Towards surface acid–base property of the carboxylic multi-walled carbon nanotubes by zero current potentiometry

The surface acid–base property of carboxylic multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) is investigated by zero current potentiometry with a new electrochemical measurement system. The pH dependent interface potential variation at the interface of carboxylic MWNTs/solution is investigated by measuring zero current potential E_zcp. In the pH range of 1–11, the pH response of carboxylic MWNTs exhibits two linear relationships according to the following equations: E_zcp = 0.791–0.0535 pH (pH 1–5.1) and E_zcp = 0.643–0.0241 pH (pH 5.1–11), respectively. The intersection at pH 5.1 of two regions indicates the surface pK_a value of carboxylic group terminated MWNTs.     

Theoretical studies on the hydration of formic acid by ab initio and ABEEMσπ fluctuating charge model

The interaction between formic acid (FA) and water was systemically investigated by atom-bond electronegativity equalization method fused into molecular mechanics (ABEEMσπ/MM) and ab initio methods. The geometries of 20 formic acid–water complexes (FA–water) were obtained using B3LYP/aug-cc-pVTZ level optimizations, and the energies were determined at the MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ level with basis set superposition error (BSSE) and zero-point vibrational energy (ZPVE) corrections. The ABEEMσπ potential model gives reasonable properties of these clusters when compared with the present ab initio data. For interaction energies, the root mean square deviation is 0.74 kcal/mol, and the linear coefficient reaches 0.993. Next, FA in aqueous solution was also studied. The hydrogen-bonding pattern due to the interactions with water has been analyzed in detail. Furthermore, the ABEEMσπ charges changed when H₂O interacted with the FA molecule, especially at the sites where the hydrogen bonds form. These results show that the ABEEMσπ fluctuating charge model is fine giving the overall characteristic hydration properties of FA–water systems in good agreement with the high-level ab initio calculations.     

An infrared study of the stretching modes of the water molecules in ZnF2·4H2O

The IR spectra of ZnF₂·4H₂O and its deuterated analogues are reported at ambient and liquid-nitrogen temperatures. The OH and OD stretching and bending vibrations of the water molecules are analysed in detail. The two types of water molecules give rise to different absorption peaks in the OH and OD stretching regions in samples that contain isotopically dilute HDO groups. The strongly hydrogen-bonded water molecules H₂O(1) and H₂O(4) show four broad OH and OD stretching modes at lower frequencies, while the weaker hydrogen-bonded ones H₂O(2) and H₂O(3) give rise to four narrow bands at higher frequencies. The ν_OD frequencies of isotopically dilute HDO groups correlate very well with the known R(H---F) and R(H---O) distances in the crystals and the assignment of these modes was done on this basis. It was also found that the ratio ν_OH/ν_OD decreases with decreasing values of R(H---O) or R(H---F) in ZnF₂·4H₂O.     

Determining the boundaries of second-type phase transitions in Ag–Mg–Cd alloys by means of diffusion couples

The interaction between elements in the transition zones of diffusion couples Mg + AgCd–alloy are studied. Isothermal sections of the Ag–Mg–Cd ternary system at 573 K are constructed. The existence of a Heusler phase based on H–Ag₂MgCd compound is found in the field of the solid β′-solution. It is shown that the interdiffusion of components prevents the formation of ordered phases in the transition zones of bimetals, allowing us to determine the boundaries of second-type phase transitions in solid solutions.     

Selective esterification of non-conjugated carboxylic acids in the presence of conjugated or aromatic carboxylic acids over active carbon supported methanesulfonic acid

Non-conjugated carboxylic acids are selectively esterified in good yields in the presence of conjugated or aromatic carboxylic acids by stirring over active carbon supported methanesulfonic acid in di-chloromethane at room temperature.     

Transformations of methyl orange dimers in aqueous–acid solutions,according to UV–Vis spectroscopy data

The effect acidity has on the UV–Vis absorption spectra of azo dye methyl orange (MOD) in aqueous solutions of hydrochloric acid in the pH range of 1.7 to 7 and sulfuric acid in the 0.24 to 18 mol/L range of concentrations is investigated. The spectral transformations of MOD solutions are compared to the corresponding spectral transformations of solutions of dimethylaminoazobenzene (DAB), which is an azo dye akin to MOD. A close resemblance between the spectral transformations of MOD and dimers DAB₂ is revealed. It is concluded that the ground state of MOD, like the ground state of DAB, consists of not individual molecules but of supramolecular dimers MOD₂. It is found that dimers MOD₂ in aqueous low-acidic solutions are reversibly protonated with the formation of di- and triprotonated forms, which reversibly dissociate into diprotonated monomers upon an increase in acidity. The structural formulas of the chromogenic groups responsible for the spectral transformations, and the mechanisms of their reversible transformations, are given.     

