Design study and heat transfer analysis of a neutron converter target for medical radioisotope production

A worldwide challenge in the near future will be to find a way of producing radioisotopes in sufficient quantity without relying on research reactors. The motivation for this innovative work on targets lies in the accelerator-based production of radioisotopes using a neutron converter target as in the transmutation by adiabatic resonance crossing concept. Thermal analysis of a multi-channel helium cooled device is performed with the computational fluid dynamics code CFX. Different boundary conditions are taken into account in the simulation process and many important parameters such as maximum allowable solid target temperature as well as uniform inlet velocity and outlet pressure changes in the channels are investigated. The results confirm that the cooling configuration works well; hence such a solid target could be operated safely and may be considered for a prototype target.     

Non-linear optics in liquid-crystalline phases A 4 × 4 matrix formalism

The 4 × 4 matrix formalism of Berreman has been extended to include nonlinear optical terms. A non-linear source has to be added to the original homogeneous differential equation, giving an inhomogeneous equation that can be solved by standard procedures. The final expression can be given in a compact form by applying the Hamilton-Cayley theorem. The formalism is illustrated in the treatment of three-wave mixing in cholesteric phases.     

Crystallization of the mesomorphic form and control of the molecular structure for tailoring the mechanical properties of isotactic polypropylene

The combination of the control of the concentration of stereodefects in isotactic polypropylene using metallocene catalysts and the crystallization via the mesophase is a strategy to tailor the mechanical properties. Stiff materials, flexible materials, and thermoplastic elastomers can be produced depending only on the concentration of rr stereodefects. Modulus, ductility, and strength can be modulated through the crystallization of α and γ forms or of the mesophase. Different morphologies are observed depending on the stereoregularity and conditions of crystallization. Crystals of the mesomorphic form always exhibit a nodular morphology, accounting for the similar good deformability of all quenched samples, whatever the concentration of stereodefects. The mesophase transforms by thermal treatments into the α form preserving the nodular morphology, with increase of strength while maintaining the ductility typical of the mesophase. Annealing of the mesophase permits a precise adjustment of crystallinity and size of nodular crystals offering additional options to modify the mechanical properties. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2014 , 52, 677–699     

Synthesis and characterization of iPP‐sPP stereoblock produced by a binary metallocene system

Stereoblock polypropylenes comprising of iPP and sPP segments are synthesized by polymerization of the following binary system of metallocenes: the C_s‐symmetric [2,7‐t‐Bu₂(Flu)₂Ph₂C(Cp)ZrCl₂] and the C₂‐symmetric rac‐Me₂Si(2‐Me‐4‐Ph‐Ind)₂ZrCl₂. Blends of samples made either by each catalyst individually (solution blend) with materials obtained with the mixed catalyst system (reactor blend) are compared. The simultaneous presence of MAO and DEZ, enhancing fast and reversible transfer of the growing chains between the two active centers, leads to the formation of a stereoblock microstructure. In this case, low molecular weight polymers are obtained. The junction between the blocks is qualitatively observed in ¹³C NMR. When made in toluene, the stereoblock material consists of a majority of syndiotactic sequences, whereas the ratio is more equilibrated when the polymerization was conducted in the more polar chlorobenzene. This is confirmed by the results obtained with ¹³C NMR, CRYSTAF, HT HPLC, DSC, SSA, WAXD, and optical microscopy. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 1422–1434     

Weak Intermolecular Hydrogen Bonds with Fluorine: Detection and Implications for Enzymatic/Chemical Reactions,Chemical Properties,and Ligand/Protein Fluorine NMR Screening

It is known that strong hydrogen‐bonding interactions play an important role in many chemical and biological systems. However, weak or very weak hydrogen bonds, which are often difficult to detect and characterize, may also be relevant in many recognition and reaction processes. Fluorine serving as a hydrogen‐bond acceptor has been the subject of many controversial discussions and there are different opinions about it. It now appears that there is compelling experimental evidence for the involvement of fluorine in weak intramolecular or intermolecular hydrogen bonds. Using established NMR methods, we have previously characterized and measured the strengths of intermolecular hydrogen‐bond complexes involving the fluorine moieties CH₂F, CHF₂, and CF₃, and have compared them with the well‐known hydrogen‐bond complex formed between acetophenone and the strong hydrogen‐bond donor p‐fluorophenol. We now report evidence for the formation of hydrogen bonds involving fluorine with significantly weaker donors, namely 5‐fluoroindole and water. A simple NMR method is proposed for the simultaneous measurement of the strengths of hydrogen bonds between an acceptor and a donor or water. Important implications of these results for enzymatic/chemical reactions involving fluorine, for chemical and physical properties, and for ligand/protein ¹⁹F NMR screening are analyzed through experiments and theoretical simulations.     

Modeling associating hydrocarbon + alcohol mixtures using the Peng-Robinson equation of state and the Wong-Sandler mixing rules

The main objective of the study is the accurate modeling of the bubble pressure and of the vapor phase concentration in associating hydrocarbon + alcohol mixtures and the correct comparison with results from the literature. A relatively simple equation of state is used and comparison is done considering various factors that affect the accuracy of the results, so fair and correct conclusions can be drawn. The mathematical complexity of the model, the type and amount of basic properties and the number of adjustable parameters used by the model, among other factors are discussed. The Peng-Robinson equation of state including the Wong-Sandler mixing rules was used. This combination of equations of state and mixing rules have not yet been applied in a systematic way to alcohol + hydrocarbon mixtures at low and moderate pressure, as done in this work, although other complex equation of state models have been used for some selected systems. It is concluded that simple and well-founded models can correlate equilibrium data in these complex mixtures with similar accuracy than other more sophisticated models.     

Direct Chromatographic Resolution of P-Chiral Organophosphorus Compounds at Analytical and Preparative Levels

Abstract

High-performance liquid chromatography utilizing chiral stationary phases (CSPs) is well established as a very simple and efficient method for obtaining discrete amounts of optically active compounds with high e.e., as well as for determining their enantiomeric composition We wish to demonstrate in the present work that a totally synthetic brush-type π-acidic CSP based on a bis(N,N′-3,5-dinitrobenzoyl) derivative of (R,R)- or (S,S)-trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane as selector can be used successfully to resolve variety of chiral organophosphorus compounds containing stereogenic centers at phosphorus