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Investigating the content of microplastics and other extraneous particles in Polish bottled water

Aleksander-Kwaterczak Urszula, Gaj Dominika, Stelmach Alex, Wróbel Tomasz P.

Geology, Geophysics and Environment

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2023

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Vol. 49, no. 4

335--353

EN

Bottled water has enjoyed a global increase in popularity since it is generally perceived to be superior in quality to tap water and necessary when tap water is non-potable. As a result, ensuring that it meets the requisite quality standards is of vital importance. This work aims to examine the content of solid particles, including microplastics, in bottled water available in Polish stores. The second aspect is the preliminary determination of the influence of the water gassing process, together with thermal and light factors, on the content of particles in the water. The number of particles was counted by colour and shape, with the number ranging from 87 to 188 per litre of water; on average, there were 136 ±32 particles per litre of water, demonstrating that water from disposable plastic bottles is contaminated with various substances. The difference in the number of particles may be due to the origin of the waters, the processes they were subjected to prior to bottling, the properties of the bottles as packaging, and the conditions and length of storage and transport. Additional Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis confirmed that about 75% of the particles were polymers, and 50% of them were plastics. Particularly alarming is the fact that the bottled waters mostly contained microplastic particles (MP) of smaller sizes, the kind which is recognized as being the most dangerous to human health. In the study, most particles were in the form of irregular shapes, which may indicate that they come from the destruction of waste or plastic products. This is also indicated by the domination of colourless particles. More particles were found in waters exposed to high and low temperatures than in waters stored at room temperature, potentially indicating that storage conditions for drinking water are important. Taking into account the results obtained, increasing attention should be paid to the health risks posed by such microplastics and there is a clear need to introduce legal regulations on the matter. The lack of any legal guidelines or unified standards in the field of MP research means that the results are not always representative, and it also makes it difficult to compare the results from different studies.

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Evaluation of structural, optical and physical properties of polyurethane composites doped with metal alkoxides

Nadafan Marzieh, Anvari Javid Zamir

Materials Science Poland

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2020

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Vol. 38, No. 3

416--423

EN

In this research, polyurethane (PU)/tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) composite was prepared via one-step polymerization method using different concentrations of TEOS in PU. The structural, optical and physical properties of PU composite were characterized by SEM imaging, FT-IR spectroscopy, water uptake, Raman spectroscopy and optical microscopy imaging of synthesized samples. The SEM results showed that by adding TEOS to the PU, the cell and window size of synthesized samples decreased. This result was also observed in the optical micrographs. The bonding characteristics of PU/TEOS composites were analyzed using Raman and FT-IR spectra. According to the FT-IR spectra, the degree of phase separation (DPS) and hydrogen bonding index, R, in 800 µl TEOS/PU had the highest R and DPS factors. By adding different concentrations of TEOS to PU, the apparent density decreased but the real density increased. The total, open and closed porosity of the synthesized samples were calculated. At low loading of TEOS in PU, the open porosity of the samples increased. The PU/TEOS composites may be promising candidates for absorbing sound.

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Lithium biosorption by Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis biomass

Zinicovscaia Inga, Yushin Nikita, Pantelica Ana, Demčák Štefan, Mitu Andreea, Apostol Andrei I.

Ecological Chemistry and Engineering. S

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2020

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Vol. 27, nr 2

271--280

EN

The biosorption of lithium from batch systems by Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis biomass was studied. Adsorption capacity of the biosorbent was investigated as a function of contact time, initial metals concentration and pH values. Lithium content in biomass was determined using Proton Induced Gamma Emission technique. The ability of spirulina biomass for lithium biosorption showed a maximum at the pH = 11. Equilibrium data fitted well with the Langmuir model with maximum adsorption capacity of 1.75 mg/g, while the kinetic data were best described using the pseudo second-order kinetic model. The IR spectrum of the Li-loaded biomass revealed that lithium ions could be primarily bind to –OH, –COOH, –NH, –NH2, and –NH3 groups present on biosorbent surface. Arthrospira platensis biomass could be applied as environmentally friendly sorbent for lithium removal from wastewater.

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Structural and magnetic studies on Co-Zn nanoferrite synthesized via sol-gel and combustion methods

Vara Prasad B. B. V. S., Ramesh K. V., Srinivas A.

