Liquid-liquid extraction of silver ion with benzothiacrown ether derivatives

The extraction behavior of mono-, poly-, anal bis-(benzothiacrown ether)s is studied for alkali, alkaline-earth, heavy, and transition metal ions in the presence of picrate. These ethers show high selectivity for silver ion. Silver extractions from binary and quaternary mixtures of silver with heavy or transition metal ions were successful, except for mixtures with mercury(II) ion. Silver was extracted from a copper ore with ca. 80% recovery.     

Determination of methylglyoxal in mouse blood by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

A highly sensitive and rapid liquid chromatographic method for the determination of methylglyoxal in mouse blood is described, based on the precolumn conversion of methylglyoxal to a highly fluorescent 3-methyl-6,7-methylenedioxyquinoxaline by reaction with 1,2-diamino- 4,5-methylenedioxybenzene. The method is applied to the determination of methylglyoxal (0.1- 10⁴ pmol) in 5 μ1 of blood.     

A multi-objective lead time control problem in multi-stage assembly systems using genetic algorithms

In this paper, we develop a multi-objective model to optimally control the lead time of a multi-stage assembly system, using genetic algorithms. The multi-stage assembly system is modelled as an open queueing network. It is assumed that the product order arrives according to a Poisson process. In each service station, there is either one or infinite number of servers (machines) with exponentially distributed processing time, in which the service rate (capacity) is controllable. The optimal service control is decided at the beginning of the time horizon. The transport times between the service stations are independent random variables with generalized Erlang distributions. The problem is formulated as a multi-objective optimal control problem that involves four conflicting objective functions. The objective functions are the total operating costs of the system per period (to be minimized), the average lead time (min), the variance of the lead time (min) and the probability that the manufacturing lead time does not exceed a certain threshold (max). Finally, we apply a genetic algorithm with double strings using continuous relaxation based on reference solution updating (GADSCRRSU) to solve this multi-objective problem, using goal attainment formulation. The results are also compared against the results of a discrete-time approximation technique to show the efficiency of the proposed genetic algorithm approach.     

Direct mono-phosphorylation of 1,3-diols. A synthesis of FTY720-phosphate

A novel method for selective and direct phosphorylation of various 1,3-diols using silver(I) oxide, tetrabenzyl pyrophosphate (TBPP), and tetrahexylammonium iodide affording mono-phosphates was developed. We applied the present method to the synthesis of FTY720-phosphate.     

Nanoparticles in Emissions and Atmospheric Environment: Now and Future

Journal of Nanoparticle Research -     

Highly resolved luminescence measurements for traces of 1,3-dibetanato europium(III) and terbium(III) complexes using a microscope laser Raman spectrometer toward the forensic discrimination.

The emission spectra of luminescent trivalent europium (Eu3+) and terbium (Tb3+) complexes were measured using a microscope laser Raman spectrometer with a doubled Nd:YAG laser (532 nm) and an Ar laser (488 nm). Excitation at 532 and 488 nm corresponded to wavelengths of the 7F1 --> 5D1 band of Eu3+ and the 7F6 --> 5D4 band of Tb3+, respectively. The Eu3+ and Tb3+ complexes were discriminated by high-resolution emission spectra more distinctly and sensitively than by fluorescence spectrometry, the usual analytical method.     

Spectrophotometric determination of arsenic in water samples based on micro particle formation of ethyl violet-molybdoarsenate.

In this study, a simple and sensitive method for the determination of arsenic in water samples was developed. The method is based on the formation of micro particles of Ethyl Violet and molybdoarsenate, which gives an apparently homogeneous blue color to the solution. The absorption of the excess dye gradually decreases due to its conversion to a colorless carbinol species under strongly acidic conditions. Consequently, the sufficiently low reagent blank enables the spectrophotometric determination of arsenic with the detection limit of 4 microg l(-1). The coefficient of variation for the spectrophotometry at 50 microg l(-1) was 3.5% (n = 5). Furthermore, it is possible to detect concentrations as low as 10 microg l(-1) of arsenic visually. Our method will be useful as a simple, rapid, and cost-effective field test of arsenic, requiring no complex apparatus or skilled laboratory support.