Effect of salts on the electrical conductance of a fluorine-containing poly(carboxylic acid), PPFNA

Electrical conductance and other solution properties of aqueous solutions of a fluorine-containing poly(carboxylic acid), (poly(9H,9H-perfluoro-2,5-dimethyl-3,6-dioxa-8-nonenoic acid), PPFNA) were studied with special attention to the salt effect. This polymer dissociated strongly resulting in a low pH value in unneutralized state (β = 0, β: degree of neutralization). The specific conductance was the highest at β = 0 and decreased as β increased. A considerable increase in conductance was observed by titrating NaCl at low β, because large amounts of bound protons were released by addition of NaCl. The amounts of released protons exceeded those originally dissociated at β = 0. Such an anomalous proton liberation suggests that this polymer is a fairly strong polyacid but not a typical one such as poly(styrene sulfonic acid). Under fully neutralized state (β = 1), however, the solution conductance was lower than the sum of the polymer and NaCl added, due to polyion–salt ion interaction.     

A density functional study of N NQR parameters of imidazole derivatives and extrapolation to PfHRP2–Fe-PPIX complex

In this paper, density functional theory (DFT) was used to calculate ¹⁴N nuclear quadrupole coupling constants (NQCC), χ, and asymmetry parameters, η, for a series of imidazole derivatives: imidazole, 5-methylimidazole and histidine. These calculations were carried out with the PW91P86 method via the Gaussian 98 package. A systematic theoretical investigation of the different environmental effects on (χ, η) values of amino ¹⁴N1 and imino ¹⁴N2 of imidazole ring of these compounds, reveals that the local surrounding of nitrogen atoms play an important role in determining their χ and η values. Our calculations in solution show that adding explicit solvent molecules to the polarizable continuum model (PCM) has a strong effect on (χ, η) values, thereby indicating that for long-range effects, PCM, is not sufficient to describe the whole solvent effects. We also evaluate the influence of [Fe³⁺ (S = 1/2)] on the (χ, η) values of proximal and remote nitrogens of an axial ligand and compare with those of free ligands. The results show that Fe³⁺ has a strong effect on the (χ, η) values of proximal nitrogen unlike remote nitrogen. Finally, our results predict (χ = 1.56 MHz, η = 0.690) for proximal nitrogen and (χ = 2.75 MHz, η = 0.169) for remote nitrogen in PfHRP2–Fe³⁺-PPIX complex.     

Spreading of oil from protein stabilised emulsions at air/water interfaces

Spreading of a drop of an emulsion made with milk proteins on air/water interfaces was studied. From an unheated emulsion, all oil molecules could spread onto the air/water interface, indicating that the protein layers around the oil globules in the emulsion droplet were not coherent enough to withstand the forces involved in spreading. Heat treatment (90 °C) of emulsions made with whey protein concentrate (WPC) or skim milk powder reduced the spreadability, probably because polymerisation of whey protein at the oil/water interface increased the coherence of the protein layer. Heat treatment of emulsions made with WPC and monoglycerides did not reduce spreadability, presumably because the presence of the monoglycerides at the oil/water interface prevented a substantial increase of coherence of the protein layer. Heat treatment of caseinate-stabilised emulsions had no effect on the spreadability. If proteins were already present at the air/water interface, oil did not spread if the surface tension (γ) was <60 mN/m. We introduced a new method to measure the rate at which oil molecules spread from the oil globules in the emulsion droplet by monitoring changes in γ at various positions in a ‘trough’. The spreading rates observed for the various systems agree very well with the values predicted by the theory. Spreading from oil globules in a drop of emulsion was faster than spreading from a single oil drop, possibly due to the greater surface tension gradient between the oil globule and the air/water interface or to the increased oil surface area. Heat treatment of an emulsion made with WPC did not affect the spreading rate. The method was not suitable for measuring the spreading rate at interfaces where surface active material is already present, because changes in γ then were caused by compression of the interfacial layer rather than by the spreading oil.     

