Flow injection analysis methods for determination of diffusion coefficients

Two flow injection analyses (FIA) methods for the determination of diffusion coefficients in a straight single tube FIA system were developed. Based on the analytical solution of the convection-diffusion equation, linear relationships of the logarithmic values of the dispersion coefficient (D) and the half-peak width (W_1/2) with the diffusion coefficient (D_m) were obtained. Experiments were designed to verify these methods. For example, for potassium hexacyanoferrate (III) a D_m value of 0.72 × 10⁵ cm² s⁻¹ was found versus a literature value of 0.76 × 10⁵ cm² s⁻¹ (error, 5%). For potassium hexacyanoferrate (II) a D_m value of 0.67 × 10⁵ cm² s⁻¹ was obtained versus a literature value of 0.63 × 10⁵ cm² s⁻¹ (error, 6%). The diffusion coefficients of some important biomedical compounds, such as dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine and ascorbic acid, were then determined. The values of 10⁵ D_m/cm² s⁻¹ are 0.60 ± 0.03, 0.44 ± 0.02, 0.60 ± 0.01 and 0.68 ± 0.06, respectively.     

Kinetics of the autoxidation of vitamin A catalysed by cobalt ion

Vitamin A,dissolved in liquid paraffin, is stable below room temperature, but suffers oxidative decomposition at 80°, giving its epoxide as the main product. The rate of decomposition of vitamin A (V_A) at 80° in the presence of oxygen (partial pressure of p) and a small amount of cobaltous stearate (Co) is expressed as: d[V_A]/dt = 3·15 × 10⁻¹:[V_A][Co] p^1·48 + 1·51 × 10⁻⁵[V_A]p^0·33 + 0·33 × 10⁻⁵[V_A], where the last term represents the spontaneous thermal decomposition.     

Syntheses and structural determination of nine-coordinate K3[Nd(nta)2(H2O)]·6H2O and K3[Er(nta)2(H2O)]·5H2O

The syntheses and structural determination of Nd^III and Er^III complexes with nitrilotriacetic acid (nta) were reported in this paper. Their crystal and molecular structures and compositions were determined by single-crystal X-ray structure analyses and elemental analyses, respectively. The crystal of K₃[Nd^III(nta)₂(H₂O)]·6H₂O complex belongs to monoclinic crystal system and C2/c space group. The crystal data are as follows: a=1.5490(11) nm, b=1.3028(9) nm, c=2.6237(18) nm, β=96.803(10)°, V=5.257(6) nm³, Z=8, M=763.89, D_c=1.930 g cm⁻³, μ=2.535 mm⁻¹ and F(000)=3048. The final R₁ and wR₁ are 0.0390 and 0.0703 for 4501 (I>2σ(I)) unique reflections, R₂ and wR₂ are 0.0758 and 0.0783 for all 10474 reflections, respectively. The Nd^IIIN₂O₇ part in the [Nd^III(nta)₂(H₂O)]³⁻ complex anion has a pseudo-monocapped square antiprismatic nine-coordinate structure in which the eight coordinate atoms (two N and six O) are from the two nta ligands and a water molecule coordinate to the central Nd^III ion directly. The crystal of the K₃[Er^III(nta)₂(H₂O)]·5H₂O complex also belongs to monoclinic crystal system and C2/c space group. The crystal data are as follows: a=1.5343(5) nm, b=1.2880(4) nm, c=2.6154(8) nm, b=96.033(5)°, V=5.140(3) nm³, Z=8, M=768.89, D_c=1.987 g cm⁻³, μ=3.833 mm⁻¹ and F(000)=3032. The final R₁ and wR₁ are 0.0321 and 0.0671 for 4445 (I>2σ(I)) unique reflections, R₂ and wR₂ are 0.0432 and 0.0699 for all 10207 reflections, respectively. The Er^IIIN₂O₇ part in the [Er^III(nta)₂(H₂O)]³⁻ complex anion has the same structure as Nd^IIIN₂O₇ part in which the eight coordinate atoms (two N and six O) are from the two nta ligands and a water molecule coordinate to the central Nd^III ion directly.     

