Mathematical modelling and simulation of adsorption processes at spherical microparticles.

A model for the adsorption process at spherical microparticles under transient diffusion conditions has been developed and solved using numerical simulation. This model allowed us to demonstrate that the system is controlled by two main dimensionless parameters: the adsorption rate constant ka' and the saturation parameter beta. Analytical models for the adsorption process at spherical microparticles under steady-state mass transport conditions have been derived. These models use previously developed empirical relationships for the calculation of the mass transfer coefficient (kc). The properties of the system were studied for both the case where mass transport is described by diffusion only and the case where it is the result of a coupled diffusion/convection process. These mathematical tools were then used to analyse the results obtained for the uptake of CuII by glassy carbon powder modified with the monomer L-cysteine methyl ester and to extract a minimum value for the adsorption rate constant which was found to be of the order of 10(-4) cm s(-1).     

Kinetics of the substitution reactions of some Pt(II) complexes with 5′‐GMP and L‐histidine

The reactions of platinum(II) complexes, [PtCl₂(dach)] (dach = (1R,2R)‐1,2‐diaminocyclohexane) and [PtCl₂(en)] (en = ethylenediamine) with biologically relevant ligands such as 5′‐GMP (guanosine‐5′‐monophosphate) and l ‐His (l ‐histidine) were studied by UV–vis spectrophotometry, ¹H NMR spectroscopy, and high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Spectrophotometrically, these reactions were investigated under pseudo‐first‐order conditions at 310 K in 25 mM Hepes buffer (pH 7.2) and 10 mM NaCl to prevent the hydrolysis of the complexes. The [PtCl₂(en)] complex reacts faster than [PtCl₂(dach)] in the reaction with studied nucleophiles. This confirms the fact that the reactivity of studied Pt(II) complexes depends on the structure of the inert bidentate ligand. Also, the substitution reactions with l ‐His are always faster than the reactions with nucleotide 5′‐GMP. The reactions of [PtCl₂(dach)] and [PtCl₂(en)] complexes with l ‐histidine are studied by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The obtained rate constants are in agreement with those obtained by UV–vis. The same reactions were studied by HPLC comparing the obtained chromatograms during the reaction. The changes in intensity of signals of the free and coordinated ligand show that after a few days there is only one dominant product in the system. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 43: 99–106, 2011     

Multiscale characterization of antimicrobial poly(vinyl butyral)/titania nanofibrous composites

Titania nanofillers were used to reinforce nanofibers in composite mats produced by electrospinning of poly(vinyl butyral) with two different concentrations of polymers. The titania nanoparticles and titania nanotubes were added into an acetic acid/ethanol solution in different contents of 3 and 1 wt%, respectively. The effect of the processing system on the morphology of the produced fibers was analyzed. The antimicrobial poly(vinyl butyral) composite fibers with titanium dioxide nanoparticles and titanium dioxide nanotubes were produced by single and multineedle electrospinning systems. This study reports fabrication of composite nanofibrous mats with significant mechanical and antimicrobial properties at a high production speed, which is promising for commercial applications (health care, photocatalysis, protective clothing, etc.). The reported result revealed an outstanding correlation between values of elastic modulus derived from nanoindentation and dynamic mechanical techniques. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Factorial Design in Optimization of Chromatographic Separation of Ramipril and Its Impurities

In this paper optimization of chromatographic retention of ramipril and its five impurities employing factorial design is presented. On the basis of preliminary experiments three factors were chosen as inputs (acetonitrile content, pH of the mobile phase and buffer concentration) and retention factor as output. As optimal full factorial design 2³ was chosen, factors were examined at two different levels “low” and “high”. Three replications at zero level were added in order to check linearity and complete statistical tests. Relationship between inputs and output is presented in form of second order interaction model. Adequacy of model was explained using analysis of variance. After analysis of results optimal chromatographic conditions were set. Separations were conducted on a C₁₈ column with a mixture of acetonitrile and water phase (TEA in potassium dihydrogen phosphate) in ratio 23:77 v/v. Finally, the LC method was validated and applied for quality control analysis of commercially available tablets. The proposed method is simpler and faster as compared to existing official methods and therefore more adequate for routine control of ramipril during shelf life. Also a general approach which includes factorial design in method optimization offers a possibility for predicting and following the chromatographic behavior of such complex mixtures.     

Synthesis, photophysical, photochemical, and redox properties of nitrospiropyrans substituted with Ru or Os tris(bipyridine) complexes

Photochromic nitrospiropyrans substituted with 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy), [Ru(bpy)3]2+, and [Os(bpy)3]2+ groups were synthesized, and their photophysical, photochemical, and redox properties investigated. Substitution of the spiropyran with the metal complex moiety results in strongly decreased efficiency of the ring-opening process as a result of energy transfer from the excited spiropyran to the metal center. The lowest excited triplet state of the spiropyran in its open merocyanine form is lower in energy than the excited triplet MLCT level of the [Ru(bpy)3]2+ moiety but higher in energy than for [Os(bpy)3]2+, resulting in energy transfer from the excited ruthenium center to the spiropyran but inversely in the osmium case. The open merocyanine form reduces and oxidizes electrochemically more easily than the closed nitrospiropyran. Like photoexcitation, electrochemical activation also causes opening of the spiropyran ring by first reducing the closed form and subsequently reoxidizing the corresponding radical anion in two well-resolved anodic steps. Interestingly, the substitution of the spiropyran with a Ru or Os metal center does not affect the efficiency of this electrochemically induced ring-opening process, different from the photochemical path.     

