Comparison of GC and HPLC Methods for Quantitative Analysis of Tinuvin 622 After Saponification in Polyethylene

This study describes the sample preparation and two chromatographic techniques for determination of Tinuvin 622 in polyethylene. The first part of the two methods consisting of dissolving the polyethylene in boiling xylene is followed by addition of a methanolic solution of potassium hydroxide. The polymeric light stabilizer, Tinuvin 622, is thereby saponified to 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidineethanol (diol). Addition of the methanolic solution of the saponification reagent simultaneously precipitates the polyethylene matrix. Then the diol is quantified using either gas chromatography (GC) or high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). For GC, a Macherey Nagel Optima-17 capillary column (30m×0.25mm ID, film thickness 0.25µm) is used. Nitrogen is used as carrier gas and make-up gas. The detection system is a flame ionization detector. For HPLC, an octadecyl silane (ODS) column (30cm×4mm, particle size 5µm) and a mobile phase methanol: water mixture (3:97, v/v) are used. Detection of analyte is carried out at 215nm. Both methods can be used to determine Tinuvin 622 in polyethylene in the concentration range of 0.02–1%, which represents the usual application concentration.     

Enhanced photoreduction of water catalyzed by a cucurbit[8]uril-secured platinum dimer

A cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8])-secured platinum terpyridyl chloride dimer was used as a photosensitizer and hydrogen-evolving catalyst for the photoreduction of water. Volumes of produced hydrogen were up to 25 and 6 times larger than those obtained with the corresponding free and cucurbit[7]uril-bound platinum monomer, respectively, at equal Pt concentration. The thermodynamics of the proton-coupled electron transfer from the Pt(ii)–Pt(ii) dimer to the corresponding Pt(ii)–Pt(iii)–H hydride key intermediate, as quantified by density functional theory, suggest that CB[8] secures the Pt(ii)–Pt(ii) dimer in a particularly reactive conformation that promotes hydrogen formation.

The cucurbit[8]uril macrocycle can secure a platinum terpyridyl complex into a particularly reactive dimer that catalyzes the photoreduction of water.     

Application of in-situ formed polymer-based dispersive solid phase extraction in combination with solidification of floating organic droplet-based dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction for the extraction of neonicotinoid pesticides from milk samples

An in-situ formed polymer–based dispersive solid phase extraction in combination with solidification of floating organic droplet-based dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction was developed for the extraction of neonicotinoid pesticides from milk samples. The extracted analytes were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography–diode array detector. In this approach, after precipitating the proteins of milk using a zinc sulfate solution, the supernatant phase (containing sodium chloride) was transferred into another glass test tube, and a homogenous solution of polyvinylpyrrolidone and a suitable water-miscible organic solvent was rapidly injected into it. By this step, the polymer particles were re-produced and the analytes were extracted onto the sorbent surface. In the following step, the analytes were eluted with an appropriate organic solvent to use in the following solidification of floating organic droplet-based dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction step that was done to acquire the low limits of detection. Under the optimized conditions, satisfactory results consisting of low limits of detection (0.13–0.21 ng/ml) and quantification (0.43–0.70 ng/ml), high extraction recoveries (73%–85%), and enrichment factors (365–425), and good repeatability (relative standard deviations equal or less than 5.1% and 5.9% for intra- and inter-day precisions, respectively) were obtained.     

Green synthesis of new pyrimido[4,5‐d]pyrimidine derivatives using 7‐aminonaphthalene‐1,3‐disulfonic acid‐functionalized magnetic Fe3O4@SiO2 nanoparticles as catalyst

We, herein, describe a novel, simple, efficient and one‐pot multi‐component procedure for the synthesis of substituted pyrimido[4,5‐d]pyrimidines via reaction of N,N‐dimethyl‐6‐amino uracil, isothiocyanate and aromatic aldehydes promoted by 7‐aminonaphthalene‐1,3‐disulfonic acid (ANDSA)‐functionalized magnetic Fe₃O₄@SiO₂ in water as solvent and without using any other harmful organic reagents. Compared with other reactions, using these organic–inorganic hybrid heterogeneous catalysts can help us to achieve a green procedure, high catalytic activity, easy recovery with an external magnetic field, and short reaction times.     

Improving piezoelectric and pyroelectric properties of electrospun PVDF nanofibers using nanofillers for energy harvesting application

