Calorimetric studies of removal of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs diclofenac and dipyrone from water

Chitosan microspheres were applied to remove the pollutants diclofenac and dipyrone from water. Adsorption studies were adjusted to Langmuir equation. The maximum number of adsorbed moles gave 5.25 × 10⁻⁴ and 4.83 × 10⁻⁴ mol of diclofenac and dipyrone, respectively, per gram of chitosan microspheres. The interactions in solid/liquid interface were calorimetrically followed and gave endothermic values: +22.1 ± 1.3 and +48.7 ± 1.5 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively, for the same sequence. Both Gibbs energy values were negative. Adsorption processes were accompanied by an increase in entropy. These interactions were studied by FTIR spectroscopy which showed a strengthening of the CN stretching (dislocated shifts from 1,325 to 1,371 cm⁻¹) related to a weakening of the NH stretch caused by the interaction with drugs.     

sp hybridization in free carbon nanoparticles--presence and stability observed by near edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy

The presence and stability of sp hybridized atoms in free carbon nanoparticles was investigated by NEXAFS spectroscopy. The experiments show that a predominant fraction of carbon atoms is found in linear sp-chains and that conversion into sp(2) structures proceeds already at low temperature and in the gas phase.     

Surface viscosity and reorientation process in an asymmetric nematic cell

The influence of surface viscosity and anchoring energy on the reorientation process of a nematic liquid crystal cell is theoretically investigated. The cell is a slab of thickness, d, whose limiting surfaces are characterised by different anchoring strengths and present easy directions parallel to the bounding surfaces, changing with time due to some external action. The exact space-time profile of the director angle is obtained by means of integral transform techniques and a Green function approach. From this formalism, the time dependence of the optical path difference is exactly determined and its behaviour is analysed in connection with the presence of surface viscosity and different anchoring energies. The problem is also exactly solved in the presence of a constant electric field. It is shown that the compatibility problem between the time derivative of the director field on the surface and in the bulk can be avoided.     

Chemistry, physico-chemistry and applications linked to biological activities of β-glucans

β-Glucans is the common name given to a group of chemically heterogeneous polysaccharides. They are long- or short-chain polymers of (1-->3)-β-linked glucose moieties which may be branched, with the branching chains linked to the backbone by a (1-->6)-β linkage. β-(1-->3)-Glucans are widely distributed in bacteria, algae, fungi and plants, where they are involved in cell wall structure and other biological function. β-Glucans have been shown to provide a remarkable range of health bene?ts, and are especially important against the two most common conventional causes of death in industrialized countries, i.e. cardiovascular diseases (where they promote healthy cholesterol and blood glucose levels) and cancer (where they enhance immune system functions). This Highlight provides a comprehensive and up-to-date commentary on β-glucans, their chemistry, physico-chemistry, functional role in immunological responses, and possible applications as therapeutic tools. In addition, we discuss the mechanism behind their health bene?ts, which are not yet fully understood.     

A digital image-based method for determining of total acidity in red wines using acid-base titration without indicator

This work proposes the use of digital image-based method for determination of total acidity in red wines by means of acid-base titration without using an external indicator or any pre-treatment of the sample. Digital images present the colour of the emergent radiation which is complementary to the radiation absorbed by anthocyanines present in wines. Anthocyanines change colour depending on the pH of the medium, and from the variation of colour in the images obtained during titration, the end point can be localized with accuracy and precision. RGB-based values were employed to build titration curves, and end points were localized by second derivative curves. The official method recommends potentiometric titration with a NaOH standard solution, and sample dilution until the pH reaches 8.2-8.4. In order to illustrate the feasibility of the proposed method, titrations of ten red wines were carried out. Results were compared with the reference method, and no statistically significant difference was observed between the results by applying the paired t-test at the 95% confidence level. The proposed method yielded more precise results than the official method. This is due to the trivariate nature of the measurements (RGB), associated with digital images.     

Exact solutions for a forced Burgers equation with a linear external force

We investigate the solutions of the Burgers equation , where F(x,t) is an external force and Φ(x,t) represents a forcing term. This equation is first analyzed in the absence of the forcing term by taking F(x,t)=k₁(t)−k₂(t)x into account. For this case, the solution obtained extends the usual one present in the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process and depending on the choice of k₁(t) and k₂(t) it can present a stationary state or an anomalous spreading. Afterwards, the forcing terms Φ(x,t)=Φ₁(t)+Φ₂(t)x and Φ(x,t)=Φ₃x−Φ₄/x³ are incorporated in the previous analysis and exact solutions are obtained for both cases.