Kinetic analysis of thermogravimetric data obtained under linear temperature programming—a method based on calculations of the temperature integral by interpolation

A new technique, called interpolation method, with general application in the kinetic analysis of processes studied by thermogravimetry (TG) under linear temperature programming is developed. It is based on the linear relationship, with slope 1, between log g() and log I(γ, θ) for the appropriate kinetic function, where I(γ, θ) is the normalized temperature integral, θ the normalized temperature (θ=T/T₀) and γ a dimensionless activation energy (γ=E/RT₀). Values of log I(γ, θ) are calculated by linear interpolations in a pre-built table. This method can easily be programmed and implemented in a personal computer, where the results (kinetic parameters and quality of regressions for the kinetic functions considered) are typically obtained in a very short time. The method is validated by analyzing different simulated thermogravimetric curves and comparing the results with those determined with some classic methods taken from the literature. In addition, the results are compared with the values obtained by a similar method, also developed and explained in this paper, which involves the evaluation of all the values of the temperature integral by numerical integration, therefore, demanding a much larger calculation time. The interpolation method is found to be more accurate than other published methods, particularly in the case of thermogravimetric curves corresponding to processes with low activation energies. The results obtained are always similar to those determined by the integration method, which is taken as reference. Application of the technique to experimental data for various types of reactions shows that the results are in agreement with the published parameters and kinetic laws.     

A novel method for determining the viscosity of polymer solution

The relative viscosity η_r and, thus, the reduced viscosity η_sp/C of polymer solution could be obtained by recording the flow times of the polymer solution and the pure solvent in a capillary viscometer. Our experimental results indicated that the measurement of the flow time of the pure solvent was unnecessary. In particular, if the recorded flow time of the pure solvent was used to determine the viscosity of polymer solution, the reduced viscosity η_sp/C exhibited either a drastic increase or a significant decrease in an extremely dilute solution, depending upon the properties of the polymer solution investigated. In this research work, a new method for determining the viscosity of polymer solutions is reported. In the proposed method, the flow time of polymer solution at zero concentration, t₀^*, instead of the measured flow time of the pure solvent, was used to determine the viscosity of polymer solution. The reduced viscosity η_sp/C determined by the new method is proportional to concentration C even in an extremely dilute solution. The relative viscosity η_r vs. C plot also indicated clearly that t₀^*, instead of the measured flow time of the pure solvent, should be used for determining the viscosity of polymer solution. At low concentrations, the flow time of the polymer solution was proportional to C. As a result, t₀^* could be determined by extrapolating the flow time of the polymer solution to C=0.     

Influence of temperature on surface tension of three liquid crystal polymers and polyethylene terephtalate

In this work Pressure Volume Temperature (PVT) data for three different liquid crystal polymers (LCPs), namely Vectra A950^® and two LCPs based on 4,4'-dihydroxybiphenyl (PB-n) (where n is the number of methylene units present in the polymer) and polyethylene terephtalate (PET), were obtained for temperatures ranging from 50 to 300°C and pressures ranging from 0.1 to 200 MPa. The experimental data were fitted to the Flory-Orwoll-Vrij equation of state and used to predict the influence of temperature on the surface tension of the four materials studied.

The surface tension of PET was shown to decrease linearly with increasing temperature. The surface tension of both PB-11 (γ_PB-11) and Vectra A950^® (γ_Vectra) decreased linearly with increasing temperature for temperatures corresponding to the nematic phases of the materials. Abnormal behaviour was observed for the surface tension of PB-8 (γ_PB-8): at temperatures just above T_b (the temperature at which the material became birefringent), γ levelled off and then decreased. A clear discontinuity was observed for both γ_PB-8 and γ_PB-11 near the mesophase to isotropic transition. For both PB-8 and PB-11, γ decreased linearly with increasing temperature for temperatures corresponding to the isotropic phases of the materials.     

