Poly (lactic acid) (PLA) is a polymer synthesized from lactic acid with good biocompatibility and biodegradability. At present, PLA manufactured on industrial scale is mainly synthesized from L-lactic acid. The obtained products have good transparency but poor heat resistance. Adding nucleating agents could increase the crystallinity of PLA, to improve heat resistance. We reviewed the progress of research on organic and inorganic nucleating agents that can be used for PLA synthesis.
Chemical Industry ; Lactic Acid ; Polyesters ; chemistry ; Polymers

Poly lactic acid (PLA) fibers a biodegradable fiber produced from PLA resin by melt spinning, solvent spinning or electrostatic spinning. Based on the excellent safety, comfortability, environmental protection and good mechanical properties, PLA can be widely applied in textile fabric, nonwoven, filler fabric and many downstream health products application, such as sanitary napkins, baby diapers, facial masks, and wipes.
Biotechnology ; Chemical Industry ; Lactic Acid ; Polyesters ; chemistry ; Polymers

Bio-based fiber is environment friendly, reproducible, easily biodegradable. Therefore, rapid development of bio-based fiber industry is an obvious in progress to replace petrochemical resources, develop sustainable economy, build resource saving and environment friendly society. This article describes the current development of bio-based fiber industry, analyzes existing problems, indicates the trends and objectives of bio-based fiber materials technology innovation and recommends developing bio-based fibers industry of our country.
Biotechnology ; Chemical Industry

Concentrations of heavy metals exceed safety thresholds in the soil near Janghang Copper Refinery, a smelter in Korea that operated from 1936 to 1989. This study was conducted to evaluate the level of exposure to toxic metals and the potential effect on health in people living near the smelter. The study included 572 adults living within 4 km of the smelter and compared them with 413 controls group of people living similar lifestyles in a rural area approximately 15 km from the smelter. Urinary arsenic (As) level did not decrease according to the distance from the smelter, regardless of gender and working history in smelters and mines. However, in subjects who had no occupational exposure to toxic metals, blood lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) and urinary Cd decreased according to the distance from the smelter, both in men and women. Additionally, the distance from the smelter was a determinant factor for a decrease of As, Pb, and Cd in multiple regression models, respectively. On the other hands, urinary Cd was a risk factor for renal tubular dysfunction in populations living near the smelter. These results suggest that Janghang copper smelter was a main contamination source of As, Pb, and Cd, and populations living near the smelter suffered some adverse health effects as a consequence. The local population should be advised to make efforts to reduce exposure to environmental contaminants, in order to minimize potential health effects, and to pay close attention to any health problems possibly related to toxic metal exposure.
Acetylglucosaminidase/urine ; Adult ; Aged ; Arsenic/*urine ; Bone Density ; Cadmium/*blood ; Case-Control Studies ; Chemical Industry ; Creatinine/urine ; *Environmental Exposure ; Environmental Pollutants/*analysis/blood/urine ; Female ; Humans ; Lead/*blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Regression Analysis ; Republic of Korea ; Spectrophotometry, Atomic

Glucaric acid (GA) is derived from glucose and commonly used in chemical industry. It is also considered as one of the "Top value-added chemicals from biomass" as carbohydrate monomers to produce various synthetic polymers and bioenergy. The demand for GA in food manufacture is increasing. GA has also attracted public attentions due to its therapeutic uses such as regulating hormones, increasing the immune function and reducing the risks of cancers. Currently GA is produced by chemical oxidation. Research on production of GA via microbial synthesis is still at preliminary stage. We reviewed the advances of glucaric acid applications, preparation and quantification methods. The prospects on production of GA by microbial fermentation were also discussed.
Biomass ; Chemical Industry ; Fermentation ; Glucaric Acid ; chemistry ; Glucose ; Polymers

OBJECTIVETo provide data for the occupational health supervision by analyzing the occupational health status in manufacturing industry in Guangzhou, China.

METHODSThe occupational health investigation was performed in 280 enterprises randomly selected from 8 industries based on industry stratification. According to the occupational health standards, 198 out of the 280 enterprises were supervised and monitored. Sample testing was performed in 3~5 workplaces where workers were exposed to the highest concentration/intensity of occupational hazard for the longest time. Comparative analyses of the overproof rates of hazard were performed among enterprises, workplaces, and testing items from different industries.

RESULTSThe concentrations of occupational hazard in 42.93% (85/198) of enterprises and 22.96% (200/871) of workplaces were above the limit concentration. The most severe hazards were the noises in shipbuilding and wooden furniture industries and the welding fumes in shipbuilding industry. Less than 30% of enterprises were able to provide occupational health examination and periodic test reports of occupational hazard in workplaces. The rate of the workers with abnormal occupational health examination results and the need for reexamination reached 6.63% (832/12 549), and they were mostly from shipbuilding, wooden furniture, and chemical industries.

CONCLUSIONThe occupational health supervision should be strengthened in enterprises, and hazard from noises and dusts should be selectively controlled or reduced. The publication of relevant data and information of occupational health in enterprises should be promoted to enhance social supervision.

