Equilibrium of the reaction between dissolved sodium sulfide and biologically produced sulfur

The equilibrium of the heterogeneous reaction between dissolved sodium sulfide and biologically produced sulfur particles has been studied. Biologically produced sulfur was obtained from a bioreactor of a hydrogen sulfide removal process in which the dominating organism is Thiobacillus sp. W5. Detailed knowledge of this reaction is essential to understand its effect on the process. The results were compared with the equilibrium of the reaction of sulfide with ‘inorganic’ elemental sulfur. The equilibrium between dissolved sodium sulfide and biologically produced sulfur particles can be described by an equilibrium constant, K_x, which consists of a weighted sum of constants for polysulfide ions of different chain length, rather than a true single equilibrium constant. For biologically produced sulfur pK_x = 9.10 ± 0.08 (21 °C) and 9.17 ± 0.09 (35 °C) with an average polysulfide chain length x = 4.91 ± 0.32 (21 °C) and 4.59 ± 0.31 (35 °C). The pK_x value for biologically produced sulfur is significantly higher than for reaction of dissolved sodium sulfide with inorganic sulfur (pK_x = 8.82; 21 °C). This difference is probably caused by the negatively charged polymeric organic layer, which is present on biologically produced sulfur but absent with “inorganic” sulfur. Specific binding of polysulfide ions to the organic layer results in a higher polysulfide concentration at the reaction site compared to the bulk concentration. This results in an apparent decrease of the measured equilibrium constant, K_x.     

Spectroscopic characterization of mineral crystals produced by the bacterium Azospirillum brasilense

The results of spectroscopic structural and trace elemental analyses of mineral crystals produced by the soil nitrogen-fixing bacterium Azospirillum brasilense cultivated in a synthetic medium are presented and discussed. The mineral formed is shown to have a structure close to struvite (MgNH(4)PO(4) x 6H(2)O; ASTM file No. 15-762) with some differences which may be attributed to the presence of isomorphic admixtures of other cations (struvite is known to have a variety of forms). AAS/AES and ion chromatography analyses for a number of biologically important microelements and their role in the formation of the crystal structure, as well as some questions related to biomineralization are also discussed.     

Dissociation and rate constants of some human liver alcohol dehydrogenase isoenzymes.

ADH from human liver forms binary complexes with NADH, associated with a blue shift of the peak of the fluorescence emission of NADH. The wavelength shift is the same for all isoenzymes but the accompanying intensification of the fluorescence is different. The fluorescence is further increased by the formation of the very tight ternary enzyme-NADH-isobutyramide complexes. These properties are similar to those for the horse liver ADH, as well as the molecular weight of E=40 000 per active site of the dimer molecule (EE). "Stopped-flow" determined velocity constants (ER in equilibrium E+R) were found to be in good agreement with ethanol activity constants previously determined by activity measurement, confirming the validity of the ordered ternary complex mechanism also for the human ADH. No single isoenzyme activity as high as that reported by Mourad and Woronick or Drum has been found.     

Differentiation between dexamethasone and betamethasone in a mixture using multiple mass spectrometry

Direct gas chromatographic methods to analyse phenylurea pesticides are discouraged by the thermal instability of these compounds, that in conventional hot splitless inlet systems leads to extensive and irreproducible formation of isocyanates and amines. However a careful control of the operating conditions, like the inlet temperature, the pressure and the presence of suitable chemical additives (as acetic acid, low-molecular-mass amines, organic anhydrides) can either: (i) minimise the thermal decomposition enabling the direct GC-MS analysis of phenylureas, or (ii) lead to reproducible conversion to isocyanates. Experimental design was employed to study the effect of the experimental variables on the thermal transformation of phenylurea pesticides in splitless inlet system. Two strategies were alternatively optimised: (i) the minimisation of degradation reactions to increase the signal of phenylureas; (ii) the maximisation of the degradation to isocyanates that are in turn determined. The maximal yields in isocyanate were obtained with high inlet temperatures, low carrier flows in the injection phase and the presence of acetic anhydride. By contrast, the use of relatively low inlet temperatures, high carrier flows during the injection and the presence of an amine maximise the response of the parent compounds.     

Metallchelate mit Acetophenon-Benzoylhydrazon und Acetophenon-Salicoylhydrazon

The stoichiometry and structure of acetophenone benzoylhydrazone and acetophenone salicoylhydrazone chelates with some divalent metal ions are studied by conductometric titration and visible and infra-red absorption spectrophotometry. The results are supported by analysis of the solid complexes. The infra-red study revealed that coordination occurs through C=O and C=N groups. The shift in the C=O and C=N bands is utilised for the determination of bond lengths.     

Critical evaluation of spiking of low-grade ore samples in activation analysis for gold and uranium

In applying non-destructive neutron-activation analysis for gold and uranium in spiked low-grade ore samples, the following extrapolated unspiked concentrations were measured: 0.27₈ ± 0.01₅ ppm gold (chemical assay: 0.20₂ ± 0.02₀ ppm gold); 25.1 ± 1.1 ppm uranium (chemical assay value: 19.5 ±2.0 ppm uranium). Different approaches to the fitting of results, and the influence of spiking non-uniformity, are discussed.     

