Colloidal basis of emulsion color

The perceived quality of many commercial products that are based on emulsions is determined by their color. Recent theoretical and experimental research has focussed on determining the relationship between emulsion color and the colloidal characteristics of the system, e.g. particle size, concentration, refractive index and aggregation. Appreciable progress has been made in understanding the factors that determine emulsion color and in describing the optical properties of emulsions theoretically.     

Model for the prediction of separation profile of oil-in-water emulsion

This paper proposed a model that explains the separation mechanism of oil-in-water emulsion taking into account both creaming and coalescence processes. Oil-in-water emulsion separation experiments were performed in a batch separator using kerosene and distilled water. The predictions of the proposed model agreed well with the experimental results as well as previously published experimental data. The comparison between the proposed model and the previously published model showed that the proposed model has higher accuracy in predicting the separation profile of oil-in-water emulsion, with an accuracy of within 10%. Thus the proposed model gives better representation of the oil-in-water emulsion separation process.     

Theoretical prediction of properties of aliphatic polynitrates

Aliphatic polynitrates are studied using the density functional theory B3LYP method with basis set 6-31G*. The assigned infrared spectrum is obtained and is used to compute the thermodynamic properties based on the frequencies scaled by 0.96 and the principle of statistic thermodynamics. On comparison of the theoretical densities with the experimental ones, the reliability of this theoretical method is tested. Detonation properties are evaluated using the modified Kamlet-Jacobs equations based on the calculated densities and heats of formation. According to the largest exothermic principle, the relative specific impulse (Is) is investigated by calculating the enthalpy of combustion (ΔH(comb)) and the total heat capacity (C(p,gases)). It is found that the introduction of methylene nitrate group could decrease the specific impulses on whole. Moreover, in combination with the energetic properties, xylitol pentanitrate, mannitol hexanitrate, volemitol heptanitrate, and 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-octanitrate n-octane are potential candidates for high energy density compounds.     

Theoretical prediction of eutectic temperature and composition

An empirical method for the theoretical prediction of eutectic temperatures and compositions, for binary systems forming simple eutectics, from the reported values of freezing points and fusion enthalpies of the components is described. The eutectic temperatures and compositions thus predicted for systems involving organic compounds are found to be within ±2.5 K and ±0.03 of the experimental values, respectively. However, for binary metal systems this method is of limited success.     

Theoretical prediction of the native fluorescence of pharmaceuticals

At present, to search fluorescent compounds or to increase the native fluorescence is an active research line specially and not only with analytical purposes. On some analytical areas and from the early times of applications of fluorescence (mid-fifties) the fluorimeter was defined as the suitable detector for determination of pharmaceuticals and subsequently, this detection mode has been widely applied. Therefore, it is mandatory to develop new strategies to discover or to enhance in a simple way the native fluorescence of organic compounds to increase the number of analytes to be determined by direct fluorescence.In the present paper are studied further applications of a new tool suitable to increase the research in analytical field. Calculations on molecular connectivity and discriminant analysis are applied to a certain number of pharmaceuticals (and some pesticides) on which fluorescence behaviour was observed in an experimental screening or obtained from scientific literature. The screening tests were based on the on-line fluorimetric measurement by using a continuous-flow assembly. The screening comprised pre-selected compounds with different molecular structures. The theoretical predictions agree with the empirical results from the screening test.     

Theoretical prediction on heats of formation for polyisocyanocubanes

The heats of formation (HOF) for all the 21 polyisocyanocubanes are calculated systematically with density functional theory (DFT) B3LYP and semiempirical MO(MINDO/3, MNDO, AM1 and PM3) methods. First, the accurate HOFs for the 8 title compounds are obtained by means of designed isodesmic reactions at DFT-B3LYP/6-31G* level, and the cubane cage skeleton has not been broken (i.e. choosing cubane as a reference compound) to produce more accurate and reliable results. It is found that there are good linear relationships between the HOFs calculated using the B3LYP/6-31G* and four semiempirical MO methods, respectively, and all of the linear correlation coefficients are more than 0.9971. The HOFs obtained from PM3 calculation are the best among the four semiempirical MO methods. Then, the accurate HOFs at B3LYP/6-31G* level of other 13 polyisocyanocubanes are obtained by systematically correcting their PM3-calculated HOFs. Polyisocyanocubanes have very high HOFs, and the HOFs increase linearly with the increasing of the number of isocyano groups in a molecule. The results show that polyisocyanocubanes are the new generation explosives with highly potential and exploitable value.     

Theoretical prediction of a base-catalyzed bicyclic Boulton--Katritzky rearrangement

On the basis of quantum chemical calculations, the bicyclic Boulton--Katritzky rearrangement (BKR) has been classified as a pseudopericyclic reaction. Theoretical investigations extend the applicability of the BKR to classes of molecules other than those known from experiments.     

