Aqueous polymerization of acrylonitrile by ascorbic acid–peroxodisulfate redox system

The polymerization of acrylonitrile initiated by an ascorbic acid–peroxodisulfate redox system was studied in an aqueous solution at 35°C in the presence of air. Molecular oxygen was found to have no effect on the polymerization reaction. An increase in ionic strength slightly increased the rate. The overall rate of polymerization, R_p, showed a square dependence on [monomer] and a half-order dependence on [peroxodisulfate]. A first-order dependence on [ascorbic acid] at low concentrations (<3.0 × 10^?3 mol L^?1) followed by a decrease in R_p at higher concentrations of ascorbic acid (>3.0 × 10^?3 mol L^?1) was also noted. R_p remained unchanged up to 40°C and showed a decline thereafter. Addition of catalytic amounts of cupric ions decreased the rate whereas ferric ions were found to increase the rate. Added sulfuric acid in the range (6.0?50.0) × 10^?5 mol L^?1 decreased the R_p.     

Protonated (protosolvated) onium ions (onlum dications)

In this short review we have shown the importance of protosolvation of onium ions (containing non-bonded pairs of electrons) in superacid catalyzed reactions. Such activation can result in unusual reactions such as aromatic alkylation with Meerwein’s salts, aliphatic nitration with nitronium ion, alkylation of saturated hydrocarbons, greatly enhanced activity of acyl cations, etc. Possibly such phenomena may be operative in hydroxylation reactions using protonated hydrogen peroxide in strong acid solutions. Even the reactivity of halonium ions could be enhanced by protosolvation. Consequently, electrophilic protosolvation may play a significant role in strogg acid catalyzed reactions.     

Toward a new generation of therapeutics

Scientific evidence in the prevention and treatment of various disorders is accumulating regarding probiotics. The health benefits supported by adequate clinical data include increased resistance to infectious disease, decreased duration of diarrhea, management of inflammatory bowel disease, reduction of serum cholesterol, prevention of allergy, modulation of cytokine gene expression, and suppression of carcinogen production. Recent ventures in metabolic engineering and heterologous protein expression have enhanced the enzymatic and immunomodulatory effects of probiotics and, with time, may allow more active intervention among critical care patients. In addition, a number of approaches are currently being explored, including the physical and chemical protection of cells, to increase probiotic viability and its health benefits. Traditional immobilization of probiotics in gel matrices, most notably calcium alginate and κ-carrageenan, has frequently been employed, with noted improvements in viability during freezing and storage. Conflicting reports exist, however, on the protection offered by immobilization from harsh physiologic environments. An alternative approach, microencapsulation in “artificial cells,” builds on immobilization technologies by combining enhanced mechanical stability of the capsule membrane with improved mass transport, increased cell loading, and greater control of parameters. This review summarizes the current clinical status of probiotics, examines the promises and challenges of current immobilization technologies, and presents the concept of artificial cells for effective delivery of therapeutic bacterial cells.     

2,3-Dihydroxypyridine Loaded Amberlite XAD-2 (AXAD-2-DHP): Preparation, Sorption–Desorption Equilibria with Metal Ions, and Applications in Quantitative Metal Ion Enrichment from Water, Milk and Vitamin Samples

