Adsorption properties of γ-Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> as measured by gas chromatography

The adsorption properties of γ-Al₂O₃ were studied using gas chromatography. Isotherms of adsorption of n-alkanes (C₆–C₉), hex-1-ene, benzene, and isobutanol were measured within 70–100°C. The isosteric heats of adsorption and contributions to them from dispersion (Δq _dis) and specific (Δq _sp) interactions were determined for hex-1-ene, benzene, and isobutanol. Under the conditions covered, hex-1-ene molecules are adsorbed mainly on account of dispersion interactions. For the adsorption of benzene, Δq _dis is nearly twice as large as Δq _sp, while for the adsorption of isobutanol, Δq _sp is nearly twice as large as Δq _dis. At 100°C, isobutyl alcohol is chemisorbed.     

In-situ investigation of the adsorption of globular model proteins on stimuli-responsive binary polyelectrolyte brushes

Binary brushes constituted from two incompatible polymers can be used in the form of ultrathin polymeric layers as a versatile tool for surface engineering to tune physicochemical surface characteristics such as wettability, surface charge, chemical composition, and morphology and furthermore to create responsive surface properties. Mixed brushes of oppositely charged weak polyelectrolytes represent a special case of responding surfaces that are sensitive to changes in the pH value of the aqueous environment and therefore represent interesting tools for biosurface engineering. The polyelectrolyte brushes used for this study were composed of two oppositely charged polyelelctrolytes poly(2-vinylpyridine) (P2VP) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA). The in-situ properties and surface characteristics such as as surface charge, surface tension, and extent of swelling of these brush layers are functions of the pH value of the surrounding aqueous solution. To test the behavior of the mixed polylelctrolyte brushes in contact with biosystems, protein adsorption experiments with globular model proteins were performed at different pH values and salt concentrations (confinement of counterions) of the buffer solutions. The influence of the pH value, buffer salt concentration, and isoelectric points (IEP) of the brush and protein on the adsorbed amount and the interfacial tension during protein adsorption as well as the protein adsorption mechanism postulated in reference to recently developed theories of protein adsorption on polyelectrolyte brushes is discussed. In the salted regime, protein adsorption was found to be similar to the often-described adsorption at hydrophobic surfaces. However, in the osmotic regime the balance of electrostatic repulsion and a strong entropic driving force, "counterion release", was found to be the main influence on protein adsorption.     

XPS spectra of vanadium-doped disulfides CuCrS<Subscript>2</Subscript>

The charged state of atoms in layered cation-substituted disulfides CuCr_1?x V _x S₂ (x = 0?0.4) was studied using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The study was performed with polycrystalline powder and ceramic samples of chromium-copper disulfides. CuCr_1?x V _x S₂ samples were shown to comprise differently charged atoms of chromium, copper and vanadium, the charged state of which varies with the concentration of vanadium cations (x).     

Impact of poly(vinyl alcohol) adsorption on the surface characteristics of mixed oxide Mn<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>O<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">y</Emphasis></Subscript>–SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>

The poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) influence on the adsorption and electrokinetic properties of the mixed oxide Mn _x O _y –SiO₂/polymer solution system was examined. Three oxides differing with the Mn _x O _y contents were applied (0.2; 1 and 3 mmol/g SiO₂, respectively). The PVA with the molecular weight 100 kDa was characterized with the acetate groups content equal to 14 %. Adsorption, solid surface charge and zeta potential measurements were made as a function of solution pH (3–10). The obtained results showed that the PVA adsorption amount strongly depends on not only the solution pH, but also manganese oxide content on the mixed oxide surface. The higher solution pH value (or Mn _x O _y content) is, the higher polymer adsorption is obtained. The PVA addition to the solid suspension causes minimal changes of the mixed oxide surface charge density, whereas the zeta potential of solid particles increases significantly in the polymer presence.     

Interaction of similarly charged surfaces mediated by nanoparticles

We study the interaction between two like charged surfaces embedded in a solution of oppositely charged multivalent rod-like counterions.The counterions consist of two rigidly bonded point charges,each of valency Z.The strength of the electrostatic coupling increases with increasing surface charge density or valency of the charges.The system is analyzed by employing a self-consistent field theory,which treats the short and long range interactions of the counterions within different approximations.We find that in the weak coupling limit,the interactions are only repulsive.In the intermediate coupling regime,the multivalent rod-like counterions can mediate attractive interactions between the surfaces. For sufficiently long rods,bridging contributes to the attractive interaction.In the strong coupling limit,the charge correlations can contribute to the attractive interactions at short separations between the charged surfaces.Two minima can then appear in the force curve between surfaces.     

