Polyelectrolyte-surfactant complexes formed by poly[3,5-bis(trimethylammoniummethyl)4-hydroxystyrene iodide]-block-poly(ethylene oxide) and sodium dodecyl sulfate in aqueous solutions

Formation of polyelectrolyte-surfactant (PE-S) complexes of poly[3,5-bis(trimethylammoniummethyl)-4-hydroxystyrene iodide]-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (QNPHOS-PEO) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in aqueous solution was studied by dynamic and electrophoretic light scattering, small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), atomic force microscopy, and fluorometry, using pyrene as a fluorescent probe. SAXS data from the QNPHOS-PEO/SDS solutions were fitted assuming contributions from free copolymer, PE-S aggregates described by a mass fractal model, and densely packed surfactant micelles inside the aggregates. It was found that, unlike other systems of a double hydrophilic block polyelectrolyte and an oppositely charged surfactant, PE-S aggregates of the QNPHOS-PEO/SDS system do not form core-shell particles and the PE-S complex precipitates before reaching the charge equivalence between dodecyl sulfate anions and QNPHOS polycationic blocks, most likely because of conformational rigidity of the QNPHOS blocks, which prevents the system from the corresponding rearrangement.     

Polyvinylpyrrolidone thin film pyrolysis as accessed by the real-time optical transmission measurements

Present results reveal basic features of the optical transmission thermo-analytical method in its employment to investigate the oxidative pyrolysis of supported thin polyvinylpyrrolidone films. The OT curves naturally vary in shapes and positions on the time/temperature scales, respective to the examined rate of sample heating, to the wavelengths of radiation as well as to the film thickness. Recorded OT curves exhibit characteristic shapes with well-expressed OT minima. The temperatures at which the OT minima appear are in a linear relationship with heating rates of samples, at a frequency of radiation as well as a film thickness kept constant. Similarly, the OT values at which the OT minima appear are in a linear relationship with film thickness, at a frequency of the radiation and sample heating rate unchanged.     

Binding Studies on the Control of the Conformation and Self-assembly of a Calix[4]arenedicarboxylic Acid through Hydrogen Bonding Interactions

A convenient method for measuring the dimerisation constant in solution of a calix[4]arenedicarboxylic acid is reported. This compound also co-crystallises with a bis(amidopyridyl)calix[4]arene as independent tubular calixarene stacks that are cross-linked via carboxyl–amidopyridyl hydrogen bonding and π-stacking of the amidopyridyl arms.     

Optimization of sol–gel/pyrolysis routes to silicon oxycarbide glasses

The optimization of the synthesis of silicon oxycarbide ceramics via the sol–gel/pyrolysis route is described, starting from several alkylalkoxysilanes and vinylalkoxysilanes. The main aim was to achieve low weight losses during cure and pyrolysis and also a compact ceramics morphology. The theoretical composition of the pyrolysates was changed between SiO_1.5C and SiO_1.2C_2.3, by varying monomer types and ratios. An assessment of the real composition was performed using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The smallest weight losses were obtained for the resins based on vinyltriethoxysilane and dimethyldiethoxysilane which were additionally modified by the addition of a small amount of boric acid. Somewhat higher weight losses combined with the best toughness were found for resins based on non-vinylated silsesquioxane with a low content on linear dimethylsiloxane units. As an alternative, a precursor (SiO_0.9C_2.8) was prepared via hydrosilylation, based on cyclic dimethylsiloxane oligomers interconnected to a network, but its weight losses were higher than those of sol–gel silicon oxycarbide.     

Matrix effects during phosphorus determination with quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

A quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer was evaluated for use in the detection of phosphorus. The influences of nitric acid and methanol (simulating the composition of a sample solution after nitric acid digestion) on phosphorus determination were studied using two different measuring methods at different plasma conditions: detection of phosphorus ions at m/z 31 and detection of phosphorus oxide ions at m/z 47. The existence of polyatomic interferences at m/z 31 and 47 was explored. Nitric acid and methanol are shown to be the sources of polyatomic ions and therefore cause poorer detection limits. Better detection limits were achieved in such matrices when phosphorus was detected as ³¹P⁺. The presence of methanol improves the system sensitivity towards phosphorus sevenfold; however, this positive effect is hindered by the high background signal due to carbon-based polyatomic ions. For samples with an organic matrix an appropriate mineralization procedure should be applied (high excess of nitric acid and high temperature) to quantitatively oxidize organic compounds to carbon dioxide, which is easily removed from the sample, in order to achieve correct results.     

Characterization of cadmium ion transport across model and real biomembranes and indication of induced damage of plant tissues

Monatshefte für Chemie - Chemical Monthly - The present study is focused on characterization and elucidation of transport processes of the environmentally important element cadmium across...