Spectrophotometric determination of selenium with dithizone

Microgram amounts of selenium(IV) are determined by measuring the decrease in absorbance of dithizone in carbon tetrachloride solution at 620 nm. Relative standard deviations for samples containing 0.20 and 1.00 μg of selenium(IV) are 0.6% and 0.4%, respectively. Of several metals tested only copper (at the 1.0-μg level) and iron (at the 100-μg level) interfere but high concentrations of nitric or perchloric acid cause low results. A reinvestigation of the reaction of selenium(IV) with dithizone suggests a formula Se(HDz)₄ for the dithizonate.     

The determination of selenium(IV) by thermometric enthalpy titration with thiosulphate

Selenimn(IV) can be titrated in the range 0.2–6 mg with thiosulphate; relative standard deviations are 1.2–0.54%. Experimental conditions were manipulated to use the endothermic enthalpy of dilution and disproportionation of thiosulphate to advantage in improving end-point precision. Common anions do not interfere; interferences from copper(II), iron(III), lead(II) and mercury(II) can be minimized by masking.     

Asymmetric aldol reactions catalyzed by the promiscuous aldo–ketoreductase enzyme

The promiscuous aldo–ketoreductase (AKR) enzyme is used as a sustainable biocatalyst for the first time to catalyze asymmetric aldol reactions in aqueous medium. The reactions between aromatic aldehydes and cyclic/acyclic ketones give the corresponding products in moderate yields and enantioselectivities in the presence of water. The influence of solvents, the mole ratio of substrates, and enzyme concentration are investigated. The mechanism of the AKR1A1-catalyzed aldol reaction is also discussed.     

LDH-intercalated d-gluconate: Generation of a new food additive-inorganic nanohybrid compound

Intercalation of d-gluconate into the interlamellae of zinc-aluminum-layered double hydroxide for the formation of a food additive-inorganic layered nanohybrid was accomplished by both direct (co-precipitation) and indirect (ion-exchange) methods. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) together with CHNS and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analyses showed that the hybridization of d-gluconate with pure phase and good crystallinity was successfully accomplished by a direct method within ranges of pH 7.5-10, Zn to Al initial molar ratio of 2-5 and DG concentration of 0.05-0.3 M. The same nanohybrid compound was also prepared using an indirect ion-exchange method by contacting the pre-prepared LDH with 0.1 M DG for 80 min. The basal spacing of the nanohybrid synthesized by the direct method ranged between 9 and 12.0 Å while that synthesized by the indirect ion-exchange method was 14.0 Å. The crystallinity of the latter was higher than the former and it inherited the crystallinity of the precursor. This work shows that a food additive, such as d-gluconate, can be hybridized into an inorganic host for the formation of a new nanohybrid compound, which can be used to regulate the release of acidity in the food industry.     

Solid state photoelectrochemical cells utilising graphite thin films counter electrode

This paper reports the use of graphite thin films as a counter electrode of a solid state photoelectrochemical cells of ITO/TiO₂/PVC-LiClO₄/graphite. The photoelectrochemical cells material was a screen-printed layer of titanium dioxide onto an ITO-covered glass substrate which was used as a working electrode of the device. The solid electrolyte used was PVC-LiClO₄ that was prepared by solution casting technique. The graphite films which serve as a counter electrode were prepared onto glass substrate by electron beam evaporation technique at substrate temperatures variation of 25, 50, 100, 150 and 200 °C. The dependence of sheet resistance and surface morphology of the graphite films on substrate temperature were studied. The films deposited at 25 °C shows the smoothest surface morphology and the smallest grain size. Bigger grain size, rougher surface morphology of graphite film counter electrode. The current-voltage characteristics of four devices utilising the graphite counter electrode with different substrate temperature in dark as well as under illumination of 100 mWcm⁻² light from a tungsten halogen lamp were recorded at room temperature and at 50 °C, respectively. It was found that the photovoltaic parameters of the device such as short-circuit current density, J_sc and open-circuit voltage, V_oc increases with the decreasing average grain size of the graphite counter electrode. The device whose graphite film counter electrode was deposited onto the glass substrate at 25 °C gave the highest J_sc of 0.32 μA/cm² and V_oc of 117 mV, respectively.     

Universal scaling of the elliptic flow data at RHIC

Recent PHOBOS measurements of the excitation function for the pseudo-rapidity dependence of the elliptic flow in Au + Au collisions at RHIC have posed a significant theoretical challenge. Here we show that these differential measurements, as well as the RHIC measurements on transverse momentum satisfy a universal scaling relation predicted by the Buda-Lund model, based on exact solutions of perfect fluid hydrodynamics. We also show that the recently found transverse kinetic energy scaling of the elliptic flow is a special case of this universal scaling.     

A novel antimicrobial flavonoid from the stem bark of Commiphora pedunculata (Kotschy & Peyr.) Engl.

A new flavonoid, 2-(3,5-dihydroxy-4-methoxy-phenyl)-3,5-dihydroxy-8,8-dimethyl-2,3-dihydro-8H-pyrano[3,2]chromen-4-one, together with previously reported epicatechin was isolated from the ethyl acetate soluble fraction of the methanol extract of the stem bark of Commiphora pedunculata. The structures of these compounds were elucidated based on extensive analysis of their spectral data, including 1 and 2D NMR. The compounds were active against 9 out of 12 tested microorganisms including a resistant strain; vancomycin-resistant entrococci (VRE), Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. The zones of inhibition ranged between 22 and 34 mm against the microorganisms. The minimum inhibitory concentration was as low as 6.25 μg/mL against Shigella dysentriae, Bacillus cereus and S. aureus while the minimum bactericidal concentration was as low as 50 μg/mL against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, VRE and C. albicans. This is the first report of the isolation of the compound.     

Optimization strategies for radiation induced grafting of 4-vinylpyridine onto poly(ethylene-co-tetraflouroethene) film using Box-Behnken design

The radiation induced grafting of 4-vinylpyridine (4-VP) onto poly(ethylene-co-tetrafluoroethene) (ETFE) was optimized using the Box-Behnken factorial design available in the response surface method (RSM). The optimized grafting parameters; absorbed dose, monomer concentration, grafting time and reaction temperature were varied in four levels to quantify their effect on the grafting yield (GY). The validity of the statistical model was supported by the small deviation between the predicted (GY=61%) and experimental (GY=57%) values. The optimum conditions for enhancing GY were determined at the following values: monomer concentration of 48 vol%, absorbed dose of 64 kGy, reaction time of 4 h and temperature of 68 °C. A comparison was made between the optimization model developed for the present grafting system and that for grafting of 1-vinylimidazole (1-VIm) onto ETFE to confirm the validly and reliability of the Box-Behnken for the optimization of various radiation induced grafting reactions. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to investigate the properties of the obtained films and provide evidence for grafting.     

On the accuracy of bore reconstruction from input impedance measurements: application to bassoon crook measurements

The determination of a pipe bore from the measured reflection function is a technique that has reached a certain maturity. However, the measurement of the reflection function in the time domain (pulse reflectometry) requires equipment that is rather difficult to operate. On the other hand, the techniques for measuring the input impedance have reached an unquestionable maturity with respect to measurement setup and to calibration. It is thus likely that impedance measurements might be able to give the same information. By doing simulations, it is first shown that the reflection function deduced from the input impedance gives access to the bore with a precision comparable with that obtained with pulse reflectometry. It is then shown that the accuracy obtained with measurements is of the same order as that obtained from simulations. The technique is then used for the dimensional inspection of bassoon crooks.