Effect of pH on adsolubilization of single and binary organic solutes into a cationic hydrocarbon surfactant adsorbed layer on silica

The adsolubilization behaviors of 2-naphthol, biphenyl, and their binary solutes in the hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (HTAB) adsorbed layer formed on silica have been studied with solution pH. Two feed concentrations of HTAB are employed: 1.5 and 3.0 mmol dm(-3). At the feed concentration of 1.5 mmol dm(-3) HTAB, most of HTAB are adsorbed on the silica as a monolayer, while a bilayer formation occurs at the feed concentration of 3.0 mmol dm(-3). It is found that the adsolubilized amounts of respective single solutes increase with increasing solution pH except acidic region for biphenyl under a constant feed concentration of 2-naphthol (0.4 mmol dm(-3)) and biphenyl (0.047 mmol dm(-3)). The adsolubilization of binary solutes depends on the feed concentration of HTAB; at the low HTAB feed concentration, competitive adsolubilization between 2-naphthol and biphenyl occurs above pH 4.5, while at the high HTAB feed concentration the adsolubilization of biphenyl is enhanced by the incorporation of 2-naphthol over a whole pH region. These behaviors in the adsolubilization are discussed from the surfactant structure of HTAB adsorbed as well as the admicellar partitioning coefficients.     

Amperometric biosensor based on reductive H2O2 detection using pentacyanoferrate-bound polymer for creatinine determination

Pentacyanoferrate-bound poly(1-vinylimidazole) (PVI[Fe(CN)₅]) was selected as a mediator for amperometric creatinine determination based on the reductive H₂O₂ detection. Creatinine amidohydrolase (CNH), creatine amidohydrolase (CRH), sarcosine oxidase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and PVI[Fe(CN)₅] were crosslinked with poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PEGDGE) on a glassy carbon (GC) electrode for a creatinine biosensor fabrication. Reduction current was monitored at −0.1 V in the presence of creatinine and O₂. It is revealed that PVI[Fe(CN)₅] is suitable as a mediator for a bioelectrocatalytic reaction of POD, since PVI[Fe(CN)₅] neither reacts with reactants nor works as an electron acceptor of SOD. The amounts of PVI[Fe(CN)₅], PEGDGE, and enzymes were optimized toward creatinine detection. Nafion as a protecting film successfully prevented the enzyme layer from interferences. The detection limit and linear range in creatinine determination were 12 μM and 12–500 μM (R² = 0.993), respectively, and the sensitivity was 11 mA cm⁻² M⁻¹, which is applicable for urine creatinine tests. The results of the creatinine determination for four urine samples measured with this proposed method were compared with Jaffe method, and a good correlation was obtained between the results.     

Application of DEM modified with enlarged particle model to simulation of bead motion in a bead mill

We applied the discrete element method （DEM） of simulation modified by an enlarged particle model to simulate bead motion in a large bead mill. The stainless-steel bead mill has inner diameter of 102 mm and mill length of 198 mm. The bead diameter and filling ratio were fixed respectively at 0.5 mm and 85%. The agitator rotational speed was changed from 1863 to 3261 rpm. The bead motion was monitored experimentally using a high-speed video camera through a transparent mill body. For the simulation, enlarged particle sizes were set as 3-6 mm in diameter. With the DEM modified by the enlarged particle model, the motion of enlarged particles in a mill was simulated.The velocity data of the simulated enlarged particles were compared with those obtained in the experiment. The simulated velocity of the enlarged particles depends on the virtual frictional coefficient in the DEM model. The optimized value of the virtual frictional coefficient can be determined by considering the accumulated mean value. Results show that the velocity of the enlarged particles simulated increases with an increase in the optimum virtual frictional coefficient, but the simulated velocity agrees well with that determined experimentally by optimizing the virtual frictional coefficient in the simulation. The computing time in the simulation decreases with increased particle size.     

