Optical and structural properties of Zn1−x Mg x O ceramic materials

This paper reports structural, optical and cathodoluminescence characterizations of sintered Zn_1?x Mg _x O composite materials. The effects of MgO composition on these film properties have been analyzed. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirms that all composites are polycrystalline with prominent hexagonal wurtzite structure along two preferred orientations (002) and (101) for the crystallite growth. Above doping content x = 10 %, the formation of the hexagonal ZnMgO alloy phase and the segregation of the cubic MgO phase start. From reflectance and absorption measurements, we determined the band gap energy which tends to increase from 3.287 to 3.827 eV as the doping content increases. This widening of the optical band gap is explained by the Burstein–Moss effect which causes a significant increase of electron concentration (2.89 × 10¹⁸?5.19 × 10²⁰ cm^?3). The luminescent properties of the Zn_1?x Mg _x O pellets are studied by cathodoluminescence (CL) at room and liquid nitrogen temperatures under different electron beam excitations. At room temperature, the CL spectra of the Zn_1?x Mg _x O composites exhibit a dominant broad yellow-green light band at 2.38 eV and two ultraviolet emission peaks at 3.24 and 3.45 eV corresponding to the luminescence of the hexagonal ZnO and ZnMgO structures, respectively. For the doped ZnO samples, it reveals also new red peaks at 1.72 and 1.77 eV assigned to impurities’ emissions. However, the CL spectra recorded at 77 K show the presence of excitonic emission peaks related to recombination of free exciton (X _A), neutral donor-bound excitons (D⁰X) and their phonon replicas. The CL intensity and energy position of the green, red and ultraviolet emission peaks are found to depend strongly on the MgO doping content. The CL intensity of the UV and red emissions is more enhanced than the green light when the MgO content increases. CL imaging analysis shows that the repartition of the emitting centers in Zn_1?x Mg _x O composites is intimately connected to the film composition and surface morphology.     

Calculation of electric field–temperature (E,T) phase diagram of a ferroelectric liquid crystal near the SmA–SmC_α~* transition

In this work we perform a theoretical calculation in order to reconstitute the(E–T) phase diagram of a chiral smectic liquid crystal in the vicinity of the SmA–SmC_α~* transition. This reconstruction is carried out on the basis of a thermodynamic calculation of the slope of the curve joining the SmC_α~* domain and the unwound SmC~*. An empiric correction of the mean field term of Landau De-Gennes development is necessary to accomplish this reconstruction. Thereafter, an experimental validation is performed to verify our calculations.     

Synthesis and NMR characterization of 6‐Phenyl‐6‐deoxy‐2,3‐di‐O‐methylcellulose

Cellulose ( 1 ) was converted for the first time to 6‐phenyl‐6‐deoxy‐2,3‐di‐O‐methylcellulose ( 6 ) in 33% overall yield. Intermediates in the five‐step conversion of 1 to­ 6 were: 6‐O‐tritylcellulose ( 2 ), 6‐O‐trityl‐2,3‐di‐O‐methylcellulose ( 3 ), 2,3‐di‐O‐methylcellulose ( 4 ); and 6‐bromo‐6‐deoxy‐2,3‐di‐O‐methylcellulose ( 5 ). Elemental and quantitative carbon‐13 analyses were concurrently used to verify and confirm the degrees of substitution in each new polymer. Gel permeation chromotography (GPC) data were generated to monitor the changes in molecular weight (DP_w) as the synthesis progressed, and the compound average decrease in cellulose DP_w was ～ 27%. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to characterize the decomposition of all polymers. The degradation temperatures ( °C) and percent char at 500 °C of cellulose derivatives 2 to 6 were 308.6 and 6.3%, 227.6 °C and 9.7%, 273.9 °C and 30.2%, 200.4 °C and 25.6%, and 207.2 °C and 27.0%, respectively. The glass transition temperature (T_g) of­6‐O‐tritylcellulose by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) occurred at 126.7 °C and the modulus (E′, Pa) dropped 8.9 fold in the transition from ?150 °C to + 180 °C (6.6 × 10⁹ to 7.4 × 10⁸ Pa). Modulus at 20 °C was 3.26 × 10⁹ Pa. Complete proton and carbon‐13 chemical shift assignments of the repeating unit of the title polymer were made by a combination of the HMQC and COSY NMR methods. Ultimate non‐destructive proof of carbon–carbon bond formation at C6 of the anhydroglucose moiety was established by generating correlations between resonances of CH₂6 (anhydroglucose) and C1′, H2′, and H6′ of the attached aryl ring using the heteronuclear multiple‐bond correlation (HMBC) method. In this study, we achieved three major objectives: (a) new methodologies for the chemical modification of cellulose were developed; (b) new cellulose derivatives were designed, prepared and characterized; (c) unequivocal structural proof for carbon–carbon bond formation with cellulose was derived non‐destructively by use of one‐ and two‐dimensional NMR methods. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Chemical Profile,Antioxidant Properties and Antimicrobial Activities of Malaysian Heterotrigona itama Bee Bread

