Increasing awareness of toxicity of halogenated flame retardants (FRs) has resulted in stringent regulations that require the elimination of their use in plastics. Consequently, there is considerable interest for the development of new varieties of high performance FRs. Here, we report the synthesis of new class of polyphenol based FR additives. Preliminary investigations indicate that these FR materials can possibly work through a combination of radical scavenging and char-formation. The thermal stability and char yield of polyphenol samples were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Thermal characterization indicated that these polymers produce significant amount of carbonaceous char upon combustion.

Use of porous ceramic burners for natural gas combustion is an optimum alternative to enhance energy efficiency and decrease emission of pollutant gases per generated power. Materials requirements for the operation of such porous burners are mainly thermal shock and chemical resistance and those can be reached with cellular ceramics. Mullite was theoretically identified among the best materials for this application; however, its potential was not properly explored yet. Even though mullite can be synthesized from different compounds and processing routes, control of final material characteristics is complicated mainly due to the formation of amorphous phase. In this work, using a technological approach mullite burners were processed by the replication method starting from different mixtures of Al2O3/SiO2/SiC. Rheological study of the slurries has given additives content for the coating of the polyurethane sponges. After varying sintering temperatures up to 1600 °C and isotherm times for 12 h, microstructural aspects and product phases of the final composites were characterized in order to understand the influence of Al2O3/SiO2/SiC ratios in the formation of mullite phase and amorphous content.

Synthetic chemists are paying ever more attention to enabling technologies as a means to opening the paths towards the double goal of achieving high efficiency and meeting green criteria. Non-conventional techniques that create unique environments which promote selective modification have been investigated by many as part of the search for more highly efficient synthetic derivatization of cyclodextrins (CD). A few optimized microwave-assisted protocols have so far been developed for the preparation of selective per-alkylated aminocyclodextrin. In this work, a series of β-CD derivatives, whose primary hydroxyls were all replaced by amino groups, has efficiently been synthesized from per-(6-iodo-6-deoxy)-β-CD via nucleophilic substitution with amines under microwave irradiation in closed vessel (N2 pressure). The reduction of per-(6-azido-6-deoxy)-β-CD to per-(6-amino-6-deoxy)-β-CD via catalytic hydrogenation has also been successfully carried out under dielectric heating.

The one pot-synthesis and use of monolithic biohybrid foams in a continuous flow device reported inhere presents the advantages of covalent stabilization of the enzymes, together with a low steric hindrance between proteins and substrates, an optimized mass transport due to the interconnected macroporous network and a rather simplicity in regard of the column in-situ synthetic path. Those features, concerning transesterification (biodiesel production) enzyme- based catalyzed reaction, provide high enzymatic activity addressed with bio-hybrid catalysts bearing unprecedented endurance of continuous catalysis for a two months period of time.

Salt is the raw material of sodium metal, which reacts with water to produce hydrogen for power generation. Sodium metal is solid matter and its specific gravity is low; therefore, it can be stored or transported for long at room temperature and under atmospheric pressure as oil and coal can. Sodium metal is produced with molten-salt electrolysis from sea salt, lake salt or rock salt, and securely kept immersed in kerosene for preventing it from reacting with air or moisture when transported to a consumer place; where it reacts violently with water to generate a large amount of hydrogen instantly. And sodium hydroxide, which is a reaction residue obtained after the production of hydrogen, is supplied as it is as the raw material of soda industries. Moreover, fresh water, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, sodium hydroxide, and magnesium are generated as by-products in the processes of manufacturing sodium metal and generating hydrogen. Sodium metal can be an alternative energy material for hydrogen combustion power generation, having a far-reaching economic effect.