A simple multifunctional valve for flow injection analysis

A simple and versatile pneumatically-operated two-layer rotary valve is described for simultaneous introduction of sample and diversion of analytical streams in flow injection analysis. Examples of application include valve configuration with time-controlled sample volume and with loop-controlled sample volumes in one or two loops; both configurations are useful in routine analyses of samples of highly varying analyte concentrations. The usefulness of the valve for ion-exchange preconcentration procedure is also demostrated.     

An XPS round robin investigation on analysis of wood pulp fibres and filter paper

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) has been applied to pulp and paper research for decades. However, there has been no attempt to standardise or even systematically compare experimental and analysis procedures, even though it is known that fibrous, nature-derived and insulating fibre materials pose remarkable challenges to reliable surface analysis. The experimental problems are mainly linked with neutralisation, energy resolution, contamination and X-ray induced degradation.We have tested applicability, reliability and reproducibility of XPS analysis on real pulp samples with varying lignin and extractives contents in a small round robin investigation. We also tested the instrumental set-ups with an acetone-extracted filter paper, used as a reference sample. The data, collected at four different laboratories with state-of-the-art instruments indicate that reproducible results can be obtained, despite minor differences in experimental and analysis procedures. However, we found that a specified sample handling procedure and limited X-ray exposure are crucial for reproducible, reliable data.Based on the round robin data we recommend dose restricted monochromatic measurements, a cellulosic in situ reference and a consistent sample handling procedure. The data confirms that a paper-based reference material and the correlation of high-resolution C 1s data with O/C atomic ratios can be used in testing instruments and experimental set-ups for pulp and paper materials.     

Tailored side‐chain architecture of benzil voltage stabilizers for enhanced dielectric strength of cross‐linked polyethylene

The synthesis and physico‐chemical properties of seven benzil‐type voltage stabilizers are reported. The benzil core is substituted with alkyl chains of different length that are linked to the benzil core via an ester, ether, or tertiary amine group. All additives can be melt‐processed with low‐density polyethylene (LDPE). Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy confirms that benzil compounds are not affected by the LDPE cross‐linking reaction induced by dicumyl peroxide. Moreover, a combination of gel content measurements, thermal analysis, and small‐angle X‐ray scattering indicates that the presence of benzil voltage stabilizers does not significantly alter the microstructure of cross‐linked polyethylene (XLPE). Electrical tree inhibition experiments under high‐voltage alternating current conditions show that all investigated additives substantially enhance the dielectric strength of the insulating material at a concentration of only 10 mmol kg^?1. The highest improvement in dielectric strength, of more than 70% with respect to reference XLPE, is obtained with voltage stabilizers, which carry short (methyl) side chains that are linked to the benzil core via an ester or tertiary amine group. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2014 , 52, 1047–1054     

Effect of Light on the Activity of Metallocene Catalysts in the Gas‐Phase Polymerisation of Ethylene

It was found that halogen light can have a strong effect on the polymerisation activity of silica‐supported metallocene catalysts. Three different metallocene catalysts have been tested in the gas‐phase polymerisation of ethylene. The effect of activation depends not only on the type of transition metal, but also on the wavelength and intensity of light. The activation by light was found to be a reversible process.     

Photobilin e. Photooxidation von bacteriochlorophyll-e-derivaten

The blue photooxidation products from metall-free derivatives of bacteriochlorophyll e can be purified without decomposition by reversed phase chromatography. They are identified spectroscopically and chemically as open-chain tetrapyrroles and are named photobilins e.     

Distribution analysis of ultra-high molecular mass poly(ethylene oxide) containing silica particles by size-exclusion chromatography with dual light-scattering and refractometric detection

Two different size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) systems, connected in-line either to a low-angle light scattering (LALS) or to a multiangle light scattering (MALS) detector, are employed for determination of molecular mass distributions (MMD) of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) samples having a weight average molecular mass up to eight millions. The detrimental effect of the presence of strongly scattering silica particles in the samples on the light scattering signal can be eliminated using a suitable sample dissolution procedure utilizing silica solubility in aqueous mobile phase. The selection of flow-rate and sample concentration have a large impact on the obtained results. Hydrodynamic retardation phenomena and nonlinearity effects are shown to introduce severe errors in the molecular mass distributions unless flow-rate and sample concentration are kept at sufficiently low levels. Self-compensating ability of the dual detection in flow-rate effects is shown to be the main advantage here. A good agreement between the results obtained using LALS and MALS detection is found provided that a carefully selected angular extrapolation procedure is used in the case of MALS data. Thus, using carefully selected experimental conditions, SEC with light-scattering (LS) and refractometric detection proved to be an efficient technique for MMD characterisation also of ultra-high molecular mass (UHM) PEO polymers.