Numerical simulations of negatively buoyant jets in an immiscible fluid using the Particle Finite Element Method

Negatively buoyant jets consist in a dense fluid injected vertically upward into a lighter ambient fluid. The numerical simulation of this kind of buoyancy‐driven flows is challenging as it involves multiple fluids with different physical properties. In the case of immiscible fluids, it requires, in addition, to track the motion of the interface between fluids and accurately represent the discontinuities of the flow variables. In this paper, we investigate numerically the injection of a negatively buoyant jet into a homogenous immiscible ambient fluid using the Particle Finite Element Method and compare the two‐dimensional numerical results with experiments on the injection of a jet of dyed water through a nozzle in the base of a cylindrical tank containing rapeseed oil. In both simulations and experiments, the fountain inlet flow velocity and nozzle diameter have been varied to cover a wide range of Froude Fr and Reynolds Re numbers ( 0.1 < Fr < 30, 8 < Re < 1350), reproducing both weak and strong laminar fountains. The flow behaviors observed for the different numerical simulations fit in the regime map based on the Re and Fr values of the experiments, and the maximum fountain height is in good agreement with the experimental observations, suggesting that particle finite element method is a useful tool for the study of immiscible two‐fluid systems. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Excited-state surfaces of ethylene from the B13 strong-correlation density functional

The energy surfaces of the ground and low-lying excited states of ethylene are challenging tests of multi-reference electronic structure methods. A variety of multi-reference wavefunction theories have been applied to this problem and the ensuing photochemistry has been well studied. Density-functional methods, however, have been less successful. In this work, the ‘B13’ strong-correlation density functional is used to generate multi-reference orbitals for the computation of the three lowest-lying singlet states. We explore the states and energies as a function of torsion angle, and as a function of the pyramidalisation angle with respect to the twisted orthogonal structure. The former features an avoided crossing at the orthogonal structure; the latter a C_s slice through a conical intersection. Both features are well reproduced by our B13 method.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Benzonitrile-Substituted Silyl Ethers

The silyl ethers (siloxanes) Me_{4? x}Si(OC₆H₅CN)_x (x = 1–4) (1–4), O(Si(OC₆H₄CN) (Me)₂)₂ (5), and Me₃Si–O–C₆F₄CN (6) have been synthesized by the reaction of the respective p-hydroxybenzonitriles and chlorosilanes in the presence of N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) as hydrogen chloride acceptor. All compounds have been fully characterized by CHN-analysis, melting point, IR, Raman, mass spectroscopy, and ¹H, ¹³C, ²⁹Si NMR spectroscopy. Furthermore, the crystal structures of these compounds—with the exception of Me₂Si(OC₆H₅CN)₂, which is a liquid—were determined by X-ray diffractometry.     

Triphospha-Ferrocenes as Ligands. Crystal Structures of [Fe(η5-C5Me5)(η5-C2 TBu2P3)M(CO)5)], (M= Cr,MO, W) and the Novel ruthenium and Nickel Complexes [Fe(η5-C5Me5) (η5-C2 TBu2P3)Ru3(CO)9] and [Fe(η5-C5Me5)(η5-C2 tBu2P3)Ni(Co)2]2

Abstract

Syntheses and structures of penta- and hexaphosphorus analogues of ferrocene have been described recently¹. Unlike their simple ferrocene analogues, these complexes have further ligating potential towards other transition metal centres by virtue of the availability of the ring phosphorus lone-pair electrons that are not involved in the η⁵-coordination. We now describe the first examples of coordination compounds of the triphospha-ferrocene [Fe(η⁵-C₅Me₅) (η⁵-C₂ ^tBu₂P₃]. In the ruthenium complex [Fe(η⁵-C₅Me₅)(η⁵-C₂ ^tBu₂P₃) Ru₃(CO)₉] ² two adjacent phosphorus atoms of the η⁵-C₂ ^tBu₂P₃ ring are interlinked by a ruthenium carbonyl cluster in which all three ruthenium atoms interact with the phosphorus atoms. The tetrametallic nickel complex [Fe(η⁵-C₅Me₅)(η⁵-C₂ ^tBu₂P₃)Ni(CO)₂]₂ ³ represents the first example of intermolecular interlinkage of two phospha-ferrocene systems by two metal centres.     

Molecular Recognition of Carbonyl Compounds by Uranyl-salophen Based Neutral Receptors Driven by Van Der Waals Forces

The complexation of the salophen-uranyl metallocleft 2 and of its half-cleft analogue 3 with enones and other carbonyl compounds was assessed in chloroform by UV-Vis titration and, occasionally, by FT-IR measurements. Complexes with receptors 2 and 3 are in all cases more stable than those with the control unsubstituted uranyl-salophen 1 , showing that in addition to the primary binding force provided by coordination of the carbonyl oxygen to the uranium, a significant driving force for complexation, typically in the range of 2-3 kcal/mol, results from van der Waals interactions of the guest with the aromatic walls. Replacement of the phenyl group in 3 with larger aromatic residues to give 4 and 5 , led to enhanced complex stabilities, due to more extended contact surfaces between host and guest.     

