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Exposure of zebrafish embryos to glucose is a suitable model for the fetal hyperglycemia seen in gestational diabetes. Diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), which is considered an endocrine-disrupting chemical, is one of the most common phthalate derivatives used in stretching plastic and is encountered in every area where plastic is used in daily life. In the present study, the effects of DEHP on pathways related to insulin resistance and obesity were examined in zebrafish embryos exposed to glucose as a fetal hyperglycemia model. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to DEHP, glucose, and glucose + DEHP for 72 h post-fertilization (hpf), and developmental parameters and locomotor activities were monitored. At 72 hpf ins, lepa, pparγ, atf4a, and il-6 expressions were determined by RT-PCR. Glucose, lipid peroxidation (LPO), nitric oxide (NO) levels, glutathione S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and acetylcholine esterase (AChE) activities were measured spectrophotometrically. Compared with the control group, glucose, LPO, GST activity, il6, and atf4a expressions increased in all exposure groups, while body length, locomotor, and SOD activities decreased. While AChE activity decreased in the DEHP and glucose groups, it increased in the glucose + DEHP group. Although glucose exposure increased pparγ and lepa expressions, DEHP significantly decreased the expressions of pparγ and lepa both in the DEHP and glucose + DEHP groups. Our findings showed that DEHP amplified oxidant and inflammatory responses in this fetal hyperglycemia model, predisposing insulin resistance in zebrafish embryos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, a coated graphite polyvinyl chloride (PVC) membrane electrode was fabricated for the potentiometric determination of lithium based on 13-(3-nitrophenyl)-12H,14H-benzo[g]chromeno[2,3-b]chromene-7,12,14(13H)-trione (L) as the ionophore. The best Nernstian response was observed from the membrane composition of 31% PVC, 7% L, 2% NaTPB, and 60% dioctyl phthalate (DOP) as the plasticizer. The designed sensor showed a wide linearity over the concentration range of 1 x 10-8-1 x 10-3 M with a slope of 60.2 ± 0.3 mV decade-1, and the limit of detection (LOD) of 7.5 x 10-9 M. The selectivity of the designed sensor was investigated by the matched potential method and no serious interference was observed. The response time and life span of the electrode were 5 s and 16 weeks, respectively. The potential response of the electrode was independent of solution pH in the pH range of 3.0-12.0. The influence of the presence of organic solvents on the potential response of the electrode was also scrutinized, and the results showed that the designed sensor keeps its Nernstian behavior in solutions with 20% non-aqueous content. In the end, the electrode was successfully applied to determine lithium carbonate in tablet, urine, and serum samples with recovery% values of 96.0 to 106.33 and RSD% 1.99-4.45. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides information on the intentional transfusion of expired blood products. It discusses a study that found a small percentage of blood products transfused in US combat theaters were expired, with red blood cells being the most common expired product. The article explores the use of expired products in rare medical situations and the lack of clear guidance on their use. It also discusses the standards and regulations set by organizations like the AABB and FDA regarding the use of expired products. The article emphasizes that while current standards are conservative, exceptions can be made when clinically indicated. Additionally, the article provides information on the storage and expiration of red blood cells in different solutions and containers, including the development of various solutions and the benefits of storing blood products in plastic bags. It also discusses the potential utility of transfusing expired blood products in certain situations, based on studies that have assessed the quality and hemostatic function of long-stored blood products. However, the article acknowledges that further evaluation of clinical outcomes and safety is needed. [Extracted from the article]

Nitrile rubber (NBR) is widely used in the automotive, aerospace, and chemical sectors due to its resistance to fuels, oil, thermal aging, and fatigue. A typical NBR compound is prepared with several components that are added to obtain a product to meet specific industry requirements. Plasticizer is one of the main components used in NBR compounds. Typically, phthalates like DBP (dibutyl phthalate) or DOP (dioctyl phthalate) are used for NBR plasticization. However, these phthalates-based plasticizers are associated with toxicity and often prohibited by international regulatory standards. In this way, in the pursuit of a non-toxic NBR compound, the use of phthalate-free plasticizer, namely dioctyl terephthalate (DOTP), has been proposed. In this work, NBR compounds with DOTP, DBP, or DOP were processed in an open mill and vulcanized in hydraulic press. The unvulcanized samples were tested in a moving die rheometer (MDR). Subsequently, thermal, mechanical, and aging analyses were conducted for the vulcanized samples. The lowest torque observed in the rheometric curve, the displacement value of glass transition temperature (Tg), the smaller Shore A hardness, and the high elongation at break indicate that the addition of DOTP results in higher plasticization. The better-aging properties indicate lower migration of the DOTP plasticizer. Thus, the use of DOTP as a plasticizer holds promise as a viable alternative to replace the phthalates-based plasticizer in NBR compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phthalates (PAEs) and alkylphenols (APs), known as endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), are ubiquitous in aquatic environments worldwide and may be harmful to aquatic ecosystems. This study is the first to comprehensively assess the occurrence and potential ecological risks of 12 EDCs in the surface sediments of seven major harbors in Taiwan. In addition, a correlation model was established between the concentration levels of individual PAEs and APs in the sediments and their production. The total PAEs concentrations in the sediments ranged between 129–1894 ng/g dw (mean: 558 ± 479 ng/g dw). Total APs concentrations ranged between<0.2–913 ng/g dw with a mean of 52 ± 178 ng/g dw. Among the 12 EDCs, bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (55.1%) and diisononyl phthalate (31.6%) were the predominant PAEs, while 4-nonylphenol (93.2%) was the main AP. The occurrence and concentrations of PAEs and APs in the sediments were significantly correlated with their production (r = 0.989, p <.01), reflecting the status and degree of anthropogenic pollution. The concentrations of PAEs and APs in the sediments of Taiwanese harbors showed a potential decreasing trend over time, which should be related to strengthened regulations and changes in the industrial market. The estimated total risk quotient (TRQ) of algae exposed to the concentrations of 12 EDCs in sediments suggests moderate to high potential risks (TRQ = 0.74–2.18), while crustaceans (TRQ = 0.02–0.27) and fish (TRQ = 0.03–0.10) may have low to moderate potential risks. The main compounds responsible for these risks are dibutyl phthalate, dioctyl phthalate, and 4-nonylphenols. The results show that the pollution degree of surface sediments in the harbor could reflect anthropogenic pollution. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the pollution of surface sediments in harbors, grasp the pollution situation, and evaluate the regulatory effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a kind of plastic widely used in different industries, and it is a hard and brittle polymer that requires the use of plasticizers to improve processability. Phthalates are small molecule plasticizers of PVC, which are easy to volatilize and migrate while improving the processing properties of PVC. We propose alternatives based on phenolic resin prepolymer modified by cardanol (CPF), which were added to PVC as reactive plasticizer and can improve the processability of PVC. The effects of CPF on the rheological properties and migration resistance of plasticized PVC were studied, and the changes in the physical properties of blends were also discussed. The results showed that the viscosity of PVC melt can be reduced by two orders of magnitude by adding 30 wt% prepolymers at 180°C compared with PVC without CPF, which indicated that CPF can be used to reduce the processing temperature of PVC. The test results of migration resistance showed that the mass loss rate of the blend with 30 wt% prepolymers was less than 1 wt% after curing, however, the mass loss rate of the blend with 30 wt% dioctyl phthalate (DOP) was more than 12% after 5 days of testing. When the PVC/CPF mass ratio was between 60/40-70/30, the maximum values of tensile strength and elastic