Radiometric analysis of some building materials using gamma-ray spectrometry

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - The present study focuses on the effect of natural radioactivity of some common building materials to humans. The main radiological risk...     

Phase diagram study of CaBr2–CaHBr system

A study of binary, CaBr₂–CaHBr system was carried out by differential thermal analysis (DTA), covering the composition range from 100 % CaBr₂ to 100 % CaHBr between room temperature and 800 °C. From DTA results, the contour of solidus and liquidus temperatures with composition is plotted and the phase diagram of CaBr₂–CaHBr system is constructed. The system shows an eutectic reaction at 576 °C and the eutectic composition is 79.6 mol% CaBr₂. Co-existing phases in different phase fields are characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis.     

Flexible Polyester Cellulose Paper Supercapacitor with a Gel Electrolyte

A low-cost polyester cellulose paper has been used as a substrate for a flexible supercapacitor device that contains aqueous carbon nanotube ink as the electrodes and a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based gel as the electrolyte. Gel electrolytes have attracted much interest due to their solvent-holding capacity and good film-forming capability. The electrodes are characterized for their conductivity and morphology. Because of its high conductivity, the conductive paper is studied in supercapacitor applications as active electrodes and as separators after coating with polyvinylidene fluoride. Carbon nanotubes deposited on porous paper are more accessible to ions in the electrolyte than those on flat substrates, which results in higher power density. A simple fabrication process is achieved and paper supercapacitors are tested for their performance in both aqueous and PVA gel electrolytes by using galvanostatic and cyclic voltammetry methods. A high specific capacitance of 270 F g⁻¹ and an energy density value of 37 W h kg⁻¹ are achieved for devices with PVA gel electrolytes. Furthermore, this device can maintain excellent specific capacitance even under high currents. This is also confirmed by another counter experiment with aqueous sulfuric acid as the electrolyte. The cycle life, one of the most critical parameters in supercapacitor operations, is found to be excellent (6000 cycles) and less than 0.5 % capacitance loss is observed. Moreover, the supercapacitor device is flexible and even after twisting does not show any cracks or evidence of breakage, and shows almost the same specific capacitance of 267 F g⁻¹and energy density of 37 W h kg⁻¹. This work suggests that a paper substrate can be a highly scalable and low-cost solution for high-performance supercapacitors.     

Further exploration of antimicrobial ketodihydronicotinic acid derivatives by multiple parallel syntheses

A synthetic reexamination of a series of ketodihydronicotinic acid class antibacterial agents was undertaken in an attempt to improve their therapeutic potential. A convenient new synthesis was developed involving hetero Diels-Alder chemistry producing 74 new analogs in a multiple parallel synthetic manner and these were examined in vitro for their antimicrobial potential. Several compounds demonstrated significant broad-spectrum activity against clinically derived bacterial strains but previously known 1-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-6-(4-dimethylaminophenyl)-4-pyridone-3-carboxylic acid (7) remained the most potent compound in this class. Cross-resistance with ciprofloxacin supported a commonality of mode of action. Permiabilization of Escherichia coli cells by polymyxin B significantly enhanced potency with these agents suggesting that poor cellular uptake was primarily responsible for the disappointing activity against bacteria that some of the analogs exhibited.     

Standard molar Gibbs free energy of formation of Pb5CrO8(s), Pb2CrO5(s), and PbCrO4(s)

Standard molar Gibbs free energy of formation of ternary oxides Pb₅CrO₈(s), Pb₂CrO₅(s), and PbCrO₄(s) were determined by measuring equilibrium oxygen partial pressures over relevant phase fields using manometry and solid oxide electrolyte based emf methods and are given by: ${\mathrm{\Delta }}_f{G}_m^{°}{\text{Pb}}_5{\text{CrO}}_8(s)\pm 0.55/(\text{kJ}·{\text{mol}}^{-1})=-1809.4+0.6845(T/\text{K})(837\le T/\text{K}\le 1008)\text{,}$${\mathrm{\Delta }}_f{G}_m^{°}{\text{Pb}}_2{\text{CrO}}_5(\text{s})\pm 0.30/(\text{kJ}·{\text{mol}}^{-1})=-1161.3+0.4059(T/\text{K})(859\le T/\text{K}\le 1021)\text{,}$${\mathrm{\Delta }}_{\text{f}}{G}_m^{°}{\text{PbCrO}}_4(\text{s})\pm 0.17/(\text{kJ}·{\text{mol}}^{-1})=-909.8+0.3111(T/\text{K})(863\le T/\text{K}\le 1093)\text{,}$     

Molecular vibrations of HCOF and DCOF

The harmonic wave numbers for HCOF and DCOF have been calculated using the observed fundamentals and the force constants have been evaluated on the basis of the general quadratic and Urey-Bradley force fields. The out-of-plane fundamental in HCOF, which has not been reported so far, is calculated. The thermodynamic properties of HCOF and DCOF have been calculated for fourteen temperatures ranging from 200° K. to 1500° K. for the ideal gaseous state at one atmosphere pressure and for a rigid rotor, harmonic oscillator approximation.     

Mean amplitudes of vibration: Bent symmetrical XY2 molecules and groups

Applying the secular equation method of Cyvin, the mean-square amplitudes and the mean amplitudes for ten bent symmetrical XY₂ molecules and groups at 300° K. have been evaluated.     

Optimization of solvents for effective isolation of colchicines from Gloriosa superba L. seeds

To meet the strong demand of colchicine an attempt is made to optimize the solvent system for isolation of colchicine. Gloriosa superba dried seed powder was extracted by using different solvents. Maximum yield of colchicine was obtained when extracted with water and alcohol in the ratio of 50 : 50.     

Reaction of ethyl bromoacetate with substituted naphthoate ions

Rate constants for the reaction of ethyl bromoacetate with three series of substituted naphthoate ions have been measured in an acetone-water mixture (90% v/v). Using σ _p values rate constants at 30^o correlate well with the Hammett equation yielding ρ=−0.54, −0.19 and −0.25 for (4,1−), (6,1−) and (6,2−) series, respectively. Comparison of these ρ values with those of the reaction of phenacyl bromide reveals the failure of the reactivity-selectivity principle RSP in these reactions. Failure of RSP has been explained in terms of isoselective temperature.