Extraction of molybdenum and technetium with diamides of dipicolinic acid from nitric acid solutions

The concentration of molybdenum(VI) in dissolved spent nuclear fuel is comparable with the concentrations of Tc, and the minor actinides (Np, Am). Therefore it is of great interest to understand its behavior under conditions imposed by separation processes. The simultaneous extraction ability of ortho, meta, and para isomers of N,N′-diethyl-N,N′-ditolyl-dipicolinamide (EtTDPA) for molybdenum and technetium were investigated in a large range of nitric and hydrochloric acid conditions. Molybdenum shows no increase in extraction at higher concentrations of nitric acid giving a solvate number n=0 with all isomers of EtTDPA, while Mo shows great extractability from HCl. Technetium distribution ratios decrease with increasing concentrations of nitrate showing indication of ion exchange occurring between TcO₄ ⁻ and NO₃ ⁻ anions. Et(m)TDPA and Et(p)TDPA show the greatest extractability, with 60% of the total technetium extracted into the organic phase at 1M HNO₃.     

Numerical simulation of non-Newtonian blood flow in bypass models

The article presents the numerical investigation of non–Newtonian effects of steady blood flow in complete idealized 3–D bypass models, whose native artery is either coronary or femoral with average physiological parameters. Considering the blood to be a generalized Newtonian fluid, the shear–dependent viscosity is described by two well–known macroscopic non–Newtonian models (the Carreau–Yasuda model and the modified Cross model). The results were obtained by own developed computational software based on the pseudo–compressibility approach and on the cell–centred finite volume method defined on unstructured hexahedral grids. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Features of X-ray fluorescence determination of rock-forming elements in powder samples of peat sediments

The features of rock-forming elements determination in powder samples of peat sediments are considered. Based on theoretical calculations and experimental data, the mineralogical and particle size effects on the X-ray fluorescence intensity have been estimated. For routine analysis, powder rock samples are usually milled to a particle size of 10–60 μm. Theoretically, estimated variations of rock-forming elements analytical lines intensities in different minerals are up to 30%, and the particle size effect cannot be eliminated simultaneously for all rock-forming elements. Experimental estimation shows that the impossibility of the particle size distribution control can lead to significant variations in the intensities of the analytical lines (3%–18%) that is mainly corresponding to theoretical estimation. Fine milling allowed us to achieve an average particle size of fewer than 20 μm and reduce the measurement uncertainty by 1.5–2 times. 12 samples of peat sediments with organic matter content up to 70 wt% were analyzed by X-ray fluorescence analysis using different sample preparation techniques, as well as by certified methods. The accuracy of X-ray fluorescence analysis of peat sediments prepared as pressed pellets varies from 1.5 to 11 rel% depending on compound contents. It is more than for samples prepared as fused beads, however, the proposed method can be used to determine the variations of rock-forming elements contents in peat sediments where the content variations exceed the measurement uncertainty, and accuracy of analysis is sufficient for further paleoecological reconstructions.     

Controlled Anchoring of (Phenylureido)sulfonamide-Based Receptor Moieties: An Impact of Binding Site Multiplication on Complexation Properties

The repetition of urea-based binding units within the receptor structure does not only lead to monomer properties multiplication. As confirmed by spectroscopic studies, UV-Vis and ¹H-NMR in classical or competitive titration mode, the attachment to a carrier allocates the active moieties to mutual positions predetermining the function of the whole receptor molecule. Bivalent receptors form self-aggregates. Dendritic receptors with low dihydrogen phosphate loadings offer a cooperative complexation mode associated with a positive dendritic effect. In higher dihydrogen phosphate concentrations, the dendritic branches act independently and the binding mode changes to 1:1 anion: complexation site. Despite the anchoring, the dendritic receptors retain the superior efficiency and selectivity of a monomer, paving the way to recyclable receptors, desirable for economic and ecological reasons.     

Synthesis of Diels–Alder adducts of the quinolizidine alkaloids N-methylcytisine, (−)-leontidine,and (−)-thermopsine with N-phenylmaleimide

The Diels–Alder adducts of the quinolizidine alkaloids N-methylcytisine, (?)-leontidine, and (?)-thermopsine with N-phenylmaleimide have been synthesized. The structures and absolute configurations of the new asymmetric centers of the products were determined by NMR spectroscopy experiments, QC-calculations, and X-ray data.     

Magnetic fluid poly(ethylene glycol) with moderate anticancer activity

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-containing magnetic fluids - magnetite (Fe₃O₄) stabilized by sodium oleate - were prepared. Magnetic measurements confirmed superparamagnetic behaviour at room temperature. The structure of that kind of magnetic fluid was characterized using different techniques, including electron microscopy, photon cross correlation spectroscopy and small-angle neutron scattering, while the adsorption of PEG on magnetic particles was analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. From the in vitro toxicity tests it was found that a magnetic fluid containing PEG (MFPEG) partially inhibited the growth of cancerous B16 cells at the highest tested dose (2.1 mg/ml of Fe₃O₄ in MFPEG).     

Tetramethyl(perfluoroalkyl)cyclopentadienyl rhodium(I) complexes with ethylene or diene ligands. Crystal structure of [(η-C5Me4C6F13)Rh(CO)2]

Tetramethyl(perfluoroalkyl)cyclopentadienyl rhodium(I) complexes with ethylene or diene (norbornadiene, cycloocta-1,5-diene, 2,3-dimethylbuta-1,3-diene, cyclohexa-1,3-diene) ligands were obtained by reduction of tetramethyl(perfluoroalkyl)rhodium(III) dichloro dimers by zinc in THF or by propan-2-ol/sodium carbonate in the presence of the ligands. Reduction in the presence of cycloocta-1,3-diene gave a different product, an η³-cyclooctenyl complex, which was not reduced further. During the reduction in the presence of ethylene, a new tetramethyl(perfluoroalkyl)-η⁴-cyclopentadiene complex was observed by NMR. This compound, formed by hydrogen transfer from the metal to the ligand, is probably in an equilibrium with the parent hydridocyclopentadienyl complex. Crystal and molecular structure of dicarbonyltetramethyl(perfluorohexyl)cyclopentadienylrhodium(I) complex was determined by X-ray diffraction. The structure shows a moderate ring slippage of the rhodium atom which was not observed in the only other known structure of a complex with the same ligand, the rhodium(III) dichloro dimer.     

Using nutritional and oxidative stress to increase content of healthbeneficial fatty acids in oleaginous and non-oleaginous yeasts

Yeast responses to stress conditions include an increase in lipid content and concomitant changes in content of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. Some fatty acids are among the dietetically important fatty acids and new possibilities are sought for their biotechnological production in addition to those already exploited from marine organisms, nuts and other sources. The possibility of the production of palmitoleic and linoleic acids resulting from new approaches to traditional biotechnologically useful yeast species (Kluyveromyces polysporus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Torulospora delbrueckii) and species capable of high accumulation of lipids (Rhodotorula glutinis, Trichosporon cutaneum, Candida sp., Yarrowia lipolytica) was explored. The most promising was the combination of two stress factors: limitation of N-sources (C/N mass ratio of 70: 1) and oxidative stress induced by zero- valent iron nanoparticles. These conditions were conducive to the production of palmitoleic acid commonly used in cosmetics and medicine and ω-6-linoleic acid, a precursor of thromboxanes, prostaglandins and leucotrienes. The yield of these two fatty acids in T. cutaneum was more than 500 mg g^?1 (dry mass) and in Candida sp. more than 600 mg g-1 (dry mass).