A New Indirect Electroanalytical Method to Monitor the Contamination of Natural Waters with 4‐Nitrophenol Using Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes

The electrochemical detection of the hazardous pollutant 4‐nitrophenol (4‐NP) at low potentials, in order to avoid matrix interferences, is an important research challenge. This study describes the development, electrochemical characterization and utilization of a multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) film electrode for the quantitative determination of 4‐NP in natural water. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements showed that the modified surface exhibits a decrease of ca. 13 times in the charge transfer resistance when compared with a bare glassy carbon (GC) surface. Voltammetric experiments showed the possibility to oxidize a hydroxylamine layer (produced by the electrochemical reduction of 4‐NP on the GC/MWNCT surface) in a potential region which is approximately 700 mV less positive than that needed to oxidize 4‐NP, thus minimizing the interference of matrix components. The limit of detection for 4‐NP obtained using square‐wave voltammetry (0.12 μmol L^?1) was lower than the value advised by EPA. A natural water sample from a dam located in São Carlos (Brazil) was spiked with 4‐NP and analyzed by the standard addition method using the GC/MWCNT electrode, without any further purification step. The recovery procedure yielded a value of 96.5% for such sample, thus confirming the suitability of the developed method to determine 4‐NP in natural water samples. The electrochemical determination was compared with that obtained by HPLC with UV‐vis detection.     

Cryotrapping gas chromatography-Fourier transform infrared spectrometry in environmental analysis: A pilot study

The potential applicability of cryotrapping gas chromatography-Fourier transform infrared spectrometry in environmental analysis was studied. First results of on-the-flight measurements on pesticides and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons show detection limits in the 100–500 pg range. The low-temperature spectra obtained appear to be closely comparable to conventionally recorded spectra. Library search procedures based on existing solid-phase spectra appear to be useful.     

A complexity approach to sustainability – Stafford Beer revisited

There is wide acceptance of the need for a more holistic approach to sustainability. However, practical solutions remain elusive and tend to exhibit underlying conflicts between different paradigms and their associated methodologies. This paper argues the need to wield analytical tools that themselves embody the principles of systemic, ecological thinking. We present here a theoretical framework based on complexity science – focused on organisational and second order cybernetics – that highlights our understanding of the concept of sustainability. The paper goes on to reflect upon how current practice would benefit from such an approach.     

Simulation with system dynamics and fuzzy reasoning of a tax policy to reduce CO2 emissions in the residential sector

This methodological paper presents a planning and control methodology illustrated by a simplified case study on the carbon-tax design in the residential sector. The first objective is to show how to simulate with system dynamics the consumers’ behaviour and the continuous tax-control mechanism depending on few important feedbacks, often ignored in static macroeconomic modelling. A second objective is to show how to aggregate external data driving this model and stemming from different sources with various credibility levels. This is realised by means of fuzzy-reasoning techniques incorporated into the system-dynamics model.     

The analyses of alkyllead compounds in fish and environmental samples in Ontario,Canada (1981–1987)

Analyses of fish and other environmental samples (clams, macrophytes, sediments and waters) from areas upstream and downstream from two alkyllead manufactures beside the St Lawrence and St Clair Rivers, Ontario, show a clear indication of elevated alkyllead levels in samples near the industries. Most species of fish contained alkyllead compounds with tetraethyllead and triethyllead as the predominant forms. Most fish from the contaminated areas contained 50–75% of total lead as alkylleads. Carp, yellow perch and white sucker were generally the most contaminated species while pike, alewife and rock bass were the least contaminated. Average alkyllead levels varied from year to year but declined steadily after 1981. For example, the geometric mean of alkyllead compounds in carp from the St Lawrence River decreased from 4207 μg kg^?1 in 1981 to 2000 μg kg^?1 in 1982 and to 49 μg kg^?1 in 1987, reflecting the reduction of alkylleads in the effluents and the closure of one of the manufactures in 1985. Alkyllead levels were consistently lower in muscle and carcass samples in comparison with whole fish containing fatty intestines. However, muscle levels were generally equal to carcass levels. The concentrations of alkyllead compounds were generally low in clams, macrophytes, sediments and waters except from the immediate vicinity of the manufactures' final effluent discharges.     

