Journal of Polymers and the Environment最新文献

{"title":"Biodegradation of Lignocellulose-Polyester Composite Films in Freshwater and Seawater Conditions","authors":"Erfan Kimiaei,&nbsp;Soojin Kwon,&nbsp;Kristoffer Meinander,&nbsp;Monika Österberg,&nbsp;Nathalie Lavoine,&nbsp;Richard Venditti","doi":"10.1007/s10924-024-03328-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10924-024-03328-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Developing biodegradable material alternatives is crucial to address the fossil-based plastic pollution in marine ecosystems. Natural biodegradable polymers like cellulose exhibit potential plastic alternatives. However, their susceptibility to water and moisture poses challenges when blending with hydrophobic polymers. Thus, chemical modification is often required to enhance cellulose dispersion in hydrophobic polymer matrices, which may hinder its inherent biodegradability. In this study, the aquatic biodegradation and degradation mechanisms of lignocellulose-polyester composite films under aerobic conditions were for the first time explored in simulated freshwater and real seawater environments. The composite films were produced by blending cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) with polycaprolactone (PCL), a hydrophobic polyester, using lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) as an interfacial compatibilizer. The structural and morphological changes of the composite films were studied using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Despite the use of LNPs (poorly degradable in aquatic conditions) and the composite films’ hydrophobicity, the presence of up to 25 wt% PCL and 5wt% LNPs did not prevent the composites from achieving &gt; 85% biodegradation within 42 days, in both fresh water and seawater conditions. The incorporation of CNFs increased the water uptake capability of PCL which helped to increase the films’ porosity, in turn enhancing the film degradation process. This study confirmed that hydrophobizing nanocellulose with biodegradable polyesters and LNPs can preserve the nanocellulose’s inherent coveted biodegradability. Hence, this sustainable approach to developing bio-based composites supports responsible material development, disposal, and end-of-life management.</p><h3>\t Graphical abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Polymers and the Environment","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2024-06-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141252432","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Chitosan-Coated Nanoliposomes: Exploring the Impact on Physicochemical Properties, Stability, Antioxidant Activity, and Molecular Characterization of Chlorella-Peptide Fractions","authors":"Pouria Gharehbeglou,&nbsp;Khashayar Sarabandi,&nbsp;Zahra Akbarbaglu","doi":"10.1007/s10924-024-03313-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10924-024-03313-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The aim of this study was to characterize and evaluate the antioxidant activity of Chlorella peptide fractions coated with chitosan-modified nanoliposomes. Additionally, the release process of these peptide fractions under simulated gastric and intestinal conditions was evaluated. Protein hydrolysates were obtained from Chlorella through enzymatic hydrolysis, resulting in increased concentrations of antioxidant and hydrophobic amino acids. Peptide fractions were selected and separated based on their molecular weights, and it was observed that the fractions with lower molecular weights (less than 10 kDa, PF-10) contained higher amounts of hydrophobic and antioxidant amino acids. Among the fractions, PF-10 exhibited the highest radical inhibition activity for DPPH and ABTS, as well as enhanced reducing power and chelating activity towards copper ions. PF-10 and PF-30 (peptide fractions with a molecular weight less than 30 kDa) also demonstrated higher inhibition of nitric oxide radicals and total antioxidant activity (TAA) compared to the hydrolyzed form and other fractions. The analysis of physicochemical properties identified PF-10 as the most favorable treatment due to its size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, and encapsulation efficiency (EE). Coating the nanoliposomes with chitosan resulted in an increase in particle size and PDI but significantly improved the preservation of EE during storage. Chitosan coating also enhanced the activity of DPPH and OH radical scavenging. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the localization of peptides within the polar regions and the bilayer membrane of nanoliposomes, while scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed agglomerated and spherical structures. Overall, our findings highlight the effectiveness of nanoliposomes as carriers for delivering peptide fractions with high antioxidant activity. The formulation of chitosan-coated nanoliposomes as carriers for Chlorella-peptide fractions represents an innovative advancement, providing opportunities for the creation of functional and stable formulations. These formulations hold the potential to provide benefits regarding human health and environmental considerations.