Kinetic and mechanistic study of the chlorpromazine-hydrogen peroxide reaction for the catalytic spectrophotometric determination of iodide

Extensive kinetic studies were performed to investigate the mechanism of the chlorpromazine (CP)-hydrogen peroxide reaction utilized in the catalytic determination of iodide. This reaction proceeds by two independent, parallel reactions, one through the formation of a red free radical, another directly to form the colorless product. The red color formation is catalyzed by traces of iodide. The color formation reaction was followed by measuring the increase in absorbance at 525 nm and its kinetic investigations were carried out by the initial rate method. The reaction rate curves for colorless sulfoxide formation were obtained by following the increase in absorbance at 335 nm, and the analysis was carried out by the integration method. The disappearance rate of CP is given by -d[CP]dt = k₃[I⁻[H₂O₂][H⁺] + k₆[CP][H₂O₂][H⁺] + k₉[CP][H₂O₂][H⁺] + k₁₀[CP][H₂O₂], where the first and second terms correspond to the chromogenic reaction and the third and fourth to colorless sulfoxide formation. Mechanisms consistent with each term were proposed and analytical implications of the kinetic studies are discussed.     

Heat capacities of NaNO3 and KNO3 from 350 to 800 K

The heat capacities of NaNO₃ and KNO₃ were determined from 350 to 800 K by differential scanning calorimetry. Solid-solid transitions and melting were observed at 550 and 583 K for NaNO₃ and 406 and 612 K for KNO₃, respectively. The entropies associated with the solid-solid transitions were measured to be (8.43± 0.25) J K⁻¹ mole⁻¹ for NaNO₃ and (13.8±0.4) J K⁻¹ mole⁻¹ for KNO₃. At 298.15 K the values of C⁰_P S⁰_P, {H⁰(T)-H⁰(0)}/T and -{G⁰(T)-H⁰(0)}/T, respectively, are 91.94, 116.3, 57.73, and 58.55 J K⁻¹ mole⁻¹ for NaNO₃ and 95.39, 133.0, 62.93, and 70.02 J K⁻¹ mole⁻¹ for KNO₃. Values for S⁰_T, {H⁰(T)-H⁰(0)}/T, and -{G⁰(T)-H⁰(0)}/T were calculated and tabulated from 15 to 800 K for NaNO₃ and KNO₃.     

Radiation yield of oxygen-based radicals in hyperquenched glassy water gamma-irradiated at 77 K

Hyperquenching of liquid water with cooling rates of 10⁶–10⁷ K s⁻¹ yields glassy water. Upon γ-irradiation at 77 K, the only paramagnetic species accumulating in hyperquenched glassy water are the hydroxyl and hydroperoxyl radicals. There are no hydrogen atoms or electrons seen by the ESR technique. For irradiation doses up to about 70 kGy, the relative contributions of hydroxyl and hydroperoxyl radicals to the total amount of paramagnetic species remain virtually constant. The total amount of paramagnetic species, n, is sublinear in dose, d, well approximated by n=8.55×10¹⁶d^0.8 for n in spin g⁻¹ and d in kGy.     

Pectin- and gelatin-based film: effect of gamma irradiation on the mechanical properties and biodegradation

Agricultural by-products, pectin and gelatin, were used to prepare a biodegradable film. The film casting solution including the pectin and gelatin was irradiated at 0, 10, 20, and 30 kGy to investigate the irradiation effect on the mechanical properties of the film. The tensile strength of the 10 kGy-irradiated film was the highest among the treatments but the elongation at break, water vapour permeability, and swelling ratio were the lowest. Hunter color L^*- and a^*-values decreased but the b^*-value increased as the irradiation dose increased. The total organic carbon content produced from the Paenibacillus polymyxa and Pseudomonas aeruginosa also showed that the film of 10 kGy-irradiated was lower than those of 0, 20, and 30 kGy-irradiated films. In conclusion, irradiation of the film casting solution at 10 kGy increased the mechanical properties of the pectin and gelatin based film. To manufacture the film by agricultural by-products, however, the irradiation dose of the film casting solution should be determined to achieve better mechanical properties.     

