Separation of uranium from iron in ground water samples using ion exchange resins

Uranium determination in environmental samples is faced with problems due to presence of iron and other major elements. Iron is also used many a times for pre-concentration of uranium and actinides. Separation of milligram quantity of Fe from microgram quantity of uranium becomes essential during the estimation step. A simple two step procedure has been standardized for separating uranium and iron using anion exchange in 0.025 M H₂SO₄. Quantitative recovery of uranium was obtained as well as good separation from iron. This method was applied for estimation of uranium in water samples.     

Cost-effective bio-derived mesoporous carbon nanoparticles-supported palladium catalyst for nitroarene reduction and Suzuki–Miyaura coupling by microwave approach

A new heterogeneous catalyst was synthesized by immobilizing Pd on areca nut kernel-derived carbon nanospheres (CNSs). The CNSs, without any further activation processes, accommodated 3% of Pd on their surface. The new Pd/CNS material was used for the reduction of nitroarenes and Suzuki–Miyaura coupling of bromoarenes with aryl boronic acids. The reactions were conducted under microwave irradiation at 160 °C using 12 mol% of Pd/CNS (0.36% actual Pd content). The reduction of nitroarenes into their respective amino compounds was achieved in 10–20 min (conversion up to 100%); by contrast, the Suzuki–Miyaura reactions yielded up to 98% at 150 °C with 10 mol% of Pd/CNS catalyst. The products were identified using gas chromatography and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The catalyst was isolated from reaction mixture and reused without any significant loss in the activity. Thus, the present work introduces one-pot-derived porous CNSs as efficient catalytic support to Pd, establishing an alternative to existing Pd/C in terms of cost and efficiency.     

Recent advancement in the synthesis of phenoxazine derivatives and their analogues

In recent years, angular and linear phenoxazines and their derivatives and polymers have attracted much attention due to their great pharmacological and industrial utility. So it becomes imperative to review the work done in this area more frequently. Therefore, various synthetic routes for phenoxazines are reviewed here comprehensively.     

XPS and XAES studies of surface segregation and oxidation of Cu-Ge alloy

Surface segregation of Ge is seen in the Cu-5at%Ge alloy with an activation enthalpy equal to 17 kJ/mol. Oxidation of the alloy in the temperature range 400 to 600 K shows the formation of Cu₂O and GeO which on further heating in vacuum at 650 K converts to GeO₂ with the reduction of Cu₂O to Cu.     

Polymer network as a template for control of photoconductivity of a liquid crystal semiconductor

We report a novel method of confining a photoconducting liquid crystalline material using a polymer templating approach. The attractive feature of this approach is that the magnitude of the photocurrent of the photoconducting material does not diminish, i.e. it is unaltered by the polymer matrix. The results are compared with another method of encapsulation that was recently reported and wherein the photoconductivity decreases upon having the photoconducting material in the polymer matrix. The difference in the behaviour between the two methods is explained using a nanophase segregation model. The method described is particularly suitable for creating patterned photoconductors.     

Design and fabrication of an ultraviolet photoelectron spectrometer for the study of free molecules

An ultraviolet photoelectron spectrometer for the study of free atoms and molecules has been designed and fabricated with indigeneous components. The spectrometer consists of a 100 mA HeI discharge lamp, 180° hemispherical electron energy analyser (127 mm mean dia) and electron multiplier ratemeter electron detection systems. The resolution of the spectrometer is 90 meV/and the intensity of N₂ (5σ) band is 10⁵ c/sec. The sample inlet and the collision chamber can be heated to 500 K so that solids of low vapour pressure can be studied. Typical spectra of molecules recorded with the instrument are shown. Contribution No. 373 from the Solid State and Structural Chemistry Unit.     

Interaction of PH3 coadsorbed with H2, D2, O2 and H2O on Rh(100)

The coadsorption of PH₃ with H₂, D₂, O₂ and H₂O on Rh(100) has been studied using temperature programmed desorption (TPD), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and low energy electron diffraction (LEED). The adsorption and molecular desorption of PH₃ is not affected by preadsorbed H₂, D₂ and O₂. Preadsorbed PH₃ blocks H₂ desorption sites while postdosed PH₃ displaces H₂ (D₂₁) from the Rh(100). When D₂ and PH₃ are coadsorbed, no D appears in desorbed phosphine. Preadsorbed O₂ reduces the amount of H₂ desorption (from PH₃ decomposition) and increases the H₂ desorption temperature. There is also some reaction between O(a) and H(a) to form water. Preexposure to H₂O decreases the extent of PH₃ adsorption and of PH₃ decomposition.     

Enantiospecific synthesis of β-lactams via cycloaddition

Enantiospecific synthesis of variously substituted cis-β-lactams can be achieved by the annelation of Schiff bases from optically active ketal aldehydes derived from D-threonine. Similar annelation of Schiff bases from the triphenylsilyl ether of D-threonine ester and cinnamaldehyde leads to cis-β-lactams with high diastereofacial selectivity.     

Optical,thermal and microstructural studies of epoxy-CoSO4.7H2O hybrid material

Organic–inorganic polymer hybrid films of epoxy polymer were prepared, using Cobaltous sulfate heptahydrate (CoSO₄.7H₂O) as a filler component, by physical blending method. UV–Vis optical absorption spectra were analyzed to determine optical band gaps (E_g) of the hybrid material. FTIR studies revealed the interaction of inorganic component with molecules of the polymer matrix. Glass transition temperature (T_g) and degradation temperature were determined by DSC. TG analysis showed the improvement in thermal stability of prepared hybrid films. XRD patterns revealed the amorphous nature of the pure epoxy polymer. Additional sharp peaks were seen for higher filler levels (FLs), indicating self formed nanostructures in the material, which was also evident from SEM analysis.