Reactions of powdered silicon with some pyrotechnic oxidants

Thermogravimetry (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) have been used to examine the thermal behaviour, in N₂ and in air, of the Si/Sb₂O₃, Si/KNO₃, Si/Fe₂O₃ and Si/SnO₂ pyrotechnic systems, in relation to the behaviour of the individual constituents.TG curves for Si powder, heated alone in air, showed that limited oxidation of Si occurred above 700°. In N₂, Sb₂O₃ sublimed completely between 500 and 900° and, in air, sublimation was accompanied by oxidation to Sb₂O₄. The Sb₂O₄ decomposed at higher temperatures. DSC curves for KNO₃ heated in N₂ showed the usual crystalline transition and melting endotherms followed by endothermic decomposition between 400 and 950°. DSC and TG curves of SnO₂and Fe₂O₃ revealed no thermal events when samples were heated to 1000° in either N₂ or air.For the Si/Sb₂O₃ system, the oxidation of Si by Sb₂O₃ between 590 and 700°, was complicated by sublimation of Sb₂O₃ in N₂ and also by the oxidation of Sb₂O₃ in air. No thermal events were observed for the Si/SnO₂and Si/Fe₂O₃ systems when heated under a variety of conditions in either N2 or in air, although these systems do sustain combustion on suitable ignition. In the Si/KNO₃ system, oxidation of Si occurs in a KNO₃ melt at temperatures above 560° in nitrogen and in air.

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Zusammenfassung Mittels TG und DSC wurde das thermische Verhalten der pyrotechnischen Systeme Si/Sb₂O₃, Si/KNO₃, Si/Fe₂O₃ und Si/SnO₂in N₂ und in Luft im Vergleich zum Verhalten der einzelnen Komponenten untersucht.TG-Aufnahmen über das Erhitzen von Si-Pulver in Luft zeigten eine begrenzte Oxidation von Silizium oberhalb 700°C. Sb₂O₃ sublimiert in Stickstoff vollständig zwischen 500 und 900°C, in Luft wird die Sublimation durch Oxidation zu Sb₂O₄ begleitet. Sb₂O₄ zersetzt sich bei höheren Temperaturen. DSC-Aufnahmen für KNO₃ in N₂ zeigen die gewohnten Umwandlungs- und Schmelzendothermen, gefolgt von einer endothermen Zersetzung zwischen 400 und 950°C. Die DSC- und TG-Kurven für SnO₂und Fe₂O₃ zeigen bei Erhitzen bis 1000°C weder in N₂ noch in Luft den Verlauf thermische Prozesse an.Bei dem System Si/Sb₂O₃ spielt sich neben der Oxidation von Si durch Sb₂O₃ zwischen 590 und 700°C auch eine Sublimation von Sb₂O₃ in N₂ sowie eine Oxidation von Sb₂O₃ in Luft ab. Für die Systeme Si/SnO₂und Si/Fe₂O₃ konnten durch Erhitzen unter einer Reihe von Bedingungen weder in Luft noch in N₂ Thermoprozesse nachgewiesen werden, obwohl diese Systeme nach geeigneter Zündung den Brennvorgang aufrechterhalten. Im System Si/KNO₃ erfolgt sowohl in N₂ als auch in Luft oberhalb 560°C die Oxidation von Si in der KNO₃-Schmelze.

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Dedicated to Professor Dr. H. J. Seifert on the occasion of his 60^th birthday     

Studies on crosslinking of EPDM-PE blends by thermoanalytical techniques

The effect of blend ratio and peroxide concentration on crosslinking characteristics of EPDM-PE blends were studied by Differential Scanning Calorimetry, Brabender plasticorder and Rheometer. Crosslinking of EPDM-PE blends follows first order reaction kinetics. The curing exotherm increases but activation energy decreases with increase in EPDM content in the blends. The same however increases with the increase in concentration of DCP upto a certain level, while the activation energy is almost independent of peroxide concentration. The cure rate increases whereas optimum cure time and energy consumption for curing decrease with increase in the EPDM-PE ratio. A method for determination of crosslinking efficiency in the case of blend systems was developed from high temperature modulus to predict the properties and the curing behaviour of the blends.

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Zusammenfassung Mittels DSC, Brabender Plasticorder und Rheometer wurde der Einfluß von Mischungsverhältnis und Peroxidkonzentration auf den Vernetzungsverlauf von EPDM-PE-Gemischen untersucht. Die Vernetzung von EPDM-PE-Gemischen verläuft nach einer Reaktion erster Ordnung. Je höher der Anteil von EPDM im Gemisch, um so exothermer ist die Vernetzung und um so kleiner ist die dazugehörige Aktivierungsenergie. Mit dem Anwachsen der DCP-Konzentration bis zu einem gewissen Niveau wächst der exotherme Charakter, während die Aktivierungsenergie fast unabhängig von der Peroxidkonzentration ist. Mit dem Anstieg des EPDM/PE-Verhältnisses wächst die vernetzungsgeschwindigkeit, während die optimale Vernetzungszeit und der Energieverbrauch für die Vernetzung sinken. Es wurde ein Verfahren zur Bestimmung der Vernetzungseffizienz bei Mischsystemen entwickelt, um Eigenschaften und Vernetzungsverhalten von Gemischen voraussagen zu können.

