Measurement of pH by flow injection over a wide dynamic range with PVC/neutral carrier electrodes

Two pH-sensitive neutral carrier/PVC electrodes are used simultaneously for the measurement of pH by flow injection. One of these is based on the neutral carrier tridodecylamine and the other on octadecyl isonicotinate, and together they allow the pH range 1–13 to be covered. These electrodes have been used in a very low dispersion miniature potentiometric flow cell designed specifically for use in flow injection in conjunction with a multi-channel data acquisition system. The effects of the solution ionic strength and buffer capacity on the pH measurement are discussed. A flow-injection manifold is proposed which can be used for high-accuracy pH measurements without ionic strength adjustment of the sample and for simultaneous pH and ion concentration measurements with ionic strength adjustment. This has been tested on some synthetic samples for the simultaneous determination of potassium and calcium and the measurement of pH.     

Simultaneous determination of metal ion concentrations in binary mixtures with a multi-LED photometer

 A compact photometer is based on up to seven different light-emitting diodes whose light is guided into a photometric cell by means of a fibre-optic coupler. The wavelength is selected by switching on the appropriate light source. The application of this multi-wavelength photometer to the determination of binary metal ion samples is demonstrated using model mixtures. Solutions of Fe, Co, Cu, Ni, Cr and Mn were used in combination with several photometric reagents. It was found that the instrument yielded concentration measurements which were usually within a few percent of the correct concentration. These results are comparable to reported data obtained with conventional instruments for similar measurements. The application of the instrument for simultaneous determination in flow-injection analysis employing rapid computer controlled switching of the light-emitting diodes is also demonstrated. A limitation in the use of light-emitting diodes for the simultaneous determination was found to arise from the fact that in some instances non-linear calibration curves are obtained when employing light-emitting diodes as light sources. This occurs when the absorptivity of the measured compound changes over the emission band of the diodes. Multiple regression analysis is then not easily possible. Received: 16 September 1996/Revised: 14 October 1996/Accepted: 16 October 1996     

Quinone copolymerization. I. Reactions of p-chloranil,p-benzoquinone,and 2,5-dimethyl-p-benzoquinone with vinyl monomers under free-radical initiation

The free-radical copolymerization reactions of p-chloranil, p-benzoquinone, and 2,5-di-methyl-p-benzoquinone with vinyl monomers were studied. Reactions of p-chloranil with styrene yielded copolymers of approximately 1:1 composition under a variety of reaction conditions. A copolymer containing a block of 1:1 of styrene:p-chloranil and a block of polystyrene was prepared. Several styrene-like monomers copolymerized with p-chloranil to yield copolymrs possessing considerable amounts of incorporated quinone. p-Benzoquinone copolymerized with 1,3-butadiene and 2-vinyl-pyridine to yield copolymers of significant molecular weights. Reactions of 2,5-dimethyl-p-benzoquinone with vinyl monomers did not yield any isolable polymeric products.     

Electron and nuclear dynamics of molecular clusters in ultraintense laser fields. I. Extreme multielectron ionization

In this paper we present a theoretical and computational study of extreme multielectron ionization (involving the stripping of all the electrons from light, first-row atoms, and the production of heavily charged ions, e.g., Xe(+q) (q< or =36) from heavy atoms) in elemental and molecular clusters of Xe(n),(D(2))(n), and (CD(4))(n) (n=55-1061) in ultraintense (intensity I=10(15)-10(19) W cm(-2)) laser fields. Single atom or molecule multielectron ionization can be adequately described by the semiclassical barrier suppression ionization (BSI) mechanism. Extreme cluster multielectron ionization is distinct from that of a single atomic or molecular species in terms of the mechanisms, the ionization level and the time scales for electron dynamics and for nuclear motion. The novel compound mechanism of cluster multielectron ionization, which applies when the cluster size (radius R(0)) considerably exceeds the barrier distance for the BSI of a single constituent, involves a sequential-parallel, inner-outer ionization. The cluster inner ionization driven by the BSI for the constituents is induced by a composite field consisting of the laser field and inner fields. The energetics and dynamics of the system consisting of high energy (< or =3 keV) electrons and of less, similar 100 keV ions in the laser field was treated by molecular dynamics simulations, which incorporate electron-electron, electron-ion, ion-ion, and charge-laser interactions. High-energy electron dynamics also incorporates relativistic effects and includes magnetic field effects. We treat inner ionization considering inner field ignition, screening and fluctuation contributions as well as small [(< or =13%)] impact ionization contributions. Subsequent to inner ionization a charged nanoplasma is contained within the cluster, whose response to the composite (laser+inner) field results in outer ionization, which can be approximately described by an entire cluster barrier suppression ionization mechanism.     

