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Funding Information: Yingfeng Wang and Teemu Airaksinen from Aalto University, School of Chemical Engineering are gratefully acknowledged for measuring the intrinsic viscosity of the cotton bed linens and roll towels. This work was financially supported by the Strategic Research Council of the Academy of Finland under grant agreement no. 327296 – the FINIX project (finix.aalto.fi). The viscoelastic properties of cellulose fibers play an important role in chemical recycling of textiles. Here we discriminated the intrinsic viscosity of cotton roll towels and bed linens using near-infrared imaging spectroscopy and supervised pattern recognition. The classification results showed training and test set accuracies of 84–97% and indicated that the relevant spectral features were related to water, cellulose, and cellulose crystallinity. We hypothesized that the decreasing intrinsic viscosity of cotton was associated with changes in cellulose crystallinity and water adsorption, which was supported by additional X-ray and sorption measurements. These results are important as they indicate the potential to non-invasively estimate the degree of polymerization and the suitability of different cotton materials for chemical recycling. We propose that changes in the degree of polymerization and cellulose crystallinity could be used as an indicator of the chemical quality of cellulose fibers, which would have wider impacts for textile recycling.

Cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM) is a commonly used flocculant for water treatment. Factors that affect the flocculation effect and can be controlled manually include the type and dosage of CPAM, wastewater pH, stirring time and settling time, and their reasonable setting is critical to the flocculation effect of CPAM. In this paper, the optimal flocculation conditions of a novel CPAM were studied. First, single-factor tests were conducted to preliminarily explore the optimal range of factors that influence CPAM flocculation, and then response surface methodology (RSM) tests were performed to accurately determine the optimums of the influencing factors. The results showed that the flocculation effect was better when the intrinsic viscosity was larger or the cationic degree of CPAM was higher. The CPAM dosage, wastewater pH and stirring time significantly impacted the flocculation effect, and inflection points were observed. A model that could guide CPAM-8.14-40.2 flocculation was obtained by RSM tests. The model optimization showed that the optimal flocculation conditions of CPAM-8.14-40.2 for treating wastewater prepared with kaolin were as follows: the CPAM dosage, wastewater pH and stirring time were 5.83 mg·L−1, 7.28, and 5.95 min, respectively, and the turbidity of the treated wastewater was reduced to 6.24 NTU.

The peculiarities of viscosity data treatment for two series of polymer systems exhibiting associative properties: brush-like amphiphilic copolymers—charged alkylated N-methyl-N-vinylacetamide and N-methyl-N-vinylamine copolymer (MVAA-co-MVACnH2n+1) and charged chains of sodium polystyrene-4-sulfonate (PSSNa) in large-scale molecular masses (MM) and in extreme-scale of the ionic strength of solutions were considered in this study. The interest in amphiphilic macromolecular systems is explained by the fact that they are considered as micellar-forming structures in aqueous solutions, and these structures are able to carry hydrophobic biologically active compounds. In the case of appearing the hydrophobic interactions, attention was paid to discussing convenient ways to extract the correct value of intrinsic viscosity η from the combined analysis of Kraemer and Huggins plots, which were considered as twin plots. Systems and situations were demonstrated where intrachain hydrophobic interactions occurred. The obtained data were discussed in terms of lnηr vs. cη plots as well as in terms of normalized scaling relationships where ηr was the relative viscosity of the polymer solution. The first plot allowed for the detection and calibration of hydrophobic interactions in polymer chains, while the second plot allowed for the monitoring of the change in the size of charged chains depending on the ionic strength of solutions.

Poor solubility is a common characteristic of many plant protein ingredients which often hampers product formulation. We exploit simple coacervation, or liquid-liquid phase separation, of plant proteins in flours, to formulate plant proteins as powders consisting of submicron colloids with good solubility and dispersibility. We consider the specific case of mung bean flour, but the approach is more general. First, we study the influence of pH on the formation of submicron protein droplets (“coacervates”) after alkaline protein extraction from mung bean flour. Next, the proteins in droplets were heat-set into colloidal protein microgels, and the morphology of the colloids was assessed by scanning electron microscopy. The mung bean protein colloids have an intrinsic viscosity much lower than typical food thickeners, indicating the dense nature of the particles. After spray-drying, they maintain a good dispersibility even close to the isoelectric point. Heat-induced gelation of redispersed protein particles resulted in gels with moduli much less than those of commercial mung bean protein concentrates at equivalent protein concentration. Hence, the main impact of the pretreatment is on dispersibility and heat stability, with relevance to formulations such as plant-protein based beverages.

Background Mucilaginous seeds are novel sources of hydrocolloids with great functionalities. However, conventionally extracted mucilage is not of high quality due to the physical damage of seeds and the presence of seed particles in mucilage. Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of mucilage is a cost-effective and promising application of power ultrasound. Scope and approach In this review, the recent findings about extraction yield, chemical composition, color, apparent and intrinsic viscosity, emulsifying properties and antioxidant activity of mucilage obtained from seeds by conventional extraction (CE) and UAE were investigated and compared with each other. Key findings and Conclusions: The results revealed that the UAE system had many positive effects such as increase in the extraction yield, lightness, emulsifying properties, antioxidant activity, and decrease in the impurities. However, the efficiency of UAE in improving the functional properties and bioactivity of mucilage seed gums was influenced by process conditions such as power, amplitude intensity, frequency, sonication time, temperature, and the intrinsic attributes of mucilage such as molecular structure. Therefore, in order to accomplish optimum bioactivity and functioning of seed gums, we should determine and apply optimized processing parameters.

