Ultrasound-aided rapid and enhanced adsorption of anionic dyes from binary dye matrix onto novel hematite/polyaniline nanocomposite: Response surface methodology optimization

In recent times, polyaniline (PANI), a conducting polymer, has been studied widely for environmental remediation application due to its controllable electric conductivity with high surface area, which makes it a suitable adsorbent material. But lower mechanical stability of PANI is considered to be a serious drawback for its large-scale industrial application. To improve the mechanical strength of PANI, in this study, hematite nanoparticles were impregnated onto PANI by oxidative polymerization method in order to fabricate a novel organometallic nanocomposite (hematite-PANI-NC). The hematite-PANI-NC was used as adsorbent for removal of methyl orange (MO) and eosin yellow (EY) dye from binary dye matrix under ultrasonic-assisted adsorption. Excellent MO and EY dye removal (more than 98%) was observed from binary matrix at a wide solution pH from 2.0 to 6.0, and under ultrasound wave the adsorption equilibrium was achieved within 15 min only. Both MO and EY dyes adsorption experimental data strictly followed Langmuir isotherm, and maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of 126.58 mg/g and 112.36 mg/g was observed for MO and EY dye, respectively. The uptake mechanism of MO and EY dyes onto hematite-PANI-NC is governed by electrostatic interaction, π-π bonding and hydrogen bonding between dye molecules and nanocomposite. Response surface methodology analysis reveals maximum MO and EY removal of 98.43% and 99.35% at optimum experimental conditions. This study implies that the hybrid organometallic material hematite-PANI-NC has high potential for quick and enhanced sono-assisted uptake of anionic dyes from water near neutral solution pH.     

One Way Traffic: Base-to-Backbone Hole Transfer in Nucleoside Phosphorodithioate

The directionality of the hole-transfer processes between DNA backbone and base was investigated by using phosphorodithioate [P(S⁻)=S] components. ESR spectroscopy in homogeneous frozen aqueous solutions and pulse radiolysis in aqueous solution at ambient temperature confirmed initial formation of G^.+-P(S⁻)=S. The ionization potential of G-P(S⁻)=S was calculated to be slightly lower than that of guanine in 5′-dGMP. Subsequent thermally activated hole transfer from G^.+ to P(S⁻)=S led to dithiyl radical (P-2S^.) formation on the μs timescale. In parallel, ESR spectroscopy, pulse radiolysis, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirmed P-2S^. formation in an abasic phosphorodithioate model compound. ESR investigations at low temperatures and higher G-P(S⁻)=S concentrations showed a bimolecular conversion of P-2S^. to the σ²-σ*¹-bonded dimer anion radical [-P-2S 2S-P-]⁻ [ΔG (150 K, DFT)=−7.2 kcal mol⁻¹]. However, [-P-2S 2S-P-]⁻ formation was not observed by pulse radiolysis [ΔG° (298 K, DFT)=−1.4 kcal mol⁻¹]. Neither P-2S^. nor [-P-2S 2S-P-]⁻ oxidized guanine base; only base-to-backbone hole transfer occurs in phosphorodithioate.     

Cu2O/CuO Electrocatalyst for Electrochemical Reduction of Carbon Dioxide to Methanol

Herein, we report the controlled and direct fabrication of Cu₂O/CuO thin film on the conductive nickel foam using electrodeposition route for the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO₂) to methanol. The electrocatalytic reduction was performed in CO₂ saturated aqueous solution consisting of KHCO₃, pyridine and HCl at room temperature. CO₂ reduction was carried out at a constant potential of −1.3 V for 120 min to study the electrochemical performance of the prepared electrocatalysts. Cu₂O/CuO shows better electrocatalytic activity with highest current density of 46 mA/cm². The prepared catalyst can be an efficient and selective electrode for the production of methanol.     

