Interfacial activity of metal ion extractant

The interfacial activity of metal ion extractants is discussed. The interfacial tension isotherms are processed by matching the Szyszkowski equation, and estimation of selected parameters to discuss the interfacial activity of extractants. Results are presented in comprehensive tables and figures. The interfacial activity depends mainly on three different parameters; type of extractant, acidity of the aqueous phase and organic diluent. Strongly acidic extractants and protonated amine reagents exhibit the highest interfacial activity. The solvating reagents and non-protonated amines are on the opposite side of the scale, while the chelating reagents are somewhere in the middle. The acidity of the aqueous phase affects the interfacial activity of extractants, mainly by the ionisation (protonation and dissociation) of extractant molecules. Solvating diluents always decrease the interfacial activity of extractants.     

Viscosity, Surface Tension, and Refractive Index Measurements of Mixtures of Isomeric Butanediols with Water

Solution properties of aqueous mixtures of isomeric butanediols have been investigated employing viscosity, surface tension, and index of refraction measurements as functions of temperature. The deviation of viscosity, surface tension, and molar refraction from ideal solution behavior is evaluated from the experimental data. The deviation from ideality is discussed in terms of molecular interactions between the components. Surface activity of the diols is evident from the surface tension measurements. It is found that the degree of hydrophobicity of the diols varies in the order 1,2 > 2,3 > 1,3 > 1,4. The strength of interaction of diols with the water varies in the order 2,3 > 1,4 1,3 > 1,2.     

Physicochemical properties of cross-linked and acetylated starches and products of their hydrolysis in continuous recycle membrane reactor

The aim of the present work was to study the physicochemical properties of doubly modified, by cross-linking and acetylating, starches as well as the products of their enzymatic hydrolysis. A two step procedure of hydrolysis, including the batch and membrane reactors, were investigated. The second step of enzymatic processes were carried out in a continuous recycle membrane reactor (CRMR). Three kinds of commercial starches – two preparations of acetylated distarch adipate E1422 of different degrees of cross-linking, as well as one preparation of acetylated distarch phosphate E1414 were examined. It was found that the degree of substitution of acetyl groups in the macromolecules of starch did not influence the effectiveness of hydrolysis. However, the degree of cross-linking with adipate groups slightly decreased the efficiency of processing in the CRMR. Additionally, the relationship between the type of hydrocolloid and its adsorption activity in the air/water and oil/water systems was considered. All obtained derivatives revealed adsorption properties and reduced the surface/interface tension in the air/water and oil/water systems. The efficiency and effectiveness of adsorption of the investigated hydrocolloids were affected by the type of modification as well as the degree of substitution of acetyl groups in the macromolecules of starch. Particle size distributions formed in aqueous solutions for all investigated hydrolyses were determined and compared with results obtained for commercial products.     

超疏水表面微纳二级结构对冷凝液滴最终状态的影响

从超疏水表面(SHS)上初始冷凝液核长大、合并、形成初始液斑开始,分析计算了冷凝液斑变形成为Wenzel或Cassie液滴过程中界面能量的变化,并以界面能曲线降低、是否取最小值为判据,确定冷凝液滴的最终稳定状态.计算结果表明:在只有微米尺度的粗糙结构表面上,冷凝液滴的界面能曲线一般都是先降低再升高,呈现Wenzel状态;而当表面具有微纳米二级粗糙结构,且纳米结构的表面空气面积分率较高时,冷凝液滴的能量曲线持续降低,直至界面能最小的Cassie状态,因此可以自发地形成Cassie液滴.还计算了文献中具有不同结构参数的SHS上冷凝液滴的状态和接触角,并与实验结果进行了比较,结果表明,计算的冷凝液滴状态与实验观察结果完全吻合.因此,微纳二级结构是保持冷凝液滴在SHS上呈现Cassie状态的重要因素.     

