High-pressure phase equilibrium data for systems with carbon dioxide, α-humulene and trans-caryophyllene

The aim of this work is to report phase equilibrium data for the binary systems (CO₂ + α-humulene) and (CO₂ + trans-caryophyllene), and for the ternary system (CO₂ + α-humulene + trans-caryophyllene). Results from literature show that α-humulene and trans-caryophyllene are the main compounds responsible for the anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic characteristics attributed to the medicinal plant Cordia verbenacea D.C., hence giving importance to the phase behaviour investigation performed in this work. Phase equilibrium experiments were performed in a high-pressure, variable-volume view cell over the temperature range of T = (303 to 343) K and pressures up to 20 MPa. (Liquid + liquid) and (vapour + liquid + liquid) equilibrium were observed at T = 303 K, while (vapour + liquid) phase transitions were verified to occur from T = (313 to 343) K, for all systems studied. Thermodynamic modelling was performed using the Peng–Robinson equation of state and the classical quadratic mixing rules, with a satisfactory agreement between experimental and calculated values.     

Search for Lorentz invariance and CPT violation with the MINOS far detector

We searched for a sidereal modulation in the MINOS far detector neutrino rate. Such a signal would be a consequence of Lorentz and CPT violation as described by the standard-model extension framework. It also would be the first detection of a perturbative effect to conventional neutrino mass oscillations. We found no evidence for this sidereal signature, and the upper limits placed on the magnitudes of the Lorentz and CPT violating coefficients describing the theory are an improvement by factors of 20-510 over the current best limits found by using the MINOS near detector.     

Electroanalytical Determination of Morpholine as a Corrosion Inhibitor at a Cathodically Pretreated Boron-Doped Diamond Electrode

An electroanalytical method for the determination of morpholine, a corrosion inhibitor, was developed at a cathodically pretreated boron-doped diamond electrode (BDDE). The voltammetric response of morpholine at the BDDE in 0.1?mol L^?1 KCl (pH 10) shows an irreversible oxidation process at approximately 1.3?V vs. Ag/AgCl in 3.0?mol L^?1 KCl. Using cyclic voltammetry, the number of electrons involved in the morpholine electroxidation mechanism was found to be 1. The application of chronoamperometry showed that the apparent diffusion coefficient (D₀) was 2.99?×?10^?6 cm² s^?1. Using square wave voltammetry under the optimized conditions (frequency of 30.0?Hz, pulse amplitude of 100?mV and step potential of 20?mV at pH 10.0), the developed method provided limits of detection and quantification of 2.1 and 6.9?mg L^?1, respectively, with a linear range from 5.0 to 100.0?mg L^?1 (r?=?0.991). Intraday (n?=?10) and interday (two consecutive day) precision values assessed as the relative standard deviation for solutions containing 30.0, 60.0, and 90.0?mg L^?1 of morpholine were from 0.41 to 5.86% and 0.92 to 3.19%, respectively. The feasibility of the method for the interference-free determination of morpholine was verified by the analysis of synthetic boiler water samples containing CaCO₃, Na₂SO₃, Na₃PO_4, FeCl₃, and humic acid as organic matter. In addition, hydrazine was added as a possible interfering compound because of its widespread use in corrosion inhibition. Recovery values from 90.9 to 109.4% were obtained in the synthetic boiler water, thereby attesting to the accuracy of the method.     

Effects of Reaction Operation Policies on Properties of Core–Shell Polymer Supports Used for Preparation of Highly Active Biocatalysts