modulus are 64.4 MPa and 3.2 GPa, respectively, which showed the addition of CPF could significantly improve the tensile strength and elastic modulus of the blend system compared with PVC without CPF. Especially, the thermal stability of CPF is better than that of DOP, CPF exhibits the maximum thermal decomposition temperature (410°C), higher than that of DOP (170°C), which can adapt to higher processing temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, a bio-based plasticizer ketalized tung oil butyl levulinate (KTBL) was developed using methyl eleostearate, a derivative of tung oil, and butyl levulinate. KTBL can be used as an auxiliary plasticizer to partially replace traditional plasticizer. The plasticizer has a ketone structure, an ester base, and a long linear chain. It was mixed with dioctyl phthalate (DOP), and the effect of the plasticizer KTBL as an auxiliary plasticizer on the plasticization of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) was studied. Their compatibility and plasticizing effect were evaluated using dynamic–mechanical thermal analysis (DMA), mechanical property analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results demonstrate that when the KTBL to DOP ratio is 1:1, the blended sample with KTBL exhibits superior mechanical performance compared to pure DOP, resulting in an increased elongation at break from 377.47% to 410.92%. Moreover, with the increase in KTBL content, the durability is also significantly improved. These findings suggest that KTBL can serve as an effective auxiliary plasticizer for PVC, thereby reducing the reliance on DOP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work is related to the synthesis of a carboxylic acid ester using lab synthesized triphenylphosphonium triflate catalyst and its application as a plasticizer for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) processing. The high thermal stability of this organocatalyst allows the synthesis of terephthalic acid di‐esters with high boiling alcohols such as 1‐butanol, 2‐ethyl hexanol with higher yield in the range of 55–97 %. Different ester derivatives like dioctyl phthalate (DOP), dioctyl terephthalate (DOTP), n‐butyl benzoate, dibutyl terephthalate, dibutyl phthalate, and di‐dodecanol terephthalate have been synthesized using triphenylphosphonium triflate organocatalyst. These synthesized ester derivatives are characterized using 1H NMR, GC‐MS and HPLC. The purity of different synthesized esters was in the range of 80–99 %. The synthesized Dioctyl terephthalate (DOTP) was used as a plasticizer in PVC and compared the results with commercial DOP plasticizer performance for PVC. The PVC/DOTP composition exhibited comparable performance in terms of mechanical properties like tensile and flexural strength and modulus. No significant change found in hardness and impact strength of both the compositions. Ease of processing observed in case of PVC/DOTP composition due to lower torque as compared to PVC/DOP composition. This indicates DOTP can be a potential alternative to the traditional dioctyl phthalate (DOP) plasticizer for PVC processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The etiology of autism spectrum (ASD) and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity (ADHD) disorders are multifactorial. Epidemiological studies have shown associations with environmental pollutants, such as plasticizers. This study focused on two of these compounds, the Bisphenol-A (BPA) and Diethylhexyl Phthalate (DEHP). The major pathway for BPA and DEHP excretion is via glucuronidation. Glucuronidation makes insoluble substances more water-soluble allowing for their subsequent elimination in urine. Hypothesis: Detoxification of these two plasticizers is compromised in children with ASD and ADHD. Consequently, their tissues are more exposed to these two plasticizers. Methods: We measured the efficiency of glucuronidation in three groups of children, ASD (n = 66), ADHD (n = 46) and healthy controls (CTR, n = 37). The children were recruited from the clinics of Rutgers-NJ Medical School. A urine specimen was collected from each child. Multiple mass spectrometric analyses including the complete metabolome were determined and used to derive values for the efficiency of glucuronidation for 12 varied glucuronidation pathways including those for BPA and MEHP. Results: (1) Both fold differences and metabolome analyses showed that the three groups of children were metabolically different from each other. (2) Of the 12 pathways examined, only the BPA and DEHP pathways discriminated between the three groups. (3) Glucuronidation efficiencies for BPA were reduced by 11% for ASD (p = 0.020) and 17% for ADHD (p<0.001) compared to controls. DEHP showed similar, but not significant trends. Conclusion: ASD and ADHD are clinically and metabolically different but share a reduction in the efficiency of detoxification for both BPA and DEHP with the reductions for BPA being statistically significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) were prepared by blending epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) with three types of processing oil (i.e., paraffinic oil (PO), treated distillate aromatic extract (TDAE) oil, and dioctyl phthalate (DOP)). Addition of oil caused declining of strength but promoting flexibility and elasticity. Also, the TPV with DOP had higher tensile strength, elongation at break, modulus, hardness and stress relaxation than the blends with TDAE and PO. This is due to the close matched solubility parameter among ENR (17.4 MPa1/2), TPU soft segments (15.6–19.8 MPa1/2) and DOP (18.2 MPa1/2) than TDAE (16.4 MPa1/2) and PO (14.5 MPa1/2)). This promoted higher solubility and compatibility of DOP with the blend components. Additional oil also caused declining of Tg of ENR phase and lowering of crystallization (Tc) and crystalline melting temperature (Tm), and heat of crystallization (ΔH) of TPU. Additionally, larger swollen dispersed vulcanized ENR domains with higher amorphous regions in TPU were also observed. This is attributed to diffusion of oil into ENR and TPU phases, causing swelling and dissolving some crystalline regions of TPU. Hence, addition of oil contributed to gain higher extensibility, flexibility and elasticity (i.e., lower tension set and tan δ) but lower strength properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) are exogenous compounds, which can interfere with the hormones action and endocrine pathways, affect the development of female reproductive system and ovarian function, and therefore EDCs are associated with female infertility. Current research mainly focus on EDC exposure and its correlation with the different diseases of the endocrine axes. Studies have shown that EDCs affect female fertility by causing ovarian dysfunction, follicular development abnormality, endometrial receptivity reduction, and embryo quality decline, as well as the lowed clinical outcome of assisted reproduction in infertile women. Accumulating evidence in animal studies has provided important insights into the mechanism of EDC effects. This review summarizes some of the most common EDCs including pesticides, bisphenol A and phthalates, and the effects of EDCs on female fertility and clinical outcomes of assisted reproductive technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of a selective and fast response gas sensor for dioctyl phthalate (DOP) has been attracting considerable attention for the early warning of electrical fires. In this study, photodeposition was applied to fabricate highly dispersed Pd/SnO2 with abundant defects. The obtained 5%Pd/SnO2 has more Sn2+ species and oxygen vacancies than SnO2, which may be due to the reduction of photogenerated electrons. 