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Polymers and the Environment","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141188647","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reprocessable Cross-Linked EVA/Silica Nanocomposites with Superior Mechanical Properties via One-Step and Scalable Reactive Blending","authors":"Haixin Nong,&nbsp;Xiaopei Li,&nbsp;Yongjie Zhang","doi":"10.1007/s10924-024-03306-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10924-024-03306-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Organic/inorganic nanocomposites uniquely combine the dual advantages of inorganic nanomaterials and organic polymers. However, poor compatibility between inorganic nanoparticles and polymer matrices always arises as a huge obstacle to be addressed while designing and preparing high performance organic/inorganic nanocomposites. In situ surface grafting of ethylene–vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) onto nanosilica and partial cross-linking of EVA via dynamic Si–O–C bonds with nanosilica as the core were simultaneously achieved via the transesterification reactions between the inherent Si–OH groups on the surface of nanosilica and the ester groups in EVA. The reactions were conducted thorough a one-step, simple and scalable reactive blending approach. The cross-linking reaction of EVA was evidenced by torque curves, FT-IR spectra and gel fraction testing. Uniform dispersion of silica particles in EVA matrix was observed for resulting EVA/silica nanocomposites due to surface modification of silica. Consequently, tremendous enhancement in mechanical properties of resultant EVA/silica nanocomposites were detected. Compared to the original EVA, the tensile strengths and tensile modulus of the EVA/silica nanocomposites increased by 72.5% and 37.8%, respectively, while the elongation at breaks of the EVA/silica nanocomposites remained as high as that of the original EVA. Additionally, the dynamic nature of Si–O–C cross-linkages enabled partially cross-linked EVA/silica nanocomposites to demonstrate exceptional reprocess ability and recyclability. This was evidenced by the sustained mechanical properties of the EVA/silica nanocomposites, which were still maintained even after undergoing three rounds of reprocessing.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div><div><p>EVA/silica nanocomposites strengthened by dynamic cross-linking.</p></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Polymers and the Environment","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141188524","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Highly Porous 3D Printed Scaffold Incorporated with Graphene Oxide-Merwinite and Coated with IGF1 Loaded Nanofibers for Calvarial Defect Repair","authors":"Basma Talib Al-Sudani,&nbsp;Saeideh Salehi,&nbsp;Marwa M. Kamil,&nbsp;Mastafa H. Al-Musawi,&nbsp;Hamideh Valizadeh,&nbsp;Marjan Mirhaj,&nbsp;Mohammadjavad Sharifianjazi,&nbsp;Mina Shahriari-Khalaji,&nbsp;Mamoona Sattar,&nbsp;Fariborz Sharifianjazi,&nbsp;Aliakbar Najafinezhad,&nbsp;Hossein Salehi,&nbsp;Mohamadreza Tavakoli","doi":"10.1007/s10924-024-03324-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10924-024-03324-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Critical-sized calvarial bone defects remain a significant challenge in orthopedic surgery, especially for irregularly shaped bones. Herein, we devised a customizable scaffold using a combination of 3D-printing and salt leaching techniques. Polycaprolactone (PCL), sodium chloride, and a graphene oxide-merwinite (GOM) nanocomposite were 3D-printed and then immersed in water to remove residual salt. Subsequently, gelatin-based electrospun nanofibers incorporating insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF1) were applied to the PCL-GOM scaffold. The addition of 15% of GOM nanoparticles to the PCL scaffold increased the compressive strength from 2.2 to 3.8 MPa and the elastic modulus from 17.2 to 29.8 MPa. Apatite precipitates were well formed on the fabricated scaffolds after 28 days of immersion in simulated body fluid. Moreover, the scaffold displayed a gradual release of IGF1 over 28 days. The MTT assay demonstrated non-toxicity of scaffolds towards the MG63 cell line. Interestingly, significantly higher expression of Collagen I, RUNX2, and Osteocalcin were observed in qRTPCR results. Following implantation in calvarial bone defect for 8 weeks, the optimal scaffold demonstrated excellent osteogenic behavior and new bone tissue formation. This work presents a promising biomaterial with potential clinical applications for the treatment of irregular critical-sized bone defects.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Polymers and the Environment","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2024-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141171114","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evolution of the Antibacterial and Cellular Viability Effects of Silica-Hydroxyapatite Conjugated High Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles on Orthodontic Brackets","authors":"Yanlei Kong,&nbsp;Feilong Zhang,&nbsp;Nan Zhou,&nbsp;Hongyu Zhang,&nbsp;Hao Wang","doi":"10.1007/s10924-024-03325-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10924-024-03325-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Nanomaterials have been utilized as antibacterial agents due to their distinct mechanism of action, which sets them apart from traditional antibiotics. Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2 NPs) play a crucial role as antibacterial agents because of their minimal toxicity towards healthy cells and their unique antibacterial mechanism, which involves the reversible transition between two valence states of Ce(III)/Ce(IV). In the current study, silica microspheres (SiO₂) were applied for the growth of hydroxyapatite (Hap) over the silica surface. Then, the SiO₂/hydroxyapatite (SiO₂/Hap) nanocomposite was applied for stabilization of the in <i>situ</i> green synthesized cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO₂ NPs) on its surface to assess the antibacterial and cellular viability of orthodontic brackets. The as-prepared SiO₂/Hap-CeO₂ NPs were fully characterized by different techniques such as FT-IR, XRD, FE-SEM, TEM and ICP-OES analyses. The technique employed to coat the orthodontic bands with SiO₂/Hap-CeO₂ NPs nanocomposite was the electrostatic spray-assisted vapor