Desorption of Asphaltenes from Silica-Coated Quartz Crystal Surfaces in Low Saline Aqueous Solutions

The quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) was used to study desorption of asphaltenes from silica-coated quartz crystals upon exposure to various aqueous low saline solutions of different salt concentrations and cationic valency. Ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy measurements confirmed desorption in selected experiments. The amount of desorption was related to the type and concentration of electrolyte and the sequence of injecting the electrolyte solutions. Initial desorption upon exposure to solutions with high ionic strength was likely due to repulsion between negatively charged sites acquired at the silica and the asphaltenes. During the injection of low saline aqueous solutions, a critical expansion of the diffuse double layer was required for desorption to occur. Comparatively lower desorption of asphaltenes was observed in the CaCl₂ solutions than in NaCl and seawater solutions.     

A Gas Chromatography‐Molecular Rotational Resonance Spectroscopy Based System of Singular Specificity

We designed and demonstrated the unique abilities of the first gas chromatography–molecular rotational resonance spectrometer (GC‐MRR). While broadly and routinely applicable, its capabilities can exceed those of high‐resolution MS and NMR spectroscopy in terms of selectivity, resolution, and compound identification. A series of 24 isotopologues and isotopomers of five organic compounds are separated, identified, and quantified in a single run. Natural isotopic abundances of mixtures of compounds containing chlorine, bromine, and sulfur heteroatoms are easily determined. MRR detection provides the added high specificity for these selective gas‐phase separations. GC‐MRR is shown to be ideal for compound‐specific isotope analysis (CSIA). Different bacterial cultures and groundwater were shown to have contrasting isotopic selectivities for common organic compounds. The ease of such GC‐MRR measurements may initiate a new era in biosynthetic/degradation and geochemical isotopic compound studies.     

N‐Iodosuccinimide: A Highly Effective Regioselective Reagent for Iodoesterification of Alkenes

A rapid, convenient, and efficient method has been achieved for regioselective iodoesterification of alkenes with aliphatic and aromatic acids, and protected amino acids in the presence of N‐iodosuccinimide (NIS) in nearly quantitative yields. Optically enriched iodohydrins have been achieved by LiAlH₄ (LAH) reduction of diastereoisomeric iodo esters.     

Injectable hydrogels for targeted delivering of therapeutic molecules for tissue engineering and disease treatment

Hydrogels are cross‐linked three‐dimensional polymeric networks that play a vital role in solving the pharmacological and clinical limitations of the existing systems due to their unique physical properties such as affinity for biological fluids, tunable porous nature, high water content, ease of preparation, flexibility, and biocompatibility. Hydrogel also mimics the living natural tissue, which opens several opportunities for its use in biomedical areas. Injectable hydrogel allows temporal control and exceptional spatial arrangements and can offset hitches with established hydrogel‐based drug delivery systems. Here, we review the recent development of injectable hydrogels and their significance in the delivery of therapeutics such as cells, genes, and drug molecules and how these innovatory systems can complement the current delivery systems.     

Partial slip effects on the flow and heat transfer characteristics in a third grade fluid

This article looks at the slip effects on the flow and heat transfer of a third grade fluid past a porous plate. The resulting equations and boundary conditions are non-linear. The non-linear boundary condition is reduced into a linear one and a series solution of the problem is obtained using the homotopy analysis method (HAM). Variations of interesting parameters are seen on the velocity and temperature profiles.