Vitrification and crystallization of low-temperature amorphous condensates of water and methane—water mixture

Low-temperature condensates of water and water-methane mixture are studied in the temperature range of 65–200 K. Amorphous samples are obtained by molecular beam deposition under vacuum conditions on the substrate cooled with liquid nitrogen. The vitrification and crystallization temperatures are determined from the changes in the dielectric properties of the condensates upon heating. The kinetics of crystallization of amorphous water layers is studied by differential thermal analysis. The temperature conditions for the growth of thick methane crystalline hydrate layers during the low-temperature condensation of molecular water-gas mixture beams are found.     

Preparation of magnetite and its decomposition of water

The optimum conditions were studied for the formation of magnetite by the air oxidation of Fe(OH)2 suspensions. The cation-deficient magnetite (Fe3-δO4, δ>0) was obtained by the air (200mL/min) oxidation of Fe(OH)2 suspensions for 8- 25 h at 343 -358 K and NaOH/FeSO4=2.0 (mole ratio). The oxygen-deficient magnetite (Fe3+δO4, δ>0) was prepared through CO gas reduction of the cation-deficient magnetite at 563 K and its stableness at various temperatures and atomspheres was surveyed. The activity of decomposing water into hydrogen gas with oxygen-deficient magnetite at 563 K was studied and its relations to the oxygen-deficient degree and reaction temperature were investigated, respectively. The results show that the longer the time for magnetite being reduced by carbon monoxide, the higher the oxygen-deficient degree, and the more active its dedcomposition of water is. After reaction, oxygen (O2-) was taken away from water by oxygen-deficient magnetite, which converted to the cation-deficient magnetit     

Influence of temperature on the structure of liquid water

Molecular dynamics simulations have been carried out for liquid water at 7 different temperatures to understand the nature of hydrogen bonding at molecular level through the investigation of the effects of temperature on the geometry of water molecules. The changes in bond length and bond angle of water molecules from gaseous state to liquid state have been observed, and the change in the bond angle of water molecules in liquid against temperature has been revealed, which has not been seen in literature so far. The analysis of the radial distribution functions and the coordinate numbers shows that, on an average, each water molecule in liquid acts as both receptor and donor, and forms at least two hydrogen bonds with its neigbors. The analysis of the results also indicates that the water molecules form clusters in liquid.     

Bulk properties and hydration numbers of components of water–salt,water–urea,and water–urea–salt systems

With an increase in the concentration of additives, the hydration numbers of compounds decrease. Thus, in a saturated 54.6% solution, urea loses approximately 3/4 of the initial amount of water, forming an aquacomplex of the composition (NH₂)₂CO?H₂O. In a supersaturated 44% solution, the sodium chloride aquacomplex is dehydrated by 2/3, and in a supersaturated 67% solution, sodium sulfate is dehydrated by 5/6. The density of these solutions is 1.354÷1.360 g/cm³ (44% NaCl) and 1.800÷1.849 g/cm³ (67% Na₂SO₄). In a saturated urea solution, NaNO₃, NaCl, and Na₂SO₄ complexes lose 53÷55% of hydration water. It is shown that the interactions in the binary water–urea system somewhat increase the hydration number of the salts (structural hydration). The hydration water density, a structurally important characteristic, increases in the series of solutions of urea, NaNO₃, NaCl, and Na₂SO₄. In the same series of additives, the excess volume of binary water–urea and water–salt systems becomes more negative.     

Effect of water droplet in solvent sublation

Aqueous phase layer around bubble and water droplet are two additional processes in solvent sublation. In the dynamic process of mass transfer, they are always neglected, but they are very important in the investigation of thermodynamic equilibrium. In this paper, the effect of water droplet in solvent sublation was discussed in detail, and the previous mathematical model of solvent subaltion was improved. Matlab 6.5 was used to simulate the process of water droplets, and the comparison between the previous hypothesis and the improvement in this paper showed the superiority, especially in the investigation of thermodynamic equilibrium. Moreover, the separation and concentration of the complex compound dithizone-Co（Ⅱ） from aqueous phase to n-octanol by solvent sublation also proved the improved mathematical model was reasonable.     