5%Pd/SnO2 exhibited the best comprehensive performance in response value and response and recovery time for DOP sensing among different Pd loadings. The response to 5 ppm of DOP is 3.58 at 240 °C, which is much higher than 1.03 for SnO2, due to the abundant oxygen vacancies and Sn2+ defects of the material. Besides, the material exhibited good selectivity, stability, and a linear response to different concentrations of DOP. The 5%Pd/SnO2 sensor also responded much faster than conventional smoke detectors for the overheated PVC cable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of multifunctional plasticizer using rubber seed oil can increase its added value and expand the application field of plasticized products. Recent studies on bio-based plasticizers focus on bio-based raw materials but products lack functionality. In this study, flame retardant phosphate and chlorine were introduced into the chemical structure of rubber seed oil to synthesis a nitrogen and phosphorus synergistic flame retardant plasticizer based on rubber seed oil(NPFP) and apply it to plasticize polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Thermal stability, limiting oxygen index, plasticizing property, solvent extraction resistance, and microstructure of plasticized PVC materials were characterized. The results showed that NPFP with excellent solvent extraction resistance can significantly enhance the limiting oxygen index and thermal stability of plasticized PVC materials, and can partially replace dioctyl phthalate(DOP) as multifunctional auxiliary plasticizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article lays the groundwork for the prevention and control of coal mine roadway fires, as well as the construction of a mine transportation belt fire early warning system. Through thermogravimetric analysis-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, the thermogravimetric changes of coal mine conveyor belts at four heating rates were tested, and seven characteristic temperature points were obtained. The gaseous products released during the belt combustion process were analyzed using pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, and the combustion reaction process and belt combustion characteristics were investigated. According to the findings, the primary components of the gaseous products emitted during belt combustion were salts, amides, aliphatic hydrocarbons, phthalates, and aromatic hydrocarbons, and these components varied significantly as temperature increased. The belt combustion process was broken down into three phases. In the first stage, dioctyl phthalate molecules escaped, and during this process, carbon–oxygen (C–O) and carbon–carbon (C–C) bonds were broken to generate phthalates, fatty acids, and methane (CH4). In the second stage, conjugated dienes and substituted alkenes generated aromatic hydrocarbons through the Diels–Alder reaction, and the C–O and C–C bonds of the plasticizer (dioctyl phthalate) were continuously cleaved and decarboxylated to generate phthalates, amides, fatty acids, ketones, CO, and H2O (g), whereas CO2 volatilization and fatty acid decarboxylation caused aliphatic hydrocarbons and CO2 to be generated. In the third stage, the phthalates and polyvinyl chloride volatiles generated in the previous stage underwent a reduction–oxidation reaction and were decomposed into aliphatic hydrocarbons, aldehydes, aromatic hydrocarbons, amides, small organic molecules (e.g., benzene, indene, and fluorene), and metal substances that were non-decomposable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two composite modified asphalts were prepared using different plasticizer: dioctyl phthalate (DOP) and dioctyl adipate(DOA) basing on SBS modified asphalt. Through asphalt basic index, dynamic shear rheometer, multiple stress creep recovery, bending beam rheometer and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR) tests, the high and low temperature performance and anti-aging capability of two composite modified asphalts were comprehensively studied before and after aging, and being compared with SBS modified asphalt・ Two high temperature grades of SBS modified asphalt can be reduced by adding plasticizer that resulting in the rutting resistance decrease and irrecoverable deformation increase・ The low-temperature deformation and retarding pavement cracking capacity of SBS modified asphalt is improved by adding plasticizer. The performance difference of SBS modified asphalt with plasticizer before and after aging is obviously reduce・ Physical cross linking reaction being reacted between SBS modified asphalt and plasticizer is reflected by FTIR, the anti-aging capability of SBS modified asphalt is enhanced by adding plasticizer basing on sulfoxide index and characteristic peak area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phthalates are organic contaminants that are used as plasticizers in many plastic food packaging materials. Because of their lipophilic character, oils are the primary source of human exposure to phthalates. In this study, the presence of five phthalate esters; diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), diisononyl phthalate (DINP) and diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP) in olive oils flavored with different materials and marketed in Turkey in 2020 was determined. The samples included BBP, DINP, DIDP at lower concentrations than their LOQ. DEHP was the most abundant phthalate in all samples at varying concentrations between < LOQ to 1.81 mg/kg. The highest amount of DEHP was found in the oil sample flavored with bergamot (1.81 mg/kg). DBP was detected in 9 of the 25 samples at concentrations from 0.11 to 0.27 mg/kg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the chemical composition, antioxidant and synergistic antimicrobial potential of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. (China rose) leaves essential oil and its major compound, Dioctyl phthalate (DOP). The essential oil was extracted from leaves by hydro-distillation using the Clevenger apparatus. The essential oil was characterized by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis which revealed the presence of DOP as a major compound. The essential oil and DOP were tested for antibacterial activity against Klebsiella sp. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa using the disc plate method, antifungal activity against Fusarium oxysporum by agar well diffusion method, and antioxidant activity by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), nitric oxide (NO) and 2,2-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS) free radical scavenging assays. The synergistic antimicrobial interaction of essential oil and DOP was also tested against standard antimicrobials: tetracycline, chloramphenicol, fluconazole, and clotrimazole. The maximum antimicrobial potential was exhibited by China rose leaves essential oil with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 18.5, 11.5, and 23.0 μg/mL against Klebsiella sp., P. aeruginosa, and F. oxysporum respectively. Moreover, the essential oil exhibited synergistic interaction with standard antimicrobials with a 3.75 to 10 times decrease in their MIC values. The essential oil also exhibited median inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 780, 800, and 860 μg/mL in DPPH, NO, and ABTS free radical scavenging assays respectively. Hence it can be concluded that China rose leaves essential oil has a huge significance in pharmaceutical industries as an alternative to synthetic antioxidants and antimicrobials in near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ionic liquids (ILs) have been touted as effective and environmentally friendly agents, which has driven their application in the biomedical field. The study compares the effectiveness of an IL agent, 1-hexyl-3-methyl imidazolium chloride ([HMIM]Cl), to current industry standards for plasticizing a methacrylate polymer. Industrial standards glycerol, dioctyl phthalate (DOP) and the combination of [HMIM]Cl with a standard plasticizer was also evaluated. Plasticized samples were evaluated for stress–strain, long-term degradation, thermophysical characterizations, and molecular vibrational changes within the structure, and molecular mechanics simulations were performed. Physico-mechanical studies showed that [HMIM]Cl was a comparatively good plasticizer than current standards reaching effectiveness at 20–30% w/w, whereas plasticizing of standards such as glycerol was still inferior to [HMIM]Cl even at concentrations up to 50% w/w. Degradation studies show HMIM-polymer combinations remained plasticized for longer than other test samples, >14 days, compared to glycerol <5 days, while remaining more pliable. The combination of [HMIM]Cl-DOP was effective at concentrations >30% w/w, demonstrating remarkable plasticizing capability and long-term stability. ILs used as singular agents or in tandem with other standards provided equivalent or better plasticizing activity than the comparative free standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ti3SiC2/Al2O3 multilayered composites were prepared by the combination of tape casting and hot pressing sintering. The slurry was produced by adjusting the amounts of each organic material, including triethyl phosphate (TEP) as a dispersion, polyvinyl butyrate (PVB) as a binder, dioctyl phthalate (DOP) as a plasticizer, and anhydrous ethanol as an organic solvent. When TEP content was 3 wt.%, PVB content was 4.5 wt.%, R‐value (DOP/PVB) was 1.4, and solid content was 38 wt.