Sensitive light-scattering detection–magnetophoretic acceleration mass analysis of single microparticles in an atmosphere

Optically detected magnetophoretic acceleration mass analysis of an individual micro-particle in an atmosphere has been remarkably improved in sensitivity by using a reflective microscope objective, by which forward scattered light from a particle could be effectively collected. From the light-scattering simulation, the detection limit for the radius of a micro-particle was estimated to be smaller than 0.4 μm, and about 60 times intensity enhancement was observed for a polystyrene particle with a radius of 2.8 μm. For both paramagnetic and diamagnetic micro-particles, the mass magnetic susceptibility and the relaxation time could be determined without knowing any parameters of the particles. From the relaxation time, the mass of a particle was obtained if the radius or the density of the particle was known. For a test sample silica particles were used to adsorb paramagnetic dysprosium(III), the surface concentration of dysprosium(III) on a single particle could be successfully determined by use of this method.     

Thin-Layer chromatography of inorganic ions on cellulose phosphate in sulfuric acid-organic solvent media

Summary Thin-layer chromatographic behavior of 49 inorganic ions on cellulose phosphate (P-cellulose) has systematically been surveyed with binary solvent mixtures consisting of sulfuric acid and an organic solvent such as methanol or acetone. The R_f values of many bivalent and monovalent ions as well as Te(VI) decrease on the P-cellulose layer with an increasing concentration of the organic solvent. Polyvalent ions which form strong phosphato-complexes and precipitate insoluble sulfate are strongly retained on P-cellulose. Oxy-anions, Au(III) and Pt(IV) are not adsorbed on the cellulose to any great extent. Feasibilities of the separation of multicomponent mixtures are demonstrated on the P-cellulose layer.     

Synthesis and functionalities of poly(N-vinylalkylamide). VI. A novel thermosensitive hydrogel crosslinked poly(N-vinylisobutyramide)

A novel thermosensitive poly(N-vinylisobutyramide)(polyNVIBA) hydrogel was prepared by the copolymerization of N-vinylisobutyramide (NVIBA) with butylene-bis-NVA(B-BNVA) as a crosslinker in a high yield. The swelling transition behavior was examined in comparison with poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)(polyNIPAAm) hydrogel. The resulting polyNVIBA hydrogel clearly showed a swelling transion in water at ca. 41°C. To control the transition temperature (T_t) of the gel, crosslinked copolymers of NVIBA and N-vinylacetamide (NVA) were prepared and compared with copolymers of N-isopropylacrylamide(NIPAAm) and NVA. The incorporation of NVA led to a higher swelling transition temperature. T_t of poly(NVIBA-co-NVA) gels was almost the same as those in water-soluble poly(NVIBA-co-NVA). The responses for a swelling transition of polyNVIBA and poly(NVIBA-co-NVA) gels were sharp in comparison to polyNIPAAm gels. PolyNVIBA and poly(NVIBA-co-NVA) gels desorbed 98% of water above T_t. The characteristic and the mechanism of the phase transition on the hydrogels were discussed. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 3377–3384, 1997     

Synchrotron X‐ray study of noncentrosymmetric Tb3RuO7 with partial structural disorder

Single‐crystal synchrotron X‐ray diffraction reveals partial structural disorder of Tb atoms at 293 K in flux‐grown Tb₃RuO₇ (triterbium ruthenium heptaoxide) crystals. The structure is noncentrosymmetric and composed of infinite single chains of corner‐linked RuO₆ octahedra embedded in a Tb₃O matrix. Two Tb atom sites out of the six crystallographically independent Tb sites are split into two positions. The split sites are separated by approximately 0.3–0.4 Å, with slightly different coordination environments. The RuO₆ octahedra in the present P2₁nb modification have two tilt systems about the a and c axes, in contrast with a single tilt about c in the other Cmcm modifications of Ln₃RuO₇ (Ln = lanthanoid elements).