Tracking traces of transition metals present in concrete mixtures by inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry studies

Transition metals can have a significant impact in research related to the dosage optimization of superplasticizers. It is known that the presence of transition metals can influence such doses, and the application of a contemporary instrumental method to obtain the profiles of subsisting transition elements in concrete mixtures would be useful. In this work, inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is investigated as a possible tool to track traces of transition metals in concrete mixtures. Depth profiling using ICP-MS on proofed and unproofed concrete shows the presence of Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn at trace intensities in the bulk of the samples under investigation. The study demonstrates that the transition metals present in the concrete sample are largely a part of the cement composition and, to a minor degree, a result of exposure to the seawater after curing. The coated concrete samples have a metal distribution pattern similar to the uncoated samples, but slight differences in intensity bear testimony to the very low levels that originate from the exposure to seawater. While X-ray diffraction fails to detect these traces of metals, ICP-MS is successful in detecting ultra-trace intensities to parts per trillion. This method is not only a useful application to track traces of transition metals in concrete, but also provides information to estimate the pore size distribution in a given sample by very simple means.     

Microwave-assisted solution-phase synthesis and DART-mass spectrometric monitoring of a combinatorial library of indolin-2,3-dione schiff bases with potential antimycobacterial activity

A combinatorial library composed of eleven hydrazides A-K and eleven indolin-1,2-dione derivatives 1-11 has been designed to formally generate sublibraries of 22 mixtures, M(1)-M(22) comprising of 121 Schiff bases, A-K(1-11). The designed library has been synthesized by the solution-phase method and microwave-assisted synthetic techniques. The formation of individual compounds of each mixture was confirmed by Direct Analysis in Real Time (DART) as ionization technique connected to an Ion Trap as a mass detector. The synthesized mixtures were evaluated for their antimycobacterial activity against four Mycobacterium strains; M. intercellulari, M. xenopi, M. cheleneoi and M. smegmatis. Variable antimycobacterial activity was revealed with the investigated mixtures and maximum activity was shown by M(8), M(10), M(11), and M(15) with MIC values of 1.5, 3.1, 6.2 and 0.09 μg/mL, respectively. Application of the indexed method of analysis on these active mixtures revealed that compounds D(8), D(10) and D(11) may contribute to the activity of the tested mixtures.     

Liquid chromatographic high-throughput analysis of the new ultra-short acting hypnotic 'HIE-124' and its metabolite in mice serum using a monolithic silica column

For the first time, a fast, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of the new ultra-short hypnotic HIE-124 and its metabolite in mice serum. Each compound, together with carbamazepine (internal standard) was extracted from the serum matrix using liquid-liquid extraction (LLE). Chromatographic resolution of the analytes was performed on a Chromolith Speed Rod monolithic silica column (100 mm × 4.6 mm i.d.) under isocratic conditions using a mobile phase of 65:35 (v/v), 20 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.0 adjusted with phosphoric acid)-acetonitrile. The elution of the analytes were monitored at 240 nm and conducted at ambient temperature. Because of high column efficiency the mobile phase was pumped at a flow rate of 2.5 mL min(-1). The total run time of the assay was 2 min. The method was validated over the range of 60-2000 ng mL(-1) for HIE-124 and 200-1600 ng mL(-1) for the metabolite (r(2) = 0.99). The limit of detection (LOD) for HIE-124 and its metabolite were 20 ng mL(-1) and 65 ng mL(-1), respectively. The proposed method was validated in compliance with ICH guidelines, in terms of accuracy, precision, limits of detection and quantitation and other aspects of analytical validation. The developed method could be used for the trace analyses of HIE-124 and its metabolite in serum and was finally used for the pharmacokinetic study investigation of HIE-124 in mice serum.     

Scaling law behaviour of the retraction of a Newtonian droplet after a strain jump in a Newtonian matrix

We performed 3D visualisation of a Newtonian droplet embedded in an immiscible Newtonian liquid after a strain jump with a home-built counter-rotating shear device. The use of different linear polyurethanes for the droplet liquid allowed us to cover almost three decades of viscosity ratios (K) and to obtain a distinct interface with PDMS matrices with the same interfacial tension for all droplet/matrix pairs. During the droplet retraction, the major axis (L) showed universal time dependence. The apparent Hencky strain of L decayed linearly at large deformations and exponentially at small deformations. After large strain steps, the droplet axis along the vorticity direction (W) deflated and then inflated and the time dependence could be well described by a log normal function. The full width at half maximum was proportional to the droplet relaxation time for all K. The amplitude and the position of the minimum of W were proportional to the affine deformation. The results revealed interesting scaling law behaviour of the droplet retraction after large strain jumps.     