Physicochemical Properties and Surface Tension Prediction of Mixed Surfactant Systems: Triton X‐100 with Dodecylpyridinium Bromide and Triton X‐100 with Sodium Dodecylsulfonate

Dependences of the surface tension of aqueous solutions of ionic (dodecylpyridinium bromide, sodium dodecylsulfonate) and nonionic (Triton X‐100) surfactants and their mixtures on total surfactant concentration and solution composition were studied, and the surface tension of the mixed systems were predicted using different Miller's model. It was found that how to select the model for calculation of ω is corresponding to the degree of the deviation from the ideality during the adsorption of mixed surfactants. The compositions of micelles and adsorption layers at air‐solution interface as well as parameters (β^m, β^ads) of headgroup‐headgroup interaction between the molecules of ionic and nonionic surfactants were calculated based on Rubingh model. The parameters (B₁) of chain‐chain interaction between the molecules of ionic and nonionic surfactants were calculated based on Maeda model. The free energy of micellization calculated from the phase separation model (ΔG ₂ ^m ), and by Maeda's method (ΔG ₁ ^m ) agree reasonably well at high content of nonionic surfactant. The excess free energy ΔG _ads ^E and ΔG _m ^E (except α=0.4) for TX‐100/SDSn system are more negative than that TX‐100/DDPB system. These can be probably explained with the EO groups of TX‐100 surfactant carrying partial positive charge.     

太阳能甲烷重整中催化活性吸收体的表面特性

以AISI316泡沫金属为基体为太阳能甲烷重整反应制备出系列Ru基和Ni基催化活性吸收体(Ru/Al2O3/AISI316,Ni/Al2O3(MgO)/AISI316),着重利用XRD、TPR、TPD和CO2脉冲吸脱附等技术对所制整体式催化剂的表面特性进行了表征和分析.结果表明:以AISI316泡沫金属为基体可增加活性组分与涂层载体Al2O3的相互作用以及活性物种的分散度.对于Ni基催化活性吸收体,在涂层载体中添加MgO助剂可显著地提高Ni/Al2O3/AISI316的催化活性;Al2O3涂层载体含量的增加可提高活性组分NiO的分散性.相对Ni/Al2O3/AISI316,Ru/Al2O3/AISI316催化活性吸收体对CO2的吸附和活化能力更强,因而具有相对更高的催化活性.     

O2和CO在Ni(111)表面的吸附活化

采用高分辨电子能量损失谱(HREELS)、俄歇电子能谱(AES)和低能电子衍射(LEED)研究镍单晶表面氧物种及CO与O₂的共吸附。实验结果表明,Ni(111)表面氧化后存在两种氧物种,位于54 meV能量损失峰的表面化学吸附氧物种和位于69 meV能量损失峰的表面氧化镍。首先,随着暴露氧量的增加,表面化学吸附氧物种的能量损失峰蓝移至58 meV;其次,通过真空退火及与CO相互作用考察,发现表面化学吸附氧物种较不稳定。在室温条件下,表面预吸附形成的表面化学吸附氧物种与CO共吸附,导致端位吸附CO增多,表明氧优先吸附在穴位上,随着CO暴露量的增加化学吸附氧物种与CO反应脱去;而表面氧化镍需在较高温度和较高CO分压下才能被CO还原。预吸附CO可被氧逐渐移去。     

Surface activity and redox behavior of a non-ionic surfactant containing a phenothiazine group

A novel non-ionic surfactant, -(phenothiazinylhexyl)-ω-hydroxy-oligo(ethylene oxide) (PCPEG) containing phenothiazine as an electro-active group has been synthesized. Fundamental interfacial behavior of the surfactant at the air/water interface has been investigated by means of surface tensiometry to provide an insight into the relationship between the structure of the hydrophobic moiety and the surfactant properties. A comparison of diffusivity of PCPEG in the aqueous phase with that in the acetonitrile solution at high PCPEG concentrations shows that micellization has a pronounced effect on the redox behavior of PCPEG. The electrochemical responses for PCPEG aqueous solutions at the interface of a glassy carbon electrode are fairly dependent on the concentration of PCPEG. Above CMC, PCPEG molecules self-associate to form micellar aggregates and the formation and disruption of micelles can be reversibly controlled by change in the redox state of the phenothiazine group. The cyclic voltammetric responses for PCPEG aqueous solutions have been correlated with the dissolved states to explain the distinctive feature of the surfactant.     