%; the cast film with a smooth surface, good flexibility, and uniform thickness was obtained after defoaming, tape casting, and drying. Three samples were prepared, namely, S1–S3. The S1 was monolithic Ti3SiC2/Al2O3 (mass ratio is 1:1) composites. S2 and S3 were Ti3SiC2/Al2O3 multilayered composites, which matrix layers were Ti3SiC2/Al2O3 composites (mass ratio is 1:1) and Al2O3, respectively, and their interface layer was Ti3SiC2. S1–S3 were also sintered at 1550°C. The bending strength of multilayered materials were lower than that of monolithic material, but the fracture toughness of multilayered materials significantly increased. Due to the introduction of Ti3SiC2 interface layer, the friction coefficient and wear rate of Ti3SiC2/Al2O3 multilayered composites were reduced by 30.7% and 33.8%, respectively, compared with monolithic material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current research efforts in the plasticizer industry should focus on finding renewable biomass chemical feedstocks to synthesize non-toxic and effective bio-based plasticizers in order to adapt to the concept of green environmental protection given the scarcity of petroleum resources and the growing emphasis on health and environmental protection. In this study, lactic acid, DL -malic acid, and levulinic acid were used as the main raw materials in a three-step esterification reaction to successfully synthesize a novel high-efficiency plasticizer (LLMEE) containing multiple ester groups. The structure of LLMEE was characterized and confirmed by FT-IR, 1H NMR, and time of flight mass spectrometry (TOF-MS). The plasticizing properties of LLMEE in PVC were tested and compared to the commercial plasticizers acetyl tributyl citrate (ATBC) and dioctyl phthalate (DOP). The results of optical performance showed that, compared to ATBC and DOP, PVC plasticized by 50 phr LLMEE had both high transparency and UV resistance. According to the results of tensile tests, the elongation at break of PVC plasticized by 60 phr LLMEE reached 833.1%, indicating its excellent mechanical properties. The TGA results showed that the thermal stability of PVC plasticized by LLMEE was comparable to that of PVC plasticized by DOP or ATBC. Most importantly, LLMEE exhibited excellent migration stability in various leaching tests compared to commercial plasticizers. Taken together, the results indicated that compared with ATBC and DOP, LLMEE had better comprehensive performance, and provides a new choice to rationally utilize biomass raw materials to prepare novel environmentally friendly plasticizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shear banding in entangled polymer solutions is an elusive phenomenon in polymer rheology. One recently proposed mechanism for the existence of banded velocity profiles in entangled polymer solutions stems from a coupling of the flow to banded concentration profiles. Recent work [Burroughs et al., Phys. Rev. Lett.126, 207801 (2021)] provided experimental evidence for the development of large gradients in concentration across the fluid. Here, a more systematic investigation is reported of the transient and steady-state banded velocity and concentration profiles of entangled polybutadiene in dioctyl phthalate solutions as a function of temperature (T) , number of entanglements (Z), and applied shear rate (W i a p p ), which control the susceptibility of the fluid to unstable flow-concentration coupling. The results are compared to a two-fluid model that accounts for coupling between elastic and osmotic polymer stresses, and a strong agreement is found between model predictions and measured concentration profiles. The interface locations and widths of the time-averaged, steady-state velocity profiles are quantified from high-order numerical derivatives of the data. At high levels of entanglement and large W i a p p , a significant wall slip is observed at both inner and outer surfaces of the flow geometry but is not a necessary criterion for a nonhomogeneous flow. Furthermore, the transient evolution of flow profiles for large Z indicate transitions from curved to "stair-stepped" and, ultimately, a banded steady state. These observed transitions provide detailed evidence for shear-induced demixing as a mechanism of shear banding in polymer solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Narrow substrate ranges can impact heavily on the range of applications and hence commercial viability of candidate bioremediation enzymes. Here we show that an ester hydrolase from Nocardioides strain SG-4 G has potential as a bioremediation agent against various pollutants that can be detoxified by hydrolytic cleavage of some carboxylester, carbamate, or amide linkages. Previously we showed that a radiation-killed, freeze-dried preparation (ZimA) of this strain can rapidly degrade the benzimidazole fungicide carbendazim due to the activity of a specific ester hydrolase, MheI. Here, we report that ZimA also has substantial hydrolytic activity against phthalate diesters (dimethyl, dibutyl, and dioctyl phthalate), anilide (propanil and monalide), and carbamate ester (chlorpropham) herbicides under laboratory conditions. The reaction products are substantially less toxic, or inactive as herbicides, than the parent compounds. Tests of strain SG-4 G and Escherichia coli expressing MheI found they were also able to hydrolyse dimethyl phthalate, propanil, and chlorpropham, indicating that MheI is principally responsible for the above activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A polyester plasticizer (RSOP) for polyvinyl chloride based on rubber seed oil (RSO) was synthesized. Firstly, RSO monoglyceride were synthesized by the transesterification of RSO with glycerol at 220–240 °C. Secondly, RSOP was synthesized from RSO monoglyceride and adipic acid by esterification. The polyester plasticizer was characterized by GPC, FT-IR, 1H NMR and DSC. Plasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC) materials with RSOP and dioctyl phthalate (DOP) in varying ratios were prepared via thermal melting process, RSOP was used as a second plasticizer. The properties of the plasticized PVC materials were characterized by a universal testing machine, TGA, DMA and solvent extraction resistance. The obtained PVC materials showed improved thermal stability and lower glass transition temperature than PVC. Solvent extraction resistance and plasticization of plasticized PVC were also improved. This study provides a new strategy for preparing bio-based polyester plasticizer from RSO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most widely used plasticized polymer is poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) due to its excellent plasticizer compatibility characteristics. Traditionally, PVC plasticizers belong to the phthalate family; however, they have harmful effects on human health and the environment. In this work, we evaluated the effect of six types of plasticizers (dioctyl phthalate, dioctyl adipate, Lestarflex (a polymeric polyester plasticizer), polycaprolactone, polyester polyol, and 1,2,3-propanetriol triacetate) on the properties of PVC plastisol used in manufacturing shoes and toys. The mechanical properties (hardness, tensile strength, tear strength, and elongation at break) were evaluated before and after accelerated aging tests (in an ultraviolet oven and at 50°C). A thermal study was also carried out using differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis, while possible structural changes during deformation were investigated using the small-angle X-ray scattering technique. In general, the results have shown that in the plasticization and stabilization of PVC, the plasticizer dioctyl phthalate can be replaced by dioctyl adipate or Lestarflex without relevant changes in the final properties of the material, even after accelerated aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we developed a new pencil graphite ion-selective electrode strategy for the broadly used erectile dysfunction medication, sildenafil citrate (SC, vitamin V), for its automated potentiometry and potentiometric titration profiling in marketed tablets and human urine samples. The method was based on ion-pair complexation between SC and sodium tetraphenylborate (Na-TPB) or phosphotungstic acid (PTA), embedded into a pencil-fabricated graphite sensor electrode coated with poly(vinyl chloride, PVC) matrix, which is pre-plasticized with two different pre-studied plasticizers. The modern fabricated electrodes have a proven fast near-Nernstian response for SC over the concentration range of 1.0 × 10−6 to 1.0 × 10−2 and 1.0 × 10−5 to 1.0 × 10−2 M, with LODs of 6.5 × 10−7 and 5.5 × 10−6 over a pH 3–6 for (SC-TPB)- and (SC-PTA)-based membrane sensors, of O-nitrophenyl octyl ether (O-NPOE) and dioctyl phthalate (DOP), respectively. The selectivity coefficients for different interferents, including many inorganic cations, sugars, and/or nitrogenous compounds, were tested and confirmed. Applications of the proposed method were conducted on the determination of SC in its tablets and urine samples under the proper conditions. The percent recovery values were compared with those obtained by an official method and showed an RSD ≤ 0.3% (n = 5). