Anion-exchange behaviour of several elements in systems containing formic acid

The anion-exchange characteristics of 27 elements toward the strongly basic anion-exchange resin Amberlite CG-400 in media containing aqueous formic acid and mixtures of formic acid with sodium formate, hydrochloric acid, sodium nitrite, acetone and methanol have been investigated. Possible separations are described and discussed. The quantitative separations achieved are Sr-La, Zn-Cd-Hg, and Ni-Fe.     

Acidity in bile acid systems

The acidity parameter in bile acid systems was re-examined in an attempt to unify the many contrasting results reported in the literature. Discrepancies originate not only through differences in experimental approaches but mainly through the peculiar behaviour of bile acids and their salts, which can be present in aqueous solution as monomers, or simple and/or mixed aggregates. The acidity (and the pK_a values) of bile acid could also be affected by parameters which do not usually play a major role (e.g. hydroxy groups, far from the reaction centre). The microenvironment, where the bile acid is partitioned (e.g. inside a mixed micelle), also makes the carboxyl group less acidic than it would commonly be, considering only structural factors. When the system is made simpler, avoiding problems of solubility and self-aggregation (e.g. in mixed solvents), unconjugated and glycine-conjugated bile acids display acidity behaviour which matches their molecular structure.     

Phase behavior of bile acid/lipid/water systems containing model dietary lipids

Dietary lipids are solubilized in bile acid micelles in the small intestine. In the present study, we investigate the phase behavior of bile acid/model rapeseed oil (or model beef tallow)/water systems to predict interfacial phenomena during consumption of a variety of foods. The structures of molecular assemblies are identified based on polarizing microscope images, wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The results of in vitro tests suggest that an increase in the intake of model rapeseed oil causes the formation of multi-lamellar vesicles and lamellar liquid crystals. The molecules in the lamellar liquid crystal are formed highly ordered layer structure with the spacing of 8.8 nm along the c-axis, while monoclinic packed structure is constructed as two-dimensional structure in ab-plane due to bulky molecular structures of bile acid and unsaturated fatty acid. When the model beef tallow composition in the model system is more than several wt.%, stearic acid crystals are extracted. Moreover, bicarbonate ions are important ingredients to solubilize >10 wt.% of the model lipids. These phase transitions might be induced by the addition of dietary lipids in vivo during the consumption of oil or meat. Our findings are significant for understanding the lipid absorption process in the small intestine, and for developing medical and healthcare products.     

Phase behaviour of lithium and sodium salts of phenylstearic acid

Phenylstearic acid, prepared from oleic acid and benzene, using the Friedel-Crafts reaction, has been confirmed to be a reproducible mixture of twelve positional isomers. Lithium and sodium salts of this acid are semi-crystalline solids which behave in many ways like pure single substances. The thermotropic polymorphism of these soaps has been studied using DSC and polarizing microscopy (as well as X-ray diffraction and ⁷Li NMR spectroscopy for the former soap). Both soaps exhibit characteristic stepwise melting behaviour and form stable reversed hexagonal mesophases at elevated temperatures, in contrast to the lamellar phases exhibited by the unsubstituted soaps.     

Investigation of the thermal behaviour of fatty acid sodium salts

The thermal and thermo-electrical behaviour and properties, as well as the type structure and appearance of the liquid crystalline phases of the sodium salts of saturated, non-branching fatty acids were investigated. The measurements were carried out with a derivatograph, a DTA apparatus and a simultaneous DTA-electrical conductivity meter.Relationships were found between the different thermal and electrical properties and the chain-length of the compounds.

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Zusammenfassung Das thermische und thermo-elektrische Verhalten bzw. die Eigenschaften, sowie Typ, Struktur und Erscheinung der flüssigen kristallinen Phasen der Natriumsalze gesÄttigter unverzweigter FettsÄuren wurden untersucht. Die Messungen wurden mit Hilfe eines Derivatographen, einer DTA-Apparatur und einer simultanen DTA-LeitfÄhigkeitsme\-Anordnung durchgeführt.ZusammenhÄnge wurden zwischen den verschiedenen thermischen und elektrischen Eigenschaften und der KettenlÄnge der Verbindungen gefunden.