Synthesis,properties, and crystal structures of a new charge-transfer salt: Tris (dimethylammonium) hydrogen α-dodecamolybdosilicate

A new charge-transfer salt, [(CH₃)₂NH₂]₃[HSiMo₁₂O₄₀] (I), has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV-Vis, XPS, TG-DTA, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Crystal data: trigonal, R \(\bar 3\) m, a = 16.4365(8), c = 25.142(2) Å, V = 5882.3(7) ų, Z = 6. The X-ray crystallographic study shows that the title compound comprises three (CH₃)₂NH ₂ ⁺ cations and a heteropolyanion and is formed mainly by electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding being very weak. The title compound shows weak photochromic properties on UV irradiation. The TG-DTA curves suggest that I is stable up to 300°C     

Molecular dynamics simulations of the characteristics of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose with different degrees of substitution in a salt solution

Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (SCMC) with different degrees of substitution (DS) possesses structural characteristics and physicochemical properties that are important in broad areas of industrial applications. This reported work investigated the structural characteristics, including the effective length (L _ef), the radius of gyration (R _g), and the hydrodynamic radius (R _H), and the physicochemical properties, including intrinsic viscosity ([η]) and salt tolerance, of SCMC with a DS more than 1.0 in NaCl solution using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. In the MD simulations, the DS of SCMC varied from 1.2 to 2.8, and the NaCl concentration varied from 0 to 1.4 mol/L. MD simulation results showed that with the increment of NaCl concentration, the L _ef (or R _g or R _H) of SCMC decreased; with the increment of the DS, the L _ef of SCMC increased. Also, the variation tendency of [η] in the NaCl solution was consistent with its L _ef (or R _g or R _H). It was noted that the salt tolerance (represented by D) of SCMC increased as the DS increased. In addition, the sharp variation of the D value of SCMC occurred in the range of DS of 1.6 to 2.0, which agreed with the reported experimental results. Radial distribution function analyses showed that the Na⁺ cations had a stronger interaction with the carboxyl groups in SCMC with lower DS when it was present in a salt solution of higher concentration, which also reasonably explained the variation of L _ef, R _g, R _H, [η], and D of SCMC in NaCl solution.     

Quantum-chemical study of the effects of noncovalent interactions on the nuclear magnetic screening constants of pyrimidine base associates

The effects of weak noncovalent interactions on the nuclear magnetic screening (NMS) constants (σ ¹H), (σ ¹³C) and charge distribution (q _t ) on atoms in van der Waals model associates of unsubstituted and substituted pyrimidines and substituted uracil are considered. The NMS constants were calculated by the UB3LYP/6-31G(d,p) with GIAO functions. The correlation dependences of the ¹H and ¹³C σ constants on the charge q on atoms whre constructed. It were shown that they can be represented as polynomials that include the terms that are linear and quadratic relative to the charge. The relations obtained in this way are similar in form and close in magnitude to the coefficients of the known Buckingham and Augspurger functions that describe the electric field effects on the nuclear magnetic screening constants. It was found that the coefficients in these polynomials have a definite physical sense in that they characterize nuclear magnetic screening and the “screening polarizability” tensor in the unperturbed molecule and associate, respectively. The NMS constants and charge distribution in pyrimidine base associates and accordingly the coefficients that reflect their values in polynomials depend on the form, size, and composition of the associate and can vary significantly depending on the position of the pyrimidine base in the associate.     

