Quantitative analysis of chloride in brackish water: an application to the hyperchromic effect of copper(II) ion with chloride ion.

A new modified method was applied to the determination of chloride anion in brackish water by using a common copper(II) sulfate solution and a spectrophotometer. The result of the quantitative analysis demonstrated that chloride concentrations were 1.61% w/v and 1.74% w/v at ebb tide and flood tide, respectively, of the Muya River. On the other hand, chloride concentrations were 1.17% w/v at ebb tide and 1.65% w/v at flood tide of the Yoshino River. The new method proved that chloride concentration corresponded well with results from Mohr and conductive methods. Therefore, the newly developed method can be exploited as common means to measure chloride concentration in aqueous solutions. Moreover, it is also valuable for application to other types of environmental samples.     

Effect of sodium metasilicate on natural flotability of coal

The effect of the quantity of sodium metasilicate and conditioning time in one set of experiments, and the effect of the solution concentration of sodium metasilicate, added at the same dosage and conditioning time to coal slurry, on flotability of a typical Indian coal in another set of experiments are studied. Two sets of 3² full factorial experiments are carried out to assess the effects of the aforementioned variables. The generated data are analyzed quantitatively and explained qualitatively. At 0.1% (w/v) solution concentration of solution added (0.02 g/kg) and 8 min conditioning time, sodium metasilicate acted as activator for kaolinite, whereas at 1.0% (w/v) solution concentration (0.2 g/kg), it acted as dispersant. The best observed condition of depressant is obtained at an added concentration of 10.0% (w/v, 0.2 g/kg) and 8 min conditioning time. The desired effect of the sodium metasilicate can be achieved by controlling its quantity, solution concentration added, and conditioning time.     

Lyotropic mesophase of cellulose in ammonia/ammonium thiocyanate solution

Solutions of cellulose in a mixture of 27:73 (w/w) of liquid ammonia and ammonium thiocyanate become liquid crystalline at room temperature above a certain critical concentration which depends on the degree of polymerization of the dissolved cellulose. The high optical rotations of the solution suggest that the cellulose mesophase is cholesteric in nature. In the two-phase region, the cellulose solutions exhibit negatively birefringent spherulites that possess both ringed and nonringed internal structures. The anisotropic solutions can be oriented by shear, indicating high potential for spinning them into useful fibers.     

Nano-composite Fibers Based on Poly(p-benzamide)-Montmorillonite

Nano-composites fibers made of poly(p-benzamide) (PBA), a rigid liquid crystalline polymer, and an inorganic nano-filler, montmorrilonite (MMT), were prepared by a wet spin process. Dimethylacetamide-3% (w/w) LiCl was used as a solvent. Polymer concentration, Cp = 6.5% (w/w), was maintained as high as possible, but lower than the critical concentration for the appearance of a liquid crystalline phase, Cp′ = 6.7%. MMT dispersed in PBA solution was 2.6–5.0% (w/w) with respect to PBA. The Polymer-MMT solutions show a liquid crystalline phase at polymeric concentration above 6.7% and they show by a high metastability and a slow phase separation. The PBA-MMT solutions show good spinnability and fibers are characterized by a significant increasing in modulus and breaking strength. WAXD and TEM analyses suggest that partially intercalated PBA/MMT nano-composite fibers have been obtained.     

Preparation of poly(acrylonitrile-co-methyl acrylate)/cellulose composite membranes and their application in wastewater treatment

In this study, new poly(acrylonitrile-co-methyl acrylate)/cellulose composite membranes were prepared firstly and then characterized. Then they were used in the removal of Fe(III) and Co(II) ions from wastewater with a stirred ultrafiltration cell. Also, alginic acid polymer was used as complexing agent to enhance the retention. In the filtration of Fe(III) and Co(II) solutions, the effects of pH, concentration of solutions, and pressure on the retention percentage were examined. Aqueous solutions of Fe(III) and Co(II) were filtrated at the stirred velocity of 400?rpm. The maximum retention percentage was found as 78.66% for Fe(III) solution at the pH of 3.3, concentration of 0.3?×?10^?4 M Fe(III) solution, pressure of 40?psi by using 2.5 (w/v)% Poly(acrylonitrile-co-methyl acrylate)/cellulose composite membranes. For Co(II) solutions the maximum retention percentage was found as 77% at the pH of 6, concentration of 0.3?×?10^?4 M Co(II) solution, pressure of 50?psi by using 2.5 (w/v)%Poly(acrylonitrile-co-methyl acrylate)/cellulose composite membranes.     