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of different plasticizers on thermal stability, transparency, and migration resistance of the PVC stabilized with zinc arginine [Zn(Arg)2] was investigated. The thermal stability, migration resistance, and transparency of PVC with tributyl citrate (TBC) were better than PVC with dioctyl phthalate (DOP) characterized by oven aging method, migration test, and near infrared-visible-ultraviolet spectrophotometer. At the same time, the longer the carbon chain in citric acid esters, the better the thermal stability and transparency of PVC sample. The hydroxyl group in citric acid esters is helpful to improve the thermal stability of PVC samples. However, the elongation at break and Tg value of PVC containing DOP were very close to those of PVC containing TBC. The calculation results of Hansen solubility parameters also illustrated that DOP had better compatibility with PVC than TBC. Therefore, the excellent transparency and thermal stability of TBC plasticized PVC were attributed to the good compatibility between TBC and Zn(Arg)2, which was verified by the solubility test. Lastly, the mixture of dioctyl terephthalate (DOTP) and TBC was used as plasticizers for Zn(Arg)2 stabilized PVC. When the ratio of TBC and DOTP was 1:1, the transparency, thermal stability, and migration resistance of Zn(Arg)2 stabilized PVC samples were better than those of PVC plasticized by DOP or TBC alone. The mechanism was that the compatibility between Zn(Arg)2 and PVC was greatly improved by the synergetic effect of TBC and DOTP, resulting in the improvement of thermal stability, migration resistance, and transparency of PVC samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability of white rot fungi from different ecophysiological groups (primary wood-destroying saprotroph Trametes hirsuta, secondary wood-destroying saprotroph Steccherinum ochraceum, litter saprotroph Crucibulum laeve, and humic saprotroph Agrocybe praecox) to degrade phthalic acid esters (PAEs) was studied. It was shown that diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) with longer and branched hydrocarbon chains was more rapidly biodegraded by wood-destroying saprotrophs such as T. hirsuta and S. ochraceum, with an efficiency of more than 99%. Dibutyl phthalate (DBP), which is less hydrophobic with shorter hydrocarbon units, was most efficiently transformed by the litter saprotroph C. laeve (up to 96.5%). Diethyl phthalate (DEP) proved to be the most toxic to all fungi. T. hirsuta showed the greatest resistance to elevated DEP concentrations in the medium. It has been shown that fungi destroy PAEs with the formation of various metabolites, depending on the composition of the multienzyme complex of the fungus. Among the secondary metabolites, ionol, an antioxidant formed by fungi when PAEs is added to the medium, was found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycarbonate (PC) is susceptible to environmental stress cracking (ESC) when the conditions of pre-strain and presence of fluid with a compatible solubility index are both prevalent. One approach to counter this involves using nanoscale fillers to bridge the propagating microcracks, thus, effectively inhibiting impending failure. In this work, we report incorporation of titania (TiO2) with different nanoscale morphologies into polycarbonate matrix to assess its effect on ESC resistance against dioctyl phthalate (DOP). Using a hydrothermal process with a NaOH/Ti molar ratio of 72, TiO2 nanostructures were produced containing nanosheets with large surface area and nanotubes having typical diameter and length values of 15–20 nm and a few hundred nanometers, respectively. PC/TiO2 composites were fabricated with up to 0.5 weight percent of TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs), nanowires (NWs), or hybrid nanostructures (HNs). ESC tests were conducted by exposing test coupons to DOP oil at different temperatures and pre-strain conditions. The results showed that, under identical test conditions, while as-received PC grade exhibited complete fracture in ~3.1 h, PC/TiO2-0.05HN composite took ~70 h to fail via surface cracking. SEM examination of the fracture surface revealed that homogeneous dispersion and efficient load-bearing capability of TiO2 nanotubes and nanosheets impeded localized crack propagation by bridging the gap between the PC matrix segments. Liquid nitrogen fracture of the PC/TiO2 composite further confirmed the critical role of TiO2 hybrid nanostructures towards improvement in ESC resistance of PC matrix composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widely existed plastic additives plasticizers in organic wastes possibly pose negative influences on anaerobic digestion (AD) performance, the direct evidence about the effects of plasticizers on AD performance is still lacking. This study evaluated the influencing mechanism of two typical plasticizers bisphenol A (BPA) and dioctyl phthalate on the whole AD process. Results indicated that plasticizers addition inhibited methane production, and the inhibiting effects were reinforced with the increase of concentration. By contrast, 50 mg/L BPA exhibited the strongest inhibition on methane production. Physicochemical analysis showed plasticizers inhibited the metabolism efficiency of soluble polysaccharide and volatile fatty acids. Microbial communities analyses suggested that plasticizers inhibited the direct interspecies electron transfer participators of methanogenic archaea (especially Methanosarcina) and syntrophic bacteria. Furthermore, plasticizers inhibited the methane metabolisms, key coenzymes (CoB, CoM, CoF420 and methanofuran) biosynthesis and the metabolisms of major organic matters. This study shed light on the effects of plasticizers on AD performance and provided new insights for assessing the influences of plasticizers or plastic additives on the disposal of organic wastes. [Display omitted] • Plasticizers inhibited methane production during AD. • Plasticizers inhibited VFAs transformation and organic metabolisms. • Plasticizers inhibited DIET participators of Methanosarcina and syntrophic bacteria. • Plasticizers inhibited the methane metabolisms and related coenzymes biosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the effect of compatibilization methods on the compatibility between asphalt and direct coal liquefaction residue (DCLR) components to identify the key components in DCLR and asphalt that affect their compatibility. In this article, three types of compatibilizers, including benzyl alcohol (BA), dioctyl phthalate (DOP), and BA/DOP, were selected and acted on asphalt's components and DCLR's components, respectively. The molecular models of asphalt components, asphalt components with compatibilizers, DCLR components, and DCLR components with compatibilizers were established. The compatibility between DCLR and asphalt's four components, as well as between asphalt and DCLR's three components, were evaluated by solubility parameter difference (SPD) and interaction energy (IE). The compatibility between DCLR and asphalt was analyzed by Segregation test and Scanning Electron Microscope. Results indicate that the SPD and IE values between DCLR and asphalt components declined after adding compatibilizers, which implies that the repulsion decreased and the attraction increased between asphalt components and DCLR and the compatibility between asphalt components and DCLR improved. The IE values between DCLR components and asphalt increased after adding compatibilizers, which indicates that the compatibility was reduced between DCLR components and asphalt. The SPD values between DCLR components and asphalt increased after adding the BA/DOP. The SPD values between pre-asphaltene and asphalt decreased after adding the BA and DOP. The SPD value between asphaltene in DCLR and asphalt increased after adding the BA and decreased after adding the DOP. Moreover, the storage stability and homogeneity of DCLR-modified asphalt improved after adding compatibilizers, indicating that the compatibilizers enhanced compatibility between DCLR and asphalt. Finally, comparing the results of the tests, it could be found that compatibilizers preferentially acted on the asphalt components and mainly affected the aromatics in asphalt, thereby improving the compatibility between asphalt and DCLR. The effect of BA/DOP on improving the compatibility between asphalt and DCLR was better than that of BA and DOP. • The compatibility between DCLR and asphalt with four/three components was studied by SPD and IE. • Compatibilizers preferentially act on the aromatics in asphalt components. • BA/DOP is better than BA and DOP for improving the compatibility between DCLR and asphalt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this work was to investigate the effect of non-solvent nature on the formation of porous membranes via non-solvent/thermally induced phase separation (N-TIPS). The hot solution of polypropylene (PP) in a mixture of dioctyl phthalate (DOP) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) at 210 °C was placed as a thin film on a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate, and then precipitated by immersion in the non-solvent (water, iso-propanol, 1-hexanol, or 1-decanol) at room temperature. It was found that the non-solvent nature greatly affected the morphology of the thin skin layer of the membrane facing the precipitation bath, which can be attributed to non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS). The affinity between the polymeric solution and corresponding non-solvent was evaluated by using Hansen solubility parameters of components taken at room temperature and extrapolated to the temperature of 210 °C. An increase in the affinity between the