Characterization of Starch/Acrylic Acid Super‐Absorbent Hydrogels Prepared by Ionizing Radiation

Copolymerization of acrylic acid (AAc) and gelatinized maize starch in aqueous medium using γ‐irradiation, followed by neutralization with alkali solution was carried out. The preparation conditions, such as irradiation dose and starch/AAc compositions were investigated. The higher the irradiation dose, as well as the AAc content in the feed solution, the higher the gel content. The copolymers were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, thermo‐gravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SEM revealed that the higher the dose, the lower the copolymer pore size. Starch/AAc copolymers have thermal stability higher than that for starch and poly acrylic acid individually. The swelling of starch/AAc hydrogels reduced as the gel content increases. The maximum water absorption obtained for starch/AAc hydrogels in distilled water was 200 g/g, and for neutralized starch/AAc hydrogels was 350 g/g. The swelling ratio of starch/AAc hydrogels of different compositions in NaCl solution is lower than that obtained in distilled water. The results suggest that the neutralized starch/AAc hydrogels have a high swelling property, and can be used in a variety of commercial applications.     

New “Green” Polysaccharidal Inhibitor of Gas Hydrate Formation on the Basis of Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium Salt

Thermobaric conditions of gas hydrate formation in the presence of the carboxymethylcellulose sodium salt were studied under conditions of a quasi-equilibrium thermodynamic experiment. It is established that this polysaccharide slows down the rate and changes the conditions of gas hydrate formation, showing the properties of the thermodynamic and kinetic inhibitor with an efficiency exceeding 300 times the methanol when used in the same dosages.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Polyurethanes Based on Oligo(ϵ-caprolactone) Prepared by Free-Metal Method

The oligoester diols were synthesized via ring-opening polymerization of ?-caprolactone in the presence of creatinine and diethylene glycol or 1,4-butanediol as initiator systems. Thus, obtained oligomers were successfully used in the synthesis of segmented polyurethanes. The oligoester diols (poly(?-caprolactone) and dihydroxy(polyethylene adipate)) were reacted with 4,4′-methylenebis(phenyl isocyanate) in the presence of 1,4-butanediol as the chain extender to obtain polyurethanes. The physical and mechanical properties of polyurethanes were determined. The structures of the oligoesters and polyurethanes were elucidated by means of NMR, IR and MALDI-TOF MS studies.     

A New Humidity-Sensitive Material Based on PPBT Prepared with Palladium Complex Catalyst

IntroductionIn recent years, there has been an increasing interest in humidity sensors in various fields such as air-conditioning systems, medical and industrial equipment, etc. The research on humidity sensors, which focused on looking for suitable polymeric humidity-sensitive materials, has attracted more and more attention with some encouraging results1.Poly(propargyl benzoate) is a hydrophilic polymer with (-conjugated structure. In the past 30 years, the synthesis of poly(propargyl alcoho…     

Adsorption of Uranyl Ions into Poly(Acrylamide‐co‐Acrylic Acid) Hydrogels Prepared by Gamma Irradiation

Acrylamide (AAm)/Acrylic Acid (AAc) copolymers have been prepared by gamma irradiation of binary mixtures at three different compositions where the acrylamide/acrylic acid mole ratios varied around 15, 20, and 30%. Threshold dose for 100% conversion of monomers into hydrogels was found to be 8.0 kGy. Poly(Acrylamide‐co‐Acrylic Acid) (poly(AAm‐co‐AAc)) hydrogels have been considered for the removal of uranyl ions from aqueous solutions. Swelling behavior of these hydrogels was determined in distilled water at different pH values and in aqueous solutions of uranyl ions. The results of swelling tests at pH 8.0 indicated that poly(AAm‐co‐AAc) hydrogel, containing 15% acrylamide showed maximum % swelling. Diffusion of water and aqueous solutions of uranyl ion into hydrogels was found to be non‐Fickian in character and their diffusion coefficients were calculated. The effect of pH, composition of hydrogel, and concentration of uranyl ions on the adsorption process were studied at room temperature. It was found that one gram of dry poly(AAm‐co‐AAc) hydrogel adsorbed 70–320 mg and 70–400 mg uranyl ions from aqueous solutions of uranyl nitrate and uranyl acetate in the initial concentration range of 50–1500 mg UO₂ ²⁺L^?, depending on the amount of AAc in the hydrogels, respectively. Adsorption isotherms were constructed for poly(AAm‐co‐AAc)–uranyl ion system indicating an S type of adsorption in the Giles classification system. It is concluded that crosslinked poly(AAm‐co‐AAc) hydrogels can be successfully used for the removal of uranyl ions from their aqueous solutions.     