Cation–anion interactions in triphenyl telluronium salts. The crystal structures of (Ph3Te)2[MCl6] (M=Pt, Ir), (Ph3Te)[AuCl4], and (Ph3Te)(NO3)·HNO3

Triphenyltelluronium hexachloroplatinate (1), hexachloroiridate (2), tetrachloroaurate (3), and tetrachloroplatinate (4) were prepared from Ph₃TeCl and potassium salts of the corresponding anions. Upon recrystallization of 4 from concentrated nitric acid, K₂[PtCl₆] and (Ph₃Te)(NO₃)·HNO₃ (5) were obtained. The crystal structures of 1–3 and 5 are reported. Compounds 1 and 2 are isostructural. They are triclinic, P , Z=2 (the asymmetric unit contains two formula units). Compound 1: a=10.7535(2), b=17.2060(1), c=21.4700(3) Å, =78.9731(7), β=77.8650(4), γ=78.8369(4)°. Compound 2: a=10.7484(2), b=17.1955(2), c=21.4744(2) Å, =78.834(1), β=77.649(1), γ=78.781(1)°. Compound 3 is monoclinic, P2₁/c, Z=4, a=8.432(2), b=14.037(3), c=17.306(3) Å, β=93.70(3)°. Compound 5 is monoclinic. P2₁/n, Z=4, a=9.572(2), b=14.050(3), c=13.556(3) Å, β=90.76(3)°. The primary bonding in the Ph₃Te⁺ cation in each salt is a trigonal AX₃E pyramid with Te---C bond lengths in the range 2.095(8)–2.14(2) Å and the bond angles 94.1(6)–100.9(5)°. The weak TeCl (1–3) and TeO (5) secondary interactions expand the coordination sphere. In 1 and 2 the cation shows a trigonal bipyramidal AX₃YE coordination with one primary Te---C bond and the shortest secondary TeCl contact in axial positions and the two other Te---C bonds and the lone-pair in equatorial positions. The cation in 3 shows a distorted octahedral AX₃Y₃E environment and that in 5 is a more complex AX₃Y₃Y′₂ arrangement. In both latter salts the structure is a complicated three-dimensional network of cations and anions.     

Application of the ISM EoS for polymer solutions and blends

A method for predicting an analytical equation of state for polymer mixtures and blends from surface tension and liquid state density at normal (ordinary) temperature (γ_n, ρ_n), as scaling constants, is presented. B₂(T) follows a promising corresponding-states principle. Calculation of (T) and b(T), the two other temperature-dependent constants of the equation of state, are made possible by scaling. As a result, γ_n and ρ_n are sufficient for determination of thermophysical properties of polymer mixtures and blends.

We applied the procedure to predict liquid density of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-200) + 1-octanol solutions and poly(propylene glycol) (PPG) + poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-200) blends at compressed state with temperature range from 298.15 to 338.15 K and pressures up to 40 MPa. In this work, the ISM EoS is extended to polymer mixtures and blends as well as pure case without proposing any mixing rule.     

白山毛桃根抗脑胶质瘤活性成分及其纳米胶束的制备

采用溶剂提取和萃取方法得到白山毛桃根乙酸乙酯、 正丁醇和水层萃取物. 通过噻唑蓝(MTT)比色法考察了各萃取物对脑胶质瘤细胞U87MG活性的抑制作用. 采用高效液相色谱(HPLC)指纹图谱法比对确认活性部位的主要化学成分为2α,3α,24-三羟基-12-烯-28-乌苏酸. 采用溶剂挥发法制备了2α,3α,24-三羟基-12-烯-28-乌苏酸纳米胶束, 对其包封率、 粒径及ζ电位等进行了表征, 并考察了其抗肿瘤活性. 体外细胞实验结果表明, 白山毛桃根乙酸乙酯萃取物对脑胶质瘤细胞U87MG具有抑制作用, 通过与标准品比对确认2α,3α,24-三羟基-12-烯-28-乌苏酸为乙酸乙酯部位的主要成分, 且该成分对脑胶质瘤细胞活性具有较强抑制作用. 通过溶剂挥发法制备的2α,3α,4-三羟基-12-烯-28-乌苏酸纳米胶束包封率为64.7%, 粒径为20 nm, 粒径分布宽度(PDI)为0.246, ζ电位为-5.7 mV. 细胞实验结果进一步证明, 与单体化合物相比, 2α,3α,24-三羟基-12-烯-28-乌苏酸纳米胶束对脑胶质瘤细胞活性具有更强的抑制作用, 为白山毛桃根在脑胶质瘤治疗中的应用提供了实验依据.     