non-solvent and the polymer transformed the surface layer structure from almost monolithic to cellular (with different pore sizes and porosity) and to spherulitic types. The non-solvent nature played a less pronounced role in the formation of the porous structure of the membrane bulk and the back side of the membrane (facing the PET substrate). Since the morphology of the rest of the membrane was correlated with thermophysical properties of non-solvents, it was concluded that the membrane formation took place due to temperature induced phase separation (TIPS). In the case of water, which has the highest cooling rate, the polypropylene crystallized by forming a "smectic" structure, while the standard α-lamellar structure was observed for other non-solvents. To gain insight into the TIPS process, a model of unsteady one-dimensional heat transfer was applied to simulate the change in the temperature profile of the hot, thin film of polymeric solution placed in the corresponding non-solvent. The resulting membranes were mainly in the microfiltration range with a mean through pore size of 0.05–0.61 μm, and iso-propanol permeance of 2.1–8.4 m3 m−2∙h−1∙bar−1. The rejection of 500 nm polystyrene microspheres was in the range of 45–98 %. The tensile strength was in the range of 2.9–3.2 MPa, and elongation at break was 30–190 % with respect to the non-solvent used. [Display omitted] • Membranes from hot polypropylene solution were cast by precipitation in different non-solvents. • Effect of non-solvent nature in N-TIPS process was highlighted. • Membrane morphology, mechanical properties and pore size were subject of non-solvent nature. • Change of temperature profile of polymeric films during N-TIPS process was simulated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An aberration-free line scanning confocal Raman imager (named AFLSCRI) is developed to achieve rapid Raman imaging. As an application example, various types and sizes of MPs are identified through Raman imaging combined with a machine learning algorithm. The system has excellent performance with a spatial resolution of 2 µm and spectral resolution of 4 cm−1. Compared to traditional point-scanning Raman imaging systems, the detection speed is improved by 2 orders of magnitude. The pervasive nature of MPs results in their infiltration into the food chain, raising concerns for human health due to the potential for chemical leaching and the introduction of persistent organic pollutants. We conducted a series of experiments on various types and sizes of MPs. The system can give a classification accuracy of 98% for seven different types of plastics, and Raman imaging and species identification for MPs as small as 1 µm in diameter were achieved. We also identified toxic and harmful substances remaining in plastics, such as Dioctyl Phthalate (DOP) residues. This demonstrates a strong performance in microplastic species identification, size recognition and identification of hazardous substance contamination in microplastics. [Display omitted] • Propose a new method to concurrently detect MPs types, sizes, and dopants. • Build a high-performance aberration-free line scan confocal Raman imager. • RNN is applied to Raman data cube for MPs detection. • This technology enables quick, non-destructive, high-resolution MPs detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) content was determined by the high-performance liquid chromatography in the milk samples either mechanically or manually taken from 10 dairy cows in January, April, July and October (altogether 344 milk samples were collected). Milking method and season accounted for 23 and 77%, and 33 and 36% of the explained variability of DBP and DEHP content, respectively. Content of DBP in mechanically collected samples was higher in comparison with manually collected milk: 10.0 vs. 6.7 mg kg−1 milk (P < 0.05). Irrespective of the milking method, DBP content differed significantly (P < 0.05) between samples collected in January (6.6 mg kg−1), July (4.2 mg kg−1) and October (20.0 mg kg−1). In the case of DEHP, only differences between April and October milk were found out (0.03 vs. 0.96 mg kg−1; P < 0.05). Concentration of DBP in both mechanically and manually collected milk increased according to a polynomial function from spring to autumn (P < 0.01). Thirty times higher average DBP content than DEHP content was contrary to expectation. A migration of DBP in milk apart from the milking equipment (probably by contaminated silage) was more important in comparison with DEHP. • Milk can be contaminated by phthalates despite being produced organically. • Diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) content in milk increased from spring to autumn. • Dibutyl phthalate content was by one order of magnitude higher than DEHP content. • Milking method accounted for 76% of explained variability of dibutyl phthalate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene has been extensively considered an ideal additive to improve the mechanical properties of many composite materials, including rubbers, because of its novel strength, high surface area, and remarkable thermal and electron conductivity. However, the pristine graphene shows low dispersibility in the rubber matrix resulting in only slightly enhanced mechanical properties of the rubber composite. In this work, graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) were modified with dioctyl phthalate (DOP) to improve the dispersibility of the graphene in the natural rubber (NR). The distribution of the DOP-modified GNPs in the NR matrix was investigated using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy. The effect of the modified GNPs' contents on the mechanical properties of the GNPs/NR composite was studied in detail. The results showed that the abrasion resistance of the graphene-reinforced rubber composite significantly improved by 10 times compared to that of the rubber without graphene (from 0.3 to 0.03 g/cycle without and with addition of the 0.3 phr modified GNPs). The addition of the modified GNPs also improved the shear and tensile strength of the rubber composite. The tensile strength and shear strength of the NR/GNPs composite with a GNPs loading of 0.3 phr were determined to be 23.63 MPa and 42.69 N/mm, respectively. Even the presence of the graphene reduced the other mechanical properties such as Shore hardness, elongation at break, and residual elongation; however, these reductions were negligible, which still makes the modified GNPs significant as an effective additive for the natural rubber in applications requiring high abrasion resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer inclusion membranes (PIM) have gained global attention in the removal of heavy metals from aqueous samples. Mercury is a toxic metal that can cause serious health effects to humans even if present in traces. Hence, its removal from water bodies and wastewaters is a necessary action. The present work, thus, aims at studying the removal of Hg2+ ions by using PIM with a new and unexplored neutral carrier, namely, Tri n-butyl phosphate and Dioctyl phthalate as a plasticizer. One hundred percent removal was attained for feed phase mercury concentrations from 0.01 to 2 mg/L and about 96% for 10 mg/L under optimum conditions (thickness of the membrane: 30 μm, feed phase acid: 0.3 M, strip phase alkali: 0.4 M, carrier: 3% and stirring speed: 400 rpm). The PIM system has been successfully demonstrated to remove trace concentrations of mercury in spiked seawater, thermal powerplant wastewater discharge, and contaminated lake water samples. The PIM was highly stable (60 h) and selective for Hg2+ ions. Also, the most significant factor in the transport of mercury through the PIM was determined as the feed phase mercury concentration using the Taguchi method. Thus, the proposed PIM system could be used for the selective removal of mercury ions from water and wastewater samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of N-modified Ru/Nx-AC catalysts were prepared by ammonia treatment method and applied in dioctyl phthalate hydrogenation, which is a cascade reaction system involving partial hydrogenation of aromatic ring and the further saturated hydrogenation of the formed intermediate bis(2-ethylhexyl) cyclohexene-1,2-dicar-boxylate (DH4) to dioctyl di-2-ethylhexylcyclohexane-1,4-dicar-boxylate (DEHCH). N doping was found to be able to increase the nitrogen-containing pyridine groups on the activated carbon (AC) surface, resulting in the abundance of binding sites for anchoring Ru and exceptionally enhancing the dispersion of Ru nanoparticles. Furthermore, the N-modified Ru/N12-AC catalyst exhibited a significantly higher turnover frequency value (1260.06 h−1) than Ru/AC catalyst (913.64 h−1). It was deduced that the presence of the pyridine groups could improve the adsorption of intermediate DH4 by promoting the coverage of DH4 on the catalyst surface. The environment of surface-enriched DH4 accelerated the reaction rate of DH4 hydrogenation and increased the selectivity to DEHCH. Therefore, the