Transport phenomenon as a function of counter and co-ions in solution: chronopotentiometric behavior of anion exchange membrane in different aqueous electrolyte solutions

Anion exchange membrane has been investigated in different electrolyte solutions by chronopotentiometry to explore the influence of co-ion and counterion of the exchange group of the membrane, on the transport phenomena. Chloride, nitrate, sulfate and acetate in sodium salts were used as counterions and sodium, potassium, calcium and ammonium in chloride salts were used as co-ions. The membrane showed a potential drop (E₀) in all these electrolytes when a constant current was applied across it, which remained constant for a period less than τ, called the transition time and rose gradually to a maximum (E_max) value. The parameters such as τ, E₀ and E_max and the potential jump (ΔE) and τ and the inflection zone (Δt) along the time axis have been measured and compared at an applied current density (I) of 10 mA cm⁻² in 10 mM solutions. The values of τ^1/2/z_A[A₀] or τ^1/2/z_C[C₀], with or , E₀ and ΔE with or (where r_A and r_C are the ionic radii of counter and co-ions, respectively) have been correlated. Permselectivity (P) and transference number of the membrane with respect to each one of the above electrolytes have been evaluated and discussed.     

Flow injection visible diffuse reflectance quantitative analysis of nickel

Flow injection (FI) methodology, using diffuse reflectance in the visible region of the spectrum, for the analysis of nickel, precipitated in the form of dimethylglyoximate, is presented. A reflectance cell, constructed in polytetrafluoroethylene, using a LED (light emitting diode) as light source and a LDR (light dependent resistor) as detector, is described. The analytical signal (S) correlates with nickel concentration (C) between 1.6 × 10⁻⁴ and 6.6 × 10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹. This correlation is described by the equation S = −1.108 + 3.314 × 10⁴C − 2.081 × 10⁷C² (r = 0.9996). The experimentally observed limit of detection is about 1.3 × 10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹, as in lower concentrations the formation of precipitate is not observed. The experimental quantitation limit is about 1.6 × 10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹. The mean R.S.D. (relative standard deviation) is about 2.7%. Samples containing nickel were analyzed and the results obtained in this method were compared with those of other methods using the statistical Student's t-test.     

A thermochemical investigation of guest-host interactions in labile Werner clathrates of the [Ni(4-EtPy)4(NCS)2]·G type (G = Methyl derivatives of benzene)

The stoichiometry of thermal decomposition has been studied for (I): [Ni(4-EtPy)₄(NCS)₂] as a host complex as well as for its clathrates [Ni(4-EtPy)₄(NCS)₂]·G where guest molecule G - toluene, (II): T, (III): o-xylene (o-X) and (IV): p-xylene (p-X). The loss of volatile components proceeds in three steps (−2L, −1L, −1L) for I and in four steps (−G, −2L, −1L, −1L) for II, III and IV. DSC and X-ray powder measurements indicated a phase transition in all compounds under study. However, this process is overlapped by the escape of G in II and III. The differences in enthalpy changes are associated with different guest-host interactions in the particular clathrates.     

Water diffusion in polyethylene modified by ion irradiation

Water diffusion in polyethylene (PE) modified by irradiation with 40keV Ar⁺ ions to fluences of 1 × l0¹² to 1 × l0¹⁵cm⁻² was studied. The diffusion experiments were performed in a temperature interval from 25 to 100 °C and for diffusion times of up to 3 h. The water incorporated was detected by infra-red spectroscopy, microgravimetry and by measuring contact angles. Maximum water uptake observed for the ion fluence of 1 × 10¹³cm⁻² may be connected with an increase in free volume fraction and oxidative processes in the PE surface layer modified by ion irradiation. For higher ion fluences, the available free volume is reduced owing to carbonization and crosslinking of the polymer and, accordingly, the water content decreases. The water incorporated in PE is mostly in the form of isolated molecules. At elevated temperature rediffusion of water is observed.     

