Thermal stability and flammability of styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR) composites

The article presents the effect of attapulgite (ATT) and its synergic action with carbon or silica on the thermal properties and flammability of cross-linked styrene–butadiene rubber. It has been shown that ATT is active filler improving the thermal and mechanical properties of composites containing this aluminosilicate. The decreased flammability of vulcanizates containing ATT compared to that of unfilled vulcanizates results from good insulating properties of the ATT used. The considerable reduction in the flammability of composites containing ATT and carbon nanofiber or silica is connected, first of all, with the formation of a homogeneous boundary layer.     

UHPLC: The Greening Face of Liquid Chromatography

Pharmaceutical analysis based on chromatographic separation is an important part of studies aimed at developing routine quality analysis of drugs. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is one of the main analytical techniques recommended for drug analysis. Although it meets many criteria vital for analysis, it is time-consuming and uses a relatively high amount of organic solvents compared to other analytical techniques. Recently, Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) has been frequently proposed as an alternative to HPLC, which means introducing an environment-friendly approach to drug analysis achieved by reducing the consumption of solvents. It also offers greater chromatographic resolution and higher sensitivity as well as requiring less time due to faster analysis. This review focuses on the basics of UHPLC, compares that technique with HPLC and discusses the possibilities of applying UHPLC for the analysis of different pharmaceuticals and biopharmaceuticals.     

Synthesis, radiochemistry and stability of the conjugates of technetium-99m complexes with Substance P

Two types of technetium-99m complexes: (i) with the Hynic ligand linked to Substance P(1–11) and (ii) of the type ‘4 + 1’ consisting of tetradentate tripodal chelator tris(2-mercaptoethyl)-amine and monodentate isocyanide ligand previously coupled with Substance P(1–11), have been prepared on the n.c.a. scale. The obtained conjugates exhibit different lipophilicity and high stability in neutral aqueous solutions, even in the presence of excess concentration of histidine/cysteine competitive standard ligands. The conjugate (^99mTc(NS₃)(CN))₂–SP containing two technetium-99m species in the molecule may be expected to be an extremely good diagnostic radiopharmaceutical.     

Biosorption of toxic metals using freely suspended Microcystis aeruginosa biomass

This paper describes the potential application of a freely suspended cyanobacterial biomass of Microcystis aeruginosa as a sorption material for toxic metals, cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) from aqueous solutions. In order to identify the most suitable conditions for removal of these elements (concentration range: 1–20 mg L^?1), the laboratory experiments were carried out during different incubation times (1–48 h) and under various temperatures (10–40°C), pH (5–9) and with or without light irradiance. Competitive biosorption of Cd and Pb was also investigated. We found that M. aeruginosa demonstrates high efficiency in removing both of the studied metals from aqueous solutions. Sorption of Pb occurred, however, more rapidly and effectively, and was less disturbed by changes in physico-chemical conditions. Under pH=7, 25°C and light, the removal rates after 3 h and 6 h of incubation, were 90–100% for Pb and 79.5–100% for Cd, respectively. The co-occurrence of the metals decreased the rate of metal biosorption. Pb was sequestered preferentially over Cd. From the results we conclude that freely suspended M. aeruginosa can constitute a promising low-cost, easy-producible biosorbent material for toxic metals in contaminated wastewater.      

Preparation and dielectric properties of the lead-free BaFe<Subscript>1/2</Subscript>Nb<Subscript>1/2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> ceramics obtained from mechanically triggered powder

In the paper the influence of mechanical activation of the powder on the final dielectric properties lead-free Ba(Fe_1/2Nb_1/2)O₃ (BFN) ceramic was examined. The BFN ceramics were obtained by 3-steps route. Firstly, the substrates were pre-homogenized in a planetary ball mill. Than, the powder was activated in vibratory mill (the shaker type SPEX 8000 Mixer Mill) for different duration between 25 h and 100 h. The influence of the milling time on the BFN powder was monitored by X-ray diffraction. The diffraction data confirmed that the milling process of the starting components is accompanied by partial synthesis of the BFN materials. The longer of the high-energy milling duration the powders results in increasing the amount of amorphous/nanocrystalline content. The mechanically activated materials were sintered in order to obtain the ceramic samples. During this temperature treatment the final crystallisation of the powder appeared what was confirmed by XRD studies. The performed dielectric measurements have revealed the reduction of the dielectric loss of the BFN ceramics compared to materials obtained by classic methods.     

Generalized covariance inequalities

We prove some inequalities for the difference between a joint distribution and the product of its marginals for arbitrary absolutely continuous random variables. Some applications of the obtained inequalities are also presented.     

Generalized 1D Jörgens theorem

We study the Cauchy problem for a 1D nonlinear wave equation on R. The nonlinearity can depend on the unknown function and its first order spatial derivative. Using the fixed point theorem we prove the existence of a classical solution. Moreover, the existence of periodic and almost periodic solutions are shown.     

Evolution of 3-D crystals from supersaturated vapor with modified Stefan condition: Galerkin method approach

We examine the evolution of crystals in three dimensions. We assume that the Wulff shape is a prism with a hexagonal base. We include the Gibbs-Thomson law on the crystal surface and the so-called Stefan condition. We show local in time existence of solutions assuming that the initial crystal has admissible shape.     

Silver nanoparticles formed in bio- and chemical syntheses with biosurfactant as the stabilizing agent

In this work, the comparison of the physical properties of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) obtained via the reduction of silver nitrate (AgNO₃) in biological and chemical (model) syntheses supplemented with the biosurfactant surfactin is described. In the studies, two strains of Bacillus subtilis (denoted T’1 and I’1a) were used. The biological synthesis of AgNPs was performed using supernatants obtained from cultures of bacteria growing on brewery effluents, molasses, and Luria–Bretani (LB) medium. In model experiments, ascorbic acid served as the reductant; surfactin acted as the stabilizing agent. The surfactin concentrations were adjusted to 5 and 30?mg/L, which corresponded to minimum and maximum surfactin concentrations as measured in the supernatants obtained from the B. subtilis cultures. The chemical synthesis was carried out at acidic as well as alkaline pH. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) revealed that in model and biological samples, single AgNPs were accompanied by aggregated structures. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the contribution of the aggregates in bacterial supernatants and in chemical synthesis is negligible under acidic conditions. However, in the alkaline environment, this contribution predominates. In the model experiments, smaller nanoparticles were formed with higher concentrations of surfactant. The presence of surfactin significantly increased the stability of AgNPs in both bio- and chemical syntheses.