cooperation between highly dispersed Ru nanoparticles and pyridine groups supports remarkably enhanced the activity and selectivity. In addition, the Ru/N12-AC catalyst presented excellent catalytic activity and versatility in the hydrogenation of other phthalates such as dimethyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, and dibutyl phthalate, demonstrating its prospective application in phthalate esters hydrogenation. Description N-doping exceptionally improved Ru dispersion and the adsorption of the intermediate product in DOP hydrogenation, leading to a higher activity and selectivity to saturated product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the integration of recycled polyvinyl chloride (PVC) material as a base polymer and benzalkonium chloride (BAC) as an extractant to develop low-cost Polymer Inclusion Membranes (PIM) for the extraction of Arsenic (V) from water. Notably, the production of 1 m2 of PIM may cost approximately 0.0016$. It was found that 10% of recycled PVC can be easily substituted with the base polymer without much efficiency variation. The extraction efficiency of As(V) for PVC/BAC/Dioctyl phthalate (DOP) and PVC+recycled PVC (RPVC)/BAC/DOP membranes were around only 57.8 ± 1% and 56.2 ± 1%, respectively. To overcome such a less efficient barrier, we have designed a device that increased the final extraction capability of 100 mgL-1 concentration of As(V) to ~91 ± 1% over 100 h working at the consistent operating conditions be used for wastewater treatment-based industries. Thus, the developed PIM membrane permits the transport of As(V) at higher concentrations for different natural waters spiked with 100 ppm As(V). Herein, we did not observe any matrix effect on As(V) transport efficiency with different waters except seawater, which contains a high level of ions. Furthermore, the effect of biofilm growth on the surface of PIMs has been inspected for a period of beyond 10 days. Therefore, the novel low-cost PIM device can be used in metal and alloy-based industries to extract As(V) from contaminated wastewater efficiently. [Display omitted] • Developed novel Polymer Inclusion Membrane (PIM) for extraction of Arsenic(V). • Production cost of 1 m2 of PIM is approximately 0.0016$. • 10% of PVC is replaced in the membrane without much change in efficiency. • Device is fabricated for the continuous extraction of the Arsenic(V). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic membranes containing deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) as an electroactive material were acting as Ca2+ selective sensors. Diethyl phthalate (DEP), dioctyl Phthalate (DOP), or nitrophenyl octyl ether (NPOE) were used as plasticizers and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) was the membrane matrix. A sensor with a membrane composition of 120 mg PVC, 60 mg DOP plasticizer, and 2 mg DNA ionophore (DNA: DOP: PVC, 1.0:29.2:0.1 mole) was found to have the best performance. The slope of the calibration graph was 30 mV decade−1. The optimum pH range was 5.7–9.5 for 0.01 M Ca2+. The sensor response time was fast (2–3 s) with a long working period (up to 3 weeks). Excellent selectivity for Ca2+ was indicated by the values of selectivity coefficients for different selected interference. The sensor was used effectively for the estimation of calcium in real samples (fruits, calcium syrup, milk, and dairy products). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The single light oil regenerating agent has certain limitations on the performance recovery of aged asphalt. In this study, tung oil, dioctyl phthalate (DOP), C9 petroleum resin, and organic montmorillonite (OMMT) were used to prepare the composite regenerating agent, and its optimal mix proportion was determined by the orthogonal experimental design. The rheological properties and anti-aging performance of reclaimed asphalt were studied by the dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) and bending beam rheometer (BBR); and the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer, gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were adopted to explore its microstructure, morphology, and mechanism of action. The results show that with the addition of tung oil composite regenerating agent, the rheological properties of aged asphalt can be effectively recovered, even better than that of base asphalt. By using the complex modulus aging index (CMAI) and phase angle aging index (PMAI) it is found that the anti-aging performance of reclaimed asphalt is better than that of base asphalt. With the optimal content of the tung oil composite regenerating agent, the contents of characteristic functional groups and macromolecular asphaltenes in the aged asphalt can be reduced, indicating that the composite regenerating agent is beneficial to the dispersion and dissolution of polar substances in the aged asphalt. After aging, a large number of wrinkles appear on the surface of the asphalt. However, the addition of the tung oil composite regenerating agent can make the asphalt surface smooth, which indicates that the tung oil composite regenerating agent can restore the microstructure and morphology of aged asphalt to a certain extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farmed shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei, one of the most consumed seafood in the planet, is a source of antiproliferative extracts still to be fully characterized. This study the isolation and identification of these antiproliferative compounds. From a chloroform-soluble extract from shrimp muscle, hexane- and methanol-soluble fractions were obtained and tested for antiproliferative activity (MTT), a bioassay that guided the fractionation and isolation of bioactive fractions using open column chromatography. MeOH-soluble fraction resulted bioactive and was subjected to further fractionation from which one subfraction outstand for being highly active against prostate cancer cell line. Antiproliferative effects were evaluated using colorimetric assays and cell morphology observations. Further chromatographic procedures resulted in sub-fractions from which one was effective in causing DNA damage and F-actin polymerization, which suggests cellular collapse and apoptosis. According to the structural chemical characterization carried out, dioctyl phthalate, eicosapentaenoic acid, and an indolocarbazole alkaloid type of compound were identified. This last compound, which resulted majorly responsible for the bioactivity, was not found reported in the available databases. Pure EPA control was used to compare it with the subfraction, observing greater activity in the subfraction than when EPA was used, suggesting that another compound different from EPA is providing the highest activity; but, more investigation is needed for a full chemical and structural characterization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dioctyl phthalate (DOP) was introduced into asphalt-based sealant as a plasticizer in this work. Four kinds of sealants with different DOP content were prepared, and thermal stability and low-temperature performance of five samples with asphalt as a control group were evaluated by fluidity test, softening point test, thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), low-temperature tensile test, and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), respectively. Furthermore, the mechanism of DOP on sealant properties was analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and fluorescence microscope. Results show that DOP can significantly improve the low-temperature performance of sealant, but slightly deteriorate the high-temperature performance. This is because DOP can supplement the light component of sealant and enhance the fluidity of the internal components. On the one hand, DOP reduces the apparent activation energy of sealant and lowers the barrier to chemical reactions, indicating that DOP is slightly detrimental to the thermal stability of sealant. On the other hand, DOP greatly reduces the glass transition temperature of sealant and improves its low-temperature performance. However, there is no evident chemical reaction between DOP and sealant, and physical effects play a major role in the effects of DOP on sealant properties. In addition, DOP can promote the expansion and cross-linking of the polymer in the sealant and ultimately enhance the compatibility between asphalt and polymer molecules. In short, DOP is recommended as a plasticizer to prepare asphalt sealants with excellent properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) is leaching form polyvinyl chloride to cause animal toxicity. In our previous study, DEHP caused osteoblasts mortality in vitro, since rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is the cellular back up for osteoblasts; therefore its effect on MSCs was investigated. Methods: MSCs were extracted from Westar rats and treated with 0.5 to 2500μM of DEHP for 12, 24 and 48h to study the viability. Then further investigations, including proliferation, cell morphology, sodium and