Analysis of biodiesel/petroleum diesel blends with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography

Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GCxGC) is used to analyze petroleum diesel, biodiesel, and biodiesel/petroleum diesel blends. The GCxGC instrument is assembled from a conventional gas chromatograph fitted with a simple, in-line fluidic modulator. A 5% phenyl polydimethylsiloxane primary column is coupled to a polyethylene glycol secondary column. This column combination generates chromatograms where the fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) found in biodiesel occupy a region that is also populated by numerous cyclic alkanes and monoaromatics found in petroleum. Fortunately, the intensities of the petroleum hydrocarbon peaks are far lower than the intensities of the FAME peaks, even for blends with low biodiesel content. This allows the FAMEs to be accurately quantitated by direct integration. The method is calibrated by analyzing standard mixtures of soybean biodiesel in petroleum diesel with concentrations ranging from 1 to 20% v/v. The resulting calibration curve displays excellent linearity. This curve is used to determine the concentration of a B20 biodiesel/petroleum diesel blend obtained from a local retailer. Excellent precision and accuracy are obtained.     

Vapor–liquid equilibrium measurements and modeling of the n-butane + ethanol system from 323 to 423 K

Vapor–liquid equilibrium (VLE) data are presented for the n-butane + ethanol system in the temperature range from 323 to 423 K. Measurements were performed using a “static-analytic” apparatus, equipped with two electromagnetic ROLSI™ capillary samplers, and thermally regulated via an air bath. This work presents vapor compositions which have not been explicitly measured previously. The modeling of the data was performed using two models: the Peng–Robinson equation of state with the Wong and Sandler mixing rule and NRTL excess function (PR/WS/NRTL); and the perturbed-chain statistical associating fluid theory (PC-SAFT) equation of state. To assess the effect of dipole–dipole interactions present, a dipolar contribution developed by Jog and Chapman (1999) [20] was tested with the second model. Temperature dependent binary interaction parameters have been adjusted to the new data. The PR/WS/NRTL equation of state shows good correlation with the results, while the PC-SAFT is slightly less accurate.     

Development and validation of a liquid chromatographic method for the analysis of capreomycin sulfate and its related substances

A gradient LC method for the analysis of capreomycin sulfate and its related substances was developed. The chromatographic conditions include the use of a Hypersil base deactivated C₁₈ (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) column maintained at 25 °C, a mobile phase containing acetonitrile, phosphate buffer pH 2.3 and 0.025 M hexanesulfonate at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min and UV detection performed at 268 nm. Good separation of the four active components of capreomycin and eleven unknown impurities was achieved. A system suitability test to check the quality of the separation is specified. The method shows good repeatability, linearity and robustness.     

Design and electrochemical characterization of a new cobalt(II)–cyclodextrin complex. Evidence for a supramolecular stabilization of the Co(I) state

The electrochemical behavior of a new cobalt–cyclodextrin (CD) complex was investigated, in dimethylformamide, from CoX₂ (X = Br and BF₄) in the presence of 1 equiv. 6-Deoxy-6-N-(2-methyliminopyridine)-β-cyclodextrin as ligand. Under these conditions, it was demonstrated for the first time, that the electrogenerated cobalt(I) species can be kinetically and thermodynamically stabilized. The electrochemical study of CoX₂ in the presence of a related iminopyridine ligand (2-pyridyl-N-benzylmethylimine), in which the cyclodextrin (CD) group was replaced by a simple aryl moiety, allowed to highlight the crucial role of the CD in this unexpected stabilization. Importantly, this unprecedented result was only observed when both the iminepyridine and the CD moieties were together covalently attached. Importantly, the supramolecular stabilized low-valent cobalt species remained fairly reactive towards aromatic halides despite its intrinsic stability. This original work opens new opportunities for the development of more selective catalytic processes both in organic and aqueous media.     

Effects of shape and size of cobalt ferrite nanostructures on their MRI contrast and thermal activation

Cobalt ferrite magnetic nanostructures were synthesized via a high temperature solution phase method. Spherical nanostructures of various sizes were synthesized with the help of seed mediated growth of the nanostructures in organic phase, while faceted irregular (FI) cobalt ferrite nanostructures were synthesized via the same method but in the presence of a magnetic field. Magnetic properties were characterized by SQUID magnetometry, relaxivity measurements and thermal activation under RF field, as a function of size and shape. The results show that the saturation magnetization of the nanostructures increases with an increase in size, and the FI nanostructures exhibit lower saturation magnetization than their spherical counterparts. The relaxivity coefficient of cobalt ferrite nanostructures increases with increase in size; while FI nanostructures show a higher relaxivity coefficient than spherical nanostructures with respect to their saturation magnetization. In the case of RF thermal activation, the specific absorption rate (SAR) of nanostructures increases with increase in the size. The contribution sheds light on the role of size and shape on important magnetic properties of the nanostructures in relation to their biomedical applications.     

