Influence of organic modifiers on morphology and crystallization of poly(ϵ‐caprolactone)/synthetic clay intercalated nanocomposites

ε‐caprolactone was polymerized in the presence of neat montmorillonite or organomontmorillonites to obtain a variety of poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL)‐based systems loaded with 10 wt % of the silicates. The materials were thoroughly investigated by different X‐ray scattering techniques to determine factors affecting structure of the systems. For one of the nanocomposites it was found that varying the temperature in the range corresponding to crystallization of PCL causes reversible changes in the interlayer distance of the organoclay. Extensive experimental and literature studies on this phenomenon provided clues indicating that this effect might be a result of two‐dimensional ordering of PCL chains inside the galleries of the silicate. Small angle X‐ray scattering and wide angle X‐ray scattering investigation of filaments oriented above melting point of PCL revealed that polymer lamellae were oriented perpendicularly to particles of unmodified silicate, while in PCL/organoclay systems they were found parallel to clay tactoids. Calorimetric and microscopic studies shown that clay particles are effective nucleating agents. In the nanocomposites, PCL crystallized 20‐fold faster than in the neat polymer. The crystallization rate in nanocomposites was also significantly higher than in microcomposite. Further research provided an insight how the presence of the filler affects crystalline fraction and spherulitic structure of the polymer matrix in the investigated systems. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 2350–2367, 2007     

Structure of 18-cyanoprogesterone,C22H29O2N

The crystal structure of 18-cyanoprogesterone was determined by X-ray diffraction methods:P2₁2₁2₁ a=7.436(2),b=11.322(2),c=22.642(2) Å. The structure was solved usingShelx-86. Final conventionalR=0.054.R _w =0.051 for 1841 reflections. TheA ring has an intermediate sofa-half-chair conformation with asymmetry parameters C _s ^/1 =11.0, C ₂ ^3,4 =14.9. The steroid skeleton exhibits a flattening of theA ring relative to the rest of the molecule. The progesterone side chain has a typical conformation, and the C16-C17-C20-O20 torsion angle is –19.0(6)°.     

Protolytic reactions of 3,3'-dimethylnaphthidine and 3,3'-dimethoxybenzidine

The dissociation constants of diprotonated 3,3'-dimethylnaphthidine (DMN) and 3,3'-dimethoxybenzidine (DMB) have been determined spectrophotometrically. They are: pK(a1) = 2.62 +/- 0.03, pK(a2) = 3.33 +/- 0.09 for DMN: pK(a1) = 2.83 +/- 0.07, pK(a2) = 4.05 +/- 0.12 for DMB. The molar absorptivities (l.mole(-1).cm(-1)) of all forms of the indicators have been also determined: epsilon(B) = 1.68 x 10(4), epsilon(BH(+)) = 9.34 x 10(3), epsilon(BH(2+)(2)) = 1.80 x 10(3) at 300 nm for DMB; epsilon(B) = 7.33 x 10(3), epsilon(BH(+)) = 3.73 x 10(3), epsilon(BH(2+)(2)) = 0 at 330 nm for DMN.     

The polymorphic transformations of cobalt molybdate

Polymorphic transformations of CoMoO₄ were studied by means of high temperature X-ray measurements within the temperature range 25–1200°C. On heating phase a obtained from low temperature modification b a new modification a′ was discovered. Phase a obtained by thermal decomposition of solvated α-CoMoO₄ shows different behaviour. At 700–930°C depending on the conditions of preparation it transforms irreversibly into still another modification a″. On cooling, a mixture of phases a + a″ is obtained, the presence of a″ being responsible for the explosionwise transition into b, observed around the room temperature.     

Über eine neue automatische Apparatur zur Zentigramm-Bestimmung von Kohlenstoff und Wasserstoff in organischen Substanzen

Zusammenfassung Das vom Verfasser undE. Sucharda schon 1928 angewandte Prinzip, die durch das Verhalten der Substanz beim Erhitzen bewirkten Druckschwankungen im Verbrennungsrohre zum Zwecke der automatischen Regulierung der Vergasungsgeschwindigkeit der Substanz bei der Elementaranalyse auszunutzen, wurde bei der Konstruktion einer neuen, elektrisch betriebenen, automatischen Apparatur angewandt. Hierbei wird das mit der Substanz gefüllte Mikroschiffchen mittels eines elektrischen Hochfrequenzgenerators erhitzt. Der Stromzufluß zu dem Hochfrequenzgenerator wird durch die erwähnten Druckschwankungen einoder ausgeschaltet. Die Verbrennung verläuft dann bei praktisch konstantem Druck im Verbrennungsrohre, also auch bei konstantem Sauerstoffüberschuß. Die neue Apparatur wird an Hand beigefügter Abbildungen beschrieben. Als Absorptionsmittel für Stickstoffoxyde werden 1 bis 2 g Bleidioxyd in einem 12 cm langen Porzellanschiffchen bei 190° angewandt. Die Absorption des Wassers erfolgt durch wasserfreies Kobaltchlorid, die der Kohlensäure ausschließlich durch Ascarit. Die Sauerstoffgeschwindigkeit im Verbrennungsrohre beträgt 8 ml pro Minute. Bei Substanzen, die mehr als 10% N enthalten, wird zwischen den Kohlensäureabsorptionsapparat und den Wasserabsorptionsapparat ein mit Mangandioxyd gefüllter Apparat eingeschaltet.

