The dielectric properties of water in its different states of interaction

A tutorial on dielectric (relaxation) spectrometry of liquids is given in this article. Some methods of measuring complex (electric) permittivity spectra are briefly described. Results for water are presented and related to characteristic properties of the liquid structure and to models of the molecular dynamics, particularly as resulting from computer simulation studies. Dielectric spectra for aqueous solutions of low weight electrolytes, polyelectrolytes, small molecules, and polymers are discussed to illustrate effects of kinetic depolarization, structure saturation, as well as positive, negative, and hydrophobic hydration. Reference is also made to fluctuations in the hydrogen bond network of mixtures of water with liquids that are completely miscible with this unique solvent.     

Solvation of uranyl(II), europium(III) and europium(II) cations in "basic" room-temperature ionic liquids: a theoretical study

We report a molecular dynamics study of the solvation of UO2(2+), Eu3+ and Eu2+ ions in two "basic" (Lewis acidity) room-temperature ionic liquids (IL) composed of the 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium cation (EMI+) and a mixture of AlCl4- and Cl- anions, in which the Cl-/AlCl4- ratio is about 1 and 3, respectively. The study reveals the importance of the [UO2Cl4]2- species, which spontaneously form during most simulations, and that the first solvation shell of europium is filled with Cl- and AlCl4- ions embedded in a cationic EMI+ shell. The stability of the [UO2Cl4]2- and [Eu(III)Cl6]3- complexes is supported by quantum mechanical calculations, according to which the uranyl and europium cations intrinsically prefer Cl- to the AlCl4- ion. In the gas phase, however, [Eu(III)Cl6]3- and [Eu(II)Cl6]4- complexes are predicted to be metastable and to lose two to three Cl- ions. This contrasts with the results of simulations of complexes in ILs, in which the "solvation" of the europium complexes increases with the number of coordinated chlorides, leading to an equilibrium between different chloro species. The behavior of the hydrated [Eu(OH2)8]3+ complex is considered in the basic liquids; the complex exchanges H2O molecules with Cl- ions to form mixed [EuCl3(OH2)4] and [EuCl4(OH2)3]- complexes. The results of the simulations allow us to better understand the microscopic nature and solvation of lanthanide and actinide complexes in "basic" ionic liquids.     

Intramolecular charge transfer in pyrromethene laser dyes: photophysical behaviour of PM650.

Absorption and fluorescence (steady-state and time-correlated) techniques are used to study the photophysical characteristics of the pyrromethene 650 (PM650) dye. The presence of the cyano group at the 8 position considerably shifts the absorption and fluorescence bands to lower energies with respect to other related pyrromethene dyes; this is attributed to the strong electron-acceptor character of the cyano group, as is theoretically confirmed by quantum mechanical methods. The fluorescence properties of PM650 are intensively solvent-dependent. The fluorescence band is shifted to lower energies in polar/protic solutions, and the evolution of the corresponding wavelength with the solvent is analysed by a multicomponent linear regression. The fluorescence quantum yield and the lifetime strongly decrease in polar/protic solvents, which can be ascribed to an extra nonradiative deactivation, via an intramolecular charge-transfer state (ICT state), favoured in polar media.     

正负离子表面活性剂在短链脂肪醇/水中沉淀-囊泡转化和双水相的形成

首次报道在短链脂肪醇/水溶剂中十二烷基硫酸钠和辛基三甲基溴化铵混合体系由沉淀转化为囊泡，并出现表面活性剂双水相的新现象，以期探索正负离子表面活性剂混合体系研究的新途径。     

Characterization of the solid phases of paracetamol and fenamates at equilibrium in saturated solutions

