α‐Cellulose extracted from jute fiber was grafted with oligo( d‐lactic acid) (ODLA) via a graft polycondensation reaction in the presence of para‐toluene sulfonic acid and potassium persulfate in toluene at 130 °C for 9 h under 380 mmHg. ODLA was synthesized by the ring‐opening polymerization of d‐lactides in the presence of stannous octoate (0.03 wt % lactide) and d‐lactic acid at 140 °C for 10 h. Composites of poly( l‐lactic acid) (PLLA) with the ODLA‐grafted α‐cellulose were prepared by the solution‐mixing and film‐casting methods. The grafting of ODLA onto α‐cellulose was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The analysis of the composites was performed with FTIR spectroscopy, SEM, wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis. The distribution of the grafted α‐cellulose in the composites was uniform and showed better compatibility with PLLA through intermolecular hydrogen bonding. Only homocrystalline structures of PLLA were present in the composites, and the thermal stability increased with increasing percentage of grafted α‐cellulose. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47424.

160 GSM Single Jersey cotton knitted fabric was dyed with conventional Remazol reactive dye and latest Avitera reactive dye (Huntsman). Detailed comparison of the process parameters and fastness properties of these dyed fabrics were studied. Investigation exposed that Avitera delivered better dyeing performance including fastness to washing, perspiration, rubbing than conventionally dyed fabrics. Concerning process parameters Avitera dye required less soda, salt and no addition of other auxiliaries. Also this new Avitera reactive dye is more eco-friendly, cost effective and energy saving than conventional Remazol reactive dye. CMC DE and Da* color deviation were significantly higher between the dyed samples. Again K/S value of Avitera dyed sample was superior to that of Remazol dyed samples as because of enhanced dye uptake. Sequentially reflectance and relative indicators of the latest reactive dyed samples were also experimented.

In this study, noble metal-free Co(OH)F and CoP nanorod electrocatalysts were prepared and explored as bifunctional oxygen electrodes (BOE) in anion exchange membrane-unitized regenerative fuel cells (AEM-URFCs). A CoP nanorod was synthesized from Co(OH)F via the hydrothermal treatment of cobalt nitrate, ammonium fluoride, and urea, followed by phosphorization. The crystal structures, surface morphologies, pore distributions, and elemental statuses of the obtained catalysts were analyzed to identify the changes caused by the incorporation of fluorine and phosphorus. The presence of F and P was confirmed through EDS and XPS analyses, respectively. Using these catalysts, the AEM-based URFCs were operated with hydrogen and oxygen in the fuel cell mode and pure water in the electrolysis mode. In addition, the electrocatalytic activities of the catalysts were evaluated using cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. In the AEM-URFC test, the CoP catalyst in the BOE delivered the best performance in the fuel cell mode (105 mA cm−2 at 0.3 V), and Co(OH)F was suitable for the water electrolyzer mode (30 mA cm−2 at 2.0 V). CoP and Co(OH)F exhibited higher round trip efficiency (RTE) and power densities than the conventional Co3O4 catalyst.

Oligo(L-lactic acid) (OLLA) was synthesized by ring opening polymerization of L-lactides using stannous octoate (0.03 wt% of lactide). While this served as the initiator, L-lactic acids were the co-initiators at 140 °C for 10 h, wherein L-lactic acids were prepared by hydrolytic degradation of L-lactides at 100 °C for 1 h. The molecular weight or degree of polymerization was controlled with monomer/co-initiator ratio (mol/mol). α-cellulose and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) were extracted from jute fiber by subsequent treatment with sodium chlorite (Na2ClO2), NaOH and H2SO4. Grafting of OLLA onto α-cellulose and MCC in toluene was carried out using para-toluene sulphonic acid as a catalyst and potassium persulphate (KPS) as an initiator at 130 °C under 380 mm (Hg) pressure for 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 h. New properties of α-cellulose and MCC were observed due to the successful grafting onto α-cellulose and MCC. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were conducted in order to confirm grafting of OLLA onto cellulose and MCC. The FTIR analysis results showed there are some new characteristic absorption peaks appeared (1728 to 1732 cm−1) in the spectrum, which confirmed the grafting of OLLA onto α-cellulose and MCC was successful. SEM images of α-cellulose and MCC before and after grafting revealed significant changes in surface morphology. Grafting of MCC could be more effective for further application in comparison to α-cellulose.