Analysis of organic compounds of water-in-crude oil emulsions separated by microwave heating using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography and time-of-flight mass spectrometry

In this work the higher peak capacity and resolution of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GCxGC) has been successfully applied, for the first time, to tentatively identify several polar organic compounds of organic extracts of aqueous phases resulting from microwave demulsification process of water-in-crude oil emulsions. Results have shown that higher temperatures and longer exposure time to microwave irradiation produced water phases with a wider variety of polar organic compounds. The microwave process showed to be suitable for the extraction of several polar compounds classes of petroleum. The proposed microwave extraction method and GCxGC identification of polar compounds of petroleum samples are of practical interest for the petrochemical industry due to corrosion and related problems associated with these polar compounds in refinery equipments. The GCxGC/time-of-flight MS technique shows to be very important in the total separation of different classes of compounds and allows the identification of many compounds in these classes.     

Identification of alkyl carbazoles and alkyl benzocarbazoles in Brazilian petroleum derivatives

The present work describes (a) the identification and characterization of an impurity, 2,4,5,7-tetrabromo-6-hydroxy-9-(2,3,4,5-tetrachlorophenyl)-3H-xanthen-3-one (BCPX), in the color additives D&C Red Nos. 27 and 28 (phloxine B) and (b) the determination of the extent and level of BCPX contamination in certified lots of these colors. For these purposes, BCPX (a compound not previously reported in the literature) was synthetically prepared. Test portions from 42 certified lots of D&C Red Nos. 27, 28 and 27 lakes were analyzed for BCPX using an HPLC method that included gradient elution and UV-vis photodiode array detection. Those lots were submitted for certification by both domestic (six) and foreign (six) manufacturers during the past 4 years. Of the test portions analyzed, 32 (76.2%) contained BCPX in amounts ranging from 0.01 to 3.21%. The remaining 10 test portions (23.8%) contained no detectable BCPX or less than 0.008%, which is the limit of quantification for the present method. The analyses revealed substantial differences in the level of BCPX across different manufacturers. The wide range of BCPX levels found in the analyzed lots suggests that the presence of BCPX in D&C Red Nos. 27 and 28 may be avoided or significantly reduced during the manufacturing process.     

High‐energy‐resolution diced spherical quartz analyzers for resonant inelastic X‐ray scattering

A novel diced spherical quartz analyzer for use in resonant inelastic X‐ray scattering (RIXS) is introduced, achieving an unprecedented energy resolution of 10.53 meV at the Ir L₃ absorption edge (11.215 keV). In this work the fabrication process and the characterization of the analyzer are presented, and an example of a RIXS spectrum of magnetic excitations in a Sr₃Ir₂O₇ sample is shown.     

Phase sensitivity of light dynamics in PT-symmetric couplers

We study the sensitivity of light dynamics to the internal phase of propagating pulses in the two types of $\mathcal {PT}$ -symmetric models. The first is a waveguide array with an embedded pair of waveguides with gain and loss, called $\mathcal {PT}$ -coupler, and the second is a planar coupler which models a chain of $\mathcal {PT}$ -symmetric couplers. For the first model we investigate the soliton scattering on the mode localized on the coupler, while for second model we study the collision of two breathers. For both models we find that the light dynamics is sensitive to the internal phases of the interacting pulses. Particularly, the $\mathcal {PT}$ -symmetry breaking can take place or not, depending on the internal phases of two signals having identical other parameters.     

Nanoprobes for intracellular and single cell surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)

Surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a promising and powerful label free technique for high resolution analysis of single cells. For intracellular analysis, there is a need for SERS‐active nanoprobes that are minimally invasive to cells, do not affect cell viability, and provide reproducible signals. This work reviews the state‐of‐the‐art tools currently available for intracellular SERS. Various types of SERS probes are considered, including colloidal gold and silver nanoparticles, metallized optical fibers, and tip‐enhanced Raman probes. We also discuss recently developed SERS‐active nanopipettes implemented on the basis of pulled glass microcapillaries. Finally, the critical aspects of selecting an optimal SERS nanoprobe for single‐cell analysis depending on a particular application are summarized. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A nine-dimensional calculation of the vibrational OH stretching and HOH bending spectrum of the water trimer

We have studied the vibrational high-frequency spectrum of the water trimer computationally. We expand an earlier study [J. Chem. Phys. A 2009, 113, 9124-9132] where we approximated the water trimer as three individually vibrating water monomer units. Some intramolecular potential energy coupling terms are now included in the previous model. The six OH bond lengths and the three HOH bending angles are used as the internal coordinates. The kinetic energy operator is a sum of the kinetic energy operators of the monomer units. We use the coupled cluster method with single, double, and perturbative triple excitations method [CCSD(T)] with augmented correlation consistent polarized valence triple-ζ (aug-cc-pVTZ) basis set to calculate the potential energy surface (PES). The counterpoise correction is included in the one-dimensional part of the PES. We calculate the vibrational energy eigenvalues using the variational method. The corresponding eigenfunctions are used to obtain the absorption intensities.     

An Extra‐Large‐Pore Zeolite with 24×8×8‐Ring Channels Using a Structure‐Directing Agent Derived from Traditional Chinese Medicine

Extra‐large‐pore zeolites have attracted much interest because of their important applications for processing larger molecules. Although great progress has been made in academic science and industry, it is challenging to synthesize these materials. A new extra‐large‐pore zeolite SYSU‐3 (Sun Yat‐sen University no. 3) has been synthesized by using a novel sophoridine derivative as an organic structure‐directing agent (OSDA). The framework structure was solved and refined using continuous rotation electron diffraction (cRED) data from nanosized crystals. SYSU‐3 exhibits a new zeolite framework topology, which has the first 24×8×8‐ring extra‐large‐pore system and a framework density (FD) as low as 11.4 T/1000 ų. The unique skeleton of the OSDA plays an essential role in the formation of the distinctive zeolite structure. This work provides a new perspective for developing new zeolitic materials by using alkaloids as cost‐effective OSDAs.     

PMR spectra of protonated pyrazine and quinoxaline N-oxides

The dependence of the chemical shifts of the protons of quinoxaline and quinoxaline and pyrazine N-oxides and N,N-dioxides on the acid concentration was studied. The changes in the PMR spectra on passing from the neutral bases to the monocations were examined. The first protonation of pyrazine and quinoxaline N-oxides occurs at the N₄ nitrogen atom.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 6, pp. 846–852, June, 1971.