Conformational isomers of the [(5‐methyl‐2‐pyridinio)aminomethylene]diphosphonate dianion and [(5‐methyl‐2‐pyridyl)aminomethylene]diphosphonate trianion in salts with 4‐aminopyridine and ammonia

The crystal structures of two salts, products of the reactions between [(5‐methyl‐2‐pyridyl)aminomethylene]bis(phosphonic acid) and 4‐aminopyridine or ammonia, namely bis(4‐aminopyridinium) hydrogen [(5‐methyl‐2‐pyridinio)aminomethylene]diphosphonate 2.4‐hydrate, 2C₅H₇N₂⁺·C₇H₁₀N₂O₆P₂²⁻·2.4H₂O, (I), and triammonium hydrogen [(5‐methyl‐2‐pyridyl)aminomethylene]diphosphonate monohydrate, 3NH₄⁺·C₇H₉N₂O₆P₂³⁻·H₂O, (II), have been determined. In (I), the Z configuration of the ring N—C and amino N—H bonds of the bisphosphonate dianion with respect to the C_ring—N_amino bond is consistent with that of the parent zwitterion. Removing the H atom from the pyridyl N atom results in the opposite E configuration of the bisphosphonate trianion in (II). Compound (I) exhibits a three‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded network, in which 4‐aminopyridinium cations and water molecules are joined to ribbons composed of anionic dimers linked by O—H...O and N—H...O hydrogen bonds. The supramolecular motif resulting from a combination of these three interactions is a common phenomenon in crystals of all of the Z‐isomeric zwitterions of 4‐ and 5‐substituted (2‐pyridylaminomethylene)bis(phosphonic acid)s studied to date. In (II), ammonium cations and water molecules are linked to chains of trianions, resulting in the formation of double layers.     

Internal Architecture and Adsorption Sites of Violet Lander Molecules Assembled on Native and KBr‐Passivated InSb(001) Surfaces

The adsorption of individual Violet Lander molecules self‐assembled on the c(8×2) reconstructed InSb(001) surface in its native form and on the surface passivated with one to three monolayers of KBr is investigated by means of low‐temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Preferred adsorption sites of the molecules are found on flat terraces as well as at atomic step edges. For molecules immobilized on flat terraces, several different conformations are identified from STM images acquired with submolecular resolution and are explained by the rotation of the 3,5‐di‐tert‐butylphenyl groups around σ bonds, which allows adjustment of the molecular geometry to the anisotropic substrate structure. Formation of ordered molecular chains is found at steps running along substrate reconstruction rows, whereas at the steps oriented perpendicularly no intermolecular ordering is recorded. It is also shown that the molecules deposited at two or more monolayers of the epitaxial KBr spacer do not have any stable adsorption sites recorded with STM. Prospects for the manipulation of single molecules by using the STM tip on highly anisotropic substrates are also explored, and demonstrate the feasibility of controlled lateral displacement in all directions.     

Luminescent cellulose fibers activated by Eu3+-doped nanoparticles

UV- active cellulose fibers were obtained by dry-wet method spinning an 8?% by weight α-cellulose solution in N-methylomorpholine-N-oxide (NMMO) modified by europium-doped gadolinium oxyfluoride Gd₄O₃F₆:Eu³⁺ containing 5?mol (%) of the dopant. Photoluminescent nanoparticles were introduced in the in powder form into a polymer matrix during the process of cellulose dissolution in NMMO. The dependencies of emission intensity on excitation energy and the concentration of Gd₄O₃F₆:Eu³⁺ nanoparticles in the final cellulosic products were examined by photoluminescence spectroscopy (excitation and emission). The fiber structure was studied by X-ray powder diffraction analysis. The size and dispersity of the nanoparticles in the polymer matrix were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray microanalysis. The influence of different concentration particles (in the range from 0.5 to 5?% by weight) on the mechanical properties of the fibers, such as tenacity and elongation at break, were determined.     

Simultaneous Production of Lipids and Carotenoids by the Red Yeast Rhodotorula from Waste Glycerol Fraction and Potato Wastewater

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - Abstract The objective of this study was to determine the possibility of simultaneous biosynthesis of lipids and carotenoids by the Rhodotorula yeast...     

