Methods for the characterization of Jet Propellent-8: vapor and aerosol

Jet Propellant‐8 (JP‐8) has been responsible for the majority of reported chemical exposures by the US Department of Defense. Concerns related to human exposure to JP‐8 are relatively new; therefore, there is a lack of literature data. Additionally, health effects related to the composition of the exposure have only recently been considered. Two major questions exist: (1) what is the compositional difference between the aerosol and vapor portions of JP‐8 under controlled conditions and (2) what is the most representative method to sample JP‐8 aerosol and vapor? Thirty‐seven standards, representing more than 40% of the mass of JP‐8, were used for characterization of the neat fuel, vapor and aerosol portions. JP‐8 vapor samples at a concentration of 1600 mg/m³ were prepared in Tedlar bags. A portion of the vapor samples was adsorbed on charcoal, Tenax and custom mixed phase sorbents. These samples were then extracted using organic solvent and analyzed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The vapor samples extracted from the sorbent tubes were directly compared with a vapor bag. The samples collected using Tenax sorbent tubes were found to be most representative of the composition of the vapor bags. In another set of experiments, aerosolized JP‐8 was generated using a collision nebulizer. Aerosol samples were collected and the chemical composition was characterized. The entire aerosol distribution was collected on a glass filter, extracted into solvent, and analyzed by GC‐MS. Finally, the composition of the vapor and aerosol was compared. The vapor was found to represent the lower molecular weight components of JP‐8, while the aerosol was composed of higher molecular weight components. Therefore, the vapor and aerosol should be treated as two discrete forms of exposure to JP‐8. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy as a Rapid Tool to Qualitatively Predict the Effects of Species,Regions and Roasting on the Nutritional Composition of Australian Acacia Seed Species

In recent times, the popularity of adding value to under-utilized legumes have increased to enhance their use for human consumption. Acacia seed (AS) is an underutilized legume with over 40 edible species found in Australia. The study aimed to qualitatively characterize the chemical composition of 14 common edible AS species from 27 regions in Australia using mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy as a rapid tool. Raw and roasted (180 °C, 5, 7, and 9 min) AS flour were analysed using MIR spectroscopy. The wavenumbers (1045 cm⁻¹, 1641 cm⁻¹, and 2852–2926 cm⁻¹) in the MIR spectra show the main components in the AS samples. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the MIR data displayed the clustering of samples according to species and roasting treatment. However, regional differences within the same AS species have less of an effect on the components, as shown in the PCA plot. Statistical analysis of absorbance at specific wavenumbers showed that roasting significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the compositions of some of the AS species. The results provided a foundation for hypothesizing the compositional similarity and/or differences among AS species before and after roasting.     

Artemisia abrotanum L. (Southern Wormwood)—History,Current Knowledge on the Chemistry,Biological Activity,Traditional Use and Possible New Pharmaceutical and Cosmetological Applications

Artemisia abrotanum L. (southern wormwood) is a plant species with an important position in the history of European and Asian medicine. It is a species famous as a medicinal plant in Central Asia, Asia Minor, and in South-East and Central Europe. The raw materials obtained from this species are Abrotani herba and Abrotani folium. In the traditional European medicine, they have been used successfully most of all in liver and biliary tract diseases, in parasitic diseases in children and as antipyretic medication. In the official European medicine, this plant species is recommended by the French Pharmacopoeia for use in homeopathy. In many European countries, it is used traditionally in allopathy. The latest studies on the biological activity of extracts from the aboveground parts of the plant and/or the leaves, and/or the essential oil have provided evidence of other possible applications related to their antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, anticancer, and antiallergic properties. The latest studies have also focused on the repellent activity of the essential oil of this species and the possibility to use it in the prevention of diseases in which insects are the vectors. The main substances obtained from the plant that are responsible for this activity are: the essential oil, coumarins, phenolic acids, and flavonoids. Some of the latest investigations emphasize the large differences in the composition of the essential oil, determined by the geographical (climatic) origin of the plant. A. abrotanum is recommended by the European Cosmetic Ingredients Database (CosIng) as a source of valuable cosmetic ingredients. Additionally, the leaves of this species possess a well-established position in the food industry. This plant species is also the object of biotechnological studies.     

Comprehensive Evaluation of Late Season Peach Varieties (Prunus persica L.): Fruit Nutritional Quality and Phytochemicals

Peaches are one of the most preferred seasonal fruits, and a reliable source of nutrients. They possess biologically active substances that largely differ among varieties. Hence, revealing the potential of several late season peaches is of present interest. Three commonly consumed varieties (“Flat Queen”; “Evmolpiya”; “Morsiani 90”) were studied in terms of nutritive and phytochemical content, as well as antioxidant activity with the use of reliable spectrophotometric and High Performance Liquid Chromatographic (HPLC) methods. An analysis of the soil was also made. The phytochemical data were subjected to principal component analysis in order to evaluate their relationship. The “Morsiani 90” variety had the highest minerals concentration (2349.03 mg/kg fw), total carbohydrates (16.21 g/100 g fw), and α-tocopherol (395.75 µg/100 g fresh weight (fw)). Similar amounts of TDF (approx. 3 g/100 g fw) were reported for all three varieties. “Flat Queen’s” peel extract was the richest in monomeric anthocyanins (2279.33 µg cyanidin-3-glucoside (C3GE)/100 g fw). The “Morsiani 90” variety extracts had the highest antioxidant potential, defined by 2,2-diphenil-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and cupric ion-reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) assays.     

