, by developing a new concept based on the production of different types of NC through the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass by chemical and mechanical technologies, and second, by a comparative review of existing TEA studies in the open literature. Three specific scenarios and two case studies are evaluated by comparing specific key performance indicators (KPIs), such as the production cost (PC) and minimum product selling price (MPSP) of NC. As a result, a short though comprehensive overview of the current state of NC production is provided, highlighting the main technical and economic challenges associated with it. Key areas for future research and innovation (R&I) are also identified to optimize the production processes and reduce relevant costs, in order to make NC competitive with existing materials and realize its full potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Active areas of research on chemical looping technologies for the conversion of CO2 to CO are contrasted and discussed, including current performance, methods for material design, and next steps in expanding their development. Generation of CO from CO2 is of interest in sustainable chemistry and engineering to convert anthropogenic CO2 emissions into feedstock for Fischer–Tropsch (FT), methanol to gasoline (MTG), gas-to-liquid (GTL), and other synthesis pathways for fuels and materials. Chemical looping strategies have been identified which not only produce CO, but also H2 from H2O and methane sources, supplying the other key component of syngas. Configurations of these chemical looping technologies into the materials economy potentially constitute sustainable carbon loop cycles for fuels as well as carbon sequestration into industrial and commercial materials. Major areas of research in CO2 conversion by chemical looping, collectively referred to here as CO2CL, including Solar-Thermal Chemical Looping (STCL), Reverse Water Gas Shift Chemical Looping (RWGS-CL), Chemical Looping Reforming (CLR), Super Dry Reforming (SDR), Autothermal Catalyst Assisted Chemical Looping (ACACL), and Reverse Boudouard Reforming (RBR) are discussed in terms of their process characteristics, historical development of oxygen carrier (OC) material, state of the art methods for material design, and future work needed to advance the scale-up of these technologies. This perspective centers around the non-methane utilizing processes for CO2CL, focusing on the phenomena of oxygen transfer between gas molecules and the oxygen carrier (OC). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquid sloshing in the tank can seriously affect the stability of hazardous chemical tanker trucks during operation. To this end, this paper proposes a solution based on an electromagnetic semi-active suspension system to prevent chemical spills and ensure safe driving of hazardous chemical tank vehicles. A comprehensive investigation was conducted across four domains: theoretical research, simulation model establishment, co-simulation platform construction, and simulation data analysis. Three fuzzy controllers were used to suppress the vibration of the tank vehicles, and a simulation study of the stability control of the tank vehicles under electromagnetic semi-active suspension was carried out. The results show that the electromagnetic semi-active suspension can significantly reduce the vertical, pitch, and roll vibrations of the tank vehicles by 17.60%, 25.78%, and 27.86%, respectively. The research results of this paper are of great significance for improving the safety and stability of hazardous chemical tanker trucks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tetracycline group (TCs) includes the most common antibiotics for treatment of both human and animal infections. TCs are resistant to biological degradation; hence, conventional wastewater treatments are unable to remove these contaminants. Here, the utilization of different electrochemical processes, such as electro‐Fenton (EF), direct anodic oxidation (AO) and indirect oxidation by electrogenerated active chlorine (EAC), for the treatment of aqueous solutions of oxytetracycline (OTC), which is one of the TCs, was studied. The effect of various operating conditions was evaluated to optimize the selected processes. EAC gave the fastest abatement of OTC, but the lowest removal of TOC and formation of chlorate. However, the utilization of carbon felt cathodes allowed the formation of chlorate to be reduced. AO gave the highest TOC removals, but it required the use of an expensive anode, as BDD, and high cell potentials. EF performed with pressurized‐air (5–10 bar) presented intermediate removals of OTC and TOC with respect to AO and EAC and consumed the least energy. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry (SCI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the Pioneer Era of the aviation to World War I the evolution of aircraft technology and chemical synthesis enabled a unique coexistence of traditional craftsmanship, artistic decoration practices, and technological advancements. The study of the materials used in these early years of aviation is still an uncharted territory: a vast portion of remaining planes has been partially or completely repaired and restored, usually by total replacement of the fabric. The Italian biplane Ansaldo A.1 (1918) is a fighter aircraft and is one of the few planes in the world that still preserves its own original materials. In the last years, the fabric sections of the airplane have started to become brittle and loose cohesion, severely compromising the integrity of the aircraft, and resulting in a general alteration of the pictorial layers of the painted sections. A chemical investigation was undertaken to unveil the materials, and to elucidate the causes of the degradation. This study presents one of the first steps into the study of early historical aircrafts, defining the background for the conservation plans to preserve these objects for future generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To synergize the positive effects of Cu-chelating amine ligands and the benefits of the (dimethylamino)methyl-ligand DTEA, but circumvent the use of toxic HN3, we contemplated an inversion of alkyne and azide that are used for the final synthetic click reaction to generate the ligand. Keywords: click chemistry; ligand; azide; alkyne; cycloaddition; copper EN click chemistry ligand azide alkyne cycloaddition copper 2128 2133 6 07/03/23 20230718 NES 230718 The copper(I)-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition between alkynes and organic azides was first described in 2002 and is a regioselective alternative to the thermal copper-free Huisgen cycloaddition. The water-insoluble benzyl-substituted TBTA was the first Cu-ligand described to promote the CuAAC and is a common representative for nitrogen ligands, which provide the broadest quantity of Cu-ligands. Other than the water-insoluble TBTA ligand, TDETA and THPTA showed a significant acceleration of the reaction and led to conversions >90% after 60 min in direct competition with TBTA and non-ligated copper at Cu-ligand ratios of 1:5 (Figure 1 A). [Extracted from the article]

The article presents a study which revealed the structure of industrial multicomponent molybdate (MCM) catalysts and provided mechanistic explanation about how the complex structural features are linked to the performance. Topics discussed include benchmarking of industrial MCM catalysts, identification of the relevant BiMoO species for propene oxidation, and role of iron molybdate as sites for reoxidation.

(doi:10.1098/rsta.2022.0242) 10 Rogal, J, Díaz Leines, G. 2023 Controlling crystallization: what liquid structure and dynamics reveal about crystal nucleation mechanisms. The growth of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) tools is also having a rapidly increasing impact on the field. The development and optimization of materials is critical to several contemporary scientific and technological challenges, including renewable energy technologies, novel catalytic routes to sustainable fuels and chemicals and electronic technologies. Blake I et al. i [[15]] describe the development of a consistent set of forcefields for modelling aqueous metal carbonates - a topic again of relevance to understanding crystallization - and they show how large-scale simulations are facilitated using GPU technology. [Extracted from the article]

Keywords: hydroformylation; selectivity; palladium; transition metal; aldehydes; hydrocarbons; isobutanal EN hydroformylation selectivity palladium transition metal aldehydes hydrocarbons isobutanal 1185 1194 10 06/19/23 20230704 NES 230704 1 Introduction Hydroformylation, often referred to as the oxo process, [1] is a transition-metal-catalyzed reaction of olefines with syngas - a mixture of CO and H SB 2 sb - to produce aldehydes. The key question remained whether the iodide-dependent hydroformylation activity would be pronounced in the reactions with Pd complexes that favor the formation of iso-Pd-acyl intermediates and whether the isoselectivity would be maintained throughout the release of the isoaldehyde product. We reasoned that the regioselectivity in Pd-catalyzed hydroalkoxycarbonylation of alkenes, which occurs through Pd-acyl intermediates as the hydroformylation reactions do, can be steered between I n i - and iso-products depending on the phosphine ligand used (Scheme 12). [29] (4) Most importantly, the rate- and selectivity-determining step involves the unusual iodide-assisted binuclear reductive elimination occurring between the Pd-acyl and Pd-hydride species, which releases the aldehyde product and forms a Pd(I)-Pd(I) intermediate. [Extracted from the article]