Metal ion-induced H-aggregation of a water-soluble anionic dye Congo red (CR) in Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) film

Present communication reports the preparation of Langmuir monolayer of water-soluble anionic dye Congo red (CR) by allowing it to adsorb from the aqueous subphase onto the preformed Langmuir monolayer of anionic stearic acid using divalent metal cations Mg²⁺ as mediator. Isotherm and compressibility studies of SA-Mg-CR hybrid monolayer gave valuable information about the molecular organisation in the Langmuir monolayer. Absorption spectroscopic studies revealed the formation of H-aggregates in the hybrid Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) films fabricated at lower salt concentration in the subphase. Atomic Force Microscopic image gave visual evidence of distinct nanocrystalline domains in the LB monolayer film.     

Effect of fluorination on the phase sequence,dielectric and electro-optical properties of ferroelectric and antiferroelectric mixtures

Four multicomponent room temperature mixtures were formulated using a pyrimidine-based achiral matrix as host and four terphenyl-based ester chiral compounds as dopants. Among the four mixtures, two exhibit antiferroelectric and two other exhibit ferroelectric phases at room temperature. Dopant molecules differ from each other by position and number of fluorine atom substitution at the benzoate group of the molecular rigid core. Number and location of fluorine atoms in the dopant structure show significant effect on the phase sequences as well as on different physical properties. All the mixtures found to have moderate spontaneous polarisation, high tilt angle, very fast switching time and low viscosity which are important for liquid crystal-based display applications.     

Allenyl esters as quenching agents for ruthenium olefin metathesis catalysts

In the attempt to synthesize substituted allenyl esters through a metathesis coupling of unsubstituted allenyl esters and alkenes using a variety of ruthenium catalysts, it was discovered that allenyl esters themselves cleanly arrested the activity of the catalysts. Further studies suggests possible utility of allene esters as general quenching agents for metathesis reactions. To explore this idea, several representative olefin metathesis reactions, including ring closing, were successfully terminated by the addition of simple allenyl esters for more convenient purification.     

The spherical vessel with anisotropic creep properties considering large strains

The effect of material anisotropy on creep of pressurized thick-walled spherical vessel has been discussed considering the large strain theory. It is found that the creep strain varies with varying anisotropy of the material. The results obtained for the anisotropic case have been compared with those obtained for the isotropic case and it is observed that the stress and strain distribution in the wall of the vessel is strikingly different for the two cases.     

Effect of Chain Length of Polyethylene Glycol and Crosslink Density (NCO/OH) on Properties of Castor Oil Based Polyurethane Elastomers

The equilibrium swelling study of polyurethanes (PU) was carried out in various solvents in order to calculate their solubility parameter. The kinetics of swelling and sorption have also been studied in 1,4‐dioxane at 30°C. The PU was synthesized by reacting a novel polyol (castor oil derivative and epoxy based resin, EpxR) and one of the polyethylene glycols (PEG 200, PEG 400, PEG 600) with different weight compositions, with a toluene diisocyanate (TDI) adduct (derived from toluene diisocyanate and R60 polyol). Different NCO/OH ratio viz. 1, 1.3 and 1.7 were employed in the study. The results were found to vary with the weight composition of polyol components, as well as the crosslink density of the samples. The sorption behavior is also found to vary with the molecular weight of polyethylene glycol employed in the preparations of the polyurethanes. Kinetic studies of swelling revealed that the sorption is anomalous in nature. The diffusion coefficient (D) increased with an increase in the NCO/OH ratio and decreased with an increase in chain length of polyethylene glycol. The sorption coefficient (S) decreased with an increase in crosslink density (NCO/OH) and increased with increasing polyethylene glycol (i.e., PEG 200, PEG 400, and PEG 600) moieties in the polyurethanes. The molecular weight between two crosslink points was calculated using the Flory Rehner equation (24), and hence, the number of chains per unit volume (N) and degree of crosslinking (ν) in all the samples were determined.     

H2-release from alcohols,diols, and compounds with amino functionality promoted by titanium(II) sandwich complex, [Cp2Ti]: a theoretical approach

Structural Chemistry - The role of Ti(II) sandwich complex, [Cp2Ti], generated by the combination of [Cp2TiCl2] and two equivalents of nBuLi, in situ, in toluene has been investigated theoretically...