The processes to obtain value-added products from brewers’ spent grain, a contaminant industrial waste, require alkaline non-ecofriendly pre-treatments. The arabinoxylans from brewers’ spent grain were extracted by nixtamalization evaluating the extraction procedure, antioxidant capacity and molecular characteristics. The best arabinoxylans yields were those extracted with CaO at 100 °C and 25 °C (6.43% and 3.37%, respectively). The antioxidant capacity by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay of the arabinoxylans after thermal treatment and additional arabinoxylans after thermal treatment proteolysis were 434 and 118 mg TE/g, while by 2,20′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) diammonium salt assay the value was similar (380 μmol TE/g). The intrinsic viscosities and viscosimetric molecular weights were 69 mL/g and 13 kDa for arabinoxylans after thermal treatment, and 15 mL/g and 1.6 kDa for arabinoxylans after thermal treatment proteolysis, respectively. The protein and lignin contents were 3.1% and 6.4% for arabinoxylans after thermal treatment and, 0.9% and 4.6% for arabinoxylans after thermal treatment proteolysis, while their arabinose: xylose ratios were 0.39 and 0.36, with ferulic acid contents of 0.63 and 0.14 mg/g, respectively. Both products of arabinoxylans were molecularly identical by Fourier transform infra-red. Although the purity of the extracted arabinoxylans was improved with proteolysis, their intrinsic viscosity and viscosimetric molecular weight were affected. The extraction of arabinoxylans from brewers’ spent grain by CaO nixtamalization alone or after additional proteolysis was successful to obtain purity and good antioxidant capacity.

The lipophilic modification of dimethyldiallylammonium chloride monomer (DMDAAC) with resulting excellent lipophilic performance can provide an effective way to improve the application performance ...

In this study, pectin was extracted from Cissampelos pareira (Krueo Ma Noy) leaves by facile, green extraction at room temperature. The C. pareira pectin structure was confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy and the pectin had an intrinsic viscosity of 6.1 dL/g. The extracted C. pareira leaf pectin was used to prepare pectin/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) films that were crosslinked with 0–64 wt% succinic acid (SA), and the films were compared for their mechanical, antioxidant, and potential biodegradability properties. Incorporation of SA produced thicker pectin/PVA films with a higher surface hydrophobicity. The pectin/PVA film without SA (PEC–PVA) was crosslinked as confirmed with FTIR spectroscopy, which was improved by addition of SA. Addition of large amounts of SA, however, resulted in phase separation, which reduced visible light transparency and mechanical properties. The film containing 16% SA (PEC–PVA–16SA) had the highest tensile strength of 9.4 MPa and Young’s modulus of 53.4 MPa. All films showed antioxidant release via DPPH scavenging activity, which was enhanced in food simulants with higher ethanol concentrations (10, 30, and 50% w/w). The film PEC–PVA–16SA had the highest DPPH scavenging activity of 84% in 50% w/w ethanol. Upon soil burial, all films showed more than 50% weight loss within 7 days, which gradually increased up to 28 days soil burial. The FTIR spectra after soil burial confirmed that pectin and SA were removed from the films whereas PVA remained. These results suggest that pectin/PVA films prepared from C. pareira leaf pectin can be used as biodegradable food packaging with antioxidant properties.

The influences of polymerization conditions, viz. the kind of catalyst, solvent medium and temperature, on thermal, molecular and structural characteristics of carbon fiber precursor polymer were investigated. The dependence of the exothermic peak temperature (Tpk) and heat release rate on the kind of polymerization process was established. An aqueous redox slurry polymer had narrow exothermic peaks (Tpk = 294–297 °C) and relatively high heat release rates (∆H/∆T = 0.96–3.3 J g−1 s−1), and polymers prepared in solid state, solution and bulk had a broader exotherms with Tpk in the range 264–318 °C and low heat release rates in the range 1.15–3.9 J g−1 s−1. Dynamic and thermomechanical analyses indicate three glass transition temperature ranges, i.e., 42–54 °C, 80–98 °C, and 140–142 °C, which are similar irrespective of catalysts. Branching tendency in aqueous redox slurry polymer was notable beyond the intrinsic viscosity of 250 cm3/g. Bulk densities of the polymers were found to be in the range 0.25–0.45 g cm−3.

The relationship between the primary structures of polymers and their properties has long been recognized as an important research subject for polymer chemists. Advanced chemical procedures allowing precise control of the structure also enable us to examine the topological effects on polymer properties. Cyclic polymers possess unique characteristics due to the absence of polymer termini, showing different bulk and solution properties from their corresponding linear counterparts, i.e., smaller hydrodynamic volume and radius of gyration (Rg) [1], lower intrinsic viscosity [2], high critical solution temperature [2], accelerated rate of crystallization [3], and high refractive indices [4]. To make progress in this research field, innovative synthetic procedures are essential. The synthetic strategy for cyclic polymers has two typical pathways: the ring closure of functional linear polymers and ring expansion polymerization using cyclic monomers, an initiator, or a catalyst. This review describes the recent synthetic evolution of cyclic polymers, focusing on our new strategy: ring closing without highly dilute conditions. Relationship between the primary structures and their properties is recognized as an important research subject for polymer chemists. To make progress in this academic field, innovative synthetic procedures of cyclic polymers are essential. The synthetic strategy has two typical pathways: one is the ring closure of functional linear polymers and the other is ring expansion polymerization using cyclic monomers, an initiator, or a catalyst. This focus review deals with the recent synthetic evolution of cyclic polymers, focusing on our new strategy: ring closing without highly dilute conditions.

Sesbania cannabina galactomannan (2%) solutions added with strongly hydrated ions (Na2CO3, NaH2PO4, NaCl) and weakly hydrated ions (NaNO3) at different ionic strengths were rheologically characterized. The four selected salts dramatically decreased the intrinsic viscosity of galactomannan solution in the following order of effectiveness: Na2CO3

Effects of aging temperature and time on dilute solution properties of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) in N,N-dimethyl formamide (DMF) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) were characterized. In DMF, the intrinsi...

Homopolymers and copolymers derived from 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid have been extensively studied for their potential in the development of sustainable plastics. This research definitely spotlighted the synthesis of poly(ethylene-co-butylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) copolymer via the two-step melting polycondensation with various ethylene glycol/1,4-butanediol molar ratios. The structural characterization of the obtained biobased copolymer was carried out by ATR-FTIR and 1H NMR. The average molecular weight of the obtained copolymer was determined by the intrinsic viscosity measurements. It was found that ethylene glycol was preferentially incorporated into the copolymer structures when the molecular weight of the products was not high enough (>18000). The decomposition of two types of monomer units of the obtained copolymer was proven through the degradation two-step process by TGA measurements.

