Nanocomposite thin films of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) were produced incorporating small amounts (0.2 to 1 wt%) of graphene oxide (GO) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNP). The films were prepared by solvent‐casting. Mechanical properties were evaluated for plasticized (by residual solvent) and unplasticized films. Plasticized nanocomposite films presented yield strength and Young's modulus about 100% higher than those of pristine PLA. For unplasticized films improvements in tensile strength and Young's modulus were about 15 and 85%, respectively. For both film types, a maximum in mechanical performance was identified for about 0.4 wt% loadings of the two filler materials tested. Permeabilities towards oxygen and nitrogen decreased, respectively, three‐ and fourfold in films loaded with both GO or GNP. The glass transition temperature showed maximum increases, in relation to unloaded PLA films, of 5 °C for 0.4 wt% GO and 7 °C for 0.4 wt% GNP, coinciding with the observed maxima in mechanical properties. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry

Carbon dioxide (CO 2) removal from anaesthetic circuits is currently performed by soda-lime canisters. However, this procedure has many drawbacks, being the most important its relation with post operative cognitive decline and death in the first year after surgery. In this paper an alternative technology is proposed based on a self-regenerative unit using hollow fiber membrane contactors and amino acid salts for gas-liquid absorption of CO 2. This technology, is expected to overcome all the drawbacks associated with soda-lime units. A preliminary experiment was evaluated under real conditions for CO 2 removal, using hydroxide solutions. The system performed similarly to soda-lime canisters, being able to remove CO 2 from 5 % to 0.5 % (in nitrogen) during an hour, from a 10 L/min gas stream.