Qualitative degradation of the pesticide coumaphos in solution,controlled aerosol,and solid phases on quaternary ammonium fluoride polymer brushes

With the growing demand for measurements of organophosphate (OP) pesticide use in agriculture along with the potential threat of OP‐based chemical warfare agents, there is a need for new devices or surfaces that can quickly degrade OPs into less toxic substances in a variety of environments. Using surface‐initiated atom transfer radical polymerization and post‐polymerization synthesis, we prepared a series of quaternary ammonium fluoride‐based polymer brushes designed to absorb and degrade OPs. Specifically, a polymer brush was formed using 2‐dimethylamino‐ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) as monomer, which, following post‐polymerization quaternization of the tertiary amine with alkylating agents and fluoride ion exchange, afforded the OP‐reactive polymer surfaces. Poly(DMAEMA) brushes were grown to thicknesses of ~100 nm on silicon wafers and glass slides and characterized by ellipsometry, atomic force microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. Quaternization and subsequent ion exchange of the brushes were characterized by Raman spectroscopy and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, respectively. The interaction of the brushes with OPs was evaluated using the OP‐based pesticide coumaphos, through the presence of the highly fluorescent degradation product chlorferon; analyzed qualitatively via fluorescence microscopy; and confirmed via nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry. We found that the fluoride form of the brush reliably degraded coumaphos deposited via controlled solution‐based applications and aerosol applications (electrohydrodynamic jetting) and from microcontact printing of the dried solid directly onto the brush. No degradation was seen for coumaphos deposited on poly(DMAEMA) or the iodide form of the quaternized brush. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

High temperature solid state transformations in Jammu bauxite

Thermal reactions of Jammu bauxite heated to different temperatures from 950°–1900°C were studied by X-ray powder diffraction method. The formation of mullite by the aluminasilica reaction at temperature 1200°–1400°C and then the transformation of mullite to a glassy phase around 1900°C has also been discussed in detail.     

Effect of crystallization temperature on the crystalline phase content and morphology of poly(vinylidene fluoride)

The effect of temperature on the crystallization of α, β, and γ phases of PVDF from dimethylacetamide (DMA) solution was studied. Variation in the crystallinity content of these three phases was obtained as a function of temperature using infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and x-ray diffraction techniques. Such variation is related to the dependence of the crystallization rate of each phase with temperature, and allowed a better understanding of some results found in the literature about the crystallization and interconversion of these phases. Micrographs of samples present morphologies that corroborate with the proposed explanations. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

The hydrothermal decomposition of aluminum fluoride trihydrate. Kinetics and mechanism

The hydrothermal decomposition of AlF₃.3H₂O in water suspension was investigated by chemical and X-ray analyses at temperatures ranging from 114 to ca. 143°C. It was found that this process runs from a trihydrate to a monohydrate composition according to a zero order rate equation to give subsequently Al(OH,F)₃.H₂O and β -AlF₃.H₂O direct from solution and α -AlF₃.H₂O by conversion of solid trihydrate. Reactions involved in the process are discussed in detail.     

Vibrational analysis study of aluminum trifluoride phases

The vibrational modes of three solid AlF3 phases (alpha, beta, and amorphous high surface area AlF3) are investigated. Calculations have been performed using hybrid exchange correlation functionals to determine the equilibrium geometries and Gamma-point phonon frequencies for the alpha-AlF3 and beta-AlF3 phases. The calculated optical modes are in excellent agreement with experiment. The IR absorption of the amorphous, glasslike high surface area (HS)-AlF3 is also discussed. Deconvolution of the broad envelope of IR stretches and bending vibrations identifies the components of the observed broad band. From the IR vibrational spectrum it has been shown that both short-range and medium-range disorder are present within HS-AlF3. Structural phase transitions are identified by their phase transition temperature Tc, measured by thermal analysis.     

Positronium in solid phases of phenanthrene

Temperature dependence of positronium formation in phenanthrene was investigated. On crossing the solid-solid phase transition point in both directions a sharp decrease of positronium creation probability was observed. The effect is discussed in terms of formation of an unstable phase, and of possible pyroelectricity of phenanthrene.     

High temperature structures and orientational disorder in compressed solid nitrogen

An experimental study of the phase transitions at high temperature in compressed solid nitrogen has been performed using Raman spectroscopy. Knowledge of the equilibrium phase diagram in the region of the ordered epsilon phase and the two disordered delta and deltaloc phases, at pressures between 10 and 20 GPa, has been extended up to 500 K. The Raman scattering line shape and line width of the active vibrons has been measured accurately, along isobaric scans, across the phase transitions. Analysis of the width and of its different behavior with increasing temperature in the three phases led to more precise conclusions about the nature of the disorder in the different phases. Observation of an evident shoulder in the nu2 band of the deltaloc phase suggests the possibility that sites of two different symmetries may be occupied by the disk molecules in this structure.     