Materials Science Poland

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2019

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Vol. 37, No. 1

39--54

EN

Co–Zn nanocrystalline ferrites with chemical composition Co0.5Zn0.5 Fe2O4 were synthesized by sol-gel and combustion methods. The sol-gel method was carried out in two ways, i.e. based on chelating agents PVA and PEG of high and low molecular weights. In auto-combustion method, the ratio of citric acid to metal nitrate was taken as 1:1, while in sol-gel method the chelating agents were taken based on oxygen balance. All the three samples were studied by thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis for the identification of phase formation and ferritization temperature. The synthesized samples were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction and FT-IR spectroscopy without any thermal treatment. The measured lattice constants and observed characteristic IR absorption bands of the three samples are in good agreement with the reported values showing the formation of a cubic spinel structure. The crystallite sizes of all samples were determined using high intensity peaks and W-H plot. Size-Strain Plot method was also implemented since two of the samples showed low crystallite sizes. The least crystallite size (5.5 nm) was observed for the sample CZVP while the highest (23.8 nm) was observed for the sample CZCA. Cation distribution was proposed based on calculated and observed intensity ratios of selected planes from X ray diffraction data. All structural parameters were presented using experimental lattice constant and oxygen positional parameter, and they correlated with FT-IR results. Magnetic measurements were carried out using vibrating sample magnetometer at room temperature to obtain the characteristic parameters such as saturation magnetization, coercivity, remanence, squareness ratio and Bohr magnetons. Among all, the sample synthesized via citric acid autocombustion method displayed a remarkably higher magnetization of 53 emu/g and the remaining two samples displayed low magnetization values owing to their smaller crystallite sizes.

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Kofeina jako czynnik modyfikujący hydrożele akrylowe

Tyliszczak B., Kudłacik-Kramarczyk S., Drabczyk A.

Engineering of Biomaterials

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2017

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Vol. 20, no. 142

17--24

PL

Hydrożele są materiałami zbudowanymi z łańcuchów polimerowych, które tworzą trójwymiarową i usieciowaną strukturę. Mają one bardzo dużą zdolność do pochłaniania wody, stąd też bardzo często są nazywane superabsorbentami. Inne cechy charakteryzujące hydrożele to elastyczność oraz nietoksyczność. Poprzez swoje właściwości hydrożele są często stosowane w inżynierii tkankowej, układach dostarczania leku czy w opatrunkach hydrożelowych. Celem pracy była ocena wpływu modyfikacji matrycy polimerowej kofeiną na właściwości i strukturę hydrożeli, natomiast zakres pracy obejmował syntezę i modyfikację matrycy polimerowej oraz badania inkubacyjne in vitro, spektroskopowe i fizykochemiczne. W pracy zostały przeprowadzone i omówione badania hydrożeli modyfikowanych różną zawartością kofeiny. Hydrożele zostały poddane badaniom sprawdzającym ich zdolność absorpcyjną w roztworach składem przypominającym płyny ustrojowe organizmu ludzkiego. Przeprowadzono również badania zachowania się hydrożeli w płynach ustrojowych jakimi były woda destylowana, płyn Ringera i sztuczna ślina. Na podstawie przeprowadzonych badań można wstępnie stwierdzić, że otrzymane materiały nie powodują zmian pH roztworów, w których są inkubowane. Ponadto, uwalniają one wprowadzoną do ich struktury kofeinę. Tak otrzymane wyniki, pozwalają stwierdzić, że materiał otrzymany przy pomocy fotopolimeryzacji na bazie kwasu akrylowego może znaleźć zastosowanie w takich dziedzinach jak medycyna czy kosmetologia.

EN

Hydrogels are materials created by polymer chains, that form a three-dimensional and crosslinked structure. These polymers are characterized by a very high sorption capacity, therefore they belong to the group of substances known as superabsorbents. Due to their properties hydrogels are often used in tissue engineering, drug delivery systems and as components of modern wound dressings. The aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of introduction of caffeine into the polymer matrix on the properties and structure of hydrogels. The scope of work included the synthesis and modification of the polymer matrix as well as studies on such prepared materials. Research involved in vitro incubation, spectroscopic analysis, studies on degradation and characterization of other physico-chemical properties. In this article series of hydrogels based on acrylic acid and modified with different amount of caffeine have been synthesized. The sorption capacity of obtained hydrogels in the liquids with compositions similar to the human body fluids has been tested. The stability of synthesized materials in simulated body fluids such as Ringer’s solution and artificial saliva has also been analysed. Based on conducted research it can be said that prepared materials do not change pH value of a liquid in which they are immersed. What is more, they are able to release entrapped caffeine. On the basis of such results it can be concluded that proposed acrylic acid based materials obtained by means of photopolymerization can be used in such areas as medicine or cosmetology.