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Résumé On a étudié le comportement et les propriétés thermiques et thermoélectriques, ainsi que le type, la structure et l'aspect des phases cristallines liquides de sels de sodium d'acides gras saturés, non ramifiés.Des corrélations entre les diverses propriétés thermiques et électriques et la longueur de la chaine des composés étudiés ont été trouvées.

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Liquid-liquid phase equilibria of aqueous two-phase systems containing salts and polyethylene glycol

Liquid-liquid phase equilibria of the ternary systems: (a) polyethylene glycol - ammonium sulfate- water and (b) polyethylene glycol - sodium carbonate -water have been determined experimentally at 15°, 25°, 35° and 45°C and for two different molecular weights of the polymer (Avg. M.W. 1000 and 2000). Details of the glass cell and of the equilibration and analytical procedures used are described. Equilibrium data along with phase diagrams are presented. Finally the effect of temperature and of the molecular weight of the polymer are also discussed.     

Exploitation of bile acid transport systems in prodrug design

The enterohepatic circulation of bile acids is one of the most efficient recycling routes in the human body. It is a complex process involving numerous transport proteins, which serve to transport bile acids from the small intestine into portal circulation, from the portal circulation into the hepatocyte, from the hepatocyte into the bile, and from the gall bladder to the small intestine. The tremendous transport capacity and organ specificity of enterohepatic circulation combined with versatile derivatization possibilities, rigid steroidal backbone, enantiomeric purity, availability, and low cost have made bile acids attractive tools in designing pharmacological hybrid molecules and prodrugs with the view of improving intestinal absorption, increasing the metabolic stability of pharmaceuticals, specifically targeting drugs to organs involved in enterohepatic circulation, as well as sustaining therapeutically reasonable systemic concentrations of active agents. This article briefly describes bile acid transport proteins involved in enterohepatic circulation, summarizes the key factors affecting on the transport by these proteins, and reviews the use of bile acids and their derivatives in designing prodrugs capable of exploiting the bile acid transport system.     

Phase behaviour of mixed-gas hydrate systems containing carbon dioxide

We describe a new apparatus suitable for measurements of the phase behaviour and phase properties of fluid mixtures under conditions of high-pressure. We propose a synthetic method for the determination of gas solubility, and present results for the system (CO₂ + H₂O). In addition, we report new measurements of the hydrate equilibrium curves in aqueous systems containing either pure carbon dioxide or mixed gases including CO₂. For hydrates formed in the (CO₂ + H₂O) system, we find an enthalpy of dissociation of 77 kJ · mol^?1. This value was unchanged by the addition of mass fraction 0.043 of NaCl to the water. Compared with pure CO₂, mixtures of CO₂ with air exhibited markedly different dissociation pressures at given temperature, but were characterised by the same enthalpy of dissociation. However, two mixtures containing either nitrogen or methane and hydrogen both exhibited a higher enthalpy of dissociation, 106 kJ · mol^?1, consistent with these systems forming structure II hydrates.     

Potential use of bile salts in lipid self-assembled systems for the delivery of phytochemicals

Phytochemicals show many desirable functions such as anti-oxidant, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, anti-ageing, activities and so on.These biological functions can only be seen when the compounds are delivered at sufficient concentrations. However, the bioavailability of phytonutrients suffers from their limited absorption, transformation, and rapid clearance from the circulation. In this review, we survey recent studies on the use of bile salts in lipid self-assembled systems to enhance the bioavailability of phytochemicals and, consequently, their biological activity. The effect of bile salts on lipid self-assembled systems in terms of morphology, encapsulation efficiency, stability, bioavailability, and biological activities are discussed.     

Determination of critical micelle concentration of bile acid salts by micro-calorimetric titration

Critical micelle concentrations (CMC) of sodium salts of cholic, deoxycholic and chenodeoxycholic acids in phosphate buffer (pH 7.92) have been determined from microcalorimetric titration curves. The obtained values of 18.4±0.6, 5.3±0.2 and 7.0±0.2 mM, respectively, for Na cholate, Na deoxycholate and Na chenodeoxycholate are close to literature values obtained by other methods. CMC values for secondary micelles were also obtained. This microcalorimetric titration method gives highly reproducible results and rapid determination of CMC values of bile acid salts.     

