Thermal characterization of HCN polymers by TG-MS, TG, DTA and DSC methods

This paper presents a thermogravimetry (TG) study of hydrogen cyanide polymers, synthesized from the reaction of equimolar aqueous solutions of sodium cyanide and ammonium chloride. Differential thermal analysis (DTA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were also used to evaluate the thermal behaviour of these black polymers, which play an important role in prebiotic chemistry. A coupled TG-mass spectrometer (MS) system allowed us to analyze the principal volatile thermal decomposition and fragmentation products of the isolated HCN polymers under dynamic conditions and an inert atmosphere. After dehydration, a multi-step decomposition occurred in this particular polymeric system, due to the release of ammonia, hydrogen cyanide (depolymerization reaction), isocyanic acid (or cyanic acid) and formamide; these two latter species allow us identify bond connectivities. Finally, data collected from TG experiments in an oxidative atmosphere showed significant differences at higher temperatures, above 400 °C. According to these results, the different techniques of thermal analysis here applied have demonstrated to be an adequate methodology for the study and characterization of this complex macromolecular system, whose structure remains controversial even today.     

A Comparative Study on HCN Polymers Synthesized by Polymerization of NH4CN or Diaminomaleonitrile in Aqueous Media: New Perspectives for Prebiotic Chemistry and Materials Science

HCN polymers are a group of complex and heterogeneous substances that are widely known in the fields of astrobiology and prebiotic chemistry. In addition, they have recently received considerable attention as potential functional material coatings. However, the real nature and pathways of formation of HCN polymers remain open questions. It is well established that the tuning of macromolecular structures determines the properties and practical applications of a polymeric material. Herein, different synthetic conditions were explored for the production of HCN polymers from NH₄CN or diaminomaleonitrile in aqueous media with different concentrations of the starting reactants and several reaction times. By using a systematic methodology, both series of polymers were shown to exhibit similar, but not identical, spectroscopic and thermal fingerprints, which resulted in a clear differentiation of their morphological and electrochemical properties. New macrostructures are proposed for HCN polymers, and promising insights are discussed for prebiotic chemistry and materials science on the basis of the experimental results.     

On the autoaccelerated character of the branched oxidation of polyolefins

Photochemical or thermal (at moderate temperatures) oxidation of hydrocarbon polymers is characterised by the existence of a pseudo-induction period, during which oxidation is autoaccelerated, and a steady state. This latter corresponds to the equilibrium between hydroperoxide (POOH) decomposition and formation processes. All the kinetic schemes of thermal ageing, based on the assumption that POOH decomposition is the only source of radicals (whatever its order), have a common feature : the steady-state rate is independent of the rate constant of POOH decomposition, as experimentally observed in samples containing variable concentrations of catalytic residues. Experimental data indicate that the duration of the pseudo induction period is proportional to the reciprocal of the POOH decomposition rate constant and independent of any other rate constant. This is an exclusive property of kinetic schemes in which POOH decomposition is unimolecular (whereas termination is bimolecular). The corresponding set of differential equations has been first resolved from the hypothesis of existence of a stationary state for radical concentration. Although this hypothesis is questionable, the corresponding analytical expression appears as a good approximative solution for the general case (no hypothesis of stationary regime). This expression displays interesting predictive properties. Some eventual kinetic implications of spatial heterogeneity of oxidation are examined. Certain variables, for instance the second derivative of the kinetic curve of carbonyl growth (or oxygen absorption), or simply the kinetic curve of mass variation, vary in a non-monotonous way with exposure time. Consideration of timescale associated to these variations can lead to a quantitative approach of the homogeneity. Schematically, if the characteristic time of non-monotonous variations is of the order of magnitude of the reciprocal of the rate constant of POOH decomposition or lower, the oxidation can be considered almost homogeneous. In the example under study : experimental data on thermal oxidation of poly(propylene) indicate that these systems are not too far from homogeneous ones.     