Photoionization Detector for Portable Rapid GC

With the development of portable rapid gas chromatography (GC) for environmental monitoring the photoionization detector (PID) has potential application. The frequent calibration required and the relatively large dead volume have limited the use of the PID, however. An improved PID which resolves these problems is proposed in this paper. Compared with a commercial instrument, signal generation, the main aspect of the improved PID, has also been optimized. In the improved PID the sample is directed to flow across the lamp window, rather than toward the lamp, and a new, simple automatic self-cleaning technique, which effectively eliminates contaminants and substantially reduces drift, has also been adopted. Use of new electrodes has effectively reduced the background noise and dead volume of the PID. As a result of this new design the PID should be more compatible with rapid portable GC in environmental monitoring, because of elimination of most of the tedious cleaning and calibration previously necessary.     

An overview of innovation in industrial drying: current status and R&D needs

Over the past three decades there has been nearly exponential growth in drying R&D on a global scale. Although thermal drying had always been the workhorse of almost all major industrial sectors, the need for and opportunities in basic as well as industrial research became clear only after the energy crisis of the early 1970s. Although the price of oil did drop subsequently the awareness of the significance of improving the drying operation to save energy, improve product quality as well as reduce environmental effect remained and indeed has flourished over recent years. New drying technologies, better operational strategies and control of industrial dryers, as well as improved and more reliable scale-up methodologies have contributed to better cost-effectiveness and better quality dried products. Yet there is no universally or even widely applicable drying theory on the horizon. Most mathematical models of drying remain product-equipment specific for a variety of reasons. In this paper, we examine the role of innovation in drying in various industrial sectors, e.g. paper, wood, foods, agriculture, waste management, etc. Progress made over the past three decades and the challenges ahead are outlined. Some areas in need of further research are identified. Examples of intensification of innovation in dryer designs via mathematical modeling are discussed. Finally, the need for closer interaction between academia and industry is stressed as the key to successful drying R&D in the coming decade.     

Parallelizing Nonlinear Least-Squares Regression with Application to Analyses of Microalgae

Nonlinear least-squares regression is a valuable tool for gaining chemical insights into complex systems. Yet, the success of nonlinear regression as measured by residual sum of squares (RSS), correlation, and reproducibility of fit parameters strongly depends on the availability of a good initial solution. Without such, iterative algorithms quickly become trapped in an unfavorable local RSS-minimum. For determining an initial solution, a high-dimensional parameter space needs to be screened, a process that is very time-consuming but can be parallelized. Another advantage of parallelization is equally important: After determining initial solutions, the used processors can be tasked to each optimize an initial guess. Even if several of these optimizations become stuck in a shallow local RSS-minimum, other processors continue and improve the regression outcome. A software package for parallel processing-based constrained nonlinear regression (RegressionLab) has been developed, implemented, and tested on a variety of hardware configurations. As proof-of-principle, microalgae to environment interactions have been studied by infrared attenuated total reflection spectroscopy. Additionally, light microscopy has been used to monitor cell production. It is shown that spectroscopic data sets with 10,000?s of data points and >1000 nonlinear model parameters as well as imaging data with 100,000s of data points and >2000 nonlinear model parameters may now be investigated by constrained nonlinear regression. Acceleration factors of up to 8.1 have been obtained which is of high practical relevance when computations take weeks on single-processor machines. Solely using parallel processing, the RSS values may be improved up to a factor of 5.5.     