Core–shell polymer supports with different morphological features and compositions are prepared through combined suspension and emulsion polymerizations. It is shown that proper manipulation of the divinylbenzene (DVB) feed content allows for maximization of specific areas, porosities, and mechanical resistances. Additionally, it is shown that feeding of previously prepared miniemulsions leads to core–shell particles with smaller specific areas, due to less efficient coating of the cores. Particularly, the combined manipulation of polymerization times and DVB feed compositions allows for production of particles with pronounced specific area (50 m² g^?1) and porosity (0.30 cm³ g^?1). Produced core–shell polymer particles are employed as supports for the immobilization of lipase B from Candida antarctica, and the obtained enzymatic activities for both hydrolysis (A _hyd) and esterification (A _est) reactions are very high (A _hyd = 34.7 ± 3.8 U/g; A _est = 3564.6 ± 581 U/g), even when compared to activities obtained using the reference commercial biocatalyst Novozym 435 (A _hyd = 7.6 ± 1.8 U/g, A _est = 2384.7 ± 307.2 U/g). Finally, biocatalysts prepared with the core–shell supports present higher enzymatic activities than biocatalysts prepared with supports of higher specific area obtained through conventional emulsion polymerizations, indicating that the porous structure of the shell can be beneficial for the immobilization and activity of the enzymes.     

Measurement of neutrino oscillations with the MINOS detectors in the NuMI beam

This Letter reports new results from the MINOS experiment based on a two-year exposure to muon neutrinos from the Fermilab NuMI beam. Our data are consistent with quantum-mechanical oscillations of neutrino flavor with mass splitting |Deltam2| = (2.43+/-0.13) x 10(-3) eV2 (68% C.L.) and mixing angle sin2(2theta) > 0.90 (90% C.L.). Our data disfavor two alternative explanations for the disappearance of neutrinos in flight: namely, neutrino decays into lighter particles and quantum decoherence of neutrinos, at the 3.7 and 5.7 standard-deviation levels, respectively.     

Morphology,mechanical, and water transport properties of melt blended EVOH/PVOH films

Herein, we report for the first time the successful preparation of ethylene–vinyl alcohol (EVOH)/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH) blends by a melt blending process for PVOH volume content ranging from 0 to 30%. Thermal stability up to 270 °C was maintained for all blends. The blends morphology consisted in spherical low size PVOH domains homogeneously dispersed in the EVOH matrix with good interfacial properties. An increase of the mean size of the PVOH domains (from 0.3 to 1.2 μm) and of the size distribution was evidenced as the PVOH content increased. The contribution of each phase to the water sorption and diffusion was clearly demonstrated. The impact of water uptake was investigated on the chains mobility by using Gordon–Taylor law and on the mechanical properties of the blends with respect to the reference polymers. It was pointed out that the reinforcing effect of PVOH phase decreased as the water activity increased. However, a significant elongation at break was maintained, underlining the major role played by the EVOH continuous phase at high water activity. Finally, it was shown that adding PVOH to EVOH up to 15 vol % allowed strengthening the material at low water activity and keeping interesting elongation at break and barrier properties at high water activity. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019 , 57, 838–850     

Impact of coated calcium carbonate nanofillers and annealing treatments on the microstructure and gas barrier properties of poly(lactide) based nanocomposite films

Amorphous poly(lactide) (PLA) and nanocomposite films were prepared from melt‐blending with precipitated calcium carbonate nanofillers (PCC). Nanocomposites based on uncoated PCC (PCC‐UT), stearic acid coated PCC (PCC‐S), and poly(ε‐caprolactone) coated PCC (PCC‐P) were investigated for an inorganic content fixed to 8 wt %. Using coated nanofillers allowed preserving both PLA average molar mass and thermal stability while enhancing the nanofiller dispersion state. Poly(ε‐caprolactone) was identified as the best coating for optimized morphology and thermal properties. Maxwell law accurately described the increase in oxygen barrier properties observed for the nanocomposites based on PCC‐S. A modified Maxwell law was proposed to take account of the additional increase in barrier properties evidenced for the PLA/PCC‐P nanocomposites and assigned to the particularly strong compatibility between PCL and PLA. Different annealing conditions were investigated to respectively study the impact of physical ageing and PLA crystallization on gas permeability. Different extents of physical ageing did not significantly modify the oxygen transport properties. However, a high permeability decrease was observed for the semicrystalline nanocomposites with respect to the amorphous reference PLA film. Finally, the gain in barrier properties was shown to result from both contribution of the nanofillers and the crystalline phase. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016 , 54, 649–658