Cellulose microfibrils from banana farming residues: isolation and characterization

Cellulose microfibrils have been prepared from banana rachis using a combination of chemical and mechanical treatments. The morphology and structure of the samples were characterized using transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to characterize the chemical modifications of the samples after each treatment. Suspensions of bundled or individualized 5-nm-wide microfibrils were obtained after homogenization (PH) whereas an organosolv (PO) treatment resulted in shorter aggregates of parallel cellulose microcrystallites. The sharper rings in the X-ray diffraction pattern of the PO-treated sample suggest a higher crystallinity due to a more efficient removal of hemicelluloses and dissolution of amorphous zones by the acid treatment. Both microfibrils and microcrystals prepared by both methods can be used as reinforcing filler in nanocomposite materials.     

Developments in the use of chromatographic techniques in marine laboratories for the determination of halogenated contaminants and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Chromatography has been an important tool in marine laboratories. Since the 1960s, marine laboratories have been involved in the analysis of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and brominated flame retardants (BFRs). Column chromatography and liquid chromatography (LC) techniques have been used, mainly in the clean-up phase, while gas chromatography (GC) has been used extensively in the final determination of these contaminants. Developments have been observed from the use of packed GC columns, via capillary columns to the use of heart-cut multi-dimensional GC and comprehensive multi-dimensional GC. The progress made in interlaboratory studies and the availability of certified reference materials are discussed.     

Two-photon spectra of gases by three-wave mixing

We show that the two-photon resonances in the third-order susceptibility can be exploited to yield two-photon spectra of molecular gases at moderately high spectral resolution. This form of spectroscopy does not depend on the occurrence of processes (such as fluorescence of photoionization) leading to indirect methods of two-photon absorption. The method is direct and leads in principle to values for a two-photon cross section. Comparisons of two-photon and coherent anti-Stokes Raman resonances leads to ratios of Raman and two-proton cross sections independent of the laser powers and spatial characteristics. The technique is documented with rotationally resolved spectra of SO₂ and NO. A value for |α_xxα_yy| of 1.5 × 10^?52 cm⁶ was measured for the O₁₂ (6$\text{built:1}\text{2}$) component of the (A)²Σ ← (X)² Π_{$\text{1}\text{2}$} transition of nitric oxide.     

A chromatographic comparison of the pore structure of zirconia high performance liquid chromatographic materials made by the polymerization induced colloidal aggregation and the Oil Emulsion methods

Summary The pore structures of zirconium oxide particles prepared by two different methods (PICA and Oil Emulsion processes) are compared. Nitrogen sorptometry and size exclusion chromatography are used to characterize the two different types of particles. Significant and unexpected differences were found in the accessible pore volumes and the bed packing densities of the two materials. The PICA material was found to have a higher totally included and totally excluded volume than would be normally expected. The chromatographic method provides results which are more useful for the application of these materials to separation sciences.     

Condensed thiophenes and selenophenes: thionyl chloride and selenium oxychloride as sulfur and selenium transfer reagents

3,4-Cyanomethyl substituted thiophenes reacted with thionyl chloride in the presence of base to give dicyano substituted thieno(3,4-c)thiophenes. The use of selenium oxychloride furnished the corresponding cyano substituted seleno(3,4-c)thiophene. 1,2-Phenylenediacetonitriles gave the corresponding cyano substituted benzo(c)thiophenes and benzo(c)selenenophenes, respectively, upon reaction with thionyl chloride and selenium oxychloride in the presence of base.     

The temperature dependence of the d-electron dipole strengths of cobalt(II) tetrahalides

The dipole strengths of the ⁴A₂ → ⁴T₁(F), ⁴T₁(P), d-electron transitions of the cobalt(II) tetrahalides are found to decrease with an increase in temperature, in agreement with a dynamic ligand-polarisation model for the absorption mechanism. The reduction in dipole strength is accounted for by a decrease in the coulombic coupling between the quadrupole moment of the d-electron transition of the metal ion and the transient electric dipole moment induced in the ligands, due to the anharmonic increase in the mean bond length and the progressively larger mean-square amplitudes of the bending modes of the complex ion in its ground electronic state as the temperature is raised.     

Palladacyclic catalysts in C-C and C-heteroatom bond-forming reactions

Palladacycles are amongst the most active catalysts in Heck-type carbon-carbon bond formation and related carbon-heteroatom bond forming reactions. For instance they have recently emerged as showing the highest activity in the Suzuki coupling of electronically challenging aryl chloride substrates. In addition to the high activity they display, their ease of synthesis, facile modification and comparative stability all act to enhance their appeal.     

Cross surface ambipolar charge percolation in molecular triads on mesoscopic oxide films

We report on cross surface ambipolar charge percolation within a monolayer of a molecular triad adsorbed on semiconducting or insulating mesoscopic metal oxide films. The triad consists of a triphenlyamine (TPA) donor and a perylenemonoimide (PMI) acceptor connected by a bithiophene (T2) bridge. The self-assembled PMI-T2-TPA monolayer exhibits p-type or n-type conduction depending on the potential that is applied to the conducting glass (FTO) electrode supporting the oxide films. Cross surface electron transfer is turned on at around -1.24 V (vs Fc+/Fc) where the PMI moiety is electroactive. The color of the film changes from red to blue during the reduction of the PMI. By contrast, lateral hole transfer is turned on at around 0.8 V (vs Fc+/Fc) where the TPA moiety becomes electroactive. The stepwise oxidation of the T2-TPA units at 0.79 and 1.28 V (vs Fc+/Fc) is associated with a color change of the film from red to black. Cyclic voltammetric as well as chronocoulometric and spectroelectrochemical measurements were applied to determine the percolation threshold for cross surface charge transfer and the diffusion coefficients for the electron and hole hopping process. The effect of oxide surface states on the lateral charge motion was also investigated.