Rice Bran as an Excellent Sorbent for Heavy Metals from Aqueous Media, 1. Optimization of Conditions

In this two‐part report, the efficiency of rice bran in removal of heavy metals such as cadmium, lead, zinc, nickel, copper and iron(III) from aqueous solution is investigated. The different experimental conditions such as pH, temperature, volume of solution, bran amount, particle size, exchange time, stirring speed, etc. are studied, and the optimum conditions are selected in part 1 of this series of reports. The efficiency of bran in removal of heavy metals is presented with and without treatments. For treatment, heat or acid, alkali and salt solutions were used. The results obtained show that after treating with saturated sodium chloride solution, its efficiency for Ni²⁺ and Zn²⁺ improves. At pH 5, all studied cations have recoveries more than 93% (lead and cadmium 100%). The exchange speed is very high and has preference over the classical ion exchangers.     

Novel coated-graphite membrane sensor based on N,N′-dimethylcyanodiaza-18-crown-6 for the determination of ultra-trace amounts of lead

A novel selective membrane electrode for determination of ultra-trace amount of lead was prepared. The PVC membrane containing N,N′-dimethylcyanodiaza-18-cown-6 (DMCDA18C6) directly coated on a graphite electrode, exhibits a Nernstian response for Pb²⁺ ions over a very wide concentration range (from 1.0×10⁻² to 1.0×10⁻⁷ M) with a limit of detection of 7.0×10⁻⁸ M (∼14.5 ppb). It has a fast response time of ∼10 s and can be used for at least 2 months without any major deviation in potential. The electrode revealed very good selectivity with respect to all common alkali, alkaline earth, transition and heavy metal ions. The proposed sensor was used as an indicator electrode in potentiometric titration of lead ions and in determination of lead in edible oil, human hair and water samples. The proposed sensor was found to be superior to the best Pb²⁺-selective electrodes reported in terms of detection limit and selectivity coefficient.     

Experimental and Theoretical Study of the Effect of Moisture on Methane Adsorption and Desorption by Activated Carbon at 273.5 K

Adsorption and desorption of methane by activated carbon (AC) at constant temperature and at various pressures were investigated. The effect of moisture was also studied. A volumetric method was used, up to 40 bar, at a temperature of 273.5 K. Results of a dry AC sample were compared with those obtained from a moist sample and two different ACs with different physical and surface properties were used. As expected, the results showed that the existence of moisture, trapped in the AC pores, could lead to a decrease in the amount of methane adsorbed and a decrease in the amount of methane delivered during desorption. To model the experimental results, a large variety of adsorption isotherms were used. The regressed parameters for the adsorption isotherms were obtained using the experimental data generated in the present study. The accuracy of the results obtained from the different adsorption isotherms was favorably compared.     

Ketoconazol‐Triiodide Ion Pair Complex as a Suitable Carrier in an Iodide Selective Membrane Electrode

A novel membrane sensor for selective monitoring of iodide, consisting of a triiodide‐ketoconazole ion pair complex dispersed in a PVC matrix, plasticized with a mixture of 2‐nitrophenyl octyl ether and dioctylphtalate with unique selectivity toward iodide ions, is described. The influence of membrane composition, pH of test solution and foreign ions on the electrode performance were investigated. The optimized membrane demonstrates a near‐Nernstian response for iodide ions over a wide linear range from 1.0 × 10^?2 to 1.0 × 10^?5 M, at 25 ± 1 °C. The electrode could be used over a wide pH range 3–10 and has the advantages of high selectivity, fast response time and good lifetime (over 4 months). It was successfully used as indicator electrode in potentiometric titrations and direct potentiometric assay of iodide ions.     

One-pot Three-component Condensation Reactions in Water. An Efficient and Improved Procedure for the Synthesis of Furan Annulated Heterocycles

Summary. The environment-friendly one-pot three-component condensation reactions of 4-hydroxycoumarin or 4-hydroxy-6-methylpyrone, p-substituted benzaldehyde, and alkyl or aryl isocyanides to afford furocoumarines or furopyranones in water in good yields after about one hour at 75°C are reported.     

