Photocatalytic degradation of RhB,MG, MB,Roz.B, 3-BL and CI-50 by PW12-APTES@MCF as nanosized mesoporous photocatalyst

Surface of mesocellular silica foam (MCF) was modified by grafting 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) to have the positive charge, and thus, to provide sites for the immobilization of H₃PW₁₂O₄₀ (PW₁₂). This modified-nanosized mesoporous silica (PW₁₂-APTES@MCF) was characterized by FTIR, XRD, BET and TEM. The photoefficiency of this nanosized mesoporous toward photodegradation of six dye solutions [rhodamine B, malachite green, methylene blue, rose bengal, solophenyl red (3-BL), yellow direct 50 (CI-50)] was investigated in a photocatalytic reactor using UV lamp as a light source. The effect of various experimental parameters on the degradation performance of the process was evaluated by examining catalyst dosage, initial dye concentration and pH of the dye solution in the presence of PW₁₂-APTES@MCF. The photocatalytic behaviors of the PW₁₂-APTES@MCF were also compared with two mesoporous silica-supported PW₁₂-APTES@SBA-15 and PW₁₂-APTES@KIT-6. It indicated that the PW₁₂-APTES@MCF had the highest photocatalytic efficiency among three mesoporous silica-supported PW₁₂-APTES. These photocatalysts can be reused several times although they get less active.     

Composition and properties of CeO2-SiO2 composite films prepared from film-forming solution

This study focuses on the preparation and properties of CeO₂-SiO₂ thin films with thickness ≤60 nm that can be used as protective coatings for solar cell panels and electrochromic counter electrodes. Thin-film CeO₂-SiO₂ systems on glass and quartz substrates, which are manufactured from film-forming solutions based on cerium(III) nitrate, salicylic acid, and tetraethoxysilane and thermally treated, are mixtures of cerium(IV) (cubic modification) and silicon(IV) (amorphous phase) oxides. The films synthesized are distinguished by a net structure and high visible transmittance (～90-100%). The morphology, phase composition, and optical properties of films were studied by X-ray diffraction, X-ray spectral microanalysis, scanning electron microscopy, spectrophotometry, and ellipsometry.     

Adsorption chromatographic separation of radioiodine labelled iodothyronines

3,3′-diiodothyronine, 3,3′,5-triiodothyronine, 3,3′,5′-triiodothyronine and thyroxine was labelled with¹²⁵I and/or¹³¹I by the use of the chloramine T method.¹.² The labelled products were separated by adsorption chromatography using Sephadex LH-20 dextrangel as adsorbent and aqueous solution of ethanol as eluent.     

Migration study of zinc dibutyldithiocarbamate in eye drops solutions

The potential deleterious effects of extractables/leachables in pharmaceutical products and the need to preserve product safety throughout its shelf life have led the three major pharmacopoeias (USP, EP, JP) to require extractable and toxicity testing of container/closure systems. To that, a HPLC/UV method was developed and validated for the detection of zinc dibutyl dithiocarbamate (ZDBC) as potential extractable from pharmaceutical container closure system of eye drops solutions. The method consists of direct extraction of the analyte with chloroform; the lower layer was evaporated to dryness and further reconstituted with acetonitrile. The chromatographic separation was performed on a Nova-Pak C18 column using as mobile phase a mixture of acetonitrile:water. Calibration curves were linear and relative standard deviation was sufficient. Detection limit of ZDBC was found to be 0.015 μg/mL. The HPLC method was further applied in seven currently marketed eye drops solutions, confirming its applicability for monitoring dithiocarbamates migration from container closure systems into the eye drops solutions.     

