Global Weak Solutions for a Parabolic System Modeling a One-Dimensional Miscible Flow in Porous Media

We consider an initial boundary value problem for a nonlinear differential system of two equations. Such a system is formed by the equations of compressible miscible flow in a one-dimensional porous medium. No assumption about the mobility ratio is involved. Under some reasonable assumptions on the data, we prove the existence of a global weak solution. Our basic approach is the semi-Galerkin method. We use the technique of renormalized solutions for parabolic equations in the derivation ofa prioriestimates.     

Synthesis of fused ring heterocycles from aromatic amines with hydroximoyl chlorides

Substituted 2-arylbenzimidazoles, 2-arylbenzoxazoles and 2-arylbenzothiazoles were obtained in good yield by the reaction of hydroximoyl chlorides with ortho-substituted aromatic amines. The benzo moiety of the benzimidazoles was shown by nmr to be symmetrical, indicating that the N-H group proton of the imidazole ring is exchanging with the water protons in the DMSO-d₆ solvent.     

Modification of Surface and Structural Properties of Ordered Mesoporous Silicates

Two simple modification methods for ordered mesoporous silicas were examined and compared. MCM-41 molecular sieve was physically coated with 4-cyano-4-biphenyl [4(4-pentenyloxy)]benzoate (CBPB) and chemically modified using trimethylethoxysilane. The structural and surface properties of the obtained materials were characterized using elemental analysis, thermogravimetry and nitrogen adsorption over a wide pressure range.It was shown that the pore size of the MCM-41 material was not decreased significantly after the coating procedure, even for high loadings of CBPB. Moreover, low pressure adsorption measurements indicated that significant fractions of the MCM-41 surface were not covered by CBPB, even for high CBPB loadings, which suggests that the attained coverage may be very nonuniform. The chemical bonding procedure led to a marked decrease in the pore size and change of surface properties.It was demonstrated that nitrogen adsorption measurements provide a means of a thorough characterization of modified MCM-41 materials, allowing to estimate the surface area, pore volume and pore size distribution. Moreover, low pressure adsorption data can be used to qualitatively or semiquantitatively assess the surface coverage of the coated/bonded organic groups, which may be used to estimate the uniformity of the coverage and therefore, the usefulness of the modification procedure.     

Improvement of the Pd/Al2O3 Catalyst by the Control of the Sol-Gel Preparative Parameters

In this work, the metal dispersion of the Pd/Al₂O₃ catalyst prepared by sol-gel method is improved by an adequate optimisation of the preparative variables. First, the gelation temperature and the ageing time are selected, in order to avoid the reduction of the metal precursor (palladium acetylacetonate, Pd(acac)₂) by the solvent (sec-butanol, sB). The metal sintering effect on the catalysts treated in oxygen at 500°C is then minimized when the alumina pore size is controlled by the variation of the alumium alkoxide (AsB) concentration and the acetic acid amount ([AcA]/[AsB]). The appearance of new palladium particles on the alumina surface and the matching between the particle diameters and the pore sizes were also effective for the metallic surface area improvement on the samples treated in oxygen at 800°C. Compared to the reference catalysts, the higher metal dispersion obtained on the sol-gel ones was the determinant factor for their higher catalytic activity in methane combustion.     

Nitrogen Adsorption Study of MCM-41 Molecular Sieves Synthesized Using Hydrothermal Restructuring

Nitrogen desorption scanning hysteresis loops (DSHLs) for large-pore MCM-41 silicas (pore diameter from 4.0 to 6.5 nm) are reported for the first time. DSHLs for MCM-41 were compared with those of conventional mesoporous silicas and no appreciable differences were found, although hysteresis loops and DSHLs for the latter were usually broader. Since desorption behavior of conventional porous silicas is appreciably influenced by pore connectivity, the observed similarity in hysteresis behavior suggests single-pore blocking effects for MCM-41 due to variation of pore diameter along its nonintersecting channels. It was also shown that the steepness of nitrogen desorption branches at relative pressures close to 0.4 often results from proximity of the lower pressure limit of adsorption-desorption irreversibility and consequently it is not justified to consider it as an indication of narrow pore size distribution. Thus, application of desorption data in calculations of pore size distributions may be grossly misleading.     

