Experimental observations on the competing effect of tetrahydrofuran and an electrolyte and the strength of hydrate inhibition among metal halides in mixed CO2 hydrate equilibria

In the present work, experimental data on the equilibrium conditions of mixed CO₂ and THF hydrates in aqueous electrolyte solutions are reported. Seven different electrolytes (metal halides) were used in this work namely sodium chloride (NaCl), calcium chloride (CaCl₂), magnesium chloride (MgCl₂), potassium bromide (KBr), sodium fluoride (NaF), potassium chloride (KCl), and sodium bromide (NaBr). All equilibrium data were measured by using Cailletet apparatus. Throughout this work, the overall concentration of CO₂ and THF were kept constant at (0.04 and 0.05) mol fraction, respectively, while the concentration of electrolytes were varied. The experimental temperature ranged from (275 to 305) K and pressure up 7.10 MPa had been applied. From the experimental results, it is concluded that THF, which is soluble in water is able to suppress the salt inhibiting effect in the range studied. In all quaternary systems studied, a four-phase hydrate equilibrium line was observed where hydrate (H), liquid water (L_W), liquid organic (L_V), and vapour (V) exist simultaneously at specific pressure and temperature. The formation of this four-phase equilibrium line is mainly due to a liquid–liquid phase split of (water + THF) mixture when pressurized with CO₂ and the split is enhanced by the salting-out effect of the electrolytes in the quaternary system. The strength of hydrate inhibition effect among the electrolytes was compared. The results shows the hydrate inhibiting effect of the metal halides is increasing in the order NaF < KBr < NaCl < NaBr < CaCl₂ < MgCl₂. Among the cations studied, the strength of hydrate inhibition increases in the following order: K⁺ < Na⁺ < Ca²⁺ < Mg²⁺. Meanwhile, the strength of hydrate inhibition among the halogen anion studied decreases in the following order: Br^? > Cl^? > F^?. Based on the results, it is suggested that the probability of formation and the strength of ionic–hydrogen bond between an ion and water molecule and the effects of this bond on the ambient water network are the major factors that contribute to hydrate inhibition by electrolytes.     

A new application of humic substances: activation of supports for invertase immobilization

Invertase was immobilized on aminopropyl silica (APTS-SiO₂) activated with humic substances (APTS-SiO₂-HS) and on aminopropyl silica activated with glutaraldehyde (APTS-SiO₂-GA). The resulting activity of both systems was compared. Humic substances (HS) used for the activation of the silica were extracted from soil of Cananéia, São Paulo State, Brazil, according to the procedure recommended by the International Humic Substances Society. Activity was determined by measuring the rate of formation of reduced sugars using the reaction with dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS). The amount of HS bound on the APTS-SiO₂ was equal to 50 mg. The maximum amount of invertase immobilized on APTS-SiO₂-HS was 15200 U/g while in the system APTS-SiO₂-GA it was 13400 U/g. The experimental enzymatic activity was 3700 and 3300 U/g, for the systems APTS-SiO₂-HS and APTS-SiO₂-GA, respectively. Considering the increased amount and activity of immobilized enzyme compared with the glutaraldehyde method, it was concluded that this technique opens a new perspective in the preparation of supports for enzyme immobilization employing humic substances.     

Three new polynuclear copper(II) complexes with the symmetric [Cu(mu1,1-N3)2Cu]2+ core and pyridine derivatives: syntheses,structure, and magnetic behavior

Three new polynuclear copper(II) complexes, derived from the end-on azido bridging ligand and pyridine derivatives, have been synthesized, and their crystal structures have been determined by X-ray diffraction methods; they are the dinuclear compounds [Cu2(mu 1,1-N3)2(4-Etpy)4(mu-NO3)2] (1), and [Cu2(mu 1,1-N3)2(3-ampy)4(mu-NO3)2]. C2H5OH (2), and the trinuclear [Cu3(mu 1,1-N3)4(N3)2(Meinic)2(DMF)2] (3). 4-Etpy is 4-ethylpyridine, 3-ampy is 3-aminopyridine, and Meinic is methylisonicotinate. Compound 1, C28H36Cu2N12O6, crystallized in the monoclinic system, space group P2(1)/n, with a = 12.355(9) A, b = 12.474(4) A, c = 12.854(6) A, beta = 117.68(4) degrees, and Z = 2. Compound 2, C22H30Cu2N16O7, crystallized in the triclinic system, space group P1, with a = 9.695(2) A, b = 10.895(2) A, c = 7.909(2) A, alpha = 96.81(3) degrees, beta = 96.40(3) degrees, gamma = 96.56(3) degrees and Z = 1. Compound 3, C20H28-Cu3N22O6, crystallized in the monoclinic system, space group P2(1)/n, with a = 7.755(2) A, b = 14.680(5) A, c = 15.810(5) A, beta = 102.81(2) degrees, and Z = 2. 1-3 have the symmetric [Cu(mu 1,1-N3)2Cu]2+ core and structural parameters outside the previously reported range. Magnetic susceptibility data, measured from 2 to 300 K, show strong ferromagnetic coupling for the dinuclear end-on compounds 1 and 2 and bulk moderate ferromagnetic coupling for the trinuclear compound 3. These data were fitted to the appropriate equations derived from the Hamiltonian H = -JS1S2 for 1 and 2 and from the Hamiltonian H = -J1(SA1SB + SA2SB) - J2SA1.SA2 for 3, giving the parameters J = 230.1(1) cm-1, g = 2.17(0.01) for 1, J = 223.2(2) cm-1, g = 2.16(0.01) for 2, and J1 = 47.3(2) cm-1, J2 = -22.5(1) cm-1, gA = 2.26(0.02), gB = 2.07(0.03) for 3. The magnetic susceptibility data can be correlated with the structural parameters.     

