Cr(VI) ion removal from artificial waste water using supported liquid membrane

In this study, a novel flat-type synergic-supported liquid membrane was evaluated with a mixture of N-methyl-N,N,N-trioctylammonium chloride (Aliquat 336) and tributyl phosphate (TBP) as the carrier and kerosene as the diluent to remove Cr(VI) from synthetic waste water. The main parameters involved in the process were identified and optimised. The parameters were divided into two groups, those that were independent and those having an interaction. The parameters of the carrier/kerosene volumetric proportion and stirring rate were optimised individually due to their nature. The optimal values of these parameters were 0.5 and 500 min^?1, respectively, for a constant carrier/kerosene ratio and stirring rate in the designed experiments using the response surface method (RSM). The four parameters of TBP/Aliquat 336, chromium concentration in the feed phase, feed and product pH were optimised using RSM; it was observed that the TBP/Aliquat 336 ratio, feed pH, pH of the stripping phase and interaction of this parameter with feed concentration have the most important effects on the removal of Cr(VI). The optimal levels of these parameters were 0.61, 71.75 mg L^?1, 3.5 and 12.66 for the ratio of TBP/Aliquat 336, feed chromium concentration, pH of the feed and pH of the product, respectively. An experimental removal rate of 94.63 % at the optimized levels was obtained.     

2-Imino 2<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>-chromene and 2-(phenylimino) 2<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>-chromene 3-aryl carboxamide derivatives as novel cytotoxic agents: synthesis,biological assay,and molecular docking study

The inhibition of AKR₁B₁₀ has been recognized as a potential therapeutic approach to the treatment of various types of cancers. A novel series of compounds with imino-2H-chromen and phenylimino-2H-chromen scaffolds were synthesized by Knoevenagel condensation reaction. The in vitro cytotoxic activity of synthesized compounds was evaluated against MOLT-4 and SK-OV-3 cells. Among the tested compounds, N-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-(phenylimino)-2H-chromene-3-carboxamide (8g) demonstrated potent inhibitory activity against both examined cell lines. The results of the molecular docking study suggested that this compound is involved in critical hydrogen-bonding interactions with the Val301 and Lue302 of AKR₁B₁₀ catalytic site.     

Structural characterization of new Cd(2+) fluorescent sensor based on lumazine ligand: AM1 and ab initio studies

6-Thienyllumazine (TLM) is synthesized as a new fluorescent sensor that is capable of indicating selectively the presence of Cd(2+) ion via a fluorescence signal. Experiment has been performed in the presence of Ni(2+), Co(2+), Cu(2+), Ag(+), Mn(2+), Hg(2+), Zn(2+), Pb(2+), and Mg(2+) metal ions in aqueous solutions. The product was characterized by elemental analysis, mass, and NMR spectra. The spectral characteristics (maxima, quantum yields, Stokes shift, and lifetimes) of TLM in organic and aqueous solvents have been studied with the help of absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy, as well as, using time dependent spectrofluorimetry (single photon counting technique). The fluorescence dependence of TLM on the pH has also been investigated. The experimental results indicate that TLM exists in two ionic forms: neutral (acid) and anion (base). Electronic structure calculations of TLM were carried out using Semiempirical Austin Model 1 (AM1) and ab initio Hartree-Fock (HF) with 6-31G* basis set and using Gaussian 03 program. Absorption energies for TLM have been calculated using ZINDO method. The theoretical results confirm the presence of the thiophene and pteridine rings in two conformations: twisted at angle of about 35 degrees in the excited state and coplanar in the ground state.     

Interaction potentials and transport properties of coinage metal cations in rare gases

High-level ab initio calculations are performed on the coinage metal cations (Cu+, Ag+, and Au+) interacting with each of the rare gases [Rg (Rg=He to Rn)]. The RCCSD(T) procedure is employed, with basis sets being of approximately quintuple-zeta quality, but with the heavier species using relativistic effective core potentials. The interaction potentials are compared to experimental and theoretical data where they exist. In addition, transport coefficients for the mobility and diffusion of the cations in the rare gases are calculated. The latter have involved a rewriting of some of the programs used, and the required modifications are discussed. The mobility results indicate that, rather than being a rare occurrence, mobility minima may be common phenomena. Finally, a new estimate is put forward for the validity of zero-field mobilities in ion mobility spectrometry.     

