Curcumin,A Novel Natural Photoinitiator for the Copolymerization of Styrene and Methylmethacrylate

Curcumin (Cur), a natural colorant found in the roots of the Turmeric plant, has been reported for the first time as photoinitiator for the copolymerization of styrene (Sty) and methylmethacrylate (MMA). The kinetic data, inhibiting effect of benzoquinone and ESR studies indicate that the polymerization proceeds via a free radical mechanism. The system follows ideal kinetics (R_p α[Cur]^0.5[Sty]^0.97[MMA]¹). The reactivity ratios calculated by using the Finemann–Ross and Kelen‐Tudos models were r₁(MMA)=0.46 and r₂(Sty)=0.52. IR and NMR analysis confirmed the structure of the copolymer. NMR spectrum showing methoxy protons as three distinct groups of resonance between 2.2–3.75 δ and phenyl protons of styrene at 6.8–7.1 δ confirmed the random nature of the copolymer. The mechanism for formation of radicals and random copolymer of styrene and MMA [Sty‐co‐MMA] is also discussed.     

Substituent effects in polymerization reactions in terms of generalized substituent constants F and R and generalized weighting factors f and r

In this investigation an approach to correlate the composite rate constants of some redox polymerization reactions [acrylonitrile-Ce(IV)-organic substrate] with a new type of multiparameter equation is described. The multiparameter equation is based on Swain and Lupton's F and R, the field and resonance components of the substituents, respectively, and the unique positional weighting factors f and r suggested by Williams and Norrington. The statistical parameters of the correlation involving the substituent constants (fF and rR) and the rate data have been found to be quite satisfactory, the average coefficient of determination being 0.91. The significance levels of the correlation also indicate that the present model is applicable to the kinetics of redox polymerization. The sign and magnitude of the reaction-dependent regression constants α and β suggest that three different types of reaction mechanisms are operative for the substrates benzaldehyde, phenylthiourea, acetophenone, and toluene.     

Effect of iso-propanol on the radiolysis of aqueous solutions of periodate

The -radiolysis of IO ₄ ^– in aqueous solution and binary solutions containing iso-propanol has been studied as a function of reactant concentration and absorbed dose. The disappearance of periodate ion in the presence of alcohol is found to be higher as compared to that observed in the pure system. The trend in the G-values determined at various combinations of the reactant concentrations suggests the occurrence of a chain reaction in the radiolytic process.     

Kβ X-ray emission from He-like ions

Relativistic calculations on the energies and electric dipole rates of K_β X-rays from 1s3p(¹P₁,³P₁)-1s² (¹S₀) transitions for He-like ions in the range Z=14–54 are carried out using multi-configuration Dirac–Fock (MCDF) wave functions in the active space interaction approach. The contributions from Breit interaction and quantum electrodynamics have also been included in the calculation. An attempt has been made to find a scaling expression for Breit energy in terms of Zα .The scaled Breit energies are in good agreement with the earlier accurate relativistic results and this ensures the reliability of our scaling procedure. The behavior of MCDF wavefunctions for a given J in the non-relativistic limit has also been studied. The calculated K_β X-ray energies and rates agree well with other available experimental and theoretical values.     

EPR Evidence for Premonitory Charge-Ordering Fluctuations in Nanomanganite Pr0.57Ca0.41Ba0.02MnO3

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and magnetic properties of nanocrystalline Pr_0.57Ca_0.41Ba_0.02MnO₃ are studied and compared with those of the bulk material. The nanoscale samples prepared by the sol–gel method were annealed at different temperatures to obtain particles of different sizes. The crystallite and particle sizes were estimated by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy and found to be approximately equal to 30, 60 and 100 nm. Magnetization studies on the 60 and 100 nm particles show charge-ordering at 230 K similar to the bulk sample prepared by solid-state reaction, while in the 30 nm particles the charge-ordering signature is absent. At low temperatures all the three nanosamples show ferromagnetic transitions. This result is confirmed by the EPR intensity behavior as well. However, the EPR line width, which is reflective of the spin dynamics, shows a shallow minimum for the 30 nm particles at the temperature of 230 K, corresponding to the charge-ordering transition. We interpret this result as an indication of the presence of charge-ordering fluctuations in the nanoparticles of 30 nm size even though the static charge order is absent, thus heralding the occurrence of charge order in the larger particles. Authors' address: Subray V. Bhat, Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India     

