Theoretical limit of energy consumption for removal of organic contaminants in U.S. EPA Priority Pollutant List by NRTL,UNIQUAC and Wilson models

This paper quantifies the theoretical limit of energy consumption for the removal of 20 representative organic contaminants (9 chlorinated alkyl hydrocarbons, 3 chlorinated alkenes, 3 brominated methanes, 5 aromatic hydrocarbons and their derivatives) in the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) Priority Pollutant List by physical procedures. The general rules of the theoretical limit of energy consumption with different initial concentrations at 298.15 K and 1.01325 × 10⁵ Pa by NRTL, UNIQUAC and Wilson models are obtained from the thermodynamic analysis with our previously established method based on the thermodynamic first and second law. The results show that the waste treatment process needs a high energy consumption and the theoretical limit of energy consumption for organic contaminant removal increases with decreasing initial concentrations in aqueous solutions. The theoretical limit of energy consumption decreases with the more C–H bonds being replaced by C–Cl or C–Br bonds in chlorinated methanes, ethanes, ethenes or brominated methanes except for 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane, and the energy consumption for the removal of chlorinated methanes is higher than that of chlorinated ethanes with the same C–H bonds being replaced by C–Cl bonds. For the removal of chlorinated ethenes, brominated methanes and benzene and its derivatives studied, the energy consumption has corresponding relationship with solubility and the energy consumption is higher for the removal of organics with higher solubility.     

Indirect electrochemical oxidation of substituted polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to corresponding para-quinones with potassium bromide in water–chloroform medium

Indirect electrochemical synthesis of quinone derivatives of a series of substituted anthracene and naphthalene by the electrolysis of aqueous solution of potassium bromide (3.0 M) using Pt anode at constant current density (40 mA/cm²) has been carried out. These reactions resulted in good to excellent yields of the corresponding para-quinones as confirmed by physical and spectral data.     

Thermal stability of solid dispersions of naphthalene derivatives with β-cyclodextrin and β-cyclodextrin polymers

The thermal stabilities of some naphthalene derivatives (1-naphthyl acetate, 2-acetylnaphthalene, 1-naphthol) in β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) inclusion complexes and in β-CD-containing polymeric systems (Polyβ-CD) have been studied using thermal and thermogravimetric analyses and infrared spectroscopy. In β-CD systems, the stability of the 1-naphthyl acetate complex is lower than that of the 2-acetylnaphthalene complex, and both are more stable than the corresponding physical mixtures. For Polyβ-CD systems, the solid dispersions result much more stable than the corresponding β-CD ones, both at room temperature and at 60 °C. In the case of Polyβ-CD, besides the inclusion within CD cavities, the interaction of the guest with the crosslinking network confers an additional stability against volatilization. In contrast, an analogous crosslinked polymer prepared using sucrose instead of β-CD does not retain noticeable amounts of the naphthalene derivatives.     

A mild and environmentally acceptable synthetic protocol for chemoselective α-bromination of β-keto esters and 1,3-diketones

A wide variety of unsubstituted β-keto esters can be brominated chemoselectively to the corresponding α-monobromo-β-keto esters by using a combination of vanadium pentoxide, hydrogen peroxide and ammonium bromide in a biphasic system, dichloromethane-water at 0-5 °C. In addition, α-mono substituted β-keto esters, cyclic β-keto-esters and 1,3-diketones can also be brominated selectively using the same protocol.     

Reactions of diarylvinylidenecyclopropanes with bromine at −100 °C in dichloromethane and ether. A drastic solvent effect

For diarylvinylidenecyclopropanes 1 having two aromatic groups at C-1 position and one methyl group at the C-2 position of cyclopropyl ring, the reaction with bromine at low temperature (−100 °C) produces the brominated indene derivatives 2 and conjugated triene derivatives 3 in high yields in dichloromethane and ether within 10 min, respectively. This drastic solvent effect has been discussed on the basis of previous investigation.     