An automatic optosensing device for the simultaneous determination of resveratrol and piceid in wines

Despite the increasing number of usage of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) in optical sensor application, the correlation between the analytical signals and the binding isotherms has yet to be fully understood. This work investigates the relationship between the signals generated from MIPs sensors to its respective binding affinity variables generated using binding isotherm models. Two different systems based on the imprinting of metal ion and organic compound have been selected for the study, which employed reflectance and fluorescence sensing schemes, respectively. Batch binding analysis using the standard binding isotherm models was employed to evaluate the affinity of the binding sites. Evaluation using the discrete bi-Langmuir isotherm model found both the MIPs studied have generally two classes of binding sites that was of low and high affinities, while the continuous Freundlich isotherm model has successfully generated a distribution of affinities within the investigated analytical window. When the MIPs were incorporated as sensing receptors, the changes in the analytical signal due to different analyte concentrations were found to have direct correlation with the binding isotherm variables. Further data analyses based on this observation have generated robust models representing the analytical performance of the optical sensors. The best constructed model describing the sensing trend for each of the sensor has been tested and demonstrated to give accurate prediction of concentration for a series of spiked analytes.     

Models for the Dynamics of Hyperbranched Macromolecules

Summary: We focus on the motion of hyperbranched macromolecules in solution, paying particular attention to the relation between underlying topological structure and dynamics; we consider especially the mechanical moduli. Under the prominent representatives of hyperbranched polymers are both regular structures (such as the dendrimers) as well as disordered structures (such as irregular Cayley-trees). Evidently, batch-prepared hyperbranched macromolecules are closer to the latter. In order to theoretically determine their mechanical moduli we employ the method of generalized Gaussian structures (GGS), which allows us to study the situation including or excluding the hydrodynamic interactions (HI). Disordered hyperbranched structures display a complex dynamics; here we recall several analytical and numerical schemes for determining it and compare our theoretical results to the experimental data.     

Analytical techniques for polymers with complex architectures

Complex polymers are distributed in more than one direction of molecular heterogeneity. In addition to the molar mass distribution, they are frequently distributed with respect to chemical composition, functionality, and molecular architecture. For the characterization of the different types of molecular heterogeneity it is necessary to use a wide range of analytical techniques. Preferably, these techniques should be selective towards a specific type of heterogeneity. The combination of two selective analytical techniques is assumed to yield a two-dimensional information on the molecular heterogeneity. For the analysis of complex polymers different liquid chromatographic techniques have been developed, including size exclusion chromatography (SEC) separating with respect to hydrodynamic volume, and liquid adsorption chromatography (LAC) which is used to separate according to chemical composition. Liquid chromatography at the critical point of adsorption (LC-CC) has been shown to be a versatile method for the determination of the functionality type distribution of macromonomers, the molecular architecture of homopolymers and the chemical heterogeneity of block and graft copolymers. The present paper presents the principle ideas of combining different analytical techniques in multidimensional analysis schemes for the analysis of polymers with complex architectures. Branched block and graft copolymers can efficiently be analyzed with respect to chemical composition and molar mass by LC-CC and two-dimensional chromatography. The chemical heterogeneity as a function of molar mass can be determined by combining interaction chromatography and FTIR spectroscopy. For the analysis of star-like polymers LC-CC is shown to be a powerful technique when the molar mass of different segments (blocks, grafts) must be determined.     

The Application of Complex Wavelet Transform to Spectral Signals Background Deduction

The accuracy of spectrograms may be affected by baseline excursion or drift when infrared spectrometers are used in the analyses of gases. Background deduction or baseline correction is one of the effective pretreatment methods that can improve measurement accuracy. This paper presents a novel methodology based on complex wavelet transform algorithm to perform background deduction. The complex wavelet transform methodology establishes a complex wavelet filter to decompose the spectral signals first, and set the decomposition coefficients in the high-frequency section to zero, and then reconstruct the background signals; finally, the background deduction can be realized by deducting the background signals. In this study, the complex wavelet established by Daubechies was selected to demonstrate background deduction aiming at simulative spectral signals with different backgrounds and the real spectral signal of SF6 decomposition gases. Compared with the results done by the real wavelet transform in the same conditions, the results indicate that complex wavelet transform methodology can perform background deduction more efficiently than real wavelet transform methodology, thus improving the effectiveness and precision of spectrogram measurements greatly, which is useful for SF6 gas decomposition compositions analysis

