Thermogravimetric and kinetic methods to date wood finds. First results

Fresh (larch and fir, in its white and red varieties) and ancient wood samples (dating respectively to the 13th, 15th and 17th centuries) were subjected to thermogravimetric analysis (TG and DTG). The resulting thermogravimetric data were then used to construct archeometric curves for the wood varieties tested. In a preliminary approach, it was attempted to correlate the onset temperature of the thermogravimetric step corresponding to cellulose decomposition with the age (expressed in centuries) of the samples, although the results obtained were anything but brilliant. More encouraging results were obtained by examining the relationship between wood sample age and the value of the (percent cellulose/percent lignin) ratio computed from the thermogravimetric data. Lastly, a procedure for processing data obtained from the TG curves was applied to a kinetic analysis of the processes that take place when wood samples are subjected to a temperature regime with a constant heating rate, obtaining values for the activation energy of the TG step corresponding to the decomposition of cellulose. Also using these data it was attempted to construct archeometric curves, obtaining results that varied quite significantly according to the wood species tested.     

New cyclodextrin derivatives as chiral selectors in capillary electrophoresis

The separation of three pairs of enantiomeric herbicides has been successfully achieved by capillary electrophoresis at two different pH values in the presence of cyclodextrin derivatives previously synthesized in our laboratory. Two of these derivatives constitute a new class of receptor, the hemispherodextrins, in which a trehalose capping moiety is bonded to beta-cyclodextrin. Because of their peculiar structure hemispherodextrins have very promising characteristics and the low receptor concentration required to achieve separation deserves particular interest.     

New cyclodextrin derivatives as chiral selectors in capillary electrophoresis

The separation of three pairs of enantiomeric herbicides has been successfully achieved by capillary electrophoresis at two different pH values in the presence of cyclodextrin derivatives previously synthesized in our laboratory. Two of these derivatives constitute a new class of receptor, the hemispherodextrins, in which a trehalose capping moiety is bonded to β-cyclodextrin. Because of their peculiar structure hemispherodextrins have very promising characteristics and the low receptor concentration required to achieve separation deserves particular interest.     

Influence of Molecular Conformation on the Constitutive Response of Polyethylene: A Comparison of HDPE, UHMWPE, and PEX

The current work presents the characterization and comparison of the mechanical response of three different industrial forms of polyethylene. Specifically, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), and cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) were tested in compression as a function of temperature (−75 to 100°C) and strain-rate (10⁻⁴ to 2,600 s⁻¹). The responses of UHMWPE and PEX are very similar, whereas HDPE exhibits some differences. The HDPE samples display a significantly higher yield stress followed by a flat flow behavior. Conversely UHMWPE and PEX both exhibit significant strain hardening after yield. The temperature and strain-rate dependence are captured by simple linear and logarithmic fits over the full range of conditions investigated. The yield behavior is presented in terms of an empirical mapping function that is extended to analytically solve for the mapping constant. The power-law dependence on strain-rate observed in some polymers is explained using this mapping function.     

Noncovalent interaction-driven stereoselectivity of copper(II) complexes with cyclodextrin derivatives of L- and D-carnosine

L-Carnosine (β-alanyl-L-histidine, LCar) is the most widely and abundantly distributed copper(II)-coordinating endogenous dipeptide. Though its physiological role has not been completely understood yet, many functions have been proposed for this compound. LCar might be crucial in the potential reduction or prevention of several pathologies in which the metal ions are thought to be involved. The potential therapeutic applications of LCar are drastically limited because of hydrolysis by specific dipeptidases (carnosinases). D-Carnosine (DCar), the enantiomer of the naturally occurring dipeptide, shows the same properties as those of LCar, but it is not hydrolyzed by carnosinases. Chemical modification of LCar has been proposed as a promising strategy to reduce its enzymatic hydrolysis; conjugation of a carbohydrate moiety may also improve site-specific transport to different tissues, which would enhance the peptide bioavailability. On this basis, we have functionalized DCar with β-cyclodextrin (CDDCar) and characterized the compound via NMR. The copper(II) binding properties of the new DCar derivative were investigated by spectroscopic techniques (UV-vis, circular dichroism, electron paramagnetic resonance) and potentiometric measurements. The results surprisingly revealed a pronounced difference from the analogous LCar derivative (CDLCar), especially concerning the dimeric species. The spectroscopic data show that this stereoselectivity is driven by noncovalent interactions, namely, hydrogen bonds, CH-π interactions, and steric and hydrophobic effects of the cyclodextrin cavity.     

Thermoanalytical studies of imidazole-substituted coordination compounds

Four manganese(II) coordination compounds with bis(1-methylimidazol-2-yl)ketone (BIK) of general formula Mn(BIK)₂X₂ (X = Cl, Br, NO₃, ClO₄) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, by UV–vis, and FTIR spectroscopies to be compared with the literature data. Following our previous thermoanalytical studies on imidazole-substituted coordination compounds, the thermal behavior of the synthesized Mn(II) complexes was investigated using TG and DTG techniques: the thermal profile is characterized by three substantial consecutive releasing steps for all the three complexes and the releasing supposed behavior is confirmed by EGA analysis performed by coupling the TG analyzer to an MS spectrometer. In particular, the first step is ascribed to the release of the two anions, followed by the loss of four methyl groups (side chains of the ligand) and two bridge-carbonyl groups. The residual tetra-imidazole manganese compound decomposes in a final step to give MnO as the final residue. Both the initial decomposition temperatures and the kinetic rate constants associated to the first decomposition step indicated a higher stability of the Mn(BIK)₂Cl₂ complex, the bromide complex being very close to the chloride one (first-step thermal stability: ClO₄ ⁻ <NO₃ ⁻ ≤Br⁻ <Cl⁻). Finally, the three-dimensional diffusion reaction model (D3) was selected to describe the first decomposition step for all the four complexes examined.     

Isoconversional kinetic study of alachlor and metolachlor vaporization by thermal analysis

The vaporization kinetics of two acetamide pesticides, namely alachlor and metolachlor, was studied by thermogravimetric analysis under nonisothermal conditions (using heating rates between 1.0 and 10 K min^?1). A model‐free isoconversional method of kinetic analysis was proposed, and activation energy dependences on the extent of conversion α for nonisothermal experiments were given. An increase in activation energy is shown for alachlor from 50 to 60 kJ mol^?1, while E values do not significantly vary in the range α > 0.1: 63 kJ mol^?1 for metolachlor while 60 kJ mol^?1 for alachlor. At the end of vaporization (0.9 < α < 1.0), the activation energies are in close agreement with the enthalpies of vaporization calculated from DSC measurements. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 37: 74–80, 2005