Rotational relaxation of homonuclear diatomic molecules by classical trajectory computation

The rotational relaxation times of molecular nitrogen and molecular chlorine have been obtained using an exact classical mechanical calculation and Wang Chang—Uhlenbeck's theory of polyatomic gases. The intermolecular potential used was an extended Lennard-Jones potential of the form V(R,_X1, _X2) = C₁₂R⁻¹² _1+b [P ₂(cos_X1)+P₂(cos_X2)]-C₆R⁻⁶ 1+ a[P₂(cos_X1) + P₂(cos_X2)]. Numerical results were obtained for a number ef values of the anisotropy parameters (a,b) for nitrogen and for a single set of values for chlorine. Comparison with experimental ultrasonic results for nitrogen gave very good agreement for (a,b) around (0.1, 0.7). Using a box-quantization procedure we have furthermore obtained detailed cross sections for inelastic collisions from which a surprisal analysis was carried out. The analysis showed that our results follow the exponential gap law of Polanyi, Ding and Woodall reasonably well although this law was suggested for atom—diatom collisions.     

Influence of non-covalent interactions on the thermodynamic stereoselectivity of the protonation of some dipeptides

ΔG⁰, ΔH⁰ and ΔS⁰ protonation values of some pairs of diastereoisomeric dipeptides have been determined by potentiometry and calorimetry in aqueous solution at 25°C and I = 0.1 mol dm⁻³ (KNO₃). On the basis of the results obtained it has been possible to assess the role played by two different non-covalent interactions, namely the electrostatic interaction and the solvophobic interaction, on the thermodynamic stereoselectivity in the proton complex formation, shown by the systems investigated.     

Equilibrium structure of the carbon dioxide-water complex in the gas phase: an ab initio and density functional study

High-level ab initio (MP2/6-311++G(2d,2p) geometry, Gaussian-2, MP4(SDTQ) and QCISD(T) binding energies) and density-functional (Becke3LYP/6-311++G(2df,2pd)) calculations have been performed on the charge-transfer complex between water and carbon dioxide. The complex appears to have two equivalent non-planar minima of C_s symmetry. Minima are separated by transition states with C₁ symmetry, whereas the totally planar structure with C_2v symmetry is a second-order transition state. All the critical points lie at approximately the same energy (less than 0.05 Kj mol⁻¹ difference). Therefore, the experimentally observable structure should be planar. The best equilibrium intermolecular distance for this complex calculated at the MP2/6-311++G(2d,2p) level is 2.800 Å. Our best estimate of the observable intermolecular distance (corrected for anharmonicity) is 2.84 Å, in agreement with the experimentally derived value of 2.836 Å. Our best estimate of the binding energy at the QCISD(T) level, taking into account the variation of the distance owing to anharmonicity and the use of more sophisticated theoretical treatments, is −12.0 ± 0.2 kJ mol⁻¹. Our best estimate of the barrier to internal rotation, also at the MP2/6-311++G(2d,2p) level, is 4.0 kJ mol⁻¹, outside the error limits of the experimental determination (3.64 ± 0.04 kJ mol⁻¹). Density functional theory at the level employed here gives an equilibrium intermolecular distance that is too large (2.857 Å), a binding energy that is too small (8.1 kJ mol⁻¹), attributable neither to geometry nor to the basis set, and also a barrier to internal rotation that is slightly too small (3.39 kJ mol⁻¹). The overall picture is, however, reasonably good.     

Comparison of the effects of visible femtosecond laser pulses and continuous wave laser radiation of low average intensity on the clonogenicity of Escherichia coli.

To evaluate the contribution of local pulsed heating of light-absorbing microregions to biochemical activity, irradiation of Escherichia coli was carried out using femtosecond laser pulses (λ = 620 nm, τ_p=3 × 10⁻¹³ s, f_p = 0.5 Hz, E_p = 1.1 × 10⁻³J cm⁻², I_av = 5.5 × 10⁻⁴ W cm⁻², I_p = 10⁹ W cm⁻²) and continuous wave (CW) laser radiation (λ = 632.8 nm, I = 1.3 W cm⁻²). The irradiation dose required to produce a similar biological effect (a 160%–190% increase in the clonogenic activity of the irradiated cells compared with the non-irradiated controls) is a factor of about 10³ lower for pulsed radiation than for CW radiation (3.3 × 10⁻¹ and 7.8 × 10² J cm⁻² respectively). The minimum size of the microregions transiently heated on irradiation with femtosecond laser pulses is estimated to be about 10 Å, which corresponds to the size of the chromophores of hypothetical primary photoacceptors—respiratory chain components.     