• The types and challenges of PVC waste management are discussed. • Dehydrochlorination and dechlorination of PVC are reviewed. • Recent progress in the chemical recycling technologies of PVC is summarized. • The dechlorination principles of different technologies are explained. • Chemical recycling treatments of PVC-containing plastic waste are summarized. The extensive production and consumption of plastics has resulted in significant plastic waste and plastic pollution. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) waste has a high chlorine content and is the primary source of chlorine in the plastic waste stream, potentially generating hazardous chlorinated organic pollutants if treated improperly. This review discusses PVC synthesis, applications, and the current types and challenges of PVC waste management. Dechlorination is vital for the chemical recycling of PVC waste and PVC-containing plastic waste. We review dehydrochlorination and dechlorination mechanisms of PVC using thermal degradation and wet treatments, and summarize the recent progress in chemical treatments and dechlorination principles. This review provides readers with a comprehensive analysis of chemical recycling technologies for PVC waste and PVC-containing plastic waste to transform them into chemicals, fuels, feedstock, and value-added polymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the mutual solubilities of sets of organic diluents (CHCl3, C6H6, C2H4Cl2, CCl4, C6H12, and n-hexane) with the organic compound ethylene glycol are investigated via gas chromatography (GC). The experimental data measured for these binary organic systems are used to adjust the future nonaqueous systems for the solvent extraction of various metals with ligands. The obtained results showed that the solubility of ethylene glycol decreased in the order CHCl3 > C6H6 > C2H4Cl2 > CCl4(0%) ≈ C6H12 ≈ n-hexane. On the other hand, the solubility of the tested traditional organic diluents in ethylene glycol decreased in the following order: C6H6 > CHCl3 > C2H4Cl2 > n-hexane > C6H12 > CCl4. 1H NMR was also used as an analytic method in order to compare the obtained results for the samples showing significant solubility only, including an additional study with 1,2- or 1,3-propanediol. The enhanced solubility of the C6H6 compound in ethylene glycol was identified here as critical due to the GC technique, which will be without future consequences in chemical technology. Therefore, it was found that the best molecular diluent for the recovery of metals among the tested ones is C6H12, with a green protocol as the new paradigm, replacing the aqueous phase with another nonaqueous phase, i.e., a second organic diluent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New catalytic methods for the hydrodehalogenation of haloarenes with hydrogen and hydrogen-containing reagents (metal and non-metal hydrids, organic hydrogen-containing compounds, etc.), which are essential for fine organic synthesis and neutralization of toxic production waste and persistent organic pollutants. The paper focuses on such catalysts as complexes of stable heterocyclic carbenes, transition metals, and nanosized metal particles and their composites, as the most promising for industrial chemistry. Catalysts with particularly high efficiency have been highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the years, several studies have focused on integrally exploring lignocellulosic biomass to achieve satisfactory yields of different bioproducts and establish economically viable industrial processes. Among the bioproducts, levulinic acid (LA) has emerged as one of the top platform products derived from biomass, mainly owing to its expanding market economic position, which can stimulate viability and attract the attention of investors in the field. Considered a building block because of its versatile intermediate chemical structure, it can be used to synthesize many compounds with applications in fuels, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries, food additives and solvents. The main synthesis route for obtaining LA is the degradation of cellulose via acid catalysis. In this context, lignocellulosic biomass is a promising and sustainable way of getting LA. Recent research has explored a potential path to full technological development associated with LA from various biomass and different catalysts. In this scenario, a comprehensive review concerning biomass for LA production and the challenges in the synthesis process is proposed. The primary studies conducted over the years and approaches to using and appreciating residual biomass are also discussed. This work also considers the use of technological tools to optimize the production of LA and seeks to contribute sustainable proposals still little explored, such as the intensification of the process and the use of fruit residues in the synthesis of this promising building block. © 2023 Society of Industrial Chemistry and John Wiley & Sons Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel and effective biorefinery methods are necessary to fractionate lignocellulosic biomass into separate components for the valorization of these components into value‐added products. For example, the xylan fraction can be used as an adhesive, a thickener, an additive to plastics, an emulsifier, a drug carrier, and as a precursor of prebiotic xylooligosaccharides. Unfortunately, conventional xylan extraction procedures require lengthy extraction periods and are