Imide-siloxane block copolymer/silica hybrid membranes: preparation, characterization and gas separation properties

Imide-siloxane block copolymer/silica hybrid membranes with covalent bonds were prepared via sol–gel reaction. The structural informations of these hybrid membranes were obtained by using Fourier transform-infrared spectrometry (FT-IR), ²⁹Si nuclear magnetic resonance (²⁹Si NMR), XPS and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The gas separation properties of the hybrid membranes were also investigated in terms of organosiloxane (PDMS) or silica content at various temperatures. In the hybrids, the addition of PDMS phase increased the permeabilities of gases such as He, CO₂, O₂, and N₂, indicating that the gas transport occurred mainly through rubbery organic matrix. Meanwhile, the PDMS phase contributed the decreased gas selectivities to nitrogen but the reduction in selectivities was very small in comparison with other siloxane containing polymeric membranes. This might be due to the restriction of chain mobility by the existence of inorganic component such as silica network in the hybrids. Additionally, the increase of silica content in these hybrid membranes considerably retarded the falling-off of gas selectivity at elevated temperature. The increase of silica content in hybrid membranes resulted in well-formed silica networks and hence these inorganic components restricted the plasticization of organic matrix by the thermal segmental motion of organic components, leading to preventing the large decrease of the gas selectivity.     

Ab initio studies of the allylic hydroxylation: DFT calculation on the reaction of 2-methyl-2-butene with selenium dioxide

The mechanism of the allylic oxidation of 2-methyl-2-butene with selenium dioxide has been investigated by ab initio quantum mechanics. Transition states for two major steps (an ene reaction and a [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement) of this reaction have been optimized by the B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) method. A comparison of the energies of the transition states shows that the anti-endo and syn-endo approaches are the efficient routes in the ene reaction and the methyl (C4) group is sited in a pseudo-equatorial environment in cyclic transition states during the [2,3]-rearrangement. Calculations also show the kind of the terminal alkyl (C4) substituents may control (E)-selectivity in the formation of the allylic alcohols.     

Electrolytic reduction of spent oxide fuel in a molten LiCl-Li2O system

Summary The Advanced Spent Conditioning Process (ACP) developed by the KAERI is based on pyrometallurgy and the electrolytic reduction plays a central role in transforming spent oxide fuels into metals. The constituents of the spent fuels are distributed between a salt and a reduced metal phase during electrolysis. Lithium metal is produced in a molten LiCl-Li₂O cell and then it reacts with the metal oxides of the spent fuel producing Li₂O and reduced metals. By focusing on the activity of Li₂O and the electric potential, the electrolytic reduction process of the ACP is discussed. Thermodynamic considerations are defined and operation conditions are proposed including Li₂O activity and cell potential.     

Synthesis and crystal structures of novel calix[4]azacrowns

A series of novel 1,3‐altemate calix[4]arene azacrowns having mono and bis crown ethers on the lower rim of the calix[4]arene framework were synthesized. Solid‐state structures confirmed the three dimensional conformation of compounds 1–3.     

Differential conductance switching of planar tunnel junctions mediated by oxidation/reduction of functionally protected ferrocene

Planar tunnel junctions were fabricated by self-assembling 1,1'- ferrocenedicarboxylic acid (FDCA) onto native oxides of thermally deposited aluminum films and subsequently depositing a second aluminum film. Junctions were characterized using Reflection-Absorption Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (RAIRS) and current-voltage (I-V) spectroscopy. Before deposition of the second aluminum film, RAIRS of FDCA and ferrocenecarboxylic acid (FCA) films revealed COO(-), C=O, and Fc ring stretching modes, indicating that both types of molecules can interact strongly with the oxide and remain intact. After deposition, systems exhibited prominent COO(-) modes and weakened C=O modes, indicating further reaction with aluminum/aluminum oxide. Fc ring modes persisted in FDCA systems but disappeared in FCA systems, suggesting that the second COOH group in the FDCA molecule can act as a protecting group for the ferrocene moiety. Cyclic I-V measurements of FDCA tunnel junction systems revealed very strong ( approximately 10-fold) hysteretic differential conductance switching that was both reversible and stable. Control measurements using as prepared junctions, as well as junctions containing 1,6-hexanedioic acid, 1,9-nonanedioic acid, 1,4-dibenzoic acid, or FCA revealed only very weak ( approximately 10%) differential conductance changes. We attribute FDCA junction switching to barrier profile modifications induced by oxidation/reduction of the functionally protected ferrocene moieties.     

Lupane-triterpene glycosides from the leaves of Acanthopanax gracilistylus

A novel lupane-triterpene glycoside, called wujiapioside B (1), was isolated from the leaves of Acanthopanax gracilistylus (Araliaceae) together with three known lupane-triterpene glycosides, acankoreoside C (2), acantrifoside A (3) and 3-epibetulinic acid 28-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester (4). Based on spectroscopic data, the chemical structure of 1 was determined as 3alpha,23-dihydroxy-lup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid 28-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester. Compounds 2-3 were obtained for the first time from this plant and compound 4 has not been isolated from Acanthopanax genus yet.     

Predicting adsorption isotherms of low-volatile compounds by temperature programmed desorption: iodine on carbon

Equilibrium adsorption isotherms for low-volatile compounds are extremely difficult to measure. A simple technique using temperature programmed desorption (TPD) is proposed. It is demonstrated that the two parameters needed for constructing the Langmuir isotherm can be derived with data from the TPD technique alone. Thus, the Langmuir isotherms of iodine on AX-21 super-activated carbon were obtained with this technique. A series of TPD experiments for samples with different initial loadings of iodine were carried out by varying the heating rates which resulted in different peak desorption temperatures. The peak desorption temperature decreased as the initial loading was increased because of the re-adsorption effect. The Langmuir constant was derived from kinetic theory with the activation energy for desorption obtained from the experiment. The activation energy for desorption was 12.3 kcal/mol. The Langmuir constants determined by this technique were in comparable order of magnitude to the reported values for iodine on activated carbon. The saturation capacity of AX-21 for iodine could also be determined from the TPD data obtained from samples with different initial loadings. The estimated saturation capacity from the TPD experiment was 2.96 g I(2)/g AX-21, which was close to the experimentally measured saturation capacity of 3.25 g I(2)/g AX-21 for the same system.     

Depigmenting activity and low cytotoxicity of alkoxy benzoates or alkoxy cinnamte in cultured melanocytes

To obtain effective and safe topical depigmenting agents, we synthesized hydroxybenzoates, alkoxybenzoates, and 3,4,5-trimethoxycinnamate containing a thymol moiety and screened then for high-level inhibitory activity against melanin synthesis in cultured melanocytes. Eight compounds were tested for their depigmenting effect and cytotoxicity using a murine melanocyte cell line. We found that 3,4,5-trialkoxybenzoates and 3,4,5-trimethoxycinnamate, synthesized by conjugating 3,4,5-trialkoxybenzoic acids and 3,4,5-trimethoxycinnmic acid with thymol, showed a potent depigmenting effect and low cytotoxicity. Compound 4h, 5-methyl-2-(methylethyl)phenyl (2E)-3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate, showed the most potent depigmenting effect (IC50=10 microM) with low cytotoxicity (IC50=200 microM).