Direct evaluation of meat spoilage and the progress of aging using biosensors

A direct sensing method for monitoring meat quality was developed. The sensor is composed of an Ag/AgCl electrode and a platinum electrode on which putrescine oxidase or xanthine oxidase were immobilized to estimate bacterial spoilage or the progress of aging, respectively. A potential-step chronoamperometric method was applied in which the potential was stepped from 300 mV to 600 mV. A linear relationship was obtained between 5 and 60 nmol g⁻¹ for putrescine (Put) and 0.05 and 1.0 μmol g⁻¹ for hypoxanthine (Hx). The coefficient of variation was 0.75% for 20 nmol ml⁻¹ Put solution and 2.2 for a meat sample using the putrescine sensor, and 1.09% for 0.25 μmol ml⁻¹ Hx solution and 2.6% for a meat sample using the xanthine sensor. The pH requirements and substrate selectivity were suitable for the direct measurement of substrates on the surface of meat. From the results of practical experiments, the direct sensing method was indicated to be useful with some modifications for the estimation of meat quality during aging.     

'Genome order index' should not be used for defining compositional constraints in nucleotide sequences

A “genome order index,” defined as S = a² + c² + t² + g², where a, c, t, and g are the nucleotide frequencies of A, C, T, and G, respectively, was used to suggest that there exist genome-specific constraints on nucleotide composition. We show that the “evidence” for constraint, S < 1/3, is in fact a mathematical property that is always true regardless of data. Moreover, we show that S is strictly equivalent to and derivable from the Shannon H-function and has no advantage over it.     

Kinetic study of a thermal dechlorination and oxidation of neodymium oxychloride

This study investigated the kinetics of a thermal dechlorination and oxidation of neodymium oxychloride (NdOCl) by using a non-isothermal thermogravimetric (TG) analysis under various oxygen partial pressures. The results of the isoconversional analysis of the TG data suggests that the dechlorination and oxidation of NdOCl follows a single step reaction and the observed activation energy was determined as 228.3 ± 6.1 kJ mol⁻¹. A kinetic rate equation was derived for a conversion of the NdOCl into Nd₂O₃ with a power law model, f() = 2/3^−1/2. The oxygen power dependency and the pre-exponential factor were determined as 0.315 and 3.55 × 10⁵ s⁻¹ Pa^−0.315, respectively.     

Chemiluminescence assay of promethazine hydrochloride using acidic permanganate employing flow injection mode operated with syringe and peristaltic pumps

For the first time, promethazine hydrochloride chemiluminescence emission was monitored. The paper describes a new, specific and highly sensitive flow injection (FI) method for the determination of promethazine hydrochloride using both a peristaltic and a syringe pump. The method was based on the chemiluminescence emission intensity produced as a result of its oxidation reaction with permanganate in sulfuric acid medium. Reaction variables were thoroughly investigated employing chemometrical methods with few number of experiments. The optimum system and chemical conditions were 2.1519×10⁻⁴ mol l⁻¹ permanganate in 0.01 mol l⁻¹ sulfuric acid when operating the peristaltic pump at a flow rate of 45 μl s⁻¹ and injecting the drug by a syringe pump operated at a speed of 40 μl s⁻¹. The method was found to be applicable in the concentration range of promethazine hydrochloride between 1.558×10⁻⁵ and 1.8697×10⁻³ mol l⁻¹ with a linear calibration plot of 0.992 correlation coefficient and the following equation: I=92.74+0.08048C. The method adopted proved to be highly suitable for the assay of promethazine hydrochloride in drug formulations without fear of interferences in dosage form.