Search results for: ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION
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Thermoplastic polyurethanes with glycolysate intermediates from polyurethane waste recycling
PublicationThe polyol is a major component in polyurethane formulations and therefore introducing to the formulation recycled polyol (obtained during decomposition process) allows decreasing the usage of pure petrochemical components. In this work, thermoplastic polyurethanes were prepared using various mixtures of a petrochemical macrodiol poly(ethylene-butylene adipate)diol (PEBA) and a recycled glycolysate intermediate, called glycolysate...
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Degradation of polyurethanes in sea water
PublicationOceniono degradowalność różnych poliuretanów w wodzie morskiej Bałtyku. Porównano te dane z wynikami stopnia degradacji poliuretanów w wodzie morskiej z dodatkiem azydku sosowego. Ocenę stopnia degradacji przeprowadzano na podstawie pomiarów zmian masy, właściwości mechanicznych i morfologii przed i po procesie degradacji. Wykazano, że różna podatność na degradację poliuretanów w wodzie morskiej związana jest z ich odmiennym stopniem...
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Investigation of volatile low molecular weight compounds formed during continuous reclaiming of ground tire rubber
PublicationGround tire rubber was thermo-mechanically reclaimed at different temperature conditions (80, 120, 160 °C) using a co-rotating twin screw extruder. The progress of ground tire rubber reclaiming was evaluated with specific mechanical energy, sol fraction and thermogravimetric analysis. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including volatile sulfur compounds (VCSs) released from ground tire rubber and ground tire rubber after reclaiming...
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Spatial variability of the hydrochemistry of shallow groundwaters and surface waters of the Rensdyrbekken: A case study of a permafrost catchment in Bellsund (SW Spitsbergen, Svalbard)
PublicationProgressive climate change may have unpredictable consequences for the Arctic environment. Permafrost catchments off the west coast of Svalbard, described as “thin” and “warm,” are particularly sensitive to climate change. The interdisciplinary research on the hydrochemical response of surface and underground water functioning within a small permafrost catchment area focused on the determination of the impact of meteorological...
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Reemission of inorganic pollution from permafrost? A freshwater hydrochemistry study in the lower Kolyma basin (North-East Siberia)
PublicationPermafrost regions are under particular pressure from climate change resulting in widespread landscape changes, which impact also freshwater chemistry. We investi- gated a snapshot of hydrochemistry in various freshwater environments in the lower Kolyma river basin (North-East Siberia, continuous permafrost zone) to explore the mobility of metals, metalloids and non-metals resulting from permafrost thaw. Partic- ular attention...
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Characterization of volatile compounds, structural, thermal and physico-mechanical properties of cross-linked polyethylene foams degraded thermo-mechanically at variable times
PublicationWaste cross-linked polyethylene foam (wXLPE) was thermo-mechanically degraded at variable time using internal batch mixer. The progress of wXLPE degradation has been investigated by using a simultaneous thermogravimetric/differential scanning calorimetry analyzer coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, swelling measurements, tensile tests and scanning electron microscopy. Volatile organic compounds generated during...
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Evaluation of structural change during fast transformation process of cross-linked NR into liquid NR by light pyrolysis
PublicationThe presence of cross-linked networks in rubber creates a tremendous problem for recycling and reusing of waste rubber. Fast transformation of cross-linked natural rubber (NR) into liquid natural rubber was carried out by light pyrolysis in temperature range from 240 to 300 °C in variable time (in range: 1–30 min). The transformation efficiency was evaluated by measuring the sol fraction and the cross-link density of the gel fraction....
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Reactive extrusion of biodegradable aliphatic polyesters in the presence of free-radical-initiators: A review
PublicationNowadays, growing attention is being paid to the environment and sustainability, what fully justified research works focused on modification of biodegradable polymers and their composites. In this field of research reactive extrusion seems to be the most promising approach, which fits well to sustainable development strategy. In In the present work, the in-situ modification of biodegradable aliphatic polyesters and the compatibilization...
