Solid-phase Extraction and High Performance Liquid Chromatographic Determination of Folic Acid in Fortified Foodstuffs: a Recommended Process Utilizing a New Strong Anion Exchange Sorbent

Journal of Analytical Chemistry - A highly efficient solid-phase extraction (SPE) column filled with a silica-based strong anion exchange sorbent was reported in the current study. The fabricated...     

In vivo comprehensive multiphase NMR

Traditionally, due to different hardware requirements, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) has developed as two separate fields: one dealing with solids, and one with solutions. Comprehensive multiphase (CMP) NMR combines all electronics and hardware (magic angle spinning [MAS], gradients, high power Radio Frequency (RF) handling, lock, susceptibility matching) into a universal probe that permits a comprehensive study of all phases (i.e., liquid, gel-like, semisolid, and solid), in intact samples. When applied in vivo, it provides unique insight into the wide array of bonds in a living system from the most mobile liquids (blood, fluids) through gels (muscle, tissues) to the most rigid (exoskeleton, shell). In this tutorial, the practical aspects of in vivo CMP NMR are discussed including: handling the organisms, rotor preparation, sample spinning, water suppression, editing experiments, and finishes with a brief look at the potential of other heteronuclei (²H, ¹⁵N, ¹⁹F, ³¹P) for in vivo research. The tutorial is aimed as a general resource for researchers interested in developing and applying MAS-based approaches to living organisms. Although the focus here is CMP NMR, many of the approaches can be adapted (or directly applied) using conventional high-resolution magic angle spinning, and in some cases, even standard solid-state NMR probes.     

Prediction of tractive response for flexible wheels with application to planetary rovers

Planetary rovers are typically developed for high-risk missions. Locomotion requires traction to provide forward thrust on the ground. In soft soils, traction is limited by the mechanical properties of the soil, therefore lack of traction and wheel slippage cause difficulties during the operation of the rover. A possible solution to increase the traction force is to increase the size of the wheel-ground contact area. Flexible wheels provide this due to the deformation of the loaded wheel and hence this decreases the ground pressure on the soil surface. This study focuses on development of an analytical model which is an extension to the Bekker theory to predict the tractive performance for a metal flexible wheel by using the geometric model of the wheel in deformation. We demonstrate that the new analytical model closely matches experimental results. Hence this model can be used in the design of robust and optimal traction control algorithms for planetary rovers and for the design and the optimisation of flexible wheels.     

The promoting effect of a dicyanamide based ionic liquid in the selective hydrogenation of citral

Conventional supported heterogeneous palladium catalysts in combination with a dicyanamide based ionic liquid are highly active with excellent selectivity in enabling the one-pot synthesis of citronellal through citral hydrogenation.     

Design and synthesis of novel α-substituted phosphonic acids catalyzed by nano zinc oxide

A series of α-substituted phosphonic acids were synthesized by a reaction between dimedone, aromatic aldehydes, and triethylphosphite in ethanolic solution under reflux conditions and using nano zinc oxide as a catalyst. Their structures were determined by Infrared, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and sulfur analysis, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, and ³¹P-NMR.     

Synthesis and Special Features of Electrochemical Behavior of Tungsten Oxide Deposited on Various Substrates

Tungsten oxides were electrochemically deposited from a metastable acidic solution of isopolytungstate on simple glassy carbon electrodes and glassy carbon electrodes coated with a film of a conductive polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene). It was found by the cyclic voltammetry method that the redox capacity of tungsten oxide deposits on the conductive polymer film is noticeably greater than on glassy carbon, which indirectly points to its high dispersion. The morphology of the tungsten oxide deposits was studied using scanning electron microscopy. The tungsten valence state in the composition of surface tungsten oxides was determined by the X-ray electron spectroscopy method.