A fresh view on phoresis and self-phoresis

Phoresis, a classic example of particle transport driven by thermodynamic gradients, is enjoying a resurgent research interest motivated both by technological developments and by its relevance to the motility of chemically active particles. Here we succinctly review, using the case of chemophoresis (also called diffusiophoresis), the general framework of phoresis and self-phoresis formulated as a Stokes-flow problem for a liquid solution (solvent and solute) maintained out of thermodynamic equilibrium by solute gradients. Within the constraints of local equilibrium, we discuss the simplest extension of the theory in order to account for correlations in the fluid. We show that this leads to a shift from the paradigm based on the ideal case, in that self-phoresis can no longer be represented as phoresis in a self-generated composition gradient. Our review concludes with a concise overview of a few directions which we think hold the potential to reveal a rich behavior in future investigations.     

Electrochemical hydrogen storage in porous carbons with acidic electrolytes: Uncovering the potential

Electrochemical hydrogen storage in porous carbon materials is emerging as a cost-effective hydrogen storage and transport technology with competitive power and energy densities. The merits of electrochemical hydrogen storage using porous conductive carbon-based electrodes are reviewed. The employment of acidic electrolytes in such storage systems is compared with alkaline electrolytes. The recent innovations of a proton battery for smaller-scale electricity storage, and a proton flow reactor system for larger (grid)-scale storage and bulk export of hydrogen produced from renewable energy, are briefly described. It is argued that such systems, along with variants proposed by others, all of which rely on electrochemical hydrogen storage in porous carbons, can contribute to the search for energy storage technologies essential for the transition to a zero-emission global economy.     

Covalent anionic copolymer coatings with tunable electroosmotic flow for optimization of capillary electrophoretic separations

We present a method for finely adjustable electroosmotic flow (EOF) velocity in cathodic direction for the optimization of separations in capillary electrophoresis. To this end, we use surface modification of the separation fused silica capillary by the covalently attached copolymer of acrylamide (AM) and 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonate (AMPS), that is, poly(AM-co-AMPS) or PAMAMPS. Coatings were formed by the in-capillary polymerization of a mixture of the neutral AM and anionic AMPS monomers premixed in various ratios in order to control the charge density of the copolymer. EOF mobility varies in the 0 to ∼40 × 10⁻⁹ m² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ interval for PAMAMPS coatings ranging from 0 to 60 mol.% of charged AMPS monomer. For EOF in PAMAMPS-treated capillaries, we observed (i) a negligible dependence on pH in the 2–10 interval, (ii) a minor variance among background electrolytes (BGEs) in function of their components and (iii) its standard decrease with increasing ionic strength of the BGE. Interest in variable cathodic EOF was demonstrated by the amelioration of separation of two kinds of isomeric anionic analytes, that is, monosaccharides phosphates and helquat enantiomers, in counter-EOF mode.     

Photochemical Synthesis of the Bioactive Fragment of Salbutamol and Derivatives in a Self-Optimizing Flow Chemistry Platform

The implementation of self-optimizing flow reactors has been mostly limited to model reactions or known synthesis routes. In this work, a self-optimizing flow photochemistry platform is used to develop an original synthesis of the bioactive fragment of Salbutamol and derivatives. The key photochemical steps for the construction of the aryl vicinyl amino alcohol moiety consist of a C−C bond forming reaction followed by an unprecedented, high yielding (>80 %), benzylic oxidative cyclization.     

Mild Microfluidic Approaches to Oxide Nanoparticles Synthesis

Oxide nanoparticles (oxide NPs) are advanced materials with a wide variety of applications in different fields. The use of continuous flow methods is particularly appealing for their synthesis due to the high control achieved over the reaction conditions and the easy process scalability. The present review focuses on the preparation of oxide NPs using microfluidic setups at low temperature (≤80 °C), since the employment of mild reaction conditions is crucial for developing sustainable and cost-effective processes. A particular emphasis will be put on the improvement over the final product features (e. g., size, shape, and size distribution) given by flow methods with respect to conventional batch procedures. The main issues that arise by treating NPs suspensions in microfluidic systems are product deposition or channel clogging; mitigation strategies to overcome these drawbacks will also be presented and discussed.     

