Neste trabalho, a polimerização do glicerol na presença de catalisador ácido (H2SO4 ou H3PO4) e básico (NaOH), para produzir resinas termofixas foi investigada. Os resultados mostraram que as variáveis como a temperatura de reação, o tipo e a concentração do catalisador são críticas para a obtenção de bons rendimentos e seletividade para materiais poliméricos. Em condições otimizadas, i.e. H2SO4 como catalisador, 140 °C por 24 horas, foi possível obter polímeros com 98% de seletividade. Após polimerização, os materiais obtidos foram submetidos a extrações com diferentes solventes, i.e. água, THF e hexano. Os extratos foram caracterizados por ESI(+)-MS e por espectroscopia na região do infravermelho, que permitiram verificar a presença de oligômeros de até seis unidades monoméricas. Para menores tempos de reação, e.g. 4 horas, foi possível obter elevada seletividade (100%) para oligômeros, mas com baixa conversão de glicerol (25%). Além disso, verificou-se que os outros catalisadores (H3PO4 e NaOH) apresentam baixa atividade para promover a polimerização do glicerol, e.g. rendimento de 25% após 24 horas.

In this work, an investigation was made of the glycerol polymerization in the presence of acid (H2SO4 or H3PO4) and base (NaOH) catalysts to produce thermosetting resins. The results showed that the reaction temperature and catalyst concentration are critical to obtain good yield and selectivity. Under optimum condition, i.e. H2SO4 catalyst, 140 °C for 24 hours it was possible to obtain polymers with 98% selectivity. After the polymerization the materials were submitted to extractions with different solvents, i.e. water, THF and hexane. The extracts were characterized by ESI(+)-MS (Electro-Spray Ionization Mass Spectrometry) and by FTIR, showing the presence of short-chain oligomers (up to six units). For shorter reaction times, e.g. 4 hours, it was possible to obtain high selectivity (100%) for oligomers, but with low glycerol conversion (25%). It was also observed that the other catalysts (H3PO4 and NaOH) showed low activity to promote glycerol polymerization, e.g. yields of 25% after 24 hours.

In this work it is proposed a simple and versatile undergraduate chemical experiment in polymer and environmental technology based on the process of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) hydrolysis. Polyethylene terephthalate from post-consume bottles is submitted to a controlled partial hydrolysis which allows the students to follow the reaction by a simple procedure. The students can explore the reaction kinetics, the effect of catalysts and the exposed polyethylene terephthalate surface area on the hydrolysis reaction. The second and innovative part of this experiment is the technological and environmental application of the hydrolyzed polyethylene terephthalate as a material with cation exchange properties. The surface hydrolyzed polyethylene terephthalate can be used as adsorbent for cationic contaminants.

A espectrometria de massas com ionização electrospray no modo negativo, ESI(-)-MS, foi usada para investigar a decomposição da água oxigenada catalisada por iodeto em meio aquoso. O monitoramento por ESI(-)-MS revelou a presença de um ânion intenso de m/z 287, o qual foi sugerido possuir a estrutura [I-IOOH]- em solução aquosa, através de uma interação entre o íon iodeto e a espécie neutra e instável IOOH. Evidências da estrutura proposta para tal ânion foram obtidas através de sua fragmentação por colisão com hélio, a qual forneceu, exclusivamente, um íon-produto de m/z 254 (I2•-), através de uma perda de radical peroxila (HOO , 33 Da). Cálculos teóricos ab initio revelaram que a formação do ânion [I-IOOH]-, a partir da interação entre IOOH e I-, é um processo termodinamicamente favorável, enquanto que sua fragmentação levando a I2 e HOO , é o canal de dissociação mais provável. Deste modo, foi proposto um novo mecanismo para a decomposição da H2O2 catalisada por iodeto para gerar H2O e O2 tendo como base a participação do intermediário-chave IOOH.

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry in the negative ion mode, ESI(-)-MS, was used to investigate the iodide-catalyzed decomposition of H2O2 in aqueous medium. ESI(-)-MS monitoring revealed the presence of an intense anion of m/z 287, suggested to be the [I-IOOH]- anion, which was proposed to be formed in solution (and then transferred to the gas phase by the ESI process) via an interaction between iodide and the neutral and short-lived species IOOH. Evidences for the proposed structure were obtained by CID (collision-induced dissociation) experiments, which yielded exclusively a product ion of m/z 254 (I2•-) via a peroxide radical (HOO , 33 Da) loss. High level ab initio calculations revealed that the formation of the [I-IOOH]- anion from IOOH and I- is a thermodynamically-favored process whereas its fragmentation leading to I2•- and HOO is the most favorable dissociation channel. Hence, an unprecedented mechanism for the iodide-catalyzed decomposition of H2O2 to H2O and O2 based on the assumption of the participation of the key intermediate IOOH was proposed.

Technology companies created from University research are known as "Academic Spin-Off" (ASO). These innovative companies play an important role for the technological, economical and social development of a country. This work discusses some aspects of ASO companies and their importance to Universities. It is also presented a fictitious history of Prof. João, a chemical researcher who will create an ASO company from his academic research work illustrating the basic steps involved in this process.

The Universities, in Brazil and all over the world are currently going through a "second revolution" in which the socio-economical development is incorporated as part of their mission and science and knowledge play a key role for the development of the society. In this context, this article is directed towards the importance of entrepreneurship and the formation of technological entrepreneurs in the area of chemistry, with special attention to the teaching of entrepreneurship in the chemistry courses and its effect on students, universities and the job possibilities. This article also presents a short discussion on a basic entrepreneurship course for chemists and some suggestions of reading on entrepreneurship to those interested in get started in this area. What is presented here about entrepreneurship in chemistry can be applied to any other area of science and technology.