Study of Langmuir and Langmuir-Blodgett films of odorant-binding protein/amphiphile for odorant biosensors

To make ultrathin films for the fabrication of artificial olfactory systems, odorant biosensors, we have investigated mixed Langmuir and Langmuir-Blodgett films of odorant-binding protein/amphiphile. Under optimized experimental conditions (phosphate buffer solution, pH 7.5, OBP-1F concentration of 4 mg L(-1), target pressure 35 mN m(-1)), the mixed monolayer at the air/water interface is very stable and has been efficiently transferred onto gold supports, which were previously functionalized by self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) with 1-octadecanethiol (ODT). Atomic force microscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were used to characterize mixed Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films before and after contact with a specific odorant molecule, isoamyl acetate. AFM phase images show a higher contrast after contact with the odorant molecule due to the new structure of the OBP-1F/ODA LB film. Non-Faradaic electrochemical spectroscopy (EIS) is used to quantify the effect of the odorant based on the electrical properties of the OBP-1F/ODA LB film, as its resistance strongly decreases from 1.18 MOmega (before contact) to 25 kOmega (after contact).     

The structure of the diazonium coupling products of phenacyl thiocyanate and phenacyl selenocyanate with diazotized 3-phenyl-5-aminopyrazole

The reaction of diazotized 3-phenyl-5-aminopyrazole with phenacyl thiocyanate 1a and phenacyl selenocyanate 1b afforded directly 2-imino-3-(3-phenyl-5-pyrazolyl)-5-benzoyl-2,3-dihydro-1,3,4-thiadiazole monohydrate 9a and 2-imino-3-(3-phenyl-5-pyrazolyl)-5-benzoyl-2,3-dihydro-1,3,4-selenadiazole monohydrate 9b , respectively. The products 9a and 9b were also obtained from the reaction of C-benzoyl-N-(3-phenyl-5-pyrazolyl)formohydrazidoyl bromide 10 with potassium thiocyanate and potassium selenocyanate, respectively. Acetylation, benzoylation, and nitrosation of 9 afforded the corresponding diacetyl, dibenzoyl, and nitroso derivatives 11-13 , respectively. Cyclization of C-benzoyl-N-(3-phenyl-5-pyrazolyl)-nitrilimine 6 was shown to give the pyrazolo [5,1-d]triazole 8 and not the pyrazolo[5,1-c]-as-triazine derivative 7 , as previously reported.     

Photophysical properties of methyl triazone included in MCM-41

Methyl triazone (4,4',4'-[1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triyltriimino]tris-trimethyl benzoate) has been included in mesoporous MCM-41 (Mobil's composition of matter-41) silica, and its fluorescence emission has been compared in solution and in the solid state. Although inclusion does not affect significantly the absorption properties, a fluorescence emission shift and a behavior similar to the solid state has been observed by increasing the loading. It is believed that this observation reflects molecular aggregation inside the MCM-41 channels. The potential of formulations of this type for sunscreen applications is discussed.     

Reactions with hydrazidoyl halides. IV. Synthesis of thiazolo[3,2-a]benzimidazoles,imidazo[2,1-6]thiazoles and pyrazolo[4,3-b]thiazines

Hydrazidoyl halides were condensed with 2-mercaptobenzimidazole yielding 4a-c and 7a,b which were cyclized to the corresponding 2-arylhydrazonothiazolo[3,2-a]benzimidazol-3-ones 5a,b and 3-substituted 2-arylazo thiazolo[3,2-a]benzimidazoles 8a,b respectively. Imidazo[2,1-b]thiazoles were obtained by the reaction of hydrazidoyl halides with 2-mercapto-4,5-dihydroimidazole. Also, hydrazidoyl halides 6a,b were reacted with 3-amino-4-mercapto-5-phenylpyrazole to give pyrazolo[4,3-b]thiazines 15a,b . The structures of the products were assigned on the basis of their elemental analysis and spectral data.     

Adsorption of Bovine Serum Albumin onto Polystyrene Latex Particles Bearing Saccharidic Moieties

The adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA) onto polystyrene latexes bearing various amounts of sugar moieties has been investigated as a function of pH and ionic strength and the results were compared to those for bare polystyrene latexes having negative surface charges. The functionalized latexes were produced by seeded copolymerization of (0.3 μm) liposaccharidic monomer onto polystyrene particles obtained by soap-free emulsion polymerization of styrene using potassium persulfate as initiator. At first, the electrophoretic mobility behavior of the various latexes was examined as a function of pH: a significant decrease was observed in the case of saccharide-containing latex particles compared to the bare particles. The adsorption of BSA onto these latexes exhibited a reduced amount of adsorbed BSA for those latex particles bearing saccharide groups. This adsorbed amount depends on the yield of saccharidic monomer incorporated onto the surfaces of the latex particles.