Polymerization of Acrylamide in Aqueous Solution of Poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) at Lower Critical Solution Temperature

Acrylamide (AAm) was found to polymerize in a solution of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) in water at around its lower critical solution temperature (LCST) (32°C) without any initiators. This phenomenon was specifically observed in aqueous solutions of the polymers having LCST such as PNIPAAm and poly(methylvinylether) (PMVE). AAm polymerized only when PNIPAAm and AAm were dissolved in water below LCST of PNIPAAm and then the solution was warmed up to the polymerization temperature (40°C). On the other hand, the polymerization of AAm did not proceed when AAm was added into aqueous PNIPAAm solution during and after the phase separation above 32°C. Furthermore the polymerizability of AAm was remarkably affected by the concentration and molecular weight of the PNIPAAm additives. Under the condition of lower PNIPAAm concentration (0.30 mol/L), the increase in the molecular weight of PNIPAAm considerably increased the molecular weight of the resulting PAAm but decreased the yield of PAAm. Under the condition of higher PNIPAAm concentration (0.60 mol/L) the polymerizability was not so affected by the molecular weight of PNIPAAm, while the molecular weight of PAAm formed by using higher molecular weight PNIPAAm was higher than those of PAAm formed by using lower molecular weight PNIPAAm. Moreover, the molecular weight of PAAm formed by the PNIPAAm induced polymerization of AAm was much higher than that of the polymer obtained by the radical polymerization using AIBN in THF or VA‐ 061 in water.     

Adsorption and Aggregation Behavior in Aqueous Solution of Tetrasiloxane-based Carboxylate Surfactants via “Thiol-ene” Photochemical Reaction

Anionic silicone surfactants have long been a neglected field. In this paper three anionic silicone surfactants were synthesized first time from dichloromethylvinylsilane through hydrolysis-condensation, “thiol-ene” photo- chemical and then salting reaction. The critical aggregate concentration (CAC), surface tension, minimum surface area per surfactant molecule and surface pressure at CAC were studied by both surface tension and electrical conductivity. The results showed that they had significant surface activity at the gas/liquid interface and were capable to reduce the surface tension of water to approximately 20 mN m⁻¹. The results of transmission electron microscopy showed that the three silicone surfactants self-assembled into spherical aggregates of uniform size in aqueous solution above the CAC. The dynamic light scattering results demonstrated that the size of the aggregates was determined to be in the range from 60 to 300 nm at 0.05 mol L⁻¹ and the order of the size of the aggregates is (Me₃SiO)₃SiCO₂Li<(Me₃SiO)₃SiCO₂Na<(Me₃SiO)₃SiCO₂K.     

Features of Preparing the Butyl Acrylate–Acrylonitrile Copolymer by Radiation-Induced Emulsion Polymerization

Some specific features of the radiation-induced emulsion copolymerization of butyl acrylate and acrylonitrile and radiation-induced crosslinking of the resulting copolymer in the latex form were studied. The effect of polymerization conditions on the polymerization rate and the molecular mass of the polymer was determined. The copolymer was shown to undergo efficient crosslinking in the latex form by the action of -radiation. The radiation-chemical yield of crosslinking sites (G) and the average molecular mass (M _c) of chain segments between two adjacent network junctions were determined.     

Study on Dynamic Interfacial Tension of 3‐Dodecyloxy‐2‐hydroxypropyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride at n‐Decane/Water Interface

Dynamic interfacial tension (DIT) and interface adsorption kinetics at the n‐decane/water interface of 3‐dodecyloxy‐2‐hydroxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (R₁₂TAC) were measured using spinning drop method. The effects of R_nTAC concentration and temperature on DIT have been investigated, the reason of the change of DIT with time has been discussed. The effective diffusion coefficient, D _a, and the adsorption barrier, ?_a, have been obtained with extended Word‐Tordai equation. The results show that the higher the concentration of surfactants is, and the smaller will be the DIT and the lower will be the curve of the DIT, and the R₁₂TAC solutions follow a mixed diffusion‐activation adsorption mechanism in this investigation. With increase of concentration in bulk solution of R₁₂TAC from 8×10^?4 mol · dm^?3 to 4×10^?3 mol · dm^?3, D _a decreases from 2.02×10^?10 m^?2 · s^?1 to 1.4×10^?11 m^?2 · s^?1 and ? _a increases from 2.60 kJ · mol^?1 to 9.32 kJ · mol^?1, while with increase of temperature from 30°C to 50°C, D _a increases from 2.02×10^?10 m^?2 · s^?1 to 5.86×10^?10 m^?2 · s^?1 and ε_a decreases from 2.60 kJ · mol^?1 to 0.73 kJ · mol^?1. This indicates that the diffusion tendency becomes weak with increase strength of the interaction between surfactant molecules and that the thermo‐motion of molecules favors interface adsorption.     