Surface activity and self-aggregation ability of three cationic quaternized aminocalix[4]arenes

The self-aggregation ability of three amphiphilic cationic calix[4]arenes possessing four quaternary amino groups (aminoCAs) was investigated using a variety of methods. All of the studied compounds possess high aggregation ability. Their critical aggregation concentration (CAC) values in water are in the 0.0009–0.04 % (w/v) concentration range. Several size populations of aggregates were detected by DLS for all three CAs, and restructuring of aggregates was observed to be dependent on concentration. Particles formed above CAC were attributed to formation of vesicular structures (vesicles). The coexistence of other type of aggregates (presumably micelles) with vesicles was observed in the aqueous solution of CAs 2 and 3 from concentrations of 0.5 and 0.8 % (w/v), respectively. The filtration procedure was found to be a significant factor since the obtained data from filtered and unfiltered samples was different. The particle sizes obtained by TEM measurements were somewhat correlated with the DLS data for unfiltered CAs solutions. An analysis of the aggregate composition was undertaken by a size-exclusion method using semi-permeable cellophane membranes with different MWCO. A negative deviation from linearity of permeability flux profile starting from 0.8 % (w/v) concentration of donor phase indicated that the fraction of large aggregates at this point is significant enough that the molecules could not easily permeate through the membranes.     

Formation of concentration gradient and its application to DNA capillary electrophoresis

A new method to introduce the concentration gradient into the capillary has been developed and its application to DNA capillary electrophoresis is presented. The concentration gradient produced by mixing 5% w/v polyacrylamide-co-poly(N-dimethylacrylamide) (PAM-co-PDMA) solution and 1 x Tris/N-tris(hydroxymethyl)methyl-3-amino-propanesulfonic acid/EDTA (TT) + 5 M urea buffer was successfully achieved by using two programmable syringe pumps with strict control of dead volume, flow rate, and pressure balance. This method has the advantages of high stability, reproducibility, and versatility. The column with concentration gradient greatly improved the resolution, especially for the large DNA fragments, due to a decrease in band width broadening with time. A column containing 2-4% w/v gradient in four steps had a longer read length, shorter separation time and better resolution (after 380 base) than that of 4% w/v single concentration polymer solution. The number of steps in the gradient had almost no effect on the performance. The change in the average concentration by relocating the position of the same step gradient, i.e., a combination of different low concentration to high concentration polymer solution ratios, resulted in a different migration time, read length and resolution.     

Novel Dispersion of MWCNTs in Polystyrene Polymer Induced by the Addition of 3-Hydroxy-2-Napthoic Acid

This article reports an extensive investigation of the unique dispersion behavior of solutions with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and 3-hydroxy-2-napthoic acid (β-HNA) in tetrahydrofuran (THF) solvent, which results into a multifold enhancement in the electrical properties of polystyrene (PS). A number of solutions with 0.4% of MWCNTs (w/v) and β-HNA (0–1%, w/v) in THF were prepared separately. MWCNTs precipitated out in THF solvent shortly after the preparation and formed two distinct phase regions (2φ). Gratifyingly, addition of β-HNA solution to the MWCNTs solution offered an unprecedented enhancement in the dispersion of MWCNTs. Such dispersion in solutions with only 0.02% β-HNA (w/v) was found to be stable up to 2 weeks at room temperature. FTIR spectroscopy was incorporated to illustrate the adsorption of β-HNA onto the surface of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). After this successful dispersion, nanocomposites solutions comprising of 0.067% β-HNA (w/v), 6.7% PS (w/v), and varying concentrations of MWCNTs (0–0.33%, w/v) were prepared. A remarkable dispersion behavior of MWCNTs in the presence of polymer was also observed. Finally, thin films made up of consistent polystyrene/β-HNA concentrations and increasing amounts of MWCNTs were prepared by casting technique to investigate the influence of dispersion on the electrical properties of the film. The dispersion significantly affected the DC electrical conductivity and incorporation of 5% MWCNTs elevated the electrical conductivity up to 10 orders of magnitude with respect to neat PS.     