Molecular aggregates in aqueous solutions of bile acid salts. Molecular dynamics simulation study

The aggregation behavior of two bile acid salts (i.e., sodium cholate and sodium deoxycholate) has been studied in their aqueous solutions of three different concentrations (i.e., 30, 90,and 300 mM) by means of molecular dynamics computer simulations. To let the systems reach thermodynamic equilibrium, rather long simulations have been performed: the equilibration period, lasting for 20-50 ns, has been followed by a 20 ns long production phase, during which the average size of the bile aggregates (regarded to be the slowest varying observable) has already fluctuated around a constant value. The production phase of the runs has been about an order of magnitude longer than the average lifetime of both the monomeric bile ions and the bonds that link two neighboring bile ions together to be part of the same aggregate. This has allowed the bile ions belonging to various aggregates to be in a dynamic equilibrium with the isolated monomers. The observed aggregation behavior of the studied bile ions has been found to be in good qualitative agreement with experimental findings. The analysis of the results has revealed that, due to their molecular structure, which is markedly different from that of the ordinary aliphatic surfactants, the bile ions form rather different aggregates than the usual spherical micelles. In the lowest concentration solution studied, the bile ions only form small oligomers. In the case of deoxycholate, these oligomers, such as the ordinary micelles, are kept together by hydrophobic interactions, whereas in the sodium cholate system, small hydrogen-bonded aggregates (mostly dimers) are also present. In the highest concentration systems, the bile ions form large secondary micelles, which are kept together both by hydrophobic interactions and by hydrogen bonds. Namely, in these secondary micelles, small hydrophobic primary micelles are linked together via the formation of hydrogen bonds between their hydrophilic outer surfaces.     

Liquid crystalline behaviour of benzoic acid derivatives containing alkoxyazobenzene

Liquid crystal trimers based on the hydrogen bonding dimerization of 4‐{n‐[4‐(4‐m‐alkoxy‐phenylazo)phenoxy]alkoxy}benzoic acid (BAm‐n) have been synthesized and characterized. Temperature‐dependent FTIR spectroscopic studies showed that the carboxylic acid groups in BAm‐n are associated to form H‐bonded cyclic dimers both in their crystalline and liquid crystalline phases. The trimers exhibited enantiotropic liquid crystalline behaviour except for BA1‐3 which showed monotropic behaviour, and the mesophases changed from nematic to smectic phase, with the increase of length of the spacer and the terminal substituents. Pronounced odd–even effects in the melting temperatures, clearing temperatures and nematic–isotropic enthalpy changes were observed.     

Enhanced copper surface protection in aqueous solutions containing short-chain alkanoic acid potassium salts

The ability of dissolved potassium monocarboxylate salts to produce surface passivation and to inhibit aqueous corrosion of copper was studied. The electrochemical measurements indicate that the inhibiting efficiency of these compounds, with a general formula Cn-1H2n-1COOK or CnK (n=3...12), is dependent on the hydrocarbon chain length. The inhibiting efficiency was higher for a longer hydrocarbon chain of n-alkanoic acid. The degree of copper protection was found to increase with an increase in n-alkanoic acid potassium salt concentration; the optimum concentration of potassium dodecanoate (C12K) in sulfate solutions was found to be 0.07 M. The protective layers formed at the copper surface subsequent to exposure in various n-alkanoic acid potassium salt solutions were characterized by contact angle measurements, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared reflection spectroscopy. Pronounced copper protection was attributed to the growth of a protective film on the copper surface, containing both copper oxides and copper carboxylate compounds. It is suggested that the organic molecules enhance copper protection by covering copper oxides with a thin and dense organic layer, which prevents water molecules or aggressive anions from interacting with the copper surface.     

The role of bile salts in digestion

Bile salts (BS) are bio-surfactants present in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) that play a crucial role in the digestion and absorption of nutrients. The importance of BS for controlled release and transport of lipid soluble nutrients and drugs has recently stimulated scientific interest in these physiological compounds. BS are so-called facial amphiphiles showing a molecular structure that is very distinct from classical surfactants. This peculiar molecular structure facilitates the formation of dynamic aggregates able to solubilise and transport lipid soluble compounds. The detergent nature of BS has been studied in the literature, mostly concentrating on the self-assembly behaviour of BS in solution but also in relation to protein denaturation and its effect on improving proteolysis. In contrast, the affinity of BS for hydrophobic phases has received less attention and studies dealing directly with the interfacial behaviour of BS are very limited in the literature. This is despite the fact that the interfacial activity of BS plays a vital role in fat digestion since it is closely involved with lypolisis. BS adsorb onto fat droplets and can remove other materials such as proteins, emulsifiers and lipolysis products from the lipid surface. The unusual surface behaviour of BS is directly related to their intriguing molecular structure and further knowledge could provide an improved understanding of lipid digestion. This review aims to combine the new insights gained into the surface properties of BS and their role in digestion. A better understanding of surface activity of BS would allow manipulation of physico-chemical and interfacial properties to modulate lipid digestion, improve bioavailability of lipid soluble nutrients and reduce absorption of saturated fats, cholesterol and trans fats.     

