Nanoparticles of octakis[3-(3-amino-1,2,4-triazole)propyl]octasilsesquioxane as ligands for Cu(II), Ni(II), Cd(II), Zn(II), and Fe(III) in aqueous solution

Nanoparticles of octakis[3-(3-amino-1,2,4-triazole)propyl]octasilsesquioxane (ATZ-SSQ) were tested as ligands for transition-metal ions in aqueous solution with a special attention to sorption isotherms, ligand-metal interaction, and determination of metal ions in natural waters. The adsorption potential of the material ATZ-SSQ was compared with related [3(3-amino-1,2,4-triazole)propyl]silica gel (ATZ-SG). The adsorption was performed using a batchwise process and both organofunctionalized surfaces showed the ability to adsorb the metal ions from aqueous solution. The Langmuir model was used to simulate the sorption isotherms. The results suggest that the sorption of these metals on ATZ-SSQ and ATZ-SG occurs mainly by surface complexation. The equilibrium condition is reached at time lower than 3 min for ATZ-SSQ, while for ATZ-SG is only reached at time of 25 min. The maximum metal ion uptake values for ATZ-SSQ were higher than the corresponding values achieved with the ATZ-SG. In order to obtain more information on the ligand-metal interaction of the complexes on the surface of the ATZ-SSQ nanomaterial, ESR study with various degrees of copper loadings was carried out. The ATZ-SSQ was tested for the determination (in flow using a column technique) of the metal ions present in natural waters.     

A weight-function approach for determining watershed initial conditions for combustion waves

In many generic combustion models, one finds that a combustionwave will develop with a specific wave speed. However, thereare possible initial temperature profiles which do not evolveinto such waves, but rather die out to the ambient temperature.There can exist, in some models, a clear distinction betweenthose initial conditions that do evolve into combustion wavesand those that do not; this is sometimes referred to as thewatershed initial condition. When fuel consumption is consideredto be negligible, analytical methods can be used to obtain theexact watershed. In this paper, we consider the problem of determiningpseudo-watersheds and ascertaining the relationship betweenthese pseudo-watersheds and the exact watersheds. In the processa novel weight-function approach for infinite spatial domainsis developed.     

Exploiting barrier distributions to investigate breakup effects in the fusion of 9Be+208Pb

The availability of precisely measured fusion excitation functions have allowed the determination of experimental fusion barrier distributions. This concept is utilised in ⁹Be+²⁰⁸Pb reaction, to reliably predict the expected complete fusion cross-sections. However, the measured cross-sections are found to be only 68% of those predicted. The large cross-sections observed for incomplete fusion products support the interpretation that this suppression of fusion is caused by ⁹Be breaking up into charged fragments before reaching the fusion barrier.     

A multimodal analytical toolkit to resolve correlated reaction pathways: the case of nanoparticle formation in zeolites

Unraveling the complex, competing pathways that can govern reactions in multicomponent systems is an experimental and technical challenge. We outline and apply a novel analytical toolkit that fully leverages the synchronicity of multimodal experiments to deconvolute causal from correlative relationships and resolve structural and chemical changes in complex materials. Here, simultaneous multimodal measurements combined diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) and angular dispersive X-ray scattering suitable for pair distribution function (PDF), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) analyses. The multimodal experimental data was interpreted via multi-level analysis; conventional analyses of each data series were integrated through meta-analysis involving non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) as a dimensional reduction algorithm and correlation analysis. We apply this toolkit to build a cohesive mechanistic picture of the pathways governing silver nanoparticle formation in zeolite A (LTA), which is key to designing catalytic and separations-based applications. For this Ag-LTA system, the mechanisms of zeolite dehydration, framework flexing, ion reduction, and cluster and nanoparticle formation and transport through the zeolite are elucidated. We note that the advanced analytical approach outline here can be applied generally to multimodal experiments, to take full advantage of the efficiencies and self-consistencies in understanding complex materials and go beyond what can be achieved by conventional approaches to data analysis.

