Cellulose whiskers reinforced polyvinyl alcohol copolymers nanocomposites

Nanocomposite materials were prepared from copolymers of polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl acetate and a colloidal aqueous suspension of cellulose whiskers prepared from cotton linter. The degree of hydrolysis of the matrix was varied in order to vary the hydrophilic character of the polymer matrix and then the degree of interaction between the filler and the matrix. Nanocomposite films were conditioned at various moisture contents, and the dynamic mechanical and thermal properties were characterized using dynamic mechanical analysis and differential scanning calorimetry, respectively. Tensile tests were performed at room temperature to estimate mechanical properties of the films in the non linear range. All the results show that stronger filler/matrix interactions occur for fully hydrolyzed PVA compared to partially hydrolyzed samples. For moist samples, a water accumulation at the interface was evidenced. The reinforcing effect was found to be all the higher as the degree of hydrolysis of the matrix was high.     

Poly(ortho‐toluidine) Modified Carbon Paste Electrode: A Sensor for Electrocatalytic Reduction of Nitrite

The electrocatalytic reduction of nitrite has been studied by poly(ortho‐toluidine) films modified carbon paste electrode (P‐OT/MCPE). Cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry techniques were used to investigate the suitability of poly(ortho‐toluidine) as a mediator for the electrocatalytic nitrite reduction in aqueous solution with various pH. Results showed that pH 0.00 is the most suitable for this purpose. In the optimum pH, the reduction of nitrite occurs at a potential about 600 mV more positive than unmodified carbon paste electrode. The catalytic reaction rate constant, (k_h), was calculated 8.68×10² M^?1 s^?1 by the data of chronoamperometry. The catalytic reduction peak current was linearly dependent on the nitrite concentration and the linearity range obtained was 5.00×10^?4 M–1.90×10^?2 M. Detection limit has been found to be 3.38×10^?4 M (2σ). This method has been successfully employed for quantification of nitrite in real sample.     

A Sensitive Method for the Determination of Methadone in Biological Samples Using Nano-Structured α-Carboxy Polypyrrol as a Sorbent of SPME

Nano-structured α-carboxy polypyrrol (PPy- α-COOH) was used as a coating of solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fiber to increase the extraction efficiency of headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) of methadone (MDN) in biological samples. The carboxy-endcapped polypyrrole film was prepared via electrochemical deposition on a platinum wire. A nano-fibrous structure of PPy-α-COOH with a diameter of 120 nm was obtained. The porous surface structure of the film, revealed by scanning electron microscopy, provided high surface areas and allowed for high extraction efficiency of methadone. Then the analysis of the extracts was carried out by a gas chromatography-flame ionization detector. In order to achieve maximum extraction efficiency, different parameters affecting the extraction conditions were optimized. Under the optimized conditions, the limit of detections and the limit of quantifications of the method in the range of 0.02–0.035 and 0.06–0.10 μg L⁻¹ were obtained for different matrices. The relative recoveries in different samples were in the range of 95–97%. Finally, the feasibility of the proposed method was successfully confirmed by extraction and determination of MDN in human urine and plasma samples in the range of microgram per liter, and suitable results were obtained (RSDs <5.3%).

     

Tetrakis(acetonitrile)copper(I) hexafluorophosphate catalyzed coumarin synthesis via pechmann condensation under solvent‐free condition

Tetrakis(acetonitrile)copper(I) hexafluorophosphate ( Cu(CH₃CN)₄PF₆) is used as an efficient catalyst in the Pechmann condensation reaction of phenols with ethyl acetoacetate leading to the formation of coumarin derivatives in excellent yields under solvent free conditions at ambient temperature. The method is simple, solvent‐free and gives excellent yields in a short reaction time. J. Heterocyclic Chem.,(2011).     

A palladium-catalyzed one-pot procedure for the regioselective dimerization and cyanation of indoles

A one-pot method for the regioselective dimerization and cyanation of indoles has been developed. The reaction uses safe and nontoxic K₄[Fe(CN)₆]·3H₂O as the cyanating agent which introduces selectively a cyano group into the 3-position of biindoles with high efficiency.     

A stereoselective three‐component reaction: One‐pot synthesis of cis‐isoquinolonic acids catalyzed by silica sulfuric acid under mild and heterogeneous conditions

A mild and stereoselective three‐component one‐step synthesis of cis‐isoquinolonic acid using silica sulfuric acid as a heterogeneous catalyst from an aldehyde, amine and homophthalic anhydride in acetonitrile is described. This new method produces pure products in high yields (81‐91%).     

Electrocatalytic Oxidation and Determination of Cysteamine by Poly‐N,N‐dimethylaniline/Ferrocyanide Film Modified Carbon Paste Electrode

Functionalized poly‐N,N‐dimethylaniline film was prepared by adsorption of ferrocyanide onto the polymer forming at the surface of carbon paste electrode (CPE) in aqueous solution by using potentiostatic method. The electrocatalytic ability of poly‐N,N‐dimethylaniline/ferrocyanide film modified carbon paste electrode (PDMA/FMCPE) was demonstrated by oxidation of cysteamine. Cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry techniques were used to investigate this ability. Results showed that pH 7.00 is the most suitable for this purpose. It is found that the catalytic reaction rate constant, (k_h), is equal to 2.142×10³ M^?1 s^?1 by the data of chronoamperometry. The catalytic reduction peak current was linearly dependent on the cysteamine concentration and the linearity range obtained was 8.00×10^?5 M–1.14×10^?2 M. Detection limit was determined 7.97×10^?5 M (2σ). This method has been successfully employed for quantification of cysteamine in real sample.     

Amenability properties of the centres of group algebras

Let G be a locally compact group, and ZL¹(G) be the centre of its group algebra. We show that when G is compact ZL¹(G) is not amenable when G is either non-abelian and connected, or is a product of infinitely many finite non-abelian groups. We also, study, for some non-compact groups G, some conditions which imply amenability and hyper-Tauberian property, for ZL¹(G).     

Growth of KCl crystal by Czochralski method and influence of nanodiamond impurity on its hardness and optical properties

KCl alkali halide crystal with different nanodiamond impurity was grown by Czochralski method. X‐Ray diffraction of the outcome samples reveals that they are still single crystal. Also crystal hardness observation reveals that the hardness of KCl single crystal has been increased by adding different percentage of nanodiamond impurity. In addition, the study of FTIR spectrums of the pure and doped crystals represents that the KCl optical properties has not changed.