deposition method. The antibacterial efficacy of SiO₂/Hap-CeO₂ NPs nanocomposite against <i>Candida albicans</i>, <i>Streptococcus mutans</i> and <i>Lactobacillus acidophilus</i> was evaluated using the biofilm inhibition test. In the recent study’s cellular and molecular component, the treated cells with SiO₂/Hap-CeO₂ NPs nanocomposite underwent evaluation through MTT assay to determine cytotoxicity on the normal (HUVEC) cell line. In comparison to the control group, the SiO₂/Hap-CeO₂ NPs nanocomposite group exhibited a 2-log10 decrease in the replication ability of all microorganisms. The group of SiO₂/Hap-CeO₂ NPs nanocomposite demonstrated a notable decrease in the quantity of <i>C. albicans</i>, <i>S. mutans</i> and <i>L. acidophilus</i> colonies compared to the control group. Application of SiO₂/Hap-CeO₂ NPs nanocomposite on orthodontic bands resulted in antibacterial properties against oral pathogens.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Polymers and the Environment","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2024-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141171112","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Highly Tough, Freeze-Resistant, Sensitive, and Recyclable Starch-based Multifunctional Hydrogel Flexible Wearable Sensor for Human Motion Monitoring","authors":"Enyuan Cui,&nbsp;Peng Liu,&nbsp;Jiaozhu Yu,&nbsp;Feihong Li,&nbsp;Xiangyu Li,&nbsp;Yaxin Gu,&nbsp;Yunwu Yu,&nbsp;Changxiu Chen,&nbsp;Shihang Wang,&nbsp;Haojing Zhu,&nbsp;Rui Song","doi":"10.1007/s10924-024-03321-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10924-024-03321-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Conductive hydrogel strain sensors have attracted great attention in various fields. However, most conductive hydrogels are rigid due to the polymerization of conductive polymers, which not only affects wearer comfort but also causes environmental concerns due to their non-biodegradable nature. To address these limitations, researchers have begun incorporating natural polymer compounds into hydrogels, including starch-based hydrogels. However, starch-based hydrogels hinder their applications due to their brittle fracture, poor freezing resistance, and insufficient electrical conductivity. Herein, a multi-functional, environmentally friendly, degradable starch-based conductive hydrogel was developed using a binary system of water and ethylene glycol (EG) as the solvents, starch and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as the skeletons, calcium chloride (CaCl₂) for conductivity, and gelatin and cellulose nanofibers to synergistically modify the physical cross-linked network. The hydrogel exhibited exceptional properties such as excellent stretchability (478.1%), high tensile strength (2.1 MPa), good toughness (3.7 MJ/m³), and good conductivity (0.22 S/m), as well as excellent anti-freezing and recyclability. Leveraging these properties, a wearable strain and temperature sensor with high sensitivity (GF = 0.74) and cycle stability over a wide strain range was developed, enabling convenient monitoring of human movement and body temperature physiological signals.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Polymers and the Environment","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2024-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141170878","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Degradation Dynamics and Mechanical–Thermal Response of Polylactide/Poly(Propylene Carbonate) Blends: Towards Sustainable Material Design","authors":"Yujin Kwon,&nbsp;Vishal Gavande,&nbsp;Donghyeok Im,&nbsp;Won-Ki Lee","doi":"10.1007/s10924-024-03319-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10924-024-03319-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Blending polylactide (PLA) with poly(propylene carbonate) offers potential solution to mitigate the greenhouse effect due to PLA’s lower carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions and its use of CO₂ as a monomer in PPC synthesis. In this investigation, a series of PLA and PPC blends were prepared using the solvent casting method to address their respective weaknesses. The blends exhibited partial compatibility, as evidenced by a noticeable shift in the glass transition temperatures toward each other. Tensile testing revealed that the incorporation of PPC improved the elongation properties of PLA. The degradation characteristics of the blend films were evaluated based on changes in the monolayer’s occupied area, the properties of the bulk film, and changes in surface morphology. Results indicated that PPC content accelerated hydrolytic degradation but slowed enzymatic degradation in the blends. Hydrolytic and enzymatic degradation significantly impacted the mechanical properties of PLA/PPC blends, prolonging the degradation process through chain scission.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Polymers and the Environment","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2024-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141171148","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Improving the Recyclability of Polymer Composites With Cellulose Nanofibrils","authors":"Katie Copenhaver,&nbsp;Bivek Bista,&nbsp;Lu Wang,&nbsp;Samarthya Bhagia,&nbsp;Meghan Lamm,&nbsp;Xianhui Zhao,&nbsp;Mehdi Tajvidi,&nbsp;William M. Gramlich,&nbsp;Amber M. Hubbard,&nbsp;Caitlyn Clarkson,&nbsp;Douglas J. Gardner","doi":"10.1007/s10924-024-03257-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10924-024-03257-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) have been widely studied for their reinforcing potential in high-performance composites. While there are numerous publications on CNF-reinforced composites in a variety of polymer matrices, few have considered the recyclability of such thermoplastic