Wednesday, July 28, 2010

WHAT IS TOOTHPASTE
Toothpaste is a gel dentifrice used to clean and maintain the aesthetics and health of teeth with the help of a toothbrush as an accessory.

GENERAL USES OF A TOOTHPASTE

Toothpaste is used with a toothbrush to brush and clean teeth before people were using different kinds of methods to clean their teeth and some of them were toxic ingredients that ended up damaging their enamel until toothpaste was made to solve all these problems

RAW MATERIALS USED IN A TOOTHPASTE

every modern toothpaste contain the following ingredients:binders, abrasives, sudsers, humectants, flavors (unique additives), sweeteners, fluorides, tooth whiteners, a preservative, and water.And binders that thicken the toothpaste or to make it a tube.This binders they make the liquid part not to separate with the solid part during storage time. This binders can be from magnesium aluminium silicates,sodium alginate,methylcellulose, carrageenan. There are also abrasives that are include in toothpaste that have several cleaning purposes as they posses different properties. This abrasive include dibasic calcium phosphate, calcium sulfate, tricalcium phosphate, and sodium metaphosphate hydrated alumina.

There are also flavors in modern toothpaste that help fresh the mouth and the palate because of humecants. To help reduce teeth decay and strengthen their teeth nowadays people rely on fluorides that are contained in toothpaste and the most common fluoride in the toothpaste is the sodium fluoride with sodium for tooth whitening purposes

HOW TOOTHPASTE IS MANUFACTURED
Toothpaste
The ingredients that are mentioned above show a clear picture that there is chemistry involved in this modern toothpastes example of the substances involved are fluorides,sodium and calcium sulphate and others.first the ingredients are weighed and mixed in correct measures,so here there is use of stirrers and measuring devises that are used in chemistry environment. After mixing they are put in their containers or tubes by filling machines then packaged for sale. When these ingredients are brought to the factory for processing of the toothpaste they are tested for their quality these involves how safe are they for human as people might swallow them as they use these toothpaste. And these is the work of a lab technician in a chemistry world to check this ingredients.

Then the toothpaste is safe for sale in storesToothpaste






Sunday, July 25, 2010

paper (chemistry in our daily life)

Paper

Discussing about chemistry in daily life is a very complicated story because nowadays chemistry is in every single thing around us. We can feel chemistry everywhere in the house like bathroom and kitchen. Soap, toothpaste, plastic bag and perfume are some examples of chemical things in our daily life but I am going to write about paper. Chemistry has connected natural things with chemical things and paper is one of the most important things in this case. As we know paper Is made from woods and woods is in nature so what is the relation between paper and chemistry. It is only possible to use the paper if it passes some chemical reactions and that’s the topic I am going to write about it.

First of all let me give you some introduction about how paper is made from woods but before it a little history of how paper been created by humans in many years ago

Papermaking has been around 4,000 years. The Egyptians had a process of making papyrus, a plant based paper product. The Chinese in the 2nd century BC had a paper making process involving a fibrous matter. In the 8th century, Arabs had learned the art of paper making.

But how is it made? Although the process has been refined over the years, the process today is less due to innovation than to efficiency of existing processes. It uses wood and it consists of eight stages: debarking, chipping, pulping, bleaching, paper machine, blade coater, super calendar, and sheet converting.

1. Debarking

Because the process starts with cutting trees, the bark from trees must be removed before the wood can be used for papermaking. A large, spinning and rotating drum that makes the logs move around is used to debark the trees. As the logs rub against each other, the bark comes off.

2. Chipping

Before the logs are pulped, they are cut into small pieces or chips. A large rotating knife goes in circles and cuts the logs into chips.

3. Pulping

The pulping process separates the cellulose and hemi-cellulose from the lignin and removes other tree oils and resins. This process is important because the remaining fibers are used to produce the product we know as paper.

4. Bleaching

Bleaching is a very important step. Bleaching is used to purify and clean the pulp. Bleaching removes lignin, which affects the purity of the fiber. Kraft mills use chlorine gas and chlorine dioxide to bleach pulp, while most mechanical pulp bleaching operations

Use peroxide. Chlorine gas removes most of the remaining lignin, while the chlorine dioxide whitens lignin that cannot be removed.