The effect of alkane tail length of CiE8 surfactants on transport to the silicone oil-water interface

The phase behavior and rheological properties of an anionic surfactant, bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT), mixed with a zwitterionic tetradecyldimethylamine oxide (C(14)DMAO) in aqueous solutions, were studied at different ratios, R=w(AOT)/(w(C(14)DMAO + w(AOT)). When R=1, the 6.0 wt% AOT solution is two-phase with dense vesicles as the lower phase. With an increase of C(14)DMAO fraction (decreasing R) at a total concentration of 6.0 wt%, the lower vesicle-phase (L(αv)-phase) extends to generate a single L(αv)-phase. Then the L(αv)-phase turns into a viscoelastic wormlike micellar phase and finally rod-like or spherical C(14)DMAO micelles. The wormlike micellar solutions (from R=0.3 to 0.2) are highly viscoelastic, indicating the formation of rigid network structures. The rheological properties of the viscoelastic solutions exhibit a typical Maxwell characteristic at low and intermediate oscillatory frequencies. A pronounced temperature effect on the wormlike micellar structures can be observed by rheological studies. With an increase in temperature, the samples become less structured due to shortening of the micelles. After introducing certain additives, e.g., octanol and divalent metal ions, a transition from wormlike micellar phases to birefringent L(αv)-phases was observed.     

Mixed solvent effect on lithium-coordination to poly(ethylene oxide)

This article presents a comparative study of the structure formation of poly (ethylene oxide) PEO/Li complexes in aqueous and acetonitrile solutions using small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). We demonstrate that in acetonitrile solutions, Li-cations coordinate to the ether–oxygen of the monomeric unit, and this results in charging and stretching of the polymer chains. This is found to be in contrast to aqueous solutions, where the ions remain free in solution. In particular, we demonstrate that the “binding” and “screening” regimes that were observed in case of PEO/K⁺ solutions in acetonitrile are also found in the respective PEO/Li⁺ solutions. The addition of water to solutions in acetonitrile increasingly diminishes the ion-coordination to the polymer, eventually resulting in neutral polymer chains at water contents above ϕ*_water = 30% (w/v). The preferential adsorption of water on PEO in mixtures of acetonitrile and water is evidenced by the pronounced stretching of polymer chains, in particular, at a water content of ϕ_water = 25% and 33.33% (w/v) where complete stretching of the chains is observed. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 3642–3650, 2006     

Total and inorganic mercury determination in fish tissue by flow injection cold vapour atomic fluorescence spectrometry

A simple and reliable method for Hg determination in fish samples has been developed. Lyophilised fish tissue samples were extracted in a 25% (w/v) tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) solution; the extracts were then analysed by FI-CVAFS. This method can be used to determine total and inorganic Hg, using the same FI manifold. For total Hg determination, a 0.1% (w/v) KMnO₄ solution was added to the FI manifold at the sample zone, followed by the addition of a 0.5% (w/v) SnCl₂ solution, whereas inorganic Hg was determined by adding a 0.1% (w/v) L-cysteine solution followed by a 1.0% (w/v) SnCl₂ solution to the FI system. The organic fraction was determined as the difference between total and inorganic Hg. Sample preparation, reagent consumption and parameters that can influence the FI-CVAFS performance were also evaluated. The limit of detection for this method is 3.7 ng g^?1 for total Hg and 4.3 ng g^?1 for inorganic Hg. The relative standard deviation for a 1.0 µg L^?1 CH₃Hg standard solution (n = 20) was 1.1%, and 1.3% for a 1.0 µg L^–1 Hg²⁺ standard solution (n = 20). Accuracy was assessed by the analysis of Certified Reference Material (dogfish: DORM-2, NRCC). Recoveries of 99.1% for total Hg and 93.9% inorganic Hg were obtained. Mercury losses were not observed when sample solutions were re-analysed after a seven day period of storage at 4°C.     

Electrospinning of polystyrene/poly(2‐methoxy‐5‐(2′‐ethylhexyloxy)‐1,4‐phenylene vinylene) blends

Ultrafine polystyrene (PS)/poly(2‐methoxy‐5‐(2′‐ethylhexyloxy)‐1,4‐phenylene vinylene) (MEH‐PPV) fibers were successfully prepared by electrospinning of PS/MEH‐PPV solutions in chloroform, 1,2‐dichloroethane, and tetrahydrofuran (THF). Three concentrations of the solutions were prepared: 8.5, 16, and 23.5% (w/v), with the compositional weight ratios between PS and MEH‐PPV being 7.5:1, 15:1, and 22.5:1, respectively. Smooth fibers only observed from 23.5% (w/v) PS/MEH‐PPV solution in chloroform. Improvement in the electrospinnability of 8.5% (w/v) PS/MEH‐PPV solution in chloroform was achieved by addition of an organic salt, pyridinium formate (PF), or by addition of a minor solvent with a high dielectric constant value. The average diameters of the as‐spun PS/MEH‐PPV fibers were between 0.30 and 5.11 μm. Last, photoluminescence of 8.5% (w/v) solutions of PS/MEH‐PPV in a mixed solvent system of chloroform and 1,2‐dichloroethane of various volumetric compositions and the resulting as‐spun fibers was investigated and compared. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 1881–1891, 2005     