The Effects of Salts and Ionic Surfactants on the Micellar Structure of Tri‐Block Copolymer PEO‐PPO‐PEO in Aqueous Solution

The micelles of two poly(ethylene oxide)‐poly(propylene oxide)‐poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO‐PPO‐PEO) block copolymers, P123 and F127 (same mol wt of PPO but different % PEO) in aqueous solution in the absence and presence of salts as well as ionic surfactants were mainly examined by dynamic light scattering (DLS). The study is further supported by cloud point and viscosity measurements. The change in cloud point (CP), as well as the size of micelles in aqueous solution in presence of salts obeys the Hofmeister lyotropic series. Addition of both cationic cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) and anionic sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) surfactants in the aqueous solution of P123 show initial decrease of micellar size from 20 nm to nearly 7 nm and then increasing with a double relaxation mode, further in the presence of NaCl this double relaxation mode vanishes. The effect of surfactant on F127, which has much bigger hydrophilic part is different than P123 and have no double relaxation. The relaxation time distributions is obtained using the Laplace inversion routine REPES. Two relaxation modes for P123 are explained on the bases of Pluronic rich mixed micelles containing ionic surfactants and the other smaller, predominantly surfactant rich micelles domains.     

Spontaneous Vesicle Formation in Mixed Aqueous Solution of Poly-tailed Cationic and Anionic Surfactants

Spontaneous vesicles from the mixed queous solution of poly-talied cationic surfactant PTA and anionic surfactant AOT are firstly obtained.Vesicle formation and characterizations are demonstrated by negative-staining TEM and dynamic light scattering.A monodisperse vesicle system is obtained with a polydispersity of 0.082.Ultrasonication can promote the vesicle formation,Mechanism of vesicle formation is discussed from the viewpoint of molecular interaction.     

A Microcalorimetric Study of Host–Guest Complexes of α-Cyclodextrin with Alkyl Trimethyl Ammonium Bromides in Aqueous Solutions

Interactions between α-CD and three alkyl trimethyl ammonium bromides, a homologues series of surfactants, in aqueous solutions have been investigated with titration microcalorimetry at 298.15 K. The results are discussed in the light of the amphiphilic interaction and the iceberg structure of water molecules existing around the hydrophobic tail of the surfactant. The stoichiometry of the host–guest complex changes from 1:1 to 2:1, as the number of carbon atoms (n) in the hydrophobic chain, C_nH_2n+1, increases from 8 to 14. All the complexes are quite stable, with the apparent experiential stability constants being β₁ = 2.65 × 10³ dm³-mol⁻¹, β₂ = 4.85 × 10⁶ dm⁶-mol⁻², β₂ = 6.50 × 10⁶ dm⁶-mol⁻², respectively for n = 8, 12, 14. All the complexation processes are shown to be enthalpy driven, and the standard enthalpy effect (−ΔH⁰) increases while standard entropy change (ΔS⁰) decreases with elongation of the hydrophobic chain.     

Microwave‐Assisted Dehalogenation of α‐Haloketones by Zinc and Ammonium Chloride in Alcohol

The treatment of α‐haloketones with 1.5 equiv. of Zn and 1 equiv. of NH₄Cl in ethanol for 0.5 min gave the corresponding ketones with excellent yields under microwave irradiation. Vic‐dibromides and 2,2‐dibromoacetophenone can be efficiently debrominated to alkenes and acetophenones, respectively.     

Oxidation of Oxalic Acid in the Ozone–Chloride–Ion Reaction System in an Aqueous Solution

Russian Journal of Physical Chemistry A - It is shown that the rate of oxidation of oxalic acid H2C2O4 during the ozonation of its solutions grows considerably if sodium chloride is added to the...     

Theoretical Analysis of System’s Composition Changes in the Course of Electrolysis of Acidic Chloride Aqueous Solution

Russian Journal of Electrochemistry - Variations of the indicator electrode potential under zero current condition, E, and of the (quasi)equilibrium composition of the aqueous solution (which...     

Electrochemical Behavior of Cationic‐Anionic Surfactant Solutions by Cyclic Voltammetry

The electrochemical behavior of cationic tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTABr), anionic sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS), cationic‐anionic (catanionic) mixed surfactant and self‐assembled solutions at Pt wire electrode has been studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV). On the basis of the cyclic voltammograms and determining the self‐assembled structures by using freeze‐fracture transmission electron microscopy (FF‐TEM), the mechanisms of the electrochemical reactions near the electrode for the two surfactant self‐assembled solutions, i.e., micelles and vesicles, are presented. When mixing TTABr and SDS, at the right mixing ratio of TTABr:SDS, vesicles are established spontaneously. The redox behavior of two vesicle‐phase solutions at a constant total concentration of 25 mmol·L^?1 with the ratios of TTABr:SDS 9.35:0.65 of positive charges of bilayer membranes and 1.25:8.75 of negative charges of bilayer membranes are investigated by cyclic voltammetry. These cyclic voltammograms of vesicles with different charges are compared with those of 100 mmol · L^?1 TTABr and 100 mmol · L^?1 SDS micelle solutions. This CV study on surfactant self‐assembled solutions should open up a new method of study in surfactant science.     