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Assessment of the devulcanization process of EPDM waste from roofing systems by combined thermomechanical/microwave procedures
PublicationEthylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM) is a elastomer widely used in common industrial applications. EPDM can be shaped into sheets and employed as isolating material for roofing systems. In this study, scraps of EPDM from commercial, industrial and residential roofing systems were treated by combined thermo-mechanical and microwave devulcanization processes including peroxide of benzoyl (BPO). The devulcanized EPDM (Dev-EPDM)...
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Thermal degradation of polylactic acid (PLA)/polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) blends: A systematic review
PublicationPolylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) are two biopolyesters obtained from renewable resources like corn or sugar under bacterial fermentation. PLA is the most widely used biopolymer in diverse applications. Addition of PHB to PLA can improves the crystallinity of PLA, and thereby its mechanical strength. However, both PLA and PHB suffer from poor thermal stability, which limits their potential industrial application....
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The influence of amorphous macrodiol, diisocyanate type and l-ascorbic acid modifier on chemical structure, morphology and degradation behavior of polyurethanes for tissue scaffolds fabrication
PublicationStudies described in this work were related to the bulk synthesis and characterization of polyurethanes (PURs) obtained with the use of cyclic 4,4′-methylene bis(cyclohexyl isocyanate) (HMDI) or linear 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), amorphous α,ω-dihydroxy(ethylene-butylene adipate) macrodiol (PEBA), 1,4-butandiol (BDO) chain extender and dibutyltin dilaurate (DBTDL) catalyst. Obtained PURs were modified with l-ascorbic...
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Optimization of carbamazepine photodegradation on defective TiO2-based magnetic photocatalyst
PublicationIn this work, carbamazepine (CBZ) degradation over defective Fe3O4@SiO2/d-TiO2/Pt photocatalyst was studied. Within the titania structure, Ti vacancies and Pt nanoparticles were introduced to enhance the photocatalyst’s light absorption and influence charge carriers’ mobility. For the carbamazepine degradation, process parameters, e.g., temperature, flux intensity, photocatalyst loading, aeration, pH, and addition of H2O2, were optimized...
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Wojciech Litwin dr hab. inż.
People1992÷1996 - study on Mechanical Department at Gdansk University of Technology1996 – employed in the Faculty of Ocean Engineering and Ship Technology at the Gdansk University of Technology2004 – PhD2014 – habilitation2016 - vice dean for science at Faculty of Ocean Engineering2020 - dean of the Faculty of Ocean Engineering2021 - head of Institute of Naval Architecture He participated in a number of designing and research programs...
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Photocatalytic activity of nitrogen doped TiO2 nanotubes prepared by anodic oxidation: The effect of applied voltage, anodization time and amount of nitrogen dopant
PublicationNitrogen doped TiO2 nanotube arrays were prepared by anodizing Ti foils in an organic electrolyte containing specified amounts of urea as nitrogen precursor. The photocatalytic activity of the samples was evaluated by analyzing the degradation kinetics of phenol in water. The influence of tubes’ length, tubes’ surface morphology and amount of nitrogen in the TiO2 lattice on hydroxyl radical formation efficiency, photocatalytic...
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Carbon nitride exfoliation for photocatalysis and photocatalytic ozonation over emerging contaminants abatement
PublicationThe production of graphitic carbon nitride was studied with the addition of a following exfoliation step using ultrasounds, at different times. The treatment produced catalysts with much higher surface areas, from 2.18 m2 g 1 with no treatment to 28.34 m2 g 1 after 36 h of exfoliation. During exfoliation, melem was also produced, and may further enhance the photoluminescence and photocatalytic properties. The photocatalytic reaction...
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Modeling and MANOVA studies on toxicity and endocrine potential of packaging materials exposed to different extraction schemes
PublicationThe stability of the linings of packaging that is in contact with the goods stored has been of major concern during decades of the development of packaging materials. In this work, an attempt was undertaken to assess the applicability of using two bioassays (Microtox® and XenoScreen YES/YAS) in estimating the stability of packaging (cans, caps, multilayer material) and the impact of their degradation on the toxicity of some simulated media....
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Numerical Modelling of Connections Between Stones in Foundations of Historical Buildings
PublicationThe aim of this paper is to analyse the behaviour of old building foundations composed of stones (the main load-bearing elements) and mortar, based on numerical analysis. Some basic aspects of historical foundations are briefly discussed, with an emphasis on their development, techniques, and material. The behaviour of a foundation subjected to the loads transmitted from the upper parts of the structure is described...