Determining the stoichiometry and binding constants of inclusion complexes formed between aromatic compounds and β-cyclodextrin by solid-phase microextraction coupled to high-performance liquid chromatography

The complexation of native β-cyclodextrin (CD) and seven aromatic compounds, namely, phenetole, toluene, m-xylene, naphthalene, biphenyl, fluorene and phenanthrene, has been studied for first time utilizing a solid-phase microextraction (SPME)–high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. The stoichiometries of the analyte:β-CD complexes were found to be either 1:1 or 1:2. The formation of 1:2 complexes was confirmed for naphthalene, biphenyl, fluorene, and phenanthrene only when utilizing relatively high concentrations of β-CD (up to 6.6 mM). The 1:2 stoichiometries were confirmed using the classical modified Benesi–Hildebrand (BH) method. The calculated binding constants for 1:1 stoichiometries (K₁) using the SPME method varied from 115.3 M⁻¹ for toluene to 3510 M⁻¹ for phenanthrene, whereas the corresponding values to the 1:2 stoichiometries (K₃) varied from 7.30 × 10⁵ M⁻² for biphenyl to 9.03 × 10⁶ M⁻² for naphthalene.     

Hydrothermal decomposition of brominated epoxy resin in waste printed circuit boards

Brominated flame retardant (BFR), which containing in printed circuit boards (WPCBs), brings a series of environmental and health problems. Hydrothermal technology was applied to decompose brominated epoxy resin in WPCBs at subcritical or supercritical water conditions. The brominated epoxy resin was decomposed into oil and the environmental influence of BFR was eliminated. The experiment was carried out in a 5.7 ml tube reactor and heated by a salt-bath. The variation of degradation rate of brominated epoxy resin with reaction temperature, time and additives were studied. The compositions of liquid products were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). When reaction temperature exceeded 300 °C, retention time stayed over 30 min and alkaline additive existed, more than 80% brominated epoxy resin could be mainly decomposed into phenol, which can be used as chemical material. Two different hydrothermal decomposition pathways were discussed according to the characterization of products. The results indicated that brominated epoxy resin in WPCBs could be handled effectively by hydrothermal decomposition.     

Regioselective, photochemical bromination of aromatic compounds using N-bromosuccinimide

Regioselective nuclear bromination of aromatic compounds is investigated with N-bromosuccinimide as the brominating agent under UV irradiation to afford the corresponding brominated compounds. The reaction proceeds at ambient temperature (30 ± 2 °C) without any catalyst. In most of the reactions, regioselectively mono-brominated products are obtained in good to high yields. The conversion and selectivity for bromination depend on the nature of the substituent on the aromatic ring.     

Garratt–Braverman cyclization on basic alumina: a green protocol with improved selectivity

A green protocol (compared to the existing methodology) for carrying out Garratt–Braverman cyclization has been developed. The method involves stirring a pre-absorbed bispropargyl sulfone/ether/sulfonamide over basic alumina. The reaction with sulfones was over within 10–15 min at room temperature whereas for the ether/sulfonamide the reaction took 6–8 h at 130 °C. The products, aryl naphthalene derivatives, are obtained by simple filtration through Celite, in excellent yields.     

Solid–liquid equilibrium and hydrogen solubility of trans-decahydronaphthalene + naphthalene and cis-decahydronaphthalene + naphthalene for a new hydrogen storage medium in fuel cell system

Solid–liquid equilibrium was measured for benzene + cyclohexane, trans-decahydronaphthalene + naphthalene and cis-decahydronaphthalene + naphthalene under the atmospheric pressure in the temperature range from 226.69 to 353.14 K. The apparatus was specially designed in this study, and it was based on a cooling method. The phase diagram with the complete immiscible solids was observed for the three systems, and the eutectic point was found at x₂ = 0.2709 and T_eu = 232.11 K for benzene + cyclohexane, x₂ = 0.9816 and T_eu = 241.98 K for trans-decahydronaphthalene + naphthalene, and x₃ = 0.9822 and T_eu = 225.74 K for cis-decahydronaphthalene + naphthalene, respectively. Hydrogen solubility was also measured for the two pure substances, trans-decahydronaphthalene and cis-decahydronaphthalene, and the three mixtures, trans-decahydronaphthalene + cis-decahydronaphthalene, trans-decahydronaphthalene + naphthalene, and cis-decahydronaphthalene + naphthalene, in the pressure range from 1.702 to 4.473 MPa at 303.15 K. Considering the solid–liquid equilibrium data, mole ratio of trans-decahydronaphthalene:cis-decahydronaphthalene was set to 50:50, and those of trans-decahydronaphthalene + naphthalene, and cis-decahydronaphthalene + naphthalene to 85:15. The hydrogen solubility increased linearly with the pressure following the Henry's law for all systems. The experimental solubility data were correlated or predicted with the Peng–Robinson equation of state [D.Y. Peng, D.B. Robinson, Ind. Eng. Chem. Fundam. 15 (1976) 59–64; R. Stryjek, J.H. Vera, Can. J. Chem. Eng. 64 (1986) 323–333].     

