Acetylation and molecular mass effects on barrier and mechanical properties of shortfin squid chitosan membranes

Chitosan samples with different N-deacetylation levels were obtained from β-chitin under heterogeneous alkali conditions. Oxidative depolymerisation was performed to attain low-acetylated chitosan samples with different molecular mass. Water vapour permeability, membrane swelling and tensile mechanical properties were analysed in plasticized self-supporting chitosan membranes. The main purpose was to describe unambigously the effect of the biopolymer molecular mass and acetylation degree on these properties. Commercially available chitosan samples derived from α-chitin were also studied for comparison. The equilibrium degree of swelling in water and the water vapour permeability increase by increasing the molecular mass or the degree of acetylation. Regarding the effect on the mechanical properties, generally harder and tougher membranes were obtained for chitosans with higher molecular mass or lower acetylation degree. These observations are tentatively explained based on the different structural characteristics of the polymer and can lead to a better understanding of the tools necessary to tailor a specific type of chitosan membrane.     

Time‐resolved Fourier transform infrared/attenuated total reflection spectroscopy for the measurement of molecular diffusion in polymers

Over the past 2 decades, the use of time‐resolved Fourier transform infrared/attenuated total reflection (ATR) spectroscopy for the measurement of diffusion in polymers has grown. ATR is a powerful technique for the measurement of diffusion in polymers because it is an in situ technique that is relatively inexpensive, provides reliable short‐time data, and provides a wealth of information at the molecular level. This article highlights the technique and its application to numerous studies, ranging from the diffusion of drugs in human skin to chemical warfare agents in barrier materials. In addition to these topics, recent studies with ATR to quantify and model molecular interactions during the diffusion process are reviewed. In the future, the ATR technique may have an impact on a variety of emerging fields in which diffusion in polymers plays an important role, such as fuel cells, membrane separation, sensors, and drug delivery. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 2794–2807, 2003     

The Effect of the Nature and Structure of Adsorbents on Interaction with Ibuprofen

The interaction of ibuprofen [2-(4-isobutylphenyl)propionic acid] with the surface of carbon and oxide adsorbents was investigated. The significant role of wide pores during the adsorption of ibuprofen on carbon adsorbents in the presence of protein molecules was demonstrated. At low concentrations ibuprofen is adsorbed on the surface of hydrophilic and hydrophobic adsorbents in the form of a monomer, but the contribution from the adsorbed dimer increases with increase in its concentration.     

Characterization of Titania/Silica Gel by Means of Low-Pressure Nitrogen Adsorption

Adsorbents synthesized by grafting of titania onto mesoporous silica gel surfaces at different temperatures were studied by means of nitrogen adsorption–desorption and water desorption. The pore size distribution f(R_p) of titania/silica gel depends on the titania concentration (C_TiO2) and the temperature of titania synthesis. Nonuniformity of TiO₂ phase is maximal at a low C_TiO2 value (3.2 wt.% anatase deposited at 473 K), and two peaks of the fractal dimension distribution f(D) are observed at such a concentration of titania, but at larger C_TiO2 values, only one f(D) peak is seen. More ordered filling of pores and adsorption sites by nitrogen, reflecting in the shape of adsorption energy distributions f(E) at different pressures of adsorbate, is observed for adsorbent with titania (rutile+anatase) grafted on silica gel at a higher temperature (673 K).     

氧化钡促进的Co/SiO2催化剂的还原性能和分解甲烷活性

 利用等体积浸渍法制备了氧化硅负载钴催化剂．通过程序升温还原、氢化学吸附、氧滴定和催化活性评价等手段研究了氧化钡对Co／SiO2的还原性能、钴分散度和颗粒度、分解甲烷活性及其稳定性等的影响．研究结果表明，氧化钡明显地影响Co／SiO2的还原性能；添加2％氧化钡提高了Co／SiO2在中温（450℃）条件下的还原度；氧化钡的还原对Co／SiO2还原的诱导、氧化钡与氧化硅及与氧化钴之间的相互作用是导致Co／SiO2还原性能变化的原因．氧化钡提高了Co／SiO2的初活性和钴的分散度，降低了钴的颗粒度；添加0．5％～1．5％氧化钡有利于提高Co／SiO2的稳定性．钴的分散度和颗粒度影响Co／SiO2的活性和稳定性；氧化钡的强供电效应也是提高Co／SiO2活性和稳定性的重要因素．甲烷分解生成的碳物种覆盖了钴活性中心，导致Co／SiO2初活性下降；但大部分碳物种并不沉积在钴活性中心上，可能形成了碳纤维生长在载体和钴活性中心之间．     

Adsorption from ternary liquid mixtures on silica gel and aluminium oxide

Formation of mixed adsorbed layers was tested for ternary liquid mixtures containing methanol or acetone and the binary solvent benzene+n — heptane. The specific excess adsorption isotherms from the liquid phase were measured on silica gel, silanized silica gel and aluminium oxide. The experimental adsorption data are discussed on the basis of the changes in the mixed solvent composition.     

Supramolecular Templating of Mesopores in Phase-Separating Silica Sol-Gels Incorporated with Cationic Surfactant

Silica gels with hierarchical macropores and mesopores have been prepared by inducing phase separation in the alkoxide-based sol-gel system with an addition of alkyltrimethylammonium salt. Narrowly distributed mesopores were observed in the heat-treated gel samples possibly as a result of supramolecular templating of silica oligomers in the reacting solution. The ionic attractive interaction and hydrophobicity of the attached alkyl group cooperatively determined the phase separation tendency. No indication of long-range order of the mesopores was obtained.     

Fused silica capillary micro-packed columns in gas chromatography

Summary Flexibility, strength and adsorption inertness of fused-silica capillaries permits their extensive application for the preparation of micro-packed columns in gas chromatography. Decreasing the column diameter (from 0.5 to 0.15 mm) and the diameter of the sorbent particles (from 100 to 5 μm) results in a marked reduction of the height equivalent to a theoretical plate (HETP), as well as in diminishing the dependence of the HETP on the carrier gas flow rate. The chromatographic characteristics of fused-silica capillary micro-packed columns and open-tubular columns are compared. The fused-silica capillary micro-packed column can be used to advantage for performing rapid and trace analyses and have been shown to be adapted for application in gas-solid chromatography. Separation of organic and inorganic compounds on fused-silica capillary micro-packed columns is illustrated by practical examples. Presented at the 15th International Symposium on Chromatography, Nürnberg, October 1984     

The spatial distribution of poly(methyloctylsiloxane) deposited by solvent evaporation in the pores of HPLC silica particles

Summary Poly(methyloctylsiloxane) (PMOS), sorbed into the pores of HPLC silica particles by solvent evaporation, can function as a useful stationary phase for reversed-phase chromatography. The present work addresses the question of how the PMOS is distributed in the pores. Measurements of the surface area (BET, N₂) of a series of partially loaded samples (0–40% PMOS, m/m) using a typical batch of HPLC silica (10 μm irregular particles with 6 nm pores) show that the specific surface area of the samples decreases linearly with the specific loading (mass of PMOS per gram of silica). This result is not consistent with a “film” model in which the PMOS is deposited uniformly on the pore walls, but is consistent with a model in which long segmented “plugs” of PMOS are deposited within the pore system. Presented at the 21^st ISC held in Stuttgart, Germany, 15^th–20^th September, 1996