Mineral content and botanical origin of Spanish honeys

Eleven elements (Zn, P, B, Mn, Mg, Cu, Ca, Ba, Sr, Na and K) were determined by inductively plasma coupled spectrometry in 40 honey samples from different places of Spain and four different botanical origins: Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus sp.), Heather (Erica sp.), Orange-blossom (Citrus sinensis) and Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis). K, Ca and P show the higher levels with average concentrations ranged between 434.1-1935 mg kg⁻¹ for K; 42.59-341.0 mg kg⁻¹ for Ca and 51.17-154.3 mg kg⁻¹ for P. Levels of Cu (0.531-2.117 mg kg⁻¹), Ba (0.106-1.264 mg kg⁻¹) and Sr (0.257-1.462 mg kg⁻¹) are the lowest in all honey samples. Zn (1.332-7.825 mg kg⁻¹), Mn (0.133-9.471 mg kg⁻¹), Mg (13.26-74.38 mg kg⁻¹) and Na (11.69-218.5 mg kg⁻¹) concentrations were found strongly dependent on the kind of botanical origin.Results were submitted to pattern recognition procedures, unsupervised methods such as cluster and principal components analysis and supervised learning methods like linear discriminant analysis in order to evaluate the existence of data patterns and the possibility of differentiation of Spanish honeys from different botanical origins according to their mineral content. Cluster analysis shows four clusters corresponding to the four botanical origins of honey and PCA explained 71% of the variance with the first two PC variables. The best-grouped honeys were those from heather; eucalyptus honeys formed a more dispersed group and finally orange-blossom and rosemary honeys formed a less distinguishable group.     

Computation in kinetics, III. A new method for kinetic model search based on simultaneous regression estimation of rate constants, stoichiometry and/or reaction order

Modified samples of natural mordenites have been found to catalyze the oxidative condensation of methane to yield ethane and ethylene. The selectivity towards C₂ hydrocarbons increases, whereas the acidity of zeolites falls.

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, . C₂ .

     

Equilibrium and Kinetics of NO and CO Chemisorptions on Nonstoichiometric Nickel-Copper Manganites

The equilibrium and kinetics of adsorption of NO and CO on nonstoichiometric nickel-copper manganites have been investigated through volumetric measurements. The adsorption isotherms were satisfactorily fitted to the Freundlich equation. The equilibrium coverages at 298 K were found to depend closely on the chemical composition of the oxide; thus, a decrease in the coverage beyond a maximum copper extent was observed. The adsorption isotherms of NO at various temperatures in the range from 298 to 473 K showed that the equilibrium coverage decreases with increasing temperature. This behavior enabled us to follow the logarithmic decrease of the heat of adsorption of NO on such surfaces. The adsorptions of NO and CO on surfaces preadsorbed with CO and NO, respectively, were also studied. These experiments showed the ability of NO to displace CO preadsorbed molecules whereas the contrary did not hold, suggesting the existence of common adsorption sites as well as some specific CO adsorption sites. Finally, some kinetic data are reported showing that the experimental adsorption results fit the Elovich equation (with t(0) approximately 0), although two distinct rate processes could be identified. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

Design, synthesis, and photophysical studies of a porphyrin-fullerene dyad with parachute topology; charge recombination in the marcus inverted region

As part of a continuing investigation of the topological control of intramolecular electron transfer (ET) in donor-acceptor systems, a symmetrical parachute-shaped octaethylporphyrin-fullerene dyad has been synthesized. A symmetrical strap, attached to ortho positions of phenyl groups at opposing meso positions of the porphyrin, was linked to [60]-fullerene in the final step of the synthesis. The dyad structures were confirmed by (1)H, (13)C, and (3)He NMR, and MALDI-TOF mass spectra. The free-base and Zn-containing dyads were subjected to extensive spectroscopic, electrochemical and photophysical studies. UV-vis spectra of the dyads are superimposable on the sum of the spectra of appropriate model systems, indicating that there is no significant ground-state electronic interaction between the component chromophores. Molecular modeling studies reveal that the lowest energy conformation of the dyad is not the C(2)(v)() symmetrical structure, but rather one in which the porphyrin moves over to the side of the fullerene sphere, bringing the two pi-systems into close proximity, which enhances van der Waals attractive forces. To account for the NMR data, it is proposed that the dyad is conformationally mobile at room temperature, with the porphyrin swinging back and forth from one side of the fullerene to the other. The extensive fluorescence quenching in both the free base and Zn dyads is associated with an extremely rapid photoinduced electron-transfer process, k(ET) approximately 10(11) s(-)(1), generating porphyrin radical cations and C(60) radical anions, detected by transient absorption spectroscopy. Back electron transfer (BET) is slower than charge separation by up to 2 orders of magnitude in these systems. The BET rate is slower in nonpolar than in polar solvents, indicating that BET occurs in the Marcus inverted region, where the rate decreases as the thermodynamic driving force for BET increases. Transient absorption and singlet molecular oxygen sensitization data show that fullerene triplets are formed only with the free base dyad in toluene, where triplet formation from the charge-separated state is competitive with decay to the ground state. The photophysical properties of the P-C(60) dyads with parachute topology are very similar to those of structurally related rigid pi-stacked P-C(60) dyads, with the exception that there is no detectable charge-transfer absorption in the parachute systems, attributed to their conformational flexibility. It is concluded that charge separation in these hybrid systems occurs through space in unsymmetrical conformations, where the center-to-center distance between the component pi-systems is minimized. Analysis of the BET data using Marcus theory gives reorganization energies for these systems between 0.6 and 0.8 eV and electronic coupling matrix elements between 4.8 and 5.6 cm(-)(1).     

