Oxygen/nitrogen ordering in lanthanum new phase (La3Si8N11O4)

High-resolution ¹⁷O NMR spectra have been collected for crystalline samples of lanthanum new phase, La₃Si₈N₁₁O₄. In conjunction with previously published ²⁹Si and ¹⁵N spectra obtained for this phase, and in the light of the high-quality crystal structure data reported recently, a more detailed interpretation of the NMR spectra is presented than was possible in previous studies. The non-bridging oxygens in the structure are responsible for the single sharp peak seen in the ¹⁷O spectrum at 188 ppm; the remaining oxygens, occupying bridging sites shared with nitrogen, show up only weakly on the ¹⁷O spectrum as a broad diffuse band centered around zero ppm. The peak at −57.3 ppm on the ²⁹Si spectrum is believed to correspond to an overlap of [SiN₄] and [SiON₃] environments, with the −68.2 ppm peak corresponding to an [SiO₂N₂] environment.     

Competitive adsorption and desorption of a bi-solute mixture: effect of activated carbon type

This study aims to clarify the effects of carbon activation type and physical form on the extent of adsorption capacity and desorption capacity of a bi-solute mixture of phenol and 2-chlorophenol (2-CP). For this purpose, two different PACs; thermally activated Norit SA4 and chemically activated Norit CA1, and their granular countertypes with similar physical characteristics, thermally activated Norit PKDA and chemically activated Norit CAgran, were used. The thermally activated carbons were better adsorbers for phenol and 2-CP compared with chemically activated carbons, but adsorption was more reversible in the latter case. 2-CP was adsorbed preferentially by each type of activated carbon, but adsorption of phenol was strongly suppressed in the presence of 2-CP. The simplified ideal adsorbed solution (SIAS) model underestimated the 2-CP loadings and overestimated the phenol loadings. However, the improved and modified forms of the SIAS model could better predict the competitive adsorption. The type of carbon activation was decisive in the application of these models. For each activated carbon type, phenol was desorbed more readily in the bi-solute case, but desorption of 2-CP was less compared with single-solute. This was attributed to higher energies of 2-CP adsorption.     

Radionuclides in a sediment trap and bottom sediment samples from the eastern Turkish coast of the Black Sea

Summary Radionuclide (¹³⁷Cs, ²³⁸U, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K) concentrations were determined in a sediment trap and bottom sediment samples collected from a station at the eastern Turkish coast of the Black Sea. The specific activity of the ¹³⁷Cs radionuclide in the settling particles ranged from 0.04±0.01 to 0.10±0.02 Bq^. g^-1dry weight. The calculated flux rate of the ¹³⁷Cs was between 0.37 and 2.59 Bq^. m^-2. d^-1in the sampling periods of 2002 and 2003. The ¹³⁷Cs concentration in the bottom sediment profile were between 0.039±0.013-9.083±0.017 Bq^. g^-1dry weight in the same station. The vertical profile of the radionuclides suggests that they have little mobility during the 17 years after the Chernobyl accident.     

Determination of the stability constants of uranyl complex with 8-hydroxyquinolinium sulfate

8-Hydroxyquinoline (8-HOQ) is known as an important chelating agent for several metal ions. This compound is practically insoluble in water. For this reason, in this study its water soluble sulfate salt has been used for complexing uranyl ions and the stability constants of the complex have been determined. The Irving-Rosotti method computing the Calvin-Bjerrum pH-titration data, was applied. Finally, the stability constants of the complex formed between (8-HOQN-H)₂SO₄ and uranyl ions were found to be lgK₁=8.25 and lgK₂=4.15, the overall stability constant being {ie55-1}.     

99mTc-labelled human serum albumin: Chemical and electrochemical labelling methods

The labelling of human serum albumin /HSA/ with^99mTc has been investigated using a chemical method /stannous citrate/ and electrolytically generated tin/II/ ions. A comparative study of various chemical parameters and current intensities has been carried out in order to find the optimal conditions for labelling. The labelling yield was over 95%, for the chemical and electrolytical methods.     