High temperature gas chromatography: The development of new aluminum clad flexible fused silica glass capillary columns coated with thermostable nonpolar phases: Part 2

Samples, representative of certain classes of “high molecular weight” and/or less volatile substances, were analyzed by gas chromatography utilizing a new generation of aluminum clad flexible fused silica glass capillary columns containing thin films of a methyl polysioxane stationary phase capable of being operated isothermally to 400–425°C and temperature programmed to 425–440°C. The results obtained here were compared with those described in the literature discussing the latest advances in Supercritical Fluid Chromatography (SFC) in the analysis of precisely the same types of samples. In all instances, the gas chromatographic method provided superior speed of analysis, superior column efficiency, and superior resolution of the component bands. This was due to fundamental factors, favoring the diffusivity of the solutes in both the gas and liquid phases in this process at these high temperatures. Under these circumstances, it is thought that the strength of SFC mainly lies in the analysis of thermally labile samples until the advocates of this technique make more definitive strides in the handling of still higher molecular weight substances well beyond the newly expanded range of gas chromatography.     

High temperature gas chromatography: The development of new aluminum clad flexible fused silica glass capillary columns coated with thermostable nonpolar phases: Part 1

With the simultaneous development of blank aluminum clad flexible fused silica glass capillary tubing capable of withstanding temperatures up to 500°C, coincident with a series of special high temperature methyl polysiloxane polymers, it was possible to produce for the first time, long lived fused silica capillary columns containing thin films of thermostable stationary phases which could be maintained isothermally at 400425°C and temperature programmed to 425–440°C. The “bleed rate” here for a well conditioned column was 5 picoamperes or less. Under these circumstances, alkanes with carbon numbers in the C-90 to C-100 area were rapidly and efficiently eluted from these columns. By extrapolation here, one can easily detect certain compounds with boiling points in the 750°C range. Since this type of capillary column was found to possess certain favorable properties, it was thought that it will soon replace the packed column and will probably be more popular than the borosilicate capillary column for many high temperature applications. Moreover, evidence has now accumulated which leads us to further believe that the majority of analyses of “high molecular weight” compounds performed by Supercritical Fluid Chromatography (SFC), utilizing very narrow bore fused silica capillary columns at several hundred atmospheres, can be much more simply, much more rapidly, much more economically, and much more efficiently accomplished by gas chromatography utilizing this new generation of high temperature capillary columns.     

Medium effects on zwitterionic-biradicaloid intermediates from two phenyl-alpha-oxoamides. Irradiations in fluid and solid protic media, neat solid phases, and the solid, smectic and isotropic phases of a completely saturated phosphonium salt at different temperatures

The photochemical processes of two N,N-dialkyl phenyl-alpha-oxoamides, N,N-diisopropyl phenyl-alpha-oxoamide (1) and N,N-dibenzyl phenyl-alpha-oxoamide (2), are investigated at different temperatures in methanol and ethylene glycol (to probe the influences of H-bonding and viscosity), in the solid phase of D-sorbitol at room temperature (to compare with the results in the liquid alcohols and to assess the influence of a poorly organized "stiff" environment), in the neat solid phase (to probe the influence of well-ordered, "stiff" matrices), and in the solid, smectic A2 and isotropic phases of methyl-tris-tetradecylphosphonium tetrafluoroborate (1P14BF4) (to assess the ability of the intermediates to respond to subtle changes in the order and polarity of their local environments). From differences between the activation parameters for product pathways from irradiations in methanol and in 1P14BF4, we conclude that the zwitterionic pre-product intermediate from 1 is much more sensitive to the polarity, viscosity and order of its local environment than is the isomeric pre-product biradicaloid intermediate or either of the pre-product intermediates from 2. A very sensitive balance among the medium parameters, as well as internal steric and electronic factors of 1 and 2, controls the reactive pathways of the photochemically generated intermediates.     

Isothermal crystallization of poly(vinylidene fluoride) in the presence of high static electric fields. II. Effect of crystallization temperature and electric field strength on the crystal phase content and morphology

The melt crystallization of poly(vinylidene fluoride) in a static electric field was studied for different fields strengths and undercooling conditions. The γ-phase nucleation process was examined directly by polarized optical microscopy and indirectly by small-angle light scattering. The crystal phase content was assessed by differential scanning calorimetry. It is shown that the γ-phase nucleation density and γ-phase content increase with field strength and that the higher the crystallization temperature, the larger the effect of the field. These experimental results confirm the predictions of the model of nucleation in an electric field that we published previously. It is also noted that the degree of crystallinity and the perfection of crystal orientation along the γ-phase spherulite radical direction decrease with field strength. The homogeneity of morphology resulting from the crystallization in the field is also examined by polarized optical microscopy on specimens microtomed across their thickness. When the crystallization is carried out under high field (E ≈ 0.1 MV/cm) and high temperature (T > 166°C) a nonuniform morphology results, characterized by a higher nucleation density at the positive electrode than at the negative electrode. Near the negative electrode very large disklike spherulites are seen to grow parallel to the substrate.     

