Marta Stroescu

Ultrasound influence upon calcium carbonate precipitation on bacterial cellulose membranes

The effect of ultrasonic irradiation (40 kHz) on the calcium carbonate deposition on bacterial cellulose membranes was investigated using calcium chloride (CaCl(2)) and sodium carbonate (Na(2)CO(3)) as starting reactants. The composite materials containing bacterial cellulose-calcium carbonate were characterized by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and color measurements. The polymorphs of calcium carbonate that were deposited on bacterial cellulose membranes in the presence or in the absence of ultrasonic irradiation were calcite and vaterite. The morphology of the obtained crystals was influenced by the concentration of starting solutions and by the presence of ultrasonic irradiation. In the presence of ultrasonic irradiation the obtained crystals were bigger and in a larger variety of shapes than in the absence of ultrasounds: from cubes of calcite to spherical and flower-like vaterite particles. Bacterial cellulose could be a good matrix for obtaining different types of calcium carbonate crystals.

Composite films of poly(vinyl alcohol)–chitosan–bacterial cellulose for drug controlled release

Mono and multilayer composite films of poly(vinyl alcohol)-chitosan-bacterial cellulose (PVA/chitosan/BC) have been prepared to achieve controlled release of ibuprofen sodium salt (IbuNa) as model drug. The composite films have been characterized by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Surface morphology was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Equilibrium swelling was measured in water at two different pH values and in vitro release of IbuNa in pH 1.2 and pH 7.4 media was studied. The release experiments revealed that drug release is pH sensitive. The release kinetics of IbuNa could be described by the Fickian model of diffusion with a good agreement. The IbuNa release rate was decreasing for all the films as the BC concentration was increased in the films composition, the decrease being higher for the multilayer films.

Drug release kinetics from carboxymethylcellulose-bacterial cellulose composite films.

Composite films of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose and bacterial cellulose (NaCMC-BC) cross-linked with citric acid (CA) were prepared by solution casting method. Ibuprofen sodium salt (IbuNa) has been used to study the mechanism of drug release from composite films. Surface morphology was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and proved that the BC content influences the aspect of the films. Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed specific peaks in IR spectra of composite films which sustain that NaCMC was cross-linked with CA. Starting from swelling observations, the release kinetic of IbuNa was described using a model which neglects the volume expansion due to polymer swelling and which considers non-linear diffusion coefficients for drug and solvent. The IbuNa release is also influenced by BC content, the drug release rate was decreasing with the increase of BC content.

Box-Behnken experimental design for chromium(VI) ions removal by bacterial cellulose-magnetite composites

In this study bacterial cellulose-magnetite composites were synthesised for the removal of chromium(VI) from aqueous solutions. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) were used to characterize the bacterial cellulose-magnetite composites and to reveal the uniform dispersion of nanomagnetite in the BC matrix. Magnetic properties were also measured to confirm the magnetite immobilization on bacterial cellulose membrane. The effects of initial Cr(VI) concentration, solution pH and solid/liquid ratio upon chromium removal were examined using the statistical Box-Behnken Design. Because of the possibility of magnetite dissolution during chromium(VI) adsorption, the degree of iron leaching was also analysed in the same conditions as Cr(VI) adsorption. From the factors affecting chromium(VI) adsorption the most important was solution pH. The highest Cr(VI) removal efficiency was observed at pH 4, accompanied by the lowest iron leaching in the solution. The adsorption experiments also indicated that the adsorption process of chromium(VI) is well described by Freundlich adsorption model. Our results proved that the BC-magnetite composites could be used for an efficient removal of chromium(VI) from diluted solutions with a minimum magnetite dissolution during operation.

Plackett–Burman experimental design for bacterial cellulose–silica composites synthesis

Bacterial cellulose-silica hybrid composites were prepared starting from wet bacterial cellulose (BC) membranes using Stöber reaction. The structure and surface morphology of hybrid composites were examined by FTIR and SEM. The SEM pictures revealed that the silica particles are attached to BC fibrils and are well dispersed in the BC matrix. The influence of silica particles upon BC crystallinity was studied using XRD analysis. Thermogravimetric (TG) analysis showed that the composites are stable up to 300°C. A Plackett-Burman design was applied in order to investigate the influence of process parameters upon silica particle sizes and silica content of BC-silica composites. The statistical model predicted that it is possible for silica particles size to vary the synthesis parameters in order to obtain silica particles deposed on BC membranes in the range from 34.5 to 500 nm, the significant parameters being ammonia concentration, reaction time and temperature. The silica content also varies depending on process parameters, the statistical model predicting that the most influential parameters are water-tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) ratio and reaction temperature. The antimicrobial behavior on Staphylococcus aureus of BC-silica composites functionalized with usnic acid (UA) was also studied, in order to create improved surfaces with antiadherence and anti-biofilm properties.

