Application of multi-capillary column – ion mobility spectrometry (MCC-IMS) in rubber chemistry and technology

In this paper the possibility for authentication and differentiation of various styrene butadiene rubbers (SBRs) was investigated. Seven types of SBR were analyzed by multi-capillary column (MCC) ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) and their spectra compared. The analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) releasing from the rubbers revealed the presence of characteristics signals, which can be assigned only to a specific material. Such “markers”, when defined for other polymer materials, can be used for their authentication. In the second part of the paper, the blend of epoxidized natural rubber and poly-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate (ENR/P(3,4)HB) was subjected to different types of aging. MCC-IMS spectra of not aged, thermal, climatic and UV aged samples were collected and differences between the signals discussed. The study showed possibility of authentication of polymeric materials and processes. The paper is a some kind of introduction to the use of analytical properties and advantages of MCC-IMS technique in chemistry, technology and exploitation of polymer materials.     

Synthesis and Physicochemical Characteristics of New Tetrachloroferrates(III) with Dimethylammonium Cation: X‐ray Crystal Structure of Bis(dimethylammonium) Chloride Tetrachloroferrate(III)

Two new tetrachloroferrates(III) have been synthesized of molecular formulas [(CH₃)₂NH₂][FeCl₄] and [(CH₃)₂NH₂]₂FeCl₅. The differences in their physicochemical properties have been highlighted using thermal analysis (TG‐MS) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The crystal and molecular structure of [(CH₃)₂NH]₂FeCl₅ was determined. The iron(III) cation is four coordinated by chloride ions, and it adopts a slightly distorted tetrahedral coordination with three angles smaller and three larger than the tetrahedral one. In the structure four intermolecular N‐H···Cl hydrogen bonds link the [(CH₃)₂NH₂]⁺ cations to dimers via a Cl^? bridge.     

Ligand-field photolysis of [Mo(CN)8]4- in aqueous hydrazine: trapped Mo(II) intermediate and catalytic disproportionation of hydrazine by cyano-ligated Mo(III,IV) complexes

The substitutional photolysis of K4[Mo(CN)8].2H2O in 98% N2H4.H2O has been investigated in detail. A molybdenum(II) intermediate, K5[Mo(CN)7].N2H4, is isolated in the primary stage of the reaction that involves the oxidation of N2H4 to N2, as evidenced by the analysis of evolving gases. The powder X-ray crystal structure of K5[Mo(CN)7].N2H4 indicates the pentagonal bipiramidal geometry of the anion and the presence of N2H4 in proximity to the CN(-) ligands. The salt is characterized by means of EDS, IR, UV-vis, and EPR spectroscopy as well as cyclic voltammetry measurements. The secondary stages of photolysis, involving the catalytic decomposition of N2H4 into NH3 and N2, lead to the formation of a molybdenum(IV) complex, [Mo(CN)4O(NH3)]2-. The monitoring of the amounts of evolving gases combined with UV-vis and EPR spectroscopic measurements at various stages of photolysis indicate that the molybdenum(III,IV) couple is catalytically active. The scheme of the catalytic decomposition of hydrazine is presented and discussed.     

An integrated experimental and analytical approach to the chemical state imaging of iron in brain gliomas using X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy

X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectroscopy is used for human neoplastic tissues in order to investigate distributions and chemical states of iron. The specimens used in this study were obtained intraoperatively from brain gliomas of different types and various grades of malignancy and from a control subject. An integrated experimental and analytical approach toward topographic and quantitative analysis in thin freeze-dried cryo-sections is presented. The full XANES spectra at the Fe absorption K edge show the presence of both chemical forms of Fe in the analyzed points of the tissues. The main goal of the work is the chemical state imaging of Fe in tissue areas. Topographic analysis of Fe speciation in the tissues investigated with the use of the XANES technique indicates the presence of microstructures where Fe²⁺ is dominant as well as those with a high abundance of the oxidized form of Fe. The quantitative analysis shows that for all cases the content of the oxidized form of Fe is significantly higher in comparison with Fe²⁺. The highest level of Fe³⁺ is found in the control sample, and the lowest one for the glioma of the highest grade of malignancy. The content of either Fe²⁺ or Fe³⁺ is increased in low grade gliomas in comparison to high-grade malignant tumors.     

