Split injection: A simple introduction of subnanoliter sample volumes for chip electrophoresis

The ability to accurately inject small volumes of sample into microfluidic channels is of great importance in electrophoretic separations. While electrokinetic injection of nanoliter scale volumes is commonly utilized in microchip capillary electrophoresis (MCE), mobility and matrix bias makes quantitation difficult. Herein, we describe a new injection method based on the simple patterning of the crossing of channels that does not require sophisticated instrumentation. The sample volume injected into the separation channel is dependent on the ratio of the widths of the crossing channels. This injection method is capable of introducing, into a separation channel, multiple plugs of sample on a large scale. This injection technique is tested for zone electrophoresis in native and surface modified poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) chips.     

Physical properties of small water clusters in low and moderate electric fields

Likely candidates for the lowest minima of water clusters (H(2)O)(N) for N ≤ 20 interacting with a uniform electric field strength in the range E ≤ 0.6 V/? have been identified using basin-hopping global optimization. Two water-water model potentials were considered, namely TIP4P and the polarizable Dang-Chang potential. The two models produce some consistent results but also exhibit significant differences. The cluster internal energy and dipole moment indicate two varieties of topological transition in the structure of the global minimum as the field strength is increased. The first takes place at low field strengths (0.1 V/? 10) usually forming helical structures.     

A facile method to tune zeolite L crystals with low aspect ratio

We demonstrate an alternative route to tune the morphology of zeolite L crystals using C(2)H(5)OH as the co-solvent in the synthesis gel. A low aspect ratio (0.2 to 0.4) of zeolite L crystals was obtained at lower synthesis temperature (150 °C) and shorter synthesis duration (3 days).     

From microscopic insights of H2 adsorption to uptake estimations in MOFs

The adsorption of hydrogen in MOFs takes place mainly close to the inorganic secondary building unit (IBU). The adsorption capacities on MIL-88, UiO-66, MIL-47 and MFU-1 were investigated. Quantum chemical calculations at the ab initio HF/MP2 theoretical level were employed to estimate the maximum uptake of H(2) molecules per metallic centre. Extrapolating the results on small clusters to the unit cell of each particular MOF, the H(2) uptakes (gravimetric and volumetric) were estimated. The loading of hydrogen per metal atom (H(2) molecules/M-atom) and the density of metal atoms (M-atoms ?(-3)) were defined as useful parameters to assess hydrogen storage properties and to estimate the optimum density that the material should have to be a good H(2) adsorbent. It was found that values above 3 H(2) molecules/M-atom and around 0.004 M-atoms ?(-3) for MOFs with densities around 0.7-1.0 g cm(-3) are required to reach the 2015 storage targets.     

Flow-injection spectrofluorimetric determination of paracetamol

A flow-injection spectrofluorimetric determination of paracetamol is reported, based on the oxidation of the analyte with potassium hexacyanoferrate(III) immobilized on an anion-exchange resin, the fluorescence being enhanced with N,N′-dimethylformamide. Concentrations of paracetamol in the range 0.04–17.60 mg l^?1 are determined with a relative standard deviation of 1.5%. The injection rate is 25 samples h^?1. The influence of foreign species and the determination of paracetamol in several pharamaceutical formulations are also reported.     

Synthesis and some chemical transformations of 3-ferrocenyl-3-phenylcyclopropene

Crystalline 3-ferrocenyl-3-phenylcyclopropene was obtained by dehydrobromination of 2-bromo-l-ferrocenyl-l-phenylcyclopropane with potassiumtert-butoxide in dimethyl sulfoxide. The compound synthesized undergoes catalytic hydrogenation to l-ferrocenyl-I-phenylcyclopropane, reacts with 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran to give the expected product of stereospecific [4+2[-cycloaddition and 3-ferrocenylindene, and also undegoes opening of the small ring on treatment with superacids to give 3-ferrocenylindene as the major product. The data of single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of 1-ferrocenyl-l-phenylcyclopropane and the diene adduct of 3-ferrocenyl-3-phenylcyclopropene with 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran are given.     

A study of transverse and longitudinal momentum correlations in proton diffraction dissociation at 14 GeV/c

We present data on momentum correlations both in and out of the production plane for the reactions π⁺p→π_f⁺(π⁺n) and π^?p→π_f^?(π^?Δ⁺⁺). The dissociation products show strikingly similar transverse momentum distributions which in terms of exchange models suggest an equal amount of pion and baryon exchange. For both reactions, we find an approximate factorization in the projectile frame between the transverse momentum of π_f and the longitudinal momenta of the dissociation products. Exchange models predict this result equally in both reactions, but it appears much more clearly in the Δ reaction. Finally, we relate the observed longitudinal and transverse momentum distributions in a way suggested by an isotropic decay model.     

A Flory–Huggins thermodynamic approach for predicting sorption equilibrium in ternary polymer systems

The Flory–Huggins theory as modified by Pouchlý has been applied to calculate preferential (λ) and total (Y) sorption coefficients for a ternary polymer system. The ternary interaction function (?₁?₂?₃G_T(u₁, ?₃)) is described as the product of three independent binary functions. This expression allows prediction of λ and Y from binary interaction parameters χ, χ, g, g, and g₁₂(?₁₀). Three ternary polymer systems are used to check the validity of the expression. Moreover for polymer systems in which the parameters g and/or g are unknown, a procedure to evaluate them has been developed and verified on systems for which sufficient experimental information is available.     

Application of the method of brather for the determination of complex dielectric permittivity from measurements of isothermal polarization current

Some years ago, Brather proposed a method for calculation of the real and imaginary parts of the complex dielectric permittivity starting from measurements of isothermal polarization current. This method shows some advantages over the Hamon method, which is normally used. Both methods are applied in this work to the β relaxation of poly(butyl methacrylate). It is concluded that, with the usual accuracy of measurement, a combination of the two methods is advisable; Hamon's method is taken to be a first approximation to that of Brather. Results following the two procedures are compared, and their respective advantages and disadvantages are discussed.     

Ozonolysis and photolysis of alkene-terminated self-assembled monolayers on quartz nanoparticles: implications for photochemical aging of organic aerosol particles

Photolysis of alkene-terminated self assembled monolayers (SAM) deposited on Degussa SiO(2) nanoparticles is studied following oxidation of SAM with a gaseous ozone/oxygen mixture. Infrared cavity ring-down spectroscopy is used to observe gas-phase products generated during ozonolysis and subsequent photolysis of SAM in real time. Reactions taking place during ozonolysis transform alkene-terminated SAM into a photochemically active state capable of photolysis in the tropospheric actinic window (lambda > 295 nm). Formaldehyde and formic acid are the observed photolysis products. Photodissociation action spectra of oxidized SAM and the observed pattern of gas-phase products are consistent with the well-established Criegee mechanism of ozonolysis of terminal alkenes. There is strong evidence for the presence of secondary ozonides (1,3,4-trioxalones) and other peroxides on the oxidized SAM surface. The data imply that photolysis plays a role in atmospheric aging of primary and secondary organic aerosol particles.