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), supported by hot stage microscopy, IR spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffractometry, was used to investigate the characteristics of the solid phases of mefenamic, niflumic, and flufenamic acids and of paracetamol, before and after equilibration with saturated solutions in different solvents. Mixtures of Lewis base (dioxane and ethyl acetate) and amphiprotic solvents (ethanol and water) were prepared for evaluating the influence of both nature and polarity of the solvents. Solid-state analysis performed on the original samples (commercial products) made it possible to establish that paracetamol, mefenamic acid and flufenamic acid were in their respective Form I. No polymorphic modifications are known for niflumic acid. Paracetamol, niflumic and mefenamic acids did not show any change after equilibration with the various solvents or solvent mixtures, regardless of their different chemical nature. In contrast, DSC, IR and X-ray analyses revealed the partial recrystallization of flufenamic acid into its polymorphic Form III in solid phases at equilibrium with ethanol, ethyl acetate and their blends, as well as in dioxane-water mixtures containing 30 to 100% dioxane and in ethanol-water mixtures with a water content less than 50%. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

On the High Viscosity of Aqueous Solution of Lysozyme Induced by Some Organic Solvents

A remarkably high viscosity has been induced in protein aqueous solutions by the addition of certain structurally related organic solvents. The effect has been observed for lysozyme aqueous solutions containing tetramethylurea (TMU), dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), dimethylformamide, and hexamethylphosphortriamide. The effect has also been induced in ferrocytochrome c aqueous solutions by TMU. Critical concentrations for both the protein and organic solvent were verified for the onset of the viscosity increase. A common feature of the solvents which were able to induce the effect is a dipolar moiety (C=O, S → O and P → O) and a nonpolar region represented by the methyl groups. The resulting fluids show an extremely restricted flow and a typical non-Newtonian, pseudoplastic behavior. Use was made of¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Raman spectroscopy to characterize protein structural modifications and of¹³C NMR to investigate changes in relaxation times and chemical shifts in the solvent/water solutions. A systematic rheological characterization of the systems was undertaken for some of the solvents, and unusual patterns of viscous effects were identified for the solvent/water systems both with and without protein. The process was found to be at least partially reversible, as concluded from the recovered original solution rheological characteristics and the original protein¹H NMR spectrum, after eliminating the organic solvent by ultrafiltration. The whole process was characterized as consisting of two mutually independent stages. The first involves an extensive conformational transition of the polypeptide backbone, from a predominantly α-helical to increased random coiled and β-sheet structures, with the occurrence of nonorthodox protein secondary structures at regions above the solvent critical point. The second stage consists of short-lived interchain contacts leading to an entanglement of the macromolecular system as a whole. A microphase reversion in the organic solvent/water mixture, supported by¹³C NMR and rheological results, is proposed as the driving force causing the observed behavior.     

Modification of Non-Hydrolytic Sol-Gel Derived Alumina by Solvent Treatments

The effect of wetting non-hydrolytic derived alumina xerogels with water and organic solvents in the 20–70°C range on the alumina's properties was investigated. Wetting with organic solvents does not affect the alumina. However, contact with water was found to change the sharp crystallization at 800°C to a continuous crystallization starting at 450°C. Water treatment for a day at room temperature (RT) followed by second calcination decreased the surface area by 10%. This decrease in surface area is less pronounced with increasing wetting periods. On the other hand water treatment at 50–70°C followed by a second calcination resulted in a surface area increase of up to 15%. Upon water treatment the total pore volume has decreased from 0.65 (cm³/gr) to 0.48 (cm³/gr) and the average pore size decreased from 6.8 nm to 4.1 nm. The Cl content was found to be uneffected by the water treatment, remaining at 2.5% wt. Wetting with water at elevated temperature (70°C) accelerated the morphological changes, eliminating the crystallization peak at 800°C in one hour. A dissolution-reprecipitation mechanism is suggested to explain the results. In addition, Mass-Spectroscopy of the effluent gas during heat treatment revealed the emission of CO₂ and water upon phase transition into -Al₂O₃, at 1150–1300°C.     

甲醇—乙醇—水—盐体系的等压气液平衡

木文采用CPⅡ型沸点仪测定了在93.33kPa下甲醇-乙醇-水-盐(NaCl,NaBr,Nal,LiCl,CaCl_2)体系的气液平衡数据。实验证明,当三元混合溶剂的相对组成固定时,体系的沸点与加入的盐量呈线性关系,用热力学理论导出了该线性方程,用Gibbs相律探讨了该线性关系的起因。