Neutral oxygen atom density in the MESOX air plasma solar furnace facility

The density of neutral oxygen atoms in the MESOX set-up, one device of the PROMES-CNRS solar facilities, was determined by a fiber-optics catalytic probe (FOCP). Plasma was created in a flowing air within a quartz tube with the outer diameter of 5 cm by a 2.45 GHz microwave generator with the output power up to 1000 W. The flow of air was varied between 4 and 20 l/h. The O-atom density was found to increase monotonously with the increasing discharge power, and it decreased with the increasing flow rate. The degree of dissociation of oxygen molecules in the plasma column depended largely on the flow rate. At the air flow of 4 l/h it was about 80% but it decreased to about 20% at the flow of 20 l/h.     

Ba(SbF(6))(2).5XeF(2): first xenon(II) compound with barium. Synthesis,vibrational spectra,and crystal structure

The reaction between Ba(SbF(6))(2) and excess XeF(2) in anhydrous HF at room temperature yields the white solid Ba(SbF(6))(2).5XeF(2) after the excess XeF(2) and the solvent have been removed under vacuum. Ba(SbF(6))(2).5XeF(2) crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/m, with a = 13.599(6) A, b = 12.086(4) A, c = 9.732(5) A, beta = 134.305(6) degrees, V = 1144.7 (8) A(3), and Z = 2. The coordination sphere of each barium atom consists of 12 fluorine atoms. The structure consists of alternating layers of Ba(SbF(6))(2).XeF(2) and 4 XeF(2) molecules. The Ba atoms in the Ba(SbF(6))(2).XeF(2) layer are in a nearly rhombic-net array and are linked with trans F-bridging ligands of SbF(6)(-). A XeF(2) molecule is placed in the center of each rhombus of the Ba(2+) array so that its symmetry axis is perpendicular to the plane of the Ba(SbF(6))(2).XeF(2) layer. This layer is linked to its neighbors by a layer of centrosymmetric XeF(2) molecules. Raman spectra are in accord with all XeF(2) molecules being symmetrical.     

Syntheses and crystal structures of [Mg(HF)2](SbF6)2 and [Ca(HF)2](SbF6)2: new examples of HF acting as a ligand to metal centres

[Mg(HF)₂](SbF₆)₂ and [Ca(HF)₂](SbF₆)₂ monocrystals were grown from the corresponding hexafluoroantimonates(V) dissolved in anhydrous hydrogen fluoride. [Mg(HF)₂](SbF₆)₂ crystallizes in the space group Pnma (no. 62) with a=1249.1(4) pm, b=1230.2(4) pm, c=699.1(2) pm, V=1.0742(6) nm³, Z=4. Magnesium is octahedrally coordinated by six fluorine atoms from which two belong to two HF molecules. The structure can be represented by alternating rows of magnesium and antimony atoms running parallel to the c-axis. Magnesium atoms are connected by cis bridging Sb(2)F₆ units along the a-axis and by trans bridging Sb(1)F₆ units along the b-axis. In this way a three-dimensional network is formed.[Ca(HF)₂](SbF₆)₂ crystallizes in the space group P2₁/n (no. 14) with a=935.2(3) pm, b=1088.7(3) pm, c=1104.8(3) pm, β=106.697(5)°, V=1.0774(5) nm³, Z=4. The coordination sphere around the calcium atom consists of eight fluorine atoms which define the vertices of an Archimedean antiprism. The two HF molecules directly coordinate the calcium atom and their fluorine atoms are placed in the corners of different square faces of the Archimedean antiprism. The Ca-F(HF) distances are shorter than the Ca-F(Sb) distances. The Sb(1)F₆ and Sb(2)F₆ groups have four equatorial bridging fluorine atoms, while the Sb(3)F₆ groups have only two bridging trans F ligands. The Ca atoms in the [−1,0,1] plane are connected by equatorial F ligands of Sb(1)F₆ and Sb(2)F₆ units, forming a [Ca(SbF₆)⁺]_n layer. These layers are connected by trans bridging Sb(3)F₆ groups. HF molecules occupy the space between these layers and additionally contribute to the connection between the layers by hydrogen bonding.     

The effects of eluent mixing on TLS detection in gradient elution HPLC

The effects of changing solvent composition on the LOD of TLS detection in gradient elution HPLC have been studied from the perspective of thermo-optical properties of the solvent. Hyphenated gradient high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-thermal lens spectrometry (TLS), was used to separate and detect 13 carotenoid compounds and two chlorophylls. Utilization of mixing coils into the system reduces the inhomogeneities during eluent changes and therefore enables the application of thermal lens detection in the gradient HPLC method. For gradient chromatographic conditions in which the thermo-optical properties and related enhancement factor change as much as 50% over 10 min, the LODs for the TLS detector were enhanced by as much as three times in comparison with UV-Vis detection. For the isocratic part of the chromatogram, up to a tenfold improvement of LODs was achieved with TLS detection.     

