Structural change in a series of protonated layered perovskite compounds, HLnTiO4 (Ln=La, Nd and Y)

A deuterated n=1 Ruddlesden-Popper compound, DLnTiO₄ (HLnTiO₄, Ln=La, Nd and Y), was prepared by an ion-exchange reaction of Na⁺ ions in NaLnTiO₄ with D⁺ ions, and its structure was analyzed by Rietveld method using powder neutron diffraction data. The structure analyses showed that DLaTiO₄ and DNdTiO₄ crystallized in the space group P4/nmm with a=3.7232(1) and c=12.3088(1) Å, and a=3.7039(1) and c=12.0883(1) Å, respectively. On the other hand, DYTiO₄ crystallized in the space group P2₁/c with a=11.460(1), b=5.2920(4), c=5.3628(5) Å and β=90.441(9)°. The loaded protons were found to statistically occupy the sites around an apical oxygen of TiO₆ octahedron in the interlayer of these compounds, rather than Na atom sites in NaLnTiO₄.     

Application of an ovomucoid-conjugated polymer column for the enantiospecific determination of chlorprenaline concentrations in plasma

An ovomucoid-conjugated polymer column was prepared for the liquid chromatographic resolution of racemic compounds. The column showed strong retention of acidic solutes, a characteristic attributed to the structure of the stationary phase support gel. Although the efficiency of the column was lower than that of an ovomucoid-conjugated silica gel column, enantiospecific chlorprenaline determination in plasma was achieved with solute amounts from 1.0 ng to 0.1 microgram.     

Biooxidation of a synthetic waste by a microbial film grown on the liquid surface in a shallow flow reactor

A new process of biological waste treatment was developed by use of microbial films grown on the liquid surface in a shallow flow reactor. The performance of this process was tested using a synthetic waste that contained acetic acid as a model organic pollutant. About 90% of acetic acid (10,000 mg/L-1) in the synthetic waste was removed by setting alpha tau: (alpha specific liquid surface area, cm-1, and tau: hydraulic liquid detention time, h) higher than 15 cm-1/h. It was necessary to maintain alpha large enough (more than 10 cm-1 in most cases) to satisfy oxygen demand for the biooxidation. The oxygen balance and TOC determinations showed that the acetic acid removed was completely oxidized with oxygen transferred through the liquid surface. This process would contribute to energy savings, since it requires no forced aeration for oxygen supply.     

Colloidal properties of α-sulfonated fatty acid methyl esters and their applicability in hard water

The calcium salts of -sulfonated fatty acid methyl esters were prepared, and the physico-chemical properties such as solubility, critical micelle concentration, aggregation number, and precipitation phase boundary were studied to clarify the reasons for the good hardness tolerance manifested by -sulfonated fatty acid methyl esters.The Krafft point of the calcium salts of -sulfonated fatty acid methyl esters were not necessarily lower than room temperature, but the rate of crystallization in hard water was extremely slow compared with the calcium salt of dodecyl sulfate, which has been known as an insufficient surfactant in terms of hardness tolerance.     

An efficient stereoselective synthesis of difluoromethylated alkenes in a microreactor

Synthetic utility of microreactors and highly stereoselective isomerization (>99:<1) of terminal difluoromethylated alkenes to (E)-difluoromethylated alkenes with TBAF in DMF, are described.     

Soluble and Planar 2,9-Diazaperopyrenes through Reductive Aromatization of Perylene Diimides: Tunable Emission and Aggregation Behaviors

Reductive aromatization of perylene diimides with acid anhydrides in the presence of Mn or Zn metals provides soluble and planar 2,9-diazaperopyrenes with ester groups at 1,3,8,10-positions. The pivaloxy groups at the peripheral positions can be transformed into a variety of aryl groups through nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling of ester groups. Emission colors of diazaperopyrenes are tunable by the peripheral substituents. The peripheral substituents also affect the aggregation behaviors of 2,9-diazaperopyrenes in the solution and solid states.