Solutions of two types of cellulose in the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium acetate (BmimAc) have been analyzed using rheology and fast-field cycling nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, in order to analyze the macroscopic (bulk) and microscopic environments, respectively. The degree of polymerization (DP) was observed to have a significant effect on both the overlap (c*) and entanglement (ce) concentrations and the intrinsic viscosity ([η]). For microcrystalline cellulose (MCC)/BmimAc solutions, [η] = 116 mL g-1, which is comparable to that of MCC/1-ethyl-3-methyl-imidazolium acetate (EmimAc) solutions, while [η] = 350 mL g-1 for the commercial cellulose (higher DP). Self-diffusion coefficients (D) obtained via the model-independent approach were found to decrease with cellulose concentration and increase with temperature, which can in part be explained by the changes in viscosity; however, ion interactions on a local level are also important. Both Stokes-Einstein and Stokes-Einstein-Debye analyses were carried out to directly compare rheological and relaxometry analyses. It was found that polymer entanglements affect the microscopic environment to a much lesser extent than for the macroscopic environment. Finally, the temperature dependencies of η, D, and relaxation time (T1) could be well described by Arrhenius relationships, and thus, activation energies (Ea) for flow, diffusion, and relaxation were determined. We demonstrate that temperature and cellulose concentration have different effects on short- and long-range interactions.

Nowadays, hydrocolloids, especially galactomannans, are applied as thickening agents in food and pharmaceutical products. Gleditsia caspica, known as Persian honey locust, which is available in large quantities in the northern regions of Iran, is found to be rich in galactomannan. To better investigate the thickening properties, a complete research on the rheological features of galactomannan with different concentrations in aqueous solutions is of particular importance. The obtained results of steady shear flow experiments indicated that the stress–shear rate, apparent viscosity–shear rate, and stress-time data were well fitted with power law, Cross and Figuni–Shoemaker models according to their R2 and RMSE values. Strain and frequency sweep experiment consequences demonstrated that the solutions containing 0.5 and 1% w/v galactomannan exhibited viscous-like behavior that is mainly associated with lack of strong interactions in the conformation and solutions containing 1.5% w/v galactomannan indicated gel-like behavior that is affiliated with more stable interactions between chains in the conformation. Intrinsic viscosity of obtained galactomannan was in the range of 6.7282–7.1722 dl/g.

Foaming of recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) (rPET) was performed by supercritical carbon dioxide (sc-CO2) assisted extrusion. The intrinsic viscosity (IV) of rPET was increased from 0.62 dl/g to 0.87 dl/g using an epoxy-functional chain extender, which provided adequate rheological properties for cell stabilization so that an apparent density of less than 0.15 g/cm3 became achievable. Homogeneous and talc induced heterogeneous crystal and cell nucleation, subsequent cell growth and stabilization processes were examined using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. It was found that using talc the crystallization temperature increases which results in smaller cell size distribution. A strong correlation was evinced between the apparent density and the Fourier transform near-infrared (NIR) spectrum of the foamed rPET samples enabling quick and non-destructive characterization. Accordingly, NIR spectroscopy is demonstrated as a suitable method for in-line quality monitoring during extrusion foaming of recycled PET, being especially prone to quality fluctuations.

Bleached kraft pulps from eucalyptus and pine were subjected to cold caustic extraction (CCE) with NaOH (5, 10, 17.5, and 35%) for hemicelluloses removal and to increase cellulose accessibility. The effect of these changes was evaluated in enzymatic saccharification with the multicomponent Cellic CTec3 enzyme cocktail, and in viscosity reduction of pulps with the monocomponent Trichoderma reesei endoglucanase (EG). After CCE with 10% NaOH (CCE10) and 17.5% NaOH (CCE17.5), hemicellulose content lower than 1% was achieved in eucalyptus and pine pulps, respectively. At these concentrations, cellulose I started to be converted into cellulose II. NaOH concentrations higher than 17.5% decreased the intrinsic viscosity (from 730 to 420 mL/g in eucalyptus and from 510 to 410 mL/g in pine). Cellulose crystallinity was reduced from 60% to 44% in eucalyptus and from 71% to 44% in pine, as the NaOH concentration increased. Enzymatic multicomponent saccharification showed higher glucose yields in all CCE-treated eucalyptus samples (up to 93%) while only CCE17.5 and CCE35 pine pulps achieved 90% after 40 h of incubation. Untreated bleached pulps of both species presented saccharification yields lower than 70%. When monocomponent EG was used to treat the same pulps, depending on enzyme charge and incubation time, a wide range of intrinsic viscosity reduction was obtained (up to 74%). Results showed that eucalyptus pulps are more accessible and easier to hydrolyze by enzymes than pine pulps and that the conversion of cellulose I to cellulose II hydrate only has the effect of increasing saccharification of CCE pine samples. Viscosity reduction of CCE pulps and EG treated pulps were obtained in a wide range indicating that pulps presented characteristics suitable for cellulose derivatives production.

Polymers with new C–N bond formation between monoethyleneglycoldimethacrylate and substituted amines at 100 °C under nitrogen atmosphere with vigorous stirring condition and without any catalyst or a solvent via aza-Michael addition (AMA) reaction was synthesized. Thus, synthesized polymer was characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, UV–visible spectra, DSC, TGA, XRD, SEM and intrinsic viscosity measurements. Further, the adsorption behaviour of the same was tested towards the methyleneblue (MB), congored (CR) and crystalviolet (CV) dyes. The FT-IR spectrum showed the disappearance of –NH2 stretching. The anthranilicacid (AnA)-based AMA polymer exhibited the highest degradation temperature (Td) value of 448 °C. Among the polymers synthesized the AnA based one showed the highest adsorption of 96%. The experimental results were compared with the literature values.

Thermoplastic polyetherester elastomer (TPEE) based on poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) as a hard segment and poly(tetramethylene ether glycol terephthalate) (PTMGT) as a soft segment was synthesized with hard segment content (HSC) 35 wt%. The high molecular weight TPEE copolymer was successfully prepared by using MDI as a chain extender from the TPEE synthesized. The intrinsic viscosity of the TPEE copolymer containing 3 wt% of MDI increased from 1.56 dl/g to 2.13 dl/g and the melt index decreased from 54.2 g/min to 11.5 g/min. The breaking stress of TPEE-MDI monofilament increased with MDI content and the breaking strain decreased with increasing MDI content. However, it is noticeable that the breaking stress of TPEE-MDI 3 wt% copolymer monofilament showed 41 % enhanced breaking stress while still retained pretty high breaking strain, i.e. 825 %. The elastic recovery of TPEE-MDI 1 wt% monofilament was 80.7 % in the first cycle and 76.0 % in the final cycle, which were higher than that of TPEE both in the first and the final cycles. These results meant that TPEE-MDI copolymer fiber could have enhanced elastic recovery as well as enhanced breaking stress.

