Preparation and electrical characterization of (PVC + KBrO3) polymer electrolytes for solid state battery applications

This paper presents results of studies on dc electrical conductivity and transference number measurements on potassium bromate (KBrO₃) complexed polyvinyl chloride (PVC) films prepared by solution cast technique. Temperature dependence of dc electrical conductivity and transference number data indicated the dominance of ion type charge transport in these specimens. The magnitude of conductivity increased with increase in concentration of the salt and temperature. Using this (PVC + KBrO₃) electrolyte, solid-state electrochemical cells were fabricated, and their discharge profiles were studied under a constant load of 100 kΩ. Several cell profiles such as open circuit voltage, short circuit current, power density, and energy density associated with these cells were evaluated and were reported. The features of complexation of the electrolytes were studied by X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Paper presented at the Third International Conference on Ionic Devices (ICID 2006), Chennai, Tamilnadu, India, Dec. 7–9, 2006     

Synthesis and characterization of guar gum‐graft‐polyacrylonitrile

Cerium(IV) mediated grafting of polyacrylonitrile on to guar gum was studied. Grafting parameters were studied gravimetrically, as a function of temperature, initiator concentration and Guar to acrylonitrile ratio. Higher temperatures resulted in higher monomer conversion and homopolymer formation. Both monomer conversion and extent of grafting increased with increase in cerium ion concentration in the range studied (0.91–9.12 mmol/l). Similar results were obtained with increase in monomer to guar gum ratio from 1 to 5. Grafting with this initiator was found to be generally good with high grafting efficiencies and low homopolymer formation for most experiments. The copolymers obtained were subjected to alkaline hydrolysis to convert nitrile groups in to carboxylic acid groups and the water absorbency of the resulting anionic guar gum was studied. Materials with water absorption up to 300 g/g could be obtained from this study. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A rapid and sensitive extractive spectrophotometric determination of copper(II) in pharmaceutical and environmental samples using benzildithiosemicarbazone.

Benzildithiosemicarbazone (BDTSC) is proposed as a sensitive and selective analytical reagent for the extractive spectrophotometric determination of copper(II). BDTSC reacts with copper(II) in the pH range 1.0-7.0 to form a yellowish complex. Beer's law is obeyed in the concentration range 0.5-0.4 microg cm(-3). The yellowish Cu(II)-BDTSC complex in chloroform shows a maximum absorbance at 380 nm, with molar absorptivity and Sandell's sensitivity values of 1.63 x 10(4) dm3 mol(-1) cm(-1) and 0.00389 microg cm(-2), respectively. A repetition of the method is checked by finding the relative standard deviation (RSD) (n = 10), which is 0.6%. The composition of the Cu(II)-BDTSC complex is established as 1:1 by slope analysis, molar ratio and Asmus' methods. An excellent linearity with a correlation coefficient value of 0.98 is obtained for the Cu(II)-BDTSC complex. The instability constant of the complex calculated from Edmond and Birnbaum's method is 7.70 x 10(-4) and that of Asmus' method is 7.66 x 10(-4), at room temperature. The method is successfully employed for the determination copper(II) in pharmaceutical and environmental samples. The reliability of the method is assured by analyzing the standard alloys (BCS 5g, 10g, 19e, 78, 32a, 207 and 179) and by inter-comparison of experimental values, using an atomic absorption spectrometer.     

An exponentially fitted special second-order finite difference method for solving singular perturbation problems

An exponentially fitted special second-order finite difference method is presented for solving singularly perturbed two-point boundary value problems with the boundary layer at one end (left or right) point. A fitting factor is introduced in a tri-diagonal finite difference scheme and is obtained from the theory of singular perturbations. Thomas Algorithm is used to solve the system and its stability is investigated. To demonstrate the applicability of the method, we have solved several linear and non-linear problems. From the results, it is observed that the present method approximates the exact solution very well.     

Asymmetric synthesis of 6-(2′,3′,4′,5′,6′-pentafluorophenyl)-δ-lactones via “allyl”boranes: application for the synthesis of fluorinated analog of key pharmacophore of statin drugs

Asymmetric “allyl”boration of pentafluorobenzaldehyde with various α-pinene based “allyl”boranes provides homoallylic alcohols in high de and ee; the alcohols have been converted into δ-lactones via acryloylation, ring-closing metathesis and hydrogenation. Pentafluorophenyl analog of key pharmacophore of statin drugs has been synthesized using diastereoselective epoxidation and regioselective reduction as key steps.     

Heavy metal ion uptake properties of polystyrene-supported chelating polymer resins

Metal ion uptake properties of polystyrene-supported chelating polymer resins functionalized with (i) glycine, (ii) hydroxy benzoic acid, (iii) Schiff base and (iv) diethanol amine have been investigated. The effects of pH, time and initial concentration on the uptake of metal ions have been studied. The uptake of metal ion depends on pH. The resins are more selective at pH 10 for Pb(II) and Hg(II), whereas at pH 6 they are found to be Cd(II) and Cr(VI) selective. Metal ion uptake properties of resins follow Freundlich’s equation. The resins are recyclable and are therefore employed for the removal of heavy metal pollutants from industrial waste water.