Dew points of binary carbon dioxide + water and ternary carbon dioxide + water + methanol mixtures: Measurement and modelling

Dew points for four carbon dioxide + water mixtures between 1.2×10⁵ and 41.1×10⁵ Pa in the temperature range from 251.9 to 288.2 K, and eight carbon dioxide + water + methanol mixtures between 1.2×10⁵ and 43.5×10⁵ Pa and temperatures from 246.0 to 289.0 K were experimentally determined. The experimental results obtained on the binary and ternary systems were analysed in terms of a predictive excess function–equation of state (EF–EOS) method, which reproduced the experimental dew point temperature data with absolute average deviation (AAD) between 0.8 and 1.8 K for the systems with water, and from 0.0 to 2.7 K for the systems with water and methanol. The experimental results obtained for carbon dioxide + water mixtures, with molar fraction of water lower than 0.00174, at pressure values higher than 5×10⁵ Pa were also compared to a predictive equation of state model. It reproduced experimental dew point temperature data with AAD between 0.2 and 0.6 K.     

Isothermal PρT measurements on Qatar’s North Field type synthetic natural gas mixtures using a vibrating-tube densimeter

Pressure–density–temperature (PρT) measurements of five natural gas mixtures that represent Qatar’s North Field natural gas reservoirs were carried out at temperatures from (250 to 450) K and at pressures up to 65 MPa by using a Anton Paar® (Graz, Austria) vibrating tube densimeter DMA 512P high-pressure cell. Total 20 isotherms from 250 K by 10 K intervals up to 450 K were measured. Experimental density data were compared with two main industry standard equations of state (EOS) namely AGA8-DC92 EOS and GERG2008 EOS. Comparisons of the experimental data with respect to AGA8-DC92 EOS and GERG2008 EOS resulted in prediction deviation ranges of (0.05 to −0.5)% and (0.25 to −0.5)% respectively.     

Conformational properties of the bisphenol-A polycarbonate using the RMMC method

The conformational properties of the bisphenol-A polycarbonate (PC) were studied using the rotational-isomeric-state metropolis Monte Carlo (RMMC) simulations adopting a polymer consistent forcefield (pcff). The conformations of a single PC chain were generated at theta condition in a wide range of molar mass. When the maximum bond number for non-bonded interactions is set to 5, the conformation corresponds to the unperturbed state. The probability that the dihedral bond pairs of diphenyl propane (DPP) groups exist at two minima of energy where the bond angles are (50.5, 50.5) and (−49.5, 129.5) is 3.4×10⁻⁴ at 300 K. The probability of the trans–trans form of diphenyl carbonate (DPC) groups is 6.3×10⁻⁴ at 300 K, and is reduced to 2.1×10⁻⁴ as temperature increases to 600 K. The limiting unperturbed dimension in terms of mean-square end-to-end distance over molar mass (〈r²〉/M) is 1.01 Å² mol/g. From intrinsic viscosity calculated with the radius of gyration (S), it was found that the gyration or the conformation of the PC chain at 300 K is closer to that of dilute solutions in chloroform at 293 K or in p-dioxane at 303 K than in tetrahydrofuran (THF) solution at 297 K. In future studies, the conformation obtained from the RMMC method here will be used as an initial structure to perform the molecular dynamics simulation in order to investigate interfacial properties of the PC bulk.     

Ab initio calculations and mechanism of two proton migration reactions of ethoxy radical

We present a direct ab initio and density functional theory dynamics study of the thermal rate constants of the two H-migration reactions of C₂H₅O radical. MPW1K/6-31+G(d,p) methods were employed to optimize the geometries of all stationary points and to calculate the minimum energy path (MEP). The energies of all the stationary points were refined at the QCISD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ level of theory. The thermal gas phase rate constants were evaluated based on the energetics from the QCISD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ//MPW1K/6-31+G(d,p) level of theory using both microcanonical variational transition state theory (μVT) and canonical variational transition state theory (CVT) with the Eckart tunneling correction in the temperature range of 200–2500 K. The extended Arrhenius expression fitted from the μVT/Eckart rate constants of 1,2 H-shift and 1,3 H-shift reactions of C₂H₅O radical in the temperature range of 200–2500 K are k = 3.90 × 10⁻³¹T^12.4e^{(−2.13 × 103/T)} and k = 2.83 × 10⁻²⁹T^11.9e^{(−2.24 × 103/T)} s⁻¹, respectively. The two isomerization rate constants exhibited positive temperature dependence in the calculated temperature region. The variational effects for the two isomerizations of ethoxy radical are small and the tunneling effects are important in the low temperature range. The titled reactions are minor and not essential compared to the decomposition pathways of ethoxy radical.     

