Influence of Initial pH Value on the Adsorption of Reactive Black 5 Dye on Powdered Activated Carbon: Kinetics,Mechanisms, and Thermodynamics

The aim of this work was to investigate the influence of initial pH value (pH₀) on the isothermal adsorption of Reactive Black 5 (RB5) dye on commercial powdered activated carbon. Four initial pH values were chosen for this experiment: pH₀ = 2.00, 4.00, 8.00, and 10.00. In order to investigate the mechanism of adsorption kinetic, studies have been performed using pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic models as well as an intraparticle diffusion model. In addition, thermodynamic parameters of adsorption were determined for pH₀ = 4.00. Results of this research showed that the initial pH value significantly influences the adsorption of RB5 dye onto activated carbon. The highest adsorption capacities (q_e) and efficiencies of decolouration were observed for initial pH values of pH₀ = 2.00 (q_e = 246.0 mg g⁻¹) and 10.00 (q_e = 239.1 mg g⁻¹) due to strong electrostatic interactions and attractive π···π interactions, respectively. It was also shown that the adsorption of RB5 dye on activated carbon at all initial pH values is kinetically controlled, assuming a pseudo-second-order model, and that intraparticle diffusion is not the only process that influences on the adsorption rate.     

A new concept for the preparation of beta-L- and beta-D-2',3'-dideoxynucleoside analogues

[reaction: see text] A new method for the synthesis of 2',3'-dideoxynucleoside analogues has been developed. An electrochemical activation of 2-substituted furans is followed by the coupling with a pyrimidine or purine base. This gives planar furyl nucleosides as key intermediates, which are hydrogenated cis-selectively to give the corresponding beta-2',3'-dideoxynucleosides as racemic mixtures. An enzymatic kinetic resolution gives rise to beta-D- and beta-L-configured derivatives in high optical purity. This is exemplified by the synthesis of beta-D- and beta-L-3'-deoxythymidine.     

Controllable 3D atomic Brownian motor in optical lattices

We study a Brownian motor, based on cold atoms in optical lattices, where atomic motion can be induced in a controlled manner in an arbitrary direction, by rectification of isotropic random fluctuations. In contrast with ratchet mechanisms, our Brownian motor operates in a potential that is spatially and temporally symmetric, in apparent contradiction to the Curie principle. Simulations, based on the Fokker-Planck equation, allow us to gain knowledge on the qualitative behaviour of our Brownian motor. Studies of Brownian motors, and in particular ones with unique control properties, are of fundamental interest because of the role they play in protein motors and their potential applications in nanotechnology. In particular, our system opens the way to the study of quantum Brownian motors.     

Influence of metal ions on antioxidant behaviour in polypropylene

The effect of Cr(III), Fe(III) and Cu(II) ions, at trace levels, on the effectiveness of four commercial antioxidant systems, viz. Topanol, Santowhite, Hostanox 03 and Irganox 1425, in polypropylene (PP) films is examined using infra-red and second-order derivative uv spectroscopy. The results show that at these levels the metal ions have a minor effect on the unstabilised polymer. However, the ions can have a beneficial or adverse effect on antioxidant activity, particularly under oven ageing conditions. The observed effect depends on the metal/antioxidant system, and is attributed to an indirect interaction between the components which can delay or accelerate antioxidant decomposition in the polymer. An exception to this behaviour is the metal complex Irganox 1425, which interacts strongly with copper ions in the polymer matrix. The antioxidant is partially transformed by copper ions during the compression moulding stage. The beneficial effect present in some cases is in direct contrast with what has generally been observed in studies using unstabilised polymers.     

Photoproduction of neutral pions in the region of the fourth nucleon resonance

We report the measurement of the differential cross section of the reaction γ +p→π⁰ +p at a photon energy of 1.4 GeV and pion c.m. angles between 60 and 175 degrees. The angular distribution confirms the simple quark model prediction of a pure magnetic excitation of theF ₃₇ (1950) resonance.     

Vibrational spectra and force constants of symmetric tops: High resolution spectra of monoisotopic H3SiCl in the 2200-cm−1 region and rovibrational analysis of the ν1 and ν4 fundamentals

The gas phase infrared spectra of monoisotopic H₃Si³⁵Cl and H₃Si³⁷Cl have been studied in the $\text{ν}{}_1\text{ν}{}_4$ region near 2200 cm^?1 with a resolution of 0.012 and 0.04 cm^?1, respectively, and rotational fine structure for ΔJ = ±1 branches has been resolved. In addition, some information on ν₃ + ν₄ of H₃Si³⁵Cl near 2750 cm^?1 has been obtained. ν₁ and ν₄ are weakly coupled by Coriolis x, y resonance, $\text{B}\text{Ω}{}_{14}\text{ζ}{}_{14}\text{～ 2 × 10}{}^{\mathrm{?3}}\text{cm}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$, only the upper states K′ = 2, l = 0 and K′ = 1, l = ?1 being substantially affected. Local perturbation due to rotational l(±1, ±1)-type resonance with ν₃ + ν₅⁺¹ + ν₆⁺¹ and ν₃ + ν₅⁺¹ + ν₆^?1 is revealed in the ΔK = +1 and ?1 branches, respectively. From a fit of the experimental line positions, standard deviations of 1.4 and 3.8 × 10^?3 cm^?1, respectively, to a model with five interacting levels conventional excited state parameters and interaction constants have been obtained. In $\text{H}{}_3\text{Si}{}^{35}\text{Cl}\text{H}{}_3\text{Si}{}^{37}\text{Cl}$ the fundamentals are ν₁, $\text{2201.94380(15)}\text{2201.9345(7)}$ and ν₄, $\text{2209.63862(8)}\text{2209.6254(2)}\text{cm}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$, respectively. Q branches of the “hot” band (ν₃ + ν₄) ? ν₃ and of ν₄ of the ²⁹Si and ³⁰Si species have been detected.