Effect of trace amounts of water on organic solvent transport through gamma-alumina membranes with varying pore sizes

The transport behavior of toluene and n-hexane in gamma-alumina membranes with different pore diameters was studied. It was shown that the permeability of water-lean hexane and toluene is in agreement with Darcy's law down to membrane pore diameters of 3.5 nm. The presence of molar water fractions of 5-8 x 10(-4) in these solvents led to a permeability decrease of the gamma-alumina layer by a factor of 2-4 depending on pore size. In general, a lower permeability was found for hexane than for toluene. Moreover, in the presence of water a minimum applied pressure of 0.5-1.5 bar was required to induce net liquid flow through the membrane. These phenomena were interpreted in terms of capillary condensation of water in membrane pores with a size below a certain critical diameter. This is thought to lead to substantial blocking of these pores for transport, so that the effective tortuosity of the membrane for transport of hydrophobic solvents increases.     

A polyaniline-containing filter paper that acts as a sensor, acid, base, and endpoint indicator and also filters acids and bases

In this paper we report a new idea for synthesizing polyaniline in an ordinary filter paper. The synthesis was carried out by a process in which aqueous acidic aniline solution and the oxidizing agent H(2)O(2) was added to the paper drop by drop and in sequence. Uniform polymerization could be obtained with the addition of reagents in either sequence. The polymer formation led to a green coloration of the paper. Formation of the emeraldine salt of polyaniline was confirmed by UV-vis and FTIR spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscopic measurements were made for surface characterization of the polymer formed in the paper. The same paper was used as a sensor for ammonia in vapor and in solution, for acid and base as well as endpoint indication, and also to filter acids and bases. We found that, using the polymer-containing paper, ammonia concentrations in a solution as low as 14 ppm could be measured.     

Studies on synthetic inorganic ion exchangers-V: preparation, properties and ion-exchange behaviour of amorphous and crystalline thorium tungstate

Amorphous and crystalline thorium tungstate have been prepared by mixing 0.1M thorium nitrate and 0.1M sodium tungstate under different conditions. The physico-chemical properties, chemical stability, composition, TGA, DTA, X-ray, infrared absorption and ion-exchange behaviour of thorium-tungstate are reported and discussed. Distribution coefficients of metal ions on thorium tungstate have been determined at pH 2-3 and 5.5-6.5. Selective ion-exchange separations of bismuth and mercury from other metal ions have been achieved on a column of thorium tungstate.     

Synthesis of Calix

The formation of p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene mono-, bis-, tris-, and tetrakistriflates 3, 2, 4, and 5, respectively, and their respective reactions, under typical Pd-catalyzed carbonylative, Suzuki-Miyaura coupling, or deoxygenation conditions are described. A novel, nonsolvent-derived 1:1 clathrate (6) of benzophenone and 3 was formed from the palladium-catalyzed carbonylative reaction of phenylboronic acid and 2. The X-ray crystal structure of this first nonsolvent-derived clathrate of a calix[4]arene derivative is reported. Another 1:1 clathrate of triethylamine and 3 was formed during the attempted Pd-catalyzed deoxygenation of 2.     

Stereodefined synthesis of O3'-labeled uracil nucleosides. 3'-[(17)O]-2'-Azido-2'-deoxyuridine 5'-diphosphate as a probe for the mechanism of inactivation of ribonucleotide reductases

Thermolysis of a 2'-[(16)O]-O-benzoyl-[(17)O]-5'-O-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-O(2),3'-cyclouridine derivative gave the more stable 3'-[(17)O]-O-benzoyl-[(16)O]- 5'-O-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-O(2),2'-cyclouridine isomer, which was converted into 3'-[(17)O]-2'-azido-2'-deoxyuridine by deprotection and nucleophilic ring opening at C2' with lithium azide. The 5'-diphosphate was prepared by nucleophilic displacement of the 5'-O-tosyl group with tris(tetrabutylammonium) hydrogen pyrophosphate. Model reactions gave (16)O and (18)O isotopomers, and base-promoted hydrolysis of an O(2),2'-cyclonucleoside gave stereodefined access to 3'-[(18)O]-1-(beta-D-arabinofuranosyl)uracil. Inactivation of ribonucleoside diphosphate reductase with 2'-azido-2'-deoxynucleotides results in appearance of EPR signals for a nitrogen-centered radical derived from azide, and 3'-[(17)O]-2'-azido-2'-deoxyuridine 5'-diphosphate provides an isotopomer to perturb EPR spectra in a predictable manner.     

Natural Phytocompounds from Common Indian Spices for Identification of Three Potential Inhibitors of Breast Cancer: A Molecular Modelling Approach

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer-related cause of death for women throughout the globe. In spite of some effective measures, the main concerns with traditional anti-cancer chemotherapy are its low bioavailability, physical side effects, acquired resistance of cancer cells and non-specific targeting. Now researchers have taken the initiative to establish natural product-based therapy methods and to identify viable hits for future lead optimization in the development of breast cancer medication. Our study aims to identify the potent phytocompounds from five very popular Indian spices (Zingiber officinale Roscoe, Cuminum cyminum L., Piper nigrum L., Curcuma longa L., and Allium sativum L.). From these spices, a total of 200 phytocompounds were identified and screened against three target genes, namely, cyclin-dependent kinase 8 (CDK 8), progesterone receptor (PR) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), through structure-based virtual screening using iGEMDOCK 2.1 software. Based on the binding affinity score, the top three phytocompounds against each target protein (cynaroside (−149.66 Kcal/mol), apigetrin (−139.527 Kcal/mol) and curcumin (−138.149 Kcal/mol) against CDK8; apigetrin (−123.298 Kcal/mol), cynaroside (−118.635 Kcal/mol) and xyloglucan (−113.788 Kcal/mol) against PR; cynaroside (−119.18 Kcal/mol), apigetrin (−105.185 Kcal/mol) and xyloglucan (−105.106 Kcal/mol) against EGFR) were selected. Apigetrin, cynaroside, curcumin, and xyloglucan were finally identified for further docking analysis with the respective three target proteins. Autodock 4.2 was applied to screen the optimal binding position and to assess the relative intensity of binding interactions. In addition, the ADME/T property checks and bioactivity scores analysis of were performed to understand the suitability of these four phytocompounds to be potential candidates for developing effective and non-toxic anticancer agents. Based on this in silico analysis, we believe this study could contribute to current efforts to develop new drugs for treating breast cancer.     

Characteristics investigation on heat transfer growth of sonochemically synthesized ZnO-DW based nanofluids inside square heat exchanger

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - In recent decades, the growth of heat transfer using nanomaterials in the conventional base fluid has caught the attention of researchers...     

Stress-Strain Behavior of Shape Memory Polymers by 1WE Method: Application to Tecoflex®

Thermomechanical cycles including programming, cooling, unloading and heating to trigger the 1WE were examined for a shape memory polymer (SMP), Tecoflex® (TFX EG-72D). Cycles were performed at 60°C with 50% and 225% strains and the recovery time of 10 min. Strains evolving with time were estimated during the thermomechanical treatments for the total 44 cycles using 50% strains and the total 50 cycles using 225% strains. Recovery ratios for 50% strains and 225% were also estimated. It turns out that programming, cooling, unloading and heating to trigger the 1WE causes an increase of irreversible strain and is associated with a corresponding decrease of the intensity of the 1WE in particular during the first thermomechanical cycles. In parallel scanning electron microscopic study using secondary electron imaging shows a very slight wavy surface structure evolved during cycling.