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AbstractPolypropylene composites filled with inorganic fillers are widely used due to their good mechanical and thermal properties. The modification efficiency of filler incorporated into thermoplastic polymer strongly depends on its shape and dimension. Therefore, the development of novel hybrid composites modified with particle and fibrous shaped fillers expands the range of thermoplastic composite applications. This work investigates the influence of glass fiber and basalt powder and their shape on the mechanical properties of polypropylene-based composites. Mechanical properties of hybrid composites were evaluated using static tensile test, impact resistance, and hardness measurements. The thermomechanical stability of the materials was evaluated via dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. Results indicated that the incorporation of inorganic fillers significantly improved the composite sample stiffness at a wide range of temperatures. The research was complemented with structure investigations realized using scanning electron microscopy. Moreover, the incorporation of basalt powder, which is well known for its low friction coefficient, improved the processing properties, as proven by the melt flow index test.

The Zn(II) and Mn(II) removal by an ion flotation process from model and real dilute aqueous solutions derived from waste batteries was studied in this work. The research aimed to determine optimal conditions for the removal of Zn(II) and Mn(II) from aqueous solutions after acidic leaching of Zn-C and Zn-Mn waste batteries. The ion flotation process was carried out at ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure. Two organic compounds used as collectors were applied, i.e., m-dodecylphosphoric acid 32 and m-tetradecylphosphoric 33 acid in the presence of a non-ionic foaming agent (Triton X-100, 29). It was found that both compounds can be used as collectors in the ion flotation for Zn(II) and Mn(II) removal process. Process parameters for Zn(II) and Mn(II) flotation have been established for collective or selective removal metals, e.g., good selectivity coefficients equal to 29.2 for Zn(II) over Mn(II) was achieved for a 10 min process using collector 32 in the presence of foaming agent 29 at pH = 9.0.

This article aims to analyze the potential of new technologies in the area of green chemistry didactics. When viewed through the lens of systems thinking, the use of these ubiquitous tools can be a driving force for the development of a sustainable world because of their global use and reach. The authors concentrate on flat e-learning platforms, social media tools, virtual reality platforms, and machinima, as these tools enable learners to participate in different interdisciplinary topics and exercise habits that trigger behavioral changes through learning by doing or learning from mistakes. To demonstrate the potential of innovative didactic tools, examples of mini scenarios for the development of chemistry lessons are provided, and these scenarios promote the sustainability concept and systems thinking. The authors conclude that the pursuit of sustainability goals in chemistry education should involve extended thinking about instructional design and asymmetries in technology use, as well as incorporate green teaching into the principles of green chemistry.