Effect of solvent composition on dispersing ability of reaction sialon suspensions

This work focuses on the optimization of the rheological behavior of suspensions considering different solvent compositions. The effects of methyl ethyl ketone (MEK)/ethanol (E) solvent mixtures on reaction sialon suspensions were investigated by measuring sedimentation behavior, adsorption of dispersant, and flow behavior. It was shown that both the flow behavior and the sedimentation behavior strongly depended on selection of solvent composition. Using 3 wt% KD1 as dispersant, well-dispersed colloidal suspensions could be obtained in MEK-rich solvents. The suspensions with 60 vol% MEK/40 vol% E as solvent could be fitted to the Bingham model with very low yield stress, while suspensions with pure MEK or ethanol-rich mixtures as solvent showed pseudo plastic behavior with relatively high yield stress values. A model was proposed to explain the different flow behaviors of suspensions considering the different configurations of dispersant at particles' surfaces.     

Behavior of Humic Acid as a Micellar Phase in Micellar Electrokinetic Chromatography (MEKC)

The possibility of humic acids acting as micellar phase in micellar electrokinetic chromatography was evaluated. We investigated the separation of naphthalene in capillary electrophoresis using various samples of humic acids as micellar phase under different pH conditions, concentrations of humic acid, and temperature. The humic acid samples studied were from different origins including peat, vermicompost and a commercial sample acquired from Aldrich. Methanol was used as a marker for the electroosmotic flow. The results indicate that the formation of micelle depends on the number and nature of the hydrophobic association sites in an aqueous humic acid solution and on the origin and concentration of the humic acid at a defined pH. At lower pH values, the possibility of the humic acid molecule forming pseudomicelles increases due to a combination of neutralized and dissociated charged sites.     

Evaluation and application of bismuth as an internal standard for the determination of lead in wines by simultaneous electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

A method for the direct determination of Pb in wines by simultaneous multi-element atomic absorption spectrometry (SIMAAS) using a transversely heated graphite atomizer, Zeeman-effect background corrector and internal standardization is proposed. Bismuth was used as an internal standard and Pd(NO3)2 plus Mg(NO3)2 as chemical modifier to stabilize both the analyte and the internal standard. The implementation of two pyrolysis steps avoided any build-up of carbonaceous residues on the graphite platform. All diluted samples (1 + 1 v/v) in 0.2% v/v HNO3 and reference solutions (5.0-50 microg l(-1) Pb in 0.2% v/v HNO3) were spiked with 25 microg l(-1) Bi. For a 20 microl aliquot dispensed into the graphite tube, a good correlation (r = 0.9997) was obtained between the ratio of the analyte signal to the internal standard signal and the analyte concentration of the reference solutions. The electrothermal behaviour of Pb and Bi in red, white and rosé wines were compared. In addition, absorbance variations due to changes in experimental conditions, such as atomizer temperature, integration time, injected sample volume, radiation beam intensity, graphite tube surface, dilution and sample composition, were minimized by using Bi as internal standard. Relative standard deviations of measurements based on integrated absorbance varied from 0.1 to 3.4% and from 0.5 to 7.3% (n = 12) with and without internal standard correction, respectively. Good recoveries (91-104%) for Pb spikes were obtained. The characteristic mass was 45 pg Pb and the limit of detection based on integrated absorbance was 0.9 microg l(-1) Pb. Internal standardization increased the lifetime of the tube by 25%. Direct determinations of Pb in wines with and without internal standardization approaches were in agreement at the 95% confidence level. The repeatability and the tube lifetime were improved when using Bi as internal standard. The improvement in accuracy using an internal standard was only observed when the analytical results were affected by errors.     

Interaction of aryldiazonium salts with some schiff-base complexes of cobalt and ruthenium

The interaction of aryldiazonium ions with some Schiff-base complexes of cobalt and ruthenium have been studied. With cobalt, one-electron oxidation of [Co(II)Salen] occurred; with [Co(I)Salen] the corresponding Co(III)-aryl complexes were isolated. In the case of ruthenium oxidation also occurs, [Ru(Salen)(CO)py] gave the corresponding monocation. The results, especially for ruthenium, are in contrast to the stabilisation of both nitrosyl and aryldiazonium adducts in analogous porphyrin complexes.     

Sequential atomic absorption spectrometric determination of nitrate and nitrite in meats by liquid-liquid extraction in a flow-injection system

Sequential determinations of nitrate and nitrite based on continuous liquid-liquid extraction, and suitable for their routine determinations in meats, are reported. Nitrate reacts with bis(2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthrolinato)copper(I) to form an ion-pair which is extrated into 4-methyl-2-pentanone in a flow-injection manifold. In one aliquot of sample, nitrite is oxidized by cerium(IV), so that total nitrate is determined. In another, nitrite is converted to nitrogen with sulfamic acid, so that only the original nitrate is determined. By measuring the atomic absorption signal of copper in the organic phase, mixtures of these anions can be determined at μg ml^?1 levels for nitrate/nitrite ratios from 10:1 to 1:10, with a sampling frequency of ca. 20 h^–1.     