Effect of alumina incorporation on restricting grain growth of nanocrystalline tin(IV) oxide

In this project, nanocrystalline SnO₂ powders were successfully prepared by (a) citrate sol-gel and (b) direct precipitation methods. Powders were characterized using thermal analysis techniques (DTA-TG-DSC), X-ray powder Diffraction (XRD), surface area (BET) and electrical conductivity measurements. XRD patterns showed the presence of the cassiterite structure. SnO₂ particles, prepared through sol-gel method exhibit crystallite sizes in the range from 3.1 to 22.3 nm when the gel is heat treated at different temperatures up to 900°C. SnO₂ nanocrystallites prepared by the precipitation method are comparatively larger in size. The higher specific surface area was obtained for the powder prepared using sol-gel method and the obtained average grain size (d) is relatively large compared with that of the average crystallite size. The powders show a semiconducting behavior with increasing temperature. The higher conductivity obtained for SnO₂ prepared by sol-gel method can be attributed to their smaller average crystallite size. XRD of alumina doped powder exhibits finer particles than pure SnO₂. TEM images showed that the particles are spherical in shape and consist of a core of SnO₂ surrounded by a coating of alumina. The calculated surface area was found to decrease with temperature increases. Due to the effective role of Al₂O₃ additive as a grain growth inhibitor for the matrix grains, the observed surface area for the coated materials are predominantly higher than for the uncoated materials.      

Direct visualization of mesh structures at solid/solution interfaces by atomic force microscopy

The formation of adsorbed surfactant layers consisting of a mesh or network of branched cylindrical aggregates on muscovite mica by several surfactant systems is described. The curvature of the adsorbed aggregates is varied by a variety of mechanisms that all generate morphologies between adsorbed cylinders and bilayers, and the resulting lateral structure is imaged by "soft contact" atomic force microscopy. We compare the direct images and Fourier transforms of the adsorbed layer structures, and relate them to those formed in bulk solution.     

Neutron capture cross section measurement of 151Sm at the CERN neutron time of flight facility (n_TOF)

The151Sm(n,gamma)152Sm cross section has been measured at the spallation neutron facility n_TOF at CERN in the energy range from 1 eV to 1 MeV. The new facility combines excellent resolution in neutron time-of-flight, low repetition rates, and an unsurpassed instantaneous luminosity, resulting in rather favorable signal/background ratios. The 151Sm cross section is of importance for characterizing neutron capture nucleosynthesis in asymptotic giant branch stars. At a thermal energy of kT=30 keV the Maxwellian averaged cross section of this unstable isotope (t(1/2)=93 yr) was determined to be 3100+/-160 mb, significantly larger than theoretical predictions.     

New approach for synthesis of poly(ethylglyoxylate) using Maghnite-H+, an Algerian proton exchanged montmorillonite clay,as an eco-catalyst

In this works, we have explored a new method for a green synthesis of poly(ethylglyoxylate) (PEtG). This method consists on using a montmorillonite clay called “Maghnite-H⁺” as an eco-catalyst to replace triethylamine which is toxic. Cationic polymerization experiments are performed in bulk conditions at three temperatures (?40°C, 25°C, 80°C) and in THF solutions at room temperature (25°C). At 25°C, an optimum ratio of 5 wt% of catalyst leads to molar masses up to 22000 g/mol in THF solutions. Polymerizations in bulk conditions lead to slightly lower masses than experiments conducted in THF solutions. However, bulk polymerization of ethyleglyoxylate remains a preferable method in order to avoid the use of a solvent and therefore to stay in the context of green chemistry. The structure of obtained polymers are characterized and confirmed by ¹H and ¹³C NMR. Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) shows an enhanced thermal stability for end-capped PEtG compared to non-terminated PEtG. The best conversion rate (92%) is observed in bulk conditions at 25°C for a reaction time of 48h. An activation energy could be calculated from bulk experiments (Ea = 6.9 kJ/mol). An interesting advantage of Maghnite-H⁺ is an easy recoverage by a simple filtration from the polymer solution.     

Magnetic Fe2O3-polystyrene/PPy core/shell particles: bioreactivity and self-assembly

This paper describes the synthesis of new magnetic, reactive polystyrene/polypyrrole core/shell latex particles. The core consists of a polystyrene microsphere containing gamma-Fe2O3 superparamagnetic nanoparticles (PSmag), and the shell is made of reactive N-carboxylic acid-functionalized polypyrrole (PPyCOOH). These PSmag-PPyCOOH latex particles, average diameter 220 nm, were prepared by copolymerization of pyrrole (Py) and the active carboxyl-functionalized pyrrole (PyCOOH) in the presence of PSmag particles. PNVP was used as a steric stabilizer. The functionalized polypyrrole-coated PSmag particles were characterized in terms of their particle size, surface morphology, chemical composition, and electrochemical and magnetic properties using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), cyclic voltammetry, and SQUID magnetometry. Activation of the particle surface carboxyl groups was achieved using 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide (EDC) and N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS), which helps transform the carboxyl groups into activated ester groups (NSE). The activated particles, PSmag-PPyNSE, were further evaluated as bioadsorbents of biotin used as a model biomolecule. It was shown that biotin was immobilized at the surface of the PSmag-PPyNSE particles by forming interfacial amide groups. The assemblies of PSmag-PPyCOOH particles on glass plates were further investigated. When no magnetic field is applied, the particles assemble into 3D colloidal crystals. In contrast, under a magnetic field, one-particle-thick chains gathered in hedgehog-like architectures are obtained. Furthermore, PSmag-PPyCOOH coated ITO electrodes were shown to be electroactive and electrochemically stable, thus offering potentialities for creating novel high-specific-area materials for biosensing devices where the conducting polymer component would act as the transducer through its conductive properties.