“Binding” of water by ions

Summary We confirmed the inadequacy of the correction for, binding of water by ions for explaining the discrepancy between the electrostatic theory in [2] and experiment.     

Surface oxidation and water desorption of CdS

The surface oxidation and HP desorption of powder CdS were studied by means of X-ray photoetectron spectroscopy (XPS), quadrupole mass spectrometry (QMS) and in-situ FTIR. The results show that with the changes of surface composition and the elongation of store time of CdS there are four types of H2O thermally desorbed at different temperatures. It has also been found that through high-temperature air treatment for a short time the oxidized surface layer of CdS can prevent O2 and H2O in air from further attacking the inner CdS molecules.     

Mass accommodation mechanism of water through monolayer films at water∕vapor interface

The mass transfer dynamics at water∕vapor interface through monolayer films was theoretically investigated by a combination of molecular dynamics and Langevin dynamics simulations. The rare events of mass accommodation are sampled by the Langevin simulation with sufficient statistical accuracy, on the basis of the free energy and friction profiles obtained by the molecular dynamics simulation. The free energy profiles exhibit a barrier in the long-chain monolayers, and the mechanism of the barrier is elucidated in relation to the "water finger" formation. The present Langevin simulation well described the remarkable dependence of the mass accommodation coefficient on the chain length and surface density. The transition state theory for the barrier passage remarkably overestimates the mass accommodation coefficient, and the Kramers or Grote-Hynes theory may not be appropriate, due to large variation of the friction in the entrance channel and∕or broad barrier.     

Characteristics of sodium alginate membranes for the pervaporation dehydration of ethanol–water and isopropanol–water mixtures

Alginate membranes for the pervaporation dehydration of ethanol–water and isopropanol–water mixtures were prepared and tested. The sodium alginate membrane was water soluble and mechanically weak but it showed promising performance for the pervaporation dehydration. To control the water solubility the sodium alginate membrane was crosslinked ionically using various divalent and trivalent ions. Among them the alginate membrane crosslinked with Ca²⁺ ion showed the highest pervaporation performance in terms of the flux and separation factors.     

Thermodynamic properties of N,N-dimethylformamide + water

The excess viscosities, η^E, and excess energy of activation (ΔΕ_η)^Ε of dynamic viscosity have been investigated by using dynamic viscosity measurements for N,N-dimethylformamide + water (DMFW) mixtures over the entire range of mole fractions at five different temperatures. The results were also fitted with the Redlich–Kister equation. This system exhibited very large positive values of η^E and (ΔΕ_η)^Ε due to the increased dipole–dipole interactions and correlation length between unlike molecules. The activation parameters ΔΗ_σ and ΔS_σ have been also calculated, and they show that the critical region has an important effect on the dynamic viscosity properties. The results obtained are discussed from the viewpoint of the existence of interactions between the components.     

Solubility of water in polymers—atomistic simulations

The combination of the thermodynamic-integration approach and Widom's particle-insertion method is shown to be appropriate to determine the excess chemical potential of water in dense, amorphous polymer microstructures from MD simulation at an atomistically detailed level. The two-step method is applied to bisphenol-A–polycarbonate (BPA–PC) and polyvinylalcohol (PVA). The results are compared to previously published calculations on water sorption of various polyamides and show the applicability of the two-step method for the calculation of the excess chemical potential of water in a variety of polymer materials to obtain an estimate of their water sorption behavior.     

