Prediction of the cloud point of polyethoxylated surfactants and their mixtures by the thermodynamic model of Flory-Huggins-Rupert

The cloud point curves of polyethoxylated surfactants are established experimentally. These experimental data are preliminary to the development of the cloud point extraction process, which appears as an interesting alternative to the usual solvent extraction unit operation. Starting from the thermodynamic model developed by Flory and Huggins for phase separation of polymer aqueous solutions, this paper aims at the prediction of cloud point curves. In this work, Rupert’s approach is extended to commercial nonionic surfactants, mixtures of homologous species, namely a few alkylphenol and alcohol ethoxylates. The limit of such an approach is clearly demonstrated, provided that a fitting parameter is finally required for a successful model application to pilot-plant manufactured surfactants, like C₈ΦE_n (n?=?7.5, 10, 12), C₉ΦE_n (n?=?8, 10, 12), C₁₂E₄, C₁₂E₆ and commercial Tergitol 15-S-7 (linear C₁₂-C₁₄ secondary alcohol with an average of 7 ethylene oxide units).GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT     

Density functional restricted-unrestricted approach for nonlinear properties: application to electron paramagnetic resonance parameters of square planar copper complexes

The density functional restricted-unrestricted approach for treatments of spin polarization effects in molecular properties using spin restricted Kohn-Sham theory has been extended from linear to nonlinear properties. It is shown that the spin polarization contribution to a nonlinear property has the form of a quadratic response function that includes the zero-order Kohn-Sham operator, in analogy to the lower order case where the spin polarization correction to an expectation value has the form of a linear response function. The developed approach is used to formulate new schemes for computation of electronic g-tensors and hyperfine coupling constants, which include spin polarization effects within the framework of spin restricted Kohn-Sham theory. The proposed computational schemes are in the present work employed to study the spin polarization effects on electron paramagnetic resonance spin Hamiltonian parameters of square planar copper complexes. The obtained results indicate that spin polarization gives rise to sizable contributions to the hyperfine coupling tensor of copper in all investigated complexes, while the electronic g-tensors of these complexes are only marginally affected by spin polarization and other factors, such as choice of exchange-correlation functional or molecular structures, will have more pronounced impact on the accuracy of the results.     

How Crystal Symmetry Dictates Non-Local Vibrational Circular Dichroism in the Solid State

Solid-State Vibrational Circular Dichroism (VCD) can be used to determine the absolute structure of chiral crystals, but its interpretation remains a challenge in modern spectroscopy. In this work, we investigate the effect of a twofold screw axis on the solid-state VCD spectrum in a combined experimental and theoretical analysis of P2₁ crystals of (S)-(+)-1-indanol. Even though the space group is achiral, a single proper symmetry operation has an important impact on the VCD spectrum, which reflects the supramolecular chirality of the crystal. Distinguishing between contributions originating from molecular chirality and from chiral crystal packing, we find that while IR absorption hardly depends on the symmetry of the space group, the situation is different for VCD, where completely new non-local patterns emerge. Understanding the two underlying mechanisms, namely gauge transport and direct coupling, will help to use VCD to distinguish polymorphic forms.     

Analysis of optical configurations for ESPI

An ESPI optical arrangement consisting of a combination of three illumination and one reference beams is compared to a system with three optical arms corresponding to an out-of-plane and two in-plane interferometers. Experimental data for each component of the displacement vector obtained with both systems are presented and discussed.     

Diblock and triblock functional copolymers by controlled radical polymerization

Controlled polystyrenes with different molar mass values were synthesized starting from benzoyl peroxide and TEMPO (2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidinyl‐1‐oxy). The polystyrene homopolymers served as initiators for the block copolymerization of phthalimide methylstyrene (PIMS) to synthesize polystyrene‐b‐poly(PIMS) diblock copolymers. Diblock copolymers with well defined structures as well as controlled and narrow molar mass distribution were obtained from the lower‐mass polystyrene homopolymers. The lower‐mass copolymers were found to be active as initiators in the synthesis of the polystyrene‐b‐poly(PIMS)‐b‐polystyrene triblock copolymers. In each reaction step, the effects of conversion and reaction time on the molar mass characteristics of the prepared block copolymers were investigated. The diblock and triblock copolymers were modified using hydrazine as the reagent in order to obtain the corresponding functional amino block copolymers. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 1237–1244, 1999     