A copolymer of acrylamide (AA) and 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid sodium salt (AMPSNa) was prepared by inverse emulsion radical polymerization in the presence of azobisisobutyronitrile initiator. The effect of temperature, initiator, and sum of the monomers on the rate of inverse emulsion copolymerization of acrylamide and AMPSNa was studied by dilatometry. The kinetic parameters of the process were determined, including the effective copolymerization constants, reaction activation energy, reaction rate, and orders with respect to the initiator and monomers. The synthesized AA–AMPSNa copolymer was characterized by IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The intrinsic viscosity of the copolymers was determined, and the viscosity-average molecular weight was calculated by the Mark–Kuhn–Houwink equation. The drag reduction was studied by capillary turbulent viscometry. The AA–AMPSNa copolymers can be efficiently used as drag reduction additives to water flows.

The amount and properties of fillers greatly affect the workability of sulfur composites. In addition, modified sulfur has fluidity only above approximately 115 °C, and its rheology may depend on the temperature. This study aimed to mainly quantify the effects of mixing temperature and filler particle characteristics on the yield stress and viscosity of fresh sulfur composites by applying suspension rheology theory. Sulfur composites containing mineral fillers, such as different blends of fly ash and Portland cement, were examined. The test results revealed that the yield stress of the sulfur composites was influenced by both the type and volumetric ratio of fillers, whereas the viscosity was governed by the specific surface area of filler particles. At 140 °C, the sulfur composites attained a higher yield stress and viscosity than at 120 °C. In addition, the intrinsic viscosity of the sulfur composites was dependent on the filler type and not on its volume ratio. The sulfur composites were well described by conventional yield and viscosity models commonly applied for suspension materials, when the filler volume ratio was less than 30%.

A pyruvated exopolysaccharide designated as LPE-1 was isolated and purified from the fermentation broth of Lactobacillus plantarum AR307 and characterized for its chemical structure. The results indicated that LPE-1 contained galactopyranose (Galp) and glucopyranose (Glcp) at a molar ratio of 2: 1. The weight-averaged molecular weight (Mw) of LPE-1 was 605 kDa, with a polydispersity index (PDI) of 1.57, intrinsic viscosity ([ƞ]) of 3.28 dL/g, Mark-Houwink-Sakurada exponent α of 0.65 and gyration of radius (Rg) of 36.10 nm. The results of GC–MS and NMR revealed that pyruvate (Pyr) was found to form cyclic ketals at O-4 and O-6 position of terminal galactopyranose (T-Galp). The backbone of LPE-1 was identified to be consisted of 1,4-β-D-Glcp (23.19%), 1,4-α-D-Glcp (11.38%) and 1,4,6-β-D-Galp (12.05%), branched by 1,6-β-D-Galp (38.88%) at O-6 position of 1,4,6-β-D-Galp residue and terminated by T-β-D-Galp (5.60%) or T-β-D-(4,6-Pyr)-Galp (8.90%). A possible structural unit was proposed for LPE-1 as follows: Download : Download high-res image (56KB) Download : Download full-size image where Galp* is either T-β-D-(4,6-Pyr)-Galp or T-β-D-Galp. The presence of pyruvate group in LPE-1 would play an important role in improving the viscosity and plasticity of dairy products.

Polyvinyl alkyl esters (PVAe) are a family of macromolecules in which the ester side chains (pendant groups) increase in molar mass and hydrophobicity and decrease in structural polarity as the number of carbons in the pendant group increases. These PVAe are commonly used in adhesives, industrial coatings, plasticizers, textile finishes, chewing gum bases, and paint thickeners. The most significant polymer in the family of PVAe is polyvinyl acetate (PVAc), which is the precursor for making polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), the largest volume water-soluble, non-toxic, biodegradable, and biocompatible polymer in the world used in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food industries, laundry detergents, and freshwater sports fishing. In this study, the goal is to synthesize polyvinyl alkyl ester homopolymers of various molecular weights by esterifying polyvinyl alcohol with alkyl anhydrides. The study also includes the synthesis of various polyvinyl alcohol homopolymers from different polyvinyl acetates via hydrolysis. These polymers were studied via gel permeation chromatography (GPC), multi-angle laser light scattering (MALLS), intrinsic viscosity, elemental analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). Blends of polyvinyl alkyl ester homopolymers with defined compositions were also studied using quantitative FT-IR.

Previously, we showed the weight average molecular weight (M w) and intrinsic viscosity ([ƞ]) of pectic hydrocolloids recovered from steam‐exploded citrus peel were low, suggesting fragmentation due to process temperature and/or time‐at‐temperature. We have tested this hypothesis on a commercial lime pectin peel, washed to remove soluble sugars and dried for stabilization, using a static steam explosion system. We examined temperatures of 120–150°C at 1–3 min hold times. Galacturonic acid recovery and M w ranged from 22% to 82% and 142–214 kDa, respectively. Recovery of most major pectic sugars increased concomitantly with galacturonic acid as temperature and time‐at‐temperature increased. [ƞ] ranged from 1.75 to 6.83 dl/g. The degree of methylesterification ranged from 66.5% to 72.1%. Tan (δ) (Loss modulus/Storage modulus; G″/G′) values of sugar–acid gels for 120–140°C treatments were, We demonstrate the effect of process temperature and time on the macromolecular and functional properties of pectic hydrocolloids obtained by steam explosion. Yield, molecular weight, intrinsic viscosity, and functional properties were affected by process conditions.

The study proposes the evaluation of the residence-time distribution (RTD) in situ in an industrial dryer for the production of recycled polyester fibers (PES) from colorless polyethylene terephthalate (PET) flakes without interruption of the production. A disturbance of the pulse type was employed, in which the tracer (blue PET flakes) had previously been crystalized and its concentration was obtained according to the time at the dryer outlet. Additionally, analyses of intrinsic viscosity and crystallization percentage of the PET flakes (colorless and blue) and PES intrinsic viscosity and color force were performed. By RTD, the mean residence time (322.8 min), the variance (1305.4 min2), the standard deviation (36.1 min) and the relative error (1.5%) were obtained when compared to the theoretical residence time, indicating the absence of preferred paths or flake agglomerates in the equipment. Finally, the characterization demonstrated that there was no alteration in the parameters of product quality during RTD evaluation, confirming the potential of application of this methodology for diagnoses of continuous industrial processes.

