Archives for July 2024

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Does the type of functional groups in cellulose ethers affect the properties and functionalization of zeolite materials?

Jakub Matusiak and Wojciech Franus from MSAGroup, in collaboration with Elżbieta Grządka and Urszula Maciołek (Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin) as well as Trung-Anh Le (University of Helsinki) and Tan-Phat Huynh (Åbo Akademi University), have addressed this complex question in the latest article, "The interactions between zeolite and two cellulose derivatives: A comprehensive analysis of liquid and solid phase properties," published in the leading journal Carbohydrate Polymers (IF=10.7). The use of cationic and anionic cellulose allowed for the determination of the interactions between polymer macromolecules and zeolite particles. It was observed that the interaction mechanism of these substances is different, and the colloidal and thermal stability of such systems depends on the type and concentration of the selected polymer. The obtained materials, based on zeolite synthesized from an aqueous waste solution after the production of synthetic zeolites from fly ash and biodegradable cellulose ethers, perfectly align with the principles of green chemistry and a circular economy. In the future, these materials may address the needs of the chemical, pharmaceutical, and modern construction industries.

The full text of the article can be found here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2024.122456

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Gold medal and honorable mention for our invention at the Innowings 2024 Expo

The invention of our MSAGroup team entitled "Technology for production of lightweight aggregates using microwave radiation" whose authors are: Franus Małgorzata, Wojciech Franus, Agnieszka Woszuk, Rafał Panek (Lublin University of Technology) and Tomasz Bień (BIKO-SERWIS), won a gold medal at the INNOWINGS 2024 International Exhibition of Inventions (Lublin, 6-7.06.2024). In addition, the Team also received a distinction awarded by the Council of the Lublin District, Polish Chamber of Patent Attorneys for scientific and technical achievements and contributions to the development of technology. The granting of these awards is evidence of effective cooperation between science and industry.

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A new approach to inhibiting the bitumen binders aging process.

The MSAGroup members including Szymon Malinowski, Agneszka Woszuk and Wojciech Franus in the publication "Anti-aging and rheological performance of bitumen modified with polyaniline nanofibers" presented a novel approach to inhibit the aging processes of bitumen binders, which is one of the main factors negatively affecting the performance of road pavements. The recent paper published in the prestigious international journal Construction and Building Materials (IF=7.40) proves that the application of polyaniline nanofibers (PANI_NFs) for bitumen modification enables inhibition of changes in its physical, chemical and rheological properties occurring due to the aging process. The results presented in the paper are very important for both the road construction sector and society as a whole. The introduction of the developed solution into commercial practice will allow the production of more durable road surfaces. This will have a positive impact on the environment by reducing CO2 emissions into the atmosphere, which is crucial for sustainable development in terms of the latest European Union regulations. For more details, please read: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2024.136810. This research was funded by National Centre for Research and Development of Poland grant number INNOGLOBO/I/95/NZeolOx/2022.