Free radical exit in emulsion polymerization. I. Theoretical model

The exit or desorption of free radicals from latex particles is an important kinetic process in an emulsion polymerization. This article unites a successful theory of radical absorption (i.e., initiator efficiency), based on propagation in the aqueous phase being the rate determining step for entry of charged free radicals, with a detailed model of radical desorption. The result is a kinetic scheme applicable to true “zero-one” systems (i.e., where entry of a radical into a latex particle already containing a radical results in instantaneous termination), which is still, with a number of generally applicable assumptions, relatively simple. Indeed, in many physically reasonable limits, the kinetic representation reduces to a single rate equation. Specific experimental techniques of particular significance and methods of analysis of kinetic data are detailed and discussed. A methodology for both assessing the applicability of the model and its more probable limits, via use of known rate coefficients and theoretical predictions, is outlined and then applied to the representative monomers, styrene and methyl methacrylate. A detailed application of the theory and illustration of the methodology of model discrimination via experiment is contained in the second article of this series. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Theoretical prediction of the elastic contribution to steric stabilization

Summary It is shown how it is possible to use the Flory network theory to develop simple analytic formulae for the elastic contribution (first proposed byJäckel) to the steric stabilization by macromolecules. Constant segment density and gaussian segment density distribution models are discussed. It seems likely that the elastic contribution is negligible in the interpenetration domain but becomes important as significant compression occurs. Incipient flocculation is inferred to occur in a pseudo-secondary minimum, the depth of which is almost independent of any elastic contribution.

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Zusammenfassung Es wird gezeigt, daß die Netzwerktheorie vonFlory benutzt werden kann, einfache analytische Ausdrücke zu entwickeln für den elastischen Anteil der sterischen Stabilisierung durch Makromoleküle. Konstante Segmentdichte und Gaußverteilung der Segmentdichte werden vorausgesetzt. Es ist wahrscheinlich, daß der elastische Anteil im Bereich der wechselseitigen Durchdringung vernachlässigt werden kann, aber wirksam wird bei merklicher Kompression. Die Anfangsstadien der Flockung hängen mit dem pseudosekundären Minimum zusammen, dessen Tiefe nahezu unabhängig ist von jedem elastischen Beitrag.

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With 7 figures     

Theoretical modulation of the color of light emitted by firefly oxyluciferin

One of the major mysteries regarding firefly bioluminescence is its pH-dependent multicolor variation. At basic pH, the emission is on the yellow-green region, whereas at acid pH, the light emission is observed on the red region of the visible spectrum. Theoretical calculations using density functional theory, molecular mechanics, and semiempirical methods were made to investigate the effect exerted by intermolecular forces on light emission, and their modulation by polarity, and the differences in the conformation of the active site at basic and acid pH. Red emission is achieved by the weakening of the interactions of the emitter with ionic and hydrophobic molecules, by the polarization of the benzothiazole microenvironment, by ionization of the enzyme-emitter complex and by changes of the hydrogen bond network. Arg220, Glu346, Ala350, Leu344 and adenosine-5'-monophosphate have blue-shifting effects, while His247, Phe249, Gly341, Thr253, and Ile288 exert a redshifting one.     

Theoretical prediction of fast 3D AC electro-osmotic pumps

AC electro-osmotic (ACEO) pumps in microfluidics currently involve planar electrode arrays, but recent work on the underlying phenomenon of induced-charge electro-osmosis (ICEO) suggests that three-dimensional (3D) geometries may be exploited to achieve faster flows. In this paper, we present some new design principles for periodic 3D ACEO pumps, such as the "fluid conveyor belt" of ICEO flow over a stepped electrode array. Numerical simulations of these designs (using the standard low-voltage model) predict flow rates almost twenty times faster than existing planar ACEO pumps, for the same applied voltage and minimum feature size. These pumps may enable new portable or implantable lab-on-a-chip devices, since rather fast (mm s(-1)), tuneable flows should be attainable with battery voltages (<10 V).     

Theoretical prediction of noble-gas compounds: Ng-Pd-Ng and Ng-Pt-Ng

Following our recent study on Ng-Pt-Ng (Ng=Ar,Kr,Xe) [J. Chem. Phys. 123, 204321 (2005)], the binding of noble-gas atoms with Pd atom has been investigated by the ab initio coupled cluster CCSD(T) method with counterpoise corrections, including relativistic effects. It is shown that two Ng atoms bind with Pd atom in linear geometry due to the s-d(sigma) hybridization in Pd where the second Ng atom attaches with much larger binding energy than the first. The binding energies are evaluated as 4.0, 10.2, and 21.5 kcalmol for Ar-Pd-Ar, Kr-Pd-Kr, and Xe-Pd-Xe, respectively, relative to the dissociation limit, Pd ((1)S)+2Ng. In the hybrid Ng complexes, the binding energies for XePd and Ng (=Ar,Kr) are evaluated as 4.0 and 6.9 kcalmol for XePd-Ar and XePd-Kr, respectively. The fundamental frequencies and low-lying vibrational-rotational energy levels are determined for each compound by the variational method, based on the three-dimensional near-equilibrium potential energy surface. Results of vibrational-rotational analyses for Ng-Pt-Ng (Ng=Ar,Kr,Xe) and Xe-Pt-Ng (Ng=He,Ne,Ar,Kr) compounds are also given.     