The complete multi-ζ electric dipole moment matrix of π-(C6H6) Cr(CO)3 and tests of semi-empirical MO models

First, we evaluated the complete electric dipole moment matrixeZ using a multi- AO basis on Cr, C, and O centers fortheimportant, parent organometallic molecule -C₆H₆Cr(CO)₃. Second, we generated ground state LCAO-MO eigenvectors employing five commonly used semi-empirical procedures for molecules of this size which contain transition metals. Transformation of operator matrixeZ into the MO space of each of the five methods then leads us to conclude that the empirical input of Basch, Viste and Gray is most suitable. Finally, we compare the merits of several single- basis orbitals with the multi- metal orbitals.[/p]     

Determination of vitamin C and preservatives in beverages by conventional capillary electrophoresis and microchip electrophoresis with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection

The separation and detection of commonly used preservatives (benzoate, sorbate) and vitamin C by both conventional CE and microchip electrophoresis with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection is presented. The separation was optimized by adjusting the pH-value of the buffer and the use of hydroxypropyl-beta-CD (HP-beta-CD) and CTAB as additives. For conventional CE, optimal separation conditions were achieved in a histidine/tartrate buffer at pH 6.5, containing 0.025% HP-beta-CD and 0.1 mM CTAB. LOD ranged from 0.5 to 3 mg/L (S/N = 3) and the RSDs for migration time and peak area were less than 0.1 and 2%, respectively. A considerable reduction of analysis time can be accomplished by using microchip electrophoresis without significant loss in sensitivity under optimal separation conditions. A histidine/tartrate buffer at pH 6.5, incorporating 0.06% HP-beta-CD and 0.25 mM CTAB, gave detection limits ranging between 3 and 10 mg/L and satisfactory reproducibilities of < or =0.4% for the migration time and < or =3.5% for the peak area. The methods developed are useful for the quantitative determination of food additives in real samples such as soft drinks and vitamin C tablets.     

Temperature-dependent behavior of a symmetric long-chain bolaamphiphile with phosphocholine headgroups in water: from hydrogel to nanoparticles

The temperature-dependent self-assembly of the single-chain bolaamphiphile dotriacontan-1,1'-diyl-bis[2-(trimethylammonio)ethyl phosphate] (PC-C32-PC) was investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray scattering, rheological measurements, and dynamic light scattering (DLS). At room temperature this compound, in which two phosphocholine headgroups are connected by a C(32) alkyl chain, proved to be capable of gelling water very efficiently by forming a dense network of nanofibers (Kohler et al. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2004, 43, 245). A specific feature of this self-assembly process is that it is not driven by hydrogen bonds but solely by hydrophobic interactions of the long alkyl chains. The nanofibers have a thickness of roughly the molecular length and show a helical superstructure. A model for the molecular structure of the fibrils which considers the extreme constitution of the bolaamphiphile is proposed. Upon heating the suspensions three different phase transitions can be detected. Above 49 degrees C, the temperature of the main transition where the alkyl chains become "fluid", a clear low-viscosity solution is obtained due to a breakdown of the fibrils into smaller aggregates. Through mechanical stress the gel structure can be destroyed as well, indicating a low stability of these fibers. The gel formation is reversible, but as a drastic rearrangement of the molecules takes place, metastable states occur.     

Inclusion Complex between Local Anesthetic/2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin in Stealth Liposome

The drugs delivery system in the treatment of diseases has advantages such as reduced toxicity, increased availability of the drug, etc. Therefore, studies of the supramolecular interactions between local anesthetics (LAs) butamben (BTB) or ropivacaine (RVC) complexed with 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-βCD) and carried in Stealth liposomal (SL) are performed. ¹H-NMR nuclear magnetic resonance (DOSY and STD) were used as the main tools. The displacements observed in the ¹H-NMR presented the complexion between LAs and HP-βCD. The diffusion coefficients of free BTB and RVC were 7.70 × 10⁻¹⁰ m² s⁻¹ and 4.07 × 10⁻¹⁰ m² s⁻¹, and in the complex with HP-βCD were 1.90 × 10⁻¹⁰ m² s⁻¹ and 3.64 × 10⁻¹⁰ m² s⁻¹, respectively, which indicate a strong interaction between the BTB molecule and HP-βCD (98.3% molar fraction and Ka = 72.279 L/mol). With STD-NMR, the encapsulation of the BTB/HP-βCD and RVC/HP-βCD in SL vesicles was proven. Beyond the saturation transfer to the LAs, there is the magnetization transfer to the hydrogens of HP-βCD. BTB and RVC have already been studied in normal liposome systems; however, little is known of their behavior in SL.     

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Plasma Induced Graft Polymerization of Three Hydrophilic Monomers on Nylon 6,6 Fabrics for Enhancing Antistatic Property

In this study, three hydrophilic monomers; 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, diallyldimethylammonium chloride (DADMAC) were selected and their performance as an antistatic finish on nylon 6,6 fabrics was investigated. A non-thermal, high density atmospheric pressure plasma was used to graft polymerize the monomers on nylon 6,6 fabrics. Fabrics were first treated with solutions of monomer in water, air dried and then treated with helium plasma to graft polymerize the monomer on the fiber surface. Surface resistivity values were measured before and after soxhlet extraction with water. Results showed that the DADMAC monomer provided better antistatic properties to fabrics. Further studies with DADMAC monomer were made; effects of plasma post exposure time, plasma pre-exposure time, plasma power, concentration of the monomer and existence of a crosslinker were investigated. Higher plasma power, higher concentration of the monomer and longer post exposure times all gave better antistatic properties to the nylon 6,6 fabrics. Acid dye staining, UV–Vis and FT-IR measurements were conducted and results confirmed a grafted poly-DADMAC layer on the fabric surface.