Mixed Convection Effect on Melting from a Vertical Plate in a Porous Medium

In the present work, the effect of mixed convection about vertical surfaces on the phenomenon of melting process in a fluid-saturated porous medium is analyzed on the basis of boundary layer approximations. Similarity solutions are obtained for aiding external flow. The final similarity equations are integrated numerically by use of the fourth-order Runge–Kutta method. Results are reported for the flow and thermal fields in the melt region. The melting phenomenon decreases the local Nusselt number at the solid–liquid interface.     

Development of Functional Composite Cu(II)-Polyoxometalate/PLA with Antimicrobial Properties

Novel composite self-disinfecting films of polylactic acid (PLA) filled with nanosized particles of double sodium–copper(II) paratungstate B Na₂Cu₃(CuOH)₂[W₁₂O₄₀(OH)₂]·32H₂O (POM) were developed. The solvent casting (POM/PLA film) and solvent-free melt extrusion methods (Extr. POM/PLA film) were applied for film preparation. The copper (II) ion release to water from both types of the films after 10 days at different temperatures demonstrated that the PLA matrix acts as a diffusion barrier, and the resulting concentration of released copper in water at room temperature remained low, at 0.79% for POM/PLA film and 0.51% for Extr. POM/PLA film. The POM-containing films reveals a significant inhibitory effect against E. coli ATCC 25922 in the agar diffusion test. The numbers of CFUs in washes of the films after incubation for 24 h were found to be 3.6 log CFU mL^–1 (POM/PLA film) and 4.1 log CFU mL^–1 (Extr. POM/PLA film). The films combine the antibacterial properties of POM and a bio-based polymer matrix, which makes them a prospective coating material for applications in hospital indoor environments. Excellent thermal stability of POM gives a technological advantage for industrial manufacturing to allow the processing of novel composite material in the solvent free (molten) state.     

Local structure of pseudoboehmites

Summary The structure of pseudoboehmite was studied by the method of wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS). The samples of pseudoboehmite with various characteristics produced by different methods were examined in order to obtain the most complete information about their structure. In contrast to reference data, it was found that modifications in the structure of pseudoboehmite layers occur viathe insertion of additional water molecules.     

Fluorophore-appended steroidal saponin (dioscin and polyphyllin D) derivatives

The synthesis of three fluorophore-appended derivatives of dioscin and polyphyllin D is reported herein. Starting from trillin, dansyl derivatives A-C were prepared in overall yields of 7-12% over 7-10 steps. A study of their behavior in a variety of polar solvents suggests that dansyl derivatives A-C are capable of micellar self-assembly and can maintain cytotoxicities (IC50 = 15-18 muM) against the HeLa carcinoma cell line evaluated by standard MTT assay. [structure: see text]     

Electronic and chemical properties of nanostructured cerium dioxide doped with praseodymium

Nanostructured doped ceria is a prospective material for catalytic applications such as the construction of membranes with mixed electronic and ionic conductivity for effective syngas production. In this article, the surface properties of nanostructured ceria doped with praseodymium have been studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, secondary ion mass spectrometry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy of adsorbed carbon monoxide. The effects of supporting 1.4 wt % Pt as well as structural changes upon the reduction of the samples with methane have been investigated. While in samples without supported platinum, mainly praseodymium cations are reduced in a methane atmosphere; stronger reduction of cerium cations was found in the case of surface modification with Pt. The structural differences correlate with results from temperature-programmed reaction experiments with methane. Explanations are discussed in terms of different reaction mechanisms.     

Selective flotation-separation and spectrophotometric determination of cadmium using phenanthraquinone monophenythiosemicarbazone.

A simple, selective and sensitive procedure is described for the preconcentration by flotation followed by spectrophotometric determination of trace amounts of Cd(II). Cadmium forms an intense red 1:2 complex with phenanthraquinone monophenylthiosemicarbazone (PPT) at pH > or = 6. The colored Cd-PPT complex was floated quantitatively with oleic acid (HOL) surfactant at pH 6.5, exhibiting maximum absorbance at 520 nm and having a molar absorptivity of 2.4 x 10(5) L mol(-1) cm(-1). The stability constant of the formed complex is 1.5 x 10(12); log K = 12.2. Beer's law was obeyed over the concentration range 0.01-0.34 mg/L. The Sandell sensitivity and relative standard deviation are 0.4 ng/cm2 and 2.6%, respectively. The results obtained spectrophotometrically were compared to those obtained by AAS analysis. The analytical parameters affecting flotation and hence determination have been thoroughly investigated. The proposed procedure was successfully applied to the determination of Cd(II) traces in certified and real human hair samples as well as in natural waters. The structure of the complex formed and the mechanism of flotation were proposed.     

