Examination of Polystyrene by Inverse GC: Part 1. Below Glass Transition Temperature

The surface properties of polystyrene were investigated by inverse gas chromatography at infinite dilution region. The standard enthalpy (??H ⁰), entropy (??S ⁰) and free energy (??G ⁰) of adsorption were calculated for the adsorption of n-alkanes (n-hexane, n-heptane, n-octane, n-nonane, n-decane) and some polar probes (acetone, ethyl acetate, DCM, chloroform, THF) on polystyrene. Additionally, the dispersive (London) component of the surface free energy (?? _S ^d ),  surface Lewis acidity (K _A ) and Lewis basicity (K _D ) of polystyrene surface were determined. The values obtained for K _A and K _D by three different methods demonstrate that polystyrene surface has a basic nature.     

Surface Characterization of Sepiolite by Inverse Gas Chromatography

Inverse gas chromatography (IGC) was applied to characterize the surface of sepiolite. The adsorption thermodynamic parameters (the standard enthalpy (ΔH ⁰), entropy (ΔS ⁰) and free energy of adsorption (ΔG ⁰)), the dispersive component of the surface energy (γ _S ^d ), and the acid/base character of sepiolite surface were estimated by using the retention time of different non-polar and polar probes at infinite dilution region. The specific free energy of adsorption (ΔG ^sp ), the specific enthalpy of adsorption (ΔH ^sp ), and the specific entropy of adsorption (ΔS ^sp ) of polar probes on sepiolite were determined. ΔH ^sp were correlated with the donor and modified acceptor numbers of the probes to quantify the acidic K _A and the basic K _D parameters of the sepiolite surface. The values obtained for the parameters K _A and K _D indicated an acidic character for sepiolite surface.     

A study of the surface analysis of some water‐soluble polymers by inverse gas chromatography

The surface characterization of 2‐(dimethylamino)ethylmethacrylate (DMA) and 2‐(N‐morpholino)ethylmethacrylate (MEMA) homopolymers and DMA–MEMA diblock copolymer was studied using inverse‐gas chromatography (IGC). The analyzed surface properties of (co)polymers were the dispersive component of the surface energy ( ) and the acid–base characters of (co)polymer surfaces. The specific free energy (ΔG^sp), enthalpy (ΔH^sp), and entropy (ΔS^sp) of adsorption of polar probes on (co)polymers were calculated. The values of ΔH^sp were correlated with both the donor and the modified acceptor numbers (AN) of the probes to quantify the acidic K_A and the basic K_D parameters of (co)polymer surfaces. The values obtained for the K_A and K_D parameters indicated basic characters for the surface of (co)polymers. The dispersive component values of the surface energy and the acid–base surface parameters of the DMA–MEMA diblock copolymer surface were found to be between those homopolymers as expected. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Determination of Lewis Acid Base Properties of Poly(??-n-alkyl) Methacrylates Adsorbed on Silica by Inverse GC

In this paper, the acid base properties in the Lewis terms of poly(??-n-alkyl) methacrylates and when they are adsorbed on silica, were determined. The acid base constants K _A and K _D of various polymers were calculated by testing the classical model and proposed a new model giving K _A and K _D and a third constant K reflecting the amphoteric character of our solid substrates and obtaining more precise and quantified results. When the length of alkyl group in side chain of poly(??-n-alkyl) methacrylates changes, the surface properties of such polymers also change and consequently affect all superficial characteristics and especially the acid base constants and the transition phenomena. It was also proved that the specific enthalpy was directly correlated to the acid base constants, the carbon atom number in the side chain of poly(??-n-alkyl) methacrylates and the acceptor AN and donor DN numbers of electrons of polar organic molecules, by the following relationship: ??H ^sp?=???H ^sp(AN, DN, K _D, K _A, n _SC).     

