Characterization of an Algerian diatomite by inverse gas chromatography: Specific and non-specific contribution and Lewis acid–base parameters

The fundamental understanding of the behavior of a solid is intimately related to the understanding of the interactions on the surface of the latter, a major challenge in particular if the material is natural and ecological. The infinite dilution-inverse gas chromatography was used to evaluate the surface thermodynamic properties of several phases (grafted and/or coated) diatomite. A series of non- or polar-solute probes were injected at temperatures of 45?°C and 90?°C. The dispersive surface free energies values of the supports decrease with increasing temperature and their active surface is amphoteric with predominantly acidic character.     

Investigation of the dissociation pathways of metolachlor, acetochlor and alachlor under electron ionization - application to the identification of ozonation products

With the future aim of using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry to characterize the transformation products of ozonated herbicides: metolachlor, acetochlor and alachlor, an interpretation of their electron ionization mass spectra is presented. Fragmentation mechanisms are proposed on the basis of isotopic labelling and multiple-stage mass spectrometry experiments carried out on an ion trap mass spectrometer. We also give examples in order to demonstrate how the elucidation of such fragmentation mechanisms for herbicides may simplify the characterization of their ozonation products.     

Determination of REE by INAA in conodont apatite of Triassicage

Instrumental neutron activation analysis is applied to determine REE in very small, toothlike elements of an extinct animal, the conodont. The results are useful to obtain records of local oceanic events and processes connected to plate tectonics in the Tethys ocean from about 250 to 200 million years ago.     

Evaluation of process parameters of ultrasonic treatment of bacterial suspensions in a pilot scale water disinfection system

In this study, several process parameters that may contribute to the efficiency of ultrasound disinfection are examined on a pilot scale water disinfection system that mimics realistic circumstances as encountered in an industrial environment. The main parameters of sonication are: (i) power; (ii) duration of treatment; (iii) volume of the treated sample. The specific energy (E_s) is an indicator of the intensity of the ultrasound treatment because it incorporates the transferred power, the duration of sonication and the treated volume. In this study, the importance of this parameter for the disinfection efficiency was assessed through changes in volume of treated water, water flow rate and electrical power of the ultrasonic reactor. In addition, the influences of the initial bacterial concentration on the disinfection efficiency were examined. The disinfection efficiency of the ultrasonic technique was scored on a homogenous and on a mixed bacterial culture suspended in water with two different types of ultrasonic reactors (Telsonic and Bandelin). This study demonstrates that specific energy, treatment time of water with ultrasound and number of passages through the ultrasonic reactor are crucial influential parameters of ultrasonic disinfection of contaminated water in a pilot scale water disinfection system. The promising results obtained in this study on a pilot scale water disinfection system indicate the possible application of ultrasound technology to reduce bacterial contamination in recirculating process water to an acceptable low level. However, the energy demand of the ultrasound equipment is rather high and therefore it may be advantageous to apply ultrasound in combination with another treatment.     

Friedel–Crafts Reaction of Benzyl Fluorides: Selective Activation of C?F Bonds as Enabled by Hydrogen Bonding

A Friedel–Crafts benzylation of arenes with benzyl fluorides has been developed. The reaction produces 1,1‐diaryl alkanes in good yield under mild conditions without the need for a transition metal or a strong Lewis acid. A mechanism involving activation of the C F bond through hydrogen bonding is proposed. This mode of activation enables the selective reaction of benzylic C F bonds in the presence of other benzylic leaving groups.     

