Direct and indirect radiolytic effects in highly concentrated aqueous solutions of bromide

Highly concentrated aqueous solutions of bromide were used to examine the total radical yield in the direct decomposition of water by γ-rays. Bromide concentrations were varied up to 6 M at which almost all OH(?) radicals, H(?) atoms, and hydrated electrons produced in the picosecond range oxidize bromide to ultimately form Br(3)(-), a stable species that can easily be measured with a spectrometer. Considering only the decomposition of water in the presence of air and in acidic conditions, the apparent yield of oxidizing species is found to be around (10 ± 0.05) × 10(-7) mol J(-1). The absorption of irradiation dose by the solute at high concentration is discussed and quantitatively evaluated. At 6 M Br(-) solutions, 38% of the dose is absorbed by solutes and Br(-) is directly ionized. The optimal value for the initial yield of the radicals produced by direct radiolytic Br(-) ionization is found to be (9.6 ± 0.5) × 10(-7) mol J(-1).     

First-principles study of electronic and optical properties of the optical non linear LiMoO3(IO3)

The electro-optical properties, including: energy density of states function, dielectric function, refraction coefficient, extinction coefficient, band structure, energy gap and optical conductance of LiMoO₃(IO₃) structure with single-crystal data are computed and discussed in this paper. The LDA + U and generalized gradient approximations (GGA) with the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave method (FP-LAPW) in the framework of density functional theory (DFT) are used to compute the energy gap and other properties of this structure by considering the orbital dependent potential for coupled d orbital brought from experimental results and the U is applied to the Mo d-manifold. The results of energy gap are 2.1 eV and 1.5 eV for LDA + U and for GGA methods, respectively, which LDA + U method result is very close to experimental results.     

Two (+)‐α,4‐dimethyl‐2‐oxocyclo­hexaneacetic acids: hydrogen bonding in a terpenoid γ‐keto acid and in a diastereomeric lactol

The (+)‐(αS,1S,4R)‐diastereomer of the title structure, C₁₀H₁₆O₃, aggregates in the solid as non‐symmetric dimers with disorder in both carboxyl groups [O·O = 2.710 (5) and 2.638 (5) Å]. The two mol­ecules constituting the asymmetric unit pair around a pseudo‐twofold rotational axis and differ only slightly in their distances and angles, but one methyl group displays rotational disorder absent in the other mol­ecule. Five inter­molecular C—H·O close contacts exist, involving both ketone groups. The (+)‐(αR,1R,4R)‐diastereomer exists in the crystal in its closed‐ring lactol form, (3R,3aR,6R,7aR)‐2,3,3a,4,5,6,7,7a‐octa­hydro‐7a‐hydroxy‐3,6‐dimethyl­benzo[b]furan‐2‐one, C₁₀H₁₆O₃, and aggregates as hydrogen‐bonded catemers that extend from the hydroxyl group of one mol­ecule to the carbonyl group of a neighbor screw‐related along b [O·O = 2.830 (3) Å and O—H·O = 169°]. One close inter­molecular C—H·O contact exists involving the carbonyl group.     

Nanosecond probing of the early nucleation steps of silver atoms in colloidal zeolite by pulse radiolysis and flash photolysis techniques

The process of formation and the subsequent aggregation of silver atoms (Ag⁰) in nanosized zeolite beta (BEA) are studied by transient absorption spectroscopy. The zeolite nanocrystals are stabilized in aqueous colloidal suspensions with a narrow particle size distribution in the range 30–60 nm. The reduction of silver cations is initiated either by pulse radiolysis of the aqueous suspension or by photoinduced electron transfer using an organic electron donor adsorbed in the zeolite framework. The silver atom in BEA nanosized crystals is found to be stable on the microsecond timescale.     

Synthesis of recoverable palladium composite as an efficient catalyst for the reduction of nitroarene compounds and Suzuki cross-coupling reactions using sepiolite clay and magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4@sepiolite-Pd2+)

Clays are nontoxic, inexpensive, abundant, and have great potential as catalytic carriers because of their special structure, surface, and suitability for supporting transition metals. In this study, sepiolite was used as a ligand for the heterogenization of palladium chloride on Fe₃O₄ nanoparticle surface as a novel, high temperature stable, and recoverable green catalyst (Fe₃O₄@sepiolite-Pd²⁺). The catalytic activity of this system was tested in the reduction of nitroarene compounds and the Suzuki cross-coupling reaction. The catalyst structure was characterized using spectroscopic data and magnetic and thermal techniques such as Fourier transform infrared, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction, vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), and thermogravimetric analysis.     

