Dispersion of silica nano-particles in sol-gel hybrid resins for fabrication of multi-scale hybrid nanocomposite

Multi-scale hybrid nanocomposites containing both ∼15 nm silica colloids and ∼2 nm oligosiloxanes in a methacryl polymer matrix were newly designed and fabricated. Colloidal silica sols were dispersed in methacryl oligosiloxanes nano-hybrid resins synthesized by sol-gel reaction of methacryloxypropylmethoxysilane and diphenylsilanediol. On the basis of TEM and SANS analyses, it was confirmed that the silica colloids were compatibly dispersed and different sizes of colloidal silica and oligosiloxanes co-exist in the solutions. Multi-scale hybrid nanocomposites fabricated by UV and thermal curing with incorporation of silica colloids in the nano-hybrid materials show enhanced mechanical and thermal characteristics.     

An Infrared Spectroscopic Study on the Hofmann-diam-type 1,12-Diaminododecanemetal(II) Tetracyanonickelate(II)-aromatic Guest Clathrates: M(H2N(CH2)12NH2)Ni(CN)4ċG(M=Co, Ni or Cd; G = Benzene, Naphthalene, Anthracene, Phenanthrene or Biphenyl)

Three Hofmann-diaminododecane-type clathrates of the form M(1,12-diaminododecane) Ni(CN)₄G (M = Co, Ni or Cd; G = benzene, naphthalene, anthracene, phenanthrene or biphenyl) have been prepared in powder form. The 1,12-diaminododecane molecules in the host lattice permit the inclusion of bulky guest molecules. The spectral features suggest that these compounds are similar in structure to the other Hofmann-diam-type clathrates.     

Ab initio and infrared spectral study of 4′-substituted phenylthiolbenzoates

The geometry of the 4′-cyano-(4′-CNPTB) and the 4′-methoxy-(4′-MePTB) phenylthiolbenzoates were obtained by ab initio calculations employing 6–31G basis set at Hartee-Fock level of theory. The results predict an extended form of the molecules and torsional angle between the phenyl rings at 90.85(6)⁰ and 90.87(3)⁰, respectively. On the basis of vibrational analysis the frequency assignment was carried out. The calculated frequencies were compared with the experimental IR spectral data in carbon tetrachloride, carbon disulfide solutions and in solid state.     

Studies on the Physicochemical Properties, Structure and Antitumor Activity of an Oligosaccharide Homologue SnS-2 from the Root of Scrophularia ningpoensis Hemsh

An oligosaccharide homologue named SnS-2 was isolated from the root of Scrophularia ningpoensis Hemsl.SnS-2 was purified by means of gel-permeation chromatography and ion-exchange chromatography. Its physicochemical properties, including carbohydrate content and molecular weight were determined. The structure of SnS-2 was elucidated by chemical methods along with ^1H and ^13C NMR spectroscopy, including two-dimensional DQCOSY and H-detected ^1H, ^13C HMQC experiments. These results show that SnS-2 possesses a backbone consisting of terminal α-Galp-(1→, α-Galp-(1→6), α-Glcp-(1→6) and nonreducing end β-Fruf-(2→. The bioactive assay showed that it could inhibit the growth of Lewis pulmonary carcinoma implanted in mice.     

Determination of aristolochic acid by capillary zone electrophoresis

A simple and rapid capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) method for the determination of aristolochic acid (AA) in dietary supplements and selected herbs is described. A clear separation of AA from other sample constituents was achieved within 5 minutes without any sample clean up. A mixture of 20 mM-morpholinethanesulphonic acid+10 mM-BisTrisPropane+0.2% hydroxyethylcelullose in 10% methanol serves as a background electrolyte. The linearity, accuracy, intra-assay and detection limit of the developed method are 200–6000 ng/mL, 95–103%, 3.5%, and 50 ng/ml, respectively. Ease of use, sufficient sensitivity and low running cost are the most important attributes of the CZE method. The proposed CZE method was compared with HPLC.     

Studies of the soluble part of oxidised coals

Soluble products obtained from the oxidation of four types of coal, each characterised by different degree of coalification and different degree of sulphur content, are studied. The coals are oxidised with peracetic acid (PAA) and nitric acid. Analyses are performed by Atmospheric Pressure-Temperature Programmed Reduction (AP-TPR) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The soluble products contain much more sulphur than the insoluble products of oxidation. The products obtained from the reaction with HNO₃ contain higher amounts of inorganic sulphur compounds, while those obtained from the reaction with PAA are characterised by an increased content of organic sulphur species.     

Synthesis of novel tryptamine and β-carboline derivatives via palladium-catalyzed reaction of bromotryptamine with organic boronic acids

New tryptamine 5, 7 and β-carboline derivatives 3 were preparated by palladium-catalyzed coupling reaction of 5-bromotryptamine 1 with aryl boronic acids. Dedicated to Professor András Lipták on his 70^th birthday.     

Performance of an internal-loop airlift bioreactor for treatment of hexane-contaminated air

Hexane is a toxic volatile organic compound that is quite abundant in gas emissions from chemical industries and printing press and painting centers, and it is necessary to treat these airstreams before they discharge into the atmosphere. This article presents a treatment for hexane-contaminated air in steady-state conditions using an internal-loop airlift bioreactor inoculated with a Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain. Bioprocesses were conducted at 20-mL/min, a load of 1.26 g/m³ of C₆H₁₄, and a temperature of 28°C. The results of hexane removal efficiencies were presented as a function of the inoculum size (approx 0.07 and 0.2 g/L) and cell reuse. Bioprocess monitoring comprises quantification of the biomass, the surface tension of the medium, and the hexane concentration in the fermentation medium as well as in the inlet and outlet airstreams. The steady-state results suggest that the variation in inoculum size from 0.07 to 0.2 g/L promotes hexane abatement from the influent from 65 to 85%, respectively. Total hydrocarbon removal from the waste gas was achieved during experiments conducted using reused cells at an initial microbial concentration of 0.2 g/L.     

Xyloketal G,a Novel Metabolite from the Mangrove Fungus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xylaria sp.</Emphasis> 2508

A novel metabolite 1, named xyloketal G, was isolated from cultures of marine derived mangrove fungus Xylaria sp. 2508. Its structure was elucidated by analysis of spectroscopic data.__________Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 1, pp. 22–23, January–February, 2005.     

Assessment of the Fe-Sn-Zn phase diagram at 450°C

The Fe-Sn-Zn system is of interest because Sn is one element added to the Zn galvanizing bath to overcome the drawbacks due to the presence of Si in semi-killed steels. This work has been undertaken with the aim to understand the tin effect on the microstructure and the layers growth in batch galvanized coatings on low alloyed steels. Various experimental techniques such as metallography, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDX) are used in order to characterize the microstructure and the properties of such coatings elaborated in a zinc bath enriched with tin. Solidification phenomena and layers growth mechanisms during galvanization are explained by means of the ternary phase diagram Fe-Sn-Zn at 450°C. The Calphad method allows to obtain this phase diagram from the three optimized binary phase diagrams Fe-Sn, Fe-Zn and Sn-Zn and some experimental data inside the ternary Fe-Sn-Zn system.