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Screen-printed Sn-doped TiO2 nanoparticles for photocatalytic dye removal from wastewater: A technological perspective
PublicationTiO2 is widely used as a photocatalyst with a wide band gap, which limited its application. Ion doping and formulating a high-quality screen-printing paste enhance its features. However, the printability of objects for advanced application seems essential nowadays. In this research, the Sn-doped TiO2 nanoparticles were prepared through a sol-gel method followed by calcination at various temperatures of 450 °C, 550 °C, 650 °C, 750...
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The ILs-assisted electrochemical synthesis of TiO2 nanotubes: The effect of ionic liquids on morphology and photoactivity
PublicationFacile and environmentally benign one-step titanium anodization method for TiO2 nanotubes (NTs) formation in a presence of ionic liquids (ILs) was proposed. Influence of the IL structure and its content in ethylene glycol electrolyte on morphology, surface properties and photoactivity of the TiO2 NTs was investigated. Possible interactions between IL and TiO2 NTs as well as the mechanism of NTs formation during anodic oxidation...
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The influence of humic substances in treated sewage on the quality of surface waters
PublicationAt present the evaluation of WWTP effectiveness is based upon organic matter and nutrients removal. Recently it was found out that sewage treatment leads to formation of resistant to biochemical degradation organic compounds, similar to humic acids. The humic acids formed during sewage treatment process play diversified functions when discharged to surface waters - for instance they can act as carriers of hydrophobic organic pollutants...
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Effects of beach wrack on the fate of mercury at the land-sea interface – A preliminary study
PublicationSince the 1970s, the amount of aquatic plants and algae debris, called beach wrack (BW), has increased along the shores of industrialised regions. The strong ability of primary producers to accumulate pollutants can potentially result in their deposition on the beach along with the BW. Despite that, the fate and impact of such pollutants on sandy beach ecosystems have not been investigated so far. This study examines the fate...
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Exploring synergistic effects in physical-chemical activation of Acorus calamus for water treatment solutions
PublicationThe research proposed a novel method of obtaining sorption material from readily available Acorus calamus bio- mass through a combination of physical and chemical activation processes. The material with the highest specific surface area (1652 m2 g−1) was obtained by physical activation with CO2, followed by chemical activation with KOH. Reversing the order of activation methods resulted in a lower specific surface area (1014 m2...
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Rare earth ions doped K 2 Ta 2 O 6 photocatalysts with enhanced UV–vis light activity
PublicationNew rare earth-doped K2Ta2O6 photocatalysts were successfully synthesized by hydrothermal method. The effect of dopant type (Y,Yb,Ho,Pr,Er) and amount of rare earth precursor (2,4,8 and 10 mol%) on the physicochemical and photocatalytic properties of RE-K2Ta2O6 have been investigated. All as-prepared materials were characterized by UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller specific surface area measurement,...
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Visible-light-driven lanthanide-organic-frameworks modified TiO2 photocatalysts utilizing up-conversion effect
PublicationHighly efficient and quite stable composite with core-shell-like architecture reported herein, responds to the challenge of sunlight-driven photocatalysts. The Ln(ndc)/TiO2 photocatalytic system comprises active lanthanide-carboxylate coordination networks (Nd, Er, Ho, and Tm as metal ions, and 2,6-naphthalene dicar-boxylic acid as the organic linker) and inert titanium dioxide and allow to convert incompatible visible radiation...
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The effect of Ag, Au, Pt, and Pd on the surface properties, photocatalytic activity and toxicity of multicomponent TiO2-based nanomaterials
PublicationMulticomponent TiO2-based nanomaterials (MC-NMs) show better physicochemical properties than their individual components or bulk materials. However, the same unique properties that offer innovative applications might also pose unknown risks to human health and the environment. In this context, TiO2- based nanomaterials with a mixture of noble metal precursors (Ag, Au, Pt, and Pd) for large-scale technological applications in air...