Evaluation of isothermal kinetic of sweetener

Summary Sulfonylureas are widely used for the treatment of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Glibenclamide belongs to the group of substituted arylsulfonylureas. Many representative of this group shows polymorphism. The purpose of this work was to investigate the thermal behaviour and compatibility between glibenclamide and some excipients using thermoanalytical techniques (TG-DTG/DSC). The thermal and isothermal kinetics data showed incompatibility between glibenclamide and magnesium stearate.     

π‐Facial Selectivity in the Formation of Tricarbonylchromium(0) Complexes of Estra‐1, 3, 5(10), 6‐tetraenes

The preparation of two η⁶‐estra‐1, 3, 5(10), 6‐tetraene tricarbonylchromium complexes 4 and 6 are described. In both cases only one stereoisomer can be isolated, in contrast to other estrane‐tricarbonylchromium complexes, where complexations are non‐stereoselective. X‐ray crystal structural analysis of 4 discloses that only the more sterically hindered β‐facial isomer is formed. It is assumed that the 6, 7‐olefinic moiety exerts a directive influence on the complexation.     

Fluorescence quenching of anthropogenic fulvic acids by Cu(II), Fe(III) and UO(2)(2+)

The quenching of the fluorescence of three anthropogenic fulvic acids (FA) provoked by Cu(II) (pH 6.0), Fe(III) (pH 4.0) and UO₂²⁺ (pH 3.5), was analyzed by a non-linear method and by Stern-Volmer plots. The FA samples were extracted from composted sewage sludges (csFA), composted municipal wastes (mwFA) and composted livestock wastes (lsFA). Synchronous-scan fluorescence (SyF) spectra were collected as a function of metal ion concentration. Spectral data were treated by a self-modeling mixture analysis method (SIMPLISMA) to detect the SyF spectral band with the strongest quenching and to calculate the corresponding quenching profile. The analysis of these profiles by a non-linear method allowed the estimation of conditional stability constants (K) and of the percentage of non-complexing fluorophores. The same quantitative information was obtained by the modified Stern-Volmer equation taking into account the existence of fluorophores that do not participate in the complexation. Good agreement was found between the results of the two procedures. The log K calculated by the non-linear method were (standard deviation in parenthesis): csFA, Cu(II), 4.22 (5); Fe(III), 5.0 (1); UO₂²⁺, 5.2 (2); mwFA, Cu(II), 4.21 (3); Fe(III), 5.6 (2); UO₂²⁺, 4.7 (3); lsFA, Cu(II), 4.51 (8); Fe(III), 5.5 (2); UO₂²⁺, 3.6 (2).     

Observations on clear solution silicalite-1 growth by nanoslabs

Several research groups have reported the presence of nanometer-sized particles (nanoslabs) in clear solutions, which precipitate the crystalline MFI (ZSM-5) structure. Debate about the growth mechanism for Al-free ZSM-5 (silicalite-1) has revolved around growth by small silicate units (monomers, dimers, etc.) from solution vs growth by nanoslab addition. A model developed for precipitation of uniform sized colloids by addition of sub-colloidal precursor units has been adapted for this zeolite synthesis system. Parameter values were adjusted for the simulation results to match experimental observations from work reported previously, at least to the extent possible. The model involved the simultaneous solution of up to 6000 ordinary differential equations, and required computation times of up to 24 h. The results shed light on the crystal growth mechanism, but pose questions for further investigations of the nucleation mechanism.     

Genotoxic properties of 2-dodecylcyclobutanone, a compound formed on irradiation of food containing fat

When food containing fat is treated by ionizing radiation, a group of 2-alkylcyclobutanones is formed. These components contain the same number of carbon atoms as their precursor fatty acids and the alkyl group is located in ring position 2. Thus, from palmitic acid 2-dodecylcyclobutanone is derived. To date, there is no evidence that the cyclobutanones occur in unirradiated food. Therefore, these components cannot be considered inherent to food, and for questions pertaining to risk assessment of irradiated food it would be advisable to determine the genotoxic and toxic potentials of cyclobutanones. Measurements of DNA damage in cells exposed to 2-dodecylcyclobutanone, employing the single cell microgel electrophoresis technique, have been carried out. In vitro experiments using rat and human colon cells indicate that 2-docylcyclobutanone in the concentration range of about 0.30 – 1.25 mg/ml induces DNA strand breaks in the cells. Simultaneously, a concentration related cytotoxic effect is observed as was determined by trypan blue exclusion. To which extent these in vitro findings are of relevancy for the in vivo human exposure situation needs to be investigated in further studies. In vivo tests in rats are in progress.