Interaction between β‐Cyclodextrin and Mixed Cationic‐Anionic Surfactants (2): Aggregation Behavior

The interactions between β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) and the mixtures of cationic‐anionic surfactants in the aqueous solution were investigated by surface tension, rheology, and dynamic light scattering measurements. It was shown that the key‐lock interactions between β‐CD and mixed cationic‐anionic surfactants were stronger than the electrostatic/hydrophobic interactions between cationic and anionic surfactants. The inclusion of β‐CD to surfactants could destroy the ion‐pair and aggregates of cationic‐anionic surfactants, and even inhibited the precipitation of the mixed cationic‐anionic surfactants. Furthermore, the inclusion of β‐CD to surfactants could also destroy the hydrogen bond between β‐CD molecules, inducing the disassociation of the aggregation formed by β‐CD themselves.     

Sonochemical Degradation of Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Aqueous Solution

Ultrasonic waves in a liquid induce the formation of cavitation bubbles. Submitted to an oscillating pressure field, cavities filled with vapor and dissolved gas pulsate, grow and implode violently when they reach a critical resonant size. According to the 慼ot spot?theory, extremely high temperature and pressure are produced during the collapse of cavitation bubbles1. Under these extreme conditions, the molecules vaporized in the bubbles as well as in the surrounding condensed layer could …     

Effect of Butyl α-Hydroxymethyl Acrylate Monomer Structure on the Morphology Produced via Aqueous Emulsion Polymerization-induced Self-assembly

Polymerization-induced self-assembly(PISA) is an efficient and versatile method to afford polymeric nano-objects with polymorphic morphologies. Compared to dispersion PISA syntheses based on soluble monomers, the vast majority of emulsion PISA formulations using insoluble monomers leads to kinetically-trapped spheres. Herein, we present aqueous emulsion PISA formulations generating worms and vesicles besides spheres. Two monomers with different butyl groups, n-butyl(n BHMA) and tert-butyl(t BHMA) α-hydroxymethyl acrylate, and thus possessing different water solubilities were synthesized via Baylis-Hillman reaction. Photoinitiated aqueous emulsion polymerizations of n BHMA and t BHMA employing poly(ethylene glycol) macromolecular chain transfer agents(macro-CTAs, PEG45-CTA, and PEG113-CTA) at 40 °C were systematically investigated to evaluate the effect of monomer structure and solubility on the morphology of the generated block copolymer nano-objects. Higher order morphologies including worms and vesicles were readily accessed for t BHMA, which has a higher water solubility than that of n BHMA. This study proves that plasticization of the core-forming block by water plays a key role in enhancing chain mobility required for morphological transition in emulsion PISA.     

Microstructures of Aqueous Two‐Phase Systems Formed by Mixture of Polymer and Cationic‐Anionic Surfactants

Microstructure and phase behavior of decyltriethylammonium bromide (C₁₀NE)/sodium decylsulfonate (C₁₀SO₃)/poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)/water quaternary systems were studied by freeze‐fracture transmission electron microscopy, small angle X‐ray diffraction, and dynamic light scattering methods. Aqueous two‐phase systems (ATPS) could be prepared by properly mixing the aqueous solution of PEO and equimolar mixed C₁₀NE and C₁₀SO₃. It was shown that the top phase of the ATPS was surfactant‐enriched and mainly composed of multi‐lamellar structure, while the bottom phase of the ATPS was polymer‐enriched in which some vesicles were observed.     

Interaction of Polyelectrolyte with Fluorocarbon Surfactant in Aqueous Solution

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Redox Reaction of Disulfide/Polyaniline in Aqueous Solution

Introductionlthasbeensh0wnthat0rganodisulfidesIikeDMcTc0uldbep0lymerizedanddepolymerizedreversibly,correspondingtotheirchemical0reIectr0chemicaloxidati0nandreductionreactions.Thisisduetothereversibletbrmationandscissi0nofthedisulfidebond,atw0-electr0ntransferpr0cess(Schemel).LithiumsecondarybatterieswithatheoreticalenergydensityoflO7OWhjkgwereset-upusingtheabovedisulfidecompoundasthean0dicmaterial.H0wever,theredoxreacti0n0fdisulfidewasveryslowatr0omtemperature,thus,thechargeanddischargepro…     

Characterization of Phenosafranine–Hemoglobin Interactions in Aqueous Solution

Binding of the drug phenosafranine to hemoglobin (Hb) in aqueous solutions was investigated by fluorescence, UV/vis and circular dichroism (CD) spectral methods at pH=7.4. The fluorescence data showed that fluorescence quenching of Hb by phenosafranine is the result of formation of a phenosafranine–Hb complex with a 1:1 molar ratio. Thermodynamic analysis implied that hydrophobic, electrostatic and hydrogen bond interactions are all involved in stabilizing the complex. The molecular distance (r=4.29 nm) between the donor (Hb) and acceptor (phenosafranine) was calculated according to Förster’s theory. The features of phenosafranine-induced secondary structure changes of Hb have been studied by synchronous fluorescence, CD and three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy. This study improves our knowledge of the interaction dynamics of phenazinium drugs to the physiologically important protein Hb.