Determination of atmospheric concentrations of inorganic anions by ion chromatography following ultrasonic extraction

The capability of the suppressed conductometric detection ion chromatography (IC) was investigated for the separation and determination of inorganic anions (F-, Cl-, NO3- and SO4(2-)) in standard reference materials SRM-1648 urban particulate matter following ultrasonic extraction. The effects of the cationic surfactant (SDS) and the anionic surfactant (CTAB) on ultrasonic extraction efficiency of inorganic anions from complex matrix of airborne particulate matter were investigated. The results showed that surfactant can enhance the extraction efficiency. Finally, the concentrations of inorganic anions in the atmosphere of the city of Isfahan were determined. The results showed a trend of SO4(2-) > NO3- > Cl- > F-.     

Determination of copper in water and plant samples by flame atomic absorption spectrometry after preconcentration on octadecyl silica membrane disks modified with a recently synthesized Schiff's base

A simple, selective, reliable, and sensitive method for the determination of trace amounts of CU2+ ions in aqueous samples is proposed. The Cu2+ ions are adsorbed quantitatively during the passage of aqueous samples through an octadecyl (C18) silica membrane disk modified by a symmetrical tetradentate Schiff base ligand, N,N'-bis(4-phenylazo salicylaldimine) 3-chloro-1,2-phenylenediamine (H2L). The retained Cu2+ ions were then stripped from the disk by elution with the minimal amount of nitric acid solution and determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Various parameters, such as the effect of pH, flow rate, type and amount of eluent, and the effects of various cationic interferences on the recovery of ions were studied. The proposed method permitted large enrichment factors (about 550 and higher). The limit of detection of the method was 1.5 x 10(-2) microg/L. The use of the same disk modified with 6 mg H2L for at least 30 times showed no change in the recovery of Cu2+ ions. The accuracy of the method was confirmed by determination of Cu2+ ions in standard samples [National Institute of Environmental Studies (NIES) No. 2 and Nippon Keikinzoku Kogyo (NKK) No. 920]. The results demonstrated good agreement with certified values.     

Electrospun Pd nanoparticles loaded on Vulcan carbon/ conductive polymeric ionic liquid nanofibers for selective and sensitive determination of tramadol

In the present work a sensitive and selective electrochemical sensor was fabricated based on a glassy carbon electrode which has been modified with Pd nanoparticles loaded on Vulcan carbon/conductive polymeric ionic liquid composite nanofibers. The nanostructures were characterized by UV–Vis, FT-IR, FESEM, EDX and XRD techniques. The electrochemical study of the modified electrode, as well as its efficiency for the electrooxidation of tramadol was described in 0.1 M phosphate buffered solution (PBS) (pH 7.0) using cyclic voltammetry, linear sweep voltammetry, chronoamperometry and square wave voltammetry as diagnostic techniques. It has been found that application of the composite nanofibers result in a sensitivity enhancement and a considerable decrease in the anodic overpotential, leading to negative shifts about 200 mV in peak potential. The results exhibit a linear dynamic range from 0.05 μM to 200 μM and a detection limit of 0.015 μM for tramadol. Finally, the modified electrode was used for the determination of tramadol in pharmaceutical and biological samples.     

Inclusion of sulfamethoxazole in a novel CuFe2O4 nanoparticles/mesoporous silica‐based nanocomposite: Release kinetics and antibacterial activity

In this work, we aimed to improve the antibacterial activity of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) via its inclusion in a newly synthesized nanocomposite composed of CuFe₂O₄ nanoparticles and poly(vinyl alcohol)/silica‐based mesoporous materials. Characterization of this formulation using different techniques confirmed the correct synthesis and showed that this mesoporous nanocomposite had an amorphous structure with relatively high surface area of 1,620.7 m² g^?1 and mean pore diameter of 1.6576 nm. Zeta potential of the formulation was obtained to be zero which led to its higher bioavailability in comparison to pure SMX with negative zeta potential. Antibacterial property of the prepared formulation against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli was evaluated. Minimum inhibitory concentration of the SMX‐loaded mesoporous nanocomposite was considerably lower than those of pure SMX, indicating the efficient function of the mesoporous material as a delivery system. Kinetics of SMX release was also studied using zero‐order, first‐order, Higuchi, and Korsmeyer–Peppas kinetics models. According to the obtained results, the release kinetics was found to obey zero‐order model. So the possibility of sustained release of SMX from the synthesized carrier may be suggested.