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Summary The principle used by the author andE. Sucharda as early as 1928, which employs the variations in pressure in the combustion tube resulting from the behavior of the substance when heated, for automatically regulating the rate of gasifying the substance was applied in the construction of a new electrically operated automatic apparatus. The micro boat charged with the sample is heated by means of a high frequency generator. The flow of current to the high frequency generator is switched on and off by the variations in pressure mentioned above. The combustion then proceeds at practically constant pressure in the combustion tube, and even when there is a constant excess of oxygen. The new apparatus is described in the accompanying figures. The nitrogen oxides are absorbed in 1 to 2 grams of lead dioxide contained in a porcelain boat (12 cm long) at 190°. The absorption of the water is by means of anhydrous cobalt chloride, while the carbon dioxide is taken up in ascarite. The speed of the oxygen in the combustion tube is 8 ml per minute. In the case of samples that contain more than 10% nitrogen, an apparatus filled with manganese dioxide is placed between the carbon dioxide absorber and the apparatus for taking up the water.

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Résumé Le principe de l'utilisation des variations de pression qui se produisent dans un tube à combustion en analyse élémentaire, lors du chauffage de la substance, a été utilisé dès 1928 par l'auteur etE. Sucharda pour la régulation automatique de la gazéification de cette substance. Il a été appliqué à la construction d'un nouvel appareil automatique commandé électriquement. La micronacelle qui contient la substance est chauffée électriquement à l'aide d'un générateur de courant de haute fréquence. Les variations de pression pendant la combustion provoquent l'ouverture ou la fermeture du circuit d'alimentation de ce générateur. Il en résulte que la combustion est effectuée à pression pratiquement constante ainsi qu'à excès d'oxygène constant. Ce nouvel appareil est décrit sur les figures de la publication.On utilise 1 à 2 grammes de bioxyde de plomb disposés dans une nacelle de porcelaine de 12 cm de longueur, portée à 190° pour absorber les oxydes de l'azote. L'eau est absorbée par du chlorure de cobalt anhydre et l'anhydride carbonique exclusivement par de l'ascarite. Le débit du courant d'oxygène dans le tube de combustion est de 8 ml par minute. Pour les substances contenant plus de 10% d'azote, on intercale un absorbeur à bioxyde de manganèse entre l'absorbeur à anhydride carbonique et l'absorbeur à eau.

     

Creatinine biosensor based on ammonium ion selective electrode and its application in flow-injection analysis

A new, highly sensitive, fast responding and stable potentiometric biosensor for creatinine determination is developed. The biosensor is based on an ammonium ion-selective electrode. Creatinine deiminase (EC 3.5.4.21) is chemically immobilized on the surface of the polymeric ion-sensitive membrane in the form of monomolecular layer using a simple, one-step carbodiimide covalent attachment method. The resulting enzyme electrodes are useful for measurement under flow injection analysis (FIA) conditions. The biosensors exhibit excellent operational and storage stability. The enzyme electrodes retain over 70% of initial sensitivity after ten weeks of work under FIA conditions. The storage stability at 4 °C is longer than half a year without loss of sensitivity. Under optimized conditions near 30 samples per hour can be analyzed and the determination range (0.02-20.0 mmol l⁻¹) fully covers creatinine concentrations important from clinical and biomedical point of view. The simple biosensor/FIA system has been successfully used for determination of creatinine in urine, serum and posthemodialysate samples.     

Electronic structure of octacyanides of molybdenum IV and V according to the SCCC MO method

The SCCC MO method has been used to calculate the electronic structure and spectrum of Mo(CN) ₈ ^4– and Mo(CN) ₈ ^3– ions of a D _4d symmetry. All metal-ligand and ligand-ligand interactions and all overlap integrals (over products of HF atomic orbitals) have been included within the SCCC MO scheme. Basing on these calculations a new assignment of some absorption bands is proposed. The overall agreement between the calculated and observed electronic spectrum is satisfactory.