Photofragment coincidence imaging of small I-(H2O)n clusters excited to the charge-transfer-to-solvent state

The photodissociation dynamics of small I-(H2O)n(n=2-5) clusters excited to their charge-transfer-to-solvent (CTTS) states have been studied using photofragment coincidence imaging. Upon excitation to the CTTS state, two photodissociation channels were observed. The major channel (approximately 90%) is a two-body process forming neutral I+(H2O)n photofragments, and the minor channel is a three-body process forming I+(H2O)n-1+H2O fragments. Both processes display translational energy [P(ET)] distributions peaking at ET=0 with little available energy partitioned into translation. Clusters excited to the detachment continuum rather than to the CTTS state display the same two channels with similar P(ET) distributions. The observation of similar P(ET) distributions from the two sets of experiments suggests that in the CTTS experiments, I atom loss occurs after autodetachment of the excited [I(H2O)n-]* cluster or, less probably, that the presence of the excess electron has little effect on the departing I atom.     

Distance-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry with IonCCD Detection and an Inductively Coupled Plasma Source

Distance-of-flight mass spectrometry (DOFMS) is demonstrated for the first time with a commercially available ion detector—the IonCCD camera. Because DOFMS is a velocity-based MS technique that provides spatially dispersive, simultaneous mass spectrometry, a position-sensitive ion detector is needed for mass-spectral collection. The IonCCD camera is a 5.1-cm long, 1-D array that is capable of simultaneous, multichannel ion detection along a focal plane, which makes it an attractive option for DOFMS. In the current study, the IonCCD camera is evaluated for DOFMS with an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) ionization source over a relatively short field-free mass-separation distance of 25.3–30.4 cm. The combination of ICP-DOFMS and the IonCCD detector results in a mass-spectral resolving power (FWHM) of approximately 900 and isotope-ratio precision equivalent to or slightly better than current ICP-TOFMS systems. The measured isotope-ratio precision in % relative standard deviation (%RSD) was ≥0.008%RSD for nonconsecutive isotopes at 10-ppm concentration (near the ion-signal saturation point) and ≥0.02%RSD for all isotopes at 1-ppm. Results of DOFMS with the IonCCD camera are also compared with those of two previously characterized detection setups.

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DNA Photosensitization by an “Insider”: Photophysics and Triplet Energy Transfer of 5‐Methyl‐2‐pyrimidone Deoxyribonucleoside

The main chromophore of (6‐4) photoproducts, namely, 5‐methyl‐2‐pyrimidone (Pyo), is an artificial noncanonical nucleobase. This chromophore has recently been reported as a potential photosensitizer that induces triplet damage in thymine DNA. In this study, we investigate the spectroscopic properties of the Pyo unit embedded in DNA by means of explicit solvent molecular‐dynamics simulations coupled to time‐dependent DFT and quantum‐mechanics/molecular‐mechanics techniques. Triplet‐state transfer from the Pyo to the thymine unit was monitored in B‐DNA by probing the propensity of this photoactive pyrimidine analogue to induce a Dexter‐type triplet photosensitization and subsequent DNA damage.     

Combining Modular Ligation and Supramolecular Self‐Assembly for the Construction of Star‐Shaped Macromolecules

A well‐defined random copolymer of styrene (S) and chloromethylstyrene (CMS) featuring lateral chlorine moieties with an alkyne terminal group is prepared (P(S‐co‐CMS), = 5500 Da, PDI = 1.13). The chloromethyl groups are converted into Hamilton wedge (HW) entities (P(S‐co‐HWS), = 6200 Da, PDI = 1.13). The P(S‐co‐HWS) polymer is subsequently ligated with tetrakis(4‐azidophenyl)methane to give HW‐functional star‐shaped macromolecules (P(S‐co‐HWS))₄, = 25 100 Da, PDI = 1.08). Supramolecular star‐shaped copolymers are then prepared via self‐assembly between the HW‐functionalized four‐arm star‐shaped macromolecules ( P(S‐co‐HW )) ₄ and cyanuric acid (CA) end‐functionalized PS (PS–CA, = 3700 Da, PDI = 1.04), CA end‐functionalized poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA–CA, = 8500 Da, PDI = 1.13) and CA end‐functionalized polyethylene glycol (PEG–CA, = 1700 Da, PDI = 1.05). The self‐assembly is monitored by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and light scattering analyses.