Development of a new fluorimetric bulk optode membrane based on 2,5-thiophenylbis(5-tert-butyl-1,3-benzexazole) for nickel(II) ions

A highly sensitive and selective fluorimetric optode membrane for the determination of ultra trace amounts of Ni²⁺ ions was prepared. The plasticized PVC-membrane incorporating potassium tetrakis(p-chlorophenyl)borate (KTpClPB) and 2,5-thiophenylbis(5-tert-butyl-1,3-benzexazole) (TTBB), as a highly fluorescent chromoionophore, displays a calibration response for Ni²⁺ ions over a wide concentration range of 1.0×10⁻³ to 1.0×10⁻⁸ M. It has a relatively fast response of <40 s. In addition to high stability and reproducibility, and relatively long working lifetime, the sensor possesses good selectivity for nickel ions over several common diverse ions. The fluorescence signal of the optode membrane can be easily recovered by immersion in EDTA solution. The optode was applied successfully to the determination of traces of Ni²⁺ ion in edible oil and a wastewater sample from nickel electroplating industries.     

New computer program to calculate the symmetry of molecules

In this paper we, present some MATLAB and GAP programs and use them to find the automorphism group of the Euclidean graph of the C₈₀ fullerence with connectivity and geometry of I _h symmetry point group. It is proved that this group has order 120 and is isomorphic to I _h ≊Z₂×A₅, where Z₂ is, a cyclic group of order 2 and A₅ is the alternating group on five symbols.     

Die Reaktion von Tellurhexafluorid mit Trimethylamin,Strukturen der TeF5−- und SeF5−-Anionen

Reaction of Telluriumhexafluoride and Trimethylamine, Structures of the TeF₅^? and SeF₅^? Anions The reaction of TeF₆ and (CH₃)₃N is of the redox kind, resulting in reduction of tellurium: X-ray single crystal analysis reveals the compounds (CH₃)₂N? CH₂? N(CH₃)₂⁺TeF₅^? and [(CH₃)₃NH⁺]₅(TeF₅^?)₃(HF₂^?)₂. By comparison with published data it can be shown that this mixture is identical to previously published [(CH₃)₃N]₂TeF₆. The latter was supposed to be one of the few examples of tellurium in a coordination state of eight. (CH₃)₄N⁺TeF₅^? and (CH₃)₄N⁴SeF₅^? are obtained and their structure is investigated by single crystal x-ray methods also. The anions SF₅^?, SeF₅^? and TeF₅^? are discussed in terms of weak interactions.     

A novel one-pot synthesis of some new interesting pyrrole derivatives

[reaction: see text] 11-(1H-Pyrrol-1-yl)-11H-indeno[1,2-b]quinoxaline and 3-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)indolin-2-one derivatives have been synthesized in good yields in a novel, one-pot, and efficient process by condensation of 11H-indeno[1,2-b]quinoxalin-11-one or isatin derivatives with 4-hydroxyproline on solid-support montmorillonite K10 under microwave irradiation.     

Density functional theory study of the Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectra of Cu(II) bis-acetylacetone

Fourier transform infrared and Fourier transform Raman spectra of Cu(II) bis-acetylacetone have been obtained. The geometry, frequency and intensity of the vibrational bands of this compound and its 1,5-(13)C(2), 3-(13)C, 1,3,5-(13)C(3), 2,4-(13)C(2), (18)O(2) and 2,4-(13)C(2)-(18)O(2) derivatives were obtained by the density functional theory (DFT) with the B3LYP functional and using the 6-31G(*) and 3-21G(*) basis sets. The calculated frequencies are compared with the solid infrared and Raman spectra. All the measured infrared and Raman bands were interpreted in terms of the calculated vibrational modes. The percentage of deviation of the bond lengths and bond angles gives a good picture of the normal modes, and serves as a basis for the assignment of the wavenumbers. Most computed bands are predicted to be at higher wavenumbers than the experimental bands. The calculated geometrical parameters show slight differences compared with the experimental results. These differences can be explained by the different physical state of Cu(II) bis-acetylacetone. The DFT-B3LYP calculations assumed a free molecule in the gas phase. Analysis of the vibrational spectra indicates a strong coupling between the chelated ring modes.