Diffusion and Relaxation Dynamics of Supercooled Polymer Melts

The dynamic properties of polymer melts are investigated in the range of normal liquid regime to the supercooled liquid regime. The polymer is modeled as a coarse-grained bead-spring model with chain length ranging from 5 to 160. The mean squared displacement and non-Gaussian parameter are used to describe the self diffusion of polymer beads. We find slow dynamics with decreasing temperature and increasing chain length. The time evolution of non-Gaussian parameters shows two peaks(or one peak one shoulder) in the α-relaxation time, τα, regime and sub-diffusion time regime, respectively, where the first primary peak indicates the dynamic heterogeneity stemmed from the motion of beads, and the secondary peak is the result of correlated motion along a polymer chain. Moreover, the relaxation of polymer beads shows clear two-step decay in supercooled melts and the dynamics shows growing heterogeneity with decreasing temperature. As chain length is increased, a peak of the dynamic susceptibility occurs, and the peak height,χ*4, increases and then reaches a plateau. The curves of the height of the first peak of α_2, α _2~*, versus τ and the curves of χ_4~*α versus τα follow two master curves for different chain lengths. Our results indicate the similarity of dynamic heterogeneity dominated by the motion of single bead even the chain length is different. It is interesting to find that the Stokes-Einstein(SE) relation between τα and diffusion coefficient D, D~τ-1 q, is highly length-scale dependent. The SE relation breaks down in both normal melts regime and supercooled regime at large magnitude of wave vectors, attributed to the non-Brownian motion arising from the chain connectivity and growing heterogeneity due to supercooling. However, the SE relation is reconstructed when the probing length scale is large(at small magnitude of wave vectors). Our results show a hierarchical physical picture of the supercooled polymeric dynamics.     

Radiation-Induced Heterogeneous Processes of Water Decomposition in the Presence of Mixtures of Silica and Zirconia Nanoparticles

The radiation-induced heterogeneous processes of water decomposition on mixtures of silicon dioxide (n-SiO₂) and zirconium dioxide (n-ZrO₂) nanoparticles have been studied. The kinetics of buildup of molecular hydrogen in the radiolytic processes of water decomposition in the test systems has been examined. The reaction rates and the radiation-chemical yield of hydrogen in the radiolysis of water in the presence of n-SiO₂–n-ZrO₂ mixtures with different ratios between the components have been determined. It has been found that the rates and radiation-chemical yields decreased on going from n-ZrO₂ to n-SiO₂. The individual components (n-SiO₂ and n-ZrO₂) and the mixtures of n-SiO₂–n-ZrO₂ and n-SiO₂–n-ZrO₂ + H₂O before and after γ-irradiation have been examined by Fourier-transform IR spectroscopy in order to reveal interactions between the components and to study the mechanism of radiolytic processes. It has been found that the adsorption of water in the test systems occurs via both molecular and dissociative mechanisms. It has been shown that there is no noticeable interaction between the components of the oxide nanoparticles under the conditions of the experiments.     

Surface properties of semiconductor analogs of CdB<Superscript>VI</Superscript> and their solid substitution solutions

The physicochemical (acidic-basic, adsorption, and electrophysical) surface properties of binary semiconductor analogs of CdB^VI (CdTe, CdSe, and CdS), and (CdTe)_x(CdSe)_1–x, and (CdTe)_x(CdS)_1–x solid substitution solutions were studied using modern methods and equipment. The nature of the active centers and the mechanisms of acidic-basic, adsorption (involving СО), and electronic interactions, interrelated tendencies in variation of the surface properties under study, and their correlations with the known bulk physicochemical properties were elucidated; the property–composition diagrams were constructed, which were used to reveal the most active adsorbents suggested for use as materials for СО (carbon monoxide) microimpurity sensors.     

Effect of γ-irradiation on conductivity of cadmium-mercury-tellurium single crystals in weak and strong electric fields

The effect of γ-radiation on electrical conductivity of Cd _x Hg_{1 ? x} Te (0.25 ≤ x ≤ 0.95) single crystals in weak and strong electric fields has been investigated. It has been shown that at relatively low fields in which charge carriers are still warm, the dependence (Δσ/σ₀) ～ E ² is observed because of the dominance of scattering on acoustic lattice vibrations with the increasing electric field strength; with a further increase in the field strength, the carriers become hot and the dependence of σ upon E becomes linear. The effect of irradiation by Γ-rays on the dependence of σ upon E in these samples is explained by a significant concentration of the intrinsic impurity centers in the crystals and their redistribution with the increasing radiation dose.     