Chemical Industry ; China ; Dust ; Humans ; Interior Design and Furnishings ; Manufacturing Industry ; statistics & numerical data ; Noise, Occupational ; Occupational Exposure ; statistics & numerical data ; Occupational Health ; statistics & numerical data ; Welding ; Workplace

In 2014, external quality assessment trials for urinalysis and faecal occult blood (FOB) were performed of 1,270 participants. Urine chemistry and FOB tests were evaluated three times, while urine sediment examination by photography was evaluated one time. Urine chemistry tests consisted of pH, protein, glucose, ketone, bilirubin, blood, urobilinogen, nitrite, leukocyte, and specific gravity (SG). The urine chemistry test results showed accuracy rates >95%, while those of the SG test by using a refractometer had accuracy rates <95%. In the FOB quality test, the Bio Focus reagent (BIO FOCUS Co., Korea) disclosed low positive rates (87%). The result of the FOB quantity test showed different values according to the instruments used, and the Kyowa instrument (Kyowa Chemical Industry Co., Japan) revealed the lowest values. In a urinary sediment examination, it is necessary to increase the frequency of the quality assessment trials due to low accuracy rates.
Bilirubin ; Chemical Industry ; Chemistry ; Glucose ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Korea* ; Leukocytes ; Occult Blood* ; Photography ; Specific Gravity ; Urinalysis* ; Urobilinogen

OBJECTIVETo analyze the characteristics of acute occupational poisoning accidents reported in Jiangsu Province between 2006 to 2013.

METHODSBased on the reported data of occupational diseases, we analysis indicators such as type, gender, age, and enterprise size of acute occupational poisoning.

RESULTS(1) There were 226 acute occupational poisoning accidents for 8 years with 436 workers poisoned and 13 died. The Poisoning mortality rate was 2.98%. (2) The accidents occurred more frequently from March to August each year. (3) Asphyxiating gases, irritant gases and organic solvents are the main chemicals which caused these poisoning accidents. (4) Most of the cases come from the chemical industry and light industry . They more occurred in men and presented the trend of aging. (5) Most of them are from the south of Jiangsu and coastal areas. New cases of acute occupational poisoning mainly concentrated in small businesses.

CONCLUSIONStrengthening the supervision on high incidence area and high-risk industry is the key point to reduce the incidence of acute occupational poisoning accident.

Accidents, Occupational ; prevention & control ; statistics & numerical data ; Acute Disease ; Chemical Industry ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Gases ; Humans ; Incidence ; Industry ; Irritants ; Male ; Occupational Diseases ; epidemiology ; Organic Chemicals ; Poisoning ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Solvents

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of exposed to different concentrations of carbon disulfide on neurological signs of workers.

METHODSCollection the information of concentration of carbon disulfide in the workplace or workers individuals exposed of a chemical fiber industry from 2004 to 2011, a total of 3 537 workers exposed to carbon disulfide were detected muscle strength and muscle tone, knee reflex, Achilles tendon reflex, trembling limbs, sensory function, and three chatter. Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis on abnormal neurological signs of workers.

RESULTSEight hours time-weighted average concentration range of workers exposed to carbon disulfide in this chemical fiber industry was 0.2-41.0 mg/m(3), geometric mean was 2.38 mg/m(3). Concentration of carbon disulfide exposure of 1 771 workers was from 0.2 to 2.5 mg/m3( ≤ 2.5 mg/m(3)), 642 workers was 2.6-4.8 mg/m(3) (< 5.0 mg/m(3)), other 1 051 workers was from 5.1 to 41.0 mg/m(3) ( > 5.0 mg/m(3)) in all subjects. The different detection rates of knee reflex were 3.0% (31/1 045), 3.7% (21/574), 4.8% (16/331), 3.3% (10/305), 5.9% (11/187), 6.7% (68/1 022), the different detection rates of Achilles tendon reflex were 2.2% (23/1 045), 3.7% (21/574), 2.7% (9/331), 2.3% (7/305), 2.1% (4/187), 5.6% (57/1 022), the different detection rates of sensory dysfunction were 0.4% (4/1 045), 0.5% (3/574), 0.6% (2/331), 0.0% (0/305), 2.1% (4/187), 1.7% (17/1 022) in different cumulative amount of contact groups ( ≤ 10.0, 10.1-20.0, 20.1-30.0, 30.1-40.0, 40.1-50.0, >50.0 mg/m(3) per year), and the differences were statistically significant (χ(2) = 19.53, 21.27 and 15.89, all P values were <0.01) . Stratified according to age and gender, in addition to the ≤ 25 years group the difference of detection rate analysis on Achilles tendon reflex was statistically significant in the different concentration group (the ratio of on Achilles tendon reflex in the different groups of concentration of carbon disulfide exposure of 2.5, 2.6-5.0, ≥ 5.0 mg/m(3) were 0.4% (2/511), 1.0% (1/98), 2.1% (7/327), χ(2) = 5.59, P = 0.045) , the difference of detection rate analysis on neurological sign was not statistically significant in the different concentration group on the rest of the age and gender groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONWithin the concentration range of the object of study contact actual, different concentrations of carbon disulfide in addition to individual neurological signs of individual ages influential, it has no significant effect on the various signs of nervous system of workers of most age and gender groups, expect the age below the 25 years old group.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Carbon Disulfide ; adverse effects ; Chemical Industry ; China ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neurotoxicity Syndromes ; etiology ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Workplace

Biorefinery that utilizes renewable biomass for production of fuels, chemicals and bio-materials has become more and more important in chemical industry. Recently, steam explosion technology, acid and alkali treatment are the main biorefinery treatment technologies. Meanwhile, low temperature plasma technology has attracted extensive attention in biomass refining process due to its unique chemical activity and high energy. We systemically summarize the research progress of low temperature plasma technology for pretreatment, sugar platflow, selective modification, liquefaction and gasification in biomass refinery. Moreover, the mechanism of low temperature plasma in biorefinery and its further development were also discussed.
Biomass ; Biotechnology ; methods ; Biotransformation ; Chemical Industry ; Cold Temperature ; Plasma Gases