Investigations into the formation and characterization of microemulsions. I. Phase diagrams of the ternary system water—sodium alkyl benzene sulfonate—hexanol and the quaternary system water—xylene—sodium alkyl benzene sulfonate—hexanol

The phase diagrams of the ternary system water—sodium alkylbenzene sulfonate (NaDBS)-hexanol and the quaternary system water—xylene—NADBS—hexanol have been established at three different temperatures, namely 25, 37, and 50°C. The different phases formed have been qualitatively examined using optical (phase contrast and polarizing) microscopy. The textures of the various liquid crystalline phases in the ternary system have been identified, by comparison with previous studies in the literature. Some of the liquid crystalline phases have been quantitatively assessed using low angle X-ray diffraction. The latter measurements were also used to determine the unit cell dimensions in the various phases studied. With the quaternary system, particular attention was paid to the transparent region which consisted of an L₂ (inverse micellar) phase extending into another transparent region which has a blue “tinge” in some cases, namely the microemulsion (M) region. The amount of water solubilized in the L₂ (reverse micelle) or M + L₂ phase was calculated from the phase diagrams. With the ternary system the results showed a maximum in moles of water solubilized per mole total surfactant (NaDBS + hexanol) at a concentration of 0.3 mole surfactant, at an optimum molar ratio of n-hexanol to NaDBS of 4.5:1. This maximum was about twice with the quaternary system, when compared with that of the ternary system, indicating the importance of the role of xylene in solubilization of water by the surfactants. The present investigation has also shown that the extent of the microemulsion region is significantly reduced by increases of temperature when the NaDBS is lower than 15 wt%.     

Review of: “Physico-Chemical Properties of Selected Anionic Cationic and Nonionic Surfactants”. N.M van Os,J.R. Haak and L.M. Rupert (Eds.). Elsevier,Amsterdam, 1993, pp. viii + 608 pages. $245.75.(ISBN 0-444-89691-0)

The phase behavior in water of pentaglycerol monostearate (C₁₈G₅) and pentaglycerol monooleate (C_18:1G₅) surfactants has been studied as a function of temperature and surfactant weight fraction, W _s . The equilibrium phases present at each composition and temperature studied were characterized by means of visual observation under normal and polarized light, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and X‐ray scattering, both at small (SAXS) and at wide angle (WAXS). In the temperature range 0–46°C, C₁₈G₅ presents a thermotropic α‐gel structure. However, at higher temperatures, the α‐gel phase melts and a lamellar liquid crystalline (L_α) phase is formed. The amount of water that can be solubilized by α‐gel and L_α was determined by plotting the interlayer distance, d, as a function of the reciprocal of W _s . Water is soluble in the α‐gel phase up to 21 w/w% water concentration and in the L_α phase up to 30 w/w% water concentration. At higher water concentrations, excess water appears and a dispersion of α‐gel (α‐gel+W) and lamellar liquid crystal (L_α+W) in water is formed, respectively. In contrast, C_18:1G₅ is liquid in the whole range of temperatures studied (0–100°C). While at low temperatures, C_18:1G₅ presents a L_α structure, at about 63°C L_α melts and an isotropic liquid reverse micellar solution (O_m) phase is formed. The amount of water that can be solubilized by both O_m and L_α increases with temperature.     

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     

Thermal study of zinc(II) 4-chlorosalicylate complex compounds with bioactive ligands

Three new complex compounds of general formula Zn{4-ClC₆H₃-2-(OH)COO}₂⋅L₂⋅nH₂O (where L=thiourea (tu), nicotinamide (nam), caffeine (caf), n=2,3), were prepared and characterized by chemical analysis, IR spectroscopy and their thermal properties were studied by TG/DTG, DTA methods. It was found that the thermal decomposition of hydrated compounds starts with the release of water molecules. During the thermal decomposition of anhydrous compounds the release of organic ligands take place followed by the decomposition of salicylate anion. Zinc oxide was found as the final product of the thermal decomposition performed up to 650°C. RTG powder diffraction method, IR spectra and chemical analysis were used for the determination of products of the thermal decomposition.     