2,3-Dihydroxypyridine loaded (via –N=N–linker) Amberlite XAD-2 (AXAD-2-DHP) was prepared and characterized by elemental analyses, TGA and FT-IR spectra. It (1g packed in a column of 1cm diameter; surface area 135.5m²g^–1) was found to be an effective solid phase sorbent for enriching Zn²⁺, Mn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺ and Co²⁺ at pH 3.5 to 7.0 using flow rates between 1.0–5.0mLmin^–1. For desorption (recovery 97.0–99.8%) of the metal ions, 8 to 10mL of 2.0molL^–1 HCl or 1.5molL^–1 HNO₃ at a flow rate of between 2.0 and 4.0mLmin^–1 were found most suitable. The t_1/2 (time for 50% sorption) is between 2 and 10min when a 50mL solution (containing a total amount of metal of 2mg) was equilibrated with 0.5g of resin. Sorption of all metal ions except Pb²⁺ follows the Langmuir model, whereas for Pb the data fits with the Freundlich model. The sorption capacity is between 60.7 (for Cd) and 406.7 (for Cu) µmolg^–1. The resin can withstand an acid concentration of 6molL^–1 and can be reused for thirty cycles of sorption–desorption. The preconcentration factor varies between 100 and 300. For Cd, Ni and Cu the sorption capacity of 2,3-dihydroxypyridine loaded cellulose is lower than that of the present resin. The tolerance limits of electrolytes, humic acid, complexing agents, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ in the enrichment of all metal ions are reported. The limits of detection are 3.88, 5.37, 8.72, 13.88, 4.71, 1.24, 0.59 and 0.30µgL^–1 for Zn²⁺, Mn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺ and Co²⁺, respectively. The calibration curves for flame AAS determination were linear in the ranges 0.018–1.0, 0.067–5.0, 0.2–5.0, 0.9–20, 0.028–2.0, 0.077–5.0, 0.19–10 and 0.1–3.5µgmL^–1, respectively. All the eight metal ions in river and synthetic water samples, Co in vitamin tablets and Zn in milk samples have been quantitatively enriched with Amberlite XAD-2-DHP and determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry.     

Electrochemical determination of dopamine and ascorbic acid at a novel gold nanoparticles distributed poly(4-aminothiophenol) modified electrode

A modified electrode is fabricated by embedding gold nanoparticles into a layer of electroactive polymer, poly(4-aminothiophenol) (PAT) on the surface of glassy carbon (GC) electrode. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) is performed to deposit PAT and concomitantly deposit Au nanoparticles. Field emission transmission electron microscopic image of the modified electrode, PAT-Au_nano-ME, indicates the presence of uniformly distributed Au nanoparticles having the sizes of 8-10 nm. Electrochemical behavior of the PAT-Au_nano-ME towards detection of ascorbic acid (AA) and dopamine (DA) is studied using CV. Electrocatalytic determination of DA in the presence of fixed concentration of AA and vice versa, are studied using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). PAT-Au_nano-ME exhibits two well defined anodic peaks at the potential of 75 and 400 mV for the oxidation of AA and DA, respectively with a potential difference of 325 mV. Further, the simultaneous determination of AA and DA is studied by varying the concentration of AA and DA. PAT-Au_nano-ME exhibits selectivity and sensitivity for the simultaneous determination of AA and DA without fouling by the oxidation products of AA or DA. PAT and Au nanoparticles provide synergic influence on the accurate electrochemical determination of AA or DA from a mixture having any one of the component (AA or DA) in excess. The practical analytical utilities of the PAT-Au_nano-ME are demonstrated by the determination of DA and AA in dopamine hydrochloride injection and human blood serum samples.     

Use of kinetic plots for relative assessment of reactor throughput and energy consumption

The progress of high temperature processes is generally described in terms of variation of the degree of conversion () with time (t). The present paper outlines a procedure for making use of-t plots for comparative assessment of productivity and energy requirements for a test system with respect to a reference, on the basis of some simplifying assumptions. It is assumed that the throughput is inversely proportional to reaction time as in the case of batch reactors and plug flow reactors. It is also assumed that the energy requirement is a simple function of process temperature. The principles outlined is illustrated with reference to some laboratory data for reduction of iron oxide by coal.The authors wish to thank Prof. P. R. Rao, Director National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur, India, for providing facilities for experimental work and for according permission to publish this work.     

A gamma-spectrometric method for the determination of plutonium isotope ratios

A gamma-spectrometric method using an intrinsic high resolution germanium detector has been developed for the determination of isotope ratios of plutonium from samples in solution form. The method is based on the assay of low energy gamma-rays of²³⁸Pu,²³⁹Pu,²⁴⁰Pu and²⁴¹Pu and does not require the use of branching intensities or the knowledge of detection efficiencies for different gamma rays. Since low energy gamma-rays are used, the effect of²⁴¹Am has also been studied. It is found that results are not affected up to 0.5 wt% of²⁴¹Am in plutonium samples. An accuracy of 3% is achievable in the determination of²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu and²⁴¹Pu/²³⁹Pu atom ratios as demonstrated by carrying out measurements on isotopic standards of plutonium.