     

The Application of Complex Wavelet Transform to Spectral Signals Background Deduction

The accuracy of spectrograms may be affected by baseline excursion or drift when infrared spectrometers are used in the analyses of gases. Background deduction or baseline correction is one of the effective pretreatment methods that can improve measurement accuracy. This paper presents a novel methodology based on complex wavelet transform algorithm to perform background deduction. The complex wavelet transform methodology establishes a complex wavelet filter to decompose the spectral signals first, and set the decomposition coefficients in the high-frequency section to zero, and then reconstruct the background signals; finally, the background deduction can be realized by deducting the background signals. In this study, the complex wavelet established by Daubechies was selected to demonstrate background deduction aiming at simulative spectral signals with different backgrounds and the real spectral signal of SF6 decomposition gases. Compared with the results done by the real wavelet transform in the same conditions, the results indicate that complex wavelet transform methodology can perform background deduction more efficiently than real wavelet transform methodology, thus improving the effectiveness and precision of spectrogram measurements greatly, which is useful for SF6 gas decomposition compositions analysis     

Application of Bar Adsorptive Microextraction for the Determination of Levels of Tricyclic Antidepressants in Urine Samples

This work entailed the development, optimization, validation, and application of a novel analytical approach, using the bar adsorptive microextraction technique (BAμE), for the determination of the six most common tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs; amitriptyline, mianserin, trimipramine, imipramine, mirtazapine and dosulepin) in urine matrices. To achieve this goal, we employed, for the first time, new generation microextraction devices coated with convenient sorbent phases, polymers and novel activated carbons prepared from biomaterial waste, in combination with large-volume-injection gas chromatography-mass spectrometry operating in selected-ion monitoring mode (LVI-GC-MS(SIM)). Preliminary assays on sorbent coatings, showed that the polymeric phases present a much more effective performance, as the tested biosorbents exhibited low efficiency for application in microextraction techniques. By using BAμE coated with C₁₈ polymer, under optimized experimental conditions, the detection limits achieved for the six TCAs ranged from 0.2 to 1.6 μg L⁻¹ and, weighted linear regressions resulted in remarkable linearity (r² > 0.9960) between 10.0 and 1000.0 μg L⁻¹. The developed analytical methodology (BAμE(C18)/LVI-GC-MS(SIM)) provided suitable matrix effects (90.2–112.9%, RSD ≤ 13.9%), high recovery yields (92.3–111.5%, RSD ≤ 12.3%) and a remarkable overall process efficiency (ranging from 84.9% to 124.3%, RSD ≤ 13.9%). The developed and validated methodology was successfully applied for screening the six TCAs in real urine matrices. The proposed analytical methodology proved to be an eco-user-friendly approach to monitor trace levels of TCAs in complex urine matrices and an outstanding analytical alternative in comparison with other microextraction-based techniques.     

Synthesis,thermal and optical properties of new nanosized polyamides containing N-phenyl- and O-naphthyl-s-triazine rings; part 2

We report the chemistry and properties of two new series of well-defined nano sized spheres aramides-containing N- and O-naphthyl-s-triazines. The polymers were carefully characterized by different techniques including infrared, ultraviolet, fluorescent emission, elemental, thermal analyses and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The polymers were readily soluble in polar aprotic solvents while insoluble neither in water nor halogenated solvents. Thermal analyses data up to 900°C showed high thermal behavior and the polymers were classified either as “slow burning polymers” or “self-extinguishing polymers” based on their calculated the limiting oxygen index. Interestingly, the naphthyl / phenyl interchange has dramatic improvement on the thermal properties. Obviously, the pyridine / phenylene interchange has no influence on the thermal properties of the addressed polymers. Thermal stability of the aniline-containing polymers proved to be comparable to their naphthylamine analogues. Polymers containing p-phenylene moieties exhibited better thermal results compared to their analogues containing m-phenylene moieties. Benzidine containing polymers and sulfone containing polymers exhibited better thermal stabilities than their analogues containing either ether or methylene flexible linkages. The kinetic data obtained from the nonisothermal decomposition of the prepared polyamides series were also studied. The polymers exhibited emissions ranging from blue to orange wavelength depending on the nature of the signaling unit. The naphthyl / phenyl interchange led to either appreciable red-shifted absorptions in some cases or blue-shifted absorptions in other cases and this behavior may be attributed to the contorted, twisted structural nature of the naphthalene ring. Such attracting properties make these polymers good candidates for applications such as processable high-temperature materials and also as heat-resistant polymeric materials.     

