Sorption of trifluoromethane in activated carbon

Sorption isotherms for trifluoromethane (R-23) in activated carbon have been measured at ca. 298 and 323 K using a gravimetric microbalance. High-resolution TEM images of the activated carbon show a very uniform microstructure with no evidence of any contaminants. The adsorption in the activated carbon reaches about 22.8 mol kg^?1 at 2.0 MPa and 298 K or 17.6 mol kg^?1 at 2.0 MPa and 323 K. Three different adsorption models (Langmuir, multi-site Langmuir, and BET equations) have been used to analyze the activated carbon sorption data, with a particular interest in the heat of adsorption (?ΔH). The heat of adsorption for R-23 in the activated carbon was about 29.78 ± 0.04 kJ mol^?1 based on the multi-site Langmuir model and is within the range of typical physical adsorption. According to the IUPAC classification, the activated carbon exhibits Type I adsorption behavior and was completely reversible. Compared with our previous work for the sorption of R-23 in zeolites (5A (Ca,Na-A), 13X (Na-X), Na,K-LSX, Na-Y, K,H-Y, Rb,Na-Y) and ionic liquids ([omim][TFES] and [emim][Tf₂N]) the activated carbon had the highest adsorption capacity. The adsorption process in the activated carbon also took less time than in the zeolites or the ionic liquids to reach thermodynamic equilibrium.     

Microwave-assisted extraction of trichloroethylene from clay samples

A new method for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) extraction from low-permeability media, such as clay, has been developed and tested using trichloroethylene (TCE) as a model compound. The method is based on microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), which uses microwave energy to heat the extracting solvent and the sample. MAE allows the extraction process to be carried out at elevated temperatures and pressures, which dramatically reduces the time required to complete the process. A custom-made PTFE vessel was used for extraction investigations. TCE analysis was performed using gas chromatography with electron capture detection (GC-ECD). Three different solvents were tested: methanol, 1?:?1 hexane?:?acetone mixture, and 10?:?1 hexane?:?acetone mixture. A comparison of TCE recoveries from clay samples using the new method and the standard methanol extraction method was carried out. The newly developed method and the method currently in use were found to recover similar amounts of TCE. The major advantage of the MAE technique is the very short time needed to obtain complete analyte recovery (6–10?min), which makes it possible to analyse a large number of samples without the need for sample preservation or prolonged storage. Thus, the new method is much more efficient than the existing methods. The technique has a good potential for field application.     

Maximum likelihood estimation for all-pass time series models

An autoregressive-moving average model in which all roots of the autoregressive polynomial are reciprocals of roots of the moving average polynomial and vice versa is called an all-pass time series model. All-pass models generate uncorrelated (white noise) time series, but these series are not independent in the non-Gaussian case. An approximate likelihood for a causal all-pass model is given and used to establish asymptotic normality for maximum likelihood estimators under general conditions. Behavior of the estimators for finite samples is studied via simulation. A two-step procedure using all-pass models to identify and estimate noninvertible autoregressive-moving average models is developed and used in the deconvolution of a simulated water gun seismogram.     

Photoinitiators with functional groups. IX. Hydrophilic bisacylphosphine oxides for acidic aqueous formulations

Because of the poor photoreactivity of camphorquinone–amine‐based photoinitiator systems in dental acidic aqueous primer formulations, we were interested to evaluate a commercially available bisacylphosphine oxide as photoinitiator. Because of the promising results on photoreactivity and storage stability, new oligo(ethylene glycol)‐substituted bisacylphosphine oxides were synthesized and investigated. Beside good solubility and significantly increased reactivity in aqueous acidic formulations, sufficient storage stability was found. Additionally, the influence of the type of substitution on the photopolymerization behavior in aqueous, hydrophilic, and hydrophobic resins is discussed. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 1686–1700, 2006     

A simple and rapid method to assess butenafine hydrochloride in skin samples and a comparative cutaneous retention study of two marketed formulations

