Studies of iron,cobalt and chromium distribution in some continental aquatic ecosystems and biological materials

The aim of the present work was to investigate iron, cobalt and chromium distribution in samples of living and non-living matter by using instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). Investigations were carried out starting with water systems components, such also specias living in these systems and biological tissues from rat and human organs. The following conclusions have been drawn for elements distribution in the relation enviromment/living matter: (1) iron, cobalt and chromium contents in plankton are very close to these found in suspended materials; (2) among all the investigated living organisms, the highest contents of investigated elements have been found in fish; (3) inspite of the contents of iron, cobalt and chromium being somewhat lower in bentos and crustacea than in suspended materials, all the obtained values are very close, and (4) human liver has somewhat higher iron- and cobalt-contents than rat liver, which, however, has higher chromium concentration. Of all the investigated living organisms chromium content was the lowest in human liver.     

Ring‐opening metathesis polymerization of fatty acid derived monomers

The ring‐opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of fatty acid functionalized norbornenes was explored in the presence of dichloro[1,3‐bis(2,4,6‐trimethylphenyl)‐2‐imidazolidinylidene](benzylidene)bis(3‐bromopyridine)ruthenium(II) ( C3 ) at room temperature. The investigated monomers were derived from fatty acids with different chain lengths (C₆, C₈, C₁₀, C₁₂, C₁₄, C₁₆, and C₁₈) and can therefore contribute to the development of more sustainable, bio‐based polymeric materials. The polymerizations initiated by C3 proceeded in a living fashion with good initiation efficiency, and thus the synthesis of well‐defined polymers with narrow polydispersities was accomplished. All prepared polymers were fully characterized (GPC, DSC, TGA, NMR) and the results of these investigations are discussed within this contribution. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010     

Liquid crystalline behaviour of mixtures of structurally dissimilar mesogens in binary systems

We have studied four binary systems comprising four ester components, viz. 4-nitrophenyl-4′-n-alkoxybenzoates (wheren-alkoxy isn-butoxy, C₄,n-hexyloxy, C₆,n-octyloxy, C₈ andn-decyloxy, C₁₀) and one azo component, 4-n-decyloxy phenylazo-4′-isoamyloxy benzene. A variety of mesomorphic properties are observed in these mixtures. The properties of these systems are discussed on the basis of phase diagrams.     

Living cationic polymerization of vinyl monomers: New initiators and functional polymer synthesis

This paper focuses on two recent topics in living cationic polymerization of vinyl monomers, i.e., (a) Development of new initiating systems: RCOOH/Lewis acid for vinyl ethers; CH₃CH(C₆H₅)Cl/SnCl₄/nBu₄NCl for styrene. (b) Synthesis of shape-controlled poly(vinyl ethers): Tri-armed star polymers; Multi-armed spherical polymers. For the RCOOH-based systems, a generalized concept of living cationic polymerization was discussed on the basis of the effects of the counteranions (or R) and Lewis acids (ZnCl₂ and EtAlCl₂). The CH₃CH(C₆H₅)Cl-based system permitted a truly living cationic polymerization of styrene. The tri- and multi-armed poly(vinyl ethers) included new amphiphilic polymers of unique topology, solubility, etc., all of which were prepared by living cationic polymerization.     

Biogeochemical characterization of some continental water systems in yugoslavia by instrumental activation analysis

Trace elements in some continental water systems in Yugoslavia have been investigated by IAA. The results of the determination of trace elements are presented in this paper on the basis of the theory of concentration parameters (C_x) for the components of the rivers (dissolved materials in water, suspended and bed materials, plankton, benthos, algae, crustacea and fishes) lakes, swamps and in the soils. The investigated water system were rivers Danube, Sava, Tisa and V. Morava, lakes of Skadar, Ohrid, Dorjan, Bor, the Melenci Swamp and the soils from different regions of the Danube basin. This paper presents a short survey of our investigation of some continental water system in Yugoslavia by IAA.     

