Alkylation of phenol with olefins in the presence of catalysts based on mesoporous aromatic frameworks

Mesoporous polyaromatic frameworks (PAFs) based on tetraphenylmethane were obtained and modified with sulfonic acid groups. The compounds were characterized by solid-state ¹³C NMR and IR spectroscopy, low-temperature nitrogen adsorption-desorption, and transmission electron microscopy. The acidities of the PAF-1-SO₃H and PAF-2-SO₃H samples determined by titration were 3.99 mmol g^–1 and 0.91 mmol g^–1, respectively. The catalytic activity of PAF-SO₃H for alkylation of phenol with linear terminal olefins was investigated. The reaction products were isomeric monoalkylphenols (C-alkylates), and alkyl phenyl ethers (O-alkylates).     

Preconcentration and separation of <Superscript>99</Superscript>Tc in groundwater by using TEVA resin

An effort has been made to optimize the counting time for low-level measurement of naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) by considering the standard deviation between the activity values of different photopeaks and counting error. It is observed that at lower counting time, relative standard deviation (RSD) varies randomly, but attains a gradual trend with increasing time and also comes closure to the counting error. Therefore minimum counting time for low-level NORM measurement of ²³⁸U and ²³²Th would be the time required to stabilize the RSD values.     

An efficient and computational effective method for second order problems

An efficient and computational effective algorithm is introduced, for the first time in the literature, in the present paper. The main properties of the scheme are: (1) the algorithm is a two-step scheme, (2) the algorithm is symmetric one, (3) it is a hight algebraic order scheme (i.e of eight algebraic order), (4) it is a three-stages algorithm, (5) the first layer of the new method is based on an approximation to the point \(x_{n-1}\), (6) the scheme has vanished phase-lag and its first, second and third derivatives, (7) the new proposed algorithm has an interval of periodicity equal to \(\left( 0, 9.8 \right) \). For the present new scheme we study: (1) its construction, (2) its error analysis (3) its stability analysis. Finally, the investigation of the effectiveness of the new algorithm leads to its application to systems of differential equations arising from the Schrödinger equation.     

Research on the Effect of Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) Plasma Remote Treatment on Drag Force of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Yarns in Air Flow with Different Humidities

In this paper, long-lived free radicals in atmospheric-pressure DBD plasma were used to treat PET yarn surface. Subsequently, the drag force of treated yarns in air flow at four humidities (40 ± 3, 50 ± 3, 60 ± 3, 70 ± 3%) was measured. The results suggest that with the increase of flow humidity, the air drag force of untreated yarn decreased while that of plasma-treated ones on average increased gradually. The average growth rates of the drag force under each humidity were 5.33, 7.58, 10.08 and 12.28% respectively. Meanwhile, the air drag force of the yarns treated at different specific input energy (SIE) densities and treatment time varied obviously under different flow humidity. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis was performed to characterize the yarn surfaces chemically. The topology and roughness of PET yarns were measured by atomic force microscopy. The tensile test was carried out to characterize the mechanical strength. The ozone, nitrate and nitrite radicals and total organic carbon in tail gas of plasma were also analyzed. The maximal atomic concentration of N element on PET surface could reach 8.0%. The obtained results can improve the understanding of the property of long-lived reactive species from DBD plasma source generated at different SIE and the difference in PET surface etching and modification during remote treatment at different SIE. Moreover, the results also provide an experimental guideline for the improvement of weaving efficiency in air-jet weaving.     

Expression and Enzyme Activity Detection of a Sepiapterin Reductase Gene from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Musca domestica</Emphasis> Larva

Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is an essential cofactor for aromatic acid hydroxylases and nitric oxide synthase. Sepiapterin reductase (SPR) catalyzes the final steps of BH4 biosynthesis. Studies on SPR from several insects and other organisms have been reported. However, thus far, enzyme activity of SPR in Musca domestica is kept unknown. In this study, 186 differentially expressed genes including SPR gene from Musca domestica (MDSPR) were screened in subtractive cDNA library. The MDSPR gene was cloned, and the recombinant MDSPI16 protein was expressed as a 51-kDa protein in soluble form. The MDSPR exhibited strong activity to the substrate sepiapterin (SP). The values of V_max and K_m of the MDSPR for SP were 6.83 μM/min and 23.48 μM, and the optimum temperature and pH of MDSPR were 50 °C and 4.0, respectively. This study provides new hypotheses and methods for the production of BH4 using insect-derived SPR.     

