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Effect of additives on degradation of poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) using ultrasound and microwave irradiation

  • Manisha V. Bagal , Rahul R. Saini , Abdul Rahim I. Shaikh , Saurabh Patil , Ashish V. Mohod EMAIL logo and Dipak V. Pinjari EMAIL logo
Published/Copyright: September 27, 2022
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International Polymer Processing
From the journal International Polymer Processing Volume 38 Issue 1

Abstract

The degradation of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) has been investigated using ultrasonic (US) as well as microwave (MW) irradiation techniques with the approach of process intensification based on different additives, such as Titanium Dioxide (TiO2), Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS), Zinc Oxide (ZnO) and air. The effects of sonication time, initial polymer concentration, and temperature on the extent of reduction in viscosity have been thoroughly investigated using US as well as MW irradiation approaches. Basically, the degradation process has been optimized by utilizing two different ultrasonic reactors in a combined approach of ultrasonic horn and bath. The maximum extent of degradation of PVA was found to be 69.33% using MW irradiation with a required energy of 0.321 g/JL, and 62.47% using US horn with a required energy of 0.054 g/JL when operated at 0.1 g/L of TiO2 catalyst. The combination of US horn and US bath results in same degradation as 0.1 g/L of TiO2 catalyst with US horn. It has also been observed that the maximum degradation of PVA was obtained with a minimum treatment time of 3 min using MW irradiation, whereas the US horn required 40 min. Moreover, a lower extent of PVA degradation was obtained when additives were used, such as surfactants (SLS) and air. As a result, it can be inferred that the MW-assisted approach in the presence of process-intensifying additives/catalysts is the best approach for the degradation of PVA with a minimum energy consumption.

Keywords: microwave irradiation; polymer degradation; PVA; surfactant; ultrasound
Corresponding authors: Ashish V. Mohod, Department of Chemical Engineering, AISSMS College of Engineering, Kennedy Road, Near RTO, Pune 411001, India; and Chemical Engineering Department, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil, E-mail: ; and Dipak V. Pinjari, Chemical Engineering Department, Institute of Chemical Technology, Matunga, Mumbai 400019, India, E-mail:

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to appreciate Management of AISSM Society for providing financial support for the success of this paper.

  1. Author contributions: All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.

  2. Research funding: None declared.

  3. Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding this article.

Appendix

  1. Calculation of the energy required for PVA degradation using US horn (0.1 g/L of TiO2).

Time of treatment = 40 min.

Volume = 200 mL (0.2 L).

Electrical power consumption = 120 W.

Initial molecular weight of PVA = 125,000 g/mol.

After 40 min, percentage molecular weight reduction = 62.47%.

Total amount of molecular weight reduction = 62.47 100 × 125,000 ( g / mole )  = 78,125 g.

Power dissipation per unit volume in J/L =  120 × 40 × 60 0.2 = 1,440,000 J/L.

Energy required for molecular weight reduction = total amount of molecular weight reduction/power dissipated = 78125 1,440,000  = 0.054 g/JL.

  1. Calculation of energy required for PVA degradation using US bath only.

Time of treatment = 40 min.

Volume = 200 mL (0.2 L).

Electrical power consumption = 170 W.

Initial molecular weight of PVA = 125,000 g/mol.

After 40 min, percentage molecular weight reduction = 33.40%.

Total amount of molecular weight reduction = 33.40 100 × 125,000 ( g / mol )  = 41,750 g.

Power dissipation per unit volume in J/L =  170 × 40 × 60 0.2 = 1,530,000 J/L.

Energy required for molecular weight reduction = total amount of molecular weight reduction/power dissipated =  41,750 1,530,000  = 0.027 g/JL.

  1. Calculation of energy required for PVA degradation using MW irradiation (0.1 g/L of TiO2).

Time of treatment = 3 min.

Volume = 200 mL (0.2 L).

Electrical power consumption = 300 W.

Initial molecular weight of PVA = 125,000 g/mol.

After 40 min, percentage molecular weight reduction = 69.33%.

Total amount of molecular weight reduction = 69.8 100 × 125,000 ( g / mol )  = 86,625 g.

Power dissipation per unit volume in J/L =  300 × 3 × 60 0.2 = 2,70,000 J/L.

Energy required for molecular weight reduction = total amount of molecular weight reduction/power dissipated =  86625 2,70,000  = 0.321 g/JL.

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Received: 2022-05-06
Accepted: 2022-08-21
Published Online: 2022-09-27
Published in Print: 2023-03-28

© 2022 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

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  2. Research Articles
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https://doi.org/10.1515/ipp-2022-4232
Keywords for this article
microwave irradiation; polymer degradation; PVA; surfactant; ultrasound

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Research Articles
  3. In-situ leakage behavior of polymer-metal hybrids under mechanical load
  4. Multi-objective optimization of injection molding process parameters based on BO-RFR and NSGAⅡ methods
  5. Effect of processing conditions on the rheological and mechanical properties of composites based on a PBS matrix and enzymatically treated date palm fibers
  6. Effect of additives on degradation of poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) using ultrasound and microwave irradiation
  7. Visualization analysis of temperature distribution in the cavity of conventional PPS and high-thermal-conductivity PPS during the filling stage of injection molding
  8. Conveyor belt modelling in extrusion flow simulation
  9. Analysis and optimization of FFF process parameters to enhance the mechanical properties of 3D printed PLA products
  10. Investigation of the interface behavior of a viscous fluid under free surface shear flow using an eccentric transparent Couette cell
  11. Effect of stacking sequence on mechanical, water absorption, and biodegradable properties of novel hybrid composites for structural applications
  12. Comparison of fibre reorientation of short-and long-fibre reinforced polypropylene by injection molding with a rotating mold core
  13. The impact of accelerated aging on the mechanical and thermal properties and VOC emission of polypropylene composites reinforced with glass fibers
  14. Three-dimensional simulation of vortex growth within entry flow of a polymer melt
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