One-Pot Synthesis of Secondary Amines from Nitroarenes and Aldehydes on Supported Copper Catalysts in a Flow Reactor: The Effect of the Support

The effect of the support on the properties of copper catalysts supported on γ-Al₂O₃, SiO₂, and TiO₂–SiO₂ with a ~5 wt % Cu content was studied in the one-pot synthesis of N-heptyl-p-toluidine from p-nitrotoluene and n-heptanal. The catalysts were characterized by elemental analysis, X-ray diffraction analysis, transmission electron microscopy, temperature-programmed reduction, and low-temperature nitrogen adsorption. The reaction was carried out in a flow reactor with the use of molecular hydrogen as a reducing agent. It was established that the nature of the support exerts a profound effect on the yield of the target secondary amine; in this case, 5%Cu/Al₂O₃ was found the most active catalyst. A combination of high catalyst activity in the hydrogenation of a nitro group to an amino group with the presence of acid sites, which facilitate imine formation as a result of the interaction of n-heptanal with p-toluidine, on the catalyst surface is necessary for reaching the greatest yield of N-heptyl-p-toluidine. The study of reaction mechanism on the 5%Cu/Al₂O₃ catalyst showed that p-nitrotoluene inhibits the hydrogenation of n-heptanal, and aldehyde hydrogenation into alcohol begins only after the conversion of the major portion of p-nitrotoluene as a result of the selective adsorption of the nitroarene under the conditions of the simultaneous presence of p-nitrotoluene and n-heptanal in the reaction mixture.     

A restudy of the crystal structure of tetraaquastrontium dicitratoborate trihydrate

The crystal structure of Sr(H₂O)₄[(C₁₂H₁₁O₁₄)B] · 3H₂O (I) has been restudied and determined with a higher accuracy. The crystals are monoclinic, space group P2₁/n, a = 11.405(1) Å, b = 18.814(1) Å, c = 11.987(1) Å, β = 110.79(1)°; Z = 4. The structure was refined by full matrix least-squares calculation to R = 0.0547 on 5343 unique reflections with R _int = 0.0419. The structural units of crystal I are the Sr²⁺ cation, seven water molecules, and doubly charged dicitratoborate anion, which is not equivalent to the singly charged complex dicitratoborate anion identified previously in the crystal structures of complexes of boric and citric acids. The coordination polyhedron of the Sr²⁺ cation is a distorted dodecahedron composed of four O atoms of coordinated water molecules and four O atoms of two complex anions. The crystal packing of I is layered. Thirteen independent O-H…O and O-H…, O′ contacts form an intricate system of hydrogen bonds.     

A quantum-chemical study of cyclization of bis(3-thioxo-1-propenyl) sulfide in the ground and excited states

The potential surfaces of (2π + 2π) cyclization of bis(3-thioxo-1-propenyl) sulfide in the S ₀, T ₁, and S ₁ states were studied using quantum-chemical methods of molecular simulation. In the S ₀ and S ₁ states, the cyclization yields a thiabicyclic structure. In the T ₁ state, three cyclization pathways yielding thiabicyclic, thiirane, or thiophene structure are possible.     

Saw-sedge <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cladium mariscus</Emphasis> as a functional low-cost adsorbent for effective removal of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid from aqueous systems

For the first time in the published literature, a study is described concerning the use of the saw-sedge Cladium mariscus (C. mariscus) for adsorption of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) from aqueous systems. Among the experiments carried out, the elemental composition of C. mariscus was determined (C = 48.0 %, H = 7.1 %, N = 0.95 %, S = 0.4 %), FTIR spectroscopic analysis was performed to confirm the chemical structure of the adsorbent, and porous structure parameters were measured: BET surface area (A _BET  = 0.6 m²/g), total pore volume (V _p  = 0.001 cm³/g) and average pore size (S _p  = 6.6 nm). It was shown that the effectiveness of removal of 2,4-D from aqueous systems using C. mariscus depends on parameters of the process: contact time, system pH, mass of sorbent, and temperature. Maximum adsorption was attained for a solution at pH = 3. Further increase in the alkalinity of the tested systems led to a reduction in the effectiveness of the process. The kinetic of adsorption of 2,4-D by C. mariscus was also determined, and thermodynamic aspects were investigated. The experimental data obtained correspond to a pseudo-second-order kinetic model of type 1. Additionally the negative values obtained for ΔHº indicate that the process is exothermic, and the negative values of ΔGº show it to be spontaneous. As the temperature of the system increases the spontaneity of adsorption is reduced, in accordance with the exothermic nature of the process.     

