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 | Laboratory 8. Physical Chemistry of Polymers |
| Head of laboratory: Dr. Anton AIRINEI |
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| Group 8.4: Bio(nano)composites. Compatibility, kinetic and degradation studies |
Project manager: Dr. Maria-Cristina POPESCU,
e-mail: cpopescu@icmpp.ro |
- Investigation of structural polymorphism, accessibility and reactivity of cellulose allomorphs; dissolution of cellulose in different solvent systems (LiCl/DMAc system, NaOH solution/low temperature, NMMO, etc.); chemical functionalization by esterification reactions (acetylation of cellulose allomorphs, synthesis of adamantoyl esters of cellulose, etc.).
- Chemical functionalization of cellulose by: (i) treatments in homogeneous medium of cellulose with organophosphorus products in order to obtained cellulose derivatives with improved thermal resistance and with polyelectrolyte properties; (ii) acrylamide grafting on cellulose in the presence of a magnetic field in order to enhance the fiber hydrophilicity.
- Chemical functionalization of various lignins or lignosulfonates by (i) polyaddition reactions of with epichlorohydrin, in the presence of an alkaline medium; (ii) modification reactions with carboxylic acids (lactic acid, butyric acid and oleic acid) under cold plasma conditions to obtain new lignin derivatives.
- Preparation of nanoparticles from natural polymers (cellulose or lignin) by using classical and unconventional methods.
- Preparation of hydrogels based on natural polymers (cellulose, lignin, xanthan, alginate, dextran, pullulan, carrageenan), mixtures of natural/synthetic polymers, or which contain incorporated nanoparticles with potential application in biomedical field; biocompatibility studies of hydrogels (drug release studies, cells viability and cells growth).
- Preparation of composites from natural polymers (cellulose and cellulose derivatives)/ synthetic polymers (polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl alcohol, polylactic acid, epoxydic resins) and functionalized lignin/lignosulfonates with good physico-mechanical and dielectric properties, and biodegradability in different biological medium (soil burial tests, enzymatic degradation reaction).
- Enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose allomorphs using endoglucanase enzymes from different sources (Trichoderma reesei, Aspergillus niger and Paenibacillus barcinonensis).
- Study on cellulose binding capacity and changes in the supramolecular structure of different cellulosic fibers after their treatment with cellulose-binding domain (CBD) from Clostridium celulovorans and Paenibacillus Barcinonensis.
- Testing of resin derivatives, obtained by Diels-Alder reactions, as cross-linking agents for epoxidized vegetable oils
- Preparation of composites based on vegetable oils or epoxidized vegetable oils.
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