Rapid IC-ICP/MS method for simultaneous analysis of iodoacetic acids, bromoacetic acids, bromate, and other related halogenated compounds in water

Haloacetic acids (HAAs) and bromate are toxic water disinfection by-products (DBPs) that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has regulated in drinking water. Iodoacetic acids (IAAs) are the emerging DBPs that have been recently found in disinfected drinking waters with higher toxicity than their corresponding chloro- and bromo-acetic acids. This study has developed a new rapid and sensitive method for simultaneous analysis of six brominated and four iodinated acetic acids, bromate, iodate, bromide, and iodide using ion chromatography-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (IC-ICP-MS). Mono-, di- and tri-chloroacetic acids are not detected by this method because the sensitivity of ICP-MS analysis for chlorine is poor. Following IC separation, an Elan DRC-e ICP-MS was used for detection, with quantitation utilizing m/z of 79, 127, and 74 amu for Br, I, and Ge (optional internal standard) species, respectively. Although the primary method used was an external standard procedure, an internal standard method approach is discussed herein as well. Calibration and validation were done in a variety of natural and disinfection-treated water samples. The method detection limits (MDLs) in natural water ranged from 0.33 to 0.72 μg L⁻¹ for iodine species, and from 1.36 to 3.28 μg L⁻¹ for bromine species. Spiked recoveries were between 67% and 123%, while relative standard deviations ranged from 0.2% to 12.8% for replicate samples. This method was applied to detect the bromine and iodine species in drinking water, groundwater, surface water, and swimming pool water.     

Preconcentrative separation of chromium(VI) species from chromium(III) by coprecipitation of its ethyl xanthate complex onto naphthalene

A rapid, sensitive and selective method is described for the determination of chromium(VI) in presence of 100-fold amounts of chromium(III) by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) in conjunction with coprecipitative preconcentration of its ethyl xanthate complex onto naphthalene. The solid mixture consisting of the chromium(VI) complex together with naphthalene is dissolved in 8.0 ml of dimethyl formamide (DMF) and chromium(VI) content was established by FAAS. Calibration graphs were rectilinear over the chromium(VI) concentration in the range 0-200 μg l⁻¹. Five replicate determinations of 20 μg of chromium(VI) present in 1.0 l of sample solution gave a relative standard deviation of 3.1%. The detection limit corresponding to three times the standard deviation of the blank was found to be 0.5 μg l⁻¹. The developed procedure has been successfully utilized for the estimation of chromium(VI), chromium(total) (after oxidation with bromate) and chromium(III) (by subtracting chromium(VI) content from chromium(total) value contents of several tannery industries.     

A highly efficient and environmentally benign synthesis of 6,8-dibromoflavones, 8-bromoflavones, 5,7-dibromoaurones and 7-bromoaurones

Various ring substituted 6,8-dibromoflavones (3a-e) as well as 8-bromoflavones (3f-j) can be synthesized easily from the corresponding 2′-hydroxychalcones (1a-j) in good yields and in two steps under environmentally benign reaction conditions. This can be achieved by bromination with concomitant cyclization by using a combination of vanadium pentoxide, hydrogen peroxide and ammonium bromide in dichloromethane-water at 0-5 °C, followed by dehydrobromination of the brominated products 2a-j using 0.2 M ethanolic KOH solution at ice-bath temperature. On the other hand, various 5,7-dibromoaurones and 7-bromoaurone derivatives 6a-c can be obtained, exclusively, from the corresponding 2′-acetoxychalcones (4a-c) in good yields and in two steps by tuning the reaction conditions.     