Studies on the kinetics of growth of silver nanoparticles in different surfactant solutions

We produced gels using electrolytic-reduction ion water and magnesium aluminum silicates (smectone^®), and evaluated in detail gel properties in the presence of various types of salt (NaCl, KCl, CaCl₂, MgCl₂, and AlCl₃). Each salt was added to deionized-distilled water or electrolytic-reduction ion water, and phase diagrams for the smectone^® concentration (2.0–4.0%) were produced. The areas of the three phases of smectone^® (gel, sol, and separation) at each salt concentration were expressed as percentages of the total area. As a result, uni- and polyvalent cations (excluding Ca²⁺ ions) affected the stability of gels produced using electrolytic-reduction ion water, and, particularly, univalent cations (Na⁺, K⁺) markedly improved gel stability.Using electrolytic-reduction ion water as a dispersal medium, drug delivery systems (DDS) that can maintain the gelling state can be prepared. Thus, gel preparations with maintained functions or controlled-release transdermal drugs can be obtained.     

Lyotropic Liquid Crystals Formed by Brij 97/PEO‐PPO‐PEO Mixtures

The phase diagrams of Brij 97/(PEO)_m(PPO)_n(PEO)_m/water/IPM quaternary systems (A L‐64: m=13, n=30; A L‐62: m=7, n=32; A L‐61: m=3.5, n=31) were determined at 25°C. The liquid crystalline phases (lamellar L_αand hexagonal H₁) were investigated by means of small angle x‐ray scattering (SAXS) and rheological techniques, with comparison of composition and component effects. The lamellar phases formed in Brij 97/A L‐64 and Brij 97/A L‐62 systems array more orderly than that of Brij 97/A L‐61 system, indicated by the stronger intensity of the second reflection peak in the SAXS patterns and the higher moduli (G′ and G″) in the dynamic rheograms. In Brij 97/A L‐64/water/IPM system, all L_α phases exhibit elastic rheograms, moreover the viscous property get increased with increase in water content. On the other hand, with this change, the H₁ phases show Maxwell and gel‐like rheograms in order, in which the latter shows mechanical and relaxation spectra typical of highly structured materials.     

Thermal study of zinc(II) salicylate complex compounds with bioactive ligands

Five new complex compounds of general formula Zn(Hsal)_2·L₂·nH₂O (where Hsal=OHC₆H₄COO^-, L=thiourea (tu), nicotinamide (nam), caffeine (caf), theobromine (tbr), n=2-4), were prepared and characterized by chemical analysis, IR spectroscopy and studied by methods of thermal analysis (TG/DTG, DTA). It was found that the thermal decomposition of hydrated compounds starts with the release of water molecules. During the thermal decomposition of anhydrous compounds the release of organic ligands take place followed by the decomposition of salicylate anion. Zinc oxide was found as the final product of the thermal decomposition heated up to 800°C. RTG powder diffraction method, IR spectra and chemical analysis were used for the determination of products of the thermal decomposition. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Preferential solvation of lysozyme by dimethyl sulfoxide in binary solutions of water and dimethyl sulfoxide

To reveal the denaturation mechanism of lysozyme by dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), thermal stability of lysozyme and its preferential solvation by DMSO in binary solutions of water and DMSO was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and using densities of ternary solutions of water (1), DMSO (2) and lysozyme (3) at 298.15 K. A significant endothermic peak was observed in binary solutions of water and DMSO except for a solution with a mole fraction of DMSO (x ₂) of 0.4. As x ₂ was increased, the thermal denaturation temperature T _m decreased, but significant increases in changes in enthalpy and heat capacity for denaturation, ΔH _cal and ΔC _p, were observed at low x ₂ before decreasing. The obtained amount of preferential solvation of lysozyme by DMSO (∂g ₂/∂g ₃) was about 0.09 g g⁻¹ at low x ₂, indicating that DMSO molecules preferentially solvate lysozyme at low x ₂. In solutions with high x ₂, the amount of preferential solvation (∂g ₂/∂g ₃) decreased to negative values when lysozyme was denatured. These results indicated that DMSO molecules do not interact directly with lysozyme as denaturants such as guanidine hydrochloride and urea do. The DMSO molecules interact indirectly with lysozyme leading to denaturation, probably due to a strong interaction between water and DMSO molecules.     

