Synthesis by solid route and physicochemical characterizations of blends of calcium orthophosphate powders and mesoporous silicon particles.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the synthesis of economic calcium phosphate powders from recycled oyster shells, using a ball milling method. The oyster shell powder and a calcium pyrophosphate powder were used as starting materials and ball milled, then heat treated at 1,050°C for 5 h to produce calcium phosphate powders through a solid-state reaction. Electrochemically synthesized mesoporous silicon microparticles were then added to the prepared phosphate powders by mechanical mixer. The final powders were characterized using X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy to analyze their chemical composition and determine the most suitable process conditions. The biocompatibility of the produced powders was also tested in vitro using murine cells and the results showed good biocompatibility.

Devulcanization of natural rubber industry waste in supercritical carbon dioxide combined with diphenyl disulfide.

The elimination of rubber wastes without affecting the environment is one of the most important challenges of the 21st century waste management. Accordingly, the present work is focused on the recycling of natural rubber (NR) industry waste by means of devulcanization in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) atmosphere. With that aim, a novel device allowing to perform rubber devulcanization was developed. It consists of a triaxial compression reactor integrated into a dynamic hydraulic universal testing machine with a heating chamber. NR industry waste was devulcanized in the mentioned device at different temperatures, in scCO2 by using diphenyl disulfide (DD) as devulcanizing reagent. The devulcanization degree and quality of the treated materials were evaluated by the swelling test combined with the Horikx theory. It was appeared that a successful devulcanization, with almost no degradation, was obtained, and the devulcanization degree reached maximum value of ~90%. Thermogravimetric tests and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images strengthened these results. Finally, it was concluded that the developed device is appropriate to perform rubber recycling, which contributes to the progress in the environmental protection.