Monocarbonyl cationic rhodium(I) complexes

Summary The preparations and characterisation of cationic complexes of the type [Rh(CO)(MeCN)(PR₃)₂]ClO₄, [Rh(CO)L(PR₃)₂]ClO₄ (L=py or 2-MeOpy), [Rh(CO)(L-L)(PR₃)₂]ClO₄ (L-L = bipy or phen) and [Rh(CO)(PR₃)₃]ClO₄ with PR₃ = P(p-YC₆H₄)₃ (Y=Cl, F, Me or MeO) are described.     

Simultaneous Determination of Ascorbic Acid and Uric Acid by Using a PVC/TTF‐TCNQ Composite Electrode as Detector in a FIA System

A PVC/TTF‐TCNQ composite electrode has been employed as detector in a flow injection system. The proposed method allows the simultaneous detection of ascorbic acid (AA) and uric acid (UA) in mixtures by using a FIA system in a simple manner, without pre‐treatment or modified electrode. This method is based on the amperometric determination of (a) ascorbic acid at 0.15 V and (b) both analytes at 0.35 V, being the response linear in the range 1×10^?2–4×10^?4 M for both analytes with detection limits (S/N=3) of 1.2×10^?4 M and 8.1×10^?5 M for AA and UA, respectively.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Pyrrolthiosemicarbazone Complexes of Palladium(II). Crystal Structures of [{Pd[C4H4NC(H)=NNC(S)NHMe](Cl)}2{μ‐Ph2P(CH2)3PPh2}] and [Pd{C4H4NC(H)=NNC(S)NHMe}{Ph2P(CH2)2PPh2‐P,P}](Cl)

Reaction of the thiosemicarbazone ligands C₄H₄NC(H)=NN(H)C(S)NHR (R = Me, a ; Et, b ) with Li₂[PdCl₄] gave the dinuclear complexes [Pd{C₄H₄NC(H)=NNC(S)NHR}(μ‐Cl)]₂ (R = Me, 1a ; Et, 1b ) with a central Pd₂Cl₂ core and with deprotonation of the thiosemicarbazones at the hydrazinic nitrogen atom. Treatment of 1a and 1b with triphenylphosphine gave the mononuclear compounds [Pd{C₄H₄C(H)=NNC(S)NHR}(Cl)(PPh₃)] (R = Me, 2a ; Et, 2b ), whereas reaction of 1a and 1b with tertiary diphosphines gave mono‐ and dinuclear compounds, as appropriate, with the corresponding diphosphine acting as a monodentate ( 6b ), chelating ( 3a ) and bridging ligand ( 4a, 5a , 4b, 5b ). Treatment of 1a and 1b with (Ph₂PCH₂CH₂PPh₂)W(CO)₅ gave the new heterobimetallic complexes 7a and 7b . The crystal structures of complexes 3a and 4a are described.     

Prepolymer film growth by adsorption out of solution on silicon and aluminium

A cyanurate prepolymer has been applied to smooth silicon wafers or to distinctly structured aluminium coatings. The surface composition of the substrates has been investigated by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES) and ellipsometry. The application methods, spin coating and dip coating represent adsorption by a technical process exerting significant shear stresses or nearly equilibrated conditions, respectively. The mean tickness of the prepolymer film has been adjusted by variation of the concentration of the solution and checked by ellipsometry. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) monitored the development of the respective film morphologies of all 4 systems (silicon/aluminium, spin/dip coating) in the mean film thickness range from 1 to 50 nm.     

Flow analysis-vapor phase generation-Fourier transform infrared (FA-VPG-FTIR) spectrometric determination of nitrite

In this work, the coupling between flow analysis (FA)–vapor phase generation (VPG) and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) has been proposed as a novel and alternative strategy for the determination of nitrite. The analyte was transformed into the gaseous nitric oxide (NO) by on-line reaction with potassium iodide (KI) or ascorbic acid in acidic medium. The gaseous NO generated was transported by means of a N₂ gas carrier stream inside the IR gas cell and the corresponding FTIR spectrum was acquired in a continuous mode. The absorbance at 1876 cm⁻¹, corrected by a baseline established between 1879 and 1872 cm⁻¹ at a nominal resolution of 2 cm⁻¹, was selected as a measurement criterion. The effect of different spectroscopic and flow analysis experimental parameters, such as nominal resolution, number of scans, reducing agent and its concentration, acidic medium, reagents and sample flow rates, and the carrier gas flow rate on the analytical signal, and then in the figures of merit were initially evaluated by using a standard short path length (10 cm) IR gas cell. The optimization of the system was carried out by the univariate method. The main aims of this study were: (i) to investigate the on-line generation of gaseous nitric oxide in a continuous flow system, and (ii) the use of Fourier transform infrared spectrometry as an alternative and selective detector for the determination of nitrite. The proposed method was initially tested and applied for the determination of nitrite in samples with very high concentration of nitrite, such as frankfurters.     

Studies on the chemistry of 2-(2-oxo-3-phenylpropyl)-benzaldehydes: novel total synthesis of 3-phenylnaphthalen-2-ols and 2-hydroxy-3-phenyl-1,4-naphthoquinones

We describe the first studies on the chemistry of 2-(2-oxo-3-phenylpropyl)benzaldehydes, which were converted into 3-benzylisochromen-1-ones via the corresponding 2-(2-oxo-3-phenylpropyl)benzoic acid. The 2-(2-oxo-3-phenylpropyl)benzaldehydes proved to be convenient starting materials for the synthesis of 3-phenyl-2-naphthols. Oxidation of the latter compounds resulted in a novel, efficient synthesis of 3-phenyl-1,2-naphthoquinones, which were efficiently transformed into 2-hydroxy-3-phenyl-1,4-naphthoquinones.