Biodegradable Polyurethanes from Plant Components

Abstract

Polyurethane (PU) sheets and foams having plant components in their network were prepared by using the following procedure. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) was mixed with one of the following; molasses, lignin, woodmeal, or coffee grounds. The mixture obtained was reacted with diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) at room temperature, and precured PUs were prepared. The precured PUs were heat-pressed and PU sheets were obtained. In order to make PU foam, the above mixture was reacted with MDI after the addition of plasticizer, surfactant (silicone oil), catalyst (di-n-butyltin dilaurate), and droplets of water under vigorous stirring. The glass transition temperature, tensile and compression strengths, and Young's modulus of the PU sheets and foams increased with an increasing amount of plant components. This suggests that saccharide and lignin residues act as hard segments in PUs. It was found that the PUs obtained were biodegradable in soil. The rate of biodegradation of the PUs derived from molasses and coffee grounds was between that of cryptomeria (Cryptomeria japonica) and beech (Fagus sieboldi).     

Response of ocean bottom dwellers exposed to underwater shock waves

The paper reports results of experiments to estimate the mortality of ocean bottom dwellers, ostracoda, against underwater shock wave exposures. This study is motivated to verify the possible survival of ocean bottom dwellers, foraminifera, from the devastating underwater shock waves induced mass extinction of marine creatures which took place at giant asteroid impact events. Ocean bottom dwellers under study were ostracoda, the replacement of foraminifera, we readily sampled from ocean bottoms. An analogue experiment was performed on a laboratory scale to estimate the domain and boundary of over-pressures at which marine creatures’ mortality occurs. Ostracods were exposed to underwater shock waves generated by the explosion of 100mg PETN pellets in a chamber at shock over-pressures ranging up to 44MPa. Pressure histories were measured simultaneously on 113 samples. We found that bottom dwellers were distinctively killed against overpressures of 12MPa and this value is much higher than the usual shock over-pressure threshold value for marine-creatures having lungs and balloons.     

A SYNTHETIC ROUTE TO 3-METHYLTHIO-2-ALKANONES STARTING FROM 3-ALKYL-2,4-PENTANEDIONES

Abstract

An efficient preparation of a 3-methylthio-2-alkanone (1) has been realized by the reaction of a 3-alkyl-2,4-pentanedione (8) with one mol-equiv of S-methyl methanethiosulfonate (4) in the presence of excess EtONa in EtOH. Furthermore, treatment of 8 with 4 and K₂CO₃ in refluxing acetone, followed by addition of MeOH and heating the resulting mixture, gave 1 in a high yield. These methods were applied to synthesis of pseudoionone.     

Theoretical analysis of correlation between ionization threshold fluence in IR‐MALDI and IR absorption spectrum of matrix molecules

To investigate the correlation between the wavelength dependence of ionization threshold fluence of target molecule in matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization by infrared (IR) laser and the IR absorption spectrum of matrix molecule, we have analyzed the IR absorption spectra of four matrix molecules using density functional theory and correlated ab initio molecular orbital method. The calculated IR absorption spectra of the isolated molecules showed more qualitative correlation with the wavelength dependence of ionization threshold fluence than those of the solid state structures. We can consider that a portion of matrix molecules lost the ordered crystal structure and that the transition to the diluted or isolated state occurred at the early process of IR laser irradiation. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Accurate measurement of uranium isotope ratios in soil samples using thermal ionization mass spectrometry equipped with a warp energy filter

A chemical and mass-spectrometric procedure for uranium isotopic analysis using a thermal ionisation mass spectrometer equipped with a Wide Aperture Retardation Potential energy filter has been developed and applied to uranium isotopic measurements for various soil samples. Soil samples were digested using a microwave digestor. Uranium was isolated from soil samples by the chemical separation procedure based on the use of anion-exchange resin and UTEVA extraction chromatography column. The isotope ratios were measured for two certified reference materials by using a VG Sector 54-30 thermal ionisation mass spectrometer in dynamic mode with Faraday cup and Daly ion counting system. Replicates of standard reference materials showed excellent analytical agreement with established values supporting the reliability and accuracy of the method. Precision of the ²³⁵U/²³⁸U ratio was achieved by a correction factor of 0.22% amu as a function of ion-beam intensity with sample loads of around 250?ng of U. The resulting reproducibility for standards and soil samples was better than 0.2% at two standard deviations (SD). Uranium isotopic compositions have been determined in several reference soil samples such as Buffalo river sediment, NIST 2704, river sediment SRM 4350b and ocean sediment NIST-4357 and a Chernobyl soil sample. There was a significant deviation from the natural uranium in comparison with Chernobyl soil samples.