Determination of the surface properties of untreated and chemically treated kaolinites by inverse gas chromatography

Inverse gas chromatography is used to study the surface properties of the untreated and chemically treated kaolinite samples. Changes in the enthalpy of adsorption for a variety of probes and in the surface energy of clays are measured and the effect of modification of the natural clay after chemical treatment with Na₂CO₃ is determined. The surface energy of the natural clay increased by the modification due to an increase in the surface area. It can be concluded that the dispersive component of surface free energy, γ _s ^d , decreases with temperature in the 200–275°C temperature range for both samples. Temperature coefficients of γ _s ^d for untreated and modified kaolinites are −0.1185 and −0.3966 mJ/(m² °C) with the correlation coefficients (R ²) of 0.8479 and 0.965, respectively. From the retention data for polar probes at infinite dilution, information on the accessibility of surface sites to the probes and on the acid-base character of the surface is obtained. The specific free energy of adsorption, the specific enthalpy of adsorption (ΔH ^sp), and the specific entropy of adsorption of polar probes on initial and modified kaolinites are determined. The ΔH ^sp values correlated with the donor numbers and modified acceptor numbers of the probes to quantify the acidity (K _A) and basicity (K _D) parameters of clay surfaces. The values of K _A and K _D for initial and modified kaolinites are determined to be 0.1202 and 0.2803; 0.0130 and 0.0408 with the correlation coefficients of −0.9805 and −0.9782, respectively. The unmodified clay sample indicated a more acidic character, while the modified clay sample conferred a largely basic character. Consequently, the predominant surface basicity of the modified kaolinite agrees with expectation, bearing in mind the treatment with Na₂CO₃, taking into consideration that such a modification contributes to a decrease in the hydrophilicity of the surface and also results in the surface showing only weak Lewis acidity. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Constructing novel red-emitting Ba2Y0.8Eu0.2NbO6:Mn4+ phosphors for multi-type luminescent thermometers and high-security anti-counterfeiting films

To date, luminescent materials have been preferably used for non-contact optical thermometers. In this manner, novel red-emitting Ba₂Y_0.8Eu_0.2NbO₆:Mn⁴⁺ (BYEN:Mn⁴⁺) phosphors were designed for multi-type non-contact luminescent thermometers based on the dual-emission states and temperature-dependent lifetime (TDL) models. In the temperature range of 303–483 K, the sensing sensitivities based on the dual-emission states of (⁵D₀→⁷F₂, ²E_g→⁴A_2g) and (⁵D₀→⁷F₁, ²E_g→⁴A_2g) were estimated. Especially, the maximum absolute sensing sensitivity (S_a) was found to be about 0.1558 K^-1 for the BYEN:0.007Mn⁴⁺ phosphor based on the ⁵D₀→⁷F₁ and ²E_g→⁴A_2g positions. This phosphor also exhibited good relative sensing sensitivity (S_r) (0.0186 K^-1) based on the ⁵D₀→⁷F₂ and ²E_g→⁴A_2g states. Besides, the relative sensing sensitivities (S_R) at ⁵D₀→⁷F₁ and ²E_g→⁴A_2g transitions were estimated to be 0.0034 and 0.0194 K^-1, respectively with the help of the TDL technique. In the light of these results, novel red-emitting Ba₂Y_0.8Eu_0.2NbO₆:Mn⁴⁺ phosphors are expected to be a potentially attractive candidate for applications in multi-type luminescent thermometers. Finally, a novel unique polydimethylsiloxane film exhibiting tricolor-luminescent emissions was introduced and further suggested for high-security anti-counterfeiting.     

Surface energetics of calcium carbonates using inverse gas chromatography

Various calcium carbonate samples were characterized by inverse gas chromatography (IGC) at infinite dilution. The interactions between the samples and hydrocarbon probes, C₅–C₁₀ were related to the retention volume in gas chromatographic experiments. The surface energetics of chalk, marble and precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) were determined in terms of the apolar component of the surface free energy γ_S^LW and the differential enthalpy of adsorption, −ΔH_A^∘. These results were evaluated with respect to bulk chemical composition, BET surface area and pore structure. The results suggest that physi- and chemisorbed water bound at surface sites and within the pore structure significantly influence the surface properties of the calcium carbonates. The values of γ_S^LW and −△H_A^∘ after redeposition of the water adlayer suggested reversibility of the water sorption process and the resulting changes in the energetics of the surfaces. Values of γ_S^LW for the chalk samples in the initial state were 140–180 mJ m⁻², whereas the marble and PCC were ≈55mJ m⁻². Removal of bound and pore water by heating at elevated temperatures caused a progressive increase in the γ_S^LW to ≈250 mJ m⁻² for the PCC sample. The γ_S^LW of the chalk sample also increased but to a much lesser extent. △H_A^∘ values for the samples followed the trend chalk>marble>PCC.     