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Zusammenfassung Elektronenstruktur und Spektrum der [Mo(CN)₈]^–4- und [Mo(CN)₈]^–3-Ionen in D _4d -Symmetrie wurden mit der SCCC-MO-Methode berechnet. Alle Metall-Ligand- und Ligand-Ligand-Wechsel-wirkungen und Überlappungsintegrale wurden berücksichtigt. Die Bandenzuordnung wurde neu vorgenommen. Die Übereinstimmung der berechneten und gemessenen Spektren ist befriedigend.

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Résumé Application à Mo(CN) ₈ ^4– et Mo(CN) ₈ ^3– de la méthode SCCC MO basée sur des orbitales atomiques HF approchées, en tenant compte du recouvrement et de toutes les interactions ligand-ligand. Dans la partie I on discute le cas de la symétrie D _4d . L'accord global avec l'expérience est satisfaisant en ce qui concerne les spectres. On montre aussi que toutes les attributions antérieures basées sur la théorie du champ cristallin semblent inadéquates.

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The authors are grateful to Prof. W. Jakób, Dr. Z. Stasicka and Dr. A. Samotus for many interesting discussions, to Prof. J. Chojnacki for providing us with new X-ray results before publication and to Dr. A. J. Sadlej for a help in dealing with the computer.     

Thermal decomposition of Cr(III) dithiocarbamates

The thermal stability of chromium(III) complexes with dithiocarbamate acid derivatives was studied. The general formula of these complexes is (RCS₂)₃Cr where: The thermal stability of these complexes was found to depend on the kind ofR and the decomposition occur in several stages.The final product of the decomposition of the complexes in the 20–600 temperature range investigated is chromium sulphide, Cr₂S₃ or with incomplete combusted sulfur atoms.

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Zusammenfassung Die Thermostabilität von Chrom(III)-Komplexen mit sauren Derivaten von Dithiocarbamat wurde untersucht. Die allgemeine Formel dieser Komplexe ist (RCS₂)₃Cr. Es wurde festgestellt, da\ die Thermostabilität dieser Komplexe von der Art von R abhängt und die Zersetzung in mehreren Stufen verläuft.Das Endprodukt der Zersetzung der Komplexe im untersuchten Temperaturbereich von 20 bis 600 ist Chromsulfid, Cr₂S₃, oder solches mit überschüssigem Schwefel.

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Résumé On a étudié la stabilité thermique des complexes du chrome(III) avec les dérivés de l'acide dithiocarbamique. La formule générale de ces complexes est (RCS₂)₃Cr où: On a trouvé que la stabilité thermique de ces complexes dépendait de la nature du radical et que la décomposition se déroulait en plusieurs étapes.Dans l'intervalle de température étudié, de 20 à 600, le produit final de la décomposition des complexes est le sulfure de chrome, Cr₂S₃, éventuellement accompagné de soufre résultant d'une combustion incomplÊte.

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(III) - . — (RCS₂)₃ Cr, , R . 20–600 Cr₂S₃ .

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The autors would like to thank Doc. dr h. J. F. Biernat for valuable discussions.     

Sensitive spectrophotometric determination of tin with Pyrogallol Red and cetyldimethylbenzylammonium ions

Summary Tin(IV), in the presence of cetyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride (CDBA), forms with Pyrogallol Red (PR) a complex SnPR-CDBA. This complex floates at the interface between hexane and aqueous medium. It dissolves in acetone and can be advantageously used for the determination of tin. The molar absorptivity is 6.5×10⁴ l·mole^–1·cm^–1 at 480 nm. The method is selective when citric acid is used as masking agent. Phosphate, fluoride, EDTA, nitrite and sulphide interfere.

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Zusammenfassung Zinn(IV) bildet mit Pyrogallolrot (PR) in Gegenwart von Cetyldimethylbenzylammoniumchlorid (CDBA) einen Komplex. Dieser wird flotiert, in Aceton gelöst und zur Bestimmung von Zinn verwendet. Der molare Absorptionskoeffizient bei =480 nm beträgt =6,5·10⁴ l·mol^–1 cm^–1. Die Methode ist selektiv, wenn Zitrate zur Maskierung verwendet werden. Es stören Phosphat, Fluorid, ÄDTA, Nitrit und Sulfid.

     

1,4-dioxane as a solvent in spectroscopy and photochemistry

Commercially available 1,4-dioxane, even of spectroscopic grade, contains various impurities that arise mostly from reaction of the solvent with oxygen. Aspects relevant to the spectroscopy and photochemistry of the dioxane/oxygen system are discussed. Methods of purification and storage of the solvent are presented.