Chitosan based nonstoichiometric polyelectrolyte complexes as specialized flocculants

The aim of this work was to evaluate the flocculation of kaolin by using positively charged nonstoichiometric interpolyelectrolyte complex (N-PEC) nanoparticles formed by the interaction of chitosan with poly(sodium 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonate) (NaPAMPS) and two random copolymers of AMPS with t-butyl acrylamide, comparative with chitosan. The flocculation efficiency was evaluated by optical density at 500 nm. The N-PEC nanoparticles were more effective than chitosan in the kaolin separation, especially at low molar ratios between charges, when the flocculation window was more then double at an optimum dose lower than that of chitosan. The main advantage of N-PECs is the increase of critical concentration for kaolin re-stabilization, the N-PEC particles adsorbed on the kaolin surface protecting them more efficient against re-dispersion. The influence of low molar mass electrolytes on the flocculation with N-PECs was also investigated.     

Pulsed radiofrequency glow discharge time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry for molecular depth profiling of polymer‐based films

We demonstrate the potential of an innovative technique, pulsed radiofrequency glow discharge time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry, for the molecular depth profiling of polymer materials. The technique benefits from the presence, in the afterglow of the pulsed glow discharge, of fragment ions that can be related to the structures of the polymers under study. Thin films of different polymers (PMMA, PET, PAMS, PS) were successfully profiled with retention of molecular information along the profile. Multilayered structures of the above polymers were also profiled, and it was possible to discriminate among layers having similar elemental composition but different polymer structure. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Kinetic study of amination of chloromethylated polystyrene with hydroxyalkylic tertiary amines

The kinetics of the amination of chloromethylated polystyrene with two hydroxyalkylic tertiary amines (1-dimethyl-amino-3-propanol and 1-dimethylamino-2-propanol) in dimethylacetamide and dioxane was studied. The amination of benzyl chloride with the two amines in dimethylacetamide was followed. It was found that the amination of chloromethylated polystyrene is a two-step reaction taking place with different rates. The rate constants k₁ and k₂ were calculated for the two stages, and a self-accelerating effect of the reaction was noticed. Also, the influence of the position of the hydroxyl group versus the tertiary nitrogen was investigated. The increase of the dielectric constant of the solvent favorably influences the reaction rate.     

Viscometric study of poly(sodium 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonate) and two random copolymers

Effects of the polyanion synthesis conditions and composition on the viscometric behavior of poly(sodium 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonate) (PAMPS) and two random copolymers, poly(sodium 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonate-co-methylmethacrylate) (PAMPSMM) and poly(sodium 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonate-co-tert-butylacrylamide) (PAMPSTBA), in a wide range of concentrations were reported in this paper. The experimental data obtained in salt-free aqueous solution were plotted in terms of the Fuoss and the Rao equations in order to obtain the intrinsic viscosity values. The C∗ values obtained as the reciprocal of the intrinsic viscosity were compared with the experimentally determined values and with those calculated according to the Odijk theory. An acceptable agreement between C∗ values obtained by different approaches was found for the PAMPS samples with high molar masses (0.83 × 10⁶-1.4 × 10⁶ g/mol). For the same charge density and the same concentration the reduced viscosity values were higher for PAMPSMM comparative with PAMPSTBA indicating a higher chain extension of the former copolymer.     

Interactions of di- and trivalent anionic azo dyes with polycations of integral type

The spectral changes of Crystal Ponceau 6R and Ponceau 4R induced by the interaction with polycations having N,N-dimethyl-2-hydroxypropane-1,3-diylammonium chloride units in the main chain were followed. The stoichiometry of the polycation-dye complex related to the dye structure was elaborated by UV-VIS spectrophotometry and viscosimetric measurements. Formation of a tricomponent complex between the polycation/dye complex and poly(sodium acrylate) was also revealed.     

Adsorption of poly(vinyl formamide-co-vinyl amine) onto silica particle surfaces and stability of the formed hybrid materials

In order to produce silica/polyelectrolyte hybrid materials the adsorption of the polyelectrolyte poly(vinyl formamide-co-vinyl amine), P(VFA-co-VAm) was investigated. The adsorption of the P(VFA-co-VAm) from an aqueous solution onto silica surface is strongly influenced by the pH value and ionic strength of the aqueous solution, as well as the concentration of polyelectrolyte. The adsorption of the positively charged P(VFA-co-VAm) molecules on the negatively charged silica particles offers a way to control the surface charge properties of the formed hybrid material. Changes in surface charges during the polyelectrolyte adsorption were studied by potentiometric titration and electrokinetic measurements. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was employed to obtain information about the amount of the adsorbed polyelectrolyte and its chemical structure. The stability of the adsorbed P(VFA-co-VAm) was investigated by extraction experiments and streaming potential measurements. It was shown, that polyelectrolyte layer is instable in an acidic environment. At a low pH value a high number of amino groups are protonated that increases the solubility of the polyelectrolyte chains. The solvatation process is able to overcompensate the attractive electrostatic forces fixing the polyelectrolyte molecules on the substrate material surface. Hence, the polyelectrolyte layer partially undergoes dissolving process.     

Detection of negative ions in glow discharge mass spectrometry for analysis of solid specimens

A new method is presented for elemental and molecular analysis of halogen-containing samples by glow discharge time-of-flight mass spectrometry, consisting of detection of negative ions from a pulsed RF glow discharge in argon. Analyte signals are mainly extracted from the afterglow regime of the discharge, where the cross section for electron attachment increases. The formation of negative ions from sputtering of metals and metal oxides is compared with that for positive ions. It is shown that the negative ion signals of F^? and TaO₂F^? are enhanced relative to positive ion signals and can be used to study the distribution of a tantalum fluoride layer within the anodized tantala layer. Further, comparison is made with data obtained using glow-discharge optical emission spectroscopy, where elemental fluorine can only be detected using a neon plasma. The ionization mechanisms responsible for the formation of negative ions in glow discharge time-of-flight mass spectrometry are briefly discussed.     

Novel synthesis and characterisation of 3,3-dimethyl-5′-(2-benzothiazolyl)-spironaphth(indoline-2,3′-[3H]naphth[2,1-b] [1,4]oxazine) derivatives

Novel modified spirooxazines (SOs) with additional chelating groups were synthesised and the crystal structure of one of these was determined. UV-vis spectroscopic characterization of the photoisomerization of the SO derivatives shows that the photochromic behaviour is altered with Zn²⁺ coordination. In particular, addition of a group as in carboxylic acid 5 to the indole section of the SO increases the lifetime of the merocyanine Zn ²⁺ complex by 20-fold compared to the methylated indole 6.     

Pulsed laser deposition of lysozyme: the dependence on shot numbers and the angular distribution

An efficient near-infrared (NIR) quantum cutting (QC) by converting ultraviolet into NIR via cooperative downconversion (DC) for the (Nd³⁺, Yb³⁺) couple in CaWO₄ is studied since efficient two-step energy transfer occurs from the ⁴G_9/2 level of Nd³⁺ to two neighboring Yb³⁺:²F_5/2 level. The authors have analyzed the measured luminescence spectra and decay lifetimes for different Yb³⁺ concentrations and proposed a mechanism to rationalize the DC effect. The maximum quantum efficiency (QE) of Nd³⁺ is up to 164.03 %. Application of the broadband NIR-QC phosphors might enhance the performance of silicon-based solar cells.