Use of principal component analysis for investigation of factors affecting retention behaviour of ceramides on porous graphitized carbon column

Summary The potentiality of a porous graphitized carbon stationary phase was assessed for ceramide analysis in nonaqueous reversed phase chromatography with an evaporative light scattering detection. The influence of the nature of the mobile phase was first performed under isoeluotropic isocratic conditions. Eight mobile phase compositions in the presence or absence of triethylamine/formic acid were tested with a set of structurally relevant ceramides. Values obtained under these conditions for the peak heights, retention factors, plate numbers, asymmetry factors, relative retentions and Time-Corrected Calibrated Normalised Resolution Product were analysed by Principal Component Analysis. Principal Component Analysis was effective in attributing relationships between the chromatographic behaviour and analytical conditions. The relationship between the increase of the detector response and the presence of triethylamine/formic acid has been confirmed, and the main change of selectivity has been attributed to interactions provided by the weak solvent of the mobile phase. These conclusions have allowed the development of gradient conditions for the analysis of complex ceramide mixtures on porous graphitized carbon column.     

Advancing understanding of actinide(iii) (Ac,Am, Cm) aqueous complexation chemistry

The positive impact of having access to well-defined starting materials for applied actinide technologies – and for technologies based on other elements – cannot be overstated. Of numerous relevant 5f-element starting materials, those in complexing aqueous media find widespread use. Consider acetic acid/acetate buffered solutions as an example. These solutions provide entry into diverse technologies, from small-scale production of actinide metal to preparing radiolabeled chelates for medical applications. However, like so many aqueous solutions that contain actinides and complexing agents, 5f-element speciation in acetic acid/acetate cocktails is poorly defined. Herein, we address this problem and characterize Ac³⁺ and Cm³⁺ speciation as a function of increasing acetic acid/acetate concentrations (0.1 to 15 M, pH = 5.5). Results obtained via X-ray absorption and optical spectroscopy show the aquo ion dominated in dilute acetic acid/acetate solutions (0.1 M). Increasing acetic acid/acetate concentrations to 15 M increased complexation and revealed divergent reactivity between early and late actinides. A neutral Ac(H₂O)₆₍₁₎(O₂CMe)₃₍₁₎ compound was the major species in solution for the large Ac³⁺. In contrast, smaller Cm³⁺ preferred forming an anion. There were approximately four bound O₂CMe¹⁻ ligands and one to two inner sphere H₂O ligands. The conclusion that increasing acetic acid/acetate concentrations increased acetate complexation was corroborated by characterizing (NH₄)₂M(O₂CMe)₅ (M = Eu³⁺, Am³⁺ and Cm³⁺) using single crystal X-ray diffraction and optical spectroscopy (absorption, emission, excitation, and excited state lifetime measurements).

Actinide complexation from aqueous acetic acid/acetate buffered solutions is described. The number of water ligands was directly correlated with the acetate concentration and characterized by X-ray absorption and optical spectroscopy.     

Hydrolytically stable arabinofuranoside analogs for the synthesis of arabinosyltransferase inhibitors

The first members of two new families of arabinosyltransferase inhibitors, derived from previously reported hybrid compounds covalently associating an iminoalditol with an α-d-arabinofuranoside, have been prepared. In place of the arabinofuranoside moiety, they incorporate in their structure a suitably substituted tetrahydrofuran (C-glycoside family) or a cyclopentane (carba-sugar family) for mimicking the α-d-arabinofuranoside ring.     

Process Parameters Optimization,Characterization, and Application of KOH-Activated Norway Spruce Bark Graphitic Biochars for Efficient Azo Dye Adsorption

In this work, Norway spruce bark was used as a precursor to prepare activated biochars (BCs) via chemical activation with potassium hydroxide (KOH) as a chemical activator. A Box–Behnken design (BBD) was conducted to evaluate and identify the optimal conditions to reach high specific surface area and high mass yield of BC samples. The studied BC preparation parameters and their levels were as follows: pyrolysis temperature (700, 800, and 900 °C), holding time (1, 2, and 3 h), and ratio of the biomass: chemical activator of 1: 1, 1.5, and 2. The planned BBD yielded BC with extremely high SSA values, up to 2209 m²·g⁻¹. In addition, the BCs were physiochemically characterized, and the results indicated that the BCs exhibited disordered carbon structures and presented a high quantity of O-bearing functional groups on their surfaces, which might improve their adsorption performance towards organic pollutant removal. The BC with the highest SSA value was then employed as an adsorbent to remove Evans blue dye (EB) and colorful effluents. The kinetic study followed a general-order (GO) model, as the most suitable model to describe the experimental data, while the Redlich–Peterson model fitted the equilibrium data better. The EB adsorption capacity was 396.1 mg·g⁻¹. The employment of the BC in the treatment of synthetic effluents, with several dyes and other organic and inorganic compounds, returned a high percentage of removal degree up to 87.7%. Desorption and cyclability tests showed that the biochar can be efficiently regenerated, maintaining an adsorption capacity of 75% after 4 adsorption–desorption cycles. The results of this work pointed out that Norway spruce bark indeed is a promising precursor for producing biochars with very promising properties.     

Four wave mixing in the picosecond range: Intensities,durations, wave front reconstruction

Degenerate four wave mixing is produced by the single pulse of a mode locked laser (duration 25 ps). The intensities are measured. The feasibility of image reconstruction is proved, and methods for time measurements (pulse durations, relaxation times) are proposed.