Untersuchungen zur 3-Phononenabsorption in partiell kristallinen Polymeren

Zusammenfassung In dieser Arbeit wird die Dreiphononenabsorption in Polymeren, die den Hauptanteil an den dielektrischen Verlusten im Millimeterwellengebiet stellt, theoretisch und experimentell untersucht. Aus der Störungsrechnung bis zur 2. Ordnung wird die Temperaturabhängigkeit der Absorption abgeschätzt. Damit ist eine befriedigende Deutung des gesamten Temperaturverlaufs der dielektrischen Verlust-Kurven möglich. Im Hochtemperaturbereich läßt sich die Mehrphononenabsorption eindeutig gegenüber restlichen Relaxationsprozessen abgrenzen. Im Tieftemperaturgebiet konnte erstmals auch für das Millimeterwellengebiet ein temperaturunabhängiger Bestandteil fehlordnungsinduzierter Einphononenabsorption nachgewiesen werden. Im Übergangsbereich durchlaufen die Absorptionskurven einen Wendepunkt bei einer charakteristischen TemperaturT ₀, die dem Schwerpunkt der am Absorptionsprozeß beteiligten Phononenfrequenzen entspricht. Daraus konnten in Übereinstimmung mit dem Experiment die Frequenzen der niedrigsten optisch aktiven Phononen für die verschiedenen Polymeren abgeschätzt werden.

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Summary The 3-phonon absorption in polymers, which gives the main contribution to their dielectric loss in the microwave region, is theoretically and experimentally investigated. Perturbation theory up to the second order is used for the evaluation of its temperature dependence. The theoretical results allow an interpretation of the total absorption-temperature-curves: In the high temperature region 3-phonon absorption can be distinguished from residual relaxation losses (above the glass temperature). In the low temperature region the existence of a low frequency tail of temperature independent disorderinduced one-phonon absorption became evident. At intermediate temperatures (50–150°K) the curves show an inflexion point or plateau at a characteristic temperatureT ₀, which according toT ₀= ⁰, corresponds to the frequencies of those phonons, that mainly contribute to the multiphonon absorption. The plateau gives, in good agreement with the experiment, the frequencies of the lowest optically active phonons in the various polymers.

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Mit 6 Abbildungen in 8 Einzeldarstellungen

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Vorgetragen auf der Arbeitssitzung des Fachausschusses Physik der Hochpolymeren in der Frühjahrstagung 1970 des Regionalverbandes Hessen-Mittelrhein-Saar der Deutschen Physikalischen Gesellschaft in Darmstadt, 10.–13. März 1970.     

Suggested calculations using transition density matrices

It is suggested that certain transition density matrices, N-representable in a limit, be used in a variational calculation. It is noted that such trial matrices should yield reasonable values for the ground state energies of small atoms or molecules provided a set of overlap integrals is maximised.

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Zusammenfassung Es wird vorgeschlagen, bestimmte Übergangsdichtematrizen, die im Limit N-darstellbar sind, in einer Variationsrechnung zu benutzen. Es wird festgestellt, daß solche Näherungsmatrizen gute Werte für die Energie des Grundzustandes kleiner Atome oder Moleküle geben sollten, falls im Satz von Überlappungsintegralen maximiert wird.

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Résumé On propose d'utiliser dans un calcul variationnel certaines matrices densité de transition, N représentables à la limite. Ces matrices d'essai devraient fournir des valeurs raissonnables pour l'énergie de l'état fondamental dans les petits atomes et les petites molécules à condition de maximiser un ensemble d'intégrales de recouvrement.

     

Flow injection-spectrophotometric determination of cresol compounds in water by reaction withp-aminophenol

A spectrophotometric method has been developed for the simultaneous determination ofo-cresol andm-cresol in water by reaction withp-aminophenol (PAP). Three different methodologies have been assayed; (i) batch analysis, after reaction in an alkaline medium in the presence of dissolved molecular oxygen as oxidizing agent, (ii) a stopped-flow procedure, carried out in the presence of KIO₄ and (iii) a flow injection method based on the same approach. The batch procedure requires 22 min for the full development of colour witho-cresol and 12 min form-cresol. In the stopped-flow mode, using KIO₄ and a reaction time of 12 min, better sensitivity can be obtained for both compounds and limits of detection of 10 g 1^–1 foro-cresol and 30 g 1^–1 form-cresol were found. The flow injection method has a lower sensitivity but permits more than 80 injections per hour. Based on the different maximum absorbance wavelengths obtained for the reaction products of PAP witho-cresol (614 nm) andm-cresol (632 nm), both compounds can be simultaneously determined in water samples and recoveries of 90 to 115% were found in spiked water samples of different types.     

Polarographlc analysis for corticosteroids: Part 5. Reduction mechanism of halogen-containing corticosteroids and analysis of some preparations

In fluprednisolone and chloroprednisone acetate, the polarographic reduction of the carbon—halogen bond in position 6 occurs first. The carbanion—enolate formed is reduced at the dropping mercury electrode at more negative potentials than the conjugate acid. Controlled potential electrolysis at a mercury pool electrode where the carbanion—enolate can be protonated, yields the unsaturated ketone. Polarographic reduction of clobetasol-17-propionate and of clobetasone-17-butyrate results in cleavage of the C—Cl bond in the side-chain. This process is followed by reduction of the α,β-unsaturated ketone in the A-ring. Analytical methods for the determination of these compounds in ointments, creams and eye/ear drops gave results with standard deviations of 1–2%.