Molecular iodine preconcentration and determination in aqueous samples using poly(vinylpyrrolidone) containing membranes

Membranes for preconcentration of molecular iodine were developed by two different routes: (i) UV-grafting of 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone in the pores of microporous poly(propylene) host membrane (grafted membrane), and (ii) physical immobilization of preformed poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) in a plasticized cellulose triacetate matrix to form the polymer inclusion membrane (PVP-PIM). The UV-grafted PVP-membrane was found to be hydrophilic (water uptake capacity = 166 wt.%), while the PVP-PIM was found to be highly hydrophobic (≈2 wt.%). PVP-PIM was found to uptake only I₂ from aqueous sample whereas I₂ and I₃⁻ were sorbed in the grafted membrane. This selectivity of PVP-PIM towards I₂ was attributed to its hydrophobicity that allows only neutral I₂ to interact with PVP in the membrane matrix. Thus, the selective preconcentration and quantitative determination of I₂ in aqueous sample was carried out using PVP-PIM. As PVP-PIM was optically transparent, the characteristic absorbance of PVP–I₂ complex (λ_max = 361 nm) could be used for quantitative determination of I₂ in the membrane. The instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) of the I₂-loaded PIM samples indicated that 82% could be sorbed into the PIM samples from the solution within 10 min of equilibration time. This membrane was applied to I₂ determinations in the samples of ¹³¹I radiotracer. The concentration level of iodine species in these samples were in sub-ppb level. Therefore, these samples were ideal for testing the preconcentration efficiency of the membrane towards I₂ by monitoring the radioactivity of ¹³¹I. The amounts of I₂ in the aqueous samples were standardized by conventional solvent extraction of I₂ with the chloroform for validating the preconcentration efficiency of PVP-PIM. The detection limit of I₂ in aqueous samples by INAA hyphenated with PVP-PIM was found to be 0.3 ppb for a sample size of 25 mL.     

Photodefinable polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) for rapid lab-on-a-chip prototyping

In this paper, we introduce a new and simple method of patterning polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) directly using benzophenone as a photoinitiator. The photodefinable PDMS mixture (photoPDMS) is positive-acting and only sensitive to light below 365 nm, permitting processing under normal ambient light. Features of the order of 100 microm, which are sufficiently small for most microfluidic applications, were successfully fabricated using this novel process. A parametric study of process parameters was performed to optimize the fabrication. As a demonstration, microfluidic channels of varying dimensions were successfully fabricated using this process and experimentally characterized using fluorescence microscopy. To further demonstrate photoPDMS potential, thin (<30 microm) free-standing films with through patterns were fabricated and successfully used as shadow masks. The photoPDMS process completely eliminates the need for a master, permits processing under normal ambient light conditions, and makes fabrication fast and simple. This process for rapid prototyping of low-cost, disposable LOCs can be accomplished without cleanroom facilities and thus can be employed for a wide range of applications.     

Rational approaches for the design of various GABA modulators and their clinical progression

Molecular Diversity - GABA (γ-amino butyric acid) is an important inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. Attenuation of GABAergic neurotransmission plays an important role...     

Transform-Limited Pulses Are Not Optimal for Resonant Multiphoton Transitions

Maximizing nonlinear light-matter interactions is a primary motive for compressing laser pulses to achieve ultrashort transform limited pulses. Here we show how, by appropriately shaping the pulses, resonant multiphoton transitions can be enhanced significantly beyond the level achieved by maximizing the pulse's peak intensity. We demonstrate the counterintuitive nature of this effect with an experiment in a resonant two-photon absorption, in which, by selectively removing certain spectral bands, the peak intensity of the pulse is reduced by a factor of 40, yet the absorption rate is doubled. Furthermore, by suitably designing the spectral phase of the pulse, we increase the absorption rate by a factor of 7.     

Field-induced microwave absorption in Fe3O4 nanoparticles and Fe3O4/polyaniline composites synthesized by different methods

Three kinds of nanoscale powders containing Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (NPs) have been studied by ferromagnetic resonance (FMR): (i) Fe₃O₄ NPs grown and then covered with polyaniline (PANI), (ii) unclad Fe₃O₄ NPs, and (iii) Fe₃O₄ NPs grown “in situ” with the PANI. In every case, there is no low field microwave absorption, rather a single FMR line is observed. However, the half-power widths are of order of 1 kOe presumably due to a distribution of internal fields. For type I particles with a low concentration (below 40%) of Fe₃O₄, the observed resonance fields (H_r) are close to those expected for spheres with negligible magnetocrystalline anisotropy. For all other cases, H_r values are significantly lower. Such shortfalls can be roughly understood by invoking dipolar interactions between the grains, stresses frozen in grains during manufacture (method III), as well as anisotropy fields when the specimens are prepared in an aligning field.     

Virgin response of field induced microwave absorption in the high Tc ceramic superconductor BSCCO — RSJ model

Field induced microwave absorption is recorded at low fields (<20mT) in a high T_c ceramic superconductor (Bi,Pb)---Sr---Ca---Cu---O, after cooling in zero field to 54,77 and 90 K at 9.9 GHz and to 77K at 36.4 GHz. The results are discussed in conjunction with the dc magnetization data obtained on the same sample. It is argued that the observed features do not follow the predictions of the flux flow model while they give qualitative evidence in support of the resistively shunted Josephson junction model.     

Ferromagnetic resonance in amorphous systems: Dependence of the relaxation parameter on temperature (magnetization)

We have studied the uniform mode ferromagnetic resonance in the amorphous systems Metglass 28226A, 2826B, 2826 over the temperature range 77–430 K. The data have been analysed in terms of the Gilbert Equation. The g-values are very similar to those of crystalline permalloy. The relaxation parameters λ, are of the order of 10⁸ s^?1 and exhibit an interesting temperature dependence. In particular, for $\text{T}\text{T}{}_{\mathrm{c}}\text{?0.5, λ}$ is simply proportional to the static saturation magnetization M_s. The present results are compared with those obtained on crystalline samples of the 3-d transition metals and their alloys.     

Hall effect in amorphous magnetic materials — METGLAS 2826 and 2826B

Hall effect measurements on the ferromagnetic amorphous materials, Metglas 2826 and 2826B, indicate that they are rather similar to crystalline soft magnetic materials. The extra-ordinary Hall coefficient R_s is found to be 1.4 × 10⁴?² (m³/As), where, ?, is the electrical resistivity, and is in reasonable agreement with the predictions of theory. On the other hand, though unexpected, the ordinary Hall coefficient in all the amorphous alloys we have studied turns out to be of the order of 7 × 10^?10 (m³/As).     

Hydrocarbon group type analysis of petroleum heavy fractions using the TLC-FID technique

Hydrocarbon group type analysis is important in all conversion processes and in preparation of feed for these conversion processes so as to learn the selectivity of the different type of catalysts for product yield and quality. The use of the Mark 5 Iatroscan detector and the method reported here allowed for a rapid and quantitative hydrocarbon group type analysis of petroleum residues without prior separation of asphaltenes. SARA type analyses of petroleum residues have been performed by a three stage development using n-hexane, toluene and DCM (95%):MeOH (5%). The standard deviation and coefficient of variation in repeated measurements by this method were as low as 0.65 wt% or less and 3.5 wt% or less, respectively. The time required for analysis of 10 samples could be as short as 90 min.