Stabilization of γ-sterilized biomedical polyolefins by synergistic mixtures of oligomeric stabilizers

The stabilization of polyolefins against γ-sterilization has been studied with single or binary additive system. The present attempt is to utilize synergistic mixtures of stabilizers which are approved for food contact applications. Ethylene-propylene (EP) copolymer has been melt-mixed with hindered amine stabilizers (HAS), phenolic antioxidants and organo-phosphites (hydroperoxide decomposer). Samples were sterilized with different doses of γ-radiation. Stabilization was characterized in terms of changes in the functional groups (oxidation products), tensile properties, yellowing and surface morphology by FTIR spectroscopy, Instron, colorimetry (reflectance) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. Results were discussed by comparing the stabilizing efficiency of mixtures with and without phenol system. Among phenol containing systems, where we mostly observe discoloration due to the oxidation of hindered phenol and the combination of secondary HAS, tertiary HAS, organo-phosphite and hindered phenol exhibited improved stabilization efficiency than single or binary additive systems. The mixture of secondary HAS and tertiary HAS, has shown antagonistic effect of stabilization whereas their combination with organo-phosphite has exhibited synergistic effect of stabilization even at higher doses of γ-sterilization. The effects have been explained through the interaction between the stabilizers.     

Estimation of the absolute internal-rotation entropy of molecules with two torsional degrees of freedom from stochastic simulations

A method of statistical estimation is applied to the problem of evaluating the absolute entropy of internal rotation in a molecule with two torsional degrees of freedom. The configurational part of the entropy is obtained as that of the joint probability density of an arbitrary form represented by a two-dimensional Fourier series, the coefficients of which are statistically estimated using a sample of the torsional angles of the molecule obtained by a stochastic simulation. The internal rotors in the molecule are assumed to be attached to a common frame, and their reduced moments of inertia are initially calculated as functions of the two torsional angles, but averaged over all the remaining internal degrees of freedom using the stochastic-simulation sample of the atomic configurations of the molecule. The torsional-angle dependence of the reduced moments of inertia can be also averaged out, and the absolute internal-rotation entropy of the molecule is obtained in a good approximation as the sum of the configurational entropy and a kinetic contribution fully determined by the averaged reduced moments of inertia. The method is illustrated using Monte Carlo simulations of isomers of stilbene and halogenated derivatives of propane. The two torsional angles in cis-stilbene are found to be much more strongly correlated than those in trans-stilbene, while the degree of the angular correlation in propane increases strongly on substitution of hydrogen atoms with chlorine.     

Polymer electrolytes based on room temperature ionic liquid: 2,3-dimethyl-1-octylimidazolium triflate

Room temperature ionic liquid (DMOImTf) based upon 2,3-dimethyl-1-octylimidazolium cation and trifluoromethanesulfonate or triflate (CF(3)SO(3))(-) anion has been synthesized and shows conductivity of 5.68 mS/cm and viscosity of 26.4 cP at 25 degrees C. Ion conducting polymer electrolytes based on polymers (poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and polyvinylidenefluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene (PVdF-HFP)) and ionic liquid (DMOImTf) were prepared in film form by the casting technique. The conductivity of polymer electrolytes containing 0.5 M LiCF(3)SO(3) in PEO:DMOImTf taken in equal weight ratio increases with the addition of propylene carbonate (PC) while its mechanical stability improved by dispersing nanosize fumed silica. However, polymer electrolytes containing PVdF-HFP and ionic liquid show a high value of conductivity (10(-4)-10(-3) S/cm) alongwith better mechanical stability.     

Some bridged η:η-dicyclopentadienyltitanium pyrazolone complexes: Syntheses and structural elucidation

Complexes of the types (C₅H₅)₂TiClL, (C₅H₅)TiClL₂ and [(C₅H₄)TiL₂]₂ (L is a monofunctional bidentate ligand) have been made by reactions of titanocene dichioride with the substituted pyrazolones, RCO$\text{C:C(OH)N(C}{}_6\text{H}{}_5\text{)N:C}$CH₃ (where R = CH₃, C₂H₆, C₆H₅ and p-ClC₆H₄) in the presence of triethylamine in refluxing THF. A possible mechanism for the formation of [(C₅H₄)TiL₂]₂ is suggested.     

Influence of Urbach Energy,Temperature, and Longitudinal Position in the Active Layer on Carrier Diffusion Length in Perovskite Solar Cells

The diffusion length of charge carriers in the active layer of a perovskite solar cell (PSC) of the structure Glass/PEDOT: PSS/CH₃NH₃PbI₃/PC60BM/Al is modelled. It is found that the diffusion length depends on the position x in the active layer measured from the PEDOT: PSS interface, Urbach energy and temperature. By varying the voltage in the range from zero to , it is shown that the dependence of diffusion length on the position x in the active layer reduces at higher voltage. The combined influence of applied voltage and temperature on the diffusion length of charge carriers is investigated and it is found that in the low voltage range the diffusion length is temperature independent, but it becomes significantly temperature dependent at higher voltages. Also, it is found that the diffusion length decreases as the applied voltage increases and this reduction becomes much more significant at higher voltage and temperatures. The combined influence of applied voltage and Urbach energy on diffusion length of charge carriers reveals that the diffusion length decreases when both the applied voltage and Urbach energy increase. However, the reduction in the diffusion length due to the increase in Urbach energy becomes less significant at higher voltage.     

