Scattering properties of salt-free wormlike micellar solutions

Static and dynamic light scattering and conductivity experiments were carried out on salt-free aqueous micellar solutions of cetyltrimethylammonium n-hexane sulfonate (CTAC_6SO_3) and cetyltrimethylammonium n-heptane sulfonate (CTAC_7SO_3) as a function of surfactant concentration. This study confirms the analogy between the behavior in the semi-dilute regime of elongated micellar systems and “classical” polyelectrolyte solutions. Time-resolved scattering experiments performed after a variation of concentration from about twice the overlap volume fraction to less than half of it revealed the existence of a structural relaxation with a characteristic time of several hours. Received 21 December 1999     

Microrheology of chemically crosslinked polymer gels by diffusing-wave spectroscopy

The Brownian motion of probe particles in aqueous solutions of poly(vinyl alcohol)(PVA) and in chemically crosslinked PVA gels has been studied by diffusing-wave spectroscopy (DWS). At long time scales the measurements allow us to determine the effect of the crosslinking ratio on the macroscopic viscosity of sols and the shear modulus of gels. The local shear modulus of gels as obtained from the characteristic length of the Brownian cage was found to agree with that measured by classical rheometry and dynamic light scattering (DLS). These microrheological techniques were applied to two polymer gel systems. Substrate induced gradient structure of hydrogels was studied from a microrheological point of view using DLS. It is clearly seen that hydrophobic substrate induces weakly crosslinked network formation at the interface region up to a few millimeters as expected from other experimental facts. Magnetic particle motion in gels under external magnetic field was investigated by DWS. The translational motion of the magnetic particles in gels due to the alternating magnetic force can be detected and found to be superimposed on the relaxation due to the thermal motion.     

Perchlorate in water via US Environmental Protection Agency Method 331 Determination of method uncertainties, lowest concentration minimum reporting levels, and Hubaux-Vos detection limits in reagent water and simulated drinking water

US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Method 331 determines perchlorate in drinking water using non-suppressed ion chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. This study reports the results of calibration and recovery studies in reagent water, as well as of a recovery study in simulated drinking water (i.e., total dissolved solids are 500 mg/mL each of chloride, sulfate, and bicarbonate). The perchlorate concentrations in the study ranged from 0.05 to 64 ng/mL. At 95% confidence, the Hubaux-Vos detection limit (H-V DL) was 0.04 ng/mL for the calibration study and the simulated-drinking-water recovery study, and 0.03 ng/mL for the reagent-water recovery study. The lowest concentration minimum reporting level was 0.03 ng/mL for reagent water and 0.0 7 ng/mL for simulated drinking water, again at 95% confidence.     

Method development for the analysis of N-nitrosodimethylamine and other N-nitrosamines in drinking water at low nanogram/liter concentrations using solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography with chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry

N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) is a probable human carcinogen of concern that has been identified as a drinking water contaminant. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Method 521 has been developed for the analysis of NDMA and 6 additional N-nitrosamines in drinking water at low ng/L concentrations. The method uses solid-phase extraction with coconut charcoal as the sorbent and dichloromethane as the eluent to concentrate 0.50 L water samples to 1 mL. The extracts are analyzed by gas chromatography-chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry using large-volume injection. Method performance was evaluated in 2 laboratories. Typical analyte recoveries of 87-104% were demonstrated for fortified reagent water samples, and recoveries of 77-106% were demonstrated for fortified drinking water samples. All relative standard deviations on replicate analyses were < 11%.     

Lichtbrechung und Dispersion

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Flocculation, deflocculation, and ions migration in latex suspensions

We have studied the dynamics of the flocculation of poly(styrene-butadiene-acrylic acid) latex suspensions. These suspensions were flocculated by the addition of Ca2+ ions at high concentrations of latex particles. Using diffusing wave spectroscopy and dynamic single light scattering after dilution, we have observed--depending on the pH and on the Ca2+ concentration--several scenarios for flocculation including successive flocculation and deflocculation. This complex behavior reveals that the Ca2+ migration within the shell of the latex is slow in acidic solvent but fast in basic solvent.     

Characterization of the drastic increase in molecular mobility of a deformed amorphous polymer

Original experiments of dynamic mechanical analysis and small angle x-ray scattering on a deformed amorphous polymer below its glass transition temperature are reported. The mechanical treatment reveals high mobility zones induced by shearing and leads to a drastic increase in the molecular mobility of the system. These domains are evidenced by small angle x-ray scattering measurements, and their geometrical characteristics are independent of the applied deformation. An experimental procedure is proposed to determine an apparent activation energy associated with high mobility domains. The energy values obtained for intermediate modes rise from the beta to the alpha relaxation ones.