Thermal behaviour of thallium(I) fatty acid salts,II

The electrical conductivity (EC) changes of thallium(I) salts of fatty acids, which possess liquid crystalline phases, were investigated as a function of temperature. It was found that sharp EC jumps are associated with the phase transitions. The EC of the liquid crystalline phases depended not only on the temperature, the molecular weight and the geometry of the measuring cell, but also very sensitively on the heat treatment conditions which affect the relative magnitude of the EC in the mesophases.Study of these dependences revealed a memory effect. An explanation is given for this phenomenon.

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Zusammenfassung Die Änderungen der elektrischen Leitfähigkeit (EC) von Fettsäure-Thalium(I)-Salzen mit flüssig-kristallinen Phasen wurden als Funktion der Temperatur untersucht. Es wurde festgestellt, daß den Phasenübergängen scharfe EC-Sprünge entsprechen. Die EC der flüssig-kristallinen Phase hängt nicht nur von der Temperatur, dem Molekulargewicht und der Geometrie der Meßzelle ab, sondern auch — in sehr empfindlicher Weise — Phasen bestimmen.Die Untersuchung dieser Zusammenhänge führte zur Beobachtung eines »Memorieeffektes« Eine Erklärung dieser Erscheinung wird gegeben.

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Résumé On a étudié les variations de la conductibilité électrique (EC) des sels de thallium(I) des acides gras possédant des phases cristallines liquides, en fonction de la température. On a établi que les variations brusques d'EC correspondent aux transitions de phases. L'EC des phases cristallines liquides dépend non seulement de la température, de la masse molaire et de la géométrie de la cellule de mesure, mais aussi, et d'une manière très sensible, des conditions du traitement thermique qui affectent l'amplitude relative de l'EC dans les mésophases.Un «effet de mémoire» a été observé lors de l'étude de ces phénomènes, dont on donne une explication.

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Thermal behaviour or thallium(I) fatty acid salts,I

We have studied the thermal behaviours of the fatty acid (C₁-C₉, C₁₂, C₁₄, C₁₆ and C₁₈) thallium(I) salts.Investigating the dependence of the thermal decomposition reactions on the experimental conditions, we established that they decompose differently depending on the atmosphere, and on the shape and material of the sample holders.We also determined the heat-stable temperature ranges of the compounds in which they can be investigated without any thermal decomposition.The temperatures and enthalpy changes of the polymorphic and phase changes were measured and the corresponding entropy changes were calculated.

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Zusammenfassung Das thermische Verhalten der Thallium(I)-Salze der Fettsäuren mit C₁ bis C₉, C₁₂, C₁₄ und C₁₈ wurden untersucht. Die Temperaturen und Enthalpien der einzelnen polymorphen und Phasenänderungen, sowie die thermische Stabilität der Verbindungen wurden bestimmt. Es wurde festgestellt, daß die zu Ketonen und Gemischt-Ketonen führende thermische Zersetzung in der Schmelzphase von Destillationsprozessen begleitet wird, welche von der Molekülstruktur und von zahlreichen Versuchsbedingungen abhängig sind.

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Résumé Etude du comportement thermique des sels de thallium(I) d'acides gras (de C₁ à C₉, C₁₂, C₁₄ et C₁₈). L'étude de la décomposition thermique en fonction des conditions expérimentales a permis d'établir que les sels étudiés se décomposent différemment suivant l'atmosphère utilisée, ainsi que suivant la forme et la nature des supports échantillons. Détermination des domaines de température où ces composés restent thermiquement stables. Mesure des températures et des variations d'enthalpie des transitions de phase et des transitions polymorphiques et calcul des variations d'entropie correspondantes.

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(I) C₁-C₉, C₁₂, C₁₄, C₁₆, C₁₈. , . , , , .