The effect of shear on colloidal aggregation and gelation studied using small-angle light scattering

In situ light scattering measurements were performed to investigate the effect of low shear rates (0.13-3.56 s(-1)) on an aggregating colloidal system made of 20 nm polystyrene particles. The aggregating system was subjected to a shear for a short period (ca. 33 s) and only once at various times after the onset of aggregation. The effect of shear (aggregation kinetics and morphology) was studied both in a cluster dilute and in a cluster dense regime (see introduction). Our results have shown that shear can enhance the aggregation and gelation. Shear induced growth can yield hybrid superaggregates when the system is dense.     

Compositions of the seed oil of the Borago officinalis from Iran

In order to investigate the composition of borage (Borago officinalis L.) seed oil, this research was performed under the field conditions at Shahriyar and Garmsar zones, Iran during the 2012 planting year. The oil yield of borage was 31.46% and 33.7% at Shahriyar and Garmsar zone, respectively, and nine and eight fatty acids were identified in the seed oil of borage at Shahriyar and Garmsar, respectively – palmitic, linoleic, stearic and γ-linolenic acids were dominant in the seed oil of borage from both zones. Unsaturated fatty acid content was more than the saturated fatty acids in both zones. The ratio of linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid in the borage cultivated at Shahriyar and Garmsar zones was 2.13 and 2.29. The fatty acid profile of Garmsar borage, oleic and oleic/linoleic acid ratio, increased. Locations with different ecological conditions resulted in changes in both seed oil content and fatty acid profile of borage.     

Synthesis of 2‐Oxopyridine‐Fused 1,3‐Diazaheterocyclic Compounds via a Three‐Component Reaction

An efficient and simple route for the preparation of 2‐oxopyridine‐fused 1,3‐diazaheterocyclic compounds via a three component reaction is described. It involves the reaction between alkylenediamines 1 , 1,1‐bis(methylsulfanyl)‐2‐nitroethene, and alkyl prop‐2‐ynoates 2 in refluxing THF (Table). The structures were corroborated by spectroscopic (IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, and EI‐MS) and elemental analyses. A plausible mechanism for this type of cyclization is proposed (Scheme).     

Wormhole Geometries in f(R,T) Gravity

We study wormhole solutions in the framework of f(R,T) gravity where R is the scalar curvature, and T is the trace of the stress-energy tensor of the matter. We have obtained the shape function of the wormhole by specifying an equation of state for the matter field and imposing the flaring out condition at the throat. We show that in this modified gravity scenario, the matter threading the wormhole may satisfy the energy conditions, so it is the effective stress-energy that is responsible for violation of the null energy condition.     

Interactions between photodegradation components

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The interactions of p-cresol photocatalytic degradation components were studied by response surface methodology. The study was designed by central composite design using the irradiation time, pH, the amount of photocatalyst and the p-cresol concentration as variables. The design was performed to obtain photodegradation % as actual responses. The actual responses were fitted with linear, two factor interactions, cubic and [left-to-right mark] quadratic model to select an appropriate model. The selected model was validated by analysis of variance which provided evidences such as high F-value (845.09), very low P-value (<.0.0001), non-significant lack of fit, the coefficient of R-squared (R2 = 0.999), adjusted R-squared (Radj2 = 0.998), predicted R-squared (Rpred2 = 0.994) and the adequate precision (95.94). RESULTS: From the validated model demonstrated that the component had interaction with irradiation time under 180 min of the time while the interaction with pH was above pH 9. Moreover, photocatalyst and p-cresol had interaction at minimal amount of photocatalyst (< 0.8 g/L) and 100 mg/L p-cresol. CONCLUSION: These variables are interdependent and should be simultaneously considered during the photodegradation process, which is one of the advantages of the response surface methodology over the traditional laboratory method.     

Green Regioselective Azidolysis of Epoxides Catalyzed by Multi‐Site Phase‐Transfer Catalyst

A facile synthesis of 1,2‐azidoalcohols from their epoxides using α,α',α”‐N‐hexakis(triethylammoniummethylene chloride)‐melamine as a multi‐site phase‐transfer catalyst in water was developed. By this eco‐friendly and highly atom‐economic method, a variety of 1,2‐azidoalcohols was obtained in high yields with excellent regioselectivity and in short reaction times. Application of this six‐site PTC in the ring opening of epoxides by cyanide, acetate and chloride anions was also studied. The catalyst can be recovered after completion of the reaction and can be recycled without affecting the catalytic property.     

Impacts of zeolite nanoparticles on substrate properties of thin film nanocomposite membranes for engineered osmosis

In this work, microporous substrates modified by zeolite nanoparticles were prepared and used for composite membrane making with the aim of reducing internal concentration polarization (ICP) effect of membranes during engineered osmosis applications. Nanocomposite substrates were fabricated via phase inversion technique by embedding nanostructured zeolite (clinoptilolite) in the range of 0–0.6 wt% into matrix of polyethersulfone (PES) substrate. Of all the substrates prepared, the PES0.4 substrate (with 0.4 wt% zeolite) exhibited unique characteristics, i.e., increased surface porosity, lower structural parameter (S) (from 0.78 to 0.48 mm), and enhanced water flux. The thin film nanocomposite (TFN) membrane made of this optimized substrate was also reported to exhibit higher water flux compared to the control composite membrane during forward osmosis (FO) and pressure-retarded osmosis (PRO) test, without compromising reverse solute flux. The water flux of such TFN membrane was 43% higher than the control TFC membrane (1.93 L/m² h bar) with salt rejection recorded at 94.7%. An increment in water flux is ascribed to the reduction in structural parameter, leading to reduced ICP effect.     

Gliclazide as novel carrier in construction of PVC-based La(III)-selective membrane sensor

A PVC-based sensor for La³⁺ ions based on N-[hexahydrocyclopentapyrol-2((1H)yl)amino]carbonyl]-4-methyl benzene sulfonamide (gliclazide) as a novel carrier was prepared. The electrode exhibits a Nernstian response for La³⁺ over a wide concentration range (1.0×10⁻¹-1.0×10⁻⁶ M) with a slope of 20.1 mV per decade. The limit of detection is 8.0×10⁻⁷ M. The sensor has a very short response time (<15 s) and a useful working pH range of 4.0-8.0. The proposed membrane sensor shows excellent discriminating ability towards La³⁺ ions with regard to several alkali, alkaline earth, transition and heavy metal ions. The electrode was successfully applied for determination of La³⁺ in binary mixtures.