Development of a new strategy for the synthesis of graphene oxide-alumina nanocomposite as an efficient adsorbent for dispersive solid-phase extraction of parabens

The present study investigates the synthesis and application of the graphene oxide-alumina nanocomposite as a new adsorbent for the dispersive solid-phase extraction of three parabens and their determination using high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detection. The characterization of the synthesized material was accomplished and its size, morphology, chemical composition, porosity, and thermal stability were studied. Application of the proposed strategy for the synthesis of the nanocomposite resulted in the incorporation of Al₂O₃ nanoparticles into graphene oxide nanosheets, further resulting in the exfoliation of graphene oxide nanosheets increasing their surface area. An orthogonal rotatable central composite design was used to optimize the extraction. Under the optimum conditions, the analytical performance of the method showed a suitable linear dynamic range (0.2–100.0 μg/L), reasonable limits of detection (0.03–0.05 μg/L), and preconcentration factors ranging from 128 to 173. Finally, the new validated method was applied for the determination of parabens in some real samples including wastewater, cream, toothpaste, and juice samples with satisfactory recoveries (88%–109%), and relative standard deviations less than 8.7% (n = 3). Results demonstrated that inserting alumina nanoparticles into graphene oxide nanosheets improved the extraction efficiency of parabens, as polar acidic compounds, by providing additional efficient interactions including hydrogen bonding, dipole-dipole, and Brønsted and Lewis acid-base interactions.     

Nonthermal pasteurization of beer by high pressure processing: modelling the inactivation of saccharomyces cerevisiae ascospores in different alcohol beers

The industrial production of beer ends with a process of thermal pasteurization. In this research, the nonthermal pasteurization of beer by high pressure processing (HPP) was carried out. First, the effect of alcohol content on Saccharomyces cerevisiae ascospore inactivation at 400?MPa was studied. The number of ascospores in 0.0%, 4.8%, and 7.0% alc/vol beers for 10?min processing time decreased by 3.1, 4.9, and ≥?6.0 log, respectively. The Weibull model fitted the ascospore inactivation by HPP in 0.0%, 4.8%, and 7.0% alc/vol beers. At 400?MPa, 7.2?s could ensure the minimum pasteurization of beers and for 600?MPa 5?s were enough for ≥?7 log reductions. The overall flavour of HPP vs. untreated beers was evaluated for a lager and an ale, with no significant differences between the untreated and HPP beers. Thus, nonthermal HPP is a feasible technology to pasteurize beer with different alcohol contents without heat.     

The effect of ion molecule reactions on peaks in ion mobility spectrometry

The peak width, shape and position are heavily affected by ion–molecule reactions which are inevitable in the drift region of an ion mobility spectrometer. This paper discusses three major types of reactions occurring in drift tube and their effects on the shape and displacement of the peaks. The first reaction is the dissociation of dimer ions during their flight time creating a tail for the monomer peak. The second one is the reaction between the monomer ions with molecules of the same kind in the drift region. Such a process shifts the peak to longer drift times and causes a tail for the peak as well as its broadening. The last one is the reaction of ions with molecules of different types such as dopant which may exist in the drift region. Depending on the reactivity of the ions, this kind of reaction displaces the peaks differently so that peak-to-peak resolution is lost or, in some cases, gained.     

Degradation of methylene blue via Co–TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nano powders modified by meso-tetra(carboxyphenyl)porphyrin

TiO₂ photocatalylysts as an environmental cleaning factor has drawn considerable attention due to the global increase in the level of environmental pollutions. Studies on the development of new TiO₂ materials wherein its photocatalytic activity can be activated by visible light will be valuable for field application. In this study, porphyrins/Co-doped TiO₂ were prepared by sol–gel method. The nanopowders were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (SEM). In addition, the photocatalytic degrading efficiency of porphyrins/Co-doped TiO₂ complexes on the methylene blue decomposition under irradiation with visible light is evaluated.     

Hydrodynamic Characteristics and Adsorption Particularity of Nanobiological Feedstock Along the Bed Height in a Novel Chromatography Column

Expanded bed adsorption (EBA) is a practical method for the separation of nanoparticulates. In order to analysis the local hydrodynamic and adsorption behavior of nanoparticle (NP)-based biological feedstock, a modified Nano Biotechnology Group EBA column with a 26-mm inner diameter was used to withdraw liquid from different axial positions of the column. Fabricated egg albumin (EA) NPs with an average size of 70 nm were employed as a model system and viral size/charge mimic to assess the relationship between hydrodynamic and adsorption performance of NPs at the different column regions. The effects of influential factors, including flow velocity and initial concentration of NPs, on NP hydrodynamic behavior and adsorption kinetics along the bed height were investigated. NP hydrodynamic studies confirmed that non-uniform behavior dominated the system and a decreasing trend of liquid mixing/dispersion with increase of bed height was observed in this column. The results demonstrated an increase in the mixing/dispersion at certain bed heights with the increase in both the velocity and feed initial concentration. Breakthrough curves were measured at various column points to determine the adsorption performance [dynamic binding capacity (DBC) and yield] in different bed positions/zones. Yield and DBC of NPs were improved along the bed height, whereas liquid velocity had the opposite effect. Increasing the initial concentration of NPs enhanced only the DBC. Separation of EA NPs under optimal conditions was 87 %, which is an excellent result for a one-pass frontal chromatography method.

