Plasticization of ultra-thin polysulfone membranes by carbon dioxide

Plasticization of gas separation membranes by carbon dioxide permanently alters their performance and increases the possibility of membrane failure. This is amplified in ultra-thin composite membranes, where the active polymeric layer is less than 2 μm. Here, the plasticization influence of CO₂ is measured on ultra-thin polysulfone composite membranes for a range of active layer thicknesses, at four temperatures. The resulting permeability–pressure isotherms demonstrate plasticization occurs for all thicknesses at pressures lower than has been reported for dense membranes. These isotherms were quantitatively fitted with an expanded dual-sorption model that takes into account plasticization of the membrane. The plasticization potential of CO₂ for polysulfone was found to increase with reduced active layer thickness. Similarly, the plasticization potential of CO₂ was found to decrease with temperature. These results are consistent with similar research that shows that thin films behave differently to dense membranes.     

掺杂Eu2O3的SrTiO3及SnO2光致发光

用具有大能隙的本征半导体(SrTiO₃及SnO₂)粉末作本体,分别掺杂1%(原子百分数)的Eu₂O₃;所得物质表现出Eu³⁺离子的线发射光谱特性,但相对发光强度及光谱形状有相当大的变化。X射线衍射结构分析显示Eu³⁺在SrTiO₃晶格里是处在间隙位置,而它在SnO₂晶格里则形成新物相Eu₂Sn₂O₇。     

Effect of alcohols on the initial growth of multibubble sonoluminescence

The effect of alcohols on the initial growth of the multibubble sonoluminescence (MBSL) intensity in aqueous solutions has been investigated. With increasing concentrations of the alcohols, the number of pulses required to grow the MBSL intensity to a steady state (N(crit)) increases (relative to that of water) initially to a maximum for all the alcohols used in this study, followed by a decrease for methanol and ethanol. The cause of the initial increase in N(crit) is attributed to the inhibition of bubble coalescence in the system. This inhibition in bubble coalescence results in a population of bubbles with a smaller size range and thus a larger number of pulses is required to grow the bubbles to their sonoluminescing size range. It is suggested that the decrease in the N(crit) at higher alcohol concentrations may be caused by an increase in the bubble growth by rectified diffusion.     

Soft nanoparticles assembled from linear poly(ethylene glycol) and linear brush polydimethylsiloxane diblock copolymers

A series of novel amphiphilic diblock copolymers composed of hydrophilic linear poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and linear brush hydrophobic polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) were synthesized. Three different molecular weights of monomethyl ether PEG were initially functionalized with 2‐bromoisobutyryl bromide to afford macroinitiators suitable for atom‐transfer radical polymerization. The macroinitiators were characterized by gel permeation chromatography, ¹H and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic analysis and matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectroscopy. The three different molecular weight macroinitiators were then chain extended with monomethacryloxypropyl‐terminated PDMS and photoactive 2‐(methylacyloyloxy)ethyl anthracene‐9‐carboxylate in different molar ratios to afford a series of photoresponsive amphiphilic diblock copolymers with high conversions. Self‐assembly of these linear–linear brush diblock copolymers in N,N‐dimethylformamide afforded nanoparticles with hydrodynamic diameters (d_H) ranging from 41 to 268 nm, as determined by dynamic light scattering analysis. Crosslinking and stabilization of the nanoparticles was achieved via [4+4] photodimerization of the anthracene moieties upon exposure to UV radiation at 365 nm with the reverse reaction studied at a wavelength of 254 nm. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the self‐assembled nanoparticles and their crosslinked derivatives had spherical morphologies. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 1251–1262     

Effects of ultrasound on the thermal and structural characteristics of proteins in reconstituted whey protein concentrate

The sonication-induced changes in the structural and thermal properties of proteins in reconstituted whey protein concentrate (WPC) solutions were examined. Differential scanning calorimetry, UV-vis, fluorescence and circular dichroism spectroscopic techniques were used to determine the thermal properties of proteins, measure thiol groups and monitor changes to protein hydrophobicity and secondary structure, respectively. The enthalpy of denaturation decreased when WPC solutions were sonicated for up to 5 min. Prolonged sonication increased the enthalpy of denaturation due to protein aggregation. Sonication did not alter the thiol content but resulted in minor changes to the secondary structure and hydrophobicity of the protein. Overall, the sonication process had little effect on the structure of proteins in WPC solutions which is critical to preserving functional properties during the ultrasonic processing of whey protein based dairy products.     

FLUORESCENCE ENERGY TRANSFER BETWEEN DIMETHYLDIAZAPEROPYRENIUM DICATION AND ETHIDIUM INTERCALATED IN POLY d(A-T)

Dimethyldiazaperopyrenium is one of the largest known DNA intercalators. Fluorescence energy transfer occurred between dimethyldiazaperopyrenium (donor) and ethidium (acceptor) when these dyes were bound to a double-stranded polynucleotide such as poly d(A-T). The addition of increasing amounts of ethidium bromide led to a marked shortening of the fluorescence lifetime of the donor, whereas the excited state of the acceptor was progressively populated via energy transfer from the donor. Critical Förster distance between these two chromophores was calculated to be 3.8 nm. The observed transfer efficiency was lower than that calculated on the basis of this critical distance and a statistical distribution of bound drugs. These results are discussed taking into account the conformational change induced by intercalation of dimethyldiazaperopyrenium in the double-stranded polynucleotide.     

