Influence of particle size on the fracture toughness of a PP-based particulate composite

The main focus of this paper is a numerical investigation of the fracture behavior of a particulate composite (CaCO₃-PP). The composite is modeled as a three-phase continuum and simulated numerically on a microscale by using finite elements. The propagation of a microcrack in a matrix filled with rigid particles covered by an interphase is analyzed. The stress distribution is determined for a variety of particle sizes and material properties of the interphase. The final results, in agreement with experimental data, confirm that the microcrack behavior depends on particle sizes. Russian translation published in Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 45, No. 3, pp. 411-418, May-June, 2009.     

The Synthesis of 3‐Phosphabicyclo[3.1.0]‐ hexane 3‐Oxides and 1,2‐Dihydrophosphinine 1‐Oxides with Lipophilic P‐Alkoxy Substituents by Ring Enlargement

A series of 1‐alkoxy‐3‐phospholene 1‐oxides available from the microwave‐assisted direct esterification of 1‐hydroxy‐3‐phospholene oxide was converted to the two diastereomers of 6,6‐dichloro‐3‐phosphabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane 3‐oxides by the addition of dichlorocarbene to the double bond. Thermolysis of the 3‐phospholene oxide–dichlorocarbene adducts afforded the corresponding 1,2‐dihydrophosphinine 1‐oxides as a ca. 3:1 mixture of two double bond isomers. Relative stability of the isomers of the intermediates and the products and their stereostructures were evaluated by B3LYP/6‐31G(d,p) calculations.     

Carbohydrate analysis of hemicelluloses by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry of acetylated methyl glycosides

A method based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of acetylated methyl glycosides was developed in order to analyze monosaccharides obtained from various hemicelluloses. The derivatives of monosaccharide standards, arabinose, glucose, and xylose were studied in detail and (13)C-labeled analogues were used for identification and quantitative analysis. Excellent chromatographic separation of the monosaccharide derivatives was found and identification of the anomeric configuration was feasible through a prepared and identified pure methyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-D-glucopyranoside. The electron ionization mass spectrum and fragmentation path was studied for each monosaccharide derivative. Fragment ion pairs of labeled and unlabeled monosaccharides were used for quantification; m/z 243/248 for glucose, 128/132 for xylose, and 217/218 for arabinose. Using the intensity ratios obtained from the extracted ion chromatograms, accurate quantification of monosaccharide constituents of selected hemicelluloses was demonstrated.     

CO Hydrogenation over Re-Co Bimetallic Catalysts Supported over SiO2, Al2O3 and NaY Zeolite

The promotion of rhenium on the reduction of Co²⁺ ions in cobalt based samples prepared by various methods, such as, sol/gel technique, incipient wetness impregnationof Al₂O₃ and NaY, has been investigated in the CO hydrogenation. Among the samples the reducibility of the sol/gel, Re-Co/Al₂O₃ and Re-Co/NaY(IM) were the highest compared to Re-Co/NaY (IE) [8]. In addition to facilitating reduction of Co²⁺ ions, the rhenium increased the rate of reaction and the formation ofC₅₊ hydrocarbons at 10 bar pressures. The samples pretreated in various manner, revealed an about five fold increase in activity and an increase in the chain length in the NaYsupported sample while the activity and selectivity changed in various way in the sol/gel prepared samples. Simultaneously, rhenium increased the amount of olefins of low carbon numbers.In the mechanism the rhenium provides an action preventing fast deactivation of cobalt.     

Phosphorylation of (1-aryl-1-hydroxymethyl)phosphonates

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Direct elemental analysis of cancer cell lines by total reflection X-ray fluorescence

The elemental content of Cu, Fe and Zn in two human adenocarcinoma cell lines was investigated by total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) spectrometry. Cancer cells were sedimented directly to the quartz plates using a modified cytospin slide holder setup. Special glass stands and caps were also constructed to hold the quartz plates with the cells during the vapour-phase microwave assisted digestion. The method was validated by analysis of certified reference materials. The signal-to-noise ratio was optimized by washing the cells with different solutions. The technique was applied to the determination of Cu, Fe and Zn content of HT-29 and HCA-7 colorectal adenocarcinoma cell lines. Dry mass of the centrifuged cells were determined and the elemental analysis data reported for the two cell lines were referred either to cell numbers, to the total protein content or to the dry mass.     

Microwave-assisted direct esterification of a cyclic phosphinic acid with phenols

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