First observation of aS C * -S A-TGBA multicritical point in a pure compound

High pressure experiments have been performed by thermobarometric analysis on two homologous (n=10 and 11) of the [3-fluoro-4((R) or (S)-methylheptyloxy) 4′-(4″-alkoxy-3″-fluorobenzoyloxy) tolans series, which both exhibit the TΓB_A phase. The character (first or/and second order) of the transitions involving the TGB_A phase are determined from thermobarograms. The pressure-temperature phase diagrams show that the TGB_A phase is stabilized under high pressure for the two compounds. Forn=11 an inducedS _A phase is observed under high pressures leading to the first experimental observation, on pressure-temperature phase diagram of pure compounds, of aS _C ^* -S _A-TGB_A multicritical point, previously predicted by the Renn-Lubensky theory.     

Polymeric catalyst with polymerization-enhanced Lewis acidity for CO2-based copolymers

Ring-opening copolymerization of CO₂ and epoxides is a promising way to manufacture high value-added materials. Despite a variety of catalyst systems have been reported, the reaction is still limited by low activity and polymer selectivity. Herein, a strategy of polymerization-enhanced Lewis acidity is reported to construct a series of highly efficient polymeric aluminum porphyrin catalysts (PAPCs). The characterization of the coordination equilibrium constant (K_eq) showed significantly enhanced Lewis acidity of PAPC (K_eq = 18.2 L/mol) compared to the monomeric counterpart (K_eq = 6.4 L/mol), accompanied with increased turnover frequency (TOF) from 136 h⁻¹ to 5500 h⁻¹. Through detailed regulation of Lewis acidity, the highly Lewis acidic PAPC-OTs displayed a record high TOF of 30,200 h⁻¹ with polymer selectivity of up to 99%.     

Surface Energy of Silica-TEOS-PDMS Ormosils

Inverse gas chromatography (IGC) was applied to characterize the surface energy of organically modified silicates (ormosils) by measuring the interaction of molecular organic probes with the ormosil surface. Ormosils were prepared by the sol-gel method by the reaction of TEOS (tetraethoxysilane), PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) and different types of silica (Aerosil 130, Aerosil 200 and Aerosil 380). The isosteric heat of adsorption, q _st, and the dispersive component of the surface energy, _s ^D, were estimated by using the retention volume of different nonpolar and polar probes at infinite dilution. The dispersive component shows an increase as the specific surface area of the silica is increased from 29.6 mJ/m² to 51.4 mJ/m² at 60°C. Such values are lower than that obtained for aerosil particles meaning that PDMS chains impede the interaction with silanol groups located on the silica surface. The specific interaction parameter, I^SP, and the enthalpy of specific adsorption, H _a ^SP, of polar probes on the ormosil surface were also measured in order to obtain the acid-base character of ormosil surface. The H _a ^SP, was correlated with the donor, DN, and the acceptor, AN, numbers of the probes to quantify the acidic, K _A, and the basic, K _B, parameters of the substrate surface. The obtained results suggest that the silica particles were covered by PDMS chains in a different way depending on the type of silica used. The values of K _A and K _B suggest that the ormosil surface is amphoteric, with predominantly acceptor electron sites.     

Synthesis of OMS Materials and Investigation of Their Acceptor–Donor Characteristics

Three ordered mesoporous siliceous (OMS) materials known as MCM41s—unmodified MCM-41C16 (“C16”), and two MCM41s with different surface functionalities: MCM-41C16-SH (“C16-SH”) and MCM-41C16-NH₂ (“C16-NH₂”)—were synthesized and studied by inverse gas chromatography in order to determine their acceptor–donor properties. The specific retention volumes of nonpolar and polar probes that were chromatographed on these ordered mesoporous silica adsorbents were evaluated under infinite dilution conditions. Two methods were employed to calculate the standard free energy of adsorption, ΔG _ads, of each chromatographed probe on the basis its specific retention volume. These ΔG _ads values were then employed to estimate the van der Waals contribution and the specific contribution of the free surface energy for each MCM41. DN values (donor numbers, based on the Gutmann scale) and AN* values (acceptor numbers, based on the Riddle–Fowkes scale) were employed to determine the values of parameters that characterize the ability of the MCM41s to act as electron acceptors (parameter: K _A) and donors (parameter: K _D). Considering the different compositions of the probes, each of which has different acceptor–donor properties, a new chromatographic test to supplement the Grob test is suggested.     

