Incoherent X-ray scattering by K-shell electrons

Values of the incoherent scattering function S_K for scattering of photons from K-shell electrons are computed for ₂He, ₃Li, ₄Be and ₅B at photon energies 6, 10, 14, and 18 keV by using screened hydrogenic wavefunctions. The screening has been taken into account by the Thomas-Fermi model of the neutral atom. Unlike the previous calculations we have used a distorted Coulomb wavefunction for the ejected electron. The effects of Coulomb distortion and of screening corrections are discussed. It is shown that the screening correction and the Coulomb distortion in the ejected electron wavefunction play significant roles in the study of incoherent X-ray scattering by bound electrons.     

Low-Valent Titanium Mediated Deprotection of N-Allyl/Benzyl Amines: A New Approach

A novel low-valent titanium (LVT) mediated cleavage of N-allyl/benzyl amines is reported. Regio- and chemo-selective cleavages were also observed.     

Luminescence Study of ZnS Quantum Dots Prepared by Chemical Method

We report synthesis of ZnS quantum dots by chemical method at room temperature. In this technique, ZnS quantum dots are produced by simple chemical reactions where zeolite, acts as matrix, plays the key role in controlling particle growth during synthesis. Quantum dots exhibit luminescence properties such as Zn²⁺ related emission, efficient low voltage electroluminescence, and super linear voltage-brightness EL characteristics. This study demonstrates the technological importance of semiconductor nanosystems prepared by low cost chemical route.     

Enhanced ethanol sensing properties of WO3 modified TiO2 nanorods

Pristine and WO₃ decorated TiO₂ nanorods (NRs) were synthesised to investigate n-n-type heterojunction gas sensing properties. TiO₂ NRs were fabricated via hydrothermal method on fluorine-doped tin oxide coated glass (FTO) substrates. Then, tungsten was sputtered on the TiO₂ NRs and thermally oxidised to obtain WO₃ nanoparticles. The heterostructure was characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy. Fabricated sensor devices were exposed to VOCs such as toluene, xylene, acetone and ethanol, and humidity at different operation temperatures. Experimental results demonstrated that the heterostructure has better sensor response toward ethanol at 200 °C. Enhanced sensing properties are attributed to the heterojunction formation by decorating TiO₂ NRs with WO₃.     

Flowerlike hybrid horseradish peroxidase nanobiocatalyst for the polymerization of guaiacol

In this study, the catalytic activity and stability of flowerlike hybrid horseradish peroxidase (HRP) nanobiocatalyst (HRP-Cu ²⁺ ) obtained from Cu ²⁺ ions and HRP enzyme in the polymerization reaction of guaiacol were analyzed. We demonstrated that HRP-Cu ²⁺ and hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) initiator showed significantly increased catalytic activity and stability on the polymerization of guaiacol compared to that of free HRP enzyme. Poly(guaiacol) was observed with quite high yields (88%) and molecular weights (38,000 g/mol) under pH 7.4 phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) conditions at 60 °C with 5 weight% of HRP-Cu ²⁺ loading. HRP-Cu ²⁺ also shows very high thermal stability and works even at 70 °C reaction temperature; free HRP enzyme denatures at that temperature. Furthermore, HRP-Cu ²⁺ provided considerable repeated use and showed some degree of catalytic activity, even after the fourth recycle, in the polymerization of guaiacol.     

Chemical composition,antimicrobial, and lipase enzyme activity of essential oil and solvent extracts from Serapias orientalis subsp. orientalis

The volatile components of essential oil (EO), SPME, and SPME of solvent extracts ( n -hexane, methanol, and water) obtained from fresh Serapias orientalis subsp. orientalis ( Soo ) were analyzed by GC-FID/MS. EO of Soo gave 11 compounds in the percentage of 99.97%; capronaldehyde (37.01%), 2-( E )-hexenal (23.19%), and n -nonanal (19.05%) were found to be major constituents. SPME GC-FID/MS analyses of fresh plant and solvent extracts of Soo revealed 7, 12, 7, and 4 compounds within the range of 99.7% to 99.9%. Limonene (76.5%, 41.7%, and 61.3%) was the major compound in SPMEs of the n -hexane and methanol extracts. α -Methoxy- p -cresol (52.9%) was the main component in its water extract. The antimicrobial activity of EO and the solvent extracts of Soo were screened against 9microorganisms. EO showed the best activity against Mycobacterium smegmatis , with 79.5 µg/mL MIC value. The n -hexane, methanol, and water extracts were the most active against the Staphylococcus aureus within the range of 81.25–125.0 µg/mL (MIC). IC ₅₀ values for the lipase enzyme inhibitory activity of EO and solvent extracts ( n -hexane, methanol, and water) were determined to be 59.87 µg/mL, 64.03 µg/mL, 101.91 µg/mL, and 121.24 µg/mL, respectively.     

Molecular beam study of photoionization of uranium and uranium oxide

Crossed laser molecular beam configuration was used to study the photoionization of U and UO by the UV-lines of an argon ion laser. Photoionization efficiencies of both U and UO were found to be line sensitive. Photoionization by the 3638 Å line was observed for the first time. Uranium atom ionization efficiency being higher for the 3345 Å and 3511 Å groups of lines, while UO ionization efficiency being maximum for the 3638 Å line. Dependence of photoion signal on laser power and relative photoionization efficiencies of the two isotopic species of uranium are also investigated.     

Rate coefficients for the reaction of OH with HONO between 298 and 373 K

Rate coefficients, k₁, for the reaction OH + HONO → H₂O + NO₂, have been measured over the temperature range 298 to 373 K. The OH radicals were produced by 266 nm laser photolysis of O₃ in the presence of a large excess of H₂O vapor. The temporal profiles of OH were measured under pseudo-first-order conditions, in an excess of HONO, using time resolved laser induced fluorescence. The measured rate coefficient exhibits a slight negative temperature dependence, with k₁ = (2.8 ± 1.3) × 10^?12 exp((260 ± 140)/T) cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. The measured values of k₁ are compared with previous determinations and the atmospheric implications of our findings are discussed.     

Development of an HPLC method for determination of pentachloronitrobenzene, hexachlorobenzene and their possible metabolites

Background

Pentachloronitrobenzene (PCNB) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) are highly toxic and widespread in every environmental compartment. Some of metabolic products such as amino/nitro containing chlorinated aromatic compounds can be determined by gas chromatography coupled with electron capture detector (GC-ECD). However, it is difficult to identify some of chlorophenolic and chloroquinolic intermediates produced from PCNB and HCB by the above mentioned technique. Therefore, for analysis of these compounds and their metabolites, we have developed a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) based method.

Results

The extraction of PCNB and HCB from soil and minimal salt medium was carried out with ethyl acetate and hexane respectively with good recoveries (98% for PCNB and 97% for HCB). The validation of the proposed extraction and HPLC method was done by analysis of PCNB and HCB biodegradation and their metabolites identification from anaerobic enriched soil samples.

Conclusion

A rapid, sensitive and simple HPLC based analytical method was developed for the analysis of PCNB, HCB and their possible intermediates.