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Visible light activity of rare earth metal doped (Er3+, Yb3+ or Er3+/Yb3+) titania photocatalysts
PublicationA series of Er3+-TiO2, Yb3+-TiO2 and Er3+/Yb3+-TiO2 photocatalysts were obtained via sol-gel method, using rare earth metal (RE) precursor ranging from 0.25 to 10 mol%. The experiments demonstrated that phenol in aqueous solutions was successfully degraded under visible light (> 450 nm) using RE3+-TiO2. The as-prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron emission spectroscopy (XPS), UV-Vis...
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The effect of calcination temperature on structure and photocatalytic properties of Au/Pd nanoparticles supported on TiO2
PublicationBimetallic nanoparticles, composed of two different metal elements, can exhibit peculiar electronic, optical, and catalytic or photocatalytic properties that are absent in the corresponding monometallic nanoparticles. We show the effect of calcination temperature (from 350 to 700°C) on the structure and the photocatalytic properties of Au/Pd-modified TiO2. The composition of the bimetallic Au/Pd nanoparticles in relation to their...
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A novel (Ti/Ce)UiO-X MOFs@TiO2 heterojunction for enhanced photocatalytic performance: Boosting via Ce4+/Ce3+ and Ti4+/Ti3+ redox mediators
PublicationTitanium-substituted cerium-oxo-based UiO MOFs with terephthalate linkers modified by various groups (–Br, –NH2, –NO2) or their derivatives (N-heterocyclic or biphenyl groups) were combined with titanium dioxide in a multistep route to obtain a core-shell-like architecture. DFT simulations showed that Ce- and bimetallic Ti/Ce- MOFs exhibited different charge compensation. Extended characterization revealed the formation of heterojunctions between...
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The effect of gold shape and size on the properties and visiblelight-induced photoactivity of Au-TiO2
PublicationtIn the present investigation, TiO2modified with a different geometry and size of gold particles, suchas nanospheres (NSPs), nanostars (NSTs) and nanorods (NRs), were prepared by the immobilizationmethod. The effect of the gold shape, size and TiO2matrix type (TiO2microspheres or rutile TIO-6 TiO2)were systematically investigated. The obtained photocatalysts were thoroughly characterized by UV–visdiffuse-reflectance spectroscopy...
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Assessment of toxic and endocrine potential of substances migrating from selected toys and baby products
PublicationAnalysis of literature data shows that there is limited information about the harmful biological effects of mixture of compounds from the EDC group that are released from the surface of toys and objects intended for children and infants. One of the tools that can be used to obtain such information is appropriate bioanalytical tests. The aim of this research involved determining whether tests that use living organisms as an active...
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The ILs-assisted solvothermal synthesis of TiO2 spheres: the effect of ionic liquids on morphology and photoactivity of TiO2
PublicationEffect of the ionic liquid (IL) structure (chain length in the imidazolium cation) on morphology and photoactivity of TiO2 particles has been systematically investigated. The TiO2 microspheres have been successfully synthesized via facile solvothermal method assisted by ionic liquids, such as 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride [BMIM][Cl] and 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride [DMIM][Cl] using tetra-tert-butyl orthotitanate...
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Zintegrowane sterowanie systemami zaopatrzenia w wodę pitną
PublicationOptymalne ekonomicznie zaspokojenie w miastach bieżącego zapotrzebowania na wodę pitną tak, aby spełnione były wymagania jakości dostaw oraz jakości samej wody jest złożonym zadaniem. Zarówno aspekty aplikacyjne jak i teoretyczne tego problemu są przedmiotem intensywnych prac prowadzanych w sektorach naukowych i przemysłowych na całym świecie. Prace te finansowane są przez przemysł, komitety naukowe oraz Programy Ramowe Unii Europejskiej....
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Jacek Namieśnik prof. dr hab. inż.
PeopleScientific discipline: chemistryRector in 2016-2019 He was born on 10 December, 1949 in Mogilno. He graduated in 1972 at the Faculty of Chemistry at Gdańsk University of Technology, obtaining a master's degree in chemical engineering. In 1972 he started working at Gdańsk University of Technology, where in 1978 he defended his doctoral thesis and in 1985 he completed his habilitation. He was appointed an associate professor in 1991...