5-(Oxiran-2-ilmetil)-1,3-benzodioxol ou epóxi-safrol (SO) vem sendo estudado ao longo dos anos devido a suas propriedades dependentes da concentração, como indução à apoptose e transdiferenciação celular. A coprecipitação do SO com um polímero biodegradável e biocompatível, poli(3-hidroxibutirato-co-3-hidroxivalerato) (PHBV), foi realizada utilizando a técnica de dispersão de solução aumentada por fluídos supercríticos (SEDS). Um planejamento fatorial 2(4-1) foi realizado para investigar os efeitos das condições experimentais (pressão, vazão de solução e de antissolvente e concentrações de PHBV e SO) na eficiência do processo e na morfologia dos coprecipitados. Para o material obtido SO/PHBV, foram observadas formas esféricas e fibrosas, sendo as morfologias dependentes das condições experimentais. Os mecanismos de liberação controlada de epóxi-safrol para os materiais esféricos foram diferentes dos materiais fibrosos. Análise térmica mostrou uma diminuição na temperatura de máxima velocidade de degradação (Tmax) em relação ao PHBV, atribuída à presença de SO e à morfologia da amostra.

In recent years, 5-(oxiran-2-ylmethyl)-1,3-benzodioxole or safrole oxide (SO) has been widely studied due to its concentration dependent properties, such as cellular apoptosis inducing activity and cell transdifferentiation. Coprecipitation of SO with a biodegradable and biocompatible polymer, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV), were performed using solution enhanced dispersion by supercritical fluids technique (SEDS). A 2(4-1) factorial design was carried out to investigate the effect of processing parameters (pressure, solution flow, anti-solvent flow and concentrations of PHBV and SO) on the process efficiency and microparticle morphology. Both fibrous and spherical shapes were observed for coprecipitated SO/PHBV, which were dependent on the experimental-processing conditions. Controlled release mechanisms of SO to spherical materials were different from fibrous materials. Thermal analysis showed a decrease in the temperature of maximum weight loss rate (Tmax) of PHBV, attributed to the presence of SO and sample morphology.

We intend to divulge an easy experiment that permits the determination of molar masses of various compounds by cryoscopy. The major advantage of this is the use of the tert-butyl alcohol as a solvent, which requires simple apparatus and easy procedures. The melting point of this alcohol is around 25 ºC, which makes it easy to freeze and then melt the solutions. This solvent has a high cryoscopic constant and is miscible with both polar and non-polar compounds. The molar masses of acetone, water, chloroform, dichloro-methane, ethanol, hexane, carbon tetrachloride and toluene were determined. The results were good except for water. Even though there are reliable techniques of molar mass determination nowadays, this method is still frequently taught in undergraduate courses.