Influence of heat treatment temperature of carbon fiber felt substrate on polyaniline electrosynthesis and its properties

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Polyaniline was electrosynthesized using three voltammetric cycles on carbon fiber felts annealed at 1400, 1600, 2000, and 2300 K. Felts and...     

Non-conventional oils for biodiesel production: a study of thermal and oxidative stability

Vegetable oils with variable proportions of oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids are more susceptible to oxidative processes. In this subject, this study evaluates the physical chemical properties and oxidative stability of non-conventional oils such as andiroba, babassu, sesame, oiticica, jatropha, and grape through accelerated oxidation techniques (pressurized differential scanning calorimetry, Rancimat and PetroOxy). It was verified that babassu and andiroba oil do not showed detectable induction period presenting high oxidative stability; moreover, it was observed that the enthalpic events occurred in 1.19, >10, 0.53, 0.49, 0.49, and 0.60 h for the andiroba oil, babassu oil, sesame seeds, jatropha, oiticica oils, and grapes, respectively, stimulating the conclusion of greater stability for the babassu oil.     

Evaluation of a Brazilian ion chromatography interlaboratory study

This paper describes a Brazilian interlaboratory program study on anion measurement in synthetic water. The program described is promoted regularly since 2007 and recommended the use of ion chromatography as analytical technique for all participant laboratories. Two samples (X and Y) with different anion (fluoride, chloride, nitrite-N, nitrate-N, sulfate and phosphate-P) concentration levels were twice distributed in 2011. Each sample on each round had the homogeneity, and the stability tested for a period of 15 days. Upon ensuring the homogeneity and stability, the samples were distributed to 39 laboratories located around the country. The aim of this study was to verify the laboratories’ precision and to establish the measurement comparability among Brazilian laboratories that routinely use ion chromatography for water sample analysis. It was also possible to identify the most frequent sources of systematic and random errors for each measured anion, related to the ion chromatography technique. Some specific metrological issues related to the geographical region are discussed.     

Mixing method influence on compatibility and polymorphism studies by DSC and statistical analysis

Most of the pharmaceutical products are formulated as solid dosage form, which may present drug–excipient interactions that lead to changes in the chemical nature of the drug, such as solubility and bioavailability and may compromise its safety and effectiveness. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is a widely used method for the rapid evaluation of the drug-excipient compatibility and the stability of the mixture formed; however, there is no consensus on the preparation methods of the drug–excipient mixtures. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of the mixing method on the drug–excipient compatibility studies by means of DSC analysis, using tenofovir disoproxil fumarate as a drug model. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in the heat of fusion of the drug in the mixtures prepared by several mixing methods. Vortex Mixer with a Pop-Off Cup used for 3 min proved to be very satisfactory for these studies. A polymorphic transition was observed in the mixture prepared with the mortar and pestle. Therefore, this method should be avoided since it may induce errors in the interpretation of DSC results. In this way, the mixing method used to prepare a mixture for studies of interactions between the API and the excipients in a pharmaceutical formulation has a great influence on the results and it must be chosen carefully.