AIE Fluorescent Gelators with Thermo‐, Mechano‐, and Vapochromic Properties

A series of aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) fluorescent gelators (TPE‐C_n‐Chol) were synthesized by attaching tetraphenylethylene (TPE) to cholesterol through an alkyl chain. The properties of the gel, nano‐/microaggregate, and condensed phases were studied carefully. TPE‐C_n‐Chol molecules form AIE fluorescent gels in acetone and in DMF. Their fluorescence can be reversibly switched between the “on” and “off” states by a gel–sol phase transition upon thermal treatment. The AIE properties of aggregated nano‐/microstructures in acetone/water mixtures with different water fractions were studied by using fluorescence spectrometry and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In different acetone/water mixtures, the TPE‐C_n‐Chol molecules formed different nano‐/microaggregates, such as rodlike crystallites and spherical nanoparticles that showed different fluorescence colors. Finally, the condensed phase behavior of TPE‐C_n‐Chol was studied by using polarizing microscopy (POM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), fluorescence spectrometry, fluorescence optical microscopy, and wide‐angle X ray scattering (WAXS). The clover‐shaped TPE unit introduced into the rodlike cholesterol mesogen inhibits not only the formation of a liquid‐crystal phase but also recrystallization upon cooling from the isotropic liquid phase. Very interestingly, TPE‐C_n‐Chol molecules in the condensed state change their fluorescence color under external stimuli, such as melting, grinding, and solvent fuming. The phase transition is the origin of these thermo‐, mechano‐, and vapochromic properties. These findings offer a simple and interesting platform for the creation of multistimuli‐responsive fluorescent sensors.     

Thermal behaviour of new Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes with macrocyclic ligands functionalised with 1,2,4-triazole

The investigations concerning the thermal behaviour of a series of Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes of type [NiLCl₂]·mH₂O ((1) L:L₁, m=6; (3) L:L₂, m=4) or [CuLCl]_nCl _n ·mnH₂O ((2) L:L₁, m=6; (4) L:L₂, m=4) are presented. The ligands L(1) and L(2) have been synthesised by template condensation of 3,6-diazaoctane-1,8-diamine or 1,2-diaminoethane with formaldehyde and 2-amino-4H-1,2,4-triazole. The bonding and stereochemistry of the complexes have been characterised by IR, electronic and magnetic studies at room temperature. The in vitro qualitative and quantitative antimicrobial activity assays showed that the complexes exhibited variable antimicrobial activity against planktonic as well as biofilm embedded Gram-negative, Gram-positive and fungal strains. The thermal behaviour provided confirmation of the complexes composition as well as the number and nature of water molecules and the intervals of thermal stability.     

A novel three‐dimensional framework constructed by 2‐[(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)methyl]‐1H‐benzimidazole and infinite chains of hydrogen‐bonded water molecules

A novel three‐dimensional framework of 2‐[(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)methyl]‐1H‐benzimidazole dihydrate, C₁₁H₁₀N₄·2H₂O or L·2H₂O, (I), in which L acts as both hydrogen‐bond acceptor and donor in the supramolecular construction with water, has been obtained by self‐assembly reaction of L with H₂O. The two independent water molecules are hydrogen bonded alternately with each other to form a one‐dimensional infinite zigzag water chain. These water chains are linked by the benzimidazole molecules into a three‐dimensional framework, in which each organic molecule is hydrogen bonded by three water molecules. This study shows that the diversity of hydrogen‐bonded patterns plays a crucial role in the formation of the three‐dimensional framework. More significantly, as water molecules are important in contributing to the conformation, stability, function and dynamics of biomacromolecules, the infinite chains of hydrogen‐bonded water molecules seen in (I) may be a useful model for water in other chemical and biological processes.     

Thermal degradation studies on some lanthanide—edta complexes containing hydrazinium cation

Lighter and heavier lanthanide(III) ions react with dihydrazinium salts of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (H4edta) in aqueous solution to yield hydrazinium lanthanide ethylenediaminetetraacetate hydrate, N₂H₅[Ln(edta)(H₂O)₃]·(H₂O)₅ where Ln=La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb and Dy. The numbers of water molecules present inside the coordination sphere have been confirmed by X-ray single crystal studies. The presence of five water molecules as lattice water is clearly shown by the mass loss from the TG analyses. Dehydration of a known amount (1 g) of each sample were carried out at constant temperature (100–110°C) for about 5 min further confirms the number of non-coordinated water molecules. The complexes after the removal of lattice water undergo multi-step decomposition to give respective metal oxide as the final product. The DTA shows endotherms for dehydration and exotherms for the decomposition of the anhydrous complexes. The formation of the metal oxides was confirmed by X-ray powder diffraction studies.     

