The use of 1-[pyridyl-(2)-azo]-naphthol-(2) in the presence of TX-100 and N,N'-diphenylbenzamidine for the spectrophotometric determination of copper in real samples

A simple and sensitive field detection and spectrophotometric method for determination of copper described herewith is based on the formation of a red coloured species of copper(II) with 1-[pyridyl-(2)-azo]-naphthol-(2) (PAN), TX-100 and N,N'-diphenylbenzamidine (DPBA) at pH range 7.8-9.4. The red coloured Cu(II)-PAN-(TX-100)-DPBA complex in chloroform shows maximum absorbance at 520 nm with molar absorptivity value of 1.14x10(5) l mol(-1) cm(-1). The detection limit of the method is 2 ng ml(-1) organic phase. The system obeys Beer's law up to 0.6 mug Cu(II) ml(-1) in organic solution. Most of the common metal ions generally found associated with copper do not interfere. The repeatability of the method was checked by finding relative standard deviation (RSD) (n=10) value for solutions each containing 0.2 mug ml(-1) of Cu(II) and the RSD value of the method was found to be 1.5%. The validity of the method has been satisfactorily examined for the determination of copper in soil and airborne dust particulate samples.     

Thermal studies on some organotin(IV) complexes with piperidine and 2-aminopyridine dithiocarbamates

The complexes of piperidine dithiocarbamate, 2-aminopyridine dithiocarbamate and organotin(IV) of the type R₃Sn(L¹), R₂Sn(L¹)₂, R₃Sn(L²), R₂Sn(L²)₂, [R=C₆H₅CH₂ (benzyl), p-ClC₆H₄CH₂ (p-chlorobenzyl), L ¹=sodium piperidine dithiocarbamate and L ²=sodium 2-aminopyridine dithiocarbamate] have been synthesised and characterised by spectral studies (IR, UV, ¹H NMR). Thermogravimetric (TG) and differential thermal analytical (DTA) studies have beeen carried out for these complexes and from the TG curves, the order and apparent activation energy for the thermal decomposition reactions have been elucidated. The various thermal studies have been correlated with some structural aspects of the complexes concerned. From DTA curves, the heat of reaction has been calculated.     

A facile one‐pot synthesis of novel substituted 1,2,3,4‐tetrahydropyrimidine,part 2: Synthesis of 1‐(aralkyl/aryl)‐3‐(alkyl/aralkyl/aryl)‐5‐aroyl‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydropyrimidines

1‐(Aralkyl/aryl)‐3‐(alkyyaralkyl)‐5‐aroyl‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydropyrimidines ( 2a‐c ) have been synthesized by dethiomethylation of 5‐aroyl‐6‐methylthio‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydropyrimidines ( 1a‐c ). An alternative one‐pot synthetic strategy has been developed for the title compounds 2a‐t by the reaction of enaminones 3 with pri mary amine and formaldehyde in refluxing methanol in good yields.     

Synthesis, characterization and reactivity of some novel dinuclear mixed-ligand peroxouranium(VI) complexes

Novel anionic dinuclear mixed-ligand peroxo complexes of the type [(UO₂)₂(O₂)₃L(H₂O)₂]³⁻ (L = Histidinate, aspartate, salicylate, Imidazolate and glutamate) have been synthesized from the interaction of uranyl ion (UO₂²⁺) with peroxide (O₂²⁻) in the presence of the respective coligand (L) at pH 9–10. The sparingly soluble complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, FT-IR, laser Raman (LR) and UV-vis spectroscopy and solution electrical conductance measurements. Based on these studies, a double bridged dinuclear structure involving one peroxo and the mixed ligand L (via-COO⁻) has been tentatively proposed. Infra-red coupled with LR spectra evidenced structurally different metal bound peroxides (ν² and σ:σ). An aqueous solution of the salicylate and aspartate complexes have been shown to convert triphenylphosphine (PPh₃), cyclohexene, styrene and SO₂ to the corresponding OPPh₃, 1,2 cyclohexanediol, phenylethyleneglycol and SO₄²⁻, respectively.     