Relationships between miscibility behavior and chemical structure of phospholipids in pseudobinary systems

The influence of chain length differences of cephalines and the influence of the head group methylation on the miscibility behavior of N-methylated phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) mixtures in aqueous dispersions were tested. Nine different phase diagrams were studied by means of differential scanning calorimetry. The phase diagrams of the five pseudobinary cephaline/cephaline/water systems (fatty acid chain length: C _n , n = 12–18) showed that in the high temperature L_α phase all the homologous cephalines were completely miscible. In the low-temperature phase a distinct succession of the phase diagram types was observed according to increasing chain length differences of the PEs: complete miscibilty (C₁₂/C₁₄; C₁₄/C₁₆), peritectic mixing behavior (C₁₂/C₁₆; C₁₄/C₁₈), eutectic mixing behavior (C₁₂/C₁₈). Furthermore four phase diagrams of pseudobinary phospholipid systems consisting of N-methylated PEs with different numbers of methyl groups and a constant length of fatty acid chains were investigated and compared. These four phase diagrams showed phase separations in the low-temperatures phase (gel phase). The width and the concentration range of the miscibility gaps changed systematically with increasing degree of methylation of the head group of the mixing components and are connected with different possibilities of PEs to form hydrogen bridges between the mixture components. Received: 26 August 1999/Accepted: 30 August 1999     

Stimuli‐Responsive Water‐Soluble Fullerene (C60) Polymeric Systems

This review documents the advances in stimuli‐responsive water‐soluble fullerene (C₆₀) polymeric systems. Stimuli‐responsive polymers, when grafted onto C₆₀ impart “smart” and “responsive” characteristics, and these novel materials adopt various morphologies when subjected to external stimuli, such as pH, temperature, and salt. Various synthetic approaches for producing C₆₀‐polymers are outlined and discussed. The responsive behavior, water solubility, and self‐assembly characteristics of these C₆₀‐polymers make them attractive for applications such as drug delivery, temperature sensors, and personal care.     

Liquid crystal and solution phases of sodium dodecyl-p-benzene sulphonate (NaLAS) and octa-oxyethylene glycol hexadecyl ether (C16E8): 1:1 mixtures in water

The liquid crystals and other phases formed when the mixed surfactant system sodium dodecyl-p-benzene sulphonate (NaLAS) and octa-oxyethylene glycol hexadecyl ether (C₁₆E₈, 1:1 by weight) is dispersed in water have been investigated using optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry. Despite the fact that neat LAS is a multi-phase solid and C₁₆E₈ is a crystalline solid, when the two are mixed at temperatures above the melting temperature of the C₁₆E₈ with no water present, what appears to be a metastable gel phase formed containing only a small volume fraction of un-dissolved LAS (ca. 5%). Moreover, when water is added to the system, the phase behaviour of the mixture considerably differs to that of either of the individual components. We report a detailed phase study on this mixture here particularly focussing on the ‘neat’ mixture. The phase behaviour when water is added is also discussed. Particularly interesting is the presence of a micellar phase between the hexagonal and lamellar phases thought to be due to weak interactions between micelles during the transition from rods to discs. In addition, the presence of a low temperature intermediate phase is discussed.     

An NMR self-diffusion investigation of water/xylene/alkyl amine solutions

Extensions of the solution phases have been determined and the self-diffusion behaviour investigated in ternary systems containing water/xylene/primary alkyl amine, where the chain length of the amine varied between C₆ and C₁₀. The phase diagrams at 25°C are dominated by a solution phase and a rather large water/xylene miscibility gap which increases slightly in size with increasing chain length of the amine. A lamellar liquid crystalline phase was found in all binary amine/water systems at 25°C, except for hexylamine where the lamellar phase melts below this temperature. The self-diffusion coefficients of all components decrease in a similar way when water is added to a xylene/amine solution. The self-diffusion is rapid and of similar magnitude for all components, which shows that no well-defined inverse aggregates are formed. The data are discussed in terms of hydrogen bonding between the different species in the solution.     

Adsorption of natural gas and its whole components on adsorbents

Adsorption of each component of natural gas on adsorbent prepared from petroleum coke was studied. At 25 °C and 3.5 MPa, adsorption capacity of the components of natural gas are as follows: C₃H₈, H₂S(0.980) > CO₂(0.691) > C₂H₆(0.160) > CH₄(0.136) > N₂(0.096) (g/g). For natural gas, adsorption capacity is 145.2 (mL/mL) and delivery capacity is 105.7 (mL/mL). One equation between adsorption capacity and boiling point of adsorbed gas was firstly generalized. The adsorption capacity of different component like O₂, N₂, CH₄, C₂H₆, CO₂, H₂S on adsorbents were predicted using the equation. The results fit well with the experimental data. The equation has significance in predicting the adsorption capacity for any component of natural gas. Charge-discharge tests were conducted 10 times, the result indicates that natural gas has significantly worse reversibility in adsorption and desorption in the adsorbent than that of CH₄. The contents of the components after 10 charge-discharge show that the adsorption capacity drop of natural gas is due to the irreversible adsorption of heavy or polar components like C₃H₈, H₂S.     