Modelling of sorbic acid diffusion through bacterial cellulose-based antimicrobial films

Antimicrobial packaging protects the product from the external environment and microbial contamination, conferring numerous advantages on human health. Interest in biopolymers as packaging materials has considerably increased recently. Bacterial cellulose is an interesting biomaterial produced as nanofibrils by Acetobacter xylinium and is a promising candidate due to its remarkable properties. New composite materials with antimicrobial properties were developed in this work, containing poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) as polymer matrix and ground bacterial cellulose (BC) as reinforcing fibres. Sorbic acid was used as an antimicrobial agent because it is a preservative recognised in the food industry. The materials obtained were studied using Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The swelling rate of the composites was also measured. Release experiments of sorbic acid from the composite films into water were performed and the mass transfer phenomena were investigated using Fick’s law of diffusion. The antimicrobial effect was tested against Escherichia coli K12-MG1655. The results obtained indicated that the new biocomposite films could be promising antimicrobial food packaging materials.

Influence of sodium dodecyl sulfate and cetyl trimethylammonium bromide upon calcium carbonate precipitation on bacterial cellulose

Calcium carbonate was deposed on bacterial cellulose (BC) never-dried membranes in the presence of different concentrations of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) by a precipitation reaction between aqueous solutions of calcium chloride (CaCl2) and sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) containing, or not, surfactant in their composition. Different shapes of crystals were obtained from rhombohedral ones to flowerlike, depending on surfactant type and concentration. From the two surfactants tested, SDS has a greater influence on calcium carbonate morphology than CTAB. The only polymorph obtained in all studied cases was calcite. The composite films BC-calcite were characterized by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and color measurements. The obtained BC-calcium carbonate composites could be used in paper manufacturing.

Potassium sorbate release from poly(vinyl alcohol)-bacterial cellulose films ‡

Active packaging materials are the subject of research because their performance exceeds that of traditional packaging. From this class, antimicrobial materials extend the shelf-life of products and reduce the risk of contamination by pathogens. In this paper, new composite materials with antimicrobial properties are obtained by using polyvinyl alcohol and bacterial cellulose powder. Potassium (2E,4E)-hexa-2,4-dienoate was used as the antimicrobial agent. The films thus obtained were characterised using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Mass transfer phenomena concerning the release of potassium (2E,4E)-hexa-2,4-dienoate were investigated. The results indicated that the new biocomposite films could be used as antimicrobial packaging materials.

Catalytic Effects at Pyrolysis of Wheat Grains Impregnated with Nickel Salts

Pyrolysis was performed on wheat grains untreated or impregnated with nickel nitrate solutions, into a fixed bed column, in the presence of a carbon dioxide stream. This produced a char with or without nickel, pyrolytic oil and a gaseous fraction. The distribution of these fractions was dependent on variations in heat flux, carbon dioxide superficial velocity and nickel nitrate solution concentration. The paper focused on establishing the qualitative and quantitative influence of these experimental variables on pyrolysis dynamics. In order to obtain a process characterization, a factorial experiment was used, wherein the pyrolysed material mass, collected oil mass, operating time, material bed temperature, volatiles temperature and column wall temperature were the evaluated process responses. A model reproducing pyrolysis curves was proposed considering the process dynamics as a result of competition between the appearance and extension of local pyrolysis points.

Green Synthesis of Silver-Bacterial Cellulose Composites Using Turmeric Powder Extract

Abstract. Bacterial cellulose-silver (BC-silver) composites are known as biomaterials with good antimicrobial properties. The aim of this paper is to present a green route to produce antibacterial BC-silver composites using Curcuma longa tuber powder (turmeric) extract as reducing agent. The effect of medium pH and immersion time in the turmeric extract upon the silver nanoparticles was studied. The synthesis of silver nanoparticles deposited on bacterial cellulose was confirmed by ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) spectral studies, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). The antibacterial activity of the nanocomposites was studied by inhibition zone method against Escherichia coli K12-MG1655, all the composites having a good antimicrobial activity.