Comparison of storage stability of odorous VOCs in polyester aluminum and polyvinyl fluoride Tedlar bags

Whole air sampling using containers such as flexible bags or rigid canisters is commonly used to collect samples of volatile organic compounds (VOC) in air. The objective of this study was to compare the stability of polyester aluminum (PEA) and polyvinyl fluoride (PVF, brand name Tedlar^®) bags for gaseous VOC sampling. Eight VOC standards (benzene, toluene, p-xylene, styrene, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, butyl acetate, and isobutyl alcohol) were placed into each bag at storage times of 0, 2, and 3 days prior to analyses by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). From each bag representing each storage day, samples of 3 different mass loadings were withdrawn and analyzed to derive response factors (RF) of each chemical between the slope of the GC response (y-axis) vs. loaded mass (x-axis). The relative recoveries (RR) of VOC, if derived by dividing RF value of a given storage day by that of 0 day, varied by time, bag type, and VOC type. If the RR values after three days are compared, those of methyl isobutyl ketone were the highest with 96 (PVF) and 99% (PEA); however, the results of isobutyl alcohol were highly contrasting between the two bags with 31 and 94%, respectively. Differences in RR values between the two bag types increased with storage time, such that RR of PEA bags (88 ± 10%) were superior to those of PVF bags (73 ± 22%) after three days, demonstrating that VOC in PEA bags were more stable than in PVF bags.     

Surface kinetics of nitrogen dissolution and its correlation to the slag structure in the CaO―SiO2, CaO―Al2O3, and CaO―SiO2―Al2O3 slag system

The kinetics of nitrogen dissolution into molten slag at 1873 K was investigated by an isotope exchange technique. Rate constants were correlated with the molten slag structure obtained from FT-IR spectra. The rate constant in the CaO―SiO₂ binary system showed a maximum value at a specific slag composition followed by a decrease in the rate due to excess O²⁻ blocking the surface sites for nitrogen adsorption. The rate constant in the CaO―Al₂O₃ binary system was comparatively constant within the experimental range of 45 mass% to 60 mass%. The rate constant in the CaO―SiO₂―Al₂O₃ ternary slag system was measured within the boundary of the liquidus line and showed a close correlation with the slag structure. Furthermore, the rate constant in the CaO―SiO₂―Al₂O₃ ternary system was found to be significantly higher compared to the binary system due to the correlated effect of lower binding energies of the Al―O bonds and the increased number of reaction sites available when smaller Si―O tetrahedral were simultaneously present with Al―O bonds.     

Cryopreservation of potato cultivated varieties and wild species: critical factors in droplet vitrification

The applicability of cryopreservation protocols to a broad range of genotypes is a key issue for genebanks. We tried to identify the critical factors causing differences in survival of cryopreserved shoot tips using potato varieties coming from cultivated and wild species. The droplet-vitrification method, a combination of droplet-freezing and solution-based vitrification, was selected from several protocols. High survival after freezing was observed after dehydration with PVS2 for 20 min, cooling shoot tips placed in a droplet of PVS2 solution on aluminum foil strips by immersing the foil strips in liquid nitrogen, warming them by plunging the foil strips into a 0.8 M sucrose solution (at 40 degrees C) for 30 s and unloading in 0.8 M sucrose for 30 min. This optimized protocol was successfully applied to 12 accessions with survival ranging between 64.0 and 94.4%.     

Facile nucleophilic fluorination of primary alkyl halides using tetrabutylammonium fluoride in a tert-alcohol medium

Nonpolar protic reaction media such as t-amyl alcohol allow the aliphatic, nucleophilic fluorination reaction of primary haloalkane systems to fluoroalkanes, using tetrabutylammonium fluoride (TBAF), to proceed chemo-selectively at a reasonable reaction rate under mild conditions to afford the fluoro-product in high yield. As an example, the nucleophilic fluorination of 2-(3-iodopropoxy)naphthalene (1a) as the primary haloalkane model compound, with TBAF in acetonitrile as a polar aprotic solvent, CsF in t-amyl alcohol as a nonpolar protic solvent, and TBAF in t-amyl alcohol for 1 h provided 2-(3-fluoropropoxy)naphthalene (2a) in 38, 5, and 76% yields, respectively.     

Separation of phosphorous by liquid–liquid extraction for the measurement of <Superscript>32</Superscript>P

Phosphorous containing radioisotope waste was separated and determined by liquid–liquid extraction method through liquid scintillation counter (LSC). In this process, ammonium phosphate was converted to phosphomolybdate (PMo) by the reaction of ammonium molybdate (Mo) in HCl solution (0.02 M) and maximum UV/VIS absorbance (λ_max) 218 nm was observed. The PMo solution was extracted with TOA (Tri-n-Octylamine)/xylene mixture and λ_max 290 nm was found for this organic layer. Absorbance of aqueous and organic layer was linear through concentration. The impurities such as Co, Cr, Gd, etc. remain in aqueous layer by treating with Mo which was determined by ICP-AES and AAS. The quenching correction curve for ³²P was calculated using LSC results. No counting change was observed as the volume of quenchers increased. The recovery was 98% and 81% for the extraction and separation process from the test using H₃³²PO₄ as standard tracer.     

Asymptotic bubble evolutions of the Rayleigh–Taylor instability

We examine the multiple harmonic model for the single-mode Rayleigh–Taylor instability, and present a new class of the asymptotic solution for the bubble evolution. Previously reported solutions for the bubble curvature and velocity from the model were quantitatively different from other theoretical models and numerical results, for small density jumps. The discrepancy between the theoretical models is resolved by our new approach to the model. Our solution agrees with the Layzer–Goncharov model, and gives the independence of the bubble curvature on the density ratio.     

Time of acquisition and high spatial resolution mass spectrometry imaging

The field of mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is constantly evolving to analyze a diverse array of biological systems. A common goal is the need to resolve cellular and subcellular heterogeneity with high spatial resolution. As the field continues to progress towards high spatial resolution, other parameters must be considered when developing a practical method. Here, we discuss the impacts of high spatial resolution on the time of acquisition and the associated implications they have on an MSI analysis (e.g., area of the region of interest). This work presents a brief tutorial serving to evaluate high spatial resolution MSI relative to time of acquisition and data file size.     

Polymer-modification of an anti-cancer drug: effects on hydrodynamic properties

Coupling of a hydrophobic pharmaceutical agents with the hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) chain can make the drug water soluble which is necessary for some applications. The modification of the polymer chain results in a different solution behaviour of the macromolecules compared with the unmodified polymer. There are strong indications that shape and rigidity of the modified molecule differ significantly from the simple chain. Some results from measurements of the self-diffusion coefficient and solution viscosity are discussed. The results are important for further engineering on active drug systems.