Immobilization in biotechnology and biorecognition: from macro- to nanoscale systems

Biological molecules such as enzymes, cells, antibodies, lectins, peptide aptamers, and cellular components in an immobilized form are extensively used in biotechnology, in biorecognition and in many medicinal applications. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the developments in new immobilization materials, techniques, and their practical applications previously developed by the authors. A detailed overview of several immobilization materials and technologies is given here, including bead cellulose, encapsulation in ionotropic gels and polyelectrolyte complexes, and various immobilization protocols applied onto surfaces. In addition, the review summarises the screening and design of an immobilization protocol, practical applications of immobilized biocatalysts in the industrial production of metabolites, monitoring, and control of fermentation processes, preparation of electrochemical/optical biosensors and biofuel cells.     

Calorimetry in testing waste materials from the brown coal combustion

The calorimetric measurements were applied in testing the wastes collected from different furnaces in electric power plants as materials to be used in civil engineering. The fly ash materials were collected from two power stations based on different brown coal deposits and working with conventional and fluidized bed installation. The reactivity of high calcium fly ash from sub-bituminous coal combustion has been proved in calorimetric, conductometric, chemical shrinkage, and rheological measurements before their practical implementation on larger scale. Highly soluble components of fly ash contribute to the hydration products and structure formation, followed by setting and hardening of fly ash–cement mixture. These results have been the base of research project aimed in the innovative solutions dealing with the management of deposits of wastes generated as a result of coal combustion. The standardization and potential use on larger scale of these materials, necessary from the environmental point of view, seems to be the question of nearest future.     

Membranes with a plasma deposited titanium isopropoxide layer

Porous polypropylene membranes were coated with plasma polymerized titanium isopropoxide in a 75 kHz plasma reactor. It was noted that the presence of air in the plasma chamber increased the amount of deposited polymer. Selection of the process parameters enabled obtaining membranes with up to 300 εg cm^?2 of polymerized titanium isopropoxide. Deposition of the titanium oxide layer resulted in the reduction of permeate flux but it significantly improved the membrane photocleaning ability. The recovery index reached the level of 95 % for membranes with the highest amount of the titanium oxide deposit.     

The Complexed 1,3‐Diphospha‐2‐Arsaallyl Radical and Its Cationic and Anionic Derivatives

Photolysis of [Cp*As{W(CO)₅}₂] ( 1 a ) in the presence of Mes*P?PMes* (Mes*=2,4,6‐tri‐tert‐butylphenyl) leads to the novel 1,3‐diphospha‐2‐arsaallyl radical [(CO)₅W(μ,η²:η¹‐P₂AsMes*₂)W(CO)₄] ( 2 a ). The frontier orbitals of the radical 2 a are indicative of a stable π‐allylic system that is only marginally influenced by the d orbitals of the two tungsten atoms. The SOMO and the corresponding spin density distribution of the radical 2 a show that the unpaired electron is preferentially located at the two equivalent terminal phosphorus atoms, which has been confirmed by EPR spectroscopy. The protonated derivative of 2 a , the complex [(CO)₅W(μ,η²:η¹‐P₂As(H)Mes*₂)W(CO)₄] ( 6 a ) is formed during chromatographic workup, whereas the additional products [Mes*P?PMes*{W(CO)₅}] as the Z‐isomer ( 3 ) and the E‐isomer ( 4 ), and [As₂{W(CO)₅}₃] ( 5 ) are produced as a result of a decomposition reaction of radical 2 a . Reduction of radical 2 a yields the stable anion [(CO)₅W(μ,η²:η¹‐P₂AsMes*₂)W(CO)₄]^? in 7 a , whereas upon oxidation the corresponding cationic complex [(CO)₅W(μ,η²:η¹‐P₂AsMes*₂)W(CO)₄][SbF₆] ( 8 a ) is formed, which is only stable at low temperatures in solution. Compounds 2 a , 7 a , and 8 a represent the hitherto elusive complexed redox congeners of the diphospha‐arsa‐allyl system. The analogous oxidation of the triphosphaallyl radical [(CO)₅W(μ,η²:η¹‐ P₃Mes*₂)W(CO)₄] ( 2 b ) also leads to an allyl cation, which decomposes under CH activation to the phosphine derivative [(CO)₅W{μ,η²:η¹‐P₃(Mes*)(C₅H₂tBu₂C(CH₃)₂CH₂)}W(CO)₄] ( 9 ), in which a CH bond of a methyl group of the Mes* substituent has been activated. All new products have been characterized by NMR spectrometry and IR spectroscopy, and compounds 2 a , 3 , 6 a , 7 a , and 9 by X‐ray diffraction analysis.