Effect of pH, temperature, conductivity and sediment size on thorium and radium activities along Jucar River (Spain)

A study is presented on the distribution of thorium and radium isotopes in sediments, suspended matter and water collected along Jucar river (East of Spain), using low-level α-spectrometry. The first aim of this work is to study the thorium and radium activity in water, sediment and suspended matter and their dependence on pH, temperature, conductivity and sediment sizes along Jucar river. The analysis of activity variation with these parameters will provide information about the dynamics of these radionuclides in rivers. The values obtained for the distribution factors between suspended matter and water (K _d ) are also discussed.     

Excess Molar Volumes for (Binary Mixtures of 1-Alkanol and 1-Alkene). I. The System 1-Alkanol + 1-Octene at 25°C

Excess volumes measured at 25°C are reported for binary mixtures of the C₃, C₄, C₆, C₈, and C₁₀ 1-alkanols with 1-octene. In this series of mixtures, the excess-volume curves change from positive values over the whole concentration range for short-chain alkanols C₃ and C₄, to sigmoid for longer-chain alkanols (with positive values in the alkanol-rich region). The positive region decreases with increasing chain length of the 1-alkanol. Excess partial molar volumes of the components are calculated. The results are compared with those for mixtures of 1-alkanols with n-octane. The model of associated mixtures proposed by Treszczanowicz and Benson³ describes very well the size and shape of the excess volume for the class of systems considered.     

Chemometrical interpretation of analytical data for vertical distribution of some chemical components in sea water

Summary Analytical data for vertical distribution (depth profile) of components in sea water are interpreted by the use of multivariate statistical methods (principal components analysis, correspondence factor analysis and cluster analysis). The various chemical components (NH₃, P, Zn, Mn, Cu, Fe, O₂, pH, salinity and alkalinity) and some physical characteristics (E_h, T, suspended matter) or the depths of sampling (from 0 to 200 m) are classified as objects of similarity. Two principal components are identified as possible really existing natural factors determining the vertical distribution of the components in the sea water phase.     

Reactions of perfluoronitriles. III. Interactions with diphenylphosphine

Reaction of perfluoro-n-octanonitrile with diphenylphosphine gave two products: a primary adduct, C₇F₁₅C(NH)P(C₆H₅)₂, and the reduced adduct, C₇F₁₅CH(NH₂)P(C₆H₅)₂. Presence of water prevented the formation of the reduced compound; the latter was not produced by reduction of the primary adduct. Operative mechanisms are postulated; infrared and mass spectra are discussed.     

On the interaction of palladium with olefinic systems

We have performed all electron Hartree–Fock gradient calculations and geometry optimizations on systems composed of one to three palladium atoms and: CH₃ cation and anion, C₂H₄, C₂H₃NH₂, C₄H₄, NH₃, and (NH₃) + (C₂H₄). Several basis set considerations are discussed and the binding energies of Pd to these small molecules are reported. We find the counterpoise correction to the binding energies of these systems to be large. We also present MP2 calculations of the palladium binding energy with a large uncontracted palladium spd basis set in the PdC₂H₄ and PdNH₃ systems. The binding interaction between ethylene and palladium results in a mixing of the 4d–π* and 5s–π orbitals, and, is dissociative to the ethylene. The palladium-butadiene and palladium-cyclobutene relative stabilites and structures are interesting since these molecules could form from acetylene on a palladium surface. We find the Pd-butadiene cyclic structure to be 43 kcal/mol more stable than the Pd-cyclobutene product.     

A V‐Shaped Polyaromatic Amphiphile: Solubilization of Various Nanocarbons in Water and Enhanced Photostability

Nanocarbons are synthetic carbon‐rich compounds with polyaromatic frameworks that have lately attracted attention as emerging functional materials. However, their extreme hydrophobicity and aggregation peculiarity, besides their shape and size diversities, precluded their study in solution, especially in “green” water. More convenient and general solubilizing methods of nanocarbon frameworks are required by using non‐covalent supramolecular interactions. Here we report a protocol for solubilizing a wide range of nanocarbons, that is, fullerenes (C₆₀, C₇₀, C₈₄, and C₁₂₀), polyarenes (tetracene, pentacene, perylene, coronene, and hexabenzocoronene), and carbon nanotubes (single‐walled and multi‐walled CNTs), in water through manual grinding with V‐shaped polyaromatic amphiphiles. The obtained aqueous nanocomposites are composed of nanocarbons encircled by the polyaromatic frameworks of the amphiphiles through multiple aromatic–aromatic interactions. Notably, the encapsulated photosensitive nanocarbons, such as tetracene, pentacene, and fullerene dimer, exhibit unusual stability toward UV/Vis light.     

