Arsenic Speciation Analysis in Solutions Treated with Zeolites

Experiments have been carried out to study the behaviour of organoarsenicals treated with zeolites by means of speciation analysis. IC-ICP-MS was applied to identify and quantify arsenite, arsenate and the following organoarsenicals: monomethylarsonic acid (MMA), dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), trimethylarsine oxide (TMAO), tetramethylarsonium bromide (TMA⁺), arsenobetaine (AsB) and arsenocholine (AsC). Zeolites loaded with ferrous ions did not significantly increase the retention of inorganic arsenic species compared to the native zeolites, while there was a ten-fold removal of arsenate relating to arsenite. The formation of As(V) and DMA in the leachates containing clinoptilolites and mordenites was confirmed in the presence of natural and synthetic zeolites. Arsenobetaine and arsenocholine yielded higher levels of arsenate than the methylated species.     

Evaluation of a purge-and-trap injection system for capillary gas chromatography-microwave induced plasma-atomic emission spectrometry for the determination of volatile selenium compounds in water

A method is presented for the selective determination of the volatile selenium species dimethylselenide and dimethyldiselenide, using a commercially available purge-and-trap injection system coupled to capillary gas chromatography-microwave induced plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. The efficiency of the purging step was evaluated and the parameters affecting the purge and trap processes were optimized. The method was applied to the determination of volatile selenium compounds in lake water. Relative detection limits of 2ng/l for dimethylselenide and dimethyldiselenide, corresponding to an absolute detection limit of 10 pg, were achieved.     

Solid-phase microextraction for qualitative and quantitative determination of migrated degradation products of antioxidants in an organic aqueous solution

Low molecular weight aromatic substances may migrate out from plastic packaging to their contents, especially if they consist of organic aqueous solutions or oils. It is, therefore, extremely important to be able to identify and quantify any migrated substances in such solutions, even at very low concentrations. We have in this work investigated and evaluated the use of solid-phase microextraction for the specific task of extraction from an organic aqueous solution such as a simulated pharmaceutical solution consisting of 10 vol.% ethanol in water. The goal was furthermore to investigate the possibility of simultaneously identifying and quantifying the substances in spite of differences in their chemical structures. Methods were developed and evaluated for extraction both with direct sampling and with headspace sampling. Difficulties appeared due to the ethanol in the solution and the minute amounts of substances present. We have shown that a simultaneous quantification of migrated low molecular weight degradation products of antioxidants using only one fibre is possible if the extraction method and temperature are adjusted in relation to the concentration levels of the analytes. Comparions were made with solid-phase extraction.     

Micellar solutions of sulfobetaine surfactants in water-ethylene glycol mixtures: surface tension, fluorescence, spectroscopic, conductometric, and kinetic studies

Micellization in water-ethylene glycol (EG) N-dodecyl, N-tetradecyl, and N-hexadecyl-N,N-dimethyl-3-ammonio-1-propanesulfonate (SB3-12, SB3-14, and SB3-16, respectively) micellar solutions, with the weight percent of EG changing within the range 0-40, was studied by means of surface tension measurements. Information about the influence of the added EG on the aggregation number of the sulfobetaine micelles and on the polarity of the interfacial region of micelles was obtained through fluorescence and spectroscopic measurements. Surface tension measurements also provide information about the dependence of the surface excess concentration, the minimum area per surfactant molecule, the surface pressure at the cmc, and the standard Gibbs energy of adsorption on the added weight percent of the organic solvent. The Gordon parameter of the water-EG mixtures was also estimated by means of surface tension measurements. The thermodynamic and structural changes originated by the presence of EG control the micellar kinetic effects observed in the reaction methyl 4-nitrobenzenesulfonate + Br(-) occurring in the water-EG sulfobetaine micellar solutions. Information about the distribution of bromide ions between the bulk and micellar pseudophases was obtained through conductivity measurements. The kinetic micellar effects were quantitatively explained by using the pseudophase kinetic model.     

Vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cell culture on NaOH-treated poly(epsilon-caprolactone) films: a preliminary study for vascular graft development

Tissue engineering offers the potential of providing vessels that can be used to replace diseased and damaged native blood vessels. The endothelization of a synthetic vascular graft minimizes the failures associated with blood clotting and platelet activation. The aim of this study was to culture vascular-derived endothelial and smooth muscle cells on both untreated and NaOH-treated poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) films, a biocompatible and bio-resorbable polymer, and to evaluate the behavior of both cell types as a preliminary study for vascular graft development. PCL films were prepared by hot pressing; characterized by DSC, IR, SEM, and scanning force microscopy; and treated with NaOH to increase the surface hydrophilicity before cell culture. Endothelial and smooth muscle cells, isolated from pig cava vein, were characterized by immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy studies of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and alpha-smooth muscle actin. Good adhesion, growth, viability and morphology of both the endothelial and smooth muscle cells on PCL films were obtained, but a light stimulation of mitochondrial activity was observed during short culture times. NaOH treatment improved the adhesion and enhanced the proliferation in both cell types. This verified the possible use of this modified polymer as a support in the preparation of a synthetic vascular graft. [Diagram: see text] SEM micrograph of smooth muscle cells cultured on NaOH-treated PCL film. (Original magnification: 1000x).     