无溶剂、无催化剂条件下α-腺嘌呤阿拉伯糖苷的合成

为了发展有效合成α-腺嘌呤阿拉伯糖苷的方法,以1,2,3,5-四-O-乙酰基-β-D-阿拉伯糖和6-氯嘌呤为原料,在微波辐射和无溶剂、无催化剂条件下反应得到中间体9-α-D-(2',3',5'-三-O-乙酰基)阿拉伯呋喃糖基-6-氯嘌呤,收率85%。 该中间体物在Na₂CO₃催化下脱除乙酰基,然后“一锅”加入饱和的NH₃/CH₃OH溶液氨解,以90%的收率得到α-腺嘌呤阿拉伯糖苷。 关键中间体9-α-D-(2',3',5'-三-O-乙酰基)阿拉伯呋喃糖基-6-氯嘌呤的合成反应规模可以扩大到100 g。 类似地合成α-2-氟腺嘌呤阿拉伯糖苷和α-2-氨基腺嘌呤阿拉伯糖苷。     

Predicted radiolysis yield in a Fricke solution irradiated with various heavy ions

Experimental data on the spatial distribution of the energy deposited around an energetic heavy ion, from 1 MeV proton to 5.9 MeV/n uranium ion, which have been reported in the literature were documented to obtain a scaled radial dose distribution; (β/Z*)² D(Z*, β,t)=200 (for t=0–1), 200/t² (for t=1t_c), and 200 t_c/t³ (for t>t_c) where Z* and β are the effective charge and velocity relative to c, the velocity of light, of the incident ion, respectively, D the dose in unit of Gy, t the radial distance in unit of nm, t_c the critical distance empirically determined.

Then, if we know the yield of any chemical reaction as a function of dose from the results of experiments using γ-radiations or fast electrons or theoretical calculations, we can calculate the probability for the yield of the chemical reaction in the system bombarded with a heavy ion of the effective charge Z* and velocity β. The results of the present calculation of the LET-values and of G(Fe³⁺) in the ferrous sulfate acidic solution are presented and compared with reported experimental results.     

Thermogravimetric study on perovskite-like oxygen permeation ceramic membranes

The oxygen permeation properties of mixed-conducting ceramics SrFeCo_0.5O_3−δ (SFCO), Ba_0.5Sr_0.5Co_0.8Fe_0.2O_3−δ (BSCFO), La_0.2Sr_0.8Co_0.8Fe_0.2O_3−δ (LSCFO) and Ba_0.95Ca_0.05Co_0.8Fe_0.2O_3−δ (BCCFO) were studied by thermogravimetric method in the temperature range 600–900 °C. The results show that the oxygen adsorption rate constants k_a of all material are larger than oxygen desorption rate constants k_d and both k_a and k_d are not strongly dependent on temperature in the studied temperature range. The oxygen vacancy contents δ(N₂) and δ(O₂) in nitrogen and oxygen and their difference Δδ = δ(N₂) − δ(O₂) play an important role in determining the temperature behavior of oxygen permeation flux J_O2.     

α,β,γ,δ,ε,η-Bi2O3电子结构和光学性质的第一性原理研究

基于密度泛函理论的CASTEP模块研究了α, β, γ, δ, ε和η-Bi₂O₃晶型, 计算分析了其几何结构、 能带结构、 电子态密度和光学性质. 结果表明, α, ε和η相均为层状结构, 其中, α和ε相为单层—Bi—O—结构, 而η相为双层—Bi—O—结构; β, γ和δ相为—Bi_m—O_n—交错结构, 其中δ相交错尤为密集, 呈现导体特性. 各晶相的导带均由Bi 6p态构成, 价带由O_2p态起主导作用. 电势电位分析结果表明, 6种晶相价带电位均在H₂O/O₂之下, 具有强氧化能力, 与实验报道的光催化氧化能力大小顺序γ-Bi₂O₃>β-Bi₂O₃>α-Bi₂O₃>δ-Bi₂O₃一致, 而导带还原电位低于H₂/H₂O, 预测纯Bi₂O₃很难具备催化产氢能力. 光学性质分析发现, γ和δ相的起始响应波长较大, 说明其应具备红外激发的性质. 这些结果可为获得偏红外激发和较宽光谱响应的Bi₂O₃材料研究提供理论基础, 为研发和应用Bi₂O₃及其复合物提供重要的指导.     