     

Density Functional Theory Studies on the Oxidation of 5'-dGMP and 5'-dAMP by a Platinum(IV) Complex

Density functional theory has been used to investigate the oxidation of a guanine nucleotide by platinum(IV), a process that can be important in the degradation of DNA. For the first time, we have provided a comprehensive mechanism for all of the steps in this process. A number of intermediates are predicted to occur but with short lifetimes that would make them difficult to observe experimentally. A key step in the mechanism is electron transfer from guanine to platinum(IV), and we show that this is driven by the loss of a chloride ligand from the platinum complex after nucleophilic attack of 5'-phosphate to C8 of guanine. We have investigated several different initial platinum(IV) guanine adducts and shown that the adduct formed from replacement of an axial chlorine ligand in the platinum(IV) complex undergoes oxidation more easily. We have studied adenine versus guanine adducts, and our results show that oxidation of the former is more difficult because of disruption of the aromatic π system that occurs during the process. Finally, our results show that the acidic hydrolysis step to form the final oxidized product occurs readily via an initial protonation of N7 of the guanine.     

Spectrofluorimetric and spectrophotometric stability-indicating methods for determination of some oxicams using 7-chloro-4-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole (NBD-Cl)

Two sensitive and selective spectrofluorimetric and spectrophotometric stability-indicating methods have been developed for the determination of some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory oxicam derivatives namely lornoxicam (Lx), tenoxicam (Tx) and meloxicam (Mx) after their complete alkaline hydrolysis. The methods are based on derivatization of alkaline hydrolytic products with 7-chloro-4-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole (NBD-Cl). The products showed an absorption maximum at 460 nm for the three studied drugs and fluorescence emission peak at 535 nm in methanol. The color was stable for at least 48 h. The optimum conditions of the reaction were investigated and it was found that the reaction proceeds quantitatively at pH 8, after heating in a boiling water bath for 30 min. The methods were found to be linear in the ranges of 1-10 microg ml(-1) for Lx and Tx and 0.5-4.0 microg ml(-1) for Mx for spectrophotometric method, while 0.05-1.0 microg ml(-1) for Lx and Tx and 0.025-0.4 microg ml(-1) for Mx for the spectrofluorimetric method. The validity of the methods was assessed according to USP guidelines. Statistical analysis of the results revealed high accuracy and good precision. The suggested procedures could be used for the determination of the above mentioned drugs in pure and dosage forms as well as in the presence of their degradation products.     

Synthesis and characterization of nanostructured-segmented block copolyetheramide based on nylon6 and poly(ethylene oxide)

<正>Segmented block copolymer based on nylon6(N6) and polyethylene oxide(PEO) with stochiometric ratio was synthesized via a two-step process.The first step represents end capping of N6 in the presence of adipic acid leading to carboxy terminated N6,and the second one is polycondensation of the latter product with PEO in the presence of catalyst and thermostabilizer to form a high molecular weight multi-block copolymer.Several methods were applied to characterize the synthesized copolymer such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy,differential thermal analysis,differential scanning calorimetry,X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy. The obtained results confirmed the multi-block structure for copolymer with a very high degree of micro-phase separation. Atomic force microscopy micrographs indicated that the morphology was the dispersion of high stiffness nanostructured polyamide(PA) domains in the amorphous region of PEO matrix,which can be very important in their performance for membrane processes.     

On the average degree of some irreducible characters of a finite group

Let G be a finite group and N be a non-trivial normal subgroup of G, such that the average degree of irreducible characters in $\mathrm{Irr}(G|N)$ is less than or equal to 16/5. Then, we prove that N is solvable. Also, we prove the solvability of G, by assuming that the average degree of irreducible characters in $\mathrm{Irr}(G|N)$ is strictly less than 16/5. We show that the bounds are sharp.     

Functionally substituted alkylbenzotriazoles: Reactivity of alkylbenzotriazoles toward electrophilic and nucleophilic reagents

The reactivity of benzotriazolylacetone toward a variety of carbon and nitrogen electrophiles is reported. Several novel azolylbenzotriazoles as well as benzotriazolyl‐cinnolines have been synthesized. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 13:141–145, 2002; Published online in Wiley Interscience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.10009