Performance improvement of PDMS/PES membrane by adding silicalite-1 nanoparticles: separation of xenon and krypton

The polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) mixed matrix membrane with dispersed phase of nanozeolite silicalite-1 has been synthesized on polyethersulphone (PES) as a support, and its performance in the gas separation of xenon and krypton has been studied. For this purpose, nanozeolite silicalite-1 is synthesized by the hydrothermal clear solution method and is characterized by XRD and SEM analysis. In this research, the separation performance of MMM has also been compared with the polymeric PDMS membrane. Furthermore, the effect of feed pressure and loading percentage of nanozeolite in the polymeric matrix are evaluated. The results indicate that the addition of nanozeolite to the polymeric matrix improves its separation performance, and that the changes of the feed pressure have no major effect. The average permeability of the krypton and xenon gases through the PDMS polymeric membrane is calculated as 1.25 × 10^?9 and 1.78 × 10^?9 cm mol/(cm² s kPa), respectively, while by adding only 5 wt% of nanosilicalite-1 to the polymeric matrix of the membrane, this amount increased to 1.82 × 10^?9 and 8.07 × 10^?9 cm mol/(cm² s kPa), respectively. In addition, the presence of nanosilicalite-1 as the filler leads to an increase in the selectivity of xenon to krypton up to 4.38.     

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.     

Spectral and Thermal Studies of Some New Metal Complexes Derived from N-[(Phenylamino)Thioxomethyl] Hydrazinocarbonyl Methyl Pyridinium Chloride (PTHMPC)

New metal complexes derived from the reaction of N-[(phenylamino)thioxomethyl] hydrazino carbonyl methyl pyridinium chloride (H₂L; PTHMPC) with some metal salts of the general formula MX₂ [(X = Cl^? and/or CH₃COO^?; M = Cd(II), UO₂(II), Mn(II) and Zr(IV)] were synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, spectral analyses (IR, UV-vis., ¹H NMR), thermal analyses (TGA, DTG), and conductance and magnetic measurements. The results showed that the ligand exists in metal complexes either in the keto form or in the enol form. Moreover, the IR spectral data suggest that the acetate ion behaves in a monodentate manner. Semi-empirical calculations ZINDO/1, PM3, and AM1 have been used to study the molecular geometry and the harmonic vibrational spectra of the ligand and its metal complexes with the purpose of assisting the experimental assignment of the complexes. Generally, there is an agreement between the observed and the calculated spectra. Finally, the thermodynamic parameters (ΔE*, ΔH, ΔG, and ΔS) have been calculated from the data of thermal analyses (TGA and DTG).

Supplemental materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Phosphorus, Sulfur, and Silicon and the Related Elements to view the free supplemental file.     

The First Mitsunobu Protocol for Efficient Synthesis of α-Acyloxyphosphonates Using 4,4′-Azopyridine

Abstract

This is the first report on applying the Mitsunobu protocol for the synthesis of various α-acyloxyphosphonates using 4,4′-azopyridine and PPh₃ with diverse aromatic and aliphatic carboxylic acids. Under these conditions, diethyl azodicarboxylate (DEAD) as the traditional reagent for Mitsunobu reaction is not efficient. The insoluble pyridine hydrazine byproduct can be simply isolated and recycled to its azopyridine by an oxidation reaction and reused again.

[Supplemental materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Phosphorus, Sulfur, and Silicon and the Related Elements for the following free supplemental resource: Characterization data of compounds 3a–3z2 and NMR spectra.]

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT      

Silicon-Containing Condensation Polymers Derived from Long-Chain Fatty Acids

Silicon-containing condensation polymers were prepared starting from difunctional silicon-containing carboxylic acids or diols derived from long-chain fatty acids. Polyesters were synthesized by reaction of diacids containing siloxane linkages with diols, and diols containing siloxane linkages with various diacids. 1,3-Bis (10-carboxydecyl)tetramethyldisiloxane was condensed with various diamines to yield polyamides. 1,3-Bis(11-hydroxyundecyl)tetramethyldisiloxane and 1,3-bis [9(10)-hydroxyoctadecyl]tetramethyldisiloxane were condensed with diisocyanates to yield polyurethanes. Polycarbonates were synthesized by reacting the diols containing siloxane linkages with ethyl chloroformate. Some polybenzimidazols were synthesized by heating the diesters of the silicon-containing carboxylic acids with 3,3′ -diaminobenzidine. Some of the polyurethanes and polybenzimidazoles were thermally stable up to 300°C as indicated by TGA.     