Development and Characterization of Liposome‐Based Formulation of Amiloride Hydrochloride

Amiloride hydrochloride, a generally used diuretic recently has been found effective in the treatment of epilepsy. The side effects of the drug, such as hyperkalemia, hypertension, and hyperaldosteronism were controlled by reducing the dose and targeting the drug to the brain. The objective of this study was to determine the factors influencing encapsulation of amiloride hydrochloride in liposomes and to demonstrate the anti‐epileptic potential of liposomal drug. A series of liposomal formulations of amiloride hydrochloride were prepared by varying the compositions of the formulations. The optimized formulation consisted of 10 mg/mL of amiloride hydrochloride, L‐phosphatidyl choline, lecithin, cholesterol, and butylated hydroxy toulene. The percentage entrapment efficiency in the optimized formulation was 44%. The drug to lipids ratio and L‐phosphatidyl choline: lecithin: cholesterol: butylated hydroxy toulene ratios were 2.0:3.0 and 5:5:5:2, respectively. The formulation showed an in vitro release of 98.17% in 8 hours, and the best fit kinetic model was Peppas model. Treatment with amiloride hydrochloride liposomes resulted in a significant increase in seizure threshold as compared to free drug in increasing current electroshock seizures in mice, which indicated an increase in CNS uptake of drug in liposome formulation.     

Platinum Nanoparticles Supported on Graphite Nanofibers Prepared by Microwave Irradiation and Its Electrocatalytic Activity

Platinum nanoparticles supported on graphite nanofibers (GNFs) were prepared by microwave assistant heating polyol process. TEM images showed that microwave prepared Pt nanoparticles supported on GNFs were small and uniform, and the average diameter was about 3.4 nm. Cyclic voltammetric test showed that Pt/GNFs exhibited very high electrocatalytic activity for methanol oxidation.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Polyimides Based on Pyridine-containing Diamine

A new aromatic diamine monomer containing pyridine unit, 2,6-bis （4-aminophenoxy- 4＇-benzoyl）pyridine（BABP）, was synthesized in three steps, starting from 2,6-pyridinedicarboxyl chloride. A series of novel pyridine-containing polyimides were prepared v/a the polycondensation of BABP with various aromatic dianhydrides through poly（amic acid） precursors, and thermal or chemical imidization of the precursors. The polyimides exhibit desirable properties, e.g., good solubility in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone and m-cresol, excellent thermal stability and film-forming capability, as well as high inherent viscosity, indicating high molecular weight.     

Photo-induced Synthesis and Characterization of Poly（methyl methacrylate） Grafted Sodium Salt of Partially Carboxymethylated Guar Gum

Photo-induced graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate（MMA） onto sodium salt of partially carboxymethylated guar gum（Na-PCMGG, DS = 0.291） was carried out in an aqueous medium using ceric ammonium nitrate（CAN） as photoinitiator to synthesize a novel graft copolymer, Na-PCMGG-g-PMMA, which may find its potential application as a metal adsorbent. The influences of synthesis variables such as concentrations of photoinitiator（CAN）, nitric acid and monomer（MMA） as well as reaction time, temperature and amount of substrate on the grafting yields were studied and the reaction conditions for optimum photo-grafting were evaluated. At optimum concentration, the maximum values of the grafting yields achieved were G = 271.61% and GE = 63.89%. The experimental results were found to be in very good agreement with the proposed kinetic scheme. The photo-graft copolymerization of MMA onto Na-PCMGG（ DS = 0.291） was also carried out in the presence and absence of ultraviolet radiation for studying the efficiency of the photoinitiator. The influence of carboxymethyl groups introduced onto the guar gum molecules with regard to its behavior towards ultra-violet radiation induced grafting with MMA was also investigated. Photo-grafting process was confirmed and the products were characterized with the help of the spectroscopic（1H-NMR and FTIR） and SEM techniques.     

