Separation of Monovinyl and Divinyl Protochlorophyllides Using C30 Reverse Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography Column: Analytical and Preparative Applications

A new, high performance liquid chromatography method has been developed for the separation of monovinyl- and divinyl-protochlorophyllides, using commercially available, C₃₀ reverse phase column and isocratic elution. This method can be used both for analytical applications and preparative scale purification of monovinyl- and divinyl-protochlorophyllides using the same column where submilimolar concentrations of the crude protochlorophyllide extract can be separated in one run. The purity of the obtained protochlorophyllides was demonstrated by spectroscopic methods, as well by the formation of aggregates in toluene.     

Sterically stabilized emulsion polymerization of styrene: Pseudo‐semicontinuous approach

The sterically stabilized emulsion polymerization of styrene initiated by a water‐soluble initiator at different temperatures has been investigated. The rate of polymerization (R_p) versus conversion curve shows the two non‐stationary‐rate intervals typical for the polymerization proceeding under non‐stationary‐state conditions. The shape of the R_p versus conversion curve results from two opposite effects—the increased number of particles and the decreased monomer concentration at reaction loci as the polymerization advances. At elevated temperatures the monomer emulsion equilibrates to a two‐phase or three‐phase system. The upper phase is transparent (monomer), and the lower one is blue colored, typical for microemulsion. After stirring such a multiphase system and initiation of polymerization, the initial coarse polymer emulsion was formed. The average size of monomer/polymer particles strongly decreased up to about 40% conversion and then leveled off. The initial large particles are assumed to be highly monomer‐swollen particles formed by the heteroagglomeration of unstable polymer particles and monomer droplets. The size of the “highly monomer” swollen particles continuously decreases with conversion, and they merge with the growing particles at about 40–50% conversion. The monomer droplets and/or large highly monomer‐swollen polymer particles also serve as a reservoir of monomer and emulsifier. The continuous release of nonionic (hydrophobic) emulsifier from the monomer phase increases the colloidal stability of primary particles and the number of polymer particles, that is, the particle nucleation is shifted to the higher conversion region. Variations of the square and cube of the mean droplet radius with aging time indicate that neither the coalescence nor the Ostwald ripening is the main driving force for the droplet instability. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 804–820, 2003     

4,4′-Dihydroxy-3,3′,5,5′-tetramethoxyazodioxybenzene: an unexpected dimer formed during hydroxylamine extractions of wheat flour

Neutral hydroxylamine extracts of wheat contained a product that was colourless at pH<5 (λ_max 340 nm) and yellow at pH>9 (λ_max 400 nm). ESI-MS showed a major ion m/z 184.0 and a possible parent ion m/z 367.2 (MH⁺) suggesting that the product resulted from the reaction of 2,6-dimethoxy-p-quinone with hydroxylamine. However, mass spectral and other spectroscopic data indicated that the compound was neither of the 2,6-dimethoxy-p-quinone oximes. A product with identical absorbance, mass spectrum, electrophoretic mobility and HPLC retention time as the pigment from hydroxylamine extracts of flour was observed amongst the reaction products of hydroxylamine and 1,4-dihydroxy-2,6-dimethoxybenzene. The structure of this product was identified by NMR, 2D NMR and IR as 4,4′-dihydroxy-3,3′,5,5′-tetramethoxyazodioxybenzene.     

Ethanol production from steam-explosion pretreated wheat straw

Bioconversion of cereal straw to bioethanol is becoming an attractive alternative to conventional fuel ethanol production from grains. In this work, the best operational conditions for steam-explosion pretreatment of wheat straw for ethanol production by a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation process were studied, using diluted acid [H₂SO₄ 0.9% (w/w)] and water as preimpregnation agents. Acid-or water-impregnated biomass was steam-exploded at different temperatures (160–200°C) and residence times (5, 10, and 20 min). Composition of solid and filtrate obtained after pretreatment, enzymatic digestibility and ethanol production of pretreated wheat straw at different experimental conditions was analyzed. The best pretreatment conditions to obtain high conversion yield to ethanol (approx 80% of theoretical) of cellulose-rich residue after steam-explosion were 190°C and 10 min or 200°C and 5 min, in acid-impregnated straw. However, 180°C for 10 min in acid-impregnated biomass provided the highest ethanol yield referred to raw material (140 L/t wheat straw), and sugars recovery yield in the filtrate (300 g/kg wheat straw).     