Synthesis, characterization, photoluminescence and EPR investigations of Mn doped MgAl2O4 phosphors

MgAl₂O₄:Mn phosphors have been prepared at 500 °C by combustion route. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicated the presence of mono-MgAl₂O₄ phase. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the powder particle crystallites are mostly angular. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the presence of AlO₆ group which makes up the MgAl₂O₄ spinel. Photoluminescence studies showed green/red emission indicating that two independent luminescence channels in this phosphor. The green emission at 518 nm is due to ⁴T₁ → ⁶A₁ transition of Mn²⁺ ions. The emission at 650 nm is due to the charge-transfer deexcitation associated with the Mn ion. EPR spectrum exhibits allowed and forbidden hyperfine structure at g=2.003. The g≈2.00 is due to Mn²⁺ ion in an environment close to tetrahedral symmetry. It is observed that N and χ increase with decrease of temperature obeying the Boltzmann law. The variation of zero-field splitting parameter (D) with temperature is evaluated and discussed.     

Tetrachloroferrate(III)-selective liquid membrane electrode based on crystal violet

An extract of crystal violet-tetrachloroferrate(III) in nitrobenzene was used to prepare a tetrachloroferrate(III)-selective liquid membrane electrode with a poly(vinyl chloride) support. The optimal conditions to determine 2.5 × 10^–5 – 5.0 × 10^–2 M iron(III) as tetrachloroferrate(III) (anionic slope 56 mV/decade, detection limit 7.9 × 10^–6 M) were found to be 4.0–5.5.M total chloride in 0.75–1.5M hydrochloric acid. The electrode was reliably applied to determine iron in human blood, haematite and mineralized vitamin syrup by direct potentiometry, standard and sample additions as well as standard subtraction techniques.     

Selective Spectrophotometric Determination of Copper in Milk with Phenanthraquinone Monothiosemicarbazone

The red complex formed by copper (II) and phenanthraquinone monothiosemicarbazone has an absorption maximum at 530 nm with a molar absorptivity of 14000 cm^?1 mole^?1. The pH range for the determination is 1.1–6.6. Optimum range of concentration for accurate determination is 0.50–3.47 ppm of copper (II) in 50% methanol medium. The limits of interference due to foreign ions have been studied. The method has been successfully employed for the determination of copper in various samples of milk.     

Potentiometric studies in oxidation-reduction reactions: Oxidation with chloramine-b. indirect determinations

Chloramine-B has been used as an oxidising agent to determine indirectly potassium iodate, potassium metaperiodate, potassium, bromate, potassium dichromate, hydrogen peroxide, chloramine-T and potassium permanganate by a potentiometric method. An excess of potassium iodide added to each of the substances in an acid medium is titrated back with a standard solution of chloramine-B, using platinum foil as an oxidation-reduction electrode coupled with a saturated calomel electrode through an agar-agar potassium chloride bridge.     

o-hydroxylmethylphenylchalcogens: synthesis, intramolecular nonbonded chalcogen...OH interactions, and glutathione peroxidase-like activity

[Structure: see text]. The synthesis and characterization of a series of organochalcogen (Se, Te) compounds derived from benzyl alcohol 13 are described. The synthesis of the key precursor dichalcogenides 15, 22, and 29 was achieved by the ortho-lithiation route. Selenide 18 was obtained by the reaction of the dilithiated derivative 14 with Se(dtc)2. Oxidation of 15 and 22 with H2O2 afforded the corresponding cyclic ester derivatives 17 and 24, respectively. Oxidation of selenide 18 with H2O2 affords the spirocyclic compound 19. The presence of intramolecular interactions in dichalcogenides 15 and 22 has been proven by single-crystal X-ray studies. The cyclic compounds 17 and 19 have also been characterized by single-crystal X-ray studies. GP(X)-like antioxidant activity of selenium compounds has been evaluated by the coupled bioassay method. Density functional theory calculations at the mPW1PW91 level on ditelluride 22 have identified a fairly strong nonbonding interaction between the hydroxy oxygen and tellurium atom. The second-order perturbation energy obtained through NBO analysis conveys the involvement of n(O) --> sigma(Te-Te) orbital overlap in nonbonding interaction. Post wave function analysis with the Atoms in Molecules (AIM) method identified distinct bond critical point in 15 and 22 and also indicated that the nonbonding interaction is predominantly covalent. Comparison between diselenide 15 and ditelluride 22 using the extent of orbital interaction as well as the value of electron density at the bond critical points unequivocally established that a ditelluride could be a better acceptor in nonbonding interaction, when the hydroxy group acts as the donor.