Abstract In this paper was investigated the chemical, physical, thermal, mechanical and morphological characteristics of the recyclable materials obtained of the NESCAFÉ® DOLCE GUSTO® branded beverage capsules, characterizing different resulting compositions. The characterization was made by following techniques: Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Water Absorption and techniques for the analysis of mechanical properties (tensile and impact test). The results showed that the body of the capsule and the inner filter, both made of polypropylene, are the most interesting materials to be reused, having good properties, while the materials resulting from the mixtures of all the constituents in the beverage capsules presented decreased mechanical properties.

RESUMO Os compostos orgânicos voláteis (COVs) são substâncias que possuem elevada pressão de vapor e baixa solubilidade em água e são reconhecidos por serem um dos maiores responsáveis pela poluição atmosférica, tanto por sua natureza tóxica quanto por serem os precursores do ozônio e do smog fotoquímico. O objetivo deste trabalho foi sintetizar óxidos mistos sob as mesmas condições de preparação e avaliar suas propriedades e atividade, visando a obtenção de catalisadores eficientes do ponto de vista ambiental naoxidação do tolueno, que constitui um dos COVs mais abundantes na atmosfera. Óxidos com estrutura de espinélio AMn2O4 (A=Co, Cu e Ni) foram preparados pelo método de autocombustão sob as mesmas condições de síntese e suas propriedades físico químicas foram avaliadas por DRX, BET, FTIR e MEV. A relação entre as propriedades a as atividades dos espinélios na oxidação do tolueno foi avaliada e os catalisadores de Cu e Co foram os mais promissores, com conversões de 99 e 92%, respectivamente. Esta maior atividade foi atribuída ao possível efeito sinérgico entre o Mn3+ e as fases Co2+ e Cu2+ presentes nas estruturas dos óxidos. Não foi verificada relação direta entre os resultados obtidos para a atividade e área específica.

ABSTRACT Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have a high vapor pressure and low water solubility and are recognized either as major contributors of air pollution either, through their toxic nature, or as precursors of ozone and photochemical smog. The objectives of this work were to synthesize several manganite oxides under the same preparation conditions and the study of their properties and activities to develop as friendly environmental catalysts in oxidation of toluene, the VOC more abundant in the Earth's atmosphere. AMn2O4 (A=Co, Ni, Cu) manganite spinels were prepared by using by using auto combustion method under the same synthesis conditions and their physico-chemical properties were studied by XRD, BET, FTIR and MEV. The relationship between the properties and activity of spinels in oxidation of toluene was investigated. Among all, Cu and Co catalysts exhibited the most promising activity, converting 92 and 99%, respectively. The higher activity was explained in terms of the possible synergetic effect between Mn3+ and Co2+, Cu2+ phases in that manganite oxides. No direct relationship was resulted between activity with either specific surface area.

Abstract This study presents the preparation and characterization of composite materials using Plastic Waste from Hydrapulper (PWH) from paper industries extruded with sugar cane fiber residues from ethanol industries. The factorial design showed that composite material with 40% of sugar cane fiber, pressed with 5 ton was the optimized condition. The main findings attested that the composite is resistant up to 250 °C and its hardness is increased compared to the raw PWH. The material presented woodsy aspect although water absorption has increased. So, this study offers a good alternative for the use of plastic waste generated as a by-product of recycled paper industry as well as a destination to the sugar cane bagasse.

Abstract In this study, an alternative method for recycling residues of labels and stickers (parings) containing biaxically oriented polypropylene (BOPP) and polyurethane-based glue was discussed. The recycling of this type of material is complicated, once the separation and the milling processes are difficult to be accomplished, due to the presence of a large amount of glue. In this study, sugarcane bagasse ash was used to enable the milling process of stickers residues. Composites were prepared with post-consumer polypropylene extrusion with different polypropylene/parings ash ratio. These materials were analyzed by tensile, three point flexural, hardness, density, water absorption, Izod impact tests, thermogravimetric analysis, environmental exposure and scanning electron microscopy. Addition of sticker residues/ash to the polypropylene matrix makes the material more rigid and does not affect significantly thermal and degradation properties. Thus, the recycling process proposed in this paper is environmentally and economically viable.

The physicochemical properties (solubilization, structural organization and stability) of meso-tetrakis(p-methoxyphenyl)porphyrin (TMPP), a promising photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy, solubilized in polymeric micelles of tri-block copolymers PluronicTM P-123 and F-127, were studied. The formulations obtained by the solid dispersion method led to monomerization of TMPP in these copolymers. Solubility studies showed that P-123 solubilizes double the photosensitizer than F-127. The self-aggregation phenomenon was affected by the [TMPP]/[poloxamer] ratio and medium temperature. The decrease in the temperature of these systems promoted the formation of different kinds of TMPP aggregates intrinsically connected with the structural changes occurring in the micelles.

This paper presents a factorial design (mixture design) used to analyze the hardness and degree of monomer conversion into composites containing conventional monomers and an organic-inorganic hybrid polymer-based methacryloyloxypropyl trimethoxysilane (MEMO). For this purpose, resins (composites with SiO2) were formulated with the hybrid polymer (polycondensed, pMEMO), and two conventional monomers used in dentistry, bisphenol-A dimethacrylate (Bis-GMA) and triethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA). The resins were characterized through the degree of monomer conversion and Vickers hardness, and the pMEMO by means of FTIR and ¹H NMR. The results showed an increase in hardness for resins containing the hybrid material relative to the resins containing only conventional monomers. The mathematical model adjusted to the experimental data yielded an optimized formulation, which presented a higher hardness value (48.88 HV).