Experimental evaluation of adsorption and electrode field effect on the constants of weak acid dissociation near the mercury electrode surface

Two methods are described for the experimental evaluation of the weak acid dissociation constants in the near electrode surface. One of them, based on the dependence of differential capacity of pH of the solution at constant potentials, gives the pK_A^s values for adsorbed acids; the second one uses the ψ₁-value dependence on pH in the presence of the cationic acids (as pyridinium ions) and comparison of the pH of the buffer solution of the weak acid under investigation with pK_A^s of the cationic acid and gives the pK_A values in the volume just near the electrode.     

An optical biosensor for kinetic analysis of soluble Interleukin-1 receptor I binding to immobilized Interleukin-1alpha

We report here the development of an optical biosensor based on the resonant mirror for kinetic analysis of soluble Interleukin-1 receptor I (sIL-1R I) in solution binding to immobilized Interleukin-1α (IL-1α). IL-1α was immobilized through its surface amine groups via amide bonds with the carboxyl groups of the carboxymethyl dextran (CMD) on cuvette surface. The interaction of sIL-1R I and IL-1α was monitored in real time. Evaluation of the binding curves allowed the analysis of the binding kinetics. The linear range of sIL-1R I in solution was over a range of 100-1600 nM (R = 0.9962). Equilibrium dissociation constant (K_D) was derived by Scatchard plot analysis for sIL-1R I binding to immobilized IL-1α. For this assay, the K_D was 2.6 × 10⁻⁶ M. The CMD cuvette modified by IL-1α was successfully regenerated using 10 mM HCl, and the same sensing surface was used repeatedly for the interaction analysis.     

Diffusion coefficients of ions through ion excange membrane in Donnan dialysis using ions of different valence

Donnan dialysis with an ion exchange membrane was investigated for ions of different valence. The effective diffusion coefficients (D_e) of various kinds of ions in the membrane were obtained by fitting of the equation derived from the Nernst–Planck equation to three or more sets of experimental data for Donnan dialysis. It became apparent that the value of D_e/D_s of monovalent ions (e.g., K⁺ or Na⁺ ions) at z_A=1 and z_B=2 (feed ions are monovalent ones and driving ions are bivalent ones) remained constant at ca. 1/210 and that of bivalent ions (e.g., Ca²⁺, Cu²⁺, or Mg²⁺ ions) remained constant at ca. 1/526 where D_s denotes the diffusion coefficient of ions at infinite dilution in water calculated from the Nernst–Einstein equation, and z_A and z_B represent the valences of the feed and driving ions, respectively. D_e/D_s of monovalent ions (e.g., H⁺, K⁺, or Na⁺ ions) at z_A=2 and z_B=1 (feed ions are bivalent ones and driving ions are monovalent ones) was constant at ca. 1/23.3 and that of bivalent ions remained constant at ca. 1/58.4. It was proved that D_e/D using D_e at z_A=1 and z_B=2 was constant at 1/3.0 and that at z_A=2 and z_B=1 remained constant at 3.0 where D represents the diffusion coefficient of ions in the membrane at z_A=z_B (the valences of both feed and driving ions are equal). Therefore, it was found that a large flux of ions could be obtained using the monovalent driving ions in Donnan dialysis. On the other hand, the small flux can be obtained using bi- or higher-valent driving ions.     

Acidity of osmium tetroxide (OsO4) towards coordination with pyridine and its derivatives

This article reports on the Lewis acidity of osmium tetroxide (OsO₄), the most reliable reagent available for the cis-hydroxylation of alkenes. Three simple and straightforward scales, donor ability of N-donors, the Hammett reaction constant and the Electrostatic-Covalent model (ECW) were used for this purpose. Equilibrium constants (K_eq) and enthalpies for the complexation of OsO₄ with pyridine and its derivatives have been evaluated by spectrophotometeric measurements. The excellent linear relationships were observed between the equilibrium constants and either the pK_a values of the N-donors or the Hammett σ constants of the substituents on the ligands. The slope of the plot of log K_eq versus ligand’s pK_a and the Hammett ρ value derived suggest the use of these parameters as an index of the Lewis acidity strength for OsO₄. The enthalpies of complex formation of N-donors with OsO₄ also fit the ECW model to predict the values of E_A and C_A parameters for OsO₄ as 2.01 and 0.25 (kcal/mol)^1/2, respectively. The parameters can be used to make an acidity scale for OsO₄. These parameters also permit the chemists and biochemists to predict and correlate quantitatively the enthalpies of OsO₄ · Lewis base interactions.     

