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1. Phosphorus flow in production of soy protein concentrate and isolate from defatted soybean flour

   https://doi.org/10.1002/aocs.12726  

   Singh, Shuchi; Singh, Vijay (July 2023, Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society)

   Abstract Implications of excess phosphorus (P) in waste streams obtained from soy‐based protein preparation processes on the environment and their potential utilization as P‐source are two significant understudied areas. Soybean‐based protein ingredients for food products retain comparatively enhanced functional properties and are cheaper than other plant‐based proteins. Soybean protein can be extracted and utilized as a food ingredient primarily by preparing soy protein concentrates (SPC) and soy protein isolates (SPI) from soybean meal/defatted soy flour (DSF). In a typical soybean processing facility, along with the soy products and soy‐protein preparations, the recovery of phosphorus as a coproduct will enhance the economic feasibility of the overall process as the recovered P can be used as fertilizer. In this study, the SPC and SPI were prepared from the DSF following widely used conventional protocols and P flow in these processes was tracked. In SPC production, ~59% of the total P was retained with SPC and ~34% was in the aqueous waste streams. For SPI process ~24% of total P was retained with SPI and ~59% went in the waste solid residue (~40%) and aqueous streams (~19%). About 80%–89% P removal from the waste aqueous streams was achieved by Ca‐phytate precipitation. This work demonstrated that in the process of SPC and SPI preparation the phosphorus from the waste aqueous streams can be precipitated out to avoid subsequent eutrophication and the waste solid residue with ~40% P can be reused as a P‐fertilizer as other applications of this residue are unspecified. 

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2. Calcium Trimetaphosphate-Loaded Electrospun Poly(Ester Urea) Nanofibers for Periodontal Tissue Engineering

   https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb14070350  

   Toledo, Priscila T.; Anselmi, Caroline; Dal-Fabbro, Renan; Mahmoud, Abdel H.; Abel, Alexandra K.; Becker, Matthew L.; Delbem, Alberto C.; Bottino, Marco C. (July 2023, Journal of Functional Biomaterials)

   The objective of this research was to create and appraise biodegradable polymer-based nanofibers containing distinct concentrations of calcium trimetaphosphate (Ca-TMP) for periodontal tissue engineering. Poly(ester urea) (PEU) (5% w/v) solutions containing Ca-TMP (15%, 30%, 45% w/w) were electrospun into fibrous scaffolds. The fibers were evaluated using SEM, EDS, TGA, FTIR, XRD, and mechanical tests. Degradation rate, swelling ratio, and calcium release were also evaluated. Cell/Ca-TMP and cell/scaffold interaction were assessed using stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHEDs) for cell viability, adhesion, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post-hoc tests were used (α = 0.05). The PEU and PEU/Ca-TMP-based membranes presented fiber diameters at 469 nm and 414–672 nm, respectively. Chemical characterization attested to the Ca-TMP incorporation into the fibers. Adding Ca-TMP led to higher degradation stability and lower dimensional variation than the pure PEU fibers; however, similar mechanical characteristics were observed. Minimal calcium was released after 21 days of incubation in a lipase-enriched solution. Ca-TMP extracts enhanced cell viability and ALP activity, although no differences were found between the scaffold groups. Overall, Ca-TMP was effectively incorporated into the PEU fibers without compromising the morphological properties but did not promote significant cell function. 

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3. A surprisingly gentle approach to cavity containing spherocylindrical microparticles from ordinary polymer dispersions in flow

   https://doi.org/10.1039/d1mh01108a  

   Tripathi, Amit K.; Tsavalas, John G. (October 2021, Materials Horizons)

   null (Ed.)

   Herein, we demonstrate a facile approach to fully transform spherical polymeric microparticles to elongated spherocylinders containing an internal cavity under ambient and mild stirring conditions. Critical to the process is to deform the amorphous and non-crosslinked particles under glassy conditions for an unusually long time; 120 hours for the poly(styrene- co -glycidyl methacrylate) microparticles discussed in greatest detail. Larger particles in the 5 micron and greater range were markedly more susceptible to the shear imposed by stirring the aqueous dispersion. The resulting morphology is robust and kinetically frozen yet reverts to the original spherical shape if annealed above the glass transition temperature with suitable temperature or plasticizer. The volume fraction of the internal void can be modulated by particle composition and process conditions and is irregular in shape we believe as a result of a cavitation event during plastic deformation. 

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4. Self-healing behaviour of furan–maleimide poly(ionic liquid) covalent adaptable networks

   https://doi.org/10.1039/D0PY00016G  

   Lindenmeyer, Katelyn M.; Johnson, R. Daniel; Miller, Kevin M. (January 2020, Polymer Chemistry)

   Poly(ionic liquid) covalently adaptable networks containing thermoreversible furan–maleimide linkages were prepared and characterized for their thermal, mechanical and conductive properties. Self-healing behaviour was initially evaluated using oscillatory rheology where a G ′/ G ′′ crossover temperature of ∼110 °C was observed. Anhydrous conductivities, as determined by dielectric relaxation spectroscopy, were found to be on the order of 10 −8 S cm −1 at 30 °C. Recovery of >70% of the original stress and strain at break was found within 2 hours at 105 °C as determined from tensile testing experiments, with breakage occurring at a new point on the film. Recovery of conductivity was completed utilizing chronoamperometric cycling whereby >75% of the original current was recovered within two hours at 110 °C. 

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5. Self-healing behaviour of furan–maleimide poly(ionic liquid) covalent adaptable networks

   https://doi.org/doi.org/10.1039/D0PY00016G  

   Katelyn M. Lindenmeyer, R. Daniel (February 2020, Polymer chemistry)

   null (Ed.)

   Poly(ionic liquid) covalently adaptable networks containing thermoreversible furan–maleimide linkages were prepared and characterized for their thermal, mechanical and conductive properties. Self-healing behaviour was initially evaluated using oscillatory rheology where a G′/G′′ crossover temperature of ∼110 °C was observed. Anhydrous conductivities, as determined by dielectric relaxation spectroscopy, were found to be on the order of 10−8 S cm−1 at 30 °C. Recovery of >70% of the original stress and strain at break was found within 2 hours at 105 °C as determined from tensile testing experiments, with breakage occurring at a new point on the film. Recovery of conductivity was completed utilizing chronoamperometric cycling whereby >75% of the original current was recovered within two hours at 110 °C. 

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