Aromatic polymers with side oxadiazole rings as luminescent materials in LEDs

Aromatic polyamides and polyazomethines with side oxadiazole rings have been synthesized by using aromatic diamines containing pendent substituted oxadiazole groups and a diacid chloride having diphenylsilane or hexafluoroisopropylidene, or an aromatic dialdehyde with fluorene unit, respectively. These polymers were easily soluble in amidic solvents. Very thin films which were deposited from polymer solutions onto silicon wafers exhibited smooth, pinhole-free surface in atomic force microscopy investigations. The polymers showed high thermal stability with decomposition temperature being above 400°C. Some of them exhibited blue photoluminescence, in the range of 450-480 nm, making them promising candidates for future use as high performance materials in the construction of light emitting devices.     

Prediction of intracellular storage polymers using quantitative image analysis in enhanced biological phosphorus removal systems

The present study focuses on predicting the concentration of intracellular storage polymers in enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) systems. For that purpose, quantitative image analysis techniques were developed for determining the intracellular concentrations of PHA (PHB and PHV) with Nile blue and glycogen with aniline blue staining. Partial least squares (PLS) were used to predict the standard analytical values of these polymers by the proposed methodology. Identification of the aerobic and anaerobic stages proved to be crucial for improving the assessment of PHA, PHB and PHV intracellular concentrations. Current Nile blue based methodology can be seen as a feasible starting point for further enhancement. Glycogen detection based on the developed aniline blue staining methodology combined with the image analysis data proved to be a promising technique, toward the elimination of the need for analytical off-line measurements.     

Reactive incompatibility of cumene hydroperoxide mixedwith alkaline solutions

Cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) is classified as a flammable hazard in NFPA 43B. Fires or explosions induced by thermal hazards ascribed to the unstable hydroperoxyl or peroxyl groups are often reported. This sequence studies is aimed at the decomposition phenomena associated with the reactive and incompatible characteristics of CHP mixed with alkaline solutions. Various alkalines were used for comparing the relative impact of bases and effects on concentrations. Exothermic onset temperatures and heats of decomposition of these incompatible mixtures were performed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Comparisons of exothermic onset temperature, peak power, heat of decomposition, etc., were assessed to verify the severity of incompatible hazards in these systems. When mixed with a small amount of the hydroxides (in the production or storage of CHP), CHP will be more labile or unstable because of lower exothermic temperature. In addition, to elucidate the final products and propose mechanisms of the reaction of CHP mixed with alkaline solution, the analytical results were carried out by GC/MS and IR. The exhibited reactivity was complicated and significantly affected by the alkaline solutions. The reaction schemes have been proposed in this study. These results are especially important in process safety design for producing CHP and its related compounds, such as phenol, α-cumyl alcohol (CA), acetophenone (AP), and dicumyl peroxide (DCPO).     

