Synthesis and characterization of new porphyrin/4-quinolone conjugates

New porphyrin/4-quinolone conjugates were synthesized from the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction of a β-borylated porphyrin with bromo-4-quinolones containing N-ethyl and N-d-ribofuranosyl substituents. The use of electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry showed important information about the fragmentation pathways of the new compounds. It was possible to distinguish between those compounds with the porphyrin moiety linked at the 6-position of the quinolone unit from their 7-substituted isomers. The new compounds showed to be good singlet oxygen generators.     

Fluorescence quenching of anthropogenic fulvic acids by Cu(II), Fe(III) and UO(2)(2+)

The quenching of the fluorescence of three anthropogenic fulvic acids (FA) provoked by Cu(II) (pH 6.0), Fe(III) (pH 4.0) and UO₂²⁺ (pH 3.5), was analyzed by a non-linear method and by Stern-Volmer plots. The FA samples were extracted from composted sewage sludges (csFA), composted municipal wastes (mwFA) and composted livestock wastes (lsFA). Synchronous-scan fluorescence (SyF) spectra were collected as a function of metal ion concentration. Spectral data were treated by a self-modeling mixture analysis method (SIMPLISMA) to detect the SyF spectral band with the strongest quenching and to calculate the corresponding quenching profile. The analysis of these profiles by a non-linear method allowed the estimation of conditional stability constants (K) and of the percentage of non-complexing fluorophores. The same quantitative information was obtained by the modified Stern-Volmer equation taking into account the existence of fluorophores that do not participate in the complexation. Good agreement was found between the results of the two procedures. The log K calculated by the non-linear method were (standard deviation in parenthesis): csFA, Cu(II), 4.22 (5); Fe(III), 5.0 (1); UO₂²⁺, 5.2 (2); mwFA, Cu(II), 4.21 (3); Fe(III), 5.6 (2); UO₂²⁺, 4.7 (3); lsFA, Cu(II), 4.51 (8); Fe(III), 5.5 (2); UO₂²⁺, 3.6 (2).     

Effect of cerium, holmium and samarium ions on the thermal and structural properties of the HZSM-12 zeolite

The study of the incorporation of rare earth elements as additives in Y zeolites is a very interesting field of research, mainly by its potential application as additives in catalytic cracking process. In this work was studied the thermal and structural properties of cerium, holmium and samarium supported on HZSM-12 zeolite. The obtained materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nitrogen adsorption, thermogravimetry (TG/DTG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). TG/DSC/DTA analyses showed that the dehydration temperatures of RE/HZSM-12 zeolites (RE=Ce, Ho, Sm) increase in relation to pure HZSM-12. The acid properties were investigated by pyridine thermo desorption via TG. The results showed two events of mass loss attributed to elimination of pyridine adsorbed on the weak+medium acid sites and on the strong acid sites.     

Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) Synthesis by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Spirulina</Emphasis> sp. LEB 18 Using Biopolymer Extraction Waste

The reuse of waste as well as the production of biodegradable compounds has for years been the object of studies and of global interest as a way to reduce the environmental impact generated by unsustainable exploratory processes. The conversion of linear processes into cyclical processes has environmental and economic advantages, reducing waste deposition and reducing costs. The objective of this work was to use biopolymer extraction waste in the cultivation of Spirulina sp. LEB 18, for the cyclic process of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) synthesis. Concentrations of 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30% (v/v) of biopolymer extraction waste were tested. For comparison, two assays were used without addition of waste, Zarrouk (SZ) and modified Zarrouk (ZM), with reduction of nitrogen. The assays were carried out in triplicate and evaluated for the production of microalgal biomass and PHB. The tests with addition of waste presented a biomass production statistically equal to ZM (0.79 g L^?1) (p?<?0.1). The production of PHB in the assay containing 25% of waste was higher when compared to the other cultivations, obtaining 10.6% (w/w) of biopolymer. From the results obtained, it is affirmed that the use of PHB extraction waste in the microalgal cultivation, aiming at the synthesis of biopolymers, can occur in a cyclic process, reducing process costs and the deposition of waste, thus favoring the preservation of the environment.     

