Temperature and Concentration Dependences of the Electrical Conductance,Diffusion and Kinetic Parameters of Selenium Dioxide Solutions in Ordinary and Heavy Water

On the basis of conductivity studies, empirical equations describing the temperature and concentration dependences of the electrical conductance of SeO₂ solutions in ordinary and heavy water were derived. Values of the equivalent conductivity of ions at infinite dilution, the first dissociation constant of selenous acid in the temperature region 12 to 45^∘C and the thermodynamic parameters of the dissociation process were determined. Using these values, the absolute mobility, the transport numbers of the ions and their diffusion coefficients were calculated. Furthermore, the values of the transition energies Δ E _tr. ^o for the ions were calculated at different temperatures. The dependencies observed were interpreted using Samoylov’s theory for positive/negative hydration of the ions. It was shown that the HSeO₃ ⁻ and DSeO₃ ⁻ ions were positively hydrated and stabilized the solvent structure, but these effects diminished with an increase of the temperature. The temperature dependences of the hydration numbers and the effective ionic radii were determined. The values of the changes of the Gibbs energy, entropy and enthalpy for the transitions of ions from one quasi-equilibrium state to another were calculated at different temperatures.     

Inelastic neutron scattering and DFT study of 2-amino-3-hydroxymethyl-1,3-propane diol (TRIS)

We report an inelastic neutron scattering (INS) study of 2-amino-3-hydroxymethyl-1,3-propane diol (TRIS). The assignment of the experimental vibrational spectra measured using several incident neutrons’ energies on HRMECS spectrometer has been made by means of DFT calculations. To simulate crystal environment both molecular cluster and solid state models were used. The study has been completed by an alternative approach, molecular dynamics (MD) calculations, done at the same level of the DFT theory. The INS spectra calculated with the solid state models (normal mode analysis, and MD) gave a better fit of the experiment than the cluster model. On the other hand, the peaks between 650 and 850 cm⁻¹ in the experimental INS spectra assigned to OH torsional modes were reproduced better by the cluster calculations. The nature of the stretching frequency of unusually long O–H bond (1.012 Å) was interpreted by means of MD calculations. The interpretation of the spectrum below 100 cm⁻¹ was based on Fourier transform of the velocity autocorrelation function of centre of mass of a molecule of TRIS.     

Polypropylene–clay nanocomposite structure probed by H NMR relaxometry

In this paper, we used low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxometry and X-ray diffraction techniques to characterize polypropylene and to probe the polypropylene/clay interactions in non-exfoliated and exfoliated polypropylene–clay nanocomposites. Differences in T₁H longitudinal relaxation time data and X-ray diffraction spectra were correlated with the presence of different domains in the samples studied. The results demonstrated the potential of H NMR relaxometry as a tool in the characterization of polymer–clay nanocomposites.     

Sequestration of Cu(II), Ni(II), and Co(II) by ethyleneimine immobilized on silica

Thermodynamic data on interaction of Cu(II), Ni(II), and Co(II) with silica modified with ethyleneimine are obtained by calorimetric titration. The amount of ethyleneimine anchored on silica surface was estimated to be 0.70 mmol g⁻¹. The enthalpies of binding Ni(II), Cu(II) and Co(II), are −3.59 ± 0.001, −4.88 ± 0.001, and −7.75 ± 0.003 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively.     

β‐Lapachone

The most remarkable aspect of the crystal structure of the title compound (systematic name: 3,4‐dihydro‐2,2‐dimethyl‐2H‐naphtho[1,2‐b]pyran‐5,6‐dione), C₁₅H₁₄O₃, is that a π‐stacking inter­action is present between the two naphthalene ring systems of symmetry‐related mol­ecules. Apart from these π–π inter­actions, different mol­ecules are held together by weak C—H⋯O hydrogen‐bonding inter­actions.     

Synthesis Gas Production from Natural Gas on Supported Pt Catalysts

Auto-thermal reforming of methane, combining partial oxidation and reforming of methane with CO2 or steam, was carried out with Pt/Al2O3, Pt/ZrO2 and Pt/CeO2 catalysts, in a temperature range of 300-900℃. The auto-thermal reforming occurs in two simultaneous stages, namely, total combustion of methane and reforming of the unconverted methane with steam and CO2, with the O2 conversion of 100% starting from 450 ℃. For combination with CO2 reforming, the Pt/CeO2 catalyst showed the lowest initial activity at 800 ℃, and the highest stability over 40 h on-stream. This catalyst also presented the best performance for the reaction with steam at 800 ℃. The higher resistance to coke formation of the catalyst supported on ceria is due to the metal-support interactions and the higher mobility of oxygen in the oxide lattice.     

The Effect of Cyclodextrins on the Luminol-Hydrogen Peroxide Chemiluminescence

The action of different molar ratios of α, β, γ-cyclodextrin upon the chemiluminescence of the luminol-H₂O₂ in alkaline buffer Tris-HCl, pH=8.5 has been evidenced. It was found out that α, β, γ- cyclodextrin have an antioxidant capacity, probably due to the free radicals (that are generate in the system) encapsulation in the their cavity. This behaviour depends on α, β, γ-cyclodextrin molar ratio; α-cyclodextrin and γ-cyclodextrin protects more efficiently against free radicals than β-cyclodextrin. These findings could be very important regarding the oxidative stress process.     

Cell immobilization strategies for biotransformations

1. Download : Download high-res image (209KB)
2. Download : Download full-size image

     

Arrowroot starch-based films incorporated with a carnauba wax nanoemulsion,cellulose nanocrystals,and essential oils: a new functional material for food packaging applications

Arrowroot starch (AA)-based films incorporated with a carnauba wax nanoemulsion (CWN), cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), and essential oils (EOs) from Mentha spicata (MEO) and Cymbopogon martinii (CEO) were produced using the casting technique and then characterized in terms of their water barrier, tensile, thermal, optical, and microstructural properties and in vitro antifungal activity against Rhizopus stolonifer and Botrytis cinerea. Whereas the incorporation of CNCs decreased the moisture content and water vapor permeability of the AA/CWN/CNC film, the additional incorporation of either EO decreased the transparency and affected the microstructure of the AA/CWN/CNC/EO nanocomposites. MEO and CEO incorporation improved the thermal stability of the films and provided excellent protection against fruit-spoiling fungi. Because of their excellent barrier properties against fungal growth, water vapor permeability, and ultraviolet and visible light, these AA/CWN/CNC/EO films have promising potential for application as active food packaging or coating materials.

Graphic abstract