A new method for the quantification of butenafine hydrochloride (BTF) present in the main skin layers was validated and a study conducted with the aim of analyzing the penetration and/or the permeation of the drug. The quantification was performed by liquid chromatography. To evaluate the specificity of the method, the influence of the components of the skin was analyzed, as well as the skin in contact with the excipient ingredients. Linearity was assessed with concentrations in the range of 0.1–10 μg/mL (r ² = 0.9999) and ANOVA showed non‐significant linear deviation (p > 0.05). Adequate results were obtained for repeatability, intra‐day precision and accuracy. The obtained values for the limit of quantification and the limit of detection were 68.4 and 17.7 ng/mL, respectively. Also, a comparative study of BTF cutaneous penetration through porcine skin was performed applying two different formulations: Tefin, present in the Brazilian market, and Lotrimin Ultra^®, available in the American market. No statistical difference was found in the skin (epidermis plus dermis) and in the epidermis (p > 0.05), although in the dermis the difference was significant (p < 0.05). During the experimental period (8 h), no drug permeation from either formulation was detected in the receptor fluid. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Exploration of overloaded cation exchange chromatography for monoclonal antibody purification

Cation exchange chromatography using conventional resins, having either diffusive or perfusive flow paths, operated in bind-elute mode has been commonly employed in monoclonal antibody (MAb) purification processes. In this study, the performance of diffusive and perfusive cation exchange resins (SP-Sepharose FF (SPSFF) and Poros 50HS) and a convective cation exchange membrane (Mustang S) and monolith (SO(3) Monolith) were compared. All matrices were utilized in an isocratic state under typical binding conditions with an antibody load of up to 1000 g/L of chromatographic matrix. The dynamic binding capacity of the cation exchange resins is typically below 100 g/L resin, so they were loaded beyond the point of anticipated MAb break through. All of the matrices performed similarly in that they effectively retained host cell protein and DNA during the loading and wash steps, while antibody flowed through each matrix after its dynamic binding capacity was reached. The matrices differed, though, in that conventional diffusive and perfusive chromatographic resins (SPSFF and Poros 50HS) demonstrated a higher binding capacity for high molecular weight species (HMW) than convective flow matrices (membrane and monolith); Poros 50HS displayed the highest HMW binding capacity. Further exploration of the conventional chromatographic resins in an isocratic overloaded mode demonstrated that the impurity binding capacity was well maintained on Poros 50HS, but not on SPSFF, when the operating flow rate was as high as 36 column volumes per hour. Host cell protein and HMW removal by Poros 50HS was affected by altering the loading conductivity. A higher percentage of host cell protein removal was achieved at a low conductivity of 3 mS/cm. HMW binding capacity was optimized at 5 mS/cm. Our data from runs on Poros 50HS resin also showed that leached protein A and cell culture additive such as gentamicin were able to be removed under the isocratic overloaded condition. Lastly, a MAb purification process employing protein A affinity chromatography, isocratic overloaded cation exchange chromatography using Poros 50HS and anion exchange chromatography using QSFF in flow through mode was compared with the MAb's commercial manufacturing process, which consisted of protein A affinity chromatography, cation exchange chromatography using SPSFF in bind-elute mode and anion exchange chromatography using QSFF in flow through mode. Comparable step yield and impurity clearance were obtained by the two processes.     

Relative salience of envelope and fine structure cues in zebra finch song

Zebra finches produce a learned song that is rich in harmonic structure and highly stereotyped. More is generally known about how birds learn and produce this song than how they perceive it. Here, zebra finches were trained with operant techniques to discriminate changes in natural and synthetic song motifs. Results show that zebra finches are quite insensitive to changes to the overall envelope of the motif since they were unable to discriminate more than a doubling in inter-syllable interval durations. By contrast, they were quite sensitive to changes in individual syllables. A series of tests with synthetic song syllables, including some made of frozen noise and Schroeder harmonic complexes, showed that birds used a suite of acoustic cues in normal listening but they could also distinguish among syllables simply on the basis of the temporal fine structure in the waveform. Thus, while syllable perception is maintained by multiple redundant cues, temporal fine structure features alone are sufficient for syllable discrimination and may be more important for communication than previously thought.     

A non-destructive experimental investigation of elastic plastic interfaces of autofrettaged thick-walled cylindrical aluminium high pressure vessels

Positions of elastic plastic interfaces play a vital role in safe design and safe use of high pressure vessels. The ENGIN-X neutron diffractometer at the ISIS facility was used to measure the residual strain profiles in a series of aluminium vessels which had been subjected to different pressure levels. The positions of elastic plastic interfaces of the autofrettaged pressure vessels were identified. The results revealed that the residual strain magnitude and the depth of the plastic region will increase with increasing autofrettage pressure level. When autofrettage pressure produces an elastic-plastic boundary at a greater depth than the geometric mean position of the vessel wall, reverse yielding will occur, hence the loss of the vessels’ elastic ability to its subsequent loading. The neutron experimental results agreed well with both the suggestions from existing literatures and the results from FE simulations.