Constructing a new optical sensor for monitoring ammonia in water samples using bis(acetylacetoneethylendiamine)-tributylphosphin cobalt(III) tetraphenylborate complex-coated triacetylcellulose.

A new ammonia optical sensor was designed using bis(acetylacetoneethylendiamine)tributylphosphin cobalt(III) tetraphenylborate complex, coated on transparent triacetylcellulose film as membrane. The change in the absorbance of the optode at the maximum wavelength of 408 nm was related to ammonia concentration in aqueous samples. A buffer solution with a pH of 9 (sodium borate-HCl) was used. The optode was fully regenerated in pH 2. The linear dynamic range for determination of ammonia was 3.3 x 10(-4) to 6.9 x 10(-3) mol l(-1) with a detection limit of 5.0 x 10(-5) mol l(-1) and a response time range of 4 - 6 min. This membrane was successfully applied for determination of ammonia in drinking water.     

Radical Cation States of 2,3,5,6,7,8-Hexamethylidenebicyclo [2.2.2]octane

The photoelectron spectrum of the title compound is reported and assigned by correlation with the photoelectron spectra of related molecules.     

Donor ligand, basal ligand and solvent effects on the equilibrium constants of triphenylphosphinecobalt(III) Schiff base complexes with phosphite ligands

The equilibrium constants and the thermodynamic parameters were spectrophotometrically measured for the 1:1 adduct formation of [Co(Salen)(PPh₃)]ClO₄.H₂O, and [Co(7,7′-Me₂Salen)(PPh₃)]ClO₄.H₂O as acceptors, with P(OR)₃ (R = methyl, ethyl, and i-propyl) as donors, in acetonitrile (CH₃CN) and dimethylformamide (DMF) as solvents at constant ionic strength (I = 0.1 M NaClO₄), and various temperatures (t = 10–50 °C). Our results revealed the following trends: stability of the cobalt(III) Schiff base complexes toward a given phosphite donor, [Co(7,7′-Me₂Salen)(PPh₃)]⁺ < [Co(Salen)(PPh₃)]⁺; binding of the donors (phosphites) toward a given cobalt(III) Schiff base complex, P(OEt)₃ > P(OMe)₃ > P(O-ⁱPr)₃; influence of solvent on the stability of a given cobalt(III) Schiff base complex toward a given phosphite donor, CH₃CN < DMF.     

A selective modified carbon paste electrode for determination of cyanide using tetra-3,4-pyridinoporphyrazinatocobalt(II)

A chemically modified carbon paste electrode with 3,4-tetra pyridinoporphirazinatocobalt(II) (Co(3,4 tppa) was applied to the determination of free cyanide ion. The electrode has a linear range between 1.5 × 10⁻⁵ M and 1.0 × 10⁻² M with a Nernstian slope of 60 ± 1.5 mV/decade and its detection limit is 9 × 10⁻⁶ M. The response time of electrode is 5 min. The proposed electrode was applied successfully for the determination of cyanide in commercially available spring water. Some anions, such as SCN⁻, I⁻, Cl⁻, Br⁻ and oxalate that are usually serious interfering species for most of cyanide selective electrodes, did not have any interfering effect for this proposed electrode.     

HEXAMETHYLDISILAZANE IN THE PRESENCE OF N,N′,N″,N‴-TETRAMETHYLTETRA-2,3-PYRIDINOPORPHYRAZINATO COPPER (II) IS A NEW,MILD AND HIGHLY EFFICIENT REAGENT FOR SILYLATION OF ALCOHOLS AND PHENOLS

Alcohols and phenols are protected with hexamethyldisilazane in the presence of N,N′,N′,N?-tetramethyletra-2,3-pyridinoporphyrazinato copper (II) in good-to-excellent yields at room temperature.     

Computational fluid-dynamics-based analysis of a ball valve performance in the presence of cavitation

In this paper, the ball valve performance is numerically simulated using an unstructured CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) code based on the finite volume method. Navier-Stokes equations in addition to a transport equation for the vapor volume fraction were coupled in the RANS solver. Separation is modeled very well with a modification of turbulent viscosity. The results of CFD calculations of flow through a ball valve, based on the concept of experimental data, are described and analyzed. Comparison of the flow pattern at several opening angles is investigated. Pressure drop behind the ball valve and formation of the vortex flow downstream the valve section are also discussed. As the opening of the valve decreases, the vortices grow and cause higher pressure drop. In other words, more energy is lost due to these growing vortices. In general, the valve opening plays very important roles in the performance of a ball valve.     

Uranium recovery from UCF liquid waste by nanoporous MCM-41: breakthrough capacity and elution behavior studies

Adsorption and recovery of uranium by nanoporous MCM-41 from aqueous solutions (synthetic solution and uranium conversion facility liquid waste) were investigated by use of a fixed-bed column (1.2 cm diameter and 3.0 cm height). Adsorption was carried out at flow rates 0.2 and 0.5 mL min^?1, which correspond to retention times of 10 and 6 min. The maximum breakthrough capacity for uranium ions was achieved by use of nanoporous MCM-41 at the optimum pH of 3.6 and flow rate 0.2 mL min^?1 (61.95 μg g^?1). The Thomas and Yan models were applied to the experimental data, by use of linear regression, to determine the characteristics of the column for process design. The breakthrough curves calculated from the models were in good agreement with the experimental data. The elution behavior of uranium on nanoporous MCM-41 was studied with different eluents; the results showed that 0.1 M HCl is good eluent for uranium recovery. The regenerated column could be used in a multitude of adsorption–desorption cycles.     

Supercritical CO2-assisted atomization for deposition of cellulose nanocrystals: an experimental and computational study

Nanoparticle spray deposition finds numerous applications in pharmaceutical, electronics, manufacturing, and energy industries and has shown great promises in engineering the functional properties of the coated parts. However, current spray deposition systems either lack the required precision in controlling the morphology of the deposited nanostructures or do not have the capacity for large-scale deposition applications. In this study, we introduce a novel spray system that uses supercritical CO₂ to assist the atomization process and create uniform micron-size water droplets that are used as cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) carriers. CNCs are selected in this study as they are abundant, possess superior mechanical properties, and contain hydroxyl groups that facilitate interaction with neighboring materials. We fundamentally investigate the effect of different process parameters, such as injection pressure, gas-to-liquid ratio, the axial distance between the nozzle and substrate, and CNC concentration on the final patterns left on the substrate upon evaporation of water droplets. To this end, we show how tuning process parameters control the size of carrier droplets, dynamics of evaporation, and self-assembly of CNCs, which in turn dictate the final architecture of the deposited nanostructures. We will particularly investigate the morphology of the nanostructures deposited after evaporation of micron-size droplets that has not been fully disclosed to date. Different characterization techniques such as laser diffraction, polarized microscopy, and high-resolution profilometry are employed to visualize and quantify the effect of each process parameter. Numerical simulations are employed to inform the design of experiments. Finally, it is shown that the fabricated nanostructures can be engineered based on the size of the carrier droplets controlled by adjusting spray parameters and the concentration of nanoparticles in the injected mixture. Process parameters can be selected such that nanoparticles form a ring, disk, or dome-shaped structure. Moderate operational conditions, simplicity, and time efficiency of the process, and use of abundant and biodegradable materials, i.e., water, CNCs, and CO₂ promote the scalability and sustainability of this method.