Batch synthesis of polyoxometalate-based phosphonium compounds by one-step room-temperature mechanochemical process,and their morphology-dependent antibacterial activities

Based on the Keggin-type polyoxometalate and quaternary phosphonium salt, the (MePh₃P) _n -POM_Keggin compounds were synthesized via one-step mechanochemical process at room temperature. It showed the advantages of convenient operation, lower cost, less pollution, and mass production. Wonderfully, the morphology of compounds presented a strong dependence on the number of crystal water in the source heteropoly acids. A hypothesis of ‘semi-solid nonlocalized waters’ was brought to discuss the formation mechanism of polyhedrons. Antibacterial experiments indicate that the samples have good antibacterial activities, which resulted from the increase of the positive electrical charge of the phosphonium cation caused by the polarization by POM groups. Additionally, a formula of inhibitory zone per unit surface area was designed to more precisely evaluate the antibacterial activity of the materials. The calculation result indicated that the polyhedral particles give a higher surface antibacterial activity than the grain powder. This work developed an alternative synthesis method for composites from a new perspective, and will promote the research of new type of antibacterial agent.     

A zinc(II) benzenetricarboxylate metal organic framework with unusual adsorption properties,and its application to the preconcentration of pesticides

The authors describe a zinc(II) benzenetricarboxylate (Zn-BTC) based metal-organic framework (MOF) with chrysanthemum-like structure, and its application to the adsorption of pesticides from real water samples. The Zn-BTC MOF was characterized by XRD, TGA, SEM, nitrogen adsorption-desorption analysis and FT-IR spectroscopy. The MOF was used in dispersive solid-phase extraction of six aromatic pesticides from various wastewater samples prior to their quantification by HPLC. Extraction times, extraction temperature, amount of adsorbent, and oscillation rate were optimized. Under the optimal conditions, the method has relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 6.1–10.1%, and good linearity (correlation coefficients higher than 0.9974). The LODs and LOQs for seven pesticides are found to be 0.20–1.60 μg·L^?1 and 0.66–5.28 μg·L^?1, respectively. The RSDs of within batch extraction are 1.6–9.5% and 3.9–12%.

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Graphical abstract Schematic of a zinc-benzenetricarboxylate (Zn-BTC) based metal-organic framework (MOF) for use as an adsorbent of dispersive solid phase extraction (DSPE) of pesticides prior to their determination by HPLC.

     

Effect of Base–Acid Properties of Mixtures of Ethanol with Water on the Enthalpy of Solution of Cyclic Ethers in these Mixtures at <Emphasis Type="Italic">T</Emphasis> = 298.15 K

The enthalpies of solution of the cyclic ethers 1,4-dioxane, 12-crown-4 and 18-crown-6 in mixtures of ethanol and water have been measured within the whole mole fraction range at T = 298.15 K. The enthalpy of solvation has been calculated. In pure ethanol and pure water, the solvation enthalpy of the investigated cyclic ethers depends linearity on the number of –CH₂CH₂– groups in the cyclic ether molecules. Based on the analysis of the preferential solvation model proposed by Waghorne, it can be concluded that the 1,4-dioxane, 15C5 and 18C6 molecules are preferentially solvated by water molecules in the range of low water content in these mixtures. The effect of base–acid properties of ethanol–water mixtures on the enthalpy of solution of cyclic ethers in these mixtures has been analyzed. The enthalpy of solution of cyclic ethers correlates with the acidic properties of ethanol–water mixtures in the range of high and medium water content. The results presented are compared with analogous data obtained for the methanol–water and propan-1-ol–water mixtures.     

Tea-leaves based nitrogen-doped porous carbons for high-performance supercapacitors electrode

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Nitrogen-doped porous activated carbons have been fabricated through a simple and efficient carbonization method at 700&nbsp;°C with the waste...