The effect of surface-active solutes on bubble coalescence in the presence of ultrasound

The sonication of an aqueous solution generates cavitation bubbles, which may coalesce and produce larger bubbles. This paper examines the effect of surface-active solutes on such bubble coalescence in an ultrasonic field. A novel capillary system has been designed to measure the change in the total volume resulting from the sonication of aqueous solutions with 515 kHz ultrasound pulses. This volume change reflects the total volume of larger gas bubbles generated by the coalescence of cavitation bubbles during the sonication process. The total volume of bubbles generated is reduced when surface-active solutes are present. We have proposed that this decrease in the total bubble volume results from the inhibition of bubble coalescence brought about by the surface-active solutes. The observed results revealed similarities with bubble coalescence data reported in the literature in the absence of ultrasound. It was found that for uncharged and zwitterionic surface-active solutes, the extent of bubble coalescence is affected by the surface activity of the solutes. The addition of 0.1 M NaCl to such solutes had no effect on the extent of bubble coalescence. Conversely, for charged surface-active solutes, the extent of bubble coalescence appears to be dominated by electrostatic effects. The addition of 0.1 M NaCl to charged surfactant solutions was observed to increase the total bubble volume close to that of the zwitterionic surfactant. This suggests the involvement of electrostatic interactions between cavitation bubbles in the presence of charged surfactants in the solution.     

Novel mixed ligand coordination compounds of some rare earth metal cations containing acesulfamato/N,N-diethylnicotinamide

The mixed ligand coordination compounds containing acesulfamato and N,N -diethylnicotinamide biomolecules of some rare earth metal cations (Eu³⁺, Tb³⁺, Ho³⁺, Er³⁺ and Yb³⁺) were synthesized, and their structural properties were investigated. Possible structural formulas have been proposed by determining the chemical composition of molecules (elemental analysis), binding properties (infrared spectroscopy, mass analysis, solid-state UV-vis spectroscopy), thermal degradation properties (TGA / DTA curves). Based on the data collected, it is suggested that rare earth metal cations with a 3+ oxidation state have sextet coordination. The geometries of the structures were thought to be distorted octahedral. The charge balance of the coordination sphere is balanced by a monoanionic acesulfamato located outside the coordination sphere. When the thermal behaviours of the complexes were examined, it was determined that the compounds with Eu³⁺, Tb³⁺, and Yb³⁺ metal cations contained one hydrate water outside the coordination sphere. Hydrate waters do not exist in the Ho³⁺ and Er³⁺ metal cation-centred complexes. At the end of the thermal decomposition analysis of all complex structures, it was determined that they leave the relevant metal oxides in the reaction vessels as final decomposition products.     

The pasting properties of sonicated waxy rice starch suspensions

The effect of sonication on the pasting properties of waxy rice starch solutions (5 wt%) was investigated. It has been found that the functionality of starch granules was significantly influenced by the length of sonication and the solution temperature. A comparison of the pasting behaviour showed that the peak and final viscosities of the starch dispersions sonicated at temperatures near the onset temperature of gelatinisation were lower than those of the non-sonicated dispersions. The particle size measurements showed that the size of the heated and sonicated granules were smaller than that of the heated non-sonicated starch granules. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations showed that the starch granule surface was not affected by sonication, and the size exclusion chromatography did not show any reduction in the size of the starch molecules. Based on these observations, the change in the pasting behaviour is explained in terms of the solubilisation of the swollen starch granules and starch aggregates induced by sonication.     

Competitive permeation of gas and water vapour in high free volume polymeric membranes

Highly permeable glassy polymeric membranes based on poly (1‐trimethylsilyl‐1‐propyne) (PTMSP) and a polymer of intrinsic porosity (PIM‐1) were investigated for water sorption, water permeability and the separation of CO₂ from N₂ under humid mixed gas conditions. The water sorption isotherms for both materials followed behavior indicative of multilayer adsorption within the microvoids, with PIM‐1 registering a significant water uptake at very high water activities. Analysis of the sorption isotherms using a modified dual sorption model which accounts for such multilayer effects gave Langmuir affinity constants more consistent with lighter gases than the use of the standard dual mode approach. The water permeability through PTMSP and PIM‐1 was comparable over the water activities studied, and could be successfully model ed through a dual mode sorption model with a concentration dependent diffusivity. The water permeability through both membranes as a function of temperature was also measured, and found to be at a minimum at 80 ° C for PTMSP and 70 °C for PIM‐1. This temperature dependence is a function of reducing water solubility in both membranes with increasing temperature countered by increasing water diffusivity. The CO₂ ‐ N₂ mixed gas permeabilities through PTMSP and PIM‐1 were also measured and model ed through dual mode sorption theory. Introducing water vapour further reduced both the CO₂ and N₂ permeabilities. The plasticization potential of water in PTMSP was determined and indicated water swelled the membrane increasing CO₂ and N₂ diffusivity, while for PIM‐1 a negative potential implied that water filling of the microvoids hampered CO₂ and N₂ diffusion through the membrane. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015 , 53, 719–728