从物质本原到干水:水的概念的发展史

在古代哲学中,水被视为一种物质本原。17世纪化学学科形成后,水被定义成一种化学元素。18世纪的化学革命中,水被发现是氢氧化合物。19世纪原子分子论的创立,使水的概念得到微观表征。至20世纪,重水的发现和干水的发明使水的概念有了新的发展。总之,水的概念的发展史,反映了化学思想的发展和科学技术的进步,对化学研究和化学教育均有重要的启示。     

A novel continuous hydrodynamic cavitation technology for the inactivation of pathogens in milk

Hydrodynamic cavitation is a powerful tool for the enhancement of various processing applications. This study utilizes continuous hydrodynamic cavitation (CHC) for the inactivation of pathogens in milk for the first time. The thermal characteristics, inactivation performance, damage on the nutritional composition, product safety, and cost of the advanced rotational hydrodynamic cavitation reactor at pilot scale were comprehensively investigated. The inactivation results demonstrated that 5.89, 5.53, and 2.99 ± 0.08 log reductions of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus cereus were achieved, respectively, at a final treatment temperature of 70 °C for 1–2 s. Moreover, the detrimental effect of CHC on the nutritional composition of milk, including mineral, fat, protein, and vitamin contents, was similar to that of high-temperature short-time method. The change in the concentrations of general bacteria and E. coli, as well as the pH value and acidity of the CHC treated milk stored at 5 °C for 14 days was found to be close to that of low-temperature long-time pasteurized milk. The cost of the present CHC treatment was $0.00268/L with a production rate of 4.2 L/min. CHC appears to be a remarkable method for the continuous processing of milk, as well as other liquid foods with high nutrition and “fresh-picked” flavor, due to its high efficacy, good scalability, high production capacity, and low operating and equipment costs.     

准原位XPS和HS-LEIS研究载体对PtCu合金纳米催化剂表面组成的影响

Pt是一类高效、稳定的催化剂,但Pt资源短缺且价格昂贵,限制了其广泛商业化应用.合金化可以使Pt的用量大为减少,且往往能显著提高其催化性能,因而广泛应用于多相催化和电催化.其中PtCu合金是一类很有前景的催化剂,Cu资源丰富、价格低廉,不仅降低了成本,而且由于合金效应提高了催化剂的活性和稳定性.由于合金的粒径、形状、组成及结构是影响其催化性能的重要因素,目前研究大多关注这些特征的可控合成.然而,大多工业金属催化剂都是负载于氧化物上以提高催化性能,合金纳米粒子的形貌以及表面组成因与载体作用而发生改变,也就是所谓的载体效应.这体现在金属/氧化物界面处,能够促进金属粒子分散、改变其形貌甚至化学态、进而改变其催化性能,其中最具代表性的金属-载体强相互作用.因此,研究不同氧化物载体上合金催化剂的分散度、表面组成、化学态,特别是不同气氛的影响,对明确影响催化剂性能的关键控制因素非常重要.但是由于多相催化剂的复杂性,且表面灵敏的测试手段很少,目前相关报道还不多.近年发展起来的高灵敏度低能离子散射谱(HS-LEIS)是表面层灵敏的测试技术,可以测定最表面层的组成和含量.本文采用溶剂热共还原法成功制备了均一单相、粒径分布较窄的PtCux合金纳米颗粒,并运用浸渍法将其负载在TiO2载体上,以保证载体上纳米粒子组成的均一性.应用准原位X-射线光电子能谱(XPS)和高HS-LEIS对负载的PtCu合金纳米催化剂在不同条件处理后的表面组成和化学状态进行表征,发现催化剂的表面组成、分布、形貌和化学状态显著受到载体和处理条件的影响,同时得到负载和未负载的催化剂表面组成与体相组成关系的相图.结果表明,PtCux/TiO2催化剂在连续氧化过程中,Cu被氧化并较好在载体表面铺展,Pt-Cu合金状态被破坏,Pt可能主要形成单一金属的纳米粒子,并在界面处形成Ptδ+.在连续还原过程中,部分被还原的Cu,与Pt形成富Pt合金粒子.催化剂表面层主要是Cu,Pt很少,与体相组成有很大差别,说明载体对Cu的分散起到重要作用.     

异元素掺杂碳点的制备及其在生物成像中的应用

荧光碳点具有良好的生物相容性和优良的抗光漂白能力,因此碳点在生物荧光成像方面的应用潜力受到广泛关注,但是碳点相对较低的荧光量子产率和缺乏近红外荧光发射的缺陷限制了碳点在荧光成像分析中的应用.随着异元素掺杂对碳点结构和荧光性质的改善,碳点被越来越广泛地用于生物成像.本文对近年来元素掺杂碳点的合成方法、异元素掺杂对碳点光学性质的影响和元素掺杂碳点在成像分析中的进展进行了综述,并对其应用前景进行了展望.     

On quantitative structure of small Ree groups

The main aim of this article is to study quantitative structure of small Ree Groups ²G₂(q). Here, we prove that small Ree groups are uniquely determined by their orders and the set of the number of elements of the same order.