On the kinetics of thermal electron attachment to perfluoroethers

In this Letter we report the results of the measurements of the rate coefficients for thermal attachment to several perfluoroethers namely perfluorodiglyme (C₆F₁₄O₃), perfluorotriglyme (C₈F₁₈O₄), perfluoropolyether (CF₃–(OCF(CF₃)CF₂)_n–(OCF₂)_m–OCF₃) and perfluorocrownether ((C₂F₄O)₅). Rate coefficients were obtained under thermal conditions in the temperature range 298–378 K. The increase of the rates with temperature follows the Arrhenius law and the activation energies have been obtained from the slope of the ln(k) vs. 1/T. The respective values of the rate coefficients (at 298 K) and activation energies are as follows: 7.7 ± 1.2 × 10^?11 cm³ s^?1 (0.18 ± 0.005 eV), 6.7 ± 2.1 × 10^?11 cm³ s^?1 (0.25 ± 0.004 eV), 2.1 ± 0.2 × 10^?10 cm³ s^?1 (0.16 ± 0.010 eV), 3.1 × 10^?11 cm³ s^?1 (0.27 ± 0.003 eV) for C₆F₁₄O₃, C₈F₁₈O₄, CF₃–(OCF(CF₃)CF₂)_n–(OCF₂)_m–OCF₃ and (C₂F₄O)₅.     

The determination of cysteine at Bi-powder carbon paste electrodes by cathodic stripping voltammetry

The determination of cysteine by means of square wave cathodic stripping voltammetry (SWCSV) is reported here for the first time at Bi-modified carbon paste electrodes (CPEs). The modified electrodes are 17% w/w metallic Bi powder mixed with CP (Bi-CPEs) and the technique is based on the enhancement of Bi surface oxidation in the presence of cysteine at a carefully chosen accumulation potential and the subsequent reduction-stripping of the product (proposed to be bismuth(III) cysteinate) by potential scanning to more negative values. The wide concentration range of 1 × 10⁻⁶–5 × 10⁻⁵ M for cysteine can be assessed by SWCSV using Bi-CPEs and, by appropriate choice of accumulation times, two linear response concentration regimes could be identified: 1 × 10⁻⁶–1 × 10⁻⁵ M (accumulation for 600 s) and 1 × 10⁻⁵–5 × 10⁻⁵ M (accumulation for 100 s), with estimated detection limits of 3 × 10⁻⁷ and 2 × 10⁻⁶ M, respectively.     

Liquid density of oxygenated additives to biofuels: 2-Butanol at pressures up to 140 MPa and temperatures from (293.15 to 393.27) K

This work reports new density data (159 points) of 2-butanol at seven temperatures between (293.15 and 393.27) K and 23 pressures from (0.1 to 140) MPa (every 5 or 10 MPa). An Anton Paar vibrating tube densimeter, calibrated with an uncertainty of ±0.7 · 10⁻³ g · cm⁻³, was used to perform these measurements. The experimental density data were fitted with the Tait-like equation with low standard deviations. In addition, the isobaric thermal expansivity and the isothermal compressibility have been derived from the Tait-like equation.     

Electron excitation coefficients of neutral and ionic levels of krypton in Townsend discharges

In this paper, we present experimental results for excitation coefficients of krypton atoms to several Kr and Kr⁺ excited levels for E/N (electric field to gas particle number density ratio usually in units of Townsend, 1 Td = 10^− 21 V m²) values from 7 × 10^− 20 V m² to above 1 × 10^− 17 V m². The data have been obtained in two different parallel plate self-sustained Townsend discharge drift tubes. The spatial distribution of the emission intensities were recorded and then normalized to give excitation coefficients at the anode, by using the electron flux at this point. The values of these coefficients are placed on an absolute scale by using a standard tungsten ribbon lamp calibrated against a primary blackbody radiation standard. The ionization rates at different E/N are obtained from the spatial emission profiles.The data for atomic krypton levels 2p₂, 2p₃, 2p₅, 2p₆, 2p₇, 2p₈, 3p₅ and 3p₆ (in Paschen notation) were converted to excitation coefficients by using quenching coefficients from the literature. The emission coefficients of eight 4s²4p⁴ (³P)5p levels of Kr⁺ have also been measured for E/N values from about 1 × 10^− 18 V m² up to nearly 8 × 10^− 18 V m².     