Facile Synthesis of 2‐Amino‐1,4‐naphthoquinones catalyzed by Molecular Iodine under Ultrasonic Irradiation

The conjugate addition reactions of amines with 1,4‐naphthoquinone were catalyzed efficiently by molecular iodine under ultrasonic irradiation to afford 2‐amino‐1,4‐naphthoquinones in moderate to excellent yields.     

Acid‐Catalysed Selective Monoiodination of Electron‐Rich Arenes by Alkali Metal Iodides

Abstract

The reaction of electron‐rich arenes with alkali metal iodides such as sodium and potassium iodides in the presence of conc. H₂SO₄ gives p‐iodoarenes in high yields.     

Long‐Term Stabilization of the Activity of Ascorbate Oxidase Adsorbed on a Porous Carbon Material by Polymaleimidostyrene

Abstract

The biological catalysts adsorbed on the carbon surface gradually lost their activities. In order to prolong stabilization of the enzyme activity, polymaleimidostyrene (PMS) was used to preserve enzyme conformation. Sulfhydryl and amino groups of enzyme or biological tissue can be covalently bound to PMS. By using the carbon material coated by PMS, the stability of L‐ascorbic acid sensor response using purified enzyme was significantly improved, and its initial response was not decreased at all for 150 days, although the purified enzymes adsorbed to the carbon without PMS lost their activity 22.5% after 10 days.     

Synthesis and Characterization of the First Pyrrolidine‐Based Chiral Ionic Liquids

The first example of pyrrolidine‐based room‐temperature chiral ionic liquids using 2‐aminobutanol as chiral auxiliary is described.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Hydrogels Based on Gamma Radiation Copolymerization of N‐isopropylacrylamide and Ethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate Monomers

Hydrogels based essentially on N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) and different ratios of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) monomer were synthesized by gamma radiation copolymerization. The thermal decomposition behavior of NIPAAm/EGDMA hydrogels was determined by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The effect of temperature and pH on the swelling behavior was also studied. The results showed that the ratio of EGDMA in the comonomer feeding solution has a great effect on the yield product, gel fraction and water content in the final hydrogel. In this regard, it was observed that the increase of EGDMA ratio decreased these properties. The TGA study showed that all the compositions of NIPAAm/EGDMA hydrogels displayed higher thermal stability than the hydrogel based on pure PNIPAAm hydrogel. The swelling kinetics in water showed that pure PNIPAAm and NIPAAm/EGDMA hydrogels reached equilibrium after 6 h. However, NIPAAm/EGDMA hydrogels show swelling in water lower than pure PNIPAAm. The results showed that the swelling character of pure PNIPAAm and NIPAAm/EGDMA hydrogels was affected by the change in temperature within the temperature range 25–40°C, and showed a reversible change in swelling in the pH range 4–7 depending on composition.     

Structural Characterization of a Polyaluminosilazane Precursor Prepared by Polymerizing Hexamethylcyclotrisilazane with Aluminum Acetylacetonate

A new polyaluminosilazane precursor was prepared by polymerizing hexamethylcydotrisilazane (HMCTS) with aluminum acetylacetonate and the structure of the precursor was characterized by FF-IR and XPS analysis. Result shows that aluminum was incorporated mainly in form of Al--N bond. Oxygen was also detected and found that it was mainly bonded to silicon.     

Thermal and Microwave‐Assisted Conjugate Additions of Indole on Electron‐Deficient Nitro‐olefins

Conjugate addition of indole on nitro‐olefins was carried out by three different methods: (i) thermal heating in a sealed tube, (ii) reaction with indolyl magnesium iodide, and (iii) microwave irradiation. Comparison of the results indicated that the microwave technique is most efficient.     

Characterization of Nested Hollow Inorganic Fullerene-like Tungsten Disulfide Nanoparticles Prepared by Solid-Gas Reaction

Non-carbon inorganic fullerene-like(IF) nanoscale materials have recently attracted intense interest due to their nested hollow and nanotube structures,In this letter,IF-WS2 nanoparticles prepared by solid-gas reaction were characterized by X-ray diffraction,Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy.The results show that the IF-WS2 nanoparticles have a nested hollow closed spherical structure with diameter of 100-150mm.