Explorative data analysis of two-dimensional electrophoresis gels

Methods for classification of two-dimensional (2-DE) electrophoresis gels based on multivariate data analysis are demonstrated. Two-dimensional gels of ten wheat varieties are analyzed and it is demonstrated how to classify the wheat varieties in two qualities and a method for initial screening of gels is presented. First, an approach is demonstrated in which no prior knowledge of the separated proteins is used. Alignment of the gels followed by a simple transformation of data makes it possible to analyze the gels in an automated explorative manner by principal component analysis, to determine if the gels should be further analyzed. A more detailed approach is done by analyzing spot volume lists by principal components analysis and partial least square regression. The use of spot volume data offers a mean to investigate the spot pattern and link the classified protein patterns to distinct spots on the gels for further investigation. The explorative approach in analysis of 2-D gels makes it possible, in a fast and convenient way, to screen many gels in order to determine the protein patterns that form clusters and could be selected for further examination.     

Ionization potential of excited states of Be‐like sequence in the concept of iso‐spectrum‐level series

With the introduction of the concept of the iso‐spectrum‐level series, a linear relationship is found between the first differences of the ionization potential of excited states and nuclear charge Z along an iso‐spectrum‐level series, and the ionization potential of excited states of Be‐like sequence are studied systematically on the basis of the weakest bound electron potential model theory. The expression of nonrelativistic ionization potential is derived from the weakest bound electron potential model theory, and relativistic effects are included by using a fourth‐order polynomial in Z. As a demonstration, the ionization potentials of [He]2s2p ³P, [He]2s3s ¹S₀, [He]2s3p ¹P, [He]2s3d ¹D₂, and [He]2s4d ¹D₂ series for a range of Be‐like sequence from Z = 4–23 are calculated. The results are compared with the experimental data and the recent sophisticated ab initio results. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem 93: 344–350, 2003     

Concerning the Reaction of the Betain‐Like Compound O2CC(PPh3)2 with Tungsten‐Carbonyl Derivatives; Preparation and Crystal Structures of [(CO)5W{η1‐O2C2(PPh3)2}] and [(CO)4W{η2‐O2C2(PPh3)2}]

The carbodiphosphorane CO₂ adduct O₂CC(PPh₃)₂ ( 1a ) reacts with [(CO)₅W(THF)] and [(CO)₃W(NCEt)₃] to produce the complexes [(CO)₅W{η¹‐O₂CC(PPh₃)₂}] ( 2 ) and [(CO)₄W{η²‐O₂CC(PPh₃)₂}] ( 3 ), respectively. Whereas in 2 the betain‐like ligand is coordinated at the tungsten atom in a monodentate manner, in 3 it acts as a chelating ligand with formation of a WO₂C four‐membered ring. As a by‐product during the reaction with the acetonitrile adduct also some crystals of the hydrolysis product [HC(PPh₃)₂]₂[W₆O₁₉] · 3C₂H₄Cl₂ (4 · 3C₂H₄Cl₂) were isolated. All compounds could be characterized by X‐ray analyses and the usual spectroscopic methods.     

Influence of Glycerol Content on Properties of Wheat Gluten/Hydroxyethyl Cellulose Biocomposites

Environmentally friendly biocomposites were prepared by blending wheat gluten（WG）as a matrix, hydroxyethyl cellulose（HEC）as a filler,and glycerol as a plasticizer,followed by thermo-molding of the mixture at 120°C for crosslinking the matrix.Moisture absorption,tensile properties,dynamic mechanical analysis,and dynamic rheology were evaluated in relation to the glycerol content.Tensile strength and modulus drop dramatically with increasing glycerol content,which is accompanied by significant depression in the glass transition temperature and improvement in the extensibility of the biocomposites.     

Preparation and tribological properties of DLC/Ti filmby pulsed laser arc deposition

This paper reports that DLC (diamond like carbon)/Ti and DLC films were prepared by using pulsed laser arc deposition. R-ray diffraction, Auger electron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, nanoindenter, spectroscopic ellipsometer, surface profiler and micro-tribometer were employed to study the structure and tribological properties of DLC/Ti and DLC films. The results show that DLC/Ti film, with $I(D)/I(G)$ 0.28 and corresponding to 76{\%} sp$^{3}$ content calculated by Raman spectroscopy, uniform chemical composition along depth direction, 98 at{\%} content of carbon, hardness 8.2 GPa and Young's modulus 110.5 GPa, compressive stress 6.579 GPa, thickness 46~nm, coefficient of friction 0.08, and critical load 95mN, exhibits excellent mechanical and tribological properties.