“Self-fitting” shape memory polymer (SMP) scaffolds prepared as semi-interpenetrating networks (semi-IPNs) with crosslinked linear-poly(ε-caprolactone)-diacrylate (PCL-DA, M(n) ~10 kg/mol) and linear-poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA, M(n) ~15 kg/mol) [75/25 wt%] exhibited robust mechanical properties and accelerated degradation rates versus a PCL-DA scaffold control. However, their potential to treat irregular craniomaxillofacial (CMF) bone defects is limited by their relatively high fitting temperature (T(fit) ~55 °C; related to the T(m) of PCL) required for shape recovery (i.e. expansion) and subsequent shape fixation during press fitting of the scaffold, which can be harmful to surrounding tissue. Additionally, the viscosity of the solvent-based precursor solutions, cast over a fused salt template during fabrication, can limit scaffold size. Thus, in this work, analogous semi-IPN SMP scaffolds were also formed with a 4-arm star-PCL-tetracryalate (star-PCL-TA) (M(n) ~10 kg/mol) and star-PLLA (M(n) ~15 kg/mol). To assess the impact of a star-polymer architecture, four semi-IPN compositions were prepared: linear-PCL-DA/linear-PLLA (L/L), linear-PCL-DA/star-PLLA (L/S), star-PCL-TA/linear-PLLA (S/L) and star-PCL-TA/star-PLLA (S/S). Two PCL controls were also prepared: LPCL (i.e. 100% linear-PCL-DA) and SPCL (i.e. 100% star-PCL-TA). The S/S semi-IPN scaffold exhibited particularly desirable properties. In addition to achieving a lower, tissue-safe T(fit) (~45 °C), it exhibited the fastest rate of degradation which is anticipated to more favourably permit neotissue infiltration. The radial expansion pressure exerted by the S/S semi-IPN scaffold at T(fit) was greater than that of LPCL, which is expected to enhance osseointegration and mechanical stability. The intrinsic viscosity of the S/S semi-IPN macromer solution was also reduced such that larger scaffold specimens could be prepared.

Brown seaweed polysaccharides (BSPs) are one of the primary active components from brown seaweed that has a range of pharmaceutical and biomedical applications. However, the quality control of BSPs is a challenge due to their complicated structure and macromolecule. In this study, saccharide mapping based on high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), multi-angle laser light scattering, viscometer, and refractive index detector (HPSEC-MALLS-Vis-RID), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) were used to discriminate the polysaccharides from nine different species of brown algae (BA1-9). The results showed that BSPs were composed of β-D-glucans and β-1,3−1,4-glucan linkages. The molecular weight, radius of gyration, and intrinsic viscosity of BSPs were ranging from 1.718 × 105 Da to 6.630 × 105 Da, 30.2 nm to 51.5 nm, and 360.99 mL/g to 865.52 mL/g, respectively. Moreover, α values of BSPs were in the range of 0.635 to 0.971, which indicated a rigid rod chain conformation. The antioxidant activities of BSPs exhibited substantial radical scavenging activities against DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS (2, 2’-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radicals, which indicated that the use of BSPs might be a potential approach for antioxidant supplements. Thus, this study gives insights about the structure-function relationship of BSPs, which will be beneficial to improve the quality of polysaccharides derived from marine algae.

The amphiphilic copolymers of N-methyl-N-vinylacetamide and alkylated N-methyl-N-vinylamine combining a hydrophilic backbone and hydrophobic side chains of various lengths and carrying a charge are studied. The results are compared, and the features of the application of known methods for determining the intrinsic viscosity in aqueous and organic solvents are considered. Conclusions are drawn about the intramolecular organization in the molecular chains of the studied copolymers and the manifestation of hydrophobic interactions in macromolecules with different lengths of alkyl radicals. The conditions under which the amphiphilic character of copolymers does not manifest itself are revealed. It is proposed to consider the sign and magnitude of the second derivative of the dependence ln ηr = f(c[η]) as a measure of the hydrophobicity of copolymer chains.

The measurement of densities, specific viscosities of metformin drugs complexes with some transition metal ions at different concentration in the range (1 x10−2 M to 6 x10−4 M) in 70% (DMSO + water) solvent at 303K are reported. The experimental data shows, the effect of concentration of solute on viscosity in DMSO-water mixtures which gives idea about the molecular interactions present in different solutions. Appreciable molecular interactions were observed between the metal complexes of metformin and binary mixture. The thermodynamic properties such as free energy change (ΔG), enthalpy change (ΔH) and entropy change (ΔS) of metal complexes of metformin drugs were analyzed in 70% (DMSO + water) mixture at different temperature such as 308 K, 313 K and 318 K. The experimental data gives the idea about effect of temperature on the molecular interaction and structural changes in solute.

100 years after the birth of polymer science, it can be stated that viscometry of dilute polymer solutions is the most popular method among molecular hydrodynamics methods, the purpose of which is to obtain the molecular characteristics of individual polymer chains. The viscous flow of dilute aqueous solutions of polyelectrolytes–statistical copolymers of N-methyl-N-vinylacetamide and N-methyl-N-vinylamine hydrochloride was investigated in the range of ionic strengths from the minimum (10–6 M) to the maximum possible 6 M NaCl. Intrinsic viscosities were determined as ∂lnηr/∂c at c → 0. The obtained generalized dependence of the intrinsic viscosity on the ionic strength of the solution in a double logarithmic scale is sigmoidal. The intrinsic viscosity values change insignificantly in the range 10–6–10–4 M. The nature of the change in the hydrodynamic volume of charged macromolecules in the entire range of ionic strengths of solutions is discussed in comparison with the theory of single polyelectrolyte macromolecule in the salt solution developed by Vasilevskaya et al., [26].

