Completing orientations of partially oriented graphs

We initiate a general study of what we call orientation completion problems. For a fixed class of oriented graphs, the orientation completion problem asks whether a given partially oriented graph P can be completed to an oriented graph in by orienting the (nonoriented) edges in P. Orientation completion problems commonly generalize several existing problems including recognition of certain classes of graphs and digraphs as well as extending representations of certain geometrically representable graphs. We study orientation completion problems for various classes of oriented graphs, including k‐arc‐strong oriented graphs, k‐strong oriented graphs, quasi‐transitive‐oriented graphs, local tournaments, acyclic local tournaments, locally transitive tournaments, locally transitive local tournaments, in‐tournaments, and oriented graphs that have directed cycle factors. We show that the orientation completion problem for each of these classes is either polynomial time solvable or NP‐complete. We also show that some of the NP‐complete problems become polynomial time solvable when the input‐oriented graphs satisfy certain extra conditions. Our results imply that the representation extension problems for proper interval graphs and for proper circular arc graphs are polynomial time solvable. The latter generalizes a previous result.     

Microwave-induced reactions: an alternative route for chemical synthesis

In an effort to study the scope of microwave radiation for organic bromination reactions, some reactions were studied using a domestic microwave oven. Results reveal that these radiation-induced reactions are unique in their high yields and that they require extremely short reaction times compared with conventional room-temperature reactions. In these reactions tetrabutyl ammonium tribromide was used as an alternative brominating reagent in order to avoid the chemical hazards associated with liquid bromine (Br₂). As all the reactions were successfully carried out in solid state under microwave conditions, the use of solvent was not required. All these aspects make the bromination protocol quite environment friendly.     

Polyepoxysuccinic acid with hyper-branched structure as an environmentally friendly scale inhibitor and its scale inhibition mechanism

In order to improve the scale inhibition efficiency of existing polyepoxysuccinic acid (PESA) and to study the impact of their molecular structure on scale inhibition efficiency, a series of PESA with linear and hyper-branched structure have been designed and synthesized through co-polymerization reaction with glycidyl and epoxy succinate. The scale inhibition behavior of PESA with linear and hyper-branched structure against CaCO₃ and CaSO₄ scales was evaluated using static scale inhibition method, and their ability to retard deposition of CaCO₃ was also examined. The experimental results showed that, for CaCO₃ and CaSO₄, the PESA with hyper-branched structure provides a scale inhibiting efficiency as high as 95.9% and 94.3%, respectively, at an inhibitor concentration of 15?mg/L. In addition, the processes of crystal nucleation, growth and crystal morphology have been analyzed. The experimental results show that the PESA with hyper-branched structure not only prolongs the induction period of CaCO₃ crystal nucleation, but also reduces the number of crystal nuclei and changes the size and morphology of the CaCO₃ crystal. Moreover, the FTIR, SEM and XRD analyses showed that the PESA with hyper-branched structure can induce the irregularity of growing CaCO₃ crystal, destroy the formation of crystals and change the polymorphs of calcium scale crystal. This conclusion indicates that the prepared PESA with hyper-branched structure has great potential for applying in the treatment of industrial water.     

Formulation of Environmentally Safe Graffiti Remover Containing Esterified Plant Oils and Sugar Surfactant

The removal of graffiti or over-painting requires special attention in order to not induce the surface destruction but to also address all of the important eco-compatibility concerns. Because of the necessity to avoid the use of volatile and toxic petroleum-based solvents that are common in cleaning formulations, much attention has recently been paid to the design of a variety of sustainable formulations that are based on biodegradable raw materials. In the present contribution we propose a new approach to graffiti cleaning formulations that are composed of newly synthesized green solvents such as esterified plant oils, i.e., rapeseed oil (RO), sunflower oil (SO), or used cooking oil (UCO), ethyl lactate (EL), and alkylpolyglucosides (APGs) as surfactants. Oil PEG-8 ester solvents were synthesized through the direct esterification/transesterification of these oils using monobutyltin(IV) tris(2-ethylhexanoate) and titanium(IV) butoxide catalysts under mild process conditions. The most efficient formulations, determined by optimization through the response surface methodology (RSM) was more effective in comparison to the reference solvents such as the so-called Nitro solvent (denoting a mixture of toluene and acetone) and petroleum ether. Additionally, the optimal product was found to be effective in removing graffiti from glass, metal, or sandstone surfaces under open-field conditions in the city of Wrocław. The performed studies could be an invaluable tool for developing future green formulations for graffiti removal.     

Development of a Novel Versatile Method for Determination of two Antihistamines in Association with Naphazoline Using Cathodically Pretreated Boron‐doped Diamond Electrode

Antihistamines such as pheniramine (PHN) or chlorpheniramine (CPH) are commonly associated with naphazoline (NPZ) in eye drops and nasal decongestants. In this work, a batch‐injection analysis system with multiple pulse amperometric (BIA‐MPA) detection has been applied for the first time for fast simultaneous determination of naphazoline (NPZ) and pheniramine (PHN) or NPZ and chlorpheniramine (CPH). PHN or CPH was selectively detected at +1.1 V and both PHN and NPZ or CPH and NPZ were detected at +1.3 V using boron doped diamond (BDD) as working electrode and Britton‐Robinson (BR) buffer (pH=10.0) as supporting electrolyte. The current of NPZ can then be obtained by subtraction of the currents detected at both potential pulses and applying a correction factor (CF). The proposed method presented good intra‐day repeatability (RSD between 0.7 and 3.2 % for PHN; 0.7 and 2.1 % for CPH; 1.5 and 4.0 % for NPZ; n=20), high analytical frequency (>80 injections h⁻¹), and limits of detection of 0.64, 0.47 and 0.11 μmol L⁻¹ for PHN, CPH and NPZ, respectively. The results obtained with the proposed method are in agreement with those obtained by HPLC (95 % confidence level).     