A Novel Methylotrophic Bacterial Consortium for Treatment of Industrial Effluents

Considering the importance of methylotrophs in industrial wastewater treatment, focus of the present study was on utilization of a methylotrophic bacterial consortium as a microbial seed for biotreatment of a variety of industrial effluents. For this purpose, a mixed bacterial methylotrophic AC (Ankleshwar CETP) consortium comprising of Bordetella petrii AC1, Bacillus licheniformis AC4, Salmonella subterranea AC5, and Pseudomonas stutzeri AC8 was used. The AC consortium showed efficient biotreatment of four industrial effluents procured from fertilizer, chemical and pesticide industries, and common effluent treatment plant by lowering their chemical oxygen demand (COD) of 950–2000 mg/l to below detection limit in 60–96 h in 6-l batch reactor and 9–15 days in 6-l continuous reactor. The operating variables of wastewater treatment, viz. COD, BOD, pH, MLSS, MLVSS, SVI, and F/M ratio of these effluents, were also maintained in the permissible range in both batch and continuous reactors. Therefore, formation of the AC consortium has led to the development of an efficient microbial seed capable of treating a variety of industrial effluents containing pollutants generated from their respective industries.     

The flow over a thin airfoil subjected to elevated levels of freestream turbulence at low Reynolds numbers

Micro Air Vehicles (MAVs) can be difficult to control in the outdoor environment as they fly at relatively low speeds and are of low mass, yet exposed to high levels of freestream turbulence present within the Atmospheric Boundary Layer. In order to examine transient flow phenomena, two turbulence conditions of nominally the same longitudinal integral length scale (Lxx/c?=?1) but with significantly different intensities (Ti?=?7.2?% and 12.3?%) were generated within a wind tunnel; time-varying surface pressure measurements, smoke flow visualization, and wake velocity measurements were made on a thin flat plate airfoil. Rapid changes in oncoming flow pitch angle resulted in the shear layer to separate from the leading edge of the airfoil even at lower geometric angles of attack. At higher geometric angles of attack, massive flow separation occurred at the leading edge followed by enhanced roll up of the shear layer. This lead to the formation of large Leading Edge Vortices (LEVs) that advected at a rate much lower than the mean flow speed while imparting high pressure fluctuations over the airfoil. The rate of LEV formation was dependent on the angle of attack until 10° and it was independent of the turbulence properties tested. The fluctuations in surface pressures and consequently aerodynamic loads were considerably limited on the airfoil bottom surface due to the favorable pressure gradient.     

Synthesis,spectroscopic characterization and crystal structure of 5-bromo-1-(2-cyano-pyridin-4-yl)-1H-indazole-3-carboxylic acid diethylamide

The title compound 5-bromo-1-(2-cyano-pyridin-4-yl)-1H-indazole-3-carboxylic acid diethylamide, C₁₈H₁₆BrN₅O, is prepared from 5-bromoindazole-3-carboxylic acid methylester. N ¹-arylation is carried out with 4-chloro-2-cyanopyridine and the resulting product is converted to diethylamide by reacting with thionyl chloride and diethylamine. The structure is identified from its FT-IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis data and unambiguously confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. There are two symmetry independent molecules in the asymmetric unit with no significant differences in bond lengths and angles. The title compound crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group \(P\bar 1\) , with a = 11.2330(2); b = 11.6130(2); c = 15.4710(3) Å, α = 92.515(1)°; β = 109.956(1)°; γ = 107.199(1)°; V = 1788.45(6)ų and z = 4. An intramolecular C-H…N hydrogen bond forms an S(6) ring motif in one of the unique molecules. In the crystal, two molecules are linked about a center of inversion by C-H…O hydrogen bonded dimers generating an R ₂ ² (16) ring motif. The crystal packing is stabilized by C-H…N, C-H…O hydrogen bonds and π…π stacking interactions.