5. Paper Machine

The paper machine involves four sections. It starts with a step called stock preparation. During stock preparation, wood fiber is mixed with water and minerals in a mixture that is more than 99% water. When the water drains, a web of paper is formed. The next step is the press section. Here the paper is squeezed between rollers and a felt (a large mat of nylon and polyester filaments). This removes more water from the paper. After the press section, 40-50% of the paper is still made up of water. In the third section, the dryer section, dryers remove even more water from the paper. After the dryer section, only 2-6% of the paper is made up of water. In high-quality machines, a size press coating is put onto the paper next. A size press coater applies a light coating of starch and minerals. This makes the paper even stronger and smoother. After the size press coating is put on, the paper is dried again in the after-dryer section. Finally, the paper is wound into a giant roll.

6. Blade Coater:

For coated papers, a blade coater puts a thin coating onto the finished paper. The paper glides under a blade that deposits a coating onto the paper surface. The different coatings make the paper very good to use in printing.

7. Supercalender:

This process makes the paper glossy and smooth. The supercalendering machine is made up of many large rollers. The rollers put the paper under a lot of pressure and heat it up. After supercalendering, the paper is cut into smaller rolls.

8. Sheet Converting:

Sheet converting is the last stage of papermaking. Some of the paper rolls are cut into sheets, while others are packaged for shipping to customers.

The steps outlined above have been around for centuries. The production techniques have been modified made more efficient, and cost effective. However, wood is still the basis of paper making, and that is an old product.

These are the stages to make a paper but paper also has came to our life in other shapes like tissues, cardboard and many other shapes.

Paper Use is like Energy Use, how?

Paper can be thought of as a form of energy. This can make it easier to grasp the power of ideas of 'paper use' and 'paper efficiency', showing how we can measure and change them. It also links cutting paper use to reducing energy use, for which we have good public policies and programs to address. Paper use is also like energy use in the production energy it embodies. As explained in our discussion of the environmental issues around paper use, a typical office worker uses the equivalent of an 80 W light bulb of electricity in office paper use, but at a cost many times the light bulb cost.

And now I will give you lists of some chemicals in papermaking

CHEMICALS USED IN PULP & PAPER MANUFACTURING AND COATING


Common Name

Chemical Name

Chemical Formula

Used For

Specific Density

Other Characteristics

Agalite or Talc

Silicate of Magnesia

MgO-32%, SiO2-62%

It gives paper a greasy or soapy feel. and enables it to take a high finish.

2.6 - 2.8

A natural fibrous form of talc, gray in color.

AKD

Alkyl Ketene Dimer

Sizing

Alum

Sulfate of Alumina

Al2(SO4)3.18H2O

For alkaline sizing along with Rosin

1.62

Albarine

Natural Sulfate of Lime

CaSO4.2H2O - 100%

A calcium salt that is used for a variety of purposes including: building materials.

2.4

Ammonium Zirconium Carbonate (AZC)

Ammonium Zirconium Carbonate

CH2O3NH3Zr

Used as in-solubilizer, crosslinker & hardener

1.36

AZC is a clear, usually colorless solution, having an odor of ammonia and a pH of approximately 9.5. As a carbonate, it will react with acids, and so should not be used in coating systems below pH 7. In storage, it is stable for up to six months.

Anthraquinone

Anthraquinone

C14H8O2

Added to white liquor (alkaline cooking liquor) to improve pulp yield and to increase the rate of delignification.

1.44

yellow crystalline powder

Anti-Foam/Defoamer

To prevent foam (anti-foam) or to destroy it once it has formed (defoamer).

Surface active, but highly insoluble in water.

Asbestine

Silicate of Magnesia

MgO-32%, SiO2-62%

It is used as a loading agent in paper manufacture, particularly for blotting papers and board.

2.6 - 2.8

A mineral compound of almost pure fibrous magnesium silicate, which possesses physical characteristics between those of talc and asbestos.