Controlling liposomal drug release with low frequency ultrasound: mechanism and feasibility

The ability of low-frequency ultrasound (LFUS) to release encapsulated drugs from sterically stabilized liposomes in a controlled manner was demonstrated. Three liposomal formulations having identical lipid bilayer compositions and a similar size ( approximately 100 nm) but differing in their encapsulated drugs and methods of drug loading have been tested. Two of the drugs, doxorubicin and methylpredinisolone hemisuccinate, were remote loaded by transmembrane gradients (ammonium sulfate and calcium acetate, respectively). The third drug, cisplatin, was loaded passively into the liposomes. For all three formulations, a short exposure to LFUS (<3 min) released nearly 80% of the drug. The magnitude of drug release was a function of LFUS amplitude and actual exposure time, irrespective of whether irradiation was pulsed or continuous. Furthermore, no change in liposome size distribution or in the chemical properties of the lipids or of the released drugs occurred due to exposure to LFUS. Based on our results, we propose that the mechanism of release is a transient introduction of porelike defects in the liposome membrane, which occurs only during exposure to LFUS, after which the membrane reseals. This explains the observed uptake of the membrane-impermeable fluorophore pyranine from the extraliposomal medium during exposure to LFUS. The implications of these findings for clinical applications of controlled drug release from liposomes are discussed.     

Further analysis of minimum residual iterations

The convergence behaviour of a number of algorithms based on minimizing residual norms over Krylov subspaces is not well understood. Residual or error bounds currently available are either too loose or depend on unknown constants that can be very large. In this paper we take another look at traditional as well as alternative ways of obtaining upper bounds on residual norms. In particular, we derive inequalities that utilize Chebyshev polynomials and compare them with standard inequalities. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Complexed sol-gel synthesis of improved Pt-Ru-Os-based anode electro-catalysts for direct methanol fuel cells

A high specific surface area (SSA) Pt-Ru-Os-based anode catalyst synthesized by a novel complexed sol-gel (CSG) process shows better catalytic activity in comparison to pure equi-atomic compositions of Pt-Ru anode catalysts synthesized by similar sol-gel processes. A homogeneous amorphous gel was successfully synthesized by complexing platinum(II) acetylacetonate, ruthenium(III) acetylacetonate and osmium(III) chloride with tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) used as a complexing agent. Phase-pure Pt(Ru,Os) and Pt(Ru) solid solutions possessing high specific surface area (∼110-120 m²/g) were successfully synthesized by controlled removal of carbonaceous species present in the as-prepared precursor generated from the CSG process. This has been successfully achieved by precise thermal treatments of the precursor using controlled oxidizing atmospheres. Results indicate that the nano-crystalline Pt(Ru,Os) solid solution of nominal composition 50 at%-Pt-40 at% Ru-10 at% Os possesses good chemical homogeneity, and reveals excellent catalytic activity, thus demonstrating the potential of the novel CSG process for synthesizing high-performance Pt-Ru-Os-based catalysts for direct methanol fuel cells.     

Entropic order quantity (EnOQ) model for deteriorating items

Jaber et al. [M.Y. Jaber, R.Y. Nuwayhid, M.A. Rosen, Price-driven economic order systems from a thermodynamic point of view, Int. J. Prod. Res. 42 (24) (2004) 5167–5184] suggested that it might be possible to improve production systems performance by applying the first and second laws of thermodynamics to reduce system entropy (or disorder). They then used these laws to modify the economic order quantity (EOQ) model to derive an equivalent entropic order quantity (EnOQ). The results suggested that larger quantities should be ordered than is suggested by the classical EOQ model.