Micellar electrokinetic chromatography of polychlorinated biphenyl congeners using a polymeric surfactant as the pseudostationary phase

Micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) of highly hydrophobic compounds is generally difficult using sodium dodecyl sulfate micellar solutions. The polymeric surfactant, polysodium undecyl sulfate (poly-SUS) has been used to separate moderately to highly hydrophobic polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners by MEKC in the absence of cyclodextrins. Parameters such as concentration of acetonitrile (ACN), polymeric surfactant concentration, and the effect of pH were examined. Optimum MEKC conditions to get baseline resolution of nine PCBs was 7.5 mM borate in 40% (v/v) ACN fraction buffered at pH 9.2 using 0.5% (w/v) poly-SUS. The applied voltage was 30 kV and the temperature was maintained at 25 degrees C. Elution order for each PCB congener was found to be dependent on the degree of chlorination and hydrophobic character.     

Production of fuel alcohol from wheat by VHG technology

Very high gravity (VHG) wheat mashes containing more than 300 g of dissolved solids per liter were prepared and fermented with active dry yeast at 20, 25, 30, and 35°C with and without yeast extract as nutrient supplement. At 20°C, mashes with 38% (w/v) dissolved solids end-fermented without any nutrient supplementation and maximum ethanol yields of 23.8% (v/v) were obtained. With increasing temperatures, the sugar consumption decreased. Addition of yeast extract stimulated the rate of fermentation at all temperatures, but did not increase the total amount of sugar consumed. The stimulatory effect of yeast extract on cell multiplication decreased with increasing sugar concentration, and virtually no difference in cell number was observed between yeast extract-supplemented and unsupplemented mashes at sugar concentrations above 33% (w/v). The fermentative capacity of the yeast (expressed as maximum specific rate of sugar consumption) remained the same at all sugar concentrations in unsupplemented mashes, but decreased in yeast extract-supplemented mashes at sugar concentrations below 33% (w/v). When the sugar concentration was above 33% sugar (w/v), the fermentative capacity in yeast extract-supplemented mashes was greater than that observed in unsupplemented samples.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of the anticancer drug oxantrazole in rat whole blood and tissues.

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) assay was developed for the antitumor anthrapyrazole analogue, oxantrazole (OX), in rat whole blood and tissues. Blood samples were mixed with equal volumes of a 25% (w/v) aqueous solution of L-ascorbic acid, whereas tissue samples were homogenized with 1.5-3 volumes of an L-ascorbic acid-methanol-water (1:10:1, w/v/v) mixture to prevent oxidative degradation of OX. Samples were then treated with 60% (v/v) perchloric acid (25-30 microliters/ml of stabilized sample) to precipitate proteins, and centrifuged, with the resultant supernatants analyzed on HPLC utilizing a C8 column. The mobile phase for blood and urine samples consisted of 8% (v/v) glacial acetic acid, 13% (v/v) acetonitrile, 79% (v/v) water, 0.16% (w/v) sodium acetate, and 0.05% (w/v) L-ascorbic acid (final pH 2.7), and was pumped at 1.8 ml/min. Tissue samples were eluted at 2 ml/min with a mobile phase consisting of 8% (v/v) glacial acetic acid, 12% (v/v) acetonitrile, 80% (v/v) water, 0.16% (w/v) sodium acetate, and 0.0;5% (w/v) L-ascorbic acid. OX and internal standard were detected at 514 nm and had retention times of 2.3 and 3.1 min, respectively. The limit of quantitation of OX was 25-50 ng/g. Recovery of OX from biological samples ranged from 50 +/- 0.9% in spleen to 102.8 +/- 1.8% in RG-2 glioma. The analytical method was applied to a pharmacokinetic study in rats.     

Rapid determination of lead and cadmium in biological fluids by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry using Zeeman correction

Procedures for the electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometric determination of lead and cadmium in urine, serum and blood are developed. For serum and blood, the samples are diluted by incorporating 0.015% (w/v) Triton X-100 and 0.1% (w/v) ammonium dihydrogenphosphate to the solutions, which are then introduced directly into the furnace. A solution containing 15% (w/v) hydrogen peroxide and 0.65% (w/v) nitric acid is also introduced into the atomizer by means of a separate injection. Zeeman-based correction is recommended. Both conventional and fast-heating programs are discussed. Calibration is carried out using the standard additions method. The reliability of the procedures is checked by analyzing three certified reference materials and by recovery studies.     