composites and whether the incorporation of CNFs deteriorates or improves their performance upon reprocessing. In this study, two thermoplastic resins, poly(lactic acid) (PLA), and glycol-modified polyethylene terephthalate (PETg), were prepared with CNF reinforcement and thermomechanically recycled to investigate the effect of CNF inclusion on the composite properties after reprocessing as well as their effect on the composites’ number of useful life cycles. Changes in mechanical, thermal, rheological, molecular, and microstructural properties of the composites and/or base resins were monitored as a function of cycle numbers. As is typical, the polymers’ molecular weight and mechanical performance deteriorated with continued processing. However, the addition of spray dried CNF was found to better maintain the mechanical performance of both polymers throughout multiple recycling steps as compared to neat samples. For example, the tensile strength of PETg with 20 wt% CNF after 6 processing cycles was found to exceed that of virgin neat PETg, and higher loadings of CNF were found to preserve a higher yield strength during multiple rounds of reprocessing compared to PETg composites with lower CNF loadings. Ultimately this study indicates that the addition of CNF to some thermoplastic materials can increase both their sustainability by offsetting the use of high-embodied energy resins and their circularity by enabling performance retention over more use cycles.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Polymers and the Environment","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2024-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141171290","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Optimizing Lithium-Ion Battery Discharge Capacity Performance by Nanosilica-Modified Poly (Vinyl Alcohol) Separator","authors":"Ali Shahbazi,&nbsp;Mohammad Fasihi,&nbsp;Hasan Farrokhzad,&nbsp;Ali Yavari","doi":"10.1007/s10924-024-03320-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10924-024-03320-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>In this research, pure and composite separators based on poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and silica nanoparticles were made by using non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) method. The research carried out includes examining Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) images, pores diameter distribution, porosity measurement, electrolyte uptake, electrolyte retention, contact angle with electrolyte, thermal shrinkage, X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis, Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis and charge and discharge analysis of the resulting lithium-ion batteries. The results obtained indicate improved performance, with increased polymer or silica concentrations leading to enhanced pore characteristics and lithium-ion battery discharge capacity density. According to the battery charge and discharge analysis, at rates of 0.1 C, 0.2 C, 0.5 C the discharge capacity density for a lithium-ion battery consisting of commercial PP separator (Celgard 2500) was 180, 172, 166 mA h g⁻¹ and for optimized composite separator was 200, 188, 174 mA h g⁻¹.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Polymers and the Environment","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2024-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141170876","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Fructose-Based Non-Isocyanate Polyurethane/Poly (Sodium Acrylate) Hydrogels: Design, Synthesis and Environmental Applications","authors":"Pooja Singh,&nbsp;Raminder Kaur","doi":"10.1007/s10924-024-03317-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10924-024-03317-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Conventional methods for synthesising polyurethane hydrogels encompass toxic isocyanates and organic solvents, limiting their eco-friendliness and ease of synthesis. In response, this study introduces an innovative approach to synthesising fructose-based non-isocyanate polyurethane (NIPU) hydrogel (FNHG), eliminating the need for isocyanates. Initially, fructose-based NIPU (FNPU) was synthesised using dimethyl carbonate and hexamethylene diamine under mild reaction conditions, paving the way for a greener polyurethane variant. Subsequently, a free radical polymerization technique was employed in an aqueous medium. This process allowed for the integration of poly(sodium acrylate), and N, N-methylene bisacrylamide, leading to to the development of FNHG. Remarkably short gelation time of just 30 min at 60 ℃ was achieved, signifying a significant advancement in the synthesis process. The synthesized NIPU-based hydrogels exhibited outstanding efficiency in the removal of crystal violet (CV) and malachite green (MG) dyes from aqueous media. With an impressive removal efficiency of 96.87% for CV and an astounding 99.8% for MG, these hydrogels demonstrated high effectiveness in remediation efforts. The study’s novelty lies in both the synthesis methodology, utilising FNPU, and the exceptional efficiency exhibited by these hydrogels in eliminating diverse dyes from contaminated water. Furthermore, the structure of FNPU was confirmed using FTIR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy, adding robustness to our findings. This research not only presents a solution to the limitations of traditional polyurethane synthesis but also demonstrates the potential of fructose-based NIPU hydrogels (FNHG) as eco-friendly and efficient agents for water purification.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Polymers and the Environment","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2024-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141171115","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}