Physico-chemical characterization of nanofiltration membranes.

This study presents a methodology for an in-depth characterization of six representative commercial nanofiltration membranes. Laboratory-made polyethersulfone membranes are included for reference. Besides the physical characterization [molecular weight cut-off (MWCO), surface charge, roughness and hydrophobicity], the membranes are also studied for their chemical composition [attenuated total reflectance Fourier spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)] and porosity [positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS)]. The chemical characterization indicates that all membranes are composed of at least two different layers. The presence of an additional third layer is proved and studied for membranes with a polyamide top layer. PAS experiments, in combination with FIB (focused ion beam) images, show that these membranes also have a thinner and a less porous skin layer (upper part of the top layer). In the skin layer, two different pore sizes are observed for all commercial membranes: a pore size of 1.25-1.55 angstroms as well as a pore size of 3.20-3.95 angstroms (both depending on the membrane type). Thus, the pore size distribution in nanofiltration membranes is bimodal, in contrast to the generally accepted log-normal distribution. Although the pore sizes are rather similar for all commercial membranes, their pore volume fraction and hence their porosity differ significantly.     

On-line coupling of packed capillary electrochromatography with coordination ion spray-mass spectrometry for the separation of enantiomers

Pressure-supported packed capillary electrochromatography (CEC) and packed capillary high-performance liquid chromatography (pHPLC) have been coupled on-line to electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and coordination ion spray-mass spectrometry (CIS-MS). Separation of enantiomers of barbiturates and chlorinated alkyl phenoxypropanoates were performed on a permethylated beta-cyclodextrin stationary phase by pressure-supported CEC. For on-line detection with ESI- and CIS-MS, a modified sheath-liquid interface was used. CIS-MS is a universal, novel ionization technique which improves the selectivity as well as the sensitivity. Charged complexes were formed through the addition of central complexing ions such as silver(I), cobalt(II), copper(II), and lithium(I) to the sheath flow. Advantages of CIS-MS detection compared to the ESI-MS mode are discussed. In the CIS-MS mode, increased sensitivity and high selectivity was attained through different possibilities of complexation. The superiority of pressure-supported CEC compared to pHPLC in the hyphenation with CIS-MS is demonstrated.     

Fluorescence excitation spectroscopy of Xenon doped Neon clusters: size and site effects,and cluster melting

Electronic excitations of Xe atoms and Xe₂ molecules embedded in free Ne clusters are studied with time resolved fluorescence excitation spectroscopy. Several distinct absorption bands blueshifted relativ to the first atomic resonance line of Xe are observed and are attributed to Xe or Xe₂ located in different sites. For Ne clusters containing less than 300 atoms only interior sites are observed indicating that small Ne clusters are liquid-like.     

Thermal expansion properties of organic crystals: a CSD study

The thermal expansion properties of crystalline organic compounds are investigated by data mining of the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD). The mean volumetric thermal expansion coefficient is 168.8 × 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ and the mean uniaxial thermal expansion coefficient is 71.4 × 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹, based on 745 and 1129 different observations, respectively. Normal and anomalous coefficients can be identified using these values and the associated standard deviations. The anisotropy of the thermal expansion is also evaluated and found to have a very broad distribution. 4719 different structures, comprising 4093 different molecular compounds and 626 additional polymorphs have been analyzed on their thermal expansion properties. Approximately 34% of these structures may have at least one orthogonal axis with negative thermal expansion, much more than generally believed. Moreover 127 structures have been identified which could have negative volumetric thermal expansion. Experimental validation using a robust protocol with data collected at more than 2 different temperatures is required to validate these cases.

The thermal expansion properties of crystalline organic compounds are investigated by data mining of the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD). Negative uniaxial thermal expansion is much more common than generally believed.     

Ab initio calculation of the NH(3sigma-)-NH(3sigma-) interaction potentials in the quintet, triplet, and singlet states

We present the ab initio potential-energy surfaces of the NH-NH complex that correlate with two NH molecules in their 3sigma- electronic ground state. Three distinct potential-energy surfaces, split by exchange interactions, correspond to the coupling of the S(A) = 1 and S(B) = 1 electronic spins of the monomers to dimer states with S = 0, 1, and 2. Exploratory calculations on the quintet (S = 2), triplet (S = 1), and singlet (S = 0) states and their exchange splittings were performed with the valence bond self-consistent-field method that explicitly accounts for the nonorthogonality of the orbitals on different monomers. The potential surface of the quintet state, which can be described by a single Slater determinant reference function, was calculated at the coupled cluster level with single and double excitations and noniterative treatment of the triples. The triplet and singlet states require multiconfiguration reference wave functions and the exchange splittings between the three potential surfaces were calculated with the complete active space self-consistent-field method supplemented with perturbative configuration interaction calculations of second and third orders. Full potential-energy surfaces were computed as a function of the four intermolecular Jacobi coordinates, with an aug-cc-pVTZ basis on the N and H atoms and bond functions at the midpoint of the intermolecular vector R. An analytical representation of these potentials was given by expanding their dependence on the molecular orientations in coupled spherical harmonics, and representing the dependence of the expansion coefficients on the intermolecular distance R by the reproducing kernel Hilbert space method. The quintet surface has a van der Waals minimum of depth D(e) = 675 cm(-1) at R(e) = 6.6a0 for a linear geometry with the two NH electric dipoles aligned. The singlet and triplet surfaces show similar, slightly deeper, van der Waals wells, but when R is decreased the weakly bound NH dimer with S = 0 and S = 1 converts into the chemically bound N2H2 diimide (also called diazene) molecule with only a small energy barrier to overcome.     