Synthesis and characterization of SPE membrane based on sulfonated FEP‐g‐acrylic acid by radiation induced graft copolymerization for PEM fuel cell

A Novel solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) membrane containing both ? COOH and ? SO₃H group has been prepared by simultaneous method of radiation grafting of acrylic acid onto FEP followed by sulfonation. The presence of weakly acidic acrylic acid controls the swelling in water while ? SO₃H group provides conductivity due to its strongly ionic characteristic. FEP‐g‐acrylic acid and its sulfonated derivatives were characterized by their properties. While the mechanical properties decreased, other properties such as ion exchange capacity (IEC), water uptake and ionic conductivity increased with increase in graft content. These properties further changed on sulfonation. Acrylic acid being weakly acidic in nature, conductivity values of the grafted membrane were quite low. However, introduction of strong ? SO₃H group resulted in conductivity closer to Nafion 117. Few sulfonated membranes have been tested with respect to H₂/O₂ fuel cell performance. Short‐term fuel cell test for 100 hr gave a stable performance. These membranes are less expensive compared to Nafion. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Langmuir-Blodgett films of 9-phenyl anthracene molecules incorporated into different matrices

This communication reports the surface pressure (pi) versus area per molecule (A) isotherm characteristics of the mixed films of 9-phenyl anthracene (PA) in stearic acid (SA) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) matrices, at the air-water interface. The mixed Langmuir films at the air-water interface have been observed to be easily transferred onto solid substrates to form uniform Langmuir-Blodgett films. By changing various parameters, namely molefraction, surface pressure of lifting and number of layers, the mixed Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films of various types have been fabricated successfully and their spectroscopic characteristics have been reported. From the isotherm characteristics and the area per molecule versus molefraction plot, it is evident that the PA molecules are successfully incorporated into mixed Langmuir-Blodgett films. UV-vis absorption spectroscopic study of the mixed LB films at various molefractions of PA in two different matrices reveal that formation of I-type aggregate in PMMA matrix whereas both I- and H-type aggregates are playing their dominant role in SA matrix. Moreover, fluorescence spectroscopic study reveals reabsorption effect. Molecular movement persists in the freshly prepared LB films, as is evident from the time dependent changes in both UV-vis absorption and fluorescence spectra of the mixed LB films in both matrices. From our observation it is evident that about 200 h is required to get the LB films in a stable condition. Dimers and higher order n-mers are formed at a higher surface pressure of 30 mNm(-1).     

Thermal noise in Hg0.795Cd0.205Te detectors for large biasing fields

Thermal noise in Hg_0.795Cd_0.205Te detectors is estimated for large biasing fields at a lattice temperature of 77 K, by computing the correlation functions of the velocity fluctuations with the Monte Carlo technique. The noise temperature for current components transverse to the field is almost independent of the field, but that corresponding to the parallel component increases by a factor of about 1.3 at 50 V/cm and by a factor of 3.0 at 300V/cm. The thermal noise voltage for a detector of 85 resistance increases from 0.6nV/Hz^1/2 at low biasing fields to about 3nV/Hz^1/2 at a field of 300 V/cm. The noise power is also found to remain constant up to about 75 GHz, and it decreases thereafter by a factor of 0.25 for doubling of the frequency.     

New products

Summary An efficient and economical GC method for rapid determination of FAMEs in rapeseed-mustard is described. The seeds were transmethylated with acetylchloride, using microwave heating and separation achieved on a 3 m column packed with a mixture of 2% SP-2300 and 3% SP-2310 on Chromosorb ‘W’. The method is compared with the conventional heating method and extended efficiently for half-seed analysis. The fatty acid composition of the FAMEs mixtures prepared by both methods was similar with highly significant correlation coefficients (P<0.001).     

CONDENSING HEAT TRANSFER IN VERTICAL CYCLONE

The heat transfer coefficient for condensation of steam has been determined experimentally for a cyclone surface. Ambient air is used as the coolant and the outer surface is maintained in a free-convection condition. A twofold increase in heat transfer coefficient is observed over a cyclone surface in comparison with a vertical tube.     

New trends in sustainable nanocatalysis: Emerging use of earth abundant metals

Noble metals are well-known to afford highly active, selective and durable catalysts, and have thus been at the core of the development of greener processes. In recent years, however, growing concerns about their scarcity, cost and toxicity has triggered research efforts towards the development of earth-abundant catalysts. In this Current Opinion, recent examples of the use in catalysis of pure earth-abundant metals, earth-abundant metals with minute quantities of noble metals, or earth-abundant metals activated by light are presented. This highlight article showcases the current trends in sustainable organic transformations, catalyzed by nanomaterials.