Aqueous Polymerization of Methyl Methacrylate

Aqueous polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA), initiated by the potassium bromate-thioglycollic acid (TGA) redox system, has been studied at 30 ± 0.2° C under positive pressure of nitrogen. The rate is given by K[MMA] [TGA] ⁰[KBrO₃]^x where × = 1 for lower KBrO₃ concentrations and 0.5 for higher KBrO₃ concentrations. The reaction has been studied over the 20–45°C range. The activation energy was found to be 65.72 kJ/mol (15.71 kcal/mol) in the investigated range of temperature. Inorganic electrolytes except MnSO₄·4H₂O and Na₂C₂O₄ depress both the rate of polymerization and the maximum conversion. All the alcohols (viz., MeOH, EtOH, iso-PrOH, tert-BuOH) and acetone depress the rate of polymerization as well as the maximum conversion.     

Oxidation of Chromanones and 2-Spirochromanones with [Hydroxy(tosyloxy)iodo]benzene in Acetonitrile Under Reflux as well as Ultrasound: A Convenient Route for the Synthesis of Chromones,Tetrahydroxanthones, and Their Higher Homologues

Oxidation of chromanones (1a-i) and 2-spiro-chromanones (j-m) using [hydroxy(tosyloxy)iodo] benzene in refluxing acetonitrile as well as using ultrasound via dehydrogenation and 2,3-alkyl migration provides a convenient route for the synthesis of chromones (2a-i), tetrahydroxanthones (2j,k) and their higher homologues (21,m). The ultrasound also enhances substantially the rate of above transformations.     

Solvent-Free Esterification of Carboxylic Acids and Alcohols in the Presence of Silphos [PCl3-n(SiO2)n] as a Heterogeneous Phosphine Reagent

An efficient solvent-free method for the preparation of esters from various aromatic and aliphatic acids with primary, secondary, and tertiary alcohols using a heterogeneous phosphine reagent, silphos [PCl_3-n(SiO₂)_n], in good yields is reported.     

Various ways to strengthen the fiber‐matrix interface for enhanced composite performance

Surface treatment (ST) of carbon fibers (CF) leads to an enhancement in fiber‐matrix adhesion. However, it deteriorates the strength of a fiber which makes its reinforcing action less effective in a composite. These effects in opposite directions control the net strength of a composite, and hence, the treatment has to be judiciously applied, which would enhance the first factor and minimize the second one. Authors have recently reported on four effective techniques (using various doses) such as treatments with nanoparticles of Ytterbium fluoride (YbF₃)_, cold remote nitrogen–oxygen plasma (CRNOP), γ‐ray irradiation and nitric acid oxidation. Amongst these methods, nitric acid oxidation is studied in depth in the literature, and γ‐ray irradiation is sparingly studied. However, nano‐YbF₃ and CRNOP were first time reported in the literature by the authors. However, comparative aspects of all these methods were not addressed. In this paper, these aspects in details are discussed to lay down the right criteria for selection of a ST technique of CF to design the desired performance of a composite. The composites with polyetherimide and treated CF (including untreated) were developed and evaluated for various properties including tribological one. Treated CF based composites exhibited excellent mechanical and tribological properties (under harsh operative conditions with wear rates ≈ 1 × 10^?15 m³/Nm and μ ≈ 0.09). It was concluded that for strength and tribo‐performance, different treatments and doses are to be employed. Overall nanosized‐YbF₃ treatment of CF proved to be the most promising ST method. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dynamic and Equilibrium Studies on Adsorption of Cu(II) Ions onto Biopolymeric Cross-Linked Pectin and Alginate Beads

Binary biopolymeric beads of alginate and pectin were prepared and characterized by FTIR spectra. On to the surfaces of the prepared beads were performed static and dynamic adsorption studies of Cu(II) ions at fixed pH and ionic strength of the aqueous metal ion solutions. The adsorption data were applied to Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm equations and various adsorption parameters were calculated. The influence of various experimental parameters such as effect of time, pH, temperature, solid to liquid ratio, and the presence of salts were investigated on the adsorption of copper ions.     

Removal of Rhodamine-B from Aqueous Solution by Adsorption onto Crosslinked Alginate Beads

The biosorption of rhodamine-B from aqueous solution using crosslinked alginate beads was studied by contact method at fixed pH ?3 and room temperature (28 ± 0.2°C). Both the Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm models could describe the adsorption equilibrium of the rhodamine-B onto crosslinked alginate beads. The influence of various experimental parameters such as pH, temperature, effect of concentration and time were evaluated. It was observed that the adsorption capacity of rhodamine-B onto alginate beads decreased with increase in pH and temperature above room temperature.     

Efficiency of Superparamagnetic Nano Iron Oxide Loaded Poly(Acrylamide-co-Maleic acid) Hydrogel in Uptaking Cu2+ Ions from Water

A novel superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles loaded poly(acrylamide-co-maleic acid) hydrogel (superparamagnetic PAM hydrogel) has been synthesized and cross-linked by methylene bisacrylamide for the investigation of its efficiency in uptaking copper ions from aqueous solution by batch method. The swelling behavior of the hydrogel was investigated. Metal ion uptake capacity of the adsorbent was evaluated in the light of varying pH, contact time, temperature, adsorbent dose, and different copper ion concentration. The synthesized superparamagnetic PAM was characterized by FTIR and XRD analysis. The structure and coating of the magnetic nanoparticles were characterized by XRD and FTIR analysis respectively. The adsorption data was fitted well in the Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin models and various static parameters were calculated. It is stated that this hydrogel could be regenerated efficiently (>97%) and used repeatedly.     

Speciation of 30 % tri-n-butyl phosphate solvent during extraction of nitric acid

Several solutions of 30 % TBP/n-dodecane were equilibrated with different concentrations of aqueous nitric acid solutions at 298.15 K at a phase ratio of unity. The resultant equilibrated aqueous and organic solutions were analyzed for acidity. A three-solvate model with molecular HNO₃ based mechanism was assumed for nitric acid extraction by TBP. With nonlinear chemometric methods, the coefficients were evaluated. With the set of optimized coefficients, derived on the basis of experiments reported in this work, the estimated solvate species and free-TBP species in the TBP containing organic phase were found to be in good agreement with the reported concentrations in the literature.     

Comparative Antioxidant Study of Stem and Stem Induced Callus of Phyllanthus fraternus Webster—An Important Antiviral and Hepatoprotective Plant

Phyllanthus fraternus is widely used in the cure of various liver diseases and possess antiviral properties especially against hepatitis virus. In the present study, evaluation of the antioxidant activity of stem and calli induced from stem has been done by different assays. Extraction was done by standard method in water and ethanol. Total antioxidant capacity was measured by 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging method. Lipid peroxidation was measured in terms of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) by using egg yolk homogenates as lipid-rich media, and superoxide radical scavenging activity was measured using riboflavin–light–nitro blue tetrazolium assay. Reducing power was determined on the basis of Fe³⁺–Fe²⁺ transformation in the presence of the extract. In addition to the antioxidant activity, polyphenolic compounds like total phenolics and flavonoids were also measured by spectroscopic method. Results showed that the ethanolic extract of stem is more potent in antioxidant activity than its aqueous extract and ethanolic extract of calli. A significant correlation between antioxidant capacity and polyphenolic content and reducing potential was observed, indicating that phenolic compounds and reducers present in extract are major contributors to the antioxidant potential. Thus, this plant extract could be used as a potent natural antioxidant.