Heterogeneous catalysts are widely used in basic research and in the petrochemical industry due to their effectiveness. In modern times, interest in this type of catalyst and, in particular, in mineral oxides is associated with the technological design of the process, namely: The absence of waste emissions, and the possibility of regeneration and reuse of the catalyst, which meets the criteria of green chemistry. For this reason, the preparation of non-toxic adipate plasticizers is expediently carried out under conditions of heterogeneous catalysis. Zinc oxide was chosen for this purpose, and as initial reagents: Adipic acid, butoxyethanol, and phenoxyethanol. For synthesized butoxyethylphenoxyethyl adipate by thermogravimetry on a TGA-DSC-combined thermal analysis instrument and differential scanning calorimetry on a DSC-1 instrument («Mettler Toledo»), the following properties were studied: Thermal stability, melting and crystallization temperatures, polymer compatibility. An analysis of the data in comparison with di-2-ethylhexylphthalate confirmed the possibility of using it as a plasticizing additive in PVC compositions. The zinc compound obtained in situ as part of the developed plasticizing composition contributes to increasing the color and thermal stability of the obtained PVC compositions.
The growing anthropogenic load on the lithosphere is currently characterized by the alienation of huge areas for solid domestic waste. One of the most common pollutants is traditional plastics with a degradation period of over 100 years. In connection with the increasing environmental requirements, polymer materials, along with a high set of technological and operational parameters, must be environmentally friendly and biodegradable. The development of polymer composite materials that undergo accelerated physicochemical and biological changes in the natural environment due to the introduction of biodegradable additives is one of the potential methods for processing synthetic materials and ensures the release of significant areas of fertile soils and lands from the steadily increasing amount of polymer waste. The use of adipic acid esters as PVC plasticizers contributes to the production of biodegradable composites. The article describes a method for obtaining new esters of adipic acid, presents the results of studying their properties for practical use in PVC composites, and assesses the economic efficiency of preventing damage to the environment when using them.
A significant increase in the production of plastic materials and the expansion of their areas of application contributed to the accumulation of a large amount of waste of polymeric materials. Most of the polymer composition is made up of plasticizers. Phthalate plasticizers have been recognized as potentially hazardous to humans and the environment due to the long period of their biodegradation and the formation of persistent toxic metabolites. It is known that the industrial plasticizer dioctyl adipate is characterized by reduced toxicity and a short biodegradation period. The paper describes the synthesis of a number of new asymmetric esters based on adipic acid and ethoxylated butanol by azeotropic esterification. The receipt of the products was confirmed by IR spectra. The physicochemical properties of the synthesized compounds were investigated. The glass transition temperatures of PVC composites plasticized with alkyl butoxyethyl adipates were determined using DSC analysis. The ecological safety of esters was assessed by the phytotesting method. Samples of adipates were tested for fungal resistance, and the process of their biodegradation in soil was also studied. It is shown that the synthesized esters have good plasticizing properties and are environmentally safe. When utilized under natural conditions, they can serve as a potential source of carbon for soil microorganisms and do not form stable toxic metabolites; therefore, they are not able to accumulate in nature; when the plasticizers under study are disposed of in the soil, toxic substances do not enter.
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