Improvement of derivatized amino acid detection sensitivity in micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography by means of acid-induced pH-mediated stacking technique

Derivatization is a frequently used sample preparation procedure applicable to the enhancement of analyte detection sensitivity. Amino acids mostly require derivatization prior to electrophoretic or chromatographic analysis, especially if spectrophotometric detection is used. This study presents an on-line preconcentration technique for derivatized amino acids. The sensitivity of the method was improved by the utilization of the proposed acid-induced pH-mediated stacking mechanism. The method is demonstrated by preconcentration of amino acids labeled with 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene. Use of optimized conditions for a large sample volume injection (40 s, 13.8 kPa) followed by electrokinetic injection of 0.1 M HCl (20 s, 10 kV) gave a 20- to 30-fold enhancement of sensitivity. The significance of the sweeping mechanism and pseudo-isotachophoresis for the on-line sample focusing and the influence of parameters on the preconcentration process were discussed. The applicability of the elaborated method was demonstrated using human urine samples.     

Routine quality control of11C-labelled radiopharmaceuticals by high pressure liquid chromatography

Radio high pressure liquid chromatography (radio-HPLC) is the method of choice for quality control of radiopharmaceuticals labelled with short lived isotopes. Our preparations of “no carrier added”¹¹C-labelled palmitic acid and L-methionine are both designed to end with a HPLC separation on either silica gel or C-18 reversed phase material. Since the crude reaction mixtures contain milligram amounts of inactive substrate materials, both separations must be carried out at preparative scale. Nevertheless they are performed in less than 10 min. The most critical factor for the separation of¹¹C-palmitic acid from the main by-product pentadecane is the solvent composition: while the¹¹C-L-methionine separation is especially sensitive to pH variations.     

Commiphora pedunculata gum as a green inhibitor for the corrosion of aluminium alloy in 0.1 M HCl

The effect of Commiphora pedunculata (CP) gum on the inhibition of the corrosion of aluminum alloy AA 3001) in solutions of HCl was investigated using gravimetric and thermometric methods of monitoring corrosion. The results obtained indicated that CP gum is a good adsorption inhibitor for the corrosion of aluminum in solutions of HCl. The inhibition efficiency of CP gum was found to increase with an increase in concentration but to decrease with increasing temperature. The adsorption of CP gum on the surface of aluminum was found to be endothermic, spontaneous and to support the mechanism of physical adsorption. The Langmuir adsorption model has been used to describe the adsorption characteristics of CP gum on aluminum surface.     

Polyoxotungstate nanoclusters supported on silica as an efficient solid-phase microextraction fiber of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

A highly porous silica-supported tungstophosphoric acid (PW) nanocluster was prepared for use in solid-phase microextraction (SPME) of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The PWs represent a class of discrete transition metal-oxide nanoclusters and their structures resemble discrete fragments of metal-oxide structures of definite size and shape. Transition metal-oxide nanoclusters display large structural diversity, and their monodisperse sizes can be tuned from several Ångstroms up to 10 nm. The highly porous silica-supported tungstophosphoric acid nanocluster material is found to be capable of efficiently extracting PAHs from aqueous sample solutions. The nanomaterial was immobilized on a stainless steel wire for fabrication of the SPME fiber. Following thermal desorption, the PAHs were quantified by GC-MS. Analytical merits include limits of detection that range from 0.02 to 0.1 pg mL^?1 and a dynamic range as wide as from 0.001 to 100 ng mL^?1. Under optimum conditions, the repeatability for one fiber (n?=?3), expressed as the relative standard deviation, is between 4.3 % and 8.6 %. The method is simple, rapid, and inexpensive. The thermal stability of the fiber and the high relative recovery make this method superior to conventional methods of extraction.

The highly porous silica-supported tungstophosphoric acid nanocluster material is found to be capable of efficiently extracting PAHs from aqueous sample solutions. The prepared nanomaterial was immobilized onto a stainless steel wire for fabrication of the SPME fiber. Following thermal desorption, the PAHs were quantified by GC-MS.     