The present work analyzes the production and characterization of cellulose micro/nanofibers (CMNFs) obtained from different treatments. A chemical pre-treatment was performed using oxalic acid at 25 wt.% and 50 wt.%. Besides, a rotary homogenizer or a PFI mill refiner were used for mechanical pretreatments. Then, mechanical fibrillation to obtain CMNFs was performed by pressurized homogenization for 5 and 15 passes. The carboxylation of cellulose by the chemical pre-treatment was confirmed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and the increase in the carboxylic acid group content was determined by conductometric titration of CMNFs. The best results of nanofibrillation yield (76.5%), transmittance (72.1%) and surface charges (71.0 µeq/g CMNF) were obtained using the PFI mill refiner, 50 wt.% oxalic acid and 15 passes. The highest aspect ratio (length/diameter) determined by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) was found using the PFI mill refiner and 25 wt.% oxalic acid treatment, and no significant differences were observed by increasing the number of passes. The aspect ratio was related to the sedimentation and the intrinsic viscosity of the CNMF dilute suspension. The aspect ratio values obtained by sedimentation agree with those of TEM. Moreover, a strong relationship between the intrinsic viscosity [η] of the CMNF dispersions and their aspect ratio (p) was found (ρ[η] = 0.014 p2.3, R2 = 0.99). Finally, the tensile strength of films obtained from CMNF suspensions was more influenced by the amount of CMNF fraction than the aspect ratio.

The zwitterionic ring-opening polymerization of N-functionalized eight-membered cyclic carbonates with N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHC) in the absence of alcohol initiators generates cyclic polycarbonates of Mn ∼ 30–100 kDa. The polymerization behavior of these eight-membered cyclic azacarbonates depends sensitively on the nature of the nitrogen substituent. The N-benzyl-substituted eight-membered cyclic carbonate (8CCBn) polymerizes readily with 1,3-diisopropyl-4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene to generate cyclic polycarbonates with molecular weights of Mn = 14 000 to 96 000 Da. In contrast, the N-phenyl-substituted cyclic carbonate (8CCPh) catalytically dimerizes in the presence of the NHC to afford the crystalline cyclic dimer. The zwitterionic ring-opening copolymerization of δ-valerolactone (VL) and the cyclic carbonates afford gradient cyclic copolymers. The cyclic topology of both the homopolymers and copolymers was supported by MALDI-TOF MS and intrinsic viscosity measurements. 13C NMR and differential ...

This paper presents a method for the synthesis of ammonium alginate by interphase gas-solid reaction. It was confirmed by FTIR ATR spectroscopy analysis that a full substitution of acid groups by ammonium groups on the surface of powdered alginic acid was performed. Comparative studies on the properties of ammonium alginate solutions obtained by interphase reaction with those prepared by the classical method of dissolving alginic acid in an ammonia solution showed that the rheological properties of the solutions from these two derivatives do not differ significantly. Moreover, it was shown that aqueous solutions of ammonium alginate are more stable over time than solutions of sodium alginate. It was confirmed that ammonium alginate and sodium alginate are typical polyelectrolytes, as the addition of a low molecular weight electrolyte to their solutions resulted in a decrease in viscosity.

New possibilities for the synthesis of high-molecular weight poly(2,5(6)-benzimidazole) (ABPBI) based on a new monomer, 3,4-diaminobenzoic acid monophosphate, in polyphosphoric acid medium at high monomer concentration under stirring and on a Teflon® surface without stirring are investigated. New complex solvent for ABPBI is found. This solvent is based on dimethyl sulfoxide, methanol, and potassium hydroxide. For the first time, molecular weight values are obtained by dynamic light scattering and viscometry in complex solvent. In addition, Kuhn segment values are estimated. Maximal molecular mass MDη value reaches 94 kDa. The values of macromolecular equilibrium rigidity A are estimated as 4.4–5.7 nm according to translational diffusion coefficient and 3.3 nm according to intrinsic viscosity measurements.

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) is one of the most used polymers in the world that results in tons disposed in landfills and dumping grounds. Despite the advantages of using recycled PET, the recycling process decrease its physical-chemical properties. The present study addresses the use of polycarbodiimide-based additive to increase the molar mass of post-consumer PET. A new approach is proposed to evaluate the molar mass, as well as the relationship between the intrinsic viscosity and oscillatory rheometry. This analysis allowed us to compare the measurement obtained in diluted solution and melt from complex viscosity out of the Newtonian plateau. Different concentrations of additive in the post-consumer (dry or wet) PET reprocessing resulted in materials with different molar mass ranges. Consequently, different market applications will be available, such as textile fiber, bottles or engineering goods.

Quaternary ammonium random copolymers poly(methacryloyloxyethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride-co-acrylamide) P(DMC-AM) with either varied cationicities or intrinsic viscosities were synthesized and t...

The weight-average molecular weights of six native cellulose samples in ionic liquids were determined through steady shear viscosity measurements in the ionic liquid butyl methyl imidazolium chloride. The intrinsic viscosity [ η ] in ethyl methyl imidazolium acetate (EMImAc) is measured using a gravity-driven glass capillary viscometer and found to be independent of temperature in the range of 30–80 °C, disproving a literature report of [ η ] in EMImAc, exhibiting a strong temperature dependence. Findings are contrasted with values of intrinsic viscosity in cupriethylenediamine hydroxide, the most widely used solvent to dissolve and analyze the molecular weight of cellulose pulps in industry. Differences are tentatively attributed to the different temporary association properties of cellulose chains in the two solvents. Finally, it is demonstrated that cellulose adsorbs at the air/solution interface in three different ionic liquids to create a viscoelastic liquid interfacial layer of higher concentration. Adsorption at the air/solution interface gives an extra contribution to the measured torque in various rotational rheometer geometries, which apparently simply adds to the torque from the pure bulk solution.

