Inter-laboratory exercise with an aim to compare methods for 90Sr and 239,240Pu determination in environmental soil samples

In order to deliver reliable results for a multitude of different scenarios, e.g. emergency preparedness, environmental monitoring, nuclear decommissioning and waste management, there is a constant process of method development in the field of radioanalytical chemistry. This work presents the results of a method comparison exercise aimed at quantifying ⁹⁰Sr and ^239,240Pu in environmental soil samples, with the intention of evaluating the performance and applicability of different methods. From the methods examined in this work, recommendations are given in order to find a radioanalytical measurement procedure, for ⁹⁰Sr and ^239,240Pu analysis, which is fit-for-purpose for a particular scenario.

     

Synthesis of Alkyl 2-(1-t-Butylperoxyalkyl)propenoates and Ethyl 2-t-Butylperoxymethylbut-2-enoate

Methods of synthesis of alkyl 2-(1-t-butylperoxyalkyl)propenoates and ethyl 2-t-butylperoxymethylbut-2-enoate are developped through the nucleophilic substitution of t-butylperoxylate anion towards various allylic derivatives prepared from alkyl 2-hydroxymethylalk-2-enoates and ethyl 2-(1-hydroxyethyl)propenoate.     

Polyethylene Glycols as Solvents for Anionic Activation: Synthesis of Thioacetates by Means of Potassium Thioacetate in Polyethylene Glycol 400

Recently, polyethylene glycols (PEGS) of various molecular weights have been proposed as solvent promoters for various reactions ^{1, 2}. We wish to report on the use of PEG 400 as solvent for the anionic activation of potassium thioacetate, which could be used for the preparation of alkyl and benzyl thioacetates from the corresponding halides or alcohol derivatives. The method can be synthetically significant, since from thioacetates the corresponding thiols can be easily prepared under a variety of mild conditions ³.     

Preparation of Some Substituted Terephthalic Acids

We report in detail the preparation of two substituted terephthalic acids: 2‐sulfomethylterephthalic acid (1) and 2‐phosphonoterephthalic acid (2). Efficient, short syntheses have been developed for both compounds. They are potentially useful monomers for construction of acid‐pendant polymer chains.     

Isolation and Characterization of Cellulosic Pulp Fines and Their Interactions with Cationic Polyacrylamides

Four different types of cellulosic fines were isolated from refiner mechanical and kraft pulp samples to characterize their chemical and physical properties. The pulp fines were flocculated using four different types of cationically modified polyacrylamides. The extent of flocculation was observed with multiple light scattering apparatus. The maximum adsorption of the polyelectrolytes on the pulp fines was determined by polyelectrolyte titration. It was concluded that it is the combination of the molar mass and the charge density of a polyelectrolyte, as well as the origins and characteristics of the fines which define the adsorption and flocculation behavior. None of these properties alone could fully describe these phenomena, but the molar mass of the polyelectrolyte was the predominant factor. The most important fines characteristics were the charge properties and the microstructure.     

Ultrasound-Enhanced Recovery of Butanol/ABE by Pervaporation

The search for renewable sources of energy has led to renewed interests on the biochemical route for the production of butanol. Butanol production suffers from several drawbacks, mainly caused by butanol inhibition to the butanol-producing microorganism which makes it economically uncompetitive against the chemical process. One possible solution proposed is the in situ recovery of acetone–butanol–ethanol (ABE). Among the in situ recovery options, membrane processes like pervaporation have a great potential. Thus, the effects of temperature, feed concentration, and ultrasound irradiation on permeate concentration and permeation flux for the recovery of butanol/ABE by pervaporation from aqueous solutions were investigated in this study. In the butanol–water system, permeate butanol concentration as well as flux increased with an increase in temperature and butanol feed concentration. When pervaporation studies with ABE–water mixture were carried out at 60 °C for 2, 4, 8, 16, and 24 h, pervaporation profile revealed an optimal permeate concentration as well as permeation flux. Applications of ultrasound irradiation on pervaporation improved permeate concentration by about 23 g/L for both butanol and ABE. Ultrasound irradiation also improved butanol and ABE mass permeation flux by about 13 and 11 %, respectively.     

Conformational Analysis of the Anti‐obesity Drug Lorcaserin in Water: How To Take Advantage of Long‐Range Residual Dipolar Couplings

The conformational state of 8‐chloro‐1‐methyl‐2,3,4,5‐tetrahydro‐1H‐3‐benzazepine hydrochloride (lorcaserin) in water has been determined on the basis of one‐bond and long‐range C? H residual dipolar coupling (RDC) data along with DFT computations and ³J_HH coupling‐constant analysis. According to this analysis, lorcaserin exists as a conformational equilibrium of two crown‐chair forms, of which the preferred conformation has the methyl group in an equatorial orientation.     

2-Pyridyl-benzimidazole-Pd(II)/Pd(0) Supported on Magnetic Mesoporous Silica: Aerobic Oxidation of Benzyl Alcohols/Benzaldehydes and Reduction of Nitroarenes

Catalysis Surveys from Asia - 2-(2-Pyridyl)benzimidazole (PyBzIm) was supported onto magnetic mesoporous silica, Fe3O4@SiO2@SBA-15 via the click chemistry. The supported ligand was treated with...     

Discovery of Homobivalent Bitopic Ligands of the Cannabinoid CB2 Receptor**

Single chemical entities with potential to simultaneously interact with two binding sites are emerging strategies in medicinal chemistry. We have designed, synthesized and functionally characterized the first bitopic ligands for the CB₂ receptor. These compounds selectively target CB₂ versus CB₁ receptors. Their binding mode was studied by molecular dynamic simulations and site-directed mutagenesis.     

Nickel Supported on Alkaline Earth Metal–Doped γ-Al2O3–La2O3 as Catalysts for Dry Reforming of Methane

Russian Journal of Applied Chemistry - Nickel catalysts supported on γ–Al2O3 doped with La2O3 and alkaline earth oxides (MgO, CaO, and SrO) were investigated in the dry reforming of...