Influence of HCl on the stability of liquid lamellae between two colliding bubbles in aqueous solutions ofn-fatty acids

The effect of HCl on life time of liquid lamellae created between two colliding bubbles in aqueous solutions ofn-fatty acids were studied. The results show, that the addition of HCl has a pronounced influence on life time of the lamellae. At low fatty acid concentration the lifetime of the lamellae in the acidified solution is higher than in the nonacidified solution, but at higher fatty acid concentration the effect reverses. The analysis of these experimental results show that the characteristic influence of HCl on lamellae lifetime can be explained by the formation of distinct association states of the fatty acids in the liquid phase at different concentration ranges. The results are discussed with respect to bubble coalescence in gas-liquid contactors.     

Osmotic coefficients and activity coefficients of lodic acid at high concentrations

Isopiestic vapor pressure measurements have been used to determine the osmotic coefficients of aqueous solutions of iodic acid at molalities from 0.1 to 17 mole-kg^?1 at 25°C. The isopiestic standards were solutions of sodium chloride and solutions of sulfuric acid. Because of the corrosive nature of iodic acid, platinum cups were used. Stoichiometric activity cofficients of iodic acid were derived by a Gibbs-Duhem integration. The activity coefficients for solutions of molality greater than 0.5 mole-kg^?1 cannot be accounted for in terms of the two equilibria, namely, the acidic dissociation of iodic acid and formation of the ion H(IO₃) ₂ ^? , shown by Pethybridge and Prue to explain adequately the behavior in dilute solutions. The activity coefficient is unexpectedly small in concentrated solutions, suggesting the formation of neutral aggregates of iodic acid. The presence of dimers and tetramers, or alternatively trimers and tetramers, can explain the observed results up to a molality of 7 mole-kg^?1.     

Visual detection of arginine,histidine and lysine using quercetin-functionalized gold nanoparticles

We report on the use of quercetin-functionalized gold nanoparticles (QC-AuNPs) as a colorimetric probe for the amino acids arginine (Arg), histidine (His) and lysine (Lys). The method is based on the aggregation of the QC-AuNPs that is caused by these amino acids and leads to a visually detectable color change from red to blue. The absorption maxima shift from 525 nm to 702, 693, and 745 nm, respectively. Aggregations are confirmed by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopic techniques (TEM). The effects of the QC concentration, temperature and reaction time for the preparation of QC-Au NPs were tested. Other amino acids do not interfere. Under the optimal conditions, linear relationships exist between the absorption ratios at 702/525 nm (for Arg), 693/525 nm (for His), and 745/525 nm (for Lys) over the concentrations ranges from 2.5–1,250 μM (Arg) and 1–1,000 μM (His and Lys), respectively. The respective limits of detection are 0.04, 0.03, and 0.02 μM. The method provides a useful tool for the rapid visual and instrumental determination of the three amino acids. Figure

We report the use of quercetin as novel reagent for preparation and functionalization of gold nanoparticles to colorimetric sensing of three aminoacids (arginine, histidine and lysine). This is based on the aggregation of QC-AuNPs induced by three aminoacids.     

Study of interaction between nitrogen DBD plasma-treated viscose fibers and divalent ions Ca2+ and Cu2+

Viscose fibers were treated with atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma obtained in nitrogen in order to activate the fiber surface prior to sorption of the divalent ions Ca²⁺ and Cu²⁺. Methylene blue sorption was used for estimation of carboxyl group formation on the surface after DBD plasma treatment, through the degree of fabric staining (K/S). Sorption of divalent ions was performed from solutions of each individual ion and from solutions of calcium and copper in succession onto untreated and plasma-treated viscose samples. The quantity of sorbed metal was determined from the neutralization and iodometric titration method. Scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray analysis was used for fiber morphology and surface characterization before and after plasma treatment, and after metal ions sorption. Experiments revealed copper microparticles formation on the fiber surface when sorption of copper was performed on samples with bonded calcium. Further analysis confirmed that for growth of copper particles, both calcium ions and nitrogen DBD plasma pretreatments are necessary.     