Thermodynamic properties of chain liquid mixtures with strong,local interactions

This paper addresses the effect in chain liquids on thermodynamic behavior of a large charge in the strength of local interactions on mixing. We classified real systems according to the ability of the Flory equation of state (FES) theory to prodict the excess volume. The FES theory enables reliable estimates provided the mixture is nearly athermal and the pure components obey the Flory equation of state. These requirements arise from Flory's approximations for the lattice part of the configuration integral, Z_L, and the cell part, Z_C, respectively. We revised Z_L without adding adjustable parameters by the quasichemical perturbation method to account for local ordering in the mixture because of a large change in the strength of binary interactions on mixing. The modification improves the predictions of the thermodynamic functions for systems where Flory's Z_L is inadequate.     

Rheological studies of aqueous alkylpolyglucoside surfactant solutions

Alkylpolyglucosides (C _Y G _X ) are industrial products of mixtures consisting of a hydrocarbon chain with Y carbon atoms linked to X sugar residues. Based on detailed analytical investigation of technical grade alkylpolyglucosides (C_8–10G _X , C_12–14G _X and C_8–16G _X )/water systems using high-performance liquid chromatography in combination with a special kind of mass spectroscopy their rheological behaviour is discussed and compared to the rheological behaviour of pure alkyl monoglycosides (C₈G₁ and C₁₀G₁) in water. The rheological properties that exhibit a dependence on the alkyl chain length, Y, and the degree of polymerisation, X, are investigated by rotation and oscillation experiments over an extended concentration range. The Maxwell model fits the frequency dependence of the dynamic functions fairly well. The viscosity shows an Arrhenius-like dependence on temperature. A comparison is drawn between the monoglucosides and the polyglucosides, which shows that the rheological properties are more sensitive to the a change in chain length than in the degree of polymerisation. Phase transitions, especially liquid-crystalline to isotropic solutions, phase split into two coexisting liquid phases, and could be followed using visual observation and rheology. Depending on the difference in the rheological properties of the corresponding phases, viscoelastic measurements showed these transitions clearly. Additionally, the changes in viscosities were measured after addition of a second surfactant. Received: 4 January 1999 Accepted in revised form: 12 April 1999     

Titanium and zirconium complexes containing modified TREN ligands for the polymerization of 1‐alkenes—A comparative study

The titanium and zirconium complexes in C₃ and C_s symmetric forms synthesized from corresponding aminotriols in combination with MAO polymerized 1‐hexene in a controlled manner. When the polymerization temperature was lowered, they gave high molecular weight monodisperse polyhexene with narrow polydispersities indicating quazi‐living systems. The isotactic polyhexene obtained from C₃ titanium catalyst has the molecular weight of around 46,500 with PDI of 1.3 and the hemi‐isotactic polymer from C_s titanium catalyst has the molecular weight of around 617,000 with PDI of 1.3. The analogues zirconium complexes upon activation with MAO polymerize hexene to give polyhexene having molecular weight of 53,000 (C₃) and 626,000 (pseudo‐C_s) with PDI ranging from 1.2 to 1.4. The MIX‐titanium catalyst prepared from the 50:50 mixture of aminotriols was also able to polymerize 1‐hexene and the GPC traces of the polyhexene suggests that even though the catalyst was formed from the mixture of aminotriols, the C₃ and C_s symmetry of the catalysts retain its originality avoiding the formation of aggregates or polymeric forms. When one of the arms of aminotriol was methylated yield C₂ and meso aminodiol ligands and their corresponding titanium and zirconium complexes gave higher molecular weight polyhexenes with lower PDI (C₂‐Zr‐M_n: 260,000; PDI: 1.05–1.10; mesoZr‐M_n: 220,000; PDI: 1.05–1.10) possibly suggesting that these systems are close to living systems. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 5470–5479, 2007