Simple, expedient methods for the determination of water and electrolyte contents of cellulose solvent systems

The concentrations of water, W, and electrolytes present in solutions of LiCl in N,N-dimethylacetamide, LiCl/DMAc, and of tetrabutylammonium fluoride. x-hydrate in DMSO, TBAF.xW/DMSO can be accurately and expediently determined by three independent methods, UV–vis, FTIR and EMF measurement. The first relies on the use of solvatochromic probes whose spectra are sensitive to solution composition. It is applicable to W/LiCl/DMAc solutions but not to TBAF.xW/DMSO, because the charge-transfer complex bands of the probes are suppressed by strong interactions with the latter electrolyte. Integration of ν_OH band of water may be employed in order to determine [W], hence [electrolyte] by weight difference. EMF measurement uses ion-selective electrodes in order to determine [electrolyte], hence [W] by weight difference. Results of the latter method were in excellent agreement with those of FTIR. The reason for the failure of Karl Fischer titration is addressed, and the relevance of the results obtained to functionalization of cellulose under homogenous solution conditions is briefly commented on.     

Mathematics achievement and interest in mathematics from a differential perspective

In this article, we present results of an empirical study with 500 German students of grades 7 and 8. The study focussed on students' mathematics achievement and their interest in mathematics as well as on the relation between these two constructs. In particular, the results show that the development of an individual student's achievement between grade 7 and grade 8 depends on the achievement level of the specific classroom and therefore on the specific mathematics instruction Interest in mathematics could be regarded a predictor for mathematics achievement Moreover, our findings suggest that the students show hardly any fear of mathematics independent of their achievement level.     

Complex magnetism in ultra-thin films: atomic-scale spin structures and resolution by the spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscope

In this paper we present a density functional theory investigation of complex magnetic structures in ultra-thin films. The focus is on magnetically frustrated antiferromagnetic Cr and Mn monolayers deposited on a triangular lattice provided by a Ag (111) substrate. This involves non-collinear magnetic structures, which we treat by first-principles calculations on the basis of the vector spin-density formulation of the density functional theory. We find for Cr/Ag (111) a coplanar non-collinear periodic 120° Néel structure, for Mn/Ag (111) a row-wise antiferromagnetic structure, and for Fe/Ag (111) a ferromagnetic structure as magnetic ground states. The spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscope (SP–STM) operated in the constant-current mode is proposed as a powerful tool to investigate complex atomic-scale magnetic structures of otherwise chemically equivalent atoms. We discuss a recent application of this operation mode of the SP–STM on Mn/W (110), which led to the first observation of a two-dimensional antiferromagnet on a non-magnetic metal. The future potential of this approach is demonstrated by calculating SP–STM images for different magnetic structures of Cr/Ag (111). The results show that the predicted non-collinear magnetic ground state structure can clearly be discriminated from competing magnetic structures. A general discussion of the application of different operation modes of the SP–STM is presented on the basis of the model of Tersoff and Hamann. Received: 07 May 2001 / Accepted: 23 July 2001 / Published online: 3 April 2002     

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Characterization of Autocatalytic Reactions in Modified Cellulose/NMMO Solutions by Thermal Analysis and UV/VIS Spectroscopy

The thermal stability of cellulose/N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMMO) solutions were investigated using UV/VIS spectrometry with a temperature programming cuvette and caloric measurements by means of the Systag calorimeter RADEX (mini-autoclave). Both analytical methods allow to characterize the influences of stabilizers and additives. With the temporal course of the optical density, temperature and pressure thermal runaway reactions with gas evolution and accumulation of chromophoric degradation products were recognized. Kinetic model calculations compared with UV/VIS measurements demonstrate the existence of autocatalytic reactions in cellulose/NMMO solutions. Varying the heating rate autocatalysis can be proved by dynamic caloric measurements as well.     

Efficient synthesis of cellulose furoates in 1-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride

The ionic liquid 1-N-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([C₄mim]⁺Cl⁻) was investigated as reaction media for the homogeneous acylation of cellulose with 2-furoyl chloride in the presence of pyridine. The preparation of cellulose furoate depending on the reaction conditions, the cellulose type and the pyridine content was studied. Cellulose furoates with a degree of substitution in the range from 0.46 to 3.0 were accessible, i.e., under mild conditions, with a low excess of reagent and in a short reaction time. The products were characterized by elemental analysis, perpropionylation, ¹H- and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and FTIR spectroscopy. Thomas Heinze is the member of the European Polysaccharide Network of Excellence (EPNOE), www.epnoe.eu