Improvement of denitrification rates in confined zones of fractured subsoils under continuous wastewater injection

An attempt to improve the natural biodegradation rate in a fractured aquifer (Nardò (Le), Southern Italy) subject since '91 to the injection of 12,000 m3/d of treated municipal wastewater, has been carried out through tests on pilot plants. The lab experiments showed that a complete nitrogen removal can be realized after 10 d of infiltration in fractures by adding whey in the influent waste. The lab results have been used in a mathematical model in order to simulate ground water quality changes caused by the addition of whey in the injecting water. The analytical parameters of ground water sampled in monitoring wells located at different distances from the injection site, have been compared with mathematical model results. Moreover for preserving such resource from pollution, the mathematical model allowed two areas, around the injection site to be drawn. These areas, where withdrawals would be prohibited, are required to avoid infections by pathogens and bacteria in ground water due to incomplete biodegradation processes. The experimental results can be useful to identify standardized methodology for artificial ground water recharge which could be required for aquifer clean up (Water Frame Directive 2000/60).     

Density and viscosity studies of poly(ethylene-oxide) alkyl alcohols

Density and viscosity of binary systems water-nonionic surfactants poly(ethylen-oxide) alkyl alcohols type, [C_nH_2n+1(OCH₂CH₂)_mOH, C_nE_m], have been studied. The partial molar volumes in the dilute solution range and the viscosity B-coefficients were calculated. The nonionic surfactants partial molar volumes were compared with those of ethylene glycol and poly(ethylenglycol) (PEG). The comparison shows that the ethoxy unit volume, (OCH₂CH₂), seems to be independent of the particular system. The consequences of this are discussed. A model for interpreting the experimental B values has been proposed. The model treats the macroscopic viscosity as the superimposition of different local effects. The following surfactants have been considered: C₅E₁, C₅E₂, C₆E₁, C₆E₂, C₆E₃, C₆E₄.     

Palladium(II) and platinum(II) chloride and bromide complexes with some 2-methylpyridyl- or methylquinolyl-benzimidazole,benzoxazole, or benzthiazole

Summary Palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes [MLX₂], where L=2-(4-methyl-2-pyridyl)benzimidazole (mpbi), 2-(4-methyl-2-pyridyl)benzoxazole (mpbo), 2-(4-methyl-2-quinolyl)benzoxazole (mpbo), 2-(4-methyl-8-quinolyl)benzoxazole (mq'bo), X=Cl. Br, together with M(mqbo)₂Br₂ and Pt₂(mpbt)Cl₄, where mpbt=2-(4-methyl-2-pyridyl)benzthiazole, have been synthesized and characterized by conductivity and magnetic measurements as well as by i.r. and electronic spectra. The ligands are bidentate chelates through the pyridine or quinoline and isoxazole or imidazole nitrogen atoms. The [MLX₂] derivatives arecis, square planar.     

Molecular dynamics simulation of the ligand binding domain of mGluR1 in response to agonist and antagonist binding

The interdomain movements of the ligand binding domain (LBD) of mGluR1 in response to agonist or antagonist binding are studied by 2 ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Our results indicate that MD is able to reproduce many of the experimentally determined features of the open and closed conformations of LBD. Analysis of the ligand behavior over time allows to delineate some of the molecular determinants responsible for the agonist-induced or antagonist-blocked LBD responses.     

Heterocyclic compound studies. II. Synthesis of 1,4-benzodioxin, 1,4-benzoxathiin, 1,4-benzoxazine and 1,4-benzothiazine derivatives

Benzocondensed six-membered heterocyclic rings containing two heteroatoms have been synthesized by a generally applicable method starting from disubstituted benzene compounds and methyl 4-chlorobutynoate ( 1 ) or methyl 4-bromobutenoate ( 2 ). The reactions with 1 yield a mixture of endo and exo (E or Z) isomers. The ¹³C nmr spectroscopy was used to assign the structure of the synthesized compounds.     

Einen Beitrag zur Bestimmung des Quecksilbers im Quecksilber salizylat liefert

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Strain induced nanocavitation and crystallization in natural rubber probed by real time small and wide angle X‐ray scattering

The concomitant appearance of crystallites and nanocavities under uniaxial strain is investigated by X‐ray scattering in a model natural rubber system. The nanocavities appear after crystallization and only when the true stress is above a critical cavitation stress σ_Cav. The presence of crystallites alone does not influence the calculation of the void volume fraction ?_void. The nanocavities formed are 20–50 nm in size with a constant aspect ratio. The presence of filler shifts the critical crystallization extension ratio λ_Cry, λ_Cav, and σ_Cav to lower values. The clear correlation between σ_Cav and the crystallinity at the onset of cavitation χ_C(λ_Cav) implies that the crystallites take most of the mechanical loading thus delaying the cavitation in the amorphous phase. Under cyclic loading, nanocavitation is significant only in the first loading and in the successive loadings if the extension ratio is above its maximum historical value. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2013, 51, 1125–1138     

Cis-trans isomerization of polyunsaturated fatty acid residues in phospholipids catalyzed by thiyl radicals.

Phospholipids containing trans-unsaturated fatty acid residues are the major products of the thiyl radical attack on L-alpha-phosphatidylcholine from soybean lecithin in homogeneous solution or in liposomes (LUVET). Thiyl radicals act as the catalyst for the cis-trans isomerization, and the number of catalytic cycles depends on the reaction conditions. The presence of approximately 0.2 mM oxygen does not influence the reaction outcome but accelerates the efficiency of cis-trans isomerization in homogeneous solution. Under these conditions, the PUFA peroxidation is found to be unimportant. A detailed study of the isomerization of methyl linoleate including product studies indicates the formation of a small amount of conjugated dienes that act as inhibitors. Indeed, all-trans-retinol substantially retarded the isomerization process.     

Synthesis and Viscoelastic Properties of Hydrophobically Modified Hydrogels

Summary: We report the synthesis and characterization of a family of hydrophobically modified hydrogels designed to have an improved fracture resistance. A backbone of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) was functionalized with double bonds and hydrophobic groups. The functionalized PAA was then crosslinked with a dithiol. The chemical structure of the gels was characterized with a combination of NMR, titration methods and rheological techniques. The crosslinked structure of the hydrogel was found to be dependent on the polymer concentration only, while the dissipative properties of the gel increased strongly at all frequencies, with the introduction of hydrophobic groups which formed reversible associations. We expect these viscoelastic hydrogels to display dramatically different properties from the unmodified hydrogels when stretched and fractured.