Homogeneous liquid-liquid extraction of uranium(VI) using tri-n-octylphosphine oxide.

A simple and efficient method for the selective separation and preconcentration of uranium(VI) using homogeneous liquid-liquid extraction was developed. Tri-n-octylphosphine oxide (TOPO) and tri-n-butylphosphate (TBP) were investigated as complexing ligands, and perfluorooctanoate ion (PFOA-) was applied as a phase separator agent under strongly acidic conditions. Under the optimal conditions ([PFOA-] = 1.7 x 10(-3) M, [TOPO] = 5.4 x 10(-4) M, [HNO3] = 0.3 M, [acetone] = 3.2% v/v) 10 microg of uranium in 40 ml aqueous phase could be extracted quantitatively into 8 microl of the sedimented phase. The maximum concentration factor was 5000-fold. However, an effort for the quantitative extraction using TBP was inefficient and the percent recovery was at most 56.7. The influence of the type and concentration of acid solution, optimum amount of the ligand, type and volume of the organic solvent, concentration of PFOA, volume of the aqueous sample and effect of different diverse ions on the extraction and determination of uranium(VI) were investigated. The proposed method was applied to the extraction and determination of uranium(VI) in natural water samples.     

Synthesis of fish scale derived hydroxyapatite silica propyl bis aminoethoxy ethane cuprous complex (HASPBAEECC) as a novel hybrid nano-catalyst for highly efficient synthesis of new benzimidazole-1,2,3-triazole hybrid analogues as antifungal agents

Molecular Diversity - The preparation, characterization and application of hydroxyapatite silica propyl bis aminoethoxy ethane cuprous complex (HASPBAEECC) as a novel hybrid nano-catalyst for...     

Novel amide derivatives of 3-phenylglutaric acid as potent soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitors

Molecular Diversity - Soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) enzyme plays an important role in the metabolism of endogenous chemical mediators, epoxyeicosatrienoic acids, which are involved in the...     

Singular spectrum analysis and Fisher–Shannon analysis of spring flow time series: An application to Anjar Spring,Lebanon

In this study, the time dynamics of water flow from Anjar Spring was investigated, which is one of the major issuing springs in the central part of Lebanon. Likewise, many water sources in Lebanon, this spring has no continuous records for the discharge, and this would prevent the application of standard time series analysis tools. Furthermore, the highly nonstationary character of the series implies that suited methodologies can be employed to get insight into its dynamical features. Therefore, the Singular Spectrum Analysis (SSA) and Fisher–Shannon (FS) method, which are useful methods to disclose dynamical features in noisy nonstationary time series with gaps, are jointly applied to analyze the Anjar Spring water flow series. The SSA revealed that the series can be considered as the superposition of meteo-climatic periodic components, low-frequency trend and noise-like high-frequency fluctuations. The FS method allowed to extract and to identify among all the SSA reconstructed components the long-term trend of the series. The long-term trend is characterized by higher Fisher Information Measure (FIM) and lower Shannon entropy, and thus, represents the main informative component of the whole series. Generally water discharge time series presents very complex time structure, therefore the joint application of the SSA and the FS method would be very useful in disclosing the main informative part of such kind of data series in the view of existing climatic variability and/or anthropogenic challenges.     

Task-specific nitrite and azide ionic liquids for the efficient one-pot synthesis of 1,2,3-triazoles from the aniline derivatives

An efficient, fast, and straightforward procedure for the synthesis of aromatic azides and in situ preparation of 1,2,3-triazoles under mild conditions is described. Aniline derivatives have been treated with task-specific [bmim]NO(2) and [bmim]N(3) ionic liquids to give the related phenyl azides which, on further in situ reaction with 1,3-diketones and ethylacetoacetate, afforded 1,2,3-triazoles in very good to excellent yields in very short reaction time. This procedure, which generates azides followed by azide in situ cycloaddition with diketone, has become an attractive option. In this protocol, [bmim]N(3) is used instead of the highly toxic reagent NaN(3).     

Polyelectrolyte Nanocomposite Membranes Using Imidazole-Functionalized Nanosilica for Fuel Cell Applications

The preparation and characterization of a new type of nanocomposite polyelectrolyte membrane, based on DuPont Nafion/imidazole-modified nanosilica (Im-Si), for direct methanol fuel cell applications is described. Related to the interactions between the protonated imidazole groups, grafted on the surface of nanosilica, and negatively charged sulfonic acid groups of Nafion, new electrostatic interactions can be formed in the interface of Nafion and Im-Si which result in both lower methanol permeability and also higher proton conductivity. Physical characteristics of these manufactured nanocomposite membranes were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetry analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, water uptake, methanol permeability, and ion-exchange capacity, as well as proton conductivity. The Nafion/Im-Si membranes showed higher proton conductivity, lower methanol permeability and, as a consequence, higher selectivity parameter in comparison to the neat Nafion or Nafion/silica membranes. The obtained results indicated that the Nafion/Im-Si membranes could be utilized as promising polyelectrolyte membranes for direct methanol fuel cell applications.     

One-pot synthesis of novel polysubstituted furopyran derivatives via pseudo seven-component reaction (6 + 1) of isocyanides with bisarylidene Meldrum's acid containing ether groups

In the present study, a group of polysubstituted furopyran derivatives possessing ether spacer groups were synthesized under good-to-exceptional yields via cycloaddition of bisarylidene Meldrum's acid derivatives (1 mmol) with isocyanides (6 mmol) within dichloromethane (CH₂Cl₂) for 3 to6 hours at room temperature with no assistance from any type of catalysts. The structure of the products was then confirmed by Fourier Transform-infrared spectroscopy, ¹H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, ¹³C-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. Moreover, the 5c , 5d , and 5f compounds exhibited favorable pharmaceutical behavior as antibacterial.     

Uniqueness of the entanglement measure for bipartite pure states and thermodynamics

We apply the axiomatic approach to thermodynamics presented by Giles to derive a unique measure of entanglement for bipartite pure states. This implies that local manipulations of entanglement in quantum information theory and adiabatic transformations of states in thermodynamics have the same underlying mathematical structure. We discuss possible extensions of our results to mixed and multipartite states.