Enantioselectivity of basic analytes in CZE enantioseparation under reversed-polarity mode using sulfated beta-cyclodextrins as chiral selectors: An unusual temperature effect

Temperature effects on the enantioselectivity of basic analytes in CZE enantioseparation were studied under reversed-polarity mode using randomly sulfate-substituted beta-CDs (MI-S-beta-CD) as chiral seletors. Two catecholamines (epinephrine and isoproterenol) and two structurally related compounds (octopamine and norephedrine) were selected as test compounds in an electrophoretic system at low pH. The mobility differences between the (+)-enantiomers and the (-)-enantiomers of the two catecholamines and dopamine at 40 degrees C are greater than those at 25 degrees C with MI-S-beta-CD, even at a concentration as low as 0.3% w/v. Thus the enantioselectivity of these three basic analytes increases with increasing temperature. This phenomenon results from the inequality of the temperature effect on the mobility of the two enantiomers. In contrast, norephedrine behaves differently. The (+)-enantiomers of these basic analytes were found to migrate faster than the (-)-enantiomers. Consequently, the unusual temperature effect on the enantioselectivity can be observed when the mobility difference of the (+)-enantiomer between 40 and 25 degrees C is greater than that of the (-)-enantiomer using MI-S-beta-CD at a concentration greater than about 0.7% w/v for enantioseparation of isoproterenol, 0.4% w/v for epinephrine, and 0.3% w/v for octopamine. This unusual temperature effect offers the advantages to enhance enantioselectivity, to improve enantioseparation, and to reduce migration times.     

Storage and stability of inorganic and methylmercury solutions

Summary The storage behaviour of mercurychloride and methylmercury chloride solutions in deionized water and in seawater stored in polyethylene (PE), pyrex glass and teflon (PTFE) containers at various concentration levels (4 ppb, 50 ppt, natural seawater concentrations) was studied using various preservatives and container pretreament procedures. For PE bottles, the best results are obtained, after pretreatment of the bottles with an acidified KMnO₄ solution, with a 0.05% (v/v) H₂SO₄+0.02% (w/v) KMnO₄ preservative. However, the solution becomes heterogeneous rather fast, due to the formation of a MnO₂ precipitate. Acidified (pH 1 with HNO₃) deionized or seawater samples stored in pyrex glass BOD-bottles (analyses are carried out in these bottles too) or teflon containers are stable with respect to inorganic mercury for at least 1 month. Instead of acidification an oxidant such as BrCl can also be used to stabilize the solution. Methylmercury solutions (80 ppt) in deionized water (pH 6) and stored in teflon containers are stable for at least 1 month. In glass bottles, the solution should be acidified to pH 1. Methylmercury seems to be unstable in acidified seawater samples (pH 1 with HNO₃); after 2 weeks about 60% of the methylmercury is converted into inorganic mercury.     

Polymer-Enhanced Ultrafiltration of Fe(III) and Cu(II) Aqueous Solutions Using Poly(Vinyl Alcohol)-Alginic Acid/Cellulose Membranes

This study deals with the removal of Fe(III) and Cu(II) from dilute aqueous solutions using a polymer-enhanced ultrafiltration process. The ultrafiltration studies were carried out in batch stirred cell and the applied pressure was controlled by nitrogen gas. Properties of the composite membranes and its application in metal removal from aqueous solutions were studied. A composite poly(vinyl alcohol)-alginic acid/cellulose membranes were prepared by coating poly(vinyl alcohol)-alginic acid mixture solutions on the filter paper. Poly(vinyl alcohol) and alginic acid were also used as complexing agents to enhance the retention of metal ions. In the filtration of Fe(III) and Cu(II) solutions, the effects of membrane contents, pressure and pH on the retention and the flux were studied. The maximum retention of metals was found as 99% for Fe(III) solution at pressure of 45 psi, pH of 3 in the presence of poly(vinyl alcohol) as complexing agent by using 0.50 (w/v)% [(75 Poly(vinyl alcohol)/25 Alginic acid) (w/w)]/cellulose composite membranes.     

Reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of primary and secondary aliphatic alcohols as phthalate monoesters by UV detection

Summary Determination of primary and secondary aliphatic alcohols in aqueous and nonaqueous solutions by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is described. The alcohol is derivatized with phthalic anhydride to yield the corresponding monophthalate. Separation of the derivative is achieved on an ODS-10 reverse phase (RP) column by elution with an appropriate isocratic mobile phase of acetonitrile and aqueous phosphoric acid (0.1%). Detection is accomplished by UV absorption at 230 nm or 280 nm giving linear calibration plots, for alcohols in aqueous solution from 0.05% to 0.50% (w/v) and in pyridine solution from 0.0025% to 0.0250% (w/v).