Separation of methyltin species from inorganic tin,and their interactions with humates in natural waters

Tin(II) and tin(IV) are absorbed from aqueous solutions by Sephadex G-25 gel, from which they can be eluted by humates or fulvates, with which they interact more strongly. Methyltin species are not absorbed by Sephadex G-25, and so can be separated from inorganic tin. Both inorganic tin and methyltin species in natural waters at pH 7.4 can be quantitatively retained by passing through small columns of Chelex-100 resin: the methyltin species can then be washed off the resin with 4M nitric acid. Trimethyltin chloride¹¹³Sn in water scarcely interacts with fulvates, humates, kaolinite or montmorillonite but is absorbed bySphagnum peat. Dimethyltin dichloride-¹¹³Sn reacts significantly with all the above materials after 2 hours equilibration. Methyltin trichloride-¹¹³Sn interacts weakly in alkaline solutions.     

Interaction of radium with freshwater sediments and their mineral components

Radiotracer method has been used for investigation of the adsorption and desorption of traces of radium on muscovite and feldspar (albite) under conditions similar to those prevailing in waste and surface waters. The effects of pH, liquid to solid ratio, time, ionic strength (Na⁺) and presence of Ca²⁺ or SO ₄ ^2? ions have been studied. It has been concluded that both minerals can significantly affect the fate and migration of radium in surface waters if present as major components of bottom sediments or as suspended solids in concentrations of several milligrams per liter or higher. Muscovite can absorb radium even from moderately acidic waters. Radium adsorbed on muscovite and albite cannot be easily released upon an increase of the salinity of ambient water. However, almost complete desorption can be achieved with 1M HCl. Mechanisms of radium adsorption on both minerals and character of the adsorption sites are discussed.     

An easy and effective method for radiolabelling of solid lipid nanoparticles

Nanoparticle biodistribution study is of great importance in bringing nanomedicine to patients. In this article, solid lipid nanoparticle (SLN) with dimension less than 100 nm was successfully radiolabelled with ^99mTc by using sodium borohydride as a reducing agent (instead of stannous salts). Paclitaxel (PTX) was used as a model anticancer drug for the preparation of drug loaded SLN (PSLN). PSLN was characterized by standard methods. Encapsulation efficiency for PTX in PSLN was estimated by HPLC. PTX (Taxol formulation) and PSLN were radiolabelled separately and subsequent characterizations of these complexes were performed. Greater than 95 % radiolabelling efficiency was achieved and the labelling efficiency was calculated to be more than 90 % upto 24 h. Both the above-mentioned complexes passed the in vitro stability tests. PSLN achieved more brain concentration than Taxol as determined by biodistribution studies. This type of radiolabelling technique can be useful in preclinical evaluation of drug loaded SLN.     

Purification and some properties of tryptophan-5-monooxygenase from rabbit hindbrain

An affinity chromatography procedure for the rapid purification of tryptophan-5-monooxygenase from rabbit hindbrains was developed using e-aminocaproyl-D-tryptophan methyl ester-Sepharose-4B gels. The precise requirements for the optimal biospecific interaction between the affinity ligand and the ligate (enzyme) was established from a study of the effects of the variation in the length of the "spacer’’ on the affinity properties of the gel. The enzyme preparation isolated by this procedure was found to be essentially homogeneous and was characterized by a molecular weight of 200,000 ±20,000. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the enzyme revealed it to be a dimer, the molecular weight of each subunit being approximately 90,000. The specific activity of the enzyme preparation is approxi-mately 7-10 times that of the crude homogenate, but a further fivefold enhancement in the specific activity could be obtained by limited proteolysis with trypsin. The extreme lability of the enzyme could be circumvented by its immobilization on activated Sepharose or by cross-linking with dimethyl suberimidate. The kinetic properties as well as the advantages of such stabilized enzyme preparations are presented.     