Interfacial characteristics of β-casein spread films at the air–water interface

Casein is well known to be a good protein emulsifier and β-casein is the major component of casein and commercial sodium caseinate. This work studies the behaviour of β-casein at the interface. The interfacial characteristics (structure and stability) of β-casein spread films have been examined at the air–water interface in a Langmuir-type film balance, as a function of temperature (5–40°C) and aqueous phase pH (pH 5 and 7). From surface pressure–area isotherms (π–A isotherms) as a function of temperature we can draw a phase diagram. β-Casein spread films present two structures and the collapse phase. That is, there is a critical surface pressure and a surface concentration at which the film properties change significantly. This transition depends on the temperature and the aqueous phase pH. The film structure was observed to be more condensed and β-casein interfacial density was higher at pH 5. β-Casein films were stable at surface pressures lower than equilibrium surface pressure. In fact, no hysteresis was observed in π–A isotherms after continuous compression-expansion cycles or over time. The relative area relaxation at constant surface pressure (10 or 20 mN m⁻¹) and the surface pressure relaxation at constant area near the monolayer collapse, can be fitted by two exponential equations. The characteristic relaxation times in β-casein films can be associated with conformation–organization changes, hydrophilic group hydration and/or surface rheology, as a function of pH.     

Comparison of optical properties and crystal structures of the praseodymium and europium chloroderivatives of acetates

The praseodymium and europium dichloroacetates were obtained in the form of monocrystals. Crystal structures of the Ln(HCl₂CCOO)₃·2H₂O (Ln=Pr, Eu) compounds were determined by X-ray analysis. Both crystals proved to be isomorphous. They are monoclinic, space group P2₁/n with: a=9.747(6), b=13.857(7), and c=23.595(9) Å, β=95.03(4)°, U=3175(3) Å³, Z=8 for C₆H₇Cl₆O₈Pr and a=9.634(7), b=13.757(11), and c=23.524(14) Å, β=94.84(4)°, U=3107(4) Å³, Z=8 for C₆H₇Cl₆O₈Eu. There are two symmetry independent lanthanide cations, which adopt a nine-coordinate geometry with seven oxygen atoms from carboxylate groups and two oxygen atoms from water molecules. Absorption (Pr³⁺, Eu³⁺), emission and emission excitation (Eu³⁺) spectra of single crystals of Ln(HCl₂CCOO)₃·2H₂O were recorded at room temperature and low temperatures down to 4.2 K. Spectral intensities of the investigated systems are parametrized in terms of the Judd–Ofelt theory and compared to those of lanthanide trichloroacetates and acetates crystals. The relationship between the hypersensitivity and covalency is discussed. The nephelauxetic ratio β and Sinha's parameter δ are calculated based on the absorption spectra. The variation of these parameters and their correlation with the nature of metal–ligand bond is discussed. The bond polarity and bond strength of coordination complex determine the activity and stereospecifity of the catalyst thus the study of these properties are very important because of the application of lanthanide carboxylates as precursors of catalysts. The spectroscopic results are correlated with those from the crystal structure studies, especially with Ln–O distances and the co-ordinating forms of the carboxylate ions. The vibronic coupling in the f–f transitions were analysed. In order to determine the vibronic coupling quantitatively, calculations of the R=I_VIB./I_0-phonon rates were performed from the low temperature absorption spectra. The correlation between the vibronic coupling and covalency is analysed.     

Radiation polymerization of thermo-sensitive poly (N-vinylcaprolactam)

Temperature-sensitive poly (N-vinylcaprolactam) both in water-soluble state and in gel was prepared by γ-radiation polymerization. The effects of radiation dose, radiation dose rate and monomer concentration on polymerization and the low critical solution temperature characteristics of the polymer were studied. The results show that the polymer prepared within certain radiation dose (beyond 2 kGy) and dose rate range (2–14 Gy/min) has good temperature sensitivity and uniformity.     