Theoretical prediction of multiple fluid-fluid transitions in monocomponent fluids

The authors use the analytical equation of state obtained by the discrete perturbation theory [A. L. Benavides and A. Gil-Villegas, Mol. Phys. 97, 1225 (1999)] to study the phase diagram of fluids with discrete spherical potentials formed by a repulsive square-shoulder plus an attractive square-well interaction (SS+SW). This interaction is characterized by the usual energy and size parameters plus three dimensionless parameters: two of them measuring the widths of the SS and the SW and the third the relative height of the SS. The matter of interest is that, for certain values of the interaction parameters, the SS+SW systems exhibit more than one first-order fluid-fluid transition. The evidence that several real substances (such as water, phosphorus, carbon, and silica, among others) exhibit an extra liquid-liquid transition has drawn interest into the study of interactions responsible for this behavior. The simple SS+SW fluid is one of the systems that, in spite of being spherically symmetric, shows multiple fluid-fluid transitions. In this work the authors investigate systematically the effect on the phase diagram of varying the interaction parameters. The use of an analytical free-energy equation gives a clear thermodynamic picture of the emergence of different types of critical points, throwing new light on the phase behavior of these fluids and thus clarifying previous results obtained by other techniques. The interplay of attractive and repulsive forces with several scale lengths produces very rich phase diagrams, including cases with three critical points. The region of the interaction-parameter space where multiple critical points appear is mapped for various families of interactions.     

Theoretical approaches for predicting the color of rigid dyes in solution

Aiming at developing an affordable and easily implementable computational protocol for routine prediction of spectral properties of rigid molecular dyes, density functional theory, and time‐dependent density functional theory were used in conjunction with a vibronic coupling scheme for band shape estimate. To predict the perceived color of molecules in solution, a model has been setup linking the UV‐vis spectra predicted at ab initio level to the L *a *b * colorimetric parameters. The results show that a mixed protocol, implying the use of a global hybrid functional for the prediction of adiabatic energy differences and a range separated hybrid for the prediction of potential energy curvature, allows perceived colors to be quantitatively predicted, as demonstrated by the comparison of L *a *b * colorimetric parameters obtained from computed and experimental spectra. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Theoretical prediction of the noble gas complexes HeAuF and NeAuF

Ab initio calculations were carried out to investigate the structures and the stability of the noble gas complexes HeAuF and NeAuF through MP2 and CCSD(T) methods. The HeAuF was predicted to have a linear structure with weak He—Au covalent bonding, the distance of which is closer to the covalent limit in comparison with the corresponding van der Waals limit. The dissociation energy with respect to He + AuF was found to be 24 and 26 kJ·mol⁻¹ at the CCSD(T)/basis set B and B′ levels, respectively. However, similar calculations for NeAuF indicate that NeAuF is not a stable species.     

Theoretical prediction of ionization/oxidation potentials in conjugated polymers

Various density functional theory (DFT) functionals and semiempirical techniques were used to predict the ionization potentials of selected conjugated polymers. Ionization potentials at infinite chain lengths were estimated using Meier fit on oligomer data. Calculated gas-phase ionization potentials with BHandH functional showed good correlation with the experimental data. The results from the semiempirical techniques do not compare as favorably as the ones obtained from DFT methods. The data fitting allowed us to estimate the size of “effective ionization length”, which spanned over 20–30 double bonds in the conjugated backbone of the polymer in question.     

Theoretical prediction of optical absorption maxima for photosensory receptor mutants

We found a linear correlation between the theoretically predicted shifts and experimentally observed absorption spectra for various mutants of photoactive yellow protein, a photosensory receptor. Excitation energies of mutants were evaluated by the combination of the high level ab initio calculation for the chromophore inside and the low level ab initio calculation for the surrounding protein environment. Importantly, the electronic states of these two regions were treated both as variables and they are solved consistently to each other. The protein–chromophore interaction has been accurately reproduced by this method.     

Theoretical prediction of the hydrogen-bond basicity pK(HB)

Ab initio and DFT calculations on around 65 hydrogen bond or Lewis bases and their complexes with hydrogen fluoride have been performed, and a range of calculated properties from both free bases and complexes correlated with pK(HB), an experimental scale of hydrogen-bond basicity. For the entire range of bases, we found that the hydrogen-bond binding Gibbs free energy computed at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) level of theory linearly correlated with pK(HB). Further improvements in the correlation and prediction of pK(HB) were possible with a non-linear fit by considering the hydrogen bonding Gibbs free energy of another possible stereoisomeric 1:1 complex and/or that of a linear 2:1 complex, which included a second hydrogen fluoride.