Reaction of allylsilanes and allylstannanes with alkynes catalyzed by electrophilic late transition metal chlorides

The intramolecular reaction of allylsilanes and allylstannanes with alkynes proceeds catalytically in the presence of Pt(II), Pd(II), Ru(II), and Au(III) chlorides. Although more limited, AgOTf also catalyzes the cyclization. Usually, PtCl2 as the catalyst in methanol or acetone gives the best results. The reaction proceeds by exo attack of the allyl nucleophile on the alkyne to form five- or six-membered ring carbocycles. The reaction generally proceeds with anti stereoselectivity. However, a terminally substituted trimethylsilyl derivative reacts by a syn-type addition. The intermediate alkenylpalladium complex has been trapped with allyl chloride to form an allylated derivative with an additional carbon-carbon bond.     

Fixed-bed adsorption of carbon dioxide/methane mixtures on silicalite pellets

The adsorption of carbon dioxide and methane on silicalite pellets packed on a fixed bed has been studied. Equilibrium and kinetic measurements of the adsorption of carbon dioxide and methane have been performed, and a binary adsorption isotherm for carbon dioxide/methane mixtures has been obtained. A model based on the LDF approximation for the mass transfer has been used to describe the breakthrough curves obtained experimentally. A PSA cycle has been proposed for obtaining methane with purity higher than 98% from carbon dioxide/methane mixtures containing 38% and 50% methane, and its performance has been simulated using the proposed model. The simulation results show that silicalite can be a suitable adsorbent for employment in a PSA separation process for carbon dioxide removal from coalseam and landfill gases.     

S-Shaped composition dependence of excess thermodynamic quantities for cyclohexane mixtures with globular alkanes

Expansion coefficients , isothermal compressibilities, thermal pressure coefficients and heat capacities have been measured at 25°C for the cyclohexane+trans-decalin system. An S-shaped composition dependence, positivelnegative for highllow cyclohexane compositions is found for C _p ^E dV ^E /dT and the thermal expansion contribution to C _p ^E namely VT. The thermal motion contribution to C _p ^E , namely C _v is close to zero. The positive excursion of these mixing quantities at high cyclohexane content is anomalous. Correspondingly, the mixing quantity-VT deviates strongly in this region from the predicted equality with H ^E . The literature and this work show that all these excess quantities behave similarly for cyclohexane mixed with cyclooctane, methylcyclohexane and some highly branched alkanes. The unusual composition dependence of the thermodynamic quantities is consistent with order occurring when any large alkane molecule of globular shape is added to cyclohexane. This is speculatively associated with an interference by the globular alkane with the relatively free rotation of cyclohexane molecules.     

Indirect spectrophotometric determination of cyanide

A spectrophotometric method for cyanide based on its inhibition of the colour formation reaction between nickel(II) and 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolylazo)-2,6-dihydroxybenzoic acid has been developed, and allows the determination of down to 0.1 g of cyanide. Most of the interferences can be avoided by displacement of the hydrogen cyanide using an arsine generator.     

INFLUENCE OF MOLECULAR WEIGHT AND PERIODATE-MODIFICATION OF β-D-GLUCANS FROM PORIA COCOS SCLEROTIUM ON ANTITUMOR ACTIVITIES*

In this work, influence of molecular weight and periodate modification ofβ-D-glucans isolated from Poria cocos sclerotium on the antitumor activities against Sar-coma 180 and Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) tumor was studied. The results show thattwo glucans PC3 (linear β-(1→3)-D-glucan) and PC4 [β-(1→3)-D-glucan with a fewof branches and glucuronic acid] are devoid of antitumor activity. However, when theglucans were modified by periodate oxidation, borohydride reduction and mild hydrolysisor partially hydrolysis, the derivatives have obvious antitumor activities. The decreasein molecular weight of glucans after periodate modification hardly affects their antitumoractions, but on the other hand, the decrease of molecular weight without periodate modi-fication could lead to an enhancement of the antitumor activities. Moreover, the glucansand these derivatives have much higher enhancement ratios of body weight of mice thanthat of 5-Fluorouracil (5-Fu), suggesting that they are less toxic than 5-Fu.