APE

Alkylphenol Ethoxylates

CH3(CH2)n(C6H4) (OCH2CH2)m-OH

Used as cleaning agents or surfactants

ASA

Alkenyl Succinic Anhydride

Sizing

Barium Sulfate

Barium Sulfate

BaSO4 - 100%

Used as a pigment

4.2-4.5

White insoluble powder.

Barytes

Barium Sulfate

BaSO4 - 100%

Used as filler

4.2-4.5

Blanc Fixe

Barium Sulfate

BaSO4 - 100%

Used as a base for watercolor pigments and as a filler in paper.

4.2-4.5

Powdered barium sulfate

CMC

Carboxy Methyl Cellulose

Sizing

Caustic Lye or Caustic Soda or Lye

Sodium Hydroxide

NaOH

Pulping and to maintain pH

Chalk (Precipitated)

Precipitated Calcium Carbonate

CaCO3 - 100%

Filler particularly with acidic sizing.

2.7-2.9

High Brightness & Opacity

Chalk (French or Spanish)

Silicate of Magnesia

4MgO+5SiO2+H2O; MgO - 33%; SiO2 62%

2.6-2.9

A soft white compact talc

After discussing about chemicals in papermaking let me write a little about how Recycling can help the Earth.

If you recycle paper, you save trees, which in turn reduces the amount of carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere and reduce global warming. Trees photosynthesise, where they take in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and give out oxygen. Carbon dioxide is the main reason for global warming as it traps the Sun's heat in Earth's atmosphere.

If you recycle aluminum, you save energy, as it takes much less energy to melt cans into fresh aluminum. Most energy comes from electricity produced by burning coal, so you cut down on carbon dioxide.

References:

http://www.essortment.com/all/paperhowismad_rrfn.htm

http://www.paperonweb.com/chemical.htm

by:ashkan mahbobibrojerdi 1001025754

Thursday, July 15, 2010

PLASTIC BAG

Plastic bag
RAW METERIAL OF PLASTIC BAGS:
PE (Polyethylene). A kind of polymer organic compounds that made by Poly ethylene. Polyethylene is the world's acknowledged best materials in contact with food. Non-toxic, tasteless, odorless, meet the food packaging hygiene standards. Polyethylene films are light and transparent, against with moisture, oxidation, acid, alkali, generally airtight, sealing of excellent properties. PE was called as "plastic flowers". Is the maximum amount of plastic packaging and printing, is the most used material.
PVC, the formula (CH2-CH2CL) n, is the most important kind of vinyl polymers, is the world's second largest plastic varieties after the polyethylene. In the printing industry, often use PVC colored transparent coating film rolling production of film and books, file folders, tickets and other cover on the packaging and decoration.
TOXICITY OF PLASTIC BAGS:
Mostly common food bags are made of polyethylene film (PE), the film is non-toxic, can be used to hold food. There is also a film is made of PVC, PVC itself is not toxic, but according to the use of film additives are often added by harmful substances, has certain toxicity. This kind of film and bags made by the film are not used to dress food.
HAZARDS OF PLASTIC BAGS:
Plastic bags really have brought convenience to people, but this time has brought the convenience of long-term harm. Low value for plastic bag recycling, it scattered in the city streets, tourism, water, roads and railways on both sides of causing "visual pollution" with the use of it, not only that, it also has some potential hazards. Plastic structural is stable, cannot easily be degraded by natural microorganisms and doesn’t resolve in the natural medium for long time. This means that waste plastics recycling must be fast, if not, will become pollutants in the environment and accumulate there permanently, causing serious environmental hazards.
First, it is harmful to agricultural development.
Mixed plastic waste accumulating in the soil will affect the crops absorb nutrients and water, leading to crop failures.
Second, it is the threat to the survival of animals.
The waste plastic products were abandoned on land or water, animal as food ingestion, leading to animal death. Sheep like to eat plastic bags, wrapped in oily residue folder, but often eat together with plastic bags, and a result of eating plastic long stay hard stomach to digest these stomachs were full of sheep, can no longer eat things will eventually die of hunger. Such things are in the zoo, pastoral, rural, ocean common.
Third, the waste plastics with waste refractory.
With the landfill of waste plastics will not only take up a lot of land, and occupied the land long-term recovery without affecting the sustainable use of land. If fill the solid waste plastics into land, will not degraded 200 years. Moreover, the plastic bag with oil as raw material, not only consumes a lot of resources, also cannot be decomposed, buried in the ground will pollute the land, rivers.
In addition, the plastic will release harmful gases itself. In particular, cooked food packaged in plastic bags, often degenerate. Degenerated food is very harmful to children’s health.
FOR OUR EARTH HEALTH AND FOR OURSELVES, PLEASE GIVE UP TO USE PLASTIC BAGS

