Polymers as Hydrophobic Adsorbent Surface for Some Surfactants

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyacrilic acid (PAA) were used as hydrophobic adsorbent surfaces at 25°C for two nonionic surfactants, namely, tetradecyl polyoxyethylenated monolaurate [La(EO)₁₄] and tetradecyl polyoxyethylenated monooleate [Ol(EO)₁₄], and two anionic surfactants, namely, sodium oleic sulfonate [OlSO₃Na] and sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate [SDBS]. Surface tension measurements were performed to determine the critical micelle concentration (CMC) and the adsorption isotherms of the tested surfactants. All the tested surfactants display L-shape isotherms except that of OlSO₃Na onto PVA. No adsorption behavior has been shown for the anionic SDBS onto both PVA and PAA. The adsorption data show higher adsorption affinity for all the tested nonionic surfactants onto PAA than onto PVA while the investigated anionic surfactant OlSO₃Na possesses close values of Γ_max. The study reveals that the nature of the polymer surface as adsorbent besides the molecular structure of the surfactant defined the types and mechanisms of adsorption.     

DBU-catalyzed transprotection of N-Fmoc-cysteine di- and tripeptides into S-Fm-cysteine di- and tripeptides

The transprotection of N-Fmoc-cysteine containing di- and tripeptides possessing a free SH group to produce the corresponding S-Fm-cysteine di- and tripeptides bearing a free amino group is accomplished efficiently with DBU in dry THF. The N-Fmoc to S-Fm transformation mechanism is discussed. S-Fm-Cysteine di- and tripeptides readily form amide bonds on coupling with N-(Pg-α-aminoacyl)benzotriazoles and N-(Pg-α-dipeptidoyl)benzotriazoles to give larger peptides.     

Leaching of El-Missikat low-grade fluoritized uranium ore by sulfuric acid: mechanism and kinetic

A well-characterized low-grade fluoritized uranium samples from new occurrence in Gabal El-Missikat prospect, Eastern Desert, Egypt was subjected to sulfuric acid leaching. The effects of leaching parameters on uranium dissolution mechanism were investigated. The shrinking core model was used to model leaching reactions. The kinetics equations indicates that the reactions appear to be controlled by layer diffusion process. The activation energy for uranium dissolution was evaluated. Low activation energy value (2.54 kJ mol⁻¹) confirm the diffusion layer mechanism. The presence of fluoride ions in the solution increases the dissolution of uranium. The optimum process operating parameters were: sulfuric acid concentration: 1.5 M, solid–liquid ratio: 1:3, contact time 8 h; agitation speed rate 200 rpm; and ore particle size − 75 µm at temperature 60 °C, in the absence of an external oxidant. Under these experimental conditions, the extraction efficiency of uranium was about 91%.

     

Electrodeposited Ni and Ni-Co alloys using cysteine and conventional ultrasound waves

Ni-Co alloys were electroplated from sulphate electrolyte using addition agents including sodium gluconate,boric acid and cysteine on copper foil by the galvanostatic technique and ultrasound waves.The chemical composition,surface morphologies,crystalline structure and hardness of the Ni-Co alloys were studied using energy dispersive spectroscopy,scanning electron microscope,X-ray diffraction and Vickers testing method,respectively.The effect of current density and addition agents on the microstructure and morphology of Ni-Co alloys were examined.The appropriate concentration of additives and ultrasound waves were found to produce fine and smooth crystals leading to higher hardness of Ni-Co alloys.The microhardness of the Ni-Co alloys was varied between 4860–7530 HV.The surface morphology of coatings was changed from granular to fine due to using of gluconate,boric acid,cysteine and ultrasound waves.The mechanical properties of nanocrystalline Ni-Co alloys showed an increase of the hardness with the growing of Ni content in the alloy.The X-ray diffraction studies indicated that nanocrystalline structure was face-centred cubic for pure Ni and Ni-Co alloys with Co content in the range of 1–75 wt.%.A hexagonal closed-package structure was obtained for pure Co and Ni-Co alloys with the cobalt content with range of 75–99wt.%.     

High Energy Charged Particle Registration in CR-39 Polycarbonated Detector

Track etch rate characteristics of CR-39 plastic detector exposed to ²⁸Si ions of 670 MeV energy have been investigated. Experimental results were obtained in terms of frequency distribution of the track diameter, track density and bulk etching rate. A dependence of the mean track diameter on energy was found. The application of the radiation effect of heavy ions on CR-39 in the field of radiation detection and dosimetry are discussed. Results indicated that it is possible to produce etchable tracks of ²⁸Si in this energy range in CR-39. We also report the etching characteristics of these tracks in the CR-39 detector.     

Chemical ligation of S-scylated cysteine peptides to form native peptides via 5-, 11-, and 14-membered cyclic transition states

Cysteine-containing dipeptides 3a-l, (3b+3b') (compound numbers in parentheses are used to indicate racemic mixtures; thus (3b+3b') is the racemate of 3b and 3b'), and tripeptide 13 were synthesized in 68-96% yields by acylation of cysteine with N-(Pg-α-aminoacyl)- and N-(Pg-α-dipeptidoyl)benzotriazoles (where Pg stands for protecting group in the nomenclature for peptides throughout the paper) in the presence of Et(3)N. Cysteine-containing peptides 3a-l and 13 were S-acylated to give S-(Pg-α-aminoacyl)dipeptides 5a-l and S-(Pg-α-aminoacyl)tripeptide 14 without racemization in 47-90% yields using N-(Pg-α-aminoacyl)benzotriazoles 2 in CH(3)CN-H(2)O (7:3) in the presence of KHCO(3). (In our peptide nomenclature, the prefixes di-, tri-, etc. refer to the number of amino acid residues in the main peptide chain; amino acid residues attached to sulfur are designated as S-acyl peptides. Thus we avoid use of the prefix "iso".) Selective S-acylations of serine peptide 3k and threonine peptide 3l containing free OH groups were thus achieved in 58% and 72% yield, respectively. S-(Pg-α-aminoacyl)cysteines 4a,b underwent native chemical ligations to form native dipeptides 3f,i via 5-membered cyclic transition states. Microwave irradiation of S-(Pg-α-aminoacyl)tripeptide 15 and S-(Pg-α-aminoacyl)tetrapeptide 17 in the presence of NaH(2)PO(4)/Na(2)HPO(4) buffer solution at pH 7.8 achieved chemical ligations, involving intramolecular migrations of acyl groups, via 11- and 14-membered cyclic transition states from the S-atom of a cysteine residue to a peptide terminal amino group to form native peptides 19 and 20 in isolated yields of 26% and 23%, respectively.