1
|
Zhou Y, Tian Y, Zhang M. Technical development and application of supercritical CO 2 foaming technology in PCL foam production. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6825. [PMID: 38514733 PMCID: PMC10958027 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57545-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Polycaprolactone (PCL) has the advantages of good biocompatibility, appropriate biodegradability, non-toxicity, flexibility, and processability. As a result, PCL-based foams can successfully work in bone tissue engineering, medical patches, drug delivery, reinforcing materials, and other applications. A promising technology for producing PCL foam products is supercritical CO2 (ScCO2) foaming technology, which avoids using organic solvents, is green, and has low foaming agent costs. However, due to the limitations of ScCO2 foaming technology, it is no longer possible to use this technology alone to meet current production requirements. Therefore, ScCO2 foaming technology must combine with other technologies to develop PCL foam products with better performance and matching requirements. This paper systematically reviews the technological development of ScCO2 foaming in producing PCL foams. The molding process of ScCO2 foaming and the conventional preparation process of PCL foam products are discussed comprehensively, including the preparation process, advantages, and disadvantages, challenges faced, etc. Six combined technologies for ScCO2 foaming in the production of PCL foams and the applications of PCL foams are presented. Finally, the future remaining research for producing PCL foams by ScCO2 foaming is analyzed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yujin Zhou
- College of Physical Education, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan, 430079, China
- College of Science, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430081, China
| | - Yingrui Tian
- School of Materials and Metallurgy, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430081, China
| | - Mengdong Zhang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Automotive Components & Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Automotive Components Technology, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, 430070, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Milovanovic S, Lukic I, Horvat G, Novak Z, Frerich S, Petermann M, García-González CA. Green Processing of Neat Poly(lactic acid) Using Carbon Dioxide under Elevated Pressure for Preparation of Advanced Materials: A Review (2012-2022). Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:polym15040860. [PMID: 36850144 PMCID: PMC9960451 DOI: 10.3390/polym15040860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
This review provides a concise overview of up-to-date developments in the processing of neat poly(lactic acid) (PLA), improvement in its properties, and preparation of advanced materials using a green medium (CO2 under elevated pressure). Pressurized CO2 in the dense and supercritical state is a superior alternative medium to organic solvents, as it is easily available, fully recyclable, has easily tunable properties, and can be completely removed from the final material without post-processing steps. This review summarizes the state of the art on PLA drying, impregnation, foaming, and particle generation by the employment of dense and supercritical CO2 for the development of new materials. An analysis of the effect of processing methods on the final material properties was focused on neat PLA and PLA with an addition of natural bioactive components. It was demonstrated that CO2-assisted processes enable the control of PLA properties, reduce operating times, and require less energy compared to conventional ones. The described environmentally friendly processing techniques and the versatility of PLA were employed for the preparation of foams, aerogels, scaffolds, microparticles, and nanoparticles, as well as bioactive materials. These PLA-based materials can find application in tissue engineering, drug delivery, active food packaging, compostable packaging, wastewater treatment, or thermal insulation, among others.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stoja Milovanovic
- Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, Karnegijeva 4, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
- Łukasiewicz Research Network—New Chemical Syntheses Institute, Al. Tysiąclecia Państwa Polskiego 13a, 24-110 Puławy, Poland
- Correspondence: (S.M.); (I.L.)
| | - Ivana Lukic
- Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, Karnegijeva 4, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
- Correspondence: (S.M.); (I.L.)
| | - Gabrijela Horvat
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Maribor, Smetanova 17, SI-2000 Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Zoran Novak
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Maribor, Smetanova 17, SI-2000 Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Sulamith Frerich
- Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Thermo and Fluid Dynamics, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, 44801 Bochum, Germany
| | - Marcus Petermann
- Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Thermo and Fluid Dynamics, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, 44801 Bochum, Germany
| | - Carlos A. García-González
- I+D Farma Group (GI-1645), Department of Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, iMATUS and Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, E-15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zhou Y, Tian Y, Peng X. Applications and Challenges of Supercritical Foaming Technology. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:polym15020402. [PMID: 36679284 PMCID: PMC9864728 DOI: 10.3390/polym15020402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
With economic development, environmental problems are becoming more and more prominent, and achieving green chemistry is an urgent task nowadays, which creates an opportunity for the development of supercritical foaming technology. The foaming agents used in supercritical foaming technology are usually supercritical carbon dioxide (ScCO2) and supercritical nitrogen (ScN2), both of which are used without environmental burden. This technology can reduce the environmental impact of polymer foam production. Although supercritical foaming technology is already in production in some fields, it has not been applied on a large scale. Here, we present a detailed analysis of the types of foaming agents currently used in supercritical foaming technology and their applications in various fields, summarizing the technological improvements that have been made to the technology. However, we have found that today's supercritical technologies still need to address some additional challenges to achieve large-scale production.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yujin Zhou
- College of Physical Education, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan 430079, China
- College of Science, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China
| | - Yingrui Tian
- School of Materials and Metallurgy, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China
| | - Xiaowei Peng
- College of Physical Education, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan 430079, China
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Milovanovic S, Pajnik J, Lukic I. Tailoring of advanced poly(lactic acid)‐based materials: A review. J Appl Polym Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/app.51839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Stoja Milovanovic
- University of Belgrade Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy Belgrade Serbia
- New Chemical Syntheses Institute Łukasiewicz Research Network Puławy Poland
| | - Jelena Pajnik
- University of Belgrade Innovation Center of the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy Belgrade Serbia
| | - Ivana Lukic
- University of Belgrade Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy Belgrade Serbia
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Supercritical CO 2 impregnation of PLA/PCL films with natural substances for bacterial growth control in food packaging. Food Res Int 2018; 107:486-495. [PMID: 29580511 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2018.02.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2017] [Revised: 02/03/2018] [Accepted: 02/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Biodegradable polymers with antibacterial properties are highly desirable materials for active food packaging applications. Thymol, a dietary monoterpene phenol with a strong antibacterial activity is abundant in plants belonging to the genus Thymus. This study presents two approaches for supercritical CO2 impregnation of poly(lactic acid)(PLA)/poly(ε-caprolactone)(PCL) blended films to induce antibacterial properties of the material: (i) a batch impregnation process for loading pure thymol, and (ii) an integrated supercritical extraction-impregnation process for isolation of thyme extract and its incorporation into the films, operated in both batch or semi-continuous modes with supercritical solution circulation. The PCL content in films, impregnation time and CO2 flow regime were varied to maximize loading of the films with thymol or thyme extract with preserving films' structure and thermal stability. Representative film samples impregnated with thymol and thyme extract were tested against Gram (-) (Escherichia coli) and Gram(+) (Bacillus subtilis) model strains, by measuring their metabolic activity and re-cultivation after exposure to the films. The film containing thymol (35.8 wt%) showed a strong antibacterial activity leading to a total reduction of bacterial cell viability. Proposed processes enable fast, controlled and organic solvent-free fabrication of the PLA/PCL films containing natural antibacterial substances at moderately low temperature, with a compact structure and a good thermal stability, for potential use as active food packaging materials.
Collapse
|