Microwave Accelerated Synthesis of N‐Phenylmaleimide in a Single Step and Polymerization in Bulk

Summary: This paper reports the microwave mediated direct synthesis of N‐phenylmaleimide ( 3 ) from maleic anhydride ( 1 ) and aniline ( 2 ) by using microwave irradiation. Good yields and very short reaction times were the main aspects of the method. The reaction conditions and kinetics of this process were investigated. Microwave irradiation in a boiling solvent showed the existence of a significant specific microwave effect. The microwave homopolymerization of 3 in bulk using 2,2′‐azoisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as a free radical initiator was also carried out.

Kinetic curves for the synthesis of N‐phenylmaleimide in a MW and in an oil bath at 144 °C (boiling xylene).     

Efficient diverse approach for quinoxaline‐derived glycosylated and morphinylated analogs

Sulfanyl‐glycosides have been synthesized by reaction of 2,3‐dimercaptoquinoxaline ( 1 ) with acetohalo sugars in presence of base to give the thioglycosides‐derived quinoxalines 5 , 6 , 7 and 9 . Similarly, the acyclic analogs 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 were prepared by coupling of 1 with different acyclo‐alkylating agents. The preparation of 3‐morpholinyl‐quinoxalines 10 and 11 allowed the synthesis of 3‐glycosylsulfanyl‐2‐morpholinyl‐quinoxalines 12 , 13 , 14 and 17 as well as the acyclic analogs 27 , 28 , 29 . Microwave irradiation of the reactants turned out to be preferred over the conventional method for achieving the synthetic goals. This study made an available venue to the synthesis of diverse quinoxaline derivatives. J. Heterocyclic Chem., 2011.     

Amidoamine calix[4]resorcinarene-based oligomers and polymers as efficient sorbents of azo dyes from water

The sorption behaviour of three kinds of macrocyclic sorbents – amidoamine tetradodecyloxyphenylencalix[4]resorcinarene 1 and tetramethyloxyphenylencalix[4]-resorcinarene 2; composition of calix[4]resorcinarene 1+2, and novel P.1 and P.2 polymers with amidoamine calix[4]resorcinarene units towards three water-soluble azo dyes – methyl orange (MO), acid orange (AO5) and Congo red (CR) was studied. All sorbents form supramolecular complexes with the aforesaid dyes. The best sorbent for MO was shown to be polymer P.1, for the AO5 – composition 1+2 and for the CR – macrocycle 2, with high sorption capacities (373, 497 and 625 mg/g, respectively). The main factor in the binding of dyes by all studied sorbents proved to be surface electrostatic interactions. In addition to the Coulomb interactions, the most important factor for the polymers appeared to be the ‘net’ structure of the polymer with a high concentration of binding sites, providing electrostatic, hydrogen, dipole–dipole and hydrophobic interaction. Hydrophobic substituents in the sorbents exert a significant influence on the dye sorption. The increase of the sorbents' hydrophobicity leads to a lower sorption capacity for MO and CR and a higher sorption capacity for AO5. It was shown that sorption efficiency of the sorbent depends on the ‘dye–sorbent’ structure conformity.     

Assessing the Quality of Burkina Faso Soybeans Based on Fatty Acid Composition and Pesticide Residue Contamination

Soybean is widely used in the food industry because of its high fatty acid and protein content. However, the increased use of pesticides to control pests during cultivation, in addition to being a public health concern, may influence the nutritional quality of soybeans. This study aimed to assess the nutritional quality of soybeans with respect to fatty acid profile and pesticide residue contamination. The levels of fatty acids and pesticides in soybean varieties G196 and G197 were determined by gas chromatography and by the QuEChERS method, respectively. The results showed a significant variation in the quantitative and qualitative fatty acid composition of the two varieties, with 18.03 g/100 g and 4 fatty acids detected for the G196 variety and 21.35 g/100 g and 7 fatty acids for the G197 variety, respectively. In addition, 12 active pesticide compounds were found, and among them, imazalil, quintozene, cyfluthrin and lindane exceeded their maximum limits. The G197 variety had a better nutritional profile compared to G196. The profile of fatty acids and the content of pesticide residues were used as important determinants for soybean utilization in human nutrition.