Aqueous dispersions of cubic lipid–water phases

Inverse lipid–water phases such as cubic phases can form kinetically stable dispersions by fragmentation in water. Cubic lipid phases can be dispersed by polar lipids favoring lamellar phases or by block copolymers, which can close the bilayer at the surface so that the hydrocarbon chain core is not exposed to water. Monodisperse particles based on glycerol monooleate, with their bilayer curved as the P-, D- or G-minimal surface, have been prepared in this way. Their inner bilayer conformation and outer shape have been examined, mainly by X-ray diffraction and cryo transmission electron microscopy. There is also a different type of cubic lipid bilayer particles with a periodicity in the micrometer range, which have been identified in phospholipid–water dispersions and in cell membrane assemblies. The mechanism behind formation in vivo of such cubic membranes, which also follow the P-, D- and G-surfaces, is discussed. Other lipid–water dispersions with lower symmetry are finally considered; dispersions formed by the inverse hexagonal phase and the dispersed state of a tetragonal bilayer structure formed by lung surfactants.     

Determination of enthalpy of ionization of water from 250 to 350° C

The enthalpy changes at zero ionic strength (H°) for the ionization of water (H₂O=H⁺+OH^–) were determined by flow calorimetry from the heats of mixing of aqueous NaOH and HCl solutions in the temperature range 250 to 350°C. Pitzer ion-interaction models developed by other workers were used to calculate enthalpies of dilution of aqueous NaOH, HCl, and NaCl solutions for the extrapolation of H values from the conditions of the experiment to infinite dilution. Equations are derived for thermodynamic quantities (log K, H°, S°, C _p ^° and V°) for the ionization of water using the H° values determined in this study from 250 to 350°C and literature log K and H° values from 0 to 225°C. Smoothed values of log K, H°, S°, C _p ^° , and V° are presented at rounded temperatures from 0 to 350°C and at the saturation pressure of water for each temperature. The equations in the present study provide a better representation of experimental thermodynamic data from 0 to 350°C than the Marshall-Franck equation.     

Monitoring three typical phenol endocrine disrupting compounds in drinking water of Suzhou urban area – from raw water to tap water

In this work, three typical phenol endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), namely Bisphenol A (BPA), 4-nonylphenol (4-NP) and 4-tert-octyphenol (4-t-OP), were detected in water samples from the whole drinking water supply chain of seven water plants at three hydrographic periods in Suzhou, China. Almost all of the drinking water in urban area of Suzhou city is provided by the seven water plants. Every link of drinking water supply, including raw water, finished water and tap water were monitored. The results indicated that BPA and 4-NP were detected in all samples with the concentration of 0.067–0.118 μg L^?1 and 0.111–0.350 μg L^?1, respectively, while 4-t-OP could be detected in only a few raw water samples with the concentration lower than its limit of quantitation (LOQ). The levels of BPA and 4-NP in raw water were significantly different among three hydrographic periods and the highest concentration can be observed in dry period. The difference in removal efficiency of BPA and 4-NP in seven water plants was also observed among three hydrographic periods, e.g. relative higher in dry period for BPA and in flow period for 4-NP. Potential risk assessment hinted that BPA and 4-NP in raw water showed a low to medium and a medium to high risk respectively to aquatic environment, while in tap water, the health risk from BPA and 4-NP could be ignored on human.     

DSC study of phase transition of anhydrous phospholipid DHPC and influence of water content

The phase transition behavior of 1,2-di-n-heptadecanoyl phosphatidylcholme (DHPC)with and without water has been studied by use of differential scanning calorimetry It was found by experiment that the glass transition occurred at first during the first heating of a sample of DHPC without water and then the sample underwent melting as an ordinary crystal.Therefore the sample of DHPC without water was a glassy crystal However,the DHPC sample crystallizing from melt was an ordinary crystal From the relationship between the total melting enthalpy Qf of freezable water and the water content h,it was concluded that the water contained in the DHPC samples might exist in three states recognizable thermodynamically.The water in the first state was an unfreezable water It was the water bound directly with the head groups of the phospholipid,i.e.the primary hydration water Every head group might bind seven such molecules of water.The water in the second state was the secondary hydration water,us melt ing point was     