     

Structure elucidation of everninomicin-6, a new oligosaccharide antibiotic, by chemical degradation and FAB-MS methods

The structural characterization of a new oligosaccharide antibiotic, Everninomicin-6 (EV-6), is described. Detailed fast-atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FAB-MS) studies along with NMR and chemical degradation methods were conducted to elucidate the structure of EV-6. The effects of the use of various matrices, including salt addition, on the quality of the FAB-MS were explored. The use of 3-nitro benzyl alcohol, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and NaCl produced the best results: an intense sodiated molecular ion plus structurely informative fragmentation. FAB-MS yields information providing the complete sugar sequence information for everninomicins, which is quite valuable to the elucidation of the structure of this complex oligosaccharide antibiotic. In addition, the results of accurate mass work with the molecular ion are consistent with the assigned structure. The use of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and ESI-MS/MS for the study of EV-6 was investigated and was found to produce an abundant molecular ion with limited structural information. These results revealed that EV-6 resembled EV-D quite closely except for the absence of the nitrosugar and the replacement on ring g of the -CH₂OCH₃ group with a -CH₂OH group.     

Comparable Ionicity of the Solutions of Aprotic and Protic Ionic Liquids by Anion Substitution

Temperature dependent molar conductances and fluidities of bisulfate and ethyl sulfate anion-based ionic liquids were measured. The extent of dissociation of the ionic liquids was estimated from the Walden plot in term of ionicity. The ionicity mainly depends on the magnitude of Coulombic forces, altered by the anion’s Lewis basicity. Aqueous solutions of aprotic ionic liquids, in general, possesses ionicity in the range of ≈70–99%. This article reveals that the substitution of the anion by bisulfate and ethylsulfate reduces the ionicity of aqueous solution of these ionic liquids to the range of 10–37%. This is very close to that exhibited by some of the protic ionic liquids and phosphonium based ionic liquids with sweetner anions. The concentration dependent molar conductance of these ionic liquids has been fitted to Mahiuddin and Ismail’s equation. To our surprise, the molar conductances of bisulfate-based aprotic ionic liquids are remarkably high, even though these ionic liquids possess lower ionicity.     

A Series of Iron(II)-NHC Sensitizers with Remarkable Power Conversion Efficiency in Photoelectrochemical Cells**

A series of six new Fe(II)NHC-carboxylic sensitizers with their ancillary ligand decorated with functions of varied electronic properties have been designed with the aim to increase the metal-to- surface charge separation and light harvesting in iron-based dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). ARM130 scored the highest efficiency ever reported for an iron-sensitized solar cell (1.83 %) using Mg²⁺ and NBu₄I-based electrolyte and a thick 20 μm TiO₂ anode. Computational modelling, transient absorption spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) revealed that the electronic properties induced by the dimethoxyphenyl-substituted NHC ligand of ARM130 led to the best combination of electron injection yield and spectral sensitivity breadth.     

Cannabis-Derived Compounds Cannabichromene and Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Interact and Exhibit Cytotoxic Activity against Urothelial Cell Carcinoma Correlated with Inhibition of Cell Migration and Cytoskeleton Organization

Cannabis sativa contains more than 500 constituents, yet the anticancer properties of the vast majority of cannabis compounds remains unknown. We aimed to identify cannabis compounds and their combinations presenting cytotoxicity against bladder urothelial carcinoma (UC), the most common urinary system cancer. An XTT assay was used to determine cytotoxic activity of C. sativa extracts on T24 and HBT-9 cell lines. Extract chemical content was identified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) was used to determine apoptosis and cell cycle, using stained F-actin and nuclei. Scratch and transwell assays were used to determine cell migration and invasion, respectively. Gene expression was determined by quantitative Polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The most active decarboxylated extract fraction (F7) of high-cannabidiol (CBD) C. sativa was found to contain cannabichromene (CBC) and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Synergistic interaction was demonstrated between CBC + THC whereas cannabinoid receptor (CB) type 1 and type 2 inverse agonists reduced cytotoxic activity. Treatments with CBC + THC or CBD led to cell cycle arrest and cell apoptosis. CBC + THC or CBD treatments inhibited cell migration and affected F-actin integrity. Identification of active plant ingredients (API) from cannabis that induce apoptosis and affect cell migration in UC cell lines forms a basis for pre-clinical trials for UC treatment.     

Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of some novel benzofuran based 1,2,3-triazoles

In the present study, a series of novel {6-[(1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)methoxy]-3-methylbenzofuran-2-yl}(phenyl)methanones (7a–7o) have been synthesized using click chemistry approach. The structures of all newly synthesized compounds were characterized by FT-IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, and MASS spectral data. Most of products demonstrated high antimicrobial activity.

     

Extractive spectrophotometric determination of nitrite in polluted waters

Nitrite is diazotised with p-nitroaniline in hydrochloric acid and coupled with 8-quinolinol in alkaline medium to give a purple azo dye (λ_max = 550 nm, ? = 3.88 × 10⁴ l mol^-1 cm^-1). Extraction of the dye into 3-methyl-1-butanol shifts the absorption maximum to 570 nm and improves the apparent molar absorptivity to 5.852 × 10⁴ l mol^-1 cm^-1. Beer's law is obeyed for 0.01–0.06 ppm nitrite. The Sandell sensitivity is 0.00078 μg cm^-2. The method is applicable to polluted waters.     

Carbon-13 substituent chemical shifts of 4-substituted bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-1-yl cyanides

The carbon-13 substituent chemical shifts of 4-substituted bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-1-yl cyanides are a linear function of the substituent inductive parameters.