potassium level, concentration of calcium, total protein, activity of metabolic enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP, LDH), malondialdehyde (MDA) level, total antioxidant capacity, activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were measured using selected concentration (100, 500 and 1500μM). Results: The 100μM of DEHP did not change the viability and biochemical factor after 48h but colony forming assay and population doubling number was significantly affected. Th 500μM only reduced the viability at 24 and 48h, while 1500μM caused the significant reduction at all the periods. These two concentrations, caused significant proliferation reduction as well as significant increase in calcium and sodium level, LDH activity and MDA level. In addition, we observed decrease in potassium, total protein, activity of metabolic enzymes and activity of CAT and SOD significantly. Conclusion: DEHP has reduced viability and proliferation of MSCs through metabolic change, alteration in cellular ultrastructure, ionic imbalance and induction of oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, firstly, the separation and transfer of Au(III) from gold chloride solution was investigated using a polymer inclusion membrane (PIM) system containing dibutyl carbitol (DBC) as carrier molecules, dioctyl phthalate (DOP), bis(2-ethyl hexyl) adipate (dioctyl adipate) (DOA) and tris (2-ethyl hexyl) phosphate (T2EHP) as plasticizers and high molecular weight polyvinyl chloride (PVC) as the base polymer. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were used to identify PIMs. Kinetic studies featuring a two-step reaction, with the first step being reversible, were conducted across various sections to investigate the processes of extraction, stripping, and transport. The effects of different stripping agents such as water, HCl, thiourea, sodium thiosulfate, and oxalic acid was investigated, and the best results were obtained with thiourea. Also, the mechanisms of Au(III) extraction and transport were studied. Under the conditions of source solution, tetrachloroaurate anionic complex Au Cl 4 − with protonated DBC ( ROR 2 OH M +) was extracted by ion solvation mechanism. The validity of the proposed extraction mechanism was confirmed through the use of nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy. In order to make the membrane with the best composition and the highest efficiency, the effect of weight percentage of the carrier and plasticizer was investigated. There was an optimal value for the weight percentage of plasticizer (10–20% by weight) and carrier (40%), in which the highest flux and permeability in the membrane occurred. The effect of the viscosity of different plasticizers (DOP, DOA, and T2EHP) on the Au(III) flux was also investigated. It was found that the flux increases linearly with the reduction of plasticizer viscosity. Effect of membrane thickness on the permeability, initial flux, and efficiency of Au(III) transfer, were conducted with thickness of 120, 80, 45, and 30 μm. By reducing the thickness of the membrane, the transfer flux, permeability and percent of Au(III) transport, were improved from 12.9 × 10−3 m h − 1 , 45.3 × 10−7 mol m − 2 s − 1 and 18.2% to 26.4 × 10−3 m h − 1 , 83.5 × 10−7 mol m − 2 s − 1 and 37.3%, respectively. According to the results, a membrane with a combination of PVC:DBC:D2EHP with a weight percentage ratio of 50:40:10 with a thickness of 30 μm was suggested. Optimized results with the proposed membrane were obtained to be: extraction rate constant of 1.43 h − 1 , extraction percent of 99.1%, stripping rate constant of 37.5 × 10−4 h − 1 , stripping percent of 40.9%, and permeability of 27.0 × 10−3 m h − 1 , initial flux of 82.1 × 10−7 mol m − 2 s − 1. Gold transport mechanism through PIM with DBC as a carrier. [Display omitted] • Determining the transport mechanism of Au(III) through a polymer inclusion membrane (PIM) • Investigating the effect of PIM composition on permeability and flux of Au(III) • Investigating the effect of plasticizer viscosity on permeability and flux of Au(III) • Using different conditions in source solution and receiving solution • Investigating the effect of PIM thickness on Au(III) transfer efficiency and flux [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of plasticizers is crucial in enhancing the flexibility of engineering plastics. Currently, the primary plasticizers employed in poly(vinyl chloride) materials are nonrenewable phthalates. These exhibit a detrimental impact on the environment and human health owing to their toxic benzene ring structure. Consequently, the development of easily synthesizable, green plasticizers with excellent properties using biobased resources has been a long-standing objective in the field of resin plasticizing. Herein, we synthesized a branched lactic acid ester (BLAE) plasticizer using esterification and acid anhydride end-capping methods. Further, we investigated its application performance and oral toxicity. The abundance of polar ester groups in the oligolactic acid structure enables them to form secondary bonds with polymer chains. This results in a glass transition temperature is 59% less than that of pure poly(vinyl chloride), thereby improving the mechanical properties of the material. The addition of the BLAE plasticizer not only improved the thermal stability of the compound film but also effectively reduced the self-catalytic dehydrochlorination reaction of poly(vinyl chloride). This overcomes the limitations of unmodified poly(vinyl chloride), such as performance deterioration and color variation due to light exposure. Furthermore, the hydrophobicity of the compound film was substantially enhanced, resulting in outstanding antifouling and self-cleaning properties. These findings suggest that lactic acid-based plasticizer exhibits comparable or even superior overall performance when compared to commercially available plasticizers such as dioctyl phthalate and acetyl tributyl citrate. This work not only addresses the gap in the toxicity assessment of lactic acid plasticizers but also demonstrates their nontoxic characteristics in acute oral toxicity tests. This research offers novel insights into the green synthesis and functional development of biobased plasticizers, showcasing considerable potential for the substituting of dioctyl phthalate. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Illustration of the competitive adsorption of methanol in DOP adsorption on functionalized graphene sheet. [Display omitted] Organic co-solvents, which are universally employed in adsorption studies of hydrophobic organic chemicals (HOCs), can inhibit HOC adsorption by competing for active sites on the adsorbent. The adsorbent structure can influence co-solvent interference of HOC adsorption; however, this effect remains unclear, leading to an incomplete understanding of the adsorption mechanism. In this study, dioctyl phthalate (DOP) was used to investigate competitive adsorption on functionalized graphene sheet in a water–methanol co-solvent system through molecular dynamics simulations and quantum chemical calculations. The simulations showed that the functional groups in the graphene defects had a strong adsorption affinity for methanol. The adsorbed methanol occupied a large number of active sites at the graphene center, thereby weakening DOP adsorption. However, the methanol adsorbed at the graphene edges could not compete with DOP for the active sites. –COOH had the strongest binding affinity for methanol among the functional groups and thus predominantly controlled the interaction between graphene and methanol. This study makes an innovative contribution toward understanding the competitive adsorption of methanol and DOP on functionalized graphene sheet, especially in visualizing the competition for active sites, and provides theoretical guidance for the removal of HOCs and practical application of graphene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The molecular sieve HZSM-5A was modified by incorporation of two alkylamines (C8H17-CH = NH, C10H21-CH = NH; loading materials) and such two surfactant modified zeolites (SMZs), SMZ-C8 and SMZ-C10, were served as the active substance in lead ion-selective electrode (ISE). Optimization of the polyvinyl chloride (PVC)-based membrane electrodes was obtained for a membrane composition of 30% PVC, 65% dioctyl phthalate (DOP) and 5% (w/w) carrier. The ISEs exhibited Nernstian slopes of 25.9 ± 0.3 and 28.6 ± 0.3 mV/decade for Pb2+ with the detection limits of 5.89 (± 0.12) × 10–7 M and 6.08 (± 0.16) × 10–9 M in the concentration of 1.0 × 10–2 to 1.0 × 10–6 M and 1.0 × 10–3 to 1.0 × 10–8 M, respectively. The lifetime of the electrodes was found at least 8 weeks and their response time was less than 10 s. The ISEs did not suffer interference from most metal cations and were successfully used as indicator electrodes for potentiometric titration of Pb2+ with K2CrO4 and for determinations of Pb2+ in an alcoholic beverage and tea leaves samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]