Highly Sensitive Enzyme-free Sensor Based on a Carbon Paste Electrode Modified with Binary Zinc Oxide/Polyaniline Nanocomposites for Dopamine,Ascorbic Acid and Uric Acid Sensing

Hybrid composites ZnO/PANI were facily synthesized by a sonication process at room temperature. This procedure is non-expensive, time/energy saving and environmentally safe. The as-prepared ZnO/PANI were characterized by FTIR, UV-vis spectroscopies and SEM in order to investigate the structure and morphology of the studied composites. The samples were used to modify carbon paste electrode (CPE) in order to develop electrochemical biosensors (ZnO/PANI/CPE). The sensing properties of the nanoparticles were evaluated for dopamine, ascorbic acid and uric acid non-enzymatic detection. The effect of percentage of polyaniline in the composites and the effect of calcination on the biosensor's response were also examined in the present study. It was revealed that the existence of PANI in ZnO/PANI/CPE largely enhanced the electroactive surface area and therefore the sensitivity for electrochemical sensing. A good electrochemical behavior was noted for ZnO/40 wt% PANI-cal/CPE modified electrode toward DA, AA and UA oxidation. The electroactive surface area of the previously mentioned modified electrode (0.235 cm²) was two times higher than that of the bare electrode (0.117 cm²). The liner relationships between current intensities and concentrations were found to be 0.01–1.4 mM, 0.1–1.3 mM and 0.01–0.12 mM, with detection limit of 0.029 mM, 0.063 mM and 0.007 mM, for DA, AA and UA respectively. In the mixtures of ascorbic acid (AA), dopamine (DA) uric acid (UA) and glucose (Glu) the sensor showed high selectivity of DA with low interference of ascorbic acid by a current change of 14 %. The as-prepared ZnO/PANI/CPE biosensor displayed a good reproducibility and stability.     

Molecular-programmed self-assembly of homo- and heterometallic penta- and hexanuclear coordination compounds: synthesis, crystal structures, and magnetic properties of ladder-type CuII2MIIx (M=Cu, Ni; x=3, 4) oxamato complexes with CuII2 metallacyclophane cores

New homo- and heterometallic, hexa- and pentanuclear complexes of formula {[Cu2(mpba)2(H2O)F][Cu(Me5dien)]4}(PF6)(3).5H2O (1), {[Cu2(Me3mpba)2(H2O)2][Cu(Me5dien)]4}(ClO4)(4).12H2O (2), {[Cu2(ppba)2][Cu(Me5dien)]4}(ClO4)4 (3), and [Ni(cyclam)]{[Cu2(mpba)2][Ni(cyclam)]3}(ClO4)(4).6H2O (4) [mpba=1,3-phenylenebis(oxamate), Me3mpba=2,4,6-trimethyl-1,3-phenylenebis(oxamate), ppba=1,4-phenylenebis(oxamate), Me5dien=N,N,N'N' ',N' '-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine, and cyclam=1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane] have been synthesized through the use of the "complex-as-ligand/complex-as-metal" strategy. The structures of 1-3 consist of cationic CuII6 entities with an overall [2x2] ladder-type architecture which is made up of two oxamato-bridged CuII3 linear units connected through two m- or p-phenylenediamidate bridges between the two central copper atoms to give a binuclear metallacyclic core of the cyclophane-type. Complex 4 consists of cationic CuII2NiII3 entities with an incomplete [2x2] ladder-type architecture which is made up of oxamato-bridged CuIINiII and CuIINiII2 linear units connected through two m-phenylenediamidate bridges between the two copper atoms to give a binuclear metallacyclophane core. The magnetic properties of 1-3 and 4 have been interpreted according to their distinct "dimer-of-trimers" and "dimer-plus-trimer" structures, respectively, (H=-J(S1A.S3A+S1A.S4A+S2B.S5B+S2B.S6B)-J'S1A.S2B). Complexes 1-4 exhibit moderate to strong antiferromagnetic coupling through the oxamate bridges (-JCu-Cu=81.3-105.9 cm-1; -JCu-Ni=111.6 cm-1) in the trinuclear and/or binuclear units. Within the binuclear metallacyclophane core, a weak to moderate ferromagnetic coupling (J'Cu-Cu=1.7-9.0 cm-1) operates through the double m-phenylenediamidate bridge, while a strong antiferromagnetic coupling (J'Cu-Cu=-120.6 cm-1) is mediated by the double p-phenylenediamidate bridge.