Assessment of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Urtica</Emphasis> as a low-cost adsorbent for methylene blue removal: kinetic,equilibrium, and thermodynamic studies

Methylene blue (MB) removal using eco-friendly, cost-effective, and freely available Urtica was investigated. The morphology of the adsorbent surface and the nature of the possible Urtica and MB interactions were examined using SEM analysis and the FTIR technique, respectively. Various factors affecting MB adsorption such as adsorption time, initial MB concentration, temperature, and solution pH were investigated. The adsorption process was analysed using different kinetic models and isotherms. The results showed that the MB adsorption kinetic follows a pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the isotherm data fit the Langmuir isotherm well. Thermodynamic parameters, such as ΔG°, ΔH°, and ΔS°, were also evaluated, and the results indicated that the adsorption process is endothermic and spontaneous in nature. The MB adsorption capacity of Urtica was found to be as high as 101.01 mg g^?1, higher than those of many other adsorbents studied in the literature. This superior adsorption capacity, along with the ready availability of Urtica, render this adsorbent potentially suitable for practical applications.     

Solution Thermodynamics of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis><Superscript>/</Superscript>-Ethylenebis-(salicylideneiminato)-diaquochromium(III) Chloride in Aqueous Dimethylsulphoxide

The densities, viscosities and refractive indices of N,N ^/-ethylene-bis(salicylideneiminato)-diaquochromium(III) chloride, [Cr(salen)(H₂O)₂]Cl, in aqueous dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) with different mass fractions (w ₂ = 0.20, 0.40, 0.60, 0.80 and 1.00) of DMSO were determined at 298.15, 308.15 and 318.15 K under atmospheric pressure. From measured densities, viscosities and refractive indices the apparent molar volumes (V _φ ), standard partial molar volume (V _φ ⁰ ), the slope (S _V ^* ), standard isobaric partial molar expansibility (φ _E ⁰ ) and its temperature dependence (?φ _E ⁰ /?T) _p , the viscosity B-coefficient, its temperature dependence (?B/?T), solvation number (S _n ) and apparent molar refractivity (R _D ^φ ), etc., were calculated and discussed on the basis of ion–ion and ion–solvent interactions. These results revealed that the solutions are characterized by ion–solvent interactions rather than by ion–ion interactions and the complex behaves as a long range structure maker. Thermodynamics of viscous flow was discussed in terms of transition state theory.     

Crystal structure and anti-cancer activity of a novel mixed-ligand complex [Pd(Phen)(Phe)]Cl · H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O

A mixed-ligand complex [Pd(Phen)(Phe)]Cl·H₂O (Phen-o-phenantroline, Phe-L-phenylalanine) is synthesized and structurally characterized by elemental analyses and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Diffraction data: C₂₁H₁₉ClN₃O₃Pd, monoclinic, P2₁/n, a = 9.478(4) Å, b = 22.395(9) Å, c = 9.528 (4) Å, β = 104.358(11)°, V = 1959.3(14) ų, Z = 4. The Pd atom has planar-square coordination geometry and is surrounded by the Phen and Phe ligand to form a monovalent complex cation, Cl^? is filled in the crystal lattice as a counterion. The Cl atom is bonded to the complex cation through an electrostatic interaction and has a very weak hydrogen bond with a water molecule. Hydrogen bonding interactions and π-π stacking interactions stabilize the crystal lattice. The anti-cancer activity of the complex increases with the increasing concentration of the complex, which shows that the complex has strong anti-cancer activity.     

Splitting of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">d</Emphasis><Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis></Superscript> atomic states in icosahedral 3<Emphasis Type="Italic">d</Emphasis> metal endofullerenes M@C<Subscript>60</Subscript>

Group-theoretical and quantum-chemical investigations of the spectrum of low-lying excited states have been performed by the ROHF and FCI-RAS (Full CI in Restricted Active Space) methods for 3d metal endofullerenes (MEFs) M@C₆₀ (M =Mn, Cr, and Fe) in different charged states. The major purpose of this study is quantum-chemical verification of the anomalous (“non-Bethe’s”) character of splitting of the d ^N atomic states in an electrostatic field with icosahedral symmetry, predicted previously within the theory of integral invariants theory. The interrelation between the integral invariants theory and the quantumchemical methods applied in this work is considered in detail. Our calculations suggest that the d ^N atomic states in the icosahedral field generated by fullerene C60 (I _h ) on a metal atom (ion) remain non-split for different charged states of the metal and C₆₀. Reasons for this phenomenon and other possible approaches to verification of the prediction are discussed. It is demonstrated that the d ^N states of the encapsulated metal are split in icosahedral 3d MEFs only under very strong compression of these structures.