Interactions of collagen and cellulose in their blends with 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate as solvent

Collagen/cellulose blended solutions with collagen/cellulose mass ratio (Col/Cel) of 0, 1/40, 1/20, 1/10 and 1/5 were prepared using [Emim]Ac as solvent. The interactions between the two polymers before and after regeneration were investigated. In steady shear flow, all of the experimental viscosity values were greater than those of the estimated values calculated from the log-additivity rule for each sample, suggesting interactions between the two polymers in solutions. All solutions exhibited shear thinning behavior and the flow curves could be described by Cross model. Zero shear viscosity (η ₀) versus Col/Cel was examined and a linear increase (from 8.73 to 16.39 Pa·s) can be observed for η ₀ as Col/Cel ≤ 1/10, while there was only a slight increase (from 16.39 to 18.42 Pa·s) in η ₀ as Col/Cel increased to 1/5. Dynamic rheology results suggested the existence of aggregates in solution with Col/Cel = 1/10. Furthermore, the activation energy of solution was 84.5 kJ mol^?1 as Col/Cel = 1/10, higher than that of cellulose solution (44.2 kJ mol^?1). Regenerated films were prepared and characterized to trace back the interactions between the two polymers in [Emim]Ac. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicated the hydrogen-bond interaction between collagen and cellulose in films. The denaturation temperature of collagen in films with Col/Cel ≤ 1/10 could be improved, but it was decreased with the increase of collagen content, and finally was reduced to be close to that of collagen as Col/Cel = 1/5. The features of dynamic mechanical analysis for films were indicative of the lack of homogeneity between collagen and cellulose as Col/Cel = 1/5. Atomic force microscopy images further confirmed the phase-separation when Col/Cel = 1/5.     

Thermodynamic properties of aqueous solutions of ammonium Nitrate salts

We present Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) results on Hydroxyl Ammonium Nitrate (HAN) solutions and Triethanol Ammonium Nitrate (TEAN) solutions with varying concentrations. These results are used to generate phase diagrams of these solutions. The results of the melting points of these liquids are compared with the theoretical calculations of the depression of melting points. The melting temperatures of the HAN solutions at some specified concentration range are predicted rather well using the two electrolyte assumption. The phase diagram of the TEAN solutions explains an instability with respect to phase separation of this liquid.     

Preparation of an efficient nanofiltration membrane based on blending of polysulfone and polysulfone-g-butylacrylate prepared by ATRP

Polysulfone is one of the most common used polymers for preparation of nanofiltration membranes. These membranes are highly susceptible to fouling problems because of their surface hydrophobic nature. In this paper a new approach for modification of polysulfone to overcome the fouling problems was introduced. The modification was carried out via blending of polysulfone with a modified grafted polysulfone using atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) method. The modified grafted polysulfone was synthesized via ATRP grafting of n-butylacrylate from chloromethylated polysulfone. The graft copolymers were characterized by FT-IR, NMR, DSG and TGA techniques. Furthermore, surface morphology and performance of the corresponding membrane were studied in detail using SEM and pure water flux and salt rejection experiments, respectively. The results indicated that the prepared modified polysulfone membranes have high surface hydrophilicity and therefore better fouling resistance and very good water permeability.     

Sephadex-bound histamine in the catalysis of ester hydrolysis

Ester hydrolysis by Sephadex-bound catalysts was studied in a flow-through system. Three different immobilized preparations were synthesized and used: histamine-, coimmobilized histamine-octylamine-, and octylamine-Sephadex; octylamine-Sephadex was used as a reference. Immobilization was carried out using water-soluble carbodiimide, which gave amide linkages between carboxymethyl Sephadex and the groups attached. It was found that the coimmobilized histamine-octylamine preparation was three times more efficient than immobilized histamine alone in the hydrolysis of the esterp-nitrophenylcaproate, whereas hardly any difference was found in the hydrolysis of the less hydrophobic substratep-nitrophenylacetate. We attribute this enhancement of the hydrolysis ofp-nitrophenylcaproate to local enrichment of the substrate on the histamine-octylamine matrix caused by the presence of hydrophobic octyl groups.