Multimodal in situ experimental data probing a complex reaction have been integrated via a multi-level analysis involving non-negative matrix factorization and correlation analysis. This strategy can be applied generally to multimodal experiments.     

The Influence of Powder Properties and Tabletting Conditions on the Surface Roughness of Tablets

Tablets of five different compression formulations were investigated for their surface roughness using scanning electron microscopy and non-contact laser profilometry. It was found that the composition of a formulation not only influenced the tabletting properties of the powder mixtures, but also the surface properties of the final product. The addition of larger quantities of very brittle materials such as dibasic calcium phosphate dihydrate increased the surface roughness of tablets. An increase in tabletting pressure reduced the tablet surface roughness. Tablets were found to have smoother edges than faces, presumably due to the comparatively higher shear stress at the die walls and a polishing effect during tablet ejection. The assessment of surface roughness in three dimensions appeared more powerful than a simple line profile measurement.     

Non-destructive assay technique for the determination of <Superscript>238</Superscript>U/<Superscript>232</Superscript>Th ratio in the mixed oxides of uranium and thorium using prompt gamma-ray neutron activation

A non-destructive assay technique based on prompt gamma-ray neutron activation analysis for the determination of ²³⁸U to ²³²Th ratio in the mixed oxide fuel materials has been established. The method uses closely spaced high energy gamma-rays in the region of 4000 keV to 4150 keV enabling it to be applied for samples of any geometry and thickness without having any correction for gamma-ray attenuations and detection efficiencies.     

How nitrogenase shakes--initial information about P-cluster and FeMo-cofactor normal modes from nuclear resonance vibrational spectroscopy (NRVS)

Nitrogenase catalyzes a reaction critical for life, the reduction of N(2) to 2NH(3), yet we still know relatively little about its catalytic mechanism. We have used the synchrotron technique of (57)Fe nuclear resonance vibrational spectroscopy (NRVS) to study the dynamics of the Fe-S clusters in this enzyme. The catalytic site FeMo-cofactor exhibits a strong signal near 190 cm(-)(1), where conventional Fe-S clusters have weak NRVS. This intensity is ascribed to cluster breathing modes whose frequency is raised by an interstitial atom. A variety of Fe-S stretching modes are also observed between 250 and 400 cm(-)(1). This work is the first spectroscopic information about the vibrational modes of the intact nitrogenase FeMo-cofactor and P-cluster.     

Determination of active components of Ginkgo biloba in human urine by capillary high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry with on-line column-switching purification

Ginkgo biloba is one of the most popular herbal nutritional supplements, with terpene lactones and flavonoids being the two major active components. An on-line purification high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS) method was successfully developed for the quantitative determination of flavonoids and terpene lactones excreted in human urine after ingesting the herbal supplement. Satisfactory separation was obtained using a C18 capillary column made in-house with sample clean-up and pre-concentration achieved using a C18 pre-column with column switching. High selectivity and limits of detection of 1-18 ng/mL were achieved using a selected ion monitoring (SIM) scan in negative ion mode; the on-line solid-phase extraction (SPE) recovery of the active components in Ginkgo biloba determined in this study was greater than 75%.     

pH- and ionic strength-controlled cation permselectivity in amine-modified nanoporous opal films

The influence of pH and ionic strength on permselective transport in nanoporous opal films prepared from 440 nm silica spheres was investigated by cyclic voltammetry in aqueous and acetonitrile solutions. Three-layer opal films were deposited from a 1.5 wt % colloidal solution of silica spheres onto 25-microm-diameter Pt microdisk electrodes shrouded in glass. The films were chemically modified by immersing them in a dry acetonitrile solution of 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane. When the surface amino groups of the modified opal films are protonated and there is little or no supporting electrolyte present in solution, the flux of cationic redox species through the opal membrane is blocked because of electrostatic repulsion. The permselectivity is pH-dependent and can be modulated by adjusting the Debye screening length within the nanopores of the opal by changing the ionic strength of the contacting solution.