Simultaneous determination of acetaminophen,dopamine and ascorbic acid using a PbS nanoparticles Schiff base-modified carbon paste electrode

A highly sensitive method was investigated for the simultaneous determination of acetaminophen (AC), dopamine (DA), and ascorbic acid (AA) using a PbS nanoparticles Schiff base-modified carbon paste electrode (PSNSB/CPE). Differential pulse voltammetry peak currents of AC, DA and AA increased linearly with their concentrations within the ranges of 3.30 × 10⁻⁸–1.58 × 10⁻⁴ M, 5.0 × 10⁻⁸–1.2 × 10⁻⁴ M and 2.50 × 10⁻⁶–1.05 × 10⁻³ M, respectively, and the detection limits for AC, DA and AA were 5.36 × 10⁻⁹, 2.45 × 10⁻⁹ and 1.86 × 10⁻⁸ M, respectively. The peak potentials recorded in a phosphate buffer solution (PBS) of pH 4.6 were 0.672, 0.390, and 0.168 V (vs Ag/AgCl) for AC, DA and AA, respectively. The modified electrode was used for the determination of AC, DA, and AA simultaneously in real and synthetic samples.     

Investigation of O7+ swift heavy ion irradiation on molybdenum doped indium oxide thin films

Molybdenum (0.5 at%) doped indium oxide thin films deposited by spray pyrolysis technique were irradiated by 100 MeV O⁷⁺ ions with different fluences of 5×10¹¹, 1×10¹² and 1×10¹³ ions/cm². Intensity of (222) peak of the pristine film was decreased with increase in the ion fluence. Films irradiated with the maximum ion fluence of 1×10¹³ ions/cm² showed a fraction of amorphous nature. The surface microstructures on the surface of the film showed that increase in ion fluence decreases the grain size. Mobility of the pristine molybdenum doped indium oxide films was decreased from ～122 to 48 cm²/V s with increasing ion fluence. Among the irradiated films the film irradiated with the ion fluence of 5×10¹¹ ions/cm² showed relatively low resistivity of 6.7×10^?4 Ω cm with the mobility of 75 cm²/V s. The average transmittance of the as-deposited IMO film is decreased from 89% to 81% due to irradiation with the fluence of 5×10¹¹ ions/cm².     

Application of a laser produced plasma: Experimental Stark widths of single ionized lead lines

The optical emission spectroscopy from laser produced plasma generated by a 10,640 Å radiation, with an irradiance of 1.4 × 10¹⁰ W cm^− 2 on several lead targets, in vacuum and in an atmosphere of argon, was recorded and analyzed between 1900 and 7000 Å. The Local Thermodynamic Equilibrium conditions and plasma homogeneity have been checked. Stark widths for 31 lines of Pb II have been measured. These lines measured in this work correspond to the transitions 7s → 6p, n(n = 8, 9, 10)s → 7p, n(n = 7, 8)p → 7s, n(n = 7, 8)p → 6p², n(n = 7, 8)d → 7p, n(n = 5, 6)f → 6d, n(n = 5, 6)f → 6p². The population level distribution and the corresponding temperatures were obtained using Boltzmann plots. The plasma electron densities were determined using well-known Stark broadening parameters of spectral lines. Special attention was dedicated to the possible self-absorption of the different transitions. Temporal evolution of the plasma parameters was studied between 0.1 and 9 μs. Stark broadening parameters of the spectral lines were measured at 2.5 μs where the electron temperature was close to 11,300 K and the electron density to 0.8 × 10¹⁶ cm^− 3. The experimental results obtained have been compared with the experimental and theoretical values given by other authors. A systematic trend of this parameter versus temperature of 4244.9 Å Pb II line has been presented.     

Densities and derived thermodynamic properties of 1-heptanol and 2-heptanol at temperatures from 313 K to 363 K and pressures up to 22 MPa

Experimental densities were determined in liquid phase for 1-heptanol and 2-heptanol at temperatures from 313 K to 363 K and pressures up to 22 MPa using a vibrating tube densimeter. Water and nitrogen were used as reference fluids for the calibration of the vibrating tube densimeter. The uncertainties of the experimental measurements in the whole range of reported data are estimated to be ±0.03 K for temperature, ±0.008 MPa for pressure, and ±0.20 kg · m^?3 for density. The experimental data are correlated using a short empirical equation of six parameters and the 11-parameter Benedict–Webb–Rubin–Starling equation of state (BWRS EoS) using a least square optimization. Statistical values to evaluate the different correlations are reported. Published density data of 1-heptanol are compared with values calculated with the 6-parameter equation using the parameters obtained in this work. The experimental data determined here are also compared with an available correlation for 1-heptanol. Densities of 2-heptanol at high pressure were not found in the literature and the data reported here represent the first set of data reported in the literature. Isothermal compressibilities and isobaric thermal expansivity are calculated using the 6-parameter equation for both alcohols within uncertainties estimated to be ±0.025 Gpa^?1 and ±4 × 10^?7 K^?1, respectively.     