NRET from naphthalene labels in multilayer shell wall on melamine formaldehyde microparticles fabricated with layer-by-layer self-assembly to pyrene-labeled polyelectrolyte in solution

Core-shell colloidal particles were prepared with the core of monodisperse melamine formaldehyde particles (MF) with a diameter of 3.5 μm. The shell deposited on the core by the layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly was made with a copolymer ANp3 of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonate sodium (AMPS) and 3 mol% naphthalene label monomer and poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PD). Nonradiative energy transfer (NRET) from the naphthalene labels deposited on the MF particles to pyrene labels at a polyelectrolyte APy3, a copolymer of AMPS and 3 mol% pyrene label monomer, or to an ionic pyrene probe 1-pyrenemethylamine hydrochloride (PyMeA · HCl) in water was observed. The NRET efficiency was expressed as the emission intensity ratio I/I₀ of naphthalene with and without existence of pyrene in the surrounding solution. With increasing pyrene concentration, I/I₀ decreased down to about 0.2 and the mechanism for this NRET from the inner naphthalene label to the pyrene labels in solution is still ambiguous.     

Ring-opening reactions of arylvinylidenecyclopropanes with diaryl diselenide upon heating: formation of 1,2-diarylselenocyclopentene derivatives

Arylvinylidenecyclopropanes undergo a novel reaction upon heating at 150 °C with diaryl diselenide to give the corresponding 1,2-diarylselenocyclopentene derivatives in good to high yields within 1.5 h. The further transformation of 1,2-diarylselenocyclopentene derivatives has been disclosed.     

Solvent-free mechanochemical chlorination of hydrocarbons with CuCl2

Solvent-free chlorination of biphenyl and naphthalene was performed under mechanochemical stressing by high-energy ball milling (HEM) of a mixture of CuCl₂ (95 wt %) and the hydrocarbon (5 wt %). The reactivity of the selected hydrocarbons towards CuCl₂ during HEM partially correlates with their ionisation potentials (IP): hexadecane (9.91 eV) > biphenyl (8.27 eV) > naphthalene (8.14 eV).     

Synthesis and further studies of chemical transformation of the 2‐aryl‐3‐halogenoquinolin‐4(1H)‐one derivatives

The C‐3 brominated and iodinated derivatives were prepared from the corresponding 2‐arylquinolin‐4(1H)‐ones and their NMe‐4‐oxo derivatives using pyridinium tribromide in acetic acid or iodine‐Na₂CO₃ mixture in THF. The results of further studies of chemical transformation of the prepared α‐haloenones and preliminary antitumour activity of the 3‐bromo NH‐4‐oxo and NMe‐4‐oxo derivatives are also described.     

ZnCl2-catalyzed [4 + 2] benzannulation of 2-ethynylbenzaldehydes with alkynes: Selective synthesis of naphthalene derivatives

Zn-catalyzed [4 + 2] benzannulation of 2-ethynylbenzaldehydes with alkynes is described for the selective synthesis of naphthalene derivatives. In the presence of ZnCl₂, a variety of 2-ethynylbenzaldehydes underwent the [4 + 2] benzannulation reactions with alkynes to selectively afford the corresponding naphthalene derivatives in moderate to good yields.     

Avoiding the classical resolution during the synthesis of MeO-BIPHEP and 3,3′-disubstituted derivatives

The Ullmann coupling of 1 (R = H) gives a 2:1 mixture of diastereomers 2 (R = H) in 81% yield that are easily separated by silica gel chromatography. This procedure avoids the generally cumbersome and sometimes difficult resolution step with DBTA. Similar Ullmann couplings and separation of the corresponding diastereomers are employed with other derivatives of 1 (R = OtBu, iPr, Ph, and mesityl) ultimately affording a new series of 3,3′-disubsituted-MeO-BIPHEP derivatives. The use of these new derivatives in palladium-catalyzed asymmetric Heck reaction, Pd-catalyzed polyene cyclizations and rhodium-catalyzed hydrogenations is also reported.     

Characterization and application of a new ultraviolet derivatization reagent for amino acids analysis in capillary electrophoresis

A new ultraviolet (UV) labeling reagent, p-acetamidobenzenesulfonyl fluoride (PAABS-F), was designed and synthesized to label and determine the amino acids by capillary electrophoresis (CE) with diode-array detector (DAD). PAABS-F is very stable and easy to synthesize. It reacted with primary or secondary amino acids very quickly under facile conditions to give corresponding derivatives in high yield with excellent sensitivity and stability. No by-products were observed in amino acid derivatives when stored at room temperature under natural daylight for at least 7 days. Both amino acids standard solution and real samples reacted with this new UV labeling reagent smoothly to form high UV-absorption derivatives. The labeled 20 standard amino acids were efficiently separated by CE and the mass detection limits (S/N = 3) were ranged from 59.3 fmol for l-tryptophan to 1.70 pmol for l-histidine.