Ferrozine colorimetry and reverse flow injection analysis (rFIA) based method for the determination of total iron in aqueous solutions at nanomolar concentrations

Iron is one of the most microbiologically and chemically important metals in natural waters. The biogeochemical cycling of iron is significantly influenced by the redox cycling of Fe(II) and Fe(III). Because of the unique chemistry of iron, it is often needed to analyze iron at nano-molar concentrations. This article describes a reverse flow injection analysis (rFIA) based method with ferrozine spectrophotometric detection to quantify total iron concentration in stream water at nanomolar concentrations. The rFIA system has a 0.65 nM detection limit and a linear dynamic range up to 1.40 μM for the total iron analysis. The detection limit was achieved using a 1.0 m long liquid waveguide capillary flow cell, 1.50 m long knotted reaction coil, 87.50 μL injection loop and a miniature fiber optics spectrophotometer. The optimized colorimetric reagent has 1.0 mM ferrozine, 0.1 M ascorbic acid, 1.0 mM citric acid and 0.10 M acetate buffer adjusted to pH 4.0. The best sample flow rate is 2.1 mL min^?1 providing a sample throughput of more than 15 samples h^?1. The linear dynamic range of the method can be adjusted by changing the volume of the injection loop. The rFIA manifold was assembled exclusively from commercially available components.     

Thermal radiation impact on magneto-hydrodynamic heat transfer micropolar fluid flow over a vertical moving porous plate: A finite difference approach

For this research, an examination on the magnetohydrodynamic flow of a micropolar fluid across a moving vertical porous plate for the presence of thermal radiation is achieved. It is necessary to translate the partial differential equations regulating the flow, heat, & mass transfer into dimensionless form employing proper non-dimensional variables, which are then cracked numerically by utilizing the Finite difference approach. Graphs are used to represent numerical values of various flow profiles; however, tables are used to represent the simulated values of rate coefficients. The velocity rises when the value of Grashof number, dimensionless viscosity ratio is raised, and the opposite effect is seen when the value of magnetic parameter, micro-gyration factor is raised. The result in skin friction coefficient improves when the values of magnetic parameter, micro-gyration factor, Prandtl number, and radiation are raised higher.     

Determination of Antioxidant Activity of Hibiscus Flowers by Flow Injection Analysis with Chemiluminescence Detection

This study reports a simple and rapid method for the determination of the antioxidant activity of the phenolics present in plants of the Hibiscus genus. The protocol is based on the ability of the phenolic compounds to inhibit luminol chemiluminescence through the inactivation of free radicals in a flow injection system. Using the optimized operational conditions, the antioxidant activities of several phenolics were measured. The results were explained on the basis of structure–reactivity relationships. The antioxidant activities of dried flowers of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and Hibiscus sabdariffa were evaluated. The protocol was validated by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl-hydrate free radical assay. The differences in the antiradical activities were explained based on the concentrations of total polyphenol and flavonoid concentrations determined by spectrophotometric methods. It was concluded that the chemiluminescence method was complementary for the evaluation of hydrophilic antioxidants in plants.     

Novel Approach to Two-Component Analysis Based on the Generalized Calibration Strategy

The generalized calibration strategy (GCS), developed and previously applied to chemical analysis, has been adapted to two-component (2C) analysis. According to the 2C-GCS procedure, a set of 10 calibration solutions containing a sample and standards of two analytes in well-defined composition was diluted. The measurements performed at a given dilution stage allow the concentration of both analytes in a sample to be evaluated with six apparent concentrations calculated with various mathematical approaches. As a result, the method allows the detection, examination, and elimination of nonlinear and interference effects with multiplicative and additive characteristics. To perform 2C-GCS automatically and effectively, a dedicated flow sequential injection system was designed to be fully controlled by a computer. Caffeine and paracetamol were determined in synthetic and pharmaceutical samples using this calibration approach. The analytes were determined with good precision and accuracy with low consumption of sample and standard solutions. On the basis of this experimental model, the influence of effects and tendencies in the examined analytical system was detected and evaluated.     

Fluorescence‐based lateral flow assays for rapid oral fluid roadside detection of cannabis use

With the recent worldwide changes in the legalization of marijuana, there is a significant need for rapid, roadside screening test for driving under the influence of drugs. A robust, sensitive, lateral flow assay has been developed to detect recent use via oral‐fluid testing for Δ⁹‐tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This proof‐of‐concept assay uses a fluorescent‐based immunoassay detection of polymeric beads, conjugated to antibodies against native THC. The fluorescent technique allows for significantly lower limits of detection and higher precision determination of recent marijuana use without the use of urine or blood sampling—thus allowing for roadside identification. Detection levels of 0.01 ng/mL were distinguished from background and the lower limit of quantification was determined to approach 1 ng/mL.