Manganese dioxide graphite composite electrodes: application to the electroanalysis of hydrogen peroxide, ascorbic acid and nitrite.

The modification of carbon powder with manganese dioxide using a wet impregnation procedure with electrochemical characterisation of the modified powder is described. The process involves saturation of the carbon powder with manganese(II) nitrate followed by thermal treatment at ca. 773 K leading to formation of manganese(IV) oxide on the surface of the carbon powder. The construction of composite electrodes based on manganese dioxide modified carbon powder and epoxy resin is also described, including optimisation of the percentage of the modified carbon powder. Composite electrodes showed attractive performances for electroanalytical applications, proving to be suitable for the electrochemical detection of hydrogen peroxide, ascorbic acid and nitrite ions with limits of detection comparable to the detection limits achieved by other analytical techniques. The results obtained for detection of these analytes, together with composite electrodes flexible design and low cost offers potential application of composite electrodes in biosensors.     

New 3,4-Annelated Coumarin Derivatives: Synthesis, Antimicrobial Activity, Antioxidant Capacity, and Molecular Modeling

The one pot reaction preparation, spectral analysis, and molecular modeling experiments on the new 3,4-annelated coumarin systems with bioactivity associated structural features are described. These provided the insight into the equilibrium of the respective tautomeric forms making possible the reconciliation of previously published spectral data with the structure assignments as well as the correction of erroneously established structures. The synthesized compounds were tested in a standard disk diffusion assay and displayed strong to moderate antimicrobial activity, with a promising new lead prototype compound (7-amino-9-hydroxy-5-oxa-7a,8,11-triazacyclopenta[b]phenanthren-6-one (5)) possessing greater activity that the antibiotics Ampicillin and Nystatin. Antioxidant capacities of the compounds, determined spectrophotometrically using a phosphomolybdenum method, were greater, and in the case of compound 5 four times the activity of α-tocopherol acetate.     

Voltammetric and titrimetric study of acid-base properties of some μ-oxo dimeric iron(III) complexes inDMF

Summary The acid-base properties of the -oxo bridged dimeric iron complexes [FeL]₂O with the ligands based on S-alkyl-1,4-bis(substituted salicylidene)isothiosemicarbazide and a tetramer with S-methyl-1,4-bis(salicylidene)isothiosemicarbazide, {[FeL]₂O}₂I₃·I₂, were investigated by cyclic voltammetry at glassy carbon electrode inDMF. Studies were carried out in the presence of either a weak (phenol) or a strong (HClO₄ aq.) acid. The stoichimoetry of the reaction, changes in the general voltammetric pattern and the electrode reaction mechanism were discussed. These studies served as the basis for three-electrode amperometric titrations to determine the content of several of these complexes.

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Voltammetrische und titrimetrische Untersuchung der Säure-Base-Eigenschaften einiger -oxo dimerer Eisen(III)-Komplexe inDMF-Lösungen

Zusammenfassung Die Säure-Base-Eigenschaften einiger dimerer -oxo-Eisen(III)-Komplexe [FeL]₂O mit Liganden auf Basis von 1,4-bis(substituierten Salicyliden)S-(alkyl)isothiosemicarbaziden sowie eines tetrameren Komplexes mit 1,4-Bis(salicyliden)S-methylisothiosemicarbazid, {[FeL]₂O}₂I₃·I₂, wurden mittels zyklischer Voltammetrie an der Glaskohlenstoffelektrode inDMF-Lösungen untersucht. Die Messungen wurden in Gegenwart entweder einer schwachen (Phenol) oder einer starken (HClO₄ aq.) Säure ausgeführt. Die Stöchiometrie der Reaktion, die Änderungen der voltammetrischen Kurven und der Elektroden-Reaktionsmechanismus wurden diskutiert. Diese Untersuchungen stellten eine Basis für Drei-Elektroden amperometrische Titrationen dar, die für die Bestimmung des Gehalts einiger dieser Komplexe angewendet wurden.

     

Investigation of photoelectrical properties and relaxation dynamics in photoexcited CdSe nanocrystals in thin film form

Electrical and photoelectrical properties of cubic CdSe nanocrystals in thin film form (including the relaxation dynamics of photocarriers) are investigated. Photoelectrical properties of the obtained films are controlled by chemical (varying the reagent concentration in the reaction system) and physical means (controlling the crystal dimensions). In the case of thin films with optimal photoelectrical properties, the calculated band gap energy and ionization energies of impurity levels (on the basis of experimentally obtained temperature dependence of dark electrical resistance) at 0 K are 1.85, 0.74 and 0.43 eV, correspondingly. The calculated optical band gap energy (on the basis of spectral dependence of photoconductivity) at room temperature of 1.75 eV is in excellent agreement with the value of 1.77 eV which is obtained on the basis of electronic absorption spectrum in the framework of parabolic approximation for dispersion relation. Upon thermal treatment of chemically deposited thin films of cubic CdSe quantum dots, as a result of processes of coalescence and crystal growth, the electronic contact between nanocrystals increases and the confinement effects irreversibly disappear. Relaxation of non-equilibrium charge carriers is practically carried out according to the linear mechanism. The calculated relaxation time of photoexcited charge carriers is 0.4 ms.