The reaction of aluminum fluoride solution with cryolite

The title reaction was investigated kinetically and the products obtained were analyzed and examined by physicochemical methods. The reaction was found to result in the formation of NaAlF₄.H₂O and its solid solutions with aluminum fluoride with compositions down to Na_0.5AlF_3.5.1.3H₂O, except in the presence of chiolite seed crystals, which cause the reaction to give it as the final product.It was suggested that the solid solution are brought about by coprecipitation of approximately monohydrated hexagonal ° -AlF₃ direct from solution, both compounds being presumably isostructural each other.Differences in the infrared spectra of Na₂AlF₆, Na₅Al₃F₁₄ and NaAlF₄.H₂O were indicated.Homogenous mixtures of Na₃AlF₆ and NaAlF₄.H₂O are found to react exothermally at 350°C to give Na₅Al₃F₁₄, while NaAlF₄.H₂O alone decomposes into Na₅Al₃F₁₄ and AlF₃.     

High temperature solid state catalytic isotope exchange with deuterium and tritium

A method for synthesizing tritium- or deuterium-labeled amino acids, peptides and biogenic amines through high temperature solid state catalytic isotope exchange (HSCIE) is proposed. The dependence of the degree of isotope exchange in HSCIE on the structure of the compound, the reactivity of hydrogen at different carbon atoms and the conditions of the process has been examined. If HSCIE is performed in the temperature range of 373 to 413K, the selectivity of isotopic label incorporation comes to 70% or higher. When the tritium label is introduced into peptides, they retain the configuration of asymmetric atoms, even upon the substitution of tritium for hydrogen at the -carbon atoms of the amino acid residues. HSCIE at 453–513K leads to an even distribution of the isotopic label over the organic compound molecule. The results of³H NMR spectroscopy highlighting the distribution of the tritium label in the organic compound molecules are presented. The configuration of asymmetric atoms in amino acids is preserved to a high extent upon 80–90% substitution of isotopes for hydrogen atoms.Presented at the 12th Radiochemical Conference, Marianské Lazné May 7–11, 1990.     

Positronium in solid phases of long-chain paraffins

The study of positronium intensity rise in long-chain alkanes shows two kinds of electron traps: the first, which are discharged at low temperature (≈200 K); the other, which remain populated up to the transition point to the rotator phase; e.g. in C₃₀H₆₂ they are still observed at 328 K.In the rigid phase of even-numbered alkanes o-Ps lifetime is shorter than that of odd-numbered ones, due to the difference in the width of gap between the molecular lamellae.     

Coexistence of liquid and solid phases of Bmim-PF6 ionic liquid on mica surfaces at room temperature

In this communication, we report the coexistence of liquid and solid phases of room temperature ionic liquid (IL) [Bmim][PF6] on mica surfaces, observed by tapping mode atomic force microscopy (AFM) in air. Multilayers as well as drop-on-the-layer structures of the ionic liquid are revealed. The solid layers were very stable, and their orientations were affected by the mica lattice, indicating that the ionic liquid undergoes a template-induced ordering process. These results are helpful for advancing the understanding of interfacial structures of ILs on solid surfaces, the analogous structural patterns in both of its solid and liquid phases, and its heterogeneity.     

Effect of fluoride anions on gramicidin photoinactivation sensitized by sulfonated aluminum phthalocyanines.

Interaction of potent photodynamic agents, sulfonated aluminum phthalocyanines (AlPcSn where n is a number of sulfonic groups), with biological membranes was studied here using model systems: sensitized photoinactivation of gramicidin channels in planar lipid bilayers and adsorption on lipid monolayers. Fluoride anions known to form complexes with aluminum were found to inhibit both the adsorption of aluminum phthalocyanines on lipid monolayers, as measured with a Langmuir trough by surface pressure and surface potential changes, and photodynamic efficacy of the dyes, as studied by gramicidin channel photoinactivation. The similar effects were caused by the alkalinization of the medium. Fluoride anions appeared to be much more effective in the case of AlPcS4 as compared to AlPcS3. The suppression of the photodynamic potency of aluminum phthalocyanines was attributed to desorption of the dyes from lipid bilayers induced by fluoride or hydroxyl ions. With AlPcS4 an enhancement of the dye aggregation leading to a decrease in the sensitizing activity was probably involved in the fluoride effect as revealed by absorption and fluorescence spectral measurements. Capillary electrophoresis was employed to understand the mechanism of the dye desorption. The results of these experiments indicated that the reduction in the membrane affinity was associated with an increase in the negative charge of the dye molecules due to the binding of fluoride or hydroxyl ions.