A voltammetric study of the binding of copper(II) to peptide fragments of prion

Binding of copper to three peptide fragments of prion (Cu²⁺ binding sites: 60–91, 92–96 and 180–193 amino acid residues) was investigated by anodic stripping voltammetry to determine the stoichiometries of Cu²⁺-prion peptide interactions. The method relies on the synthesis of N-terminally acetylated/C-terminally amidated peptide fragments of prion by solid-phase synthesis and direct monitoring of the oxidation current of copper in the absence and presence of each prion fragment. Titration curves of Cu²⁺ with Ac-PHGGGWGQ-NH₂, Ac-GGGTH-NH₂ and Ac-VNITKQHTVTTTT-NH₂ were obtained in concentrations ranging from 8.52 × 10^?7 to 5.08 × 10^?6, 3.95 × 10^?7 to 1.94 × 10^?6 and 7.82 × 10^?8 to 4.51 × 10^?7 M, respectively. The acquired data were used to calculate the stoichiometries (one peptide per Cu²⁺ ion for all the three studied systems) and apparent dissociation constants (K_d = 4.37 × 10^?8–3.50 × 10^?10 M) for the three complexes.     

Hydrogen production from hydrogen sulfide using membrane reactor integrated with porous membrane having thermal and corrosion resistance

Using mathematical model and experimental method, the thermal decomposition of hydrogen sulfide in membrane reactor with porous membrane which has Knudsen diffusion characteristics was investigated. With mathematical model, the effect of characteristics of membrane reactor and operating conditions on H₂ concentration in the permeate chamber, y_H2, which increases at higher reaction temperature, lower pressure and higher ratio of cross-sectional area of the permeate chamber to that of the reactor, was evaluated. The reaction experiments with ZrO₂–SiO₂ porous membrane were carried out under the following conditions: temperature T, 923–1023 K; pressure in the reactor p^R_T, 0.11–0.25 MPa absolute; pressure in the permeate chamber p^P_T, 5 kPa absolute and inlet flow rate of H₂S f⁰_H2S, 3.2×10⁻⁵–1.5×10⁻⁴ mol/s. At p^R_T=0.11 MPa and f⁰_H2S=6.4×10⁻⁵, y_H2 increased from 0.02 at T=923 K to 0.15 at 1023 K. With the experimental condition, p^R_T=0.11, T=1023 K and f⁰_H2S=3.2×10⁻⁵, y_H2 was 0.22. The experimental results were compared with the results of the mathematical analysis. The agreement between both the results is found rather good at a lower reacting temperature, but not so good at a higher reacting temperature.     

A 3D-impedimetric immunosensor based on foam Ni for detection of sulfate-reducing bacteria

A 3D-immunosensor based on simple and efficient trapping platform (foam Ni) combining with adsorption of gold nanoparticles and specific recognition of biological/chemical molecular has been reported for detection of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The impedance spectra were also used to characterize the successful construct and stepwise modification of the impedimetric immunosensors. This results show that a linear relationship between electron-transfer resistance (R_ct) values and the logarithm of the SRB concentrations was obtained for the SRB concentration range of 2.1 × 10¹–2.1 × 10⁷ cfu/ml. Additionally, the fabricated immunosensor shows a high selectivity against other bacteria.     

Effect of gamma irradiation on cell lysis and polyhydroxyalkanoate produced by Bacillus flexus

Bacillus flexus cultivated on sucrose and sucrose with plant oil such as castor oil produced polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), a homopolymer of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) and PHA copolymer (containing hydroxybutyrate and hexanoate), respectively. Gamma irradiation of these cells (5–40 kGy) resulted in cell damage and aided in the isolation of 45% and 54% PHA on biomass weight, correspondingly. Molecular weight of PHB increased from 1.5×10⁵ to 1.9×10⁵ after irradiation (10 kGy), with marginal increase of tensile strength from 18 to 20 MPa. At the same irradiation dosage, PHA copolymer showed higher molecular weight increase from 1.7×10⁵ to 2.3×10 ⁵ and tensile strength from 20 to 35 MPa. GC, GC–MS, FTIR and ¹H NMR were used for the characterization of PHA. Gamma irradiation seems to be a novel technique, to induce cross-linking and molecular weight increase of PHA copolymer and aid in easy extractability of intracellular PHA, simultaneously.     