Study of the MS response by TG–MS in an acid mine drainage efflorescence

The aim of this study is to employ a thermogravimetric analyzer coupled to a mass spectrometer to research into the influence of heating rate and sample mass on the response of the detector. That response is examined by means of a particular efflorescence taken from an acid mine drainage environment. This mixture of weathered products is mainly composed by secondary sulfate minerals, which are formed in evaporation conditions, appearing as efflorescence salts. Thermogravimetry coupled to mass spectrometry has been used to analyze the three main loss steps that happen when this combination of minerals is heated from 30 to 1,100 °C. This inorganic material is based on a mixture of hexahydrite, zinc sulfate hexahydrate, apjonite, gypsum, plumbojarosite, calcite, quartz, and magnetite. While heating, three main effluent gases evolved from this efflorescence. At a standard heating rate of 10 °C/min, loss of water (dehydration) occurred over 30–500 °C in four major steps, loss of carbon dioxide (decarbonisation) occurred over 200–800 °C in three steps, and loss of sulfur trioxide (desulfation) occurred over 400–1,100 °C in three steps. According to the results, thermal analysis is an excellent technique for the study of decomposition in these systems.     

Cattaneo–Christov heat flux model for stagnation point flow of micropolar nanofluid toward a nonlinear stretching surface with slip effects

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Cattaneo–Christov with variable thermal relaxation time and entropy generation is the main concern of this study. The micropolar fluid with...     

Thermodynamic stability of solid phases in the system Cu–O–Al2O3 by means of the EMF and DSC-TGA techniques

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Thermodynamic properties of solid phases in the Cu–O–Al2O3 system were measured by means of the EMF method with oxygen concentration galvanic...     

Structural insight into the anion–water cluster: stabilised by alcohol and carboxylic acid containing tripodal ligand

A new flexible N-bridged, unsymmetrical, water-soluble tripodal ligand (L) bearing alcohol and carboxylic acid groups has been synthesised and its solid-state interaction with anions has been investigated. The fully deprotonated ligand encapsulates a sodium cation in a half cryptand bowl-shaped cavity (1). The chloride complex 2, contains a cyclohexane-like water cluster incorporating ligand OH groups. However, complexes with bromide and nitrate (3 and 4) are dimeric. Tetrahedral clusters containing two water molecules and two anions were found in complexes 3 and 4. Perchlorate complex 5 forms perchlorate–methanol adducts. Complex 1 forms a hydrophilic cation–water channel and complexes 2–4 form anion–water channels between the hydrophobic layers of the naphthalene moieties. Complexes 2, 5 and 3, 4 are isostructural in nature having similar packing structures.     

Kinetic analysis of the crystallization processes in the glasses of the Bi–As–S system

Kinetic analysis of the crystallization process in Bi₄(As₂S₃)₉₆ and Bi₆(As₂S₃)₉₄ glasses was performed based on DSC curves recorded under non-isothermal measurement conditions. Samples were thermally treated at different heating rates in the temperature range 300?C770?K. The activation energy of crystallization E and the pre-exponential factor K ₀ are determined by the Kissinger method and the characteristic crystallization parameters m and n of investigated glasses by the Matusita method. For both crystallization processes the glass with 4 at.% of Bi is characterized by the mechanism of volume nucleation, which is manifested in the form of two-dimensional growth at the first crystallization process, and as three-dimensional at the second one. On the other hand, in the sample with 6 at.% Bi, the average value of the parameter m is close to one, which indicates one-dimensional crystal growth. Compatibility of the values of the parameters m and n suggests that this sample has a large number of crystallization centers, which do not increase significantly during the thermal treatment.     

Application of charge transfer reaction in the pharmaceutical analysis——Determination of chlorhexidine acetate

A spectrophotometric method for the determination of chlorhexidine acetate is described. The reaction between chlorhexidine acetate and chloranil took place in an alcohol-acetone solution at room temperature. The composition of the charge transfer complex is 1:2. Beer's law is obeyed in the concentration range of 15--270 μg·mL-1 with correlation coefficient 0.9995. The apparent molar absorptivity is 2.21×103 L·mol-1·cm-1 at 412 nm. The method is accurate (with a recovery of 100±1.6%) and precise (RSD=1.0%). It was successfully applied to determine chlorhexidine acetate in suppository or disinfectant solution.     