Characterization and catalytic activity of iron(III) mono(4-N-methyl pyridyl)-tris(halophenyl) porphyrins in homogeneous and heterogeneous systems

The synthesis, characterization and catalytic activity of the cationic iron porphyrins Fe[M(4-N-MePy)TDCPP]Cl₂ and Fe[M(4-N-MePy)TFPP]Cl₂ in the epoxidation of (Z)-cyclooctene by PhIO in homogeneous solution and supported on silica gel (SG), imidazole propyl gel (IPG) or SG modified with 2-(4-sulfonatophenyl)ethyl groups (SiSO₃) have been accomplished. When supported on IPG, both cationic FeP bind to the support via Fe–imidazole coordination. Fe[M(4-N-MePy)TDCPP]IPG contains a mixture of low-spin bis-coordinated Fe^IIIP and high-spin mono-coordinated Fe^IIIP species, whereas Fe[M(4-N-MePy)TFPP]IPG only contains high-spin mono-coordinated Fe^IIIP. These FePIPG catalysts also contain Fe^IIP species, whose presence was confirmed by EPR spectroscopy using NO as a paramagnetic probe. Both cationic FePs coordinate to SG through Fe–O ligation and they are present as high-spin Fe^IIIP species. The cationic FePs supported on SiSO₃⁻ are also high-spin Fe^IIIP species and they bind to the support via electrostatic interaction between the 4-N-methylpyridyl groups and the SO₃⁻ groups present on the matrix. In homogeneous solution, both Fe[M(4-N-MePy)TDCPP]Cl₂ and Fe[M(4-N-MePy)TFPP]Cl₂ have similar catalytic activity to Fe(TDCPP)Cl and Fe(TFPP)Cl, leading to cis-epoxycyclooctane yields of 92%. When supported on inorganic matrices, both FePs lead to epoxide yields comparable to their homogeneous analogues and their anchoring enables catalyst recovery and re-use. Recycling of Fe[M(4-N-MePy)TDCPP]SiSO₃⁻ shows that this FeP maintains its activity in a second reaction.     

Rotordynamic analysis of systems with a non-linear model of tilting pad bearings including turbulence effects

An analytical model of a tilting pad bearing was developed based on the short bearing assumption with the turbulence effect included. In order to determine its influence on the dynamic behavior of the rotor, this model was compared against one without the turbulence effect through a simulation of a Jeffcott/Laval rotor supported by a couple of bearings. Both models were also used to determine the influence of geometric parameters on tilting pad bearing making use of the aforementioned system at different rotor speeds. When analyzing the results, the parameters which presented the largest influence were: pad preload, number of segments, radial clearance, pad position, and pad pivoting angle. As the pad moment of inertia and the pivoting distance have changed the shaft motion only a few microns, their effects can be neglected. The bearing model with turbulent flow effect has generated higher hydrodynamic forces when compared to the one without this effect, which remarks the importance of considering such phenomenon during the analysis of the high speed hydrodynamic bearings.     

Preparation and properties of europium-doped phosphosilicate glasses obtained by the sol–gel method

In this work, we report the synthesis of europium-doped phosphosilicate glasses from tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS), phenyltrietoxysilane (PTES) and ammonium phosphate (NH₄H₂PO₄) prepared by the sol–gel process. The matrix was synthesized by modified Stöber methodology. The alkoxide precursors PTES and TEOS were mixed with NH₄H₂PO₄, in the presence of europium III chloride, using ethanol as solvent in basic catalysis. These materials were studied by photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), thermal analysis (TGA/DTA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The results obtained for the materials show the formation of conchoidal-fractures, which are characteristics of glass materials. The thermal analysis showed the thermal stability of materials up to 300 °C. Eu III has been used as structural probe due to its photophysical properties. The PL spectra displays the lines characteristics of the Eu (III) ion ⁵D₀ → ⁷F_J (J = 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4). Wide bands were observed, indicating non-homogeneous sites that are characteristic of amorphous systems.