The aim of the study was to determine the chemical profile, antioxidant properties and antimicrobial activities of Heterotrigona itama bee bread from Malaysia. The pH, presence of phytochemicals, antioxidant properties, total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC), as well as antimicrobial activities, were assessed. Results revealed a decrease in the pH of bee bread water extract (BBW) relative to bee bread ethanolic extract (BBE) and bee bread hot water extract (BBH). Further, alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, tannins, saponins, terpenoids, resins, glycosides and xanthoproteins were detected in BBW, BBH and BBE. Also, significant decreases in TPC, TFC, DPPH activity and FRAP were detected in BBW relative to BBH and BBE. We detected phenolic acids such as gallic acid, caffeic acid, trans-ferulic acid, trans 3-hydroxycinnamic acid and 2-hydroxycinnamic acid, and flavonoids such as quercetin, kaempferol, apigenin and mangiferin in BBE using high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. The strongest antimicrobial activity was observed in Klebsilla pneumonia (MIC₅₀ 1.914 µg/mL), followed by E. coli (MIC₅₀ 1.923 µg/mL), Shigella (MIC₅₀ 1.813 µg/mL) and Salmonella typhi (MIC₅₀ 1.617 µg/mL). Bee bread samples possess antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Bee bread contains phenolic acids and flavonoids, and could be beneficial in the management and treatment of metabolic diseases.     

Dielectric relaxation spectroscopy and electro-optical studies of phase behaviour of a chiral smectic liquid crystal

Dielectric relaxation processes in various phases of a chiral smectic liquid crystal compound have been investigated over a wide range of frequencies from 10 to 300 kHz. Dielectric spectroscopy reveals the existence of two relaxation frequencies corresponding to the ferroelectric and ferrielectric Goldstone modes in the range of temperature where two different phases coexist. This phenomenon of coexistence is examined with respect to the cell thickness and reversal temperature.     

PREDICTION OF OIL SATURATION IN A FIBROUS BED COALESCER FROM PRESSURE DROP DATA

A model has been formulated for the prediction of average saturation and the saturation profile through a fibrous bed during coalescence of secondary dispersion. The approach utilizes the Blake-Kozeny equation to relate experimental pressure drop data to saturation in the bed. Reasonable agreement was obtained between predicted saturations and those measured experimentally. The predicted saturation profiles could be used to determine other coalescer design parameters.     

Transformation of Acetaminophen by Dichromate Oxidation Produces the Toxicants 1,4-Benzoquinone and Ammonium Ions

The reaction of the common pain reliever acetaminophen (paracetamol, 4-acetamidophenol) with dichromate was investigated over time under conditions that simulate wastewater disinfection. The occurrence of the acetaminophen in the water bodies, especially in drinking water resources, has received considerable attentions. In situ chemical oxidation is a promising cost-effective treatment method to remove acetaminophen from water body as it degrades the drug to large extent. Experimental results indicate that the reaction is second order overall and first order with respect to both dichromate and acetaminophen, and has activation energy of 14.1 kJ/mol. The second-order rate constant ranges from 1.56 × 10^?3 to 13.4 × 10^?3 min^?1 at temperature from 35 to 65°C. The acetaminophen degradation rates can be accelerated through increasing reaction temperature and oxidant concentration. The reaction under acid conditions was slightly faster than under alkaline or neutral conditions. Two of the products were unequivocally identified as the toxic compounds 1,4-benzoquinone and ammonium ions. These results demonstrate that acetaminophen is likely to be transformed significantly into toxic product if dichromate is used as an oxidizing agent during wastewater treatment.     

Thieno[2′,3′:5,6]azepino[2,1‐a]isoindolones from hydroxylactam‐alcohols via N‐acyliminium ion olefin cyclization

A one pot synthesis of thienoazepinoisoindolones from the reaction of hydroxylactam‐alcohols, under acidic treatment, is described via an N‐acyliminium olefin cyclization.     

PVC membrane sensor based on periodate—Cetylpyridinium ion pair for the potentiometric determination of periodate

A new plasticized membrane sensor has been proposed for the determination of periodate based on periodate-cetylpyridinium ion pair complex. The electrode shows a linear, reproducible and stable potentiometric response with anionic Nernstian slope of 58.1 ± 0.5 mV/decade over a wide range of concentrations 10⁻⁵–10⁻² M and a detection limit of 2.0 × 10⁻⁶ M of IO₄⁻. The membrane exhibits a fast response time of 30–40 s which is independent of pH in the range 2.0–9.0. The selectivity coefficients indicate excellent selectivity for periodate over a large number of anions, e.g. iodide, bromide, chloride, iodate, bromate, nitrate, sulfate, phosphate, thiocyanate, chromate, thiosulfate, sulfite, perchlorate, citrate, acetate, oxalate, and nitrate. The prepared sensor has been successfully used for the determination of periodate (IO₄⁻) and iodate (IO₃⁻) ions with an average recovery of 99.84 ± 0.34% and 98.22 ± 0.43%, respectively. It is also applied to the determination of hydrazine compounds and aminophenol derivatives with an average recovery of 98.66 ± 0.53% and 98.40 ± 0.56%, respectively. Also, the proposed sensor was used for the determination of potassium iodate in iodized table salt and hydrazine in steam boiler feed water and p-aminophenol. The results obtained are in good agreement with those obtained by standard methods.