Determination of currently used pesticides in biota

Although pesticides enable control of the quantity and quality of farm products and food, and help to limit diseases in humans transmitted by insects and rodents, they are regarded as among the most dangerous environmental contaminants because of their tendency to bioaccumulate, and their mobility and long-term effects on living organisms. In the past decade, more analytical methods for accurate identification and quantitative determination of traces of pesticides in biota have been developed to improve our understanding of their risk to ecosystems and humans. Because sample preparation is often the rate-determining step in analysis of pesticides in biological samples, this review first discusses extraction and clean-up procedures, after a brief introduction to the classes, and the methods used in the analysis of pesticides in biota. The analytical methods, especially chromatographic techniques and immunoassay-based methods, are reviewed in detail, and their corresponding advantages, limitations, applications, and prospects are also discussed. This review mainly covers reports published since 2008 on methods for analysis of currently used pesticides in biota.     

Pd(II)-catalyzed deprotection of acetals and ketals containing acid sensitive functional groups

The pincer complex [Pd(C¹,O¹,N¹-L)(NCMe)]ClO₄ (L = monoanionic ligand resulting from deprotonation of the acetyl group of the dimethyl monoketal of 2,6-diacetylpyridine) is used for the high-yield and selective catalytic hydrolysis of aliphatic, aromatic, cyclic, and acyclic dimethyl-acetals, -ketals, and dioxolanes, even in the presence of large substituents. Other protecting groups, such as THP or TBDMS, or very acid-sensitive alcohols were not affected. The catalyst is easily prepared in high yield from Pd(AcO)₂ and 2,6-diacetylpyridinium perchlorate stable to air and moisture, easily and fully recoverable and reusable.     

Simultaneous determination of sulphide and sulphite by gas-phase molecular absorption spectrometry. Comparative study of different calculation methods

A method for the simultaneous determination of sulphide and sulphite is described, which involves continuous H(2)S and SO(2) generation, preconcentration in a liquid nitrogen trap and measurement of the molecular absorption spectra of volatiles in the gas phase in 190-220 nm range. Under the recommended conditions (sample flow: 50 ml/min and concentrated sulphuric acid flow: 12 ml/min; generation time: 4 min) linear response ranges from 0.05 mug/ml for S(2-) and 0.20 mug/ml SO(2-)(3) are obtained with detection limits of 0.05 and 0.20 mug/ml respectively. Synthetic mixtures of the two components have been solved and a comparative study of different calculation methods has been made. In conclusion, multiwavelength methods offer better precision and accuracy.     

2D copper(II) complex built from N-methyl-1,3-diamino-2-propanolate and azide ligands: structure, magnetic, and DFT studies

The synthesis, structural characterization, and magnetic behavior of a new 2D copper(II) compound with formula {[Cu2(mu-O2CMe)(mu-MedapO)(mu1,1-N3)2]n (CH3OH)n} 1, in which MedapOH is N-methyl-1,3-diamino-2-propanol is reported herein. 1 crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P1, with unit cell parameters a = 6.688(5) A, b = 10.591(6) A, c = 12.100(7) A, alpha = 113.01(3) degrees, beta = 105.08(4) degrees, gamma = 93.93(3) degrees, Z = 2. The structure of 1 consists of neutral alternate 1D chains formed by the sequence of [Cu(1)-(mu1,1-N3)2-Cu(1)-(MedapO/acetate)-Cu(2)-(mu1,1-N3)2-Cu2)]. Each dinuclear [Cu(1)-Cu(2)] unit interacts with similar dinuclear units of neighbor chains in basis to large Cu-N(azido) distances to give a 2D arrangement. The magnetic behavior of 1 has been checked giving a net ferromagnetic coupling. The fit of the chiM versus T data as dinuclear compound affords a J value of 53.0 cm(-1) as a consequence of the orbital countercomplementarity phenomenon. The exchange pathways have been justified by density functional calculations.     

Reactions of phosphinites with oxide surfaces: a new method for anchoring organic and organometallic complexes

When a pincer-ligated iridium complex with a phosphinite substituent in the para-position of the aromatic backbone is immobilized on γ-alumina, it becomes a highly effective supported catalyst for the transfer-dehydrogenation of alkanes. The nature of the interaction between the organometallic complex and the support was investigated using solid-state (31)P MAS NMR spectroscopy, solution-state (1)H and (31)P{(1)H} NMR spectroscopy, IR and GC/MS analysis of extracted reaction products. The phosphinite substituent is cleaved from the pincer ligand by its reaction with hydroxyl groups on the γ-alumina surface, resulting in covalent anchoring of the complex via the aryl ring. A similar reaction occurs on silica, allowing for ready grafting onto this support as well. A strategy for anchoring homogeneous catalysts on hydroxyl-terminated oxide supports though the selective cleavage of [POR]-containing ligand substituents is suggested.     

Critical behavior of CP(1) at theta=pi, Haldane's conjecture, and the relevant universality class

Using an approach to analyze the theta dependence of systems with a theta term we recently proposed, the critical behavior of CP(10 at theta=pi is studied. We find a region outside the strong coupling regime where Haldane's conjecture is verified. The critical line, however, does not belong to the universality class of the Wess-Zumino-Novikov-Witten model at topological coupling k=1 since it shows continuously varying critical exponents.