M.A. Martin-Luengo

Fe-containing pillared clays as catalysts for phenol hydroxylation

An alternative method for the preparation of mixed Fe–Al-pillared clays (Fe–Al-PILCs) derived from two natural smectites, Wyoming SWy-1 and Tunisia-Gafsa VI (an iron-rich sample) based on the use of a mixture of FeCl3 and chlorhydrol is described. The effect of the pH of the pillaring solution and the Al/Fe ratio are studied in order to assess their influence in the characteristics of the resulting solids: specific surface area, porosity and thermal stability. The behaviour of these solids as catalysts has been checked in the hydroxylation of phenol, under conventional heating or microwave irradiation, this last one allowing better yields and shorter reaction times. The presence of redox centers in the layers or in galleries of the materials, together with a Bronsted acid environment in the galleries of the PILCs, (mixed Fe–Al-PILCs and Al-PILCs derived from the Tunisian clay) induces the hydroxylation of phenol reaching conversions close to 70% under microwave irradiation, even at low reaction time (5 min). These values are comparable or even greater than conversions obtained from other catalysts used for these reactions (i.e. modified MCM).

Preparation, characterization and in vitro osteoblast growth of waste-derived biomaterials

Renewable raw biocompatible materials can be prepared from beer production waste, that due to their nature contain the main chemical components present in bone (phosphorous, silicon, magnesium and calcium). Their characteristics can be tailored for use as replacement candidates in osteoporotic treatments, coatings for prostheses, bone grafts and odontoestomatologi implants, for example, with greater cost effectiveness than conventional scaffolds and eliminating the use of non-renewable raw materials or toxic substances in their preparation.

Biomaterials from beer manufacture waste for bone growth scaffolds

Abstract Agricultural wastes are a source of renewable raw materials (RRM), with structures that can be tailored for the use envisaged. Here, they have proved to be good replacement candidates for use as biomaterials for the growth of osteoblasts in bone replacement therapies. Their preparation is more cost effective than that of materials presently in use with the added bonus of converting a low-cost waste into a value-added product. Due to their origin these solids are ecomaterials. In this study, several techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), chemical analysis, mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and bioassays, were used to compare the biocompatibility and cell growth of scaffolds produced from beer bagasse, a waste material from beer production, with a control sample used in bone and dental regenerative processes.

The Plausible Aromaticity of 1,8-Naphthalimides: The Enthalpy of Formation of N-Methyl-1,8-Naphthalimide

In order to understand the aromaticity of 1,8-naphthalimides, the enthalpies of combustion and sublimation of N-methyl-1,8-naphthalimide were determined. The numerical values are −6095.8 ± 3.5 and 109.7 ± 0.8 kJ · mol−1. The enthalpies of formation of condensed and gas phase N-methyl-1,8-naphthalimide are accordingly −306.1 ± 3.9 and −196.4 ± 4.0 kJ · mol−1. It is deduced that naphthalimides enjoy some 40 kJ · mol−1 of aromatic stabilization over that of the maleimides, shown to be nominally destabilized and modestly antiaromatic in our recently published thermochemical study.

Sustainable Materials and Biorefinery Chemicals from Agriwastes

This is an open access chapter distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.-- et al.

Beverage waste derived biomaterials for tissue engineering

The waste material from the beverage manufacturing industry was valorized as a renewable source for the manufacture of biomaterials capable of acting as scaffolds for tissue engineering. Environmentally friendly design of both structural and textural properties produced biomaterials whose in vivo properties were similar to those of a commercial biomaterial.