A highly stable cylindrical microwave cavity resonator for the measurement of the relative permittivities of gases

We present a new and highly stable cylindrical microwave cavity resonator designed for the measurement of the relative permittivities of gases. The cylinder has an internal volume of just 5.7 cm ³, which makes it the smallest such a resonator reported to date. The equipment and procedure used to measure the resonance frequencies and halfwidths with fractional random errors better than  ±  6 · 10 ^− 7and  ±  4 · 10 ^− 3, respectively, are described. We have developed also an analytical model which describes the cylinder’s resonant behaviour with a fractional accuracy of the order of  ±  10 ^− 6. Our model includes a novel method for determining the perturbation due to the presence of an opening in the boundary wall which is shown to be in excellent agreement with experimental results.     

Isothermal pVTmeasurements on gas hydrocarbon mixtures using a vibrating-tube apparatus

Measurements of the ( pρT) properties of three natural gas mixtures were carried out at temperatures from 265 K to 335 K and at pressures up to 15 MPa using a densimeter consisting mainly of a DMA 512P measuring cell and a DMA 60 evaluating unit (Anton Paar, Graz, Austria). Four isotherms {(253.15, 273.15, 293.15 and 323.15) K} and seven pressure levels from 0.1 MPa to 15 MPa were investigated for each natural gas mixture at densities ranging from 6 kg · m  ^− 3to 212 kg · m  ^− 3. The natural gas mixtures were two real gases from transport pipelines systems of natural gas distributors in the Czech Republic. One sample contained natural gas with nitrogen addition. Four equations of state were examined. The relative deviations of calculated density values from the EOS ranged from (  − 5.8 to 1.8) per cent. The best results were obtained from the AGA8-DC92 EOS, with the relative deviations of calculated density value being within the range (  − 0.02 to 0.02) per cent.     

Selective determination of drug resistant cancer cells on indium tin oxide electrode modified with nano titanium dioxide

A new electrochemical cell sensor, with low cost, simple fabrication, high selectivity and sensitivity was developed in this study. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nano-TiO₂) were assembled on the disposable indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes for the immobilization of the drug sensitive leukemia K562/B.W. cells and drug resistant leukemia K562/ADM cells to fabricate the relative cell sensors. The different electrochemical behaviors of the probe allowed us to differentiate one type of leukemia cells from another. Furthermore, the results of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy indicated that the detection limit of the new cell sensor is 1.3 × 10³ cells ml^?1 with a linear range of 1.6 × 10⁴ to 1.0 × 10⁷ cells ml^?1. These results suggested the promising application of this nano-TiO₂ interface to construct the non-labeling potential-discriminative cell biosensors for clinical uses.     

Thermochemical study of the isomeric compounds: 3-acetylbenzonitrile and benzoylacetonitrile

The standard (p° = 0.1 MPa) molar enthalpies of formation of 3-acetylbenzonitrile and benzoylacetonitrile, in the crystalline phase, were derived from the respective standard massic energies of combustion measured by static bomb combustion calorimetry, in oxygen, at T = 298.15 K. The standard molar enthalpies of sublimation, at T = 298.15 K, were measured by Calvet microcalorimetry. From the above experimentally determined enthalpic parameters, the standard molar enthalpies of formation in the gaseous phase, at T = 298.15 K, are found to be: (52.4 ± 2.1) kJ · mol⁻¹ and (74.8 ± 2.5) kJ · mol⁻¹ for 3-acetylbenzonitrile and benzoylacetonitrile, respectively.Molecular structures were computed using highly accurate ab initio techniques. Standard molar enthalpies of formation of the experimentally studied compounds were derived using an appropriate set of working reactions. Very good agreement between the calculated and the experimental values was obtained, so the calculations were extended to the estimates of the standard molar enthalpies of formation of 2- and 4-acetylbenzonitriles whose study was not performed experimentally.Our results were further interpreted and rationalized in terms of the enthalpic stability and compared to other relevant disubstituted benzenes.