Synthesis and Characterization of Heterocyclic Functionalized Polymers by Click Reaction: Preparation of Magnetic Nanocomposites and Studies on Their Thermal,Mechanical, Photophysical and Metal Ions Removal Properties

This work reports synthesis and characterization of heterocyclic functionalized polymers, poly(triazole-etherimidazole)s(PTAEI), from a dialkyne-terminated compound, 3-(4,5-bis(4-(propargyloxy)phenyl)-1H-imidazol-2-yl)-9-ethyl-9H-carbazole, by using click reaction. PTAEIs were characterized and their properties such as solubility, thermal, mechanical, photophysical and metal ions adsorption were investigated. These polymers had weight average molar masses(Mw) in the range of 19100-26700 g/mol, exhibited excellent solubility in polar aprotic solvents and formed low-colored flexible thin films by solution casting method. They exhibited good thermal stability with glass transition temperatures(Tg) between 160 °C and 211 °C and 10% weight loss temperatures(T10%) in the range of 308-426 °C. Nanocomposites of PTAEIs with epoxide-terminated Fe3O4 showed that strong interfacial interaction between inorganic particles and the polymer matrix contributed to the enhanced thermal and mechanical properties. The photoluminescence intensity of the PTAEIs increased and the spectra red shifted with increasing Fe3O4 content. The PTAEIs and nanocomposites were tested for their extraction capability of metal ions from aqueous solutions either individually or in the mixture.     

Ionic strength dependence of formation constants, complexation of nitrilotriacetic acid with tungsten(VI) ion

The dependence on ionic strength of protonation of nitrilotriacetic acid and its complexation with W(VI) is reported in sodium perchlorate, sodium nitrate and sodium chloride solutions as background salts. The measurements have been performed at 25°C and various ionic strengths in the range 0.1–1.0 mol dm⁻³, using a combination of potentiometric and spectrophotometric techniques. The overall analysis of the present and the previous data dealing with the determination of stability constants at different ionic strengths allowed us to obtain a general equation, by which a formation constant determined at a fixed ionic strength can be calculated, with a good approximation, at another ionic strength, if 0.1 ≤ ionic strength ≤ 1.0 mol dm⁻³ sodium perchlorate, sodium nitrate or sodium chloride.     

Effect of Ag-doping of nanosized FeMgO system on its structural, surface, spectral, and catalytic properties

The effects of Ag-doping on the physico-chemical, spectral, surface, and catalytic properties of the FeMgO system with various Fe₂O₃ loadings were investigated. The dopant (Ag) molar ratio varied between 0.01 % and 0.05 %. The techniques employed for characterisation of catalysts were TG/DTG, XRD, ESR, N₂ adsorption at ?196°C, and catalytic decomposition of H₂O₂ at 25?C35°C. The results obtained revealed that the investigated catalysts consisted of nanosized MgO as the major phase, apart from the MgFe₂O₄ and/or Fe₃O₄ phases. ESR result of the FeMgO system revealed the presence of paramagnetic species as a result of Ag-doping. The textural properties including SBET, porosity and St were modified by Ag-doping. The doping process with Ag-species improved the catalytic activity of the FeMgO system. Increasing the calcination temperature from 400°C to 800°C increased the catalytic activity (k*_{30 °C}) of 0.05 AgFeMgO in H₂O₂ decomposition by 21.2 times.     

Simultaneous voltammetric determination of ascorbic acid and dopamine at the surface of electrodes modified with self-assembled gold nanoparticle films

Gold nanoparticles (GNs) could be efficiently immobilized on binary mixed self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on a gold surface composed of 1,6-hexanedithiol and 1-octanethiol (nano-Au/SAMs gold electrode). This GN chemically modified electrode was used for electrochemical determination of ascorbic acid (AA) and dopamine (DA) in aqueous media. The result showed that the GN-modified electrode could clearly resolve the oxidation peaks of AA and DA, with a peak-to-peak separation (∆E _p) of 110 mV enabling determination of AA and DA in the presence of each other. The linear analytical curves were obtained in the ranges of 0.3–1.4 mM for AA and 0.2–1.2 mM for DA concentrations using differential pulse voltammetry. The detection limits (3σ) were 9.0 × 10⁻⁵ M for AA and 9.0 × 10⁻⁵ M for DA.     

Complete band gaps of phononic crystal plates with square rods

Much of previous work has been devoted in studying complete band gaps for bulk phononic crystal (PC). In this paper, we theoretically investigate the existence and widths of these gaps for PC plates. We focus our attention on steel rods of square cross sectional area embedded in epoxy matrix. The equations for calculating the dispersion relation for square rods in a square or a triangular lattice have been derived. Our analysis is based on super cell plane wave expansion (SC-PWE) method. The influence of inclusions filling factor and plate thickness on the existence and width of the phononic band gaps has been discussed. Our calculations show that there is a certain filling factor (f = 0.55) below which arrangement of square rods in a triangular lattice is superior to the arrangement in a square lattice. A comparison between square and circular cross sectional rods reveals that the former has superior normalized gap width than the latter in case of a square lattice. This situation is switched in case of a triangular lattice. Moreover, a maximum normalized gap width of 0.7 can be achieved for PC plate of square rods embedded in a square lattice and having height 90% of the lattice constant.     

