Determination of manganese in ores by activation analysis using a californium-252 neutron source

A²⁵²Cf neutron source has been used to analyse manganese in ores such as pyrolusite, rodonite (manganese silicate) and blends used in dry-batteries. Samples with about 150 mg and standards of manganese dioxide were irradiated for about 20 min and counted using a well-type NaI(Tl) scintillation counter and scaler, with or without pulse-height discriminator between the detector and the scaler. The interferences of nuclear reactions⁵⁶Fe(n,p)⁵⁶Mn and⁵⁹Co(n,α)⁵⁶Mn were studied, as well as problems in connection with neutron shadowing during irradiation, gamma-rays attenuation during counting and influence of granulometry of samples. Some of the samples were also analysed by wet-chemical method (sodium bismuthate) in order to compare results.     

Chemiluminometric determination of carvedilol in a multi-pumping flow system

In this work a simple, fast, sensitive and selective flow-based procedure for the chemiluminometric determination of carvedilol, a recent non-cardioselective β-blocker with noteworthy antioxidant activity, is proposed. The developed methodology takes advantage of the antioxidant capacity of carvedilol to inhibit the chemiluminescence response resulting from the oxidation of luminol by hypochlorite, by acting as a hypochlorite scavenger. The analytical process was implemented in a multi-pumping flow system that employs multiple solenoid actuated micro-pumps as the only active components. These acted as solution insertion, propelling and commuting units assuring an easily controlled, low cost, compact and reliable analytical system.A linear working range for carvedilol concentrations ranging from 1.2 × 10⁻⁷ to 3.0 × 10⁻⁶ mol l⁻¹ (r > 0.999, n = 6), was obtained, with a detection limit of 8.7 × 10⁻⁹ mol l⁻¹. The system handles about 65 samples per hour yielding precise results (R.S.D. < 1.3%, n = 10). Recoveries within 95 and 104% were obtained.     

Turbulence in microfluidics: Cleanroom-free,fast, solventless,and bondless fabrication and application in high throughput liquid-liquid extraction

This paper addresses an important breakthrough in the deployment of ultra-high adhesion strength microfluidic technologies to provide turbulence at harsh flow rate conditions. This paper is only, to our knowledge, the second reporting on the generation of high flow rate-assisted turbulence in microchannels. This flow solves a crucial bottleneck in microfluidics: the generation of high throughput homogeneous mixings. We focused on the fabrication of bulky polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microchips (without any interfaces) rather than the laborious surface modifications that were employed in the first reporting about turbulence-assisted microfluidics. The fabrication is cleanroom-free, simple, low-cost, fast, solventless, and bondless requiring only a laboratory oven. More specifically, our method relies on the shaping of a nylon scaffold, cure of PDMS with embedded nylon, and removal of this scaffold. The scaffold was obtained by manually wrapping nylon threads. The withdrawing out of the scaffold was completed in few seconds using only a plier. Such microchannels endured flow rates of up to 60.0 mL min⁻¹ with a strikingly low elastic deformation. The importance in producing turbulence into microscale channels was successfully shown in liquid-liquid extractions. The great energy dissipation rate relative to the turbulence created high throughput and efficient extractions in microfluidics for the first time. The residence time was only 0.01 s at 25.0 mL min⁻¹ (total flow rate of the immiscible phases). In addition, the partition coefficient determined in a single run was similar to that obtained by the conventional batch shake-flask method that was realized in triplicate.     

Mass Spectrometry of Some Benzylidene Imidazolidinediones and Thiazolidinediones. II- chlorobenzyl imidazolidinedione and Fluoro or Chlorobenzyl Thiazolidinedione Compounds

In the present investigation, a study of the electron impact mass spectrometry data is reported for seven compounds of a series of some 3-(4-chlorobenzyl)-5-benzylidene-imidazolidine-2, 4-diones and 3-(4-fluoro or chlorobenzyl)-5-benzylidene-thiazolidine-2, 4-diones previously synthesized.     

Influence of trace elements supplementation on the production of recombinant frutalin by Pichia pastoris KM71H in fed-batch process

Frutalin, a galactose-specific lectin used to detect specific tumour markers, is a protein with low expression level in breadfruit. In the present study, fed-batch fermentation in a stirred tank bioreactor was used as a strategy to enhance protein production by a recombinant Pichia pastoris KM71H. By using this process, the production of recombinant frutalin was 4-fold higher than the value obtained in shaker flasks batch assays. Supplementation of the fermentation medium with trace elements (Pichia trace minerals, PTM) was also evaluated in order to stimulate production of the recombinant protein. The addition of PTM to the minimum medium afforded a recombinant protein production of 13.4 mg L^?1, which was 2.5-fold higher than that achieved from the culture medium without PTM supplementation. These results are significant as the development of strategies to improve the production of recombinant frutalin may broaden its application in cancer diagnosis.     

Preparation and characterization of fibres from a thermotropic liquid crystal polyester with non-coplanar biphenylene units

Abstract

Fibres were prepared from the nematic melt of poly(2,2′-dimethyl-4,4′-biphenylene phenylterephthalate). The phenyl substitution in the terephthalic acid moiety in combination with the non-coplanar biphenyl moiety prevent crystallization of this thermotropic polyester. Oriented fibres were prepared by two different methods. Similarly to other thermotropic liquid crystal polymer fibres, chain orientation can be achieved by an elongational flow in a down draw process. This polyester also allows tensile deformation of the spun fibres around the glass transition temperature. In both routes similar degrees of orientation and mechanical properties were obtained. Tensile moduli in the order of 40–45 GPa and tensile strengths up to 550–650 MPa were obtained. The orientation function values were determined to be in the order of 0·8–0·9. A comparison with other unsubstituted thermotropic liquid crystal polyesters at the same level of orientation revealed that the moduli are the same, although the substituents increase the chain diameter. This result may be attributed to an increase of the apparent shear modulus due to an interlocking mechanism of the rigid lateral substituents.     

Electrochemical Behaviour and Square Wave Voltammetry of the Rice Herbicides Molinate,Bensulfuron-Methyl,Mefenacet and Thiobencarb

Abstract

Cyclic, differential pulse and square wave voltammetry were applied to develop an electroanalytical procedure for the determination of a group of herbicides used to treat rice crops: molinate, bensul-ruron-methyl, mefenacet and thiobencarb. The oxidation mechanism causes adsorption problems and consequent poisoning of the electrode surface by the products of the electrochemical reaction. Parameters such as pH, frequency and electrochemical electrode surface treatment were optimized. The analytical methodology developed using square wave voltammetry was applied to the determination of molinate and bensulfuron-methyl in simple or mixed commercial products.