Fractionation of metals and metalloids by chemical bonding from particles accumulated by electrostatic precipitation in an Argentine thermal power plant

A study was undertaken to evaluate the distribution of Al, As, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Ti, V and Zn in fly ashes collected in the electrostatic precipitator of a thermal power plant in San Nicolás (Argentina). Five samples were collected during one week of operation. For the fractionation, the scheme applied consisted in extracting the elements in four fractions namely (i) soluble and exchangeable elements; (ii) carbonates, oxides and reducible elements; (iii) bound to sulfidic metals; and (iv) residual elements. Metals and metalloids at μg g^− 1 level were determined in each fraction by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES). For validation, a standard reference material (SRM 1633 coal fly ash) from NIST was subjected to the same chemical sequential extraction procedure that the samples. X-ray diffraction powder (XRD) analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to characterize the major minerals present in the matrix. Total analyte concentration (in μg g^− 1) varied from 10.6 for Pb to 17,622 for Al. Minimum and maximum concentrations (in μg g^− 1) found in individual samples in the four fractions were: Al, 92.7–9668; As, < 0.3–143; Cr, 2.0–10.4; Cu, < 0.2–35.6; Fe, < 0.3–4992; Mn, < 0.1–128; Ni, < 0.3–139; Pb, < 0.5–9.1; Ti, < 0.3–2243; V, 17.0–112.9; and Zn, < 0.1–68.2. The leachability of the 11 elements under study proved to be different. Low percentages of Al (1%), V (7%) and Cr (8%) were detected in the most bioavailable fraction. Arsenic was found to be most abundant in the non-silicate phase, represented by the second and third fractions, while Cr, Fe, Ni, Pb and Zn were mostly associated to the residual fraction.     

Counterion Exchange Selectivity in Detergent–Polymer Aggregates

In aqueous solution, the interaction between sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) results in the formation of small aggregates or clusters of SDS attached to the PEG polymer chain. Selectivity coefficients for exchange of two monovalent (N-methyl-4-cyanopyridinium cation and Tl⁺) and two divalent (methylviologen cation and Cu²⁺) counterions at the surface of SDS–PEG clusters, determined employing photophysical techniques, are similar, but not identical, to those for exchange at the surface of SDS micelles in the absence of PEG. The principal factor affecting ion exchange selectivity in SDS–PEG clusters does not appear to be aggregate size or surface charge density but rather the presence of poly(oxyethylene) subunits at the aggregate surface.     

Role of emulsifier on the particle size and polymer particle size distribution using multiwavelength spectroscopy measurements

Latex emulsions depend strongly on the polymer composition, and particle size distribution, which in turn, is a function of the preparation of the latex and on the formulation and composition variables. This study reports measurements of particle size and particle size distribution of latex emulsions as function of the reaction time and the type and concentration of emulsifier by using the multiwavelength spectroscopy technique. Results show changes in the particle size of latex emulsions with the reaction time, obtaining larger particles and broader distributions with increasing of Tween 80 ratio. The steric stabilization provides the sole nonionic emulsifier is not enough to protect the polymer particle, causing the flocculation among the interactive particles, resulting in unstable latex. However, latex emulsions prepared with Tween 80 ratio <70 wt.% can stabilize efficiently the nucleated particles, probably due to the effects provided by both, the electrostatic and steric stabilization mechanisms. The same effect is shown in the curves of conversion (%) as a function of reaction time, resulting in slower polymerization rate for Tween 80 ratio >70 wt.%. On the other hand, smaller polymer particles, in all range of emulsifier mixture, have been obtained to higher emulsifier concentration.     

Total synthesis of TMS-ent-bisabolangelone

The absolute configuration of bisabolangelone has been established by an eleven step total synthesis of the corresponding TMS protected antipode starting from (R)-(+)-pulegone. Comparison of the TMS-derivatives by GC on a chiral column, allowed us to assign the absolute configuration of the synthetic compound and thus of the corresponding natural product. The latter has been confirmed by the Mosher's ester analysis of the known secondary carbinol derivative.     