过渡金属阳离子预处理对活性炭催化性能的提高

首先将商用活性炭样品在1%的稀硝酸中处理,然后等体积浸渍在含有5%和10%(质量分数)硝酸钴、硝酸镍或硝酸铜的水溶液中,并在100℃干燥至恒重,最后将样品在Ar气氛中于400℃焙烧3 h.采用X射线衍射、N2吸附和红外光谱等分析手段对不同固体样品进行了表征,并考察了其对异丙醇催化转化和25~45℃时过氧化氢催化分解的活性.结果表明,掺杂5%或10%的过渡金属氧化物后,活性炭样品中含有结晶度很差的CoO,Co3O4,NiO,Cu2O和CuO相的纳米晶.金属氧化物预处理使活性炭的BET比表面积略有增加.这些固体样品主要用作脱氢催化剂,其选择性均高于90%.在225℃时,经5%氧化钴、氧化镍和氧化铜处理的活性炭的催化活性比硝酸处理的活性炭分别提高了6%,24.6%和40.6%.少量CoO处理后的商用活性炭对H2O2催化分解活性的提高是由参与该催化反应的活性位浓度的显著增加而引起的,该处理过程并没有改变H2O2催化分解的机理.     

Acrylamide Hydrogels Preparation via Free Radical Crosslinking Copolymerization: Kinetic Study and Morphological Investigation

The simultaneous gravimetric and dilatometric techniques have been used to study the kinetics of aqueous free radical crosslinking copolymerization of acrylamide (AAm) and N,N^'-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) at different crosslinker ratios, and reaction temperatures. In this study, the gel properties were investigated using swelling measurements and microscopic techniques. Based on the data, it was proposed that the deviation point of the results of dilatometric technique from those of the gravimetric one can be a new criterion for gel point. The monomer conversion and the equilibrium swelling ratio of the hydrogels were measured as a function of the reaction time. Experimental data showed an inverse dependence of the critical gel point on crosslinker concentration. As the MBA/AAm ratio was decreased to 0.1?wt%, the product appearance changed. In addition, the effects of temperature on the reaction rate and critical gel point were studied. At higher temperatures, the equilibrium swelling ratio reached to its minimum value earlier. Besides, the hydrogel surface became smoother.     

Radiation Synthesis of Superabsorbent Hydrogels Based on Chitosan and Acrylic Acid for Controlled Drug Release

Superabsorbent hydrogels based on the natural polymer chitosan and acrylic acid (CS/AAc) was prepared using ⁶⁰Co gamma radiation as a source of initiation and crosslinking. The factors, which affect the preparation of CS/AAc hydrogels such as irradiation dose, CS/AAc ratios, and acrylic acid monomer concentrations, to get the best optimum conditions, were investigated. The kinetic studies of the swelling of CS/AAc hydrogel showed that it follows a Fickian type of water diffusion. The Fickian constant value ‘n’ was more than 0.5 with a high swelling capacity of 300 g/g as superabsorbent hydrogel. In addition, the suitability of CS/AAc hydrogel as carrier material for the drug Chlortetracycline-HCl has been investigated by adsorption isotherm studies. The performance of drug release from hydrogel systems, influenced by acrylic acid ratio and the effect of pH of the medium was studied.     

A sustainable approach to the Ugi reaction in deep eutectic solvent

The Ugi reaction goes fast with high yields in a recyclable and biodegradable low-melting mixture of choline chloride and urea (DES) as a novel and efficient reaction medium. The DES is applicable to a wide range of aldehydes, amines, isocyanides, and acids in good to excellent isolated yields (60–92%) and short reaction times (2–5 h) and can be reused four times without any loss of activity.     

Recovery of a Bacteriocin-Like Inhibitory Substance from Lactobacillus bulgaricus FTDC 1211 Using Polyethylene-Glycol Impregnated Amberlite XAD-4 Resins System

Lactobacillus bulgaricus is a LAB strain which is capable of producing bacteriocin substances to inhibit Staphylococcus aureus. The aim of this study was to purify a bacteriocin-like inhibitory substance (BLIS) produced by L. bulgaricus FTDC 1211 using an aqueous impregnated resins system consisting of polyethylene-glycol (PEG) impregnated on Amberlite XAD4. Important parameters influencing on purification of BLIS, such as the molecular weight and concentration of PEG, the concentration and pH of sodium citrate and the concentration of sodium chloride, were optimized using a response surface methodology. Under optimum conditions of 11% (w/w) of PEG 4000 impregnated Amberlite XAD4 resins and 2% (w/w) of sodium citrate at pH 6, the maximum purification factor (3.26) and recovery yield (82.69% ± 0.06) were obtained. These results demonstrate that AIRS could be used as an alternate purification system in the primary recovery step.