Microwave‐enhanced rapid synthesis of organosoluble polyamides based on 5‐(3‐acetoxynaphthoylamino)‐isophthalic acid

A series of photoactive polyamides (PAs) containing acetoxynaphthalamide side chain with inherent viscosities of 0.27–0.56 dl g^?1 were prepared by the direct polycondensation reaction of the 5‐(3‐acetoxynaphthoylamino)isophthalic acid with various commercially available diamines by means of triphenyl phosphite (TPP) and pyridine (Py) in the presence of calcium chloride and N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP) under microwave irradiation and conventional heating conditions. Most of the resulting PAs are soluble in strong polar solvents such as N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF), N,N‐dimethylacetamide, and NMP. Thermo‐gravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that polymers are thermally stable, 10% weight loss temperatures in excess of 320 and 378°C, and char yields at 600°C in nitrogen higher than 60%. These macromolecules exhibited maximum UV‐Vis absorption at 265 and 300 nm in a DMF solution. Their photoluminescence in the DMF solution demonstrated fluorescence emission maxima around 361 and 427 nm for all of the PAs. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An environmental friendly method for the automatic determination of hypochlorite in commercial products using multisyringe flow injection analysis

A multisyringe flow injection analysis system was used for the determination of hypochlorite in cleaning agents, by measurement of the native absorbance of hypochlorite at 292 nm. The methodology was based on the selective decomposition of hypochlorite by a cobalt oxide catalyst giving chloride and oxygen. The difference of the absorbance of the sample before and after its pass through a cobalt oxide column was selected as analytical signal. As no further reagent was required this work can be considered as a contribution to environmental friendly analytical chemistry. The entire analytical procedure, including in-line sample dilution in three steps was automated by first, dilution in a stirred miniature vessel, second by dispersion and third by in-line addition of water using multisyringe flow injection technique. The dynamic concentration range was 0.04-0.78 g L⁻¹ (relative standard deviation lower than 3%), where the extension of the hypochlorite decomposition was of 90 ± 4%. The proposed method was successfully applied to the analysis of commercial cleaning products. The accuracy of the method was established by iodometric titration.     

Facile Formation of Sulfurized Nanorod-Like ZnO/Zn(OH)2 and Hierarchical Flower-Like γ-Zn(OH)2/ϵ-Zn(OH)2 from a Green Synthesis and Application as Luminescent Solar Concentrator

This research endeavors to overcome the significant challenge of developing materials that simultaneously possess photostability and photosensitivity to UV-visible irradiation. Sulfurized nanorod (NR)-like ZnO/Zn(OH)₂ and hierarchical flower-like γ-Zn(OH)₂/ϵ-Zn(OH)₂ were identified from XRD diffraction patterns and Raman vibrational modes. The sulfurized material, observed by FEG-SEM and TEM, showed diameters ranging from 10 and 40 nm and lengths exceeding 200 nm. The S²⁻ ions intercalated Zn²⁺, modulating NRs to dumbbell-like microrods. SAED and HRTEM illustrated the atomic structure in (101) crystal plane. Its direct band gap of 3.0 eV was attributed to the oxygen vacancies, which also contribute to the deep-level emissions at 422 and 485 nm. BET indicated specific surface area of 4.4 m² g⁻¹ and pore size as mesoporosity, which are higher compared to the non-sulfurized analogue. These findings were consistent with the observed photocurrent, photostability and photoluminescence (PL), further supporting the suitability of sulfurized NR-like ZnO/Zn(OH)₂ as a promising candidate for Luminescent solar concentrators (LSC)-photovoltaic (PV) system.     

The synthesis of 4,4′-arylmethylene-bis(3-(trifluoromethyl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-ol) in aqueous media without catalyst

The synthesis of 4,4′-arylmethylene-bis(3-(trifluoromethyl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-ol) was performed effectively in aqueous media without catalyst by the reaction of aryl aldehydes and 1-phenyl-3-trifluoromethylpyrazol-5-one. All of the compounds obtained were characterized by elemental analysis, FTIR and ¹H NMR. The structure of compound 3g was further confirmed by the X-ray single crystal diffraction. The method has the advantages of mild condition, without any catalyst, high yields and environmentally benign procedure.     

几种值得注意的有机原料清洁工艺技术

本文综述了基本有机原料生产中的几种清洁生产工艺。这些工艺, 或是显著提高目的产物的选择性, 从而不排放或少排放有害污染物; 或在生产过程中不用有害的或有污染的原料、催化剂和溶剂。文章也介绍了中国石油化工总公司在该领域的研究开发工作。