DOSE-RESPONSE OF CHRONIC ULTRAVIOLET EXPOSURE ON EPIDERMAL FORWARD SCATTERING-ABSORPTION IN SK-1 HAIRLESS MOUSE SKIN

This work provides a dose-response model of UV-induced epidermal-stratum corneum thickening induced by irradiation at wavelength lambda. This model assumes that photobiochemical reaction(s) can give rise to hyperplasia in a manner which is predictable from a simple photochemical kinetic scheme. In this work, we derive an equation which predicts an approximately linear relationship between the logarithm of the increase in optical skin thickening measured at 320 nm (delta OD320) and total cumulative dose (DT) seen by the target cells in or near the basal layer. For each excitation wavelength lambda, the slope R(lambda) of the log delta OD320 vs DT plot is proportional to epsilon(lambda) phi rx, where epsilon(lambda) is the extinction coefficient for the target chromophore at excitation wavelength, and phi rx is the quantum yield for the photochemical reaction(s) leading to hyperplasia. Our data previously obtained from irradiation of SK-1 hairless mice with "monochromatic" UV wavebands at 280, 290, 300, 307 and 313 nm (Menter et al., 1988, Photochem. Photobiol. 47, 225-260.) and data from Sterenborg and van der Leun at 254 and 313 nm (1988, Photodermatology 5, 71-82) are in good agreement with this model, except for 254 and 280 nm excitation, which are greatly attenuated by epidermis-stratum corneum. For excitation at the latter wavelengths, "dark" regressive processes successfully compete with the "light" reaction(s) which lead to (pre)cancerous lesion. This difficulty notwithstanding, the "intrinsic" action spectrum for hyperplasia derived from these measurements indicates that the target chromophore preferentially absorbs in the UV-C region.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Purification and partial characterization of two lectin isoforms fromCratylia mollis mart. (camaratu bean)

Two additional electrophoretically distinct molecular forms, isoforms (iso) 2 and 3, with lectin properties were isolated fromCratylia mollis Mart, seeds (FABACEAE), by extraction with 0.15M NaCl and ammonium sulfate fractionation, followed by chromatography on Sephadex G-75 and Bio-Gel P-200 (iso 2), as well as CM-Cellulose and Sephadex G-75 (iso 3). Both isoforms were human group nonspecific and showed distinct specificity. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis resolved iso 2 and 3 in polypeptides of apparent mol wts 60 and 31 kDa, respectively; a distinct isoelectric focusing pattern was obtained for iso 2 and 3, under denaturing and reducing conditions.     

Computational studies of the 3-Dimensional structure of cyclopenta polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons containing a gulf region

Recently, some cyclopenta-fused polyaromatic hydrocarbons, an environmentally relevant subclass of chemicals, have been shown to have carcinogenic activity in animals. It has been suggested that benz[l] aceanthrylene ( I ), an active member of this subclass with a gulf region, has a trans dihydrodiol metabolite that is nonplanar and has two distinct spatial configurations. We have used MMP 2(85) and AM 1 to investigate the three-dimensional structure of this dihydrodiol and other similar derivatives of ( I ) and have found that although ( I ) is somewhat nonplanar the relevant derivatives are all nearly planar. Further, we have computed potential functions for the bending of the angular ring in the gulf region using MMP 2(85), AM 1, and ab initio computed energies for AM 1 spatial configurations and find that these molecules all have only a single potential minimum. We have performed the same calculations for benzo[c]phenanthren and its 1,12 dimethyl derivative, molecules with a similar gulf region for which crystallographic data exists. In agreement with that data, we find that two distinct spatial configurations exist separated by significant barries. The differences between the results generated by the three different methods of computation will be discussed.     

A search for properties which produce discrimination between cannabinoid psychoactivity and analgesic activity

One long-range goal of our work has been the design of cannabinoid analgesics with reduced psychopharmacological liability. We review here the progress we have made toward this goal. When we began our work on the cannabinoids, no cannabinoid analgesic had been reported that did not also possess significant psychoactivity. We approached the cannabinoid problem by calculating molecular reactivity characteristics (MRCS ) of template molecules for each activity: (?)-trans-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ⁹-THC) for psychoactivity, and (?)-9-nor-9-betahydroxyhexahydrocannabinol (9-nor-9β-OH? HHC) for analgesic activity. We then compared the MRC s of each template with the MRCS of a carefully chosen set of other cannabinoids (both active and inactive). Our focus in the calculation of MRCS was on accessible conformations of each subject molecule and on the molecular electrostatic potential generated in key planes by each accessible conformer. Our working hypothesis concerning the molecular basis of psychopharmacological activity in the cannabinoids was that activity is conferred by the set of molecular properties generated (1) by the orientation of the lone pairs of electrons of the phenyl group hydroxyl oxygen and (2) by the orientation of the carbocyclic ring and its C–9 substituent relative to this oxygen. Our working hypothesis concerning the molecular basis of cannabinoid analgesic activity was that activity is conferred by the set of molecular properties generated by the presence and relative location of two negative potential regions in the top half of the cannabinoid analgesic molecule. Our work thus far has revealed important steric and electronic features of the cannabinoids that may be used to enhance discrimination. We have shown that a simple structural feature, a C–9 substituent protruding into the α face of the molecule, can abolish or significantly diminish psychoactivity. We have also demonstrated that a free phenol group is not an absolute requirement for activity. Instead, we have found that compounds that do not possess free phenolic hydrogens, but that do maintain the orientation of the lone pairs of electrons of the “phenolic” oxygen toward the carbocyclic ring, exhibit selectivity toward analgesia.