Determination of Chlorogenic Acid and Rutinum in Herba Artemisiae Scopariae with Multitemplate Molecularly Imprinted Polymers for Solid-phase Extraction with High-performance Liquid Chromatography

Novel multitemplate molecularly imprinted polymers were prepared using mixtures of chlorogenic acid and rutinum as molecular templates, acrylamide as a functional monomer, divinylbenzene as the cross-linker, and 20:80 methanol:acetone as the porogen. The polymers were assessed for solid-phase extraction (SPE) for the purification of two compounds from Herba Artemisiae Scopariae. The synthesized molecularly imprinted polymers were identified by infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Systematic characterization of the functional monomer and porogens on the recognition properties of the molecularly imprinted polymers were carried out. Comparison with single-template molecularly imprinted polymers showed that the multitemplate molecular polymers exhibited higher selectivity and adsorption capacity for multiple analytes. The optimization of washing solvent as 1:9 acetone:water and the elution solvent as 9:1 acetonitrile:acetic acid provided a reliable analytical method with strong recognition toward multiple analytes in Herba Artemisiae Scopariae extracts with satisfactory recoveries of 89.6% for chlorogenic acid and 93.8% for rutinum. These results demonstrate that the multitemplate molecularly imprinted polymers coupled with SPE are effective for the selective purification of bioactive compounds in complex samples.     

Equivalency of Kinetic Schemes: Causes and an Analysis of Some Model Fitting Algorithms

The same experimental data can often be equally well described by multiple mathematically equivalent kinetic schemes. In the present work, we investigate several model‐fitting algorithms and their ability to distinguish between mechanisms and derive the correct kinetic parameters for several different reaction classes involving consecutive reactions. We have conducted numerical experiments using synthetic experimental data for six classes of consecutive reactions involving different combinations of first‐ and second‐order processes. The synthetic data mimic time‐dependent absorption data as would be obtained from spectroscopic investigations of chemical kinetic processes. The connections between mathematically equivalent solutions are investigated, and analytical expressions describing these connections are derived. Ten optimization algorithms based on nonlinear least squares methods are compared in terms of their computational cost and frequency of convergence to global solutions. Performance is discussed, and a preferred method is recommended. A response surface visualization technique of projecting five‐dimensional data onto the three‐dimensional search space of the minimal function values is developed.     

Bond energy analysis revisited and designed toward a rigorous methodology

The present study theoretically revisits and numerically assesses two-body energy decomposition schemes including a newly proposed one. The new decomposition scheme is designed to make the equilibrium bond distance equivalent with the minimum point of bond energies. Although the other decomposition schemes generally predict the wrong order of the C-C bond strengths of C(2)H(2), C(2)H(4), and C(2)H(6), the new decomposition scheme is capable of reproducing the C-C bond strengths. Numerical assessment on a training set of molecules demonstrates that the present scheme exhibits a stronger correlation with bond dissociation energies than the other decomposition schemes do, which suggests that the new decomposition scheme is a reliable and powerful analysis methodology.     

Expression of results with uncertainty for the determination of pesticides in melon--experience in a proficiency test.

The expression of results with an uncertainty through the "bottom-up" approach, involving the estimation and combination of all the sources of uncertainty, represents a challenge when the analytical method includes mass transfer steps (MTS). These steps (e.g. extraction, evaporation, digestion, etc.) with inherently different from 100% recoveries lack models capable of describing their precision and efficiency. Recently, a new methodology was published aimed at the estimation of the performance of these critical steps. Comparison of the experimental dispersion from the replicated analysis of spiked samples with the combination of the uncertainty associated with gravimetric, volumetric and instrumental quantification steps (described by well established models) allows the estimation of the MTS uncertainty. Evaluation of the behaviour of the MTS within the analytical range supports the use of developed estimations over a wide concentration range. This methodology was applied, with success, to the determination of pesticide residues in melon in one particular proficiency test organised by the Food Analysis Performance Assessment Scheme (FAPAS) between November 2000 and February 2001.     