Partition coefficients of ω-phenylalkanols between water and liposome membranes of phospholipids

For the liposome of two types of phospholipids (zwitterionic dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and anionic dimyristoylphosphatidic acid (DMPA)), the partition coefficient K _X for partition of homologous -phenylalkanols (C₆H₅(CH₂) _mp OH; m _p =0–8) between bulk water and the liposome membrane was determined on the basis of the gel to liquid crystalline phase transition temperature T _m of the liposome membrane. The plot of log K _X vs. m _p gave a break at m _p =7 for both phospholipids, and a second break at m _p =4 was observed for DPPC. The local polarity of the surface region and the orderliness of phospholipid molecules in the liposome membrane were estimated from ESR spectra of two spin probes solubilized in the membrane. The results suggest that the hydration of DPPC liposome membrane is relatively restricted to its surface region, but for DMPA the hydration spreads not only along the surface but also to the inside of the membrane. The main factor controlling the partitioning of the alkanols is the local polarity. The higher alkanols (m _p =7, 8) are solubilized not only in the liquid crystalline phase but also in the gel phase, although the other lower alkanols are solubilized in the liquid phase only.     

Confinement or the nature of the interface? Dynamics of nanoscopic water

The dynamics of water confined in two different types of reverse micelles are studied using ultrafast infrared pump-probe spectroscopy of the hydroxyl OD stretch of HOD in H2O. Reverse micelles of the surfactant Aerosol-OT (ionic head group) in isooctane and the surfactant Igepal CO 520 (nonionic head group) in 50/50 wt % cyclohexane/hexane are prepared to have the same diameter water nanopools. Measurements of the IR spectra and vibrational lifetimes show that the identity of the surfactant head groups affects the local environment experienced by the water molecules inside the reverse micelles. The orientational dynamics (time-dependent anisotropy), which is a measure of the hydrogen bond network rearrangement, are very similar for the confined water in the two types of reverse micelles. The results demonstrate that confinement by an interface to form a nanoscopic water pool is a primary factor governing the dynamics of nanoscopic water rather than the presence of charged groups at the interface.     

Concentration dependences of the physicochemical properties of a water–acetone system

Concentration dependences of the UV spectrum, refractive index, specific electrical conductivity, boiling point, pH, surface tension, and heats of dissolution of a water–acetone system on the amount of acetone in the water are studied. It is found that the reversible protolytic interaction of the components occurs in all such solutions, resulting in the formation of hydroxyl and acetonium ions. It is shown that shifts of the equilibrium between the molecules and ions in the solution leads to extreme changes in their electrical properties. It is concluded that the formation of acetone solutions of water is accompanied by heat absorption, while the formation of aqueous solutions of acetone is accompanied by heat release.     

Zone fluidics for measurement of octanol–water partition coefficient of drugs

A novel zone fluidics (ZF) system for the determination of the octanol–water partition coefficient (P_ow) of drugs was developed. The ZF system consisted of a syringe pump with a selection valve, a holding column, a silica capillary flow-cell and an in-line spectrophotometer. Exact microliter volumes of solvents (octanol and phosphate buffer saline) and a solution of the drug, sandwiched between air segments, were sequentially loaded into the vertically aligned holding column. Distribution of the drug between the aqueous and octanol phases occurred by the oscillation movement of the syringe pump piston. Phase separation occurred due to the difference in densities. The liquid zones were then pushed into the detection flow cell. In this method, absorbance measurements in only one of the phase (octanol or aqueous) were employed, which together with the volumes of the solvents and pure drug sample, allowed the calculation of the P_ow. The developed system was applied to the determination of the P_ow of some common drugs. The log (P_ow) values agreed well with a batch method (R² = 0.999) and literature (R² = 0.997). Standard deviations for intra- and inter-day analyses were both less than 0.1log unit. This ZF system provides a robust and automated method for screening of P_ow values in the drug discovery process.