An Insight into the Diffusion of Unsaturated Polyester (UP) Resin into Expanded Graphite (EG) to Improve the Mechanical Properties of the UP/EG Composites

Abstract

Polymer/expanded graphite (EG) nanocomposites have great importance in many industrial applications mainly due to their high electrical/thermal conductivity or flame retardancy. However, to fully employ the benefits of polymer/EG nanocomposites one must consider the high degree of porosity of EG. The high degree of porosity of EG can deteriorate the composites’ mechanical properties if the polymer chains cannot diffuse completely into the EG pores. In this article, an insight is given into the diffusion of unsaturated isophthalic polyester (UP) resin, consisting of a combination of maleic anhydride and isophthalic anhydride in the resin backbone, with two viscosities, into the pores of the EG particles of various degrees of porosity. The diffusion experiments were carried out on compressed EG tablets with the same density but different porosity due to the different porosity of the EG particles. The results showed that the diffusion rate of the UP resin with higher viscosity slightly decreased when the EG porosity decreased but, in the opposite way, it strongly increased for the low viscosity UP resin. The EG nanocomposites samples were molded at varying pressures. The micrographs of the fractured surfaces of the EG nanocomposites showed that the EG pores were not filled with resin, thus the EG nanocomposites had residual pores. It was found that composites containing EGs with higher expansion ratio and larger particles and pores showed larger residual pores. Furthermore, the composites prepared with the more viscous UP resin showed more residual pores. By applying a pressure of 10?bar instead of 1?bar, a reduction of 7–20% in the residual pores of the nanocomposites was observed which led to improved mechanical properties by up to 20% in flexural strength for the EG with the highest expansion ratio.     

Selenium speciation in soil extracts using LC-ICP-MS

Selenium (Se) speciation in soil affects its bioavailability to crops. An analytical procedure for the determination of inorganic Se species (selenite and selenate) in soil extracts by anion-exchange liquid chromatography (LC) with ICP-MS detection has been developed, with 10-fold higher sensitivity than existing HGAAS-based soil Se measurements. A comparison of phosphate extraction solutions on agricultural soils amended with 20?µg?kg^–1 selenate or selenite was carried out, and a 0.016?M?KH₂PO₄ extraction solution is recommended. Recovery of selenate was >91%; however, selenite recovery ranged between 18.5% and 46.1%, due to rapid binding to the soil. Soil preparation did not have a significant (p?>?0.05) effect on the extractability of the selenate or selenite amendments. The stability of Se species in the phosphate extracts was variable, depending on temperature and storage time. Therefore, immediate (<1?h) analysis of the soil extracts is preferable. The method developed was applied to the determination of extractable Se from six arable soils in the UK. Extractable Se levels in these soils ranged between 6 and 13?µg?kg^–1 consisting of selenite and some soluble organic Se.     

Evaluation of the Fate of Aldicarb and Its Metabolites in Oranges

Abstract

The accumulation, persistence and fate of systemic pesticide aldicarb was melencholy evaluated in orange crops. The concentration of this pesticide and its two toxic metabolites, aldicarb sulfoxide and aldicarb sulfone was determined in leaves, rind and pulp of three orange varieties (Satsuma, Navelina and Clemetina de Nules) and in the top soil of the orange groves. The groves were located in two different places in the Valencia Community (Spain). The analysis showed that the aldicarb concentration was lower than those of aldicarb sulfoxide and aldicarb sulfone. In all cases, the residues persisted at least 160 days in vegetable samples and between 157 and 227 days in soil samples. Residue concentrations measured in the soil samples were highly variable but a relation with the organic matter content can be observed. The residue levels found in vegetal products were higher in leaves than in rind, and in rind than in pulp. The maximum residue values were obtained between 47 and 70 days after the application. One hundred days after treatment (Security period) the residue levels of total fruit were lower than the maximum residue level of 0.2 mg/kg established by law.     

Anaerobic Degradation of PCB in Soils

Abstract

The anaerobic degradation of PCB in loamy and clayey soils containing indigeneous microflora was studied. The anaerobic conditions were created by an argon atmosphere in the flasks containing soil flooded by a liquid medium with glucose. GC-ECD analysis of soil extracts after 40 day incubation showed, in addition to the concentration changes of the less chlorinated PCB congeners, a significant decrease in the concentration of highly chlorinated congeners in both soils. The results indicate that in both soil types reductive dehalogenation of PCB congeners was encountered.     

Development of Resin Membranes as a Sensitive Indicator of Heavy Metal Toxicity in the Soil Environment

Abstract

Ion exchange resins in contact with soil can act as a sink for metal cations, thereby simulate the action of plant roots. Ion exchange resins in membrane form offer additional advantages in ease of use and handling. A procedure was developed to assess the bioavailability of four heavy metals Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb via direct in soil burial. A growth chamber experiment with three representative crops (oats, radish and lettuce) was set up to determine the phytotoxic levels of the four heavy metals. The critical levels varied widely from crop to crop, and soil to soil. Lettuce was most sensitive to high concentration of metals. The toxic effects are more pronounced on sandier textured soils.     

Symbiotic N2 Fixation and N Uptake of Yellow and White Lupines Influenced by Spontaneous Rhizobia Infection and Substrate

Abstract

By using soil as substrate, white and yellow lupines (Lupinus albus L., Lupinus luteus L.) assimilated higher N amounts than under quartz sand conditions. This was caused by spontaneous infection of lupines with wild Rhizobia strains and also by an additional N uptake from the soil. In yellow lupines without inoculation in non-sterile soil, only the additional N uptake played a role. Differences in P and K supply as the cause of different N acquisition from soil and quartz sand could be excluded. As compared with white lupines, yellow lupines inoculated with Rhizobia had a high N₂ fixation that exceeded the effect of spontaneous infections. This result as well as the positive effect of spontaneous infections with soil-borne Rhizobia on white lupines indicates insufficient effectiveness of the strains used for inoculation on this plant species.     

Nuklearpharmaka — Ihre Entwicklung,Präparation und Anwendungsmöglichkeiten

Radioaktiv markierte Präparate haben in denletzten Jahren in schnell zunehmendem Maße Eingang in die klinische Medizin gefunden. Sie sind beieiner Reihe von Indikationen schon jetzt außerordentlich wertvolle Hilfsmittel bei der Diagnose, besonders bei der Prüfung von Organfunktionen.     

THE PECULIAR α-AMIDOALKYLATION OF VINYLTRIMETHYLSILANE

Abstract

α-Amidoalkylation of allyttrimethylsilane with methyl-2-chloro-2-(p-chlorobenzoylamino)-ethanoate 1 gave in the presence of Lewis acid racemic methyl-2- (p-chlorobenzoylamino)-4-penteno ate 2. Under the same conditions, vinlytrimethylsilane afforded (±)-trans-2-(p-chlorophenyl)-5,6-dihydro-4-methoxycarbonyl-6-trimethylsilyl-4H-1, 3-oxazine 4 as the major, by n.m.r. data and x-ray crystallography established product.     

Palladium‐catalyzed carbonylative cyclization of β‐bromo‐α,β‐unsaturated carboxylic acids with primary amines leading to N‐alkylmaleimides

Cyclic β‐bromo‐α,β‐unsaturated carboxylic acids are carbonylatively cyclized with primary amines under carbon monoxide pressure in MeCN in the presence of a catalytic amount of PdCl₂(PPh₃)₂ to give N‐alkylmaleimides. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.