Organic–inorganic nanocomposites prepared from fluoro-aramid and silica

Fluoro-aramid-based sol/gel-derived nanocomposites were synthesized by condensing a mixture of 4,4′-(hexafluoro-isopropylidene)dianiline and 1,3-phenylenediamine with terephthaloylchloride (TPC) in dimethylacetamide. TPC was added in slight excess to produce amide chains with carbonyl chloride end groups and then replaced with alkoxy groups using aminophenyltrimethoxysilane to develop bonding with the silica network. Mechanical, dynamic mechanical thermal, water absorption and morphological measurements were carried out on the thin hybrid films. Increase in the tensile strength and modulus was observed as compared to pristine polyamide. The thermal decomposition temperature was found in the range of 400–500 °C. The water absorption was found to be reduced with higher silica content. The glass transition temperature and the storage moduli increased with increasing silica concentration. The maximum increase in the T _g value (345 °C) was observed with 20 wt% silica. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the uniform distribution of silica in the matrix with an average particle size ranging from 8 to 50 nm.     

Studies with inorganic precipitate membranes. III. Consideration of energetics of electrolyte permeation through membranes

The permeability of various electrolytes through parchment-supported ferrocyanide membranes of manganese, cobalt, silver, and cadmium has been measured at 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30°C. The order of permeability at a given temperature was Cl^- > NO₃^- > CNS^- > CH₃COO^- > SO₄^2- for both monovalent and divalent cations. For any given anion, the cations followed the sequence NH₄⁺ > Li⁺ > Ba²⁺ > Ca²⁺ > Mg²⁺ > Al³⁺. This sequence has been correlated with the size of the hydrated ion. Further, the data have been considered from the standpoint of the theory of rate processes and the values for the entropy of activation (ΔS′) have been derived assuming an equilibrium distance of 3 Å in the membrane. The values of ΔS′ were all negative and decreased with increasing valence of the ions. This was interpreted to mean electrolyte permeation with partial immobilization in the membrane.     

Chromatographic determination of amino acids in foods

Amino acids in foods exist in a free form or bound in peptides, proteins, or nonpeptide bonded polymers. Naturally occurring L-amino acids are required for protein synthesis and are precursors for essential molecules, such as co-enzymes and nucleic acids. Nonprotein amino acids may also occur in animal tissues as metabolic intermediates or have other important functions. The development of bacterially derived food proteins, genetically modified foods, and new methods of food processing; the production of amino acids for food fortification; and the introduction of new plant food sources have meant that protein amino acids and amino acid enantiomers in foods can have both nutritional and safety implications for humans. There is, therefore, a need for the rapid and accurate determination of amino acids in foods. Determination of the total amino acid content of foods requires protein hydrolysis by various means that must take into account variations in stability of individual amino acids and resistance of different peptide bonds to the hydrolysis procedures. Modern methods for separation and quantitation of free amino acids either before or after protein hydrolysis include ion exchange chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography (LC), gas chromatography, and capillary electrophoresis. Chemical derivatization of amino acids may be required to change them into forms amenable to separation by the various chromatographic methods or to create derivatives with properties, such as fluorescence, that improve their detection. Official methods for hydrolysis and analysis of amino acids in foods for nutritional purposes have been established. LC is currently the most widely used analytical technique, although there is a need for collaborative testing of methods available. Newer developments in chromatographic methodology and detector technology have reduced sample and reagent requirements and improved identification, resolution, and sensitivity of amino acid analyses of food samples.     

Kinetics and mechanism of reaction between mercuric bromide and silver iodide in solid state

Kinetics and mechanism of the reaction between mercuric bromide and silver iodide were studied in the solid state. It has been established that HgBr₂ reacts via the gaseous state and that the reaction proceeds through counter diffusion of Ag⁺ and Hg²⁺. Thermal and conductivity measurements indicate that the reaction is multistep. X-ray and chemical analyses show that HgBr₂ and AgI mixed in different molar ratios give rise to different products. The data for the lateral diffusion fitted the equation X_iⁿ = kt, where X_i is the thickness of the product layer at time t, and n and k are constants. Evidence for the formation of solid solutions between reactant and product phases is reported.     

Analytical QbD-based systematic bioanalytical HPLC method development for estimation of quercetin dihydrate

The current work entails development of rapid, sensitive, and inexpensive high-performance liquid chromatographic method of quercetin dihydrate using the quality by design approach. Quality target method profile was defined and critical analytical attributes (CAAs) were earmarked. Chromatographic separation was accomplished on a C₁₈ column using acetonitrile and ammonium acetate buffer (35:65) %v/v (containing 0.1% acetic acid, pH 3.5) as mobile phase at 0.7?mL/min flow rate with UV detector at 237?nm. Screening studies using fractional factorial design revealed that organic modifier, injection volume, column temperature, and buffer strength have significant influence on method CAAs, namely, peak area, retention time, and peak tailing. The critical method parameters were systematically optimized using Box–Behnken design. Response surface mapping was used along with numerical optimization and desirability function for identifying the optimal chromatographic conditions. Linearity was observed in the drug concentration ranging between 2 and 50?µg/mL. Accuracy analysis revealed mean % recovery between 93.6 and 96.2%, while precision study revealed mean % recovery between 93.7 and 96.5%. Limits of detection and quantification of the developed method were found to be 12.1 and 36.6?ng/mL. Overall, the studies construed successful development of chromatographic method of quercetin with enhanced method performance.