Organogels from liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons

It is shown that n-butane, condensed in autoclave, can readily dissolve the anionic surfactant AOT (bis-2-ethylhexylsodium sulphosuccinate) and that this solution solubilizes water up tow ₀=molar ratio/water-AOT).The microemulsion can be transformed into a gel by solubilizing gelatin in the water microphase. These microemulsion gels are characterized by a very high viscosity (several hundred poise). However, the partial vapour pressure of the n-butane component in the gel is as high as in the liquid state. Infrared studies show that part of the water in the gel is still free.Stability diagrams of this system and¹H-NMR studies to assess the state of water are presented. Analogously to reverse micelles from liquid hydrocarbons, the chemical shift of water protons is shifted to higher fields with respect to bulk water. This effect increases with decreasing temperature andw ₀. At loww ₀ values (< 10), a part of the water in the micelles does not freeze even at –35°C.Due to the rapid evaporation of n-butane from the gel, gelatin films can be prepared simply by casting. Differential scanning calorimetry studies of the gels (from n-butane as well as from isooctane and other hydrocarbons) show that the films have a thermal stability comparable with, and sometimes higher than, gelatin films prepared by conventional methods. Preliminary permeability studies of these films with solutions of amino acid derivatives and with gas such as nitrogen and helium are presented.     

Studies of Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Cd(II) chelates with different phosphonic acids

Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Cd(II) chelates with 1-aminoethylidenediphosphonic acid (AEDP, H₄L¹), α-amino benzylidene diphosphonic acid (ABDP, H₄L²), 1-amino-2-carboxyethane-1,1-diphosphonic acid (ACEDP, H₅L³), 1,3-diaminopropane-1,1,3,3-tetraphosphonicacid (DAPTP, H₈L⁴), ethylenediamine-N,N′-bis(dimethylmethylene phosphonic)acid (EDBDMPO, H₄L⁵), O-phenylenediamine-N,N′-bis(dimethyl methylene phosphonic)acid (PDBDMPO, H₄L⁶), diethylene triamine-N,N,N′,N′,N″N″-penta(methylene phosphonic)acid (DETAPMPO, H₁₀L⁷) and diethylene triamine-N,N″-bis(dimethyl methylene phosphonic)acid (DETBDMPO, H₄L⁸) have been synthesised and were characterised by elemental and thermal analyses as well as by IR, UV–VIS, EPR and magnetic measurements. The first stage in the thermal decomposition process of these complexes shows the presence of water of hydration, the second denotes the removal of the coordinated water molecules. After the loss of water molecules, the organic part starts decomposing. The final decomposition product has been found to be the respective MO·P₂O₅. The data of the investigated complexes suggest octahedral geometry with respect to Co(II) and Ni(II) and tetragonally distorted octahedral geometry with respect to Cu(II). Antiferromagnetism has been inferred from magnetic moment data. Infrared spectral studies have been carried out to determine coordination sites.     

A Million Turnover Molecular Anode for Catalytic Water Oxidation

Molecular ruthenium‐based water oxidation catalyst precursors of general formula [Ru(tda)(Lⁱ)₂] (tda^2? is [2,2′:6′,2′′‐terpyridine]‐6,6′′‐dicarboxylato; L¹=4‐(pyren‐1‐yl)‐N‐(pyridin‐4‐ylmethyl)butanamide, 1 b ; L²=4‐(pyren‐1‐yl)pyridine), 1 c ), have been prepared and thoroughly characterized. Both complexes contain a pyrene group allowing ready and efficiently anchoring via π interactions on multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT). These hybrid solid state materials are exceptionally stable molecular water‐oxidation anodes capable of carrying out more than a million turnover numbers (TNs) at pH 7 with an E_app=1.45 V vs. NHE without any sign of degradation. XAS spectroscopy analysis before, during, and after catalysis together with electrochemical techniques allow their unprecedented oxidative ruggedness to be monitored and verified.     

