A fluorescent chemical sensor for ethanol determination in alcoholic beverages

A sensor for ethanol is described that is based on the fluorescent probe 5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl porphyrin (TPP). Response is based on the quenching of the fluorescence of TPP by ethanol as a result of electrostatic attraction. The sensor linearly responds to ethanol in the concentration range from 1 to 75 vol.% and was applied to the determination of ethanol in various kinds of wines and whisky.     

Synthesis and proton conductivity studies of polystyrene‐based triazole functional polymer membranes

In this study, poly(vinylbenzylchloride) (PVBC) was produced by free‐radical polymerization of 4‐vinylbenzylchloride, and then it was functionalized with 3‐amino‐1,2,4‐triazole (ATri) and 1H‐1,2,4‐triazole (Tri). The composition of the polymers was verified by elemental analysis, and the structure was characterized by Fourier transform infrared and ¹³C‐nuclear magnetic resonance spectra. PVBC was modified by ATri with 68% and Tri with 50% yield. The polymers were doped with trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TA) at various molar ratios, X = 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 with respect to aminotriazole and triazole units. Proton transfer from TA to the triazole rings was proved with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the samples are thermally stable up to approximately 200 °C. Differential scanning calorimetry results illustrated the homogeneity of the materials. Under anhydrous conditions, PVBCATri3TA and PVBCTri3TA showed highest proton conductivity of 0.086 and 0.042 S/cm, respectively. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010     

Fabrication and characterization of calix[4]arene Langmuir–Blodgett thin film for gas sensing applications

Microwave irradiation has been found to be a highly efficient method for etherification of p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene with alkyl bromides or ditosylate. The corresponding products were obtained as a pure form in modest yield within short reaction time when the reactions were performed under microwave irradiation.     

Separation and preconcentration of Pb(II) using ionic liquid-modified silica and its determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

A new method based on microcolumn packed with ionic liquid-modified silica combined with flame atomic absorption spectrometry has been developed for the determination of lead in environmental samples. Several factors influencing the preconcentration efficiency of lead and its subsequent determination, such as pH of the sample, flow rate, mass of ionic liquid, and interfering effect, have been investigated. Lead could be quantitatively retained by ionic liquid-modified silica in the pH range of 5-7, and then eluted completely with 3.0 mL 1.0 mol L⁻¹ HCl. The detection limit of this method for lead was 0.7 μg L⁻¹ with preconcentration factor of 185, and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was 4.2% at 0.1 μg mL⁻¹ Pb(II). This method has been applied for the determination of trace amount of lead in NIST standard reference material 2709 (San Joaquin Soil) and river water samples with satisfactory results.     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(3-thiophene acetic acid)/Fe3O4 nanocomposite

Poly(3-thiophene acetic acid)/Fe₃O₄ nanocomposite is synthesized by the precipitation of Fe₃O₄ in the presence of poly(3-thiophene acetic acid) (P3TAA). Structural, surface, morphological, thermal properties and conductivity characterization/evaluation of the nanocomposite were performed by XRD, FT-IR, TEM, TGA, and conductivity measurements, respectively. The capping of P3TAA around Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles was confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy, the interaction being via bridging oxygens of the carboxylate and the nanoparticle surface through bidentate binding. The crystallite and particle size were obtained as 9 ± 2 nm and 11 ± 1 nm from XRD line profile fitting and TEM image analysis, respectively, which reveal nearly single crystalline nature of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. Magnetization measurements reveal that P3TAA coated magnetite particles do not saturate at higher fields. There is no coercivity and remanence revealing superparamagnetic character. Magnetic particle size calculated from the theoretical fitting as 9.1 nm which coincides the values determined from TEM micrographs and XRD line profile fitting. The comparison to the TEM particle size reveals slightly modified magnetically dead nanoparticle surface.     

Static quadrupole moments of the first excited states of 200Hg and 202Hg

The static quadrupole moments Q_2⁺ and B(E2; 0⁺ → 2⁺) values of the 2⁺ first excited states of ²⁰⁰Hg and ²⁰²Hg have been determined using the reorientation effect in Coulomb excitation. An annular silicon surface-barrier detector was used to detect backscattered ⁴He, ¹²C and ¹⁶O projectiles. It is found that for ²⁰⁰Hg, Q_2⁺ = +1.07 ± 0.19 e · b(+0.98 ± 0.19 e · b) for destructive (constructive) interference from the 2^+′ state, and B(E2; 0⁺ → 2⁺) = 0.853 ± 0.007 e² · b². For ²⁰²Hg, we find Q_2⁺ = +1.01 ± 0.13 e · b (+0.87 ± 0.13 e · b) and B(E2; 0⁺ → 2⁺) = 0.605 ± 0.005 e² · b². The Q_2⁺ value obtained for ²⁰⁰Hg is in agreement with previous work, but that for ²⁰²Hg is not. The results obtained are compared with the predictions of various nuclear models, and the mass dependence of Q_2⁺ in the region 182 ≦ A ≦ 206 is examined.     

A novel approach to produce monodisperse hollow pure silica spheres

In this work, we report an efficient method to produce pure hollow silica spheres (HSS) using phenyltrimethoxysilane (PTMS) compound. The production of HSS was carried out via hydrolysis of PTMS in the aqueous media and followed by a condensation reaction to form silica spheres with phenyl groups. The product was then calcined to remove phenyl groups and obtain pure silica spheres with >95% fine structure. The chemical nature of pure silica was confirmed by Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy. The calcined HSS were stable beyond the temperature of 900 °C as confirmed by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The calcined spheres preserved their spherical appearance and hollow core as shown by SEM and TEM micrographs. Interestingly, the average size of the spheres was reduced significantly after calcination from 760 to 510 nm, confirming further the removal of phenyl groups. The calcined HSS offered much higher surface area (A_s) when analysed by BET; A_s for calcined product was ～406 and mere ～4.8 m²/g for uncalcined HSS. Finally, drug release study of cisplatin/HSS showed over 45% of steady cumulative release for 72 h. The prepared HSS can be dispersed in water opening the possibility of many novel bio/non-bio applications.     

EPR study of Cu(2+)-doped tetraaqua-di(nicotinamide)Co(II) saccharinate single crystals

The electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of Cu(2+) impurities in [Co(nicotinamide)(2)(H(2)O)(4)](saccharinate)(2) single crystals have been studied at ambient temperature in three mutually perpendicular planes. The angular variation of the spectra shows that the Cu(2+) ion substitutes the Co(2+) site in the lattice. The EPR spectra of Cu(2+) ions are characteristic of tetragonally elongated octahedral site. The spin-Hamiltonien parameters were obtained from the single crystal EPR analysis. The ground-state wave function of Cu(2+) ion in the lattice has been constructed.