characterized by poor product purity and yields. In this study, a non‐conventional ultrasound‐assisted alkaline extraction method was developed for the effective extraction of xylan from Acacia mearnsii, an industrially relevant hardwood in South Africa. The effect of the additional ultrasonication step on the conventional alkaline extraction of xylan was evaluated. After this, basic structural analysis was conducted on both acacia xylan extracts and commercially available beech‐derived xylan. Composition analysis data showed the acacia‐derived glucuronoxylan to have an Ara:GluA:Xyl ratio of 0.5:1:5, while that from beechwood had a 0:1:4 ratio. Ultrasound‐assisted alkaline extraction also gave a better yield (24%) than conventional alkaline extraction (21%) and had a quicker extraction period of 1 h versus 4 h. Finally, the acacia‐derived xylan exhibited antioxidant potential, with an EC50 value of ≈1.5 mg/mL against 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picryl‐hydrazyl‐hydrate (DPPH). In conclusion, ultrasound‐assisted alkaline extraction was successfully employed to extract high‐purity, bioactive xylan from acacia. The purified acacia xylan is a suitable replacement for birchwood glucuronoxylan, which is no longer commercially available, or for expensive beechwood substitute for numerous applications. © 2023 The Authors. Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining published by Society of Industrial Chemistry and John Wiley & Sons Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignin present in the inner core of natural lignocellulosic fibers is preferably removed for use in the textile industry as it hinders fiber spinnability. This study focuses on integrating the bioprocessing of agro residues and a natural fiber source (coir) for the effective production of lignin‐modifying enzymes while simultaneously softening the natural fibers. The lignin content in the raw fibers (42.17%) could be reduced by 14–31% by treating them with Phanerochaete chrysosporium for 30 days in the presence of agro waste, such as paddy straw, groundnut husk, corn husk, coir pith, sugarcane bagasse, saw dust and coconut leaf. Among the lignocellulosic wastes tested, P. chrysporium‐fermented groundnut husk with coir produced the maximum yield of lignin‐modifying enzymes (lignin peroxidase, 2.05 U mg−1; manganese peroxidase, 7.50 U mg−1; laccase, 0.43 U mL−1), while the tensile strength of the fiber was decreased by 9.9% compared with the raw fiber (110.14 MPa) on 30 days of incubation. Similarly, SB dust demonstrated good lignin‐modifying enzyme activity (lignin peroxidase, −1.57 U mg−1; manganese peroxidase, 8.14 U mg−1; and laccase, 0.35 U mg−1) as well as the tensile strength of the coir also being increased. A reduction in flexural rigidity owing to delignification was observed and hence a minimum 16% increase in softness was achieved in the integrated process. Our study presents an efficient strategy that exploits low‐cost agro residues for enzyme production and generates bio‐softened coir of acceptable quality in the export and domestic markets. © 2023 Society of Industrial Chemistry and John Wiley & Sons Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Choline chloride, acrylamide (AM) and acrylic acid (AA) were used as raw materials to prepare deep eutectic solvent, and β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) was used as filler to prepare β‐CD/P(AM‐co‐AA) composite hydrogel by frontal polymerization. The composite hydrogel was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The pH response, mechanical properties and self‐healing of the hydrogel were studied. The results show that AA contains easily ionized –COOH, which makes the composite hydrogel have excellent pH response and super‐high swelling ratio under alkaline conditions. With the addition of β‐CD, due to the increase of hydrogen bonds and the combination of β‐CD and polymer chains the mechanical properties of the hydrogel are obviously improved and the tensile strength and compressive strength are increased by 4.12 and 2.26 times respectively. The introduction of β‐CD can improve the self‐healing performance of the composite hydrogel. With the increase of β‐CD content, the healing rate and healing speed of the composite hydrogel show an upward trend. In this study, a simpler and faster method is proposed to prepare self‐healing composite hydrogel with excellent mechanical properties and pH responsiveness. The self‐healing property and the existence of a hydrophobic cavity of β‐CD make β‐CD/P(AM‐co‐AA) composite hydrogel have potential application in wound healing. © 2023 Society of Industrial Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self‐healing conductive materials have become promising candidates for flexible sensor devices. However, the mechanical properties of the substrate elastomers are often poor due to the inherent performance of the materials. Here, a poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)‐based self‐healing material with high strength and good thermal stability was prepared by side‐linked grafting