环境友好型离子液体催化环氧丙烷反应合成丙二醇醚

丙二醇醚类化合物是性能优良的精细化学品,也是环保型高级溶剂.该类化合物具有两个强溶解性功能基团—醚键和羟基,前者具有亲油性,可溶解疏水性物质,后者具有亲水性,可溶解亲水性物质,因而丙二醇醚具有很强的溶解能力,素有"万能溶剂"之称,可广泛应用于涂料、油墨、油漆、印刷、电子化学品、染料、净洗和纺织等行业.丙二醇醚类化合物目前主要由环氧丙烷和低级脂肪醇反应合成,然而,由于环氧丙烷的位阻效应,使其在酸或碱的条件下开环的位置会不同,从而得到不同的醇醚产物.由于碱催化的醇醚产物更加环境友好,因而越来越被人们所关注.工业上丙二醇醚合成多采用传统的强碱性催化剂醇钠以及氢氧化钠,腐蚀性强,产生的废液量大.本文采用环境友好的非卤素离子液体作为催化剂,研究了其催化环氧丙烷醚化合成丙二醇醚的反应特性.本文采用两步法合成了一系列环境友好的醋酸类碱性功能化离子液体,并在温和的条件下将其用于催化环氧丙烷与醇反应合成丙二醇醚.结果表明,该类离子液体可以高效催化该反应的进行.利用紫外-可见光谱测定Hammett指数来表征实验中所用离子液体的碱强度,并构建了离子液体碱性与催化活性之间的关系.结果表明,离子液体的催化性能和其碱性密切相关,随着离子液体碱性的增加,催化活性增强,其中咪唑醋酸类离子液体碱性强于季胺类,表现出优异的催化性能.离子液体的碱性明显弱于NaOH,但却呈现出更优异的催化性能.相同反应条件下,EmimOAc离子液体作为催化剂,PO的转化率分别较NaOH高出20%–30%,选择性略高于NaOH,这可能是由于二者催化机理不同造成的.传统NaOH催化机理的关键步骤是醇在碱性催化剂的作用下去质子化形成电子供体烷氧根离子,促进环氧丙烷的开环加成.而本文提出了离子液体亲电亲核双活化作用机理,即离子液体在阴阳离子之间的氢键和电荷相互作用的共同作用下,促进环氧丙烷开环和醇的去质子化,形成相应的反应中间体.通过电喷雾质谱分析手段检测到了阴阳离子通过协同作用亲电亲核催化过程中的反应中间体,证明了该假设机理的可行性.此外,还考察了催化剂浓度、醇比、反应温度以及醇的空间位阻效应对反应的影响.以EmimOAc催化合成丙二醇丁醚为例,反应的转化率随催化剂浓度的增加而增大,在催化剂添加量1%(催化剂与PO的摩尔比)时,PO转化率达到最大值为98.2%,1-丁氧基-2-丙醇的选择性为86.4%.当正丁醇与环氧丙烷的摩尔比为3时,转化率最高为88.6%,选择性高达94%.该反应为放热反应,最适反应温度约为140 oC,此时转化率高达96.5%.在环氧丙烷和不同的低碳醇合成丙二醇醚的反应中,反应物醇的碳链越短,支链越少,催化反应效率越高.     

Problems,possibilities and limitations of inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry in the determination of platinum,palladium and rhodium in samples with different matrix composition

The economic and geological importance of platinum group of elements has led to the development of analytical methods to quantify them in different types of samples. In the present paper the quantitative information for spectral interference in radial viewing 40.68 MHz inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry in the determination of Pt, Pd and Rh in the presence of complex matrix, containing Al, Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn, P and Ti as matrix constituents was obtained. The database was used for optimum line selections. By using the selected analysis lines the following detection limits in ng g^− 1 were obtained: Pt 1700, Pd-1440, Rh-900. The reached detection limits determine the possibilities and limitation of the direct ICP-AES method in the determination of Pt, Pd and Rh in geological and environmental materials. The database for spectral interferences in the presence of aluminum can be used for the determination of platinum group of elements in car catalysts.