Characterization of the pore-surface gel phase in functionalized macroporous polymeric materials

Covalently immobilized pore-surface gel phases were prepared in a functionalized macroporous ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene by covalent coupling of lightly cross-linked polymer colloid particles [50% styrene, 49.8% (chloromethyl)stryrene, 0.2% divinylbenzene] to the interstitial pore surfaces. Swelling the covalently coupled colloid particles in a good solvent followed by chemical derivitization resulted in an immobilized pore-surface gel phase rich in primary amine groups. The macromolecular reactivity and molecular size-exclusion characteristics of the aminated pore-surface gel phase were then determined using monofunctional, amine-reactive, poly (ethylene glycol)s (PEG). Pegylated pore-surface gel phases that ranged from 71% (10,000 molecular weight PEG) to 56% (40,000 molecular weight PEG) PEG by weight resulted from reaction of the aminated gel phase with the PEG probe molecules. The number of PEG molecules reacting with the aminated pore-surface gel phase depends only on the Flory radius (or radius of gyration) of the PEG molecule to the negative 2.49th power i.e., 1/R _f ^2.49, corresponding to a M^−1.48 dependence. The immobilized and pegylated polymer colloid particles swell by a factor of 16–25 times the diameter of the original polymer colloid particles in water, thereby demonstrating that pegylation occurred though a substantial fraction of the volume of the immobilized colloid particles. Received: 18 January 1999 Accepted in revised form: 8 June 1999     

Linear Solvation Energy Relationships in the Determination of Specificity and Selectivity of Stationary Phases

The retention of fifty structurally different compounds has been studied using linear solvation energy relationships. Investigations were performed with the use of six various stationary phases with two mobile phases (50/50 % v/v methanol/water and 50/50 % v/v acetonitrile/water). Packing materials were home-made and functionalized with octadecyl, alkylamide, cholesterol, alkyl-phosphate and phenyl molecules. This is the first attempt to compare all of these stationary phases synthesized on the same silica gel batch. Therefore, all of them may be compared in more complex and believable way, than it was performed earlier in former investigations. The phase properties (based on Abraham model) were used to the classification of stationary phases according to their interaction properties. The hydrophilic system properties s, a, b indicate stronger interactions between solute and mobile phase for most of the columns. Both e and v cause greater retention as a consequence of preferable interactions with stationary phase by electron pairs and cavity formation as well as hydrophobic bonds. However, alkyl-phosphate phase has different retention properties, as it was expressed by positive sign of s coefficient. It may be concluded that most important parameters influencing the retention of compounds are volume and hydrogen bond acceptor basicity. The LSER coefficients showed also the dependency on the type of organic modifier used as a mobile phase component.

     

Spectro-thermal characterization of chromium(III) and manganese(II) complexes with carboxyamide

Complexes of Cr(III) and Mn(II) with N′,N″-bis(3-carboxy-1-oxopropanyl) 2-amino-N-arylbenzamidine (H₂L¹) and N′,N″-bis(3-carboxy-1-oxophenelenyl) 2-amino-N-arylbenzamidine (H₂L²) have been synthesized and characterized by various physico-chemical techniques. The vibrational spectral data are in agreement with coordination of amide and carboxylate oxygen of the ligands with the metal ions. The electronic spectra indicate octahedral geometry around the metal ions, supported by magnetic susceptibility measurements. The thermal behavior of chromium(III) complexes shows that uncoordinated nitrate is removed in the first step, followed by two water molecules and then decomposition of the ligand; manganese(II) complexes show two waters removed in the first step, followed by removal of the ligand in subsequent steps. Kinetic and thermodynamic parameters were computed from the thermal data using Coats and Redfern method, which confirm first order kinetics. The thermal stability of metal complexes has been compared. X-ray powder diffraction determines the cell parameters of the complexes.     

Thermal Analysis of Manganese(II) Complexes With L-proline and L-hydroxyproline

The thermal decomposition reactions of manganese(II) complexes with L-proline and 4-hydroxy- L-proline were studied. The Mn(II) proline complex loses the water molecule at 40–95°C and then, heated above 250°C it decomposes in several steps to manganese oxide. The most appropriate kinetic equations for dehydration process are the geometrical R2 or R3 ones. They give a value of activation energy, E of about 95 kJmol^–1. The Mn(II) hydroxyproline complex loses the water molecules in two stages (70–110 and 110–230°C) and next it decomposes to manganese oxide in several steps. The R3 or D3 (three-dimensional diffusion) models are the most appropriate for the first stage of dehydration (E is about 155 kJ mol^–1). The second step of dehydration is limited by D3 mechanism (E=52 kJ mol^–1). This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.