Simultaneous quantification of Panax and Epimedium species using Rapid Resolution Liquid Chromatography (RRLC)

Two Rapid Resolution Liquid Chromatography (RRLC) methods have been developed and validated for simultaneous quantification of eight major ginsenosides from Panax species, namely, R1, Rg1, Re, Rf, Rb1, Rb2, Rc, and Rd, and flavonoids from Epimedium species, namely, epimedins A, B, and C and icariin. The analyses were performed using an Agilent 1200 series RRLC system with Phenomenex Luna C18-HST and Zorbax Eclipse XDB columns. The separation was performed with a gradient mobile phase of A (pure water) and B (acetonitrile) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min and 2.5 mL/min, respectively. Both columns were kept at 40 degrees C with the detection wavelength set at 203 nm. Specific eluted compounds were identified by using reference samples of ginsenosides R1, Rg1, Re, Rf, Rb1, Rc, Rb2, and Rd, and epimedins A, B, C and icariin. Baseline separation was achieved in less than 15 minutes for the Phenomenex Luna column and 4 minutes for the Zorbax Eclipse column. Characteristic RRLC profiles were established for complex mixtures of ginsenosides from Panax species and flavonoids from Epimedium species. Both methods developed here are effective for the quality control of formulated products containing both Panax and Epimedium varieties.     

Styrene polymerization in the presence of the CpTiCl3/Al2O3–SiO2/MAO catalytic system

Syndiotactic polymerization of styrene in the presence of heterogenized hemititanocene catalysts CpTiCl₃/Al₂O₃–SiO₂/MAO (Cp = cyclopentadienyl; MAO = methylaluminoxane) showed that the yield and selectivity of this reaction depend on the support composition, i.e. on the Al₂O₃ content in the support. The most active catalysts contained Al₂O₃ in a quantity of 50 to 70 wt%. Despite a relatively lower selectivity of 75–59%, the amount of syndiotactic polystyrene in the presence of those catalysts was the greatest. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

BVφ-solutions of nonlinear integral equations

In this paper we investigate solutions of nonlinear Hammerstein and Volterra-Hammerstein integral equations in the space of functions of bounded φ-variation in the sense of Young. We prove the existence and in some cases the existence and uniqueness of local and global solutions in this class. Real-valued as well as vector-valued functions are under our consideration. The method of our proofs is based on an application of the Banach contraction principle as well as the Leray-Schauder alternative for contractions.     

Bounded pluriharmonic functions on symmetric irreducible Siegel domains

Let be an irreducible, symmetric Siegel domain and let S be a solvable group which acts simply transitively on . We exhibit three S-invariant, real, second order, degenerate elliptic operators such that a bounded function F on is pluriharmonic, if and only if . The three operators are the same as in our former paper [DHMP], however there we needed a considerably stronger condition on F to derive the same conclusion. Received: 26 October 2000; in final form: 10 September 2001 / Published online: 28 February 2002     

Stress equivalence principle for saturated porous mediaPrincipe d'équivalence en contrainte pour milieux poreux saturés

The stress equivalence principle for saturated porous media is studied in the plastic domain using a homogenization approach. The skeleton is composed of a micro-isotropic and micro-homogeneous material. The stress localization law in saturated porous media is first obtained. This makes it possible to define an appropriate effective stress tensor in the sense of the stress equivalence principle. The form of the effective stress tensor is examined for two particular yield functions of skeleton material. To cite this article: D. Lydzba, J.-F. Shao, C. R. Mecanique 330 (2002) 297–303.     

Sarracenia alata (Alph.Wood) Alph.Wood Microcuttings as a Source of Volatiles Potentially Responsible for Insects’ Respond

Rare carnivorous plants representing the genus Sarracenia are perceived as very interesting to scientists involved in various fields of botany, ethnobotany, entomology, phytochemistry and others. Such high interest is caused mainly by the unique capacity of Sarracenia spp. to attract insects. Therefore, an attempt to develop a protocol for micropropagation of the Sarracenia alata (Alph.Wood) Alph.Wood, commonly named yellow trumpets, and to identify the specific chemical composition of volatile compounds of this plant in vitro and ex vivo was undertaken. Thus, the chemical volatile compounds excreted by the studied plant to attract insects were recognized with the application of the headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) coupled with the GC-MS technique. As the major volatile compounds (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol (16.48% ± 0.31), (E)-3-hexen-1-ol acetate (19.99% ± 0.01) and β-caryophyllene (11.30% ± 0.27) were identified. Further, both the chemical assumed to be responsible for attracting insects, i.e., pyridine (3.10% ± 0.07), and whole plants were used in in vivo bioassays with two insect species, namely Drosophila hydei and Acyrthosiphon pisum. The obtained results bring a new perspective on the possibilities of cultivating rare carnivorous plants in vitro since they are regarded as a valuable source of bioactive volatile compounds, as including ones with repellent or attractant activity.