Conventional polymers used in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) are acrylamide-based copolymers of very high molecular weight. Their viscosity in aqueous solution depends on various physicochemical parameters such as monomer composition, concentration, average molecular weight, polydispersity, salinity level and ionic composition, temperature, etc. Moreover, solutions are non-Newtonian; they exhibit low-shear Newtonian plateau viscosity at a low-shear rate followed by a shear thinning region at a higher shear rate. In the absence of a predictive model, for any new polymer grade or lot, any new or slightly varying field condition, it is necessary to perform a whole set of viscosity measurements at varying concentrations, which is tedious, time-consuming, and not valuable. Flow curves (viscosity vs shear rate) were measured on a great number of polymer solutions in various physicochemical conditions (variation of the polymer microstructure, monomer composition, molecular weight, brine salinity, and temperature). The flow curves in dilute nonentangled, semidilute nonentangled, and semidilute entangled regimes were modeled by only two adjustable parameters: the intrinsic viscosity [ η ] and the relaxation time in the dilute regime λ d. The zero-shear viscosity η 0 (more specifically, the specific viscosity η s p) and the power law index n obey master curves that are solely functions of the overlap parameter C [ η ]. The relaxation time λ depends on C [ η ] and the relaxation time in the dilute regime λ d. All these results are consistent with predictions for a neutral polymer in a good solvent. By using these master curves, intrinsic viscosity of any polymer/brine system can be easily obtained at various temperatures from a single measurement in the semidilute regime in which viscosity is higher than water, and classic rheometers are very sensitive. The whole flow curve η ( γ ˙ ) can be predicted at any concentration, temperature, and molecular weight. For any unknown polymer/brine system, the determination of λ d enables us to determine the viscosimetric average molecular weight M of the polymer. Finally, by using the additive property of the intrinsic viscosity of binary solutions, a method is proposed to evaluate the molecular weight of field samples. Polymer physics is today considered well described and well known. However, the beauty and the usefulness of this physics have been partly ignored by the EOR community up to now. This study gives a methodology to predict the viscosifying behavior and the molecular weight of any acrylamide-based copolymer/brine system. By attributing the molecular weight rather than a viscosity value, on-site and lab quality control will be greatly improved.

Incorporation of bioactive natural compounds like polyphenols is an attractive approach for enhanced functionalities of biomaterials. In particular flavonoids have important pharmacological activities, and controlled release systems may be instrumental to realize the full potential of these phytochemicals. Alginate presents interesting attributes for dermal and other biomaterial applications, and studies were carried here to support the development of polyphenol-loaded alginate systems. Studies of capillary viscosity indicated that ionic medium is an effective strategy to modulate the polyelectrolyte effect and viscosity properties of alginates. On gelation, considerable differences were observed between alginate gels produced with Ca2+, Ba2+, Cu2+, Fe2+, Fe3+ and Zn2+ as crosslinkers, especially concerning shrinkage and morphological regularity. Stability assays with different polyphenols in the presence of alginate-gelling cations pointed to the choice of calcium, barium and zinc as safer crosslinkers. Alginate-based films loaded with epicatechin were prepared and the kinetics of release of the flavonoid investigated. The results with calcium, barium and zinc alginate matrices indicated that the release dynamics is dependent on film thicknesses, but also on the crosslinking metal used. On these grounds, an alginate-based system of convenient use was devised, so that flavonoids can be easily loaded at simple point-of-care conditions before dermal application. This epicatechin-loaded patch was tested on an ex-vivo skin model and demonstrated capacity to deliver therapeutically relevant concentrations on skin surface. Moreover, the flavonoid released was not modified and retained full antioxidant bioactivity. The alginate-based system proposed offers a multifunctional approach for flavonoid controllable delivery and protection of skin injured or under risk., Graphical abstract Image 1, Highlights • Production of alginate gels with diverse metal cations was compared. • Copper and iron ions may interfere in the production of polyphenol-loaded materials. • Epicatechin release rate by metal-alginates increased in the order Ba2+

The aim of this research was to investigate physicochemical properties and surface activity characterization of Balangu seed polysaccharide and its fractions. Balangu seed (Lallemantia royleana) gum was fractionated according to its fractions molecular weight difference by ethanol. Its fractions were named PER-Balangu (high molecular weight) and SUPER-Balangu (low molecular weight). The results showed the molecular weight value of Balangu, PER-Balangu and SUPER-Balangu were 3120 kDa, 6130 kDa and 2050 kDa, respectively. Moreover, the highest and lowest protein content related to SUPER-Balangu (10.8%) and PER-Balangu (6.03%), respectively. The uronic acid value of Balangu, PER-Balangu and SUPER-Balangu were 15.16%, 9.75% and 20.35%, respectively. The FT-IR spectra showed the principal functional groups included of (OH), (C–H), (−COO−) and (C–O–C). The intrinsic viscosity value of Balangu, PER-Balangu and SUPER-Balangu were 45.11 dL/g, 29.4 dL/g and 36.51 dL/g, respectively. SUPER-Balangu improved the surface activity properties, which was significantly reduced by increasing SUPER-Balangu concentration (p

Viscoelasticity of corn zein is associated with the formation of β-sheet secondary structures; however, studies of the fundamentals of this conformational change are limited due to zein insolubility and poor analytical resolution. Here, changes in soluble zein conformation were evaluated as the protein self-assembles in increasingly hydrophilic solvents to the concentration just before aggregation and precipitation. Circular dichroism spectra of zein showed that α-helix structures decrease in favor of random coil and β-sheets with increases in water content in an ethanol-water system, similar to observations of zein when it becomes viscoelastic in dough systems. This was further supported by changes in Thioflavin T fluorescence emission spectra and intrinsic viscosity measurements. Two widely recognized molecular models for α-zein (hairpin and superhelical conformations) were tested at 75 and 45% ethanol concentration using molecular dynamics simulation for agreement with experimental results. Increase in solvent hydrophilicity increased β-sheets and reduced distance between backbone anomeric carbons only for hairpin model, suggesting it to be the more valid of the two. These findings emphasize the importance of transformation to β-sheets during zein self-assembly and provide further insight into the mechanisms by which the protein is functionalized into viscoelastic systems.

The effects of ultrasonic treatment on rheological and emulsifying properties of sugar beet pectin were studied. Results indicated that intrinsic viscosity ([η]) and viscosity average molecular weight ([M v]) decreased with the increased time from 0 to 30 min but increased when the duration prolonged to 45 min. The change of apparent viscosity with shear rate of all pectin solutions could be well described by Sisko model (R 2 ≥ .996) and the infinite‐rate viscosity (η ∞) and the consistency coefficient (k s) values decreased after ultrasonic treatment. Ultrasonic treatment could have an effect on dynamic moduli and activation energy of sugar beet pectin solutions. Particle size of pectin emulsions decreased and absolute zeta potential increased with increased time from 0 to 20 min. Excessive ultrasonic duration (30 and 45 min) could result in the aggregation of oil droplets in pectin emulsion and decrease in emulsifying stability. It could be concluded that ultrasonic treatment could affect the rheological and emulsifying properties of sugar beet pectin. The results have important implications for understanding the ultrasonic modification of sugar beet pectin., Different processing methods yielded bean sauces more distinguishable by appearance, taste, and mouth‐feel than by aroma, flavor, and after‐taste. Sauces that were brown in color, with burnt aroma and burnt after‐taste were preferred to those that were described as lumpy with mashed potato flavor. Oven roasted beans and boiled beans were preferred to traditionally roasted, extruded, and unprocessed beans.

