Effects of dissolved gas species on ultrasonic degradation of (4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy) acetic acid (MCPA) in aqueous solution

Sonochemical degradation of MCPA ((4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy) acetic acid) in dilute aqueous solutions was studied using ultrasound with a frequency of 500 kHz. The effect of gas atmosphere on MCPA degradation was investigated in nitrogen (N(2)), air (O(2)/N(2)), oxygen (O(2)), argon (Ar) and Ar/O(2) (60/40% v/v) atmospheres. For sonochemical degradation of MCPA in N(2), air (O(2)/N(2)), O(2) and Ar atmospheres, the rate enhancement of MCPA decomposition by sonolysis was found to be more effective in an O(2)-enriched atmosphere compared to Ar atmosphere. It was considered that a higher amount of oxidants was formed in a higher O(2) partial pressure, which accelerated MCPA decomposition in a radical reaction system. On the other hand, both dechlorination and total organic carbon (TOC) removal rates were higher in Ar atmosphere, compared to those in O(2)/N(2) atmosphere. It was found that, MCPA was most effectively decomposed by sonication in Ar/O(2) (60/40% v/v) atmosphere, with higher rates of decomposition, dechlorination and TOC removal.     

Control of environmental pollution and economic growth: Modelling and numerical solution

In this paper, a dynamic model which describes the relationship between environmental pollution and economic growth is presented. On the basis of the model, an optimal trade-off between pollution and consumption is discussed for the economy which is on a balanced growth path. Then the investment policy is studied which leads the economy to the desired balanced growth path as soon as possible, under the constraint that the pollution level never exceeds a specified allowable level. Some results of numerical computation are also given.     

Miscibility and orientation behavior of poly(vinyl alcohol) / poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) blends

The miscibility of poly(viny1 alcohol)/poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVA/PVP) blends is investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and wide-angle x-ray diffraction (WAXD). The molecular orientation induced by uniaxial stretching of the blends is also examined by WAXD and birefringence measurements. It is shown by the DSC thermal analysis that the polymer pair is miscible, since a single glass transition temperature (T_g) is situated between the T_gs of the two homopolymers at every composition. The T_g versus composition curve does not follow a monotonic function but exhibits a cusp point at a PVP volume fraction of a little under 0.7, as in a case predicted by Kovacs' theory. The presence of a specific intermolecular interaction between the two polymers is suggested by an observed systematic depression in the melting point of the PVA component. A negative value of the polymer-polymer interaction parameter, χ₁₂ = 0.35 (at 513 K), is estimated from a thermodynamic approach via a control experiment using samples crystallized isothermally at various temperatures. The extent of optical birefringence (Δn) of the drawn blends decreases drastically with increasing PVP content up to 80 wt %, when compared at a given draw ratio, and ultimately Δn is found to change from positive to negative at a critical PVP concentration of a little over 80 wt %. Discussion of the molecular orientation behavior takes into consideration a birefringence compensation effect in the miscible amorphous phase due to positive and negative contributions of oriented PVA and PVP, respectively.     

The vibrational spectra of mellitic trianhydride

The IR and Raman spectra of mellitic trianhydride have been reported in the frequency region from 2000-150 cm^?1, for the polycrystalline sample. Applying the selection rules to the CO stretching vibrations, the molecular structure of mellitic trianhydride has been discussed. The observed frequencies have been tentatively assigned considering a proposed D_3h structure.     

Urea-formaldehyde resins: NMR study on base-catalyzed reaction of formaldehyde with urea in deuterium oxide

High-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance has been used in order to investigate the base-catalyzed reaction of formaldehyde with urea in deuterium oxide. We investigated the effects of temperature and concentration on the chemical shift of glycol species in formalin under basic condition. Assignment of all the signals appearing in the addition reaction was completed. The formation of N,N-dimethylolurea, uron, monomethyloluron, and dimethyloluron was observed for the first time, as well as the formation of monomethylolurea, N,N′-dimethylolurea, and trimethylolurea, which had been observed previously: the formation of presumptive tetramethylolurea could not be observed. The rate constants and equilibrium constant for urea, monomethylolurea, N,N′- and N,N-dimethylolurea, and trimethylolurea were estimated by analysis of the decomposition reactions of monomethylolurea and N,N′-dimethylolurea.     

Accumulation of phenyl boronic acid-carrying telomers on a gold surface

By coupling two equivalents of N,N-diethyldithiocarbamoylmethylbenzoic acid succinimidyl ester with cystamine dihydrochloride, a disulfide-carrying compound (Cys-BDC) was prepared and used as iniferter (a compound which pursues initiation, chain transfer, and termination) in the telomerization of N,N-dimethylacrylamide and 3-acrylamidophenylboronic acid. The telomerization was carried out in the presence of N,N,N',N'-tetraethylthiuram disulfide under photoirradiation at 365 nm. An aqueous solution of the telomer obtained showed responsiveness to both temperature and sugars as confirmed by the turbidity measurements. The telomer formed a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) on a gold surface as confirmed by both cyclic voltammetry (CV) and ellipsometry. The recognition of sugar residues by the telomer SAM constructed on the gold electrode was detected by the CV measurements. The usefulness of the iniferter to prepare various telomer-carrying SAMs with bio-related functions was strongly suggested.     

Novel pi-expanded radialene macrocycles with inner cavity

[structure: see text] Polyenyne macrocycles with pi-extended [9]- and [12]radialene frameworks have been synthesized. These radialenes exhibit restricted rotation of the aromatic rings, and the D3- and D4-symmetric structures in solutions have been determined by dynamic NMR. The macrocyclic radialenes bear small to medium inner cavities, and the small cavity of the pi-extended [9]radialene can incorporate a silver cation.     

Polymer-based adsorption medium prepared using a fragment imprinting technique for homologues of chlorinated bisphenol A produced in the environment

A polymer-based adsorption medium having molecular recognition ability for homologues of chlorinated bisphenol A produced in environment was prepared using a fragment imprinting technique. 2,6-Dimethyl phenol was utilized as a pseudo-template molecule and the adsorption media prepared was evaluated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and solid-phase extraction (SPE). As results, the adsorption medium showed preferable chromatographic retention and specific adsorption ability for the chlorinated bisphenol As having chlorine substituents at 3,5-positions through fragment imprinting effect.     

Metal-encapsulated caged clusters of germanium with large gaps and different growth behavior than silicon

Metal ( M)-encapsulated caged clusters of Ge are studied using the ab initio pseudopotential plane-wave method and the generalized gradient approximation for the exchange-correlation energy. Depending upon the size of the M atom, we find Frank-Kasper polyhedral M@Ge(16) for M= Ti, Zr, Hf, and capped decahedral or cubic M@Ge(14) and M@Ge(15) clusters for several M atoms. The growth behavior differs from the one found in M@Si(n) clusters. The highest-occupied-lowest-unoccupied molecular orbital gaps are, however, similarly large or even higher in some cases. Cr@Ge(16) and Fe@Ge(15) are magnetic. The weak interaction between the clusters makes such species attractive for cluster assembled materials.