Directed Evolution of a Soluble Human IL-17A Receptor for the Inhibition of Psoriasis Plaque Formation in a Mouse Model

1. Download : Download high-res image (276KB)
2. Download : Download full-size image

Highlights? IL-17 is involved in many inflammatory diseases ? Directed evolution of IL-17A receptor results in improved IL-17A affinity ? The engineered receptors efficiently inhibit IL-17A induced cytokine secretion ? Engineered receptor promotes the recovery of psoriasis plaques in mouse model     

Effect of the thermal treatment conditions on the formation of zinc ferrite nanocomposite, ZnFe2O4, by sol–gel method

Zinc ferrite nanocomposite was synthesized via thermal decomposition of zinc acetate and iron nitrate at three different temperatures (350, 450, and 550 °C). The influence of the thermal decomposition of precursors on the formation zinc ferrites was studied by differential thermal gravimetry and thermogravimetry (TG). The TG curve shows two steps for the thermal decomposition with mass loss of 17.3 % at 78 °C and 63.3 % at 315 °C. The prepared zinc ferrites nanocomposite was characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The X-ray diffractograms of ZnFe₂O₄ shows that a crystalline phase, spinel system is formed. SEM micrograph of the zinc ferrite nanocomposite indicates the formation of uniformly spherical 48-nm nanograins. The properties of the zinc ferrite phase were strongly dependent on their calcinations temperature and molar ratio of precursors.     

A computational investigation of the electronic properties of Octahedral Al n N n and Al n P n cages (n = 12, 16, 28, 36, and 48)

Density functionla theory (DFT) calculations are performed to characterize geometric and electronic features of the octahedral Al _n N _n and Al _n P _n cages (n = 12, 16, 28, 32, and 48). Toward this aim, ¹⁵N, ²⁷Al, and ³¹P chemical shielding (CS) tensors as well as natural charge analyses are calculated for the optimized structures. CS parameters detect three distinct electronic environments for atoms within the Al _n N _n and Al _n P _n cages. The chemical shifts of N2 sites belonging to a hexagon and surrounded by three hexagons and a square obtained are different from those of N3 sites belonging to a hexagon that is surrounded only by hexagons—due to different curvatures exerted at the sites with different local structures. In addition, there is an increasing tendency in the Δσ values of the three local structures, Δσ (N1) > Δσ (N2) > Δσ (N3), N1 sites belonging to four-membered rings. The chemical shieldings of those Al and P sites belonging to a hexagon that is surrounded only by hexagons in the cages (360.7–366.7 and 496.5–514.7 ppm) are close to those previously reported for AlP nanotubes. Three distinct electrostatic environments around the N, Al, and P nuclei are also confirmed by the calculated natural charges. It should be noted that the positively charged Al atoms on the cages turn out to be the available sites for adsorption of H2 molecules.     

Preconcentration and determination of methyl methacrylate by dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction

This article describes the preconcentration of methyl methacrylate in produced water by the dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction using extraction solvents lighter than water followed by gas chromatography. In the present experiments, 0.4 mL dispersive solvent (ethanol) containing 15.0 μL extraction solvent (toluene) was rapidly injected into the samples and followed by centrifuging and direct injection into the gas chromatograph equipped with flame ionization detector. The parameters affecting the extraction efficiency were evaluated and optimized including toluene (as extraction solvent), ethanol (as dispersive solvent), 15 μL and 0.4 mL (as the volume of extraction and dispersive solvents, respectively), pH 7, 20% ionic strength, and extraction's temperature and time of 20°C and 10 min, respectively. Under the optimum conditions, the figures of merits were determined to be LOD = 10 μg/L, dynamic range = 20–180 μg/L, RSD = 11% (n = 6). The maximum recovery under the optimized condition was determined to be 79.4%.     

Non-covalently lactose imprinted polymers and recognition of saccharides in aqueous solutions

The aim of this work was to prepare lactose imprinted polymer and study of its selectivity for the recognition of different mono- and disaccharides. A series of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) against lactose were synthesized and their binding properties were compared with a Blank non-imprinted polymer. Methacrylamide (MAAM) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate were used as functional monomer and cross-linker, respectively. Dimethylsulfoxide was also applied as polymerization solvent. Different lactose:MAAM ratios were applied and optimized MIP was selected in a conventional batch adsorption study. The dissociation constant and maximum binding sites of polymer were determined using the Scatchard analysis. The selectivity of MIP for different mono- and disaccharides was also evaluated. The results indicated that the shape of cavity and orientation of functional monomers in binding sites and the spatial arrangement of hydroxyl groups in saccharide structure were responsible for the selectivity of lactose imprinted polymer.