In this study, it was aimed to increase the piezoelectric and pyroelectric properties of electrospun polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanofibers simultaneously by using specific nanofillers. Graphene oxide (GO), graphene, and halloysite nanotubes with different concentrations (0, 0.05, 0.4, and 1.6% wt/wt) were combined with PVDF solution and were fabricated in the form of nanofibers through electrospinning. Pyroelectric properties of samples were measured by submerging sealed samples in hot water (360°K) and ice (270°K). The piezoelectric properties of the samples were evaluated through bending tests. The microstructural, mechanical, and thermal properties of the electrospun PVDF nanocomposite were investigated using scanning electron microscope, Instron instrument, and thermogravimetric analysis, respectively. To further support the experimental observations for generating electric voltage in the bended nanogenerator, the PVDF nanogenerator (PNG) was also modeled by a finite element analysis based on the theory of linear piezoelectricity using COMSOL Multiphysics simulation software. Experimental results showed that adding nanofillers could improve the piezoelectric and pyroelectric properties of all samples, associated with the increment of β‐phase in the nanofibers. It was concluded that adding nanofillers could increase pyroelectricity about 50% more than piezoelectricity in pristine PVDF nanofiber web. The PNG containing 1.6 wt% GO showed the highest efficiency in terms of piezoelectricity and pyroelectricity. In addition, the results showed that the ratio of piezoelectric to pyroelectric coefficients was constant (~1.5) and it was independent of the nanofiller type and content. The effect of external force and vibration frequency on the output voltage was also investigated. Increasing the compressive force and vibration frequency caused a greater output voltage. Finally, the fabricated nanogenerator was integrated on insole and elbow to investigate its energy harvesting capabilities from body movement.     

Front and back surface cw CO2-laser annealing of arsenic ion-implanted silicon

The annealing behavior of arsenic-implanted silicon under scanned cw CO₂-laser irradiation from front and back surfaces is investigated. Ellipsometry, Hall effect, Rutherford backscattering measurements and neutron activation analysis indicate an enhancement of annealing efficiency by laser irradiation from the back surface, which provides complete recovery of crystal damage, high substitutionality and electrical activation of implanted arsenic atoms without redistribution of concentration profile. The enhancement of annealing efficiency under back-surface irradiation is explained by the difference in laser reflection from the front and back surface of silicon wafers. No differences in the results are found for scanned and static annealing.     

Vibration analysis and design optimization of viscoelastic sandwich cylindrical shell

Damping properties of viscoelastic sandwich structure can be improved by changing some parameters such as thickness of the layers, distribution of partial treatments, slippage between layers at the interfaces, cutting and its distribution at the top and core layers. Since the optimization problem may result in a thick core layer, for achieving more accuracy a new higher-order Taylor's expansion of transverse and in-plane displacement fields is developed for the core layer of sandwich cylindrical shell in which the displacement fields at the core layer are compatibly described in terms of the displacement fields at the elastic faces. The presented model includes fewer parameters than the previously developed models and therefore decreases the number of degree of freedom in the finite element modeling. The transverse normal stress in the core layer is also considered. The formulations are developed to consider the slippage between layers at the interfaces. Finally, by combining the finite element method and the optimization algorithms based on the genetic algorithm and sequential quadratic programming technique, a design optimization methodology has been formulated to maximize the damping characteristics using the optimal number and location of cuts and partial treatments with optimal thicknesses of top and core layers.     

Microwave Assisted,Solvent Free One Pot Synthesis of Nitriles from Aryl Aldehydes on Melamin Formaldehyde as Solid Support

Various aryl aldehydes underwent prompt one pot conversion into the corresponding nitriles in high yields by reacting with hydroxylamine hydrochloride supported on melamine formaldehyde under microwave irradiation in the presence of ammonium acetate as catalyst.     

Immobilization of palladium nanoparticles as a recyclable heterogeneous catalyst for the Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction

This work describes the synthesis of Pd nanoparticles that are stabilized on CaAl-layered double hydroxide functionalized with Tris (tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane). The synthesized catalyst is characterized by several different analyses and has been successfully applied to the Suzuki–Miyaura reaction.     

A novel reusable ionic liquid chemically bonded fused-silica fiber for headspace solid-phase microextraction/gas chromatography-flame ionization detection of methyl tert-butyl ether in a gasoline sample

A novel ionic liquid (IL) bonded fused-sil-ica fiber for headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME)/gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID) of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) in a gasoline sample was prepared and used. The new proposed chemically bonded fiber has better thermal stability and durability than its corresponding physically coated fiber. Another advantage is that no spacer was used for the purpose of bonding the IL to the surface of the fused-silica. The latter advantage makes the preparation of these fibers easier with lower cost than those prepared using sol–gel method. The ionic liquid 1-methyl-3-(3-trimethoxysilyl propyl) imidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide was synthesized and cross linked to the surface of the fused-silica fiber. Then, the chemically IL-modified fibers were applied to the headspace extraction of MTBE. The chemically IL-modified fibers showed improved thermal stability at temperatures up to 220 °C relative to the physically IL-modified fibers (180 °C). The chemically bonded IL film on the surface of the fused-silica fiber was durable over 16 headspace extractions without any significant loss of the IL film. The calibration graph was linear in a concentration range of 2–240 μg L⁻¹ (R² = 0.996) with the detection limit of 0.1 μg L⁻¹ level. The reproducibility (RSD %, n = 6) of the new IL bonded fused-silica fiber (8.9%) was better than the physically coated fiber (12%) suggesting that the proposed chemically IL-modified fiber is more robust than the physically IL-modified fiber. The optimum extraction conditions were the followings: 40 °C extraction temperature, 12 min extraction time, 30 s desorption time and sample agitation at 200 rpm.