Synthesis of Catechol Derived Rosamine Dyes and Their Reactivity toward Biogenic Amines

Functional organic dyes play a key role in many fields, namely in biotechnology and medical diagnosis. Herein, we report two novel 2,3- and 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl substituted rosamines (3 and 4, respectively) that were successfully synthesized through a microwave-assisted protocol. The best reaction yields were obtained for rosamine 4, which also showed the most interesting photophysical properties, specially toward biogenic amines (BAs). Several amines including n- and t-butylamine, cadaverine, and putrescine cause spectral changes of 4, in UV–Vis and fluorescence spectra, which are indicative of their potential application as an effective tool to detect amines in acetonitrile solutions. In the gas phase, the probe response is more expressive for spermine and putrescine. Additionally, we found that methanolic solutions of rosamine 4 and n-butylamine undergo a pink to yellow color change over time, which has been attributed to the formation of a new compound. The latter was isolated and identified as 5 (9−aminopyronin), whose solutions exhibit a remarkable increase in fluorescence intensity together with a shift toward more energetic wavelengths. Other 9-aminopyronins 6a, 6b, 7a, and 7b were obtained from methanolic solutions of 4 with putrescine and cadaverine, demonstrating the potential of this new xanthene entity to react with primary amines.     

A method for calibration and validation subset partitioning

This paper proposes a new method to divide a pool of samples into calibration and validation subsets for multivariate modelling. The proposed method is of value for analytical applications involving complex matrices, in which the composition variability of real samples cannot be easily reproduced by optimized experimental designs. A stepwise procedure is employed to select samples according to their differences in both x (instrumental responses) and y (predicted parameter) spaces. The proposed technique is illustrated in a case study involving the prediction of three quality parameters (specific mass and distillation temperatures at which 10 and 90% of the sample has evaporated) of diesel by NIR spectrometry and PLS modelling. For comparison, PLS models are also constructed by full cross-validation, as well as by using the Kennard-Stone and random sampling methods for calibration and validation subset partitioning. The obtained models are compared in terms of prediction performance by employing an independent set of samples not used for calibration or validation. The results of F-tests at 95% confidence level reveal that the proposed technique may be an advantageous alternative to the other three strategies.     

Effect of the ZnNi y Mn2– y O4 (0 ≤ y ≤ 1) spinel composition on electrochemical lithium insertion

The electrochemical insertion of lithium in the spinel-type manganite with the formula ZnNi _y Mn_{2– y} O₄ has been studied. The galvanostatic discharge curves show that the best performance is obtained for y = 0.25, where a tetragonal to cubic structural transformation occurs. The thermodynamics and kinetics of the process of insertion of the lithium into the tetragonal spinel Li _x ZnNi_0.25Mn_1.75O₄ (x = 0.05–1.3) have been studied. The molar thermodynamic quantities, such as enthalpy, entropy and free energy determined by EMF-T measurements, varied with the lithium concentration in the oxide structure, and a major variation was observed around x = 0.8. The chemical diffusion coefficient of lithium in these spinels was also determined. Structural analysis, degree of oxidation and magnetic susceptibility measurements were carried out for the lithiated oxides in order to obtain the cationic distribution as a function of x. It has been possible to demonstrate that, upon lithium insertion, Mn⁴⁺ ions on B sites are reduced to Mn³⁺ and then to Mn²⁺. A cooperative Jahn-Teller effect is present in these spinel manganese-nickel oxides. Received: 4 February 1997 / Accepted: 11 April 1997     

Surfactant-based dispersant for multiwall carbon nanotubes to prepare ceramic composites by a sol-gel method

A dispersant for multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) is proposed that fulfils the requirements of creating a uniform dispersion in the matrix and obtaining a good interface between CNTs and the matrix, and is soluble in generic nonpolar solvents. This dispersant is based on a long chain surfactant, called in this work dabcosil stearate, containing a stearate-based 18-carbon alkyl chain as an anion, and a silsesquioxane containing a bridged, positively charged 1,4-diazoniabicyclo[2.2.2]octane group. It provides not only a very good dispersion medium for the MWCNTs, but also a very good interface between MWCNTs and ceramic matrices, such as alumina and zirconia, prepared by the sol-gel method.     

Thermal studies on solid 1,4-bis(3-carboxy-3-oxo-prop-1-enyl) benzene of lighter trivalent lanthanides

Solid-state compounds of general formula Ln₂L₃·nH₂O, where L represents 1,4-bis(3-carboxy-3-oxo-prop-1-enyl)benzene and Ln = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, were synthesized. Complexometric titrations with EDTA, thermogravimetry (TG), differential thermal analysis (DTA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray powder diffractometry, elemental analysis and infrared spectroscopy have been employed to characterize and to study the thermal behavior of these compounds in dynamic air atmosphere. The results led to information about the composition, dehydration, crystallinity, and thermal decomposition of the synthesized compounds.     

Anisotropic scalar field with cosmical time

A static, plane-symmetric scalar field of long range is considered in general relativity, and a one-parameter class of exact solutions with cosmical time is studied in harmonic coordinates. The geodetic equations are solved. A velocity-dependent acceleration field is found, acting attractively on the component of the velocity normal to the plane of symmetry, and repulsively on the component parallel to that plane. The manifold is complete. Test particles at rest are insensitive to it.