Protein-Polysaccharide Interactions for Stabilization of Food Emulsions

Proteins, polysaccharides and their blends, as examples of natural biopolymers, are surface active materials. Biopolymers may be considered as amphiphilic macromolecules that play an essential role in stabilizing food formulations (foams, emulsions and dispersions). Under specific conditions (such as protein-to-polysaccharide ratio, pH, ionic strength, temperature, mixing processing), it has been stated that proteins and polysaccharides form hybrids (complexes) with enhanced functional properties in comparison to the proteins and polysaccharides alone. Different protein-polysaccharide pairs are reviewed with particular attention to the emulsification capability of their mixtures. In the case of uncomplexed blends of biopolymers, competitive adsorption onto hydrophobic surfaces is generally reported. Conversely, electrostatic complexation between oppositely charged proteins and polysaccharides allows better anchoring of the new-formed macro-molecular amphiphile onto oil-water interfaces. Moreover, improved thermal stability and increased resistance to external treatment (high pressure) involved in food processing are obtained. This review presents basic and applied knowledge on protein-polysaccharide interactions in aqueous medium and at the oil-water interface in food emulsion systems. Electrostatic interactions and thermodynamic incompatibility in mixed biopolymer solutions are correlated to the functional properties (rheology, surface hydrophobiciry, emulsification power) of these interesting blends. Basic and industrial selected systems of different families of hydrocolloids (as gum Arabic, galactomannans, pectins) and protein (caseins, whey, soya, gelatin) mixtures are reviewed.     

Ionization by pH and Anionic Surfactant Binding Gives the Same Thickening Effects of Crosslinked Polyacrylic Acid Derivatives

Physical properties of aqueous solutions of hydrophobically modified crosslinked polyacrylic acids change quite extensively as the polymer is charged up. A study is carried out concerning the similarities between two polymer ionization processes, that is, by pH increment and anionic surfactant addition. The two processes charge the polymer by distinctly different mechanisms. At sufficiently high pH the carboxylic groups of the polymer are virtually all ionized and the polymer is, therefore, fully charged. The effective repulsion among the charged groups due to the entropy of the counterions promotes an increased stiffness as well as an expansion of the polymer particles. We investigate here how the ionization and swelling will be if, instead of high pH, the polymer is at low pH conditions but associated to ionic surfactants. Surfactants associate to the polymer both in a noncooperative way by the binding of individual surfactant molecules and in a cooperative way as micelles since the polymer promotes surfactant self-assembly. This binding leads to a highly charged polymer-surfactant complex and leads to an osmotic swelling as well. The swelling and the gelation were monitored by rheology and dynamic light scattering, of polymer solutions by varying the pHs and adding ionic surfactants at low pH. The results show that ionization by surfactants and by pH lead to approximately the same gelation degree, as can be seen by similar viscosity values. Both processes result in dramatic viscosity increases, up to 8 orders of magnitude. More hydrophobic surfactants, with longer alkyl chain, are shown to be more efficient as enhancers of swelling and gelation. The network that is formed at high pH or at sufficiently high concentration of surfactant can be weakened or even disrupted if monovalent or divalent salts are added, demonstrating the role of counterion entropy.     

A quantitative HPLC–MS/MS method for studying internal concentrations and toxicokinetics of 34 polar analytes in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos

An analytical method using high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry was developed to determine internal concentrations of 34 test compounds such as pharmaceuticals and pesticides in zebrafish embryos (ZFE), among them, cimetidine, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, metoprolol, atropine and phenytoin. For qualification and quantification, multiple reaction monitoring mode was used. The linear range extends from 0.075 ng/mL for thiacloprid and metazachlor and 7.5 ng/mL for coniine and clofibrate to 250 ng/mL for many of the test compounds. Matrix effects were strongest for nicotine, but never exceeded ±20 % for any of the developmental stages of the ZFE. Method recoveries ranged from 90 to 110 % from an analysis of nine pooled ZFE. These findings together with the simple sample preparation mean this approach is suitable for the determination of internal concentrations from only nine individual ZFE in all life stages up to 96 h post-fertilization. Exemplarily, the time course of the internal concentrations of clofibric acid, metribuzin and benzocaine in ZFE was studied over 96 h, and three different patterns were distinguished, on the basis of the speed and extent of uptake and whether or not a steady state was reached. Decreasing internal concentrations may be due to metabolism in the ZFE.

Radical Reactivity of the Biradical [⋅P(μ-NTer)2P⋅] and Isolation of a Persistent Phosphorus-Cantered Monoradical [⋅P(μ-NTer)2P-Et]

The activation of C−Br bonds in various bromoalkanes by the biradical [⋅P(μ-NTer)₂P⋅] ( 1 ) (Ter=2,6-bis-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-phenyl) is reported, yielding trans-addition products of the type [Br−P(μ-NTer)₂P−R] ( 2 ), so-called 1,3-substituted cyclo-1,3-diphospha-2,4-diazanes. This addition reaction, which represents a new easy approach to asymmetrically substituted cyclo-1,3-diphospha-2,4-diazanes, was investigated mechanistically by different spectroscopic methods (NMR, EPR, IR, Raman); the results suggested a stepwise radical reaction mechanism, as evidenced by the in-situ detection of the phosphorus-centered monoradical [⋅P(μ-NTer)₂P-R].< To provide further evidence for the radical mechanism, [⋅P(μ-NTer)₂P-Et] ( 3Et ⋅) was synthesized directly by reduction of the bromoethane addition product [Br-P(μ-NTer)₂P-Et] ( 2 a ) with magnesium, resulting in the formation of the persistent phosphorus-centered monoradical [⋅P(μ-NTer)₂P-Et], which could be isolated and fully characterized, including single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Comparison of the EPR spectrum of the radical intermediate in the addition reaction with that of the synthesized new [⋅P(μ-NTer)₂P-Et] radical clearly proves the existence of radicals over the course of the reaction of biradical [⋅P(μ-NTer)₂P⋅] ( 1 ) with bromoethane. Extensive DFT and coupled cluster calculations corroborate the experimental data for a radical mechanism in the reaction of biradical [⋅P(μ-NTer)₂P⋅] with EtBr. In the field of hetero-cyclobutane-1,3-diyls, the demonstration of a stepwise radical reaction represents a new aspect and closes the gap between P-centered biradicals and P-centered monoradicals in terms of radical reactivity.