A mathematical evaluation of dose-dependent PpIX fluorescence kinetics in vivo

The in vivo pharmacokinetics of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) after administration of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) cannot be described accurately by mathematical models using first-order rate processes. We have replaced first-order reaction rates by dose-dependent (Michaelis-Menten [MM]) reaction rates in a mathematical compartment model. Different combinations of first-order and dose-dependent reaction rates were evaluated to see which one would improve the goodness-of-fit to experimentally determined in vivo PpIX fluorescence kinetics as a function of concentration. The mathematical models that were evaluated are all based on a three-compartment model for drug distribution, conversion to PpIX and subsequent conversion to heme. Implementation of dose-dependent reaction rates improved the goodness-of-fit and enabled interpolation to other drug doses. For most data sets the time constant for delivery to the target cells turned out to be dose dependent. For all data sets the use of MM rates for the conversion of ALA to PpIX yielded better fits. The clearance of PpIX turned out to be a first-order process for all doses and types of administration. Fluorescence curves measured on a specific tissue type but obtained in different studies with different measurement techniques could be described with a single set of parameters.     

Sigma-aromaticity and sigma-antiaromaticity in saturated inorganic rings

The magnetic properties of a series of inorganic saturated rings, (SiH2)n, (GeH2)n, (NH)n, (PH)n, (AsH)n, On, Sn, and Sen (n = 3-6), exhibit zigzag behavior with ring size resembling that of aromatic and antiaromatic Hückel pi-systems and (CH2)n rings. Computed GIAO-SCF nucleus-independent chemical shifts (NICS) and localized (LMO) NICS analysis indicate that the sigma-ring electrons are chiefly responsible for this zigzag behavior. This evidence for sigma-aromaticity is further supported by theoretical strain energy (TSE). The Hückel 4n + 2/4n aromaticity/antiaromaticity rule for pi-electron systems applies well to the smaller saturated rings.     

A microwave-assisted click chemistry synthesis of 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles via a copper(I)-catalyzed three-component reaction

A microwave-assisted three-component reaction was used to prepare a series of 1,4-disubstituted-1,2,3-triazoles from corresponding alkyl halides, sodium azide, and alkynes. This procedure eliminates the need to handle organic azides, as they are generated in situ, making this already powerful click process even more user-friendly and safe.     

Atmospheric pressure electrospray ionization mass spectra of glucose and 2-fluorodeoxyglucose for quantitative analysis of 2-fluorodeoxyglucose by high-performance liquid chromatography

2-Fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) labeled by fluorine-18 is the most widely used radiopharmaceutical for positron emission tomography (PET). For high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)/MS assay and quality control, the mass spectra of FDG and glucose (Glc) in organic + water solutions were studied by flow injection analysis (FIA) and in a chromatographic eluate. In acetonitrile (MeCN) + 0.025% ammonium formate (NH(4)HCO(2)) solvent (80 : 20), electrospray ionisation (ESI) of glucose-FDG provides M.NH(4)(+) and 2M.Na(+) (M = Glc or FDG) as the most intense positive ions. Formation of the latter ions and also of M.MeCN.Na(+) and 2MeCN. Na(+) is typical of the presence of NaCl in the ESI inlet. The positive ions include heavier ions corresponding to the impurities separated by HPLC and also to the cross-ring fragmentation of complexes (2FDG. aMeCNX)L, where a = 0 or 1, L is either Na(+) or NH(4)(+) and X is a fragmented pyranose or anhydropyranose residue. The second most abundant Glc negative ion is m/z = 359 which was interpreted as (2GlcH(+))(). The negative-ion spectrum of FDG has dominating lines due to FDG.HCO(2)() ions at m/z 227 and also (2FDGH(+))() at m/z 363. The m/z 363 signal is suppressed in the presence of NaCl at a molar ratio of 4 : 1 to NH(4)HCO(2), while the ions at m/z 217 and 219, i.e. FDG.Cl(), become three times more intense than FDG.HCO(2)(). The latter ion appears to be most suitable as an analytical signal for chemical analysis of FDG at m/z 226 and 227. Limits of FDG quantitation (LOQ) of 19 ng and 21 ng were found for the 200(+) and 227() ion signals, respectively, and are wholly adequate for verification of total FDG content in radiopharmaceuticals.