In this work, poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) chain-extending products with different molecular weights were prepared by reactive extrusion using isocyanate trimer (C-HK) as the trifunctional chain extender. The effect of the chain extender C-HK on the intrinsic viscosity, melt flow property, crystallization behavior, crystallization morphology, and mechanical property of PET was investigated. The results showed that when the content of the chain extender was increased from 0.6 to 1.4 wt%, the viscosity average molecular weight of PET was effectively increased from 2.36 × 104 to 5.46 × 104 g·mol–1. After the chain extending, the crystallinity and the time of semicrystallization of PET were significantly decreased. After the isothermal crystallization at 220 °C for 5 min, the spherulites formed by pure PET became larger. With the increase in molecular weight of PET after chain extension, its spherulite size was significantly decreased without changing the crystalline structure. The chain-extended PET also exhibited more excellent bending-resistant and impact-resistant properties. While the tensile strength of PET after chain extension was slightly decreased, the bending strength was increased by a maximum value of 56.8%, and the impact strength was increased by a maximum value of five times.

Particle shape and particle-size distribution (PSD) are important factors for pigment packing and water retention in the pigment coating process, being closely associated with many runnability problems. Diverse experimental investigations on the packing and dewatering of pigment slurries have been made. However, theoretical approaches remain lacking. This paper presents a joint experimental and theoretical analysis of the influence of pigment shape and PSD on pigment packing and dewatering. The relative viscosities of very dilute pigment slurries were measured and used to determine the intrinsic viscosity, based on the Einstein equation. The deviation of pigment shape from spherical caused an increase in viscosity of the slurries. Acicular precipitated calcium carbonates gave lower shape factor values than platy clay particles, which indicated that the needle-like particles could rotate more easily around their long axes under shearing conditions. The packing of pigments, which determines porosity, permeability, light scattering, and mechanical properties, was examined. The packing volumes of nonspherical pigments were estimated based on their respective PSDs, using an algorithm developed for spherical particles, modified with a correction factor. This model is based on the close random-packing volume fraction ( $$\emptyset_{\text{p}}^{ 2}$$ ) of particles of uniform size being an independent variable, regardless of their shape. Therefore, it was valid as long as the particles always achieve the same close random-packing volume ( $$\emptyset_{\text{p}}^{ 1}$$ ) by sedimentation or tapping. Overall, the effect of the particle shape and PSD on the dewatering and filter-cake permeability (Kf) was analyzed. The dewatering rates were measured with a common pressure filtration method, and the permeability of the filter cakes was obtained by fitting the data to a filtration equation. The particle size and PSD were found to influence the permeability constant, but there was little correlation between the permeability and particle shape.

Recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) (r-PET) is a thermoplastic polyester. Repeated heat processing of r-PET may negatively affect physical properties due to thermal degradation. Therefore, to improve the physical properties of r-PET, poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) samples with different molecular weights (low, medium, and high) were synthesized using atom transfer radical polymerization. The synthesized PGMA polymer was then subjected to 1H-NMR characterization and gel permeation chromatography for the analysis of molecular weight and its distribution. The intrinsic viscosity values of the r-PET/PGMA blend were increased from 0.61 to 0.8 dL g− 1 using high-molecular-weight PGMA at 2 wt%, and the glass transition temperature was increased from 71.8 °C for r-PET to 82.2 °C using high-molecular-weight PGMA at 1 wt%. Young’s modulus was increased by 1.1 times using 2 wt% high-molecular-weight PGMA compared with raw r-PET. All r-PET/PGMA blends samples exhibited notable shear thinning behavior and high viscosity compared with raw r-PET, and r-PET/PGMA blends are found with medium-molecular-weight PMGA polymers observing optimal physical properties. With these enhanced properties, the r-PET/PGMA blends can be applied in the recycling of PET, such as in eco-friendly yarn, packaging materials, and melt-brown non-woven fabric applications.

International audience; A water-soluble polysaccharide (PSPC) was extracted from the seeds of Plantago ciliata Desf., a spontaneous Algerian Saharan plant by a hot aqueous extraction then purified by successive ethanolic precipitations. The final extraction yield for PSPC was close to 18.6% (w/v). PSPC was then investigated regarding its global composition, structural features and rheological properties. PSPC is a neutral arabinoxylan, composed of a β-(1,3)/β-(1,4)-D-xylan backbone with side chains of Xylp, and Araf residues attached in O-2 and O-3 positions. The macromolecular characteristics of PSPC in water was determined by SEC/MALLS, with a high molecular weight (Mw) of 700 kDa, a low polydispersity index (PDI) of 1.47 and an intrinsic viscosity [η] close to 157 mL/g. PSPC showed a pseudoplastic behavior in semi-dilute media and the critical overlay concentration (C*) was estimated around 0.32–0.37% (w/v). This current research has supplied original structural information on a new arabinoxylan which could be particularly useful as a novel source of soluble fiber belonging to psyllium.

The kinematical viscosity of water-polyethylene glycol-LiOH systems is studied at 293.15 K for the LiOH molar fraction of 0–0.05 and the PEG concentration of 0–5 g/length. Polyethylene glycol fractions of different molecular masses (1000, 1500, 3000, 4000, and 6000) are considered. Experimental data on the kinematic viscosity for a given LiOH concentration are used to calculate the following quantities: intrinsic viscosity of studied solutions, Huggins coefficient, parameter α in the Mark-Houwink equation, swelling coefficient of polyethylene glycol macromolecules, intrinsic viscosity in the θ solvent, mean square distance of the PEG macromolecular chain in the solution and in the θ solvent, length of the Kuhn segment in the solution and the θ solvent. It is shown that macromolecular polyethylene glycol coils are permeable for the surrounding liquid (water-LiOH) and that their volumes decrease and the macromolecule flexibility increases with increasing LiOH concentration.