Effect of molecular weight and its distribution on the spinodal for polydisperse polymer solutions

The Flory–Huggins interaction parameter χ(r_i) is considered as dependent on the chain length of a polymer. Therefore, a modified free energy expression of Flory–Huggins theory is obtained for the polydisperse polymer solutions. Based on this modified free energy expression and the thermodynamics of Gibbs, the expression of spinodal for polydisperse polymer solutions is obtained. For a given χ(r_i) according to de Gennes, the spinodals are calculated for polydisperse polymer solutions at different molecular weights and their distributions. It is found that all the interested variables r_n, r_w, r_z and molecular weight distribution have an effect on the spinodal for polydisperse polymer solutions, where the effect of changing r_w is much greater than that of changing r_n, r_z and molecular weight distribution.     

Structural and spectroscopic properties of Hexamethylenetetramine cobalt(II) complex: [Co(NCS)2(hmt)2(H2O)2][Co(NCS)2(H2O)4] (H2O)

Synthesis, structure, spectroscopy and thermal properties of complex [Co(NCS)₂(hmt)₂(H₂O)₂][Co(NCS)₂(H₂O)₄] (H₂O) (I), assembled by hexamethylenetetramine and octahedral Co(II) metal ions, are reported. Crystal data for I: F_w 387.34, a=9.020(8), b=12.887(9), c=7.95(1) Å, =96.73(4), β=115.36(5), γ=94.16(4)°, V=820(1) Å³, Z=2, space group=P−1, T=173 K, λ(Mo-K)=0.71070 Å, ρ_calc=1.718567 g cm⁻³, μ=17.44 cm⁻¹, R=0.088, R_w=0.148. An interesting two-dimensional network is assembled via hydrogen bonds through coordinated and free water molecules. The d–d transition energy levels of Co(II) ion are determined by UV–vis spectroscopy and calculated by ligand field theory. The calculated results agree well with experiment ones.     

Synthesis, spectroscopic studies and nonlinear optical behavior of N,N′-bis(2-hydroxy-1-naphthylmethylidene)-1-methyl-1,2-diaminoethane-N,N′,O,O′-nickel(II)

A Schiff base complex N,N′-bis(2-hydroxy-1-naphthylmethylidene)-1-methyl-1,2- diaminoethane-N,N′,O,O′-nickel(II) has been synthesized. The title compound has been characterized by FT-IR and UV–vis spectroscopies. The UV–vis experiments indicate that the compound has solvatochromism in the UV region, implying non-zero molecular first hyperpolarizability. To investigate microscopic second-order nonlinear optical (NLO) behavior of the examined complex, the electric dipole moments (μ) and the first static hyperpolarizabilities (β) were computed using Finite Field second-order Møller Plesset (FF MP2) perturbation procedure. According to ab initio quantum mechanical calculations, the title complex exhibits non-zero β values, revealing microscopic second-order NLO behavior.     

Organometallic complexes for nonlinear optics: Part 31. Cubic hyperpolarizabilities of ferrocenyl-linked gold and ruthenium complexes

The complexes [Fe{η-C₅H₄---(E)---CH=CH---4-C₆H₄CCX}₂] [X=SiMe₃ (1), H (2), Au(PCy₃) (3), Au(PPh₃) (4), Au(PMe₃) (5), RuCl(dppm)₂ (7), RuCl(dppe)₂ (8)] and [Fe{η-C₅H₄---(E)---CH=CH---4-C₆H₄CH=CRuCl(dppm)₂}₂](PF₆)₂ (6) have been prepared and the identities of 1 and 7 confirmed by single-crystal X-ray structural studies. Complexes 1–8 exhibit reversible oxidation waves in their cyclic voltammograms attributed to the Fe^II/III couple of the ferrocenyl groups, 6–8 also showing reversible (7, 8) or non-reversible (6) processes attributed to Ru-centered oxidation. Cubic nonlinearities at 800 nm by the Z-scan method are low for 1–5; in contrast, complexes 6 and 7 exhibit large negative γ_real and large γ_imag values. A factor of 4 difference in γ and two-photon absorption cross-section σ₂ values for 6 and 7 suggest that they have potential as protically switchable NLO materials.