A utilização de polímeros biodegradáveis é uma das formas de minimizar o grande volume de descartes de materiais poliméricos que tendem a aumentar cada vez mais causando dano ao meio ambiente. Existem vários métodos de avaliação de biodegradação de polímeros que podem contribuir para o desenvolvimento de novos materiais biodegradáveis. Nessa dissertação foi avaliada a biodegradação do compósito de matriz de polímero comercial à base de poliéster e amido e fibra de coco verde. Foram usados dois métodos, em solo simulado e em ambiente marinho. A biodegradação dos compósitos foi avaliada através das análises de: Perda de massa, Microscopia ótica (MO), Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura (MEV), Calorimetria Diferencial de Varredura (DSC), Análise Termogravimétrica (TGA) e Espectroscopia na região do Infravermelho (FTIR). Além disso, foi realizada uma comparação entre desempenho de biodegradação do material nos dois ambientes. A velocidade de biodegradação no ambiente marinho é maior do que no solo simulado

The addition of toxic flame retardants to commercially available polymers is often required for safety reasons due to the high flammability of these materials. In this work, the preparation and incorporation of efficient biodegradable starch-based flame retardants into a low-density polyethylene (LDPE) matrix was investigated. Thermoplastic starch was first obtained by plasticizing starch with glycerol/water or glycerol/water/choline phytate to obtain TPS-G and TPS-G-CPA, respectively. Various LDPE/TPS blends were prepared by means of melt blending using polyethylene graft maleic anhydride as a compatibilizer and by varying the content of TPS and a halogenated commercial flame retardant. By replacing 38% and 76% of the harmful commercial flame retardant with safe TPS-G-CPA and TPS-G, respectively, blends with promising fire behavior were obtained, while the limiting oxygen index (LOI ≈ 28%) remained the same. The presence of choline phytate improved both the charring ability and fire retardancy of starch and resulted in a 43% reduction in fire growth index compared to the blend with commercial flame retardant only, as confirmed by means of cone calorimetry. Standard UL 94 vertical tests showed that blends containing TPS exhibited dripping behavior (rated V2), while those with commercial flame retardant were rated V0. Overall, this work demonstrates the potential of starch as a natural flame retardant that could reduce the cost and increase the safety of polymer-based materials.

The aim of this study was to use petrochemical wastewater as the source of carbon for the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) in an effort to decrease its cost of production. For this purpose, PHA producing bacteria were isolated from the petrochemical wastewater of Bandar Imam, Iran. The purified colonies were screened for PHA by Sudan Black B and Nile Blue A staining. Among positively stained bacteria, the best PHA producer was selected on the basis of cell growth, PHA content and the monomer composition of PHA. The phenotypic and genotypic identification this isolate showed it to be Bacillus axaraqunsis. The PHA was produced at a cell density of about 9.46 g/l of maximum concentration of 6.33g/l l, corresponding to 66% of cell dry weight. These results showed that B. axaraqunsis BIPC01 could be a potent PHA producer using wastewater for industrial purpose and simultaneously reducing the environmental pollution.

Abstract Biodegradable polymers (e.g. poly(butylene succinate) - PBS) have been used in several sectors such as the environmental area, especially in bioremediation, in biological processes for conversion of pollutants into inorganic compounds. In this study, the foresight methodology for the use of biodegradable polymers, including PBS, reveals a publication rate of approximately 8.74 articles and 30.63 patents per year, between 2005 and 2019. However, the application of PBS, specifically, is still restricted to the environmental area, with only 3.0% of the 1484 works from this period. The results showed a more significant number of papers on the PBS application for synthesis, characterization, and application in the areas of Chemistry, Physics, and Pharmacy. In the area of bioremediation, only three studies related to PBS were found, revealing the lack of research and development to increase the contribution in the area of environmental recovery.

The aim of this study was to synthesize and characterize the biodegradable intraocular implants based on poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA 75:25) with Cyclosporine-A (CyA) and to evaluate their in vitro drug delivery profile. Thermal analysis was conducted by using Thermogravimetry (TG) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). Phase analysis and crystallinity of the polymer-CyA samples were assessed through X ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Finally, microstructure and morphology of the systems were investigated by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The results showed that CyA was successfully incorporated into PLGA network with drug loading of approximately 31.6%. Also, based on FTIR and thermal analyses (TGA/DSC) no significant physical-chemical interaction was detected at the micro-nanoscale level between polymer/drug. SEM micrographs have indicated a uniform drug distribution in PLGA matrix. XRD patterns have showed that the incorporated semi-crystalline structure of CyA has not significantly altered the polymeric mainly amorphous network. In addition, the results have confirmed the chemical and biological drug stability, the drug distribution into the polymeric matrix and the possibility of cyclosporine prolonged delivery system profile.