Rotational relaxation in S1 glyoxal: Cross sections and a search for propensity rules

Details of rotational energy transfer from a few selected K′J′ levels in the zero point vibrational level of ¹Au(S₁) glyoxal vapor have been studied. The cross section for destruction of an initial K′J′ level by rotational relaxation in collision with ground electronic state glyoxal is about 240 A² or 4.5 times gas kinetic. Much of the rotational transfer within the S₁ state occurs with large ΔK′ and ΔJ′. No strong propensities for △K′ = 0, ± 1, ± 2, or ± 3 with small ΔJ′ changes occur in collisions with ground electronic state glyoxal. The study was made by examination of the rotational structure in the 5₁⁰ emission band at various pressures after excitation in the 0,0 band of the S₁—S₀ system with the 454.5 nm argon ion line.     

Collisional ionization of fast K atoms by H2S and D2S

The process K + H₂S/D₂S → HS^?/DS^? + K⁺+ H/D has been investigated for K impact energies from near threshold to ≈100 eV. Positive and negative ion energy spectra have been obtained in the forward direction. The threshold for HS^? or DS^?production corresponds to the HS^?/DS^?+ H/D limit of the ²A₁ H₂S^?/D₂S^? state at 1.55 eV.     

Properties of zirconate modificates of silica gel as examined by inverse gas chromatography

In our work the silica gel was modified at three temperatures by the zirconium coupling agents. As a result one obtains monomolecular layer of the zirconate on the silica gel surface. The physico‐chemical properties of this layer and its influence on the modificate properties may be characterized by inverse gas chromatography (IGC) and expressed by both solubility parameters and surface parameters. The influence of the temperature of the modification and the modifier structure on the modificate's properties was examined and discussed. In this paper we looked for the relationships between the solubility parameter δ₂, its components and surface parameters γ₂^d, K_A, K_D and S_C.     

The spin-coupling model of zero-field splitting for trimeric [3Fe–4S] and mixed-metal [3FeZn–4S] clusters of ferredoxins from Pyrococcus furiosus

The spin-coupling model of zero-field splitting (ZFS) is developed for trimeric [3Fe–4S] clusters. The correlations between the cluster ZFS parameters D_S and E_S of the states with total spin S and ZFS parameters D_i and E_i of individual ions were obtained for mixed-valent (MV) [3Fe–4S]⁰ clusters with high-spin ground state S_gr=2, for the MV iron core of the hetero-metal [3FeZn–4S]⁺ cluster with S_gr=5/2 and for the monovalent [3Fe–4S]⁺ cluster with S_gr=5/2 of Pyrococcus furiosus ferredoxin (Pf Fd). These correlations and the cluster ZFS parameters D_S and E_S depend on total spin S, intermediate spin S₁₂ and individual spins s_i. The spin-coupling model explains the experimentally observed negative cluster ZFS parameters of MV trimers in the [3Fe–4S]⁰ and [3FeZn–4S]⁺ clusters and the positive cluster ZFS parameter of the tetrameric MV [4Fe–4S]⁺ cluster and the monovalent [3Fe–4S]⁺ trimer of Pf Fd. Single-particle ZFS parameters D_i were obtained for the [3Fe–4S] trimers and [4Fe–4S]⁺ tetramer (S_gr=3/2) of Pf Fd. In distorted trimers, the cluster ZFS parameter D_S of anisotropy changes the value and sign under the variation of isotropic Heisenberg exchange or/and double exchange coupling due to the exchange admixture of the excited states. Experimentally observed peculiarities of effective hyperfine constants A_i for the MV trimer with S_gr=5/2 of the hetero-metal [3FeZn–4S]⁺ cluster were described in the spin-coupling exchange-resonance model with the exchange admixture of the excited states and non-equivalence of the states of different localization.