Studies of surface properties of pure and modified by Mn<Superscript>2+</Superscript> and Ni<Superscript>2+</Superscript> ions of aluminium oxide samples using complex methods

Complex studies of physicochemical properties of pure and modified of aluminia oxides samples are presented. The presence of Mn²⁺ and Ni²⁺ modifiers on the aluminium oxide surface causes increase in water adsorption capacity and decrease in benzene and n-octane adsorption. This is due to decrease of specific surface area, volume and radius of pores as a result of surface impregnation and microcrystal formation during modification with manganese and nickel chlorides. Microcrystal formation on the surface and porosity decrease as confirmed by AFM, EDX and powder diffraction studies using automated diffractometer by step scanning. From the Q-TG and Q-DTG data, the energies of liquid desorption from the surface of the samples and the functions of desorption, energy distribution were calculated. High degree of nonlinearity of the functions resulting from great heterogeneity of the studied surface was found. Adsorption of cations creates more homogeneous surface in aluminium oxide, and it is responsible for the change in adsorbate molecule interaction energy and changes mechanism of adsorption and desorption as well as thickness and structure of the adsorbed film. From the experimental data some parameters characterizing adsorption properties and porosity of the studied samples were determined using the complex measuring methods (thermal analysis, sorptometry, porosimetry, AFM and EDX).     

Synthesis and characterisation of coating polyurethane cationomers containing quaternary ammonium alkyl groups derived from built-in alkyl bromides

Polyurethane cationomers were synthesised in the reaction of 4,4′-methylenebis(phenyl isocyanate) with polyoxypropylene glycol (M = 450) and N-methyl diethanolamine. Amine segments were built-in to the urethane–isocyanate prepolymer in the reaction with 1-bromoalkanes (C₂–C₁₀), and then they were converted to alkyl-ammonium cations. The obtained isocyanate prepolymers were then extended in the aqueous medium. That yielded stable aqueous dispersions which were applied on the surfaces of test poly(tetrafluoroethylene) plates. After evaporation of water, the dispersions formed thin polymer coatings. ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectral methods were employed to confirm chemical structures of synthesised cationomers. Based on ¹H NMR and IR spectra, the factors κ and α₁ or α₁ were calculated, which represented the polarity level of the obtained cationomers. The differential scanning calorimetry method revealed decline of T _g for the hard urethane and urea segments from 60 °C to 46 °C when the number of carbon atoms increased in the alkyl radical attached to the ammonium cation. Changes were discussed in the surface free energy (SFE) and its components, as calculated independently according to the methods suggested by van Oss-Good and by Owens–Wendt, in relation to chemical structures of cationomers. The growing length (from C₂ to C₁₀) of the alkyl radical attached to the N atom in the cationomer chain was found to reduce the value of SFE of the polymer coating from 46 to 28 mJ/m². That is caused by gradual weakening of long-range interactions, within which the highest share is taken by dispersion interactions.     

Formulation and molecular docking simulation study of luliconazole nanosuspension–based nanogel for transdermal drug delivery using modified polymer

The purpose of study was to formulate nanosuspension-based nanogel of luliconazole (LLZ) for transdermal delivery to enhance its skin retention and effectiveness using modified starch ester. Nanosuspensions show promising results with size of 369.1–745.4 nm having PDI 0.193–0.344 and zeta potential 22–45 mV. These nanosuspensions form micelles and hydrophobic core of it provides the reservoir for LLZ with better drug loading and binding interaction. Drug loading was confirmed by percent drug entrapment efficiency (PDEE) and PDI. Molecular docking simulation (MDS) provides detail insight of LLZ polymer complexation at hydrophobic cavity of micelles and revealed that there was binding between drug and polymer in aqueous milieu having interaction energy ranges from ?7.1 to ?6.0 kcal/mol. Nanosuspensions so made were incorporated into gel by using Carbopol 934 ® and tested for % drug content, spreadability, pH, and viscosity with ranges of 101.62–97.71, 28.94–34.38 (gcm/s), 6.91–7.21, and 4802.62–9461.83 (cp), respectively. Nanogel also evaluated for stability and skin permeation study using human cadaver skin (HCS). In vitro skin permeation study indicated that the amount of LLZ permeated through skin from nanogel (71.042–83.818 μgcm ?2) was higher than standard cream (70.085 μgcm ?2). Nanogel increased the accumulation of LLZ in HCS ~3 times than standard cream. The transdermal flux was greater for standard cream (123.79 μgcm ?2), whereas smaller for nanogel (50.394–82.743 μgcm ?2) due to skin retention. Nanosuspension-based gel are able to especially favor LLZ accumulation into skin, provide better drug loading, improve stability, and efficacy. Thus, targeting older antibiotics such as LLZ and formulating into nanosystem utilized to expand its usefulness to physicians to treat illnesses caused by resistant fungal strains.     