Abstract The thermoplastic starch (TPS) is regarded as a promising material for manufacturing packaging and products with biodegradable properties. This study aimed at obtaining hydrophobic starch using silanized silica nanoparticles (nSS) with hexamethyldisilazane. A factorial design 22 with central point was developed to evaluate the influence of glycerol (plasticizer) and nSS addition on the properties of water absorption, solubility and TPS contact angle. The materials morphology was also evaluated by means of scanning electron microscopy. The amount of glycerol and nSS influenced on starch hydrophobic character, for the increase of the glycerol dosage contributed to the increase of absorption and solubility of TPS in water. On the other hand, nSS has greater influence on the characteristics related to the TPS surface, favoring an increase of up to 27% in the contact angle values. Therefore, the sample with the greatest hydrophobic character was obtained by using lowest amounts of glycerol (30%) and highest amounts of nSS (5%).

Abstract Poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) – PHBV plays an important role in sustainability and food safety. In this work, active packaging with antimicrobial properties was analyzed for the controlled release of active compound in three environments (acidic aqueous foods, fresh foods, and fatty foods). The compositions were produced with the addition of sepiolite nanoparticles (Sep) and oregano essential oil (OEO). The GC-MS analysis detected the presence of 3-methyl-4-isopropyl phenol as the primary constituent of the OEO (71.7%). The characterization of the films by FTIR and SEM confirmed the presence of additives, and the quantification of OEO and thermal stability of the nanocomposites was verified by TGA. Four kinetic models were used to analyze the release profile. Our findings indicate that it is possible to adjust the kinetic release of the OEO by varying the composition of the films, which is a promising alternative for producing an antibacterial biomaterial for application in food packaging.

ABSTRACT: The aim of this work was to demonstrate a detailed study of the controlled release of the herbicide Tebuthiuron (TBH) encapsulated in microparticles of calcium alginate (Ca-ALG), to evaluate the phytotoxicity in different concentrations of herbicide (4, 6 and 8 g L-1), and their correlation with the depth of leaching using bioindicator plants. The Ca-ALG microparticles were prepared from the crosslinking of sodium alginate by Ca++ containing varied amounts of TBH supplied in calcium chloride (CaCl2) aqueous solution. The results showed that TBH herbicide, when encapsulated, leached to shallow depths relative to the conventional, non-encapsulated herbicide (which moved to a depth of 40-50 cm). The concentration of 4 g L-1 was the one that leached most in the PVC columns, but its mobility did not exceed 30 cm of depth. The results of the dry mass corroborated with the phytotoxicity results of the bioindicator plants, evidencing the mobility of the conventional herbicide in the soil at depths around 40 and 50 cm, while the herbicide encapsulated in the Ca-ALG microparticles did not show leaching beyond 20 -30 cm deep. The encapsulation of TBH in Ca-ALG microparticles can thus be considered as a more eco-friendly technology, reducing the leaching process and consequently soil contamination.

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) was produced in fed-batch cultures of Ralstonia eutropha DSM 428 and Alcaligenes latus ATCC 29712 on a mineral medium with different carbon sources such as sucrose, sodium lactate, lactic acid, soybean oil and fatty acid. The bacteria converted the different carbon sources supplied into P3HB. The best results were obtained when lactate or soybean oil were supplied as the sole carbon source. The range of number average molar mass (Mn) for the polymers, analyzed by Gel Permeation Chromatography was 1.65 to 0.79 x 10(5) g mol-1. FTIR spectroscopy revealed a characteristic absorbance associated with polyester structures. The crystallinity degree, determinate from X-ray diffractograms, was about 69% in all synthesized polymers. The thermal properties associated to semicrystalline polymers indicated a glass transition at 0.1ºC and a melting point at about 175ºC and enthalpy of 63- 89 J g-1. The ¹H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectra of the polymers were in agreement with the calculated chemical shifts associated with P3HB structures.

This study evaluates the properties of chitosan (CS) membranes modified with different percentages (0.5%, 3%, and 5% w/w) of a graphene-based material. Graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (RGO) were obtained by the chemical exfoliation of graphite and thermal reduction. Then, they were characterized by electrical conductivity measurements, FESEM, XRD, AFM, and Raman spectroscopy. The composites’ morphology was evaluated by FESEM. The degree of swelling over a 48 h period and mass loss behavior in phosphate-buffered saline solution for up to 70 days were also studied. The hydrophilicity of the CS and CS/graphene nanocomposites was examined by water contact angle. The graphene materials showed small stacks (6-8 sheets) with low defect density and nanoscale thickness (1.3-5.9 nm). The dispersion of the graphene material in the CS matrix significantly decreased the degree of swelling (460%) but did not modify the hydrolytic degradation process and the hydrophilicity of membranes.