Contributions to the basic problems of complexometry-XXI: determination of nickel in the presence of cobalt

A new method for the determination of nickel in the presence of cobalt, based on the masking of the cobalt with potassium cyanide and hydrogen peroxide, is proposed. The yellow, or orange-yellow, complex of cobalt(III) is formed, from which cobalt is not displaced upon the addition of silver nitrate. Tetracyanonickelate, however, reacts quantitatively with silver nitrate, and the displaced nickel can be determined directly with EDTA, using Murexide as indicator. Up to 30 mg of cobalt can be tolerated in the solution.     

Inhibition of human dihydrofolate reductase by 2,4-diaminoquinazolines bearing simple substituents on the aromatic ring

A series of thirty eight 2,4-diaminoquinazolines having diverse substitution patterns on the aromatic ring was evaluated for inhibitory activity against dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) obtained from a human lymphoblast cell line. Many of these compounds were also evaluated as inhibitors of rat liver DHFR under the same experimental conditions. In most instances the results obtained with each enzyme were comparable indicating that the rodent enzyme is a suitable model for the human DHFR as far as the determination of I₅₀ values is concerned. The results demonstrate that relatively simple 5-substituted- or 5,6-disubstituted-2,4-diaminoquinazolines can be potent DHFR inhibitors. The presence of a nonpolar substituent at position 7 or 8 was highly detrimental to inhibitory potency.     

Perimidine-based synthetic receptors for determination of copper(II) in water solution

Perimidine-based chelators 1 and 2 were prepared, and their structures were confirmed by ¹H and ¹³C NMR, MS spectroscopy and elemental analysis. These compounds were studied as specific synthetic receptors for the recognition of transition metal ions. They exhibited high affinity and selectivity towards Cu(II) ions. The conditional binding constants, linear dynamic range and detection limit were determined by UV–vis spectroscopy. These parameters demonstrated high potential of the prepared synthetic receptors for the recognition and determination of Cu(II) ions. The minimum detectable concentrations of Cu(II) ions for the synthetic receptors 1 and 2 were 270 and 75 nM (R ² = 0.9915 and 0.9964) in aqueous medium (water/DMSO; 99:1 (v/v)), respectively.     

The Role of Alkali Cation Intercalates on the Electrochemical Characteristics of Nb2CTX MXene for Energy Storage

The intercalation of cations into layered-structure electrode materials has long been studied in depth for energy storage applications. In particular, Li⁺-, Na⁺-, and K⁺-based cation transport in energy storage devices such as batteries and electrochemical capacitors is closely related to the capacitance behavior. We have exploited different sizes of cations from aqueous salt electrolytes intercalating into a layered Nb₂CT_x electrode in a supercapacitor for the first time. As a result, we have demonstrated that capacitive performance was dependent on cation intercalation behavior. The interlayer spacing expansion of the electrode material can be observed in Li₂SO₄, Na₂SO₄, and K₂SO₄ electrolytes with d-spacing. Additionally, our results showed that the Nb₂CT_x electrode exhibited higher electrochemical performance in the presence of Li₂SO₄ than in that of Na₂SO₄ and K₂SO₄. This is partly because the smaller-sized Li⁺ transports quickly and intercalates between the layers of Nb₂CT_x easily. Poor ion transport in the Na₂SO₄ electrolyte limited the electrode capacitance and presented the lowest electrochemical performance, although the cation radius follows Li⁺>Na⁺>K⁺. Our experimental studies provide direct evidence for the intercalation mechanism of Li⁺, Na⁺, and K⁺ on the 2D layered Nb₂CT_x electrode, which provides a new path for exploring the relationship between intercalated cations and other MXene electrodes.     

Radionuclides in steel slag intended for road construction

The objective of this study was to describe the radiochemical characteristics of electric arc furnace (EAF) slag from Croatian EAF black steel slags, generated from carbon steel production process in CMC Sisak d.o.o., and steel mill in Split in order to enhance the understanding of possibilities for their use in road construction. This article presents the results of radionuclide in electric arc furnace steel slag. The presence of natural isotopes ⁴⁰K, ²³²Th (²²⁸Ra), ²²⁶Ra and ²³⁸U was established. The measured activity in slag natural isotopes lies within the Croatian legally permitted limits.     

Synthetic inorganic ion exchangers-II Salts of heteropolyacids, insoluble ferrocyanides, synthetic aluminosilicates and miscellaneous exchangers

A review of the developments during the period 1965-70 in use of heteropoly acid salts, ferrocyanides and synthetic zeolites as ion-exchangers.