Chemical profiling of Verbena officinalis and assessment of its anti-cryptosporidial activity in experimentally infected immunocompromised mice

Cryptosporidiosis is a global zoonotic infection that causes water-borne epidemics of diarrhea. Nevertheless, there are few available therapies for cryptosporidiosis. However, the gold standard drug nitazoxanide (NTZ) has limited efficacy in malnourished and immunocompromised patients. Furthermore, Verbena officinalisL. is a herbal plant widely used in traditional medicine to cure several health disorders and is recognized to possess numerous therapeutic applications. In the present study, the phytochemical composition of aerial part extract from Verbena officinalis was investigated via LC-ESI-MS/MS.Furthermore, the anti-cryptosporidial activity was also performed using an animal model. Fifty mice were divided into 5 groups; GI: non-infected (Negative control), GII: infected non treated (positive control), GIII: infected, treated with NTZ, GIV: infected, treated with V. officinalis n-butanol extract, GV: infected, treated with a combination of NTZ and V. officinalis. Parasitological examination revealed a highly significant difference (P-value < 0.001) between GIII, GIV, and GV compared to GII regarding the mean number of Cryptosporidium spp. oocyst in the stool. Moreover, GV showed the best efficacy with a percentage of 87%. Also, histopathological examination showed variable degrees of improvement in the villous broadening, and the inflammatory infiltrates in the small intestine with a reduction of hepatocyte degeneration and mononuclear infiltration in GIII, GIV, and GV compared to GII, with the best results seen in GV. Additionally, the chemical profiling of n-butanol extract identified 16 secondary metabolites comprising flavonoids, phenolic acids, phenylethanoids, and coumarins. In conclusion, V. officinalis is an intrinsic supplier of biologically active metabolites with outstanding anti-parasitic and possible anti-inflammatory effects.     

Antimycobacterial and anticancer activity of newly designed cinnamic acid hydrazides with favorable toxicity profile

A series of twelve novel hybrids of cinnamic acid and thiocarbohydrazones were designed, synthesized in high yield using a simple coupling strategy via acid chlorides, and evaluated for their impact against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and cancer cells survival. Among them, compound 3 demonstrated strong anti-Mtb activity by reducing bacilli survival for>90 % in all three treated Mtb isolates, whereas isoniazid and rifampicin did not. Moreover, compound 3 didn’t affect vitality of HepG-2 cells, implying on advantageous hepatotoxicity profile compared to current therapeutic options for tuberculosis. Compounds 2a and 3b displayed as strong inducers of apoptosis in A549 cells, both activating intrinsic caspase pathway and cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase. Subsequent analyses disclosed differences in their activities, where 3b has ability to induce production of mitochondrial superoxide anions, while 2a significantly inhibited cellular mobility. More importantly, 3b considerably affected viability of HepG-2 and HaCaT cells, whereas 2a had moderate impact only on the later. Molecular modeling studies indicated high permeability and good absorption through the human intestine, and moderate aqueous solubility with poor blood–brain barrier permeability. In summary, our results reveal that novel compounds 3 and 2a represent promising agents for tuberculosis and cancer treatment, respectively, indicating that further investigation needs to be performed to clarify the mechanisms of their anti-Mtb and anticancer activity.