Solvation model for acetic acid in binary mixtures of cyclohexane–1,2-dichloroethane

The partition of acetic acid between aqueous solutions and various binary mixtures of 1,2-dichloroethane and cyclohexane were studied at 30.0 °C. The observed nonlinearities of both monomer partition coefficient and dimerization constant in the organic phase with the mole fraction of 1,2-dichloroethane are interpreted in terms of the preferential solvation of various solvation sites of the involved species. Two polar sites were identified for the monomer each with a solvation preference by 1,2-dichloroethane seven times that by cyclohexane. This preference decreases to about two upon dimerization.     

Synthesis of polyester by means of polycondensation of diol ester and dicarboxylic acid ester through ester–ester exchange reaction

Based on our finding that the ester-ester exchange reaction between butyl benzoate and ethyl 4-phenylbenzoate in the presence of a metal alkoxide is faster than the ester-alcohol exchange reaction of butyl benzoate and ethanol, we investigated the synthesis of polyester through ester-ester exchange reaction under various conditions. The polycondensation of diol formate and methyl dicarboxylate in the presence of a catalytic amount of potassium tert-butoxide (^tBuOK) in diglyme at 120 °C under reduced pressure (90–100 Torr) afforded high-molecular-weight polyesters. Methyl dicarboxylate containing an amino group could be used for this polycondensation, although the corresponding diacid chloride containing an amino group was not isolable. The ester-ester exchange reaction could proceed even at the polyester backbone, and the reaction of poly(1,12-dodecamethylene isophthalate) ( PEs ₁ ) with poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) in the presence of ^tBuOK at 140 °C afforded a copolymer PEs ₁ -stat-PCL, the structure of which was confirmed by ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and DSC thermal analysis. A similar copolymer was also obtained by the polycondensation of dodecane-1,12-diol formate and dimethyl isophthalate in the presence of PCL and ^tBuOK at 120 °C under reduced pressure.     

High-throughput and simultaneous analysis of eight central-acting muscle relaxants in human plasma by ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry in the positive and negative ionization modes

In this report, a high-throughput and sensitive method for analysis of eight central-acting muscle relaxants in human plasma by ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) in the positive and negative ionization modes using tolbutamide as internal standard is presented. After pretreatment of a plasma sample by solid-phase extraction with an Oasis HLB cartridge, muscle relaxants were analyzed by UPLC with Acquity UPLC BEH C₁₈ column and Acquity TQD tandem quadrupole mass spectrometer equipped with an electrospray ionization interface. The calibration curves for muscle relaxants spiked into human plasma equally showed good linearities in the nanogram per milliliter order range. The detection limits (signal-to-noise ratio = 3) was as low as 0.1–2 ng/mL. The method gave satisfactory recovery rates, accuracy, and precision for quality control samples spiked with muscle relaxants. To further validate the present method, 250 mg of chlorphenesin carbamate was orally administered to a healthy male volunteer, and the concentrations of chlorphenesin carbamate in plasma were measured 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 h after dosing; their concentrations in human plasma were between 0.62 and 2.44 μg/mL. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing simultaneous analysis of over more than two central-acting muscle relaxants by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. This has been realized by the capability of our instrument for simultaneous multiple reaction monitoring of the target compounds in both positive and negative ionization modes. Therefore, the present method seems very useful in forensic and clinical toxicology and pharmacokinetic studies.     

Aerobic photo-decarboxylation of α-hydroxy carboxylic acid derivatives under visible light irradiation in the presence of catalytic iodine

A catalytic amount of iodine enables us to carry out aerobic photo-decarboxylation of α-hydroxy carboxylic acid derivatives to the corresponding carboxylic acids or ketones selectively in high yields under irradiation of vis. This new oxidation is interesting in keeping with the notion of Green Chemistry due to the non-use of heavy metals and halogenated solvents, waste reduction, and the use of molecular oxygen.     

Surface disclination cores in the B2 phase of bent-shaped molecules described by the Peierls–Nabarro model

The Peierls–Nabarro model, originally proposed to describe dislocation core in solids, is used to model core structures of 2π- and π-surface disclinations in the B₂ phase of bent-shaped molecules. Structures of disclination cores are determined by surface anchoring. Core parameters as core widths (and positions of two partial π-disclinations as parts comprising 2π-disclination) are estimated using surface anchoring energy. Disclination core widths are usually narrow for strong anchoring. In such a case they are barely observable; nevertheless, they can exist.