Poly(diarylsilmethylene)s,II. Thermal and mechanical properties1

Thermal and mechanical properties of poly(diarylsilmethylene)s (PDArSMs) with phenyl, m-tolyl or p-tolyl substituents on Si atoms were investigated. According to the TG-DTA, poly(diphenylsilmethylene) (PDPSM) remained almost unchanged in weight up to about 400°C, and showed two-step weight loss in the temperature range between ca. 400 and 700°C in an air atmosphere. The first decomposition step seems assignable to elimination of aryl groups while the second one is presumably due to oxidative decomposition which is evident from a large exothermic peak in the DTA trace. Thermostability of PDArSMs with tolyl groups were comparable to that of PDPSM when the measurement was conducted under nitrogen, whereas the polymers having tolyl substituents were highly thermally unstable in air compared with PDPSM. These polymers exhibited a gain in weight accompanied with a violent exothermic reaction in the early stage of thermal decomposition in air. This thermal instability of the tolyl-substituted polymers can be explained by high sensitivity of the tolyl groups toward oxidative decomposition. Analysis of pyrolyzed products of PDArSMs suggested that these polymers underwent radical cleavage of Si-aryl bonds to provide network materials which can be precursors for Si-containing ceramics. Mechanical properties of PDPSM are also discussed. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Main‐chain,thermotropic, liquid‐crystalline,hydrogen‐bonded polymers of 4,4′‐bipyridyl with aliphatic dicarboxylic acids

A series of main‐chain, thermotropic, liquid‐crystalline (LC), hydrogen‐bonded polymers or self‐assembled structures based on 4,4′‐bipyridyl as a hydrogen‐bond acceptor and aliphatic dicarboxylic acids, such as adipic and sebacic acids, as hydrogen‐bond donors were prepared by a slow evaporation technique from a pyridine solution and were characterized for their thermotropic, LC properties with a number of experimental techniques. The homopolymer of 4,4′‐bipyridyl with adipic acid exhibited high‐order and low‐order smectic phases, and that with sebacic acid exhibited only a high‐order smectic phase. Like the homopolymer with adipic acid, the two copolymers of 4,4′‐bipyridyl with adipic and sebacic acids (75/25 and 25/75) also exhibited two types of smectic phases. In contrast, the copolymer of 4,4′‐bipyridyl with adipic and sebacic acids (50/50), like the homopolymer with sebacic acid, exhibited only one high‐order smectic phase. Each of them, including the copolymers, had a broad temperature range of LC phases (36–51 °C). The effect of copolymerization for these hydrogen‐bonded polymers on the thermotropic properties was examined. Generally, copolymerization increased the temperature range of LC phases for these polymers, as expected, with a larger decrease in the crystal‐to‐LC transition than in the LC‐to‐isotropic transition. Additionally, it neither suppressed the formation of smectic phases nor promoted the formation of a nematic phase in these hydrogen‐bonded polymers, as usually observed in many thermotropic LC polymers. The thermal transitions for all of them, measured by differential scanning calorimetry, were well below their decomposition temperatures, as measured by thermogravimetric analysis, which were in the temperature range of 193–210 °C. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 1282–1295, 2003     

Energy partitioning schemes

The paper gives an overview, generalization and systematization of the different energy decomposition schemes we have devised in the last few years by using both the 3-D analysis (the atoms are represented by different parts of the physical space) and the Hilbert space analysis in terms of the basis orbitals assigned to the individual atoms. The so called "atomic decomposition of identity" provides us the most general formalism for analyzing different physical quantities in terms of individual atoms or pairs of atoms. (The "atomic decomposition of identity" means that we present the identity operator as a sum of operators assigned to the individual atoms.) By proper definitions of the atomic operators, both Hilbert-space and the different 3-D decomposition schemes can be treated on an equal footing. Several different but closely related energy decomposition schemes have been proposed for the Hilbert space analysis. They differ by exact or approximate treatment of the three- and four-center integrals and by considering the kinetic energy as a part of the atomic Hamiltonian or as having genuine two-center components, too. (Also, some finite basis correction terms may be treated in different manners.) The exact schemes are obtained by using the "atomic decomposition of identity". In the approximate schemes a projective integral approximation is also introduced, thus the energy components contain only one- and two-center integrals. The diatomic energy contributions have also been decomposed into terms of different physical nature (electrostatic, exchange etc.) The 3-D analysis may be performed either in terms of disjunct atomic domains, as in the case of the AIM formalism, or by using the so called "fuzzy atoms" which do not have sharp boundaries but exhibit a continuous transition from one to another. The different schemes give different numbers, but each is capable of reflecting the most important intramolecular interactions as well as the secondary ones--e.g. intramolecular interactions of type C-H[...]O.