Evard Immanuel Hjelt (1855–1921): Finnish Chemist and Historian of Chemistry

Although today unjustly neglected abroad and often even in his native land, Edvard Immanuel Hjelt (1855–1921), was an exceptionally gifted, dedicated, and multifaceted individual who made important contributions to chemistry, the history of chemistry, politics, and the management of national and international affairs. Little information about him is available in English. The present article supplements the only two English sources available [1, pp 66–83; 2] and makes this chemist-statesman better known to those chemists and historians who do not read Swedish or Finnish.In this section we present articles by leading scientific historians that chronicle the important events, persons, and publications that make up the rich history of chemical science. The history, and the articles in this ection often make that very clear. Chemists and their research are always influenced by current events. These articles are intended to describe the setting in which important discoveries occurred and to humazine their discoveres.     

Preparation of hollow beads of poly(styrene-co-divinyl benzene)

Two methods are described for the production of hollow beads by copolymerization of styrene and divinyl benzene. Characterization of the beads is described and growth mechanisms proposed.     

Using wavelets to analyze AFM images of thin films: surface micelles and supported lipid bilayers

This paper presents micro- and nanoanalysis of thin films based on images obtained by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The analysis exploits the discrete wavelet transform and the resulting wavelet spectrum to study surface features. It is demonstrated that the wavelet technique can characterize micro- and nanosurface features and distinguish between similar surface structures. The use of a feature extraction method is shown. The method involves the separation of certain frequency content from the original AFM images and analyzing the data independently to gain quantitative information about the images. By using the feature extraction method, soft surfaces in water are analyzed and nanofeatures are measured. The packing of surface micelles of sodium dodecyl sulfate on a self-assembled monolayer is analyzed. The characteristics of pore formation, due to penetration of the antibacterial peptide protegrin, into a solid-supported lipid bilayer are quantified. The sizes of the pores are obtained, and it is observed that the line tension of the pores reduces the fluctuations of the lipid bilayer.     

Elimination of bremsstrahlung in activation analysis by the deflection of β-particles in a magnetic field

The structureless background at X-ray and low energy -ray region, resulting from bremsstrahlung due to the stopping of -radiations, causes serious problems in nuclear spectroscopy. In this study, in order to reduce the background and therefore to increase the sensitivity of the nuclear analytical technique and the number of elements observable, a methodology is developed to deflect the -particles by a magnetic field. The experimental setup consists of a permanent magnet /1 kG/, Ge/Li/ solid-state detector, and multichannel analyzer.     

Cyclodextrin Solubilization of the Antibacterial Agents Triclosan and Triclocarban: Effect of Ionization and Polymers

The natural β-cyclodextrin (βCD) and its complexes have limited solubility in aqueous solutions. This low aqueous solubility, as well as low aqueous solubility of the guest molecule (i.e. triclosan or triclocarban (TCC)), can result in low complexation efficiency (CE). The purpose of this study was to enhance the apparent intrinsic solubility (S ₀) of the guest molecule and its βCD complexes through ionization and addition of auxiliary compounds such as polymers, amino acids and metal ions. Both triclosan (pK _a 7.9) and TCC (pK _a 12.7) are weak acids. Addition of ethanol to the complexation medium enhanced S ₀ of both triclosan and TCC but at the same time ethanol lowered the stability constant (K _c ) of their βCD complexes resulting in overall lowering of CE. Addition of small amount of water-soluble polymers enhanced the βCD solubilization of both guests, and addition lysine enhanced the solubilization of TCC. Ionization of triclosan resulted in significant enhancement of CE and enhanced triclosan release from tablets containing triclosan/βCD complex. The effect of ionization was not as pronounced in the case of TCC.This revised version was published online in July 2005 with a corrected issue number.