modification of PVA with a one‐step esterification reaction. Benefiting from the hydrogen bonds and ion coordination between iron ions and carboxyl groups, the synthesized elastomer exhibited excellent mechanical properties (tensile strength of 38.6 MPa, fracture elongation of 1565.0%) and good self‐healing performance (self‐healing efficiency of 53.4% at room temperature). In addition, the high sensitivity and self‐healing performance of a silver nanowire‐coated elastomer strain sensor demonstrated the wide potential applicability of the prepared PVA‐based elastomers in health care, electrocardiography and safety monitoring. © 2023 Society of Industrial Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using polystyrene two‐dimensional photonic crystal as template, gatifloxacin (GTFX) as imprinting molecule, methanol as solvent, acrylic acid as functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethyl acrylate as crosslinking agent and 2,2‐diethyloxyacetophenone as initiator, after UV initiation polymerization the GTFX molecularly imprinted two‐dimensional photonic crystal hydrogel (GTFX‐MIPCH) sensor was prepared. The response performance of the hydrogel was investigated by measuring the diameter change of the Debye ring. The experimental results showed that the prepared GTFX‐MIPCH has a sensitive response to GTFX. When the concentration of GTFX increases from 0 to 1 × 10−4 mol L−1, the diameter of the Debye ring decreases by 8.50 mm, the corresponding particle spacing increases by 29.1 nm, and the color of the sensor changes from purple to orange. Also there was a linear relationship between the change of particle spacing (Δd) and the logarithm of GTFX concentration (lg c) in the range 10−12–10−6 mol L−1. It is noteworthy that the limit of detection of GTFX‐MIPCH is as low as 10−14 mol L−1. In addition, in a solution of GTFX analogues enrofloxacin, levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin, the change of particle spacing of the GTFX‐MIPCH sensor is 13.3, 11.6, 11.1 and 10.3 nm respectively, indicating that GTFX‐MIPCH has good specific recognition ability for GTFX. Moreover, GTFX‐MIPCH shows good reusability and can also be used for the detection of GTFX in water samples. This GTFX‐MIPCH can achieve a visual detection effect on GTFX through the Debye ring and color change. © 2023 Society of Industrial Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microcapsules containing nepeta essential oil (NEO) are prepared by electro‐atomization complex coacervation with sodium alginate and gelatin as wall materials. The effects of conditions such as sodium alginate solution concentration, core‐to‐wall ratio and emulsifier content on the release of essential oil and mosquito repellent properties of the microcapsules are studied. The microcapsules prepared under optimal preparation conditions have good performance and morphology, the encapsulation efficiency and loading capacity being 86.65% and 13.93%, respectively. The prepared microcapsules have adequate morphological characteristics observed using scanning electron microscopy. Fourier transform infrared spectra and thermogravimetric analysis show that NEO is successfully loaded in the microcapsules, and the thermal stability of NEO is improved. In addition, the results of release and repellent tests show that the NEO in the microcapsules could achieve stable release within 15 days and maintain an avoidance rate above 80% within 48 h, indicating the potential application of the microcapsules in the field of mosquito repellents. © 2023 Society of Industrial Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes the modifying effect of methylcyclohexyldimethoxysilane (CH3)(cyclo‐C6H11)Si(OCH3)2 in propylene polymerization reactions with a pseudo‐homogeneous catalyst system: Ti(Oi‐C3H7)4‐Al(C2H5)2Cl/Mg(C4H9)2. This catalyst system is a convenient model for the analysis of modifier effects (effects of 'external donors') in supported Ziegler–Natta polymerization catalysts of the fourth generation. A combination of chromatographic, spectroscopic and calorimetric data for crystalline and amorphous fractions of polypropylene prepared in the presence of the silane shows that it has a dual modification effect: (i) the silane is a potent poison of stereo‐aspecific active centers in the catalyst (the centers producing amorphous polypropylene fraction) and (ii) silane molecules coordinate at isospecific centers in the catalyst and changes their nature: the centers produce isotactic polypropylene of higher molecular weight and a higher isotacticity level. © 2023 Society of Industrial Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article summarizes the recent developments in organic neuromorphic devices, mainly resistive switches (memristors) and organic electrochemical transistors. The materials for the active layers and device architectures are summarized to highlight particular aspects of organic devices, including flexibility, biocompatibility and facile fabrication processes. © 2023 Society of Industrial Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]