Starch coated titanium dioxide nanoparticles as a challenging sorbent to separate and preconcentrate some heavy metals using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

In this study, a challenging nanosorbent was described for preconcentration/separation method based on the sorption of cadmium, cobalt, copper, nickel, lead on starch coated titanium dioxide nanoparticles and its analysis by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Optimum conditions were investigated for quantitative sorption. By using the proposed technique, the analyte elements were determined in spiked tap-water samples in the range of 95% confidence level. Limit of detection (3δ) was 0.05, 0.28, 1.90, 3.10 and 0.11 µg/L (3σ, N = 10) for cadmium, cobalt, copper, nickel and lead, respectively. The optimised technique is fast, easy handled, simple and environmental friendly.     

Cyclodextrin short-nanofibers using sacrificial electrospun polymeric matrix for VOC removal

Cyclodextrins (CD) are cyclic oligosaccharides that can form noncovalent host–guest inclusion complexes to yield intriguing supramolecular structures. Electrospinning of nanofibers from CD is challenging since they are small molecules, nonetheless, electrospun nanofibers from CD would be particularly attractive because of the distinctive properties obtained by combining the very large surface area of nanofibers along with the inclusion complexation capability of CD. Herein, we performed the electrospinning of native CD type (i.e. γ-CD) using a minimal amount of carrier polymeric matrix (polyethylene oxide (PEO)). Once, the uniform nanofibers were electrospun from γ-CD/PEO systems, the polymeric carrier matrix was selectively removed by simple washing procedure, at the end, γ-CD short-nanofibers were obtained. We observed that γ-CD short-nanofibers could remove volatile organic compounds (VOC) (i.e. aniline) due to the inclusion complexation capability whereas pristine γ-CD powder could not have the capability for the VOC removal.     

Synthesis, molecular structure, spectroscopic studies and second-order nonlinear optical behaviour of N,N'-(2-hydroxy-propane-1,3-diyl)-bis(5-nitrosalicylaldiminato-N,O)-copper(II)

N,N'-(2-Hydroxy-propane-1,3-diyl)-bis(5-nitrosalicylaldiminato-N,O)-copper(II) has been synthesized. The crystal structure has been determined by X-ray diffraction analysis, and linear optical characterization has been determined by UV-vis spectroscopy. It was found that the molecule under investigation has solvatochromic behaviour in the UV region, implying non-zero microscopic first hyperpolarizability. To reveal the microscopic nonlinear optical (NLO) properties, the static first hyperpolarizabilities (beta) and the electric dipole moments (mu) were evaluated by using the ab initio finite field (FF) method. According to the results of the FF calculations, the synthesized compound exhibits non-zero beta values, and it might have microscopic NLO behaviour.     

Pilot-Scale Fermentation of Aqueous-Ammonia-Soaked Switchgrass

Aqueous-ammonia-steeped switchgrass was subject to simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) in two pilot-scale bioreactors (50- and 350-L working volume). Switchgrass was pretreated by soaking in ammonium hydroxide (30%) with solid to liquid ratio of 5 L ammonium hydroxide per kilogram dry switchgrass for 5 days in 75-L steeping vessels without agitation at ambient temperatures (15 to 33 °C). SSF of the pretreated biomass was carried out using Saccharomyces cerevisiae (D₅A) at approximately 2% glucan and 77 filter paper units per gram cellulose enzyme loading (Spezyme CP). The 50-L fermentation was carried out aseptically, whereas the 350-L fermentation was semiaseptic. The percentage of maximum theoretical ethanol yields achieved was 73% in the 50-L reactor and 52–74% in the 350-L reactor due to the difference in asepsis. The 350-L fermentation was contaminated by acid-producing bacteria (lactic and acetic acid concentrations approaching 10 g/L), and this resulted in lower ethanol production. Despite this problem, the pilot-scale SSF of aqueous-ammonia-pretreated switchgrass has shown promising results similar to laboratory-scale experiments. This work demonstrates challenges in pilot-scale fermentations with material handling, aseptic conditions, and bacterial contamination for cellulosic fermentations to biofuels.     

Radical 4-exo cyclizations via template catalysis

The mechanism of catalytic 4-exo cyclizations without gem-dialkyl substitution was investigated by a comparison of cyclic voltammetry, EPR, and computational studies with previously published synthetic results. The most active catalyst is a super-unsaturated 13-electron titanocene(III) complex that is formed by supramolecular activation through hydrogen bonding. The template catalyst binds radicals via a two-point binding that is mandatory for the success of the 4-exo cyclization. The computational investigations revealed that formation of the observed trans-cyclobutane product is not possible from the most stable substrate radical. Instead, the most stable product is formed with the lowest energy of activation from a disfavored substrate in a Curtin-Hammett related scenario.     

Computation of two‐center Coulomb integrals over Slater‐type orbitals using elliptical coordinates

A general analytic formula is obtained for the two‐center Coulomb integrals over Slater‐type orbitals in elliptical coordinates. Finite series expansions are used in the evaluation of the radial part of the integrals. The analytic formula is expressed in terms of a product of the well‐known auxiliary functions A_k(p) and B_k(p) and incomplete gamma functions. Recursive relations for the computer evaluation of these functions are given as well. The recursive relations are stable and our computer results are in good agreement with the benchmark values given in the literature. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2003     

p-Hertz excitation spectroscopy of an optical antenna, optical transmitter-receiver mechanism

o-Xylene sensitized biacetyl fluorescence and phosphorescence have been investigated and photosensitized fluorescence and phosphorescence lifetimes of biacetyl in the vapor phase have been determined. Attempts to detect the triplet of biacetyl by its absorption spectrum were unsuccessful, primarily due to, it is believed, the low extinction coefficients of the triplet, and the low triplet concentrations produced by the optical pumping device at room temperature.     

Solvent‐Catalyzed Ring–Chain–Ring Tautomerization in Axially Chiral Compounds

The mechanism of ring–chain–ring tautomerization and the prominent effect of the solvent environment have been computationally investigated in an effort to explain the enantiomeric interconversion observed in 2‐oxazolidinone derivatives, heterocyclic analogues of biphenyl atropisomers, which were isolated as single stable enantiomers and have the potential to be used as axially chiral catalysts. This study has shed light on the identity of the intermediate species involved in the ring–chain–ring tautomerization process as well as the catalytic effect of polar protic solvents. These mechanistic details will prove very useful in predicting and understanding ring–chain tautomeric equilibria in similar heterocyclic systems and will further enable experimentalists to devise appropriate experimental conditions in which axially chiral catalysts remain stable as single enantiomers.     

Aromatization of Hantzsch Ester 1,4‐Dihydropyridines with Iodine under Normal Conditions and Ultrasound Irradiation

A variety of Hantzsch ester 1,4‐dihydropyridines are efficiently oxidized to their corresponding pyridine compounds with iodine under normal conditions and ultrasound irradiation. The reactions were carried out in refluxing CH₃CN.