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Sunscreen Protection Against UV Radiation

Sunscreen….

Have you thought of what makes sunscreen could provide us from sunburn protection???

And, how effective does the sunscreen protect us from the UV radiation??? Let’s check this out………

Generally about sunscreen

As we know, sunscreen is a kind of product that can protect our skin from excessive UV radiation. Sunscreen can be in several forms, such as lotion, spray or gel. The usage is quite simple. We can just apply the sunscreen to the part of body that exposed to the sunlight or the body part that needed protection from the UV radiation. The sunscreen has the components that absorb the UV light. Usually a lighten skin is more prone to sun damage compare to those who have darker skin. So, people who has a lighten skin should apply this in order to avoid sun damage.

What ingredients may be contained in sunscreen product??

Generally, sunscreen products contain one or more following ingredients:

  1. Organic compounds that help absorb the UV light
  2. Inorganic particulate compounds that help scatter, reflect and absorb the UV light

There are many chemical compounds used for UV filter as the active ingredient in the sunscreen products. The ingredients approved by FDA (Food and Drug Administration) are p-Aminobenzoic acid, Padimate O, Phenylbenzimidazole sulfonic acid, Cinoxate, Dioxybenzone, Oxybenzone, Homosalate, Menthyl anthranilate, Octocrylene, Octyl methoxycinnamate, Octyl salicylate, Sulisobenzone, Trolamine salicylate, Avobenzone, Ecamsule, Titanium dioxide, and Zinc oxide. The most popular active ingredients are Titanium dioxide (TiO2) and Zinc oxide (ZnO). Most of those ingredients are only allowable up to 15% of the overall concentration but only Titanium dioxide and Zinc oxide are allowed to reach to the maximum of 25% from the full concentration.

What are the words “SPF” written in the sunscreen product label??

SPF is an abbreviated form of Sun Protection Factor. It measures the effectiveness of sunscreen protection against UV light. So the higher the SPF, the higher protection it can provide against UV light protection, in this case the UVB is the radiation that cause the sunburn. The SPF is the amount of UV radiation that can cause sunburn on skin with the sunscreen on. For instance, you apply the sunscreen with 50 SPF on your skin. Your skin will be on protection until it has exposed 50 times the amount of solar energy needed to cause your skin to burn. Sunscreen protection also depends on some factors, such as skin type, the amount applied, frequency of re-application, activity engaged and the amount of sunscreen absorbed by skin.

Is sunscreen same with sunblock??

Well, sunscreen and sunblock are definitely not the same but they provide the same function as caring skin products. Sunscreen is transparent if applied on the skin. In order to get full protection against the UVA/UVB, we must consistently reapply it or use higher SPF sunscreen. Sunblock is stronger than sunscreen and it is opaque. It can provide protection against UVA/UVB without the necessary to reapply it many times a day.

Is it safe to use sunscreen regularly??

Actually, applying sunscreen is to protect our skin form excessive UV radiation that can cause cancer on skin. But some sunscreen products do not block the UVA which does not cause sunburn on skin but it can increase the rate of melanoma, another kind of cancer. In addition, sunblock which also provide protection to skin from UVB may cause deficiency of vitamin D if we use it too consistently.

The sunscreen did provide us protection from the UV radiation but it also may cause some problems if we misuse it. So, my suggestion is choose wisely your sunscreen product and beware of the ingredients in the sunscreen product in order to get maximum protection with minimum risk.


source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunscreen