Monitoring and analytics of semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) in indoor air

This paper reviews literature information on the behaviour of semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) in the indoor environment, as well as the most likely emission sources. The consecutive stages of analytical procedures used for monitoring SVOCs in indoor environments are described. The most common approaches used for collecting samples from the gas and particulate phases are mentioned. The paper discusses and compares various types of sorbents and filters applied in dynamic, passive and denudational techniques, as well as the techniques used to liberate the SVOCs, including Soxhlet, sonication and microwave extraction. The main advantages and disadvantages of each technique are discussed, together with possible future trends. The approaches commonly used during the final determination step, such as gas chromatography and liquid chromatography, are presented together with their possible drawbacks, and ways of eliminating them are suggested. The review makes brief reference to the effects of human exposure to SVOCs in house dust and discusses the main aspects of the analytical procedures used to monitor the presence of SVOCs in this medium.     

Spatially Resolved Kinetic Model of Parahydrogen Induced Polarisation (PHIP) in a Microfluidic Chip

We report a spatially resolved kinetic finite element model of parahydrogen-induced polarisation (PHIP) in a microfluidic chip that was calibrated using on-chip and off-chip NMR data. NMR spectroscopy has great potential as a read-out technique for lab-on-a-chip (LoC) devices, but is often limited by sensitivity. By integrating PHIP with a LoC device, a continuous stream of hyperpolarised material can be produced, and mass sensitivities of have been achieved. However, the yield and polarisation levels have so far been quite low, and can still be optimised. To facilitate this, a kinetic model of the reaction has been developed, and its rate constants have been calibrated using macroscopic kinetic measurements. The kinetic model was then coupled with a finite element model of the microfluidic chip. The model predicts the concentration of species involved in the reaction as a function of flow rate and position in the device. The results are in quantitative agreement with published experimental data.     

Influence of Polymer Solvents on the Properties of Halloysite-Modified Polyethersulfone Membranes Prepared by Wet Phase Inversion

Ultrafiltration polyethersulfone (PES) membranes were prepared by wet phase inversion. Commercial halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) in the quantities of 0.5 wt% vs. PES (15 wt%) were introduced into the casting solution containing the polymer and different solvents: N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA), or 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP). The type of solvent influenced the membranes’ morphology and topography, as well as permeability, separation characteristics, and antifouling and antibacterial properties. The membranes prepared using DMA exhibited the loosest cross-section structure with the thinnest skin and the roughest surface, while the densest and smoothest were the DMF-based membranes. The advanced contact angles were visibly lower in the case of the membranes prepared using DMF compared to the other solvents. The highest water permeability was observed for the DMA-based membranes, however, the most significant effect of the modification with HNTs was found for the NMP-based series. Regardless of the solvent, the introduction of HNTs resulted in an improvement of the separation properties of membranes. A noticeable enhancement of antifouling performance upon application of HNTs was found only in the case of DMF-based membranes. The study of the antibacterial properties showed that the increase in surface roughness had a positive effect on the inhibition of E. coli growth.     

Fluorescent Turn-On Probes for the Development of Binding and Hydrolytic Activity Assays for mRNA Cap-Recognizing Proteins

The m⁷G cap is a unique nucleotide structure at the 5′-end of all eukaryotic mRNAs. The cap specifically interacts with numerous cellular proteins and participates in biological processes that are essential for cell growth and function. To provide small molecular probes to study important cap-recognizing proteins, we synthesized m⁷G nucleotides labeled with fluorescent tags via the terminal phosph(on)ate group and studied how their emission properties changed upon protein binding or enzymatic cleavage. Only the pyrene-labeled compounds behaved as sensitive turn-on probes. A pyrene-labeled m⁷GTP analogue showed up to eightfold enhanced fluorescence emission upon binding to eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) and over 30-fold enhancement upon cleavage by decapping scavenger (DcpS) enzyme. These observations served as the basis for developing binding- and hydrolytic-activity assays. The assay utility was validated with previously characterized libraries of eIF4E ligands and DcpS inhibitors. The DcpS assay was also applied to study hydrolytic activity and inhibition of endogenous enzyme in cytoplasmic extracts from HeLa and HEK cells.     

[Ni(cod)2][Al(ORF)4], a Source for Naked Nickel(I) Chemistry

The straightforward synthesis of the cationic, purely organometallic Ni^I salt [Ni(cod)₂]⁺[Al(OR^F)₄]⁻ was realized through a reaction between [Ni(cod)₂] and Ag[Al(OR^F)₄] (cod=1,5‐cyclooctadiene). Crystal‐structure analysis and EPR, XANES, and cyclic voltammetry studies confirmed the presence of a homoleptic Ni^I olefin complex. Weak interactions between the metal center, the ligands, and the anion provide a good starting material for further cationic Ni^I complexes.     

Efficient S-alkylation of cysteine in the presence of 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine

The synthesis of S-alkylated cysteine derivatives was carried out successfully in the presence of 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine. Alkylation proceeded in high yields on unprotected amino acids and peptides containing a sulfhydryl group.     

Kinetic comparison of isomeric oligo(ethylene oxide) (meth)acrylates: Aqueous polymerization of oligo(ethylene oxide) methyl ether methacrylate and methyl 2-(oligo(ethylene oxide) methyl ether)acrylate macromonomers

The photoinduced energy/electron transfer-reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (PET-RAFT) polymerizations of oligo(ethylene oxide) monomethyl ether methacrylate (OEOMA, also known as poly[ethylene glycol] methyl ether methacrylate, PEGMA) and isomeric methyl 2-(oligo(ethylene oxide) methyl ether)acrylate (2OEOAM) macromonomers with OEO average degree of polymerization of 22 or 45 were conducted in aqueous media to provide insight into the effect of monomer structure on grafting-through RAFT of 1,1-disubstituted acrylic macromonomers. The polymerizations of all four monomers reached nearly quantitative conversion. The longer macromonomers polymerized faster than the shorter ones within the same monomer class. The OEO side chain at the α (i.e., 2-) position of isomeric acrylates significantly slowed RAFT polymerization in comparison with OEO ester side chain of methacrylates.     

Synthesis, crystal structure, and catalytic properties of MgCo6Ge6

The ternary compound MgCo6Ge6 represents a novel member of the RM6X6 phases, which contains a graphite-type Ge network, Kagomé nets of Co atoms, and Ge2 dumbbells with an unexpected short Ge-Ge contact in the range of a localized Ge-Ge single bond. The title compound shows a large variety of chemical bonding, which ranges from metallic to multicenter and covalent bonding. The role of polar intermetallic alloys as promising candidates for the application as catalysts for the selective hydrogenation of alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes is discussed. MgCo6Ge6 possesses a remarkable activity and selectivity for the hydrogenation of cis/trans-citral to geraniol and nerol.